So sorry for the slow update. I'll try to get back on track, but I just found the disk with this story in it. Review replies come in the next chapter, and so do results for whether the Rin(Lin)/Maru(Sesshoumaru) pairing, so don't forget to vote.

And also, when I subtitled the movie in Japanese, the big baby's name just came up as "Baby," so that's how it'll stay.

Maru was ecstatic about having some of his powers (not to mention his ears) restored. He even went so far as to hug Rin in happiness.

"This is wonderful!" he said happily. "It is an indication on how close I am to getting out of this hell hole!"

"I'm happy for you," Rin said in annoyance, "But we need to get to work!"

"Oh…yes…"

Their job wasn't too bad the first three hours, just a little tub scrubbing. However, after a while, Yubaba summoned Maru to her office. He had no choice but to obey the orders, no matter how scared he got when he heard them.

Slowly, he stepped from the elevator and into Yubaba's ornate hallway. He knocked on the door.

"It's about time!" the doorknocker said.

"I have come as you ordered, Mistress Yubaba," he said stoically.

"Then you know not to linger."

"Hai."

He strode through the doors and down the halls to Yubaba's office. She was sitting at her desk giving him a reproving look.

He bowed.

"You know, I found that interesting sword of yours. You were hiding it from me?" she drawled.

"Hai. I was hiding it. The sword is my property, and I did not plan on parting with it. Also, the Toukijin can only be held by me. Anyone else will be possessed by it's demonic aura."

"Not something I'd expect, especially not when you're supposed to be human," the old witch replied. "Speaking of which, how is it that you are slowly regaining your powers?"

"What do you mean?" Maru queried levelly.

"I can see those pointed ears just as well as you can feel them, demon. So stop this charade and give me some answers!"

"You merely told me that I had to become a demon and get out on my own time. You did not specify whether I had to tell you anything," the ex-demon replied, still talking with an edge in his voice.

"If you want to be a dog so badly, then try this on for size!"

Yubaba waved her wrinkly hand with the many ugly rings on every finger glittering at Maru.

"Unh!"

The ex-youkai groaned as he felt himself unwillingly metamorphose. His bones reshaped and he shrunk into a much smaller creature…

After several seconds, all that remained was a companion dog.

:What the hell: he barked.

Yubaba zipped his mouth shut.

"There will be no such language around here. Not near my baby. And that's who you'll be entertaining, mind you."

:How can you understand me: Maru snarled. :I speak in the language of the animals.:

"I can understand you because I am a witch of many talents.. And besides, you can talk normal as well."

"I see…"

Maru felt weird as normal human speech rolled off of his dog tongue and lips.

"When will you give me my human form back?"

"You'll get it soon enough. If I hear any bad reports from Baby, though, you will die a slow, painful death! Understand?"

Maru growled in contempt, the first show of disrespect to Yubaba.

"You need to be punished."

So saying, she conjured a whip and began to lash him. The first two times, he growled, bracing himself against the pain, but after that, he yelped and cried and ki-yi'd (A.N.-Puppyish sound) in pain until she stopped.

"There, that's better. Now go into the room there. Baby is waiting for you."

"Hai…" Maru whispered. His back was agonizingly sore, but there were no wounds. Something Yubaba had done prevented that. Still, he limped into the room where he found a really…well…plushy set up.

Everything was toys and cushions here.

Cautiously, he roved around, stepping lightly. He may have been the size of a Great Dane with his demonic appearance (more or less) intact, but he was still not going to let his guard down.

"Doggy!"

Quite suddenly, Maru felt his knees buckle and he collapsed with a great weight upon him.

"Urgh! Ouch!"

He couldn't breathe!

"Get off, getoffgetoffgetoff!"

His bones all made painful cracking sounds as the baby rolled off of him.

"Hello, doggy. What's wrong?"

Baby picked up Maru by his leg and stared at him.

"You're a pretty doggy! Wanna play?"

"…give me a moment…I must catch my breath…" Maru gasped. "My name is Maru…what is yours?"

"My name is Baby. Do you do tricks?"

"Of course your pet does tricks!"

Yubaba stood in the doorway.

"Here. Just in case he won't, use this collar, Baby."

Yubaba walked up to Maru with an ebony black leather collar. He backed away in fright.

"Come here now!"

Submissively, the humanoid stepped forward and the witch fastened the collar around his neck.

"Just push this button here, and you'll convince him to do a trick."

Baby took the control from his mother and pushed the button.

Immediately, a powerful electric shock went through Maru's dog body. His ears flattened back and he let out a small whine.

"Doggy, lay down!" Baby ordered, pressing the button.

The electric shock brought Maru to his knees.

"Good doggy!" Yubaba cackled. "I'll leave you two to play now."

So saying, she strode off, leaving the baby and the dog to "play."

Maru stayed down, panting. He felt so tired, so awful…

"I wanna play!"

"Can we…play later?"

"I wanna play NOW!"

Baby picked him up again, this time by the tail, and he yelped.

"Let's play horsey!"

"But as you can see, you are much too big…"

"If you don't, Baba will kill you…"

"Hrm…climb on…" Maru said, gulping.

Straining every muscle in his body a thousand fold, he walked the toddler around the entire room.

"Whee! Go faster!" Baby cried, yanking Maru's ears.

Spurred by pain, Maru tried to run, but merely collapsed in exhaustion.

"I wanna go now!" Baby ordered, pressing the button.

Maru yelped at the shock and his body tremored, but he did not move.

"Get up!"

The ex-demon whined in distress.

This is going to be a long, tedious job…

R & R pretty please!