A/N: Thank you to Dragon and Sword Master for his/her review.

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

Secrets Abound

The General

We look like idiots, Rukia thought, watching her friends make their way through John F. Kennedy International Airport. They'd gotten off the plane and made it through Immigration and Customs with little problem but by the time they got to the Arrivals level of the terminal, all semblance of poise had left her human friends. They were either exclaiming over some American restaurant or a piece of oddity that Rukia could care less about. They'd been given strict instructions on where to stay for the night and that they would be met by someone the next day to take them into the heart of the city. Sesshoumaru had made the accommodation reservations himself and had given them carte blanche has far as what they could put on the hotel tab. Knowing that wasn't the wisest thing he could have done, Chise had glared at the high school students and warned them to conduct themselves as befitting representatives of their country.

"Oi, guys, let's just call for the hotel shuttle and get into our suite. I'm exhausted and I'd really like a shower," Ichigo cut in through the chatter, grimacing at the annoyed looks they were getting from general population.

"Like you weren't looking around like you'd never seen an airport." Rukia barely restrained from snorting her disgust. "Nii-sama would be greatly embarrassed by your lack of manners."

"I'm a little ashamed myself," he surprised her. "Guess my brain has shut down for the night. So much has happened in the last twenty-four hours." Giving a gusty sigh, he took two long steps and grabbed Keigo before he could hit on a fellow countryman who appeared to be visiting the States for her vacation as well.

Mizuiro was at the courtesy phone, speaking astonishingly good English for someone who was near the bottom of their academic standings. It took almost no time for the person on the other end to agree to send the shuttle and they made their way with increasing fatigue towards the meeting point.

They piled into the shuttle, earning an odd look from the driver as he placed all their luggage in the back. It occurred to Ichigo despite being so tired that they didn't have an adult with them. He hoped that occurred to someone on the home front because it was likely that the hotel had an age restriction when it came to check-in. Rukia had been given a passport that put her age close to theirs which meant she was not an adult as far as the U.S government was concerned.

When they entered the hotel, they were taken aback by the grey, black and red décor. Ishida wasn't sure what he'd been expecting but it hadn't been the modern feel the lobby gave off. Leaving his bag with the other, he went to the counter and introduced himself. The receptionist glanced first at him, then the others over his shoulder before frowning.

"Sir, you must be twenty-one to check in at this hotel. Do you have a chaperone, perhaps?"

"There was supposed to be someone meeting us. Could you check our reservation to make sure there isn't a mistake?" Handing the paper he'd been carrying with the information about their stay to the woman on the other side of the counter, he waited while she checked her computer.

"Oh, my, yes, there was a phone call from your chaperone. She will be a little late in arriving. Until she does, I cannot check you in, however, you may leave your luggage here and enjoy the offerings of our restaurant while you wait."

"I thank you, madame. That would be most welcome. It was a long flight and we are extremely tired. I hope our attire will not offend anyone."

The stranger smiled at him and waved the idea away with her hand. "If they have a problem, just tell them the manager said it was okay. I'll make sure to send your chaperone to you when she arrives."

He bowed while thanking her again and received a smile in returned. When he rejoined his friends, he caught several winks and jokes about his way with women. Instead of responding how he wished, he just relayed what he'd been told and headed towards the restaurant. The others scrambled to leave their bags with the manager and follow him before he went out of sight.

Ichigo chuckled under his breath and gave a brief bow to the woman watching them closely as they crossed the lobby. Glancing to the side quickly, he caught the twinkle in Rukia's eye. Now that they were almost settled for the night, they could relax slightly. Tatsuki came alongside him and he turned to see what she wanted.

"Didn't know he had it in him," she said softly so the archer wouldn't hear her.

"He can be good with women when he wants," her childhood friend returned, gesturing to how Ishida pulled the chair out for Orihime. "Unfortunately, he's all stutters when it comes to the one he really likes."

Ishida was currently sporting a dull blush due to something the healer had said and together they shook their heads and sat at the table the waiter gave them without making further comment. Looking over the menus, they had to use translations apps from their phones to make sense of some of the things that were offered but finally chose when the waiter appeared again to take their order.

Keigo and Chad had not said anything since getting passed Immigration, and it looked like the former was ready to fall asleep in the soup placed in front of him as an appetizer. The scent of food soon revived the teen and he ate greedily until Rukia lightly kicked him under the table as a reminder to use his best manners. Chad was snacking on a salad while waiting for his main dish and seemed to be able to do it while half asleep.

It was when they were just getting into their main courses that their chaperone arrived. A hush settled over the room and as one they looked towards the entrance. The entire restaurant was staring at the woman who'd just walked in and they barely managed to stop themselves from making fools of themselves. The woman appeared to be in her early forties and walked with the grace of a model. Her cream-colored hair was done up in braids and twists, exposing her neck. Her skin was wrinkle free despite her supposed age and her outfit, while appropriate for one of her advanced years, was at the forefront of fashion. The dusty rose of the skirt ensemble she had on graced her figure like a well-fitted glove and there was not a gram of fat on her.

While the others in the large room only saw a woman worthy of gracing a runway, the Substitute Group saw beneath the illusion she wore. Two long tails rimmed with black flowed behind her and ruby colored eyes smiled at them knowingly when she reached them. "Hello, children. I apologize for my tardiness. There were things that had to be taken care of before I could make my appearance. I trust you are being treated well?"

"Yes, ma'am," they chorused, waiting until she was seated before digging back into their food.

"Excellent. I have checked in on your behalf and assigned you rooms. The girls will stay in one with me and the boys will be in another. If I hear you leave the suite after you go in tonight, I will not be happy." Eerie colored eyes gazed meaningfully at Keigo and Mizuiro as she made her statement.

"Understood, Kirara-san," Ichigo interjected for his friends.

"I'm so glad you understand," she said, smiling at the waiter as he rushed to fawn over her. After ordering, she turned very serious and waited until they were all looking at her before saying anything further. "From here on out, I am your general. You do nothing without my approval."

"I thought you were unable to join in on things, ma'am," Ishida said, watching his words. They were not in the privacy of their own rooms, so he didn't want to speak of war around the people in the restaurant. The Americans wouldn't take kindly to any talk of terrorism on their shores.

"I was distraught in the beginning, but I have calmed my nerves. I will guide you to the best of my ability as I did my kittens all those years ago. There is no reason you cannot have the wisdom of an elder while you are so far from home."

"We've kind of done things on our own before, Kirara-san," Ichigo said. "It's not our first time."

"I know," the nekomata returned, giving a brief nod of thanks as her meal was placed before her. "I am aware of how things turned out then too. No reason not to use every resource available to you, is there?"

"We will gladly accept your wisdom, ma'am," Rukia said, pinching Ichigo's arm when he would have protested. "Having done this for so long, you must be very knowledgeable."

"Indeed, I am that," Kirara said, her eyes lighting with laughter. How very tactful the Shinigami was being when referencing her age. A grunt of grudging acceptance was uttered by the orange haired teen and she figured that he was only relenting because the short girl was making him. It was interesting that she could control him so easily.

"Was the age factor the only reason you met us early, Kirara-san?" Ishida asked, wondering if there was something else they should be aware of.

"Yes," she assured the young man. "I had completely forgotten that you had to be twenty-one to check-in here. I would have met you at the airport if I'd recalled it sooner. You did not have any problems getting through Customs?"

"No," Orihime answered, speaking for the first time since the demon had joined them. "It was a relatively easy process. It took longer to get our luggage. I thought for sure they'd all gone missing."

"Missing luggage is a consequence of air travel. I am lucky to only need a few things when going abroad." She ended the conversation there and finished her meal while the others began picking at the stray pieces of their plates. When the waiter came with their check, she added a generous tip and added it to the eventual room bill.

Standing, she waited until the others followed suit and led them out of the restaurant and to the bank of elevators that would take them up to their suites. Kirara had ordered their luggage brought up to their rooms earlier, giving the bellhop a more than adequate tip for his troubles. Ushering them all into the square conveyance, she pushed the button for their floor and waited in silence for the metal box to take them up. Kirara had never liked the confined space of the machine and silently waited for the trip to be over.

Walking off the elevator into the corridor that held their rooms, Kirara didn't wait to see if they were still awake enough to follow her. She could tell by their reiastus that they were beyond tired and hoped that they were able to stay alert long enough to get ready for bed. No doubt they would all be asleep the moment their heads hit the pillows they chose.

"Here are your key cards. They work exactly like your metro cards. Do not lose them. They will be the only way you can get back into your room before we check out. Boys, you will be in this suite while I bunk with the girls. We leave you now to fight over who sleeps where." Kirara handed them the plastic cards and turned to the girls. Duplicating the process, she used hers to open the door to their suite and shooed the girls in. Without waiting to see if the boys discovered the lack of individual beds for all four of them, she shut away the outside world and sighed.

"Not bad," Tatsuki said, picking her bag up and placing on a free chair. "Wouldn't have gone with the red myself." All the luggage sat in one corner of the suite.

"It's very nice," Rukia commented. She placed her carry-on on the bed and opened it up. Ichigo and she had used one large case to save room but luckily, she had a couple of changes of clothes in the bag in front of her and her brush. She would not have to bother him so that she could get dressed in the morning.

"Is the boys' room identical?" Orihime asked, concern furrowing her brow.

"It is. No doubt they're finding out that they either double up or one gets the sofa bed and one gets the cot I had them put in there. Either way, someone ends up grumpy in the morning." Listening with one pointed ear, Kirara stretched and began taking off her clothes. "You girls go ahead and bathe. I did so shortly before arriving. I think I will just go to bed. It had been a very long day for us all."

"Oh! Are you sure?" Orihime asked.

"Very sure," the fire cat answered. Her high heels were placed next to the door and her blazer had been draped over the back of a chair.

"Alright," the flower wielder said and drew her best friend into the large bathroom.

Rukia was content to wait, perching herself on the end of the large bed that she decided she take for herself. "Where are you sleeping, Kirara-san?" she asked and was surprised when a swirl of youki engulfed the nekomata. When it cleared, she was as Rukia had first seen her. Cute and harmless looking.

Jumping up on to Rukia's bed, Kirara wandered up to the pillows and chose one for herself. Stretching a couple of times, the cat demon made a couple of circles before laying down in a ball. Looking at the shocked Shinigami, the nekomata chirped lightly before closing her eyes.

And there's our fearless general, Shirayuki's mistress mused. Adorable as all get out, to the unknowing bystander this cat was as harmless as they came. No one would ever know she'd just been on two legs and speaking in Japanese not two minutes prior.

"Will wonders never cease?" Rukia questioned softly and wondered what the other girls would think when they saw her companion for the night.

Suddenly she feared there was more strange things to come.