A Short Word of Thanks from the Author

It's finished. I am more sad than happy, actually. I really can't believe I'm done with it.

First of all, thank you so much for reading. Your support really kept me going, and I know I've probably said this a million times, but I really really really appreciate it. Had it not been for those of you who commented and provided input, I would've halted this story a long time ago…and by that I think I mean about three years.

When I first wrote Legends of the Age, I didn't have a firm grasp on exact style, nor did I have a good image of what Kikome was really like. For those of you who didn't like Legends that much, I'd have to say that if I could, I would redo it completely. However, as I've said before, the entire story was planned out in my head after I finished RuroKen. The more in depth the actual manga went, the more in depth my tale went, and so the ten years ago arc was more of a simulation than anything else. Nevertheless, I enjoyed Legends of the Age. It was my original plotline, and the development of Sokusai occurred more in LOTA than in anything else.

Tangled Web of Fate, instead of the creation of Sokusai, focused more on the overwhelming combating forces inside of Kikome, the womanly instinct asserting itself or the pride of Sokusai winning instead. Ultimately, Sokusai did not and could not be destroyed, and in the end triumphed. Kikome, at the very end of the tale, learned to have her instincts coexist, the feminine emotions to simply complement the overbearing but appreciated position of Sokusai. Kikome's personality is somewhat volatile and complex; nevertheless, I really enjoyed her being my protagonist.

I know some of you might have supported Kikome and Aoshi instead.

I'm very sorry.

When I first read RuroKen, Aoshi was my favorite, hands-down. Until Saitou came along. And then the more I read it, the more I found Saitou to be a tangible character, sinfully arrogant and cold. Compared to Aoshi (who in the end did nothing but meditate), Saitou was more active, and consequently a better character (in my humble opinion.) Kikome really could match with no one but him. Aoshi invited to a life of peace and quiet, with no action. Basically, if Kikome really did go with Aoshi to Kyoto, she'd be nothing more than an innkeeper's wife, which just did not suit her disposition.

I also altered Aoshi's personality a bit. One of my readers told me that Aoshi seemed sort of…insane? Well, in a sense, in the manga, he was. I mean, he just became somewhat of an oddball in the end. (I'm just kidding, I love Aoshi very much.) I simply heightened his insanity to extend to his situation with Kikome as well. My interpretation of Aoshi was more of a sarcastic, condescending type. He smirked more, challenged Kikome's weakness, and basically went all out when he fought her. In the end, however, they reconciled, and though some people probably wanted Kikome/Saitou to completely destroy him, I felt like a happy ending was best.

I honestly could've continued the story for a little longer, detracting from the plotline, of course. (I liked the Enishi arc, but not enough to formulate a good plot for Kikome. Enishi had too much of a sister-complex for my liking.) This is going to sound weird, but I was planning on bringing Tokio in, until a close reader (who happens to live with me) adamantly refused and said it was the most terrible idea in the world, and thus I stopped. Oh well. It wasn't going to be a very long arc anyway.

I was also considering ending the series on a very depressing note. Kikome could have a.) died in Shishio's headquarters, having been betrayed by Aoshi, and thus thinking that Souzou was really the only one for her, or b.) died ten years after her marriage to Saitou, with the wounds of her past finally catching up to her. The latter plot almost made it. (I actually typed up half of it a long time ago when I needed a change of pace.) But then, I remembered that I hate sad endings. Tragedy manga can be really stupid. (I.E. Nana. Why would you kill off Ren? It made no sense. Or now, Naruto should be classified under tragedy, because every character worthwhile has died.) So I went for the happy ending, and hopefully it turned out well.

Honestly, I would redo a lot of the scenes and dialogue in this story. But I'm too lazy to do so, and I'm actually pretty satisfied with the end.

In the earlier version of this note, I forgot to note something, so I'll go ahead and say it here. It's about Rin! Because I hate making up names, I Googled Japanese names and their meanings to find one. (Lame, I know, but hey, it got me through. Kikome's name was created, stupidly enough, by my infatuation with the InuYasha series like…five years ago. I seriously regret that.) Rin's meaning is "cold" and "dignified." She would grow up to be much like that.

Her personality would be a balance between Saitou's and Kikome's. Like Kikome, she'd grow up to be very attractive, and like both of her parents, very haughty. Hiko would teach her Hiten Mitsurugi, alongside Himura Kenji, and like Kikome before her, Rin would be stronger. However, Hiko already noted that Rin was spoiled; in the future, I'd plan for her to be more conceited than both of her parents, and really quite strong. However, unlike Kikome, she'd hold no appreciation for her strength and would be rash in using it. She'd take after Saitou more than Kikome, since she idolizes Saitou, and would also favor her father's Gatotsu over Hiten, preferring a straight-forward, non-complex attack. However, Rin would utilize Shinsoku to the ability that her Gatotsu would eventually trump Saitou's. Of course, I was unable to write that chapter, so I thought I'd let you guys know what Rin would eventually become. I'm not sure about a relationship between Kenji and Rin though…Kenji is sort of an introverted character who hates his dad. And I like Kenshin, so I'm not too fond of his son.

Please comment back and tell me your input! I'd love to hear.

Again, thank you for everything! I don't know if I'll be doing another fanfic, and if I do, it's probably not going to be RuroKen. So I will now close up the story of Nato Sokusai, and leave her stage with a bow.

Thank you.