Run Away with Me, Ranma

Boku to Kakeochi Shite kudasai (ボクと駆け落ちして下さい) is the 8th episode in the seventh season, Ranma Forever, of Ranma ½ and is the 144th episode overall.

Relation to the Previous Episode
None.

Ranma's Nightmares
At a local hospital in the dead of night, a young man watches his Grandfather lying in bed when he suddenly says the name "Gyoko" before a bright light shines through the window of the room.

Meanwhile, at the Tendo Dojo, Ranma awakes in shock after experiencing a terrifying dream. No sooner does Ranma comment to himself about how he'll never get any sleep if he keeps having this dream, Genma awakes and subsequently hits his son over the head for making so much noise whilst he's trying to sleep.

By the next morning an extremely sleep-deprived Ranma slowly makes his way to school with Akane in tow when she begins asking him what's wrong. Akane continues by asking Ranma if he got enough sleep last night, to which Ranma attempts to reply, but just ends up yawning.

After seeing Ranma struggling to stay awake during the day's classes, Akane decides she'll ask him what's wrong once school finishes. That afternoon, Akane heads off with Ranma to a local café, where Ranma transforms into her female form so as she can enjoy the café's without fear of embarrassment. Shortly after the pair sit down, Ranma starts to nod off again but barely succeeds in staying awake.

With Ranma continuing to lazily eat her parfait, Akane questions her about why she doesn't just sleep if she's so sleepy, especially since she usually sleeps through Japanese history class whilst today she appeared to do her best to stay awake. At that moment Akane hears what she's positive is the click of a camera, although Ranma is too concerned with her depleting parfait to notice.

Meeting Harumaki
Once night falls across Furinkan again, Ranma tries his best to stay vigilant but soon succumbs to his lack of sleep and collapses onto his bed. As he sleeps Ranma begins having the same dream once again, where his female form, under the name of "Gyoko", finds herself amongst Cherry blossoms. The dream continues with a young man named "Harumaki" appearing before her and commenting about how they promised to kiss each other if the cherry blossoms are still in bloom upon his return. Unfortunately, just as the pair kiss, Harumaki turns into an old man, scaring Ranma awake once more.

Three days pass and Ranma informs Akane about how he's had the same dream each night. Curious, Akane asks what sort of dream Ranma's having, but Ranma refuses to describe it. With just the thought of the dream sickening him, Ranma tries to run off but trips and lands in the Koi pond.

Just then a young man appears on the wall of the Dojo's garden and asks the now female Ranma if she keeps having a dream about the man in the photo he's holding. Ranma gets a better look at the photo and soon realises that the man pictured is the same one she keeps dreaming about. Overjoyed at finding who he's been searching for, the young man embraces Ranma and tells her to come with him for a date. Ranma responds by punching the man into the ground before asking why she should date a total stranger like him, however, the man informs Ranma that he isn't the one she'll be dating...

Upon arriving at the hospital where the man Ranma's been dreaming about, Ranma is introduced to the Harumaki's wife and doctor. Moments after the doctor explains that the next few days will be crucial to his development, a bright light projects out of the sleeping Harumaki's mouth from where his spirit materialises. Whilst Harumaki's spirit begins harassing Ranma, the doctor explains that Harumaki is currently "soul travelling" where the person's spirit leaves the body and acts independently.

Despite now knowing why Harumaki's spirit is floating around, Ranma still wishes to learn more which leads to Harumaki's grandson handing over his grandfather's diary. Ranma then opens the diary and notices that the spirit has been following her given her resemblance to his wife during her youth.

After getting the persistent spirit to stop taking pictures of her, Ranma reads on that Harumaki wishes to date her before he passes on. At this moment Ranma finds herself under pressure from Harumaki's family and his own floating spirit to agree to his wishes, leaving Ranma with little choice but to accept the offer.