A/N: the song "I Know" is sung by a Filipino artist (the actress of this movie I'm ripping this story from), Ms. Regine Velasquez. If you guys can only get the chance to hear the song, it would be great.

Chapter 21: A Heart's Ultimatum

It was something she wished for. Oh, how she wished for it.

Yet there she was, standing rigidly, her feet frozen, her heart beating a heavy beat, and her mind screaming how wrong it was – this kiss. Wasn't a kiss supposed to seal the deal?

Sango slowly backed away from Inuyasha as the kiss ended. She kissed him back; and that was a mistake on her part. Her eyes questioned his intention, her lips frozen from the burning kiss. Instinctively, Sango braced herself; as if she was standing naked in front of the man she so loved. "W-why?" she managed to croak out.

"Because," was the slow, embarrassed answer.

Sango shook her head. Shouldn't she feel elated? Shouldn't she jump for joy? Shouldn't she just simply feel happy, ecstatic and satisfied? Shouldn't all this feel right, now that Inuyasha had confessed? After all, it was a dreamy situation she imagined every night when she couldn't go to sleep?

But why did it feel so… so, wrong?

"You're engaged!" she managed to say.

Inuyasha looked sideways. He began to feel the awkwardness of the situation. Indeed, it should be. He just handed her an exploding truth; and if Sango had known him for more than a year, she might not even believe him. After all, Inuyasha had the talent of lying to himself and to everyone else. "I know."

"Then… then… Why are you telling me all this?"

He sighed out loud. What exactly had he said to her? His mind was still lost in the softness of her lips. "I don't have an answer, Sango. All I know is that I have to tell you." Questions began forming in his head. The reality of the situation sunk in. Did he make the right decision in telling Sango how he felt, despite doubts and confusion? What about the second chance he promised himself he would get right?

"W-what, what do you want me to say?" Sango asked, tired of playing figure-it-out-through-hidden-meanings-and-actions.

"I'm not sure," he admitted. Two faces came into mind. What about Sango's boyfriend, Miroku, and his fiancée, Kagome? 'What about them?', his sub-conscious questioned. "Maybe you could also tell me how you feel about me?" a crooked smile appeared on his face. He was trying to add a little humour to the tension in the atmosphere.

The smile did no change in Sango's dilemma. A part of her wanted to scream and shout she had loved him since the beginning, back in the hospital where he was still in coma. Yet, the logical and sensible side of her won the debate. This was not how she wanted to know his feelings for her. There were other people involved in the situation, mainly Inuyasha's fiancée. Sango would make sure everything was in place before she attached herself to Inuyasha. Blame it on being selfless. "I don't know how to answer that question."

"Is this about Miroku?"

Sango frowned. "I don't see how Miroku is involved here."

"He's your boyfriend. I don't want to steal his girlfriend from him."

Sango was a little taken aback at his statement. He thought Miroku was her boyfriend? Would that be the reason why he never even gave a hint about his feelings for her? Did she even do anything to make it seem Miroku was her boyfriend? "Miroku's my childhood best friend, and perhaps my soul mate. But my love for him could never be more than friends," she answered truthfully.

Inuyasha smiled. A look of relief crossed his face. "Then there's no problem at all!" he whistled. He took Sango's hand and kissed it. "If only I knew earlier."

"What about Kagome?"

The question froze him on the spot. Why was he so attached with Kagome anyway? Perhaps, because she still had a place in Inuyasha's heart, just like Kikyou. They were the two women in Inuyasha's past that would always remain even in his future. But at the moment, the woman standing before him was the present. Sango had long ago claimed his present.

Sango took Inuyasha's silence as the answer to her hidden question. "Look at me straight into the eye, Inuyasha, before I tell you how I truly feel," her voice had a tint of pleading in it. "Look at me and tell me you are sure of how you feel about me. Tell me you are not confused or having doubts. Tell me in all honesty," her voice grew demanding. She just had to know this man standing before him would be all hers to claim.

Inuyasha hesitated. Did he jump instinctively once again which resulted to a big mistake? How could he tell Sango he was still confused and doubtful? Would it hurt her? "I. Am. not. Sure." He gently released his hold on her hand. "I know I admire your beauty, your courage, your strength and the quietness and peace you have in your life. I know that I want you," he admitted. "I think I love you, Sango."

And once again, there was that word again. "You think you love me?" she asked softly. She should be angry at the statement but she understood. She placed a hand on his cheek. "You are not sure how you feel, Inuyasha. I cannot settle for that. If I were to accept your love, it should be full and complete," she told him with vehement determination. "You are still an engaged man, thus a committed man to another woman."

Inuyasha frowned. He knew what she was saying; he did not want to accept it. Yet, what was he supposed to say? "Are you saying you want me to break off my engagement with Kagome?" he asked then realizing how stupid his question was. Of course she would want that, if ever she loved him as much as he loved her.

"Will you do it?" she asked. Sango might have loved him deeply but she would not settle to be second best. Tears started to threaten to pour out when she saw the uncertainty in his golden eyes. She looked deeper to the amber windows of his soul, and there found the wavering emotions of a man. "You can't do it, can you? You are not sure if I am enough to make you break up with your fiancée, are you?"

Inuyasha brushed the strands of hair that fell on his face, an excuse to hide his eyes from her prying pair of bronze. "S-sango… Please. Understand."

"I do," she cupped his face with both hands this time and pulled him closer to place a kiss on his cheek. "That's why I think you should go," she said before stepping away from his closeness.

"Huh?"

"I want you to leave," she repeated, but her voice was gentle and kind. She looked at him with sad eyes. "Leave as my friend; and when you have decided, come back as someone more than one," she forced her self to smile. "If ever you do not return, I will know your answer to my questions."

At first Inuyasha found it hard to dissect the meaning of her ultimatum. Leave as a friend? Come back as something more when he came to a decision? Sango was giving him a chance to think, to make things right. He nodded slowly, although unwilling to walk away just yet. Both turned to the doorway when they heard a loud banging on the door entrance of the shop.

Jakotsu was banging in annoyance on the glass door of the shop. A huge pout was displayed on his face. If the moment were not so sombre and melancholy, both Inuyasha and Sango would burst out laughing at him. Jakotsu entered the shop with a grim expression. He eyed the two suspiciously. "What were you two doing that needed the whole place to close?" His eyes travelled from Inuyasha to Sango. "You two didn't… you know, do it, did you?"

Both ignored him. Inuyasha gazed at Sango for the last time. He muttered such a low, heavy-hearted goodbye. Within minutes, he was gone, with only his lingering scent filled in Sango's nose. A song from long ago registered in her mind.

I know

I know how the flowers felt when they're crushed by the rain,

When they knelt in pain

Oh I've got scattered thoughts

Got some useless dreams

How can I find balance and freedom from extremes

I know

I want you

I want you to just go away

I must be happy now

Oh come what may.
Please give my heart a chance to make a good love grow

We can live without each other,

I know

"What happened to him?" Jakotsu asked before realizing the sad bronze eyes of his friend. "Are you okay, San?"

"I think I'll be fine, Jaki. I made a choice; and I should stick to it," Sango responded, knowing her vagueness will only prompt Jakotsu's curiosity. Surprisingly, Jakotsu did not pry. He simply went over to his friend and gave her a pat in the shoulder.

"It's really hard, eh, sister, when we fall in love. It can be so exciting and fulfilling yet tragic and disappointing."

Sango smiled at the realism of Jakotsu's statements. She stared at the door where Inuyasha had walked away from her. Perhaps that would be the last time she would ever see him again. She gave him the option to come into terms with his feelings. If he found himself loving his fiancée more, he would never go back to her. It pained her to think that way.

Loving someone meant setting him (or her) free. Such a cliché!

Sango let the tears fall from her eyes, with Jakotsu trying to comfort her. She truly loved Inuyasha but she did the right decision. Miroku told her never to lose hope; and that was what she intended to do. She would continue hoping Inuyasha would surrender his whole heart to her. Was that such a selfish request in Sango's part?

But hope at times was not enough.

Two months from that day, two whole months since Inuyasha confessed his hesitant love for Sango…

Two months and not a single visit, call or a greeting of hello.

Sango, as painful as it can be, accepted the fact Inuyasha had made a choice.

And she was not his choice.

A/N: very short chapter… I'm not even sure if this chapter is worthy of reviews. It's horribly written and I'm beginning to doubt my decision in writing the ch20 - coz I moved away from what happened in the movie. (this is similarto my dilemma in mysessh/kagu fic. now, i'm having writer's block! -weeps-).

I am aware I'm frustrating you readers with this bullcrap of drama. Lemme explain why I still put more drama on it though… one of my fave fanfic (Aoshi/Meg RK) authoresses mentioned that twists and turns of the plot are what makes good drama – which includes frustration to both characters, author and readers. So I hope I am not tiring anyone of this… but Sango's decision is indeed realistic for her character and any girl for that matter. Would you accept someone who's committed, engaged and also hesitant in loving you? I would not. So, pls understand her point of view.

But if you guys want to get frustrated at her, feel free to do so. About time ppl get off inu's back and concentrate on sango's, eh? Heehee.

Anyway, thank you all for the wonderful reviews. I'm sorry for the confusion I am causing in these chapters. Sorry if there would be no reviewers' responses. I'm a little gloomy with this chapter too. Blame it on my sisters for this melodramatic chapter. they're re-watching fushigi yuugi and I just watched the part where hotohori dies (now, I'm no big hotohori fan and I hate miaka with a passion but still… it's heart-wrenching!)