Spirit of the Battousai
A Ranma 1/2 / Rurouni Kenshin crossover
Part 1: A Sword That Kills, A Protector Lost
By Kukuru
*Where am I...*
The sound of clashing swords rang throughout his mind. Flashes of metal sparkled near the corner of his line of sight. Everything was blurry, constantly moving, distant...
He felt his hands move by their own accord. *A sword!* A sickening sound was heard. Moist dark liquid tickled at his skin.
*Blood... What is this!?*
A voice spoke out, "I will find a way to protect people without killing..."
*What's going on?*
A second voice, "Life, death, and the sword, that is your way."
*Am I dreaming?*
"No, never again will I kill--"
"It is who you are..."
*No...what is happening?...no...NO!*
*The ceiling...* Saotome Ranma's eyes finally recognized the familiar surroundings of his room. *It was a dream...*
Rolling over, he again tried to sleep.
< OH MY! >
"Hey, Ranma. What's with you today?"
Ranma looked up out of his eerie slouching pose and gave Akane a rude glare. "What's it to you, Tomboy?"
Akane furrowed her eyebrows, anger boiling up. "Well-excuse-me for caring. Mou, Ranma, you looked like you're half here."
It was true; the great Ranma Saotome was not living up to his reputation. In fact he kind of looked like the skinny kid that everyone ignores at school. It was a good resemblance in this way with dark bags under his lazy eyes. "I just didn't get a good night's sleep that's all. So drop it tomboy, I'm not up to it today."
"Fine, by me," Akane Tendo, a.k.a, tomboy, refuted. "I hope you won't put your foot in your mouth on the way to school, or I'll have to pound you even in this condition," Turning around she stalked off with not so gracefully, but rather a stiff and rigid stride. She turned towards her elder sister. "Come on big sis, let's leave the baka."
"What's the rush, Akane," Nabiki replied ever so casually, not moving the paper in front of her. "Besides, Ranma might be useful. It seems there was a robbery and murder last night in Nerima. It seems a recently displayed katana was stolen at the museum, leaving behind 3 dead security guards.
Akane gave her sister a baffled look, "What does that have to do with us?"
Nabiki wriggled her finger and put on her lecture look. "Akane, you of all people should know by now that anything that happens in Nermia has a way of attaching itself to Ranma. I'm just positioning myself to come out in the best possible way."
Akane couldn't truly understand how right Nabiki was.
< OH MY! >
Ranma dragged himself along an unfamiliar area. It had been a bad day for him--than usual anyway. He was tired from the nightmarish dream he had last night and Shampoo just had to do her glomp thing. He was used to that, but he didn't have to like it. It was a predictable, 'Ranma you pervert' from the tomboy, followed by the water, and the run around.
Today though, he must have ran farther than usual, because he was 'slightly' lost. On top of which, Ranma was still tired after waking up from whatever sleep he had. The only bright spot was the fact that he had been able to be a man for now.
He had so deep in his own pity, he hadn't noticed banging into something.
His danger sense suddenly spiked as a tint of light gave him the moment's notice. The slick sound of the drawing of steel was heard, but Ranma was prepared for that. He was already executing a precise counter.
In one swift motion a long object was projected into the evening sky, flying with graceful arc. Ranma with his skill level easily caught the sword's hilt as it descended.
"Oi, if you want to kill me, at least give me a reason first, ya know." Ranma hadn't even gone into a combat stance, casually standing and resting the newly acquired katana on his shoulder. He may have been tired, but another 'Die Saotome' opponent was nothing he couldn't handle.
His opponent flung back his dark cloak to reveal a second sheathed blade on his hip. "Why you little prick. I shouldn't have been lazy to let you dodge that hit."
Drawing his own blade, he rambled on, "I had hoped to use that sword, the legendary sword of the Hitokiri Battousai, but it seems I'll just have to add another set of blood on my old blade. A little prick like you don't deserve to be killed by such a great sword anyway."
"Is that so..." replied Ranma not interested in the slightest.
"Die, you prick!" The opponent swiftly closed the distance and executed a precise slash. Too bad Ranma Saotome could not be hit with just a precise slash. Before the opponent has even started the attack, Ranma had already disappeared.
"Hey, where did you go, you prick!"
"You don't deserve this sword..." Ranma's voice behind him suddenly sounded serious. "You don't have the skill, the strength, or the spirit to wield the sword of the Battousai."
Turning around, the opponent's eyes widened, "How-when did you get there..." He took an unconscious step back. *That look...* The appearance was completely difference from before. *The eyes...* The eyes were now lowered, cold, distant, the eyes of a killer, and they were all focused on him; the glint of the light from his eyes reflected on the moon gave his a disturbing notion he was out classed.
"Why don't you give me the sheath too. This sword doesn't suit you." A cold voice fluttered out.
The opponent knew he should have just ran, but his pride carried him on. "Yea, right you little prick. When I'm done with you, I'll give your rotting body a good whack with the sheath, that's what I'll do!"
"Is that so..." the cold distant voice of Ranma commented again. For once it didn’t have a hint of mockery on it.
< OH MY! >
Morning came. The rays of sunlight and crickets chirping loudly were proof of that.
"Hey Ranma, what happened to you?"
"Eh? What do you mean Akane?" Ranma looked at his fiancee in bafflement. Again he was in his usual slouched position, the same as yesterday. This time though, the bags under his eyes were gone.
She gave him an agitated look, "That, you baka," pointing at the big slab of bandage on his left cheek.
"Oh that," commented Ranma, casually. "Just a little mistake I made. No big deal."
"I bet," refuted Akane with a snort. "What's with the sword, then? You never carried a katana before." She made her point by glazing directly at the sheathed blade at his hip.
"It's nothing really important. I just want to have it on me, That's all," Waving Akane's concern off, Ranma continued, "I'm heading out for a bit. Be back later." Giving no time for Akane to respond, he turned his back to her and left.
Akane glared at his retreating form, "What's that baka up to?"
< OH MY! >
"Oi, old ghoul, I need to talk to ya!" Ranma gave out his usual call as he entered the Nekohanten.
"Aiya, Arien come with date, yes?" Followed by Shampoo's usual line.
"What do you have for me son in law..." Cologne appeared, balanced as usual on her cane. A flicker crossed the elder's experienced eyes. "That blade..." Cologne eyed it carefully, up and down. "That sword you have there son in law, has a powerful aura around it. It is a very ominous blade, " Looking up at Ranma, "I feel sickening evil in that sword. Is this what you came to me for?"
"Well yea, sort of..." he trailed off.
"I advise you get rid of it, son in law, a place where no one will ever find it. Destroy it better yet."
Ranma gave a glance at his blade, "Humm, it doesn't seem all that evil and stuff to me." Focusing back on Cologne, "I kind of like this sword, and I want to keep it. I just wanted to ask you to see if it's like magic or something. I can feel its power. That much I agree with you."
The wrinkled elder gave her son in law a long look. *Those eyes...*
"Very well son in law, come with me into the back. Granddaughter, stay here." Cologne hopped off with Ranma following.
Shampoo analyzed the two figures. Something was up, and if she could find a leverage somewhere, Ranma would be hers.
< OH MY! >
Cologne brought out a glass ball out from her trunk of mystical items. She carefully set it down onto the table.
"Touch the sword on the ball, and focus into it. There, you shall find your answer," Cologne instructed with an ominous voice.
"Alright."
Ranma slid the blade still in the sheath out from his hip and touched it on the glass ball. Peering into the ball, he focused...
Images flashed before his eyes. Horrifying images.
*Blood...so much blood...so much killing...bodies, everywhere...*
Then he saw it, the image of a woman, dead...blood soaked through her kimono...
"No...no...NO...this isn't..."
Faster than Cologne could follow, Ranma drew the blade and slammed onto the glass ball violently. Eyes wide with horror he screamed, "NO!"
"Son in la..." was all the elder could get out before the explosion came.
< OH MY! >
Another time, another place...
"Kenshin!"
"Oro?" Himura Kenshin looked up from his laundry to see Kaoru and Yahiko running up to him. "What is it, Kaoru-dono?"
"I'll tell you what happened. Someone is impersonating you!" shouted out an angered Yahiko. As usual he was prepared and ready with his trusty shinai strapped on his back.
"Oro?"
"The newspaper, Kenshin. Yesterday five policemen were killed at the police station. An eye witness claim he called himself the Hitokiri Battousai!"
"I can't believe some guy would do this! And to frame you doing it!" rambled on a fuming Yahiko.
"We have to do something about this, Kenshin," added in Kaoru.
Standing up, "We should go to the police to investigate," Kenshin said finally as he raised. The group nodded in agreement.
Walking to the gates of the house, the group saw Sanosuke leaning against the wall casually and calm. He was dressed in his usual apparel of white pants and unbuttoned white shirt with the trademark kanji 'bad' on the back. "I guess you guys heard about the imposter," Sanosuke gave a brief chuckle at that. "Lets go and kick this guy's ass Kenshin."
This would have been a majority cool and heroic scene, if it weren't for the fact that at that moment, there was a collective growl of hunger.
Kenshin put his hand on the back of his head and smiled, "I guess we should eat lunch first on the way there."
< OH MY! >
Walking to the usual place for a good hearty, and for Sanosuke, free lunch, he was the only one that noticed something odd. It was almost pure luck for him really. He was nonchalantly looking around when he caught an image in the mirror hanging by the shop.
"Hum...Hey guys, you go on ahead, while I check up on something real quick." And with that he walked away.
"What's with him?" Yahiko commented.
"Sanosuke is always weird," answered Kaoru, but just as confused.
< OH MY! >
"Hey there, any good reason you're following us?"
The cloaked person turned around to find Sanosuke leaning on the wall with a smirk on his face.
"Impressive, I didn't expect you to notice me," pausing a brief second, "or did you just get lucky?"
This immediately got on Sanosuke's nerves; what was more was the asshole was right. Righting himself off the wall, "So are you going to tell me why you're following us or do I have to beat it out of ya." Sanosuke hadn't meant it to be a question.
Under the hood of the cloak a smirked formed.
< OH MY! >
A loud crash was heard.
"What was that!?" yell out Kaoru as she twirled around towards the sound.
"Let's check it out," added in Yahiko.
The gang ran towards the disrupting crash.
< OH MY! >
"Sanosuke!"
"Sanosuke!" doubled Kenshin along with Kaoru.
Sanosuke was lying on the ground and not looking very well with cuts and bruises all over his body.
A few steps away stood a girl with fierily red hair, tied back.
"Watch out Kenshin, she can really do some ass kicking," groaned the fallen Sanosuke trying painfully to get up.
Kenshin immediately focused his eyes on the attacker.
Chinese style red shirt and black pants; it was a young girl. She had a sheathed sword at her hip and there was an eerie look to her. Her eyes were cold and distant. He knew what those eyes meant too well.
"Who are you?" asked Kenshin his tone suddenly darkened.
Right behind him Kaoru added, "Look at her cheek!"
Kenshin eye's widen finally catching it, as did Yahiko, she had a crossed shaped scar on her left cheek, the same as Himura Kenshin.
"Even though you hide your aura, I can still feel you. Himura Kenshin, am I right? The Hitokiri Battousai."
With that she went into stance. Kenshin knew that stance all too well. Left leg leading, slanted side ways, left hand on the sheath, and right hand ready. The stance of his style, the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu.
Kenshin was shocked when her image suddenly zoomed up closed to him. A flash of light erupted as steel met steel. Kenshin grunted as he barely got his own sword partially out in time to meet her rush.
The young girl wasted no time and immediately pressed her attack, slashing with horrifying speed. He winced with every clash that he deflected with his reversed bladed sword. Her skill level was dangerously high.
Suddenly she blurred in front of his eyes. *Where--* Kenshin forced a sharp gasp as he felt a flash of pain on his side. Immediately hopping back, he clutched his side in pain, jamming his sakabatou sword into the ground in order to keep from falling.
"Kenshin, watch out!" a warning bellowed out from Kaoru behind him.
Looking up, she was in the air executing her next move.
"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, Ryu-Tsui-Sen!! It can't be!" a wide-eyed Yahiko spoke out, not believing what was happening.
It was almost a whisper, but it was loud and clear enough to be heard by everyone, "Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, Ryu-Tsui-Sen," and she slammed her technique right down onto a shocked Kenshin. Dust clouds flew out in all directions from the impact.
"Kenshin!!" yelled Kaoru, praying wildly that he wasn't hurt.
Slowly and definitely not fast enough for the three spectators, the dust clouds finally scattered revealing two figures.
Casually the red haired girl, sheathed her sword, and turned around. Picking her cloak carelessly on the ground, she draped it over her shoulder and walked away.
Kenshin stood there, breathing heavily, still holding his sword up with both hands.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru, Yahiko, and Sanosuke rushed up to him as best they can, seeing if he's all right.
"I'm alright everyone..." breathed out the wounded Kenshin finally relaxing his guard.
"I knew you would be able to dodge her technique, Kenshin," smiled Yahiko trying to be oblivious to who was the true victor.
"No Yahiko, if she fought at the same level as before, I would be dead now. She held back at the last second... long enough for me to dodge it in time." This gave a sinking feeling to the group.
*It was an almost perfect duplicate of my own technique with one exception. Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, Ryu-Tsui-Sen is a direct downward slash, but her blade was slightly titled to one side. This would put more power to one side and... if I had blocked the attack instead of evading... I might have buckled under the strain coupled with my fresh wound*
"She's the one trying to frame you, isn't she..." Sanosuke finally said.
"It's possible," Kenshin replied slowly.
"You're hurt Kenshin, let's get you to Doctor Genzai," Kaoru suddenly ruined the mood by dragging Kenshin to the doctor with the side his wound was on.
"Orrroooo..." was all he could muster out.