"Christopher D. Nichols" wrote:

However, she did leave tools laying about to fix the mess, given time
and care.  Tools in the form of new characters who serve to begin the
drift away from Ranma and Akane.  Akari.  Konatsu.

Why can't Konatsu catch a break?  Is it simply that no one save myself
likes him?  Since I freely admit to having no taste, am I missing
certain aesthetic reasons for avoiding budding Ukyou-Konatsu romance?
Is it just that Ukyou is easier to write about as someone stuck to
perpetual misery, rather than a vital Ukyou who rediscovers her heart?
Or do examples of this type of story exist, and I've simply been to
foolish to locate them, though not for lack of trying.

    It's really rather simple.  Although it was obvious that Takahashi-san
intended for Konatsu to be there for Ukyo, and for Ryoga and Akari to be
together, not very many people over here know about them.  They show up
later in the manga and anime series, and the chapters/episodes that feature
them haven't yet been translated.  Since the majority of American and
Canadian fans have never seen them, they tend to write about the characters
they do know about.

    One of my pet peeves is the tendency of Fanfic writers to pair up Ryoga
and Akane, even though it is made fairly plain in the manga and anime that
he has no chance.  Not only does Akane love Ranma, but the one time she went
out on an honest-to-goodness date with Ryoga in the waterproof soap
incident, he scared her to death.  (Her quote in English was "The girl who
takes on the job of Ryouga's girlfriend will have to be made of sterner
stuff than I am."  It is also made clear that she wouldn't forgive him if
she found out he was P-chan, and that she simply considers him a friend who
is sweet to her.  Yet in fics, it is common for writers to assume that they
would probably become a couple if Ranma were out of the picture.

    My little rant on that subject was just an example of how certain
assumptions creep into fic writing.  Fanfic authors thrive on contact with
other writers, so a lot of misconceptions and common ideas have become
standard fare in the stories.  There are a lot of writers who haven't even
had much of a chance to see or read much of the series at all, so all they
have to go on is other people's stories.  That is why, for instance, the
popular myth of Akane's Transdimensional Hammer shows up so much.  Other
authors in this list have documented the number of times she has actually
hit Ranma, and she mostly grabs whatever may be to hand at the time.  The
number of times she's used a mallet is rather small.

    Because writers are influenced by the works of other writers, and
because not everyone has access to all of the series, these misconceptions
are inevitable.  However, that is not a bad thing.  Some of the best fanfics
written include ideas that are not in keeping with the story as
Takahashi-san wrote it.  One very important thing to remember is that fics
are a form of self-expression, so there is no reason at all for anyone to
feel bound by what the manga or series says.  Stories have been written with
almost every possible combination of the characters falling in love
(although I don't recall seeing one with Konatsu and female-Ranma as a
couple...).  If you haven't seen your favorite pairing in a story yet, then
write one!  We'll all be waiting to read it!

    Well, hope that answers the question satisfactorily, although I realize
that this is my opinion, and that other explanations are likely to be just
as valid.

Ja ne,
Larry F