With rivalry relationships, I usually prefer to keep them from being hardcore romantic. It's a dynamic that, like you and many other said, subtracts from the incredible raw fire of rivalry. The only exception to this for me is Kazuma/Ryuhou from Scryed, and for some reason I can see them fucking eachother's brains out. But again, it wouldn't be textbook romance for them. It would be harsh and firey and passionate, showing their support and care for eachother through true challenge and battle and controversy. Their possible relationship emerges toward the end of the series, and I truly believe they are destined soulmates as you defined it. It is a VERY strong dynamic, since they are the two main characters. With ZoSan, it's sooo fucking hot, but there are other OP relationships which have better foundations than that one. (At the end of the day, though, it's just a nakama orgy.) I wish you had seen Slayers since that has one of the most dynamic (not to overuse the word), amazing rivalry relationship I've seen, and one of the HARDEST of all time to write properly - Xellos/Zelgadis, which also contains heavy S/M. I adore Sanzo/Gojyo interaction, and face it, them fucking is the most sexiful image one could conjure up, but I'm such a rabid, possessed 58 fan that I could never go with romance between them (although the worst and most depressing Saiyuki pairing would have to be 38, ugh).

Many consider Kyo/Yuki to be a great rivalry pairing, but that's one of them where I have to draw the line. They REALLY. TRULY. HATE EACHOTHER. They feel little or no camaraderie, they could live without eachother, and Yuki reminds Kyo constantly of his horrid, sub-human oppression by Akito.

I forget what my original point was. Damn.

I think it was this: I agree. And I love your writing.

I told you that you were the one who got me into OP, didn't I?

I think I'm done now. I need write more of my Robin/Nami. The one I don't have a plot for.