Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et. al.

A/N: Go is an ancient game of strategy that originated in China over 2,500 years ago and had reached Japan by the seventh century, according to Wikipedia. The ko rule is designed to prevent an unending cycle of the same moves over and over again.

Her Knight

Ch. 7

It was with much surprise, on Dr. Kintaro's part, that the physician discharged Inuyasha later that day. Mama had returned to the hospital to find that the half demon was dressed in street clothes of the modern variety and sitting cross legged on the end of Kagome's bed playing Go with her. Kagome was smiling even though it was glaringly obvious that she was losing. A familiar smirk graced Inuyasha's mouth as he captured another stone of Kagome's. "I see you've managed to keep yourselves entertained while I was gone. I didn't realize you played, Inuyasha, dear. We'll have to set up a game between us some day."

"Mama, you're good but he's way better."

"Keh, Ofukuro and I used to play every day once I was old enough to understand the rules." He turned his head slightly to address Mama but kept an eye on his sneaky miko. Kagome had a few tricks up her sleeve.

"Every day you say? I would like to try my hand at playing against a master." Mama grinned when his cheeks went pink at the compliment.

"Sure, we can do that, Higurashi-san. Oi, wench, what do you think you're doing, that ain't a legal move."

"He's right, dear. Remember the ko rule. You can't place your stone in the center of all of his when one stone is surrounded by three of yours."

"Dang it, I think I have to admit defeat." Kagome's mother giggled at the look of triumph on Inuyasha's face.

"So you do, dear. I take it they're releasing you, Inuyasha."

"Yeah, that earth youkai nurse said you had to sign something to make it official. She's got it at the nurse's desk."

"I'll be right back, dears." Mama left and Inuyasha slid off the bed. Kagome frowned at the serious look on his face.

"What's wrong, Inuyasha?" He studied the young woman in the bed and picked up the pieces of the game while he thought about what to say.

"I don't want to leave you here alone, Kagome."

I'll be fine, Inuyasha. The doctor said I could go home tomorrow if everything was all right with the stitches. I think my powers help me heal faster than I normally would. Mama always said I recovered quickly from things. Plus, you promised to go tell the others what happened and assure them that we're all right. I would feel much better knowing Shippou isn't worried about me. You know he still has nightmares about what happened to his parents."

"Yes, I know."

"And you have to retrieve Tetsusaiga. Souta could have found it under my bed by now if he's realized we left it behind."

"It won't work for him." Inuyasha put aside the game box and went to help Kagome slide down in the bed. Once she was comfortable, he tucked the covers around her. She was so fragile; he often wondered how she could have so much power in her slight frame.

"I know, but that doesn't mean he won't break something trying. You can come back after dinner to see me. Mama will stay with me tonight and tomorrow morning, we'll both be home, okay?" She took one of his hands, and squeezed the fingers tapered with normally deadly claws. Their strength always amazed her and it was one of the things she loved best about him. He could use them to slice an enemy to bits or hold her gently when she needed comfort.

"Fine; maybe I can get a decent meal at the shrine. The food in here is worse than your cooking."

"Are you saying my cooking's bad?" An arched eyebrow warned him he'd blundered again.

"Of course not, Kagome, you just need practice." Mama had seen the inevitable end to that conversation and stepped in to save Inuyasha's hide. There was no way she was allowing her daughter do undo the healing his body had already done by "sitting" him into the floor. "Say good-bye, you two. We need to go rescue Father from Souta. Or is that Souta from Father?"

"Later, Inuyasha. Tell Shippou to be good for Sango and Miroku. I'll be checking and if he's been getting into trouble, he won't be getting any treats when I get back."

"I'll tell the runt." Inuyasha leaned down until he was almost touching noses with her. "Try not to fall out of bed and break something else." She gave him a mild glare and playfully pushed him away. His closeness had disconcerted her somewhat. The only time their faces were ever that close was when they were arguing. Or that one time at Kaguya's castle… Kagome's face flamed bright red and she quickly faced her mother.

"Bye, Mama. See you later."

"Bye, dear. Shall we, Inuyasha?"

"Yeah," he said, studying Kagome oddly. What had embarrassed her? "Later, wench."

Inuyasha was greeted by an overenthusiastic Souta when they arrived back at the shrine. He let the boy hug him briefly before going to get his sword. Kagome's brother followed him into his sister's room. "So that's where it was. I was sure Mom hadn't taken it to the hospital with her."

"It ain't a toy, squirt. If you want to learn, start with a kendo sword. When you're old enough and experienced enough, I'll show you how to handle a real sword. Now, I got to go tell the others what happened. Let your mom know I'll be back by dinner time."

"Sure; do you mean it, Inuyasha? About the sword I mean?"

"I mean it." Inuyasha opened Kagome's bedroom window and hopped to the ground. Going to the well house, he went in, never realizing he still wore the modern clothes the twentieth century version of his brother had left him.


Shippou was still in dung territory with Sango and Kirara when he caught Inuyasha's scent. Kirara picked up on the half demon's youki and together they hurried to the door of the hut. "Sango, Inuyasha's back."

"Is Kagome with him?"

"No," the cub said, disappointedly. Inuyasha breezed into the hut, not noticing the odd looks his clothing got. "Where's Kagome?"

"In the hospital. One of her organs had a tear in it and needed to be fixed. She's got a broken rib and a fractured wrist but she should be home tomorrow."

"Oh, my," Kaede uttered coming in behind him. "What happened to her?"

"Some bandits from her time decided to try to hurt her. I got to her just as they were beating her unconscious. The leader shot me three times with something called a gun that shoots small metal objects called bullets. One nicked one of my major blood vessels and it had to be fixed last night when I turned human."

"Well, as you're here and well, we can safely say everything is all right, can't we?" Miroku asked his friend.

"Yeah, I'm going back to stay there until Kagome's out of the hospital. Doctor should release her tomorrow if she doesn't hurt herself again, clumsy wench."

"Inuyasha," Sango scolded. "I thought you said she was beaten."

"Yeah, but the broken rib and fractured wrist happened at the hospital. Before it was only a bruise and a sprain." Inuyasha sank to his knees in front of the kitsune child. "She's fine runt, so don't worry. I'll bring her for a visit as soon as her mother says I can. You're to mind Sango, Miroku and Kaede-babaa. No treats otherwise; Kagome's rules." The horrified look on the cub's face told him he'd heard that before and had broken it. "What'd you do?"

"He went off without telling anyone; even Kirara didn't know where he went or that he'd left at all." Sango reported this with an intense air of disapproval. "And then he tried to eat candy before lunch."

"All within the space of five minutes," Miroku added.

"Guys!"

"Keh, you'd better think of a way to apologize by the time Kagome comes back. She's going to be very disappointed. If that's all, I got to get going."

"Just one question, Inuyasha." Miroku didn't bother to hide his smirk.

"What is it?" he asked irritably. He wanted to be back at the shrine.

"Just what are you wearing?"