On Tue, 5 Mar 1996, Caroline Seawright wrote:

I doubt that just marrying Akane would give him a "normal" life in the 
Ranma-verse.  Also, in order for him to marry Akane, he'd have to admit 
that he loved her and that would also be a "loss" in a sense.

Why'd that be a loss? He does finally admit that he loves her, to himself.
He would probably have said it aloud, too, if she hadn't have come back
the way she did...

I dunno, but from the way Ranma acts is some of the OAVs, it's kinda 
obvious that's the way he thinks.  I didn't say it was correct, but that 
seems to be the way his mind works.

Hmm....ok...that works for me.  Personally, though, based on his actions, 
Ranma doesn't *like* hurting people.  As far as I know (through anime and 
the Viz graphic novels,) Ranma always avoids picking someone (duh. :) 
I think there're two reasons for this: 1.  Self-preservation.  As pointed 
out in quite a few fanfics, no matter who he chooses, he'll end up hurting 
the other three (two if you discount Kodachi).  Another thing I noticed--
Ranma has only started a few fights in his whole lifetime; Ryoga came 
after him, Shampoo came after him, Kodachi indirectly forced him to 
fight her, Kuno challenged him, etc. etc. etc.  In fact, the only time I 
can think of him actively starting a fight is in the Desperately Seeking 
Shampoo OAV.  The rest of the time, he's forced to fight (minus 
"training" with Genma.)  Every one of his fiancees (except Kodachi) has 
been nice to him at at least one point... I think he considers them 
friends (except Akane), and to my thinking, you just don't go around 
breaking your friends' hearts, especially when they can break your head. 

 Soun:"When he's a boy, she just wants him.  When he's a woman, she wants 
       him dead."
Ranma:"...salad sandwich, and soup bread.  Wait. Soup bread doesn't exist."  
Akane:"Pile up enough dust and you've got a mountain, right?"
"KEEP YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF SHAMPOO!!! *SLAM*" -Mousse, in full kick-ass mode
"Only the supremely wise and the ignorant do not alter." -Confucius
email at:geist@holly.colostate.edu -- Ishido on IRC at #ranma!