[J. Austin Wilde wrote]

 It's almost as
if you are trying too hard to justify the premise of the story (that
Ranma grudgingly rejects Akane for Ukyo) both to yourself and your
readership.

I tend to agree with this.  If there were any flaws in LAWR2, they 
were that every speech seemed to have the characters showing 
unnatural insight (and unnatural frankness) about the exact reasons 
Ranma left Akane.  While I suppose Ranma might be repeating these 
ideas as a sort of mantra, to help him avoid feeling guilty about his 
actions, dialogue like 

"Well, the words 'I hate you' were a subtle hint."  Ranma shook his 
head sadly.  "Most of it is my fault, I guess.  It was raining on 
the day we first arrived at the dojo, and naturally, everyone 
thought I was a girl. Akane was so friendly... I imagine it was at 
least partly relief.  She wasn't too keen on the idea of an arranged 
marriage either.  But when she found out that I really *was* a boy, 
she was ... upset.  I don't think that she's ever forgiven me for 
it."

said to Nodoka just doesn't feel like something Ranma would say.  
It's still a great fic, mind you, with beautiful writing, and I found 
myself drawn in by (and believing) the characters' feelings whether I 
wanted or not.  



Thomas Schmidt
Tschmidt@tcon.net
After April 1, Tschmidt@trader.com will no longer work


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