Song: She's Got a Way

Artist: Billy Joel

Pairing: Yuki/Neal

She's got a way about her

I don't know what it is

But I know that I can't live without her

Neal's life was miserable, but uncomplicated. He tolerated his year mates, the Stump, squiredom with the Lioness, and he ate his vegetables when Kel pestered him to do so. He escaped this tyranny through romance, poetry and daydreams.

For years, it was just that. Daydreams. Insubstantial and easily abandoned. Then one fateful day, the Yamani dignitaries arrived. SHE floated in, all wrapped in silk and more beautiful than the first blossom of spring. Her orange gown swished softly as she gracefully crossed the floor. Brown slippers had never looked so good.

Neal had seen beautiful women before. Thayet, Daine, and a whole score of court ladies. But something about this one was different. Neal frowned to himself. There was an odd sensation growing in his stomach.

He reluctantly speared another piece of broccoli with his fork. Just his luck. A beautiful, exotic woman showed up in his life, and Kel's damn vegetables were giving him a stomachache.

She's got a way of pleasin

I don't know why it is

But there doesn't have to be a reason

Anyway…

"I'm a man, I'll have you know—

Neal bent in two as Kel elbowed him in the stomach. At least he managed not to squawk like he usually did. Nevertheless, his foolishness made the straight-faced Yamani giggle behind her fan.

To his surprise, it felt good to make Yuki laugh. His whole body warmed and tingled. Kel spouted instructions, being the little tactician that she was, and the squires scattered to do as she bid.

Neal made his way to the study, enthused by the thought that Yuki would be there too.

He chatted with her, struck up a polite conversation. Yuki was wickedly clever; her eyes crinkled with concealed mirth. She no longer wore the powders and paints of the Yamani; her skin was a warm golden-brown.

Neal felt his heart catch in his throat. This was a golden opportunity. He could ask her to the mages party, he could ask if she wanted him to escort. He kept his voice aloof, calm.

"Would you like to go to the mages party?" He asked casually.

Yuki snapped her fan shut and gave him a small, polite bow. "I would be honored." She smiled and held out her hand.

She's got a smile that heals me

I don't know what it is

But I have to laugh when she reveals me

Kel and the Yamani ladies were tossing a fan around a circle. Neal grinned. He rarely saw Kel do anything womanly, but here she was clearly in her element. He looked at the rest of the crowd. Yuki was there too.

The fan fluttered gracefully in a whirl of colors, and Neal was entranced. "That's got to be the prettiest thing I've ever seen." He announced.

It was so simple. He stepped into the circle, reached out and caught the fan. All in one smooth motion, he noted smugly.

The ladies gasped, and Neal was startled by the weight of the fan. But they were undoubtedly impressed with him.

"What is this thing?" He demanded.

She's got a way of talkin

I don't know what it is

But it lifts me up when we are walkin

Anywhere

Yuki's eyes glittered dangerously. She walked over and grabbed the fan from him. "There is a saying in the isles," She answered coldly, "Beware of the women of the warrior class, for everything they touch is both beautiful and deadly."

She stepped over to a pile of tent poles. She chose one and brought it back to Neal. In one smooth motion, she unfurled the fan and used it to slice through the wood. She snapped the fan shut and strode away.

Neal physically felt his ego deflate. The other ladies smiled sympathetically at him as they disappeared. Only Kel remained to watch him wallow in misery.

"Don't worry." Kel patted his arm reassuringly. "Yuki cools off pretty quickly."

Neal recovered slowly. "She was angry?" He asked carefully.

Kel nodded. "I think you frightened her."

Neal felt his cheeks grow warm. Yuki was frightened, for his sake. His mood lifted and soared like the Shukusen in the dance.

She comes to me when I'm feelin' down

Inspires me without a sound

She touches me and I get turned around

She's got a way of showin

How I make her feel

And I find the strength to keep on goin

"How do people court each other in the Yamani isles?" Neal asked curiously.

He and Yuki were strolling through the palace gardens. The sun was just starting to set, and the sky was an array of colors. The orange light had a dazzling effect on Yuki's warm skin.

A bit of pink seeped into her cheeks. "Why do you ask?" She replied playfully.

Neal jumped. He hadn't realized how odd the questioned sounded until after he'd opened his mouth. "Scholarly interest." He assured her. "No offense meant, lady, but your people aren't exactly open with their emotions. How do you tell if a suitor is interested?"

Yuki continued to walk in silence for a few moments. She bowed her head slightly in thought. "I can't say I have much practical experience in these matters." She admitted. "I've spent so much time preparing for Shinko's marriage; I haven't given much thought to my own. If you like, I believe I have a book by Baron Piers about the social customs in our nation, as compared to Tortall's. I read it on the ship. It's very scholarly, if that's what you're looking for."

"Yes…that…that would be enlightening, I'm sure." Neal blushed and looked away.

She's got a light around her

And everywhere she goes

A million dreams of love surround her

Everywhere

"Yuki is…" Neal paced his room furiously. "As sweet as pie—no, what an abysmal comparison. She is beautiful as the heavens—no. What is WRONG with me?!" He took another sip of wine and grimaced. Maybe it wasn't the best idea for him to be drinking this late at night.

Seaver looked up from a book he was reading. "I heard of this…disease that men our age often catch. It causes the mind to melt, the heart to stutter, the throat to constrict. It can sometimes become a permanent condition."

Neal let out a little wail. "I've got the plague! Fetch some paper; I'll need to write my last words." He collapsed theatrically into a chair.

Seaver handed his year-mate a piece of paper. "I was going to say you were in love. But I guess you're the healer." He grinned and ducked Neal's swipe.

She comes to me when I'm feelin' down

Inspires me without a sound

She touches me and I get turned around

Neal sat by himself at the dinner table. All the knight-masters were out of residence except the Lioness, who was busy working with the Yamani ladies. While he stuffed down his dinner, his mind tumbled over possible lines for the poem. Words eluded him, and he was unusually stumped. He shuddered at his own word choice. Stumped, like Wyldon.

After dinner, he made his way toward the library. Oddly, he missed Kel and the gang, and their page-dom misadventures. "I should write a book chronicling our adventures," he thought, "though I'm obviously not a poet."

Yuki sat in the library, poring over an old manuscript. She looked up from her reading as Neal passed her. She smiled lightly at him, and Neal did his best to smile back.

She tilted her head curiously. "Nealan, are you ill?" She asked seriously.

He shook his head numbly. "Nothing life-threatening." He drawled. "My wandering mind seems to have gotten lost."

Yuki laid a tentative hand on his forehead. "You're feverish." She remarked. "Nealan—

"It's nothing." He murmured. His hand covered hers. He leaned in closer. "I just can't seem to find the words I'm looking for. There's something I need to tell you--"

Yuki pressed her other hand to his lips. "Me wa kuchi hodo ni mono o ii." She whispered, in Yamani. She translated, "the eyes speak as much as the mouth. Love needs no words."

Neal let out the breath he's been holding.

She's got a smile that heals me

I don't know what it is

But I have to laugh when she reveals me

She's got a way about her

I don't know what it is

But I know that I can't live without her

Anyway

Neal stumbled out of the chamber. He could feel the cold sweat pouring off his, his body still trembled with the terror of what he'd experienced. His friends and family waited for him anxiously, their worried faced filled his vision.

There.

Yuki's warm round face greeted his eyes like water after a prolonged drought. He smiled weakly. He had survived the Chamber's Ordeal. Now all he had to do was propose.

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a/n: thank you to all my reviewers for your suggestions and critiques. I think Daine/Numair will be coming up next, so stay tuned.

btw, I'm trying to do a variety of pairings before I attempt to repeat pairings. I'd like to do another Beka/Rosto, and another Onua/Sarge, but not before I finish D/N, Aly/Nawat, and Kally/Kaddar.

I guess this collection is a permenant work in progress.