> >Ultimently, it should be Akane and Ranma. Not only do we KNOW that's the way
> >it will be, but their aditudes in so many different ways show that they
> >could have a life together. They know eachother inside and out. Grantit they
> >argue 24/7 but it only shows how incredibly open they are with eachother
> >(aside from love).
>       Or that they have very low self-esteem and poor social-skills. (for
> a japanese, anyway.) <g>

It seems to be axiomatic in Japan that the more people fight the closer 
they are. For example Makoto (Sailor Jupiter) says this about Usagi and Rei
in Sailor Moon when's she's first introduced to Rei. One translation 
ran: "You're good friends; I can tell" then as Rei and Usagi protest
she adds "The more you fight the closer you are".  (This got changed
in the US dub.)

I sees this over and over in anime: characters who fight/tease in public 
but are obviously supposed to be close. Sometimes same-sex, sometimes
opposite-sex, sometimes kids who grew up together, sometimes strangers
who seem just to hit it off bad.

Other examples: Yuu teasing Miki in Maramlade Boy, Seiya & Ririka in Nurse
Angel Ririka SOS, Momoko and Yousuke.

I've also read that it's conventionally expected that married couples
may talk about each other in disparaging terms.

So insults have to be read in context...

--
    Albert Lunde          Albert-Lunde@northwestern.edu (new address)
                          Albert-Lunde@nwu.edu (old address)