Itsetsuhiko will be here soon. Kagome knew it; she could feel it.

And just as surely she knew that if they weren't successful, the future she knew where no yokai lived would come to pass. They would all die; if not here, in the near future.

As the morning sun glittered over the camp, Kagome reflected on her options. She didn't want to lose anyone, but Itsetsuhiko was more powerful than anyone realized. He's been collecting power by using the Tamashi no Ha, stealing or forcing the power from his companions. That has to be why there's so many holy people in his army; he's feeding their power to his own weapon. He may even have found a way to force the power of the yokai and hanyo he's slain into his blade, too.

She pressed her lips together. If I'm right, that's a lot of power for one weapon to contain. Kana's mirror broke because it couldn't hold any more... It couldn't contain my soul. If I'm right, there might be a way to try and force him to do the same with my own power and the weapon might break, too.

Of course, if she was wrong, she might die in the process—assuming Sesshomaru didn't kill her himself for the attempt.

She met Shiyuri's gaze and made her decision. Sesshomaru might not forgive her, but if it came to all-out war, many of their own people—her friends—would die. She inclined her head and Shiyuri nodded.

With any luck, Shiyuri would agree to her plan and help.

Kagome found Shin and struck up a conversation with him, using him as her shield as they left the immediate camp area so no one would be suspicious. "I want to know more about barriers," she said as they left camp. "It's the one thing I wasn't trained in."

"Of course, Kagome-sama," Shin agreed easily, walking side by side with her, "but I am not sure that even the Shikon Priestess could learn enough about barriers to be useful in time. Everyone seems to believe that our enemy will be here by nightfall."

Kagome kept her eye on Shiyuri, sneaking through the trees above them as she led them out of hearing range of the camp. "Well, can a barrier cover the entire camp?"

"If the monk or priestess was strong enough to maintain one of that force," Shin answered slowly, his eyebrows drawing together. "Barriers themselves aren't difficult to maintain until they're under assault. It would take a great deal of power to maintain one under constant onslaught and fully repel the invaders."

"What about keeping someone in?"

Shin blinked, nearly misstepping. "You want to entrap someone in a barrier?" he asked incredulously.

"Would they know they were in one?" Kagome asked, thinking about Naraku and Mount Hakurei. "I mean, would they be able to sense it?"

Naraku had dwelt within one, so it stood to reason that if the barrier was erected while the yokai was inside, they would remain unaffected. But for what she wanted, to ensure no interference, she would need to make sure the yokai within would not be aware of what had happened and the trap he'd been caught in.

"Those outside the barrier would be able to see it," Shin replied slowly, "but depending on how the barrier is built, those within may not if they were granted access by the one creating the barrier."

Like the monk did with Naraku.

Kagome nodded. "Can you build a barrier like that?" she asked as Shiyuri came to a stop above them. Kagome slowed to a stop as well.

He stared at her and she forced herself to stand firm under his scrutiny. "Kagome-sama, have you told Sesshomaru-sama what you are planning?"

"He knows," Kagome lied, hating that she'd lied but she had the feeling Shin wouldn't agree otherwise.

"Indeed, young cub." Shiyuri leapt down from the tree to stand before them.

Shin lifted his chin. "Then why isn't he here?"

"He is ensuring the security of the camp," Shiyuri said before Kagome could speak up. "He will regroup with this one after he has finished his tasks."

Shin looked between them for a moment and then sighed. "He won't appreciate you of all people sneaking around behind his back, Kagome-sama," Shin rebuked her gently, "but I assume you have a good reason for doing so."

Kagome flushed but kept silent. So he knows.

Shin sighed heavily. "Yes, I could enact such a barrier and hold it as long as my concentration isn't broken. But Kagome-sama...trapping your enemy like this in a barrier without your mate to protect you seems like a very foolish plan. If I feel you are in any danger, I will drop the barrier myself."

"She will not be alone," Shiyuri said firmly. "This one will stand by her side."

That was what Kagome had been hoping for. Of everyone in the army, Shiyuri was the one yokai Kagome thought would help without ratting her out to Sesshomaru. "Thank you, Shiyuri," Kagome said and meant it.

Shiyuri nodded her head. "It is time Itsetsuhiko has answered for his crimes."

"Can you keep the plan from Azumi?" Kagome recalled their mating bond and she knew that of the yokai in their army, Azumi was one of those with the greatest grudges.

"I already am," Shin admitted, rubbing his nose. "I don't want her to be any further tainted or tormented by Itsetsuhiko."

"Well," Kagome said with a brightness she didn't feel, "at least we're all in this together. So, here's the plan..."

Kagome smiled as she made her way back into camp. Everything would go according to plan; she'd make sure of it.

"Kagome."

She turned, not surprised to see Sesshomaru standing before her with a serious expression. "Hello, Sesshomaru."

"You are keeping something from me." His tone was flat as he made the accusation but she sensed his disappointment.

She waved a hand dismissively. "We were just discussing holy powers for defense," she said, knowing he wouldn't be able to pick up on the half-truth as a lie. She did intend on using a barrier to defend the army from Itsetsuhiko's own power and, once he was weaponless and slain, his hold on his army could be broken.

He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "What are you planning, Kagome?"

She shrugged. "Nothing, really." Another half-truth. She wasn't planning anything; the plans had already been made.

"If I find that you have done anything foolish," he warned, his voice lowering, "I will ensure that adequate compensation is in order."

She raised a brow, feeling daring. "And what are you going to do?" she challenged. "Lock me away somewhere? Try it; I dare you."

His jaw tightened. "I will mate you," he promised her darkly, "and ensure you shall never be able to keep a secret from me again."

"You're going to have to learn to trust me, Sesshomaru." She moved to pat his upper arm. "If you have any hopes of a relationship working out between us, then you need to be able to respect my autonomy."

"Perhaps if you were not prone to foolish decisions, I would have no cause for concern," he countered, but his expression softened at her touch. "I will not see you harmed, Kagome."

"I know," she said softly. That was why she'd chosen Shiyuri to aid in her plan rather than Sesshomaru. Shiyuri was not emotionally attached and wouldn't interfere unless there was no other option.

But the barrier meant that Sesshomaru wouldn't be able to feed her power if she needed it. It wouldn't just keep the others out; it would also keep her power in.

He inhaled slowly but didn't say anything else, evidently sensing that she'd made up her mind. "Whatever you are planning, Kagome, I will put an end to it if it puts you in any harm."

"I know," she repeated, pulling her hand back. "I know, Sesshomaru."

And I'm sorry.

He stared at her for a moment longer and then nodded, evidently satisfied. Before he could say anything else, InuYasha called out, claiming the wolves wanted to review the plan once more.

A plan that would be immediately obsolete once hers was in action, but she didn't regret that. She would save all of her friends...or die trying.

Kagome turned and left the clearing, moving to stand beside Shin and Shiyuri as she let her own powers open up, sending out tendrils of reiki that she hoped Sesshomaru and the others wouldn't be able to sense.

It was time to draw the moth to the flame.