Ranma 1/2, Volume 17, Chapter 10 English translation by Robert DeLoura (deloura@noaapmel.gov) Assistance on the tough lines by Hitoshi Doi :-) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - "The maze of love and revenge" (Page 150) It's the next morning at the Tendou household. Akane's dressed up for her date. Akane: I'm going out for a bit! Kasumi: Akane, where are you going? Akane: Just out for a bit. Akane remembers what Nabiki told her the night before.... Nabiki: (remembered) Ranma said he wants to go on a date with you, Akane. Akane's excited about the date. Akane: (thinking) This date is a perfect chance to make up with Ranma. (Page 151) Ranma's at the flower shop, buying some roses for the date. He's burning up with anger, and looking forward to getting his revenge against Nabiki. Ranma: Some roses, please. Ranma: Those really DARK red ones. Must be pretty serious about this. They're labelled 500 yen apiece (about $3.50 each, at today's exchange rates), and he buys at least 10 of them. Storekeeper: Here you go. Got a date, hm? Ranma: Yep. Roses in hand, Ranma thinks about his upcoming "date". Ranma: Heh, Nabiki... Ranma: You've had me completely fooled until now.... Ranma: (loudly) But you'll see! Today's date... Ranma: (loudly) Will be like your worst nightmare! Ranma laughs evilly, and loudly. Passers-by look on, concerned. (Page 152) Ranma: Haahahahahahahaha! Coincidentally, Nabiki happens to be riding by on her bike about this time. She overhears Ranma's laughter, and apparently heard the rest of what he said as well. Nabiki: .... Nabiki: (thinking) Today's date is a trap...!? Nabiki: (thinking) What horrible thing does he have planned...!? Nabiki continues to look on, thinking. Nabiki: (thinking) But... poor Ranma-kun.... Nabiki: (thinking) After putting so much effort into his scheme, Nabiki: (thinking) It'll be Akane who goes on the date with him. Nabiki: (thinking) Please understand, Ranma-kun. Nabiki bikes away, and spots Akane. Akane's on her way to meet Ranma for the date. Nabiki: (thinking) Hm? Akane.... Akane's smiling slightly, and seems to be in a good mood. Nabiki: Wow, she looks really happy.... (Page 153) Ranma's waiting by a bench in the park, with the roses. Nabiki arrives, riding her bike. Nabiki: Ranma-kuuuuun! Ranma: (thinking) You've come, Nabiki. (thinking) You still don't know it's a trap.... Nabiki runs him down with the bike before stopping. Right over his crotch, too. Ouch. :) (Page 154) Nabiki: (thinking) I'll sacrifice myself to protect my little sister. Nabiki rides off on the bike as Ranma's picking himself up off the ground. Ranma: H...Hey, Nabiki! Nabiki: Hohohohoho, try and catch me! Akane arrives at the park bench, just after Ranma and Nabiki leave. Akane: This must be the place.... Akane sits down on the bench to wait for Ranma. Akane: Looks like Ranma's not here yet, though. Ranma chases Nabiki and her bike through the park. Ranma: Wahahahaha, you little rascal. Ranma jumps on the back of the bike, smiling. Ranma: Caught you. (Page 155) Nabiki keeps pedalling the bike. Ranma: Let's get started on that date. Ranma puts a hand on Nabiki's shoulder, and she looks at it, slightly concerned. Nabiki: You're certainly acting quite "familiar" with me. Ranma: (thinking) Heh. This is just the *beginning* of my revenge! Suddenly, Nabiki acts worried. Nabiki: Aaah! Akane! Ranma looks around nervously, probably worried that Akane will pound him into the ground if she sees him. Ranma: Eh? Eh? Unfortunately, he's so busy looking around that he doesn't notice a low tree branch coming his way at about neck height. *Wham*. Knocks him right off the bike, to Nabiki's relief. She bikes off, trying to put as much distance between them as she can. Nabiki: Hah! Fooled you! She looks back at him with a wink and some advice, as she rides away. Nabiki: If you care so much for Akane, Why don't you apologize to her and go back to being her iinazuke? Ranma runs madly after the bike. Ranma: Grr... quit playing with me, dammit! (Page 156) Akane's still sitting on the park bench, fidgeting nervously. Akane: (thinking) Hmph. Ranma's awfully late.... Akane: (thinking) Could it be... Akane: (thinking) Maybe he's changed his mind, and has decided to stand me up? While Akane worries about this possibility, Ranma rushes by behind her, trying his best to catch up to Nabiki again. Ranma: Waaaaaaiiit! Akane hears his voice, and turns around. Akane: Ranma...? Ranma's followed Nabiki into a hedge maze, and is wandering around trying to find her. Good thing he's not Ryouga. :) Sign: Garden maze Ranma: Sheeeeeit... Running away into such a strange place.... (Page 157) Ranma: However... Ranma: In here, if she cries or screams, nobody can come help her. Ranma grins and cracks his knuckles. Ranma: That makes it an even better place for my revenge. Ranma runs through the maze, looking for Nabiki. He hears her as she runs by on the other side of a hedge, so he grabs for her through it. Ranma: Over there? Nabiki recoils in shock at Ranma's hand suddenly appearing in front of her. Nabiki: Aaah! (Page 158) Ranma gropes around with his hand, trying to catch Nabiki. Ranma: Here? Here? Nabiki: Eep! Nabiki's worried, now. Nabiki: (thinking) What? It can't be... (thinking) Does he plan on beating me up!? Ranma comes through the hedge while she's distracted. Ranma: You've got nowhere to run, now. Ranma slowly moves in on her, while she backs away. Ranma: How dare you toy with people's feelings like this. Nabiki looks innocent. Nabiki: You mean when I said that I was in love with you? Ranma cracks his knuckles. Ranma: You're still holding onto that stale joke of yours? Nabiki: Ranma-kun.... (Page 159) Nabiki: You really... you thought I was *joking* about that....? Nabiki: How horrible! Nabiki runs off with her face buried in her hands, crying loudly. Ranma's so surprised by her reaction that he just stands there for a moment. Ranma: H... hey! Ranma: .... Nabiki hides around the corner, with a satisfied look on her face. Nabiki: Heh. What a sucker. Nabiki crosses her arms. Nabiki: I really fooled him with that straight-faced lie. If I weren't so cute, I'd have never pulled it off. Nabiki laughs loudly... which was a mistake. Ranma hears her, and apparently also overheard her last comment. His head appears over the hedge behind her. Ranma: Oh? Nabiki looks up and realizes she's in trouble, so she runs off again. Ranma runs after her, leaping over hedges as he goes. Ranma: You little bitch! I've had enough of you!! (Page 160) Akane stands forlornly amidst the hedge maze, breathing heavily from the exertion of looking through it for Ranma. Akane: Ranma, you idiot. Akane: What's his problem? He's the one that told me to come here.... Akane gazes at the ground, dejectedly. Akane: Maybe I should just go home.... Nabiki runs by Akane, trying to keep away from Ranma. Akane looks up at her after she passes by. Akane: Hm? That person who just ran past me looked like.... Suddenly, two arms appear through the bushes, one on either side of Akane. Ranma heard her voice and Nabiki's running footsteps, and thinks he's caught Nabiki. Ranma: Here! Nabiki turns around when she hears the voice. Nabiki: Uh-oh! (Page 161) Ranma grabs Akane, and starts pulling her through the bushes. Akane: Kyaaa! [a surprised scream] Ranma grins on the other side of the bushes, as he pulls "Nabiki" through. Ranma: (thinking) Heh. Nabiki, I've finally caught you. Nabiki calls to him from Akane's side of the bushes. Akane kicks her legs back and forth as she's pulled through. Nabiki: Hey, wait, Ranma-kun! Nabiki: What're you doing to Akane?! Ranma keeps pulling. He's got one of her arms through, now. Ranma: (thinking) Hah. She's not going to fool me again. Inside the bushes, Akane is furious. Akane: (thinking) Ra... Ranma... I'm not going to put up with this! Ranma's still grinning with thoughts of revenge. Ranma: (thinking) The time for my revenge has finally come. (thinking) All the pain she made me go through.... Ranma finally gets Akane through the bushes, and pulls her to him. Ranma: (thinking) Feel my vengeance!! Ranma: Listen carefully...! (Page 162) Ranma puts both his arms around her and holds her to him in a tight embrace. He still doesn't realize he's got Akane instead of Nabiki. Ranma: I LOVE YOU!!!!!! Nabiki looks through the hole left in the bushes by Akane. Nabiki: Hm? Akane's.... quite surprised. Ranma chuckles to himself as he keeps talking. Ranma: Yep... to put it simply, if you think I'm going to let you break up with me... Ranma: You're QUITE mistak........ Ranma finally gets a good look at who he's been holding, and realizes he's got Akane. Oops. (Page 163) Akane, still stunned, looks up at him through her slightly scratched-up face, with leaves in her hair. Ranma backs off a bit. Ranma: A...kane....? As reality sinks in, Ranma gets VERY embarrassed, and tries to make excuses. Ranma: No! You've got it all wrong! Nooooooo! Nabiki shows up to put her two cents (3 yen) worth in. Nabiki: I heard that! I heard it! Nabiki pats Akane on the back. Nabiki: Isn't that great, Akane? Akane looks back at her in surprise. Akane: Oneechan.... Nabiki: The two of you stay friendly with each other from now on, OK? 'Later.... Nabiki waves goodbye to the two of them, and starts to walk away, with a strange look on her face. Ranma and Akane watch her leave. Nabiki: (thinking) What a stupid way to get revenge. (thinking) I was worried about *that*? Ranma: (thinking) Shiiiiit.... (Page 164) Ranma tries to explain things to Akane, so she doesn't "get the wrong idea". Ranma: That thing just now... I thought Nabiki was trying to trick me again.... Akane: Ok, *OK*. I get the point. Just drop it, will you? Ranma starts heading towards home. Ranma: Hey, aren't you going back home? Akane: .... Akane looks back at him. Akane: What about our "making up" date? Akane: Didn't you suggest that we go on one? Ranma's confused. Nabiki had made that up, remember. Ranma: Eh...? Ranma: .... Akane comes over to him and looks him in the eye, while his flowers quietly start to fall apart in his hands. Ranma holds the flowers out to Akane. Ranma: ...Want them? Akane takes them, and beams happily. Ranma looks at her. Akane: Thanks.... --FIN-- ***EOF***