Volume 38 Summary:THE VERY LAST RANMA½ BOOK EVER, Hey, So it's a little old but not everyone has read it!
38 1 Akanes Escapes
The mysterious figure is still holding Akane. At the entry of the hole -- actually a tunnel -- a door closes. Disappointed of being separated from Ranma, she frees herself and slaps the man silly. He protests, and she recognises the voice of the Jusenkyö Guide (she had heard it on the phone). She finds he has a round face -- due to her slapping. He explains her where they are (Jusendo, source of Jusenkyö) and while following the tunnel, what's happening: Jusenkyö has gone dry because the Mount Phoenix people stopped the water at the source. Akane, thinking of Ranma's cure, asks if there a way to have the water flow again, and the Guide answers there is one, very dangerous, and that he is ready to die.
Meanwhile, Ranma and friends keep falling through the fish-shaped giant statue they fell in, which appears to be a large water pipe.
The Guide and Akane finally reach the "heart of Jusendo", according to the Guide: a giant cave with a huge statue of phoenix and a dragon. The Guide explains it's actually actually a pipe leading to a water vein, and that the only way to revive Jusenkyö is to turn the stopcock (which looks like the Kinjakan except it has a crescent instead of a wheel) on the top of the head of the dragon. Akane is ready to go and turn it on, but the Guide stops her as Safran, Kiima and the elder servant enter the cave.
Safran, following the servant's advice, places the Kinjakan in a hole on the head of the phoenix. The Kinjakan emits a very bright light, and the Guide explains it is a treasure designed to heat up water. The statue starts making loud noises, and the servant tells Safran to prepare for bath -- there is a large pool just under the mouth --, the water is coming very soon. The Guide says it's now too late, for when hot water comes out, there can be no cold water since there is only one water vein. Akane angrily asks him why he didn't say it before, and that he said he ws ready to die and the Guide says there are too many guards, and he has a family. But the water doesn't come out.
Suddenly it bursts out, ejecting Ranma, Ryöga and Mousse, all back to manhood (but naked, except Ranma), and Plum. All the spectators stare at them in surprise as they land in the pool. Ranma picks up Safran and immediately attacks him, nailing him to the ground, which breaks. Kiima tries to help her master, but Mousse produces a chain that Ryöga wields (Mousse has lost his glasses) to throw Kiima away.
Ranma says to Safran he is not going to forgive him even if he is a child, Safran answers that he is quite rude, and a strange phenomenon starts. Seeing this the elder bird-man freaks out, saying Safran has begun his metamorphosis, and sends all the bird-men away because it is very dangerous to be caught in. As for Ranma, his hands are prisoner of the strands of bright threads Safran's body has begun to produce; Safran asks him, much to his surprise, if he is ready to become nourishment...
38 2 The Phoenix And The Dragon
Safran tells Ranma that bathing in hot water from the cursed source allows the member of the royal family of Mt Phoenix to achieve their transformation, but that Ranma won't be there to see the result. Still hiding, the Guide tells Akane that the threads Safran emits are the source of the egg that is produced for the transformation, and that everything taken in the egg will be dissolve, becoming nourishment
Ryöga and Mousse understand that Safran reacts to hot water and Ryöga blasts the floor of the pool with his _bakusai tenketsu_, cracking it, and some of the water flows away, but Ranma, his hands trapped, still has trouble with the forming egg. He tries to break free, but a strand of threads shoots out and wraps around Ranma's neck, and Safran says that as long as there is some hot water (it's still coming from the mouth of the Phoenix statue), he won't be able to escape from the threads. Mousse, tries to pull Ranma out with chains, but threads go up the chain, and he let go, Ranma telling him not to touch the threads. Ranma is obviously weakened.
Akane runs off to the large Phoenix to stop the water, the Guide shouts out a warning about touching the Kinjakan while it's warming up water, Akane jumps onto the Phoenix's head, and grabs the Kinjakan, telling Ranma to escape. Safran shoots his threads out, and begins to surround Akane just as she turns the Kinjakan. The water stops. The threads holding Ranma breaks, and he turns to ask Akane if she is alright. A blast of energy radiates from the hoop, and she disappears, leaving only her clothes which fall onto Ranma, who stares in shock, still with the sticky threads now much like a paste on him, particularly the hands. Safran says the every normal human gripping the Kinjakan while it's warming up water is bound to have all his internal water evaporate, and uses the threads to turn the water back on.
Safran's thread, _really_ starts growing, apparently solidifying as they form, and begins to surround him, threatening everyone. Ryöga pulls Ranma out of the way, and hits him, but he doesn't react. Ryöga promises himself to save him, because it was Akane's final desire. The Guide has come down, and leads the others to safety - Ryöga carries Ranma, while they're chased by the thread.
They're in a small hut on the mountain-side of Jusendo, which the Guide names as a exclusive penthouse for employee. The Guide is pouring tea. Ranma is sitting in the corner -- still holding Akane's clothes, and Ryöga tries to cheer up Ranma. Mousse objects that he is also in love with Akane, but he says he won't cry while Ranma is being a coward and he will hold on - and bursts up into tears, Ranma still not reacting. The Guide moves the clothes a little to reveal that Ranma's hands are now frozen in the hard glass-like threads which has become solid.
The Guide, taking advantage of the fact that Ranma's hands cannot move and thus prevent him to hug too tightly the clothes, pulls it off Ranma, who finally reacts -- and falls into the table. Lying on the floor, he remembers a smiling Akane on her way to school, mourning badly her disappearance. But inside of Akane's clothes, the Guide finds something: It's a tiny Akane, about 15cm long. The Guide explains she's now like a dehydrated doll , and there is one way to save her. And Ranma begins to hope.
38 3 Safran's Metamorphosis
38 4 The Last Remeberance
The front page has Shampoo lounging in a form-hugging sleeve-less one-piece,
and has 'The dangerous charming figure' written down the side.
(note: The Phoenix Tap is the large hollow phoenix-shaped structure that is releasing the special water into the basin Safran is transforming in, and has the Kinjakan as the key. The Dragon Tap is the dragon equivalent, and has the Gekkaja (Lunar Vortex Snake) as the key )
In the bedroom, Ranma is on the floor, hampered by the chain and ball, and his immobilised hands and arms (they're basically locked in place in relative position to his neck), and Shampoo is holding Akane. Shampoo knows about Akane's problem, and also the solution - the special water, and she has glass bottle holding about a litre of the water. Ranma immediately lunges for the bottle, but Shampoo moves it out the way.
She then puts doll-Akane down the front of her outer sleeve-less top which covers her long-sleeve blouse, and takes out three eggs. These are the special 'tamago' (eggs) which encase someone/something in an egg when used together, and when it hatches, they obey the first person they see, like what happened to Shampoo and Genma. She wants Ranma to be obey her, in exchange for Akane being cured, and Ranma looks a little worried.
Ranma says if she'll really give help to Akane, then to please make him her subordinate, and bows before her. Ranma then makes his move - balancing himself on his arms, he swings his legs up at Shampoo, with the large iron ball (which would weight 100-150Kg), knocking Shampoo's arm, and sending the eggs flying. Ranma then leaps up and grabs the eggs in his mouth, and spits them at Shampoo. The eggs crack and the strands spring out and form a large egg.
Ranma cracks open the egg, but just finds the water bottle, and Shampoo suddenly attacks from above, kneeing his face through the egg and smashing the bottle, which turns Ranma female. Shampoo follows by an elbow to the head, and says that was Ranma's last chance, and now has to die, and moves to finish her off. But she tips a kettle of hot water over her instead, picks him up and throws him onto the bed, and lies on top of him.
Shampoo says something like "lets make a fond memory before we're sent to the other world." (I don't get that bit) and adds, after Ranma stammers a bit, "if you don't obey me, then Akane's dead."
Meanwhile, the others are back at the penthouse, Ryöga wonders where on earth Ranma is, when Plum asks them to keep their voices down, so she can hear the next room, and has a glass pressed to the wall. While Shampoo lies on top of him, Ranma wonders if Shampoo has saved any eggs. He tentatively asks Shampoo for a request - for his final memory (cut to others listening next door) he wants to see Shampoo naked (Mousse cracks his cup).
Shampoo is a bit surprised, but is happily begins to undress with Ranma in the mood. When she unbuttons and opens her shirt, she reveals her bra, and two eggs between her breasts, to Ranma's satisfaction - he has Akane in his hands now btw. Ranma lunges forward (to take the eggs in his mouth) saying "my reward" but then the wall breaks apart on top of Ranma. Mousse ("Ranma you bastard") looks rather annoyed, and Ranma's a bit surprised. Mousse adds that he's strained things far enough with his shameless action.
Shampoo is angry at the disturbance, and hits Mousse when he says he's come to help her, and adds she doesn't want to see his face. Mousse gets on his knees to beg her to go back to peaceful Japan.
Ranma gives Akane to Ryöga for a little while, and rushes past Shampoo trying to grab the eggs in his teeth - but actually gets Shampoo's bra instead.
Mousse can't take any more, and attacks Ranma with the Gekkaja staff Ranma had gotten from the Dragon Tap earlier (and Shampoo had brought to the room) and the Guide shouts out that using that would kill Ranma. Mousse hits Ranma with the other end (which still has a bit of the Dragon Tap left at the end) which smashes the stuff off Ranma's hands (and the bits left at the end of the poll), and the rest falls off too. Ranma remembers about the eggs, but just then Shampoo comes flying at him throwing the eggs point blank. Ranma dodges to the side, and holds out Shampoo's bra (which he still had), so that each egg lands in each cup, and then flings them like a sling at Shampoo. They get her and a large egg forms around her.
Ranma is just about to break the egg when Mousse uses his chains to throw Ranma at the ceiling - Mousse wants Shampoo to obey him not Ranma. While Ryöga reiterates about the effects of the egg, Mousse has a happy dream about proposing to Shampoo, and her happily agreeing to Mousse-sama. Ranma (who has Akane back) and the others look at Mousse who has tears in his eyes, but then the room shakes.
In the caves, the old man and Kiima are investigating the disturbance, which has come from the 'bathroom'. The old guy wonders about Safran's egg, and that it's too soon. They're also taking an roundabout route as it's too dangerous until the egg's complete. And as he is talking about not being careful could damage the egg, he notices the Phoenix Tap has been cut in half, and the head's beak has cracked the egg, and his eyes bug out. However, threads from the egg have grouped around the two broken halves, and is getting water still. A new crack then appears in the egg, and Kiima wonders if Safran is hatching, and the old man adds that it's not good that it was too quick.
The editor's comments on the last page go something like:
The reason Ranma released a blow, the crack in Safran's egg!!
And is just as true king Safran hatches!?
38 5 The Birth of Saffron
The chapter picture has Saffron prominent, with his egg behind him, and Ranma
near the bottom.
Text at the bottom of the page: I am the strongest king!!
For some parts I couldn't do completely or has trouble with or wasn't certain
of, I've put in the romaji, so that hopefully some kind soul will be able to
assist me.
The old guy and Kiima are hiding behind some rocks, while the egg continues to crack open and Kiima says "A premature birth...", and the old guy mentions that he should have hatched after 3 days.
In the Penthouse, the room is shaking, and the Guide remarks that it isn't mild, and Ranma and Ryöga wonder why it's suddenly gotten so hot. Just then the door opens, and in walks Genma-panda, with a sign reading "Shampoo-sama, I have your meal....". He then drops the tray of food he was carrying, and attacks Ranma and Ryöga with a sign saying "kill all intruders!!". The Guide realises the panda's odd ("aiya, panda mo itaka") and Plum confirms that the panda is Shampoo's underling.
Ranma (who has Akane in his right arm btw) jumps onto Mousse's head and tells him to quickly get Shampoo out of the egg, but Mousse hits away the noisy guy, adding that he's busy at the moment. While Ryöga restrains the panda, and Ranma sits on top of his dad, he says they need Shampoo to give Genma new orders.
But Mousse isn't really listening, and is daydreaming about going on dates with Shampoo, her giving Mousse-sama Valentine's chocolate, and him with his head on her lap. Ryöga remarks that Mousse is an irresponsible lover ("sorya koibito da.").
Mousse is standing in front of the egg and continues on about getting his hands on Shampoo, and Ranma is getting rather annoyed. Ranma's just about to do something about the troublesome guy when the walls falls apart, and a slab hits Mousse on the head, hitting him onto the egg, cracking it. Shampoo's arm pokes out, and Mousse thinks to himself "heh, I'm a fool. Getting Shampoo is a 1 in a 1000 years chance" and Shampoo starts to come out of the egg. Then Shampoo looks into a small hand-held mirror, and Ranma and Ryöga realise that if you first see yourself, then you'll obey no-one. Shampoo comes out saying "up to now I was.." and Mousse is happy for her (he doesn't get what's really happened yet), and adds something on the lines of that it's okay, and such things as false love [untranslatable] ("kore de iin ja. itsuwari no ai nado iranu.").
Shampoo then glomps onto Ranma "Aiya Ranma, I was so afraid") and Ranma says something like that almost everyday is like this ("fudan to hontondo kawarana katta zo"), and Ryöga (still restraining Genma) wants someone to order the panda - who is trying to reach Shampoo with a sign reading "Shampoo-sama!". In the cave its getting rather hot, and the old man tells Kiima to take cover. Strong beams of light radiate from the cracks in the egg, and the floor of the room where Ranma and co are is falls apart, and they fall into the chamber, with Ranma protectively holding Akane.
They notice that a large proportion of the upper part of the egg has been cracked open, and some wings are seen - with sticky fluid dripping off. Rising up out of the egg is a large humanoid - Saffron. He is now an adult, with wings about 1m long (and patterned near the ends), and his black hair on the back is now hanging down to his waist, and his lighter coloured hair on the front is similarly long, and he has two long white strands of hair from the top of his forehead, reaching back about 40cm over his head, and two small (5cm) strands down his forehead from the same place.
His hands are a bit bird-like, with thick skin, and short talon-like nails and there is lots of energy coming off them. The moment he sees Ranma he fires a huge wavering blast of hot energy at Ranma - who dodges it, and blasts the wall, which explodes with chunks of burning rock flying off. The old man (while crying) apologises to Saffron-sama, and Kiima looks downcast. Saffron says that the transformation was unsuccessful (this surprises Ranma), and after putting on his formal clothes, Saffron says that Ranma should know everything before considering what the failure is ("Ranma yo... seiban suru mae ni oshiete tsukawazu."), and adds that the fate of the kings of Phoenix Mountain is...
To hang under a (sort of) pagoda which is tied to a spar which it anchored to the side of the rock-face, and to freely give out light and heat. The picture shows the king up in a cavern in the caves with the Phoenix Mountain people going about their business (sewing, playing go/shogai, reading and flying around). ("Shin no ou sore wa... houou no gotoku tainai-kara waki izuru netsu to hikari o jizai ni ayatsuri.") and that inside the inhabited caves night is bright and winter is warm, and that it was a pleasant environment to live in. Ranma says "i.e., you're are.. your mountain home's electricity and gas." and Saffron says that it is the primary reason for the transformation ("honrai-naraba kono hentai de sounaru hazu deatta... daga..") but... when Ranma says ("denki daka gas daga shirane-ga.") that he wants the water to restore Akane ("Kocchi wa Akane no inochi ga kakatten da. Jusen no misu, futsu sasete morau.").
Saffron isn't interested and prepares and then fires another blast at Ranma saying that he'll be beaten soon. Ranma dodges, and then hides behind a rock out-cropping and tells Akane to wait, but then he notices that her eyes are half-closed, and wonders whats going on.
The comments on the last page say:
"Akane o ningen ni modosu tame, tsui ni hajimatta shukuteki Saffron no battle.
Daga Akane ningyou ni ihen ga...!?"
"for the sake of turning Akane human,
by mistake a battle with old enemy Saffron began.
however something strange befalls Akane-doll ...!?"
'something strange' could also be read as disastrous/accidental.
This is probably correct but I decided to include the romaji anyway...
38 6 Crash!! Ranma VS Saffron
The front page has the upper part of doll-Akane taking up most of the page, with Ranma in the front holding the Gekkaja in the right hand.
Text down the side: me o aketekure, Akane!! (keep your eyes open, Akane!!)?
Ranma is holding Akane, and the Guide (who is holding the Gekkaja) and Plum are looking at the doll, and the Guide says that if Akane's eyes close completely then it will be too late, and not even the water from the Dragon Tap will be able to save her. Ranma and Ryöga (who was with Mousse on a higher ledge) are a bit upset about this, and the Guide adds that it's a difficult thing to say clearly.
While holding her in his hands, Ranma shouts encouragement at Akane, and *blink* her eyes open fully, but a few seconds later they get sleepy again. The Guide thinks it's hopeless, but Ranma isn't giving up yet.
Saffron then arrives on the scene, and tells Ranma that the matter of the forced half-way transformation, and the premature birth is over, and that Ranma must die for his mistakes. Mousse and Ryöga aren't particularly interested in his problems, and Ryöga wants to be able to cure Akane as well. Saffron says that in that case, they'd better experience his incomplete strength, and swings his wings upward, and a huge gush of flames forms around him and strike up at the cave roof, and rains burning rocks down on everyone.
The old man whispers to Kiima about the stupid group of people, and reiterates about how the new king would provide heat and warmth to the people, that the great flow of energy needs to be kept suitably adjusted, and that with Saffron's lineage he has to give off energy to stay safe.
While Ryöga and Mousse look a bit surprised about this, Ranma is jumping onto the Dragon Tap with the Gekkaja and is just about the thrust it into the slot on the head to turn the water back on. But Saffron fires another stream of energy, which curves and narrowly misses the Dragon Tap, and smashes Ranma through the cave wall, and sends off a few more burning rocks, and the Guide comments about Ranma holding onto the Gekkaja.
The Guide also says that the root of water main of the Taps are only spoiled (doesn't make much sense to me either).
Kiima comes rushing in with her sword, with a load of flying guards, but she's almost hit by Shampoo coming down at her. Shampoo says she'll kill Kiima (the Panda writes some encouragement on some signs) and for making a subordinate of an Amazon she deserves 10,000 deaths, and Kiima realises that Shampoo's brainwashing has dissolved.
Meanwhile, Saffron glides out through the large hole made when he blasted Ranma, and is high up on the mountain, and there are others in the distance with similarly sharp slopes, and you can see a river in the valley below. He regrets that he was neglect-full in letting Ranma escape, who just then cuts off a large rock with the Gekkaja, which starts falling towards Saffron. While commenting that doing that is futile, Saffron blasts the rock, which starts to disintegrate around Ranma - he came behind it.
However, as Ranma had other things in mind, and the rock provides enough resistance to let Ranma get close enough to Saffron, and he then swings the Gekkaja around and cuts off both of Saffron's wings!
While Saffron falls backwards near the mountain slope, Ranma runs down the mountain (at about a 70 degree angle!) saying that such a wicked person deserves special measures, and he prepares to deliver the final blow. However, Saffron blasts another stream of energy straight down, and rises up towards Ranma on a pillar of flame. He tries to blast Ranma again, and tells the foolish person that like a Phoenix he will always rise up from the ashes, and that injuries don't matter to him.
Ranma is shocked to realise that the wings have grown back.
The comments on the side tell us that the last 3 issues of this story will all be larger than normal, and in colour.
38 7 The Gekkaja's Power
The chapter picture is Ranma wielding the Gekkaja, with Saffron flying behind him, surrounded by flames.
Text across the centre: Fight!, power to the limits!!
Ranma is crouched on the side of the mountain, holding the Gekkaja in his right hand, and Akane in his left, and is wondering what to do. Saffron's hovering in the air surrounded by a glowing ball of energy. He tells Ranma that it's only reasonable that he's going to be dismembered, and immediately does his Koutei Kaen Yoku (Emporor's Blazeing Wings) - he pulls off his wings, and throws them at Ranma like a huge shuriken, and they're surrounded in flames as well. Ranma uses the Gekkaja to block them, but they come back and knock the Gekkaja from his hands, and also Akane. As Ranma races down to get Akane, Saffron fires another power blast at Ranma, which doll-Akane takes directly, just before Ranma can reach her.
Saffron expects Ranma to be reduced to a skeleton, but is very surprised to find Ranma alive, but in bad shape, in a small crater on a ridge further down the mountain, even though Ranma took a direct hit from the blaze. Ranma finds Akane lying on the ground, and is finds out that she's hot when he picks her up.
Saffron realises that because his Kinjakan's feverish heat removed all her body's water, and that it's effected her more than just drying her up - it has made her into a heat shield.
Ranma then notices that Akane's eyes have almost shut, and Saffron tells him that her time is almost up with her poisoned spirit, but his is coming too. He adds that he needed to use both of the special waters for a perfect transformation. Ranma isn't particularly listening, and notices that the Gekkaja has fallen into the ground (the ends of the crescent at the end are in the ground, and the whole thing is vertical), and wants to use it to turn on the Dragon Tap. As Ranma rushes for the Gekkaja, Saffron fires another blast at him, but as Ranma grabs it, his force bends it to the horizontal - makes it look like a gardening hoe.
Back at the centre of Jusendo, Ryöga and Mousse have finished off all the guards and are about to go back to breaking the water main of the Dragon Tap. Meanwhile, the old main is asking Korima and Masara to get the Kinjakan to Saffron-sama, but they're rather reluctant because it's for royalty only, and they don't want to be dried up. So the old guy moves the two boy's arms to do Janken (scissors, paper, stone), so the two guys kick the dried up old man flying towards the Kinjakan.
Shampoo and Kiima are still fighting, and then Kiima does her Suichousenzanyoku and sends a load of slicing arcs all over the place with her feathers (reminds me of Ryü's Kijin Dai Ran Bu - Demon God Big Mad Dance from V28) and one of them scalps the Phoenix Tap, and off comes the Kinjakan. Korima and Masara are happy because of what the old man and middle-aged woman did - Kiima hits the two for calling her a middle-aged woman.
Back outside, Saffron has fired the blast at Ranma, and it's just about to hit him, so because he can't pull the Gekkaja out, he dives behind a rock out-cropping. However the blast dissipates, and the Gekkaja is surrounded by a shallow crater, from which water vapour is rising.
Ranma realises that bending it didn't damage it, and that he can use it's property, and runs out to get it. Flying overhead Saffron prepares another blast to kill the foolish guy, but Ranma throws doll-Akane at him. Saffron is surprised that Ranma is such a shallow guy, playing around with a woman's life like that, but then he notices that Ranma threw a trig wrapped with the doll's clothes - it's the old ninja trick of using a log to hide yourself, this time miniaturised.
The blast disintegrates the distraction and continues on to Ranma, who now has the Gekkaja in his hand, and swings it into the ground, then pulls it up, taking a huge chunk of rock with it, which is glittering. This protects Ranma from the blast when he holds it up, as the rock is kept cool by the power of the Gekkaja.
Ranma then breaks up the boulder into small chunks, and using the Gekkaja forms the pieces into a spiral. Saffron wonders what the stupid guy is up to, digging around in a place like this, and fires another blast down at Ranma. But Ranma knows what he's doing - when the fire-ball hits the spiral of ice, the huge amount of water vapour given off, and the extreme temperature difference, will cause rising air currents.... and now here is the blow:
Hiryü Shöten Ha!!
Saffron finds himself caught in the tornado, and back in the cave centre (most of the roof and some of the walls have gone btw), Ryöga and Mousse notice Ranma's tornado, and the Guide is pondering about the Dragon Tap pipe, which has been kicked, punched, hacked at with and axe, and even Bakusai Tenketsu'ed by Ryöga, but is hardly damaged.
Korima and Masara (who have the Kinjakan) are rather surprised at the tornado too, and inside it, Saffron wonders about this strange art, and what was the purpose of the thing, because his wings keep him safe, and he's unharmed. Just then, Ranma comes at Saffron from above, and swings the Gekkaja straight at him.
Saffron blocks with his arm, but the Gekkaja's power turns the arm and half of Saffron's face to ice, and one of his wings, and Ranma tells Saffron that while they're both inside, they're on an equal footing. Ranma really wants to finish quickly as Akane's eyes are getting dangerously close to closing, and Saffron is slowly icing over.
Suddenly Ranma notices the ring of the Kinjakan coming straight at him, and it smashes into Saffron's arm, and his frozen wing gets broken off, and the arm comes off with the Gekkaja still attacked to it. Korima and Masara, who are both unconscious, and the Kinjakan comes swirling in through the wings, and Ranma is upset that he wasn't able to finish off Saffron.
Saffron takes hold of the Kinjakan, and the ring flies back into it's slot, and tells Ranma he'll finish him off in one blow. Ranma pulls Saffron's frozen arm off the Gekkaja, and tells Saffron that if he wants to be stuck, he'll give it to him. Ranma attacks Saffron with his weapon, and Saffron blocks it with the Kinjakan. Ranma is surprised at a sudden burst of light......
Comments on the last page:
Ranma and Gekkaja VS Saffron and Kinjakan!!
The clash of the two great men!!
The climax of the battle!!
The next issue is also in large 24 page size!!
38 8 Akane's Smile
The front picture has Ranma (looking a little battered) inside the Hiryü Shöten Ha, with the Gekkaja, and Akane's head takes up half the page behind him.
(it's not that far different from last weeks)
Text at top: The Last (final) spurt!
Top left:There is a time you've got to fight a battle even if you have no
chance of winning! If it is for Akane
Middle: this life, gamble!
Bottom right: I have faith in my fists, I have faith in the future... the battle is now, climax!!
-------------------
Mousse, Ryöga and the Guide are watching the Hiryü Shöten Ha, and see two balls of light right next to each other inside it. This is Ranma and Saffron with their weapons locked together, and a large amount of energy is streaming back from each of them. However the one on Ranma's side has small chunks of ice, because the Gekkaja's chill is being reflected.
Saffron explains that the two weapons completely reflect each other's attacks, and the Kinjakan's warm breeze has warmed him up and the ice has melted off him. Saffron quickly re-grows his left arm and wing, and tells Ranma its time for him to be struck down without using his hands. He builds up a huge amount of flames with his right hand, and they spread around the tornado, harming Ranma somewhat.
Shampoo has now appeared on the scene, with Kiima in a head lock, and is surprised to see the tornado flambe, and Ryöga shouts for Ranma to escape. Ranma is currently flying towards the mountain-side, and decides to try and catch it to get out. Ranma swings the Gekkaja's prongs into the rock-face on the mountain, but he then gets pulled back in, taking a large boulder with him.
Saffron is telling Ranma that he might be able to escape from the flames, but half-way through his speech he is hit full in the face by the boulder Ranma took out. Ranma is hanging onto the Gekkaja stuck into the boulder, even though he's unconscious. After regaining consciousness Ranma notices that the force of the fire has lessened, and Ryöga and Mousse realise that because Saffron was pampered while growing up, he is weak at taking a hit - the old guy is started at this - ie they're right on the money.
Ryöga Bakusai Tenkestu's some rocks, and throws a load of boulders into the tornado. However, some hit Ranma, and Saffron blasts the others, and remains unharmed. Ranma is hiding behind the remains of his boulder, and plans a simple kick attack. When Ranma gets close enough, he swings out from behind the boulder, and delivers a double kick to Saffron's face, making up a move called Chokusetsu Shuuda Ryüsei Kyaku - Direct Kick-strike Meteor Leg. Ranma, who's trousers (pants to the Americans) are smoldering, is upset when Saffron falls down towards the bottom of the tornado, and Ranma considers Saffron to have received his just reward. However, Saffron is rather steamed at what has happened to him.
Suddenly a large eruption of lava comes up from the bottom, and Ranma is only protected from the boulder the Gekkaja is still stuck in. Saffron rises up from the bottom, and has had enough of this and it's now time for Ranma to be terminated. Ranma is more worried because of the prolonged battle, and the problem with Akane.
Saffron announces his:
Houou-kin Ouzoku Kyuukyoku Ougi
Phoenix Mountain Royalty Ultimate Special Secret!!
...and Ranma is surprised at the hot sphere of energy surrounding Saffron, who has his arms crossed in front of him, with the the right one holding the Kinjakan. Saffron continues:
Tenka Shunmetsu Koukyuudan!!
Entire Empire Instant Annihilation Emperor Ball Missile
Ranma suddenly finds himself starring a 20m wide ball of hot energy in the face. And on the mountain-side, Ryöga, Mousse and Shampoo are shocked to see the ball come through the side of the tornado. The ball flies off in a huge beam of energy, and smashes through some spires of rock on the mountain. Ryöga wonders whats happened to Ranma, and Shampoo notices Ranma flying through the air safe, and also that he's frozen - he's hugging the Gekkaja close to himself, and is covered with ice.
Saffron then releases the ring on the Kinjakan, and it strikes Ranma on the head, then returns to the staff. Saffron considers Ranma's actions pathetic, and tells Ranma that'll only work once, and the next one will shatter his frozen body right down the middle.
Ranma is not just waiting to die however, and the only plan he can think of is using his frozen fist to throw down Saffron - coupled with the Hiryü Shöten Ha, it will smash him. And we are given a nice diagram explaining what Ranma is going to try and do. Ranma plans on throwing a tornado though a channel of cold air surrounded on both sides by the hot air from Saffron's blasts, and that in the swirl in the middle the tornado will become extra fine, and highly concentrated:
HHHHHHH R Ranma
R .HHHHHHHH S Saffron
H ..*.HHHHHHHH H Hot air
HHHH..*.HHHHHHH . cool air
HHHHHH.*.HHHHHH * special Hiryü Shöten Ha
HHHHHHH.*. HHHH
HHHHHHH * HH
HHHHHH S
While Ranma is thinking that he'll get one shot at the strike, Saffron powers up and does another Tenka Shunmetsu Koukyuudan. Ranma is a bit surprised, and tries to keep a hold of Saffron's position (so he can aim properly), but it's no good. Ranma then notices that Akane's getting hot (she's been down his shirt all the time btw), even though she's covered in ice.
Akane, who's wearing an undershirt, then shoots out from Ranma, right at the fire-ball, and Ranma realises that it's probably something to do with the ice thawing with the heat coming off her Akane's body. Akane flies towards Saffron, and her small body is also providing a shield for Ranma, though he is still almost in the blast, as the channel is rather small. Ranma can now vaguely see Saffron, who is a bit surprised to see the 'foolish woman' and prepares to incinerate her.
It's now Ranma's turn, and pointing his frozen right arm into the channel, he starts off his move, and the ice on his arm shatters:
Hiryü Shöten Ha, Henkei
Hiryü Shöten Ha, Changed Model
Ranma: go!, ice dragon!
Hiryuu Hyoutoppa
Flying Dragon Iced Break Through
Ranma fires a thin tornado (about 1m wide) through the centre and Saffron takes a direct hit. Saffron falls towards the earth, with some chunks of ice, he thinks to himself "I am...immortal...". Ryöga, Mousse and Shampoo are happy, and Kiima's a bit upset.
Ranma's happy to have won, and looks around for Akane and chases down after her (he's still in the air) when he sees her. He's begging with her not to have closed her eyes yet, and just before he reaches her, he notices a slight smile on her face, and she has her arms reaching for Ranma. Ranma takes her in his hands (and discards the Gekkaja) and hopes she's okay, and tells her to wait, so that he can get the special water and get her body cured.
He looks rather happy, and Akane's arms are reaching for Ranma's face, but then Akane's eyes close completely! and Ranma looks rather worried....
-------------------
Notes on the side of the last page:
Saffron is just attacked and defeated!!
But, Akane is...!?
Next issue, the heart shuddering final round!!
enjoy reading with thanks the super-enlarged pages!!
38 9 Ranma And Akane
Ranma is still up in the air, holding Akane and the Gekkaja, and is worried because Akane's eyes have just closed. He decides that he doesn't have enough time, so has to combine his actions.
### double colour page with the cast ####
Banner across the pages: Finale with a smile.
Title: The last episode - "Ranma and Akane"
The cavern containing the Dragon Tap is now open to the sky and Ranma is high above it, and he throws the Gekkaja down into the slot on the Dragon Tap's head. The Guide then tells Ryöga to turn the Gekkaja.
Ranma plans to use the hot air due to Saffron that is swirling up where Ranma is, and combined with the cold air from his punch, he'll be able to summon the water up to where he is. Ranma tells Akane to live until then, and he builds up energy on his right fist, and prepares to command the dragon to look up at the sky.
Ranma unleashes his Hiryuu Gyouten Ha (Flying Dragon Looking at the Sky Blast) and the tornado curves down at the Dragon Tap. Ryöga has gripped the Gekkaja, when he sees the tip of the tornado coming straight at him, and is rather startled, and Mousse wonders what Ranma is doing with the air.
The tornado curves through the neck of the Dragon Tap in a U-bend, smashing it, and Mousse thinks Ranma's gone mad. However, the head lands on the stump of the neck, and is pointing straight up at the sky, and then water gushes out, straight up at Ranma.
Ranma, who has been turned female by the water, holds doll-Akane into the water, and suddenly Akane's body is restored, and Ranma's holding a completely naked Akane in her arms. However, Akane doesn't react in any way and Ranma realises that she isn't breathing.
Ranma is now sitting on a ledge, now male thanks to a kettle of water, and is holding Akane in his arms, and has put his shirt on her. The others look a little sad about this, and Ryöga in particular.
While Ranma is cradling Akane in his arms, he tells her that this situation is because she always tries to help him with things that aren't her business. Then he calls her a stupid fool (baka yarou), but when he realises what he just said, he punches himself. He then says he was wrong, and he's sorry, and he meant to say 'thank-you'.
He then apologises to Akane again, and says that he's clumsy and can't express his feelings clearly and that she makes him angry and troubled, and he implores her to get up. He adds that he has something to say, and asks if she is listening, but he still gets no response, and Ranma starts to cry - tears fall onto Akane's cheek.
Ranma shouts out Akane's name in anger and sorrow, and he wants to be able to say 'I love you' to her.
Then a hand reaches up and touches Ranma's face, and Akane slowly says his name, and Ranma starts to cry again because Akane is alive.
Akane then apologises to Ranma, because while her body was still she heard everything. Ranma is really shocked that she heard what he said, and then he's flattened as Ryöga sits on Ranma, and expresses his happiness that Akane's okay. Akane tells Ryöga she's sorry she worried everyone, and Shampoo calls Akane a stubborn girl.
Mousse then overhears Kiima and the old guy referring to Saffron, and Kiima picks up an small ostrich-sized egg - Saffron. The egg breaks open, and out pops a baby Saffron, and when Ranma asks about the 'evil looking baby' Kiima explains that the intense battle exhausted Saffron's energy, and now this happened, and she has also put a pacifier in Saffron's mouth.
The narration explains that there is no reason for fighting, and that the people are returning to Phoenix Mountain, and Ryöga tells them that it should be better suited to raising children now, while in the background the panda snuggles up to "Shampoo-sama".
Ranma thinks that Saffron will want to transform again some day, and Mousse wonders if Jusendo will be attacked again. However, the battle between Ranma and Saffron has altered how the underground water flows and Phoenix Mountain is now safe to live in, and the place has been quickly remodelled. Kiima, who's still looking after baby-Saffron is happy the battle wasn't for nothing, though Koruma and Masara doesn't look very happy with this because of all the trouble they went to, and they look rather worn out.
Later, it's raining at the legendary training grounds of Jusenkyö, female Ranma is standing in the rain near the Guide's house. She looks happy and says that she had almost forgotten about getting his male-body back for his own sake, that she had only wanted the Jusenkyö water for Akane's sake and that she was becoming indifferent to being half-way male. Akane comes up behind Ranma, and asks if Ranma's just pretending.
The shot widens, and we can see that all the pools have flooded, and the narration says that this is where the tragedy was. The Guide tells Ryöga (who's protected by his umbrella) that with it overflowing it's too perilous now and Ryöga angrily replies that he understands that, and the panda is holding up a sign saying 'DANGER: do not mix' - ie all the curses are mixed up.
Later Shampoo tells the panda to do whatever he likes, and so Genma is back to normal.
Then back in Japan, there is a sudden rush, and we see Ranma knocked out, and Soün and Genma are changing his clothes while he's knocked out. When he wakes up Ranma is surprised to find himself in a white suit, and Soün tells a surprised Ranma that it's time for his and Akane's wedding, and Genma adds that it's absolutely not a lie, and Nodoka is crying because Ranma looks so manly.
Ranma then barges into Akane's room, and stops dead, when he sees Akane. She is wearing a western-style wedding dress, and she looks REALLY beautiful, and while Ranma is standing in the doorway, Akane wonders if maybe Japanese clothes would have been better after all. Ranma's heart is beating away, and he's blushing as he tells her that for him anything is cute, and Akane blushes and says she's happy. Ranma is now standing in front of Akane, but they're both unmoving, and can't think of anything to say.
We then see Ryöga walking down a street holding a letter of invitation for the wedding ceremony. He's thinking to himself - he's setting off on a journey, and he hopes that Akane will be happy and he apologises to "Akari-chan" that his gift is not longer in a good enough condition to bring to her.
"Ucchan's" is closed for the day, and Ukyö is making okonomiyaki, and Konatsu is worried about her, and Ukyö is making special celebration modern yaki. Konatsu timidly asks "Ukyö-sama" if it is really okay, and Ukyö replies that she has been thinking for sometime that such a day would come, but the only thing she can do now is to make the okonomiyaki, and Konatsu thinks Ukyö is really strong willed.
The Neko-Hanten is also closed for the day, and Mousse is telling Shampoo that she should resign herself over Ranma, and that he has only ever looked at her. Shampoo has had her back to Mousse all this time, and she turns around with a smile on he face, and says that she understands, and asks him to help her make some celebration niku-man. Mousse ends up expressing his thanks that Shampoo finally understands him to Cologne, who asks Mousse where he is looking.
Back in Akane's room, they're both sitting on the floor and Ranma is fidgeting, and asks her why she is so meek with the wedding ceremony coming up, and Akane responds that it's because Ranma confessed his love for her. Ranma asks her what she's talking about. Akane says that it's because of what happened at Jusendo, and Ranma gets a bit dizzy. He then angrily replies that didn't say it, and Akane angrily counters that he almost said it. Akane then says that they don't have force themselves to have the wedding, but then warns Ranma that he'll be sorry if they don't, which rather surprises Ranma.
Nabiki, who is in a kimono like Kasumi, asks Soün why is he hiding a certain thing from Ranma: Soün has gotten a cask of Nannichuan from the Guide, and Soün's plan is that Ranma can't have the water until he's married Akane. Nabiki realises that this was how he persuaded Akane to agree to the marriage. Soün is then surprised when Genma puts his hand on Soün's shoulder, and says that he is surprised that Soün hid this from Genma until now, and Genma then runs off with the cask.
Ryöga comes through a wall (wondering where he is) and sends Genma and the cask flying. Mousse is annoyed at the disturbance, and wants Ranma and Akane to be married quickly before they change their minds, but then he and Ryöga spot the cask (which has 'Nannichuan' written on it). Ranma has heard about the Nannichuan from Akane, and dashes off, saying she should have told him earlier, and leaves Akane looking rather annoyed.
Then Ranma notices an okonomiyaki and some niku-man coming right at him, and they explode around him. It's Shampoo (in a form hugging outfit) and Ukyö (in a kimono), and Shampoo is upset that she missed her target - Akane, and Konatsu who is clinging to the ceiling is worried about Ukyö. Then Kodachi turns up om a black-rose wedding dress telling her 'husband' Ranma to hang on, and the other two are upset - Ukyö calls her an impudent bitch.
Then Kunö tries to slice Ranma with his sword (metal, not wooden), and says he hasn't given permission for the wedding, and he's holding a fan with 'reject' written on it. Ranma isn't interested in this at the moment. He then slips on bucket of water, and gets splashed, and Kunö then asks 'osage no onna' to have a double wedding with her, and Akane.
Akane is angry because Nabiki sent out so many invitations, and things have been ruined. Nabiki shows Akane a gift and explains it's because of this, and Kasumi realises it's because they'll get more gifts this way.
The other guys are fighting over the Nannichuan cask, and it begins to fall over, and just before Ranma can reach it, Happosai gulps it all down, thinking that it's special sake for the wedding. A bloated Happosai then smashes up the cask, and is upset that it was just plain water. Ranma is upset that everything was drunk, and together with Ryöga, Mousse and Genma try to make Happosai throw up the water - Ranma and Ryöga are pulling Happosai's mouth wide, Genma is holding Happosai's legs, and Mousse is poking a stick up Happosai's mouth. Happosai then uses his Happö Daikarin - *KA-BOOM*
Outside, Hinako-sensei and Ranma and Akane's classmates are all in formal dress, and Hinako is looking forward to the wedding feast. The others are a bit dubious about Ranma and Akane getting married, and Gosunkugi is sobbing, and carrying another straw doll.
When they arrive they find that the döjö's a mess - Nabiki puts out her hand to Hiroshi (blond haired class-mate of Ranma) asking for money, Hinako is upset the cake's ruined, Kodachi is searching for "Ranma-sama", Kunö gets kicked in the face by Akane after saying he'll have a wedding with her, and Happosai's clinging to Akane's dress, laughing about his young bride, Mousse has mistaken Cologne for Shampoo again, Shampoo and Ukyö are worried about the unconscious Ranma, and Konatsu is stealthily hiding behind Ukyö's word-balloon, Ryöga's depressed, the panda's is rolling around on the floor, Kasumi is impressed at all the activity, and Soün is cursing his back luck.
Later, Soün is sitting down at the table with Ranma and Akane, smoking a cigarette, and in the background the panda's playing with a ball, and Kasumi's taking down the washing. He explains to them that they can't have a wedding now because of the mess from the last one, and Ranma and Akane each blame the other, but without much heat.
The narration explains that the wedding is only temporarily postponed - ie they're on extra time. We then see Ranma and Akane run off to school side by side: 'itte kima-su' "we're off--".
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