A/N: A group to thank for reviews: Becstar311, Asezuna, Martyna1, Rukia's Reflection, AnimeFreakAmanda, dragonlord1337, Yumiko21, Rabe Addler, and MaN6A10v3r. And thank you to everyone who added this or its author to their lists. Wow, two different stories updated in the same day. 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
It Wasn't a Suggestion
The groups were eating lunch when Inuyasha and Ichigo finally regained consciousness. Settled underneath the ancient God Tree, the daiko's friends simply looked at him when he came outside, prepared to stuff plugs in their ears should he begin his normal tirade. When nothing happened, Rukia calmly handed him his lunch and went back to her own meal.
Kagome had sat on the stone bench nearby, her head together with Sango. The two matriarchs laughed quietly about the antics of their children, ignoring the looks she got from the teenagers under their watchful gaze. Inuyasha came up beside them, laying a hand on the priestess' shoulder before sitting at her feet.
Sesshoumaru and Byakuya had long since finished their business and stood around talking while keeping an eye on their younger siblings. An apparent life-long friendship had formed by virtue of their distaste for brash, rude males. Neither had accepted anything beyond tea from Higurashi-san, one not wanting to disquiet the woman by having her serve to a spirit that she couldn't see while the other still refused to eat human food.
Gold eyes narrowed on the interaction between the Shinigami daiko and Byakuya's sister, assessing their closeness. They argued as if it was a form of foreplay, the orange haired teen taking a beating but otherwise not doing physical harm to his partner. Instead he settled for picking on her height and her drawing abilities. Having caught sight of the horrid caricatures earlier, the demon lord couldn't really blame the kid.
"They are betrothed, aren't they?" he comment to the other noble, tilting his head towards the two younger Shinigami.
"Not if I have any say in the matter," Byakuya retorted hotly. "As the head of the clan, I have final say in who my sister marries. A human child who steps on the pride of the Gotei Thirteen is not a fitting match for a Kuchiki princess."
"His scent already covers hers, and vice versa. Their auras blend seamlessly."
The sixth division captain narrowed his eyes dangerously, ready to draw his Zanpakutou. "His scent?" Byakuya questioned, hoping the taiyoukai meant something other than what he thought he meant.
"It is not sexual," Sesshoumaru assured, knowing that that would be the first thought to come to the mind of an older brother. Having raised a girl during the Feudal Era, he knew well the dangers facing a woman of mature years. Thankfully Rin had lived in Kaede's village and been protected by his brother for the most part while he'd been away beating or in some cases killing demons who would have taken her innocence just to get at him. "It is more like he spends a great deal of time around her and doesn't let her go far from him."
"He is protective of her," Byakuya agreed unwillingly. They watched as the "Substitute Group" went en masse to throw away their garbage before sitting back down together. Rukia still sipped from her juice box, something both older men had noticed Ichigo had opened for her.
"In the demon world, his actions would be seen as courting."
"Hn, Ichigo Kurosaki would not know how to court a woman if his life depended on it."
"Sadly, he is not the only one," Sesshoumaru sighed, remembering his brother's actions five hundred years ago. They watched as another argument ensued, this one about Rukia calling in her brother. The others of their group put in ear plugs and tuned them out, instead enjoying the small break they had from both school work and the loud noises of two Shinigami.
"One of these days she's going to hit him too hard and he's going to have brain damage," Byakuya sighed, watching as his sister became too angry at the orange haired war hero to care that her brother was watching her. Normally she held her temper when he was around so that he didn't see her true nature.
"Perhaps it is too late," the taiyoukai mused. "You did say that he invaded the Soul Society to save her from execution."
"Indeed, it would explain a lot," the other aristocrat agreed. It was by a far a better explanation than the suspicion that Ichigo Kurosaki was in love with his sister. And better for his sanity.
Ichigo picked up Rukia by her waist, holding her away from him so that she couldn't hit him again. "That hurts," he growled.
"Good," the petite warrior spat back. "You deserve it for not appreciating my concern."
"Your concern? Your brother now has a friend in this world that's just like him! I already have to put up with Byakuya's disdain; I don't need a double dose from Taisho-san. They both think I'm nothing but a rude, uncouth child."
"I wonder why?" she sniped. "You clearly have no appreciation for your friends."
"Like hell I don't," Ichigo argued back.
"Oh, for heaven's sake, just kiss her already," Inuyasha put in. Several females shot glares at him and he shrugged. "It'll stop the argument, which quite frankly I'm sick of listening to."
"Inuyasha," Kagome admonished. "We should leave them to work things out on their own."
"Why? You never did." Sango laughed softly at the reminder of all the times the miko tried to get her and Miroku together.
Ichigo and Rukia paused in their verbal battle to turn on Inuyasha. "We can settle this ourselves, thank you, Taisho-san," Rukia said, a blush staining her cheeks.
"Sure you can, but I can do it faster. You're angry because you don't think he appreciates the fact that you didn't want my brother to kill him, which is still a possibility by the way, and he's angry because he thinks that you think he can't take care of himself against a strong enemy."
"That's not it!" she cried, shooting her violet gaze to Ichigo's amber one. "I just don't want you to get hurt."
"I'm fine, midget," Ichigo said softly, setting her down now that he knew she wouldn't hit him. He placed a large, callused hand on her head and sighed. "I'm young, I'll admit but I can control myself when against those more experienced." He didn't like to hold his temper but he could do it. War had taught him the consequences of letting his anger get the best of him.
Looking at his friends, he noticed that none of them were paying any attention to the discussion taking place not two meters from where they sat. "Oi, don't you guys have anything to say about this?" he asked, confused that they hadn't butted in too.
"They're ignoring us," Rukia said. "They bought ear plugs so that they wouldn't have to listen to you complain about having to talk with both Nii-sama and Taisho-san."
"Am I really that bad?" he asked.
"You both are," Ishida said, taking the plugs out and sighing. "It's like listening to a mad man rant about nonsense. The arguments between you and Kuchiki-san are so routine that they're not even worth listening to anymore."
"Gee, that sounds familiar," a younger male voice said and as one they all looked up to spot the auburn haired young man from earlier. "When I was growing up, these four used to do it on a daily basis. Sometimes more than that." He pointed to the four people who had watched him grow up and gave a fanged smirk.
"Shippou, get out of the Sacred Tree," Kagome demanded lightly. She watched as he jumped down easily, his grace having been learned from the dog demon that'd raised him.
"I was just watching two fools," he answered. "They really are attracted to each other. Oyaji was right; you should have just kissed her." The kitsune grinned at the orange haired teen, watching as embarrassment flooded his cheeks. He was even more fun to tease than Inuyasha had been.
"You press your luck, demon," Byakuya growled, a hand on the hilt of his Zanpakutou.
"Frequently," Sesshoumaru answered, lifting one hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Shippou, they're relationship, or lack thereof, is private. Did your father not teach you that?"
"Sure, Uncle," the young man said, using the relationship title just to make the demon lord mad.
"Keh, you just like to make mischief," Inuyasha interjected, knowing that if he didn't stop the fox demon's words, Ichigo would be fish food. While they weren't lovers, their auras were definitely mingling. If the teen ever made a move, the half demon figured the small woman would not reject his advances. Despite the revealing of secrets that seemed to have occurred by the bucket load that day, some things were still better left alone.
"Kurosaki, you tread dangerously close to harming my pride." Byakuya stared hard at his sister's friend, wondering just how close the two were. He'd been assured that they were not lovers but the combining of reiatsu that he sensed was just as intimate.
"Che, as if."
Sesshoumaru almost smiled at the response, knowing that one day the other noble would have to admit defeat and allow his sister to have her way when it came to her heart's desire. "Perhaps it is best that we return to the true reason we are gathered here."
"Have you come to some sort of agreement?" Ishida asked, thankful that the talk of Ichigo and Rukia's relationship was off the table. While it might prove amusing in the future to watch the battle between the two men who loved the violet eyed Shinigami the most, this was not the time and he knew it was hurting Orihime. The healer had already heard enough.
"Indeed, Quincy," Sesshoumaru agreed. "You will continue on with your studies. As most of you can't take the form of spirits, you are to attend to the safety of your town. Kuchiki-taicho has informed me that there is a training ground that is available for your use, should you choose to use it. Do so. It is never good to be caught unawares."
"I do not see how that is any different from what we'd already planned," Tatsuki put in. "Some of us are only spiritually aware, we don't have powers."
"So I have been told. Therefore, you will work with Sango and learn the way of the demon slayers. Perhaps you will develop powers as time goes on. It is only right that you have the ability to defend yourself against demons and Hollows."
"Well, gee, now that we have your permission, of course." The martial artist looked at the demon with something akin to hatred.
Miroku, who had kept his opinions to himself until then, winced, well aware of what the demon lord's response to her words would be. "Perhaps you should explain things better, Sesshoumaru. I do not believe they understand the extent of the training that they will need to go through."
"Insolent girl," Sesshoumaru glared but did not physically threaten the martial artist. She was even less of a match for him than the orange haired Shinigami.
"Taisho-san, I do not believe you understand," Orihime whispered, touching her hairpins hesitantly. "Kurosaki-kun, Kuchiki-san, Sado-kun, and Ishida-kun have all worked really hard to develop their powers. It takes a lot of stamina and strength to wield their weapons and powers like they do."
"Indeed," the demon lord agreed. "I am less concerned with them, than I am with the rest of you. Demons will generally stay away from those whose power is greater than theirs if they're smart. However, those of you who do not have powers beyond your spiritual awareness are nothing more than a meal on two legs to them. That is why you must learn the ways of the taijiya. We do not even know if Zanpakutous will work on demons that are still alive. If I am correct, the nature of your swords is much like that of my Tenseiga. It can defeat the souls of the dead, but is useless against the living."
"Besides that, there are demons that like to prey on spiritually aware humans," Sango put in. Many times in the past the inutachi had come up against youkai that had wanted Miroku or Kagome's powers. "They kill them and take their powers, using the energy to feed their own. Isn't that right, Houshi-sama?" the older woman said, her tone slightly teasing.
"Ah, yes. My dearest Sango is right, children. It is better to be prepared than to be caught unawares. Besides, if you are so skilled, then you will breeze through the tests with little problem, won't you?"
"I do not see the difficulty," Ishida agreed.
"I thought you guys had watched what went on during the last year," Ichigo said, one brow raised in disbelief.
"You were investigated," Inuyasha said; one ear cocked on an angle. "However, we did not see you," he continued, indicating his friends. "You must pass our tests, just as every other demon slayer who we teach does. And let me tell you, it won't be easy."
"When is it ever?" the younger man sighed.
Sometimes he really hated being the hero.