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: Here we go, minions! I give you the second chapter of my newest crossover! I was hesitant to continue this after seeing the sparse review count, rather than continue to work on a more popular story like Matchmaking. However, after checking the story stats, and seeing that in less than three days, over three HUNDRED people had read the first chapter, I decided that deserved at least a couple more chapters.
Without further ado, enjoy!
Chapter 2: A Minor Complication
Ranma stared at the egg in his hand. "So, I know I accepted this ordeal, but what am I supposed ta do exactly?" Ranma wondered. "Just sit around thinking good thoughts?"
"Well, positive thoughts are a start, but you should keep an eye out for any good deeds you can do, as well." Botan replied as they flew through the air.
"Good deeds?" Ranma said in confusion. "How am I supposed ta do good deeds when I can't touch anything or talk ta anyone?"
"Well, that's not entirely true. There are still ways you can interact with the living." Botan explained. "For example, people are closer to the spirit realm while asleep, so you can communicate with them through their dreams, if you need to." Botan frowned before going on. "However, there is something else we need to address before focusing on your ordeal. Lord Koenma will keep your body from decaying, but that will do little good if it is cremated or buried before you can return to it."
"Aw crap, that's right! I have no idea what they plan ta do with my body!" Ranma cried, as panic began to set in.
"Don't worry just yet, Ranma." Botan said reassuringly. "They took your body to the Amazon's village, and we're just about there."
Looking ahead, Ranma saw the familiar village walls against the sunset. Breathing a sigh of relief, he said, "Well, here's hoping they don't do anything before going ta sleep. Then, I can tell one of them not ta do anything at all."
Swooping down into the village, Ranma asked, "Now where Pop? He's the only one I really gotta worry about rushing things."
"Why don't we start over there?" Botan said, as she pointed to the largest building, where lights could be seen coming from the windows against the encroaching twilight.
"Works for me," Ranma said, as they flew over and went inside.
"-allow us to honor Ranma as a hero of the village." Cologne was saying as they phased through the wall.
"Wait, when did Cologne come ta China?" Ranma wondered aloud. "More importantly, what's going on here?"
In the middle of the room laid Ranma's body, still in the clothes he died in. On one side sat Genma, Akane, and Ryoga, and on the other side sat Cologne and two others he assumed were also elders of the village, with Shampoo and Mousse sitting behind them.
"We would hold a ceremony, and cremate the body before the entire village." Cologne went on, answering Ranma's second question.
"Hmm, I'm not sure his mother would be happy about having to come all the way to China…" Genma replied.
"Of course, we would cover all the associated preparations and expenses." Cologne went to with a knowing smirk.
"…but then again, I'm sure Ranma wouldn't want to deny your village their chance to pay their respects." Genma said with a nod, ignoring the glares from Akane and Ryoga.
"Dammit, Pop!" Ranma cried, "I gotta put a stop ta this, but how?"
"Oh dear," Botan said worriedly. "Surely they won't do anything tonight, though. You can just let your father know not to do this in a dream, and… Ranma, are you listening?"
Ranma was not listening, too busy trying to come up with a way to stop his father right away. 'They can't hear or see me, and if I try ta touch someone, I'll just pass right through them. Dammit, if I at least still had my Ki, I could fire off a Moko Takabisha. There's no way they'd miss that!' Ranma thought. 'But I don't have any energy at- Wait!' Suddenly, Ranma remembered something Koenma had said.
"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."
'If this spirit energy is close enough ta Ki, maybe I can so something after all.' Ranma thought. Focusing his mind, Ranma searched inside for any sign of this new energy. After a moment, he felt something, though it was decidedly weaker than his Ki had been. 'I guess I don't have much of it yet, but that's what training's for. Still, I may not have enough for a proper attack, but I can probably do something.'
Looking around the room, Ranma saw that it was lit up by lanterns on the walls, as well as a candle on either side of his body. Seeing the latter, he thought, 'Perfect! Now I just have to wait for the right moment.' Getting ready, Ranma aimed his hands at the candles, and pushed as much spirit energy into them as he could.
"So then, will you agree to our proposal, Saotome?" Cologne asked, unaware of the spirit's actions.
Ranma smirked as he forced the energy out of his hands towards the candles.
"Ranma, what are y-" Botan broke off with a gasp, as she saw an unfocused wave of spirit energy flow out of Ranma's hands, and extinguish the candles. 'How did he do that?' she thought, 'His file said he had no training in spirit energy. He must have either unusually large reserves, or a high spirit awareness.'
As the living occupants of the room looked at the candles in surprise, one of them spoke up. "What was that?" Mousse asked. "It felt weird."
"Oh? You felt it too, boy?" Asked the Elder to Cologne's left, before saying, "There is a spirit present, and it was their doing. It may even be the boy we were speaking about."
"What? You mean Ranma's here right now?" Akane asked, looking around the room.
"Is that true, So Pa?" Cologne asked the Elder that spoke up.
"As I said, it may be him. Even I can't say for certain if it is him, having never met him while he was alive, but there is most definitely a spirit present." The more spiritually attuned Elder responded.
"Ranma, that boy in the back was one of your friends while you were alive, right?" Botan asked while the others spoke.
"Well, I wouldn't exactly call Mousse a friend, but yeah I knew him. Why do ya ask?" Ranma responded.
"Well, another way you can communicate with the living is by using the body of someone who was close to you who is also spiritually sensitive. Judging by his comment just know, he seems to have at least some sensitivity." Botan explain.
"Really? Well then, let's give this a try." Ranma said, before floating over to the Chinese teen. Ranma hesitated for a moment, before pushing himself into Mousse's body.
"Mousse okay?" Shampoo asked the boy beside her, when he suddenly let out a surprised gasp.
Standing up to get everyone's attention, 'Mousse' said, "Sorry folks, but Duck Boy ain't here at the moment."
This got confused looks from most of those in the room. The Elder Cologne had called So Pa spoke up calmly, though. "I take it we are speaking to the spirit that recently entered the room, then?"
"Yeah, that's right," Ranma said through Mousse's mouth. "I'm just borrowing Mousse's body ta tell ya not ta burn my body."
"Is that really you Ranma?" Genma asked in surprise.
"Yeah, I had ta stop ya because-" Ranma paused as an idea came to him. 'Wait, if I tell them I'm coming back now, then it'll just be worse if something goes wrong. If I just delay them, then I can get the Amazons ta stay here in China, too! I'm so clever.' Ranma thought, completely overlooking the flaws in his plan. Out loud, he said. "Because I was born in Japan, so I want ta be buried there, too."
"I see, so that is why you felt the need to linger." Cologne said. "Well, if that is what you need to rest in peace, I'm sure everyone will understand. We will respect your wishes, Ranma, and I believe I speak on behalf of the whole village when I say you have our thanks for your sacrifice." Cologne bowed her head as she said those last words, her action echoed by the other Amazons in the room.
"Um, thanks," Ranma said in embarrassment, feeling a bit guilty about misleading her after that. "Anyway, ya got my message, so I guess I should let Mousse have his body back."
"Ranma, do you really have to leave already?" Akane asked in a sad tone.
Ranma looked at her in silence for a moment, before shaking his head. "Ya know this ain't my body. I can't stay." He looked around the room before saying, "Well, I gotta go. Goodbye, everyone."
With that, Ranma floated out of Mousse's body, leaving the bewildered teen to ask the others what had just happened.
"Why did you tell them that, Ranma?" Botan asked as he floated free. "Don't you realize that if they bury you, you'll just reenter your body underground and suffocate!?"
"Relax, Botan." Ranma said with a smirk. "I just gotta get this ordeal over with before then, and it'll be fine."
"Fine!? Don't be so arrogant!" Botan scolded. "Ordeals like this can take weeks to finish!"
"Weeks!" Ranma said in surprise. Calming down he went on, "Well, if I haven't finished by the time we get ta Japan, I'll just use the dream thing ya mentioned earlier ta tell them not ta bury me. There's nothing ta worry about."
"Let's hope you're right…" Botan said worriedly. "Well, it appears they're heading to bed for the night. Now that the immediate crisis is out of the way, we can start focusing on your ordeal tomorrow."
"Oh yeah, that's right," Ranma replied, having momentarily forgotten about the main reason he was there. "But what kind of good deeds can I do as a ghost?"
AN: That's all for now, but there is more to come. This chapter may not have been very long, but I already have the next chapter outlined, so it should not take too long.
For those of you waiting for more of Matchmaking (and Moneymaking), I have already started work on the next chapter of that as well, so it should be out soon after I post the next chapter of this fic.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
