Still allergic to Ohio, but we're getting to the finish line on this crazy thing. Thanks to everyone who's been following it.

Klutz82- You're my favorite broken record! I don't mind. :)

Morelen- How's this for relief of tension? ;)

Vilja - Roger that!

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12 -Last Call

"One of us won't last the night/ between you and me it's no surprise./ There's two of us, both can't be right/ Neither will move til it's over." - Guster

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The first time I met Sango was across a card table.

Phib HellMaster stumbles an ace and a queen, getting taken by Jakotsu's pair of eights. Then there were five.

We played cards and made love until dawn.

Ayame also has an ace and queen, but she's up against an ace and four; she called excellently! The flop is nine, six, king, and she's going to go all the way. Fourth street is the five of diamonds, and you can see her eyes light up. And then it all comes crashing down when her opponent, Johnny "The Pirate" May, gets an incredible four on fifth street. She did very, very well, and she and Kouga will reap the benefits for a long time to come. But then there were four.

She opened the door right into my face.

Johnny also knocks out "Old Man" Totousai, and then there were three.

The couch was the only new piece of furniture we could afford.

It looks like it's a last-man-standing between Johnny and I when suddenly I realize I can't afford it, and Sango comes barreling over the wall, slamming him utterly.

And we got married on the brightest summer day I've ever seen.

She's saved me, but it's only a stay of execution, and she opens her mouth to speak the first words I've heard from her in five days.

"Did you have fun, Miroku?"

The room goes silent, and I'm certain it's because everyone knows all that's gone on between us, all the words we yelled, all the books she threw, all the messages I left to empty air.. But in fact it's because a very important individual has arrived from the center of the web, and his hands close down on my shoulders.

"Miroku McHoushi." Naraku says. "What a pleasure."

Since my childhood, I've thought of thousands of things I want to say to him, this horrible monster, this creature who murdered my grandfather and my father, but now everything is gone.

"Naraku." I swallow.

"And Sango McHoushi. Husband and wife together at the end. How romantic."

"Get to it, Naraku." Sango seems utterly unfazed. In fact she seems bored.

"You've both won a lot of money." He removes his hands from my shoulders and walks around, leaning over the table in between us. "Enough to purchase a large house with all the proper accouterments for a new baby, and toys for yourselves as well."

The world around me begins to shimmer - he's putting up a barrier, blocking everyone but Sango and I from this final part of the deal. Pulling up a discarded chair, he folds his arms and crosses one leg over the other.

"Well now, Miroku McHoushi. Thirty years ago, your grandfather made a foolish bet, and he paid the price. I gather you're here to reverse history. But I can't imagine why you'd take the chance of playing against your wife." Flashing, acid-colored eyes. "Is she your wager? Your life for hers?"

All the air leaves my body. The wager. Something of the same value as my life. I'd forgotten. Oh, god, I can't wager Sango, the baby wouldn't make it, I can't, I would never...

Sango reaches into the bag hanging from her chair and pulls out a sheaf of papers.

"This is the wager."

Naraku and I both lean forward.

I want to vomit. I want to scream. I want to run from the table and tear my eyes out. I want to find a cliff and throw myself off onto sharp, brutal rocks. I want to catch fire.

Divorce papers. She's put divorce papers on the table. They are notarized, and they are signed by Sango Hunter McHoushi.

Naraku smiles as he picks up the papers, and it's like a spider knowing that the last thing its prey sees is eight terrible eyes.

"Well well well. This is a surprise. Very bold, Sango McHoushi." He reads them over, scanning them for authenticity, taking his time, and then he turns to me. "Is this a fair wager, Miroku McHoushi? Would you say this is worth your life?"

My mouth is dry.

My insides are heaving.

The entire ocean is rushing in my ears.

"Yes." A cough, a heave, a hiss, a dying gasp.

"Very well then." Drawing a pen from his coat, he hands it to me. "Sign the papers, and we'll proceed. If she wins, we'll tear them up. If you win, you live. I like this trade."

I have no choice, so I write my name, forgetting midway through how to spell it, forgetting how to write letters at all.

The barrier ripples and begins to disappear, and my mind is racing, racing, racing. If I lose, I'll die, that's it, that's the end, she wrote no more...but I'll be with Sango. I'll be married to my Sango a little bit longer... maybe I'll see my baby. Everyone who knows my name and knows poker is aware that I'm here for my life, but none of them know what else is on the line.

My hand begins to throb.

But this is all I've ever wanted, isn't it?

Or is Sango all I've ever wanted?

How can I choose? How can I possibly choose?

"Let's play." Naraku leans back in his chair and takes out a cigar, lighting it with a snap of his fingers.

Through my trembling fingers, I see that fate has pulled out every stop to destroy me. A black ten and the Queen of Hearts. I know what cards Sango has. How could I not?

"All-in." Sango says, and pushes forward everything she has. The movement requires my wife to get up out of her chair - her large stomach limits the reach of her arms, and this is the only way for her to place the chips in the center.

She wants to finish it in one go.

"Call."

My hand hurts. I can barely feel my fingers.

I wanted to see my baby so badly!

My battered warrior, my old friend, my King of Diamonds and a black nine lie in her hands. How perfect. The reverse of our very first duel.

We met for the first time across a card table, and she punched me in the face.

Kagura takes a century to turn the flop.

Four of hearts.

Two of hearts.

Jack of clubs.

And then...

Then...

Not another queen. Not a king. A nine. A nine of spades.

I can't breathe.

I can't see.

I can't do anything.

Somehow I know Kagome is crying, InuYasha is biting his claws, Kouga is straining his neck to see, Ayame is burrowing into his side, Kohaku has devoured nearly half his pen.

Fifth street. Absolute fifth street.

Burn.

I love you, Sango.

Kagura's wrist flicks, Naraku's wicked grin widens, and it is the Queen of Spades.

I have a pair. My hand is higher. I win.

My life is saved.

My life is over.