(3rd person POV)
The first of Byakko's pets was quick to attack while Kuwabara was distracted and left four shallow gashes on his chest, only the boy's reflexes saving him from getting a heavier injury, though the sudden pain made him fall to his knees for a moment. "Damn, it wounded him!", Yusuke cursed, clenching his fists. The ginger stood and glared at Byakko, "You want to play hard? I'm on!", he shouted, taking a ready stance, then he attacked the closest beast head on, but it easily dodged and slashed at him like the other one had done.
"Kuwabara, come back here!", Urameshi called out to him, but he was not in the mood to listen. He attacked again and again, the odd creatures evading every blow with unnerving ease. "I'm afraid he's doomed", Hiei said and though his face betrayed nothing, judging from his tone it seemed like he hated having to say it, "With the way he's fighting, it won't take long for those beasts to tear him to shreds". "Stop being a jinx!", Sayuri scolded him, then shouted, "Come on Kazuma, you can do it! Show them who's the boss!".
Unfortunately, her encouragement didn't seem to work, for the poor boy was hit several times, until he fell to his knees once more and Yusuke paled with worry and anger. "Kuwabara, let me take care of them! They would be too many for everyone! I can get rid of them with my Spirit Rifle, but you can only fight up close and that's putting you at a disadvantage!", he yelled. Kazuma ignored him and got to his feet, throwing himself in the fray and the vixen shook her head, split between admiration and worry. "He is strong-willed, I give him that. But I wish he would just let us take over".
"Kuwabara! Come back…". "Why don't you shut the hell up?!", the ginger shouted back, turning to glare at the other human, "I'm not giving up and besides, I haven't even faced Byakko yet! Watch out, Urameshi: if you dare try to help me, I'll kill you first!", he growled. "Stubborn ass", the black-haired human watched as his best friend got hurt again and again and finally, he took a couple of steps forward out of desperation, "Stop being so stubborn, let me fight with you! There's too many of them, you'll never be able to stake them all with your sword!". Those words lighted up a bulb in Kazuma's head, "Stake them…All in one…", he grinned and ran back towards his group, the beasts hot on his heels and since the bridge was so narrow, they had to line up one behind the other.
Hiei smirked, "What a buffoon! You dropped the mask at last", he spat, but Sayuri shook her head. "Shut up, Hiei: Kazuma's got a plan and it's a clever one too", she said, causing the fire demon to stare at her in surprise. "Clever, him?". Byakko laughed out loud, "Trying to run is useless!". Kuwabara stopped and turned, "In your dreams. Who said I was running?", he grinned again and faced the beasts, his Spirit Sword held horizontally in front of his chest, "Sword, lengthen!".
And sure enough, the sword became a long spear and impaled the beasts one by one, until they were all trapped on it like pigs on a spit. It was the vixen's turn to laugh out loud, "Excellent work, Kazuma! You're a smart guy". He blushed crimson and smiled back proudly, "Thank you", he ran towards them and forced the beasts to run in circle around the small tower and when he had completed the circle, he joined his sword in a ring of energy from which the monsters could not get free.
The other males were baffled, Byakko included. "What? What's that?", the Saint Beast asked, completely dumbstruck. "A new recipe by Kuwabara: Spirit Sword Monster Beast Donut!", the ginger announced, planting his hands on his hips with a laugh and Sayuri patted his back. "That was amazing, you were great!". "He locked the two ends of the sword together…If I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't believe it", Hiei commented, stunned. "Monster beast donut?", Kurama repeated, equally baffled.
"Yeah, pity that they probably taste like shit, or we could eat them", Yusuke quipped, turning to smirk at Byakko. The Saint Beast was not pleased at all with that stunt and narrowed his eyes angrily, "You little impudent human, it would have been better for you to be torn to pieces by my pets!". "Yeah, but did you see what happened to them?", Kazuma shot back, "Get ready, 'cause I was just warming up!". "Arrogant child! Now you've really made me angry!". "Sorry to break it to you, but your pets are toast and you're next".
Big mistake: Byakko dissolved his pets, then jumped down of the platform and landed in front of him…But he didn't make a move to dodge when the ginger slashed at him with his sword. He actually let himself be hit twice, yet there was no wound to be seen on his chest. Sayuri frowned, "No blood? That can't be. Unless…". "There's something wrong", Kurama said. "Indeed", Hiei nodded. "Why do you say that?", Yusuke asked, frowning. "Look at them more closely", the fire demon replied, "Kuwabara has the upper hand, no doubt about that. And yet, he looks more exhausted than his opponent".
The vixen smiled to herself, she had not missed that Hiei had just called the ginger by his name instead of using an insult, but she didn't comment on it, "Byakko seems bigger than before and Kazuma's sword got smaller", she said and her eyes widened when she understood, "Son of a bitch!", she cursed in pure Dean Winchester style. Her companions looked at her as one, "What?". "That piece of shit is using my tactic! He is absorbing Kazuma's energy. Seriously, it took me more than three centuries to create my energy-draining leech plant and he was just born with this ability: how's that fair?", she complained, sulking like a petulant child. Her brother sighed, "We have more pressing concerns now, Yuyu", he scolded her and she sulked harder, crossing her arms on her generous chest. "Uff. Fine".
Kuwabara summoned more energy and attacked again, but Byakko just ate his power little by little and tossed him around like a ragdoll, again and again and again, until the boy sagged to the ground, exhausted and in pain. The Saint Beast let out a mocking laugh, "This bug has more spirit energy that I thought, I could explode". That gave the human an idea and he summoned his sword again, but this time it looked more like a dagger and he was slapped away like a fly. "So, have you finally decided to give up and you're praying for your soul?", Byakko mocked him, causing the teenager to grit his teeth in anger.
"Shut up! I'm fed up with listening to your bullshit!". "As you wish: soon there will only be silence!", the beast raised his claw, ready to strike…But with an unexpected burst of energy, Kuwabara summoned his Spirit Sword one last time, which shone like a beacon and burned with power. He tried one last attack by pushing every drop of his spirit energy into the sword even if he knew how dangerous it was and his recklessness paid off: Byakko exploded in a burst of golden light and mist.
Sayuri immediately ran to Kuwabara and knelt at his side, gently stroking his large back, "How are you?", she asked, worried. "Better now that I see you", he answered with heart-shaped eyes and behind them, Hiei snorted, ruby eyes burning with anger. "If you're done hitting on her, we should go", he snapped. "Relax, Hiei!", Yusuke spoke up, "We've already taken down two of the Saint Beasts, we're cool!". A ring sounded from his pocket and he took out the small communicator Botan had given him, "Yusuke, this is Botan from Human World, over". "Yeah, I hear you". "How is it going there? Have you already defeated three out of the four Saint Beasts?". He rolled his eyes, "No, Botan and I'm surprised you're asking: you know that those monsters have an incredible level of power!".
"I know, but the situation here is getting out of hand: for now, the violent subject infected by the insects of Demon World are being kept under control by the sane people, but it's also true that the insects are spreading everywhere with really disastrous effects!", the reaper replied, "You must stop them!". "Yeah, I got it. Keep your eyes open". "Of course. I was just tailing one of the infected humans…", she cut herself off and looked up, alarmed, as a shadow fell over her. A zombie-like groan was heard and the image shook as she jumped to her feet and sprayed the human with the special mix from Spirit World, killing the parasite and freeing the human, "Well, I'll see you later, Yusuke, now I'm busy".
He nodded and put away the little communicator, while Kurama relaxed slightly. "Well, I think we can move forward now", he said, but the words had barely left his mouth, that Byakko's roar resounded through the air and his sister clenched her teeth. "Him again?!", she snarled, exasperated. "The bridge is crumbling, LET'S GO!", Kurama shouted and they sprinted towards the castle, just in time as the platform they had been standing on crumbled to pieces.
"Hey Byakko, where are you?", Kuwabara yelled. "I am impressed by your courage and I'm waiting you in my favorite room, the Hell Pit". "Ah, don't worry, I'm coming!". Sayuri shot him a worried look, "Maybe you should get some energy back before fighting again…". "Don't even think of it, Yuyu", Kurama cut her off sternly, "You may need to fight again at some point". "Oh, come on, just a little bit? Besides, Yusuke will fight Suzaku and as for Seiryū, Hiei can take care of that, no? Pleeeeeeease, Rara!", she said, making puppy eyes at her brother. "No".
"Pretty please? Just an itty bitty small drop?". "I said no and you know that I mean it". She pouted and crossed her arms on her chest, "Uff. Fine", she muttered. He smiled and walked ahead and when he wasn't watching, she grabbed Kuwabara's hand and gestured for him to be silent as she transferred some of her energy to him. The ginger blushed and nodded gratefully, enjoying the feeling of her soft hand in his…
And then, Kurama spoke up without even turning around, startling them both, "I thought I told you not to do it". "He needed that!", she protested and he sighed. "Suit yourself then. Don't say I didn't warn you". "You're too protective". Now he turned and smiled at her softly, "I'm your brother, that's my job". She smiled back and dropped Kuwabara's hand to hug the fox, "I love you". "I love you too", he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her for a moment before letting go, "Now get ready, Byakko may have some unpleasant surprise in store for us".
"It won't help him: he will get his ass handed to him like Genbu did", she replied with a shrug. Hearing her words, Kazuma beamed and laughed, "Heard that, Urameshi? She's got faith in me!". "Yeah, probably because she doesn't know you well enough", Yusuke shot back and as usual, they began bickering until the vixen cleared her throat. "Can you please stop arguing, guys? It's annoying and very unattractive", she said, hiding a smirk and just as she had predicted, the ginger immediately forgot about the argument and waltzed to her side with heart-shaped eyes. "Of course, it won't happen again. And I'm sorry for that dumbass' rudeness". "HEY!".