Tendo Family Christmas Scramble



Tendo Family Scramble (Tendō-ke Scramble Christmas, 天道家すくらんぶるクリスマス) is the second episode in the Ranma ½ OVA series.

Kasumi has a dream that Santa Claus asks her to hold a Christmas party at the Tendo Dojo. Practically everyone from the series is invited and chaos ensues.

Introduction
In a snow covered wilderness a sleigh being pulled by several reindeer passes a young woman. The woman turns out to be Kasumi in her nightgown who looks back at the tracks laid down by the sleigh and notices a present has been dropped. Hoping to return it, Kasumi picks up the present, but reads that it is for her. As she wonders hat could be in it the present begins to glow...

Some light through the curtains of Kasumi's room passes as Kasumi wakes up from her dream. She then looks at her calendar and notices that its the 25th of December, this makes Kasumi happy as that means its "Santa Day".

Elsewhere in the Dojo
Akane has just finished making her present, a hand-knitted yellow scarf, however, due to Akane's lack of household skills the scarf is very badly made and has lots of large holes in it along with a general tatty appearance. Akane notes that it may not look like much, but its the thought that counts.

Getting off her bed, Akane bends down and puts the gift into a bag. She then looks over at a picture on her wall, of everyone who was in Nihao, My Concubine and notes that you can hardly see her in there. Yawning, Akane decides she'd better get some more sleep and falls on to her bed again.

Meanwhile, in Nabiki's room, Nabiki is talking to Ranma. Ranma asks Nabiki if she'll really lend him the money and won't stomp on him with the interest like last time. Nabiki replies that she wouldn't do a thing like that and their practically family already so if there's anything he needs all he need to do is ask. Nabiki then proceeds to hand Ranma a ¥5,000 bill, which Ranma gladly takes.

After thanking Nabiki, Ranma tells her to keep this between them, to which Nabiki notes why would she tell Akane that Ranma borrowed money from her to pay for her (Akane's) gift. Ranma then says that it's a deal then and leaves, while Nabiki reminds him to come see her any time he needs help.

Downstairs
Akane, Ranma and everyone else in the Dojo are downstairs having their breakfast. Akane suddenly begins to talk to Ranma about what day it is, but before she can finish Soun and Genma come up behind them and say its fine with them for the two of them to go out. However, this backfires and Akane and Ranma both decide to stay in instead.

Kasumi then says that its all for the best as she was told to have a Christmas party. Slightly confused, Nabiki asks Kasumi who told her, to which Kasumi replies that Santa Claus did. This confuses Ranma and co. more, so-much-so that they unquestionably agree to hand out the invitations Kasumi has made.

The Guests Begin to Arrive
Somewhere in Furinkan, Ryoga is doing his usual wanderings, only this time holding a gift and reading his invitation. Once he finished reading, Ryoga looks up and sees he's arrived and decides that it must be love guiding him onward. Suddenly, Ryoga gets squashed by a large gift, which has been brought by Kuno and Sasuke (with Sasuke being the one carrying it of course).

Sasuke turns to Kuno and asks him if his gift isn't a bit too extravagant for a Christmas party. Kuno explains that love looks not with the eyes but with the mind, so the gift need but reflect the size of his heart. Unimpressed, Sasuke mutters that he wishes his master would turn himself to lending him a hand. Kuno hears this and asks Sasuke what did just say, this sends a shiver down Sasuke's spine who tells Kuno was just wondering if there'll be a band.

A black Rose petal then floats past Sasuke's face along with the unmistakable laugh of Kodachi Kuno. Kodachi tells Kuno there isn't a stocking big enough for his gift, which causes a negative reaction from Kuno. Shampoo then appears and runs over Kuno with her bicycle, to Sasuke's dismay. Ukyo at that moment walks up and asks what's going on.

After the three females exchange anger to each other about not being the only one invited, Mousse runs up to them and asks Shampoo how she could go without him. Unfortunately for Mousse, his glasses are on his forehead, so he misses the group completely and runs straight into a wall.

Inside the Dojo Again
Akane's room has been designated as the male waiting area, where Nabiki exits and says that they're still setting up so they should wait in here. Kuno and Sasuke are in slight awe at being in the sacred ground of Akane's room. Sasuke notices Akane's picture on the wall and tells Kuno he's in it, at first Kuno thinks it has only him in it, but Sasuke explains that he can barely be made out. Kuno thereupon thinks about putting his autograph, but Ryoga pokes the marker out of Kuno's hand, noting he won't allow him to deface Akane's room.

Kuno asks Ryoga who he thinks he is to challenge himself, and the two begin to fight each other. Mousse tries to break up the fight, but gets insulted and pushed to the floor by Ryoga. Ryoga and Kuno continue to fight when an angered Mousse interjects and all three of them fly through the window and into the Koi pond.

Ranma happens to be walking by, carrying a box of decorations, just as the three go out of the window. As Ranma calls the three of them idiots, Sasuke calls down to Kuno to ask him if he's ok. However, Kuno is face-down and unconscious in the pond, while Mousse and Ryoga have turned into their respective cursed forms.

Trivia

 * This episode easily has the largest cast of characters of any Ranma ½ episode. **This is increased if the characters who appeared in Akane's photograph are included.
 * Kasumi's calendar notes that December 25th, and by extension the events of this episode, is a Saturday.
 * Coincidentally (although the chances of it being purposeful are equally likely) the year this episode originally aired (1993) December 25th was also on a Saturday.