bulletproof belongs to the song's composer(s); and to the Blue Rodeo. blessed the broken road also belongs to its composer and to the Rascal Flatts. hurrah fr country music.

Chapter 28: Once broken, now blessed

'It must be great to be so strong.
You never needed anybody else's help to carry on,
But I'm not waking up each morning with forgiveness I can use.
No I'm careless, and I'm cruel, but I'm still easily bruised
I'm so tired of lying about it,
I'm not bulletproof.'


There was something phenomenal in turning on the radio and the DJ playing the song of your life. Literally! Each word, each tune, each melody floated around, piercing the mind and making you think.

Inuyasha listened to the song with all attentiveness he could muster. The singer was completely humming the tune of his life. 'I'm so tired of lying about it...' Those were his words to Kagome the day before. He just couldn't continue with all the lies and pretence. He was also hurting inside. 'I'm not… bulletproof.' Yes, exactly. He wasn't bullet-proof. Behind the arrogant and obnoxious facade lived a most sensitive man who was capable of loving, who was hoping for a life of comfort in the arms of the woman he truly loved. 'No, and I'm not going to lie about it. I'm not bulletproof.' As the song faded, the sadness was gone.

A smile crept to his face. He was a new man. He would go to Sango, confess to her his love (once more), but this time he has answers to her questions. This was a gamble he was willing to risk. If she told him her heart never longed for him, he would be devastated; but at least he was able to tell the whole truth.

But before doing all those bits and pieces, there was something important he had to do first. There was a task to be followed. A task to be done. A duty to be fulfilled. Someone to be thanked.

He stirred the car to the path that would lead him to a better life.

She stared at the many faces in front of her, some leaving, some just arriving. She wondered about the different life stories of each of them. Could the woman on her phone have just been engaged to her boyfriend of four years? If that were the case, it would explain her outburst of energy.

She turned her attention on an elderly man with unsmiling eyes. Could he have just lost a wife of twenty years? Could that woman with a big frown on her face have just had a big fight with her husband the morning before work? Did that high school student just ace a math exam?

The bus ride made Sango think. She was not the only person with a tragic story. She was not the only person with a big gap in her life at the moment. Many riding the bus at the moment shared a similar dramatic fate. Some of them perceived the glass half empty; some perceived the glass half full. Sango simply saw the glass needed refilling.

She smiled (albeit trying to hide it or else the passengers might think her crazy).

Taking the bus was not such a bad idea after all.

A feeling of satisfaction surrounded her as she simply savoured the journey towards a new life.

I set out on a narrow way many years ago

Hoping I would find true love along the broken road

But I got lost a time or two, wiped my brow and kept pushing through

I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

He was never a religious man. Faith was something spoon-fed to him by his parents when he was still a young boy. Towards attaining independence, he did not need feeding. He can choose what to intake; and he chose to leave his faith behind.

Now, there he was, walking down the stone aisle of the garden church, ready to submit himself to his faith once more.

In his mind, he owed that much to the Almighty. He was still alive and complete after a near-death experience. He had been given a second chance he almost wasted, yet things still resulted in a satisfactory manner. Now, here he was, ready to make a new man out of his old arrogant, brusque self.

Going to church at odd hours was never really in her agenda. Yes, she was quite a religious woman, submitting her whole life to the Lord for the sake of her brother's cure. Yet, the Lord did not answer her prayer. For a brief moment, she lost her faith.

She was now trudging new paths towards rededicating herself to her faith once more. It was hard, often she questioned why she can never achieve simple happiness. Was it too much to ask to have her parents witness her growth into a woman? Was it too much for Kohaku to be alive?

Tears streamed down her face as she took a seat on the marbled pew facing the altar. Somewhere down the road, God's plan for her would surface; and perhaps she would attain the near-ultimate happiness she longed for in life. Sango simply stared at the Holy Cross. Her quiet reflection was a solitary prayer.

There she was. Sitting timidly, her back turned to him. Of all the strangest, yet most fitting places to find her. He did not expect to see her there. It was still midday Wednesday. People hardly came by to church during those hours. Could that be a sign from the heavens above? To think he went there to contemplate about his recent decisions, then to find her… He just could not believe.

Slowly, and really silently, Inuyasha made his way where Sango was sitting. She looked as radiant as ever. The cool breeze kept blowing her long, raven hair all over. Her skin glowed like a ray of sunshine. Inuyasha rarely let the poet in him emerge.

"Nothing like a quiet reflection."

Sango quickly turned to her side, where she thought she imagines Inuyasha's voice. Her vision was a little blurry from the tears shed. He looked so real… but what are the probabilities Inuyasha is actually right there beside him? Sango shook her head. Was she imagining him there?

Inuyasha chuckled. "You're probably asking why I'm here, huh?"

Sango dumbly nodded. She was still a little confused as to whether the man beside her was an illusion. Wow, was she going crazy? First, she hopped on a bus, during her lunch break, to go to church. Then, while sitting on the bus, she reflected on the passengers' life stories, reminding herself she was not the only individual on Earth with a tragic chapter in her book of life. Now, in the middle of praying, she imagined Inuyasha, the man she loved and still loved, sitting beside her, simply making small talk.

Yet he looked so real…

"Sango?" Inuyasha waved a hand in front of her, trying to bring her back to reality. "You're spacing out, you know."

Sango blinked. "W-what are you doing here?"

Inuyasha once again chuckled. "You won't believe me if I were to say I'm here to pray."

Sango was itching to bring a finger to touch his cheek, or whatever, just to make sure he was real. "Oh," was all she could say. Did she expect he was there looking for her? But how would he know she was there? She did not tell Jakotsu or anyone her unplanned trip to the Celestial Gardenia, the garden church.

"Sorry. Am I bothering ya?"

Sango shook her head. The two of them sat in silence for awhile. They watched carefully when a lady in her early fifties came up to put some fresh flowers on the grotto. A number of people had come to say a little prayer. Yet, in less than fifteen minutes, Sango and Inuyasha were alone in the garden, continuously staring at the altar in silence.

Inuyasha decided to break the quietude that formed between them. He hated silence. Maybe that was why he and Kikyou never worked out. Kikyou exuded a sense of calmness and tranquility. Inuyasha possessed none of them.

"I'm getting married," he suddenly said.

"I know," Sango replied automatically. She hoped she did not sound bitter.

"I don't like big weddings. I prefer the small, intimate ones. I think those kinds are the most sincere, the vows spoken are for the couple alone."

Sango stared at her hands placed on her lap. "I agree."

"Also, the only guests that should be invited are the ones really close to you, the people you truly want to share the event with."

Sango frowned. Why was he telling all these wedding matters to her? Was he purposely trying to hurt her? Once he confessed to her he loved her; she did not give her answer right away. He was engaged to be married to another woman. His hesitation to answer directly made it clear to Sango of Inuyasha's real feelings. He was having wedding jitters. She did not want to be his scapegoat while he sorts his feelings. Yes, she loved him so, still does love him, but she was not willing to sacrifice morality over pleasure.

Sango felt her eyes sting. She could not possibly start crying in front of him! She turned her face away from him. She knew she has to leave, but a part of her wants to stay to treasure one last moment with the man she would always love.

So, she stayed no matter how much it hurt.

"What about you Sango?"

"Huh? What about me?"

There was a glint in his eyes. "How would you like your own wedding to unfold?"

Sango sighed. "I never thought about it," she answered half-heartedly.

"Then that's a problem…" Inuyasha took her hand, while his other hand guided Sango's face to face him. "I'd like to get married to ya as soon as possible. Better think about how you'd like to plan the event sooner," he winked at her.

It took her a while to register those statements. What did Inuyasha just say? Get married to her? As soon as possible? She must be imagining things again, almost hallucinating. "W-w-what?" she croaked.

Inuyasha mentally laughed at himself in amusement. That was the worst proposal. His first proposal -to Kikyou- was well planned. He organized a trip out-of-town, at a luxurious ski-lodge up North. The proposal came under the moonlight up at the slopes. It was cold. Winter. White. Pure. But their love ended as soon as it began.

His proposal to Kagome took a span of one month. He proposed after thinking about it for days and nights. It was under pressure. His family and friends expected it. Kagome expected. He relented. They were at a country beach, under the blazing heat of the sun. Summer. Hot. Fiery.

Now, he found the woman he truly, sincerely, purely loved; and he proposed out of instincts. He proposed because he did not think about it, or contemplated about it. He proposed what his mind, and heart, said. He proposed under a cloudless, greyish blue sky.

They met in Spring, when the flowers started to bloom. Not so cold, not so hot.

Now he proposed under the magnificent Autumn sun, when trees are blessed with vibrant coloured leaves. He proposed because he wanted to. He proposed because he desired to spend the rest of his 'second' life with the woman he loved.

Kikyou was his winter. Kagome was the summer. Sango was and would always be his two seasons: his spring and autumn.

I think about the years I spent just passing through

I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you

But you just smile and take my hand

You've been there you understand

It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

"You're probably thinking I'm being brash in asking you this, but this is who I really am, Sango. I run my life instantaneously. I don't plan. It's all out of instincts. But for once, I'm sure this brash decision will be worth it, because I love you so much." Inuyasha stood from his seat, then knelt down in front of Sango. "Will you please be very kind in spending the rest of your life with me, Sango? Will you accept me now even if I don't have a ring to offer you? Will you be my wife sooner rather than later?"

Tears finally made their way out of Sango's eyes. It streamed down her flushed cheeks. Was Inuyasha really proposing to her in front of the Heavenly Son's altar? Sango brought her two hands to frame Inuyasha's face. Trust, she was willing to put trust in what he just said. He loved her. That was all that matters.

She kissed him on the forehead: a kiss of gentleness.

She kissed him on the tip of his nose: a kiss of delight.

She kissed him on his two cheeks: a kiss full of care.

She kissed him on the lips: a kiss of eternity.

Sango cradles his head as she let him kiss her passionately. She surrendered in him with all her inexperience in intimacy. She did the best she could. "Yes," she finally murmured.

Inuyasha felt his heart swelled. He heard those answer twice, but the third one was the best. He jumped from his kneeling position and placed both his hands on Sango's waist. With all the strength he had, he lifted her up then enveloped her in a tight embrace. Sango nearly squealed, if not for being reminded they were still at church.

Inuyasha set her down finally. "So… shall we go?" He offered her a hand.

Sango took it but gave him a soft laugh. "Where are we going?"

"Wherever this road takes us," he shrugged. "Don't worry. It's blessed. We'll be just all right," he answered in a cheery tone, a tone he rarely used. He kissed her forehead, then the tip of her nose before placing his lips on her soft ones.

Every long lost dream lead me to where you are

Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

A/N: whoa… this fic is nearing its final curtain, eh? Well, the update took a long time because I tried to write this as good as I can. Hopefully I didn't fail any one of you. This is really not the last chapter, although one could consider this fic done if juxtaposing it with the film. In the film, the end credits are already rolling in. anyways, I still plan an epilogue for those who still want more.

Thank you all for the wonderful reviews and sincere dedication.

It has been really fun to write this…