Chapter 45 and 46 last minute switch for F&L 2

The original update plan was to post Chapter 45 three days ago, but then I made a last minute decision to redo the sequence of a couple of events. Instead of uploading Chapter 46: ?????, I opted to upload chapter 45 first. This was to balance out the events. We had an action-overload for the past few chapters. There's a comedy part (courtesy of Suzuki Akio parts) and some significant side stories like Shizuki-Yuken scenes. Putting 'Cross' as chapter 45 was a wise decision, in my opinion. This is the best time to insert in the drama part. Otherwise, it would drag if I placed it in the latter parts.

Writing Chapter 45 was harder than I expected it to be. I think I revised it more than ten times. I deleted two full pages of unecessary reminiscences and left out only the significant ones. I was struggling to control the length of the chapter because as much as possible, I wanted to keep my chapters as concise as it could be but packed with scenes and fast transitions. I wanted to keep the conversations as brief as they could be, but overflowing with substance, meaning, and emotions. Writing drama was a challenge, because I need to carefully pick out the words I had to use to bring out the exact kind of emotion I wanted to impart to the reader. The goal was not to make the reader cry, but to make the reader symphatize with the characters or even bring themselves to imagine that they were in Ayane/Crosse's shoes. Meia did both though... (cried and symphatized).

I wanted the Ayane-Crosse scene to be cliche but powerful. The original plan was to make them walk/tour around the beach house. It was the cliche I was looking for, but then, if I were to locate their conversation in a beach, it would not be as significant. I wanted a location that would remind them of their past (and back in the United States, Ayane and Crosse did not have a memorable past located in a beach). Upon brainstorming, I ended up with things like rain, park, night, flickering lamp, and telephone booth. A phone booth sounded like a good option. It had a small space inside - very good place for cuddling? Hehe. So yeah, phone booth that is...

So how was Chapter 45? Hope that the drama didn't make you too depressed. Don't worry, the next chapters wouldn't be depressing ones.

Have your "shock absorbers" ready though, hehe.

I came to drop by our thread in Soompi Forums a while ago and I'm quite amazed of the thoughts and comments of the readers there, especially regarding Chapter 44. The long in-depth analysis got me going 'whoah!' (and yeah, followed by a hyena grin of course, hehe). Many great guesses! Miss syndryx was even able to guess about my big bomb regarding Yuken's real profession. Miss esther_hia was able to decipher the secret behind the Christmas tea. Miss pinkslippers was able to give a very good analysis regarding the difference between Crosse and Kosuke that made Ayane choose Kosuke in the end. There were many more brilliant replies (from Miss dreamagain, kc_chua, Silent Serenity, Twixxie, Rin Li, Stephanie, Jasmine, aRia, loveme100x, and many others). It makes me happy that people actually take the time to see between the words along the story for clues then pull the fragments together and see if they make any sense. After all, that's the purpose of a mystery fic. I'm relieved that at least, we're going to the right direction, hehe.

Again, regarding the Soompi FOTY, thank you very much again for the congratulation messages. I really do appreciate them. As I have expressed before, F&L wouldn't be participating in the FOTY this year. We are grateful for the support we've been receiving and that alone is priceless.

And regarding the plagiarism issue in India-Forum... errr... I contacted the forum moderator but so far I haven't gotten any feedback yet. The thread has been shut down long ago, so maybe it is as good as resolved I guess. I hope it doesn't happen again. Please, don't plagiarize F&L.

Fists and Lipsticks wins Soompi Fic of the Year 2008 (FOTY) for Most Original Plot

They say it's hard work paid off, but I say we still have a long way to go.

I learned that the results were posted after receiving a number of e-mails from Soompi and Fictionpress readers congratulating me for Fists and Lipsticks winning the FOTY this year for the Most Original Plot (with 65 votes).

My first reaction was the infamous "hyena grin" of course, hehe. The feeling was like winning the lottery or something, honestly.

EDIT: Hey, Miss Diana (Username: fairy~dream) from Soompi, thanks for giving me a cool banner ^ as a congratulations gift, hehe. Meia and I laughed out loud upon receiving it.

Knowing that people actually come and spend time to download and read your stuff of course makes me feel great, I mean who wouldn't? Apparently, the Mediafire downloads of the PDF version of Book 1 increased hundreds since the announcement for FOTY has been made in the forums, that is still excluding readers who gain access through Shoebox (meaning more people seeing my careless grammar mistakes, tsk tsk tsk).

As a prize for winning, Meia treated me out to dinner - a date in McDonalds, hehe.

I'm actually considering making a Version 5.0 PDF of Book 1 - rewriting it all over again to correct these errors after Book 2 finishes probably by the end of April or May this year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Currently, I'm already in Chapter 54 of Fists and Lipsticks 2: The Silver Crescent (I've posted only up to Chapter 43 though because I write in advance before posting and at the same time spacing out updates to let readers catch up) and I'm estimating it to be finished at around chapter 60 or 65. If I'm going for 60 though, the chapters are going to be quite long that it may overwhelm, so I'm thinking 65 is a better number.

I've been receiving reply posts and emails asking whether F&L2 will be finished before the next round of FOTY 2009 starts "so that they can nominate it again". To answer this question, YES, F&L2 would definitely be finished before October 2009, but to have F&L2 enter AGAIN in the 2009 FOTY in ANY category, I think I have to think it over first... or better yet, completely avoid thinking about it at this point in time. One year win is already an honor.

Just maybe, one year is already enough...

I'm afraid that by thinking about FOTY 2009 this prematurely, especially now that the contest results are still fresh and still lingering at the headlines, it just might affect how I write this story. I am more than thankful to those who continue to support this story - moreover, taking the time to actually vote and make Book 1 of F&L win. It's just that I wanted my PRIMARY goal in completing the second book to be the SAME as my goal in Book 1 and that is to be able to write and successfully complete my very first novel dedicated to Meia. If an award comes along with that, well, that's a big bonus. It's like getting a free toy along with your favorite McDonalds meal - and everytime you look at that toy in your bedroom at night, you're reminded of your McDonalds dinner (not the other way around - not remembering the toy instead of the dinner whenever you eat in McDonalds).

Am I making sense?

I want another burger, hehe.

My elbow was semi-cracked... just a little (but it hurts)

I got all high from a basketball 3 on 3 match with my classmates in BU. I was making a lay-up when Kevin accidentally clashed against me midair while attempting a rebound. The bad thing was that I fell to the ground with my right elbow first. I was taken to Brigham to have some x-rays and pain assessment exams (thanks to Dr. Chiodo of Orthopedics Dept). Lucky that there's nothing wrong with the bone, just a big hematoma / bruise but it hurts like hell especially when you move it when it's unavoidable (like taking a bath or even now as I type on the computer keyboard). There was a minute, minor joint dislocation which was easily corrected by the physical therapist and some support bandages they provided. Kevin treated me with some really good macchiatto from Starbucks, that's the best part, hehe.

I recently uploaded Chapter 42 of F&L2 (which was overdue by the way, thanks to my injury). The chapter was considerable long, but not overwhelming nevertheless - a transition chapter, to be specific. I had a good time editing it (since the chapter has been finished days back) while I stayed in Brigham until around 2 in the morning waiting for my PEs and X-ray results to come out. I added a little bit more of drama AND Meia's requested shower scene (which I did really, really carefully). Imagine how awkward it is to write about a "hot guy" when you're a guy... -#- frown -#-. Feels so gay, man... hehe. It is precisely that big barrier of awkwardness that keeps me from going into concrete details especially when describing male bodies (as opposed to a considerable amounts of stories in Soompi which Meia reads EVERY NIGHT where the descriptions men's bodies are... juicily bloodcurling - at least to me).

"If you were female, you could have done something more descriptive!" Meia kidded.

Frowning, I replied, "If I were female, you'll be the earth's loneliest female coz you wouldn't get the chance to meet someone like me."

Oh, have I told you that I have better pick-up lines compared to Yamazaki Kosuke?

-#-hyena grin-#-

My girlfriend bursted into cute chuckles and we laughed together like fools. For a moment, I completely forgot about the elbow injury I had.

You know, I wouldn't mind describing female breasts in full, juicy detail though (not that I'm perverted but come on, honestly, guys are 'naturals' when it comes to breast assessment, hehe.) Kidding aside, I was wondering - is it the same for female writers who write about "hot girls" too? Do they ever feel awkward? I don't think so... or do they? Judging from the response of readers, I think they enjoyed the Crosse shower scene just as much as Meia did. Meia just gained more and more friends because of it, hehe. I opened my inbox to see 25 emails from readers, saying that Meia's the bomb because of the Crosse shower and forced-kiss scene!

Now that we're talking, has anyone ever wondered why I started writing Fists and Lipsticks? hiro0911 - a writer of fantasy, manga-based stories with swords, dragons, magic, knights, and castles in Fictionpress.com suddenly writing a cheesy high school fic with hot guys and corniness? If you're right in your guess, yes - it's because of Meia. You see, Meia loves reading books, especially love stories. She's also addicted to romance animes, manga, and TV dramas (she has watched the Korean Drama Full House ten times and the Japanese drama Hana Kimi probably a hundred million times, hehe.).

I know that many writers say that authors should write for 'themselves', but in my case, it has always been for Meia. I started writing Fists and Lipsticks as a gift to her more than two years ago (and still running to the present) and she promised me that I'll always be her all-time favorite author.

I worked hard and did my very best to satisfy that criteria.

So, I formulated a kind of plot that would satisfy her romance addiction and, at the same, time blending in one of my favorite genres - mystery. The rest is... a miracle I guess. The story's still surviving and still on the right track. No writers block whatsoever and the scenes are concretely embedded on my mind until the end so there's no room for hiatus or discontinuing.

I received a feedback in a form of private message in Soompi. She told me that she absolutely loved the story, but it could have been better if I used Korean references such as for the names of the characters, the setting, the addresses, the expressions - with this, for sure it would be a 'hit' and would 'gain more popularity' in the forums... I replied to her like this - If I made Fists and Lipsticks 'Korean-ized', then it wouldn't be Fists and Lipsticks anymore (Kosuke-'oppa' sounds weird IMO, hehe). Again, kidding aside, as I was saying, I couldn't imagine this story to be completely something else. It should just be as is. A slight change in the names or even in the way the characters move, talk, and express themselves just wouldn't feel right. This is why I'm hesitant to agree to translation offers, especially if they're planning to change the names (Come to think of it, Crosse-oppa sounds even weirder, hehe). Japanese culture appeals more to Meia and I (because we both love Naruto and sushi), and so even despite my lack of detailed knowledge about Japan, I prefered F&L to be set in Japan.

Regarding what she said about being a 'hit' or 'gaining more popularity', I told her this story about writing FOR Meia... that even I am left with only a reader or two or none at all, I will still continue this story because I know that Meia WILL be there to read it. That prize is more satisfying than ANY amount of recognition, award, or praise this fic could get.

Fists and Lipsticks has been posted from the very start in Fictionpress. It has been posted in Soompi upon Meia's suggestion, to which I approved later on, hoping to share my gift to her to the rest of the world.

With all the readers' warm support, I have always been surprised, overwhelmed, and thankful.

This story has become dear to us. Meia and I would talk about Kosuke and Ayane and the rest of the cast while munching hamburgers and fries in Mc Donalds or in the middle of watching a movie together. Most of the things I add in the story stem from real-life inspiration (eg. the Tsuzuya Ball scene where Kosuke and Ayane strolls around the city wearing clothes that look like wedding attires - I did that scene after Meia and I walked around the malls, checking out wedding gowns to grab ideas for our wedding on 2010; The Chapter in F&L2 entitled Santa Clause when we rode an elevator, where the small stereo played a chipmunk version of Santa Clause is Coming to Town... etc.). To Meia and I, Fists and Lipsticks is more than a story to tell. It is not just all about a complicated plot with gazillion problems, emo characters, corny jokes, and crazy twists. It has grown along with how our relationship has grown. And whenever I see her smile or squeal or frown or laugh out loud or cry from the scenes ranging from cliche to intense, I am happy because I knew I was making her happy.

To the readers both in Fictionpress and Soompi, thank you so much for joining us in this long journey. I will work hard and do my best to make this story even better.

And to Meia, Happy 7th Anniversary . I love you more than anything else in the universe. You know that.

Enough cheesiness and on to the announcements - yes, as I've said the plot will be crazier from here on. We've reached the point where it's about time to pull out the sad reminiscences and 'emo' moments and soliloquy for some hardcore twists and action. Updates will be regular, if not fast. I wanted to finish F&L2 as soon as I could because Meia and I would be busy in the following months to prepare for our "big day in white".

To answer some of your questions - yes, Kosuke is with Kaoru Saori right now and Hidemi and the rest of the gang does not know where he is. Rei has gone crazy, but you haven't seen the peak of his craziness yet. Will he be the enemy? Will the Silver Crescent be the enemy? Well, we'll find out as the plot unfolds.

Did Ayane lose her memories and emotions?
Then, why does she act 'normal' in the latest chapters?
Does it have something to do with bloodtypes (as one of the readers guessed)?
Is Ayane immune to the Oblivion Vapor?
If so, how did it happen?
How about Lin, who was given the drug intravenously?
Will she be okay?
Who is Kaoru Saori?
Who is Kaoru Hiro?
Why is Crosse with the Spectra?
Why is Yoshifumi Shigeo back?
Who stole the Spider Web?
What's going to happen in the war between the Spectra and the Silver Crescent?

Ah, ALL these questions... I bet chapter 43 onwards are going to be one hell of a ride. -#-grins-#-

Will update in two to three days. The next chapter is done but I'm spacing out intervals to give time for readers to catch up.

Thank you for the continued support and welcome to all new readers. Enjoy your stay with us!

-Mark (Hiro0911/HiroLovesMeia)