On Wed, 16 Apr 1997, David M Lerman wrote:

  An interesting and distinctive approach.  

I agree.  A thought provoking short-fic dealing with a shadowy aspect of 
Japanese culture.

I liked it.  I'm just not sure
if Akane would so readily go along with Kasumi. Would Nabiki react as
violently as you described?  She would object, but I don't know if she
would move out.  I'd like to think that she would (I like Nabiki). 

These comments really go into how you perceive the characters, but I 
think their reactions are not unreasonable.  
Kasumi is the epitome of the traditional Japanese woman and would 
probably consider it socially unacceptable to act any differently.  
Akane is a bit of a tomboy and strong-minded, but it is shown several 
times that she has a social life and friends she values outside the dojo 
that plus Kasumi's influence could easily persuade her, particularly 
since her father is effectively backing Kasumi as well.
Nabiki is the least socially-minded and most independant of the sisters.  
She more than anyone else in the series tends to evaluate people 
impartially and without prejudice, admittedly not for the most 
humanitarian reasons, but the net effect is the same.

I wouldn't suggest changing this little gem, but perhaps a story showing
Akane's mind after she finds out about the Saotomes. 

Perhaps... if a sequel were to be written I would suggest a "years later" 
approach when the Tendo's and Saotomes's chanced to meet again and people 
had to face the consequences of their choice.

And what about Nodoka? 

Much would depend on if she already knew, if she didn't... nothing in her 
character suggests that she would consider divorce an acceptable option.

She might well swing over to supporting a marriage to Shampoo,
since Ranma could never marry a local woman of good family. 

If the secret is out, there is really only "Gaijin" or other "Eta" to be 
considered, no "respectable" women would touch him (at least not without 
ceasing to be "respectable").  All-in-all Shampoo gains many bonuses from 
this and I can't see it affecting her opinion of Ranma in the slightest.

And Kuno and Kodachi? 

Kunou would go on about how he always *KNEW* Saotome was unclean... I 
have no idea what Kodachi would think, her views have so little to do 
with reality that I'm not sure whether or not she would care, or even 
notice. 

Does anyone believe that if the situation were the other way
around that Ranma would care at all? 

Probably not enough to leave Akane.  Ranma has been raised on the road to 
be strong and utterly independant, it has often been noted that Ranma is 
lacking in the social skills because of this, however it would also tend 
to mean that he'll have fewer of societies prejudices (he'll have picked his 
own while on the road, probably for semi-valid reasons. ^_^ ).  And Ranma 
has been trained to fight for what he wants (within wide boundaries) and 
would probably be prepared to take on "society" *IF* Akane wanted him to.

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"The Major"                     |  "Funny Games, Strange Cartoons, Confusing
David Bateson                   |     Computers and too many Books!  No 
                                |     wonder you're weird."
major@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au     |       - My Sister.
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