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August 28, 2016 at 12:00 AM
This was a fantastic read. I devoured it in a week! I couldn't put my phone down, desperate to know what happened next. This was a wonderful ending, because like you said, life happens. I know I'll be thinking about this story for a long time to come
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September 1, 2014 at 12:00 AM
So, I'm really liking this so far. I want to know what Shikamaru's planning that seems to be so bad, what set Neji off? I just wanna know! I'm usually not really a "yaoi" fan and I definitely like NejiTen but there is also something about ShikaNeji that I really enjoy reading... so definitely good job with the characterization and stuff. I wasn't going to review until I finished the story but I want to save this... and I don't know how to do that on here. Could you tell me? Thanks!
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July 26, 2014 at 12:00 AM
Awsome
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December 13, 2013 at 12:00 AM
You've joined AFF now? Sweet! I adore BtB every bit as much now as I did when I first found it.
May new readers discover the wonder that is Break to Breathe. ;) And then continue on to your other works, of course, but BtB is hella awesome on its own merits and started it all, so I figured I'd drop by, rate and review.
Thank you, again and always, for such wonderful stories.
May the words just flow,
Cuzosu
May new readers discover the wonder that is Break to Breathe. ;) And then continue on to your other works, of course, but BtB is hella awesome on its own merits and started it all, so I figured I'd drop by, rate and review.
Thank you, again and always, for such wonderful stories.
May the words just flow,
Cuzosu
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July 1, 2013 at 12:00 AM
spent all night reading this just could not stop. I loved it. their personality, playful banter was very well written and so right. felt a little sorry for shikamaru at the end
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January 30, 2013 at 12:00 AM
Wonderful story, and very well written. I never liked Shikamaru/Neji as a pairing until I read this fic. Your original characters were well developed, and while Neji and Shikamaru had quite a bit of unique character development, their personalities felt true to canon. And I loved the banter between Kiba and Naruto. I did think the tension between Shikamaru and Neji lasted almost too long before the final arc where they battle Okuzo. I started to get nervous when Shikamaru wasn't getting any sleep! The ending was spot on. As much as I like happy endings and people pairing up, this one felt right, especially because the feelings between Shikamaru and Neji were never named, and that left them free to be complex and broad. In fact, I think that fact that their feelings were never named was one of my favorite things about this fic. Thanks for the excellent read! I will definitely check out your other writing.
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September 27, 2012 at 12:00 AM
Wow! wow chapters 24-29, I don't know what else to say. The moments of just Shika/Neji have been so good so raw and I love every minute of it. From the arguing to the heated tension and contained passion. The way Shikamaru refused to stop helping Neji even though he pushed him away. And when Neji closed Shikamaru's eyes from him to stop watching I almost lost it. It was the final revealing of why Neji was so angry and miserable and holding onto his control that broke me, I almost cried it was so touching and sad but sweet.
I was so enthralled from then on I was left n a stupor after reading and couldn't continue with my other reviews. With that said I unfortunately reached the end and finished the best and worst journey of my life with my two favorite characters in the entire world of Naruto. And because of you I love them even more than I did before.
This story by far surpasses anything Shika/Neji I've ever read and probably ever will read again. I'm going to be crippled to anything I read after this that isn't your work. So I hope you're happy. The characters, all of them especially Shikamaru and Neji were in my opinion in perfect character throughout this story. From the way they are perceived from Kishimoto and whomever else works in character development, to the way you delved deeper into those lives and made them so real I wish this story were real, if that makes sense. Even your OC characters were great and I'm usually one of those people that don't care for OC's but I loved Hibari, and the children and even Kitori all of them. Because you made them real you made them so intricate to the plot I couldn't not be interested and invested in them.
Shikamaru's inner issues with being the genius he is and how he has to use people to make a strategy work and how it affects him when it goes wrong, that was something I always enjoyed reading about because I felt he'd be that way as well. Always thinking never truly doing until it was absolutely necessary. And the way you made him so fierce at times and not even in battle but the way he was with Neji. Opening up that raw fire and passion and impulse of life, it was pure entertainment and beauty.
As well as the way you opened up Neji to a world of hurt and anger and loss of control. Letting him be someone different around Shikamaru and still manage to go back to being himself afterwards, only a better version of that self. Those private moments of just the two of them were always my favorite the push and pull, the love and hate, the need, the confusion and understanding was all so natural so real. And you wrote some of the best kissing I've ever read, it was sometimes better than the moments of intimacy they shared. I loved it all and soaked it all up from the first kiss and head butt to the last. I could feel that ending coming that they wouldn't be together but you gave me the second best outcome for these two. That lingering need and want, the way they changed each other and acknowledged it, the sweetest goodbye without really saying goodbye at all. Bravo.
For stupid personal reasons I haven't cried in a long time but throughout this story I've been very teary. I've been angry and sad and excited and anticipating. Happy and let down. I feel like I've been pulled through a bed of nails and drowned in scalding hot water just to come up for fresh air and a soft bed just to have that process repeat through to the end of this epic of novel of a fanfic. I have searched high and dry for something Shika/Neji that I could be proud to recommend to friends, that I would want to read over and over and over again, and I will, and it will probably affect me the same way each time I read it. I love and hate you right now but mostly love you for sharing this amazing piece of written artwork with us readers, myself especially. I truly hope there will be a sequel and I will wait for it happily while reading whatever else you toss into the mix in between then. Thank you from the bottom of my readers heart thank you, I hope you see this and... More please :o )
I was so enthralled from then on I was left n a stupor after reading and couldn't continue with my other reviews. With that said I unfortunately reached the end and finished the best and worst journey of my life with my two favorite characters in the entire world of Naruto. And because of you I love them even more than I did before.
This story by far surpasses anything Shika/Neji I've ever read and probably ever will read again. I'm going to be crippled to anything I read after this that isn't your work. So I hope you're happy. The characters, all of them especially Shikamaru and Neji were in my opinion in perfect character throughout this story. From the way they are perceived from Kishimoto and whomever else works in character development, to the way you delved deeper into those lives and made them so real I wish this story were real, if that makes sense. Even your OC characters were great and I'm usually one of those people that don't care for OC's but I loved Hibari, and the children and even Kitori all of them. Because you made them real you made them so intricate to the plot I couldn't not be interested and invested in them.
Shikamaru's inner issues with being the genius he is and how he has to use people to make a strategy work and how it affects him when it goes wrong, that was something I always enjoyed reading about because I felt he'd be that way as well. Always thinking never truly doing until it was absolutely necessary. And the way you made him so fierce at times and not even in battle but the way he was with Neji. Opening up that raw fire and passion and impulse of life, it was pure entertainment and beauty.
As well as the way you opened up Neji to a world of hurt and anger and loss of control. Letting him be someone different around Shikamaru and still manage to go back to being himself afterwards, only a better version of that self. Those private moments of just the two of them were always my favorite the push and pull, the love and hate, the need, the confusion and understanding was all so natural so real. And you wrote some of the best kissing I've ever read, it was sometimes better than the moments of intimacy they shared. I loved it all and soaked it all up from the first kiss and head butt to the last. I could feel that ending coming that they wouldn't be together but you gave me the second best outcome for these two. That lingering need and want, the way they changed each other and acknowledged it, the sweetest goodbye without really saying goodbye at all. Bravo.
For stupid personal reasons I haven't cried in a long time but throughout this story I've been very teary. I've been angry and sad and excited and anticipating. Happy and let down. I feel like I've been pulled through a bed of nails and drowned in scalding hot water just to come up for fresh air and a soft bed just to have that process repeat through to the end of this epic of novel of a fanfic. I have searched high and dry for something Shika/Neji that I could be proud to recommend to friends, that I would want to read over and over and over again, and I will, and it will probably affect me the same way each time I read it. I love and hate you right now but mostly love you for sharing this amazing piece of written artwork with us readers, myself especially. I truly hope there will be a sequel and I will wait for it happily while reading whatever else you toss into the mix in between then. Thank you from the bottom of my readers heart thank you, I hope you see this and... More please :o )
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September 13, 2012 at 12:00 AM
I am pulling my hair out with how damn stubborn Neji is!! Are you kidding me Shikamaru is giving so much good only a crazy person wouldn't take what he's offering quick and willingly. Is Neji crazy? And yet I understand why Neji doesn't want to fully let him in. This story is so emotionally exhausting in a good way. I think about it constantly when I'm not reading it and can't wait to get back to read more. Again I applaud you for how well written and real and original this is.
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September 7, 2012 at 12:00 AM
Wow! The last few chapter 24-28 wow, I don't know what else to say. The moments of just Shika/Neji have been so good so raw and I love every minute of it. From the arguing to the heated tension and contained passion. The way Shikamaru refuses to stop helping Neji even though he pushes him away. And when Neji closed Shikamaru's eyes fro him to stop watching I almost lost it. It was the final revealing of why Neji was so angry and miserable and holding onto his control that almost broke me, I almost cried it was so touching and sad but sweet. I love and hate you right now. Best Shika/Neji story ever written!!!
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August 24, 2012 at 12:00 AM
Finally got sign in, I am on chapter 16 now and still so in love and so taken by this story. Everyone is in character. The plot of push and pull from Shikamaru and Neji is enraging and perfect all at the same. I love how one minute they're at each others throats and the next they're friendly or hot for each other. Which I love! The chapter when they tried to dominate one another and ended up giving each other a hand job, that was mm mm good reading. I can't wait for them to actually go for it and the day Neji lets go of his control. I like that this story isn't just about the two of them but has a background plot of missions and things. I adore the moments with Shikamaru and Asuma. My favorite student/pupil pair and the way you write them is perfect. This is so good I hope you're seeing my many reviews because you have to know how much I'm enjoying this.