Chapter 25: Two Down.

With Kuwabara out of the way, being healed by Yukina off to the side, Braeden faced his last three opponents: Kurama, Hiei, and Yusuke. All of them were poised in a defensive stance, awaiting his next attack. This made him smirk. He had developed quite a name around, powerful with great demonic powers. His name could strike fear in the lack of hearts of so many other demons. Yet, he was impressed that the people he faced now hadn't run off yet or gave in. Either they were all very stupid or they were all extremely brave.

"Are you ready?" Braeden asked the three of them.

"Do you even have to ask?" Yusuke retorted.

The demon smirked again and bowed his head slightly. "I guess not." With much grace, he threw his hand straight up into the air and brought it down just as quickly, slicing his face in half with his thin hand. Then he thrust his hand out sideways, and soon a small red glow could be seen emanating from his fingertips. The light seemed to get brighter and brighter, blinding the three males until they had to shield their eyes with their hands.

"What is that?" Yusuke asked, staring at the unearthly glow.

Before he could be answered, the light disappeared. Everyone gasped except for Amaranta. She had seen this trick before. It was nothing new. The trees were deathly silent now, waiting to see what would happen next. All of a sudden the same red light shot towards each person of the small Urameshi team. Knowing that it couldn't be good, everyone ducked, missing the path of the light.

"What the hell is going on!?" Yusuke shouted from the ground.

"Be careful," Kurama warned. "Those blasts are very powerful. They are even deadly for most."

Yusuke looked behind him as the trees backing his friends and himself up were all blown backwards, taking their roots with them. Then, the light vanished. Slowly, everyone go to their feet, wondering what that attack could have been. Braeden stood perfectly still. Yusuke growled lightly.

Without hesitation or warning, the spirit detective took off at a sprint towards the demon, who still didn't move from his impending doom. Getting close, Yusuke stuck out his finger like a gun. However, before he could fire, he noticed something black out of the corner of his eye. He turned and felt a jolt of pain as he got kicked in the jaw. He fell to the ground hard.

"Kurama, were you able to see how fast he moved?" Hiei asked, calmly.

"No," the fox demon breathed. "It looked as if he had stayed standing where he was the whole time."

"Hn."

Yusuke slowly got to his feet, shaking slightly. He ignored the call from Keiko and Botan, and faced his opponent with a hard stare.

"That was a lucky hit. You're not going to get another one in." He slid his arm over his lips, wiping away the small trace of blood that threatened to spill down his chin.

"Whatever you say, Mr. Spirit Detective." Braeden grinned.

"Spirit gun!" Yusuke yelled, holding out his finger again. This time the blue light started flickering at his finger and soon an orb of blue spirit energy raced towards the spot where his foe stood.

The orb hit, causing a bright flash to go off. In that moment of weakness, Braeden saw his opportunity and fired a red orb of energy towards Yusuke. Yusuke looked up from shielding his eyes to see it coming towards him. It was going to fast, he wouldn't be able to move in time. He braced for an impact that never came. Instead he heard a woman's wail of pain and felt another body slam into his, knocking both of them over.

Leaning up on his hands, Yusuke saw Botan's immobile figure lying across his own.

"Botan!" he screamed.

He scrambled to turn her over and saw that the orb had ripped the skin on her torso open some. There was blood everywhere. He quickly picked her up in his arms and rushed over to Yukina.

"Yukina, you've got to heal her! Quickly! Before it's too late!"

"Set her down, please," Yukina ordered.

Yusuke did as told. He kneeled next to Botan, grasping her cold hand in his own.

"This is going to take a little while because the wound is large," she replied, starting the process.

"Stay there and watch after her, Yusuke. Hiei and I will fight Braeden," Kurama remarked.

"Come on! You think I am just going to sit here and let him do this to her?" Yusuke retorted.

"For once in your life, Urameshi, don't be a fool." Hiei looked over at him. "Your place is by Botan's side for now. You are the one that made her feel guilty and end up sacrificing her own life for yours. She even knew that you wouldn't be nearly as badly hurt as she is now. She still did it to win over your trust, once more."

Yusuke was a bit surprised at what he had to say. He looked down at Botan then back up at Hiei, squeezing her hand tighter in his.

"Fine," Yusuke gave in. "But I want you two to really kick his ass for me."

Yusuke smirked at Kurama and Hiei. They turned to face their opponent. Two down, two to go.