Thanks a bunch for the reviews guys! I've been quite busy these few days, with projects and term tests, but I'm currently having a one week break, which I intend to utilize fully by sleeping… But of course, I decided to do a little update here..

Some replies to the reviews:

Carmen: I thought the chapts were long enough.. I don't like to bore you guys.. I'm not too sure whether Kikyo should appear in this fic,but I just thought I write about her, just so I can decide in future.

Parsnip – Well.. if the jewel is taken, the world's a goner.. besides, I'm building on plot..

Lil: thanks a bunch for your comment.. what do you think of this chapt?

xXx – thanks for being my first reviewer.. really appreciate it..

Disclaimer : I don't own inuyasha.. but it would be nice to own sesshoumaru, like that's ever possible…

Dawn was breaking. Amidst the silence, was the crunching of faltering footsteps against the dewy wet grass. It had been a miracle for Kagome to drag the injured inuyoukai out into the open forest. Somehow, guilt was prickling against her conscience as she blamed herself for his predicament.

Eyeing the half-jewel that now lay in her palm, it seemed strange that the demon who guarded this would have the integrity to not use to for his personal gains, nor for him to escape.. how strange indeed...

With an exhausted sigh, she proceeded towards the tiny stream that snaked past the nearby tree where they were resting, acloth in her hand as she rinsed it against the cool, crystal-clear waters.

Turning back towards the injured youkai, she gentle wiped the cloth against his pale face, noting as well that he didn't seem to be sweating.

With the first ray of sunlight peeking through the leaves of the tree they were under, she took in his good-looking features that lay before her very eyes.

His hair was a beautiful silver, long and silky as she stroke a hand through it. On his forehead was a crescent moon mark, accompanied by two thin magenta stripes on both sides of his face. Somehow, he appeared to be less fearsome and frightening in his human form, almost too innocent and beautiful for words.

Shaking the thought from her head, her eyes traveled down to the blood gathering around his chest and abdomen area, staining his clothes. Holding back for a second, Kagome contemplated to seek help from the village by requesting for a healer, but she thought otherwise, knowing very well that the villagers may attack the youkai, given his now weaken and helpless condition.

With a deep breath, she reached over, removing his amour and the top of his kimono, her cheeks blushing furiously as she realised that she was within a close proximity to him. Fishing out the bandages amongst her items, she cleaned as much blood as she could with her cloth, trying to be as gentle as she could.

The deep gnashes against his chest were healing rapidly, something only too natural for the demon. Still, she decided to bandage the wound. Her fingers were deft yet gentle. Once she was done, she looked on to admire her handy work, smiling to herself as she placed a hand over his muscular chest.

Drawing her hand across, she touched the two stripes across the youkai's wrist before she gently fingered his claws, marveling at its sharpness and beauty of his long slender fingers. It seemed so strange that he was a man when his physical features were pointing towards the feminine direction.

A quick flinch of the claws along her fingertips was all it took to warn her that the youkai was now awake.

Looking up, Kagome gave a tiny gasp as she stared into a pair of mesmerizing golden hued orbs. The shape of his eyes were a little larger then that of an almond, and the thin purple mark above his eyes were arched to that shape. Blinking once, silence resonated, before it was broken with a feral growl.

Sesshoumaru's eyes were glowing a dangerous red, and his lips were curled into a snarl as he bared his fangs to issue another warning growl. He wanted neither help nor sympathy from the human wretch, and if it weren't for his current condition, he would have lashed outwards and ripped her throat to shreds.

Receding her hand, Kagome was frozen momentarily, as his finely sculptured features were poised into a rather hostile demeanor. She wanted to back away, to apologise, to just leave him as he is. And then she recalled. Wait a minute. It may be my fault, but it was I who lugged his dreadfully heavy body out here, and it was I who nursed his wounds, and here he is snarling his head off at me! The audacity! And then, without meaning to, the boiler within her temper flared. Indignant at the very thought, she brought her hands down towards his chest, slapping his wounds hard as she yelled ' Shut up you ungrateful dog!'

The effect was instantaneous.

Firstly, she had somehow, succeeded in reopening his wounds as blood began to seep through the bandages. Gulping at the sight, she looked up into the youkai's face, rather relieved that her action had somehow silenced him as Sesshoumaru continued to look at her with loath and distaste. Secondly, she had at least, shut him up.

Inwardly, he had winced at the 'blow' she delivered, but as usual, he willed his face to betray no hint of emotion that would typecast him as weak. Deciding that it would be best to remain silent, he simply glared at her through his cold, amber eyes. He would need no help for his wounds should heal in a few days, and when that day arrive, he would gladly sink his claws through the miko's soft, tender skin and send her quickly to the other world.

Smirking at the very thought of extracting his revenge, Kagome misinterpreted it as a hint of acceptance. She may be a miko, but she had once lived with demons, kind-hearted, peace loving youkai, leading to her belief that not all youkai were evil, just troublesome.

' I see you're smiling.. what were you thinking about?'

Ignoring her comment, Sesshoumaru simply stared up into the thickness of the branches and leaves. Armed with new bandages, Kagome inched forward as she proceeded to remove the blood soaked ones and re-bandage the wound.

A firm grip along her wrist caught her by surprise as she noted those dangerous claws, which could have seared through her flesh, resting safely atop her skin.

' Don't touch me… miko..'

Annoyed by his reaction, Kagome calmed her thoughts ' Stop calling me miko! I have a name.. and its Ka-go-me!'

Releasing her wrist, Sesshoumaru only registered a simple 'hn..'

This demon has a serious attitude problem Rummaging amongst her belongings, she produced some herbs and medicine which Kaede had graciously provided, and decided to use them on him. I know he doesn't need the medicine, but it wouldn't hurt to try...

Preparing the medicine, she reached over began to remove the bandages, much to the chagrin of Sesshoumaru, who simply ignored her existence. With that done, she poured out the liquidly medicine and gentle applied it onto the wounds, chuckling inwardly as the youkai winced unceremoniously and trained his deadly keen eyes upon her actions. Growling, he turned away from her, demanding ' What the hell are you doing!'

Now re-bandaging his wounds, Kagome simply smiled before the inuyoukai slashed his razor sharp claws through the bandages she was holding. ' Leave… I don't need your help.. bitch..'

' It's Kagome! And I'll have to kill you if I want to leave.. since.. since that's my ulterior motive'

As if to prove her point, she readied her bow and arrow which were laying forgotten by her side. But before she could even get there, a pair of golden brown orbs were flashing in front of her as she choked upon the killer grip that the demon now bestowed upon her delicate throat, pinning her up against a tree. His reflexes had been lightening quick, even with his weakened condition and it had caught her by surprise.

Clawing at the hand which held her, she gazed into the youkai's fiery red eyes as she registered a single thought. He's going to kill me!

' Listen up, and listen good bitch.. no one will threaten this Sesshoumaru.. much less a pathetic miko. Now you will die within my claws!'

Trying her hardest to keep up with his words, Kagome willed herself to concentrate as she released a blast of purifying energy. It wasn't powerful enough to knock the demon back, but it was enough for him to release her as Sesshoumaru staggered back a few steps, clutching the wounds around his chest as he took on a defensive stance.

It would take more then that to kill me.. miko..

Gasping out as fresh air began to enter her lungs, she wondered whether she should continue to fight him, but her thoughts brought her back to the half-jewel in which she now held in her pocket. Since he was the guardian of the jewel, it would be relevant that he continued to keep it, since he was powerful enough to do so.

Throwing the jewel at his feet, Kagome backed off, thinking that it was time for her to leave.

' Here's the jewel you were suppose to guard. I'll be leaving now.'

Without looking back, she turned around and walked off, realising that it was too dangerous to nurse an ungrateful injured dog demon.

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Walking alone, Sesshoumaru staggered to remain upon his feet. His eyesight was declining as the images of the world seemed to become patchy and bleak.

In the distance he heard voices, ningen!, and the footsteps were louder as it seemed to travel nearer. And above all that, he could feel his strength failing, something he wasn't beginning to like. That hanyou Naraku.. I will defeat him for putting me into such a state…

Emerging from behind the bushes, were squalls of men – villagers. In their hands they held the usual weapons of pitchforks and rakes. Smirking, Sesshoumaru halted as he faced the pathetic humans. He may be injured, but still, never underestimate the prowess of a youkai, regardless of its injury. He may be weak, but it would take less then a minute to deal with these idiots.

Fools.. With a snap of the whip, he lashed it by his side, waiting for the first moves to be made….

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Soaking up the warmth from the sun, Kagome smiled as a couple of sparrows twittered and fluttered off into the horizon. Looking over the valley, she scanned her surroundings, wondering where she should head next. Recalling the past, she remembered why she had embarked on a journey by herself. It seemed to be in her blood, the ability to vanquish demons, and yet, it was her destiny to remain forever alone..

A familiar surge of energy overwhelmed her out of nowhere. Shaking her thoughts aside, she turned to the direction, her brow knitted into a frown. The radiant amount of power was strong, almost alike to that of the sacred jewel, but aside from that, she could feel the darkness swirling around the mystical energy, as if something evil was tainting the very essence of itspurity. The skies were now dark and swirling as the wind picked up its speed.

No longer was the atmosphere serene, something was going on, something she couldn't quite place her finger over. Could it be that the evil demon, by the name of Naraku is back? No.. I can't feel the presence of jaki, but still… what is this?

Wasting no time at all, she ran down, worried for what might be happening. Should the sacred jewel fall into the wrong hands.. But isn't the other half of the jewel with the inu youkai? What's going on?

Sprinting down the opposite side, was a young boy, his face filled with terror and fear.

' Priestess! Please… you must help us!'

' What happened?'

Meekly pulling at Kagome's arm, the boy ushered her back up the lane.

' My father… he's the head of the village. We managed to obtain the sacred jewel, or rather half of it today.. however…'

'However what?' Kagome didn't mean to be rude, but she was afraid of the answer. The sacred jewel was never meant for humans, for they were weak, succumbing very easily to the desires and evilness of power and greed. How could they ever handle the jewel? And then another thought struck her.. Wasn't Sesshoumaru supposed to protect the jewel? How could it…

' However, the jewel seems to be contaminated! It's too evil for anyone to touch! My father told me to bring forth a miko, to contain the darkness of the tainted jewel… so can you please.. help us?'

Following the boy's lead, Kagome ran forward, her mind filled with the situation.

' How did your father manage to get his hands on the jewel? Shouldn't there be …'

' My father found it near a stream.. and later on, we located an injured youkai. My father used the jewel upon it, and we were able to capture it..'

Shocked, Kagome was at a loss for words. He did not protect the jewel…but why?

' My father hopes that you will subdue the youkai, and suppress the darkness within the jewel so that we can use it to benefit our village in future, please.. miko-sama, will you help us?'

Realising that the child was pinning her hopes upon her, she nodded her head. Somehow, she felt that something was amiss. A missing link. She couldn't help but ponder; she could feel it in her bones. The jewel and youkai must be connected in some way… After all, the jewel should be powerful enough to kill a youkai, and yet, it had failed twice, in killing him… how was that possible?

Gritting her teeth, she raced on, knowing that her questions, would soon be answered.

A/n: I have to stop here. Otherwise, I can go on and on forever.. Hopefully, I'll be able to update next week. Until then, Ja ne! And please Review!! It's a source of inspiration, and it helps me to update faster V

p.s: Did you sort of noticed that i kind of talked a bit regarding sess's claws? i think i have some infatuation over them... i just love them!!