You have no idea how many times I've read this... And I thought you deleted it because I couldn't find it for a while... and I was SO disappointed... but I found it.. and now I'm reviewing it because I feel I owe that to you.

Well, I just stumbled across this, and found it delightful, for the most part.

Lots of taut, film-noirish language and angst, just enough background to give flavor without leaving too many holes or, worse, overwhelming the reader in detail. I know nothing of poker, but there was sufficient explanation to keep the story flowing and yet maintain a certain, arcane feel to it all. Guess that's what you substitute for magic and spirituality. (Nice touch, though, keeping Miroku a religion scholar).

Kinda sad, though, in terms of long-term prospects for marital success, that they didn't manage to communicate better in terms of their overall strategy. Still, they are young yet...

I really enjoyed the story!

*Sniff* What a great story! I couldn't stop reading it until the end. It was very captivating. Congrats on a wonderful story,that i'm probably going to read again because I liked it that much! Good Job!

wow, this was such a cute story! I wish I had found it earlier! You deserved alot more reviews than you recieved! My friend Hanz linked me to this story and I'm glad that I got the chance to read it. I hope that you keep up the great work and continue with your writing. I wouldn't mind reading more of your material! -Krystal-

This is a different writing style then your Zel Amelia fanfic. It's interesting but kinda short. I'll keep reading. By the way, I LOVE the movie Kill Bill, that's so cool! _

*pure, unadulterated squealage*

YAY!

Oh, I LOVE THIS FIC! Such wonderful, tense, emotional drama ending with such love...

Since it's complete, I'll give you a more complete review now.

Very well written; great imagery and use of flashbacks. I loved getting the backstory as the present situation was being unraveled. Increased the suspense, if you know what I mean.

The first person POV was well done, too, because it added a level of emotional turmoil that would have been impossible to achieve from another POV, I think. How else would we have experienced Miroku's extreme gamut of raw emotion?

I like the way you worked the other Inuyasha characters in there. Kohaku/Kagura? That's something I didn't see coming. Not that I object...Just didn't see that coming. I might have to think about that. And some of the others...Phib "The Brat" Hellmaster? Gaav? You wouldn't be a Slayers fan, would you? *snickers* I liked the way Jakoutsu was hitting on Miroku. And of course, all the other little details you worked in that are just too numerous to name.

Mostly, I just love the way you write. And the fact that we have MirokuSango lovage. It's SO GOD! The ending was just perfect! Sango is great! Oh, she seemed double-dealing, but when I found out that she'd gone to help Miroku, not to hurt him, I was like "OMG SHE LOVES HIM SO MUCH!" And it worked! They tricked Naraku and everything is okay!

So... It all boils down to I love the fic, I love your writing, I love how you handle Miroku and Sango and I love you! You can make out with me any time you want! XD And thank you for the wonderful ficcage! I hope you write more soon!

Waves and bowes.

I like that he gave her his hand. I like that they helped Khoaku with the dimond.

Nothing more to say. You know I love the fic.

So as always:

thanks for writing

Vilja

Wow, I _did_ see this coming. (Humor me. I've missed everything else.)

Happy ending. [Bowes deep with hat in hand]

Though I thought she would just remary him. I mean, won't Naraku be angry when he finds out? Risky. Of course, this is easier and more dramatic.

Whoever said fillers was a _bad_ ting. For me it's just a chapter that doesn't move the story forward. They're often very good. I'll consede that Miroku wrecking the house is a lot of action. But it doesn't get you one step closer to a solution. Or to the ultimate doom, if you favour that.

I saw the next chapter has "epilogue" in the titel. [Grins]

Er... you are going to start another one soon, right? (Be thankfull you can't see my pleading/hopeful smile. It's kind of scary.)

Thanks for writing

Vilja

This is truly the best story I've read! I'm so glad Sango and Miroku didn't get divorced, I really did cry when Miroku won and he'd have to sign those papers.

YEA! Oh my gosh! another accidental pregnancy? was it on the new couch? hehe...just kidding. this was awesome! i love this story so much and i told my friends to read it. this was very nice and i'm glad everything turned out the way it did! that's so cute with the hair in a pony tail and then they're all looking the same in their visors...how cute! i can't wait for more of your work! please write another fanfic!

YEA!

I SHALL SNUGGLE THE HOUSHI FOR HE NEEDS IT!

Okay, enough with the frivilous reviews. I just have to be serious here for a few minutes and tell you how dramatic I found these last two chapters. Naraku was totally creepy and Miroku's response when Sango pulled out those horrible papers was sufficiently sickened. The drama was so tense it couldn't be cut by anything less sharp than Tetsusaiga itself.

And this last chapter, the removal of the curse, the last kiss, the journey home...Damn, but I was crying with and for our champion. He's won everything but he's also lost everything, hasn't he? Something is definitely going to happen; it's just got to.

I disagree with a previous reviewer who said this chapter was filler; it was much needed catharsis (bet you didn't think you'd hear a word like that coming from the squealing Houshi Lover, did you? :) after all that tension and strain. Everything has been building towards the final tournament, it's over, he thinks his life is over (the one he wanted with Sango and his child, that is), and so it's only natural that he'd have some sort of reaction. That he'd snap like this. I wasn't quite expecting him to tear up his home (I was afraid he might hurt himself or Sango-I'm certainly glad he didn't go that route!), but oh, to do it to such an extent...

I am SO looking forward to the conclusion. I can't imagine what Sango thought she was doing, but SHE'D BETTER HAVE A GOOD REASON FOR MAKING HOUSHI-SAMA CRY! Oops. Slipped into squealing mode there... Sorry. But she'd better! O! Please post soon! I'm gonna burst from not knowing!

By the way, I LOVE YOUR STORY! In case you hadn't noticed.

Back to squealing mode now.

E! HOUSHI-SAMA!

Don't know what to say. Filler. Very nicely writen though. Like. Good with the crib. 2 á clock in the morning and my grammar is gone. It makes me happy when you update. No presure ment, only praise.

Thanks for writing

Vilja

What is wrong with happy endings! Insert bad words into that sentense wherever you like.

:)

I was kinda like.. 'what?' for most of the actual card playing. Lots of combinations of things that I didn't really get.. but in the end y'told me the outcome, so I can't really complain. XD

Loving this latest chapter,

-Nonny

Morelen - I update every three days, patience, patience. The next update is the last one, so I'd like to give the story a little more time to sink in.

I'm hoping you see this reply, but I don't know your e-mail and I don't like doing chapters of just author's notes, so this was the only other option.

Okay, here's the deal:

In order to have the curse removed, Miroku must have as a wager something of equal value to his life.

Miroku sees his marriage to Sango as something equally important, so the retaining of said marriage would be an appropriate wager, but the game is structured such that that either way he loses something.

If Sango wins, they will remain married, but Miroku will die of the curse, and probably pretty soon.

If Miroku wins, he will be free of the curse, but he is therefore obligated to follow the terms of the divorce and lose his wife.

Does that help?

ya lost me

so if sango wins, they don't get a divorce

but if miroku wins, he lives, but they get a divorce?

please reply to this

and update