Author Note for Fists and Lipsticks 2: The Silver Crescent:
Chapter 32 onwards
Chapter 32 onwards
It’s time to push the story forward…
… and as we end the “Romance Overload Chapters” a.k.a Chapter 21-31, we now go deeper into the story – to uncover secrets of the Silver Crescent & Spectra Gang, re-meet ‘old characters’ (*cough* earrings *cough*), and develop the characters either positively or negatively.
From here on, things may get a little bloodier, little confusing, and a little towards the mystery side of the fic. Not that I will completely remove the comedy and romance, but I find it necessary to put the mystery/action/drama side of F&L to the top of the list as far as this section of the story is concerned.
Upon reading the reviews left by the readers so far, I think I’m getting just about the right feedback I was expecting. I’m glad that people actually noted the drastic change in Ayane (some have actually started ‘hating’ her at this point of the story… ‘hating’ even Kosuke for his perseverance… while some are ‘hating’ Rei for his excessive jealousy and rage to the point of calling Ayane selfish… ‘hating’ Yuken for his excessive stealth… ‘hating’ Saori for her annoying attitude… ‘hating’ Prime Minister Yamazaki Daisuke for his evil doings as the Spectra Lord).
Now, I believe that this would be the part where you could actually look back to Book 1 of Fists and Lipsticks, where Ayane was once introduced as the ‘kind-hearted, almost-perfect, beautiful, courageous, self-giving/selfless’ girl – so good at everything, so nice, so pure… This is where she starts to ascend to her ‘breaking point’, some sort of ‘release’ to crush each of these sweet seeds one by one. And yes, this is part of the character’s so-called ‘negative development’.
Same goes for the opposite. Remember that point in time when you used to hate Crosse Williams and Ayanami Fuuko in Book 1? -#-evil grin-#-
But Ayane would not be the only one trapped between the raging wars between the two powerful gangs. Mistakes would be made, jealousy would start the fire in its summit, wide smiles would turn into tears, and remorse and guilt would be sowed all over again. Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.
I have actually written five chapters in advance (like I always do) and looking at the plot from where it is right now, I would see to it that every event that would unfold would not be unjustifiably “too much” for Ayane and Kosuke. Like in F&L 1, as much as possible, I make sure that there is a reason behind each event, and so, if the events become too much, chase me down with a frying pan, hehe… No seriously, if things go overboard, tell me what you think and I MAY consider it – not unless ‘that’ event is linked to something else I have in mind that has yet to be revealed. If they do, just forgive me for a while. Hehe.
I’m really grateful for all the support you readers have been giving this humble fic, especially the old loyal readers. I’m also very thankful for the new readers (the fact that there’s a Book 1 prior to Book 2 so it’s quite unusual/rare nowadays to gain new readers because of the burden of having to read a 600+ page Book 1 just to catch up with the story). Despite having gone through that burden, the warm welcome and appreciation and the boost you’ve been giving me to finish this story had been beyond overwhelming. Geez, I could only scratch my head and say thanks. I wanted to send you all some Tootsie Rolls, but Yoon might tease me so yeah… maybe not. Perhaps you can all come to my wedding? Haha.
Regarding Chapter 32, I consider this as one of my ‘transition chapters’, although I’ve dropped some really good clues here that MAY be useful in the future chapters. Definitively not going to anyone’s list of favorite chapters, but hey… as I said, we need to push the story from here on – and this chapter offers that ‘initial’ push.
Also, I’d like to take this chance to thank Miss Rebekah (from LA Youth Newspaper), Miss Andy (from the Mirror – CSA School Publication), Miss Polly9 (from LiveJournal), and Miss Megan (from AZ Teen Magazine) for their kind mention of Fists and Lipsticks in their newspaper/magazine/blog reviews.
Big thanks!
-Hiro
