A/N - This is a prompt fic in celebration of reaching 200 fics on Ao3! Send me a line of dialogue (and an IY pairing if you like), and I'll write you a drabble. You can do it here, on Ao3, or on Tumblr!

Kagome readjusted her stack of books, willing the ones on top not to fall off. If this presentation went well, it would seriously boost her career as an oceanographer. All she needed to do was make a good impression on the higher-ups, and she could start her coastal restoration project.

Turning a corner, she slammed into something. Grunting, she managed to keep her balance but watched in slow motion as the top three books slid precariously to the edge of the binder underneath. She tried to compensate, but it didn't help, and she sighed in resignation as she prepared to restack all of her resources.

A slender hand caught them before they hit the floor, and she groaned in relief. "Thank you. Just put them back on top—"

"A second trip would be advisable." The low timbre of his voice sent the usual shivers up her spine, and Kagome straightened in panic. Trust her to run into the one person she was trying to impress.

Sesshoumaru Taisho wasn't technically her boss, but he was the head of the benefactors that would fund her research. She forced herself to laugh. "Yeah, well, I wanted time to go over things before everyone showed up."

He eyed her over the stack of books before motioning to the floor. "Your shoe is untied."

She bit the inside of her cheek, willing the ground to just swallow her whole. "I'll deal with it when I get to the—"

"Allow me to rectify this." To her utter shock, he knelt down in front of her, nimble fingers righting the bright blue shoelace to its original bow. Kagome felt heat creep up the back of her neck. "It would not do to have you trip when you have put so much work into your presentation."

The heat only increased. "Thanks," she mumbled.

He replaced the fallen books, head cocked to the side, and she swore the edge of his mouth twitched. "I am looking forward to it," he said, his words wafting over her skin as he squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. He lingered long enough for her to get a whiff of his cologne, and then he was gone, leaving her with a flushed face and a renewed sense of determination.

She was going to nail this presentation.