"You cannot be serious." Her face was a mixture of annoyed and dumbfounded.

"I am always serious, you should have noticed it by now." Paradoxically he was making a joke.

"You must be the funniest demonlord in all of Japan." Kagome crossed her arms not as amused as he wished.

"Well, that might be true, miko." She really should be glad for his newfound sense of humor.

"I haven't asked you for this." Her face was serious now. "You should really listen to what I tell you." Kagome eyed the bound hanyou squirming on the ground.

Sighing, she released the rabid silver-haired menace from its ropes. "WHAT THE FUCK, SESSHOMARU?" Inuyasha was ready to go on full rampage mode.

"You need to apologize." The demonlord said simply. "You have wronged the miko."

"WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEA-" He was cut off mid-sentence by the crackling reiki that raised suddenly, the air static and silent.

"Inuyasha." Kagome said dangerously calm, "I'm going to ask for you to leave."

Sensing the eminent risk he was in, he took the wiser route and backed up silently. "Good luck." Inuyasha strolled out of view a little faster than intended.

Sesshomaru was a bit lost in this situation, for him it was simple, the half-blood had made his miko upset so he was knocked out, bound and brought to apologize, easy and fast.

So why was he afraid of the electric energy that thread just above the ground, why did that make his neck tense?

"Miko." If he was calling or pleading, he didn't know.

"You can't simply threaten someone's life for an apology." How long since the last time she blinked? He shifted his weight under her gaze.

"Certainly not on my name." She completed it before he could retort.

"It is only fair I present you with a solution if you come to me with a problem." Kagome stepped so rapidly into his personal space that he had to hold the urge to back away.

"Since when?" The miko asked so low it was a menacing whisper.

Sesshomaru was yet to know what he had done so wrong she would look this ready to rip his still original arm off and smack him with it. He didn't have a reply for the question.

"I've told you what happened, I've told you it was a complicated situation and most importantly - apparently this part you chose to ignore - that I would handle it."

"He was in the wrong." Sesshomaru defended his attitude. "You cried."

"Hell yeah, I cried. It is a frustrating situation." She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. "But you can't wipe the floor with everyone who makes me mad. What if I'm wrong? Being angry doesn't necessarily mean being right." Her breaths came more evenly and she opened her ice blue eyes to stare in his confused amber ones.

"That does not make any sense. Why would you come to me so sad and expect me to do nothing about it? I cannot stand by and watch someone make you feel that way." He crossed his arms unconsciously mimicking her posture wherever she disagreed with someone.

"For comfort, Sesshomaru." She sighed heavily. "To feel heard." Kagome's tense shoulders sagged down. He did not like this, he hated the hopeless look on her now glossy eyes, her tired tone, even more the fact he was responsible for it.

The demonlord dared to take a step forward, as she made no movement to repel his presence, he entered completely in her space and took her face into both his clawed hands.

"You are heard. I hear everything that comes from you or about you, in a hopeless pathetic way I might add. I would never deny you comfort, I can do everything but." He circled her cheek with his thumb. "I apologize, I lost sight of what is important for a second." His intense look darted from her shiny eyes to her mouth ever so slightly.

Kagome melted into his warm touch, his apologetic stare so soft it made her sigh.

"Look, I know you're a problem solver and it's hard to stand by, I am too." The miko's hands covered his marked ones.

"But when I need your help you will know. I'm aware you have a hard time seeing me upset as I would with you, however there are some things that are mine to fix or not, it is my choice." She caressed the large hands covering her face.

Seshomaru studied her eyes for a minute before finally recognizing the piece that was missing in his logic. Besides not being able to really hear what she needed, he had denied her of choice.

"I am sorry this situation with Inuyasha is happening to you, if you need any help I will gladly provide." His lips touched hers in a kiss so soft it made her heart race.

Kagome's smile was all the resolution he needed. Thank the gods she was patient with him.