A/N: The end is here! The final chapter of SecretLoveis finally upon us. Okay, I had planned on waiting a bit to post this story, but I was too excited. It's been great writing this story and it means so much that you all actually read it! Also, thank you to everyone who has taken the time to review my story. Every encouraging word and critique just drove my want to make this story better.

Chapter 25

3 Months Later

Kagome settled back in her bed, wincing slightly as she applied a little too much pressure on her left arm. Her burns were all healed now, but the new pink skin was still tender. She had kind of hoped they would heal faster, as her senior year had started last week and she really didn't want to miss anymore school than she had to for the sake of her grades, but the doctor said she wasn't clear to start yet.

Kagome smiled at her mother as she set the tray of food in front of her, though she still wished she could eat at the table with everyone else. "Thanks, Mom," she said, before digging in.

Mrs. Higurashi smiled at her daughter. "You're welcome, dear. Yell for me if you need anything," she said as she walked out of the room.

Mrs. Higurashi was so happy to have her Kagome home and safe, even if she hadn't been when she had first come home to her. Kagome was doing good now and she would be starting school again soon and she would actually be able to attend everyday. She was so proud that her daughter had made it through to the end.

She entered the dining room, sighing at the table full of boys. The very greedy and messy boys.

"Inuyasha, please eat your own food and don't take it from others. I really do not want you and Bankotsu to start a fight and destroy my house, thank you."

Inuyasha looked up at her guiltily as he put the handfuls of rice he had captured from both Bankotsu and Shippo's plates back. They gazed at the lumps in disgust. She sat down on the other side of the table between her father and her son.

"It's okay, Inu-puppy. I still think you're cute even if you don't know how to share," Jakotsu told him happily.

Inuyasha scowled at him. "Shut up!"

"Is Kagome still doin' okay? Does she need me to go up there?" Bankotsu asked earnestly, ignoring the other two.

Mrs. Higurashi smiled at his concern. "She's doing fine, dear, and she didn't say. Why don't you go up there when you finish eating?" she suggested.

Bankotsu gazed warily at the lump of no-longer-white rice. "I think I'm done," he said, before standing to go see Kagome.

It had been a good three months for all of them. Well, if you didn't count Kagome's healing process. And Suikotsu dying again.

Soon after Naraku's defeat, Suikotsu acted on the attraction he had always felt towards Kikyo, and followed her into the afterlife. Bankotsu and Jakotsu took their friend's second passing kind of hard, but it helped to know that it was his choice. Sango and Miroku had finally gotten together and were married. They now lived together with Kohaku in a hut they had built nearby the Bone Eater's Well. Miroku was very happy to finally be free of Naraku's curse, and he and Sango had recently announced that they would be expecting a child soon.

Sesshomaru was still doing whatever it was that Sesshomaru did before, and Koga had returned to the mountains to marry Ayame as he had once promised.

As for the rest of them, it all came down to the fact that Kagome needed medical attention, and she needed her family. So Inuyasha took her home, and of course, Bankotsu followed. And Jakotsu followed him. Then Shippo was sad that he didn't get to see Kagome too, so he was given Suikotsu's jewel shard so that he could pass through the well also. But they didn't stay for long. Going from their time to the future was too much of a culture shock for them to stay all the time. Mostly they all just visited and stayed for dinner a lot. Bankotsu was the only one who stayed for any significant amount of time, while the others all went back to stay with Kaede.

After Naraku's defeat, they had all made sure to spread the rumor that Kagome had also destroyed the Sacred Jewel by wishing on it, so no one would try to come looking for it. Really though, Kagome had no idea what wish she was supposed to make. And even then, there was no way that she could let Bankotsu die by removing his jewel shard. Just thinking about it brought tears to her eyes. So she had to content herself with forever being on her guard and always protecting the jewel.

Now, her eyes brightened with joy and love as she watched Bankotsu enter her room, as they always did every time she saw him.

"Hey," she said, setting aside her tray and raising her arm to beckon him toward her.

He returned the smile she flashed at him and sat gently on the edge of her bed so as not to jostle her too much. She rolled her eyes at his attempt and wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder. They sat together in a comfortable silence for a moment, Bankotsu using his right hand to stroke the fingers resting on his left shoulder. Soon though, he broke the silence.

"So I've been thinking…" he began.

She lifted her head to look at him. "About what?"

"I've been thinking that after you are done doing that school thing you do here in this time, that we should get married," he said as if it wasn't a big deal.

Kagome's eyes widened and a smile spread slowly across her face. "Seriously? You mean it? You want to marry me?" He nodded, smirking. Kagome squealed. "Oh, wow! Yes, of course I'll marry you! That wasn't exactly the proposal I've always wanted, but still!"

Kagome laughed before she attacked his mouth with many joyful kisses. He laughed along with her. Kagome pulled back with a sigh.

"We'll eventually have to choose where to live; here or in your time," she said.

Bankotsu knew that she didn't want to leave her family, but she also didn't want to leave her friends. "It's your decision. The only thing left there for me anymore is Jak, but he could always be persuaded to stay here with us also. From what I can tell, there a lot more romantic prospects for him in this time than there are in ours," Bankotsu said with a laugh.

Kagome giggled. "I'm sure. Though I don't think they'd take too kindly to him always trying to kill them."

"True."

Kagome sighed happily, resting her head on his shoulder once again. Life for her was finally looking up. Now if she could only get through her senior year…

The End

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