One day, representatives of the Yōkai Taijiya (lit. demon exterminators) entrusted her with the protection of the Jewel of Four Souls (四魂の玉, Shikon no Tama). They determined that only a Miko of great purity and power would be able to purify and protect this jewel from misuse. It became Kikyo's destiny to spend her life guarding this Shikon no Tama lest it fall into the wrong hands, for the resulting evil and chaos would wrend the entire country.