I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters. However, Mitsuko is my creation and is off limits.

And the Battle Continues

They had left their camp two torturous hours ago and Sesshomaru was quickly losing his pertinence with Mitsuko. She was calmly trying to drive him insane. For the last two hours she had been alternating between walking in front of him slowing his pace and then walking beside him singing in an off key voice that hurt his sensitive ears. She found every bush, weed, and flower so interesting she had to stop and call Rin over to examine the plant. This sudden interest in every plant in their path caused his pace to slow because Rin would then call him to tell her what kind of plant it was or just caused him to slow his pace so she would not fall behind. Her latest trick though was the most annoying. Mitsuko would tell Sesshomaru she believed Rin needed a break for various reasons. Sesshomaru gave her a disbelieving look and turned to speak to Rin "Rin are you tired? Do you feel the need to rest?"

"No Sesshomaru-sama. Rin is fine." The child responded with complete trust in her protector.

"Who are you going to believe Sesshomaru? The child who adores you or the person you bought to take care of her?" Mitsuko asked with faked innocence. Sesshomaru would then stop to allow Rin to rest. Rin would spend the resting period running around gathering flowers for her Sesshomaru-sama's sash.

By the third rest period Sesshomaru's sash looked as if it had just started sprouting flowers. In an attempt to pick a brilliant purple flower for Sesshomaru, Rin fell forward into a patch of mud. Jaken, who was beside Rin, was also covered in mud. He looked at Rin and said "Come Rin. We will go to the stream and rinse the mud from us." Rin smiled at Jaken and accompanied the toad to the stream.

Mitsuko watched the child and youkai walk away. She did not think her threat to Jaken this morning would make the toad change his ways. Perhaps he did have feelings for the child that… before she could finish her thought Mitsuko was pressed with her back to a tree and a set of deadly claws wrapped around her throat. She was held high enough she could look directly into a pair of cold golden eyes. He held her life literally in his hand and yet he showed no emotion. Mitsuko could feel her heart beating against his palm. Her breath came in short gasps he was only allowing her enough breathe to stay conscious.

"You will stop these games. If you do not stop these games I will kill you. I can find another human female to teach Rin. Your life is in my hands." With this statement Sesshomaru dropped Mitsuko to the ground. Her hand flew to her throat to check for any wounds when she found none she looked at Sesshomaru.

"Why? Why are doing this to me?" Sesshomaru turned to look at her when she questioned him. The cold mask never left his face as he answered.

"You are here because you are what Rin needs. As long as you prove your usefulness I will allow you to live. You will be fed, protected, and clothed."

"I don't like you youkai but I want to live. So, I'll take care of Rin but I will NOT be happy about it. I will not perform any "services" for you." Sesshomaru looked at her as if he had just been offended.

"You have nothing to worry about HUMAN. I have no needs you could fulfill in that area. However, you will perform other tasks for me." Sesshomaru turned towards the stream. "This discussion is over. Rin is returning."

After a run in with Sesshomaru's claws Mitsuko took up a place behind Jaken and Rin. She did not wish to anger the youkai anymore today.

To Sesshomaru's great relief the rest of the day passed much as it had before Mitsuko had joined his small group. Rin and Jaken talked behind him and he was allowed to walk on in silence.

The only thing Mitsuko was concerned about were these other tasks Sesshomaru had mentioned. What would the youkai require of her?

She received her first taste of the other tasks when they made camp that night. Jaken began gathering wood, Mitsuko and Rin began to lay out bedrolls, and Sesshomaru disappeared into the forest. Mitsuko's companions did not seem to notice his absence nor did they show any concern for his absence. She soon understood why when Sesshomaru returned to camp with three skinned rabbits. Sesshomaru walked towards Mitsuko where he dropped the three skinned rabbits into her lap. He clearly implied she was to cook the rabbits. As she began to cook the rabbits, Sesshomaru removed his armor and laid it at her feet to. When she looked at him he merely said "The armor needs cleaned and oiled. You will do this tonight as you cook. Rim's kimono and my clothing needs to be washed you will do this after you eat." Apparently Sesshomaru's plan was to work her to her grave.

The armor lay in a shining well oiled heap, the rabbits were devoured, and Jaken was settling in for the night. A clean sleepy Rin was wrapped up in her bedroll already sound asleep. Mitsuko was prepared to fall into her blankets as well but she still had to wash Rin's kimono and all of Sesshomaru's perfectly white clothes. How she was going to wash his clothes was a mystery because he was still wearing them.

Sesshomaru stood up and addressed her "You will accompany me to the river." Mitsuko brought along Rin's kimono. Once they reached the river Sesshomaru began to remove his clothes. Mitsuko's sharp intake of breathe caused Sesshomaru to look at her with disdain.

"You are washing my clothing. The only way to wash them is if I remove them. While you wash my clothes I will bathe." Mitsuko watched as the last of the pristine white garments was handed to her and a perfectly formed and sculpted body came into view. He was absolutely the best looking male she had ever seen. He was not only beautiful but he still kept his air of deadly menace and complete superiority even completely naked. Mitsuko watched as he submerged himself under the water and then shook herself back to sanity. She could not sit and stare at the tai-youkai like that when he was completely naked. She began to wash his clothes and Rin's kimono. She was just finishing laying his clothes out to dry when Sesshomaru loomed above her and dripped some water onto her.

"Your clothes will be dry in a few minutes. I'll just head back to camp." As she walked away Sesshomaru noticed her unease around him. He was curious why she of all people would be uneasy. He had thought she would have been back to her annoying self by now but so far she had been the perfect little human not even annoying him a little.

Because of his curiosity he called to her "Mitsuko, stay. You may comb my hair until it dries." Mitsuko looked at the shining mass of spun silver and wanted to turn and run. It would take at least thirty minutes for of that hair to dry she did not know if she would be able to stay that close to a very naked very appealing Sesshomaru. He raised a brow at her and motioned to the outcropping of rocks he was sitting on. Mitsuko walked to him and searched for a way to climb onto the rocks and sit behind him and comb out his hair. Sesshomaru noticing her dilemma lifted her onto the rocks and handed her a simple comb inset with a crescent moon.

Mitsuko let out a breath and very gently began to comb out the long silver tresses. As she combed his hair she ran her free hand through his hair to ensure she did not pull his hair. Sesshomaru closed his eyes and if he had not been in completely control of his reactions he would have let a small growl of pleasure emit from his throat. Sesshomaru was surprised by his reaction but what brought his eyes open and surprised him the most was her reaction. He sniffed the air and beneath the scent of uncertainty and fear there was something stronger and much more potent. Sesshomaru could smell her desire. She was completely unaware her body was responding this way to his body. All she knew was her body was acting strangely around the youkai.

Sesshomaru smirked to himself. Apparently Mitsuko had not had any real experience with men. This was an interesting development.

"Your hair is dry Sesshomaru-sama. I will go back to camp. Your clothes should also be dry." Mitsuko did not understand what was wrong with her. She was out of breathe and having a hard time putting her words together. She quickly crawled beneath her blankets and settled in for sleep.

Sesshomaru came back to camp and settled near Rin. His golden eyes fell upon Mitsuko and rested there for most of the night. Once again the great Lord Sesshomaru spent the night lost inside his own thoughts.

Author's note

A much longer chapter but once I started writing I could not stop. Thank you to all of my reviewers. Please keep reviewing!