*InuYasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and don't you forget it!

There once was Demon Lord who needed no one or so he thought...

Sesshoumaru's lithe form emerged from the shadows. The soft light of their small camp fire illuminated his stoic features making him appear even more intimidating and menacing. Kagome gaped at the daiyoukai who seemed to appear out of thin air. His ragtag pack was not far behind. For a moment he just stood in the middle of their makeshift camp, taking in everything with a sweep of his molten amber gaze. Time seemed to stop for a moment before the camp burst into a flurry of activity. Sango and Miroku snatched up their weapons, assuming defensive stances. They had many run-ins with the Demon Lord and most of the time their interactions resulted in bloodshed.

"What the fuck are you doing here asshole?" InuYasha screamed in rage.

The silver haired youkai's eyes narrowed a fraction although his expression remained unreadable and cold, "Cease your noise, half breed. Your presence offends me."

InuYasha grit his teeth before growling a reply,"You fucking bastard! You're the one who doesn't belong! If you won't leave on your own, I will happily knock your ass into the next century."

InuYasha rushed at Sesshoumaru armed with Tetsusaiga in tow. The older youkai easily evaded his brother's hasty swipes without drawing his sword, appearing bored with his display of aggression. After humoring the hanyou for a few minutes, he raised his sharply clawed hand and erected a powerful barrier. InuYasha's strike recoiled off the barrier, sending the hanyou flying backwards. Kagome screamed her best friend's name as she ran to his side heedless of the expressionless full demon still in their midst.

The recoil from the barrier was so strong that InuYasha left a smoking furrow in the ground. The miko reached the briefly incapacitated hanyou's side quickly, checking for injuries. Her cobalt eyes flashed with anger as she turned to address the daiyoukai.

Kagome demanded," What is your damage Sesshoumaru?"

There was a moment of silence before the he finally replied, "This one did not come here to fight."

"Don't listen to him Kagome. He's a fucking liar," InuYasha cried as he leapt to his feet.

"As much as it would please this one to see your life force drain away by my hand, I am not here to fight half breed," Sesshoumaru fairly sneered.

Miroku's violet eyes clouded with confusion as he dropped his defensive stance. "Please pardon my boldness Sesshoumaru-sama but why are you here?"

Sesshoumaru scanned the group before his amber gaze settled on Kagome. His head tilted slightly but his expression did not alter as he calmly replied, "This one comes with a proposition."

"Whaaa?" Kagome's jaw dropped in surprise.

InuYasha rushed forward again, standing toe to toe with his brother, "Fuck that. The answer to whatever you're gonna say is no!"

Even though Sesshoumaru had tried to kill her on several occasions, Kagome knew that if this particular youkai was spoiling for a fight he would have already attempted to kill all of them by now.

Walking over to the brothers, the young miko lightly laid her hand on the hanyou's now dirt covered shoulder. Kagome implored her companion to stop his rant, "InuYasha wait… This may be important."

Sesshoumaru sighed, "Yes… Listen to your miko, brother. These interruptions become tedious."

InuYasha gritted his teeth again at his taunting before casting a glance back at Kagome. His ears flattened to his skull as he tried to make her see reason. "You can't seriously be considering listenin' to his bullshit are you? He can't be trusted!"

Kagome spoke softly, "InuYasha, please… Let's just hear him out. He's helped us on several occasions. Let him say his piece so we can be done with this."

"Keh," huffed the red clad hanyou before re-sheathing his sword and walking over to a tree and sitting abruptly. "Oi… Go on bastard. Speak up and get goin'."

Kagome was left standing before Sesshoumaru while his piercing gaze assessed her. She felt vulnerable and insecure as she held his stare. Even though he was unnaturally still in the ensuing silence. She was sure that she would flinch if he dared to move. The feel of his youki alone made her break into a sweat as it brushed against her aura. It was rare indeed that she was ever this close to him. On those rare occasions, he was either trying to kill her or save her from impending doom. Looming over her as he was now, she was tempted to erect a barrier just for safety measures. She was pretty sure that wouldn't go over well. Instead she bit her lip in an attempt to calm her frazzled nerves. She knew he caught the tiny movement for his cold eyes flickered briefly to her mouth.

Kagome cleared her throat awkwardly before addressing the youkai before her," Sesshoumaru… Please tell us what you propose."

Sesshoumaru regarded the miko with narrowed golden eyes as he spoke, "Our packs will merge. It would be more efficient."

Kagome eyes widened a bit in response. "Oh. Ummm."

Shocked silence descended on the camp once more before InuYasha's outburst.

"Oh Fuck no!" InuYasha ranted, "We don't need you stinking up our camp!"

Sesshoumaru merely ignored his half-brother and continued to focus on the girl before him. For some reason, her opinion seemed to hold weight with him and it appeared that he was waiting on her to make a decision that would have untold repercussions for the group's dynamic

Kagome's eyes widened until her cobalt blue eyes seemed impossibly large in her heart shaped face, "I... Um... What?"

"Miko..." Sesshoumaru warned. "This one does not repeat himself."

Kagome voice wavered uncertainly as she replied,"But I don't understand why you're telling me this. I'm not... This should not be my decision to make."

"Hn.." Sesshoumaru sighed, "The jewel. Did you not break it?"

Kagome hedged,"Yes.. but..."

Sesshoumaru cut her off without hesitation,"Then it is your responsibilty to fix it. The jewel was no concern of mine until Naraku crossed this one. Now he will die by my sword."

"This is bullsh-" InuYasha muttered.

"No... It makes sense. " Miroku mused cutting off his hanyou companion. "Kagome is the key to ridding the world of Naraku and purifying the Jewel. However, our group formed because Kagome willled it so. During this journey it is Kagome who has been our saving graces, willing to see the best in us all even at our worst. Our fates are intertwined and our paths were destined to cross because this is so."

The blue-eyed miko cheeks reddened as she wrung her hands anxiously. "It's true I made a mess of things when I broke the jewel. I had no idea how many lives I would affect with my actions."

"Oi Kagome!" InuYasha yelled in frustration. "You can't possibly be considering putting up with this asshole? I know you're not that stupid?"

Kagome's anxiety burned away as anger rushed through her lighting her eyes with a dangerous glint. "InuYasha..."

The hanyou continued to rant,"I mean seriously... You're crazy if you think I'm going to just..."

"Osuwari! Osuwari! Osuwari!" Kagome yelled emphasizing her anger with a stamp of her foot.

Although Sesshoumaru's stoic features never changed, his amber eyes shimmered with a hint of amusement as he watched the proceedings. The miko certainly knew how to bring his brainless brother to heel effectively although his sensitive ears balked at her loud approach.

After creating a rather deep inu hanyou shaped ditch, Kagome huffed before turning back to the Daiyoukai she'd momentarily forgotten was awaiting her reply, "Ohhh! He is so infuriating sometimes! Now where was I?"

The demon lord merely glared at her, his youki flaring with impatience.

"Oh!" Kagome squeaked, finally noticing that she was skating on thin ice. "I suppose since we share similar goals it makes sense for you to join us."

"Then it is done." Sesshoumaru stated turning without a backwards glance.

"Nooooooooooo!" InuYasha nearly howled from his ditch.

"Wait..." Kagome called after him.

The daiyoukai turned his head pinning her with his cold, golden stare.

Her voice brimmed with anxiety but she refused to look away,"Does this... Does this mean we're allies now?"

The demon shrugged gracefully before replying,"Hnn."

***Oh InuYasha...