I don't remember what came into me when I created this account with my peculiar pen name. I wish to change it but most of my acquaintances are used to calling me as ghikiJ so I suppose the odd pen name will stay. However, I don't mind being called by my nickname, Ari. Since FFN is as much a community as it is a place to publish personal works, I encourage people to PM me so I may expand my circle of friends in this site. It's always a pleasure to speak to fellow admirers of literary arts, to people who know and appreciate, even if it is only subconsciously, how beautiful the written word is.

I've been a member of this site for quite a long time and, since then, I've found myself more at home in the review box rather than in the publishing page. Sadly, I've always been horrible with commitments to write stories other than oneshots. Even then my oneshots are few and far between. To continue supporting the hobby that gave me so much joy and taught me so many valuable lessons, I search the fandoms I like for gifted writers who take the time and energy to deliver magnificent stories simply for the sake of writing.

I admire many authors in this site, as one can tell from my extensive Favorite Authors List. Some of them are older than I am but the majority is younger. The thought amazes me. Just thinking about younger kids (I still consider myself as one by the way) writing fantastic stories with such talent, makes me feel like the world is going to be in good hands in the future. The open-mindedness and worldliness of these young authors astound me. Even in this jaded world, there are kids who still dream and have the courage to write those dreams down. Even if the characters and the setting are borrowed, the stories these authors write are still their own and they reflect their brilliant minds.

It is truly a privilege that I get to read such stories. These authors do not have any obligations to post their stories in this site or, even worse, they do not have to write their ideas down at all. But they chose to share their stories to complete strangers. They chose to share a part of themselves to us readers.

Despite my tastes (and perhaps the way I speak), I like anime series that may seem "kiddy" to most people. Digimon was certainly my first love (even though it is not the first anime series I've seen) and it will stay in my childhood memories indefinitely. Naruto took me in a roller coaster ride and ignited an obsession that has lasted for six years. The Gundam Series (especially Gundam Seed) thrilled me with the ideas of what could happen should we let science go out of control and gave me a definition of what the word Humanity might really mean. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya revived the part of me that wondered and questioned the existence of space and time as well as the identity of this being we call God. I could go on and on about what I like about series that touched me but I might make this profile longer than most of my stories.

K-ON! brought me back into writing, however, for I watched it in the right time and read fanfics about it in the right time as well. It's a short series and it is, essentially, about five girls doing cute things. However, to those who look deep enough (and past Mio's moe-ness), one would a find a beautiful story about friendship, optimism, and life. I won't deny that the sheer cuteness of the characters heals my weary soul that is plagued by our jaded world. However, I found that underneath the layer of comedy and adorableness, the characters and their interactions have lessons we should all remember. Living life to the fullest is one of these lessons, one that most of us overlook. Cherishing time spent with important people is another, most of us go day by day taking our limited time with our loved ones for granted. And, while the series does not really focus on it, music is another thing that K-ON had going for it. Aside from being a frustrated writer, I'm also a frustrated photographer and a hopeless musician. K-ON! helped me appreciate my arts more than I already do. It influenced me so much that it managed to bring out the author buried within for years, allowing me to write a story after four years of hiatus.

Also, I have watched Black Rock Shooter (BRS) and Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica (MSMM). Those two are certainly some of really nice anime I've seen so far. I haven't been able to watch anything else since I got into K-ON! I recommend others to watch these. BRS's awesome animation kept my eyes glued to the screen for the whole duration of OVA while MSMM blew my mind with its plot-twists. There is YuruYuri too, although I think that series requires its watchers to have certain tastes to be enjoyable.

Working!!is the most recent series I have watched and really enjoyed (since the side characters were all very interesting). I also recommend people to watch this series.

As we write, we bare our souls in a way.

The words are born from our own minds and thoughts.

Over the ages, it has not changed or altered from that beginning.

The tools have changed; in an age of technology the spell-check has outdated the pen.

Where once there were large leather bound books now magic talismans that can hold volumes.

Yet no computer, however advanced, can form soul enough to write the words from heart.

In a world of words the means are irrelevant, it is the love we portray that makes a masterpiece.

And for that, no soul of silicon could ever compare.

Be true to your words and ideals,

For they alone are truly unique to yourself.

Logan Kale, "Silent Vows"

The heart speaks in different ways.

Most of the time, it is merely the steady rhythm that keeps us alive.

Other times, it is the pounding drum that warns us of danger.

And, lastly, there is this silent reminder that it whispers ever so quietly.

Its whispers are audible only to those willing to listen,

Willing to understand,

And willing to give everything up.

The heart whispers love to those brave enough to hear it,

Brave enough to accept it,

And brave enough to lose everything for the sake of the one they love.

ghikiJ, "Silence of Midnight"

Older Fanfiction (published in 2007 and older): Even though these pieces weren't well-written (by my current standards), I couldn't bring myself to remove them. I suppose I will keep these stories on here as a testament that once upon a time, I wrote like a teenager that I was back then with all the sappiness of a high school girl on top of it all.

Digimon

Everytime - Discontinued.
Our Bond - Oneshot/Songfic.

Naruto

Land of Leaves - Discontinued.
Song of a Wolf - Oneshot.
Huntress - Oneshot.
Imprisonment - Oneshot.
Hummingbird - Oneshot.
Ambiguity - Oneshot.
Believing - Oneshot.

Newer Fanfiction: Because of the wonderful stories I have read in the K-ON fandom, and the friends I have made subsequently, I find myself writing again. The stories I have so far are certainly not great in number but I strive to express myself and share my experiences and philosophies through them in order to tell valuable yet mostly forgotten lessons in life.

Gundam Seed

Sands - Oneshot: Romance/Drama - A birthday fic for Athyra. I've always wanted to write an epilogue story for Gundam Seed because of my dissatisfaction with the ending of Gundam Seed Destiny. Part of this story has been in my hard drive for years, I think. I rediscovered it after digging through my documents and decided to finish and dedicate it to a fellow Gundam Seed fan.

K-ON!

Oneshots

Time - Angst/Friendship
Bonds by Athyra

Play - Friendship/Romance/Tragedy
Don't Cry by Athyra
Playing Your Last Breath by MUTE-sk3tch3s

Farewell Days Friendship/Spiritual

Multi-chapter

Spectre - Horror/Romance/Angst - Hiatus
In collaboration with Athyra
III: Angelus Vulneratus - Uploaded
Exodium I: Videre - 10%

Spectre Artworks:
Original Illustrations by Athyra: Link
Fan Artworks: Link

Quotation Marks - General/Friendship/Romance - Indefinite Updates
A ficlet series that may contain different pairings and universes.
Because of the nature of the entries, there is no definite update schedule or specific chapter titles for this story.
It will be updated when inspiration hits me basically.

Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica

The Dream She Saw - Friendship/Spiritual

The Lakeside- Romance/Supernatural

Author Update:

2/25/13 - Another MSMM fanfic uploaded. I'm quite happy with how it turned out despite some difficulties during the writing process. MSMM is a hard series to write stories after all, because the canon material is so final, so tight, that it doesn't leave good enough room for decent AUs. That and I've always loved how canon turned out and had little motivation in actually thinking of ways to tell a different story using those well-loved characters. I've been wanting to write a story in the Witches' POV anyway and just gave it a go. Hopefully readers will enjoy it.

As for future works, I can't give any promises. My attention, muse, and motivation are all focused on my original collab story with Athyra and AdrenaVeris, "The Bell Keeper". Fanfictions just sort of took a back seat to that story. There might be an OS or two in the future but we shall see.

12/30/12 - I finally got around to writing a MSMM fanfic. Although I don't know if there will be others. For me, the anime had presented the story so perfectly that I find no true reason to write anything for it. Admittedly, back when it was still airing, many theories and ideas swirled in my mind but I couldn't make myself tarnish the feelings I had while watching and reading the series. It was simply too wonderful for words. "The Dream She Saw" is truly just wishful thinking, a fleeting feel-good story that I managed to put down on paper. Granted, such kinds of stories isn't something I usually write. Regardless, I'm glad that I managed to contribute even just one story to the MSMM fandom.

Since there is very little chances that I might upload anything up here in the new future, I might as well advertise an original story that Adrena Veris, Athyra, and I have been working on. And, yes, this is predominantly the reason why we haven't been updating our current stories. The story is called "The Bell Keeper" and it is an action/adventure type of story that many of our fanfiction readers might enjoy.

You can find our shared FictionPress page here: The_Black_Kit10 and our DeviantArt Group here: The Bell Keeper

The story is going strong and for those who are willing to try an original piece, I invite you to give The Bell Keeper a try.