2. Yuki and Shuichi (Gravitation)
3. Keiran and Ash (The God Eaters)
4. Usagi and Misaki (Junjo Romantica)
5. Goh and Taki (Yellow)
6. Haruomi and Kiichi (Love Mode)
8. Snake and Meryl (Metal Gear Solid)
9. Sinbad and Maeve (Adventures of Sinbad)
11. Squall and Rinoa (Final Fantasy VIII)
12. Kazuki and Mizuki (Comic Party)
14. Sinbad and Rumina (Adventures of Sinbad)
1. Why do you dislike #11 so much? (Squall and Rinoa)
I really don't care about this couple either way, but I didn't want to repeat all the ones I wrote from my last list, so I had to think of some others. Squall and Rinoa annoy me as a couple because I just don't see them working out. Rinoa got on my nerves through the whole game with her whole helpless damsel-in-distress routine. And I usually enjoy the whole cliché storyline where one person is cold and distant and the love of another helps them change and care again, but I just didn't buy it here. Rinoa was whiny, needy, and clingy, and I just couldn't see Squall putting up with her for too long. The scene where he carried her on his back for that long journey just drove me up the wall, and I almost wanted Squall to just leave her drifting out in space. There are two posters of Squall and Rinoa on the wall directly across from my laptop, and it kind of annoys me to have to see the two of them every day.
2. Who is someone you know that ships #13? (Tommy and Jason)
I don't know anyone that ships them, and that's really too bad.
3. What would be your ideal scenario for couple #3? (Keiran and Ash)
For these two to happily grow old together. I would love a sequel to the book to see what would happen, but I just would just want them to live a long and happy life with one another.
4. Which is your favorite episode for #1? Try to pick just one. (Kei and Ranmaru)
Well, this is a manga series, so I guess I'll pick my favorite book. I absolutely love volume 5, where Ran rescues Kei from the yakuza, but I think my favorite one is volume 10. It hasn't been released in english yet (and it probably never will be), so I own it in French and am able to follow along with the translations. This book has so many great scenes between these two that just show what a great couple they make. From Ran tending to his feverish partner, to Kei giving Ran his full support when he wanted to contact his dad, to Ran apologizing for taking off his wedding ring when visiting his grandfather, to Ran happily introducing Kei to his father... there were just so many good scenes that showed how they settled quite nicely into their married life.
5. How long have you been following couple #6? (Haruomi and Kiichi)
I've only been following them for about a month or so, since I read volume 9. I was never a huge fan of Kiichi and his devious (although good-natured) ways, but I had been interested in them since we learned they were a couple in volume 2. Their back story was told in volumes 8 and 9, and since that was the first time I really got to read a lot about them (since they are usually just minor characters), I really fell in love with the two of them as a couple. Just with all they had been through together and how much they cared about each other just really made me like them a lot. And now, reading the first few volumes again, I even really like Kiichi!
6. What's the story with #8? What made you stop liking them/caring? (Snake and Meryl)
Well, I haven't played the game in a long time, so that's part of it, and I guess it's also because I got older. When I was younger, I shipped everyone together whether they seemed like a good couple or not. I remember in their original soulmates section writing that they would probably get married and have kids and have a happy life together, and looking back, that's just really stupid. The whole marriage and kids thing is not for everyone, and I now appreciate the fact that all couples are not the same and do not all want the same things. I just don't think Snake and Meryl would work together.
7. Which ship do you prefer - #2 or #4? (Yuki and Shuichi or Usagi and Misaki)
Yuki and Shuichi, definitely. It's interesting that these two couples ended up in this question together, because they are so alike, yet so different. Yuki and Usagi kind of look alike and are both romance novelists who are not always great at social situations. Shuichi and Misaki also kind of look alike, are loud and outspoken, and are the younger of each pair. However, Shuichi is the one who really pursued Yuki, whereas Usagi is the one that pursues Misaki. Another major difference is that Yuki is a good cook (and Shuichi immediately cuts himself with a knife the second he picks one up), while Misaki is a good cook in the other pairing (and Usagi blew up the microwave trying to boil an egg).
8. You have the power to make one ship non existent. Choose from #10 or #12. (Peter and Mary Jane or Kazuki and Mizuki)
I would choose Peter and Mary Jane. Then maybe I could actually enjoy the movies.
9. What interests you about #14? (Sinbad and Rumina)
Now if Sinbad fans didn't hate me for adding Sinbad and Maeve to my list last time, they're definitely going to hate me now. (I'm sorry, guys!!) I don't know, I just find this couple strangely appealing now. In our Sims game, we had Sinbad and Maeve get married young and they had twins. When their kids were in college, Sinbad started having and affair with Rumina and they ended up having a baby. He eventually divorced Maeve and married Rumina, and they had another set of twins together. Now I don't know if I'm projecting our Sims game onto the show, but I just think Sinbad and Maeve are kind of boring now (after shipping them for so many years), and Sinbad and Rumina, whether for a fling or long term, just add a little bit of spice to the whole thing. I would never say I ship them together, but I do have some interest in them as a couple.
10. When did you stop liking #7? (Luke and Noah)
I had been a huge fan of these two since even before they got together, but I just don't care about them at all anymore, and I think they would be better off if they broke up. I may eventually ship them again, but at the moment, I just can't stand them together. I stopped liking them during the whole (really stupid) Ameera storyline. Noah married this girl he didn't even know to keep her in the country and completely disregarded Luke and his feelings time and time again for Ameera. It was just so ridiculous because he didn't even know her at all. I just think Luke deserves (a lot) better than to be a needy doormat to Noah. I'm getting tired of seeing Luke stalk Noah and even more tired of Noah doing things without thinking or without regard to Luke. Well, at least they get to kiss onscreen again, which was my main problem with them in the last questionnaire I did.
11. Did your waning interest in #9 kill your interest in the show? (Sinbad and Maeve)
No, because I didn't have a waning interest in them until way after the show went off the air. I think it was because I was interested in them that I lost interest in the show, because she wasn't in the second season. And based on how Sinbad changed in season 2, the character I loved wasn't there either.
12. What's a song that reminds you of #5? (Goh and Taki)
A song that reminds me of Goh and Taki is "Fireworks" by Plain White T's. I think it really fits for Goh's situation and how he was willing to wait for Taki because he cared about him so much. It also really fits because even though Goh's feelings were real, Taki didn't believe him because he was so stuck on the one time when Goh said that he wasn't his type. So even when Goh's words were genuine, Taki thought he was just playing around with him. "Well I don't mind waiting 'til you're comfortable with me / But what's it gonna take to prove that I'm for real?"
13. Which of these ships do you love the most?
I'd have to say Yuki and Shuichi are my favorite.
14. Which do you dislike the most?
I really, really dislike Peter and Mary Jane. I really want to like the Spider-man movies, but never have I seen a female character that bothered me more than Mary Jane. I like Peter a lot, but Mary Jane's presence makes the movies pretty much unwatchable to me. I can't stand her!
15. If you could have any of these two pairings double date, who would it be?
I think it would be pretty funny for Yuki and Shuichi to go on a double date with Usagi and Misaki. It would be funny to see Misaki try and vent his frustrations about Usagi to Shuichi and have them completely fall on deaf ears (and vice versa). For example, Misaki could complain that his lover writes him into his yaoi novels, and Shuichi could ask Yuki why he doesn't write about him. Or Shuichi could complain about how Yuki never wants to cuddle or anything, and Misaki could whine that that's all Usagi wants to do. It would just be interesting to watch because to have their ideal partners, Yuki and Usagi might as well switch theirs with each other. But then they wouldn't have that nice 'opposites attract' thing going anymore and they wouldn't balance each other out.
16. Have #2 kissed yet? Elaborate if you'd like. (Yuki and Shuichi)
Yup, they have kissed many times throughout the anime and manga.
17. Did #4 have a happy ending? If the show hasn't ended yet, do you think a happy ending is likely? (Usagi and Misaki)
The series has not ended yet, and although these two will never have a storybook 'happily ever after' ending, they will more than likely find happiness together in their own way. I can't really see these two splitting apart.
18. What would make you start shipping #14? (Sinbad and Rumina)
Well, the show is long over and there's nothing new for it anymore, but I guess I'd start shipping them more as we continue their story in our Sims game. If we made a montage of the two together that might also help.
19. If only one could happen, which would you prefer - #2 or #6? (Yuki and Shuichi or Haruomi and Kiichi)
I love both of these couples, but I'd have to go with Yuki and Shuichi. I adore Haruomi and Kiichi too, though!
20. You have the power to decide the fate of #10. What happens to them? (Peter and Mary Jane)
Mary Jane gets herself into a mess again and Peter isn't able to save her. I mean, really, how many times is he expected to save her annoying butt? Either that or he gets tired of her whining and dumps her. I actually really don't care what happens to them as long as Mary Jane isn't anywhere where I have to see her. I want to see the Spider-man movies without her in them! Peter, go find a new lover!
- Liz