Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or its characters. They are the sole property of Takahashi Rumiko.

-To Sip of Black Velvet-

Chapter 4: For the Green-eyed Bellboy

" Meet me at The Neru at 9 o'clock." Was all he said before he hung up.

It had taken me two days to decide to call him and I hadn't even gotten to say who I was before he hung up on me. He hadn't even said hello when he answered.

It was a cold and rainy night as I sat outside in my car staring out of the window. My first thought was that I should've worn a jacket, my second was that I could've worn anything really. The Nero, as it turned out, was a hotel. I had assumed it would be a restaurant when I looked up the directions to get there. I'd worn my little black dress for nothing. I gazed out the window wondering what we were doing meeting here. I felt insulted. It was a very beautiful hotel, probably a five star hotel, but I wasn't the type of person who would really know the difference anyways and it was still just a hotel. What was he presuming of me by inviting me here?

I was startled out of my thoughts by a tap on my window. I rolled it half-way down.

"Ma'am?" A red-headed young boy in a bell-boy uniform spoke through the tinted glass while holding an umbrella. "Mr. Taisho sent me to show you to your suite. He is expecting you."

"Arigato, but I won't be needing your assistance. Would you let him know that I'm not coming?" I decided immediately upon hearing that he'd sent for me. I would not be summoned like a child.

"Please allow me to show you to your suite. Mr. Taisho won't be happy and I really need my job." His demon-green eyes pleaded with me.

"I'm sure you wouldn't lose your job over this. He doesn't seem like the type to whine to a manager or anything." I replied as I gave the boy a reassuring smile.

"He won't have to… Mr. Taisho owns this building as well as most of the buildings in this district. And he's notorious for firing, well everyone, when he visits them." He informed me.

"Oh." I stated slightly shocked. "I guess I could tell him myself then, for your sake." I winked at him and he smiled back. "Oh, and my name is Kagome. I don't feel old enough to be a ma'am yet."

"Ok then. Arigato, Kagome." He beamed at me. I liked him immediately.

I stepped out of the car and under the umbrella. He walked me inside the hotel. It was very elegant, far more luxurious than I'd even guessed from outside. The boy showed me to the elevator and had to use a key for us to get to the penthouse suite. After stepping off the elevator I turned and asked the boy what his name was.

"My name's Shippou." He stated, grinning ear to ear. His smile was the last thing I saw before the elevator door closed.

"Would you like a drink?" A smooth voice behind me asked as I turned to see Sesshoumaru standing there. Seeing and hearing him for the first time since I'd learned his name, I mused that everything about him went together perfectly. Everything about him was dark, sultry, and mysterious.

"No thank you." I replied after a few moments. "I actually came up here to let you know that I wouldn't be coming." I said before I realized how dumb it sounded. Shippou definitely owed me one.

"I think you must have changed your mind, Kagome." He replied smirking. "It looks as though you are already here."

"I—the boy downstairs…" I tried to explain but I couldn't think straight. He'd said my name so familiarly and the amusement in his voice was so alluring. Somehow I knew that few people had heard such a sound from him.

"I am pleased that you changed your mind." He stated frankly, voice deep and tempting, "Perhaps that boy might be worth keeping around after all."

"Who, Shippou? Yeah, he's great!" I smiled. "I promised him you wouldn't fire him."

"And you think that I wouldn't because of you?" He inquired arching a brow.

"No. Well yes—I mean… I guess I assumed you wouldn't... or something " I said, frowning slightly.

"So perplexed Kagome?" He asked, the hint of amusement once again resurfacing along with a devious gleam in his eyes. "I will not fire the boy if you will stay and have a drink with me."

"Okay, deal." I replied smiling. How much harm could come from one drink anyway?

Word Count: 764

Don't forget to review.

Author's Note: I may start putting up the chapters I've already written more quickly, what do u think? Personally, I've always felt that the wait adds to the mood in a story.