I was wrong, I thought the Ranma/Akane relationship was symmetric.  It isn't.

While Ranma is deathly afraid of the hold Akane has over him, Akane
isn't afraid of Ranma.

As an example, let's take Viz Graphic Novel #2, 222 pages.

Ranma:
    Strikes Akane: Zero times.
    Insults Akane: 8 times.
        gets slugged for it: Zero times.
    Acts jealous for Akane: five times.
    Refers to Akane as Fiancee: once.
    Asks something of Akane: twice.
        she agrees: zero times.

Akane:
    Strikes Ranma: three times
        it's when he's physically out of line: all three times.
    Insults Ranma: once.
    Takes practice shot at Ranma: five times.
        misses: all five times.
    denies relationship: three times.
    Supportive of Ranma: seven times.
    Helps Ranma (unasked): eight times.
    Asks something of Ranma: four times.
        he agrees: three times.

So the results are that Akane never (in this volume) strikes Ranma for
insulting her and she's supportive or helpful twice as often as he
insults her.

Obviously, Akane isn't running under the same set of rules that Ranma
is.  Apparently, all she wants is to build a better Ranma, and she'll do
whatever it takes.  Even if it means turning the other cheek when he
insults her.

Looking at the stats, if Akane wants Ranma, she should ask him to marry
her, odds are that he'll agree.  (Apparently Akane doesn't have a life
without Ranma, so it might not be worth the 25% chance of rejection...)

	Henry J. Cobb	hcobb@slip.net          http://www.io.com/~hcobb