Waaah!!!! This is gonna be intense!!! I see what you mean by the story is just beginning.
Oh, in my last review, I was gonna say I sorta imagine Sakura looking like Fuu from Samurai Champloo with longer hair.
Oh, and is that line from Full Metal Alchemist? This is totally a blind guess.
And Shika is the best. ^_^

Author's Response: See, I imagine sort of like Fuu, in a way, but her hair is shorter. I don't know how to describe it really. But I think I know how I want Izumi to look. And yes, the line is from FMA. Here's your cookie: (_) It's lopsided. (?) I wasn't serious about the cookie.

Awww... who knew Naruto was such a good story teller? XD Nah, really, those last... 1, 2... 5 lines were soooo sugary sweet....
You just posted, like, 2 chapters and I'm not even done with everything you already have up!!! Gah, I'm behind again! Great job Sarahkins, but I gotta keep reading...

Author's Response: Naruto's not supposed to be a good storyteller. Did I intend to make him that way, I wonder? (What I just said reminded me of something out of Absolute Boyfriend-- when Riiko's dad had a heart attack or something and Night suddenly took charge, calling an ambulance and stuff and Riiko's like, "Did I chose this option on Night?!")

Aww, I almost cried from those last few lines...
And yes, normally I would be freaking out about Akira or whatever, but since that's all cleared up, now I'm wondering, is Shika crushing on Sakura? Or is he just wondering about the whole gender thing?

Anyway, this was a good chapter. By good, I mean well written. I was feeling stressed just reading it. So good job there. But I miss Sasuke and Naruto! They've gotta be next...

Author's Response: See, I don't know if Shikamaru is crushing on Sakura or not!!! I don't know!!! I'm toying with the idea, but Shikamaru's a hard person to work with, especially in romantic situations...so I don't know!!!! I'm still working on it. Keep reading. I'll figure out something. Also, I knew you'd be getting all worked up over Akira. I just knew it. You totally knew that I knew too. And that's why I put in that little note.

Dang it. I thought of something I forgot to mention in my last review, and now I forgot again. Dammit.
Okay, well, until I remember... Sakura and Izumi's relationship is so much more emotional and dramatic, while Naruto's and Sasuke's is lighter and, again, refreshing, even though they're in the army. I like that contrast though. It makes it interesting.
Umm... damn it all, I really forgot. Now I feel old.
Oh well. Anyway, how can you not be sure Sakura and Izumi are canon?! Or was that just a few chapters ago, and now you're sure? Cause it seems pretty obvious to me! o_<
Wait, unless... are you gonna kill Izumi!!??! ... Nah.

Author's Response: Well, I don't want to spoil TOO much...but I'm gonna throw everybody off for a while. Near the end of the story. I'm gonna confuse everyone and leave them wondering what's going to happen. But yes-- I wanted to make Naruto's and Sasuke's a happier relationship because they have some very dark problems. More on that in later chapters.

Aww, this chapter almost made me cry! The sorrow, regret, love, all those emotions what were weaved in here.... aww, poor Sakura's mom!
Mizuki... Izumi.... hmm... never mind. ^_^'
Anyway!
That's all I have to say about this chapter. I'm still expecting a SasuNaru/NaruSasu moment soon.... you write 15 chapters in fours days, there's gotta be some somewhere!! Grr. >.<

Although I'll admit, the fluffiness between Izumi and Sakura is so shoujo-esque, I love it too.

But still! Gah, I'm hungry.... sorry, losing track. I'll just stop there. ^_^'

Author's Response: DON'T EAT. DON'T YOU EAT A BITE UNTIL YOU'VE FINISHED REVIEWING, DAMMIT! But thank you for the review. :D There's no connection between "Mizuki" and "Izumi", if that's what you meant. Their names aren't similar at all-- "Mizuki" means "beautiful moon" and "Izumi" means "fountain." The only ting similar are the letters. But whatever. And yes-- there are SasuNaru moments, I swear.

AHHH!!!!
Okay, first off, you give me that sweet dedication that I don't deserve because I haven't been as on top of reviewing as I should be and now I'm all guilty! But I'll fix that!
And then you go and say Sasuke and Naruto as CANON!? And you've barely written a SasuNaru/NaruSasu scene.. at least, that was what I was thinking! And then I read this chapter! And those two are already together?! Waaah, this moves fast!
But that's not me saying I didn't totally adore the interaction between those two idiots in this chapter...they made me laugh and giggle and go totally "kyaah!".
Oh! In fact, they completely reminded me of Hikaru and Kaoru from Ouran.

But moving on... and Sakura! I mean, Kei! You're not sure if she and Izumi are gonna be canon?! Sometimes you make no sense to me.... but hey, if it's this good this far, you know what you're doing, so I'll leave it at that...

OH! Right! I was gonna say this but then I forgot but now I remember! ^_^' Um... right! Oh, wait, I did say this... well, I'll say it again to emphasize how important it is! Sasuke and Naruto are now canon, and yet, still, no real SasuNaru scene? Or NaruSasu? I can't tell who's seme this time.... anyway, why would you torture me like that!!! Waaah!!!

.... Okay. I'm done. For now.

Now I must go be the bestest reviewer you ever did see! ^_^

Author's Response: Okay, first of all-- you have to keep reading foolish girl!!!! Then you'll see how Sasuke and Naruto become totally canon and how there's fluff to follow~! Also, I kind of wrote that chapter for you...so that you'd start reading again. *Blushes.* Anyway, I my favorite liens in there were for you!! My favorite lines were the "Sasuke and I are...are...are bonded by the bonds" "HEY I JUST SAID THAT!!" and "But we're perceptive idiots! Well, I am; Sasuke's just a regular idiot" lines. :) And it's bot SasuNaru AND NaruSasu-- no definite seme or uke throughout the whole series, I think.They'll take turns. ("Sasuke! It's MY turn to be the uke! Just because you have it in your name doesn't mean I have to be the seme all the time--" "NO, Naruto! I want to be the uke! You were the uke LAST TIME, if you've forgotten!")

Awww!!!! You did it Sarahkins! It was liking reading Skip Beat (!) all over again! Except... my own biased-ness and whatnot causes me to not like Sakura as much as Kyoko or any other heroine so I probably didn't feel the full extent of that awesomeness...
but still! That was fantastic! And I loved Naruto's responses to everything that was happening!
Brilliant! Another good chapter. And there are many more left, so I have to stop spouting praise for now and see what's up next for Kei.

Something dramatic or fluffy no doubt. o_

Author's Response: THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I felt so awesome when you said it was like skip Beat, because Skip Beat is one of those mangas that does that to you!!!! I can think of six huge moments like that in SB, where she just stuns everyone. 1) The tea ceremony with Ren Tsuruga where she's showing everyone how brilliant she is; 2) Where she's doing that scene with the little girl and manages to switch all the lines around; 3) When she's doing the commercial with Moko; 4) When she's doing the promo with Sho and Pochi and does that crying thing and then the twisted smile; 5) When she comes back to the Dark Moon studio as the new and improved Mio; and 6) When she comes to the studio with her beautiful, glamorous Natsu that just blows everyone out of the water. <3

Hahaha, "Not that I cared."
Ah, what a great introduction into what will definitely be a dramatic and dynamic relationship.
I'm actually looking forward to it.
And hey, remember when I said you're writing has improved a bunch?
Yeah, well, it's really, REALLY gotten great.

Anyway, great job, Izumi was confused but you portrayed his confusion well and made another great chapter. ^_^ As usual.

But, I must hurry up and move on, because I'm behind.... as usual....

Author's Response: YES! Get on it, Hannah! You're moving far too slowly!!! iheartnotebooks123 hasn't even read this story yet... *sobs* I'll have to shoot her an email... Hey, do you think the majority of writers on this site are girls or guys?

I love how Izumi is such a dumbass.
It's like, *heart heart* whenever Sakura's unconscious, and he either pisses her off or puts her on an assasination team whenever she's awake.
Haha, I love you, Izumi.

Author's Response: Izumi's not just a dumbass, though-- he's a dumbass in love, and that makes him a lot worse. But whatever. Though it's not mentioned in the story yet, when he's in a normal sort of mood (like, he's not obsessing over Kei) he's one of those guys who is sort of quiet but is quietly amused by all the craziness around him and stuff.

awww, that's so sad. glad you told us about akira tho.
ooh, choji is gonna be shikamaru's guard, right?
great chapters! keep going!

Author's Response: Yeah, I had to fit Akira in. She's gonna become a big character later. And I don't know about Choji-- Hiro was being a bit sarcastic there. :) But I'll think about it.

when did her ankle get better? and that injury with her arm? ha, at the rate of hidden injuries she's going, she'll collapse at the first mission the captain puts her on, and the enemy will be all 'what? that's your best?' and underestimate kei's side and get their butts kicked! kei, your heroic yet pathetic death was not in vain! lolz, omake potential.
rambling 'cos i've stayed up too late.
keep going! ha, shikamaru. who's akira? where's the ninja girls? questions for future chapters!

Author's Response: Her ankle hasn't gotten better yet-- more on that in chapter 14. The injury with her arm has gotten better, actually. Her ribs are still injured, though-- she still feel s lot of pain from them. She's stronger than she looks, though, and she's got a pretty good healing rate. She heals up fast. And when she gets sick, she gets better quickly. She has a strong, healthy body!!! >:D YEAH!!! GO KEI!! Anyway, Shikamaru is probably gonna find out soon-- he's pretty observant, no? And the Captain, Hiro...he'll probably figure it out really fast too. He's already suspicious. The ninja girls are actually coming up soon...and I'm not going to give away any spoilers. But it's gonna be a riot. You'll be feeling a bit sorry for Kei, though, in upcoming chapters. She's gonna get an awful job to do a couple of towns over...

Oh; Shikamaru's definitely going to find out soon.
I just know it.
And I can't wait until you post a new chapter! I really want to see how Izumi and Sakura progress further with their relationship.

Author's Response: Yup. Shikamaru's gonna figure it out. I'm thinking of several different ways of him finding out, but unfortunately, all of them include things that would make Izumi seethe with rage, grab his precious Kei, and storm away with her, fuming and cursing Shikamaru and wishing he'd been in his place.

I almost cried at the end. I really did. The emotions with this chapter are really strong. I feel so sorry for Sakura. I didn't kinda realise it until now, since she's been so strong, but now she's cracking. Thankfully, Izumi (and her dad) is there for her. :)

I wonder how long it is going to take for Shikamaru to notice. Because I'm quite sure he will. ^^''

And that song from chapter before, yep, it's gorgeous. (And the one in Mother's love too!). You surely picked the right ones to listen while reading. :D

Oh yes, I had one question! :o What happened to her ankle. I mean, didn't she break it? o.O There was no mentioning about it afterwards, so it kinda left me wondering what happened.

Author's Response: I almost cried too, to be honest, but Izumi and Kimihiro (her dad) are gonna be her strength throughout her whole journey. And Shikamaru's gonna notice real fast. Naruto and Sasuke, though, just are thinking that Kei and Izumi have the same kind of relationship that they do... *sweatdrop*. But Naruto's started to notice girly habits coming from Kei, even though she tries to hide them. Oh, and her ankle-- that's gonna come up next chapter (chapter 14).