~Funakounasoul~

CONTENTS

~Special Notices (for up-to-the...month(?) news relating to all things Funakounasoul)
~Random Links (that aren't really THAT random...)
~Facts About Me (yes..."me"...not "myself"..."me")
~Favorite Pairings (...and a trio...)
~Individual Story Information (All story info is here! Even for the discontinued stuff!)

~Special Notices!~

I don't plan on writing any more fanfics. Sorry. I just don't seem to have the former "juices" I used to have. Don't fret, though. I still have plenty of creative stuff planned in terms of ART! After all, I'm an artist above all else and no matter how low or high my creative highs or slumps are, I always churn out pictures. Also, if there's any other way I can create stories is by making...COMICS! Yes! Definitely expect those (particularly of the Wildkitten and DN kind) from me in the future! And if you have no idea where to find my art, just click on the Homepage link above! Ah, and above else, keep supporting me, whether it's art or something else!

Also unfortunately - At the moment, I'm at a creative slump of sorts. Pictures aren't being updated as often as they usually are. But like I said, you can ALWAYS expect art from me in the future!

~Random Links!~

Posters and Promo Pics!:
Flutter (Bet Arc)
Flutter (Devotion Arc)
"Wildkitten Koyomiko" Promos: Koyomiko, Tomo, Yomi, Osaka, Koneko, Family Pic 1, Mrs. Mizuhara, Promo Wallpaper

"Love Musings" - A devART-exclusive oneshot (Featuring Tomo and takes place right after ch. 5 of "Flutter")

"Snowball Fight - for My Fans" - The 2nd part to my 2-part 2007 holiday package to my friends. If you have read "The Snowball Fight", seeing this picture is a must.

Fellow Wii-owning fans (with WFC abilities): I HAVE Friend Codes! AND Mii codes for the Check Mii Out Channel! Click Here to read my Wii Journal! THIS JOURNAL DOES GET UPDATED OCCASIONALLY, TOO!

"Dragoste Nocturnă" - A collaborated project with artistic partner, Leigh: To learn more about this project, and see the first fruits of our labor, check out the official directory! (currently under renovation...You'll find out eventually~)

~Facts About Me!~

Simple Facts
A.K.A: Funari

Location: My computer area

School: 3rd semester in college...and I'm not gonna fail this time, dang it!

Work: I really need to start looking for one...

Lover of: Leigh! xD Otherwise...Anime (mostly the retro stuff), Funny stuff, Video games, Music (except country and rap; old-school hip hop's ok, though...but I DO lean towards jazz, house, Shibuya-kei, classical, 60s, 70s, and 80s music when it comes to all-time favorites), Drawing, Writing, Shoujo-ai, Sailor Moon, Azumanga Daioh, Nintendo, Street Fighter, King of Fighters, Soul Calibur, Cardcaptor Sakura, Sera Myu, ANZA, Naoko Takeuchi, Sushi, Sashimi (especially salmon...Mmmm pure, raw salmon), Mountain Dew, Cherry Jones Soda

Hates: Current Events, Limited scanning opportunities (at least I FINALLY have access to a scanner...but only until the end of the year), Forced reading, Writing based on a given topic (I like to "go with the flow," thank you very much), People who are sad (I always try my best to cheer them up), Angsty stuff, Things that are WAY too random, Things that people say/do that THINK are random but aren't (like saying "pie" and "spork")

Basic Profile!
I am a long-time Sailor Moon fan (have been since 1997!). I like other stuff, too, like Cardcaptor Sakura, Azumanga Daioh, old-school Gundam (and Gundam Wing), Ranma 1/2...yeah, it's basically a mix of stuff, mostly retro stuff. I was introduced to anime...not by Speed Racer, but Littl' Bits! (does anyone remember that show?) So basically, I've been an anime fan since I was a wee toddler in the '90s! I love to draw...especially fanart, though I have made my own characters before (50+ so far! All-time favorite: Funari Funakouna, the Wind Goddess).

Non-anime stuff: I love to draw and listen to music. I WAS in my high school's marching/pep/symphonic/jazz bands...but I will return once I enter a real university (I'm in community college at the moment). I am also a lover of arts and composition classes, thus giving me more opportunities to improve my writing and drawing skills! I also love playing video games (Nintendo fangirl I am!)

Writer Profile!
I like to write about anything, that is, IF I can actually make it to the finish line. I have written stuff for school, as well as stuff during my free time, but the latter usually never sees others' eyes. You see, when I get an idea and start to type it, I begin to doubt myself. Is this actually good? Will people like it? And that's how my stories get pushed aside, collecting digital dust until I decide to just delete the whole thing. Fortunately, I have friends who are helping me finish my work! I am beginning to finish my stories, and, hopefully, will move on to longer stuff and stories with multiple chapters!

Apparently, my writing is all Toyomi. I have yet felt like writing about anything else. Because I have experienced many things similar to Tomo and Yomi's friendship, I feel like I can easily write anything with them. Inspiration always comes quickly when it involves my two favorite Azu girls...It seems it will be a while until I start writing about something else...

...Well...It seems it will be a LONG time before I move onto other fandoms. I am stuck on Azu. Can't help it, though - I love this show. And it seems my writing has changed focus from Toyomi to the Takino-Mizuhara family. What can I say? I love Koyomiko like she was my own. Well, techinically, she IS, but...you know. Anyone who has ever engaged in a conversation with me will realize how much I care for the Wildkitten. I am so motherly and protective over a fictional being. I never thought I would go that far...ANYWAY, due to this change, my fics are now family situation comedies! Sitcoms! Wow...And I have plenty of inspiration, too!

Funari, What Does "Random Toyomi" Mean Anyway?
"Random Toyomi" is the title I gave myself to describe my art and writing style (Oct. 2006-today, but title was retired Sept. 2007). My work deals with Azu Girls Tomo and Yomi. It's either Tomo, Yomi, Tomo and Yomi, or Tomo x Yomi. Random themes are set, hence the "Random" part, and "Toyomi" is the mix of Tomo and Yomi's names (duh). Why not Tomi or Yomo? You see...Those are the names I use for my DBZ-induced creations of Tomo and Yomi's fusions (both dance and earings). Besides, I never liked the two names. People use one or the other, and they have yet to agree with one. But it seems "Toyomi" is catching on...Hmmm.

And has anyone noticed it's "Toyomi" and not "ToYomi"? Well, that's because I believe Tomo and Yomi are one character. Sound confusing? Well...uh...just look how THEY interact in the Azuverse! In almost all of Tomo's hilarious moments, Yomi can be found SOMEWHERE within the same strip/scene, making her own comment(s). And then, there's the fact that most of their contributions to the story involve both girls interacting with each other. It's yin and yang, people! Without the other, they are incomplete! They would be in the background, just like Chihiro and Oyama!

Uh ahem...Mystery solved. I think.

Funari, Why Don't You Focus on Toyomi as Much Anymore?
Don't get me wrong, I still love Toyomi VERY much. However, I'd like to use my abilities for more than just those two. I'd like to do art for other shows/games/etc. that I love as well as original works with OCs and such. Also, I am currently persuing a degree in art education. It's best to work on a variety of stuff so I have plenty of things in my portfolio in college, hm?

Toyomi is STILL something to expect from me, but also don't be surprised if you ever see updates from me for other things...

~Favorite Pairings!~
Azumanga Daioh
Toyomi...er...Tomo/Yomi (Of course!)

Sailor Moon
Rei/Usagi (First fan-pairing I fell in love with!)
Haruka/Michiru (First cannon shoujo-ai pairing I approved of)
Makoto/Ami (If it's not Rei/Usa, then it's Mako/Ami)
Minako/Usagi (Manga reasons, mostly...)

Others
Hikari/Nozomi (Pokemon; For rivals, they sure do get along pretty well...)
Sakura/Tomoyo (Cardcaptor Sakura; Only if they're older...)
Pan/Koyomiko (Heh, if you've been keeping up with me at devART, you should know who Pan is...)
Sakura/Karin (Street Fighter Alpha; There needs to be more fics about these two...)

~Individual Story Information!~

One-Shots
Sunday Morning Tomodachi -- Originally written for my creative writing class, "Sunday Morning Tomodachi" does NOT showcase my skills. The assignment was to write a children's book that either continued from the original, was based off the original, or was inspired by the original in some way. I chose one of the last books on the table -- "The Crack-of-Dawn Walkers" by Amy Hest...Yeah, I've never heard of her, either. Now, the story HAD a limit -- only 2 pages long, double spaced -- and it HAD to sound like a children's book. No complex elements and all that stuff I'm used to in writing stories. During class, I actually started writing the "Tomodachi" version. Fanfiction is a no-no in creative writing class, however, so I cut out some stuff, changed Yomi and Tomo's names to "the girl" and "the friend," but I kept the title. I got an "A" in the end, but I still don't like this story...yet there are people who do, so...that's why it's up. There is a picture that goes with this fic (it's almost as old as the fic, too), called "Morning Walk".

Of Hot Lunches and Gelatin -- Now this story was based off a funny conversation I had with a friend of mine. The gelatin descriptions ARE based off this crazy conversation. Yes, we do think the green gelatin is more than food... Anyway, this story was supposed to be the beginning of a Tomo-Yomi childhood series. Well, I do plan on starting one soon, but this story will be considered void...well, not the gelatin part, just the lunch procedure part. Why? Kids in Japan do not have lunch like Americans do (at least from my observations and experiences), therefore this scene would never happen. The gelatin part can, though, as it can be used in any food-related experience. Besides, "Flutter" already made the gelatin conversation canon in my Azuverse...

Sweet Happiness -- This story was written for all the people who prefer Tomo-Yomi friendship fics. "Tomodachi" was posted for that reason, too, but that was based off an assignment. "Sweet Happiness" was made on my own free time, with no limitations. There really is a lack in friendship-focusing fics in the Azu section, and I hope more people do stuff like this. Yes, I support shoujo-ai/yuri and I'm obviously a Toyomi supporter, but I LOVE friendship fics, too. They give me a different kind of "warm and fuzzy" feeling. Also, as stated in the story's beginning notes, this story is not tied to "Flutter" in any way ("Tomodachi" isn't either, by the way). I just needed to point that out again.

Prelude to Naptime -- Written as a tribute to the 1-year anniversary of Koyomiko's creation (aka her "birthday"), it is a simple vignette with Tomo, Yomi, and (for the first time in fic form) Baby Koyomiko. This story does not take place during any particular moment, except for the fact that Koyomiko is somewhere around the age of 1 year. And, I HAVE noticed this story seems similar to my picture "Little Tormenta". Well, that was unintentional, but even I agree that it seems to be based off this hilarious drawing.

The Snowball Fight -- Half of my 2-part holiday present to all my fans (though, others can enjoy it as well). It is a simple tale that takes place during the winter season. The Takino-Mizuhara family decides to enjoy the wintry scenery when they stumble upon an uncommon sight. What do they do? Well, what else WOULD they do? They have a snowball fight, of course! This story is sure to bring a smile to your face...and make you feel warm-and-fuzzy during this cold season. (or any season, for that matter)

Flutter: 20 Years Later -- This is my own tribute to the popular fic, "Flutter" (which I also wrote; see below). Just a simple tribute, nothing new other than the fact that Tomo and Yomi are now in their late 30s, among some other small things. They take a trip down memory lane, so to speak, to the moments where their relationship went from friendship to romance and beyond.

Series Fics
Flutter -- My first-ever multi-chapter fic. As the old summary put it -- it deals with Tomo and Yomi's relationship from pre-Azu to graduation. There are two "arcs" here: the Bet Arc (ch. 1-10) and the Devotion Arc (ch. 11-Finale).

The Bet Arc one deals with a bet (duh) as well as a change in the way the two girls see each other as time passes. This arc is more Azu-like in cheerfulness and comedy elements, but with a few dramatic moments here and there. Kagura is also introduced in this arc as a (very) important supporting character. Her role in the story is further examined in the concurring series, "Watching Over You."

The Devotion Arc reveals that graduation is just a few months away. A hidden part of Yomi's persona emerges in these chapters while Tomo vows to fix this terrible dilemma in their relationship. While still trying to keep Azumanga Daioh's humor, this arc is actually written in my preferred style -- based off shoujo-style storylines. I was brought up by Naoko Takeuchi's Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon, and my style has always been based off that style (as well as some other elements, but it's mostly shoujo-based). As you read these chapters, you'll notice Tomo and Yomi's relationship evolve into something greater and more than just dates and making out. The common romantic shoujo theme of "destiny" plays a role here, too, as they wonder how they managed to stay together for so long and if this streak will continue into college years and beyond. Some people have also asked for some more drama, so I granted their wishes...but it's still far from being "angsty."

Watching Over You --As stated above, "Watching" was supposed to be "Flutter" in Kagura's point of view. The story is written in first-person, as well as in what I believe is the English equivalent of Kagura's grammar, so don't bother correcting me here...unless there's a typo. Dialogue and narration from "Flutter" will occasionally pop up, but there will also be a few parts that are Kagura-exclusive.

Since the story is now discontinued...Uh...Well...That's all I can say, really.

Strawberry Jam -- (Originally posted at deviantART...twice) Most of you probably already know who Koyomiko is. If you don't, this story will KIND OF give you an idea about her character. This was just a story I wrote right after graduating from high school, so it's mainly an Azu-reunion fic...but with my own little twist. The gang decides to hold a reunion several years after graduating from high school. When they get to the party site (Tomo and Yomi's place), though, they are greeted by a little girl...Who is Koyomiko and where did she come from? This fic (sort of) answers it all.

Wildkitten Koyomiko -- This series is unique. One, it features an Azu-Child (the first one...at least, the first one that's well-known). Second, it's a future fic! Well, that's not that special, huh? But it's different in the way that it's NOT a reunion fic! "Wildkitten" focuses on our favorite Azu-Child, Koyomiko Takino-Mizuhara, her parents ("Mama" and "Kaa-san" a.k.a. Tomo and Yomi respectively), and the many adventures Koyomiko has on a daily basis.

The "Pilot Episode" is simply to get readers acquainted with the setting and characters of the actual series. The only people featured in the Pilot are none other than Koyomiko, Tomo, and Yomi. The whole story focuses on a random Sunday (any Sunday, though it seems the season's probably either summer or fall when you consider a Yomi line in the first part...). The story also gives people a simple introduction to Koyomiko as well as a simple view at how much (yet how little) Tomo and Yomi have changed since their high school days.

The actual series will feature a few more characters (some familiar, others not) as well as chapters with varying lengths (depending on the subject of the individual tale)...For a little "explanation", check out my "Explaining 'Wildkitten" and 'TY+'..." devART Journal.

Romance in A! Major -- A story inspired by...SCHOOL! Well, specifically-speaking, the inspiration came from my music appreciation class. Basically, Kaorin has a party planned (in favor of being with Sakaki), but something happens and due to this "something" (as well as other things, this one is just the trigger), love is found by two other people...and I think you should know by now who these "two people" are considering who the author is...Classical/Romantic Period themes are about, and there's even a "pseudo-soundtrack" to go with this story.

Break Time: A Toyomi Short Story Series -- A series of short stories, both friendship and romantic, done during the time my computer was down. This is something to simply keep my motivation and spirit up.

Tomo-Yomi Plus -- This is the story of Tomo and Yomi's escapades as new parents. The Prologue starts everything off right on a very important date (Nov. 1, 2006). After that, the story will examine how these two fair off according to some parenting basics, as well as other things. This series is also an Era in the Flutterverse timeline (2nd major one, actually), so it has a present period (Koyomiko's birth to around age 3). Also, unlike "Wildkitten Koyomiko", this series WILL go in chronological order.

For a little "explanation" to the format and such to this series, check out the "Explaining" devART Journal.