With every step nearer to Kel's rooms Dom seemed to get even more nervous.

'What's wrong with him?' Kel thought, 'he never gets nervous, about anything.' She stopped at the door, turned and folded her arms. "Well, Dom, what did you want to ask me?"

"Well, uhh, Kel," he wiped sweaty palms on his breeches, "I was wondering." he looked around for any passing people, but the hall was deserted. "Gods," he exclaimed, letting out a breath of air, "why is this so hard to say?"

Kel was beginning to get nervous herself; she could feel her heart beat in her throat as her pulse sped up.

"Kel, what I'm trying to ask is, will you go to the ball with me?" he said this all very quickly, too quickly in fact.

"What did you say? You asked too fast." Kel nearly whispered, afraid to dream of what he could be asking.

"Well, would you like to go to the ball with me tomorrow night?" Dom silently gulped down a huge breath and waited for her answer.

'Why is he asking me?' Kel thought to herself, 'he could have anyone, anyone at all, but why ask me?' she chose not to voice her amazement but it leaked into her answer, anyways, "Sure, Dom. It'll be fun."

"Really? You will? That's great!" He hugged her tightly, spinning her around and laughing joyfully.

Kel was unable to move, her arms stuck to her sides in Dom's crushing hug. 'This feels so perfect, I don't want him to ever let go.' Kel thought to herself, laughing with him, out loud she asked, "Of course. Just one question, was that so hard to ask?"

"No reason, really, just forget it." He was still smiling at her, overjoyed that he had asked, "I was just afraid you would say no."

"What is this? Are you turning over a new leaf, Dom, are you afraid of a lady?" she teased, he just beamed at her, 'Gods, that is a beautiful smile,' Kel thought to herself, now she smiled back at him "Umm...Dom? Can you let me go now? I need to go get changed."

He immediately released her, blushing furiously, "Sure, well I'll see you around!" he left, walking down the hall with renewed confidence and spring in his step.

Kel stood there for some time, amazed at her good fortune, 'Well, that was odd. I wonder if.-no, that can't be right, we're just friends.' She turned to her door, a smile gracing her Yamani mask, and walked inside to find her practice clothes.

~~~~~~~~~~

Yuki found her on the practice courts, doing pattern dances with her glaive. The steel blade was only a grey-blue blur as Kel completed the complex twists and turns. She saw Yuki and smiled, "Hold on, I'm almost done." She stopped short, twirling to halt; her hair had come out of its tail and flew about her face. After catching her breath, she asked, "What is it?"

"Neal told me just today, why didn't you tell me Kel?"

"Tell you what, Yuki?" Kel hadn't the faintest idea of what Yuki was talking about.

"Oh I don't know," Neal's sarcasm was rubbing off on Yuki pretty quickly, "you're going to the ball, you have a date, and I know you don't have a dress."

"Oh that, yea," Kel grinned sheepishly, "well, Dom only asked me about a half hour ago, Yuki, I would've told you, honestly, but-wait, how do you know?"

"Your date has a cousin," Yuki reminded her, "who also happens to be my husband. Truthfully Kel, when things like this happen, you have to come to me right away, we need time to plan. You can't just show up in whatever you find in your closet, you need a dress."

Kel tried to fit in a word, but Yuki just drowned her out with things they needed to do before the ball.

"Kel, do you know what this means?" Yuki asked happily, rubbing her hands together.

Kel caught on to the twinkle of mischief in her eye and groaned, loudly.

"Kel, this means shopping." Yukimi grabbed her wrist and pulled her off.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Kel groaned for what seemed to be the hundredth time as Yuki handed her more dresses to try on. "What is this, the twentieth dress, Yuki?" Kel could no longer hide her frustration beneath her Yamani mask.

"Actually, it's the thirtieth, Kel" she replied wickedly, "but just try on two more dresses and then I promise we can leave."

"You promise me, Yukimi noh Daiomoru?" Kel was skeptical, Yuki could totally lose track of time if they were shopping.

"Yes, Kel," she said, hand over her heart, "I promise."

They finally settled on a dress, and much to Kel's delight, returned to the palace.

~~~~~~~~~~

Kel walked in on Neal, Merric of Hollyrose, Owen of Jesslaw, and Faleron of King's Reach as they talked and joked in Neal's living room.

"Queenscove! I am going to kill you!" she said, opening the door, walking closer and stabbing Neal in the chest with her finger.

"Wait, Kel! What did I do?" Neal was in shock, petrified to this kind of emotion on a normally calm Keladry.

Kel stopped her onslaught and folded her arms, "Are you trying to tell me, sir, that you did not inform Yukimi about the ball and who I was going with. Did you also, sir," she continued despite his open mouth, "inform her that I own no dresses. Is this true or is it not." She stood there while Neal rapidly tried to think of an answer. Their friends were silent, staring from Kel to Neal, trying not to laugh.

"Well, I," Neal began.

"Don't try it, Queenscove. Yukimi informed me of what you had said, dear Nealan, and proceeded to take me shopping for a dress."

"Well, Keladry," Neal was trying to hold in any laughter, but his eyes were twinkling evilly, "is it a pretty dress?"

Their friends burst out laughing as Kel slapped Neal. Just then, Dom walked in the door. He surveyed the scene, a red handprint was appearing quickly on Neal's cheek, and said calmly, "About to strangle my dear Meathead, Kel? How may I be of assistance?"

"She found a-" Owen began, he closed his mouth as he saw the glare in Kel's eyes, that look could silence anyone.

"Never mind Dom, we can kill him tomorrow night," Kel said shaking her head, "we'll let him have a last meal." she smirked at Neal once more before walking into the hall and leading the way to dinner.