Akane?
Akane...
What're you doing there?
My, you're so dirty.
Your carnation.
I bought it for you, but--
You fell down?
Don't cry. It's just fine.
See? Look how pretty it is.
Thank you, Akane.
What a kind girl you are.
Mommy, I love you.
Akane?
Get up and get ready.
C'mon, let's go, everybody!
Let's go, Akane.
Carnations. It's not Mother's Day, yet. But you loved them.
See, Mother? We're all fine, so don't worry.
Do you remember your mom?
Yes. She died when I was little.
But I remember a lot about her.
So kind. She was a wonderful mom.
What about your mom, Ranma?
What's she like? Tell us.
Well...
You remember, don't you?
Hey! Do I got one?
"I'll tell you the secret"
Fine! Go ahead.
"I gave birth to you"
"I gave birth to you all by myself"
She probably left us.
She left them.
She did, didn't she?
So she left them?
My ma...?
I never even thought about it.
Any woman who'd marry my addlebrained pop...
has gotta be a real twit.
Warning. Fence is loose.
That was a close one.
Rats.
Young Lady, are you all right?
Y-yes.
Grab hold of this.
Come on.
Thank you.
I-I'm sorry!
What a tomboy you are.
But you're a girl, so let's be more ladylike, all right?
'Bye. I'm in a hurry.
She sure was a kind Iady.
I'm home!
Ouch.
Ranma! We're going on a journey!
P-Pop! What's goin' on?!
We haven't a moment to lose!
It's mean to leave without telling us why, Saotome.
"l am coming. At once. From Nodoka."
He turned white the minute this letter came.
What happened, Mr. Saotome?
T-Tendo! Let me go!
Please! Let me go this once!
Come, Saotome. Calm down.
Tell us the reason. Pretty please.
But Tendo, there's no time! If we don't hurry, she'll be here!
"Nodoka"?
- It's a woman's name. - Goodness.
Who is she, Mr. Saotome?
Wild horses couldn't drag it out of me!
Didja steal? Eat without paying? Come clean!
What're you talking about?
Knowing you, you probably did somethin' rotten and ran away.
That's what you think of your father?!
I know! The lady's a bill collector!
Or she owns the house that Mr. Saotome burglarized.
She owns a diner where he skipped out on the bill?
She's no stranger lady!
She's--
She's--!
She's Ranma's--!
My...?
My what?
Excuse me.
She's here!
Forgive me, Mother!
Saotome, what'd you just say?
What'd you say?
He said, "Mother"!
Your wife?
Well, well, you're Saotome's wife?
Kame Sushi Restaurant. I came for the tray.
No, no! That's not her!
In other words, the lady who sent this postcard is...?
The lady that's coming--
She's Ranma's mother, right?!
My ma...?
That's just great, Ranma.
Ranma?
Isn't it great that you've found your mother?
It's just so sudden.
I don't remember her at all, besides.
The dragonflies have flown away.
Excuse me.
Coming!
Ranma--!
Ranma, I know it'll be painful for you, but...
you can't call her "Mom".
Not now!
What's the big idea, ya stupid jerk?!
Whatcha babblin' about?!
"I guarantee you will be unhappy if you meet her"
Good afternoon.
I understand Mr. Saotome and his son are living here.
Welco--!
This Iady is Ranma's mother...?
It's the lady I met earlier...!
Where are Genma and Ranma Saotome?
You see, unfortunately--
Unfortunately, they're--
Please, Tendo.
Tell her we're not here.
It's a matter of life and death!
Please!
They left on a journey for training.
Is that so?
Come clean! What's goin' on, anyway?!
"I'm telling you..."
Telling me what?!
Who is that lady, anyway?!
"She is your mother."
Quit lyin'!
No way a lady that pretty would marry an airhead like you!
She really is my ma?
Ma...
So, Mrs. Saotome...
all these years Mr. Saotome and Ranma were on the road...
you were all alone?
Yes, I waited for them at home.
How difficult that must have been.
Yes. But...
"But"?
Our parting was far more difficult.
When I parted with Ranma, it was heartbreaking.
No, Dear! No--!
Let go! Let go, I say!
Don't take Ranma!
Let go! Let go!
Forgive me, Nodoka!
Ranma!
Farewell!
Don't go! Don't go! Don't go! Don't go! Don't go! Don't go!
Look, Nodoka...
Ranma must carry on the Saotome Anyhing-Goes style of martial arts.
I know that.
If Ranma is to become a great man...
his training cannot be hindered by a mother's love.
Please, bear it for Ranma's sake!
For Ranma's sake?!
For Ranma's sake...?!
I see. So you let Ranma's father take him.
What a drastic thing to do.
I believed in my husband.
"Don't look any closer"
Pop...
"What?"
"S...stop..."
I don't know what you're so scared of.
But I got no reason to hide!
Before he left, however, my husband made a vow to me.
Vow?
A vow?
What kind of vow, ma'am?
Leggo, stupid Pop!
A boy's voice--!
Could it be Ranma?
"Hello, someone else's wife"
Why, it's that girl I met earlier.
Dammit!
Quit it, stupid Pop!
A girl shouldn't use such crude language.
Look!
I'm--!
Wyor weddel woy!
Mrs. Saotome, what was Mr. Saotome's vow?
Oh, yes. Where was I...?
I swear to you.
I'll raise Ranma to be a man among men!
If by chance...
I should fail--
If I fail to keep my promise...
Ranma and I shall commit seppuku!
Dear! How noble your resolve!
- Se... - pu...
- ku?
"Seppuku?"
In the past I received letters from wherever they journeyed.
But the last I heard...
was that they were going to Jusenkyo in China.
I see.
This isn't good.
But you wouldn't really make them commit seppuku, would you?
Idiot...!
A Japanese sword...!
Sorry about that.
I'm not very good with swords.
You were joking about the suicide part, weren't you?
Here is my vow in writing.
Now, Ranma--
You swear to your mother as well.
Ranma, how strong your resolve.
Their dedication convinced me.
As a martial artist's wife, I swore...
that, if Ranma did not become a man among men--
I would assist them in ritual suicide.
And with the same sword, I would slit my own throat...
and follow them in death!
"You were serious"
But I won't have to worry about that, will l?
Mrs. Saotome, please have some freshly brewed tea.
Thank you. "Kasumi," was it?
Yes.
Still...
I wish I could have seen Ranma just once.
Um--
Yes?
What is it?
Um... I... Uh...
That reminds me! I didn't get your name, did l?
What is it?
I-I'm--
I'm--!
I'M--!!
Ranma!
Are you telling her?!
I'm Ranko!
Akane's cousin!
"I'm a pet panda"
- Ranko? What a sweet name. - Isn't it?
I guess he doesn't wanna die.
Thank you.
I barged in during my husband's absence...
and you let me stay the night.
Stay as long as you wish.
Right! Don't worry about anything.
Honestly! She'll find out right away.
There's bound to be bloodshed.
Don't say that, Nabiki!
Hey, Pop.
Pop!
What?
Don't play the innocent!
You hadda make that stupid vow!
What kinda screwed-up couple are ya?!
Your mother is pure, single-minded and true.
If we reveal ourselves, we must die.
We'll just have to remain panda and girl!
You dirty--!
Ranko, you're in here, aren't you?
I'll scrub...
your back for you.
Rats!
I'm sorry, Mrs. Saotome!
"Heart racing..."
Was the water cold?
Was I imagining things?
For an instant, I thought I saw a pigtailed boy...
"Jump!"
and a very strange man wearing glasses.
Probably my imagination.
"How can you say that to your husband..."
It's your imagination!
To Be Continued