Scott Jamison wrote:

        A thought I had.  I think *a* reason a lot of us are so fixated
on Akane getting Ranma is because it's a consolation prize for having so
little else going for her.  The two talents she has are attracting men
and martial arts.  The first she never wanted and the second is
overshadowed by pretty much every other fighter in the series.
Everything else she tries she's either a miserable failure at (cooking,
swimming) or gets ignored for the rest of the series (acting)...

 
	A consolation prize?  Look at this.  Akane can have Shinnouske or
Ryouga if she ever wanted them, and both of them are just as good as
Ranma, especially both of them are much more sensitive to her feelings. 
Like what Caroline wrote, I think they should be together because
they're in love.  Akaen doesn't need Ranma as a consolation prize. 
Shinnosuke and Ryouga are both equally devoted to her as Ranma and just
as good as Ranma in any respect, except they're not as good in martial
arts.
	But I actually do agree with Zen's Winding Part and see it as a
possible way to resolve the Ranma and Akane relationship.  It is hard,
but it can be done.  Of course, Zen isn't your average fanfic writer,
either...
	So here's what I'll say.  I'm basically always for Akane and Ranma
because everything in the manga and anime supports this idea, and that
they'll be happy because they love each other.  Akane doesn't love Ranma
just because Ranma is so good and cool.  She has people who would marry
her at the slightest hint who are just as good as Ranma, and probably a
lot more sensitive as well.  But of course, if one can make a solution
that successfully breaks up Ranma and Akane, which Zen did quite well in
Winding Road, then that is okay, plot wise anyway.  Once Ranma and Akane
are broken up, I think Ukyou and Shampoo has pretty much the same
chance.  Mind if I speak for the purple-haired one, but I think her
chances with Ranma is just as good as Ukyou, if not better.

	Of course, that doesn't mean I will forget Zen for what he did to
Akane-chan.  ^_^



Don, Akane's #1 Fan!
"Time flows like a river, and History repeats..." Secret of Mana