Dear readers,

As my first task since getting home half an hour ago, I sit down to write this to everyone:

It is with great pains that I write this notice. As most of you know, I was recently on a vacation trip. Like most people, I need some R & R once in a while.

This past Sunday, however, I decided to check the reviews on the different sites on which my story is posted. While most of the reviews were normal (and by this I mean, both good and bad reviews), many were just plain insulting.

I've REPEATEDLY stated that, as a writer and mature adult, I accept - and welcome - both kinds of reviews. Nevertheless, there are some reviewers out there who don't know the meaning of tact. I mean, if readers are going to tell me that my story "was not good" or "boring" OR even "lacking", then I would at least appreciate that these people express it the way it should be and NOT in a childish way! Leaving me notes that say that I should "learn to write better", "make SURE Kagome and Sesshoumaru are more like they should be or don't write at all", "think before I write" or "next time write something that doesn't bore the hell out of them", is not being tactful!

And let me just say that those were some of the mild ones!

What makes me angry is not WHAT was written, but WHO wrote them! Some of those "reviewers" who left those messages were 12-year-old kids that can't write if their life depended on it! Most of them have never even written anything themselves! Others ranted but only signed "anonymous". What the hell is that?! If they are going to dish at me, then at least have the gall to sign your freaking name!

If someone leaves a bad review, I think I've let everyone know that this kind of criticism is not necessarily bad to me. One thing that I've learned as a writer, is that with the good comes the bad. And tasteful criticism helps in keeping you grounded.

But there is a fine line between these things.

Just like the fact that if someone doesn't like my story...then...STOP READING IT!! Please be mature and don't leave complain after complain in each chapter! No one is forcing or putting a gun to anyone's head to read this story.

Any of my readers (and there are some) who know me personally, know that I am the most patient and accepting person in the world. That in no way means that I will let anyone disrespect myself and/or my work. Any writer, who has done me the honor of reading my story, knows that it takes SO MUCH work and dedication to put into words what you envision. That it's hard to portray to readers what you 'see'. And, even harder to try and please everyone.

And, on that note... I want to express FOR THE LAST TIME... that this is an alternate universe. I've tried to go beyond the norm, beyond the usual and beyond the reality of the anime. The personalities of my characters are the way they are for A PARTICULAR REASON. Time and time again, I've stated that this first installment of my trilogy is PRE-ANIME!! So, for any who still tell me the same thing about Kagome and Sesshoumaru... this means that both characters ARE NOT and CANNOT be the same! With that in mind, it is only logical that they will, at some point in my ENTIRE trilogy, be their same old selves. So, please refrain from TELLING or ASKING WHY these characters are not themselves! I WON'T ANSWER ANYTHING IN RESPECT TO THIS ISSUE ANY LONGER!

However...

I am in no way an ingrate. I do appreciate - and thank - all those reviewers who suggest changes and correct me on a particular grammar error. I'm only human and do tend to make mistakes!

It makes me feel so good when I get reviews that say "how mad they are at a certain character" or "hope that a specific thing will happen or didn't happen". It just shows how involved with your story readers can get. I love it when I read a message that tells me that despite certain deviations in characters, they will continue to read my story! Even that one or two reviews where a reader praises your effort but cannot find a liking to your fanfic!

Those are the reviews that build you up! That makes all those horrible ones seem like nothing!

Like a realist, I don't expect everyone to enjoy or like my story. I just expect some form of respect just like a try to give it back.

As for now, I'm still trying to get over my anger. Because, unfortunately, yes... I am way past angry right now! It's hard! At one point, I was willing to just completely forget about continuing my story and only letting a few selected reviewers receive the rest of my story. But then I came to my senses (about two seconds later) and realized that that was stupid and cowardly on my behalf. I'd like to think that I'm better than that.

For now, I can only hope for the best in the future.

And now that I've finally vented (which was overdue, really)...

Updates should return by this weekend. I'm still not sure. It depends, I guess, on how less angry I still am...

A very disappointed,

Fallenarchangel a.k.a WhiteLotus a.k.a 4TheLoveOfInu