As to the suggestion that Shampoo or Ukyo would seem most
likely to end with Rama in this story, I'd have to disagree with
Ukyo, simply because I don't think Ranma will last long enough
for Ukyo to arrive. His time in Nerima so far has been
unmitigated hell. I'd be surprised if he lasts a couple of
months before he snaps and takes off for the horizon. Long
enough to meet Shampoo maybe - although how he ends up engaged
to her is a question, even assuming the time in the village was
more or less the same, since I can't see this Akane trying
to help him. I would imagine, if he did defeat Shampoo, that
he'd leave with her at the first opportunity

     My main problem so far is that I don't buy Nabiki being
as good at keeping hot water from him as she appears to be.
Since she's not turning off the hot water heater at home,
how is she keeping him from getting it without anyone else
noticing? And keeping all the hot water in the school off?
I find it a lttle hard to believe. (Yeah, I know, like a
guy turning into a girl is so believable.)

     Unless of course the gods are conspiring with Nabiki to
keep Ranma female, in which case I give him a month before he
puts Nabiki in traction along with some of his more
overzealous admirers before heading off to become a hermit.

Reid Carson
rcarson@mnsinc.com