Story: Trick of Fate
By: Minuiko
Summary: During the ten day celebration in Corus, Yuki decides to break with Neal, and Dom with Kel (Pretend that they were together, alright?). So Neal and Kel decide to pretend they're in love to win back their original partners. But what if they accidentally fall for each other? K/N
Rating: PG-13
Chapter Five: Guilt
Domitan of Masbolle walked, holding the Lady Rita's waist with cool elegance, his face unreadable. He had a strange, nervous energy zipping through him: he knew it was jealousy. Did Kel—his Kel—find a replacement so fast? His jaw tightened. And with his cousin, the Meathead, too.
Lady Rita couldn't compare with Kel, he knew. It was just—Kel wasn't a good lover; she had no sense of romance in her. When they kissed, it was always Dom who directed it, not Kel. She was too afraid of love, perhaps because of that oaf, Cleon of Kennan.
Rita said in that disgustingly sweet voice of hers, "Is something the matter, Seargeant Domitan? You look stiff."
He smiled coolly. "Nothing's wrong, love."
'How many women have you 'loved?''
'Shut up.'
'Too many to count, isn't it, SERGEANT? I'm your conscience. You can tell me shut up forever, it doesn't mean you aren't guilty.'
'So? I can't marry anyway, better enjoy myself while I'm still young . . .'
'You loved Kel, too, isn't that right . . . and she wasn't an airhead, and loved you back . . . you could've kept her, had you not been as ass.'
'Alright, so I was a bit of a jerk to her . . .'
Dom shook his head: wasn't that the first sign of insanity, talking to your own head? He was harsh to Kel, when she'd done nothing but loved him as a true friend, and he should've apologized. But he didn't. And now she was gone, with Neal. What was Dom, some kind of-of girlfriend collector?! He didn't want to be like this! But he was.
Dom knew there was a possibility that Kel still loved him: there was something a bit rushed in the way she attacked his cousin, and likewise, Neal was a bit mechanical when kissing her back. Not that it mattered. 'Not like I care.'
'Yes, you do.'
'Well, I'd be a fool to break with her, then immediately ask her to come back, especially as she's with . . . Neal . . .'
'You were a fool to break with her.'
'Yeah, well . . . tough, isn't it?'
He bowed, as deeply as was necessary, then asked, "May I walk you to your rooms, Lady Rita?"
He inwardly groaned as she cooed, "Oh, Sergeant, you're too kind!"
Well, it was what he had to put up with, and he would put up with it. It was unreasonable to want Rita for her body and Kel for, well, herself. He was the one who hooked up with this extravagantly, disgustingly stereotypical, cosmetic-wearing female in the first place. Kissing her hand, he thought, 'I've made a huge mess with things . . . why couldn't I break my habit of hurting people? I'm sorry, Kel . . .'
As Rita gushed about the palace, he wondered what attracted him to this idiotic lady in the first place.
Yukimi noh Daiomaru walked around the garden, taking in the beautiful, foreign flowers. They never had any in like these in the Yamani islands. Of course, she preferred the sakura blossoms, but these were pretty, too.
Sighing, she tried to make sense of her scrambled thoughts. She thought she'd loved Neal: he certainly paid enough attention to her. And what was she thinking, falling for another man in the short time Neal was away? But she had.
It was certainly more entertaining with Kanoushi: in a quiet, Yamani way. Neal was funny, he cracked lame jokes, acted cynical and tough, made plenty of ridiculous mistakes. He was outspoken, too. But Kanou . . . he knew Yamani, and was quietly humorous, reserved, handsome, and a brilliant strategist. She decided: it would make another whole big mess of things if she confronted Neal. So she wouldn't.
Now for more recent matters. She had been invited to the wedding of the Commander Buriram Tourakom and Sir Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak. Undoubtably, Kel and Neal would be going as well, she thought darkly. Should she go, or invent an excuse? It would be improper, but if Neal was there . . .
She inhaled the sweet scent of thriving roses. Neal had given her bouquets before. She remembered one particularly big one, with forty-four roses to be exact. She had counted them. She started to count the roses in the garden before mentally slapping herself. Why was she so strange, so guilty when thinking about Neal? She looked down, whispering in Yamani, "Because I feel dirty . . . I could never compare to the innocence, the pureness, of an untouched flower."
Cool fingers cupped her cheeks. The man smiled down at Yuki. "But you are pure, Lady Yukimi."
Kanoushi. Yuki thought, 'Another thing about Neal that I forfeited: he always called me Yuki. Not Yukimi.'
She smiled tremulously, saying in a teasing voice, "Don't flirt. It is not becoming."
"But you ARE becoming, Lady."
"Stop that!"
"It's the truth."
Yuki sighed. THIS was what she liked about Kanoushi. He always complemented her doings and praised her looks, always tried to cheer her up. But, still, shouldn't she have stayed with Neal . . .?
She stood at her full height. "I will be needing to go to the dressmakers," she decided firmly. 'I will not let Neal bother me.' She smiled at Kanoushi. "It is for the wedding of the two Tortallan commanders."
He gave a brisk nod, then walked off with dignity. Yuki made her way to Lalasa's dress shop, thinking with a small amount of bitterness, "Neal likes Kel, anyway.'
Kel winced as Lalasa tightened the strings on the dark green velvet dress. It was elegant, true, but then again, Lalasa had put a lot of time and effort into making it. Kel was glad that it wasn't low-cut, but it was TIGHT.
Lalasa frowned, her large brown eyes thoughtful. "It's a bit awkward. I think . . . yes, you'll be needing . . ."
Kel's hazel-green eyes widened as she read the older girls' mind. She moaned, "No, not the corset!"
Lalasa gave a teasing smile. "You need it if you want to impress young master Nealan."
Kel stared, demanding, "What do you know about that?"
The black-haired girl shrugged. She replied, "You two practically jumped each other at breakfast, and it was only the first day you were seeing each other, wasn't it? So. How did it feel?"
Kel laughed at her former maid's boldness. "Lalasa! Alright." She made a face. "It felt like I was kissing one of my brothers. I don't really love him," she added at Lalasa's raised eyebrow. Kel explained her dilemma in under a minute, and Lalasa clucked sympathetically. "Well, it'll impress whomever you want to impress better if you wear one, alright? Whether it be Nealan or Domitan . . . you might be able to seduce Lord Wyldon—I'm kidding!" she ducked the swipe Kel made at her.
"Excuse me, Lalasa, but may I have a moment?" a pretty, accented voice inquired.
Kel froze. Turning, her face Yamani-calm, she acknowledged with bland courtesy, "Yuki."
Yuki's pale face froze, too. Inclining her head just an inch, she bowed and said with the same amount of indifference, "Kel."
"What are you doing here?"
So, you'll notice that Dom likes Kel but thinks Rita's hot, and Yuki likes Kanoushi just a bit better than Neal but is guilty all the same. Will there be a catfight? Probably not, knowing how sensible Kel is. About the last part, Kel dislikes Yuki for hurting Neal, ok? And yes, Kel WILL be wearing the corset (grins evilly).
Erm. Sorry for not updating as fast as I usually do, I was lazy. Eh heh . . . well, review?
A/N: I don't believe it, I already have over fifty reviews for just four chapters! (this one makes five) The Gods must be on my side!
By: Minuiko
Summary: During the ten day celebration in Corus, Yuki decides to break with Neal, and Dom with Kel (Pretend that they were together, alright?). So Neal and Kel decide to pretend they're in love to win back their original partners. But what if they accidentally fall for each other? K/N
Rating: PG-13
Chapter Five: Guilt
Domitan of Masbolle walked, holding the Lady Rita's waist with cool elegance, his face unreadable. He had a strange, nervous energy zipping through him: he knew it was jealousy. Did Kel—his Kel—find a replacement so fast? His jaw tightened. And with his cousin, the Meathead, too.
Lady Rita couldn't compare with Kel, he knew. It was just—Kel wasn't a good lover; she had no sense of romance in her. When they kissed, it was always Dom who directed it, not Kel. She was too afraid of love, perhaps because of that oaf, Cleon of Kennan.
Rita said in that disgustingly sweet voice of hers, "Is something the matter, Seargeant Domitan? You look stiff."
He smiled coolly. "Nothing's wrong, love."
'How many women have you 'loved?''
'Shut up.'
'Too many to count, isn't it, SERGEANT? I'm your conscience. You can tell me shut up forever, it doesn't mean you aren't guilty.'
'So? I can't marry anyway, better enjoy myself while I'm still young . . .'
'You loved Kel, too, isn't that right . . . and she wasn't an airhead, and loved you back . . . you could've kept her, had you not been as ass.'
'Alright, so I was a bit of a jerk to her . . .'
Dom shook his head: wasn't that the first sign of insanity, talking to your own head? He was harsh to Kel, when she'd done nothing but loved him as a true friend, and he should've apologized. But he didn't. And now she was gone, with Neal. What was Dom, some kind of-of girlfriend collector?! He didn't want to be like this! But he was.
Dom knew there was a possibility that Kel still loved him: there was something a bit rushed in the way she attacked his cousin, and likewise, Neal was a bit mechanical when kissing her back. Not that it mattered. 'Not like I care.'
'Yes, you do.'
'Well, I'd be a fool to break with her, then immediately ask her to come back, especially as she's with . . . Neal . . .'
'You were a fool to break with her.'
'Yeah, well . . . tough, isn't it?'
He bowed, as deeply as was necessary, then asked, "May I walk you to your rooms, Lady Rita?"
He inwardly groaned as she cooed, "Oh, Sergeant, you're too kind!"
Well, it was what he had to put up with, and he would put up with it. It was unreasonable to want Rita for her body and Kel for, well, herself. He was the one who hooked up with this extravagantly, disgustingly stereotypical, cosmetic-wearing female in the first place. Kissing her hand, he thought, 'I've made a huge mess with things . . . why couldn't I break my habit of hurting people? I'm sorry, Kel . . .'
As Rita gushed about the palace, he wondered what attracted him to this idiotic lady in the first place.
Yukimi noh Daiomaru walked around the garden, taking in the beautiful, foreign flowers. They never had any in like these in the Yamani islands. Of course, she preferred the sakura blossoms, but these were pretty, too.
Sighing, she tried to make sense of her scrambled thoughts. She thought she'd loved Neal: he certainly paid enough attention to her. And what was she thinking, falling for another man in the short time Neal was away? But she had.
It was certainly more entertaining with Kanoushi: in a quiet, Yamani way. Neal was funny, he cracked lame jokes, acted cynical and tough, made plenty of ridiculous mistakes. He was outspoken, too. But Kanou . . . he knew Yamani, and was quietly humorous, reserved, handsome, and a brilliant strategist. She decided: it would make another whole big mess of things if she confronted Neal. So she wouldn't.
Now for more recent matters. She had been invited to the wedding of the Commander Buriram Tourakom and Sir Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak. Undoubtably, Kel and Neal would be going as well, she thought darkly. Should she go, or invent an excuse? It would be improper, but if Neal was there . . .
She inhaled the sweet scent of thriving roses. Neal had given her bouquets before. She remembered one particularly big one, with forty-four roses to be exact. She had counted them. She started to count the roses in the garden before mentally slapping herself. Why was she so strange, so guilty when thinking about Neal? She looked down, whispering in Yamani, "Because I feel dirty . . . I could never compare to the innocence, the pureness, of an untouched flower."
Cool fingers cupped her cheeks. The man smiled down at Yuki. "But you are pure, Lady Yukimi."
Kanoushi. Yuki thought, 'Another thing about Neal that I forfeited: he always called me Yuki. Not Yukimi.'
She smiled tremulously, saying in a teasing voice, "Don't flirt. It is not becoming."
"But you ARE becoming, Lady."
"Stop that!"
"It's the truth."
Yuki sighed. THIS was what she liked about Kanoushi. He always complemented her doings and praised her looks, always tried to cheer her up. But, still, shouldn't she have stayed with Neal . . .?
She stood at her full height. "I will be needing to go to the dressmakers," she decided firmly. 'I will not let Neal bother me.' She smiled at Kanoushi. "It is for the wedding of the two Tortallan commanders."
He gave a brisk nod, then walked off with dignity. Yuki made her way to Lalasa's dress shop, thinking with a small amount of bitterness, "Neal likes Kel, anyway.'
Kel winced as Lalasa tightened the strings on the dark green velvet dress. It was elegant, true, but then again, Lalasa had put a lot of time and effort into making it. Kel was glad that it wasn't low-cut, but it was TIGHT.
Lalasa frowned, her large brown eyes thoughtful. "It's a bit awkward. I think . . . yes, you'll be needing . . ."
Kel's hazel-green eyes widened as she read the older girls' mind. She moaned, "No, not the corset!"
Lalasa gave a teasing smile. "You need it if you want to impress young master Nealan."
Kel stared, demanding, "What do you know about that?"
The black-haired girl shrugged. She replied, "You two practically jumped each other at breakfast, and it was only the first day you were seeing each other, wasn't it? So. How did it feel?"
Kel laughed at her former maid's boldness. "Lalasa! Alright." She made a face. "It felt like I was kissing one of my brothers. I don't really love him," she added at Lalasa's raised eyebrow. Kel explained her dilemma in under a minute, and Lalasa clucked sympathetically. "Well, it'll impress whomever you want to impress better if you wear one, alright? Whether it be Nealan or Domitan . . . you might be able to seduce Lord Wyldon—I'm kidding!" she ducked the swipe Kel made at her.
"Excuse me, Lalasa, but may I have a moment?" a pretty, accented voice inquired.
Kel froze. Turning, her face Yamani-calm, she acknowledged with bland courtesy, "Yuki."
Yuki's pale face froze, too. Inclining her head just an inch, she bowed and said with the same amount of indifference, "Kel."
"What are you doing here?"
So, you'll notice that Dom likes Kel but thinks Rita's hot, and Yuki likes Kanoushi just a bit better than Neal but is guilty all the same. Will there be a catfight? Probably not, knowing how sensible Kel is. About the last part, Kel dislikes Yuki for hurting Neal, ok? And yes, Kel WILL be wearing the corset (grins evilly).
Erm. Sorry for not updating as fast as I usually do, I was lazy. Eh heh . . . well, review?
A/N: I don't believe it, I already have over fifty reviews for just four chapters! (this one makes five) The Gods must be on my side!