Kel wiped the sweat off her brow after completing an intricate pattern dance with her glaive. She set the weapon down and moved to the center of the room to stretch out her aching muscles. Kel's sparrows suddenly began chirping as they left their spot on the windowsill and flew over to the door, just as someone knocked hesitantly from the other side. Kel followed the birds to where they fluttered around the door. She opened the door to see her best friend, Neal, standing there, running his fingers through his hair.
"Neal?" He looked at Kel, his face unusually pale. The birds, seeing that Kel's guest was a friend silently flew back to their seat on the sunbathed windowsill. "Neal, what's wrong?" He didn't say anything but walked into her room and stood awkwardly next to the bed. She closed the door and followed him, her brow creased with concern. She laid a hand on his arm and addressed him again. "Neal–"
"It's Yuki. " Kel was very familiar with Neal's inclination to be overly dramatic. However, he looked truly upset.
"Is she alright?" Kel prompted, when he didn't say anything more. He nodded in response and plopped down on the bed. Kel looked down at him a moment then joined him.
He let out a huge sigh and finally broke the silence as he looked at his hands resting in his lap. "I... I've been with another woman." He knit his eyebrows together and bit his lip, obviously feeling remorse for his hasty actions.
Speechless, Kel looked at him. He looked so miserable that Kel actually felt sorry for him. He was her best friend, after all. But Yuki was Kel's closest female friend and had been since they were children. She couldn't believe that Neal would cheat on Yuki. He was so obviously in love with her. Kel remained silent, pondering Neal's shocking confession.
One eyebrow raised, Neal stole a sideways glance at her, trying to evaluate her reaction. Though she kept her emotions to herself, he could see that she was stunned.
"I didn't mean to! Just one time, last night, I–"
"Last night?"
Exasperated, Neal continued. "Yes, Kel, that's what I said, Daine and I went to the Dancing Dove and then she came back to my rooms and–"
Kel shook her head. "Neal, you couldn't have been with Daine last night. I was with you."
Neal suddenly paled, his eyes wide with horror. "What? Kel... wow. I didn't–"
"Not like that you Meathead!" Kel blushed, embarrassed at Neal's inaccurate interpretation of her words.
"Oh."
"You were walking back from town, by yourself, and we had to practically carry you up to your rooms," Kel explained quickly.
"We?"
"Oh...Dom and I." Kel's cheeks turned a faint pink, but Neal didn't notice. He was too occupied praying to the Gods that his dear cousin hadn't seen anything he shouldn't have; for Neal's sake. Dom had a way of never letting Neal's most humiliating moments be forgotten.
"You know...I can't remember a thing. But if you're sure that I was alone last night, well then...I've been perfectly faithful to Yuki! And what else would I be? A man like myself, a brave knight and–"
"Neal. Maybe you should go talk to her, don't you think?" He stood up, feeling much more steady and composed than when he'd entered. He clasped Kel's shoulder his mind already elsewhere and left the room, forgetting to close the door behind him. Kel smirked slightly and shut the door to resume her morning exercises.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Neal strode down the large hallways of the palace towards Yuki's room. He was already playing out the scenario in his head; he would exuberantly apologize to his lover and explain the misunderstanding and she would lovingly accept him back. Just as he began to imagine their reconciliation, he stopped short. He had an epiphany which caused him to turn around, perplexed, and walk in the other direction with a new purpose.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Numair, I have to tell you something." Daine took a deep breath, preparing herself. As she opened her mouth to continue, a knock sounded on the door, startling the couple. Daine composed herself and opened the heavy oak door.
Neal stood there looking anxious. As soon as Neal saw her face he spit out, "Daine! It wasn't me! I mean- Kel and Dom dragged me up to my room. I guess we were both so drunk that you thought it was me but you must have gone back to someone else's rooms..." He stopped suddenly. Daine's face held a look of surprise, confusion, and horror. He looked past Daine to see Numair standing behind her...
A/N: Woo! It's been a LONG time since this story has been updated. Sorry guys! But here it is! I hope you all like it. And REVIEW! Reviews are good motivation to update sooner! Instead of like once every few months.... But now it's Lady Swathi's turn (as we are taking turns writing chapters) and I gave her a nice cliffy-type-thing to make it extra difficult for her. Hehehe.