A/N: A small group to thank for reviews: TequilaMan, Nocturna Mae, Rukia's Reflection, elrond-76, AnimeFreakAmanda, Yumiko21, and Rabe Addler. And thank you to everyone who put this or its author on their lists. I've added the names of the major villains in the movies and animes of both series in this chapter for a dose of comedy but you don't have to have seen them to understand. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha and Bleach characters, mangas, animes, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et al, and Tite Kubo et al respectively.

Secrets Abound

Two of a Kind

Kagome and Inuyasha waited for the arguing couple to stop, almost surprised at how long the two could go without noticing that the spectacle was being witness by complete strangers. A knock on the door of the well house abruptly ended the tirade, the shorter of the Shinigami straightening her uniform before giving her partner one last kick in the shins.

"Kagome-chan, is everything all right?" a woman's voice floated in, the sliding door cracking open so that the newcomer could see in.

"Yes, Mama. We'll be done here shortly. How is Grandpa holding up?"

"You know Father, he's having a ball." The priestess' mother smiled at the group of adolescents before leaving her daughter and son-in-law to their task.

Chad watched the woman leave, consideration on his normal placid face. "You have aged liked your husband," he said, the first real comment he'd given.

"Keh, of course. It's a part of the mating ritual. Let's get back to the topic. You came here to see the shrine because it has legends attached to it. We're here to make sure you're not a threat to society." The last was directed at Ichigo.

"The Hollow within is subdued," Rukia shot back, once more on the war hero's side. "Ichigo trained hard to make sure it won't hurt anyone."

The half demon raised a dark brow, amused at how fast she had leapt to his defense. Just like another wench he knew. "Good, keep it that way. Just because your archenemy is imprisoned, doesn't mean others won't come to try to take his place. We don't need another Naraku." Dark memories clouded the married warriors' eyes and they were silent for several moments.

"Do the nightmares ever end?" Tatsuki asked softly, gripping her elbows with the opposite hand.

"Not really," Kagome answered regretfully. "The only thing you can do is talk about it with others that experienced the same thing and remember that you're alive and safe. They'll get less and less as the years pass."

"Tatsuki-chan…" Orihime whispered, putting an arm around her friend.

"You can run the whole thing over in your mind again and again, kid, but it won't change what happened. People died, others got hurt, that's war. Trying to pretend otherwise only negates the sacrifice that they had to endure."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome reprimanded. "That sounded cold. You'd better watch it or you'll start acting like your brother."

"Not a chance."

"I should have rejected Aizen's existence or something," the flower spirit wielder said mournfully.

"No, Inoue-san. To do so might have changed history so that something worse happened. Playing with Time is never a good idea. Aizen was meant to do evil things so that you warriors could come together. He thought he was the genius when all along Fate was pulling the strings. Truthfully, my friends and I are a bit old to be running around saving the world. I can tell by your auras that you're good kids and will make fine adults. With some training, I think you could make even better guardians of the world."

"You make it sound like we're old geezers, Kagome," Inuyasha complained. "Besides, the last time I got to use Tetsusaiga was during World War II. It isn't like there are a lot of demons powerful enough to give the others trouble."

Ishida lifted a brow at the grousing demon and figured he was one of those that liked a good fight. "You wish us to take over your demon slaying duties?" he asked.

"No, just the 'saving the world' duties. That is of course, if you meet Sesshoumaru's approval. Now then, why don't I give you the grand tour?"

"Wait a minute," Ichigo stalled, holding out a hand to stop her. "We already have duties. We can't just take on more. I can barely keep up with my studies as it is."

"Oh, this wouldn't be all the time. Just when an "End of the World" villain shows up. It's really not that often, now is it?" Kagome smiled until she saw the incredulous look on the others' faces. "Oh, come on. How many times have you had to save the world from annihilation?"

"Kagome, have you forgotten the others we faced while Naraku was still hanging around? There was Menomaru…"

"That was in the Feudal Era, Inuyasha."

"And Kaguya," he continued.

"Again, five hundred years ago."

"Takemaru and Sou'unga, plus the Four War Gods…"

"Oh, all right so there were a lot of arch villains then. Not so now, right, children?" The miko turned her eyes to the group of teens who were shifting uncomfortably. "Don't tell me we missed something."

"I'm afraid there have been quite a few people wanting to destroy at least one of the dimensions," Rukia answered. "Besides Aizen, there was Kariya," she began to list.

"And Muramasa," Ichigo supplied. "He wasn't above destroying everything and everyone to free his master, Koga."

"Do not forget Gariryu and Shuren," Ishida finished. He pushed his glasses up when he noticed the horror on the older woman's face. He hadn't partaken in the battle with the first man but the second brought back bad memories too.

"I see. We really are getting old," Kagome murmured. "Nii-san isn't going to like it that we were unaware of such battles."

"Indeed," came a baritone voice, the tone thick with ice. As one the teens spun around to look at the intruder, their eyes widening in shock at the tall demon in front of them. Before they had been unaware of Inuyasha's true appearance because of his hidden ears but the charm hiding Sesshoumaru's features was useless against spiritually aware humans.

Ichigo grabbed for Zangetsu, forgetting momentarily that he was still in his body. Rukia tensed beside him and his friends all prepared to call forth their powers. "It's useless, kid. My brother is a lot more powerful than he looks. He'd kill you before you so much as got out of your body."

"Hello, Nii-san. I didn't think you were coming," Kagome laughed nervously, hoping to divert her brother-by-marriage's anger.

"Hn, it seems that we have been lax in our investigations." Cold gold eyes narrowed on the orange haired warrior. "You are their leader. You will tell me everything. Come," Sesshoumaru demanded. Without waiting for an answer, the taiyoukai turned and left the small gathering.

"Hey, you can't just command me to follow you and fork over answers!" Ichigo shouted from the doorway.

Sesshoumaru paused, turning his head to look at Ichigo with the promise of death. "Do not be insolent, pup. It is clear that you are their pack leader, therefore you will give me the answers I seek. The time for secrets is through." Deadly claws began to glow green with poison, the gas floating in the air only centimeters from Ichigo's body.

"Kurosaki, I wouldn't anger him," Ishida said while Keigo and Mizuiro backed up as far as they could without running into Kagome and Inuyasha.

"Ichigo, just go with him," Rukia whispered, fingering her phone. She believed that it was time to call in reinforcements. If this Sesshoumaru was a noble of some kind, perhaps he would relate better to speaking with another aristocrat. Ichigo had never been one to follow protocol very well. His attitude towards authority was going to get him killed one of these days but she didn't want it to be today.

"Perhaps that's best," Kagome seconded. "Inuyasha, go with him. I'll finish giving the tour and then everyone can have lunch."

They watched as Ichigo and Inuyasha followed the elder Taisho, each concerned. "Will they be all right?" Orihime asked hesitantly.

"Oh, sure. Nii-san rarely kills anyone these days."

Somehow, none of the teens were reassured by the priestess' statement.

Inuyasha entered Kagome's childhood home, leading the way into the living room where Mama Higurashi sat sipping tea and watching TV. She looked up, smiling in welcome at the trio. "Hello, dears. Would anyone like something to drink?"

"Tea, if you wouldn't mind, Okaa-san," the younger dog demon said. Maybe if the other two had something in their hands, they'd be less likely to go at each other's throats.

"Of course. I'll be right back. Make yourselves comfortable." The only female left the room, leaving Ichigo at the mercy of the taiyoukai without a care.

Make myself comfortable? How the hell am I supposed to do that? Ichigo sat down carefully, one hand close to his badge. "How can she be so calm?" he asked unconsciously.

"She's used to having demons running around the place. It takes a lot to scare her," Inuyasha answered, flashing back to their first meeting. "I thought she was nuts at first."

"Higurashi-san had the patience of a saint when she put up with your adolescent hide," Sesshoumaru jabbed, although it wasn't as harsh as some of his insults had been in the past.

"Hey, let's not go there. Besides, compared to your mother, everyone else is sane."

"Indeed."

Ichigo watched the banter, confusion making him irritable. "I thought you were brothers."

"Half brothers," they chorused. The unity made it clear they were used to making the distinction.

"I wouldn't want his mother for the world."

"Likewise," the elder returned. The conversation faltered while Mama served them and then turned back to the original topic once she was gone with only a warning not to break anything. "Now then, you may begin," Sesshoumaru ordered.

"Perhaps, Kurosaki, you should allow me to explain. In your rashness, you will most likely forget something."

Ichigo groaned, hoping his imagination was playing tricks on him. Giving a heavy sigh, he turned to look at the newcomer. Byakuya stood in the doorway, unconcerned with the disruption his entrance had caused. "Rukia sent for you, didn't she?"

Sesshoumaru growled lowly, a warning for the intruder to tread lightly. The other man rested his hand on the hilt of his sword in response. "Explain yourself."

"Let me do the introductions," Ichigo offered. This was a disaster in the making. "Taisho-san, meet Byakuya Kuchiki, twenty-eighth head of the Kuchiki clan and captain of the sixth division of the Gotei Thirteen. Byakuya, meet Sesshoumaru Taisho, Taiyoukai of Japan."

"A noble?" Inuyasha squeaked, surprised that his voice could still crack after all this time.

"Oh, yeah. He's Rukia's brother."

"Uptight?"

"Uh-huh."

"Snobbish?"

"You bet."

"Disdainful of 'lower beings?'"

"You better believe it," Ichigo answered.

"As likely to try to kill you as look at you?" came the last fearful question.

"Sadly, yes." A whine followed Ichigo's final answer.

"Good gods, there's two of them," Inuyasha whimpered. Ichigo nodded in silent agreement until what the other man said finally registered. The shocked caused the tea he was trying to swallow to regurgitate, spraying Sesshoumaru's snow white pelt.

"Common as ever, I see," Byakuya said and watched as his sister's friend fell back in a faint, the half demon next to him doing the same. "Hn. Allow me to provide you the answers you seek, Taisho-san," he said, sitting without waiting to be invited.

"Do," Sesshoumaru said, getting a small amount of satisfaction in the way his brother had reacted. It just made up for the tea bath his fur had gotten.

But only just.

Kagome looked at Rukia in dawning horror as she explained the new spiritual presence. "Your brother is a noble?" she asked cautiously. Turning to the others, she looked her other questions.

Ishida took pity on her and provided the guidance she sought. "Captain Kuchiki is the head of his clan and a captain of a division of Shinigami. Unfortunately, he is quite dedicated to protocol and rules, something that puts him in direct opposition with Kurosaki. He is disdainful of others of lower class who act brash and don't respect titles and nobility. Again, Kurosaki is a prime example. To put it simply, our friend and the captain absolutely hate each other. One believes the other to be rude and childish while the other believes his rival to be cold and emotionless."

"And you let them be in the same room with Inuyasha?" Kagome cried, running across the grounds to the house. Rukia and the others followed, not bothering to answer their teachers' shouts.

The miko flung the living room door open, Rukia ducking under her arm to look. Ichigo and Inuyasha lay on the floor, twitching as if they'd been hit with a direct attack. Sesshoumaru and Byakuya calmly sat across from each other drinking tea and discussing the former's inquiry. "What happened?" she demanded. "Nii-san, what's wrong with Inuyasha?"

The demon lord gazed at the younger two men and gave a small shrug. "I know not," he denied.

"Nii-sama?" Rukia questioned.

"It seems they've suffered a great shock," Byakuya provided, amusement not quite hidden.

Chad exchanged a look with Orihime before gently prying Kagome away from the room. "It seems that finding out there is another person like Captain Kuchiki in the world has startled Ichigo and vice versa for Taisho-san."

"I wouldn't worry, Taisho-san," Ishida soothed. "It takes more than that to kill our friend."

"Quite frankly, I'm not worried about Kurosaki-kun," Kagome said. "Do you have any idea of the rant I'm going to have to listen to when Inuyasha recovers?" The "Substitute Group" looked at each other before nodding.

"If it's anything like the one Ichigo's going to go on, yeah," Rukia shook her head sadly. "You don't happen to have a pair of ear plugs, do you?"

"I think Grandpa sells them in the gift shop," Kagome said although she had no idea why the older Higurashi did such a thing.

"After you," the teens chorused.