This is Chapter 10! I hope you're looking forward to this chapter! And I'm sure you'll be glad to know...this chapter is definitely longer than the last! ^0^ lol Anyway, on with the chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, especially Kurama. Nor do I own Leiko.

Enjoy!

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---5 days later

Leiko was knocking on Kuramas' door, trying to either get his attention, or get him out of bed.

"Yo! Kurama! The guys told me to tell you that we've made it to a sea port! They say it's pretty big too!" Silence. "Hey! Are you listening to me!?"

The door opened suddenly and Kurama stood there, staring at her. Feeling disoriented for a brief moment, she pushed it away.

"Cht, finally…"

"A major sea port… I wonder…" He walked right past her, going further out onto the deck and staring down at the town, obviously deep in thought.

"You're welcome!" Leiko yelled, infuriated at the fact that he had completely ignored her.

Ignoring her completely, Kuramas' eyes were on a shady figure who was sulking by a stack of ropes, his eyes hungrily staring at the ship. Narrowing his green eyes, Kurama turned to Leiko, who had crossed her arms and had looked away in irritation.

"Leiko, watch over the ship. I'll be heading to town to do something. I trust you can manage an empty ship, right?"

"I guess…" She snapped, shifting her narrow gaze to his green eyes. "That seems to be the only thing I'm good for; to be left behind and all." Her body began to shake with pent up anger. Lowering her arms to her sides, her hands balled up into fists, her whole body now shook violently with anger. "You men are all the same! Taking advantage of women and such! Sure! Just leave me here! You all assume that just because you leave us alone we're happy! Well, you know what? SCREW YOU! I'VE HAD IT WITH YOUR STUPID ATTITUDE! It's pissing me off, and you wouldn't like me when I'm angry…"

Blinking in slight confusion at where this came from exactly, Kurama couldn't help but burst out laughing. Holding his stomach, he managed to catch small amounts of breath in between his fits of laughter. Managing to catch his breath, he remained chuckling as he walked over to the even more confused Leiko.

Wrapping his arms around her in a hug, he said, "I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. I'm sorry for assuming this, but this is important. You'd best be on your guard." Standing up straight, he gazed into Leikos' bright pink face. "I don't trust anyone else with this, and I know you will not let me down." Giving her a quick kiss on the lips, he walked down the ramp and disappeared into the bustling crowds.

Blinking, Leiko managed to move her jelly-like legs over to Kurama's cabin and entered, closing the door behind her. She needed some time to think, and to try and sort out what had just happened.

---Later that evening

"Augh…where is that dolt…" Leiko murmured, glaring at the opposite wall as she sat, inclined on his chair, her eyes narrow.

Hearing the ramp creak in complaint to weight, she jumped from the chair, cringing as the chair clattered noisily to the floor. She, as quietly as she could, snuck over to the door and stood near it, wondering if she was doing a good enough job.

'I don't need to think about how I'm doing! I just need to do it! Um… Let's see… Kurama had come back earlier saying that he would stay with the other guys in that tavern. So, the only one on this ship should be me. Kurama did say that he would be back when the moon was at its highest point in the sky…' Peeking out of the nearby window, she saw that the moon was about half-way up, and that there was still some light on the horizon. 'Nope. So, it's definitely not Kurama… Then, who is it?'

Hearing boot steps on the deck caused her senses to get more alert. They seemed to be slow, as if the owner was curious and was just looking around. They suddenly stopped, causing an eerie silence to settle over the entire boat. Inhaling deeply, Leiko held her breath as she counted to 10. Hearing nothing outside, she decided to take a chance and see who it had been. Opening the door, she slowly made her way out and looked about.

With her keen eyes, and her heightened senses, she knew and felt that there was someone still on board. But, where was he? Wandering about, her narrow eyes scanning everything in sight, she failed to see anything that could possibly be above her. As she passed the crow's nest, she suddenly felt as if she were in danger. Reaching for her sword, she suddenly remembered that she had removed it earlier to relieve some of the weight.

Whirling around, Leiko saw a shadow behind her, slowly approaching her. Raising her fists in a fighting stance, she glared at him. "Just who the hell are you?"

More boot steps behind her caused her to jump, lowering her defense for an instant. The man that had been behind her tackled her, thinking that her guard was completely down. Thinking quickly, she kicked him off of her and jumped to her feet, facing the three new arrivals that held gleaming swords in their hands.

"Get the woman!" The shadowed man croaked from his fettle position, clutching his stomach tightly as he glared at her coldly.

"Come near me, and I'll knock your lights out!" Leiko shouted, pressing her back against the main mast, her eyes shifting between her new targets.

Glancing at each other, the three men charged at her at once, not wasting any time what-so-ever. Punching the first one in the forehead, and the second one in the stomach, she turned slightly to face the third one, who held double swords in his hands.

With a ferocious cry, the shadowed man tackled Leiko from behind, causing her to land heavily to on the deck.

"Augh! Get off me!"

Quickly, and skillfully, tying her wrists and ankles, he got off, whipping his brow. "She's a feisty one… You, cover her head. We wouldn't want her to see where we're going. Oh, and gag her too. You know how he hates noisy women…"

Nodding, the third man took out a white cloth and tied it over her mouth. Grabbing a burlap sack that lay near him, he covered her head. Sighing heavily, the shadowed man glared down at the wiggling form that was Leiko.

"You, carry her to the boat. But first, knock her out. Make sure she's out, also. Let's make our way back to the boss, I'm sure he's wondering where we're at by now…"

"Yes, sir,"

'What are these oafs talking about?! And, who's this 'boss' I keep hearing. Uh-oh…I hope they don't mean-'

The third man hit her in the back of the head, knocking her unconscious. Grunting in effort, he lifted the unconscious princess onto his shoulder and hauled her off, ignoring his fallen comrades. When Leiko had punched, she had ruptured the first man's skull, causing an instant death, and had rupture the second man's liver, which no one can live without. The shadowed man, mopping his brow once again, pushed the two bodies over board before leaving the ship himself, thinking that he had outsmarted his boss's younger brother. Little did he know there was someone watching him from the shadows.

---The Around Midnight

Kurama ran on board, having heard from an anonymous source just outside his bedroom that his ship was under attack. He had managed to get away from his ravenous crew only moments before and had run as fast as he could. He stopped in his tracks as he stepped onto the deck of his ship. There was an eerie silence that was covering the ship like a thick blanket, giving him goose bumps.

"Leiko! Leiko! Answer me!" He called, searching both above and below deck. "LEIKO!!!"

---At the King's hideout

The third man from the night before tossed Leiko's unconscious body heavily on the jagged floor. A few cuts decorated her arms as more and more footsteps echoed within the cavern.

"What have you brought me, Asai?"

"We've brought something that might interest you, sir."

Even though she had the burlap sack over her head, plus a gag over her mouth, a muffled groan managed to escape as she became conscious again. She tried to move, but found that she still had restrains attached to her.

"A woman?"

Leiko stiffened, realizing where she must be at. 'How the hell did they get me here so quickly!?'

"Y-yes, sir. You see, it looks like your brother has someone he adores. I saw them kissing before he left and I came aboard. I thought this might be the perfect gift for you, sir."

"Hm… We'll see… Stand her up and tie her to a stalagmite. Let's see what's underneath that burlap sack."

Leiko was roughly moved up against a large stalagmite and tied to it. Her ankles and wrists were untied, and the burlap sack removed. Bright light blinded Leiko, causing her to close her eyes and cringe slightly. Slowly opening her eyes, she came face to face with a man. Opening her eyes further, she couldn't help but stare at him in shock. He had long, silvery grey hair, sharp golden eyes, and a well built body. Not big and bulky, but definitely not a wimp either. Blinking a few times, making sure that she was seeing a real human being, and not a dream, she continued to stare.

Stepping forward slightly, he reached behind her head and began to untie the knot that kept the gag over her mouth.

"Let us dispose of this, shall we?" He asked quietly, smirking slightly as he noticed her blush. Once removed, he bent down slightly so that he could be at eye level with her. "Tell me, what is a beautiful maiden such as yourself, doing out on the seas?"

Leiko's mouth was slightly ajar, still in shock as she stared at him. Shaking her head vigorously to get herself out of the trance, she glared at him. 'I have to remember what Kurama told me! He told me never be alone with him alone… OK, that's settled, there are other people in here… Um…what else… He told me that he was strong, and that he was a womanizer… Yeah! I can use that against him! I wonder if he's as strong as Kurama says he is…?'

"You have no business asking me that!"

"Hm…I see…" Reaching down, he removed a knife from his boot and cut the ropes that bond her.

Staggering forward slightly, she fought to regain her balance before she fell into his arms by accident. Managing to do this, she stood her ground, glaring coldly at him.

He raised an eyebrow bemusedly. "You're fairly brave to stand up to me, woman." He suddenly smirked. "Although, you are not the first. Most of the others either died, or have remained with me."

"You pig! You're nothing but a sick womanizer! You do nothing but toy with the hearts of women!" She pointed an accusing finger at him, then turn and crossed her arms, looking away from him. "Now I can see why Kurama's more attractive than you are… He actually knows how to treat a woman… Plus, he doesn't over abuse his masculinity like you do..."

At this point, he had heard enough. Roughly grabbing her by her shoulders, he slammed her against the stalagmite, causing her to cry out in pain. She looked up at him in fear, her body shaking involuntarily.

"Now, you listen to me, and listen to me closely, wench. I will not have you insulting me and my mannerisms with such disrespect. You dare insult the name Youko Kurama?" he snarled, his eyes cold and narrow. "You will die a horrible death…"

Leiko managed to get out of his grip. Taking a few steps back, she glared at him coldly, her right hand clutching her left shoulder tightly.

"Don't you dare touch me, you filthy sea rat!"

Youko's eyes flashed dangerously, but his expression was calm and cool, showing just how dangerous he could be. Taking a step forward, he glared coldly at her, studying her features.

Leiko took a step back, gritting her teeth as she did so. 'Damn it! What the hell am I supposed to do now!?'

Without warning, someone attempted to tackle her from behind. Hearing him coming, Leiko quickly moved out of the way. Another man grabbed her wrist, but she used that leverage and kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying backwards while crying out in pain. Youko grabbed her shoulder from behind suddenly, using her momentum to turn herself around. Using this momentum, Leiko raised a fist and threw it at him, thinking that it would land. Raising his right hand, he easily caught her fist. Clutching it tightly, he glared into her eyes, and slowly forced her wrists back into a submissive move.

Crying out in pain, Leiko could do nothing as he held her wrist in that pinning move. Youkos' smirk soon faded as his eyes traveled to her captured fist. Releasing his grip on her fist, he quickly caught her wrist so that she wouldn't get away. Inspecting her hand, he grabbed the other one and held them up to his face so that he could see properly. Lowering them both, his smirk returned as his narrow and mischievous eyes fell upon and held her eyes.

"It appears my brother and I have similar taste…"

"What are you talking about, you creep?!" Leiko cried, trying to pull her hands away from him.

"You are no ordinary she-pirate. You are a princess. And, now that I think about it," He leaned in closer to her face, studying it closely. Leiko tried to look away, but since he held her wrists, her movement was limited. He smirked suddenly. "Ah, yes, I remember now. Princess Leiko, of the kingdom by the sea… Heh, to think that my brother actually kidnapped you… It appears as if we're more alike than each of us believes."

Vines came out of nowhere and wrapped themselves firmly around Leiko's body. Letting go of her wrists, her arms fell to her sides automatically before being encased in the vines as well.

As her body hit the ground, Youko shouted, "Bring that other woman. We shall test my brother when he comes; see how much his precious princess is worth." He walked off, leaving the princess encased and alone.

Cursing herself, she could only hope that Kurama would save her before her life was forfeit.

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And that's the end of chapter 10! I hope you've enjoyed it! Now is where I'm starting to write more detailed, I'm sure you've noticed. The next chapter, I wrote during the last few months of school this year, so it's pretty fresh. I'm sure you'll enjoy it, if you've stuck with this story until now! ^_^ Thanks for that! Oh, and please review!

Oh, and don't forget, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! ^.^