The Welder of BlackFire:

Thorn's Past Life- A Mysterious Ally

Chapter Seven: BlackFire's Nightly Meal-Thorn's Betrayal

The next night Kegome and InuYasha talked together at the fire. A growl came from the top of the tree at Inuyasha's left at something they said. They looked up, and down came the black wolf. It stumbled, showing clearly that its true coordination was not at its fullest. It snarled a curse and regained its composure.

"What are you doing?" InuYasha asked. Both he and Kegome watched the beast in its anger. Shippo slept near Kegome, his dreams making him twitch and stir, but not waking to the descending wolf.

"To heal one must eat..foolish hanyou," growled the black wolf. The latter word made the half-dog-demon cringe inwardly, the pain clearly inflicted.

"We have left-overs..." began Kegome, her voice making the wolf's demeanor turn calm. He looked at her, his features turning from angered to soft, memory paining his eyes. 'She looks just like Thorn, before I came. Her eyes are innocent,' he thought. His tail drooped slightly as he walked toward her, his lips twisted into an almost smile as he excepted the meat-laden bone she offered. InuYasha tensed, waiting for harm to come to the girl before he jumped up to save her from the beast. But no harm came to her and the wolf took his meal and lay down under the tree near the fire. His tongue licked the meat greedily and his eyes shone with eagerness. InuYasha relaxed slightly.

"Why didn't you let me kill him?" asked BlackFire innocently, beginning to tear away strips of meat from the bone. This made InuYasha glare at the wolf, who was obviously ignoring him with the exception of an ear cocked in the hanyou's direction.

"I will kill him myself. I don't need your help," he mumbled. A snort came from the wolf as he ripped the flesh from the bone, consuming it with relish. It was clear that he would not answer the statement and so an eerily silence settled around the group with the exception of the crackling fire, a soft snore from Shippo, and the grinding of teeth on bone as the black wolf munched on the bone. Soon, the silence deepened, without the scratching of fangs against bone. All that was left of the hefty bone were slivers, not suitable for consumption. The wolf looked up, as if seeing the trio for the first time. Kegome was slowly fading off to sleep, although it was clear that her gaze had been on him. InuYasha was staring blankly at the fire, although anyone could see that he had once been looking at Kegome, but his thoughts had brought his gaze downward.

"I will let Mistress tell you what you need to know. I will not burden her with asking if I can speak of such things, and so my vow forbids me to speak. But she will tell you, in good time. Be pacitent," whispered the wolf, a yawn stretching his voice. The words made InuYasha jerk suddenly awake, out of his daze. He glared at the wolf, whose gaze strolled casually over the camp.

The wolf slowly eased to his feet, his strength visibly returning. He picked up a paw as he stood steadily on his feet, and glared at it, murmuring softly to himself. InuYasha was intrigued but said nothing.

Slowly, the wolf's paws began to glow a bluish tint and the claws grew steadily longer and sharper. With a small smile, he looked up the tree and advanced toward it. At its base he jumped, his bodily movements hinting that he was still not up to his full strength, and stunk his claws into the thick bark. With a few bounds, he had leaped up the tree and settled into a small nook in the tree's top. With a satisfied sigh, he lay down and began to sleep. Through the tree's branches and shadows, InuYasha could see the wolf's body transform back into that of a human, sleeping peacefully.

*

The next morning shone bright and clear. Thorn was awake before the rest, and rekindled the fire. InuYasha was first to wake of the other two, as usual. She glanced at him before turning back to staring into nothingness.

"Your awake," he said, almost casually.

She nodded. "It would seem so," she answered. The girl sighed, her eyes looking out into nothingness all the while. Time passed. Kegome and Shippo awoke, but Thorn did not stir.

'Its time I move on. To break the promise, we must fight again,' Thorn told InuYasha after a long while. He looked at her and stood. Thorn did the same.

"Where are you two going?" Shippo asked, his tongue quicker than Kegomes'. Thorn gave a sad smile.

"To break a promise," she said. They entered the field where, not two days ago, there had been a battle. Blood still scented the grounds.

"Your still wounded, I can't fight you," InuYasha said at last. He had been waiting to say so when they got on the field.

"We are same in strength and recovery. There is no unfairness here. You know the rules. First blood, winner takes one thing as long as it is within the power of the other to give," she replied. They battled. She let him win. Yes, let him.

"The jewel shards," he said. Thorn healed her wound.

"Do you remember the rules, InuYasha?" she asked, not looking at him. He repeated them.

"Yes, one thing, as long as it is within the losers power to give. Those are not within my power," she said, quietly, her voice softer, but had lost its lustrous tone.

"WHAT?" he screamed, utterly confused. The girl gave a wan smile.

"They are not mine to give. They are BlackFire's. And its not in my power to give what doesn't belong to me," she said. His anger burned.

"I must go," she said. "When we meet again perhaps I will have something to give. But now you must continue on your quest, for if I stay, you will not meet with your new ally." She turned away.

"Wait!..." he started, fuming, but Thorn didn't look back. She left, her form melting with the shadows.

"Where's she going?" asked Shippo, jumping up onto Inuyasha's shoulder.

"I don't know! How am I suppose to know?!" growled the hanyou, turning away.

"Don't worry, he's just mad because she outsmarted him," said Kegome, moving to stand next to the white-haired hanyou, watching her retreating form, and receiving a growl from Inuyasha.

*

Thorn leapt through the trees.

"I know he's here," she breathed. Her keen eyes darted around her. She landed momentarily and glanced around again. "I can feel it."

It had been hours since she had left InuYasha, Kegome and Shippo. She traveled for another hour before coming across what she was seeking. She landed silently on a large tree branch, her eyes pasted on a white form in front of her.

"Naraku," she said, and the white mound shifted, moved, to see her.

"Who are you?" he asked in his fluid, deep voice.

"I am Thorn," she said, standing up on her tree branch. He turned around, to face the girl fully. "I hear that you are in constant search for the jewel shards, and others to kill for you and that you prefer to send other creatures to do such bidding," Thorn said when he remained silent.

Her voice rang clear, its tone taken to coldness, hard and in-control.

"Yes, and so you would like to do my bidding?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yes."

Authoress' Note:

Can you tell I am very bad at fighting scenes? I just said that Inuyasha won, no real excitement. But what's this?! Thorn is going into alliance with Naraku?! What's up with that?! Yeah yeah, lots of questions, I know. You'll all find out next chapter, as well as meet Miroku!

Miroku: Yes! Finally!

Author: I wouldn't get too excited, you're a real dork.

Miroku: -grumble- That's no fair

Author: -grin- sure it is! You're a pervert I'm just going to prove it! oh, and a warning for the next chapter, it starts to get...ahh, well you know, it hints a 'sexual situation' as Adult swim puts it. I still can recite the entire warning thing from before they started using useless commentary! Back when it had that voice that sounded like a robot! Gee, that was a long time ago!

Miroku: you have no life.

Author: -growl- well I can kill you! -clenches fists- but I need you for the next chapter

Miroku: -knows he's safe...for now-

Author: just do the disclaimer.

Miroku -whine- why me?!!

Author: Because you're the only one here and I'm not going to do it! Don't make me threaten you! -reaches for wooden spoon-

Miroku: 0.0' OK OK! Author does not own Inuyasha or any characters incorporated to it BUT for Thorn and BlackFire.