Track 09 was very fun for me to draw. The concert scene at the party was a welcome challenge as I'm continuing to grow as an artist and refine my craft. I had originally wanted to put in more shots of the mansion in that scene, to get a better sense of location, but I found that focusing more on the characters created the kind of mood I really wanted to illustrate. Backgrounds continue to be a challenge for me, but I'm trying to push myself to improve.

I'm quite a big fan of the shiny black skin-tight getup Orochi was wearing during their performance. I've been drawing this story since 2002 (and created the characters and plot in 2000-2001) and have seen different trends come and go in Japanese rock music. Older concert scenes, like the one in track 02, showcase what I liked best about visual kei at that time. My aesthetic has changed since then, reflecting the real life stylistic changes of visual kei. I like Orochi in black... To me the outfits they wore in track 09's party suit them as a band. As Orochi continues to grow in experience and popularity, their image will reflect that as well, and I'm really looking forward to developing it further! Along with their outfits, I thought that having lyrics in that scene was pretty awesome.

I was so excited to have Shuya propose to Musashi, I can't even tell you! I thought, "what better time to pop the question than at a party in their honor?" That scene along with Miyabi and Yayoi's little shopping adventure are probably my favorites from this chapter. ^_^ Oh yes, and Kazuki rambling off his feelings to Sayaka... love it!

Of course, the ending may have left some of you enraged/confused/worried/etc. Yumi wakes up to see her clothes on the floor beside her and blood on the sheet. I realize that some of you might not understand what that could mean (Yumi immediately draws a conclusion.) If you need clarification, you can email me or maybe someone on the Shoutbox can help explain things. Please don't let anything dissuade you from continuing to read! I have so many wonderful, happy, positive things in store down the road. Also remember that I'm not one to follow what you might expect... :3