Very thought-provoking, well-written story! Gaignun and Citrine both present strong and valid opinions about Yuriev and themselves, all the while being perfectly portrayed (in character). The argument-like style of this fic goes back and forth between Gaignun and Citrine's clashing opinions, and it kept me engrossed throughout. The ending also left me saying "wow," which sums up my opinion of this great one-shot.

So, I managed to glance back at the Xenosaga section after editing the prologue of my Xenosaga novelization, and I was greeted by this. I was originally going to pass it up, because I have more pressing matters to work with right now, but I saw your pen name and figured it'd be worth taking fifteen minutes out of the way to read this.

Luckily, I was right. Again, like you're other work, it's very well written. Written so well, in fact, that I might have to delay my first real chapter even a little longer. Compared to this, it feels... lazy almost? Luckily I already wrote it and now just have to edit it and try to paint as beautiful a picture there as you did here.

This story just shows me how little characterization they went with in the final game. It was all events and no interaction (outside of Shion, of course). I must say that you're interpretation of Nigredo/Gaignun has really opened my eyes. While it always bothered me that such an all-around good guy was being manipulated so badly - perhaps moreso because he's really all that Jr. has left - I never actually liked him. Here, he's more balanced. Less of the hardass he seems to be in the game and more psychologically sound. And Citrine, well, you managed to make her flat character a bit more round, which is something I admire.

Awesome job, really.