I apologise for not updating any sooner.

School has started for me and I am bombarded with tons and tons of projects. To make matters worse, Out of the 7 project groups, I happened to be placed in two sucky groups. Oh.. woe is me..

Disclaimer: I don't own inuyasha. That is sad enough.

Sometimes, being a miko was akin to being a decision maker.

Decisions had never been on kagome's agenda list. Instead, she chose to move freely along the course of fate. The weight and burden of her single decision was often taken into very serious accounts. Naturally, being a miko, she was used to assuring over-fearful villagers about the various dangers when encountering demons.

Demons existed in many forms. It was difficult to educate the villages on differentiating between the truly good-hearted and the evil ones. The constant fear they faced in their daily activities, put together with the terrible stories told by ancestors ranging from trouble-making demons to the gory flesh eating ones, were incapable of easing anyone's fear.

This time the pressure was on.

Kagome had followed the child, bringing her forth to an ordinary village behind the clearing. Voices were shushed and all heads were turned as they made way for the priestess.

' Do what you must and rid us of this menace.'

A low murmur rippled through the crowd as all eyes were now concentrated upon Kagome. Straining her eyes, she approached the bushes, the darkness slowly melting away as she noticed a pair of crimson red orbs, glistering with feral rage, starring right back at her. They looked all too familiar. A throaty growl confirmed her suspicion. The youkai was indeed Sesshoumaru.

A wooden pole had been erected upon that very spot, twisted up in chains as the other ends were magically bounded to the youkai's arms. A quick look was enough to tell her that it was done with the powers of the scared jewel, for nothing could have been able to withstand a demon's strength. The grass upon the very spot was dead in various patches and the stench of vile acid lurked warmly against the air.

The wound Sesshoumaru had sustained in the previous battle had reopened, along with several new cuts and injuries obtained from his weakened unfair fight against the villagers. Breathing heavily, his cold steely gaze met hers.

' You..'

Was it just her, or did he looked extremely vulnerable just a second ago?

At the moment, she didn't know if she should be relieved or annoyed. Relieved because his existence showed that the villagers were not really the 'anti- youkai' kind. This would make it easier for her to convince them to release him. In fact, it wasn't too difficult to conclude that the only reason why they had caught Sesshoumaru, was because they were simply afraid, thinking that he would pose a threat to their children and lives. But annoyed because Kagome didn't really think that such an ungrateful and emotionless dog should deserve another chance at life.

The problem right now was getting out of the tricky situation. He was a youkai, and she a miko. It was only natural that she slayed the demon and purify the jewel before minding her own business. The catch -he was the guardian of the jewel. It was only common sense that his life be spared. The jewel's power was limitless, and it was probable that many other demons were after it. It was good enough to know that it was in safe hands, but the safety of the world would be in better hands of a powerful yet unselfish demon, despite the fact that he was a little self-centered, tactless, cold-hearted.. would the list ever stop?

The jewel itself was no longer the colour of pureness, but dark and devious. Swirling black masses surrounded the inner jewel, a direct indication of contamination.

Perhaps, there was a way to release him after all.

' We have to release him.'

'What!'

Turning back to face the villagers, Kagome explained. ' By using the jewel, it has come into contact with his youki. Judging by the amount of contamination, it is swirling with hatred, hatred emitted from the inu youkai you are now holding captive.The best way is that we release the hold on him, that way, I can purify the jewel.'

' Can't you do it without releasing the demon? Freeing him will do us more damage.'

' That.. that would kill him!'

' But that's the whole point! That's why we called you here!'

Realizing that her words were outnumbered, she turned to Sesshoumaru.

' Swear now that you will not hurt them, better yet, protect their village from future demon attacks. Make a truce with them if you want to live.'

Alarmed, the village head protested. ' No! No! We cannot allow that! A demon's words are nothing but lies. He would turn on us when he finds the time! Besides, humans and demons must never have anything to do with each other.'

A low growl was the reply he received. Tugging at the enchanted chains, which restrained his very movement, Sesshoumaru snarled in contempt as a numbing pain seized its way through his skin and bones. The chains weren't just immobilizing him, they were binding his very powers as well.

' Pathetic humans. I, Sesshoumaru, will not succumb to such low means to save my own tail.'

It was difficult. The villagers were wary and un-trusting. Sesshoumaru was proud and stubborn. It was an impossible task to please both sides.

' But… I will comply. You have my word. This village shall be under my vigilance.'

His words took her by surprise. The villagers were unnerved, huddling closer together to discuss the turn of events. Nods and shaking of heads were common, accompanied by the occasional pointing of fingers.

' No way! We could be worse off!'

' If he means it, does this mean we're truly safe?'

The chatters were endless.

' I made my end of the bargain, now release me.'

Moving closer, Kagome felt a sense of achievement. Usually, it was her who persuaded the villagers to accept and comply with the existence of demons, good and bad. This time, it was the other way round. Was Sesshoumaru really as cold and aloof as he appeared?

' Youkai, how can we take your word for it? What if you go back on your words?' The villager headman was taking no chances.

' Ningen, as much as I despise your kind, I have absolutely no wish to stay bounded. If that can be exchanged for a bit of my reputation, then so be it. Now release me!'

Satisfied, the jewel was removed, and placed into the hands of Kagome, the tainted sins completely erased.

Collapsing onto his knees as he tried to stand, Kagome offered a hand, only to be rebutted with a growl. Egoistic baka.

Later that night, Kagome was outside, half the jewel lying safely in her hands.

Starring up into the skies, she observed the stars twinkling brightly, allowing the gentle breeze to whip her hair casually. Looking down at the jewel she held in her hand, she once again, could feel its magical powers, calling out to all who desired for it. Its mystical aura was overwhelming, something not even her spiritual powers could contain. Perhaps that was why the jewel came to be in Sesshoumaru's care. With such an amount of youki surrounding the jewel, detection was minimized.

' I wouldn't hold that jewel out in the open.'

Looking up at the voice, she spied a lone figure, sprawled comfortably upon the tree branch. His clear, baritone voice was like a cutting edge to the winds, masculine yet gentle.

' I see that you are still here.'

' I made a promise, and I shall uphold my words.'

How much more bizarre could it get? She had seen his merciless side, the killer side which was every villager's nightmare. She recalled his relentless attacks, and how he almost killed her, and yet here he was, refraining from attacking the villagers all in the name of honour. Something just didn't make sense. Either he was faking it and laying his own insidious plans, or, Sesshoumaru had kept his word. Secretly deep down, Kagome hoped it was the latter.

' Take the jewel. You are after all it's guardian.'

Throwing it up, Sesshoumaru caught it deftly with a swipe. Smirking as he held the object, which had caused him this much trouble, he grasped it warmly within his palm, his mind reeling for ideas on ridding himself of such a burden.

' Right, now would you let me inspect your wounds?'

Ignoring her remark, Sesshoumaru continued to stare off into the sky.

' Look, I'm trying to be nice since it was partly my fault that you ended up injured, so let me help.'

' You don't have to, besides, I will heal, so quit worrying, wretch.'

Fuming this time at Sesshoumaru's comment, Kagome quickly attached herself to the trunk of the tree, making sure she had a foothold before she hoisted herself up the trunk, inching her way slowly upwards. ' My name's… Ka-go-me. And I'll show you who's a wretch, you lousy son of a bitch, which you are since.. you know, bitch means a female dog, and…'

Kagome could barely muster up to half the length of the trunk before she fell off, screaming as she did, with a plonk.

' Oww…'

A flutter of air breezed its way towards her face and opening her eyes, she saw that Sesshoumaru had descended from the branch.

' Go away.'

And with that, he leapt onto the branch of a neighboring tree before settling down.

Author's note: finally an update. Thank you so much for all the reviews. I appreciate them a lot. I probably won't be able to update frequently since I am rather busy, but when I receive comments, it simply spurs me to update. Normally, I would try to make updates on Saturdays but school projects are weighing me down. I don't have homework but I rather have them then projects! Until then, please review! And do forgive any typos or grammatical errors I may have made Arigato!