Hi! I'm new here, even though I've been snooping around the site for about a week now (it's definitely a breath of fresh air compared to the sometimes hostile environment of mangafox), lol. Anyway that's neither here nor there.
I'm rooting for Rin/Shiemi and Izumo/Bon.
They're the only developing couples in the manga, though I'm still iffy about the latter, because I dunno if we're supposed to read into their development as friendship or not, but they've come a long way from being mortal enemies. I just think there's some significance in their relationship, considering it's not entirely one-sided. They've been on pretty even ground since the beginning, and although their personalities are similar, they aren't too alike where they couldn't get along now. Sure, they had an extremely rough start, but compare that to where they are now, they've definitely exceeded my expectations, as I passed them off as a mere crack ship before. Again, maybe I'm just reading into it, but I hope Kazue Kato goes somewhere with them.
As for Rin/Shiemi, sure it's cliche and the "obvious choice" but I personally think they work best with each other. Rin helps break Shiemi out of her shell, something I feel that Yukio is incapable of doing with his empty smiles and introverted personality. And while I might be reaching (who knows) I think Shiemi brings a bit more humanity out of Rin than the others. She makes him feel like the awkward teenage boy that he is, and I think that's a good thing considering he wavers between demon/human. I think they bring out the best in each other, and they're just really darn cute! So far, they're the only well-developed pairing, whereas everyone else has been pretty one-sided. Even Yukio/Shiemi hasn't had any development, despite them knowing each other longer. (I feel like a jerk, because I like one-sided Yukio!/Shiemi though). Yukio just doesn't have as much of an effect on Shiemi as Rin does, and personally, I only ever saw them as friends. I don't think Yukio would act on his feelings anyway. He's too busy attaining power and blowing off the people that care about him. Things are subject to change, but I'd be extremely miffed if Kazue paired Rin and Shiemi off with other people, when they've come THIS far in their relationship. We're a little past the half-way point of AnE and no one else has developed at the pace (and a natural one, at that) that Rin/Shiemi has. The title of Ch. 73 "Love Awakens" is giving me pretty high hopes for them. Rin is in love with Shiemi already, so I can only assume it's in reference to her feelings for him. It's implied that while she isn't in love with Rin, her "like" in comparison to her "like" for everyone else, Yukio included, is different. But she's just not aware of it (when you take her isolated upbringing into account, plus she's shy and lacks self-confidence). And now, in Ch. 74, Yukio is admitting to himself that she likes Rin. I don't want to take his word for it (since Rin/Shiemi could be a red herring), but his quiet observance has never let me down before. He's known her longer, therefore he's able to pick up on quirks in her character that others can't. I think the only other person who's noticed Shiemi's feelings is Izumo, but this is just a hunch. I just really freaking love this couple and I'll feel crushed if they don't end up together.
If there was one other ship that I had to say I have my eyes on, it's Lightning/Shura, and it's because Ligtning's profile said he likes women with big butts and when I saw them standing next to each other in a previous chapter, I thought they looked cute. For now, it's a crack ship, aesthetics wise.
Poll