Second Chance
By Sango-chan
Interlude One
PISS OFF THE AUTHOR! YAY!
NOTE: This interlude is my thoughts, changing over and over again, about the subject of Inuyasha's choice. There are parts where you may definitely not like the direction I seem to be heading in, but please read on until the end…I believe (hope) my final decision will satisfy everyone. Also, this interlude includes a spoiler about Inuyasha's choice in the next chapter. I'll warn you before I give it, so don't scroll down TOO far if you don't want to hear it. However…in the next chapter, you may feel angry about my decision. If so, come back and read this. PS: Review responses at the VERY bottom!
No, this is not a new chapter…for all of you people with brains…it says INTERLUDE. I-N-T-E-R-L-U-D-E. A break. Yes.
*Siiiiiigh* Arigato…I didn't mean to scream at you like that……or at least some of you…ahem…
Anyways, this a little break right before I go into the most important part of this fanfic, the choice all of you have been waiting so patiently for. Before I reach this crucial point, I wanna talk with you all about some things that have made me happy, encouraged me to keep writing, and majorly pissed me off.
First off: I love your reviews! Many of you argue eloquently about why Inuyasha should pick Kikyo or Kagome, plead, beg, suggest constructive criticism, and even give me nice pats on the back to reassure me that I still own this fic. However…there are just as many of you who insult, whine, complain, and generally tear down the personalities of the wonderful characters Rumiko Takahashi has created. That…does not make this kitty happy.
Each character so carefully created and developed, learning with the rest of us as we watch the anime or read the manga, has his or her own qualities. I love Kagome's hilarious bouts of temper, happy-go-lucky attitude, and innocence while still enjoying Kikyo's serene tranquility, calm personality, and gentleness. You're all free to feel as you will about these characters and choose for yourself who you like best, but…these insults must stop. Bitch, slut, whiny brat, pathetic, crybaby, selfish—this makes me sick. I don't mind when people try to persuade me to pick Kagome or Kikyo, but what's up with the negative comments? Instead of focusing on why Inuyasha should pick your favorite, all these reviewers focus on why he shouldn't pick the other. Which is not only an extremely weak argument—pick the bad over the worse—but it's disgusting and ruins my day completely.
You want proof? You want facts? Out of the first 110 reviews for this fic, only 68 contain no spiteful, bitter verbal abuse. The other 42 reviews—I'm not even counting them anymore. Forget them. 42 out of 110—that's 38%. No one wants to go see what other people voted for and have to encounter all this ludicrary every four reviews. It makes me soooooooo grateful to see that some reviewers believe as I do—this crap is disgusting and useless. A special THANK YOU and an Inu-chan plushie to "lil_xueli@yahoo.com"—my thoughts exactly on the subject!
Still, I did promise to leave this up to the reader's votes, not dictorship, as some reviewer pointed out. (Lost your name, sorry!) But then again, as still others pointed out, this is my fanfic, my work, my ending.
I don't like to break promises, and I definitely do not want to lose my ownership over this story. So here's a compromise.
First, the ending to this fic will be…(if you don't want a spoiler, don't scroll down!)
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…Kikyo. Don't kill me yet, read first my explanation and then the rest of the compromise.
I know I never hinted this and you probably got the idea that I was totally clueless about how I might end Second Chance myself, but…in actuality, a Inuyasha/Kikyo ending had formed by the end of the first chapter. I tried to think of a Kagome/Inuyasha when I saw how the votes were stacked, tried to think of a beautiful ending—but no matter what conclusion I formed, the Kikyo/Inuyasha always rang more true, more pure, more…what this fic was meant for.
When I tried out a number of Kagome/Inuyasha endings, they always came out sounding forced and fake to my ears. No matter how I toiled, the Kikyo/Inuyasha ending had attained a crystal perfection and rightness that my other ones had never, could never, achieve. My Kagome/Inuyasha endings broke the flow of the story, somehow made it stumble. And I greatly value quality in a story.
Therefore, I will stick with the Kikyo/Inuyasha ending here. It melds perfectly with the rest of the fic, connects effortlessly. It simply has lodged in my mind, perhaps unbeknownst to me for a time, but there and unwilling to let go to make room for the other possible endings that held small imperfections. I believe, truly, that if I chose to use an alternate ending, this story would lose an essential piece of itself, perhaps the most important piece of all.
I will not tarnish this story, will not break its line. I stick with the Kikyo/Inuyasha that seems right to me.
However, my promise: the compromise is that while I will NOT have an alternate ending for Second Chance, for again I feel that this retracts from the quality of the story, I will post a Kagome/Inuyasha ending under the name "Second Chance: Alternate Ending, by popular demand". Please, though, however avid a Kag/Inu fan you may be, try and also read my Kikyo/Inuyasha ending! I deem that one better, and there's a little part at the end of the very last chappie that I think will satisfy even you…*wink* Just read and find out!
One last note: Anymore negative, abusive reviews, and I swear the next chapter will take twice as long to come out. You have been warned…
REVIEW RESPONSES: Yes, the author has taken enough time to get off her lazy bum and actually RESPOND to reviews! XD These are, um, earliest reviews first, I think…at least the reviews way back there on the last page first! I'm only answering questions, or stuff I feel strongly about to respond to. (Translation: stuff you wanna know, things that piss me off or make me wanna give you a hug!)
Everyone who voted for Kikyo: MWAHAHAHA!!! LOOK! I HAVE A HUMAN SHIELD TO PROTECT ME FROM THE SCREAMING KAG/INU FANS!!! *Gives her human shield Inu-chan plushies* ^^ I'm a Kikyo/Inuyasha fan, too, so thanks for voting this way!
Everyone who voted for Kikyo: No, I don't hate Kagome, and I'm glad to now your thoughts and ideas…except for those spiteful, DISGUSTING insults that discredit both you and the person you voted for…still, some of you had thought-provoking arguments and interesting suggestions, so…you get Inu-chan plushies too! ^^
kag_chan (kag_chan@yahoo.com): ^^; Really…I should pick Kagome cuz Sango is Kagome's best friend? Now that's one I've never heard before…
Aiko-chan: Thanks for the info on sugoi! I knew I had heard it somewhere before, but I did misplace my brain a while back…*mutters* Anyways, I'm really grateful for you actually taking the time to come back and review that info! There are way too many authors who use vocabulary that I don't understand in their fics and I beg and beg and beg and never get responses…but that will change! I will find a way to make all those ppl tell me the WORDS that I don't know! The world of FANFICTION will become a better place when I CHANGE it for the better by allowing everyone to UNDERSTAND…blahblahblah…*maniacal glint*
Ahem…so, I would like to pay YOU back with some juicy Japanese info of my own! ^^ Maybe you know this and just didn't want to take the time to explain it in your review, but 'sugoi' not only means wonderful/amazing but can also mean horrible or terrifying. Sugoi simply is "to a great extent"; the extremes of whatever expression, be it fear or wonderment.
Yunaleska: *Sigh* *Pops a chill pill in your mouth* Here. Calm down. I am explaining this ONCE (yeah right) and only ONCE: Kikyo and Inuyasha were both inexperienced in the matter of "love"; how were they to know what was real and what was false? This was a matter of life and death, not only of personal pain but of the lives of both her village and possibly the whole world if there was even the smallest possibility that Inuyasha had used the Shikon no Tama for the wrong purposes. As some beautiful, wonderful person pointed out somewhere, the options were a) let the whole world fall into chaos, b) kill him, and c) put him into an enchanted sleep. Wow…what would you pick?
lynnxlady: Hmmm…hey, you've reviewed some on my other fics, right? ^^ I remember you! The person-thingy who always writes such long reviews…but so helpful, too! No, your brainstorming is NEVER annoying, it's actually quite interesting, even if I don't tie it into the actual fic. Usually bits of ideas like yours get stuck into storage somewhere in the cold, empty depths of my brain and get pulled out for other fics or weird stuff…
Kikyou: O.O Whoa…wonderful argument! But…*puts on preachy voice* Two rights don't make a wrong, young reviewer. Just because others insulted Kikyo doesn't mean you can insult Ka…YEAH RIGHT! That was wonderful…*sobsob* Yes, I also get so annoyed with all the Kikyo bashing that I have sporadic little bouts of Kagome bashing privately…. No one heard that, ok?^^ I'm sorry. I don't hate Kagome…just gotta get it off my chest sometimes, after hearing all those evil remarks.
lobelia: Wha wha wha wha wha-wha? So…confused…@_@ What's that about saving Kikyo but not changing his future again?
As to the other comment…thankies for that! ^^ I've had quite a few ppl in my fics who complain that I place TOO much emphasis on inner-struggles without enough action (one of my weak points), so it's nice to actually hear the opposite for once!
Angelstars: Lol, "all about the eyes" *Grin* Anyways, yes I did join and now I must invite YOU to join my Seto Shrine! It's an AU Seto roleplay, where you make yourself a new character who's connected to Seto in any way!
About the unconditional love part…Kagome does love Inuyasha that way, but so does Kikyo. It took seconds for Kikyo to hate Inuyasha? No, not at all. Look to the manga volume 8, scroll three: Naraku. If Kikyo actually hated Inuyasha, then why didn't she want to live? Kikyo still loved him, but she had to think in the best interests of her village and the whole world. She put him into an enchanted sleep instead of killing him and went peacefully to her own death, prepared to follow him, even beyond the boundaries of death.
Unconditional love? A love that transcends not only time, but whole worlds of life and death?
How else do you define it?
Diane: Lol! No, Kagome doesn't get Hojo in this fic! Hojo's a major evilness in my picture…you'll see what happens in the last chapter…*wink*
Camellia: Cool…someone who would agree with me! I, too, believe in the good that lies in both Kagome and Kikyo, though I do defend Kikyo more because she simply needs defense against some close-minded reviewers…*coffcoff*Kelsey: O_O;;; OH MY KAMI! *Gasps for water and chokes* Hojo, the reincarnation of Inuyasha?! They're complete opposites! Pushover, aggressive, gentle, brusque, calm, ready to blow his top at any second…you name it, they're opposites. Well, to each his own…I guess…^^; At least you're pro-Kikyo!
Sorensen: *Raises eyebrow* Sure, Kagome lets Inuyasha go after Kikyo…and then she sulks and stomps and heads home like a spoiled, bratty child who's lost a favorite toy. Kagome's not perfect, and neither is Kikyo. I can see the good qualities of Kagome: her humor, gentleness, and consideration for others. But don't make her look like a shining angel. No one is, and that's the whole point of anime/manga: the characters feel real.
=^-~= (lil_xueli@yahoo.com): *Hugs you to death* THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!! Your thoughts mirror my own almost perfectly! Yes, I feel sooooo strongly that way, too! The whole "Kikyo is a *beep*" situation is outta hand, and I feel exactly like that on the subject of Kikyo's so-called "betrayal" of Inuyasha. Yet, I also enjoy's Kagome's positive traits and admire her for them. Everyone, GO READ THIS REVIEW!
Oi…can you read my mind or something?! *Hands you a million Kikyo/Inuyasha posters and plushies*
Joy-chan: Kikyo, cold-hearted and evil? *Sigh* Once again, that brings me to the point of: THAT LIVING MUMMY IS NOT KIKYO! Almost all of her soul is trapped within Kagome: all that moves her is a few traces of bitter hatred/love towards Inuyasha! Don't confuse that doll with the REAL Kikyo! Kami! *Huffs*
Lovethefic: Wow…I actually introduced someone to the wonders of Kikyo/Inuyasha pairings! *Sparkle* Amazing! But, back to the review response. …Exactly. Kikyo? Never selfish, never putting her needs first when she was REAL back then.
kikyou_forever: *Winks* Kagome won't exactly be a daughter…something else…*winkwinkwink*
Ling: *Winces* I am pro-Kikyo, but this straight-out Kagome bashing is no excuse, either.
Angelstars: At least I know I have ONE supporter! ^^
Thiemo Günther (thiemo.guenther@t-online.de): Actually, I didn't forget the fact that, in most time-traveling fics, Inuyasha would encounter a younger version of himself. Operating word: most.
I'm not of the belief that millions of layers of time all exist at once for everyone. I think that only one of a person exists at one time, in one place. So sorry if it goes against the way you think of time travel, but…hey, that's me!
*Grins* Thanks for that one compliment. Even one compliment from someone who has taken the time to fully analyze my fic means a lot to me.
Alex First: As I said to Thiemo Guenther, I truly, truly appreciate an in-depth analysis of my fic like the one you wrote. Those kinds of reviews always encourage me to write better! And…*dances* ANOTHER PERSON WHO THINKS I HAVE A BRAIN OF MY OWN TO CHOOSE! YAY!
hanamei-chan (too lazy to log in): Lmol! *Cackles* You'll have to read up above about that double ending, if you haven't already! And THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for supporting my right to decide how my fic ends!
kik_all_e_way: *Big fat sweatdrop* ^^; Um…you don't have to convince me about the why's of Kikyo/Inuyasha…I thought I'd said several times that that's the ending I prefer, too!
Fallon: No, it isn't the last chapter! I personally hate annoying cliffhangers, and so I never write them myself! ^^ But I hope you'll read my last chapter…I think it will satisfy most people.
KAGOME (NOT***** KIKYO) _ FOREVA: *Stares* And you really expect me to set the foundation of my fanfic, the whole idea behind it, on the Inuyasha anime?! Are you insane?! Anime. Feh. Manga is where Inuyasha originated, and manga is what I will stick with, thank you very much. I hate that about most anime: when they become anime, they lose much of the plot, the complicated, intricate twists and biting humor and wit, the things that make the very soul of the manga series. And that movie…Love Which Transcends Time…don't even mention it to me. I HATED THAT MOVIE. If the Inuyasha anime is bad, that…that thing…is a million times worse. One of the focal points of Takahashi-san's art and storyline is she always shows the utmost consideration for each and every one of her characters, be it main character or a passing person lost in the action. Never, I repeat never would she leave Kikyo dying with Inuyasha living his own happy little life elsewhere…and, even worse, leave that thread hanging undone: did Kikyo actually die, or did she manage to survive? Did Inuyasha do anything? That complete ignorance, that total loss of caring for what happened at all to Kikyo—I hate that sad excuse for a movie. I feel for any of you out there who have never had a chance to read the manga and must survive on the anime, that shadow of the magical realm Takahashi-san produced.
You believe the definition of a hard-core Inuyasha fan rests on whether or not a person tapes all the anime episodes? I personally stopped watching after a few weeks, disgusted at how it stripped Inuyasha of its manga purity. I don't know—am I a hard-core Inuyasha fan?!
*Siiiiiiiiiigh* I don't mean to insult you. I'm just a strict manga purist, and I hate the Inuyasha anime, especially after seeing the movie, with a passion.
Long Shot: Whatever gave you that idea? I get pissed easily, but not at reviewers just cuz they review! ^^
Is it just me, or have you noticed an increase in Kikyo voters near the end?
So…next chapter, Inu's decision is reviewed, and the chapter after that is the VERY LAST one of this fanfic, and once again I beseech you Kagome/Inu fans to read it, and Kikyo/Inu fans as well. There are two parts to that last chapter of my fanfic, and I really believe it will satisfy all.