Ranma 1/2, Volume 17, Chapter 8 English translation by Robert DeLoura (deloura@noaapmel.gov) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - "I'm sorry, Ranma." (Page 118) Akane and Nabiki are in a restaurant, having a snack and talking. Nabiki laughs, and waves her hand at Akane while she explains... Nabiki: Wahahaha, you thought that was the truth, Akane? Nabiki: That bit about me being in love with Ranma-kun was just a joke! Akane stares dejectedly into her tea. Akane: That's not necessary, oneechan. (Page 119) Akane toys with her teacup while she continues talking. Akane: That could only be true if you were a twisted and cruel person, oneechan. Akane has a flashback to the time Nabiki confessed her love to Ranma. Nabiki: (imagined) I've been in love with you for a long time, Ranma-kun. Akane looks up at Nabiki. Akane: You couldn't have said something like that as a joke. Nabiki: Akane.... Nabiki leans forward to make Akane an offer. Nabiki: Would you give me 1500 yen to have Ranma back? Akane looks back down at her tea again. Akane: It's OK, you don't need to do *that* either. Akane continues to stare at her tea, while Nabiki looks on, worried. Nabiki: An absolute bargain at 980 yen! Akane looks back at up Nabiki. Akane: I said not to worry about it. (Page 120) Akane looks away. Akane: You love Ranma, don't you? Trying to sell him isn't very nice. Nabiki leans an elbow on the table and glares at Akane. Nabiki: Er, Akane.... Akane: It's alright. Nabiki rests her head on her right hand, and gets a scheming look on her face. Nabiki: Oh...is that so? Later that night, Ranma is staggering his way back home from school. Ranma: ...so tired.... Ranma: Shit... that jerk Nabiki! (Page 121) Ranma: I've had enough. I'm breaking up with her. Ranma has a flashback of what he's been up to since Nabiki left him at school. Students surround him, eager to rent his services. Student: (imagined) C'mon, let's go out to the playfield. Student: (imagined) I hear you'll work an hour for 1000 yen. Student: (imagined) We gave the rental fee to Tendou Nabiki already. Ranma gets home, and slams the sliding door aside. Ranma: Damn you, Nabiki! As Ranma walks in, Nabiki leaps at him, and wraps her arms around his neck happily. Nabiki: Welcome home, darling! Ranma's stunned speechless, and gapes at Nabiki, while Kasumi and Genma (in panda form) look on. Genma looks worried. Ranma: Huh!? Kasumi: Oh my.... Genma's sign: Darling (Page 122) Nabiki happily babbles on. Nabiki: Would you like to take a hot bath? I'll wash your back! Ranma blushes, embarrased at Nabiki's behavior (and offer). Ranma: Wh... wh... what'd you say.... Suddenly, a feeling of anger is almost tangible in the air. Nabiki looks out of the corner of her eye at what Ranma can plainly see -- Akane has entered the room, and boy, does she look pissed off. Nabiki looks pleased with the reaction she's getting. Nabiki: (thinking) Heh, Akane.... (thinking) You showed up immediately... you're so easy to manipulate.... Ranma puts up his fists, and tries to deal with the situation. Akane is burning with anger (and probably jealousy). Ranma: Wh... what?! You gonna do somethin'? (Page 123) Akane continues to glare at Ranma and Nabiki, slowly gaining control over her anger. Ranma: If you've got a problem with it, come at me.... Akane regains control of herself, to the surprise of Ranma and Nabiki. Ranma&Nabiki: Hm!? Ranma watches as Akane clenches her hands into fists, and stomps off. Ranma: Hey.... Nabiki: Darn. Later that night, Nabiki is feeding Ranma at the dinner table. Akane's lost control of her anger again, and everyone at the table except Kasumi can plainly see it. Genma and Soun are visibly worried/afraid. Nabiki: Here, Ranma-kun. Open wide! Nabiki: What's bothering you? We're engaged, aren't we? Ranma looks over at Akane. Ranma: I'll feed myself! Kasumi looks at Soun with concern. Kasumi: Otousan, you don't look well. Genma's sign: This is scary! (Page 124) After dinner, Akane is upstairs trying to do her homework. She's sitting at her desk, her arms crossed on the desk, and her head buried in her arms. Akane: (thinking) It's fine, it's fine, it's fine. Akane: (thinking) I don't care what's happening between Ranma and oneechan. Akane hears the door to Nabiki's room open, and she lifts her head up. Nabiki: (overheard) Oh, Ranma-kun, come in. The voices in Nabiki's room subside to whispers, and Akane can no longer hear them. Akane: .... Akane gets a glass, and holds it up against the intervening wall, eavesdropping on her sister. Nabiki: (overheard) Oh! Stop it, Ranma-kun! (Page 125) Nabiki: (overheard) We shouldn't do this until we're married! Kya! Akane crushes the glass she's holding, in surprise and anger. She can't hear what's happening in Nabiki's room anymore, so her imagination runs wild.... She imagines Ranma as a raving sex maniac, trying to take advantage of her sister. Ranma: (imagined) Heh heh heh... isn't it OK? We *are* engaged. Nabiki: (imagined) Ho ho ho. That's a good point. Akane loses control, and storms over to Nabiki's room, slamming the door open. Akane: RANMA!!!!!!! Akane is surprised to discover that Nabiki is alone in the room, sitting calmly on her bed, with a cup of tea in her hand. She realizes she's been fooled. Nabiki looks amused. Nabiki: Heh. Fooled you, didn't I, Akane? (Page 126) Nabiki puts the situation bluntly, looking confidently at Akane. Nabiki: I'm going to keep doing things like this until you buy Ranma-kun from me. Akane begins to get angry again. Akane: Oneechan, you wouldn't.... Akane: You really think you can do anything you please with Ranma, don't you? Nabiki ignores her question. Nabiki: And on top of that, you won't get him for less than.... Nabiki shows Akane 5 fingers. Nabiki: 5000 yen! Akane: I'm not giving you anything. (Page 127) The next morning, Akane is out for her morning jog, thinking about the day ahead. Akane: (thinking) I'm going to make up with Ranma. Akane remembers the fateful words she said just a few nights before. Akane: (imagined) Why don't you become oneechan's iinazuke! Akane: (thinking) Since I'm the one who said it.... Akane: (thinking) If I say "I'm sorry", that should fix things.... Ranma suddenly jumps in front of her, probably off the adjacent fence. Ranma: Yo. (Page 128) Akane blushes, embarrassed. Ranma: Hm? Akane turns her face away from him so he won't see her blushing, and feigns anger. Akane: What's the idea, sneaking up on me like that? Ranma looks away. Ranma: Um.... Ranma: I don't know why, but... I came to apologize. Ranma looks back at Akane. Ranma: Can't we be like before? Akane looks back at Ranma, surprised. They both lean against the chain-link fence, looking at the river passing by. Akane nervously asks Ranma to clarify what he means. Akane: Uh... um... you mean... iinazuke...? Ranma looks bored. Ranma: Yeah.... (Page 129) Akane stares at the water going by. Akane: I... I don't mind, but.... Ranma looks at Akane, happily. Ranma: Is that so? Ranma smiles at her. Ranma: Heh heh, I'm glad. Akane is stunned by Ranma (seemingly) showing interest in their relationship, and looks back at him. Akane: Ranma.... Akane shuffles her feet around nervously, as they both look out at the water again. Akane: Um... Ranma: Hm? Akane: I'm sorry... it was all my fault.... They look at each other, with Ranma a bit surprised. After a moment, Ranma gives her a slap on the back. Ranma: What's this? You understand, don't you! (Page 130) Akane gives Ranma a confused look, and backs away a bit. Akane: .... Ranma leans against the fence, resting his head on his hand. Ranma: Yep, that's the way it is. I'm a victim of sibling rivalry. Ranma: This iinazuke bit is just another thing for the two of you to fight about. Ranma implies that neither Akane or Nabiki really care about him, they're just using him as something to fight over. Akane begins to lose her temper. Ranma perches on the fence. Ranma: I'd rather deal with your violence than your sister's scheming, anyway. Ahahahahahahaha! Akane cracks, and pushes Ranma off the fence into the river, turning him female. Ranma-chan comes wetly to the surface and yells at her. Ranma-chan: Th' hell was that for! Akane yells back at him from behind the fence. Akane: Idiot! You just don't understand people's feelings! (Page 131) Ranma-chan: What?! After all the trouble of trying to be nice to you.... Akane throws a [very large] mailbox at Ranma-chan. Akane: *When* were you nice to me!? Akane runs away, crying, wiping the tears from her eyes. [kawaisou ni] Akane: (thinking) You idiot, Ranma! Akane: (thinking) I thought we were finally going to make up with each other.... Akane: (thinking) Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! It's very quiet at the breakfast table that morning. Ranma's sporting a new bandage on his head. (Page 132) Ranma gets up from the table, and slings his bookbag over his shoulder. Ranma: Iinazuke Nabiki. Time for school. Nabiki looks up from her meal. Nabiki: Hm? Ranma grabs her hand and pulls her towards the door. Nabiki: Akane. Ranma: Leave her alone. Akane ignores them. Ranma: What's with that fool Akane? The rest of the household looks at Akane, after Ranma and Nabiki have left. Akane quietly continues to nibble at her food. Outside, Ranma is still pulling Nabiki to school by her arm. Nabiki looks back towards the house, concerned. Nabiki: Looks like they've *really* broken up. ***EOF***