Inuyasha not mine.

A/N: wow… after a hundred reviews or so, I finally got a (partial) FLAME. Nothing too drastic! I wasn't insulted or cursed. When I read it, I actually smiled. Call that the craziness in me. When someone flames, it meant someone took the time to read the story and leave a review. Thank you so much LUNAR PROTECTOR. Sorry for making a confusing SUMMERY (which is actually spelled as SUMMARY) but I clearly stated that it's an InuSan fic. My only hope is that you didn't waste your time reading all the chapters only to tell me how to write my story or how it's supposed to be. In the first place, this fic is in the Inuyasha-Sango category. Please, don't flame people for the sake of flaming them. I still thank you, Lunar Protector, for adding a number to my review value.

On a lighter note, this chapter is dedicated to QT… too bad you won't be able to follow this story for quite a while. Your support for this fic is appreciated. I'm borrowing your initials (QT) for this chappie…)

Chapter 17: Questionable Truth

Exhaustion was all he could think about. He was downright tired. Time passed him by in the office like an oil truck striking a car in slow motion. Inuyasha paused, cursing himself at the analogy he just used to describe his tiredness. His accident was painful to make a mockery of. He shook his head to clear his mind. A maid let him in. The house was already silent, most of its occupants were probably settling in their beds. Good, that meant his mother would not be there to greet him with a lecture about being late. (Well, he had good and logical reasons though. Work kept him.)

Wrong. When he was about to quietly climb up the stairs, someone called out to him.

Inuyasha scowled. Was his mother waiting for him the whole time? It was ridiculous. "It's already twelve, mom. Why aren't you asleep?"

Izayoi met him with a smile. "I couldn't sleep."

"You couldn't sleep, or you just don't wanna without me home yet?"

"The same thing, sweetie. How was work?"

Inuyasha eyed his mother. There was something behind the smile she was giving him. Izayoi didn't just wait for him to get home to ask about his work. "Tiring. What's new!" he answered half-heartedly. He was too busy figuring out what he had done wrong. "Come on, mom. Just spit it out!"

"What? What do you mean?"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes as he followed his mother to the kitchen. He finally realized he was starving. His last meal was only a sandwich; and knowing his appetite, his stomach must be growling mad at the moment. "You won't be waiting for me unless it's really something important." That was true. If it were some minor scoldings, Izayoi would just simply wait it out the next day.

"I'm hurt, sweetie, by what you're implying. Can't a mother wait for her son to get home safely to prepare him something?" She made a playful stab at her chest. "Want me to fix you a sandwich?" Inuyasha nodded, but still looking suspiciously at his mother. He watched his mother carefully as she, in a very cheerful way, fixed him a ham sandwich. She set the plate in front of Inuyasha then showed him a box full of donuts. "I also got you your favourites," she said with a wink.

Now, Inuyasha was completely sceptical. His stomach was grumbling from the sight of the Chocolate Glaze and the Walnut Crunch; but those can wait. He narrowed his eyes directly to stare at his mother. "Now, mom. What's wrong? What have I done now? What are you gonna lecture me about this time?"

"Whatever do you mean, my love?" Izayoi replied innocently. Her son was giving her a doubtful look. She sighed out loud, resigned to finally interrogate Inuyasha. "Eat, while we talk. You'll die of drooling for that donut," she said, taking a seat across from him. She let Inuyasha had at least three bites from his sandwich and then eat a whole donut in less than two minutes. All she could hope for was Inuyasha will be able to be attentive. She cleared her throat, prompting the young man to stare. "I met Sango today. Lovely woman," she began. Immediately, she noticed Inuyasha stopped eating and chewing. For a moment she was afraid he was choking.

"I called her yesterday and set up an appointment for this morning. We were able to start with the planning. She would also be my party planner," she continued, aware Inuyasha had no idea what to say. "How long has she been your friend again?"

Inuyasha felt a piece of the tomato was stuck in his throat. Sango? Today? Met his mom? He was aware he referred Sango's flower shop to his mother. So why was he so surprised to hear it? "Long enough for me to know she's very qualified in what she does," he replied, hoping his voice did not squeak. He would play it coolly. Anyway, what had he done wrong? 'Fool', he could hear his conscience curse at him. 'You fell in love with her, that was what's wrong.' Oh. Yeah. "Okay, a month? Two months? I'm not sure. We met right after I had the accident."

"I see," Izayoi said with a nod. Soon she would have to be blatantly honest with him. The question, when would be the right moment? "Jakotsu, such a lovely person, was with her too," she added.

Inuyasha's face fell. The short time he had known Jakotsu, the lady-man (as he secretly referred to him) was as blunt as a blunt person could be. Jakotsu was already throwing hints to Inuyasha and Sango about the two being perfectly fit for each other. He might have, either because of a slip-of-the-tongue or pure intentions, mentioned to Izayoi about his own observations. If he did, then that might spell trouble for Inuyasha. "He was, huh," was all he said as he concentrated on finishing his sandwich.

"Well, we really discussed a lot. I'm very thankful for those two. I was so lost when it comes to hosting party of my own as it turns out. Imagine all the chairs I ordered don't fit with the motif I wanted. I mean green chairs? Why would I want green chairs? I detest the colour green," she rolled her eyes. She was aware that Inuyasha was aware she was stalling to get to the point of the whole conversation.

Inuyasha wanted to roll his eyes at his mom to get to the point. Just to get the whole thing over with. He was really not sure where the conversation was heading. Okay, he had a slight idea but he was hoping it wasn't what he thought it was. He simply munched on his third donut.

"Sesshoumaru then came by to remind me of my appointment and to drive me there. Which you were supposed to do, but you were too busy with your work to even tell me," she glared at Inuyasha. "But that was beside the point. But your brother told me something that surprised me."

"Geez, the idiot finally said something surprising?" Inuyasha rolled his eyes in sarcasm.

Izayoi ignored the rude comment. "Anyway, he told me Sango seemed very familiar. Ironic, cause she's familiar to me too."

"Well, maybe because Sessh also frequent at the City Plaza where Sango works," he stated as a matter-of-factly.

Izayoi gave him a mysterious smile mixed with some mischief. "No. He said it was perhaps Sango was the one who always visited you at the hospital. So, how can you too had known each other after your, um, accident?" The last statement was uttered in almost a whisper.

This stopped Inuyasha from enjoying a fourth donut. "Visit me? At the hospital?" Suddenly, those questions about why he felt he had known Sango (before they actually met) all came back. The first few days they had known each other, Inuyasha was constantly asking Sango why she was so familiar, recognizable actually, to him. It was especially when she talked, Inuyasha would soon drown in a moment of confusion, like he knew Sango all along.

"The thing was, your brother's and Jakotsu's account, and yours, of how you and Sango met simply don't match. Jakotsu said Sango accidentally hit you on the head?"

Inuyasha nodded. He was still trying to figure out all these things. In fact, Sango never explained to him why she had hit him; and he knew it was no accident.

"The Jakotsu said it was like," Izayoi paused. She should just say it bluntly. "He said you and Sango had like, well, it was like…" she was stammering. "It was like love at first sight!"

Inuyasha stopped himself from agreeing. "Jakotsu's a dreamer. Don't believe everything he says. He once told me he was a princess trapped in a man's body to be rescued by his prince in a motorcycle!"

Izayoi laughed. She would expect an individual like Jakotsu to say that; but Inuyasha was trying to change the subject. "Jakotsu said it in a very sincere manner, Inuyasha," she said slowly.

"What are you trying to get at, mom?"

"Inuyasha, honey, tell me," Izayoi turned gravely serious. "Are you in love with Sango?"

Inuyasha gave himself a mental pat in the head for not choking at the question. His face remained calm. "No."

"Are you sure?"

"I am engaged to Kagome."

"But you're having doubts or confusion? Sango is a wonderful individual. Does she know you're engaged to Kagome?"

"She will, at the party, when Kagome and I formally announce it."

Izayoi sighed. Somehow she was still unconvinced. "Inuyasha, if you're having trouble in dealing with your feelings and all, I'm here for you. You can tell me everything."

"Mom, Kagome and I are getting married. Why are you questioning that? Just because I made friends with Sango in such a short time doesn't mean I'm going back against my decision," Inuyasha said with a determined look. He thought about what his brother had said a long time ago. "I was given a second chance in life. I am not going to waste that. I'm here to set things right once and for all."

His second chance, as he figured out, was to make things right with Kagome. In their relationship, Inuyasha had neglected the woman who loved him dearly. He constantly contacted and saw Kikyou while Kagome was out on her small trips. He dated other women when he and Kagome where having fights. He was always too harsh when he talked to her. He always initiated an argument.

This time, he would set things right.

He did love Kagome. He could still continue to love her… he hoped. Maybe Sango was just there to remind him of his old self: the selfish bastard who just wanted to be loved and accepted by everyone. Maybe Kagome was really the right person for him. Sango was just someone who made his heart beat faster, his insides churn at the beautiful sight of her, his nerves calmed down, his smile broaden. That was all Sango did to him. He easily fell in love with her.

Maybe, just maybe, he could fell out of love for her just as easy.

"And about Sango, for heaven's sake, mom. She has a boyfriend. Miroku. I invited him to the party as well. I'll introduce him to you," he said hastily. The mere mention of Miroku as Sango's boyfriend grated his nerve with jealousy. It hurt. "I could not believe you doubt me," he said in almost an angry mutter to his mother.

Izayoi looked down. "I'm sorry, my son. I was just concerned. I don't want you trapped in something because of wrong decision-making."

"Well, I'm a grown man who knows what he's doing. Kagome is my fiancée, always was and always will be," he said in a hard voice.

He knew he was doing the right thing.

His second chance will simply not go to waste.

He went to bed with heavy mind, as always. But this time the load was unbearable. All those things he said, some were lies some were partial truths, were a deadly weight on him. Matters of the heart were never an easy task.

A/N: thanks to all who are still kind enough to stay with this story and leave a review. I know. I know. Inuyasha's weird reasoning is getting frustrating… but that's what makes this story works, the guy's inability to see the truth.

Also, the avatars or dolls I made for this fic… I have a link for that. It can be found in my profile. Check it out!