For those of us who have been in love, we know that it's not a simple thing. Thousands of songs, poems, and stories have been created about this complex human emotion, and we are still no closer to figuring it out.
Add to this, the emotionally charged and confusing time known as both as puberty and adolesance, and you have a seriously troubled time that many have been known to commit suicide and kill over. As teens, we're in an emotionally turbulent time where every little thing seems like the whole world.
Now we get to Ranma and Akane, who's lives are far from normal, having more stress and more problems tossed their way then anybody else I've ever known. The fact that they come through all 38 chapters of the manga in one piece and still lovin' each other, means their feelings for each other are far stronger then anything would tear them apart.
However, it definitely wasn't at love at first sight!
For Ranma, it was a chance to make a friend, something he really needed. Traveling around with just his father, he was starting to feel a bit lonely, even if he didn't really know exactly what that feeling was. Along comes this friendly girl, who's a martial artist, and offers to be his friend, then she whacks him with a table!
All his life has been spent in constant fighting and sparring with his father, so he immediately begins to relate to her when she fights with him. He realizes she's not a simple, demure, giggling girl, but a regular little spitfire who tells him what she thinks, just like he does. She doesn't try to manipulate him or coddle up to him, but does everything she can to help him when he's down, even to the point of setting herself on fire!(see the Hiryu Shoten Ha story)
For Akane, it was also a chance to make a friend. Remember, Ranma was a girl when he first showed up, so Akane was glad to meet a girl who also practiced martial arts. She then felt betrayed and scared when she discovered Ranma was a boy. After all, the only boys she knew were the ones that tried to beat her up every day. And as her fiance, it's his right to take 'liberties' with her, so in fear of what he may do, she tries to control him and keep him on a short leash.
As time goes on, though, she slowly realizes that he would never use his superior skills against her, and in fact would do everything he could to help her and protect her. A far cry from all the other boys she knows.
Despite their initial setback, their feelings for each other did develop over time, which is a realistic expectation of a long-lasting relationship(thanks to Daniel Kim for pointing this out). They become best friends first, since neither of them wants, or is ready for, marriage. Neither Ranma nor Akane was afraid to tell the other what they thought, and while it may have caused some friction, they became that much closer because of it.
You'll notice everyone else that comes along, has a near-instanteous attraction to Ranma or Akane(in Kuno's case, both), because they're looking for someone to fulfill their need or want, rather than find a person to love.
So why will they stay together and eventually get married?
Simple, because they have proven time and time again that they can deal with any problems and disagreements that arise. They don't ignore them and let them build and fester, but work with their troubles openly, and always come back together afterward. As any marriage counselor will tell you, being able to handle the arguments and problems that come with living together, is absolutely essential to a healthy relationship.
So yes, they fight, but they make up and get back together. That's completely natural and is part of their combative natures. What's unnatural, is when one person ignores, or don't see anything wrong at all with, the behavior of the person they claim to love(i.e. Ryoga, Ukyo, Shampoo). That just means that they're holding all those negative feelings inside, and eventually the pressure will become to much and reach the breaking point.
Now THAT ain't healthy.
No two people are exactly the same, and we all need time to ourselves. That's why we tend to get angry at our family members and those we live with from time to time. Being in almost consant contact, our little quirks and habits get on each other's nerves occasionally.
After 38 volumes of manga, Ranma and Akane have learned and know the good and the bad of the other, and yet they STILL love each other. If anything, that love has grown deeper and stronger. Which brings me to my last point:
They DO love each other.
The more you care about someone, the harder you try to keep it in your life, and the more you're willing to do for that person to keep them happy. That even means giving that person up if they love someone else. Both Ranma and Akane have demonstrated this trait, for they were both willing to let the other go if they thought that person would be happier with someone else.
For Akane, it was when Nabiki temporarily became Ranma's fiancee. Akane thought her older sister loved Ranma, so she was willing to give up on her happiness if it meant Ranma and Nabiki would be happy. Some say that this is only because it was her own sister, but which is worse? Losing someone you love to a completely different person? Or to your own sibling, knowing that everytime you see or think of your family, you will be reminded that you lost the one you loved to your own sister/brother?
For Ranma, it was when he thought Akane loved Shinnosuke. Ranma was willing to let her go if she would've been happier with Shinnosuke. Just like that old saying, "If you love something, you must let it go. If it doesn't come back, it was never yours. If it does come back, cherish it forever." (I may have mussed up the saying somewhat, but you get the idea)
Most people list reasons why a certain relationship can work. They don't realize that to seperate Ranma and Akane is to practically kill them. No where is this more evident than in the final volume. Anyone who isn't touched by the heartbreaking drama that unfolds has GOT to be as dead inside as Ranma was when he thought Akane was gone for good. It was easy to see how Ranma shut himself off, and how profoundly Akane's supposed death tore him apart.(Vol 38)
As for Akane, well I think the ice skating match with the golden pair is a good example. She breaks down and cries when she thinks Ranma is dead, and you can feel the sadness in her sobs. Also, during the Herb episode, you can see the deep worry and fear when Akane's thinks Ranma isn't coming back after seeing Mt. Horai collapse on TV(Vol. 24-25). When he does come back, there's no insults or hitting, but Akane hugs him instead, burying her face into his chest. It's easy to see how happy and relieved she is to have him back, since she's never been this intimate with another guy before.
It's pretty clear that to seperate these two, is to bring untold amounts of suffering on them. Yet, that's what almost the entire cast is trying to do to them. That's what Ranma 1/2 is about, love blossoming despite every concevible circumstance arriving to stamp it out.
In conclusion, let me leave you with a few last questions: Are you the type that thinks Cinderella should get her prince charming? Or should one of her step-sisters get him?
And should Romeo and Juliet get the chance to love each other without the interference of their families and so-called friends, or will the next Ranma author make it end in tragedy because of someone else they like or dislike?
If anybody else has stuff to add or think should be changed, you know where to e-mail me.