A/N: Fourth chapter, not sure how I feel about it, but it was neccesary to further the story. Hope you all like it! Feedback is always welcome and rewarded with virtual cookies and bishounen boy lap dances!

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"This is stupid," I mumbled savagely, kicking my way through the underbrush. Lord Sessho-butt had been casting glares at me all morning. Although, how I was able to tell the difference between the glares he was giving me and his normal steely looks was beyond me. I could just tell he was scowling at me, the rat-bastard.

"Dumb," I reiterated darkly, "Don't even know where we're going. But he wakes me up at dawn, DAWN! to go hiking in the freaking swampland of hell. I'm covered in twigs and mud and green, swamp slime! And that ratfink stupid kimono hem isn't even DAMP!"

"If you are quite finished, you're incessant mutterings have attracted the attention of more than one nezumi [rat] youkai. If you do not wish for me to allow them to eat you this Sesshomaru would suggest that you silence yourself!"

I stuck my tongue out at his back even as I scurried to catch up to him. Rat demons? What the hell? Probably something to be avoided. Once I felt myself at a reasonably safe location (safe from the demon rats anyway, I didn't think a few inches from Sesshomaru's back was all that safe considering his volatile temper, but the devil you knew and all that) I muttered, "You can't let them eat me. If they eat me than you are dog-meat yourself."

"Perhaps, I can't let them completely devour you… pity. But a few chunks missing here and there are hardly a danger," Sesshomaru growled. I blinked up at the back of his head.

"Stupid," I muttered, "I'll tell you who's missing a few chunks…" Sesshomaru ignored me. I kicked at the swampy grass as we walked. A small smile flirted with my lips and I let my feet kick the ground a little with each step. Soon a plethora of muddy specks littered the back hem of Sesshomaru's kimono. The dirtying of his pristine image was making me feel much better. Either he didn't notice or he was ignoring foot slipped as I kicked once more and I sank ankle deep into the mud.

"Damn," I muttered yanking my foot up and out. Too bad my shoe slipped off in the process. I scowled and reached into the slime to grab my shoe and tug it out. It squelched but didn't move more than an inch. Sesshomaru hadn't stopped and was moving rather quickly away from me.

"Sesshomaru! Wait for me!" I called and tugged hard. The shoe slipped out of my grasp and I fell onto my butt, grimacing as the mud immediately seeped through my jeans. "Well, that feels disgusting," I muttered darkly. "Sesshomaru, I said to wait!"

"This Sesshomaru does not obey your orders," he called back. I frowned at his back before tugging at the shoe once more. The mud gave a squelch of protest before giving up my footwear. I didn't even bother trying not to land on my bottom this time. I was already sopping after all. After the past day and a half I needed a bath like nobody's business. Thoughts of indoor plumbing and bubble baths disappeared from my mind as I was thrown forward.

"Oh!" I shouted as whatever had hit me landed in front of me. I stared into the eyes of the largest rat I had ever seen. It had to be the size of German Sheppard at least. [It's an R.O.U.S. Rodent of Unusual Size! All hail Princess Bride! Haha!] It's black beady eyes shone in the dim light before it lunged at me.

"Yipe!" I yelped and ducked as it sailed over my head. It skidded in the mud and spun around to face me again. A scuffle behind me whipped my head around. Two more nipped and bit at each other as they fought for dominance. Then they turned their attention toward me.

A couple chunks he said. Then he would save me… right? He would save me. I allowed myself to cower for a few more moments as the rats closed in. Then I remembered that I didn't like playing the damsel in distress. It wasn't any fun.

I threw myself sideways as the rats lunged, jumping to my feet. I looked down at the shoe in my hand and sighed. What a pitiful weapon. I whipped the shoe into the side of one of the rats face as it snapped at me. The shoe itself was flimsy but the mud caked on it made a good enough weapon when it went into the youkai's eye. That one rolled away, clawing at its own face. I kicked the next one in the chest but was too slow to do anything to the third at it sank its jaws into my arm. I cried out. Then I pinched it in the soft part just behind its nose and twisted. A horrid crunch accompanied the breaking of the cartilage there. The rat threw itself off, but not without ripping gashes in my arm.

I couldn't win. They were stronger than me, and unnaturally fast. The three creatures circled me warily now as I gasped for breath. A whimper escaped me as two more crawled from the tall swamp grass. A bright flash of light snapped through the air and I quickly ducked to protect my eyes. An agonized squeal was quickly ended as another flashed lit up the shadows. I peeked through my fingers.

Sesshomaru stretched out his fingers and a few loud pops sounded. Then the whip in his hand seemed to dissolve. He stood tall and silent amid the dead rats (what was left of them anyway, a few charred scraps of fur and teeth does not a rat make after all) and glared down at me. I frowned up at him and took a step forward as if to continue on our way. Sesshomaru's raised hand halted me.

"Do not come near me, ningen. You are filthy and this Sesshomaru has no wish to smell your stench." I gaped. Then I threw my shoe at his head. Of course I missed and the Youkai merely raised and eyebrow and spun on his heel to continue walking, his white clothing billowing. The still dirty back hem made me feel slightly better.

Of course I had to retrieve my shoe. I made quick work of it and ran to catch up with the self-righteous demon. I silently examined the gash on my arm. The next few hours of walking were quiet. We seemed to be going deeper and deeper into the swamp. The air grew more and more dank and the trees were eventually so thick the sunlight was no longer able to penetrate. It almost seemed light night. Eventually we came to a little hollow in the trees.

"Cute shack. Is this were you live?" I snarked.

Sesshomaru paused before the lopsided door. I waited for him to knock, or call out, or ring a door bell. Or, knowing him, kick it open. Instead he glared at it.

"Do you have any other expressions?" I asked brightly.

"Sesshomaru-sama, you do me great honor by visiting me," the shacks door swung open.

I don't know what I expected. An ugly old hag? Lots of wrinkles, maybe a giant wart on her nose, black robes. Ok, I know exactly what I expected. I expected the wicked witch, from Snow White is what I expected. I got the wicked witch alright, but I got her before she turned ugly. I quickly wiped the ugly little scowl that tried to twist my mouth.

"Witch, this Sesshomaru requires your assistance."

She wore a traditional kimono, save for the deeply gaping neckline and the slits that ran up the sides to her hips. His skin was almost as pale as Sesshomarus' and her hair hung straight and smooth and black down her back. Her lips were painted a bloody red. I disliked her immediately.

"What is it that you require of me Lord Sesshomaru?"

"Undo the binding between me and this girl."

The woman blinked her dark eyes. My hand drifted up to subconsciously hide some of the grime smeared over my front.

"You are… bound to this… child?" the woman asked slowly.

"I…" Sesshomaru snapped his hand up to signal for silence, accompanying the action with a threatening growl. I frowned back at him. I was not a child… jerkface.

"Alright, well let me see," the women motioned me forward. "Girl! Come here."

When I didn't move Sesshomaru growled warningly. Fine. I wanted this nightmare over with just as much as he did. It wouldn't do me any good not to cooperate. I walked forward until I stood a few feet in front of her. Of course she was taller than me. Of course most everyone was taller than me but this time it just seemed doubly annoying. I sighed as she made some mystical hand motions over my head. Yeah, this seemed promising. Any moment now I was expecting her to start chanting.

Instead, what I ended up with was two swirling clouds of light curling into the air between me and Sesshomaru. They seemed to intertwine with each other, knotted.

"It seems that you are indeed mated to her. This isn't the actual bond of course, only a physical manifestation of it," she looked down at my confused face. "It is like if I were to paint a flower, not the actual flower itself but my physical representation of what is there. It can help to figure out how to undo the bonding." She turned back to Sesshomaru, "I assume this mating was not created in the usual manner if you need assistance to break it?"

"Hnn," Sesshomaru confirmed in his non-answer sort of way.

"I think I may be able to help," her hands reached toward me and clasped onto the sides of my face. I felt her fingers tighten for a moment before she cried out and fell back. She stumbled into her doorframe and leaned there, gasping for breath.

"No luck huh?" I asked dumbly. "Damn."

"Sesshomaru-same, I couldn't… your Youkai wouldn't…"

"I know," Sesshomaru growled, cutting her off. I blinked up at him. What was the problem? He was obviously frustrated, which I could certainly empathize with. Why couldn't she break the spell?

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It was the same horribly boring trip back out of the swamp. Although it didn't last nearly as long since Sesshomaru seemed to be working off his irritation through speed walking. I amused myself by trying to picture him in a jumpsuit and ankle weights speed walking through a mall. It was an utter failure, but funny nonetheless.

My arm had started throbbing, but the dull pain was easily ignored. The dried mud and sweat was another matter however. I would give anything for a real shower at this point. Which is why I was so surprised when Sesshomaru's angry strides eventually led us to a small waterfall. He came to such an abrupt halt I almost ran into his back.

"You will bathe," Sesshomaru ordered gruffly. "Human wounds often become infected if they are not cleansed."

I eyed him. Well, at least he didn't tell me I smelled.

"Also, this Sesshomaru does not wish to smell you any longer."

I sighed, "I don't have anything else to wear."

"I am aware. There is a village nearby that will have clothes. I'll return shortly," his short sentences were punctuated by the swish of his pelt as he turned and left.

"Hmm," I gave the falls a quick once over to check for leeches and such. Then I jumped under, clothes and all. Then I screamed and jumped out again. Of course, he had to find the coldest source of water in all of Japan. I shivered and ducked back in.

The water wasn't too bad really, once I got used to it. Once I felt my clothes were as clean as they were going to get I peeled my jeans off and tossed them over onto the grass to dry. I kept my shirt and underwear on for modesty. I just didn't feel comfortable being naked in the middle of the woods. Besides, what if Sessho came back before I was done? I turned my face into the water and puffed out a breath. My finger got caught in my knotted curls. The mud that had splattered into the strands had matted horribly. I did the best I could with the cold water and shivered my way onto the grass to wait. My jeans were impossible to get back on and after numerous failed attempts the slide the sodden denim over my thighs I simply pulled the shirt down to cover the important bits. I settled own to wait. Who knew how long he would be.

"Wear this for now. Call out when you're finished changing."

I shrieked as a bundle landed next to me. Good God! How long had he been back? My mouth hung inelegantly open as he disappeared back into the trees as noiselessly as he had appeared. I grumbled and flushed as I slipped into the outfit he had provided. Wait, this outfit was… Well, that was interesting. Where exactly had he gotten these clothes? They were rather nicer than anything I had been expecting. Peasant clothes would have been an understandable outfit. But these seemed to be of much better quality. It was really nothing more than an outer kimono but it very finely woven and dyed. It was a muted sunflower yellow with red flowers embroidered along the right hem and the left sleeve. Must've been some village if they were making such high quality kimonos. I slid the thing on and tied it closed. It was thin as it was not designed to be worn by itself. I looked into the trees with speculation. Then I smirked. I whistled and slapped my thigh.

"Here boy! Sessho!"

No sooner had I whistled a second time Sesshomaru appeared.

"Ningen, you will not do that again," he growled angrily.

"Well, it worked didn't it."

He snarled as his eyes reddened.

"You have no sense of humor," I sighed. "Anyway, thanks for the kimono. What are we going to do now?"

"We will stay here for the night and continue on in the morning."

"Continue on where?"

"Do not question me any longer human," he tossed me a small bottle and bandages. "Tend your arm."

I frowned at him as I caught the items. I don't think he knew what he was going to do now. I sighed as I pushed up my sleeve. Damn. What were we going to do now? Why hadn't the witch been able to do anything? I absentmindedly smeared some of the antiseptic smelling stuff onto my gash. She had said something about Sesshomaru's youkai and its not doing something. It had all been rather confusing really. The bandages ended up wound untidily around my arm. I popped out of my speculative state as a growl echoed over the grass.

Sesshomaru had seated himself at the base of a nearby tree as I tended to myself.

"What?" I asked grumpily.

He glared at my arm, "That is inadequate. Do it again."

I rolled my eyes, "It's not at an ease angle to bandage myself, you know."

"I will not allow myself to die simply because you allow yourself to sicken. Get up."

I stood with the face of a much put-upon martyr and followed him back to the water. I unwrapped my arm and thrust my arm under the water when he motioned me to do so. Sesshomaru sniffed at the little bottle as I washed off the wound once more.

"Inferior human medicine," Sesshomaru sniffed and tossed the bottle away and pulled my arm out of the water. Then he licked his fingers and swiped them over the gash.

"Ew! What the- OW! Damn it! What the hell is in your spit? Acid!?" I jerked my arm away from him and blew desperately on the cut. It burned like hell!

"Why did you spit on me?" I cried in frustration as the burning refused to be soothed.

"My saliva is acidic in nature. It is much more effective in assuring against infection."

I scowled at him, "That is really gross."

He bared his fangs in a silent snarl, deftly wrapping the bandages over my arm once more. As soon as he was finished he released me and returned to his tree. I sat down a few yards away from him, determined to glare at him the rest of the night.