romantic part comes later, after Akane sleeps with Dr. Tofu and she and Ranma 
realize that they have a shallow relationship that is pretty much defined by 
sex.  (this is probably the next episode)

wait wait wait. It may be just me, but I noticed their relationship was the
ONLY one that was growing. Everything they did with other people didn't seem
to mean anything... but when it was together...

I tend to agree with that... It's always said how different it was with both
of them together.

        Also, you kept emphasizing how Ranma was very uncomfortable with having
Akane sleep with any other man. It seemed like they were learning to care about
each other. And Akane always declined invitations to do that. I can see you
putting
this scene in (though I admit it is going to make me uncomfortable... like
nothing
else in this story has. I just see the Akane/Tofuu relationship being off limits
because Akane turned AWAY from Tofuu to be with Ranma) but instead of it making 
them realize that their relationship is shallow, I would think it would make
them
realize that they really DID care about each other and that this was the wrong 
thing for them to be sleeping with other people where it was just for
shallowness.

Unless something really OOC for these characters happens and Akane actually
finds that it is 'special' with Toufuu...

I think it would draw them closer together-- realizing that, in that they
can hurt
each other in that way, they really wanted to be together. 
        After the scenes in the park where they wanted "their own special place"
and the scenes where they "just wanted a night alone"... I just can't see them
all of a sudden decididing that was all shallow... in fact, it appears more that
they would realize that THOSE moments were the TRUE emotion.

I agree here, again...

        I dunno. I can see Akane being very uncomfortable having sex with
Tofuu...
maybe chickening out or feeling really bad through the whole thing... the
first time
she had felt bad about sex after all their "training."
        Well, just my 2 cents worth... and going on the feelings I have been
getting
from the characters in the stories.

I don't see how it could make Ranma and Akane think that their relationship
is shallow, either, unless Akane falls in love with Toufuu while sleeping
with him... But then there would be no point for Ranma and Akane to stay
together...

Kun-chan...