They say all is fair in love and war but the price of war, no matter the outcome, is high. One side is always upping its bet, willing to pay just a little more to win. For evil, it is at all cost of others.

For good, it is always at their own cost.

And love, for Kagome, nothing about love was fair, at least not right now, and by the looks of it, not ever.

Naraku knew Kagome would give anything and everything to save her friends and the world. The forever giving Miko. Foolish in her nature of trust and hope. But there was no hope for him; he had no heart, no light, nothing pure or redeeming. She would never save his soul or anyone else, for that matter. But as gullible as the little futuristic Miko was, she refused to save them all, not for the cost; the payment was too high.

"Foolish Miko, they will all die; how can you say the cost is too great?"

"I won't give you the jewel," She spat, dried blood leaving a trail down her nose. Saving her friends for the cost of the world, no, and she knew they would agree. They would give their lives, and they had, every day for the last few years, to this cause. There was no other choice though Naraku would make her think so.

He had grown ever so tired of the cat-and-mouse games. So when he found a sword of time, or the ability to pause it, he used it. It could only cut once, so he had but one chance. They were at an impasse, but he had knowledge now that he did not have before. Kagome and time seem to be friends, hence why he sought the sword out.

He smirked. "Are you sure," He leaned in close to her, unafraid of her as her power didn't work in time suspension. "Because I know all about the well,"

Though she had learned to reel in some of her emotions from traveling with Inuyasha's half-brother, she had not mastered it in the way Sesshomaru had, and Naraku knew just how to read her.

Her lips parted, and her heart skipped a beat.

"Oh yes, Miko, now you will give me the jewel,"

She closed her eyes and whispered, "No,"

"Foolish mortal girl!" But the thing about it was if she took on the jewel's power, she wouldn't be mortal, and he knew it, and he knew she would.

"I will open that well and pour our times together, demons and humans, and I will watch as everything you love dies and your kind enslaved!"

"Some may die, but others will fight; I will fight!"

He grabs her chin; oh, if only he could kill her right now, but the time sword wouldn't allow that. Speaking of time, his time on pause was fading. He could see subtle movements staring back up around them. Inuyasha rushing towards her. The monk and slayer in the sky, the fox kit peeking from behind a tree, Sesshomaru pulling his sword from his side. All moving in second-by-second frames.

"Save them from a horrible fate, yourself included I will ensure your deaths are painless and swift,"

"And those you let live?"

"Enslaved but alive,"

"That is no life, you sick jerk!"

He growls, "Last offer; I will spare your group and any offspring you may bring forth so long as you stay out of the way of my rule,"

Her rebuttal did not come swiftly, and he knew she was thinking, if only for a second.

"Come, Miko, I know your greatest desire, you want love; I offer you a chance at it, hell Ill even get rid of Kikyo for you,"

Giving into her heart would mean death for all. She would have to give up her own chance at love so that others could live to have a chance at it. Plus, she didn't trust a word coming from his mouth.

Tears and determination swelled in her eyes, and he knew right away he had lost. She knew right away what was about to happen.

"I would do anything for love, but I won't do that; my answer is still no; now release me!" She knew her arrow would not move fast enough when the strange magic released her.

He lets go of her chin and yells, "I will see you in hell, Miko!" Just as the time sword dissolves and time comes back into motion. She falls to the ground, her bow and arrow fall beside her, and he is gone.

Tears fall into the dirt below as clouds of darkness grow behind her.

She heaves as she knows what's about to happen. Many would die at his hands; he gave no fucks and had no mercy. He would continue to find ways to gain control of the jewel, and he would kill anything in his way; for him, no cost was too great. Even if it meant it was just the two of them left on earth.

But Kagome would play keeps with the jewel and spend every waking hour trying to save those she could, even if it meant the cost of everything to her. Including everyone she loved.

"Kagome, what's happening?" Inuyasha yells as the wind starts to kick up.

"This is not good," Miroku spoke as they landed.

"He knows," She heaves,

"Knows, knows what?" Inuyasha kneels, and their eyes meet.

"About the well,"

He can see fear in her eyes, and he isn't used to seeing that. He searches her neck and relaxes when he sees she still has the jewel.

She reaches for him and grasps his forearms. "You have to find Kikyo now."

"What, what are you talking about,"

The wind is like a hurricane now, tree bending.

"I don't have time to explain; I have to save my family!"

She looks past Inuyasha to Miroku. "He is about to combine time; I have to go," She yells as her eyes dart to Sesshomaru.

There is an understanding between them, and Miroku nods as Sesshomaru looks away, making plans she is sure for his next move.

She stands, Inuyasha with her "Kagome?"

"It's ok, Inuyasha, but I have to go now, and you need to find Kikyo,"

Her voice is calm, and out of the corner of her eyes, she sees Miroku pull Sango to his side.

"It's over, isn't it," He asks,

"No, it's just beginning," Their foreheads touch,

"We are going to die, aren't we," He says more than he asks.

"Not if I can help it; just stay safe till this magic is done,"

It was an impossible choice, but her family had no clue what was happing, and her time was weaker, and she couldn't ask him to come, not now.

"We will fight," Inuyasha says, "Just like we always have,"

"I know," They part from each other "He may when little battles, but I promise on my life he won't win the war," She holds the jewel close to her heart, her only wish to serve it well so long as it serves her in helping others, giving self to the jewel as its enteral vessel it models into her body.

She looks at her friends.

"We will see each other again," Miroku calls out as magic and wind swirl around them all.

She wishes she could believe that, but she forfeits their lives for the many. Naraku was just waiting for her to make a move.

She lifts her hands up, crying as she knows this is the last she will ever see of them, and snaps her fingers, and before them all, she vanishes into thin air.

Naraku smirks. One win for him, one for her, but the cost for his win was far less than her own. She saved her family, but her friends died that day.

She would have to live with it forever. She gave her life that day and sealed her fate, just as Midoriko did. Kagome would spend all of her days fighting against evil demons to protect and protect she must.

At all costs, including the great ever known. Love.