The Welder of BlackFire:

Thorn's New Life-The Legend Lives

Chapter 9: A Walk and the White Wolf

"How long have we been walking?" Yusuke whined.

"About a day and a half," Kuwabara said tiredly.

"I told you we should have gone to Hooters! We wouldn't have passed that stupid pet store and we wouldn't have gotten lost!" Yusuke complained.

"Hey! I just wanted to go in to look at the kittens!" Kuwabara shot back.

"Yeah well if you hadn't of picked that one up then the guy would have never thought you were stealing it and wouldn't have kicked us out! So its your fault!" Yusuke yelled back.

"Cut it out you two! We're lost now, so lets just try to find a way back to the hotel and order food there," Botan said, stepping between the two boys.

"If we're lost how do you think we're gunna get back?" Yusuke sneered.

"Ah, good point," the girl said.

"Ah, guys. I just got the feeling that there's something following us," Kuwabara said. He froze in mid-step, thinking. They all turned around and looked, but saw nothing but a dark, empty, sidewalk.

"Your feeling things, Kuwabara. There's nothing behind us," Yusuke said after scanning the area carefully.

"No way, there is definitely something there. The feeling's getting stronger," the other boy argued.

"C'mon, let's see if it still follows us when we cut into this alley," Yusuke said quietly, turning around casually and walking forward, the rest of the group following. Hiei and Kurama exchanged glances.

'Kuwabara's right, there is just a faint signal behind us,' Kurama thought as they walked into the shadowed alley, the deep shadows engulfing them.

"Its still behind us, on the other side of this building," Kuwabara said, motioning to the structure to his left.

"They must be in the alley on that side," Botan said.

"We should go find out who it is," Yusuke said, starting for the end of the alley, where there was another hall behind the building to his left between that one and another building behind it.

"Don't be a fool, Yusuke," Hiei said, making the spirit detective stop and turn around, looking at him quizzically.

"Yes, I agree with Hiei, for all we know, it could be one of the five demon thieves that we're suppose to be finding," Botan said.

"Well we should at least check it out," Kuwabara said, stepping forward.

"Save your breath Kurama, you can't argue with an idiot," Hiei said when Kurama began to speak. The kitsune took his advice and remained silent. "Fine, let's go."

The group began to walk toward the wider alley at the end of their own.

"They're right to our left behind this building," Kuwabara whispered as they drew closer. Yusuke risked a glance around the side of the building.

"So who is it?" Botan asked. Yusuke walked out from the protecting edge of the building.

"There's no one here," he said. He was answered with confused 'huh?'s from the group. They all walked out into the middle of the alley. Their eyes scanned over garbage-laden trash cans and a dirty ground, littered with garbage. Mice scampered around the cans, squeaking in a fury. A sleek, white, wolfish dog sniffed at the building wall. It looked up curiously when it saw them, pointed white ears erect and listening, its bright eyes turning toward them.

"So now you're sensitive to the energy of mice? C'mon, this is totally lame," Yusuke said. Kurama looked at Kuwabara, who's expression of confusion explained his train of thought.

"I don't get it, I could have sworn that they were right here," the boy mumbled. "And it still feels like it too."

"This is stupid, lets go, I'm starving," Yusuke said, walking down the isle. The white dog's bright green eyes looked up at him and the jaw split in what one could swear was a grin.

"Kuwabara is right, Yusuke," Kurama said, stepping forward.

"Huh?" the Spirit Detective asked, turning to face him. He took another quick glance around, but still found nothing.

"They are right here, they're just hiding," Kurama explained.

The white dog turned to face the kitsune, a black marking on its forehead creeping from the shadows. It growled once, soft, yet deadly. The group turned to look at it as its shape slowly molded from the wolfish body to that of a girl.

"I'm not hiding," came a growling voice from the body. Thorn strode from the shadows, right hand on hip and her eyes glaring. They all looked at her, not understanding the strange language she was speaking and in shock as to what they had witnessed.

"Ah! Its Thorn!" Kuwabara said in shock.

"Kuwabara, she's speaking English, use the little purple thing Koenma gave you if you want her to understand you," Botan explained. They all took out a small purple box and opened it. Powder burst from it and covered them and suddenly they clearly understood what she had said.

'I was right when I thought that Thorn might use her powers for other things than healing,' Kurama thought after a moment recollecting himself. 'Its an extremely rare demon that can shape-shift. I've never heard of a human that could do it.'

"Hey! Where'd you come from?" Yusuke asked in the newly-learned English language, clearly taken back by the girl's sudden appearance.

"You know, Yusuke, you should trust Kuwabara when it comes to sensing energy. He was quite accurate in his analysis of where I was," Thorn said, the newly risen moon shinning softly on her long black pants and shirt.

"I asked you where you came from!" he retorted, dripping his voice with a touch of anger.

"Must you ask such stupid questions when you have the facts in front of you?" she asked, rolling her eyes, her voice harsh.

"What are you doing here?" Hiei asked.

"It seems everyone is asking me that question as of late. Well, nothing really. Working on my stalking skills mostly. You know that you've been walking in circles for the past two hours don't you?" she replied with a smile.

'She's been following us for that long? Then why didn't I sense her?' Kuwabara thought.

"N-no. But its none of your business!" Yusuke shouted.

"You've been looking for a place to eat, I've observed. I could hear your stomach's rumbling from five hundred feet behind you with those ears," she said. "There's a restaurant down the street one block to your left and your hotel is six blocks after the first left at the crossroads."

'She's good. She was very close and we never even knew. Her powers must be very strong,' Kurama thought.

"Well we don't need your help," Yusuke spat.

"Hn, suit yourself."

"Tell me, Thorn," Kurama began. "What brings you to America?"

"A seemingly innocent question, dearest Kurama. I know what you're getting at, but I see no harm in telling you that I belong here just like you boys belong in Japan. I loved Japan, but home is were the heart is," Thorn replied with a sly grin. "And it seems that my heart likes it better at home."

"So you live in America?" Botan asked. The other girl turned to her.

"That is what I'm driving at. I might not live here in Los Vegas, but that doesn't matter much."

"Why are you following us?" Kurama asked. The black-clad girl turned to him with a smile.

"Oh, you know, just for kicks. I know that if anyone felt my energy, it would be Kuwabara," she said, nodding toward the bright-haired boy. "A perfect way to hone my skills, don't you think? I would have continued, but watching you walk in big circles made me dizzy and the sound of hunger knawing in your stomachs made me pity you."

"We don't need your pity," Hiei said quietly, his hands deep in his pockets, his voice soft. The girl snorted.

"No one really needs it, Hiei, but most like to hear that you care, even if you don't. I was brought up being if just a little polite, and its a habit I have yet to shake. I, personally, hate being pitied as well, but sometimes is just the right thing to say." Thorn stopped a moment, letting her grinding words sink into the silent group. She stood there a moment before snorting and turning around on her heel, her sword bright with a song that it sang in her ear. "I'm sure this won't be the last time we meet in this city," she said as she walked back into the deepening shadows of the night.

"Hn," Hiei commented was he watched her leave before turning around himself.

"Well that was interesting," Botan said. Kurama gave a small smile as he moved to follow Hiei.

'Hiei's met his match when it comes to a quick tongue,' the kitsune mused, listening as Kuwabara, Yusuke, and Botan began to follow them. 'He's never been left without a rash comment after being spoken to like that before. Truly, it was amusing.'

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Authoress' Note: hello all! Aww, no reviews? Well that sucks. Maybe more for this chapter, hai??

Yusuke: why are you so insistent on reviews?

J: -bash-

Yusuke: @.@ gaa…..

J: They make me feel good! Geez! Why do I need a frickin' reason? I LIKE HEARING PEOPLE'S COMMENTS! -huff-

Kuwabara: -chuckle- haha Urimeshi!

J: -glare. Don't start dolt. I thought I put you through enough hell, but apparently not!

Kuwabara: -cower-

Kurama: perhaps, if you updated more frequently…?

J: -sniffle- I know and I'm so sorry! Life's been hectic! I'll try to update more often. Although, I must admit, reviews really do make me update sooner. If I get enough reviews I'll update in just a couple days! Okay! I'll try to make up for it…somehow. Lol. Okay! Let's get this show on the road. Disclaimer. Hmm, who to torture?! I pick……Hiei!

Hiei: -groan- damn.

J: ^_^

Hiei: J-san does not own Yu Yu Hakusho, although all original plots and characters ex: BlackFire, Thorn, etc. are hers to claim.

Please review! ^_^