Ranma and Akane are both sixteen year olds who live in Japan and attend Furinkan High School. They both practice and study martial arts, under the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts their fathers formed. They are the heirs to the school and are betrothed, thanks to their fathers, in the hopes that the two will carry it on. The two form an unlikely couple who, upon first glance, would appear to be merely friends. However, looking beyond their blase and sometimes cruel actions and words, it is clear that this couple was a match made in heaven.

There are two sides to the series, both manga and anime, but both inevitably show that the couple cannot survive without the other. Each gets jealous when the other may be taken from them or shows interest in another. However, other than jealousy, Ranma and Akane have trouble showing their more tender sides. Ranma especially, being a boy. They cover up by fighting and getting jealous, rather than talking out their problems, and ultimately, their feelings.

Their feelings are obvious from various unconscious remarks or actions. Both Ranma and Akane will always go to aid the other, though they might act cold and as if they don't want to be there. Akane does her best trying to impress Ranma by learning to cook (her food is atrocious, however!) and other more "womanly" and "wifely" things, which she isn't too good at. Luckily, Ranma isn't really impressed by that type of thing, though she is nonetheless offended and hurt when he calls her uncute and unsexy, even though he doesn't really mean it.

Ranma on the other hand, while he does not show constant signs of his love and affection, occasionally lets things slip. When he is overcome with his fear of cats, he begins to think and act like one. Only Akane is able to calm him down, as he'll viciously attack anyone who comes near him. In one particular instance, Ranma, as a cat, kissed Akane in front of a large crowd (See picture!). When he's a cat he doesn't know what he's doing, and so this was quite a surprise for both Akane and himself! He'll also occasionally let slip that he's worried about her as well, and will try to keep her out of dangerous battles or situations, despite her gumption to help him out.

Akane and Ranma are tested almost daily, as both has a number of interested men and women following and pining for them (for Ranma, both men and  women, depending on his form!), but their friendship and feelings have held up regardless. They don't look at any other guys or girls as a love interest, unless faking it to make the other jealous. It is clear that though they get jealous and spiteful, they really do know each other's feelings, and are just waiting for a time in which they can share them with each other without fear of embarrassment (they are only 16, after all!)

Ranma and Akane were promised by their fathers to be married. They quarrel often, but there are real feelings behind their fighting. Ranma is cursed and turns into a girl when splashed with cold water, and back into a boy when splashed with hot. However, Akane accepts him the way he is, and she's obviously the only girl for him, despite countless suitors and other fiancees (Ranma's father tends to stiff bills a lot, and offered Ranma's hand in marriage to many girls, though Akane is the only serious one.)

Akane first met Ranma as a girl. They got off to a bad start, with Akane thinking male Ranma a pervert. Ranma didn't help the situation, calling Akane macho and uncute, but after a while, he began to see the nicer sides to Akane. Akane, on the other hand, had deep aversions to boys, and was unwilling to give Ranma a chance at first, but they soon became good friends, other then their romantic tension. Both were appalled at the idea of an arranged marriage at first, and though they are secretly happy with that arrangement, they are still embarrassed by it, and often act as if they dislike each other, or are disgusted with the whole thing.

Ranma and Akane have just gotten back together after Ranma thought Akane wanted to marry Shinnosuke, a man who saved her life and to whom she was only indebted. Scene from the manga (see picture).

Ranma: [Thinking of things he can say to Akane] 'Glad you're back, Akane.' 'You reeeeally had me worried.' 'Didn't even know I could worry so much.' Well... why not. Won't hurt to be nice once in a while. I'll do it sly, like... maybe... even... hold hands.

[Puts out his hand, Akane takes it]

Akane: "I'm glad we're back together. Sorry I worried you."

Ranma: [Thinking of nice replies] 'I'm happy too.' 'From now on I'll try AND be a nicer guy.' 'So don't go putting yourself in danger.' 'It's times like this... that I like best of all'

Akane: "And why are you being so quiet?"

Ranma: [Thinking] Nope. Can't. Nope.

~~~

From second anime movie, after Ranma saves Akane from being kidnapped, he wants to destroy the magical spring on the island that turns anything living into a "man" and can restore him to normal. Both he and Akane are falling toward it, and if she falls in, she'll become a guy. From the English subtitled version.

Ranma: "That's the spring?"

Akane: "Now you can be cured!"

Ranma: "Not anymore, I can't! I gotta destroy it!"

Akane: "No! If you do, then you'll-"

Ranma: "Didn't you say you liked me the way I am?"

Akane: "But..."

Ranma: "And the woman you are is the one I lo- I gotta destroy it!"

Akane: "Ranma!"

Ranma: "I gotta risk all my strength on this one attack! Do it! Destroy it! NOW!!"

I think it's pretty safe to say that these two love birds will eventually throw aside their petty arguments and just go for it! ;o)