A/N- there will be more romance and I don't know... action or whatever, things happening, later. So don't run away... please!

Dom watched Kel hold her practise sword blade to Neal's throat for the fifth time.

"Okay, you win," he panted, breathless. "Can we stop now?"

Dom strode over.

"Meathead!" he greeted his cousin cheerfully. "Kel," he said uncertainly, unsure of whether she would talk to him.

To his intense surprise, she looked down at the ground, refusing to meet his eyes.

"Dom," she answered flatly.

He looked at her face. Was she blushing? No, he decided. Not Kel. Kel didn't blush, Kel didn't giggle. Kel wasn't like the court ladies. She was just... Kel.

"What did you do to deserve such a beating?" Dom asked, eyeing Neal's sweaty state.

Kel's cheeks reddened even more. Neal watched her, getting unholy pleasure out of her mortified expression.

Neal smiled wickedly before answering. "Existed, I think."

"I, uh, might go groom Peachblossom," Kel mumbled before walking away, very quickly.

Dom stared after her. "What's with her?"

Neal shrugged innocently. "I don't know. I'll see you later, cousin." His words held a satisfied promise and Dom looked at him curiously before Neal strode off.

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Kel brushed Peachblossom with long, smooth strokes.

"Dammit," she muttered angrily, thinking of Yuki and Neal's 'help', and Yuki's 'wedding present.'

"Why..." she moaned, leaning against Peachblossom comfortably. He nosed at her, hoping for food.

"Why what?" A very familiar voice came from behind Kel. She cringed in horror and turned slowly to face Dom.

"Um, nothing. Just... Why does Neal have to be so annoying?" she improvised quickly. Her face was growing hot and her heart was thumping quickly. She tried to control her expressions, why, oh why, did Dom have to affect her this way?

Lake. Calm lake. she told herself firmly.

"I have no idea," Dom laughed lightly and leant against Peachblossom's stall door. "Hey, what's been up lately, Kel? I've hardly seen you. In fact, I haven't!" He said it like a joke, but his blue eyes looked slightly hurt to Kel. She scolded herself for having such wishful thinking.

Kel shrugged casually. "I don't know. I've just been training, I guess."

The former easy friendship that the two had had was gone. There was a wall of awkwardness between them.

"Oh well, um... We should catch up sometime... You know, just spend some time together." Dom replied, a bit confused as to why Kel was acting this way.

"Yeah," Kel nodded. Why did he have to be so damn nice? she thought, angry at herself. It didn't make anything easier, that was for sure. She rubbed Peachblossom's nose and continued brushing him, eyes fixed on his hair.

Dom cleared his throat awkwardly. "Kel... Is there anything wrong? It's just that-"

Kel cut him off, alarmed. Was she really that transperant? "No, no. Nothing. I'm fine."

Dom nodded. "Yeah... I just thought.... Anyway, I'll see you at Midmeal, Kel... That is, if you're there..." He strode off, out of the stables.

Kel sighed, staring after him. Now she'd scared him off with her bad mood. She had to face it. She would always be the one staring after him, wishing and dreaming. Nothing would or could ever happen between them.