Well, discussion over my recent fanfic "Thy Outward Part" sparked the
fires in my brain.

Boy did it ever.

I started writing a sequel to "Thy Outward Part".  And writing.  And
writing.  *Never* has a story gripped me so.  It's the largest single
story I've ever written.

Warning:  If you didn't like "Thy Outward Part" (and at least one person
is no longer speaking to me because of it), then you're going to *hate*
this story.  :)

It's a serious look into some of the issues raised in the discussions
over TOP.

WARNING:  Spoilers for "Thy Outward Part" follow, in case you haven't
read it.


Two things I want to defend myself on before we begin:

First, remember that Thy Outward Part was based on a premise of Ranma
acting OOC.  That continues in this part.  We start with the assumption
that Akane fell out of love with Ranma after a year and a half, when it
became clear that Ranma was going to be female permanently.  We also
start with the assumption that Ranma was going to at least try to change
her sexual preference based on her new gender.  If you think that's
impossible, I point to the poll I recently conducted in which 70% of the
responses I got indicated that people would be at least willing to try
changing their sexual preference if their gender was permanently
changed.  Maybe (emphasis, *maybe*) RT's Ranma wouldn't, but *mine*
would.  :)

Second, I am not Kentaro. (We are all Kosh!)  This is not meant to be a
self-insertion fanfic, even if it's got all the trappings of one.  I
don't know that I could do the things Kentaro does in this story.

Okay, enough.  I really, really want your feedback on this one.  It's
heavy, and moved me like no other story I've written ever has.  Feel
free to tear it apart; by now you should now I love a good debate.  And
I want to make it as good as possible, so any criticisms you have, I'd
like to hear.

Also, I'm not sure of the very last line.  Any suggestions for
alternatives I would love to hear.

Well, as one of the few who DON'T hate you, I'd just like to say you're
too damned hard on yourself. Get off the cross, somebody else needs the
wood ;p

I wish I could write like this, I really do. I personally don't think I
would go the route Ranma took, actually, I'm pretty sure I COULDN'T, but
you manage to write this in a way that allows me to suspend my
disbelief.

Ranma broke off the kiss after a moment and stared into his eyes. "Hmmm..."
Her voice was low, husky.  "I like this.  I think I definitely like this.
I can do this for the rest of my life, as long as it's you I'm doing it
to.  There's no damn koi on my breast, either.  It must really be love."

The last scene comes on a little strong (I have difficulty believing
Ranma would suddenly go all seductive like that). Still, I love the bit
where Kentaro dumps what he thinks is Nyannichuan on himself.

As for this being a self-insertion fic, if it is I really don't care.
Kentaro doesn't exhibit any of the Otaku-insertion qualities. He's
human, fallable, sometimes selfish, but still admirable because of it.

This is a controversial fic, that's true, but that's a GOOD thing. Don't
let anyone else tell you otherwise! The people who are telling you to
curl up and die are the same ones who are reading and writing those
lesbian lemon scenes with the Ranma 1/2 female characters.

Oh, you may now consider me a staunch fan of your stuff.

The Prime Saggitarian,
Alpha Centauri

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