The first part of Ranma's training is to defend himself from attack while leading his opponent(s) in an inward spiral. Genma, Akane and Ukyo act as his opponents. Except that instead of physical attacks, Genma pulls out a photograph of a very young Ranma, crying, standing beside a wet bed sheet (i.e., he wet it the previous night). A mortified Ranma attempts (unsuccessfully) to prevent Ukyo and Akane from seeing it. Genma next pulls out a photograph of a naked teenage Ranma falling out of a barrel in which he was bathing, because a cat frightened him (Ranma is morbidly afraid of cats). Ukyo pleads with Genma to move his thumb, which is covering Ranma's groin. An extremely red-faced Akane claims that she doesn't want to look, while looking out the corner of her eyes. Ranma is jumping around, demanding that Genma cut it out.
Cologne smacks Ranma over the head, and shows him that he didn't even come close to leading them in a spiral. She tells him that he must not be embarrassed, he must not be angry, he must master the Soul of Ice. He must make the spiral with an icy heart. We see Ryoga in the vicinity, but he does not yet make his appearance. Finally, Ranma masters the ability to lead his opponents in a spiral with an ice cold demeanor.
Cologne then tells Akane and Ukyo to pack up and leave. Cologne points out that for the next part of the training, Ranma needs an opponent on whom he will be willing to unleash the final blast. Ranma realizes that she's right, that he can't do that to Akane or Ukyo.
At that point, Ryoga shows up and offers to be Ranma's opponent for the training, having overheard this last bit. Ranma, surprised, asks, "You came all the way out here for me?" Ryoga answers, "Of course not!" and Akane thinks to herself, "Don't tell me he got lost again."
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Ultimate Weakness Moxibustion - Chapter 4
On learning at school that not only Ranma is absent, but also Ukyo, Akane pays a visit to Ucchan's restaurant. There she finds a notice that the restaurant is temporarily closed and where Ukyo is currently located. So Akane packs a backpack, and heads off to join them in Yomogi Valley (the moxibustion capital). Ranma and his father are out there training in an attempt to find a way for Ranma to recover his strength. Ukyo was asked along to cook for them, since she's a chef (and happy for the chance for some time with Ranma). Naturally they wouldn't have asked Akane to come for such a reason, since her cooking tends to be poisonous.
Genma concludes that their training there is useless, and they need to focus on getting the chart back from Happosai. He trains Ranma in a new technique to do so, called the Crouch of the Wild Tiger. It turns out to be a technique for apologizing. Ranma is incensed. At that point Cologne shows up, also wishing to cure her future great-grandson-in-law (we earlier learned that her great-granddaughter Shampoo is currently back in China on a visit).
Cologne proceeds to demonstrate a technique she thinks Ranma could use, even in his weakened state, to defeat Happosai. It is called the Hiryū Shōten Ha, and it goes on in the manga to become one of Ranma's strongest techniques in its various forms. Akane sees a blast in the distance, and Ranma lands hard right in front of her. Ranma leaps to his feet without noticing her, saying how amazing that technique is, and that he'll be able to defeat the old pervert. Cologne informs the charred Genma that she applied the technique at 20% of full power, and that the power of the technique is dependent on the power of the opponent. (Happosai is very powerful.)
Ranma announces that he'll master the technique in three days.
Genma concludes that their training there is useless, and they need to focus on getting the chart back from Happosai. He trains Ranma in a new technique to do so, called the Crouch of the Wild Tiger. It turns out to be a technique for apologizing. Ranma is incensed. At that point Cologne shows up, also wishing to cure her future great-grandson-in-law (we earlier learned that her great-granddaughter Shampoo is currently back in China on a visit).
Cologne proceeds to demonstrate a technique she thinks Ranma could use, even in his weakened state, to defeat Happosai. It is called the Hiryū Shōten Ha, and it goes on in the manga to become one of Ranma's strongest techniques in its various forms. Akane sees a blast in the distance, and Ranma lands hard right in front of her. Ranma leaps to his feet without noticing her, saying how amazing that technique is, and that he'll be able to defeat the old pervert. Cologne informs the charred Genma that she applied the technique at 20% of full power, and that the power of the technique is dependent on the power of the opponent. (Happosai is very powerful.)
Ranma announces that he'll master the technique in three days.
Ultimate Weakness Moxibustion - Chapter 3
Ranma, Akane and Ukyo journey together to the shrine which Doctor Tofu's research indicates should possess the chart showing how to cure the ultimate weakness moxibustion. The monk there tells them that tragically it was stolen one hundred years ago. He shows them a (very badly drawn) picture of the thief, which they recognize as a younger Happosai.
Back in Nerima, Happosai is sorting through some things in his pack, while Kasumi burns some trash outside. He comes across a chart, but can't remember what it is, and decides that if it were important he'd remember. So he tosses it toward the fire. Ranma shows up just in time to grab it, announcing, "This is it! The moxibustion chart!" Happosai then steals it back, now being reminded exactly what it is. In the ensuing fight, Happosai beats up the weak Ranma, and then runs away.
Ranma then runs off, thinking that the girls pity him. The next morning the Tendos wake up to find that Ranma and his father are gone, and Kasumi and Soun assume that he has given up and is acknowledging that he can't take over the dojo. Only Akane is sure that he would never give up like that, but is left wondering where he is.
Back in Nerima, Happosai is sorting through some things in his pack, while Kasumi burns some trash outside. He comes across a chart, but can't remember what it is, and decides that if it were important he'd remember. So he tosses it toward the fire. Ranma shows up just in time to grab it, announcing, "This is it! The moxibustion chart!" Happosai then steals it back, now being reminded exactly what it is. In the ensuing fight, Happosai beats up the weak Ranma, and then runs away.
Ranma then runs off, thinking that the girls pity him. The next morning the Tendos wake up to find that Ranma and his father are gone, and Kasumi and Soun assume that he has given up and is acknowledging that he can't take over the dojo. Only Akane is sure that he would never give up like that, but is left wondering where he is.
Ultimate Weakness Moxibustion - Chapter 2
Akane attacks Happosai while he is ironing some stolen panties, demanding that he tell her how to cure the ultimate weakness moxibustion. Her father Soun Tendo overhears, and starts choking Happosai for what he has done to the dojo's heir (one of the few times in the manga that Soun or Genma manage to get the better of Happosai). He releases the old man when his daughter Kasumi suggests that he stop before he kills him, but then Soun also demands the cure.
Happosai's reply is, "Fool! Have you forgotten who I am? In my entire rotten life, have I ever once learned a technique that could actually help anyone?!" He is kicked into the air as they realize he doesn't know the cure.
In the meantime, Ranma is tied up in the P.E. equipment shed at school. Akane, who saw the Happy-Grams, did this to keep Ranma, who would refuse to hide, from being killed by his rivals. Hikaru Gosunkugi finds Ranma and unties him. Puzzled, Ranma asks, "Aren't you one of the guys with a grudge against me?" Hikaru replies, "Who, me?" He then shoves Ranma out the door, saying, "No. I'll just wait until the others are finished." The others turn out to be Principal Kuno, Mousse and Tatewaki, who proceed to beat up on Ranma, but also get in each others way preventing any overly serious blow from landing.
Just as they are about to all strike at once, they are all knocked away. By Ryoga. Ranma says, "What ... you're saving me for yourself?" Ryoga replies, "Don't insult me! I can't stand people who pick on the weak!" Ranma is quite upset on hearing this, and attacks Ryoga, uselessly.
Akane visits Doctor Tofu, whose office looks like a disaster, covered in books and scrolls. He tells her that there is a chance of a cure, a chart in a remote hiding place which shows the moxibustion to counter the ultimate weakness moxibustion.
Ukyo finds Ranma. She tells him that she'll take care of him, that all he'll have to do for the rest of his life is watch over their children. She points out that in his weak state, he can't be the heir of the Tendo dojo, so his engagement to Akane has no point, leaving only his engagement to herself. Ranma, upset, says the only thing on his mind is getting his strength back, that he doesn't care about the dojo. Naturally, at that precise moment Akane had walked in behind him.
Akane hits Ranma over the head, telling him that she came to tell him about a possible cure, but just see if she'll tell him now. Ranma proceeds to fawn all over Akane, massaging her shoulders, etc., while she repeats, "I'm not telling." Ukyo looks on in disbelief at his antics.
Happosai's reply is, "Fool! Have you forgotten who I am? In my entire rotten life, have I ever once learned a technique that could actually help anyone?!" He is kicked into the air as they realize he doesn't know the cure.
In the meantime, Ranma is tied up in the P.E. equipment shed at school. Akane, who saw the Happy-Grams, did this to keep Ranma, who would refuse to hide, from being killed by his rivals. Hikaru Gosunkugi finds Ranma and unties him. Puzzled, Ranma asks, "Aren't you one of the guys with a grudge against me?" Hikaru replies, "Who, me?" He then shoves Ranma out the door, saying, "No. I'll just wait until the others are finished." The others turn out to be Principal Kuno, Mousse and Tatewaki, who proceed to beat up on Ranma, but also get in each others way preventing any overly serious blow from landing.
Just as they are about to all strike at once, they are all knocked away. By Ryoga. Ranma says, "What ... you're saving me for yourself?" Ryoga replies, "Don't insult me! I can't stand people who pick on the weak!" Ranma is quite upset on hearing this, and attacks Ryoga, uselessly.
Akane visits Doctor Tofu, whose office looks like a disaster, covered in books and scrolls. He tells her that there is a chance of a cure, a chart in a remote hiding place which shows the moxibustion to counter the ultimate weakness moxibustion.
Ukyo finds Ranma. She tells him that she'll take care of him, that all he'll have to do for the rest of his life is watch over their children. She points out that in his weak state, he can't be the heir of the Tendo dojo, so his engagement to Akane has no point, leaving only his engagement to herself. Ranma, upset, says the only thing on his mind is getting his strength back, that he doesn't care about the dojo. Naturally, at that precise moment Akane had walked in behind him.
Akane hits Ranma over the head, telling him that she came to tell him about a possible cure, but just see if she'll tell him now. Ranma proceeds to fawn all over Akane, massaging her shoulders, etc., while she repeats, "I'm not telling." Ukyo looks on in disbelief at his antics.
Ultimate Weakness Moxibustion - Chapter 1
16 year old martial artist Ranma Saotome is walking home from school eating a snack, when the ancient martial arts master Happosai goes leaping by, carrying a bag of girls' panties. He is being chased by a group of girls angry about having their panties stolen. Ranma distracts the old man by throwing the snack into his mouth, allowing the girls to catch him and beat him soundly.
Happosai shows up at the Tendo home at suppertime, looking the worse for wear. Ranma smirks and asks, "Still alive, huh, freak?" In revenge, Happosai attempts to strike Ranma with something from his pipe, which Ranma manages to dodge and grab, recognizing it as moxibustion (burning moxa). While distracted, Happosai hits Ranma in the back with a second dose. Ranma screams in pain at being burned, and Happosai leaves (forcefully).
The next morning on the way to school, Tatewaki Kuno attacks Ranma, who smiles, says "Morning!" and kicks Kuno in the face. Except Kuno is unaffected, saying, "Do you call that a kick? I barely felt it." Ranma, much puzzled, kicks Kuno in the face again, with no effect. He dodges a blow and punches furiously, over and over. Unfazed, Kuno knocks Ranma unconscious. Realizing that he has beaten Ranma at last, he embraces Akane and declares, "You are mine, Akane Tendo!" She then boots him over the horizon.
Confused and angry, Ranma tries to punch a hole in a nearby wall. Except he hits a kid on a tricycle by accident. Except the toddler is unharmed and pushes Ranma backward with a finger. Ranma and Akane visit Doctor Tofu Ono, who figures out what Happosai did to Ranma, describing to them the effects of the "ultimate weakness moxibustion." Doctor Tofu sadly tells them that no cure is known, that no one any longer knows the moxibustion which counters the ultimate weakness moxibustion. The conclusion is that Ranma will be weak for the rest of his life. Ranma runs off, choking.
In the meantime, Happosai is aerially distributing "Happy-Grams" announcing Ranma's weakness. In particular, these fall into the hands of Ranma's rivals: Tatewaki Kuno, his father Principal Kuno, the Chinese amazon Mousse, and Ryoga Hibiki.
A note about Principal Kuno.
For purposes of Moxibustion Violation, I am following a timeline created by M.Zephyr which supposes that the principal has not yet returned to Japan. So in MV, no one knows about him yet. Since Principal Kuno does not play any major role in the story arc in the manga, this inconsistency causes no particular problem.
Happosai shows up at the Tendo home at suppertime, looking the worse for wear. Ranma smirks and asks, "Still alive, huh, freak?" In revenge, Happosai attempts to strike Ranma with something from his pipe, which Ranma manages to dodge and grab, recognizing it as moxibustion (burning moxa). While distracted, Happosai hits Ranma in the back with a second dose. Ranma screams in pain at being burned, and Happosai leaves (forcefully).
The next morning on the way to school, Tatewaki Kuno attacks Ranma, who smiles, says "Morning!" and kicks Kuno in the face. Except Kuno is unaffected, saying, "Do you call that a kick? I barely felt it." Ranma, much puzzled, kicks Kuno in the face again, with no effect. He dodges a blow and punches furiously, over and over. Unfazed, Kuno knocks Ranma unconscious. Realizing that he has beaten Ranma at last, he embraces Akane and declares, "You are mine, Akane Tendo!" She then boots him over the horizon.
Confused and angry, Ranma tries to punch a hole in a nearby wall. Except he hits a kid on a tricycle by accident. Except the toddler is unharmed and pushes Ranma backward with a finger. Ranma and Akane visit Doctor Tofu Ono, who figures out what Happosai did to Ranma, describing to them the effects of the "ultimate weakness moxibustion." Doctor Tofu sadly tells them that no cure is known, that no one any longer knows the moxibustion which counters the ultimate weakness moxibustion. The conclusion is that Ranma will be weak for the rest of his life. Ranma runs off, choking.
In the meantime, Happosai is aerially distributing "Happy-Grams" announcing Ranma's weakness. In particular, these fall into the hands of Ranma's rivals: Tatewaki Kuno, his father Principal Kuno, the Chinese amazon Mousse, and Ryoga Hibiki.
A note about Principal Kuno.
For purposes of Moxibustion Violation, I am following a timeline created by M.Zephyr which supposes that the principal has not yet returned to Japan. So in MV, no one knows about him yet. Since Principal Kuno does not play any major role in the story arc in the manga, this inconsistency causes no particular problem.
Ultimate Weakness Moxibustion - Preliminary
A commenter brought to my attention that while it is probable that most readers of my story Moxibustion Violation have previously read the manga series Ranma 1/2, this is not necessarily true of all readers. Those who haven't would therefore be unfamiliar with the ultimate weakness moxibustion story arc from the series, which would hamper their understanding of the set up of my story. Therefore, I propose to provide a summary here of that particular storyline from the manga.
This particular arc consists of twelve chapters (which I will list here as simply chapters 1–12). In the English translation published by VIZ, these start with chapter 6 in volume 11 and conclude with chapter 6 in volume 12. In the Japanese, or in translations based off of its numbering such as the Ranma project scanlations, the first chapter is chapter 1 of volume 13, and the conclusion is in chapter 1 of volume 14.
This particular arc consists of twelve chapters (which I will list here as simply chapters 1–12). In the English translation published by VIZ, these start with chapter 6 in volume 11 and conclude with chapter 6 in volume 12. In the Japanese, or in translations based off of its numbering such as the Ranma project scanlations, the first chapter is chapter 1 of volume 13, and the conclusion is in chapter 1 of volume 14.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
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