Legendary Thorn, Yu Yu Hakusho

[Scorose]

Title: Legendary Thorn
Summary: Mission: find the densetsunian's heir - a girl living in human world. Kurama has an idea who it might be and befriends her. What happens when they have to take her to her origin? And feelings entwine. She's a densetsunian, one of the most intense creatures. She has strange abilities and 3 people want her for it.
Rated: minor violence+fluff.

&Chapter 1; Innocence.
};----------------------------------------------------------

A young girl sat on a bench, back against the wall, searching for something in her bag. Her long, curly brown hair rested on her shoulders, as she sighed in frustration.

Silently, without notice, Kurama entered the classroom. He was sent by a clumzy teacher to get a forgotten bag. He didn't move a muscle after noticing the girl on the left, who triumphantly brought a rose up to her nose. Her eyes eased and smiled. Grabbing the rose in her right hand, she squeased it, the scent of blood intoxicating Kurama's nose.

“ What? ” she said softly.

Kurama was startled a bit. Slowly, he walked up to her.

“ You cut yourself.. ”

“ Uh.. ” she gasped. He probably thinks she's a weirdo. Which, she was, but still, it didn't mean she had to spit it out bluntly. ... I'll find an excuse about that, no big deal. “ There's nothing I can do about it, I - ” Apparently, she was talking about the blood that fell on the ground.

The redhead frowned at her. She was thinking about the mess she made, but not herself? How deep was the cut anyway?

“ You alright? ”

“ I'm fine,” she stated. Ok, think of an excuse. “ Usualy I bring two roses with me, all the time. Now, it's only one. Don't get me wrong, I was just.. “ warmth began overwhelming her cheeks. ” .. being me. What are you doing here ? Forgotten bag I suppose.”

Kurama nodded. Sweet person - he could tell. Her hair was shiny, honey brown; it seemed very silky. She had chocolate brown eyes, with black edges hiding the ocean behind them. She was extremely pale. The girl truly looked as if she was a porcelain doll. Lips were the same color as her skin - pale. She wore, as usual, ordinary jeans & sneakers, along with a crimson blouse that was of a very soft material that underlined her slim form.
Someone also entered the almost empty classroom. It was a girl. A very chirpy one too.

“ Raine! So.. c-can you help me out with that? You know..” she looked desperate.

Raine looked at her hesitantly. ” Yeah, yeah. I know. ”

The girl left without a sound. Raine frowned and grabbed her bag. She was done with everything so there was no point in staying, besides, there was that girl she promised - or, was forced - to help. As Raine sat up, Kurama got her attention by smiling and puting his hand to his back. What was he doing ?

“ Here. ”

Raine accepted his sudden *gift* with a tender smile. Her lips escaped a 'thankyou' and she left. Kurama did what he was supposed to do 5 minutes ago. Now Raine had her usual amount of roses - two.

--

“ So ? What's the mission about?” Yusuke asked enthusiasticly.

The gang was at Genkai's house; Koenma had called them for a mission.

“ Have you ever heard of the densetsunians?” everyone shook their heads. " These creatures only live in rich forests, surrounded by plain nature and silence. These peaceful creatures barely fight, and don't interfere with anyone's problems. Only to be found in the land of Spir, which is one of the most isolated forest in Makai. The densetsunians are extremely secretive, withdrawn, intense & intelligent - among other traits.” Koenma said glancing at Kuwabara who seemed in deep thought.

“ Are they some kind of animals? What about their appearence? ”

“ No, they're not animals. They have a strange bond with roses,” he stated. “ These creatures are one of the most svelt and unknown from Makai. Now, the leader of the densetsunians has contacted us. He wants their heir, who has lived in the human world until now, back. At first, he wanted to come to the human world by himself, but I sugested you do it for him. It's better this way. The limit is 2 months. ”

“ Woah! Isn't that much?” Kazuma asked.

“ Ofcourse it is,” Yusuke said dumbfounded.

“ I've heard of the densetsunians, ” Kurama softly said, “ But not too much. Only some basic information, and when they breed. As I recall, it was February. That's the only time. The reasons are unknown though,” he continued. “ Anything else we should know about them?”

“ She, the heir, most likely adores roses. Don't forget it.”

Yusuke raised his eyebrow in confusion. As the boys walked away, Kuwabara made a note.

“ She? ” his eyes sparkled.

“ Hey, stupid, dontcha think it's a romantic girl? I mean hey, roses. ” Yusuke teased.

Kurama mentally sighed.“ Perhaps, ” Everyone turned to him. “ I have an idea of who it might be. I'm not sure though.”

“ Well then, try to find out more about her.”

--

The next day, Kurama kept an eye on her. The class they had together, Biology; she was sitting near the window.

Raine did see Kurama's curios glances shot towards her. She was getting very irritated and nervous. This was one of the things she hated mostly. Someone staring at her. But .. okay, he wasn't staring. He just looked a couple of times towards her way - at her - ; she was getting paranoid.

After a 10 minutes passed, the class was getting really noisy, as usual, which gave both Raine and Kurama advantage. She took the first chance to the glare at him, then soundlessly saying 'what.'; They were talking without sounds (they were reading eachother's lips. Get my point?).

' Could we discuss through letters?' Kurama asked, only to receive a frown and a nod.

She took a paper, ' I thought we spoke two different languages. ' writing jokingly.

' After hours, I'm going out to get the books the professor is talking about. Will you come with me?'

Reading what Kurama wrote, Raine's hair, wasn't tweaked behind her ear anymore, now it was flowing freely against her face, hiding the slight blush creeping her cheeks. Darn. This is stupid. I'm being stupid. Yeah, ofcourse the word date keeps chirping in my mind. Argh. She shot him a glare, making Kurama doubtful about how he made that sound and feel stupid.

' I'm only out after 7. I have to meet at 6 with a professor regarding some papers. How bout then?' Yes, usualy Raine was out, as everyone else, at about 2 or 3, but she had to come back at 6 for some stupid papers.

He felt reliefed, then nodded towards her as the noise still lingered in the classroom, the professor yelling pointlessly.

--

Finaly finishing her last hour, Raine gracefully walked down the highschool's stairs, glancing at Kurama, who was nicely reading a book. Or atleast, ruffling the pages.

“ Hey. ” she spoke softly.

He greeted her back, closing the book he had in his hands.

They walked together to the library where the desired book was at, but it had a note saying 'Be right back'.

“ Awesome,” Raine stated sarcasticly. “ Let's sit down until it opens.” she pointed at some benches in a nearby park.

“ Sure. ”

Raine sat down on a bench, that had a tree behind it; Kurama sat beside her.

He looked at her, while she leaned on the bench, her arm covering half of her face as she looked away.

“ Why ? ” he frowned at her. “ I mean, why do you need that book? You're smart enough to know those things without the book. Or books.”

“ Why not? ” that was on impulse. Ok, he didn't think before saying that.

“ Why yes? ” she raised an eyebrow gazing her now entwined hands.

“ You're intricate,” he stated. “ Aren't you going to get that book? Or atleast ask it from someone else?” he knew this question was pointless, and it had no meaning. Still, he asked out of curiosity.

“ I doubt. ”

“ Call me Kurama. People usualy call me that way, and I'd prefer you'd call me the same.”

Raine nodded, then turned to her right, only to jaw-drop. Then, she looked back again.

What is she doing? Kurama wondered.

“ I just thought I saw your club. ” Noticing Kurama's indifferency about the topic, she continued. “ Just so that you know, I'm not part of it. Those girls are seriously freaky. ”

“ I know.. ”

She almost fell on her back when she heard fangirlish squeals and yells. Kurama looked frustrated.

“ Shuichi! We heard you came to collect a book for Biology class,” they yelled.

What a lousy attempt to try to impress him, Raine thought. Great, now we gotta go with 'em. She mentally shruged. “ Come on, Shuichi, let's go. The library is open. ” pointing at the store, Kurama nodded.

This wasn't exactly his idea of spening a day with the densetsunian.

--

They entered the store, ending the sacred silence that was needed in a place like a library. Raine frowned every now & then and felt frustrated for coming. Why did she come in the first place? Well. Let's see. I've known Shuichi from the 7th grade, and now that we're in the 9th, we know eachother for three years, yet we never communicated .. err, interacted with eachother. I've always known he's different from the other boys, but I.. she kept the silence inside her mind to not go further and discover deeper emotions she did not need. For now.

The girls kept *bumping* into Raine, intentionally. Though Kurama was too busy finding the book he was looking for, Raine was feeling left behind again. Darn. She shrugged. Didn't even notice Kurama was done and he exited the store just when she did. The girls suddenly started launching him with weird question.

Raine didn't bother staying, so she wanted to just go home, but then he grabbed her by the arm ..


};----------------------------------------------------------

[Scorose]

&Chapter 2; Acknowledge.
@};----------------------------------------------------------

She wasn't too happy or sad about the invitation, but she took it gladly.

As they arrived at Genkai's house, Raine bowed and greeted them. She was feeling nervous, since hanging out with people was always the last thing on her mind. She sucked at that point.

The cheerful Botan jumped to the new girl's side, only to lighten the air around them.

“ Everyone! Let's play Truth or Dare; come on now, it's gonna be fun..” she chirped.

“ Don't see any harm in it .. ” Raine managed to choke out somehow. She was a bit strartled by Botan's request, but agreed; she didn't know what she was supposed to do, so playing a game would just .. be okay.

They sat down in a circle, Yusuke, Raine, Kurama, Keiko, Botan, Yukina, Kuwabara and the others.

“ Alright! Yusuke, you start. ” Botan said happily.

A silly grin already spread across the punk's featurs. “ Raine, truth or dare?”

“ Truth.”

“ Do you like roses?”

Raine was a bit surprised, but she hid it. “ Yea .. ” What was she supposed to say? And what kind of question was this anyway? “ I adore them. ” Jackpot. Just as the boys, including Kurama, expected. “ Kurama, truth or dare?”

“ Dare. ” he was jumping the edge a bit, but was curios of what she will say. Oh so curios..

“ I dare you to tell me exactly what's on your mind when you're with me. For 2 months. ” Yikes. Where did that come from? Usualy she's not that .. flirty. If you could call it that way. But somewhat, she liked what she said. Not that she didn't what what she was saying, which in a way was true, nonetheless, she enjoyed this little torture Kurama was going for. Kurama nodded, and continued.

“ Keiko. ”

“ Truth,”

“ Who's the most important person in your life? ”

Keiko's cheeks gained a tint of pink. Everyone knows the answer. Why bother asking? Then again, why not. “ Yusuke. ” she stated purely. “ Botan, truth or dare?”

“ Dare, ”

“ I dare you to ask Yukina about Kuwabara.” Keiko smirked, this was her payback for all the times she dared Botan dared her to do *things* with Yusuke. Not that she didn't enjoyed them ..

Botan shifted uncomfortably. “ Alright. Truth or dare?” she asked Yukina.

“ Dare.” the ice maiden smiled purely.

“ Cuddle with Kuwabara until we leave.” Botan wasn't happy about asking her to do duch thing. She replayed the scence in her mind. Ok, now it's not a bad idea at all, she grinned.

Yukina did as she was told and layed next to Kuwabara, who was a bit blushing and had a silly grin on his face.

“ Hiei,” Kuwabara didn't even manage to think about what he was going to say, and the fire koorime already sent mental death glares that sent shivers down his spine. He cleared his throat and continued “ .. Truth or dare?”

“ Truth.”

“ Which one do you prefer, mustard or ketchup?” A bean of sweat slid down everyone's head, even Kuwabara's.

Hiei growled and shrugged. Everyone got the idea, so Yusuke proceeded with the game. Botan and Keiko exited the game, since they had to go; Hiei wasn't playing anymore for obvious reasons so Yusuke, Yukina and Kuwabra were busy doing what they had to do; Kurama and Raine were the only ones left. Keiko and Botan said their goodbyes and so the game went on.

“ Truth or dare?”

“ Truth.”

“ How do you feel about Kurama?” the question was a bit blunt, he admitted, but he couldn't control himself from asking that.

Raine nearly turned blood-red from Yusuke's irrelevant question that, for now, she felt uncomfortable answering. She frowned and placed a streak of hair behind he ear. “ I don't know. I feel what I feel and that's that.” The girl felt like digging her way out of there, or just dissappear. Considering her social-traits, this was very uncomfortable.

“ Well, it is getting late, I think that's enough fot today. Kurama, Yusuke, be sure to check back tomorrow as soon as you can. Goodnight everyone.” Genkai finaly spoke wisely. She needed to talk to Kurama if they found out anything, and obviously they couldn't do it now.

“ Yes..” Raine agreed. Kuwabara and Yusuke left, Yukina went to her room to get some sleep and Genkai did the same.

Raine walked out of the room they were in, halting when she was outside, sitting down the stairs, gazing the moon. Kurama sat beside her. She was shivering a bit. “ Here.” he offered her his orange jacket.

“ Thanks,” she smiled easily. “ It's beautiful isn't it? Some people are too busy to observe the natural beauties around them..” she wanted to say more, but it was enough, for now. She wasn't gonna open up suddenly to a person she'd know for 3 years, yet only truly acknowledged for 2 weeks (2 weeks had passed since the gang had to find the heir of the densetsunians).

“ I'm suprised. For all the time I've known you, though you've been out there, all along, now's the only time I actually got to know you.”

Wrong. “ You don't know me,” Raine whispered softly. “ .. Kurama.”

She had the saddest look in her eyes. It was dark, yet her face still kept it's angelic, porcelain state. The girl was gazing into his eyes, reading what's behind them. Both remained thoughtful for a few moments; then Raine softly broke the eye contact, only to look at the moon. She clutched at the orange material, breathing the scent of roses, which she didn't even know she was doing. After all, she adored roses, and always carried them with herself, so that would mean she's surrounded by atleast one or two all the time. Kurama also carried roses with him, which only added to the combination of the smell of roses.

“ For now. Slowly, I want to know you better, Raine.” he looked at the moon as well.

As Raine stood up, Kurama followed, she took the jacket off, placing it on Kurama and puting a finger to his lips to seal any demanding words for now.

“ Goodnight. ”

--

A few weeks passed by again.

Kurama had been searching for Raine, but couldn't find her. Where could she be? It was break after all. Probably at the lockers. He headed that way, and found her violently shutting her locker. Why was she upset? Usualy she was silent and calm.

He noticed a letter in her hands, as she heavily gazed on the words written on it.

“ Raine? ”

She gasped. “ Kurama..”

“ What's with the letter?” he asked softly.

“ N-nothing.” she took the paper, bluntly resizing it by crushing it in her palms. “ Coming? ” she asked, receiving a nod from the redhead, as they walked together home.

Down the sidewalk, Raine was awfully quiet. It was a normal thing for her, but she was barely showing any emotions, except an endless frown.

“ Raine.”

“ I'm sorry. It's really nothing. ” she reassured him by giving him the purest smile. He would have captured that smile and hid it away, just for him to keep, if he could have.

“ I-”

Yusuke came running with his trademark grin on his boyish features. They were in front of a park; since Kurama stopped, to greet Yusuke, Raine stood down on a bench. They greeted eachother.

“ Hey Kurama! We've decided to throw a *party* at the weekend, ” he put a finger to his cheek, thoughtfuly. “ Ya know, popcorn, all night munching, watching a cool movie, sleeping on the top of the couch or on the floor, that stuff. You're coming right?”

Kurama's features formed a simple smile as he nodded.

“ So, Friday night ? ” Yusuke asked Raine.

She was a bit surprised. Usualy, she would pretend nothing's wrong, that she didn't hear, she's not interested, or that she doesn't care. Looks like this time it was different. She was actually invited. Not left out..

“ Alright! I'm gonna talk to the others; I'll let you know what time exactly,” Yusuke left, crazy thoughts forming in his mind about what movie to get. Yusuke and his wack ideas.. Guess what movie he would choose. Not a very decent or boring one for sure.

Kurama sat down beside Raine and frowned.

“ You haven't been invited too many times, have you?” he gave her a tender look that lightened her a bit. Kurama slowly grabbed her chin to get her full attention.

“ True,” she looked in his eyes; with that sad look again. “ It's just that, well. I make mistakes. Everyone does.. so .. I'm imperfectly perfect. ” Raine confessed. “ Everyone is. Kurama.” she was talking about him. - He knew that and was bit suprised to hear that from her, but it was a warm feeling to know someone thought that way about you..

A tiny pink color took over her usual paleness; as she tried to hid it by attempting to take his hand away from her chin, she failed, since he grabbed both her hands and stared at her eyes, making her lose contact with the world for a few seconds.

“ Promise me something.”

Wasn't he being sudden? Or was he?

“ What? ” Raine asked softly.

“ You'll try to find your way back in this life.”

He was acting as if they'd know eachother for such a long time, yet Raine wasn't going to open up right now. She just needed a little more time .. to get to know him better. To trust him.

“ I promise. ”

Raine lowered her gaze, returning to the ocean of thoughts that was starting to overwhelm her. That letter ...