It's nice to hear that the perfect Sesshomaru can also admit his faults and use his knowledge of healing and moving forward to help our Kagome out a bit. I believe she has come a long way and it's cool that you included something like this during a chapter cause everyone stumbles once and awhile. Hopefully the story will shift more into the mystery of the poison. As much as I love to read about the relationships, I think I'm more interested in what's happening with the demon society. I mean this is their future! Who is doing this and why? Ugh the questions! Thank you for updating!
I would like to start by congratulating you on what your work has accomplished, to have this many pleased fans is no small feat, but considering how unique each character feels it comes as no surprise.
Sadly, despite it’s success it’s not a story without flaws, the most glaring of which being this fiction’s most unique point and biggest weakness, and that is the intimate pack relations. It’s an interesting view and it does wonders to establish world building and expanding the lore (something I personally find very entertaining in this story) but sometimes it does more harm than good, namely on the feelings department. It’s hard to truly establish how special a pairing is when everyone is too close to each other, and I don’t mean the sex, but the dates and the casual kissing expected from an actual couple. This story does a good job in fleshing out the side characters and shows how Kagome found her place among them, presenting us genuine emotional problems, but all the meaningful moments shared between the other pack members (mostly the males) and Kagome are somewhat tarnished by the sexualization of the scene. There’s nothing wrong with a steamy erotic scene, but when there are actual feelings of care between characters, it becomes harder to tell who Kagome really loves, and this in turn damages a very good pairing, with a very well developed Sesshoumaru.
Now I’m not saying there should be no sexual interactions between characters outside of their mating, but when it comes to an actual emotional trouble a character is going through, it’s better to not cheer them up with a kiss on the lips, true friends and family can cheer each other up and be there for each other without going to such lengths. If less is more, then in this case more is just too much.
The Pack is presented in a very good light, every character feels like an actual individual, and it’s almost impossible to mistake them for one another, they all play off of each other’s strengths and weaknesses to embellish the scene. Almost all of the characters in this story are nicely rounded, or at the very least are understandable or relatable. Unfortunately, a character that suffers in these regards is Izayoi. I understand the need of a villain, and Kouga certainly fills that part perfectly in this universe, but to polarize Izayoi to this extent feels like a bit of a misstep. The Pack is characterized by being inclusive and understanding, the way everyone treats Kagome when she first joined was heart warming to say the least, but no one likes Izayoi. We get a glimpse of why she’s perceived as such in chapter 9, but judging by her words alone, she honestly doesn’t come across as such a bigot as Kagome’s reactions make her out to be. She’s not fond of the pack sex, but for a while, neither was Eito, yet no one judged him for it. That’s because they understood his reasoning behind it, Izayoi doesn’t get that privilege. Much like there is Inu pack culture, there is also human culture, and Izayoi is more inclined towards a monogamous relationship, hence why she mated Touga but didn’t join his pack, because although she shows genuine appreciation for his pack members, she loves him and him alone. To her, any outside intimacy is seen as infidelity and is hurtful towards the other partner, yet she still sticks by Touga. Sure she limits his time spent having sex with his pack, if anything this can be the one bad thing one can say about her, but by her words it’s just that, not the time Touga actually spends with his pack, his friends, his family. Kagome is baffled when she calls this a compromise, but that’s exactly what a compromise is, yes Youkai physiology pretty much demands that they have pack sex every once in a while, otherwise their beasts might just rampage, but it’s not life threatening, it simply annoys Touga’s beast, hurts him at most. Just like how she gets hurt every time he goes out to have pack sex. Aside from this point, Kagome is also baffled at how she’s not only not a Pack member, but she also doesn’t live in the same house. It’s this collection of traits that paint Izayoi in such a bad light, but something similar happened with Carlo’s parents, who are not married, not mated and not even part of the same pack (since it’s stated that Italian packs have only a handful of members ) and even live in different houses. Yet these two are simply taken as individuals who love each other, no questions asked, despite their circumstances. No one accuses Carlo’s mom of not being fully committed to her man, they even go as far as saying it’s a cultural thing, just like a monogamous relationship should be.
I wouldn’t harp on so much on this issue if not for the sequence of events that was presented when Izayoi was introduced. Kagome escapes their little meeting when Touga and Inuyasha storm into the room complaining how Sesshoumaru just cut their meeting short and kicked them out, Touga going as far as commenting how busy his son must be. Immediately after that Kagome stumbles upon Lucia pleasing Sesshoumaru while Carlo watches. I have to be honest here and say that I find it rather rude to cast out your own family just to get some sexual relief. This was presented as a perfect point in favor of Izayoi’s views and you could’ve had her as a morally gray character, to show that there are indeed flaws within a Pack and that it’s normal to feel jealous (like how Kagome felt jealous of Kagura for something that happened before she was even born), but instead she’s just cast aside as the bigot foil to our heroes, a bit of a missed opportunity for a more complex and rich story line, something this story presents with relative ease.
It’s noteworthy how many serious issues are tackled in this story alone, with the one who stands out the most being Kagome’s physical and emotional abuse at the hands of Kouga, which brings us to an interesting point in the story:
When Kagome was defending Hitomu, Richard called her position a conflict of interests since she was working for Sesshoumaru who also happened to be Hitomu’s boss, when in reality it’s fairly common for an attorney affiliated with a certain company to represent it’s members, regardless of their standing - so far so good. What could in fact be considered a conflict of interests was Kagome and Sophia’s relationship. Although it’s not illegal, it’s very frowned upon in human courts (youkai courts could be ok with it, I don’t know) and I can’t wait to see how Kouga will use this as leverage in his revenge, after all he can accuse Kagome of exploiting Sophia for her personal gains, since they were in a very personal relationship, her judgment as a lawyer could very well be compromised, completely destroying all of their hard work. Maybe this way we can see Kagome represent herself since she is an attorney as well.
All in all, this is certainly an interesting story with it’s ups and downs, keep up the good work!
Excellent chapter. People whom have gone through therapy know that recover is not a straight line. The are many many stumbles and pitfall along the way. Thank you forsowing a realistic sample that healing is an ongoing process. Once again that you
Wonderful chapter, it had some really beautiful moments and as always, great character development!
Koree (Chapter 27) - Thu 20 Oct 2016
Everyone is getting closer to Kagome in their own way each chap & it's soo great to read it :) amazing chap
OMG! Thank you for this chapter. I can't wait for more chapters!!! Curious to find out more and more.... how is she going to deal with Kouga? More developments with her and Sesshy! And of course, WHO IS THE CULPRIT POISONING EVERYONE????
I'm glad that Sesshomaru had opened up to Kagome that he also attends therapy sessions. Everyone needs help regardless of who they are. It seems that all the pack members are there to support each other and their problems. Great chapter.
snow (Chapter 27) - Tue 18 Oct 2016
I love this story I really do, they all feel real. what I mean is how you write it they each have scars, they each have had a fucked up like and no real person just poof I'm over it in a day or two! I love that you actually take the time to write that in and you show we all have our falls and even Sesshoumaru has moments. this story is wonderful not to slow not to fast perfect pace, I love each of the characters personality, even how you have made kagome she was so scared emotionally and mentally because of tough and she has been getting better slowly but yes every now and then we all fall back the scars are always gonna be there but time helps to heal and the scars become more bearable.
After reading that I need a cold shower and some wine. I love it!!
Drianax (Chapter 27) - Tue 18 Oct 2016
Much like. Update soon. Glad Kagome has shown a step back w/regard to her trauma. Sorry for the disjointed reviews.
Man, I need coffee!
Natalia (Chapter 27) - Tue 18 Oct 2016
Thx! A very good chapter! Enough said. I am glad to see kagome's memory thx for that I appreciate it!!!!
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