Meme: 30 days of shipping

[starzki]

Stolen from luxken27 .  I was so intrigued by this when she did it, I wanted to take part.  Now that I have some time on my hands, a new paid account, and the overwhelming desire to meta-meme, here I go!

Day 01 - What is your current favorite ship?

I'm going to cheat a little and name my top two because they see-saw as my favorite ship and they're both always somewhere on my mind.  Those who read my fanfiction already know what they're going to be.

First off, I love Miroku/Sango from Inuyasha:




I've told this story before, but I'll tell it again.  I only watched Inuyasha in the beginning because I loved Cowboy Bebop.  On Cartoon Network, Inuyasha came on right before Cowboy Bebop.  So, normally, I tune in half-way through Inuyasha so I wouldn't miss any of the show I actually wanted to see.  And let me say, Inuyasha didn't grow on me quickly.  I caught it during a run that was quite near the beginning of the series.  I didn't like Kagome (didn't dislike her, either, she just seemed like such a Mary Sue that I couldn't identify with her), I thought Inuyasha was immature, and I thought Shippou was annoying.  Then came Miroku.  Let me say that my feminist ideals where completely aghast at this man who touched women sexually without their permission.  I knew the "handsy monk" is a trope in anime, but I had no desire to look for any good within him.

Then came Sango.

This girl got me to sit up and take notice of this little show.  Now here was a character I could identify with.  She was strong and athletic.  She was the very definition of a survivor.  She kicked complete ass, but wasn't ashamed of her feminine side or her emotions.  I just immediately loved her.

And then something funny happened.  She started falling for Miroku.  At first I couldn't understand it.  But then I looked closer at Miroku.  Yes, he could be a complete cad, but he was also intelligent and kind-hearted.  As Sango noticed the good in Miroku, so did I.  And then he took off his kesa to help her bury the remains of the villagers she knew, and I completely fell in love with him, too.

The rest is history.  I love that they got their happy ending.

Secondly, I love Sousuke/Kaname from Full Metal Panic.



These two kill me. 



Kaname's a brash, confident, violent, and gorgeous girl whose in-your-face personality can be tough to handle, but those who know her know that she uses her bluster to hide her vulnerabilities and sadness.  She also has a mysterious ability to understand Black Technology, the technology that underlies that universe's weapons and mecha.  Her ability makes her a target.



Sousuke's a young man who never got to be a child.  He was raised to be a killer and has lived his life as a mercenary.  Despite this, he is gentle and kind to those around him.  He has found his way to an organization that helps keep peace around the world.  This organization knows Kaname is a target.  Because of his age, Sousuke is selected to blend in at her high school and be her bodyguard.

This anime manages to walk the line and show the horrors of battle and military life as well as the comedy of a soldier who has never known a peaceful existence trying to fit in at a "normal" high school.  That Kaname is probably every bit as dangerous to him as most enemies he would face adds to the humor.

The beauty of this pairing, I believe, is that as Kaname and Souske begin to learn the truth about each other, they find they are kindred spirits.  Kaname has had better luck in her life, but she still has experienced her share of loss and tragedy.  They're both fiercely loyal to those they love and would stake their lives to protect each other.  They're both fighters, but underneath their violence, they're kind and generous.

I just find them so well-matched and deserving of loving relationships that I can't help but ship them hardcore.  :)


Upcoming...
Day 02 - What was your very first ship?
Day 03 - A pairing that needs to happen now?
Day 04 - The pairing with the most chemistry?
Day 05 - The pairing with the least chemistry?
Day 06 - The best kiss?
Day 07 - The most heartbreaking scene?
Day 08 - The pairing with the most baggage?
Day 09 - The most believable relationship?
Day 10 - Why aren't these two married in real life?
Day 11 - What is your dream pairing?
Day 12 - Who had the best wedding?
Day 13 - What is your favorite television pairing?
Day 14 - What is your favorite book pairing?
Day 15 - What is your favorite real life pairing?
Day 16 - What is the absolute worst pairing?
Day 17 - A pairing you thought would never work out, but did?
Day 18 - What is the cutest pairing?
Day 19 - A pairing you've rooted for since the beginning?
Day 20 - The "can't stand the sexual tension anymore" pairing?
Day 21 - A pairing you like and no one else understands why?
Day 22 - A pairing you hate and no one else understands why?
Day 23 - A crazy love triangle/quadrilateral that worked out great?
Day 24 - A crazy love triangle/quadrilateral that worked out badly?
Day 25 - A pairing that was/would-be adorable, but could never work out?
Day 26 - A pairing that you hated and ended up loving?
Day 27 - A pairing that you loved and ended up hating?
Day 28 - A pairing that you will never understand?
Day 29 - What ship had the best proposal?
Day 30 - Your favorite ship forever and ever and ever?