The name's Kochiha Ichihara. That is in fact my real name...well, one of my real names. Despite all the names (I have four), I've got a dull life, and I spend it writing. I have a rather distinct distaste for true fanfics, since I'm no good at them, and so the closest thing I can come up with is alternate universe pieces. The best example that I have of this that isn't currently undergoing a major facelift is Mobile Suit Black Gundam.

The idea behind Black Gundam first germinated from my general anger at SEED and SEED Destiny. My primary Gundam interest resides in UC and AC, so when CE came about with its "generic anime" bleeding hearted and androgenous characters (even the women are hard to tell apart) and over-the-top, frilly mobile suit designs not seen since Endless Waltz, I was quite put off. (The previous sentence is about the smallest rant I've had concerning the CE serieses.) My goal then became to write in a new Gundam universe, one that didn't focus on "reinventing" the franchise for the new generation (which apparently is only smart enough to understand the visually spectacular yet bland) and put more emphasis on returning to that gritty, militial, and even somewhat tragic vibe from Tomino's Universal Century and inserting some elements of ideal complexity reminiscent of the After Colony era. Add a dash of my own politics, beliefs, and personal mobile suit design, and you have yourself something fresh and exciting without swerving off the road that Gundam originally set off on. No, this doesn't mean I'm going to become "Kill-em-all Ichihara"--the only amazing series that got Tomino THAT title was Z Gundam, which served as the bulk of my influence when I started writing Black Gundam. (Expect a "true fanfic" centered in between Z Gundam and ZZ Gundam in the moderately distant future--AFTER I get bored of doing nothing but Black Gundam.)

Beyond my interest in Gundam, I'm also one of those Pokémon people, and I have a series in my back pocket of a similar nature to Black Gundam. It's called Pokémon: Saffron, and it too is an effort at improving what was already given to us. Even without the rape and murder of a dub the United States got of Pokémon in almost every format, most of the storylines sanctioned by Tajiri were disappointing, down to the point where the whole thing became reminiscent of a soap opera. Saffron is an effort to bring some dignity to Pokémon, and in doing so it turns what was originally the size of Japan to about the size of a continent, adds characters that age, and the element of death--no, I don't kill the Pokémon. I have respect for Tajiri's initial vision of "needless violence", and the battles don't resolve using death. Humans kill Pokémon, though; Team Rocket, once a comic relief three-piece that hinted at a slightly larger organization, becomes a faction capable of rivalling the League and not afraid to fight with both Pokémon AND lead. Call it killing canon all you want, but this is a different Pokémon universe, completely separate from the one you're used to and retaining only the basic concepts. I use the English names, though, as they are what I grew up with and thus retain that nostalgic element that keeps this series making me smile, no matter how many times I rewrite it and rework the story arc. Multiple acts of doing that have left the series in question for when I'm satisfied with it, but expect Pokémon: Saffron to wander onto this site at least some point after I'm finished with Black Gundam and potentially when I'm through with a few other things.

The first work I submitted here was a one-off Gundam UC work taking place in 0079. The Zeon Home Front in my mind never got beyond that one short bit, but I received some good word concerning it, and if such good word continues, I'll work on continuing it.

When I'm not writing, I'm pursuing my other interest: music. Most of what I listen to is any of the myriad forms of metal (favorites being thrash, nu, and NWOBHM), along with some psychedelic and much progressive rock. Symphonic ("classical") is also of interest to me, especially Romantic and Contemporary period works, and minimalism. Combining any of those forms of music together in any combination is usually a good thing in my book. But I don't just listen, I play as well. I'm a drummer with bass chops and a grand interest in experimental instrumentation, be it electronic or physical. I write songs, too; some of my poetry often ends up as lyrix. I sing, too.

My greatest literary idol is CLAMP. Don't expect me to do any fanfics from their works, though; you can't improve what is already perfect.

Jhonen Vasquez is cool, too. Z?

So is Kohta Hirano. And Yasuhiro Nightow.

I'm a firm Shinto-influenced Buddhist with a deep-seated belief in free will and suffering not the work of those who deny it. Most of my beliefs come from reading xxxHolic and the writings of Neil Peart. (He's more than just a great drummer/lyricist, you know.) My beliefs also lead me to be extremely critical of anything driven by some church or cult that tells you what to believe in; I don't hate Christians, but the religion itself makes me a little nauseous.

Sunrise+CLAMP=Damn good. Geass is love. Fic maybe? Perhaps. I can foresee it happening, but it's not in my sensor range right now.

Certified maggot. "The time of the nine has begun; get out of the way, or you will suffer as one!"

There is no set schedule as to when I update. I update when I have something to update. I don't expect to gain a fanbase similar to that of LittleKuriboh's, and for that I am glad; overly demanding people get on my nerves.

Favorite Gundam: Wing Zero original. Other mobile suit: Qubeley and Kämpfer.

Favorite Pokémon: Gardevoir, beating out Mewtwo by half of a hair. I likes my Psychics. (Mew can go die in a fire after being drawn and quartered while sharing a stage with the decapitation of Lucario.)

Shonen Jump only really satisfied me with Death Note, the first 1/16th of Bleach, Ruroni Kenshin, and HNG.

Melee over Brawl. I suck at both.

If I find a Warhammer 40K base on here, I've got a few things lying around I can send to that.

This is all in my head. What are you doing here?