Chapter 7

Kagome spent the morning in the section of the immense gardens in which the medicinal herbs were grown. She was impressed with the array of plants before her. Many she had never seen before. She had spent some time simply examining some of the unusual plants, sniffing their delicate – sometimes pungent – scents. After a time she snagged one of the gardeners to ask her questions about the strange foliage.

Ume had been less than enthusiastic about answering a barrage of questions from a human miko. She was aware that the human woman was a guest of Lord Sesshomaru so she reluctantly resigned herself to the task; simply hoping that the human would lose interest quickly so she could return to her work. She had been pleasantly surprised to discover that the miko knew a decent amount of herb lore already. After that Ume had been much more pleased to discuss the plants with Kagome, even offering to help her package several varieties used to treat the most common ailments among demons for transport before she left the palace. As a rule, most demons rarely got ill but there were some diseases to which weaker ones were susceptible to. And as a half-demon, Inuyasha was resistant to some conditions, vulnerable to others. Other plants would help aid with speeding the healing of wounds.

Lunch had come and gone with no sign of either Inuyasha or Sesshomaru. Kagome took it as a good sign, even though she did miss her husband. She'd had a pleasant morning with Ume, who had placed herself at Kagome's disposal if she had more questions later. The sky was clear and bright and the day warm but not uncomfortably so. She decided to take a walk around the palace grounds and enjoy the nice weather.

The grounds were quiet and peaceful. Demons moved here and there, attending to their business. Kagome had noticed that she appeared to be the only human here. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised. Sesshomaru had hated humans for a long time so it was doubtful he would have kept human servants. Even if there had once been humans at the Western Palace during his father's reign, they all would have long since passed away.

As she wandered, Kagome caught the sound of metal clashing against metal. She followed it until she reached its source. Rounding a corner, she found what appeared to be some sort of training area ahead of her. In the middle of the packed earth, two figures were clashing and breaking apart in quick succession. From this distance, she could see one figure was clad in red, the other in light blue and both had long silver hair. She ran forward.

Oh no! Don't tell me they're fighting! No, no, no!

"Move your feet, Inuyasha!" she heard Sesshomaru's voice as she neared.

"I am moving them!"

"Faster!"

"Bastard!"

"I'm not the bastard. Now stop leaving yourself open!"

"I'm not!"

"Is that so?" A moment later Inuyasha went flying backwards, skidding to a halt several yards away. Sesshomaru had turned away and appeared to be casually examining the claws on his free hand. Inuyasha got to his feet and charged at his brother's back. While Kagome figured Sesshomaru probably deserved whatever was about to happen, she was certain that if the residents of the palace thought Inuyasha had murdered their future lord, they'd not get out with their own lives. She had to stop this.

"Inuyasha! Sit!" Kagome cried. Inuyasha slammed to the ground at Sesshomaru's feet.

"What the hell was that for?" the prostrate hanyo demanded as he managed to raise his face form the dirt.

"What do you mean what was that for? You were about to attack Sesshomaru!"

"Because he told me to!"

Kagome stared at him. Inuyasha, released from the subjugation spell a moment later, climbed to his feet. The brothers stood side by side, regarding her with identical semi-quizzical expressions; as if they were wondering what had gotten into her and were waiting for some sort of explanation. She had the feeling she had missed something.

"Sesshomaru told you to attack him?" she asked slowly.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Training."

She had definitely missed something. "Training?"

"Yeah," Inuyasha said as if that one simple word explained everything. Kagome then noticed that he wasn't holding Tessaiga. A quick glance confirmed Sesshomaru wasn't carrying Bakusaiga, either. Practice swords? She shook her head. She still didn't quite understand what they were doing but figured so long as they weren't actually trying to kill or maim each other she didn't need to know.

"Have fun… training, I guess," Kagome said as she turned and walked away.

###

"So, training with Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked that evening once they had returned to their rooms for the night. Dinner had been another quiet affair but the atmosphere had been more relaxed.

"Yeah."

"Care to fill me in on how that came to be?"

Inuyasha shrugged. "Well, I went to talk to him like I said. It was just awkward. What do we have to talk about? It's not like we have a lot in common. He mentioned me being a responsibility and somewhere he made a comment about my fighting style. 'You flail about wildly and leave yourself open to attacks'" he mimicked. "'That may have served you as a child but you dishonor our father's sword the way you wave it about. And your mate will no doubt be distressed should you perish due to your own foolishness.' What a jerk. Anyway, I told him that if he was so much better to show me."

Kagome's eyes went wide. "Inuyasha, you know Sesshomaru's a master swordsman! Why would you challenge him like that?"

"Feh. Don't you get it, Kagome? The only time we've really ever spent together was when we were fighting. It's the only way we know how to relate."

"I thought the entire point was to build a relationship with him, not try to kill him!"

"That's what we were doing. Well, not the killing part."

"You were bonding while you were fighting?"

"Exactly!"

Kagome shook her head. It must be a guy thing. But it did make a strange sort of sense. Neither brother was the type to be open and talk about their feelings. They didn't have much, if anything, in common. Inuyasha had been left to fend for himself once his mother had died, learning survival in the wild at a young age. He had been lonely but always alone, shunned by humans and demons alike. Sesshomaru had been the pampered son of a great and powerful demon lord; always surrounded by people but always feeling alone. Their shared blood was their only real bond. Sword practice would be a way for them to spend time together without the need for awkward and stilted conversation. Kagome had to admit Inuyasha's fighting style was unorthodox at best. He'd never had any formal training with a blade, fighting on instinct alone once he'd acquired Tessaiga. While he had managed fairly well thus far, lessons from Sesshomaru - who had been properly trained and was an accomplished swordsman - certainly couldn't hurt.

"Just promise me that you two won't try to actually kill each other, okay. I hated seeing you hurt when you fought."

Inuyasha gathered Kagome into his arms. "We're not trying to hurt one another anymore," he reassured her. "That's why we were using practice swords. That way there couldn't be any accidents."

She looked up at him. "Without Tessaiga, you're not in any danger of…?"

He shook his head. "No. I know Sesshomaru's not trying to kill me and there's no real danger. Except for this damn subjugation necklace!"

Kagome blushed. "Sorry about that."

"You should be," he grumbled.

######

Inuyasha and Kagome found themselves greatly enjoying the next few days. The Western Palace had much to offer. They spent their time exploring the expansive grounds, studying the portraits and artwork that adorned the walls, or browsing the books and scrolls of the huge library. Sesshomaru joined them for the evening meal each night; occasionally he was with them during the days. He was still not particularly talkative but he was polite and the silences were more comfortable than strained. One morning Inuyasha had gone for a walk around the grounds by himself. Kagome was back in the herb garden with Ume learning how to brew up some remedy or another and Sesshomaru was tied up in a meeting so he was on his own. He found himself wandering through the gardens and eventually ended up at the rear of them, near the wall that surrounded the palace.

"Hey, watch it!"

"What the -?" Inuyasha looked around for the source of the voice.

"Down here, moron!"

He crouched down, eyes scanning the ground, his puppy ears twitching as he searched for the source of the shrill voice. "What are you?" he asked. He was certain he was looking at a patch of grass. Talking grass. He wondered if Sesshomaru wasn't trying to get rid of him by poisoning him and this was some strange side effect. He dismissed the thought. Poisoning his food wasn't Sesshomaru's style. He'd use the poison in his claws and be done with it.

"What the hell do we look like! We're demons, idiot!"

Sure enough, tiny eyes and fists appeared on what otherwise looked like blades of grass. Inuyasha felt a grin tug at his lips.

"You're a patch of grass!" he exclaimed.

"Figure that out all by yourself, did you? Listen up, doggie! Make certain you lift your leg someplace else! We're bona fide demons over here, not some mutt's personal potty! Got it?"

"What!?"

"Yeah, you heard us, doggie!"

Inuyasha revisited the idea of Sesshomaru poisoning him into insanity. Because he certainly couldn't be talking to a patch of demon grass that was throwing insults at him. He'd never even heard of such a thing. Sure, he'd seen demon trees. But demon grass? It seemed to push the bounds of plausibility. He got back to his feet.

"Meh. Get over yourself, weed."

"What did you say!? Come say that to our face!"

Inuyasha shook his head and started back towards the palace. This was just too weird.

###

Later that afternoon, Inuyasha tracked down his brother. "Grass demons, Sesshomaru? Grass?"

Sesshomaru closed his eyes briefly as Inuyasha burst into laughter and forced himself not to sigh out loud. He'd been hoping for a drought for the past few centuries to rid himself of the obnoxious creatures. Or that they would mouth off one too many times to one of the groundskeepers and meet with an unfortunate 'accident'. No such luck. "Father granted them… residency… in the corner of the gardens."

"Why?"

Sesshomaru shrugged. "I have no idea. I'm beginning to suspect it was his idea of a joke." He paused. "Or punishment."

"For them or you?"

"Knowing Father, probably a bit of both."

"Why don't you just let Ah-Un loose to graze? That would take care of things."

"That would be… dishonorable."

Inuyasha burst out laughing again at the disgruntled look on his brother's face. "You'll put up with being insulted by a bunch of weeds for the sake of your honor?"

Sesshomaru growled softly. "I do not spend much time in that area of the garden," he said stiffly.

Inuyasha laughed harder. "You're avoiding them! You! The great Lord Sesshomaru is scared of a bunch of grass!"

"I am not scared as you so crudely put it," Sesshomaru said, affronted. "I simply prefer not to engage with such idiotic creatures. I honor Father's agreement allowing them to remain. Beyond that I have no need to associate with them."

"Uh huh. Nice try but you can't fool me. You're scared of some pathetic grass demon!"

"Don't be an idiot."

"Then come talk to them," Inuyasha challenged.

Sesshomaru stiffened. "No."

"Scared?"

"No."

"Prove it!"

"Don't be such a child, Inuyasha."

"What's wrong, Sesshou? Chicken?"

Sesshomaru's fingers twitched. He forced his hand to be still. I will not dishonor myself by murdering a guest. Even Inuyasha. Even if he deserves it. "No."

Inuyasha looked at him expectantly, a grin still plastered on his face.

"Very well, if it will get you to leave me alone about the ridiculous creatures!"

Inuyasha's grin got even wider in triumph. He couldn't wait to see what the obnoxious little demons would say to his brother. Together, they strode out towards the rear wall. Sure enough, a strident voice piped up as they approached.

"Hey you! Girl!"

One eye twitched.

"Yeah, you! With the pretty hair!"

Gold eyes narrowed. "Are you speaking to me, vermin?" Sesshomaru growled.

There was a moment of surprised silence. "Wait a minute… you're… you're not a girl?"

"No."

Another silence. "Are you sure? You have awfully nice hair. And you're pretty."

Inuyasha took a step back as he felt his brother's irritation rise. Though his smile didn't fade until he heard Sesshomaru's low growl and noticed a telltale green glow begin to form around the other's fingertips.

"Uh… Sesshomaru...? Father… honor… all that…"

Another twitch.

"We're done here," Sesshomaru growled, turning and striding away before he gave into the temptation to eradicate the annoying little creatures once and for all, honor be damned.

Inuyasha couldn't resist a grin. He'd never seen Sesshomaru so flustered. He may have appeared his normal stoic self to most but Inuyasha knew the other well enough to tell the other demons had gotten to him.

"Hey, doggie!"

"What is it?"

"The pretty one… really not a girl?"

"Sorry to disappoint you." He smothered a chuckle as he saw Sesshomaru's hand ball into a fist. Even from that distance he'd overheard them. Inuyasha hurried to catch up before the obnoxious little grass demons could say something that would push Sesshomaru over the edge. That wouldn't be good for anyone in the general vicinity.

###

Inuyasha couldn't resist telling Kagome about the grass demons that afternoon. And Sesshomaru's reaction to them.

"A grass demon?" Kagome giggled at the thought. She had seen many strange things but this seemed to be just a bit too far-fetched.

"I'm serious, Kagome," Inuyasha said. "There's a patch of talking grass out in Sesshomaru's gardens. I thought he had poisoned me at first when it started talking!" He grinned wickedly. "You should have seen the look on his face when it called him pretty! I wish I had your camera-thingy with me."

"Well, he is pretty," Kagome mused. "Though that's probably not really something he likes to hear."

Inuyasha gave her a strange look. "Uh, Kagome… that's just… wrong."

"It's true."

He shook his head. "Just don't let Sesshomaru hear you say that!"

She waved his concern aside. She had no intention of repeating that particular thought to the demon lord anytime soon. "I want to see them," she giggled. "It sounds hysterical."

"Alright. But don't blame me if they insult you!"

Kagome followed Inuyasha out into the gardens. "It really is grass!"

"You think I was lying?"

"Of course not, Inuyasha. It's just… grass…"

"Hey! We can hear you, you know!" a shrill voice complained. "Come down here and say that to our face!"

She knelt down and peered at the lush green patch. Sure enough, tiny black eyes stared back at her. The tiny eyes blinked a few times. "What are you?"

"Huh?" Kagome was confused. "What do you mean?"

"You look like a girl but so does that pretty one who says he's not."

Kagome recalled Inuyasha's delight at the grass demon's insults towards his brother. "You're talking about Sesshomaru?"

"If that's the name of the pretty one with the long silver hair."

Kagome choked back a laugh. "I'm a girl," she said.

"Oh. Okay. And you're not a doggie like the mutt over there."

"No. I'm human."

"Human? Huh. Go away. We're a great demon. We don't associate with lowly humans!"

"Lowly -!? Why you – "

"I warned you they were insulting," Inuyasha said. He stepped back as Kagome turned her glare on him. "Hey! I didn't insult you! They did!"

"Humph!" Kagome marched back toward the palace.

###

"Sesshomaru, just how did those grass demons end up in your gardens anyway?" Kagome asked over dinner. She couldn't imagine why the demon lord allowed them to stay. She would have thought he'd have destroyed them the first time they insulted him. She was curious to know his reasons.

Sesshomaru sighed inwardly. Of course Inuyasha had taken his mate to see the foolish things. Why anyone would want to associate with such creatures was completely beyond him. "Father allowed them to stay," he answered. He turned to Inuyasha. "Honestly, Inuyasha, why do you continue to indulge such idiotic creatures?" Sesshomaru asked in a bored tone.

"Because they're ridiculous. And they seem to do a good job in pissing you off."

"Don't be absurd."

"Oh? You weren't twitching when they thought you were a girl and called you pretty?" Inuyasha snickered. "You certainly looked ready to give them a taste of your poison claws."

I will not murder Inuyasha. I will not murder Inuyasha. No matter how tempting. He drew in a calming breath and released it slowly. I should have eliminated those nuisances years ago. Father must be laughing from the netherworld right now. "They're a minor irritant at best," Sesshomaru said dismissively.

Inuyasha continued to snicker. He knew damn well the obnoxious little demons had gotten under his brother's skin. He knew better than to push Sesshomaru too far on the subject, however. He wanted to annoy the other a bit, not enrage him. "Sure, whatever you say."

##########

A/N: The grass demon started as something of a joke. We were driving somewhere and to pass the time, the Spawns and I tried to see what the most pathetic and ridiculous demon we could think of was. Grass demon won. Yes, it's utterly ridiculous but this was too good an opportunity to use it to pass up.