Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or Inuyasha or any of their characters. I do, however, own any OCs created and the story written.

Chapter 8: Byakko's Lair

Previously:

"Well, shall we go?" Kurama said pleasantly.

The ground began to shake. A horribly familiar roar began to echo from somewhere below.

"Don't tell me," groaned Yusuke.

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"He's alive. Hurry, it's collapsing!" Kurama led the way off the platform they were standing on and towards the castle tower as the stones beneath their feet started crumbling to the ground.

Byakko's disembodied voice taunted them. "So, human. You've proven to be quite a worthy prey."

"Hey, aren't you dead yet?" Kuwabara asked out loud.

"Ha! Very much alive! And to reward your strength, I'm inviting you into my lair. My Room of Hell."

"Sounds lovely." Kagome smiled sarcastically, "Will there be mimosas?"

"What if we say no?" Kurama said fiercely.

Byakko laughed. "You don't want to say no."

Kuwabara smirked, "Just lead the way, Byakko. I'll go wherever you want."

The opened to reveal a very hot stone hallway.

"Oh, that's great." Yusuke complained, "Now we're walking into a preheated over."

"Who cares." Kuwabara grumbled, "As long as it leads to Byakko."

"Okay. You go first."

Kurama rolled his eyes, "Come on."

"Yeah," Kagome said, pulling everyone in, "quit being such babies."

"Babies?" Kuwabara looked at Yusuke, "What happened to your cousin?"

"Beats me."

The five of them walked through the small tunnel and entered a room that was filled with lava that stretched across the cavern. Peppered throughout were small stone platforms, strategically placed certain distances apart.

"Give me a break!" Yusuke jumped back from the ledge, "I guess Room of Hell wasn't just a clever name." He looked down in dismay, "That's…"

"Lava." Kuwabara ripped off a piece of his already torn jacket and tossed it into the bubbling lava, where it instantly disintegrated.

"We better not fall into that, guys," Kuwabara said nervously.

"Gee, ya think?" Kagome rolled her eyes as she stood to the back with Kurama.

"A fine view, isn't it?" Byakko laughed manically as he stood on the largest platform in the center of the room. "This is my private chamber. I come here to… play."

Kagome smirked, "He's certainly deflated."

Kuwabara gasped. "No way! He's back to normal!"

"I just said that."

"Monster, you piss me off!" Yusuke growled.

"As you've already discovered, this room is filled with lava that will melt anything it touches," Byakko smirked, "So, does anyone have the courage to come and challenge me?"

"You bet I do, circus freak!" Yusuke yelled. "You think you've got so much power?!"

Kuwabara laid a hand on his shoulder. "Leave him to me, Urameshi."

Yusuke stared, "Kuwabara."

Byakko laughed, "Let the sword-man come. He and I have a very pressing score to settle."

"You got that right Byakko!" Kuwabara shouted, walking to the edge of the platform, "I'll be beating you up in ways the Vet can't even fix."

"There's no need to push yourself." Hiei said, shocking the group, "You have fought well enough, now let Yusuke battle, so you can heal in the small chance we need you again."

"I'm sorry Hiei, but I just don't think I could do that! You see, I got this thing called a code. And it says no matter how ugly a fight gets, I always finish it! Even if it means risking my life."

Hiei scoffed, "A human with an honor code."

Yusuke groaned, "You can't argue with the guy. He's like a mule."

"Yes, he's almost as stubborn as you." Kurama said, sounding amused.

"At least let me sooth some of your aches, Kuwabara." Kagome laid a hand on his arm, "Please?"

"Well, okay."

She took a deep breath and eased some of her Reiki into him.

"What? Have you all surrendered?" Byakko shouted, tired of waiting.

"Shut up! I'm coming you impatient hairball." Kuwabara yelled, "Give me a minute, will ya?" He looked down at the Miko, "All good?"

"For now."

"Thanks." He nodded and went to jump down to the pillar below. Just as his foot connected, the stone crumbled beneath him and he began to fall. He managed to grab a hold of the edge to keep from going down.

"I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die…" Kuwabara whimpered and he pulled himself back up.

"Hey!" Yusuke hollered. "Are you sure you don't want me to tag in?!"

"Shut up, Urameshi! I'm completely on top of this. I just got distracted because it's so hot in here!" Kuwabara stripped off his coat and dropped it onto the platform.

"Now I'm ready to fight." He charged up his Spirit Sword and smiled, "Thanks for the recharge, Kags!"

"You're welcome, Kuwabara!" She smiled down at him, "Now kick his butt!"

"You've got it!" He smirked, "Come claw at me whenever you want, Byakko!"

The tiger laughed. "Actually, I was planning to use… a different kind of attack this time."

"That's fine with me."

Byakko spread his arms and began to power up. Black sparks of energy seemed to be gather around him. He clutched at his throat and bright light gathered in his monstrous mouth.

"What is that?" Yusuke asked, staring in disbelief.

"Something powerful." Kurama said.

"Very." Hiei and Kagome glanced at one another at their shared thought.

The Beast spit out a massive ball of blazing green orb of energy that was crackling with black sparks and sent it flying at Kuwabara.

"So it does exist," Hiei said quietly, scaring Kagome a little more.

Kuwabara held his sword in position. "You'll have to do better than that! With my good old Spirit Sword, I can knock that baby out of the ballpark into your face!"

Kurama shouted a warning. "No! You mustn't touch it! Get away!"

"MOVE!" Kagome yelled.

Kuwabara jumped high off his platform and landed on another. He looked over in shock as Byakko's attack obliterated the area he'd just been standing on.

"Hey, my jacket!" Kuwabara whined.

"Be thankful it wasn't you, jackass!" Kagome shouted, "Now pay attention!"

"You just get bossier and bossier."

She frowned, "I swear, the minute Genkai teaches me how to make those beads…"

The other three looked at her as she muttered, "You know," Yusuke said, looking at the two demons, "she's talked about these beads before. It's starting to scare me."

"If they're prayer beads," Hiei smirked, "you should be. Mikos can charm them to make the wearer do whatever they want, on command."

"What?!" He looked at his cousin who just smirked at him over her shoulder, "I guess once she learns how to make them, we should try to stay on her good side."

"Good idea."

The gravelly laugh of Byakko echoed around the cavern. "You like it? I call it my Tiger Scream. Everything it touches transforms into a pile of ashes!"

"For years, I have heard of a fighter who could destroy molecular bonds with the vibrations of his voice." Hiei watched solemnly, "I never thought I'd meet him."

"So he can't use his Spirit Sword on it?" Yusuke asked, worried.

"No," Hiei confirmed. "The sword would cause a chain reaction that would destroy his entire spirit."

"What about my Reiki?"

Hiei looked back at Kagome, intrigued, "I'm not sure. You're powerful, but I don't know if you're strong enough to take on that attack. Not without more training."

"Figured."

Byakko glared across the lava, "All you can do now is run!" He fired up another Tiger Scream and shot it at the teen.

Kuwabara had to jump off of four different pillars as the blast destroy one after another. He chuckled, "I guess I'm too fast for ya." He looked up in time as another came flying right at him. He dodge three more times, but he was starting to tire.

"Had enough?" Byakko howled. Sharp Spirit blades protruded from his paw and sent them after the teen. "Tiger Claw!"

The boy nearly stumbled off his platform, but managed not to get hit. He grinned defiantly at the Tiger Beast. "You ain't so bad!"

Byakko chuckled as he looked at the boy, impressed, "You surprise me. Still fighting, despite your frail human body."

Kuwabara scoffed, "Get used to it. Cause I'm not stopping until you die."

"That's very noble, but the truth is you've already stopped. Like all my victims before you, my Tiger Scream has proved too much!"

"I don't know what you're talking about. You never hit me once. All those freaking blasts and you missed me every single time!"

A devious smile spread across Byakko's face. "Yes, but while you've been frantically running for your life, I've ensnared you!"

"You what?" Kuwabara looked around frantically.

"Take a look around you!" Byakko gloated. "I've destroyed every single pillar in your jumping reach. You have nowhere to go. Except of course for the pillar I'm standing on. With all your efforts, you might be able to reach me. But then I will kill you myself. Once again, I'll let you choose your way to die. Either burn up in the lava, or be eaten by me."

Yusuke was sweating. "Kuwabara."

Kurama glanced at Hiei. "Can you reach him, Hiei?"

"If need be."

"You guys better stay put!" Kuwabara yelled. "You're whispering to each other about how you can rescue me, aren't you? How many times do I have to tell you I don't want your help?!"

Yusuke stared incredulously. "I don't understand that guy. Does he not realize he's about to die?"

Kurama looked thoughtful. "Perhaps he's still devising an attack."

Hiei scoffed, "Perhaps he's a fool."

Kuwabara chuckled as he looked back up at Byakko, "Those guys are just anxious to fight. Don't worry about them."

The Beast laughed at Kuwabara once more. "Idiot! They were your last chance to survive. With a roar, he charged up another Tiger Scream.

Kagome watched with a smile as she caught a glimpse of Kuwabara's conniving grin.

"He's jumping!" Kurama gasped.

They watched as the teen jumped off just as the platform exploded.

"Kuwabara!" The cousins yelled in unison as they watched their friend start to fall.

"He didn't make it!" Kurama exclaimed.

Kagome calmed herself as Kuwabara's hand lit up as he fell, "Wait."

Byakko laughed in elation. "Actually I lied. You could never have reached me!" He stopped laughing when he heard his opponent cry out.

Next thing they knew, Kuwabara's shot his sword out into the little arew of rack at the base of the pillar that the Beast was on. He extended it and the force catapulted Kuwabara above the platform. On his way down, he sank his fist into a shocked Byakko's jaw, sending the tiger off the platform and into the lava below. Unfortunately, Kuwabara followed him down.

"Kuwabara!" Yusuke screamed, not seeing his friend. "No, he can't."

"Yusuke." Kagome touched his shoulder as he fell to his knees, "He's…"

"It's… it's wrong. You can't die!" He howled. "It's all so stupid! We're protecting the world, so who's protecting us?!"

"Hey, can I get some help here?"

"Come on you guys, hurry up! I think I can feel something slipping!"

Yusuke stared in shock. "He's… alive?"

"How fortunate," Hiei said, his voice laced with irony.

They made their way over and looked down at the dangling teen,. "You had me scared there, Kuwabara. For a second, I thought you'd bit the dust,"

"Yeah, yeah. It's exciting. Now help me up!"

Hiei was expressionless. "Well. An interesting strategy. Maybe we should let you kill the other Beasts this way too."

Kagome smiled, "Good idea."

"Yes." Kurama nodded in agreement.

They could practically see the sparks flying from Kuwabara's eyes. "No way, you guys. I've done my share of fighting for this trip. Now would you please stop goofing around and help me up?!"

Yusuke grinned. "But we can't Kuwabara. Don't you remember? You said you'd kill us if we helped you."

"Yes," Kurama chuckled. "It goes against your honor code."

"We wouldn't want to deprive you of your honor." Kagome giggled.

Kuwabara nearly exploded. "That doesn't count! Once I beat him it's ok. See?"

"Well," Yusuke stood up wit a smile, "we've still got two more Saint Beasts to fight. Might as well get going."

Kurama nodded as he joined him, "Yes."

"We'll catch up with you later, Kuwabara!" Yusuke called down, "Hang in there!"

Kagome giggled as the dangling teen stuttered, "Hey, come on, guys, wait!" He yelled as he started freaking out, "No, no-no! You didn't leave, did you? Come on guys! Hey…"

"As funny as this is," Kagome grabbed her cousins arm, "we still need him."

He sighed, "All right." He and Kurama leaned down and pulled the cloth that Kuwabara was hanging from. Kagome focused her Reiki on it to keep it from tearing and sending the struggling teen into the lava.

"Finally!" He huffed, once he was safely with the others, "What's wrong with you, Urameshi?!" He got up into Yusuke's face, "I could've died!"

"You could've died fighting Byakko." Kagome grabbed his arm and tugged, "Now quit complaining and let's go. We have work to do."

Hiei smirked, "What a woman."

Kurama sighed as he watched jump off onto the next pillar, "Tell me about it."

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They ran up the stairs of the next tower for what seemed like an hour. They finally came through a door and entered the next room. "What? You're kidding me!" Yusuke exclaimed as they stared at identical doors lining the walls.

"It appears we have found a maze in Maze Castle," Hiei said.

"Well I guess that makes sense," Yusuke shrugged.

"We must beware, it's something of a legend," Kurama said. "In the beginning, before the barrier wall was erected around the city, hundreds of Bounty Hunters came in search of the Beasts. None succeeded. The Beasts never left their tower, letting anyone who made it into the castle forfeit their lives to this maze. There are fifteen doors and all but one leads to a dead end. There are no second attempts. Unavoidable traps line the incorrect passageways. So you see, a poor choice seals our fate."

"Okay, Mr. Sensitive this one's all yours!" Yusuke said, clapping Kuwabara's shoulder.

Kagome stepped forward, "I've got it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Just give me a moment." She examined the doors closely, letting her Reiki guide her, "The second door on the left."

"You heard the girl, let's go," Yusuke said, heading for the selected door.

"How do we know she's not making a mistake?" Hiei asked, looking at Kagome, "No offense, but these doors were not built with Mikos in mind."

She shrugged, "None taken."

"I'm sorry, shorty, maybe it's not your thing, but you're just gonna have to trust her on this one." Kuwabara glared, "I'm feeling what she's feeling and I know that there's something big behind this door." He opened the door and stared into the hall, "Something scary." He stumbled backwards, falling as a mouse scurried across the floor. "I hate mice!"

Yusuke rolled his eyes, "Gee, Kuwabara, and that speech of yours was getting so dramatic!" He laughed as he walked to the door, "Scaredy cat."

"Didn't he just throw a giant cat into lava?" Kagome asked, following her cousin, "I mean, if he can defeat Musashi, barely survive Rando and one of the Four Saint Beast, how in the world is he scared of a tiny mouse?"

"Welcome to the bizarre world of Kuwabara's mind."

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"Well he apparently chose the correct door," Hiei said reluctantly. They had continued forward until coming to a large set of doors with two dragon statues outside. "Are we supposed to be scared?"

"Please tell me that next Beast isn't a Dragon?" Kagome lamented, "Nothing good ever came from Dragon Demons."

"Unfortunately, the statues are the mark of the Blue Dragon," The fox said, shrugging apologetically, "Judging by the scent, I'd say the Beast is inside."

Kuwabara nodded in agreement, "Yeah, and he doesn't feel very nice."

Kagome shuddered, "I agree. Take everything we felt in the Dark Forest and combine it with Rando's true form." She looked at Yusuke and Kuwabara, "And that's just the gritty frosting on top of an already soured cupcake of Makai insects, creepy mazes, haunted castles, thunderstorms, a crushing rock ceiling, a giant talking stone demon and Byakko, the bloated cat, in his lava room."

"Geez, cuz," The two boys goggled, "way to be all depressing."

"And make me even more scared." Kuwabara's legs started shaking again.

"Oh, well. We gotta do what we gotta do, right?" She asked, shrugging.

The doors clicked as they were swung open on their own, emitting a creepy fog through the entrance. As soon as the five of them entered the room, the doors swung shut behind them and fog thickened to where it impeded their sight. "It feels like this fog is alive." Kagome said, looking around them.

"It must be some form of Spirit Energy coming from our Beast's body." Hiei agreed.

"You have done very well to come this far." A voice spoke out through the fog, "But I shall no longer allow you to disgrace my master."

"Where's that voice coming from?" Kuwabara asked, looking around.

"I don't know," Yusuke replied. "Come out now, dragon! This whole hide and seek thing's getting pretty lame."

Lighting cracked overhead, blinding them. When it stopped, the fog had disappeared and an incredibly tall blue demon was standing in the center of the room. "As you request."

"A giant!" Kuwabara exclaimed, staring in shock.

"He's no bigger than Byakko, dill weed." Kagome scoffed.

The demon chuckled, "You may call me Seiryu. I am here now to end your lives, intruders." He smiled, "The girl amuses me. I may keep her."

"Keep your eyes to yourself, ugly." She grouched, "I've seen better looking toad demons, you freak. I want nothing to do with you."

"You dare?"

"Well he's no dragon," Yusuke glared at the demon, "but I agree about the ugly part." He growled, "You're not touching her, you rancid reptile."

"It is not wise to say such things to your executioner," Seiryu pointed out before scowling. "It appears we have another guest."

"Guys, I'm not sure how to tell you this, but…" Kuwabara trailed off in shock.

"It's coming from behind us," Kagome pointed out, her senses twitching.

The doors swung open to reveal a severely burned Byakko. "You must help me."

"You're joking." Yusuke stared at scorched beast, "How did he survive?"

Kagome shook her head as they parted for the stumbling Beast, "Not sure."

"Please, Seiryu." The tiger pleaded to his ally. "These cowards, they tricked me in my own lair. They hid their true powers from me until the end. You must help me recover."

"I knocked that guy in the lava!" Kuwabara exclaimed.

"What does it take to kill this guy?" Yusuke asked, exasperatedly.

Seiryu's glare narrowed as Byakko continued into the room, "Weakling, how dare you dishonor us further! You are no longer wanted here," he said, charging an attack to his fist. "You are a disgrace."

"No!" Byakko stammered, stumbling back a few steps. "I can help you destroy them! It was a small mistake!"

Seiryu smirked and punched forward, "Ice Dragon!" He sent out a cold blast at Byakko, freezing the tiger.

"What the…" Yusuke couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Is this for real?" Kagome looked at her allies, "Anyone?"

The dragon kicked his former ally, shattering him. Byakko's head flew back towards the Detective and his team. "You were right about my fog of energy," Seiryu commented. "By lowering it to subzero temperatures, I can wrap my enemy in ice."

"You heartless bastard! How could you kill one of your own friends?" Yusuke growled.

"He was a weapon, not a friend." Seiryu said, "And like a cheap sword, he rusted."

"This race of Beasts has no sense of loyalty," Kurama explained. "Alliances are formed strictly to gain power."

Kuwabara scowled at the dragon. "I don't care what kinda race he is. It's never right to kill your own teammate, especially when they come asking you for help.

"That's cold." Kagome shook her head, "I've seen lower class demons with a better sense of loyalty."

Yusuke took a step forward, "This guy's pushed me too far. He's dead."

"Save you anger, detective," Hiei said, advancing on the dragon. "You can take their leader. I insist this fight be mine."

"Ah! Shall you be first, Hiei?" Seiryu mocked.

Hiei cut his eyes over to the head of Byakko and, taking his wrap off, threw it over the frozen appendage.

The Beast chuckled, "What was that? Tell me you're not feeling sympathy for this amateur? I was hoping you had more of a warrior's spirit."

"He's a puzzle, isn't he." The group looked over as Kurama spoke, "In times before, I've seen Hiei act with similar cruelty. But something about Byakko's execution has caused great anger in him." They listened as the two combatants started to power up, "Hiei seems to live by his own code with very complex rules. But one thing is for certain. Never before have I seen Hiei begin a fight using such an extraordinary amount of his Spirit Energy."

"Good." Yusuke nodded, "As long as he kicks some ass."

Kagome smiled as she listened to Kurama's explanation. Yoko also had a complex set of rules that he lived by. But they were more of a Thieves' Code.

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"Are you sure?"

Kagome snuggled into her love's arms, "Positive. I'll head home and tell my mom. She knows all about you and she already predicted that I may be staying."

"I just don't want you to have any regrets."

She looked up at him, "When it comes to you and what my heart is telling me, I have none. No regrets. No apprehension. No hesitation. Yes… all the way."

She paused and smirked up at him, "The ring."

He chuckled, "I didn't steal it."

She giggled, "I didn't say you did," she shrugged, "but, you know, you're a thief."

"A thief with standards." He exclaimed in mock indignation.

"Ah, yes. The Thief's Code of Honor." She nodded with a laugh, "So, the ring?"

"Belonged to my mother. I may have honor, but not all thieves do. And demons are the worse. My wards can only go so far. Since I only steal expensive, unique and powerful items, my personal effects aren't kept in the same place. What I see as a priceless family heirloom, someone else might see a piece of junk and throw it away or destroy it."

He held up her hand and studied the ring of silver filigree the his mother wore with pride, "My father hand cut this for her. They were poor at the time so he took a piece of hammered silver that he found and spent months carving and bending it to his will. He wanted to find a jewel to put in the middle of it, but she didn't want one. She loved it as it was and refused to let him change it." He kissed her hand, "I do plan on giving you a jewel, so no arguments."

She pulled her hand to her chest and covered it with her other one, "Don't you dare change this ring. I will continue your mother's love of this ring and keep it as it is. No touching. Got it?"

He chuckled, "I promise. No altering the ring. I was referring to giving you a second ring." She looked confused, "I want to mate with you. That's a demon thing. But you're a human, so I thought we'd have a small human ceremony at Kaede's village. We can even let the old Miko officiate."

"Really?" She smiled as she snuggled into his arms one more, "Softy."

"Only for you."

"There you are."

They looked up to see two female demons standing in front of them, "You're not hiding from us, are you Yoko?"

To be continued…