Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha or any of the gang.

That evening as the girls sat at the table for their meal Kagome kept up the happy chatter. Rin, her stomach in knots, merely moved her food around before pushing her plate away. She was in no mood to talk. It weighed heavily on her mind, the idea of lying to her lord and mate. InuYasha drummed his sharp claws on the table as his chin rested on his other fist, his eyes seeming to staredown Kagome. She was oblivious to it. Rin wished she had Kagome's calm.

"Something bothers you, Rin?"

Sesshomaru's soft, even tone caused her to jump, nearly tumbling her cup over. Rin quickly grabbed the goblet with shaking hands before looking to her lord with wide eyes. Her whole body jolted as her heart slammed hard against her ribs. He knew! Somehow, someway, Lord Sesshomaru already knew of her and Kagome's plan. She read it in his eyes. Folding her hands in her lap, Rin bowed her head and looked away. She had to gather her thoughts. It wasn't the plan that bothered her. It was the idea of having to lie. Kagome's words came back to her, "It won't be lying! You just...aren't...going to tell him...something! Totally different!

"I just...don't seem to have much of an appetite this evening, my lord."

'Okay, good. Not a total lie!' she thought to herself.

If the situation wasn't so dangerous, Sesshomaru might have found her answer amusing. Rin hadn't lied to him. He knew enough about a woman's mind, especially Rin's. Only a direct and specific question would get him the answers he wanted. From the opposite side of the table as his mate, Sesshomaru watched as InuYasha continued his one sided staredown with Kagome. The girl seemed unphased by the hanyou's angry glare. Then again, his little brother always seemed to have that "What Are YOU Looking At?" look on his face.

"Say, Kagome, do you and Rin have anything planned for tomorrow?" InuYasha asked, hoping to unnerve his mate.

"Planned for tomorrow?" Kagome asked around a small mouthful of food before shaking her head and chirping, "Nope. Nothing planned for tomorrow. Why? Did you have something in mind?"

Rin grabbed up her cup and hid a smile behind it. Kagome hadn't lied either. They had no intentions of going after the dagger tomorrow. The night of the new moon was when they would make their move. So long as InuYasha was in his human form he wouldn't be out fighting and exposing his secret. He would hide it even from his elder brother. How to keep the inuyoukai lord occupied was going to be another matter. Lord Sesshomaru hid from nothing and he certainly wouldn't be distracted by some simple trivial matter.

"Find a way to occupy your time for awhile, Rin. There are matters which shall require my focus and attention." Sesshomaru instructed, gaining him a puzzled look from his brother.

"Yes, my lord. I'm sure Kagome and I can find ways to keep ourselves busy." Rin smiled, almost breathing a sigh of relief that fate had dealt her a fair hand for once.

Sesshomaru nodded dismissively and the girls took their leave. As they rush from the room, InuYasha thumped a fist on the table and raised an eyebrow.

"Matters that require your attention! I hate to draw attention to the obvious here, Sesshomaru, but those two are scheming to take off after some dagger that MIGHT make them immortal! You can't sit there so calm and tell me that you are just going to let them go!"

"We are going to let them go, little brother," Sesshomaru replied and held up a hand as InuYasha opened his mouth to object, "Once they realize the danger of the path they have chosen, they will give up this quest of theirs. We will follow and observe them."

"And what about the demons who are following and observing us! Don't tell me we are going to let them trail us on this ridiculous scavenger hunt!"

"If they die along the way, it will be of their choosing."

InuYasha could only shake his head. He knew his brother well enough. Sesshomaru was most likely already several steps ahead of the girls in their plan. The only real unknown was the two demons. Would they follow and aid or follow and hinder?

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"Kagome, I can't do it! I just cannot lie to him! I almost spilled my guts...literally!" Rin shook as she slowly sat on her bed, hugging herself.

"You did great, Rin! Look, we just had an opportunity handed to us on a silver platter! Business will keep Sesshomaru occupied and the new moon is coming up tomorrow night! We just have to be patient."

"Its only going to take us one night to go and get this dagger? You mean to tell me its that close by!"

"I made an intense studied of the scroll so I might someday find the dagger. It was kept here in the Western Lands! I don't think even Sesshomaru knows it is so close by! Think of it! If he knew a dagger like that was under his very nose, he'd posess it himself! Between it and Tokijin, no demon would stand a chance."

"And this doesn't make you nervous! That a dagger like that was kept hidden from the Lord of the Western Lands! That right there tells me, Kagome, that this blade is far too dangerous for the likes of us to be toying with." Rin hissed.

"Its dangerous only to demons, Rin. We get the dagger, perform the ceremony, I become immortal and we'll put it right back! No one has to know we even touched it! Rin, please, don't back out on me now. I can't do this alone. You've travelled with Sesshomaru, you know the Western Lands. We'll take Ah-Un for added protection! I have plenty of sacred arrows!"

"Why can we not just tell Lord Sesshomaru and InuYasha what we are doing and ask for their help? We wouldn't have to be constantly watching over our shoulders. Kagome, it would be so much easier! If he knew why you were doing this, InuYasha would most likely be glad to help!"

"His first instinct is still to protect me, Rin. This act is going to require me to be stabbed and to feel some measure of pain. InuYasha would never dream of helping. He is going to insist that he and I leave tomorrow so Sesshomaru won't find out his secret. I will fake feeling ill so we have to stay put. Once the new moon rises, you and I will slip out of the great hall and find the dagger. When the sun rises the next day, we'll be back, I'll be immortal and those two will be none the wiser!"

Rin pressed a hand to her stomach as it lurched once again. She swallowed hard several times. Maybe she should have eaten something. This sounded so simple in words but in deeds...Rin knew she was risking the mortal life she was not yet willing to give up.