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MANGOS :: RELATIONSHIPS ::
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GENKI AND HOLLY
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Holly’s initial reaction to Genki goes something like: ‘not another kid to look after - I already have Suezo!’ But as time goes by, Holly learns not to judge Genki on face value. She recognises that he is special, even toying with the idea that he might be the Phoenix towards the end of Season 2. While Holly loves Genki dearly and he in return is extremely protective of her, the relationship is never explored romantically onscreen. But you’ve got to remember that Genki is 11 for the duration of the show and Holly is 14/15. Both have only aged a year in Season 3. It’s a big age gap for a teenager and while age differences aren’t often an obstacle in anime, there is barely any evidence that the two care for each other than as good friends.
However, if Genki had returned a few years later to the MR world rather than a year later like he did, then their relationship would more than likely have developed into something more (I mean come one, Genki would be a bish at 18 – how could she resist?). Unfortunately, the creators didn't want to take the show down that road.
In the world of fandom GxH is pretty much canon and there have been some great stories written, most notably by Holly-Chan (of aves76@hotmail.com
TIGER AND HARE
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One of the most interesting, and largely explored, relationships in the anime, Tiger and Hare first met when pitted against each other in a monster battle (Episode 6). Quickly gauging his opponent’s weakness in his overconfidence, Hare was able to knock Tiger out - alongside half the coliseum - with his Gas attack (which was cut from the dub), winning him the match. Let’s face it; Tiger has a large ego and a fierce reputation to boot, so their friendship was off to a bumpy start and it certainly didn’t help when Hare deceived him by spiking his drink (which was also cut from the dub) and stealing his prize money.
For a long time Tiger appears to loathe the conniving bunny, addressing him by such affectionate titles as ‘money-grubbing furball’ and ‘scammer’. It’s not until “Underground Adventure” (#17) that we see a change when Tiger and Hare come to each other’s rescue in the battle against Joker. Indeed, Hare is so incensed after Tiger is injured, he develops a new attack to rescue him.
Most people tend to see a grudging respect between the two characters, but surely it has to be a bit more than that. If Tiger and Hare were only friends out of necessity, then they would have been a weak link in the group. Evidently, that is not the case. On the surface they might appear very different, but you only need to delve a little deeper before you realise how much they share in common: a healthy ego, a short-temper, a tragic history, both were thieves and both are proud and a little overconfident. They also appear to be of a similar age and in a crowd of young monsters and humans, and one very silent giant, that alone would have to bring them closer together (no, I don’t mean in a romantic sense – I’ll get to that later).
What irritates Tiger as the series progresses is that he has come to realise how similar he is to the source of his every irritation, which causes him to a) dislike the rabbit even more, while b) (in direct contrast) form a grudging respect for him. Hare too is well aware of their similarities, only it doesn’t upset him as it upsets Tiger. On the contrary, he finds it amusing. He knows how to push Tiger’s buttons and does so for kicks.
But Hare also cares a great deal about his rival and demonstrates this on many occasions. For example, in “Battle with the Big Bad Four” (#35) Hare remained with Tiger to fight the Baddies in Naga’s fortress, knowing the danger and that the wolf would never sacrifice his pride to ask for help. But the best example emerges in “Tiger Meets his Match” (#41). When Tiger disappears after a Jagged Hound, the group begin to worry:
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Later, when Lilim tosses the group Tiger’s alleged lost disk, Hare and Genki appear the most upset. In fact, it’s probably the only time we see Hare exhibit raw emotion. And it’s not one-sided. In Season three Suezo, the ever perceptive eyeball, comments that Tiger has missed Hare more than anyone else in the group. Yes Suezo said it to tease Tiger, but only because there rang some truth to it otherwise it would not have bothered him.
Each character has their ‘most important person’ (I’ve been watching far too much CLAMP lately) within the group e.g. Mocchi is Genki’s, Genki is Tiger’s and Tiger, it seems, is Hare’s. Some where along the line the two have formed a great friendship, one that cannot simply be written off as a grudging respect.
♥ ROMANCE
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Many people have explored the relationship between Tiger and Hare throughout fanfiction and fanart, depicting them together in a romantic sense. Often I’ve read comments arguing that the two are thrown together simply because all fangirls love pairing rivals together. I’m a TigerxHare shipper myself and while I can’t speak for other TxH authors, I know I’m not that shallow. I don’t like writing yaoi for the sake of yaoi and I don’t believe Tiger and Hare are in fact madly in love, but in fandomverse I do really enjoy this ship.
A pairing has to have something unique to attract and inspire me enough to write a story and this one does. Whichever way you look at it, Tiger and Hare share a strong bond (I think I’ve come up with enough evidence to prove that). Tiger needs loosening up and to be taken down a peg every now and again - Hare's the one to do that. I’m not about to list evidence that TxH exists, because it doesn’t – Monster Rancher is a gen anime (but if you were desperate to prove it, there’s probably as much evidence for TxH as there is GenkixHolly – just saying! You know I’m all for GxH too ^^).
Want to reply? Please email me here aves76@hotmail.com
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