Chapter 16: Loyalty

For me, honestly, this was supposed to be a boring transition chapter. To avoid such utterly horrendous and boring transition chapter, I added up some Yoon bits into it to make it rather amusing at some point.

Nothing much to say, except that I thank you for reading F&L and for your continuous support ^_^. Sorry if I give poorly-written author replies compared to other writers in Fictionpress and Soompi. It's just that after reading your comments, I end up grinning like a hyena, and then I would totally go blank, speechless... -_-

Meia was telling me - "Hiro, you should give author replies to each one! If I were your reader, I would love to see you responding to my posts and will continue reading your work!"

I need an anti-hyena-grin pill. Someone give me a anti-hyena-grin pill!

Anyway, regarding F&L1 by the way, I am re-writing Chapter 1-30 of Book 1 of Fists and Lipsticks. This is to make the first part of the fic more captivating to read, less on the 'anime-ish' side and a little more to a type that is acceptable in 'book standards', if you know what I mean. After rereading the first few chapters, I really wasn't satisfied. It felt like reading a monotonous comic book... I dunno, all of a sudden I am not satisfied with it. I got bored reading my own work, hehe... So I'm doing a massive revision, yeah... The plot will be the same still, same with the events, but some speaking lines and the descriptions may be changed a little. I'm still thinking whether to pull out or to leave the Onion Emoticons on, or maybe lessen them a bit... But after writing Chapter 16, I think it's more hilarious letting them stay at some point... I have to think about that.

Anyway, thanks again for reading F&L...

-hiro

F&L Chapter 15 - Sessions

A chapter spanning 3000+ words...

And yes, the 'love-web' is now complete.

I told you...

You wouldn't be able to guess it was HIM, hehe.

So yeah, things would be rather twisted from this point on... really twisted, but I'll do my best to make sense out of everything.

The question is why Yuken? Well... you have to read on. The other question is how Yuken was able to 'make it out' of the Lethal Lily amnesic effect that time Yoon attacked him? Well... I can't reveal that yet either.

And I decided to show the 'serious, gangster-ish' side of the goofy little Korean bomber: Yoon ^_^

And why did I update? It's because I just got home from the Olympics opening ceremony and heck whoah omfg combined really...

(Sorry for the quality of the two pictures above ^.
They were taken via mobile phone)

I haven't witnessed anything as marvelous as that! It was awesome, especially the mandolin players (who were directly below our seat btw) and the lighting of the torch. It was one of those moments when you just can't help but drop your jaw in awe and feel the goosebumps from head to toe.

In case you're wondering, I have the habit of pre-writing 5 chapters in advance, that's why sometimes updates are too fast and sometimes not too fast. I've already finished up to Chapter 18 though, just 3 chapters in advance for today since I was too eager to post a chapter today. It must have been the Olympic spirit, hehe.

-hiro

F&L2 - Chapter 13 & 14 uploaded

^ New poster by the way. Photo used with permission from Kevin Tze of Flickr.


Two quickly uploaded chapters as a pre-Olympic treat ^_^

F&L2 Chapter 13 in Fictionpress and Soompi

F&L2 Chapter 14 in Fictionpress and Soompi

The original plan was to put chapter 13 and 14 together, but it would be impossible because of the length so I decided to cut them into two chapters.

The concept of these chapters was to stress the big contrast between Ayane's seemingly 'split' personality. Chapter 13 talks of a tough Ayane while Chapter 14 shows a frail person behind her seemingly impenetrable shields.

And yes, finally they meet but... hehe.

People, don't kill me. I can't finish this story and I can't watch the Olympics if you kill me now, you know... LOL

I had a hard time in Chapter 14. First, the first-person narration (which is in a female's POV by the way) came a little difficult for me. I had to re-write several lines to make them more feminish.

Second, I had to edit a lot of colors while fixing the post in Soompi. Those [b] and [/center] stuff to format the whole thing came pretty hard, since there were a lot of lines delivered from the Spider Web. I had to color the speaking lines to demarcate them from the actual scenes.

Lastly, it has been always difficult to write an action scene. Like you have to describe how they move, how they kick, how they punch, how they glide and point their guns... It was a lot different from F&L - the feel of writing this chapter. I only had the chance to describe fight scenes with such animation with the Keiko chapters nearing the end. But here in F&L, since we have a new Empress, we had to expect more action chaps... *SIGH*. Writing action fics is a lot harder than writing fantasy and dramas, you know... I hope I did justice to F&L2 at least...

But the conflicts and deception are just about to start. For the next chapter, I will unfold the last love rival on the 'love web' I've been talking about.

You'll never know who it is, hehehehe...

Thank you for reading F&L. I also noticed that there are new readers too, so yeah, welcome and hope you enjoy your stay.

-hiro

F&L2 - Chapter 11 & 12 uploaded

The Olympics is fast approaching. I'm excited, hehe...

Anyway, back to the fics, here are the links:

F&L2 Chapter 11 - Vodka, Champagne, & Tequila Cocktails in Fictionpress & Soompi
F&L2 Chapter 12 - Lethal Lilies in Fictionpress & Soompi

I really don't know what to say except thank you for taking the time to read F&L. I've said this a million times I know, but it just feels great to say it often... So yeah, thanks!

By the way, for Chapters 11-20, there would be a... let's say... rather shocking twist. So prepare for that *evil grin*. It has something to do with a "new" villain - a part of the 'love web' I was talking about. Remember that I said once that there's another character in the web besides Aya, Kosuke, Crosse, Saori, and Rei? Well... there... hehe. That's all I can say for now.

The much anticipated Aya-Kosuke meeting? We're getting to that part. It's not too near, but not to far either.

Again, TY for dropping by and enjoy!

-hiro

Fists and Lipsticks 2: 8, 9, 10 uploaded

I have been updating pretty quick recently because I MIGHT be gone for a week because Meia arrived here in China yesterday. We'll be going around places for vacation, hehe.

F&L2-CH08 in Fictionpress and Soompi
F&L2-CH09 in Fictionpress and Soompi
F&L2-CH10 in Fictionpress and Soompi

Chapter 8 is the chapter that Yoon fans would love. I apologize for the lousy Korean parts or if they are wrong or if they sound ridiculous. Meia just found the translations in Babelfish. Special thanks to people in Soompi for helping me correct some parts (luckii, bee, cmacaronee, and woodchild.jnr).

Chapter 9 contains the deal between Ayane and Mr. Williams. In writing this chapter, I made her as intimidating as she could be, from her clothes down to her manner of speech. I wanted that 'startle' factor with a mix of tension, angst, and sarcasm. Also, I made it as such to demark the great difference between her outer self and her 'lost self'... a transition between this chapter to the next one - Sessions Part 2

Chapter 10 contains the second day of Ayane's theraphy session with Shizuki. Aside from this, you would be given a little glimpse of what happened in the airport that night Ayane escaped from Japan with a certain Yoshifumi Shigeo (in Fists and Lipsticks Book 1). A little warning though... Meia cried after reading this chapter, hehe.

Thank you for reading F&L!

-hiro

The Silver Crescent Chapter 6,& 7 uploaded

Lately, I've been really lazy updating my writing blog. Will someone please hit me on the head?

OUCH!

Anyway, here -

Chapter 6 in Fictionpress & Soompi
Chapter 7 in Fictionpress & Soompi

Well, Chapter 6 must be the most hated chapter of the Anti-Saori Club hehe... It just proves that my writing is effective in relaying that feeling. I created Saori's character to cause such pester and annoyance, not only to the characters but also to the readers. Bad news is, you're going to read more of her in the succeeding chapters.

Chapter 7 named 'Orders' particulary offers a glimpse of how Kosuke and Ayane are as 'gang leaders'. There would be an appearance of Dmitri Williams in this chapter too, and a face off between Nu Huang and the doubtful Yuken, who has turned into a professional photographer as you have read.

Who is Ayane meeting? Lots have been speculating that she's meeting Crosse... Well, let's see in the next chapter who that person will be (hehehe...)

-hiro

F&L2: Sessions Part 1 uploaded

A chapter that took me three days to make.

F&L2 Chapter 5- Session on Fictionpress & Soompi.

For Fists and Lipsticks 2 – The Silver Crescent©, Reminiscence chapters will be named Sessions. Instead of being composed entirely of flashback chapters, the narration of ‘untold events’ would be done through a battery of psychological treatment sessions for Yoshida Ayane under Dr. Okamoto Shizuki. Like the Reminiscences, the chapters would be in first person, this time as told by Shizuki.

I had to learn the patho-physiology behind Post-traumatic Stress Disorder including the signs and symptoms. I had to learn how to make an acceptable medical history too. It was a hard task, but worth it since I learned a lot too. For a while, I felt as if I were a real doctor, hehe.

I figured out that using 'flashbacks' the ordinary way is too overused, so I came up with this new approach. Tell me how was it, was it hard to understand? I appreciate your opinion.

BTW, do I have a Korean reader around? I need help for Yoon's future speaking lines. Do PM me if you're willing to translate some lines for me and I'll credit you. Thank you.

-The Author

F&L2 Chapter 3 & 4 uploaded

For some reason, I couldn't access Blogspot the previous day so I wasn't able to post an update AN.

Anyway, here it is-

Chapter 3 in Fictionpress (unabridged)
Chapter 3 in Soompi (abridged)

Chapter 4 in Fictionpress
Chapter 4 in Soompi

These chapters will tell what became of Yuken & Shizuki ^_^. Also, a little glimpse of Kosuke's 'new' life and 'hobby' hehe...

Also, I casted myself hahaha. Oh come on, give me the role of the Senior Investigator Hiro. That's one of my dream jobs, you know (aside from being an astronaut, lol).

Hope you enjoy it. Thank you for dropping by.

-hiro (for some reason I've been growing lazier and lazier in updating this blog. hmm.)

F&L2 Chapter 2: Changes uploaded

Chapter 2: Changes have been uploaded...

Chapter 2 in Fictionpress
Chapter 2 in Soompi Forums

And yes, for Fists and Lipsticks 2, it would be written in 1st person (except for parts without Ayane, which would be written in the usual 3rd person).

A little glimpse/introduction to the new characters...

Enjoy and thank you for reading, especially to the old readers who have come back to read and the new readers too!

-hiro

Chapter 1 of F&L2: Dance of Death uploaded

Ah, at last we're ready for another chapter posting spree, hehe.

Hey readers, welcome back to F&L. I've finished up to chapter five now, but I'll post the first one at the mean time -

Fists and Lipsticks 2: The Silver Crescent
Chapter 1 in Fictionpress
Chapter 1 in Soompi

Ayane's back for some big revenge. New characters, new conflicts, new love-triangles, new secrets, new action...

No censored scene for Soompi for Chapter 1. Contents are the same.

Happy reading!

-hiro

Fists and Lipsticks 2: The Silver Crescent - Prologue posted!

I was planning to keep this first until I finish at least the initial 5 chapters, but due to insistent public demand, okay guys here it is - -


The prologue has been posted both on Fictionpress and Soompi Forums.

But Chapter 1, I'll be holding it first. Give me a week or two since I'm still making the flowchart of the sequence of vital events so that I'll not end up lost in the process.

Thank you for supporting me and this project ^_^

-hiro

Fists and Lipsticks "Season 1 Finale" uploaded

Hehe, sounds like CSI or something...

Season 1 Finale at Fictionpress.

Season 1 Finale at Soompi Forums


Thank you to all the readers!

(I'll be right back for a longer comment... I'm hungry right now. I'll just go out and grab a dumpling!)

-hiro

F&L currently undergoing massive revisions for PDF version

Since the next chapter I'm going to post will be the last chapter for Part 1 of Fists and Lipsticks, I decided to proofread the chapters not included in the Version 2.0 PDF/.doc Version so that once the final chapter is released, the .doc version containing all the chapters can be released too.

F&L Chapter 74: Bloodstains - uploaded

Second to the last chapter up... One to go before Part 1 of F&L ends

74 in Fictionpress

74 in Soompi Forums


I've included some confirming data regarding the 'hinted' secrets that remained unanswered. Also, a brief narration of what happened in Keiko's past is included in this chapter (about the Silver Crescent).

I intentionally made that narration confusing. I have a chapter that would explain that part in-depth, but it will come in the "Season Two".

Another bulk of Reminiscence chapters? Well, maybe... maybe... But it wouldn't be as long as those in the first part.

Thank you for reading F&L. One to go... ^_^

-hiro

F&L Chapter 73: Keiko's Secret - posted

This chapter contains the two biggest twists in the story.

Chapter 73 in Fictionpress

Chapter 73 in Soompi

I was always to confident that no one could guess both these twists. Well, the one for Keiko's identity - as I revealed several clues on the previous chapters, I could say that that was pretty much easy to predict, but the big twist towards the end of the chapter, surprisingly, someone from Soompi was able to guess it (hehe, and here I thought I was being perfectly unpredictable ... geez... lol...)

I'm sure you guys know "whom" I was referring to with the last sentence of the chapter ^_^

Well, see you in Chapter 74. I'm happy, there's 2 more to go before I conclude Part 1 of F&L. Thank you for reading!

-hiro

F&L Climax Chapters uploaded

First part of climax chapters of Fists and Lipsticks uploaded - -

Chapter 70-72 in Fictionpress

Chapter 70-72 in Soompi Forums


I feel happy that at last, I'm already writing this part of the story. It has been a long road indeed... and in 3 more chapters, Fists and Lipsticks is to be finally concluded ^_^.

As early as now, I'd like to thank you, the reader, who took your time to read this humble work of mine. You're part of this creation, and at every chapter, I am inspired to write and tell this tale by to the encouraging words and even your clicks to links leading to my fic.

I bow to you, saying thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Due to a drastic change of genre & ratings for the second part of the story, I decided to cut F&L at Chapter 75. The story will continue in a new thread, in a new story link - a sort of 'Fists and Lipsticks Book 2' - but I won't reveal the title of the sequel yet since it would be a major spoiler as of the moment. I'm hoping that you'll join me in this new journey. It would be long... but definitely shorter than the first part.

Again, thank you very much for reading Fists and Lipsticks.

-hiro

"Bridges Over Ropes" wins Soompi Short Story Battle for May 2008

The goal is to create a <= 2,500 word story which conveys the month's theme (See image above). I am happy to win again for this month's round (which was unexpected hehe...). There are fewer voters for this month's round compared to April, but there are 18 participants (and all works were good I may say).

I tried out writing something new by using Korean names and coming up with a romantic story with a 'Soompi-ish' touch.

Some scenes depicted some of my real life experiences... (I'll leave that to your imagination, haha.)

You can read Bridges Over Ropes by clicking on the following links:

Read BOR in Soompi Forums

Read BOR in Fictionpress


Much thanks to those who voted and those who read my story.

-hiro

Fists and Lipsticks PDF Version 2.0 Released

Fists and Lipsticks E-book 2.0 (.doc Version) released.

Here's the download link:

http://www.mediafire.com/?mmmybskjgz2

The following changes has been made:

1) Added Chapter 1 - 40

2) Spelling and grammar re-checked (but I will appreciate it very much if you would be kind enough to point out things I missed)

3) Added Table of Contents

4) Added Author Notes and credits

5) Minor editing for some speaking lines


Fists and Lipsticks can ONLY be redistributed via this PDF file. Any MS-Word version is unauthorized and considered as unauthorized copying and distribution.

Chapter 70: Game Over - uploaded

3,000+ words on this chap. I wrote this on the plane going to Tokyo (stopover) then to Beijing. Wow, they have cozy seats in Northwest Airlines ^_^.

Chapter 70 on Fictionpress

Chapter 70 on Soompi Forums

Action-packed scenes here... Uh, just read it, hehe. I'm off to rest for a while. Thanks everyone for reading F&L!

-hiro

Chapter 69: Password Accepted - - uploaded

Another quick update before I fly to Beijing tomorrow. I MAY not be able to update as quick I as I did the previous weeks now.

Chapter 69 on Fictionpress

Chapter 69 on Soompi Forums

This chapter will hint a lot of things regarding the contents of the Silver Disk, noted by the 'weird passwords' the disk had as noted by Tomo. Also, a hidden feature of the Circa Constellation is discovered here (but was also hinted in the previous chapter). Now, Yamazaki gang cracks the disk... but will be halted by some 'unexpected visit'.

Thank you for reading F&L.