PoT: Challenge: The Continuation of War

[branchandroot]

Fic post from my archive.

The Continuation of War

A small snafu leads to some practice time between Rikkai and Seigaku, just before the end of Nationals. Drama, I-3

Momo cast his erstwhile opponent a thoughtful glance. "You know, Marui-san," he said, slowly, "all of you are acting really different, today."

Marui cocked an eyebrow at him. "Of course we are," he responded, easily, "Yukimura's back."

Comments

[muscatlove.livejournal.com]

<3<3<3<3 *eyes shiny with adoration* Okay, it's offical, this is my absolute favorite PoT fanfic series that I've ever read, and I think I read almost everything that's written for the show. ^^; I am at a loss to describe how much I love your Rikkai, the flow of the stories, just.. everything. ^^ Wah. I am in complete awe.

[branchandroot]

*heartsback* Thank you so much!

[lechaco.livejournal.com]

I love the part where Sanada and Renji had to restrain Yukimura while Fuji had to do the same for Tezuka. the parallels between the two teams were played off well here too. :D

"Why, Kami-sama, of course," he answered, quite matter-of-fact.

!!! I knew it. :x *coughs*

[branchandroot]

Thank you! I was hoping that wouldn't come off too heavy handed.

*grins* Well, after Emperor, what else is left?

[anruik]

*cackling* Of course he's Kami-sama~ *loves on this* Yukimura might be wishing for a tape of this, but we lucky ones have this to archive in our little LJ memories. *grins*

[branchandroot]

*giggles* It was Aishuu's idea. *snugs*

[exwaiz.livejournal.com]

I love this series. I love how you show that Rikkai and Seigaku are not different, with their captains, their data specialists and even their troublesome youngest players.

I would do anything to watch those matches. Very interesting combination. I must admit, I think the Kirihara vs. Tezuka match would be the one to watch. Your Kirihara is just adorable when he's confused and blushing and wow, Tezuka with an actual personality! XD

And the exchange between Kirihara and Echizen after their matches. <33 I love their interaction.

I can go on forever. Excellent job, I think this one's my favorite from this arc.

[branchandroot]

*laughing* I've always kind of figured no one can be as deadpan as Tezuka usually is without doing it on purpose; I try to come up with interesting things for him to be hiding under there.

Thank you! ^____^

[lady-readwolf.livejournal.com]

{Grinning like a cat}

The *only* thing right now preventing me from jumping up and down and screaming and running around the place is that I'm at school, and I don't think my colleagues would appreciate me interrupting their concentration right now...

But *damn*! I can't stop grinning--and it's beginning to hurt my cheeks! {laughs}

Okay, Insert fangirling here

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{Grinning like a cat}

The *only* thing right now preventing me from jumping up and down and screaming and running around the place is that I'm at school, and I don't think my colleagues would appreciate me interrupting their concentration right now...

But *damn*! I can't stop grinning--and it's beginning to hurt my cheeks! {laughs}

Okay, Insert fangirling here <FANGIRLING that's at least ten pages long filled with inarticulate run on sentences and what not> There... now I can get to the comments.

The parrells you've drawn between these two seemingly (at first look, anyway) unlike teams is just... superbs. They're original team dynamics blend together in a taste that is just... well, better than German Chocolate Cake... better than vanilla custard ice cream.... better than se---well, no. But it comes damn close to being better than sex. ^.^;;

Right from the opening, starting with our favorite Rikkaidai and their missing kouhai... volleying to peeks of Seigaku and their missing freshmen... straight into the matches... and follow up.

And you did a very good job of keeping this story from Rikkaidai's telling point. I think that would have been the hardest part for many a good writers--despite the fact that this series has been told from Rikkaidai's PoV, once you reintroduce the original series's cast it's just so easy to slip back into their point of view. I'm very glad you didn't. ^.^;;

Ah, but the play on the relationships... the subtle "attacks" and then... {internal squeals and then forces herself to breath again} Yeah... what can I say---this series has me completely hooked and excited. I'm always thrilled to find out there's more available to read... and it's soo hard to point out the spots that I love the most...

Like, Echizen's "Emperor" comment, and Kirihara's surprise at jumping at Tezuka's beck and call. Sanada, Yanagi and Fuji heading Tezuka and Yukimura off before they could get into a friendly match... Momo and Bunta and their little conversation... and---

Ah ha! I found it! Something I *didn't* like about this story! It's lack of Jungle Loving!!! Where's Jackal??? He doesn't even have, like, a single line! What's with that??? {sniffles} My poor, abused, Brazillian!

{laughs} Okay... I better get back to typing up my own Rikkaidai Doubles fic, ne? ^.^;;

[branchandroot]

Where's Jackal???

*wails pitifully* I couldn't fit him in this one!

I am, indeed, waffling severely over how to show what's happening with the Seigaku boys. I don't want to give up the Rikkai pov, but if I want to explore Fuji's development any further I'm going to have to go outside what they're likely to witness. A sidestory, maybe.

Yes! You should get on with your own Rikkai Doubles fic! *grins*

[lady-readwolf.livejournal.com]

*looks* there's *always* room for jackal!

A side story is an idea... or, is Fuji going to be involved with a variety of Rikkaidai or just certain select individuals? You could try a story from bi-polar PoV? A scene from Rikkai's view, a scene from Fuji's... ??

And I *am* writing this darn fic... It's just proving to be a little tricky 'cause, uh, there are like, five or nine other stories on my desktop clamoring for attention, too >.< I swear... they're multiplying when I'm not looking...

[aishuu.livejournal.com]

YOU DID ITTTTT!!!

*squeals* YOU DID IT YOU DID IT YOU DID IT!!!

I love you, you know.

I'll leave more relevent FB later, but currently I'm dying over the Kami-sama comment.

[branchandroot]

*giggles* Of course I did it, it was too good not to!

^_^V

[sai-mw.livejournal.com]

Interesting story, interesting arc.
You have great prose and a nice style in your writing.
Just want to make a quick comment on Fuji--he's too independent and too strong to go to anyone on another team for advice. He's a genius not only because of his tennis prowess. Also...heh, I have a feeling you'll be in quite of a shock learning about the real personality of Yukimura.

I'm not sure if you follow Rajipuri or Minaraji, or any other tenipuri related programs, but those shows will give you more info on these players and their team dynamics.

[branchandroot]

Thank you.

*shakes head* That is precisely why the Challenge arc is nailed to the manga, with only a few pinches of the anime here and there to fill in the blanks; there were a number of things the anime canon, and its extensions, does with the Rikkai characterizations, in particular, that I'm not entirely fond of. Though I am quite curious to see where Konomi intends to take Yukimura's character in the manga; he's been so scarce, to date, that his character for Challenge is almost completely extrapolation. Similarly, the manga storyline has delivered a fairly severe shock to Fuji, but hasn't yet told us how he will assimilate it. Exactly because he has been so independent and detached under the previous status quo, I'm working, here, with the idea that those habits will be shaken as he adjusts to his new strength.

*thoughtful* I expect I should actually note, on the Challenge stories, that they're based on the manga continuity.

[written-in-blue.livejournal.com]

[squeals]

I tried to read this last night, but I was to tired to follow it properly. ^^;;;;;;;

Ack, the cute, the cute! Momo being analytical! Echizen and Kirihara! Eiji smacking sense into Oishi! SQUEE!

SQUEE!

[branchandroot]

*bounces* Yes, cuteness rules! Any tenipuri fan knows this. *sage nod*

[mica-chan.livejournal.com]

Well, normally I wouldn't read a 'game fanfic', but....I simply love your Arc. Actually, you are to me with your Rikkai Dai fics, the same tiamatv is to me with her Hyotei fanfics: perfects.
I've never were really into Rikkai Dai before I started to read your fics. You are amazing! This fic is amazing, and I love you so much for writing this ^_^

[branchandroot]

*snugs* Thank you!

It can get kind of frustrating, trying to balance the interesting, interpersonal stuff against the tennis, which gets boring pretty quickly when you write it out. But I will keep at it!

[naanima.livejournal.com]

There are no words to convey my love of this fic. No words. The fact that you managed to have both teams. Together. In the same fic. Interacting. OMFG! I love you!

The Oishi baiting and the Fuji baiting worries me. I don't know why it worry me so except maybe that too much pleasure is being had by all at their expense. Fuji can be vicious and Oishi can be highly surprising.

LOVE! Everyone is shown in a fashion that doesn't make them up to be idiots ^__^ LOVE!!!!

[branchandroot]

*falls over in your arms* These guys are such a pain when they get into the whole teams-together thing. *fans self* I'm going to go write nice simple pairs for a few stories, I think!

After all, I have to soothe Oishi, after he's put up with Niou all afternoon.

*lovesback*

[solaas.livejournal.com]

*wheeze* Oh lordie, lordie. @_@ To list all the excellent and laugh-inducing goodness in this fic, I'd have to quote the entire thing back at you. Wow, just wow.

The bit that made me howl, however, was the interaction between the captains. Because this fic was really owned by Tezuka and Yukimura -- 100%. They're in a dimension beyond this, like heads of their own pantheons or something. XD

There were days when Seiichi wondered whether he ran a tennis team or some kind of home for incorrigible boys.

Bang on, baby. Bang on.

[branchandroot]

*sparkles*

I had a ball writing this story. Especially working out just how the captains could keep a hold of two such maniacal teams. Which they do, in style, of course. I love the captains quite beyond reason.

*grins* Of course, writing it wrung me out so bad I had to write smut for a week straight to recover enough for the Nationals story.

^_^V

[solaas.livejournal.com]

*snicker* I could think of worse ways to recover. ;D

[For other people, that is. Me, I have a horrible time writing smut. It just doesn't want to get written, and my blush could provide entire villages with light and heat for days. I'm much better at reading it. XD;;]

I am waving little Go Buchou! flags for all I'm worth here. They really are precious! Someone should sneak a camera into their bi-monthly Buchou's Support Meetings, where not even fukobuchous get to come.

[branchandroot]

Oh, yeah. Good porn takes time, of course, but it's different from these huge tons-of-characters stories. Just two (or three... or occasionally eight) people in bed (or against the lockers... or on the floor). ^_-

Buchou's Support Meetings... *tackled by crack-bunny* Ack! Down, down I say! *tosses bunny into Bunny Scrum* We'll see if it survives.

[solaas.livejournal.com]

*waves fondly after bunny*

I hope Engelbert proves himself as a hardy bunny.