Summary: Has nothing to do with a Phantom of the Opera rip off. Ranma/Rurouni Kenshin crossover- Akane, Ranma and Ryouga come across something that has been hidden somewhere on the Tendou's property, it just so happens these hidden objects belongs to their resident spirit who has been there and watching them all along without anyone knowing it.
Disclaimer: I wish it were mine but neither of them are. Oh well.
Sieg1308- I like Kenshin too! (Smiles) and well Kuno didn't really beat Ranma. Ranma just didn't know the rules so he got disqualified on a technicality.
Rayame325- Well his secret that they don't seem to realize will come into light because of Happosai, we can always count on him to ruin everything. Besides they all will see the secret eventually.
The Violent Tomboy- I will mention Kaoru quite a few times in this story, and people will even see her at least once.
DramaQueenABZ- Thanks for your review and I'm sorry I can not give anything away that might reveal plots like who loves who. What would be the point in reading it, right? (Smiles)
Little Girl in the Hat- If I told you who was going to be Akane's pair then what would be the point in reading the story, it could be anyone, even the villian that I am bringing into this story. You never really know. (Grins)
Sonic1- Kenshin can now talk to anyone at any time. As for taking under his wing, well I dont know about that. Ranma's pretty impressive on his own. But it doesnt mean I wont have him try to get Kenshin to teach him his moves.
Thank you all so much for your reviews, I really do appreciate them so much. It makes me want to write faster and give you more story to read. so now onto the story! YAY!
Last time on Phantom of the Dojo:
Ranma came up from behind Akane wondering what everyone else was. He scratched the back of his head, "Hey, Akane, who's that?"
She shrugged, "I have no idea." He did seem a little familiar though.
"How dare you say those things sir," Kuno took his stance extending his boken forward while holding it firmly in his hands. "Defend yourself." He saw the man squat down slightly, his hand hovering over the hilt of a katana. It was a real one! But Kuno was quick there was no way he would get struck with that weapon. He wasn't captain of the Kendo team for nothing now. "Have at you!" Kuno shouted what he thought was a war cry and raced forward.
Akane gasped and Ranma stood there wide eyed, it was so quick no one even saw the red headed guy move. It was as if he had even disappeared, the next thing everyone knew was the red headed guy was across the stage, Kuno stood there his arms extended over his head. A second later he fell forward onto his face…
Phantom of the Dojo
Episode 4—
Possession- is Nine Tenths of the Law
"Yahooooo!" A little man in maroon floated in landing on the stage almost gracefully, his back was to Kenshin. Facing Ranma, Akane, Hiroshi and Daisuke, Happosai had this hopeful look in his eyes. "Am I too late to win Akane?"
Both Ranma and Akane made similar growl like noises, while glaring down at the little imp.
"What do you think you're doing here little pest?" Ranma went to kick at Happosai but the little man kept jumping up out of the way of Ranma's foot avoiding the connection every time.
"Why I'm here to win a date with Akane, why else?" Happosai's eyes filled with large hearts.
"Oh I don't know old man." Ranma eyed the sack on the back of the old man's back and reached for it, Happosai had no time to get away as he wasn't expecting this and Ranma grabbed it away. "Taking in the sights perhaps? Pervert." Ranma threw the sack of panties up into the air.
"M…My collection," Happosai cried watching his hard work sail far away. The anger was erupting into his little body and he whirled around, glaring hard. "Ranma, I've got a way of dealing with panty stealin' little punks like you."
"Oh yeah? Bring it on old man I dare ya!" Ranma extended his fists forward ready for action.
"I'll go steal me some new ones." The simple calm comment Happosai made, made Ranma practically fall over while the old man turned around and jumped into the crowd chasing after all the pretty young things.
Ranma wasn't going to stand for that, no way. The little pervert was not going to escape a sound thrashing. "Come back here you little freak!" Ranma jumped off the stage.
"Nah, nah, you'll never catch me Ranma." Happosai turned around giving Ranma the raspberry. He saw the pigtailed boy run after him and the old man laughed speeding up his chasing of women with Ranma hot on his tail. It was always more fun this way.
"That little person sure does have a lot of energy, that he does." Kenshin was smiling.
Akane groaned. "That's not the only thing that little creep's got." She was glaring after the little pervert. She supposed Ranma would eventually get into trouble. Happosai would change Ranma into a girl and go for a grope. It was all the same routine; she supposed that, to Happosai, it never got old. Taking a long, deep settling breath she turned her attention back to Kenshin. "So, do you live around here?"
"You could say that." He noticed that she was again staring at the marking on his face, Kenshin lifted his hand and while pressing his fingers against his mouth he cleared his throat. "May I speak honestly?"
Akane blinked, lifting her brown eyes to his violet. She shrugged with a nod of her head. "Yeah, I guess so."
Kenshin took a deep breath. The need to tell this girl the truth about him would not leave him alone. Perhaps it was the honest streak in him, after all Kaoru had accepted him even though his past was less desirable. Would this girl be just as understanding, if not even more? He would try a 'what if' approach. "What would you say if I told you that I have been watching you ever so closely since you were a small child up until now?"
Akane blinked, "Well I would say that you're some kinda freaky stalker, and that I gotta go. See ya." She turned around quickly and headed away from him. "That guy is nuts." She said out loud to herself.
Maybe he shouldn't have gone the 'what if' route, and what he said to her did make him seem like some kind of a stalker. Kenshin really needed to clear it up, so he chased after Akane. "That didn't come out right." He said to her while she seemed to pick up the pace.
"You better leave me alone," Akane said over her shoulder. "I need to find Ranma."
"Before something unfortunate happens and he ends up in girl form?" Kenshin said carefully, Akane stopped short and looked slowly over her shoulder, her eyes were wide.
Turning around completely ever so very carefully. "H—How did you know that?" She asked. Akane did not wait for him to say anything even though he was about to. Akane jumped back pointing at him. "I was right, you are a freaky stalker!" Her eyes narrowed. "Look here Mr. Nutbar I don't know what you're after but you better back off right now if you know what's good for you."
"I am not a stalker, that I am not," Kenshin said calmly. "It is something that it's a bit different than what you are saying that I am."
"Well whatever." Akane waved her hand, dismissing him. "I don't have time to mess around with people like you."
Kenshin took a deep breath. "I shall explain, it will only take but a moment." He saw her cock her head to the side, her eyes were narrowed slightly in suspicion, he supposed that she was not going to run away, yet. "Miss Akane, I am a spirit."
"Uh…right." This guy really is nuts! What was the matter with Nerima attracting the weirdoes? "Excuse me will ya, I think I hear the troll down the road calling me." She turned around with a roll of her eyes and started away from him once more.
Kenshin looked up to the sky, this was definitely going to take some effort. "Miss Akane it is the truth."
She was trying her hardest to ignore this guy, but he just wouldn't leave her alone. Why insist on something so silly, she could see plain and clear that he was not a spirit, he was a flesh and blood human being. "Please go away."
"I have been residing in your home long before your family moved there, you just have never seen me because I am a spirit." Kenshin started to say, he needed to say something that only she would know. "I even have the reverse bladed sword that you cleaned not too long ago Miss Akane." She stopped again and Kenshin almost crashed into her back, he avoided the collision just in time.
Unexpectedly, Akane whirled around; he was too close! She took a few steps backwards. "All right, I've had just about enough of this." She was breathing hard as anger radiated through her entire body. She watched as he pulled the blade from its sheath and held it towards her.
Akane couldn't help but glance down at the blade that caught the light from the sun and sparkled for a moment, well it sure looked like the sword that she rescued from the box. An uneasy feeling crept up her spine and into her hair. Reaching up she rubbed the back of her neck. "There's probably millions of these floating around."
"I don't think so, the man who made it died a very long time ago. This was the last blade he ever made. I do not think his skills were passed on, that I do not. For his son was a pacifist." Kenshin explained. He sighed lightly glancing at the blade. "It appears that if I hold this or so it is at least in contact with my body, I remain as flesh and blood. I will become a spirit once more if I release it." He held the hilt out to her for her to take. "Would you like me to prove that I am not a stalker, but indeed a spirit."
"Fine." She groaned still unconvinced. Reaching for the hilt and taking it in her hand Akane watched as she took the sword away from him, her eyes directed to the person in front of her. He started fading from her sight. Her eyes widened, and she took one step back, her right leg was still extended in front of her. Akane looked around wondering if anyone else was seeing this. No one else seemed to be paying attention, they were all just worrying about themselves. When she returned her gaze ahead of her, he was gone. He was either telling the truth or he just ran away. How would she be able to know the truth now though?
There was an odd pulling sensation as the Spirit tried to remain standing there, he quickly gripped the handle of the sword again. The pulling sensation ceased, he wondered if he was in spirit form if he would automatically be pulled back to the Tendou's residence. This was sure very confusing.
Akane practically jumped a foot in the air when she felt a strong tug on the sword, seeing Kenshin become visible again did not make her more comfortable. "Did you have to scare me like that!" She put her hand against her breasts trying to calm her fast beating heart.
Kenshin smiled. "I did not mean to frighten you Miss Akane, I was being summoned back to your residence, I had to quickly grab onto the sword so that I can become flesh and blood. It seems when I am like this with the sword, I may go where I please."
"Yo Akane," Ranma's voice said over the crowd interrupting the conversation.
Turning around Akane saw Ranma come jogging forward.
"Good thing I found ya, I was looking all over this place." All of a sudden Akane grabbed a hold of Ranma's shirt and tugged him forward, red staining his cheeks. "A—Akane what are you doing!" He panicked. No, certainly she wouldn't try anything in public! Would she?
"Shut up Ranma!" Akane tugged him closer. "That guy back there, the one that beat Kuno, he's a ghost! Or a Spirit or, or something!"
Ranma blinked. "Have you been in the sun too long?" He put his hand against her forehead checking for the sign of a fever. "You don't feel sick to me."
Reaching up Akane slapped his hand away. "Quiet you!" She released his shirt which made him stumble back a little. "Ranma I know it seems crazy, heck I didn't even believe it at first. But it's true, it's really true!"
Ranma looked over Akane's shoulder at Kenshin, he didn't look see through or ghostly or anything. What if the guy was lying, and if so just what was he after? "So, you're a ghost are you?" He tried not to sound suspicious.
"Well spirit is more accurate the word that it is," Kenshin smiled. "Since I can not really do anything supernatural except just stand around and watch. Until recently that is I found success with possession." He would leave out the little fact about possessing Akane's father, it wasn't for harmful reasons so there was really no harm in not speaking about it. "Living people did not even know that I was even there."
It sounded like an honest enough answer as Ranma looked into Kenshin's eyes; his senses weren't going off that anything was wrong with this guy when he spoke about spirit stuff. So perhaps he was telling the truth. "Well let's see then." Ranma surprised everyone, even Kenshin as Ranma's fist came flying at him and smashed hard into his face sending Kenshin to the ground.
"Ranma! What have you done!" Akane's hands were pressed against the sides of her face worried as she looked down on the fallen uh…spirit type guy?
Ranma was looking surprised at his fist and then down at Kenshin whose eyes were all swirly, the poor guy was making this groaning type noise. "Well Akane, you and he both said that he was a ghost, I kinda figured my fist would have gone right through him." Ranma sighed lowering his hand to his side. "So what are we gonna do with this guy now?"
Akane arched a brow…
Kenshin felt like he was floating on air, was he in spirit form again? Well he could feel the sun shining on his back, the smell of the air around him, so no he wasn't a spirit now. If he wasn't a spirit then what was this feeling? Kenshin then realized that someone was speaking.
"But why we gotta bring him home Akane?"
She groaned. "Cause he kinda lives there."
Opening his eyes he found himself being carried upon someone's back, he saw a pigtail a couple of inches from his nose and then he knew exactly where he was. "Uh…what is going on?"
Ranma looked over his shoulder, it was he that was carrying the strange guy that calls himself a spirit. "Hey sorry about earlier, ya know about knocking ya out?"
Oh so that's what had happened, Kenshin nodded thinking back. "Not to worry, Often in my past I got hit by a girl quite a bit, her name was Kaoru and she had a pretty good right hook there."
Looking up at Akane, Ranma cleared his throat. "So was she the tomboy type?" He heard Akane's growl next to him and he grinned.
Kenshin thought about it. "Well now that I remember, yes she was. She was an assistant kendo instructor and very good at it too, that she was." Kenshin closed his eyes, resting his cheek on Ranma's back, thinking. "She wasn't exactly the most feminine of women when I met her, and boy did she lose her temper quickly, especially with me. Her cooking skills were awful as well. Several times we'd end up with bad stomach aches after eating something of hers." He remembered back to when Yahiko would plead for some kind of stomach medicine.
Ranma cringed, that sounded a lot like what Akane does, he wondered if this guy ever argued with this Kaoru girl like he himself does with Akane? "Well, what happened to her, did she die from her own cooking?" Ranma asked with slight humor.
A smile crossed Kenshin's face. "I married her."
"Well this is it." Akane said pointing to the Tendou's gate, and they headed inside.
"So you're a spirit?" Nabiki asked holding a cookie between her index finger and her thumb.
Kenshin nodded with a smile, he was seated around the Tendou's table telling the whole family of his existence. "Yes I am, I have been dead for quite a long time, that I have."
"Oh my, isn't this exciting for you then." Kasumi said, holding a tray of lemonade out for him. "Would you like some lemonade?" She smiled brightly.
He never ate or drank anything while he was a spirit, there was really no need. Would he now need to resume all the human necessities or was he still dead but in a flesh and blood body. He internally groaned, that didn't even make sense in his own head. Kenshin smiled and reached for the glass, the ice cubes clinking together as he pulled the glass towards himself. He could feel the cool liquid while he held the cup in his hand.
Soun and Genma were clutching each other, afraid. When they heard the mention of spirit they jumped around like they had been sitting on fiery hot coals, running around and waving their arms around like loonies.
"Oh honestly, Dad." Akane rolled her eyes. "He's not a spirit right now."
"A…Akane, how can you bring a ghost home like this?" Soun whimpered, looking down at his daughter who was seated calmly on the floor.
Groaning, Akane covered her face with her hands. "Dad, we told you. He was here before we were."
"Yeah Pop, I don't see why you're makin' such a big deal over it. It ain't like he's dangerous or nuthin'. " Ranma commented lying back on the floor and putting his hands behind his head.
Akane smiled at Kenshin. "Oh don't you worry about them, they'll get used to you I guess."
"So what are you going to do now Mr. Ghost?" Kasumi asked politely.
Resting his hands in his lap, Kenshin lifted his amethyst eyes to Kasumi's. "My name is Kenshin, Miss Kasumi, so you don't have to call me Mr. Ghost." He looked over at Soun and Genma who were still acting a little odd. And they call themselves martial artists?
"Oh my, aren't you the polite one." She smiled sweetly, then taking a small sip from her own lemonade glass.
"I really don't know what I am going to do now, I suppose protect your family now that I am able to do more than just observe." Kenshin looked at all three of the Tendou daughters. The oldest was Kasumi who was more the mother figure than anything. Calm and loving and so understanding that sometimes she didn't make any sense. But Kenshin knew she was a lot wiser than people thought. There seemed to be a knowledge hidden in those eyes of hers. He took a quick glance at Nabiki, ever the gambler and she knew how to take advantage of situations making sure that she always had the upper hand, and a lover of money. But make one wrong move on her family and she'd beat you down and squish you like a tomato. Still out of all of them, Kenshin seemed to know Akane the best. Knew her moods, that she felt herself a great martial artist even though there were others out there more graceful than her. But she wasn't one to give up, not on anything. And whether she admitted it or not, she really does like Ranma, that's why she just doesn't let any of those other girls that come around take him away.
"Oh?" Soun suddenly stopped his terrified rant. "So you're not here to haunt us then?"
Genma sat down folding arms across his chest. "Yeah, Tendou thought that you were here to create trouble."
"Hold on now Saotome, you felt the same way."
"Now, now Tendou I think you are mistaken. I after all am not afraid of anything."
"Afraid, who was afraid? Certainly not me."
It was time to ignore their fathers.
"It was rather an interesting thing to see on the television you beating Kuno." Nabiki said to Kenshin taking the focus away from the dads. "He was doing exceptionally well today for an idiot."
Kenshin nodded once. "He does have some skill I will give him that much, but there is no way anyone can stand up to the techniques I use."
"Why is that?" Ranma asked, yawning.
"Well my desire to help others is what fuels my techniques with the power I need to defeat my opponent. It took my master many years to teach me, and I still did not achieve the level of master." Kenshin looked up at the ceiling for a moment. He will still always remain his master's idiot apprentice. And he smiled.
"But man, that speed has got to feel awesome. The way no one saw you even move it was as if you just appeared in your desired location." Ranma sat up, curling his legs to sit Indian style. "What I wouldn't give to feel what that was like."
Akane rolled her eyes. "You don't need any more speed Ranma, your ego doesn't need to inflate more than it already is."
Crossing his arms over his chest, Ranma looked away from her in a huff. "I can't help it if I want to be the best."
Kasumi interrupted everyone by getting to her feet. "I will go and start dinner now." She gathered the empty lemonade glasses onto the tray and carried them into the kitchen.
Stretching her arms up and getting all the knots out of her back, Nabiki stood. "I gotta take care of some things myself." She needed to get in contact with her group on all the money she won off of Kuno's tournament, she was now pleased that she bet that he wouldn't win.
"And I have that test to study for." Akane said. "Ranma you should study too." She rose to her feet
"Yeah, yeah." Ranma waved his hand in the air dismissing the suggestion. "I will get to it eventually."
"Ranma you won't pass the test unless you study."
"I'll do it later all right?"
Akane shook her head, how could he not want to do well. School was very important why couldn't he see that? The idiot. His careless attitude was really starting to get on her nerves. "Later never comes Ranma, fine don't pass the test. See if I care!" She turned on her heel and marched irritated towards the stairs that would lead to her room. "I don't know why I even bother with you in the first place!"
"Man, she is so uncute." Ranma said out loud to himself.
"She's just trying to help you, that she is." Kenshin said with a smile, and Ranma shrugged.
"I'll study later, I just don't feel like it right now." Ranma looked over at the sword. "So now that you are kinda well alive again, do you think you'll pass on your abilities?."
Kenshin shook his head. "No I will not, the Hiten Mitsurugi techniques will, I suppose die with me. Even though I already died. I will not pass on any of what I know that I will not." He spoke so very seriously.
"Don't you think that is kind of selfish?" Ranma couldn't believe what he was hearing, how could anyone with lightning speed and brilliant moves not want to share them with the world.
"It's not selfish, not at all." Was all Kenshin said. He could tell by the look on Ranma's face that he was itching to ask something and for some reason, Kenshin could already tell what it was. "You want to learn it, don't you?"
"Duh! Of course. Who wouldn't?" Ranma was always looking for ways to improve his skills and abilities. And what this spirit type guy knew could definitely improve his own self as well.
Kenshin thought about what he could do, he was not going to teach his techniques to anyone, he wouldn't even teach them to Yahiko or even his son Kenji who in turn ran away from home to become apprenticed to the very same master that he Kenshin had all those many years ago. An idea flashed into his mind, it just might work. "There might be a way that you could at least experience the feeling of it. But I haven't really used this, except for one time which worked with much success. This is something a little different."
"Well what is it?" Ranma was intrigued already.
Getting to his feet, Kenshin let a small smile cross his features. He signaled for Ranma to follow him with a slight nod of his head and the two of them started walking over towards the dojo away from the dads.
"I can try to possess you, but in a way that you would still have your own thoughts, and you would also be able to hear me as well, I will also be able to control your bodily movements."
Ranma crossed his arms over his red shirt clad chest. "You'd control my body, but isn't that like a normal spirit possession?"
"Not entirely, since a normal possession as you say, the spirit has complete control over mind as well as body and the host doesn't even know it happened."
Ah what heck, Ranma would go for it. Even if it was just for a little bit he would at least know what it was like. "Yeah, I wanna do it."
Kenshin knew he would agree. "All right then, I'll need you to hold this." He pulled his reverse bladed sword from its sheath and extended it towards Ranma.
Ranma's eyes focused on the blade. "Hey I've seen this before." He gripped the handle of the sword and witnessed as Kenshin's body disappeared from his sight. "Whoa man, I sure hope you know what you're doing."
The Spirit actually had no idea what he was doing, he was experiencing this for the very first time as well. Might as well get the experiment over with. Concentrating his mind to the fact to only possess body, the Spirit closed his eyes and took one step forward into Ranma's body.
The word to describe this feeling was just plain weird, Ranma could feel a strange sensation inside his mind. "So did it work?" He asked out loud.
"I am not sure." Kenshin's voice said.
"I can hear you." Ranma said with a smile upon his face, he was so glad that it sorta worked.
Kenshin's voice hummed. "Perhaps you better not talk out loud, that you shouldn't. It might look a little odd to your family. I think that if you just think, that might work."
Ranma shrugged, 'I guess I could try that.' He felt himself grip the katana hilt, wow he didn't do that at all! He just felt as if a strong force made his hand grip it. 'hey it's working,'
"All right let us try something." Kenshin's voice replied and Ranma's body seemed to disappear and end up on the other side of the yard.
Ranma's jaw was dropped open in amazement, that feeling it was like none ever felt before. He could feel the air whip around him in that split second that he moved across the yard. It was faster than anything he could do. He wanted to do it again! 'One more time!' he thought to Kenshin excitedly, Ranma then thought he heard Kenshin's laugh in his head.
Soon after, Kasumi's voice was heard announcing dinner.
"Well I guess that's enough for now.' Ranma thought to Kenshin, 'perhaps we can do this again?'
"Perhaps." Kenshin wouldn't mind letting Ranma do this again sometime.
'Okay you can remove your spirit from my body now.' Ranma thought to Kenshin, he stood there waiting, it seemed like a few long minutes before Kenshin's voice sounded a little nervous in Ranma's head.
"Uh…I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it appears that I am stuck."
Ranma's eyes widened. 'You're what?' He shouted in his mind, he could just picture Kenshin grimacing.
Kenshin tried again to evacuate the body. "It appears that I can not remove my spirit from your body."
He felt the prickling of nervous sweat appear on his brow as Ranma stood there, he was about to think something to Kenshin when Akane came from around the corner. "Oh boy…" Ranma said.
Well that's it for episode 4, I hope you all enjoyed it. Stay tuned for episode 5-The Overnight Guest Blues. It's sure to be exciting!
Ryoko Blue