Ranma 1/2, Volume 17, Chapter 6 English translation by Robert DeLoura (deloura@noaapmel.gov) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - "The truth is confessed" (Page 86) It's now morning, and time for school. The word's out about the latest development in Ranma and Akane's relationship. Students: Hey, have you heard? What, Ranma's no longer Akane's iinazuke? Everyone's talking about it. Students: I hear he ditched her for her older sister, Nabiki. Oh, marrying her older sister? Akane looks a bit irked at all the discussion of it. Nabiki: I wonder who could have spread the news? Akane: Probably you, oneechan. Nabiki throws a bunch of flyers around that have the Japanese equivalent of the newspaper phrase "Extra! Extra!" written on them. Several students read them curiously. Student: What? Cancelled their engagement? Akane glares at Nabiki. Akane: .... (Page 87) Kunou appears, chuckling quietly to himself, with a rose between his teeth. Kunou: Finally, Tendou Akane is available... Akane looks surprised, as Kunou lunges forward to try and take her in his arms. Akane: Kunou-sempai! Kunou: Come, fly gently into my arms!! Ranma jumps on Kunou's head. Ranma: Morning, sempai. Kunou recovers quickly, and grabs Ranma's hand. Kunou: Good morning, niisan. [younger brother] Ranma's not pleased with the idea. Ranma: *Who's* your niisan? Nabiki wraps her arm around Ranma's, while Kunou puts a hand on Akane's shoulder, elbowing Ranma while he talks. Nabiki: But of course... Kunou: Niisan, neesan [younger sister], you can count on me to take good care of Akane. (Page 88) Akane probably has something to say about that. She kicks Kunou up into the sky, out of sight. Nabiki gets a scheming look in her eyes. Nabiki: Akane... you're really regretting your decision about Ranma-kun, aren't you? Nabiki: I'll give him back to you right now for 5,000 yen. Akane and Ranma are both upset at this offer. Ranma: Don't *sell* me! Akane: I don't want him! Akane turns away to leave, but stops for a moment to say one more thing to Nabiki. Akane: Oneechan, there's one more thing I should tell you... Akane: Now that you've become Ranma's iinazuke, you'd better start training yourself. [to fight] Akane starts walking away again. Nabiki, confused, puts her hands on her hips. Nabiki: ....What do you mean by that? Akane: You'll understand soon enough. Ukyou is shown, with one of the 'Extra!' flyers crushed in her hand. She looks determined to do something about it. Ukyou: .... (Page 89) Later that day, in Nabiki's classroom (2-E), an okonomiyaki with a message on it comes flying in, headed for Nabiki. Nabiki catches it and reads it. Okonomiyaki: Meet me behind the gym. Ukyou. Nabiki: Okonomiyaki... Nabiki goes behind the gym, munching on the okonomiyaki. Ukyou is there, seemingly ready for combat. Nabiki: What's with you all of a sudden, Ucchan? Ukyou: I'm Ran-chan's iinazuke, too. Don't you think this is the proper way for two opposing iinazukes to treat each other? (Page 90) Nabiki has finished eating the okonomiyaki, and looks on as Ukyou assumes a fighting stance. Ukyou: (thinking) That neechan isn't used to fighting, unlike Akane-chan. If I pretend like I'm going to attack her, she'll have no choice but to surrender Ranma to me. Back in class, Ranma is worriedly talking to some of his classmates. Ranma: WHAT!? Ucchan and Nabiki are...!? Student: Well, it looked like a duel! Ranma runs off, intent on saving Nabiki from Ukyou, though a bit irked that he has to bother. Ranma: Bah, no choice. Akane calmly reads a magazine, ignoring the events around her. Student: Akane, shouldn't you go? Akane: It's no affair of mine. Akane goes back to her magazine, looking a bit angry and a bit concerned. Akane: (thinking) You idiot, oneechan! It's not worth risking your life to be Ranma's iinazuke, is it? (Page 91) Back behind the gym, Ukyou is still in a fighting stance. Nabiki looks quite unconcerned about it all. Nabiki: You're going to try and take Ranma from me by force? It won't be that easy, Ucchan. Ukyou: Oh? Ukyou starts to move in on Nabiki, with her spatula held high in the air. Ukyou: Pretty brave, aren't you! Ranma leaps down from a nearby rooftop, just in time to try and save Nabiki. Ranma: Aaah! Ranma: Don't fight, dammit! Nabiki may not know how to fight, but she shows that she knows how to defeat Ukyou.... Nabiki: Shall I sell him to you for 6,000 yen? Ukyou runs over and grabs Nabiki by the hand. Ukyou: Sold! Ranma falls to the ground in surprise. Nabiki crosses her arms, having settled things. Nabiki: Do what you like with him. Ukyou looks really excited. Ukyou: I'm so happy! Ranma merely looks annoyed. Ranma: Hey! Suddenly, a hail of gymnastics batons come flying through the air. (Page 92) Ukyou knocks the batons out of the air. Ukyou: Hah! >From a flurry of black rose petals, and a spinning ribbon, a voice is heard... . Voice: How dare you try to buy Ranma-sama for only 6,000 yen! Ranma: Urk! A black rose blizzard.... Kodachi is now visible through the flying petals. Kodachi: I shall pay 6,100 yen. Ukyou gets upset, and Ranma looks worried at this latest turn of events. Ukyou: How much did you offer? Nabiki: Oh, so nice to see you! Ranma: Black Rose Kodachi.... Ukyou and Kodachi get into a bidding war over Ranma. Ukyou: 6,200 yen! Kodachi: 6,250 yen! Nabiki: Keep it going! Ukyou: I'm willing to pay 6,300 yen. Kodachi: I'll pay 6,350 yen. (Page 93) Nabiki looks at Ranma, a bit annoyed at how quickly the bidding has deteriorated. Nabiki: You seem to barely be worth pocket money to them. Ranma: You.... Suddenly, Ranma's martial-arts instincts warn him that someone is about to attack. Ranma: Danger! Ranma grabs Nabiki and swings her out of the way of the incoming threat. Ranma: Out of the way! Nabiki looks confused at Ranma's behavior. Nabiki: Hm? Shampoo suddenly appears, swinging her fighting batons through the empty space where Nabiki was standing just the moment before. Nabiki: Oh, Shampoo! Shampoo and Kodachi both look determined to thrash Nabiki within an inch (or less) of her life. Ukyou looks like she just had an idea. Shampoo: Nabiki, you are about to die. Kodachi: What a stroke of luck. Nabiki finally realizes what she's gotten herself into. Nabiki: Shit. This is bad. (Page 94) Akane's still back in class, reading her magazine. Akane: (thinking) I dunno about oneechan. What's she going to do? Akane: (thinking) Well, Ranma will probably save her anyway.... Akane daydreams about what will probably happen when Ranma saves Nabiki. Nabiki: (imagined) Thank you for rescuing me. Ranma: (imagined) You're a defenseless girl, I had to do it. Akane imagines Ranma and Nabiki holding each other gently while they talk. Nabiki: (imagined) Will you protect me if it happens again? Ranma: (imagined) Of course I will! Akane finishes daydreaming. Akane: (thinking) The two of them, intimate like that? Hmph. Ridiculous. Akane goes outside and disguises herself by holding a piece of bush in each hand, and putting one in her hair. ["I'm a hedge. Move along."] She ducks down and shuffles off to find Ranma. Two of her classmates spot her. Student: Akane, what're you doing? Akane: Nothing. Akane, hiding in a bush, spots Ranma and Nabiki in the distance, running hand-in-hand. Some gymnastics batons and spatulas are in hot aerial pursuit. (Page 95) Ranma protects Nabiki with his body, while Kodachi attacks them with her ribbon, and Ukyou throws spatulas. Kodachi: I cannot allow Ranma-sama's iinazuke to live. Ukyou: Behave yourself and come with me! Ranma seems to be getting the worst of it, being hit by most of the attacks as he tries to defend Nabiki. Ranma: Ow ow ow ow ow ow! Nabiki gets a blissfully happy look on her face, and speaks to Ranma, who is trying to carry her away from the others. Nabiki: I'm so happy... you're taking all those wounds for me. Ranma looks quite tired of having to deal with Nabiki. Ranma: I'm taking them BECAUSE of you! Shampoo comes in for an aerial kick at Nabiki, who's still blissfully unaware of her surroundings. Shampoo: Nabiki, prepare yourself! Ranma swings Nabiki out of the way of the attack... Ranma: Hah! ...and gets kicked in the head by Shampoo. Shampoo: Oops! Ukyou swings her spatula at Shampoo, who leaps over the attack. The spatula hits Ranma instead. Ukyou: What're you doing to my Ran-chan? (Page 96) Ukyou jumps in at Kodachi, throwing spatulas. Kodachi defends herself with her ribbon. Kodachi: How dare you! Ranma-sama is mine! Ukyou: Take him from me! During a lull in the battle, they realize that Ranma and Nabiki have run off. Women: Hm? They're a bit disappointed at this. Shampoo: Where has Ranma gone? Ukyou: We let him get away.... Nabiki and Ranma have escaped into some nearby bushes, and are hiding there. Ranma looks pretty beat up, with some lumps and some spatulas sticking out of his head. Nabiki is looking around to make sure they aren't discovered. Nabiki: That was a close one. Ranma: That _hurt_. Nabiki: If I'm attacked again, will you protect me? Ranma: No way!! They hear some rustling from the bush they're standing in. Nabiki: Hm? (Page 97) Nabiki examines the bush more carefully. It turns out they're standing on top of Akane, who's trying to ignore them. Nabiki: What're you up to, Akane? Akane: Nothing.... Later that night, at home, Akane is talking to Kasumi. Soun's reading the newspaper. Akane has apparently mentioned that Nabiki is Ranma's new iinazuke. Kasumi: You should at least make up with Ranma-kun, Akane. Akane: But.... Soun looks at Akane, over the top edge of his newspaper. Soun: Is this really OK with you, Akane? Akane looks a little depressed, while she listens to her father. Soun: I don't care which one of you is engaged to him. So long as you're both happy with your decision afterwards.... Kasumi sips her tea, and points something out. Kasumi: Nabiki said that she plans to sell the doujou and play around for the rest of her life. Soun quickly changes his mind, and comes over to grab Akane by her shoulders and look into her eyes. Soun: Akane, make up with Ranma-kun. Akane gives Soun a dirty look. (Page 98) Akane goes upstairs and lies down on her bed, thinking about Ranma and Nabiki. Akane: (thinking) Hmph. Those two can't possibly be serious about each other. Akane thinks about something Kasumi talked to her about earlier. Kasumi: (imagined) You two girls are always fighting with each other. Now you're pulling Ranma-kun into it. Akane: .... Akane gets up, and walks down the hall towards Nabiki's room. Akane: Oh well, it can't be helped. I'll have to talk to Nabiki-oneechan. Akane reaches the closed door to Nabiki's room, and hears voices inside. She decides not to knock, and eavesdrops on the conversation. Ranma: (inside) This has gone far enough! Akane is surprised that Ranma is in Nabiki's room. Akane: Ranma...? Inside the room, Nabiki is patching up all the wounds Ranma got while he was protecting her. Ranma: These stupid stories you're going around spreading.... Nabiki: Well, it's the truth, isn't it? The change in iinazukes? Nabiki grins at Ranma while holding up a bandaid. Nabiki: You're in love with Akane, as I'd suspected. Ranma: Wh... who'd be interested in that violent woman! Akane is still listening in, but now she's angry, and is clenching her fist. Akane: .... (Page 99) Ranma points a finger at Nabiki, trying to get her to listen to him. Ranma: Anyway, just make up with Akane.... Nabiki: Ranma-kun. Nabiki gives Ranma a slightly surprised look. Nabiki: You still don't understand? The way I feel.... Ranma stops in mid-sentence and looks at Nabiki, puzzled. Ranma: Eh? Akane, straining to hear every word, has her ear pressed up against the door. She's just as confused as Ranma is about Nabiki's comment. Akane: .... Nabiki brings her hand up to her mouth and looks away from Ranma, while she explains. Nabiki: This is the one thing that I thought I'd better not tell you.. . Nabiki: For a long time, I've.... (Page 100) Nabiki turns back around and faces Ranma, her hands clasped together in front of her while she looks into his eyes. Nabiki: I've been in love with you, Ranma-kun. Ranma, taken aback, retreats as far away from Nabiki as he can get, bumping up against the side of her bed. She holds her position, gazing at him. Nervously, he has her verify what she just said. Ranma: You... you're kidding, right? Nabiki looks away from him, closing her eyes. Nabiki: I love you. Ranma: B... but.... Outside Nabiki's room, Akane is shocked beyond belief at her sister's revelation. She hadn't expected _this_. Akane: (thinking) Oneechan.... Akane: (thinking) You were serious...!? [Kawaisou na Akane-chan, ne?] ***EOF***