A/N: Sorry if I didn't reply to your review, I completely lost track of which I replied to and which I didn't. But thankyou everyone who reviewed =) It's definitely encouraging.

Dom, Raoul, Buri and Neal stood in the hallway outside Yuki's rooms. Yuki had invited them to come meet her Yamani guest directly after Midmeal.

Yuki opened her door and stuck her head out. "Come in," she opened the door wider and beckoned them in. They entered, Dom first.

Dom took in the scene with faint shock. Yuki had set up her rooms with eight chairs neatly in a circle. On one of the chairs sat Alanna, violet eyes sparkling, her husband next to her. On the other side of Alanna sat a lady dressed in creamy brown, her browny blonde hair done up elaborately, face pale, eyes accented with kohl. The lower half of her face was hidden by her darker brown shukusen. Her skirts flared out from her waist, making it look smaller, the neckline was low and square. Her dress was edged in gold, accenting her creamy skin. She was, Dom recognised, Lady Kariami, every bit as pretty as Yuki had described. Perfect. It would be easy to forget Kel and her 'rejection'.

Dom bowed low as he entered the circle and picked up the lady's hand. He kissed it gently, holding it a fraction longer than was usual and Yuki motioned him to the seat next to the lady.

"Lady Kariami, Sergeant Domitan," Yuki gestured to both of them in turn and introduced the rest of them. Neal sat next to Dom, Yuki beside Neal, Raoul in between Yuki and George.

Neal eyed Kel admiringly. If it hadn't have been his idea, he wouldn't have even entertained the notion that this lady was Kel.

Raoul took in the scene, faintly amused at Yuki's charade. He watched Dom kiss Kel- or Lady Kariami- 's hand and frowned slightly. If Dom treated her like another fling- well, he would have Lord Raoul to answer to, that was for sure.

Buri looked at Kel with hidden surprise. She looked so... so... un-Kel-ish!

Kel watched Dom from behind her shukusen. He was obviously flirting with her Yamani alias and hurt flooded her. Her kiss could not have meant anything to him after all. He probably got it all the time, anyway.

She turned away from him and held her shukusen firmly in front of her face, trying to master her anger and hurt. She finally got a grip and flicked her shukusen shut, sitting it on the seat next to her. Yuki watched her closely and subtly tipped her head towards Dom, signalling that Kel should talk to him.

Kel ignored her and began talking to Neal.

"So you are my dear Yukimi's betrothed?" she asked, mimicking the Yamani's accents. It seemed to work, Yuki gave her an approving nod.

Neal flashed a quick smile at Kel before replying. "We're married, actually. But we haven't had a public ceremony, yet. We will be holding one in a week."

Although she already knew, Kel nodded in understanding.

Dom entered their conversation. "Will you still be here, then?" he asked, flashing a smile on his handsome face. Kel shook her head stiffly.

"He's going to be my best man," Neal explained easily.

This was new to Kel. Dom looked away from her as Lord Raoul engaged him in conversation and Kel shot Neal a murderous glare. Another setup. Neal smiled back innocently.

Buri began talking to Kel about Yamani fan dances and Kel responded eagerly, glad to think about something other than a pair of sapphire blue eyes.

Time past slowly. Kel talked with others- Lord Raoul, Alanna and George.

A short time later Yuki began to shoo guests out. Lord Raoul and George left first. Kel watched Alanna and Buri carefully, why would they be staying?

"Thankyou for a lovely afternoon, Yuki," Raoul bowed to both her and Kel. "Nice to meet you, Lady Kariami," he told Kel, with a smile.

They exited. Alanna and Buri began a conversation.

Dom lingered, unwilling to go.

"Dom, we have to get ready for the ball," Yuki hinted, not very subtly.

Dom looked startled as he remembered.

"Oh, that's right. I'd almost forgotten."

Kel nearly groaned aloud as she too remembered that there was a ball that night, a ball that everyone in the palace was invited to.

"Are you going with anyone?" Dom directed this question at Kel. It was the perfect opportunity.

Kel shook her head, her heart accelerating slightly.

"Would you like to come with me?" Dom never asked anyone until the last minute, it all depended on what particualar court lady he was courting at the time. Which, at this time, was none.

Yuki smiled smugly.

Kel was torn. She wanted to go with Dom, but he couldn't really care for her, seeing as her kiss had obviously not meant anything to him. Asking 'Lady Kariami' to a ball was probably just another fling for him. She opened her mouth to say no.

Yuki didn't give her a chance to answer.

"Come back here before the ball. We'll be ready then."

Kel shot her a furious glare. Dom noticed and was surprised.

"That-that sounds great," he stammered uncertainly. He bowed to them and headed towards the door. At the door, he halted and asked Neal, who had followed him:

"When does Kel get back?"

Kel felt her cheeks heating up, maybe he did care after all? But he wouldn't be flirting with a 'Yamani' court lady, if he did, would he? He was just a friend. Nothing more. She averted her eyes from the two of them and stared at the floor.

"I don't know," Neal replied. "She was in a bit of a hurry when she left. She didn't say."

"Oh," Dom sounded almost glum. Kel mentally slapped herself for being so wishful. "Bye, Meathead. Until later, Lady Kariami." He headed out the door.

Neal shut the door behind him and leant against it.

"I always have the best ideas," he congratulated himself, smiling.

One look at Kel's livid expression made him reconsider that.

"Oh, dear." He smirked.

Kel continued to glare at him. Yuki giggled.

"Neal," Alanna said pointedly. "We have to get ready for the ball."

"Oh, right." Neal walked towards the door. "See you later." He exited, still snickering.

Buri and Alanna advanced on Kel.

"You're not going to be difficult about dresses, are you?" Alanna demanded threateningly.

"You're not actually making me do this?" Kel pleaded, horrified. "You can't make me go with him... No... Yuki never mentioned this."

"You told him yes," Buri informed her.

"I did not!" Kel exclaimed indignantly. "Yuki told him yes! She can go with him."

Yuki rolled her eyes impatiently. "Kel. I told you I would help you. And look, now he's asked you to a ball. It's working."

"He hasn't asked me to a ball," Kel pointed out. "He's asked 'Lady Kariami' to a ball."

"He's still asked you," Yuki said firmly. "Now, am I going to have to force you into the dress and down into the ballroom with him?"

Yuki threaded a white flower through Kel's hair.

"There," she announced, satisfied at last. "You're ready."

Kel stared down at Lalasa's latest creation. It was pale green velvet with a white undergown and very wide sleeves.

"Look in the mirror," Alanna commanded.

Kel sighed and got to her feet. "I hope I don't trip," she muttered doubtfully.

"You won't," Buri told her. "I never did."

Kel turned towards the mirror.

"Damn it," she groaned. "I look like a... a.... court lady." She spat the word out like it was an insult.

Her hair was done up in what seemed like a million pins, made to look like it was longer. Several curled strands were let loose around her face, which was again made up. Yuki had put more kohl around her eyes, this time it was pointed at the edges, giving her eyes a slanted look. Her lips were painted dark red, her eyebrows darkened and curved. The neckline of the dress was low and round this time, edged in silver. The bodice of the dress hugged her torso, but the skirts flared out after the waistline. The sleeves were tight down to her elbows, then there was a line of silver trimming and the sleeves became wider, dwarfing her hands in them.

"You're meant to," Yuki pointed out. "It's a shame you cut your hair again, you know. It would have been much more effective if your hair was long."

Kel spun to glare at her. "You had better appreciate this wedding present, Yukimi."

Yuki smiled. "Don't worry, I'll appreciate it more when you and Dom are happily together."

Kel growled and stepped away from the traitorous mirror. Someone had better recognise her, she didn't want to lose a gold noble to Alanna. She winced as she thought of the mocking she would get, the Lady Knight being dressed up like a doll.

Yuki brushed her skirts down. She was in purple, Alanna in pale blue and Buri in rich red.

"Well, we're ready," Alanna smoothed her hair, smiling wickedly at Kel. "Now where are our escorts?"

Kel fidgeted uncomfortably.

"Don't fidget," Yuki commanded. "You'll ruin your hair."

"How am I supposed to dance if I can't move?" snorted Kel. "Oh good, sounds like I can't, I just won't go then." She plonked on Yuki's bed.

A knock came on the door.

"That must be them." Yuki glided over to the door to open it.

A/N: the whole Dom-being-determined-to-forget thing is like Alanna and Jon, I only just realised. Oh well....