Episode 17

## Episode 17 Screenshots

**Byakko's Lair** (白虎·地獄の雄叫び, *Byakko Jigoku no Otakebi*?, lit. **Byakko's Hellish Roar**) is the seventeenth episode of the Yu Yu Hakusho anime and the Spirit Detective Saga.

## Summary

After a harrowing fight on a collapsing bridge, Byakko is seemingly defeated. But as soon as the Spirit Detective team enters the castle’s next wing, a fearsome tiger roar bids Kuwabara to round two—in Byakko’s secret lair. Can this Beast be beaten once and for all, in a room of molten lava?

## Plot Details

Kuwabara continues to strike Byakko with a recharged Spirit Sword despite knowing it feeds the tiger's spirit. Kuwabara manages to stab Byakko in the mouth, but this only makes it easier for the White Tiger to consume the Spirit Sword whole. Byakko admits Kuwabara had more power than he expected and the brash young fighter tries to forge another sword only for it to be greatly undersized. Byakko thrashes Kuwabara and Yusuke worries this might be the end for his friend.

Kurama believes that Kuwabara may have a chance if he can exploit Byakko's vulnerability. Byakko appears to be getting full and he stopped enlarging halfway through his last attack. Hiei claims that Kuwabara will never be able to see it and Koenma agrees from his office. While getting clobbered by Byakko, Kuwabara senses the energy within his stomach is unbalanced. He hitches the rest of his energy on one last attack and manages to overload Byakko's energy absorption ability.

The energy within Byakko explodes and his footing gives way, sending him crashing down. With the White Tiger appearing to be defeated, Kuwabara tries to regain his energy but Kurama reveals it returned to him automatically. Botan calls Yusuke and tells him the city is in a state of emergency and it won't be long before even the police force will be infected by the Makai Insects. After the call is over, Byakko's roar shakes the area and collapses the rest of the footing.

Yusuke and the others make it to the entrance of the next area. The White Tiger invites them inside his Room of Hell. Still confident, Kuwabara agrees to fight inside Byakko's lair. They enter the room of hell, a hot arena filled with pillars holding up platforms over lava. Byakko reappears in fine shape and challenges Kuwabara. Hiei advises Kuwabara to let Yusuke take over, but he refuses to go back on his honor code.

Kuwabara steps up to the challenge but immediately loses his footing and almost falls into the lava. He survives and takes off his jacket before summoning his Spirit Sword. Byakko uses a different plan of attack and fires his Tiger Scream at Kuwabara. The White Tiger can reduce anything to ashes with just the vibrations of his voice, meaning Kuwabara has no hope of blocking this technique. Kuwabara jumps from platform to platform avoiding the vibration attacks.

Byakko strikes Kuwabara with long-ranged tiger claws and admits he's impressed with Kuwabara's resilience. Byakko then reveals that he's trapped Kuwabara by destroying all the stones within his jumping range. The tiger gives Kuwabara the choice of falling into the lava or leaping straight into his grasp. Kuwabara's footing is destroyed and leaps toward Byakko and appears to fall short. However, Kuwabara summons his Spirit Sword and vaults over Byakko before striking him with a powerful right hook, appearing to knock them both into the lava.

Yusuke despairs and cries out for his lost friend, but Kuwabara reveals he's alive and is using his sash to hang on to the platform. He feels himself slipping and asks for help from the others. They come to his rescue but they don't pull Kuwabara up, joking that helping him would go against his honor code.

## Credits

* Cast
* Staff