<shakes head>  Sorry to break in here, but I have to disagree.  At this 
point they are most definitely *not* together.  The marriage is a sham, 
a piece of legalese on paper, nothing more.  

That's enough.  They're stuck together, unless Soun and Genma 
both agree to end the marriage or one of them decides to run 
away.  They're certainly not together in any romantic sense, 
it's true --  but it would be very difficult for them to become 
involved with anyone else as long as they're officially married to 
someone.  

What's more, given how much 
they fight over the engagement in the regular series, I can't ever see 
them truely coming to love each other in this universe.  

It's certainly going to be more difficult.

From your story 
they didn't even get to make that good "first impression", when Ranma 
fought Akane as a girl, and she offered her friendship, showing Ranma 
that yes, she really was a nice girl.  Right now, there's going to be so 
much hatred and resentment every time they so much as see each other, 
that I can't see them getting to know each other.  Really, the only 
happy ending I can see is if Soun realizes exactly how unhappy he's made 
his daughter, agrees to an anullment, and they get the chance to know 
each other on thier own terms.

That is one possibility -- but I think there is at least one other.  
If I write the rest of the story well enough, I think you'll come to 
agree with me.  

Thomas Schmidt
Tschmidt@trader.com