A/N: Short and simple. Giving you guys two chapters before the new year! oUo

The Other Side

Chapter 32

Thoughts

Sesshomaru placed himself down against a tree outside of grove entrance and sighed. He had to accept the bond fully in order for her to wake up? To wake up where though? On this plane or back at the castle? It was still night out; he guessed that there were a few more hours before the first light of day. Despite everything, she looked completely at peace. Did he have to accept the bond or was there something more to it? He supposed that there could be more to it.

He focused on the bond and noticed immediately that he couldn't feel Kagome. The only thing that he could feel was himself; he didn't like the feeling. It made him feel like he was empty but that would be ridiculous, right? When she was around; the bond would give off a gentle and happy hum to them. He could feel her as if he was touching her. Sesshomaru shifted so that Kagome didn't look like she was limp.

Fate had said earlier that the bond was because Kagome needed someone to help heal her wounds. She had her friends though, was that not enough? He had to admit though; he liked it better when she was fighting against him. It proved to him that she could think of other things that don't relate to her own time or the well. It was highly annoying but she felt more alive and happy and for that, he could live with it. What was he going to do though? He didn't have the first idea on how to help her heal.

Although, with everything that had been happening, he would have to say that it was just him being himself that seemed to bring Kagome out of her shell. If that was the case, then perhaps he should just continue doing that. Could he really accept the bond? What if he wanted to accept it at a later time? He guessed that he could but then Kagome wouldn't be around to see anything. He missed that she wasn't talking to him. He did have to admit though; she was worthy of him. She's already showed that much.

He wondered if she had already accepted the bond? Then again, he wouldn't be surprised if she did. It seemed like something that was in her nature to accept things like this; despite how bad things could get.

And another thing; what possessed him to say to that he didn't want Fate to take her away from him? Had he already gotten used to her? Sesshomaru shook his head with a sigh. His eyes were focused on the grove as the sun started to give a hue to the sky that it was coming up. He growled; how dare Fate attack the bond. He would very much like it if she was up and moving around, rather than being as limp as she was. That was a scary thought.

A snarl came from his lips when he felt the presence of the vampires. They had edged towards him slowly as if they didn't want to get hurt. He glared at them as all of them hid behind the man—Dom, if he remembered correctly, in fear. "We mean you no harm, Lord Sesshomaru," the man said with his arms in surrender. The strawberry-haired male merely glanced to Kagome as his face softened before he frowned. He sighed while saying, "She's still not awake?"

What, did he expect him to reply? Judging by his face, he was waiting for some form of words. "I take it you haven't accepted the bond then?" He glanced to the brunette—Ion, if he remembered correctly—with displeasure. "She won't wake up until you do you know. And if it's any consolation, she won't wake up in your plane if you don't, between the time you have here and the time it takes us to find the other items."

Sesshomaru didn't show it but that worried him immensely. He stood up as he held Kagome close to him. "We will go find the bow first," was all he said as he took off to the east with the vampires hot on his tail.

It irked him that as he continued his journey that everything around him was silent. Aside from their footsteps on the ground, there weren't any other noises anywhere within his hearing range. He understood that they were in-between planes but even so, there should be something else, right? He kept an eye in front of him and an eye on the woman in his arms as he ran to the east.

Reviews are welcomed.