Spirit Detective 1/2

Disclaimer: If I owned Ranma ½ or YuYu Hakusho, I wouldn't be working on an original series between fanfics.

AN: Hello again, minions! This is the result of watching YuYu Hakusho Abridged, while working on my Ranma fanfics. Not much else to say, really.

Without further ado, enjoy!

Chapter 1: Not That Surprised

Ranma frowned at the sight before him. "It's not surprising." He mumbled. "It really isn't. After all, I knew I couldn't beat Saffron without giving it my all. I guess I just didn't really understand what that meant."

Ranma let his head fall, as he clenched his fist in frustration. After a moment, however, he relaxed with a sigh. "I guess it was worth it in the end, though. Saffron was defeated, and everyone else is fine." Ranma said in a resigned tone, a sad smile. "Ryoga was even able ta bring Akane back after the fight ended. I guess in the end…"

Ranma looked forward again as he finished. "…it was easily worth my own life." The sight before him would be impossible for one to witness while alive, unless magic was involved, and Ranma knew that in this case, magic had nothing to do with it.

Ranma Saotome was looking at his own body.

More specifically, he was looking at his former fiancée and rival, Akane Tendo and Ryoga Hibiki respectively, mourning over his body.

"Well, at least my death was worth something. Better than getting my neck broke by Akane's mallet, or getting hit by a car." Ranma said, trying to look on the bright side. He'd already figured out that no one could see or hear him, so he figured he may as well speak to himself.

However, this proved to be false, as he heard an unfamiliar voice come from behind him. "So you died content, then? And here I thought you might want a second chance at life."

Spinning around, Ranma looked for the person who addressed him. They were not hard to find, as they turned out to be a young woman with light blue hair, who was sitting on a floating oar a few feet away. Unable to think of anything else to say, Ranma simply asked, "Who the Hell are you?"

"I'm Botan, and I'm the Oarsman of the River Styx, or the Shinigami, if you prefer." The girl said with a friendly smile.

Ranma just stared at her for a second before bursting into laughter. Before Botan had a chance to get too indignant, Ranma said, "Man, it figures the Shinigami would look like an Amazon!"

Botan blinked in confusion, before remembering what she had learned about Ranma's life before coming here. In annoyance, she said, "So are you just going to stand there laughing, or do you want to go get your body back?"

"Go?" Ranma asked. "Go where? My body's right over there." Ranma gestured to his corpse as he said that.

Botan retorted, "Yes, but first we have to go to Spirit World to see Lord Koenma. You see, you must pass an ordeal, before you can be restored to life."

Ranma sighed. "Of course there's a catch. Why would my afterlife be any simpler than my life was?" Ranma smirked before continuing. "Doesn't make any difference, though. I'm gonna pass this trial, and get my life back before ya know it!" Suddenly, his confidence slipped slightly, as he asked. "Uh, so how exactly do we get ta this Spirit World?"

"Just grab on to my oar." Botan said, floating closer and turning so he could grab the end of the paddle more easily.

"Like that?" Ranma said, as he grabbed onto it, happy at simply not passing through it like he had everything since dying.

"Yup. Now hold on tight!" Botan cried as she took off at max speed.

"What the Hell!? You could have at least given me a warning!" Ranma complained after they landed in Spirit World.

"Oh come now, it's not like you fell off, or anything." Botan said, before walking up to the giant gate they had landed on front of. Knocking on it, she called out. "Botan here! I've got a new arrival!"

Slowly, the gate slid open to reveal an ominous tunnel beyond. "Well, this certainly gives off a 'path ta Hell' vibe. I'm not gonna have ta make some deal with the Devil, am I?" Ranma asked.

"Of course not," Botan said. "The person we're going to see is about as far from a Devil as you can get."

'I wonder what she means by that,' Ranma thought, as they approached a large door.

Pressing an intercom button on the wall, Botan said, "Please let him know I've brought Saotome."

"Understood." Came a voice out of the attached speaker, as the doors started to open.

"What!?" Ranma cried in shock at the sight revealed. He was not sure what he was expecting, but a busy office full of Oni employees was definitely not it. He relaxed a little, though, when he realized none of them were giving off the same malevolent feeling the last Oni he dealt with did.

Ignoring his outburst, Botan calmly led him through the bustle to yet another door. After they walked through, Botan bowed and said in a respectful tone, "Sir, I've brought you the boy you requested to see."

Looking around, Ranma couldn't see anybody there, though. "So, where is this guy?" He asked.

"I'm right here." Came a new voice. "Look down." Ranma did exactly that, and was momentarily dumbfounded by what he saw. "Yes, there you go." The figure said.

The person addressing Ranma wore a blue outfit, with tan pants and a red sash around his waist. On top of his head was an ornate hat with 'Jr' on the front edge. This would not have struck Ranma as even slightly odd, after his life in Nerima, if not for the fact that they looked like a toddler, complete with a pacifier in their mouth. Turning to Botan, Ranma asked, "Alright, is this a joke, or is this really the guy you brought me ta see?"

Botan was pleasantly surprised by the question, as most people's first reaction to Lord Koenma was less polite. "Yes, this is Lord Koenma."

Ranma shrugged. "Makes as much sense as any of this, I suppose. If the Shinigami looks like a teenage girl, why wouldn't the ruler of existence look like a brat?"

"Ranma! Show more respect to Lord Koenma!" Botan chided him.

"To be fair," Koenma said, as he walked over to his desk and sat down, "it is actually my father, King Yama, who rules. I merely watch over things when he is away. That said, despite my appearance, I have been around more than fifty times longer than you have, so watch your mouth when you speak to me."

Ranma and Botan walked up to the desk, and Botan said, "This is Ranma Saotome, and he is honored to meet you."

"Hey! I can speak for myself, y'know!" Ranma said in annoyance.

"Well then, don't just stand there. Tell him how honored you are!" Botan snapped back.

"Hey, if you're expecting me ta bow, then forget it. Ranma Saotome don't bow ta nobody!" Ranma said stubbornly. Turning back to Koenma, he said, "Sorry, but most of my 'elders' haven't really been deserving respect, so you'll have ta earn it in my eyes."

"How dare you speak to Lord Koenma like that?" Botan yelled, appalled at his behavior.

"Now, now, Botan," Koenma said in a much more calm tone. "You saw his file, so he does bring up a valid point about those around him. Now, let's skip to the business, shall we?" Koenma hopped onto his desk to get closer to eye level with Ranma. Pulling something out of his pocket, he went on. "Ranma Saotome, I present to you, your ordeal!"

Koenma opened his hand to reveal a golden egg. "My ordeal is a golden egg?" Ranma asked in confusion. Remembering the last golden egg he had seen, he asked. "This isn't a phoenix egg is it? 'Cause I've had enough of them ta last several lifetimes."

"Your ordeal is what's inside the egg," Koenma responded, "and it is unlikely to be a phoenix as you know them. You must hatch this egg, and face what comes out."

"Hatch it, huh? So, do I just sit on it, or what?" Ranma asked.

"I would advise against that. You only have to keep it with you." Koenma explained. "This is a spirit beast, and it feeds off the energy of your soul."

"'Energy of my soul'? Is that like Ki? 'Cause I haven't been able ta feel my Ki since I died." Ranma said in a worried tone, thinking, 'It would really suck for this 'ordeal' ta end before it began.'

"No, no, don't worry." Koenma said, as if reading his thoughts. "What you refer to as Ki is the energy of the body. The energy of the soul is a separate energy, although they are similar in some ways. Some humans have even come to referring to this energy as Reiki or Chi."

Clearing his throat, Koenma went on. "Now, back to the ordeal. This will be a true and constant test of your character. The things you do and feel will change the monster inside… for better, or for worse. If, as expected from your file, the energy you admit is good and true, then so will be the spirit beast. It will take care of you, and guide you back into your living body. However, if your spirit is wicked and cruel, then the beast that hatches will be the same way. It will devour you, and you will be lost forever. This, as you might imagine, is a very painful experience. Of course, if it sounds too risky, you can opt out and remain a ghost. The choice, Ranma Saotome, is yours."

Without even a sign of hesitation, Ranma reached out and took the egg. With a grin, he said, "Ranma Saotome never backs down from a challenge, and never loses. Just you watch! This'll be the best spirit beast ever!"

"Hmph, I doubt that," Koenma retorted. "That said, while you are no saint, I have faith you will pass this trial. The way you died is proof of that."

As the pair left the room, Koenma remembered what Botan had told him.

Koenma's flashback.

"What about this person Lord Koenma?" Botan asked, bringing an image of a busty redhead eating at a breakneck pace. "They've already dealt with several troublesome spirits and demons, and even now is on a trip to face a Phoenix. However, they are unlikely to survive this battle."

"Really? Alright, sounds good to me. What's her name, anyway?"

"Their name is Ranma Saotome, Sir, and 'she' is actually a man."

"...WHAT!?"

AN: And there you go. Let me know what you think, and if you want more. I have had quite a few ideas for this…

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!