All of you who have reviewed in these past chapters have been amazing and very encouraging. This is the last chapter of Whispered Confessions. I hope you've enjoyed this journey through the world that is my creative psyche as much as I have.

WARNING: There's nudieness in this chapter, so if you're uncomfortable with adult situations and/or suggestive humor and comments, then you shouldn't be reading or watching anything by Rumiko Takahashi in the first place! And to rest your minds, no this is not a lemon... jeez, perverts....

And now, without further ado, the last chapter....

Chapter 5: How Do I Share Her?

Oh my god....

That's pretty much all I can muster up to explain how I feel right now. Or, more pointedly, how I felt an hour ago. Today is definitely the best day of my life. I awoke this morning in a private paradise, my shoulder feels better than it has all week, InuYasha's awake and well, I just woke up from the greatest nap ever, and an hour ago Inu and I consummated our... well... the youkai equivalent of a marriage.

I let out a contented sigh as I roll over onto the spot Inu had been earlier. I can smell him on the pillow and sheets.

A blush alights my face and a small smile tugs at the corners of my mouth as I remember the sight of my lover lying next to me. His bare chest heaving from exertion, lips slightly parted and swollen from passionate kisses, his eyes closed in the pleasure of after glow, and a light sweat glistening on his brow.

Speaking of my mate, where'd he go?

Sitting up I search the clearing. My eyes roam over the green field our bed is lying in, the tall trees that surround us, the hot spring to my right and the small creek to my left.

Y'know, one moment he's snoozing next to me, the next he's disappeared....

Ah there he is.

Standing a few feet away from me near the edge of the creek, his back turned to me, my eyes finally fall on him. I sit quietly, content to just watch him.

His hair fluttering lightly in the late spring breeze, he looks completely natural and at peace, just standing in the middle of the forest. Even if he's completely naked, he just looks... right.

... Not to mention damn sexy.

I rise from the bed and walk towards him at a lazy pace. It vaguely registers in the back of my mind that I too am completely naked. Ah well, no one can spy on us here and Inu's already seen it all.

Coming up behind him, I wrap my arms around his middle and press myself against him, my cheek resting against his shoulder blade. I close my eyes and breathe in his presence.

"Hi."

He covers my hands with his much larger, rough ones and chuckles lightly.

"Hi."

"Shouldn't you be resting?"

"Feh, I'm fine. Besides, nothing does a body good like a little exercise."

He turns around in my arms and gives me a sly grin.

I lower my gaze from the suggestive look in his eyes, but can't deny the blush that creeps up my face at his comment.

It amazes me how "familiar" we are. This is InuYasha! Shouldn't I be nervous or shy or feel awkward or something?

Looking up into his eyes again and seeing the genuine love and gentleness there, I realize that no, this shouldn't be awkward.

This is InuYasha. The man I fell in love with and who loves me back just the same. I've known him for over four years now, and after this morning, I'm as familiar with him as I'm ever going to get.

"So, what were you thinking about?"

He sighs and takes my face between his hands, staring into my eyes. The love I see there is breathtaking.

"My life. Everything I've been through and how lucky I am."

He runs clawed fingers through my hair, brushing it back over my shoulder and tucking it behind my ears.

"Do you know how beautiful you are?"

Captured by his steady gaze, I can feel my knees go weak and my heart skip a beat. Is it possible to feel like you could die and be reborn at the same time? Or how about wanting to soar the skies while never wanting to leave this spot on earth?

"When... when you look at me like that... I get an idea...."

He leans down with a soft smile and presses his lips to mine in a simple kiss. I close my eyes and enjoy the feeling of his lips on mine. I could get used to this...

Suddenly, I pull away and utter an "oh" as a thought strikes me.

"What, is something wrong?"

"No, I just remember that I promised Kaede I'd return this morning with new bandages. That's why I left in the first place. I hope they're not worried."

"Oh you're right. I mean I did threaten them into telling me where you went, then stole your things and ran away without saying anything to them..."

"Inu!"

I whap him lightly on the arm.

"What?"

He gives me a sheepish grin while raising his hands in defense.

I move closer to him, pressing myself up against his chest, my hands on his shoulders as I look up at him with the best "puppy dog" eyes I can muster.

"Inu, I have to go back..."

"Kagome..."

"I promise it will only be for a little bit. I have to get the bandages, and get some real clothes. It won't take me long at all I promise."

He sighs, wrapping his arms around me and nuzzling my neck.

I can't help but let out a squeal of surprise when he jumps into the air, with me still in his arms, and lands on the bed with me pinned under him. I'm still naked by the way! My squeal turns into giggles as he begins to tickle me and trail kisses along my neck and shoulders. After a few minutes he stops, resting on top of me.

"That was... random... and unexpected."

"I don't want to let you go. I don't want to share you with anyone. Can't we stay here forever, build a home and family in this safe place?"

Ok so call me a sap, but he was totally pulling on my heartstrings this time.

"Inu, I am all for building a home and raising a family right here. But I'm afraid you are going to have to share me. Shippou needs his mother, Kaede is still teaching me how to be a miko, and you know how much I love my alone time with Sango."

Inu heaves a sigh and lifts his face from my neck.

"Alright, but do you really have to go back to your time?"

Sometimes his little kid act is adorable; sometimes it's annoying. Thankfully this is one of those times where it's cute.

"You're cute when you're selfish..."

He flashes me a smug grin.

"...Sometimes..."

................................

I finally convince InuYasha to take me back to my time with a promise of ramen and personal R and R when we got alone again.

We arrive at "Base of Operations" and I'm pleased to see that Miroku and Sango are up and moving, even if just inside the hut.

After a few moments, we all get underway with explanations of my late return, InuYasha's impromptu departure, and why Miroku and Sango are sitting so close together.

Sango takes the pot of lunchtime stew Kaede hands her while Shippou bounces over to my lap with the bowls and spoons.

"So you guys finally decided to come clean with each other?"

She has a teasing glimmer in her eye as she looks up at me from serving the stew.

"Yes, if you want to put it that way."

I don't miss the look Miroku gives her when she passes him a bowl, nor do I miss the light blush that soon follows on her cheeks.

"What about you two? What have we missed?"

"Well to be honest, A while back I promised Miroku that I'd bare him a child if he survived. Now it's time to pay up."

InuYasha almost chokes on his lunch.

"You're marrying the lecherous monk?! How did he convince you that was a good idea?"

"Honestly InuYasha. She simply couldn't hold out any longer against my charming ways and conceded to the inevitable."

InuYasha blinks at him as if he has just spoken in English.

"What he means InuYasha, is that I was finally honest with myself and realized that I had fallen for his sorry ass. No matter how I tried to fight it."

I can't help but giggle as InuYasha nods, seeming to accept Sango's explanation over Miroku's.

"Hey, where's my pansy half brother? I figured he'd have confronted me by now, spewing some nonsense about me giving him my sword, or something else as ridiculous."

"He and Kikyo left this morning to head back to the Western Lands."

Sango passes me another origuri.

"What?! Why is Kikyo traveling with him?"

I pour Miroku another cup of tea.

"Apparently the undead miko and the Lord of the Western Lands have come to an arrangement. He gives her free roam of the souls in his lands and in return she plays governess for the young Rin."

Inu seems to ponder over this for a moment or two before answering. I am half-afraid he'll be angry. Or worse, jealous...

"Well I hope the two cold-hearted tightwads are happy together. And god help Rin if those two are the ones in charge of her upbringing and well- being."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Inu wraps a casual arm around me before he continues on with his lunch. I smile at him as I continue with my own meal, silently pondering the events that have transpired in my life over the last four or so years.

Looking around the small room, I take into consideration those that are here with me. My family, my friends, my teachers, those I love, those that I trust with my life, and those that have trusted me with theirs.

Sometimes I think that it was all a dream. That I'm going to wake up soon and still be the clumsy, self-conscious, weak little junior higher I was all those years ago.

But it was real, I really did fall into a well and travel in back in time five hundred years to get caught up in a whirlwind adventure with danger, mystery, friends, enemies and true love.

Taking Inu's hand in mine, I gaze up into his amazing amber eyes. He, long since finished with his lunch, returns my gaze with a gentle, loving one of his own.

I realize that after all of that we have been through and come up against, telling him how I really feel was the hardest challenge I had to face.

I also realize that our little whispered confessions are just the beginning to the rest of our lives.

.....................

Wow I didn't think this chapter was going to be so hard to write. But hard or not, it's done and the story is over. That's right, it's over, no more.

It's now time to get back to my other story, The Truth Shall Set You Free.

Please, if you have the time, patience and heart to do so, review and tell me what you thought of this story, the ending, and what your favorite part was.

Until next time, thank you so much for taking the time to read my work.

Love, Kirro.