Hi!

Just a reader here, not a writer. I consider what I have "penned" to be essentially exercises in character development, the "left over" result of being a drama student many years ago!

I became interested in fanfics while trying to find something new and different to watch, while recovering from a knee injury and subsequent surgery. I hobbled into my son's room and just picked a DVD off the shelf. It happened to be one in the RK series. After watching it I was told that it was based on something called a "manga". Well, I finally figured out what that was, limped into the bookstore to see one "in person" and then went on-line to find a translation, which I then read. (Thank you Maigo-chan!) In the process of looking for the manga translation on-line, I just stumbled onto some fanfic sites and decided that reading some of them would keep me from not being bored while perched on the couch after surgery, letting my knee recover. (I finally got tired of watching Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and Greta on Fox!)

In my "favorites" section I have listed some of those that kept me entertained. Being past the half-century mark, I tend to like to read about the "older" Kenshingumi residents, usually Hajime/Tokio or Meg/Aoshi. I also like stories that have a "happily ever-after" type of ending. I don't find movies or books with unhappy endings to be entertaining. There is too much of that in real life.

I personally find reading unfinished stories frustrating, because I always want to know how the thing ends. For that reason my favorites list is comprised of finished fics with only a few exceptions because I like them so much. Although unfinished, The Courtship of Lady Tokio is excellent and a very worth while read. The author updated in Sept. 2009 and intends to complete this epic which is great news. I also included a five-part Meg/Aoshi AU by Cherie Dee, that is technically not finished, but the last chapter of the last part leaves the couple in a very satisfying place, and if that fic happens to end there, there is no doubt about "The End".

I think that the action between Saitoh and Tokio in the AU, Captain Miserable Finds the Greener Grass, is a real hoot! The author added a companion series, All the Small Things, that tells the "rest of the story" about some CM moments. The author, Talentless Hack (a misnomer if there ever was one), is faithful in updating, writing new S/T shorts, giving previews of new things, and communicating with her readers through her LJ! (Hers are stories that I add to my favs list, completed or not.)

Bird in Hand explores the very beginnings of Saitoh and Tokio's relationship and his marriage to Yaso, something that is rarely written about. The Place Where I Belong by Jesphoenix05 is an AU fantasy crossover. I really like how the author develops the relationship between them. Tale of Kenji is another work in progress. Besides being a very engaging tale about the Himura family, it has some really great action between Fujita Tsutomu (Saitoh's son) and Himura Kenji.

I realize that "real-life" comes first and many people are not able to finish what they started even though they would like to. I do appreciate all of you authors out there, who have devoted so much time and effort, so that the rest of us can escape from our "real lives" and be entertained for a while!

Anreg

11-27-09

Thanks Irena for letting me use your original drawing for an icon! (Sorry the scan and post did not turn out as nice as the original.)

If you are interested in joining a Rurouni Kenshin based RPG, check out this page http://community.livejournal.com/gumi_apps/profile

P.S. My favorites list is comprised of finished fics (with a few exceptions). However, there are many unfinished Saitou/Tokio fics which are interesting reads. As I reread these unfinished stories, I plan to list some of them here in alphabetical order. All of them are on ff net. If you want to see a long list of S/T fics that are posted here on ff net, check out the profile page for ExternalDarkness. For those of you who enjoy fics written by Kamorgana, please go to her 'homepage' to find the updated versions. There is a link on her ff net profile page.

Constant Reflections - Author: tsunami1156. In Chapter 5, "Women", the wolf mentally compares a couple of women whom he knows. It is a short, but fun read.

Falling - Author: L. Sith. This is a humorous take on how the two met and the misadventures between them. Started in 2003, it was last updated at the end of 2006, so perhaps we will see more of this. I hope so.

Hajime - Author: Chiharu Kamashiro. This interesting piece is written in Tokio's first person point of view. We only know her husband through how she views him. The last chapters contain adult material, so I wouldn't recommend this fic to young readers. It has not been updated since 2006, so it is unlikely to be finished.

Ookami no Kiba - Author: Blue Jeans. This is a wonderful first person tale from the point of view of Tokio's personal journals. It was last updated in 2002, so there is very little hope that it will ever be finished, but what is there is a satisfying narration of Hajime and Tokio's early years, when he was a member of her family's household.

Ruroken Haiku Collection - Author: SiriusFan13. Wrote a collection of haiku about RK characters. Number 70 is a haiku about Tokio, 9 and 51 are about Saitoh.

Sacred Sword - Author: Zosocowe. This is a very nice Kenshin/Kaoru/Kenji fic. But in Chapter 7 the author introduces the Saitoh family into the action, and continues it through Chapter 17. The interaction between members of the Wolf's family and members of the Himura family in these chapters is absolutely priceless!

Through Your Eyes - Author: Stealiana. If you read and enjoyed the completed Through My Eyes, you will want to check out this unfinished companion piece written from the Wolf's point of view, giving his perspective on the same events that are described by Tokio in Through My Eyes . A note on the author's profile page, dated 8-2008, mentions that someday she will return and finish what she started. We can only hope that she will begin with this one, if she does have time to return.

The Wolf's Woman - Author: Glass Rose. This is a well-written engaging story of how the couple met and the events that transpired shortly thereafter. There is some sexual content in Chapter 4 that is integral to the story, but not appropriate for younger readers. Since it was last updated in 2002, it will most likely never be finished. This, in my opinion, is a tragedy due to the quality of the writing and the storyline.

Valentines for Every Year - Author: Adelaide MacGregor. Check out Chapter 2, "Forgotten as a Habit," for a nice Valentine's Day story about the wolf and his wife.