Ranma 1/2 Volume 22, Part 3 (Shonen Sunday #23 1992): Otoko no chikai (The oath of men) Original story Copyright (C) 1992 Takahashi Rumiko/Shogakukan This English translation Copyright (C) 1992 Goddess Studio Translation by Iain Sinclair (axolotl@socs.uts.edu.au) Thanks to Chih-Ping Kuo (kuo@seattleu.edu). ============================================================================ Mrs. Saotome: If I may ask... Would Genma and Ranma Saotome be here now..? Souun: Er, unfortunately... (Souun recalls...) Genma: Tell her that Ranma and I have gone somewhere... It's a matter of life and death. Souun: They both set off on their journey of training... ---------------------- (outside, in the pond) Ranma-chan: Why is it "a matter of life and death" if we show ourselves? Just what the hell is going on, and who is that woman? Panda: It's all because... she's your MOTHER. Ranma: Don't give me that garbage! There's no way that such a pretty woman would be the bride of an asshole like you! So she really is my mother? ---------------------- (Ranma pours hot water on himself) Do what you want, but I'm not going to run away and hide. Souun: So, Mrs. Saotome, what did you do... when Mr. Saotome and Ranma-kun went on their travels...? Mrs. Saotome: Hmm... I stayed to watch over the house... At that sorrowful time, I was separated from Ranma... (Back in the derelict Saotome household, with peeling walls and dirty dishes in the sink. Ranma looks about 3 years old.) Mrs. Saotome: Wait, dearest, you can't take Ranma away!! Genma: Heeey, let go!! ---------------------- Mrs. Saotome (beating Genma with a sandal ): Wait! Mrs. Saotome (beating Genma with a bucket ): Wait! Mrs. Saotome (beating Genma with a fold-up table ): Wait! Genma: My dear wife, Ranma must train in Saotome-style Unrestricted Martial Arts so he can grow up strong. Mrs. Saotome: Yes, I understand that... Genma: I must travel with Ranma to raise him for his manly destiny... A mother's love could only interfere with the training!! It's unthinkable for you to hinder Ranma's destiny!! Mrs. Saotome: Ranma's destiny... ---------------------- Souun: I see, you entrusted Ranma-kun to his father's care... Nabiki: Guess what happened after that... Mrs. Saotome: I have strong faith in my husband... Before he set off on his travels, he made an oath. Kasumi: An oath? Souun: What on earth was it... (outside) Ranma: You shitful father, let go a' me!! Mrs. Saotome: (The boy's voice!!) Have you come back, Ranma... ---------------------- ( Ranma-chan lies dazed in a pool of water) Oh my... That girl from a while ago... Panda: Good day, missus Ranma-chan: Will you cut it out, you stupid fucking father!! Mrs. Saotome: It's pointless for girls to use such violent language. Ranma-chan: I'm a man, goddamit!! Panda: Uh-oh! Akane: Mrs. Saotome, what's this about Mr. Saotome's oath? Mrs. Saotome: Oh, yes, this is what happened. ---------------------- (flashback) Genma: I hereby swear!! I will bring up Ranma to be an exemplary man, a man's man. If, against all the odds, I fail... Father and son will together commit seppuku with grace!! Mrs. Saotome: Dearest could not make a more noble resolution!! Akane: Se.. Souun: Seppuku... ---------------------- MS (wiping away tears): After they went on their travels, I lost contact with them. The last I heard, they were in Jusenkyou, China, I think. Souun: (Hummmmm.... Rather badly raised to be a man's man...) Akane: (Oh heavens, at Jusenkyou he turned into a woman...) Nabiki: (But she hasn't worked it out yet...) Ranma-chan (pulling panda's cheek): So that's what it was, huh. Akane: But, Mrs. Saotome, you can't really be serious? about the seppuku part... ---------------------- Mrs. Saotome: .... (She pulls something out of the bundle she was carrying) Tendou family: (A Japanese sword!?) ( she rapidly unsheathes it... and it thuds into the ground just in front of Ranma-chan) Mrs. Saotome: Ah! I'm so sorry, I'm so clumsy with it... ---------------------- (flashback) Genma: This contract binds my oath to commit seppuku. Ranma, you also have to make the oath to mother, please. (Ranma gleefully bangs his ink-stained hand on the contract) Mrs. Saotome: Ranma... don't you know what that contract means... I was passionately persuaded by the two men... so that I, as a martial artist's wife... ---------------------- in the event of Ranma failing to become a man's man, at that moment, would be a good kaishaku to those who had to commit seppuku. Inset: -- Handy Information -- Kaishaku [assistant]: Waits to behead those who commit seppuku. (Mrs. Saotome, tears streaming down her face, holds the sword and the contract. Ranma and the panda are trembling in terror) Mrs. Saotome: I realise that I must find the two of them and cut their throats, should they not return... Contract: We will commit seppuku. -Genma & Ranma Saotome Panda: I knew it, she's serious ---------------------- Mrs. Saotome: I hope I don't have to go to such lengths. But... that's how it is. I wonder if I will ever... set eyes on Ranma again... Ranma-chan: (mother...) Um, er... Mrs. Saotome: Hm? Yeees? Ranma-chan: er, I... Mrs. Saotome: I still haven't heard your name. What is it, may I ask? ---------------------- Ranma-chan: I am, Ra... Souun: (Ranma-kun!!) Akane: (Are you going to reveal yourself now!?) Ranma-chan: == Ranko!! == Akane-chan's cousin. Panda: I'm her pet panda, yeah! Mrs. Saotome: Oh, Ranko-chan? Nabiki: Such seppuku-committing spirit... Akane: ...can't see it there. ---------------------- (Later that night...) Mrs. Saotome: While my husband is away, I humbly request your lodgings... Kasumi: Take your time, there's no need to rush off. Souun: That's right, don't worry. Nabiki: Really, such a lie, what'll happen when she finds out? Akane: That poor Mrs. Saotome... (Ranma is right before her eyes, I have to tell her somehow...) (Ranma and Genma are in the hot bath) Ranma: Making an oath like that, what damn kind of husband and wife are you!! Genma: Well, your mother's a very straightforward sort of person. ---------------------- If she discovers the truth, it's seppuku time. So we stay as panda and girl, and everything will be OK. Ranma: You goddamn...!! Mrs. Saotome: Ranko-chan, may I come in? (She pulls open the bathroom door) Aunty will wash your back for you... Kanji: SEPPUKU!! =========================================================================== -end- "The oath of men" Translation Notes: Saotome Nodoka (Ranma's mother) is referred to as "oba-sama", translated here as "Mrs. Saotome". She calls Genma "shujin", ie. "master", translated here as "husband", and "anata", translated here as "dearest". Seppuku is ritual suicide; first bathe, then light some incense, write a few words of poetry, then bare the chest and cut it three ways with a short sword (whose handle is wrapped in paper). The seppuku-committer is now beyond help, and the kaishaku cuts the head off into the waiting basket. The kaishaku has to be a good swordsperson for this to be as painless as possible. "otoko no naka no otoko" = "a man's man".