Volume Four


Today we are introduced to Gosunkugi , another suitor for Akane . He's a bit of a creepy loner guy, and predictably he has some hatred Ranma .

While Gosunkugi is trying to voodoo up a Ranma doll, Upperclassman Kuno , another Akane suitor, loses another duel to Ranma. Gosunkugi and Kuno decide to team up and find Ranma's weak spot in order to defeat him. Kuno even makes a bet with Ranma, saying that if he finds Ranma's weak spot, Ranma will set him up on a date with the pig-tailed girl (female Ranma).

After some hijinks, Ranma's secret is discovered! It turns out he has a phobia of cats ever since his father stupidly tied some fish to him and threw him in a pit of angry cats. Repeatedly. Gosunkigi uses this opportunity to gather a bunch of cats, including a tiger, in order to scare Ranma.

However, when his fear reaches peak levels, Ranma goes crazy and enters a mode where he becomes a cat himself. Not physically, but he acts like one. His father tries to calm him down, but the only one who can successfully snap him out of his new cat mode is Akane. But not before he plants a kiss on her. Unfortunately, he forgets it ever happened, something that upsets Akane deeply seeing as how it was their first kiss.

Sadly that is only the beginning of their couple troubles as Shampoo returns from China with some new developments. First, she and her great-grandmother Cologne have moved to Japan and opened a ramen restaurant. Secondly, Cologne and Shampoo are still hellbent on Ranma marrying Shampoo, and third, while training with her great-grandmother, Shampoo fell in to one of the accursed drowned springs. She now turns in to a cat .

In case the relationship web wasn't getting complicated enough, another "friend" arrives from China. A man named Mousse who is madly in love with Shampoo but was unable to best her in battle in order to earn her hand in marriage. Mousse has incredibly poor vision when his glasses are off and is known as the hidden weapon master. It doesn't take long for him to challenge Ranma to a duel. Because Cologne still refuses to give Shampoo to Mousse, Mousse instead says that if he wins, he will still Akane from Ranma.

It still isn't smooth sailing though because Cologne activated a pressure point on Ranma, making him incredibly sensitive to heat. Because of this, Ranma is stuck in his female form and his new height disadvantage gives him a harder time against Mousse. This is also where most of the school learns that Ranma is both the girl and boy version, although most just think he's an absurdly talented cross dresser. Dr. Tofu ends up saving the day when he activates yet another pressure point allowing Ranma to change back. Unfortunately it was a one time deal and Ranma is once again stuck in female form.

Cologne agrees to change Ranma back if he marries Shampoo or if he can snatch the Phoenix Pill from her to undo what she did. Being a master martial artist though, Cologne doesn't make getting the pill so easy. After getting a job as a waitress at the Cat Cafe (Cologne and Shampoo's restaurant) in order to try and find an opening and fighting her at the fair, things finally come to a head when Cologne declares the Martial Arts Melon-Spliting contest at the beach.

The contest is basically trying to split your opponents watermelon while retaining your own intact. First to cross the finish line wins Shampoo, who happens to be carrying to Phoenix Pill. After tying for a win, Ranma and Cologne face off again, this time with Ranma seemingly taking her down. Ranma then proposes that if he wins against her, she'll give him the pill. Cologne agrees, as long as he marries Shampoo should he lose. After Ranma agrees, Cologne suddenly gets her strength back and thus a water battle begins. Involving a shark.

So this is actually one of my favourite volumes. The humour is on point, the pacing is good, and the whole things is just a joy to read. Highly recommend this volume!