Word from the Author
Word from the Author
Back in 2001, I wrote this story under Jenova0602, and it received generally positive reviews. But, life happened: I got married, had a kid, and stopped coming to . But, I never forgot this story, and I never stopped working on it.
This is the new and improved version. I have tightened it up and expanded it. Finally, I feel it is time to continue, even though FF9 doesn't seem to have the fan base it once had. Still, the story burns in me, and I need to tell it.
No FF game captured my imagination like 9. FF9 seems the forgotten child in the series. The classic games 1-6 have a steady cult following. FF7 is renowned worldwide, and though it is one of my favorites, I always felt that any story I told about the 7 universe would simply be lost among the thousands of fics already out there. FF8 was the game everyone loved to hate, and to its credit, its ending wrapped up everything so nicely that I could never think of anything to say in a story. And, FFX and above just lacked that creative spark for me. Perhaps, because of the advent of voice acting, no longer was the player allowed to be immersed in the characters' thoughts, hopes and dreams.
And therein lies the reason FF9 is so dear to me: the characters. Never before and since have any characters in a game been crafted with such perfection. Their words, their mannerisms, their struggles…all painted so realistically so as to be as compelling as any book. I've played this FF the most, and I think I will love it until I am an old woman. I hope that more people will come to appreciate its slow, gentle story, despite its age.
And now, here is the updated version of Inochi Wa Tsusuku, which translates to "life goes on", and that's exactly what this story is all about.
Thanks for reading my Preface.
Jenova