Disclaimer: No, I don't know any of it. And just to warn you this is complete and utter fluff. There may be a plot somewhere along the lines if you care enough to dig for it. But really, I'm just writing this for my own entertainment and because you don't see this pairing very often. So enjoy, all flames will be used to roast marshmallows while I laugh, and laugh, and laugh at the stupidity of the flame-writer (If you are going to flame leave your contact info otherwise I will mock you as a coward).

Under Her Nose

Chapter One

"Kel! So you really are back!" Raoul bellowed, grabbing Kel into a hug before she had a chance to turn around.

"I've got new rooms." She squeaked. "In the knight's wing. I can't breath."

Raoul grinned and let her go. "When I heard they actually ordered you to come back for a vacation I thought they were joking."

"They weren't." Kel said glumly. "Somebody said I'd been working too hard and should take a break. You wouldn't happen to know who that is, would you my lord? Because when I find out I intend to use my all of my new free time to find many, many ways to make him regret it."

"Err..." Raoul edged away. "Well, if I find out who I'll be certain to- hey! Dom! Kel's back!"

Dom walked over, smiling lazily. "I know." He said, sitting down with his tray. Kel's lay forgotten on the table. "I helped her unpack."

"So why didn't anyone tell me?" Raoul grumbled, taking a seat.

"Oh, we were going to. We need your rooms for a welcome back party." Dom said as he smeared some honey on a slice of bread.

"What?" Raoul asked, eyebrow raised.

"Well, Kel's rooms, though they're really grand and all are too small, and I live in a barracks, and you're rooms are huge anyway." Dom said. "So it's the obvious choice. What do you say? Meet you there are seven?"

"I suppose so." Raoul said, getting to his feet. "I'd better go then." He saluted Kel and Dom and walked off.

As Raoul went down the hall he mentally checked off everything he'd need. Fruit, tea, juice... How many people would be coming? There would be Kel and Dom, any of Kel's friends who were at the palace and maybe their former knight-masters. There wouldn't be many of them, though, since most knights were still cleaning up the border. Lady Yukimi would probably make an appearance. Then there were the men of the own- also on a much needed vacation- would drop by. What about Buri? No, Buri and her company of Riders wouldn't be back until next week.

Raoul unlocked the door to his suit and stepped inside, making a face. Before he worried about fruit and drinks he'd have to clean up. Ever since a servant had moved one of his maps, upsetting the stones that represented armies he hadn't let them in except to bring hot water.

Raoul got to work cleaning, and when that was (finally) done he went back to the kitchen to make arrangements for food. He then took a stroll over to the practice courts to see if any of his men were actually doing something useful during their time off. A few were there, but they were talking more than training. Kel was also present, atop her massive Peachblossom and hitting impossibly difficult targets with a lance. The men of the King's Own cheered her on.

"So," Raoul sidled up to the soldiers. "Getting lots of work done, I see?"

"Errr..." One of the men said. "Yes, milord. We're just taking a break."

"Good," Said Raoul. "If you find yourself with nothing to do I the hostlers could always use help mucking out the stables.

"No, sir, we're plenty busy." Insisted a second man.

"Splendid." Raoul left them to it, an evil smile on his face. There was nothing better than harassing his men on their time off.

Toward the evening people started to drift into Raoul's rooms. First came Kel and Dom, accompanied by a few of Dom's friends and lady Yuki. Raoul greeted them all happily and hoped they wouldn't notice the smell of the cleaning powder he'd used on everything that morning.

"So, Kel, enjoying your time off?" Raoul asked cheerfully.

Kel glared at him. "Not really." She grumbled. "What if something happens while I'm gone?"

Raoul rolled his eyes. "Kel, half of the second company is there. That little town is almost as well protected as the palace."

"Better," Dom said. "The second company really know what they're about. They'll be fine, mother." He nudged Kel.

Raoul was interested to see that something suspiciously like a blush spread over Kel's cheeks before he covered it up with her yamani mask.

"Well," Raoul said. "I do believe I'll go get myself some tea." He left, winking at Kel which made her put on an even denser, lumpier lump face.

So, Kel and Dom, he thought, getting himself some tea. They'll do well together. Although Dom didn't know it he was up for a promotion and could be taking command of a company of the Own fairly soon, which would allow him to marry. Not that he could imagine Kel married, but he knew they were a good match. If nothing else they both loved teasing Neal. Raoul glanced around but didn't see Dom's cousin. Raoul couldn't remember where he was, but if he wasn't here he probably wasn't at the palace.

As the hour grew late people said their goodbyes until only Kel and Raoul were left, duking it out on the chess board.

"Check-mate!" Kel said triumphantly, then looked up. "Where'd everyone go?"

"Home," Raoul said, collecting up the pieces. "You know, time was no one could beat me."

"I'll have you out of the saddle next," Kel said, her eyes twinkling.

"If that happens, my dear, I may have to kill you." Raoul put away the pieces and got to his feet, stretching.

"I suppose I should be going to bed." She said yawning as she got to her feet.

Raoul nodded, and began a circuit of the room, putting out candles. When all but one were out he returned to the fireplace where Kel was standing, light and shadows dancing over her face.

He squeezed her shoulder. "They'll be all right," He said, guessing what was on Kel's mind.

"I know." She turned to look at him. "I just need to take my mind off it."

"Mm," Raoul said, noticing, not for the first time that Kel really was an attractive girl. Without really thinking he took her hand and traced the tapestry of griffin scars that decorated them. "I could have killed that thing, you know, but you wouldn't of liked that." He clasped her hands, fingers interlaced. Raoul moved his gaze to Kel's face to see her features carefully composed as she waited to see what happened next.

Raoul wasn't quite sure of what he was going to himself until his lips had somehow found their way to Kel's. She didn't pull away, or even act remotely surprised. Instead she wrapped her arms around his neck, fingers in his hair.

What are you doing? Part of his mind screamed at him. She's your squire... was your squire.

She's kissing back, another part of his brain countered. She wouldn't be doing that if she didn't like it.

No, his logical mind told him. You can't do this. With great difficulty and even greater reluctance he pulled away. "Kel, I-" He was cut off when Kel stood on her toes to kiss him.

Well, I tried. He thought as he wrapped his arms around her, feeling her muscles ripple under his hands. When he prodded her lips with his tongue she opened her mouth eagerly allowing him access and then she-

Where in the dark God's realm had she learned that?

Raoul stifled a moan and held her so tight against him he was surprised she could breath. There, she was doing it again! This time when Raoul pulled away he held Kel's head between his hands so she wouldn't be able to try any funny business.

"Kel," He stammered, looking down at her flushed face. Gods help him, he wanted nothing more than to carry her off to his bedchamber and keep her there until he'd had his fill. No! He told himself. She's so young! "I, I think we should stop because- hey, I'm talking here!" She had turned her head in his hand and had slipped his thumb into her mouth. Raoul would never have guessed she could be such a temptress.

She looked up at him innocently, releasing his thumb.

"I... I mean, you should, err, really a man your own age, and uh, I shouldn't... force you and..."

"Force me?" She asked, stepping away from Raoul. His hands fell to his sides. "Do you think for one minute I would let anybody do anything to me that I didn't want?"

"Err..." She had a point there. During the progress someone had tried to cop a feel from her, and the next thing he knew he was in the tilting yard, flat on his back apologising profusely for the smudge on her honour. "But with older me, I mean, uh..." Her former maid had really done a good job fitting her clothes. He tunic hugged her every curve and- "Are you sure?" He blurted, tearing his eyes away from her.

"Yes," She said quietly. "But apparently you're not." She finger combed her hair on the way to the door. "Which is funny because you started this whole thing." She looked back, her face blank. The only hint that she had been engaged in a game of tonsil tilting was that her lips were still slightly red and swollen. "When you make up your mind please let me know."

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Raoul alone with in a very hard situation- and that wasn't just his decision about Kel.

Do I want her? He thought. Of course he did, that wasn't the question. She also seemed to want him. Where had this come from? He searched his memory, trying to think if there had ever been hints that this would happen. After several seconds he gave that up. Who cares how it started? What was important now was how it was going to end. The thought of telling Kel that he'd just "changed his mind" made his stomach knot. He couldn't do that to her, not after she'd kissed him back so warmly. And he should make up his mind soon- it wasn't fair to leave her waiting.

In the morning, he promised himself. In the morning I'll tell her I still need- I mean want her.