Adult-FanFiction.org : Bleach

Reviews for A Shadow of What Was

By : katami

From Irana on January 14, 2010
*long, happy sigh* Ahh, so good. Honestly, the part where the GrimmJyuuShun ended would have been the perfect ending to that chapter for me. I had the biggest, goofiest grin on my face reading that. Don't get me wrong, I love the tidbit, I love seeing Kisuke, I especially love seeing him like that, but the warm and fluffy claimed me. Excellent job... as usual. *smile*
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From sheastar334 on January 13, 2010
YAY!! A new chapter! Yeah!! A VERY happy Grimm! Aww. I love that! LOL. His, all his! I can't wait for the next chapter.
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From vbruce on January 13, 2010
Snags the whip from said muse. Back off fluffball, that's my toy, the weapon and the writer. Grimmy, I'll deal with you later. Now, Kat, dear, this was a lovely chapter and I'm very happy you've managed to find you writing rhythm again. I think you did an excellent job showing Grim's (sometimes questionable) thought processes as well as his reactions to how he's treated by Jyu and Shun. Can we eventually get to whether or not Ryuuken survived the epic pissiness that is his son? Yes, that was the royal 'we' by the way. Love you, happy you're back. I've really missed your writing.
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From gaara89 on January 13, 2010
The development of Grimm's feelings for Jyuushiro and Shunsui is perfectly IC and just a joy to read. I've got to say that next to RenIshi, that is my favorite romance going on in this story. Please update soon! I am always eagerly waiting for more of this story.

~Reigh~
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From ToniAndKev on January 13, 2010
This is great! We loved the new chapter...especially Grimm's thing about "Mine?" It was so sweet!
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From ANON - PeaKay on January 13, 2010
Happy new year to you. Thanks for the update. You are writing as good as expected now; sorry but you will have to do a bad chapter now for me not to expect very good writing. Well, Grim looks to have what he needs at last. Can't wait to see Ichigo and Kisuke get together now that Kisuke's bent on seeing him. Wonder how many will get hurt for not letting those 2 get back together? Well, happy to get to read a new chapter, happy the way the story is going, and most of all happy you are sharing your writing with us readers :)
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From IncessantDarkness29 on January 11, 2010
This fic is sheer brilliance. Though I suspect you've heard that many times before nothing bad can come of me reiterating that fact can it? The scope of it blows my mind and you do a masterful job of balancing all the POVs and pairings without being too heavy handed with any of them ((Although I'm with Hitsugaya in I could do with a little less of a particular quincy and redhead, though I admit you've made them grow on me)).

Mind you this review is going to probably be as long as one of your chapters because there is 88 chapters worth of love and admiration to shower on you.

TO BEGIN I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I WAS SMART ENOUGH NOT TO TRY AND READ THIS FIC IN ONE GO THOUGH I WAS TEMPTED. Mind you that would have been suicidal because I found this fic on the cusp of my exam week so I had no choice but to take it slow....I was about halfway through it by the time my exams were over and then I forgot all about it((sorry)) in the wake of holidays and the like, but then the pressing need of school starting up again meant that I needed my most fulfilling form of procrastination((reading fanfics)) and so I picked up on this story again.

Back to the very beginning of the story ((which I admit I'm a bit hazy on)) the thing that stuck out to me the most was the way in which you balanced backstory with action. Having Kisuke in such an unstable position while recalling past events meant that the story switched very engagingly from flashbacks and necessary plot points to the rush and thrill of action. Beyond that I was surprised to find myself falling in love with the relationship that you recalled of Ichigo and Urahara despite never having been a fan of them. Beyond that I think the plot idea itself was a very original take on the world of the Shinigami. You twisted it just enough for the story to be easily shaped into something of your own creation while being entirely faithful to the Shinigami culture which is impressive to say the least.

What is even more impressive is how easily you seemed to develop so many pairings from scratch ((I'm sure it wasn't easy for you, but as a reader it felt seamless)) and have them all flowing at different pacing, couterpoint to each other and keeping up the suspense in a constant stream without it becoming tiring. Ichigo's feelings in particular were rather palpable and I loved how you described it all, and I love that you kept the Kurosaki family in the loop entirely...that's something that I feel is sadly missing from even the best Bleach fics.

Above that another thing I noticed while reading the fanfic was that the longer you wrote the better your control of the characters seemed to get, more and more you seemed to be choosing ALL the right phrases and everything seemed to fall into place and I without a doubt enjoyed the evolution of your writing skills because it meant that I was drawn into your fic headfirst. I can't help but adore what you've written so far.

Now a little running commentary on some of my favourite moments and thoughts on the fic. Though I didn't have the chance to give them to you as you were writing the fic I shall give them to you now.

1. When you were asking for a guess at the threesome my guess would most certainly have been MatsumotoGinKira because of the way you wrote them from Gin's perspective and also the scene with Kira and Matsumoto comforting each other. Beyond that I would never have suspected that the pairing would have been UkitakeGrimmKyouraku but suffice to say that I have fallen in love with the way that you write them. The soft way the two captains handle Grimm is sooooo cute ((though I suspect Grimm would resent being called anything so demeaning as cute)) and I understand that there a lot left to be filled in before Grimm can agree to be with those two but I look forward to when that happens. Tied to this is the notion that I think that Grimm would soften up if Ukitake were to somehow take ill and it result in the Kitty having to search after the other two captains because a) he feels lonely without their constant attentions and b) he feels as if something is wrong. That's just how I imagine it though.

2. Rukia and Ryuuken appeals to me more than I ever though possible. Probably because Ishida hates it and something about the way you write Ryuuken makes him unbearably sexy and something about the way you write Rukia makes her more of the character I use to love in bleach before she got all serious and constantly in the thick of things. But aside from that I had never imagined the pairing and the novelty of it is endearing, particularly when they fumble over each other when others mention it but then come together so smoothly and pleasantly.

3. Karin and Hitsugaya are perhaps the best surprise pairing of this fic. I must admit that before your fic I had a deep seated hatred for Hitsugaya ((probably because he gets more facetime than Byakuya)) but in this fic you've assuaged all hate I might have had for him. Him and Karin are soooooo good together and somehow still so very much in character that I can't help but fall head over heels in shipping them! They seem so very cute together and so very powerful too. Here's me hoping that Hitsugaya gets more facetime ((o.0....never thought I'd be asking for that....))

4. Oh what can I say about ByakuyaUlquiorra? I adore them! So hard. It's unbearable. I think at first I was reading this fic purely for them. Their relationship is astounding, perfectly paced and leaves me wanting more every time I read a chapter of them. You kill a little part of my soul whenever I finish a chapter with them in it because I can't help but think that they're not in the next chapter and so I'll have to wait to see them....this during exam week was particular torture when I had to use chapters of your fics as rewards for studying and I couldn't help but want to read more because I knew that the next chapter was ByaUlqui! Honestly I love them to death and want them to have more facetime but I also know that you have enough to handle as it is. On top of that I wish they'd get to the fucking already! Cause I really just want Byakuya to fuck Ulquiorra senseless but seeing as there is so much going on I can see how that might not happen for a while yet.

5. Jeez this had the potential to go on so long....what next, what next? Gin. Oh yes Gin that sad sad little lost fox. I find your chapters about him heartwrenching and I always loved the poor guy so I adore that you make him so human and so vulnerable and yet so strong. I resent Aizen for what he's done to the other man and yet somehow love it too because it means that we get to see the real Gin all banged up and needy and so in want of a hug. I sincerely hope that Gin gets some salvation in the end, even if it's only recognition of how hard he's worked...even if it's not all happy for him, he deserves that much ((look at what you've done? you've got me talking about them as if they're real people....ah but it must be so much worse for you to have the bleach lot living in your head constantly! At least they only on occassion take over my head and never in such large numbers.))

6. There was at least one more thing I wanted to talk about.....now what was it? Oh right! Benihime and the other two....well all I have to say is HOT. VERY VERY VERY HOT. and I love how you're using Ichigo's hollow, that aspect is very much entertaining and great change of pace. Love it.

In any case I suspect I've rambled enough. But I'd also like to say that I recognize that life can be rough and troublesome but I do so very much hope that you find the inspiration to return to your story because more chapters would be simply sublime. If you don't I might have to end up taunting you by writing the next chapter of your fanfic myself! And god you wouldn't want that now would you? Who knows what crazy ideas your story has planted in my head?!

Honestly though, someday I might try writing something in the Shadow universe cause I can't resist. I would try it now if only the ideas in my head weren't so all consuming that I fear they've twisted your own plot beyond recognition. Once I get something more agreeable perhaps I'll put pen to paper....or y'know fingers to keyboard as the case is nowadays.

- Incessant_Darkness
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From ANON - SunkenAngel2 on January 05, 2010
Wow. this is amazing. I have never even thought about most of the pairings here but they are all fantastic. I'm really looking forward to reading more. ^.^ Please feed my fangirly mind more.
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From ferlerrr on December 18, 2009
I'm grateful for the chapter! Thank you for your hard work! I love this story so much!
best wishes, ferler
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From Irana on December 16, 2009
First of all *hugs* Good to see you posting.
Secondly, this: "Then change the context of the debate," announced Ulquiorra. Brilliant... the man's ind is a steel trap... I love it. That's exactly what i would have done. He'd do phenomenal with PR. *wink*
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From ANON - Axel-Calamity on December 13, 2009
God Bless YOU!!! You have restored my faith in perfectly detailed Fan fictions. I never thought of IchigoxKiskue untill I came across this beautiful work of art, and I must Say, I LOVE it!! Please continue to write, as long as you do I will dutifully read and review the chapters. Thank you SOOOOOO much! *Jump flying tackle hugs Kiskue, Writer, and Muse* "I love you allll!!!!"��*Hands group Fresh Cookies, Milk, and candy*"Pretty please write another phenomonal chapter!"
Thank you again,
Axel Calamity Estan, The Aspiring Writer
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From ANON - qwerty on December 08, 2009
I just read this entire story and I'm blown away. I really LOVE this! I was so excited to see a long multi-chapter Bleach fic on this site because it seems that most of the AFF Bleach fics are one-shots *grumble* Anyway, your story was a major relief because it has actual plot and intrigue but also relationship-y goodness.
Great writing. Keep going!
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From Akira1991 on December 07, 2009
YAY !!! you updated... I am so happy, but it was so short ... *sigh* anyways this was good and I will be on waiting for the next chappie ^^

XD
XOXO
Akira
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From ANON - PeaKay on December 07, 2009
The story is still just as good as always. Love the layers to it and how you keep them all tied together. Hope you and all your readers have a Great Holiday Season :) May your new year be kind to you and a happy one. Thank you for sharing your gift of writing with me and all that enjoy it like me. Thanks, PeaKay
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From gaara89 on December 07, 2009
Uh oh, Byakuya doesn't sound happy. Lols. I'm so glad you haven't given up on this story. I about jumped up and down when I saw it was updated. Please don't make us wait too long for the next one. I'm holding out for some more ShunGrimmJyuu and RenUryuu!

Update soon!

~Reigh~
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