All right, I was bored, and tired, so I decided to update. ^^ I was going to wait a bit longer, but seeing how school starts again the week after next, I want to finish uploading As Red as a Rose before it starts the 24th. x.x I'm not looking forward to it, but am at the same time. My last year in High School. ^_^ I can't wait!

Anyways, this is the chapter where I come in the most. Well....besides...never mind. But...yeah. ^^;; I know I'm not making a whole lot of sense right now, so I'm just going to continue before I end up babbling.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, especially Kurama. Nor do I own Leiko. But, I do own Rose/Nozomi. (NO relation to my screen name either!)

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---1 week later

Lightning streaked across the darkening sky as the storm approached the harbor. Standing on top of a cliff over looking the bay, Yusuke and Kuwabara stood, dressed in black cloaks, staring out at sea. The wind howled and whistled around them, whipping their cloaks around. Both men waited patiently, watching the horizon closely for a sign of anything unusual. Seeing a ship come up on the horizon suddenly signaled to them that their time in waiting was almost over.

Docking the ship in a large cave near the beach, Kurama hastily jumped over board and ran to speak with Yusuke and Kuwabara.

"I'm sorry to inform you, but we will not be able to leave the island for a few days. This storm is rough, and will last for 4 days, at the very least."

"No problem." Yusuke replied, smiling as he nodded in understanding. "Oh! But, you guys are gunna need some place to stay, right?"

"That would be appreciated greatly…" Kurama replied with a small and grateful smile.

Yusuke nodded once again. "Don't worry about it. Now, make sure your ship is secure and anchored here, so that way, if the tide comes in, it won't drift away. Then, get your men out of the ship and over here, and from there, we'll lead them to the castle."

Nodding, Kurama went to work, ignoring the fact that he was taking orders from someone else. Though the fact that it was one of his best friends made him actually go through with it.

--Meanwhile, at the Club hideout…

Rose stumbled slightly, blinded by her tears. Entering the old club, she glanced about, hoping to find someone there, for there usually was. Unfortunately, there was none. Feeling another wave of sadness wash over her, she held her breath in an attempt to hold back her tears before she walked forward, aiming for the middle of the room. Once she got there, she sat down in defeat on a wooden crate that was there, allowing the tears to flow freely and heavily. She suddenly felt alone and empty inside, which made her cry even more. "Where is everyone…?" She whispered, trying not to sob as she said something. "I feel as if I need a hug…"

--3 hours later

All of the crew members of Kurama's ship were currently residing on the top level of the castle. Yusuke had hand selected the servants that would serve them all, and had them sworn to secrecy about his sister. They happily obliged, all thinking him a wise king-to-be already. (They obviously don't know Yusuke. o.o) As the party goers continued chatting and laughing at their own bad jokes, Leiko suddenly remembered something. Maneuvering her way through the crowd, she managed to get to her brother and Kurama.

"Hey, ani, I forgot my sword back at the club. I'm gunna go and get it, okay?"

"You want someone to go with you?" He asked, looking at her worriedly.

She shook her head. "Nah, I'll be fine. No one will see me, anyway. See ya!" She left, closing the door behind her so that the noise wouldn't leak into the hall.

--At the Club

Rose sat on the crate, hugging her knees tightly, resting her forehead against her knees. Even after a few hours, tears still poured down her face, though not as thickly as before. She sniffled every now and then, feeling too miserable to actually do anything else. A door opening near by meant nothing to her, and neither did the footsteps that followed and that approached.

As Leiko entered, she thought she heard someone sniffling. Ignoring the small noise, she continued with her walk anyway, thinking that it was nothing of great importance. Entering the main hall of the club room, she stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes locked onto the figure huddled up on top of a crate. But, it wasn't that it was a person there that got to her, it was the person itself. Long light brown hair, and a slender body was all that could be seen at the moment, but even still, Leiko knew who it was.

"Nozomi?"

Rose lifted her head immediately, hearing that familiar voice. Her watery eyes could barely make out the form of her best friend.

"Nozomi, is that you?" Leiko asked again, practically running forward to meet her.

Nozomi got off of the crate and hugged her friend tightly, not able to contain the joy, and still sadness that was inside of her.

"Leiko! I've missed you so much... I thought you were kidnapped… I saw the pirates running away…" She said quietly, tears slowly trailing down her face.

"I was, but I'm temporarily back. I'm leaving again after this storm disappears…"

Noticing and remembering that her friend had been crying when she had entered, she changed the topic.

"Nozomi, are you okay?"

No reply.

"C'mon, Rose, you can tell me… We're best friends, aren't we?"

Rose gave a muffled "mhm…", hugging her friend even tighter.

"Then, what's the matter?"

Nozomi stood up straight, and forced herself to smile and wipe away her tears. "Nothing, I'm just happy to be back, that's all. I was wondering where everyone was…"

"Oh, we're at the castle. Top floor."

"Do you think it's safe for you to be in the castle walls? Your parents seem to be happy with you gone and all, and if they see you, they may order your death…" Rose continued worriedly, glancing towards the door.

"Nah. That's why we're on the top floor. Dad's not able to go up that high, and mom just doesn't care. So, we're good. Oh yeah! C'mon! Yusuke's waiting, and I don't want him to worry."

Nodding silently, Rose could do nothing but give a fake smile and follow her friend. She didn't want to speak her mind, not to Leiko. She was her best friend, yes, but they had made a vow, and was afraid that she may have broken it. Leiko suddenly grabbed her wrist and began dragging her along.

"You're walking too slow. C'mon!"

--Back at the "party"

Leiko opened the door and entered. Being shy, unless she knew the people, Rose faltered at the door.

"I…I don't know, Leiko… Maybe….maybe I should just go home?"

Turning back upon hearing her friend speak in a while, she glared at her. "Oh, no you don't! You get your ass in there, or I'll drag you in myself!"

Taken aback by her threat, Rose had barely taken a step forward before she faltered again. With her lower lip trembling, she said in a low voice, "I…I can't…"

Moving behind her, Leiko gave her friend a massive shove and pushed her straight through the door and into someone.

"Oops! Sorry!" A pause. "Hey! You're kind of cute!"

"Uh…sorry!" Nozomi quickly said, blushing in embarrassment before running off, away from the people.

"Hey! Wait! …aww… Oh well." The man said, before going off to talk with his crew mates.

Snatching her retreating friends' wrist before she had a chance to make a dash for the door, Leiko practically dragged Rose over to Yusuke and Kuwabara, who were talking to one another about different things that may happen whilst at sea.

"Those two have been worried sick about you! It's the least you can do to tell them personally that you're okay!" She practically snapped, almost to their destination.

Nozomi perked up at that. "H-how did you know…?"

"They told me. Hey! Ani!"

Yusuke looked up, and, at the sight of who his sister was practically dragging caused him to lose grip on his glass, so it fell to the floor and scattered into a thousand glittering pieces. Wondering what had happened, Kuwabara looked in the direction that Yusuke was staring dumbfounded, and his face paled quickly.

Both stood up at once. "Nozomi!"

Yusuke walked forward and hugged her tightly, happy to see her back.

Hesitating slightly, Nozomi returned the hug, closing her eyes while doing so. 'It's been so long since I've been with these guys… I've missed them so much…' She hugged Kuwabara next, voluntarily this time, actually feeling happy that she was back with the group.

"Where've you been? We've been so worried ever since you were kidnapped…" Kuwabara said as he hugged her tightly, feeling relieved to see her safe.

She remained silent, not wanting to mention it just yet.

"And who might this be?" A voice spoke suddenly, someone walking into the group.

"Ah! Kurama!" Leiko cried, running over and practically jumping on him to hug him.

Nozomi had looked up as soon as the word 'Kurama' was spoken. Her cerulean colored eyes fixed themselves on him, never leaving his eyes.

"Kurama! This is my friend, the one we were talking about! This is Nozomi!" Leiko said excitedly, jumping up and down slightly.

Kurama merely looked back at Nozomi, seeing that she was indeed hiding something. Walking forward, he outstretched his hand to her.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Nozomi. I've heard great things about you."

A pause, where she only stared at him, as if debating whether she should do this or not. Finally, she gave him a firm handshake. "I wish I could say the same. I only…just got back…" She finished the sentence quietly as she lowered her gaze to the ground, though he heard it loud and clear.

He could tell that she was a very docile person, but would defend anyone that she cared for in an instant. "I can see why my brother kidnapped you and kept you alive."

She quickly raised her head up and stared at him in shock, surprised he knew. Yet, she could not bring herself to say anything. 'I was right… He is a kind hearted person…'

She felt her sadness raising up inside of her, and felt as if she were about to cry once again. Shutting her eyes tightly, she quickly grabbed his wrist and ran off, dragging him behind her. She went out of the room entirely and entered a new one, closing the door behind them both. This unexpected action, naturally, left the others completely surprised and confused.

--30 minutes later

Kurama re-entered the room and made his way over to the waiting group. He smiled at Leiko when she waved, yet felt as if he couldn't trust himself to keep Nozomi's secret.

"Yo! Welcome back!" Yusuke greeted him as he rejoined them.

Kurama merely nodded, smiling a friendly smile at them all.

"So…what did you and Rose talk about?" Leiko blurted out her question before she could help herself.

Knowing this was coming, he had prepared an answer ahead of time. "I can not tell you."

"What?! How come?"

"I gave my word that I wouldn't, and I will not. And nothing you say will make me say it." He replied sternly, looking dead into her eye.

"Nothing?" She asked, getting a bit closer, looking up at him innocently.

"Nothing. Nothing at all." He repeated, folding his arms as he watched her.

"How about this?" She asked, before she pressed her lips against his.

A chorus of cheers and hoots erupted in the room, all the pirates cheering wildly for their captain and his newly attained girlfriend. (Although everyone, except Yusuke and Kuwabara, knew that they liked each other, but they kept it to themselves.) Yusuke could do nothing but stare, petrified, at the sight in front of him. Kuwabara was surprised also, but not as much as Yusuke.

Standing on her tip toes to be able to reach his lips in the first place, Leiko now backed down, returning to her normal height, a light blush on her cheeks. Kurama stared at her, practically dumbfounded. With a deeper blush staining his cheeks, he suddenly felt as if his brain had been scattered everywhere, and thus making him unable to think.

"Are you going to tell me now?" She asked, blushing even more.

"No! This is between me and Nozomi. As her friend, you should respect that, not demand to know everything about her." He said firmly, snapping out of it, however temporarily.

Leiko looked defeated. "Aww…fine then…"

He turned to Yusuke, and saw the death glare he was giving him. Knowing that he was currently not wanted anymore, he said, "I will be heading off to bed now. Nozomi said she went to sleep in the next room to the right from here, but she didn't want to be disturbed, unless of an emergency. Good night." And he left.

"Bye, Kurama!" Leiko called after him, waving.

Yusuke grabbed her right arm roughly. "Don't wave to that jerk!"

"How come? What'd he do?" She asked, confused.

He glared at her coldly. "Why'd you kiss him?!" He asked, obviously changing the topic.

Leiko snorted. "Cht, cause I can."

"Don't gimme that excuse! I want to know why you kissed him!!!"

"Why the hell should I?! You're not the boss of me!"

"Sometimes I wish I were! He's not your type!"

"How the hell would you know?! Have you been with me for the past year and a half? I don't think so!" Leiko shouted, getting in his face as she said it.

Turning abruptly, she left the room and slammed the door shut, ignoring her brother's cries for her to come back. Taking a deep breath outside the door, she decided that she would take the chance and talk to her best friend. They hadn't 'spoken' spoken since before they both had gotten kidnapped, so now would be a good chance to re-pave that road.

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And that's the end of it. Hope you liked it, and hope you review! Please, don't just read it! T.T I need to know your opinions and stuff, so that I know what I need to work on and stuff... Please?

Anyway, thanks for reading, and I hope you're excited about the next chapter! See ya! ^^