(Here is an interview my friend and I did to clear up a few questions she and others had...)
If you could do something in your story different, what would it be?
Inami: There's a lot I would change with her, I wish I had planned her out a bit more, though I was a bit more naïve a writer when I started this fic. Let's see… I'd probably give her a different power. I think that even though I purposely go out of my way to keep her from "power-fighting" too much, she's too strong, and her power isn't as original as I'd like it to be. I may even move her symbol. Also, I would have killed her off a little earlier and made the mourning scenes with Tasuki better, plus at this point I don't like how the two got together.
So you'd still keep Tasuki and Inami together?
Oh, definitely. The other love relationships in this story that even go into full enough bloom for me to do anything with are either Miaka and Taka, who everyone is sick of, or perhaps Yui and Tetsuya, but they're separated for a hunk of this. I had a fear of romance when this fic started, as readers could probably tell by my little use of it and the poor writing of it. I am glad now to say that I have a romance-based fic now, if anyone likes Rurouni Kenshin.
If you like the Inami-Tasuki pairing so much, why did you separate them?
Originally, I wasn't going to. But I thought it would make a better ending, and it gives me some more lee-way for thesequel. Besides, it's not in Inami's natural character to stay.
Why not?
She's stubborn, and part of that is because she can't let go of the past, which is seen a few times in the story. If she gets the opportunity to re-live her life the way she had it, she'll take it.
So let's get the deal straight, were she and Hikitsu involved?
Involved?
You know what I mean.
Ha ha. No, they weren't, though I can see why a reader would think so. Inami's most serious "involved" relationship was with Tasuki, not Hikitsu.
Does Chichiri ever find love?
Hmm…. Maybe. Can't say. I pretty much know the fates of all the cast members at this point. Sharing them will have to wait 'til the epilogue.
What made you want to write this story?
Ha… ha… actually, pure spite. I wanted to have THE first Eikouden continuation, because for some dumb reason, I thought a lot of people would be writing them ;;
Who was your favorite couple in this story?
Hmm… by the end of the fic, I'd actually say Saori and Suboshi. Though they're really not a couple, I think their few scenes together were really authentic. There wasn't any heavy duty stuff, but the little things can sometimes be the sweetest.
What were your favorite scenes with them?
I have two, actually. The first one is when Suboshi saved Saori from Nakago, and the other is the last scene with them in chapter 82. Actually, it's funny, originally I didn't plan on having Saori with anyone.
Any characters you wish you had used more of?
Well, I could always use more of everyone, but I'd say Chichiri and Soi. They're good characters who didn't get all the air time they deserved.
okay, can you give us anymore insight to the sequel? Please?
No. Well, a little. I will get to expand a bit on Uruki's character, though as of right now she will only be a minor role. I can also tell you that the time in both worlds evens out, (at least until the story starts again) and the sequel takes place three years from where part 1 ends.
anything else?
Heh… there's a lot more romance in the sequel than in the main story, and it will be shorter, I want to aim for 30 chapters, but who knows.
One more thing, I noticed you don't say what season it is much in your story. How does the reader know how much time has passed?
I know I didn't keep seasons, I probably should have. There is one thing that let's you keep time, though: Houki's pregnancy. You know how much time has passed by how far along she is, and she's about to give birth in Chapter 82. Saori was in the book for about 10-11 months.
Any new OOCs in the Sequel?
Yes. A few. Let's see… I can count about 3 ½ important ones.
3 ½?
Yep. Sorry, you'll have to see how that's explained.
Fin