Greetings all,
	Before I respond to Chris Willmore's comments, just a quick apology --
I really should probably have had the common courtesy to introduce myself
properly before just posting the beginning of a fic! :)
	I won't bother with a bio but to say that I've been working (when I
have time) on several fantasy epics of my own, two for several years but have
never seriously considered fan-fiction before this apart from a momentary
toying with the idea of a Blakes-7 attempt.  I've in something of a moral
dilemma as I intend to publish my own (original) works and would be most upset
should someone pinch my creations for their own use without asking my
permission first.  I've read a good deal of Anime fanfic over the past 8
months (nearly exhausted the std.com archives) and been most impressed with a
very great deal of what I've seen (an extra apology to the many writers whose
work I've read and to whom I've never had the time before to respond in a way
I consider would have done such work justice).  After much soul-searching I've
decided to try my hand at it.  I will say here and now as a writer that no
disrespect is meant to the creators of these characters and I would desist
immediately were I given any indication that fanfic was against their (but
only their) wishes.
	Regarding a tiny list of favourite Manga/Anime in no particular order;
well, naturally those I intend to include in this thing. :)
	Just one more thing.  As this site isn't yet permanently connected, It
may take up to 24 hours for anything e-mailed to reach me.  Please don't think
I am ignoring comment/criticism.
	Ok, now:

In <1.5.4.16.19960525180109.21276bf6@mail.idt.net> Chris Willmore <willmore@mail.idt.net> said:

I know I'm going to get lynched, but my second reaction
was, "Oh, no... The Great Anime Crossover from Hell!!!
meets Stephen King..."

	Yick!!!  Gods I hope not!  If it looks like turning into something
that hack would write I'll most certainly give up, delete everything I've done
and sign the fanfic pledge for the rest of my days. :)  Seriously, I certainly
don't intend this to be the kind of cheap sensationalist so-called horror to
which he seems suited (apologies to King fans but I've very little time for
his style of creation).  As for `The Great Anime Crossover from Hell!' tag,
that was more or less what I was trying to escape when I said that I wouldn't
include a universe for the sake of cheap effect.  Each universe and character
must play a serious, prolonged and consistent role if I'm to keep them.
Whether I succeed in managing the serious and complex work I intend; I can
only say that I certainly intend to try.  This concept is also different in
that I intend to involve each universe as a whole, not simply dump characters
into a new or composite world.

My first reaction, of course, was that this is a very
interesting, very well-written story. Keep it up.

	Many thanks.  I'm taking a much-needed break from my own work to try
this and I *really* do need to know if the thing is falling into the realms of
cheap simplistic pseudo-horror (or anything else of that nature).

Now, for the C&C...

My only real qualm is for Kodachi. She wasn't just
knocked into sanity, she was knocked out of character.

	I couldn't agree with you more, but I simply don't know what to do
with her.  Although not properly explained in this version (and God knows how
I'm to make it clear without explaining it at the beginning which would spoil
everything) the first prelude was her dream and that dream was *absolutely*
real to her while she was in it.  I simply can't imagine how such an
experience plus the emotions of the Kodachi of that end would effect the
present Kodachi once she awoke.  Help!!!

Remember; she's STILL 'the Black Rose', no matter WHAT
she sees.

	Agreed, but it's not enough.  If she is not totally insane (and I have
to assume for this that she's not) then such absolute despair and hopelessness
would have to filter through even her mania.  What it would do to her ...  I
hope all that screaming energy might be turned to something vital to her
universe without her losing a trace of what makes her...well...her.  Of course
the reverse is perfectly possible.  She might become totally depraved
(probably more likely actually).  Again, *help*!!!

Don't ask me about how EXACTLY she would react after a
large shock, though... I've been postponing writing
'Black Rose Requiem' for WEEKS, now, for that very
same reason... -_-

	Hmm, perhaps I should put this in the too-hard basket as well for a
few days, although it's not going to go away.

If anyone has any useful ideas on the subject, could
you please send a copy to me as well as to 'magister'?
I can be reached at willmore@mail.idt.net

Apart from that, I enjoyed it. It was confusing at times,
but I'll wait until the rest of the 'fic is released
to judge whether that was intentional and/or effective.

	It was intentional in that it would be impossible to know what is
going on by what I've posted and of course I myself am thrashing out the
details as I write.  What you're seeing is probably a long way from the final
version (although the basic idea won't change).  Whether it is effective
remains to be seen.  I hope though that the confusion is interesting rather
than simply irritating.

Great writing!

	Again many thanks.  Any and all comment, yep even positive flames
(hmm, is there such a thing as positive flames? :-) ) will be very much
appreciated.

-Christopher Willmore

			Craig