Does anyone besides me get the feeling that whatever Genma did to Ranma is
similar to the Nekoken, in that Ranma may not really be in control?  Trying
to drive Ucchan away, finding an out to killing Nabiki with the knife, not
killing the Hibikis quickly and outright even when it is clear that they
want him dead, it's almost like the younger Ranma, the 'normal' Ranma, is
trapped inside, trying desperately to deal with someone who has pretty much
complete control of his or their body.

Or perhaps Ranma is in control most of the time, but the other lies buried
right beneath the surface, ready to be triggered at the slightest
provocation, to take over if Ranma ever stumbles or deviates from 'the
rules'?  Some of the things Ranma says and does clearly indicate he fears,
well, himself, more than anything else.

I wonder, if this is really the case, then the true horror is Ranma's -
trapped inside the body and mind of a cold-blooded killer that would put
Jack the Ripper to shame, have to watch as 'you' do horrible things to
strangers and people you know, to having to worry that this animal will
suddenly kill anyone you care about . . .  for some reason, I can't shake
the notion that no matter how 'bad' or 'evil' Ranma is portrayed, it's not
completely the truth, that once we know the other side of it . . .

But then again, if this was just an evil Ranma, it twould be a way too
simple situation - Evil Ranma kills / maims / hurts people until the good
guys can get together enough firepower to take him down permanently, and
we'd be reading just another version of the cliched American cinema horror
genre. ^_^

Ah, well, I eagerly await the next chapter.

Charles Hurst, charlesh@teleport.com