I think what it is, is that Ranma Akane started a lie that at the time
was needed, because if they showed each other that they cared for each
other then their parents would have tryed even harder to get them to
marry each other as well as go behind the other fiances backs. (The last
isn't exactly 'nice', for lack of better term..i.e I'm suffering a brain
fart)

It's more a matter of you can't have one without the other.  They are
fundamentally doing this to stop their parents. The rest of it is something
that grew because they couldn't exclude it.

	However their lie has gotten out of hand and that is what is being
shown here.  With Ranma and Ukyou I think that Ranma  wants to be
friends with Ukyou, but the mask he wears makes it hard for him to see
what he's doing.  The Ryouga thing I think is part case of story and
canon not meshing right and part author surprise.

The consensus among several extremely thoughtful people is that there are a
few defensible views of where Ryouga's head is at at the end of the canon
storyline based on what little evidence is actually there in the canon.  My
particular take on Ryouga more or less splits the difference.  He has pretty
much given up on Akane in favor of Akari, but still hates Ranma with a
passion. Is this the "right" view of Ryouga?  I don't know, but I think it's
defensible for purposes of telling this story, and that's all it needs to
me, eh?

Best,

Bob Barnes
rbarnes@moscow.com
Moscow, Idaho

When opportunity comes, the trick is to CATCH the red hat.