I have to credit you guys with a valiant effort, at the very least.
Ah My Goddess seems to be one of the most difficult series
for fanfics - I have yet to read one which strikes that peculiar
but successful balance that Kosuke Fujishima manages to 
achieve (though I admit to not having read many).  I enjoy the
Ah My Goddess series immensely, but I still can't figure out how
Fujishima-san manages to write a way-too-perfect fantasy girl
(Belldandy) and a truly non-descript nobody (Keiichi) in such
a way that I actually enjoy reading about them.  The supporting
cast helps, of course.  And the artwork compensates for a lot.

I shudder at the idea of having to write a fic about Belldandy and
Keiichi.  

I found the most interesting aspect of your writing of Belldandy's
character was her willingness to put aside her duty for Keiichi.
That actually gave her a flaw - she was selfish in the face of 
a major catastrophe.  I found myself agreeing with Verthandi's 
assessment of the situation - her duty should have come first,
no matter how much she loved Keiichi.  I hope that the result 
of the whole thing isn't a return to status quo, though it's a bit
too early to tell.

I could sense that you were grappling with the essential quandry
which underlies the whole Ah My Goddess universe, though - 
WHAT does a goddess like Belldandy see in a geek like Keiichi?
Why is this loser worth all the trouble their relationship causes?
Sure, he's a nice guy... yes, love is blind... but it's hard to write
about a relationship which seems to have so little basis.  You 
have my respect for trying.  Unfortunately, I didn't come away from
the story thinking "Ah, so THAT's why she's so attached to him!"
Perhaps that's more than can be asked of any fanfic writer.

Anyway, it was a pretty good ride overall.  I look forward to the
Urd chapter.  

Grayson Towler
grayson@rigroup.net

http://www.rigroup.com/~grayson/relentless