Here's the fourth chapter. Please tell me if there's anything wrong so I can correct it. I'll do review replies next chapter, so keep the reviews coming!

Ch. 4

Nervously, Sesshoumaru stepped down the hall. He came upon a door and contemplated knocking.

"There's no need. I know you're there," the knocker said. The door opened, as well as seven more beyond it.

"Um…"

"Come in already!" Yubaba growled.

Sesshoumaru gasped as he felt wind rushing against his face—the witch was magically dragging him in! After a few more seconds, he was sent sprawling onto a carpeted floor and he skidded to a stop.

And to think that several hours before, I would have landed on my feet even if my footing was lost so thoroughly…he thought in dismay. I'm just a lowly human now. Great.

"So, what do you want, demon? Or shall I say human?" the witch cackled.

"You would know. I want a job here," Sesshoumaru said sourly.

Yubaba made a motion of closing a zipper and Sesshoumaru's lips seemed to fuse. He tried valiantly to open his mouth, but to no avail.

"I will not be giving you a job just because you ask. Now what would you really like me to do? Do you want your powers back so badly that you would take a job from me? Or would you rather be a lap dog? Hah!"

Yubaba unzipped his mouth.

Sesshoumaru, amazingly enough, still retained the power to growl demonically. He bared what little tooth he could and his eyes shone with malevolence.

"I will not be a lap dog! I would rather be a tub scrubber!" he snarled.

"Well then? Let's give you what you want. You will serve me until you can find a way to free yourself. Understand?"

Sesshoumaru gave Yubaba an ugly look, but nodded.

"…Only…must I be human? These emotions…they are going to hinder my work…"

"That is your business, not mine. Deal with it yourself! Do you want a job or not?"

Sesshoumaru nodded once more.

"Then sign this contract."

A pen and paper floated to Sesshoumaru's hand. He caught them nimbly.

"Huh. I really gave you too much slack. Look at that, you still have some reflexes after all."

Sesshoumaru gasped. She was right. He still felt a little of his power, it was just very, very weak.

He put the finishing touches to his name and the contract slid into Yubaba's hand.

"So, your name is Sesshoumaru. A strong name indeed, very symbolic of a demon indeed…"

Her hand hovered over the paper and most of the kanji lifted up and she curled her fist over it.

"You won't need such a name in this bathhouse. Your name now is Maru. Do you understand that?"

Sesshoumaru growled at the butchering of his name, but it really could've been worse.

"I understand, Yubaba-sama."

"Good. Haku!"

Haku came in.

"What do you want?" he said a bit brashly.

"Hn. This is a new employee; take him to his new post. He will assist one of the cleaners."

"Okay. What's your name?"

Sesshoumaru was no fool; he knew what Haku was playing at.

"My name is Maru," he said stoically. He was finally beginning to regain his composure and attitude.

"Okay. Let's go."

The both of them went back into an elevator to go down.

"Uh…Haku…I do not know…whether this is right…"

"It's all right. I'm doing my best. Now call me Haku-sama from now on."
"Hai."

(From now on, Sesshoumaru shall be referred to as Maru.)

"We've got to take another human!"

"Ano…I shall work hard…" Maru said to them. "I was a demon, so I know how things should work in a spirit world. The weak get trodden on. I am not weak."

The frogs and other workers stared at him.

"Rin, you take him," Haku ordered.

"Feh. Whatever. I had a feeling that you would throw this klutz on me."

Maru sighed. He bowed to Rin.

"Thank you for having me. I will work hard, like I said."

"Right…come on, Maru. That's your name, right?"

"Yes."

Maru followed Rin, wondering what kind of ditch he had dug himself into.

"Oh, wow! You're so lucky that Yubaba didn't knock you off!"

Maru's eyes widened. Was this the same one who had been so rough-edged only moments before? Now she was smiling widely at him.

"Well, if you need anything, you can ask me. I'll look after ya, okay?"

"Er…alright…"

Maru felt his stomach clench. He would be here for a while; he wouldn't be able see his Rin anymore. What was he going to do?

"Well, you look pretty tall, but you're a little skinny, too," Rin said. She pulled him out some clothes. "And I hate to say it, but it looks as if you're wearing my kind of clothes. No, wait! Here's something more like a boy…"

He paid her no heed as he bent down, clutching his pained chest and wincing as his empty stomach growled.

"Aha! Here's some boy hakama and…here's a good haori and apron. Is it okay that you're wearing an apron, Maru…? Maru, are you okay!"

Rin was concerned because he had started to sob.

"I do not feel very well," he said.

"Ugh, keep it down! What's the racket about?" snapped another worker who was sleeping

"It's this new guy. He's not feeling well," Rin explained, rubbing Maru's back. He shivered oddly before deciding to lie down. Yep. It's like Sen the Sequel, all right...

"Maybe I will wake up and this will have been a bad dream," he managed to choke out. He could no more stop the flood of tears and emotions than stop himself from being a presumptuous jerk 99.9 of the time, and so he cried himself to sleep that night. The proud Lord of the Western Lands had fallen at last.

R & R please