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

A/N: So sorry. It's been around half a year since my last update, huh? Maybe even longer, I don't keep track. I'm now obsessed over Mitarai and Hagiri of Yu Yu Hakusho, just read my story "Caught in the Rain," you'll see (It sucks, but I still like Seaman and Sniper). Ah, well, I couldn't have an unfinished story bothering my conscience, now, could I (I'm being sarcastic, I have about five unfinished stories; some of them are in my other, shared SN, "The Big Pen")? But I just decided to update this anyways.

Chapter Seven: Jostling Around

"Ouch—Lalasa, quit tightening the strings! . . . this cursed thing hurts . . ."

Lalasa finished tying up the corset's strings. It completely changed Kel's figure; not that it was bad before, just a little too muscular. She smiled with approval at her work. Kel gasped, "I can't breathe . . .!"

Lalasa clicked her tongue. "You'll get used to it, lady."

Kel asked, "Did you finish with Yuki?"

The older girl nodded tiredly. "And I've six more gowns to go before I'm done. I'll be lucky to get a wink of sleep tonight."

Kel patted Lalasa's arm sympathetically, which was rather hard to do, as the corset sapped her air supply, replying, "I'm glad you actually like sewing, or I'd be crying for you right now."

Lalasa smiled. "Cry for yourself. I've still your hair to fix and gown to put on."

Kel didn't bother to hide her groan. Half an hour later, Lalasa got Kel's dark green dress on and her short hair was somehow pinned to the back of her head in an elegant knot. Kel pleaded to no avail, "Do you have to put the face paints on?"

Lalasa told her, "It'd be better with them. Listen, I know what how you'll look in the end; no one would dare call you a cow after this."

Kel sighed. "I don't care if they call me a cow. I wanted to be a knight, I'm doing good, and I'm happy with it. Alright?"

Lalasa murmured, "No. You're failing in the romance department, lady. You'll do as I ask, and that's the end of it."

Kel gasped in the mirror. She wasn't exactly beautiful; Lalasa would have to be a god to completely alter her appearance. But she WAS pretty, she admitted. The face paints added color to her face, though she would rather have done without them. And the gown, though it made her look more like a court lady than ever, was really rather nice.

The older girl grinned. "Good, isn't it?"

Kel squeaked, "I'm-I look . . ."

Lalasa prompted, "Beautiful? Nice?"

Kel glared, not wanting to admit to it. "They'll have a reason to call me a slut now."

Lalasa said exasperatedly, "No, they won't. You look great. Now shoo."

Kel obliged, feeling a bit shy in her new appearance. Remembering her manners as she ran, she called, "Thanks, Lalasa!"

Her former maid smiled and waved.

Neal walked the halls, watching Yuki and Kanoushi, while pondering about that strange kiss. Neither Dom nor Yuki were present. So why had Kel done it? He had to admit that she wasn't so bad at kissing. For some strange reason, he didn't feel in the least bit guilty. He knew that he should. 'After all, I do love Yuki, right?' he thought.

He almost bumped into someone. Dom brushed himself off, saying with a grin, "Sorry, Sir Meathead, didn't see you."

Unexplainable white hot rage flared through him. He pushed Dom deliberately, saying with a slight sneer, "That was for Kel."

Dom's eyebrows rose. "Look, I know you LIKE her and all," he looked slightly doubtful, "but you really shouldn't push your cousin around like that. I apologized to her. I did!" Neal had snorted. "So lay off the violence."

Neal sighed, brushing a hand through his brown hair. "So why'd she start crying on me, yelling about how she hates how much she loves you, when I found her?"

Dom shrugged. "Beats me. By the way—Lord Raoul's wedding started in ten minutes. You should get changed."

Neal gulped, and sprinted to his room for a new tunic and shirt. Dom chuckled. "Actually, it starts in thirty, but I like to see the Queenscove horse-blood put to use."

Kel blushed as people complimented her appearance. It was unusual for them to say anything good about her looks, but she didn't really mind then. She was starting down the stairs when she found Neal.

He looked perfectly ordinary, except that his light brown hair was combed back neater than usual and his tunic was perfectly aligned with the rest of him without her help. His green eyes widened at the sight of her. Kel groaned inwardly. 'Here comes another compliment . . .' she thought.

Neal grinned and lent her his arm. She took it politely, as was the rule, and he murmured huskily, "You look lovely, Lady Knight. Lalasa's doing?"

Kel told him frankly, "Ten-odd people already told me that, and yes, of course Lalasa made the dress."

Before they walked through the doors, his eyebrows rose and he looked amused by something as he examined her. She noticed that his eyes lingered the longest on her chest. Flushing, she asked him indignantly, "What are you looking at?!"

His smile broadened as he answered sweetly, "Nothing, absolutely nothing . . . Say, Kel . . . are you wearing a corset?"

She thought, 'Trust him to know what a girl with a corset looks like . . .' She answered, "Yes, and don't laugh," he was choking down his guffaws, she could tell, "Lalasa said it would look better on me."

He whistled, apparently deciding not to laugh. "And she's right, Kel. You look amazing."

She slapped his arm, not knowing why she was blushing. This was Neal! "Shut up, Sir Meathead," and she reconsidered, adding, "You do, too."

"Aw, really??"

"Don't make me hurt you."

"Okay, okay."

She saw Lord Raoul and Commander Buri in the center of the large ball room. Buri was wearing a crimson gown, highly unusual for a traditional Tortallan wedding. Lord Raoul wasn't going for extremely fancy, either, that was for sure—the tunic looked more or less like what he usually wore, only—Kel grinned—it was decorated in a fashion that would at least satisfy King Jonathan.

She and Raoul grasped forearms, letting go at the right time. He was like a father to her, and, well, it was heart-warming to see him getting married. She said, "It's about time."

"Don't tell me that—around half the court has already said it to me."

"Had, Lord Raoul, had."

"Oh, so now you're the one teaching me grammer?"

"No, you just—well, I couldn't resist. But I'm happy for you."

Lord Raoul's black eyes seemed to have a tendency to tease her. "Well, I hope you have a good time with Sir Neal. In fact, you might even want to stick around with him all night."

"Lord Raoul? Just to let you know, it's disturbing to hear you talk like that."

"Kel, I was just joking. But really, one has to wonder about how . . . fiercely you attacked him this morning . . ."

She turned red, but decided not to worry him over her dilemma when he was, after all, about to be married. Let him tease all he wanted. They were both knights, now, after all; it was okay. Neal came over to her, grinning smugly. "It looks like you're turning some heads, Lady Knight."

She saw Merric (who was blinking, but in disbelief rather than awe) come over. "Man, Kel—you never—are you wearing face paint?"

She nodded shyly, adding, "Lalasa forced it on me."

She thought he said, "Sure," before he walked away, whistling. She felt like throttling him, in a friendly way, of course. Cleon and Seaver both complimented her as well, as did Faleron. Dom looked like he wanted to say something, but didn't. He was staring at her in an impressed way, though.

"You may kiss the bride."

Well, the holy matrimony was finished. Before Kel even had time to blink, Neal swept her up in his arms, grinning. "Care to dance, Lady Knight?"

A/N: Yes, I am aware that the last part sounds a bit like "Last Dance" but, still . . .

I seem to be enjoying the most popularity with "Change of Body" in The Big Pen, which is an Inuyasha/Yu Yu Hakusho x-over with the pairings of Kurama/Kagome and Hiei/Sango. I prefer Inuyasha/Kagome and Miroku/Sango and Kurama/Hiei, but honestly. It's a good story. I seem to be good at comedy/romance . . . God knows why I chose those pairings . . . maybe to make my yaoi-hating friend Kirei-kun (inside joke to spite her) happy.

I am STILL trying to update my OTHER stories, so please, don't expect too much from me. I do have a life other that writing stories, but none other than watching/reading anime, manga, and fantasy books.

Well, review!!

P.S. to Takeide: I just got a hair cut. If it had been just a bit shorter, I'd look like Nuriko (yay!). This is also holds true if they'd let me leave it long so that I could braid it.