All this "What if Ukyou was really a boy?" talk makes me wonder if we
aren't missing the boat. Ukyou is like the very last main character to
show up, and changing her would have only minimal effects on the whole
Ranma situation. The _real_ question is this.
What if Akane was really a boy?
Now this one has actually been done many, many times before. However,
there's always been one minor catch. Any author changing Akane into a
boy _always_ (as far as I can remember) changes Ranma int a girl (well,
a girl for real). It's as if you can't change one without the other.
But I think you can, and there are a lot of interesting possibilities.
First, what about the Kuno situation? As the two best warriors in the
school and near-equals, "Akane" and Tatewaki could have a wide range of
possible relationships. They could be bitter enemies, staunch rivals,
or even (and I think this is the most intersting possibility) good
friends. Sure Kuno would require a great deal of "putting up with", but
I've seen people with friends who behaved badly, yet managed to keep the
friendship going.
Imagine if Kuno kept trying to set "Akane" up with his sister....
Furthermore, imagine Kuno's behavior towards Ranma's girl half from this
new perspective. "Akane" might actually be angry at Ranma for making
his friend behave so strangely.
Speaking of Ranma.... There would of course be the obligatory
engagement when he shows up as a girl, but I imagine it would be
straightened out with Ranma engaged to Nabiki quickly enough. How would
Ranma and male-Akane relate? Would they become friends? Enemies?
Would Akane get jealous of Ranma's martial arts abilities (well of
course he would).
What if Ranma actually allowed Shampoo to stay around and court him that
first time, instead of getting rid of her with that lie?
What about Ryouga? If Akane hated Ranma, would he "team-up" with
Ryouga? Would Ryouga become his mentor? (Heh-heh) Would Akane fall in
love with Ukyou, when she does show up?
Would Akane "push" Ranma's engagement to Nabiki or disapprove of it?
Man, this generates _way_ more possibilities than "What if Ukyou was a
boy?)
--
Matthew Campbell
E-mail me at
mgcampb@clemson.edu
"If anything, I've learned that you can't
always go home.... You can't always be
warm inside. That without love, we're
never more than Strangers in Paradise!"
Terry Moore- 'Strangers in Paradise'