AN: I was kind of hoping this one'd be longer but, oh well.

Chapter 9 – Bad Influence

Dib was practicing a type of stab that Phoenix had recently taught him, on a punching bag.

"One quick thust…" she egged him on. "Curve your hand with the blade… That's it."

He was using the real katana, therefore it remained in the foam bag.

"Now, try and pull it out."

The boy tugged at the hilt in vain. Once… twice… thrice. Nothing.

"Perfect," Phoenix moved forward and pulld the blade cleanly from the bag. "When you follow the blade's curve, the wound matches it precicely and it is nearly impossible to pull it free without opening the wound further1."

"Cool," Dib grins as Phoenix's communicator emits a series of beeps.

"Yeah, what?" she answers.

It's me, Membrane's voice replies. Simmons just suggested I have you on my show tomorrow night. Whaddoyou say? You wanna do an interview?

"'Kay," she states simply. "What time?"

Erm… nine thirty?

"Alright. But…"

But what?

"Mysterious Mysteries starts at nine…"

Oh, you crazy bitch… he muttered.

"I heard that!" she laughed.

Can't you tape it?

"Okay, fine. I was gonna watch it with Dib, though."

Speaking of which, where are you two?

"In my training r–" Phoenix covered her own mouth a little too late. Shitshitshit! She mouthed to Dib as Membrane scolded her.

Training room!? You better not be teaching that boy anything dangerous…

Tell him I found it on my own, Dib whispered. Say I was just curious or something.

"He, uh… found it on his own," she repeated into the receiver. "Simple curiosity, that's all." She winked and gave Dib a thumbs up.

Your're a bad influince, you know that? I can see it now: you two running around chasing ghosts… swinging your swords…

He thinks I don't do that already? Dib muttered sarcastically.

Phoenix supressed a giggle. "Oh no, don't start…"

When there's something strange… Membrane begins to sing mockingly.

"Don't even think about it!"

…In your neighbourhood…

"Quit it…"

Who you gonna call?

"Oh gawd, here it comes…"

Ghostbusters!

"Hey! Don't knock it til you've felt the pure adrenaline running through your veins as a malevolent spirit breaths down your neck. Come to think of it, isn't that why you fell for me in the first place? You wanted a taste of it… Don't deny it."

Shut up, the Professor answered, cutting the transmission.

Phoenix and Dib shared a glance and burst into laughter. When they caught their breath, Phoenix placed a hand on Dib's shoulder. "C'mon, we should probably finish up anyway. Gaz'll be ome soon, she'll be wondering where we are."

AN: Oh dear gawd that was fun to write!

1 I'll admit I don't know much about fencing or whatever so I don't really know if this is true.