Welcome to My World

Chapter 25

A.N. – Yes…it has been a while. Not too bad when you consider it's me after all, but anyway. A few months…and here is the next chapter.

-000-

They had already entered the castle quietly. Everyone was on edge and looking about nervously for any sign of danger.

"So what do you think so far?" Kagome whispered to Inuyasha.

"I still think it's a trap. There just waiting to spring it."

Kagome sighed, "I can't stand this…"

"Yeah, I wish they would just go ahead and do this already…I hate waiting." Shippo answered with an edge to his voice.

Moments later they entered a room and Shippo got his wish.

Kagome gasped as she saw the familiar looking white baboon fur covering someone up. "Naraku!"

-000-

Inumi looked again at Nobu and glared at him for what seemed like the 100th time…in just that hour.

Nobu smirked, "You know that doesn't really help right."

Inumi glared at him even harder because of this. "Why are you doing this Nobu?"

"Why not?" He answered.

Inumi clenched her teeth as she tried to keep her temper in check. In the end, she decided it was useless. "Stop playing games with me you stupid wolf!" She screamed as her face flushed red.

Nobu was a bit taken back with her sudden outburst, but a few moments later he chuckled. "You know you look kind of pretty when you are angry."

"That is such an old pick-up line!" She retorted.

Nobu looked at her questioningly, but in the end decided it wasn't worth pursuing so he shrugged it off.

"It's about time." He stated as he walked over to Inumi and helped her stand.

"I can stand up on my own…" She answered as she shrugged off his touch.

Nobu growled and grasped her by the arm anyway. "I have to make sure you don't get away." He smirked. "Especially when you see your little fox boy."

"Shippo! He's here!" She answered with excitement.

"Yeah, Mommy and Daddy too from what I've been told." He answered as he led her out of the room she had been staying in.

"All of them…and you're just going to let me go back to them?" She asked.

"Of course not stupid! We're just going to let them see you one more time. Who knows…maybe you'll even get to go home with them if your old man cooperates." He answered.

Inumi was getting worried. 'Oh boy, they must not know my Dad at all. Cooperation isn't really his strong point.' Inumi thought to herself gloomily.

-000-

"The hell I will!" Inuyasha answered.

"But Inuyasha…if it will save Inumi…" Kagome whispered.

"No! It's too dangerous. I will not let him have the jewel. There are other ways we can save Inumi." Inuyasha growled.

"Maybe…maybe not." The mysterious man in the white baboon fur answered.

"Who are you anyway?" Koga asked.

Sango looked up at this, "He's Naraku isn't he?"

Koga snorted, "Nah, he doesn't have quite the same stench as Naraku. It smelled a little like him in the forest, but now that I meet him in person…it's a little different. So answer me already. Who are you?"

The figure laughed a bit to himself. "I suppose I knew you would figure it out eventually. My scent is subtly different after all. I am one of Naraku's later incarnations. I am called Nibori. I was created for the purpose of reviving Naraku should he be killed."

"So that's your deal. Yeah, kinda sound like one of Naraku's crazy schemes. The only problem is you're going to fail." Inuyasha stated as he leapt forward at Nibori.

"So this is your answer then." He responds before leaping out of the way of Inuyasha's claws.

"Hell, yeah this is my answer! You're going down!" Inuyasha answered as he got ready for another attack.

"I wouldn't be so sure…" He heard someone say just before he was about to strike. Inuyasha turned and saw that Nobu had just entered the room with Inumi. "You're forgetting we have your little girl."

"I haven't forgotten anything you mangy wolf. Now let her go!" He answered.

"Umm…no." Nobu answered with one of his trademark smirks.

"Nobu, do what he says! Let her go and come back home with me." Koga called to him.

Nobu only smirked as he answered, "No can do."

"Why are you doing this Nobu? You've always been a good kid up until now." Koga asked.

"Sorry, that would be my doing. I knew I was going to need help so I… "recruited" him you might say."

"You mean you brainwashed him! Just like Naraku did to my brother Kohaku!" Sango yelled at him as she could feel the anger boiling inside her just thinking about it.

"You lousy bastard…" Koga growled as he got ready to strike as well.

Inumi gasped as she felt something sharp make it's way to her neck. She looked down warily as she eyed the sword in his hand. "Nobu…what…what are you doing?" She whispered.

"I think everyone just needs to calm down." Nobu shouted as he tried to get everyone's attention.

Kagome gasped as she saw the sword pressed up against Inumi's neck. "Please…don't." She whispered.

Inuyasha clenched his teeth and growled as he eyed the sword carefully.

"All you have to do is give me the Shikon jewel so I can revive my master and she will go free."

Inuyasha looked torn as he kept trading glances between Nibori, Inumi and Kagome.

Finally, the decision was made for him as Kagome took the shikon jewel out of her pack and held it out to him. "Now, let her go.

"Kagome no!" Koga and Sango called. "He wants to revive Naraku with that! There is now way we can let that happen." Sango said.

"I know…but…I can't….I can't just…Inumi." Kagome stuttered and then put her face in her hands as she started to cry.

Shippo growled, 'This is such an impossible choice. We can't let Inumi get hurt, but we can't let Naraku be revived either.' Shippo thought to himself as he grit his teeth. "What do we…" Shippo's question was interrupted by a scream, however, as Inumi turned back suddenly and shoved Nobu away from her. In doing so the sword also sliced her neck and the blood begain to pour.

Kagome gasped in horror as he whole world began to fall away from her and she felt as if she would faint.

Everyone else was so shocked they were unable to move, except for one person.

Koga took advantage of the confusion and leapt forward to catch Nibori with his claws.

Nibori, who had also been unable to move because of the shock, was not able to avoid all of the attack as Koga neatly sliced off one of his arms.

Nibori screamed in pain and this was enough to bring everyone else out of their silent reverie. Kagome ran toward Inumi to make sure she was still alive. Shippo followed in Kagome's general direction with rage as he leapt at Nobu and attacked him. This gave Kagome the time she needed to check on Inumi. The tears were falling rapidly down her face as she saw the blood gushing out of her. "Oh…please…please be ok." Kagome stated as she tried to cover up the wound and stop the bleeding with a blanket she had in her bag. Sango ran up with Kirara, "Is she…"

Kagome tried to respond in between sobs. "I…I don't know. There's so much blood."

Sango knelt down next to her friend and visibly flinched as she caught sight of the blood as well. "Oh my…" She gasped.

Sango looked over at Kagome and saw the look on her friends face. "Kagome please let me handle this. You shouldn't look." Sango stated as she tried to help Kagome who looked to be on the verge of having a breakdown.

Kagome withdrew her shaking hands as she closed her eyes and tried to remain calm. It wasn't working. She could still feel her daughter's blood on her hand. She could still smell the metallic scent of it in the air. She could hear Sango's curses as she placed pressure on the wound and tried to keep her from bleeding to death.

"What do I do?" Kagome whispered to herself with defeat. "What the hell do I do!" She screamed louder into the vast room with frustration.

-000-

Shippo had completely lost it when he saw Inumi go down. He had attacked Nobu without mercy and was giving the fight his all. "You bastard! You may have killed her!" Shippo shouted with rage as he leapt at him again with his claws.

"Not my fault, she's the one that moved." Nobu retorted as he dodged the attack.

""I'll make you pay." Shippo answered as he continued to attack him fiercely.

-000-

Nibori was already having a difficult time holding his own since Koga had ripped off his arm, but he was quickly coming to the understanding that he was going to lose this battle since he was also having to hold off an enraged Inuyasha.

'It's time for me to abandon this plan. It's become far to complicated.' He thought to himself as he pulled out a smoke bomb and prepared to escape.

Inuyasha saw what was coming and was not going to have any of it. He leapt at him and knocked it out of his hand before he could use it. He then turned and swiped at Nibori again. Nibori didn't even have time to scream in pain as the attack cleanly ripped of his head.

Inuyasha stopped and looked down at the dismembered body before him. "He's dead?" Inuyasha asked in disbelief.

"Too easy." Koga mumbled from behind him.

"Definitely." Inuyasha responded as he clenched his fists in anger. "Which probably means we were only fighting a puppet or something."

Koga sighed, "Right."

-000-

When the Nibori puppet was destroyed Nobu stopped fighting. "What the…" He asked with confusion as he looked around him trying to figure out what was going on.

He heard an enraged scream and turned to see Shippo leaping at him to attack. His eyes widened, but there was no time to dodge as Shippo neatly scraped his claws across Nobu's body.'

Nobu screamed in pain as he grabbed at the wound on his chest. "Wait Shippo!" Someone yelled.

Shippo was about to finish him off when Koga ran in between him and Nobu. "He's not doing this by choice, he's being controlled. Let me handle him."

Shippo clenched his fists for a moment longer with rage and finally glanced over at Inumi. "For his sake, you'd better pray she doesn't die." Shippo answered as he ran over to join everyone else by Inumi's side.

Koga leaned forward and grabbed Nobu, "Nobu, hey kid, snap out of it!"

Nobu opened his eyes, "Koga…I…what's going on? How did I get here?" He asked with confusion.

Koga sighed with a bit of relief. "It's a long story. You going to be ok?"

Nobu looked down at the wound on his chest. "It's not that bad. I'll be ok."

"Good. We'll get you looked at later. Right now…" Koga glanced over at Inumi to see how she was managing. The situation didn't look so good.

Koga sighed, "Let's make sure she is ok. You stay close to me and don't say anything got it?"

Nobu nodded, "Ok, but why…"

"I'll explain later." Koga answered.

Nobu didn't really understand, but he knew better than to push Koga too far so he nodded his head and followed him quietly over to where the bleeding girl lie.

-000-

"Kagome, I…she's losing to much blood. At this rate she…she won't make it." Sango stated. "I…I'm sorry.

Kagome felt her insides grow cold. "No…no! There must be something…something we can do! We have to…we have to save her."

"But Kagome…there's nothing we can do." Sango answered.

Kagome's look became determined. "No…there is something we can do. This…we'll use this." She stated as she held out the shikon jewel.

"Kagome…" Sango answered with uncertainty.

"It's the only way." Kagome answered.

Inuyasha knelt down and put his arms around Kagome comfortingly. At least he hoped, he wasn't sure that he was holding together much better than her.

"Inuyasha, it's the only way." Kagome said as she glanced back at him for confirmation.

Inuyasha nodded. "Ok."

Sango removed her hands and the blanket that was now soaked in blood as Kagome held out the jewel above Inumi's wounds. She began to send up a silent prayer to whatever gods were listening above. 'Please…please let this work.' She thought as she placed the necklace with the shikon jewel on it around Inumi's neck.

Everything was quiet for a moment as everyone waited to see if it was too late.

Inumi opened her eyes. "Mom." She smiled.

Kagome sighed with relief. "It's ok…you're going to be ok. But we are going to have to take you back home. The doctors in our time will be able to help you." Kagome stated.

"Ok." Inumi answered.

"Why did you do that Inumi?" Inuyasha asked as he looked down at her. "Why did you let this happen to yourself, you should have just stayed still."

Inumi smiled back at him, "Sorry I worried you, but I couldn't let you make that kind of decision. Naraku was evil if what you have told me was right. I couldn't let you do something that would bring him back. Not even if it meant my being hurt."

Inuyasha wasn't sure how to answer that so he just stayed silent.

"Let's get you home." Kagome said.

Inumi nodded.

-000-

The entire trip back to the well had been quiet. They had said their goodbyes to Nobu and Koga just before they had left. Inuyasha had warned them to watch out for Nibori since there was a chance he was still out there. Koga and Nobu had then left to return to their pack and the others had returned to the well to say their goodbyes to Inuyasha, Kagome, and Inumi.

Shippo watched Inumi longingly as Inuyasha held her in his arms. 'I know they have to take her back so she will be ok, but I really want to say goodbye.' Shippo thought as he saw Inuyasha walking toward the well with Kagome following close behind.

Kagome glanced back at Shippo. While they had already said there goodbyes to Sango and Miroku and left them back at the hut. Shippo had tagged along to see them off and had yet to say anything.

"It's been good seeing you again Shippo." Kagome stated.

Shippo looked up at her with surprised since he wasn't expecting her to speak.

"Yeah…it has. And I hope you guys come back soon for a visit again." Shippo stated.

"Of course we will. As soon as everything us under control again and we are sure Inumi will be ok." Kagome answered.

Shippo nodded nervously, "Eh…right."

Kagome smiled knowingly. "Speaking of which, would you like a few moments alone to say goodbye."

Shippo blushed as she seemed to voice exactly what he had been wanting to ask for so long.

Before he has a chance to answer Inuyasha turned to him, "Absolutely not!"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome chastised.

"Look Kagome, the last time I left him alone with her it didn't end so well. So forgive me for being overly cautious." Inuyasha answered as he made a pointed glare at Shippo.

Shippo looked down at the ground since he couldn't bear to meet Inuyasha's steely gaze.

"Daddy, please. It's the last time I'll get to see Shippo for a while." Inumi stated.

Inuyasha looked torn for a moment as he glanced at his daughter's pleading face and then gave a fleeting look over at Kagome who was also giving him those puppy dog eyes as well.

Inuyasha sat her down next to the well, "Feh…"

"I'll give you five minutes!" He stated and then let Kagome lead him into the forest to give them some privacy.

Inumi giggled. "What exactly did you do to piss him off so much?"

"Eh…" Shippo scratched the back of his head nervously as he tried to think of the words so he could explain it to her. "You must not remember…"

"Remember what?" Inumi asked quizzically.

"It was my fault that you were in that mess. I was supposed to make sure you got back to the hut ok. But I was so angry that I just…I…I'm sorry." He finally finished.

"It's ok Shippo, it's not your fault if you were attacked." Inumi stated simply.

"That's just it…I never was attacked. I was so angry…and so careless and so…stupid! I just…I didn't realize you weren't behind me until it was too late. And then when I went back for you…you were just. You were gone." Shippo finished in shame.

Inumi was a bit taken back for a moment as she tried to process what had happened. "So he wasn't lying." She finally stated.

"What?" Shippo asked with confusion.

"Nobu told me that he had found me in the forest alone and you had just left me there. I had thought he was lying but…" Inumi looked at Shippo and saw the honesty and shame in his eyes.

"I guess he was right." Inumi finished.

"I…I can't even tell you how sorry I…" Shippo was cut off as a finger was placed on his lips for silence.

"You don't have to say it. I forgive you. It's not like you meant for it to happen…right." Inumi answered with a smile.

Shippo sighed with relief, but was uncertain of what to say now.

"I'm really going to miss you Shippo."

"I'll miss you too. Please promise me that you'll come back someday." Shippo asked pleadingly.

"Of course I will. As soon as I get better and as soon as Daddy settles down a bit." Inumi added as she thought about how over protective Inuyasha could be and how difficult it was probably going to be to convince him to let her come back.

"Well, I hope that is soon. Please get better quick." Shippo stated.

"I'll do my best, in the mean time you better stay out of trouble." She smirked.

Shippo smirked back. "Well, you know me…" But before he could finish, Inumi had already leaned forward and captured his lips in a kiss.

"Hey! Stop that!" Inuyasha answered as he came back into the clearing with Kagome giggling next to him.

Shippo looked quite embarrassed and Inumi was giggling as well. "Ok daddy, we'll stop."

"I'll see you again soon Shippo." She said as Inuyasha came over and scooped her up to take her to the well.

Shippo waved back. "I'll be waiting."

-000-

Inumi smiled at the memory from a few weeks ago. She had already been to the hospital and seen doctors and they all said she was going to be fine. They had removed the jewel a while ago and that had made her recovery more painful, but it had to come out. She sighed again as she thought about Shippo. "Don't worry Shippo, I'll come see you soon." She said to herself. "That's a promise."

But that's another story.

-THE END-

A.N. – Ok, so I decided to go ahead and wrap up this story in this last chapter. Wow…I thought it would take forever to finish this thing. Anyway…this is the end of "Welcome to My World". And I don't have plans of doing a sequel right now, but who knows…we'll see. And before you argue with me about the ending that doesn't actually end anything I will go ahead and make my argument that most anime end this way anyway. Nothing actually gets resolved in the end! Everyone knows that! But I'll let you use your own imagination on what may have happened next so anyway. It's been real you guys and I hope you enjoyed the story!