Spirit Hunter

Chapter Six

The Devils in the Details.

Revised 23-27nd July 2006

Revised 9th September 2006 by Hiryo

Author Note:

This chapter has been pre-read and spiffed up by Hiryo, thank you very much Hiryo.

Disclaimer:

I do not own Ranma 1/2 that great honor belongs to the artist and author Rumiko Takahashi. On the other hand, if you recognize anything it's a good chance I don't own that either.

Enjoy!

A heavy silence hung over the nightclub. At night, the lights and music filled the room like a physical being. However, in the late morning on a Sunday, it had the air of dusty degradation.

The cleaners and bar staff would not turn up until 3:00 pm to fix the place up for the nights business. So the only sound in the bar was a steady drip of a leaky tap.

What had seemed to be dark and exciting under the false spotlights of night now showed a faded black setting. Those that partied well into the early morning had crashed hours ago and no one was there to break the thick silence.

Above the empty stage, the large glass window that allowed the manager a clear view over the dance floor and tables was covered with a thick red velvet curtain.

Inside of the room with that large glass window the only light was a little souvenir lamp in the shape of Mt. Fuji. The bare light revealed a long couch, which ran along one side of the office. The couch was in a harsh shade of violent purple. Because of the lack of light, the dark blood red carpet of the room seemed black.

At first glance, the office seemed empty. That proved to be wrong, when a gentle groan echoed through the room, breaking the thick silence that formerly filled it.

Lying on the couch was Cassus. A damp hand towel lay over his face that covered his eyes. With his shiny leather shoes kicked off, he has both feet propped up on the cushions of the sofa. One could see the lurid blue suit he had been wearing that night had all buttons open and the orange silk shirt he wore underneath it had been jerked open at the neck so the pendant that hung from his gold chain had fallen out.

In the little light all that one could distinguish, was some serpentine pattern impressed into the metal.

Lifting a lazy hand to his face Cassus grabbed the useless cloth and flung it onto the carpet. He started talking out aloud, as he was sure everyone else had gone home and no one that still mattered was here.

"Goddamn! Why couldn't the bloody bastard get it right the first time? Every time I have to summon the creature it feels like he had ripped out another piece of my spirit and I'm beginning to feel like there aren't that many pieces left to share."

Slowly sitting up Cassus leant on the back of the sofa. "Last night was a waste of energy. While the boss had me organizing the lower spirits in the search, he had me pulled off it for me to summon that creature. I didn't even know if it succeeded in its task until twilight. Why the hell did the boss wanted him to summon that creature he could have just sent another Oni. It wasn't like humans knew what to do against them anymore."

Cassus sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Oni are not the smartest of henchmen I must admit, but at least they don't have a union. But we know where Nos was last night and it wasn't anywhere near the Tengu. There is a new busy body in town. Nos was bad enough. But at least we can guess what that nutter was doing."

Walking over to his desk Cassus pulled out a key and opened the bottom drawer of his desk. Taking out a first aid case, he removed a disinfectant and cotton wool and slowly eased off his jacket wincing when it rubbed against something under the fabric.

Rolling up his left arm's shirtsleeve, he winced at the bloodstain. The silk shirt had cost a pretty penny and he thought the old man he had brought it off had been driven out of business by now.

From underneath the blood stained orange shirt there was a deep slashing cut, one could see carved in a line down his wrist for a good 3 inches. Somehow, it had not hit any veins or muscles.

What blood there was didn't fit with the picture of the cut, there should have been a great deal more. In fact, it looked almost unnaturally bloodless.

Reaching for the disinfectant and cotton wool Cassus began to clean this wound that was too clean a cut for it not to have been self inflicted that, and his suit and shirt were not cut.

As the sharp antiseptic cream he rubbed around the edges of the cut met, he winced, "God damn spirit! Why couldn't it have wanted a f000ing chicken?"

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Ranma glanced at the piece of paper where Nabiki had written down the address of the shop. The quick train trip had gotten him to a point not far from it. 'I just hope that I'm being an idiot and nothing has happened to Nabiki. In fact, when I get there I bet that she will laugh at me and somehow would have made money out of the attacked victim. It's not as if the worst always happens.' Ranma thought about that, 'oh wait yes it does.' Ranma leapt hurriedly from the roof of the train station roof to roof to the store.

It was well into the early night and the sun had set an hour ago. The streetlights lit up the residential houses and as he got closer to the store the businesses neon lights lightening the street in garish colors. 'So the monster 'Nukekubi' was just a floating head. How hard could that be to fight?'

Thinking about all the strange creatures, he has already faced and that had given him reason to pause, Ranma speed up some more. Leaping to the street below, he checked the numbers and ran down it. The store should be around the corner. It wouldn't be long and Nabiki would be laughing at him.

From above his head a sudden short shower of cold water fell. In a window above Ranma, a bucket went back in that had just been emptied of dirty water. Ranma paid no attention just cursed lightly.

With a fast turn, Ranma spun around the corner and could see under a streetlight an inky darkness that seemed to be a separate part cut out of the night. As he raced towards it, he could see some shadows moving inside of it.

Running down the street, he noticed the shadow was in front of the store 'Ceres Cavern,' while he becomes aware of several silver needles embedded in the shops door. Nabiki had gone to this place so he wasn't just jumping into the middle of some stranger's magical battle.

Coming to a quick halt Ranma stepped out in front of the shadow, which now he was close to looked almost seemingly like a physical creature. Luckily, no one else was on the street the shadow covered most of the footpath for several meters around the store.

Just outside of the circle of darkness, Ranma saw a notebook rumpled with its pages drifting in the wind. He picked it up. It was Nabiki's, only she would have a notebook with 'Donald Trump' on the cover.

The shadow continued to move as though something inside was distorting it.

Venturing to poke it with a finger Ranma found the shadow solid, he could not enter. He drew back his fist and punched the shadow with considerable force. The shadow just absorbed the force of the blow as if it had meant nothing. In the gutter of the street right beside the shadow, Ranma saw a stick . . . with a sharp pointy end.

Picking up the stick Ranma saw that someone had previously sharpened the end. 'Maybe a kid's toy.' Pulling his arm back, Ranma poked the shadow with the sharp end.

There was a dark flash and the shadow vanished as Ranma poked it with the stick. It blew up like a balloon. Where the shadow had been, two figures were fighting, and another was lying on the ground blood surrounding their head.

Nabiki could feel blood drip down her neck from the shallow cut. The sharp pain of it sliced through her conscious, she could not see anything, and had no idea where Analis was. From around her she could hear someone breathing and the rustle of clothing.

Crouching down Nabiki started crawling backwards, attempting to stay as small a target as possible. Suddenly she heard an indrawn breath and a female scream, it was Analis, and she was just above her. With this, she felt someone fall down past her shoulders slumping to the ground.

'I'm in so much trouble. Someone or something was out there killing people.' When she did not hear or feel anyone come to check on Analis Nabiki slowly continued to crawl backwards.

'All I can do is to go for help.' Some rubber like substance stopped her backwards movement. She could feel it give in but it wouldn't break as she gave it a hard backwards kick with her heel.

A feeling of being watched entered her mind. 'There is something in the dark circle with them, and it can see me.' Slowly standing up she kept the boundary of the shadow to her back. Then she started to hear a slithering noise surrounding her. Nevertheless, it wasn't coming from her ears it seemed to end in her mind before it reached her ears. Spreading her arms, out Nabiki spoke. "You are in so much s000. You don't want to mess with me."

She heard male giggles from in front then to her left and then right.

"Look you should just drop this and go home, no one wants any trouble." Pushing an arm out Nabiki tried to feel in front of her. With this, she feels something before her. "Okay, now I know people who will be very angry if I don't get home with all limbs attached so if you just drop the dark thing and go no one is in trouble."

With that, a dry hand grabbed her out thrust arm and dragged her forward.

Nabiki stumbled into a pole, which the other hand of the unknown person drove into her stomach. Groaning she brought her other arm up to the hand that grabbed her wrist. Then she placed that hand above what she assumes is the elbow of the attacker and pushed forward as hard as she could.

The attacker released her wrist and she stumbled backwards. Only then, the assailant with a hard hit of the pole just caught her above the right knee.

Dropping forward Nabiki felt the edge of Analis coat on the ground. Rolling to the side quickly she was missed by the pole as it was driven down by her waist. Scrambling up Nabiki moved backwards until she was forced to a stop by the shadow. 'Where the hell was Ranma when you need him?' After Nabiki felt the pole swipe past her face, stepped forward, and punched out at what she assumed was the attackers head.

Ranma stared at the strange crow headed man who was about to be punched by a bleeding Nabiki. An older woman with grey blondish looking hair lay just behind them. The small circle of blood surrounding her head pointed to the heavy cut on the side of her neck, which at a glance he could tell was not fatal but it had knocked her out.

Diving forward Ranma pulled Nabiki out of the way of the staff that was topped by rings of metal and a hairbreadth away from crushing her skull. Gentle Ranma placed her to the side. He spun around to face the crow-faced fighter. "What the hell are you?"

The crow headed man had green feathers, but also human ears, and dark brown hair tied back in a tight braid. Clawed hands clutched a long dark wooden staff banded in copper colored metal. It wore a tight white t-shirt and loose black pants.

A cackling noise broke the silence, after a moment Ranma realized it was the creature's laughter. Springing forward Ranma attempted to pull the storeowner out of the way of the creature's blows.

However, as he rushed forward, the staff of the crow-headed man slammed down across his shoulders, Ranma rolled over the body of the victim, catching her up in his arms, and landing on his knees with her in his arms.

Stumbling backwards, he rolled his shoulders as best as he could. "Why don't you go off and find a bird bath, big bird." Leaning the woman against her own stores door, Ranma quickly turned around and stood with his hands behind his back.

From within Ranma's mind a voice spoke. "Human, what are you to face me? Run off home and crawl under your blankets. Girl." While the voice sounded in his head, the beak of the crow man stayed shut.

Ranma remains standing where he was while they talked the creature wasn't attacking Nabiki and the storeowner. "Oh get over yourself. You look like you should be employed at Disney land." Ranma pulled his pigtail over his shoulder, the red hair shinning under the streetlight.

The crow man's beak clacked open and Ranma noticed a pair of small wings beating furiously on its back.

"Girl, you should be quiet about what you have no idea. Now go before I decide to separate your pretty head from the rest of your body."

Ranma laughed and dropped his braid. "Ha, everyone says that and why do you think you can beat me ya giant humming bird?"

The crow man drew his staff forward and brought it with a thud down in front of his feet. "I am a Karasu Tengu otherwise known as Kotengu. We are masters of our art. No one can defeat us! I am Akyju and no silly little human girl shall ever ridicule me." Stepping forward the Kotengu swept his staff across the spot Ranma had been standing in, missing Ranma by several meters as he was now above his head.

"Hey birdman, if I kick your ass, do you think you could show me your staff work?"

Swinging the staff in a tight circle Akyju brought it up to catch Ranma on his downwards journey missing the girl as she managed to skip off the spinning staff and land behind him.

"Why did you attack my friend, she may be a money hungry cold hearted weasel but I know some people who would be kind of hurt if anything happened to her."

From behind him, Nabiki grimaced. There are times when she wishes she had the ability to boot Ranma into LEO.

Bringing the staff forward in a thrust towards Ranma's chest, Ranma grabbed the end and slammed it towards the ground forcing the Kotengu to flip over using his momentum to land near the startled Nabiki.

The unbalanced Kotengu was forced further off balance when Nabiki shoved a boot forward into his back and making him stumble.

"You know for someone who said no silly girl was going to beat you you're doing a good impression." Standing again in a relaxed poise Ranma waited for the next move.

Pulling a pipe out from under the thick belt the Kotengu was wearing he drew it to his lips and dozens of fine silver darts sprang forward.

Ranma danced out of the way but the silver needles were too quick, one caught the front of his shirt ripping the material of the shirt, and lightly cutting her chest, showing to the world that this was not just a girl. Ranma growled as he stared down, every time he fought. Whatever bloody happened somehow she would end up with a ripped shirt, especially if he was in girl form. "You over grown chicken! I only just got that shirt! I had to work for the old ghoul to pay for it!" Bringing a hand up Ranma scratched his head.

"No more stalling." The Kotengu laughed that strange laugh again and brought the pipe to his beak again.

Rushing forward Ranma shoved a hand forward and forced the pipe back down the birds beaks making it choke.

The Kotengu grasped his staff as he brought it forward to stop the Martial Artist. However, Akyju was stopped when a blast of energy knocked him off his feet.

Coming out of the Moko Takabisha Ranma grinned as the crow man's feathers were now all over the place and little green pieces were floating everywhere. "I'm dreaming of a green Christmas, just like that ones I use to know."

The crow headed man was on his back clutching his throat coughing to get the pipe out of his throat. Luckily, his ability to talk did not depend on a voice box. The copper colored bound staff lay to the side blown some distance from the Kotengu.

"So you're the thing that's been attacking people?" Ranma grinned and looked over at Nabiki, "Hey, was that the easiest chocolate cake you ever made or what?"

Clutching her bleeding throat and aching stomach Nabiki grimaced and walked slowly towards Ranma.

Pulling the belt out of the Kotengu's pants, Ranma flipped the struggling birdman over onto his back and tied his arms and small beating wings into one tight bundle. "We have some questions for you." Ranma picked up the silver pipe, which had fallen from the throat of the Kotengu. 'I wonder if I could find a use for that.'

Nabiki reached Ranma who was rifling through the Kotengu's clothes. With a flip of her hand, she caught Ranma behind the back of the head.

"Hey what was that for?"

"Cold hearted weasel am I?"

Ranma grinned nervously and stood handing what he had found on the Kotengu over to her. "Look I'll grab Analis keys and get us into her shop. Then we can clean up some and question this overgrown turkey."

Walking over to Analis, who was now gaining consciousness but was extremely groggy. Nabiki found the keys in her coat pocket and let them in.

Ranma carefully carried the hurt storeowner while dragging the Kotengu behind him. Making sure, he hit Akyju's head repeatedly on their way to the back room.

Nabiki quickly found the first aid kit above the small sink in the back room, peering into the little mirror to clean her cut, whilst handing Ranma the necessary tools to fix up Analis.

"Look, there is more to this then just some random nut killing people. Too many things aren't adding up. It doesn't look like your 'normal' supernatural serial killer." Sliding a damp cotton ball full of antiseptics over her cut Nabiki winced.

Ranma had started cleaning the cut on Analis and at the same time tried to reassure the groggy shopkeeper, that he wasn't robbing her store. Ranma had knocked out the Kotengu with a quick hit to the back of the head, it now lay trussed up on the ground. Ranma who by now could control to the second how long someone was unconscious from his hits estimated that it would wake in ten.

Analis had crashed again as soon as the cut had been cleaned and declared non-harmful by the over experienced Ranma.

Nabiki had pulled a couple of the tie-dyed throws she had in stock out the front over her, where she lay in the corner. As this happened the Kotengu woke up. Pulling him up into the chair Ranma had been sitting in. Nabiki picked up her notebook.

Ranma reached behind the Kotengu and slightly twisted a wing.

"Welcome Mr. Akyju. Now if you answer our questions I'm sure Ranma here does not have to show you how much she dislikes being lied to." Ranma put more pressure on the wing and with that, the Kotengu broke like a wet tissue.

"All right you disgusting human females. Who would have thought I would be degraded by a puny human."

Ranma stepped backwards that had been easy, as both of them heard the Kotengu in their heads. "Oh damn, I wanted to play bad cop." Ranma whined and hoped the Kotengu would do something so that they could shine alight in their eyes.

"Why are you talking?" The Kotengu laughed. "I am not being paid enough to be creative. If you want to know what is happening it is worth my life."

"Why did you attack us?"

"I was sent by a Konoha Tengu who is my employer, we have a long running contract, I was to permanently cripple the storeowner one Analis Harton. You," gesturing with his beak, "were not in the deal."

"Why did your boss want her dead?"

"I don't know, he doesn't want her dead, he was employed by someone else, and I say this now. I have no idea who."

"Did you have anything to do with the other attacks and deaths?" The Kotengu laughed. "No, why are there any other humans missing? Good riddance, you are like a plague at times. One or two less would not hurt." With this, the Kotengu vanished.

Ranma turned to face Nabiki. "You know we should probably read up more on Japanese mythical creatures. Did you know he could do that?"

Nabiki flipped her notebook closed. "No."

Authors Note:

Revised 27/06

So, sorry over the long wait between chapters I got caught up in another story I shouldn't be writing.

If anyone wants something to happen between Ranma and Nabiki, please tell.

Thank you so much for reviewing:

Wonderbee31: Thank you who has reviewed for all my stories. Thank you and Silverscale so much.

The next chapter will be up sooner than this one I hope, but then the best laid plans . . . .

PLEASE REVIEW. Each review means I get more motivated to write sooner.