Title: Mr. Matchmaker

Summary: RyoSakuKin: The problem with helping other people with their problem is getting your own problem in the process.

Warning: Not beta-ed

A/N: So yeah, I decided to start another story. This may be good and this may be bad but the idea was so irresistible that I couldn't help but type it. XD Actually, I myself don't like love triangles since I always feel that the third party will be wasted. But anyway, let us see what I can do. So…this may be a short chapter but I promise to update a little faster. :) Please enjoy!

Constructive criticisms are always welcome.

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Chapter 1: The Parasite and the Host

Pok.

Pok.

Pok.

Sounds of tennis ball continuously being hit and rallied could be clearly heard from distance. It was hot and sunny that Saturday morning when people would love to take a healthy stroll around the park, when couples would love to hold hands during a date or when family would be encouraged to have picnic together.

"Ne, Koshimae, can I ask you a question?"

He didn't answer but Kintarou asked anyway, "What would you do if you like a girl but the girl doesn't like a boy like you but likes a boy who is someone else who is not you?"

The tennis prodigy on the other hand stayed silent at the sudden raise of the question. For one, he had never been a love adviser of anyone before, it had been the other way around in fact and two, he didn't quite grasp the jumbled inquiry of his companion.

"Ko-shi-ma-e!" exclaimed the red-haired boy across from him as he did a straight shot and ran towards the net. "Answer me! Answer me! Answer me---!" he reiterated like a broken cd player.

Ryoma's eyes narrowed as he aimed at the back right corner of the court by using a lob.

He didn't know why Kintarou had been strangely lovesick that day. Now that he thought about it, it was also a wonder to him how he ended up spending his weekend with him. Though he couldn't really care; he would win the game and finish him off with his daydreaming.

He smirked at the thought and prepared to swing his arm for a feign but stopped short when he realized that the Shitenhouji rookie wasn't on his own side of the net but was actually approaching him, ready to tackle him. His golden, cat-like eyes widen in horror. Sometimes, it frightens him that the reflexes that he usually has whenever he plays tennis leave him whenever he's with said man.

"Oi," he said as he moved towards the left to evade the looming attack.

"Koshimae, what will you do?" Kintarou stopped short before his face met with the ground and faced Ryoma with a desperate expression.

It was so out of place and sudden that he didn't have any choice but to say the first thing that came to his blank mind, "Play tennis?" he answered.

There was a moment of silence as both of them just stared into each other's golden orbs. But just as the silence was abruptly induced, came Kintarou's sudden burst of laughter. Why he was laughing, Ryoma had absolutely no idea.

"Koshimae," he managed to say in between his uncontrollable cackle. "That was exactly what I thought you would say."

Although Ryoma didn't know where the humor was placed in Kintarou's statement, he didn't dare interrupt him. Instead of mulling over the thought, the tennis prodigy decided to turn and heed towards the bench where his tennis bag was currently sitting. He would rather not spend his time defeating an unfocused opponent.

"Koshimae!" Kintarou exclaimed when he realized he was frittering away his rants to thin air. "You're my best friend, right? Right?" he asked as he looped an arm to Ryoma's shoulders. "Friends should help each other!"

"Since when am I your best friend?"

"Since the Nationals, remember?" his eyes glittered dreamily as he reminisced the past. "Our bond is the best!" he grinned.

Ryoma sighed, "I'm going."

"Wa-Wait!" Kintarou ran to match up with the prince's phase. "Ken-chan said that people should talk about love once in a while."

"Aa…sou," Ryoma replied and continued walking.

"So!" Kintarou clapped his hands together. "I decided to ask a girl in my school out," he explained as he put his arms at the back of his head. "But she rejected me, Koshimae! She rejected me!"

In a split second, Ryoma found himself staring at Kintarou's sulking figure on the ground; his arms were covering his face and his head bowed to his bent knees. "What will I do, Koshimae?" he said, raising his head a little to glance at Ryoma's blank stare.

"Here," Ryoma held out a grape Ponta.

"Thanks!" Kintarou beamed and stood up. "So what will I do?" he asked expectantly.

"Forget it."

"No way," the red-haired boy shook his head. "Trust me, Koshimae. You'll never forget the face of the first girl you ask out."

"Sleep," Ryoma suggested. No one could really blame him. He wasn't used to being confessed with people's love life, after all.

Kintarou gave a helpless sigh, "Actually, I've thought all the things you suggested. I even drank Ponta!" he exclaimed as he raised the said drink up in the air. "But," he let out another sigh escape his lips as he sluggishly dropped his raised arm. "None of them work, Koshimae."

As much as he didn't want to admit it, Ryoma, too, found himself thinking. He never once thought things like this before. Even with the incessant influence of his father, girls had never been on his top list, let alone be his problem.

He resisted the urge to sigh as well as he found himself in a little predicament. Certainly, Kintarou wouldn't let him off the hook if he wouldn't give the answer that would satisfy him.

"Just…get another girl," Ryoma suddenly said not even sure where the thought came from.

"What?" Kintarou cocked his head sideward as if to confirm what he had just said.

"Get another girl," Ryoma repeated as he tilted his cap downwards.

"Why?"

If Ryoma knew the answer, he would have told him head on. But no, the idea just came out of nowhere that he was left with no words to reply.

"Who knows?" he said with a shrug to dismiss the topic. "Find that out for yourself."

"But! But! But—!"

"I'm going home," Ryoma turned to leave but was halted as soon as he did when Kintarou grabbed his arm.

"Koshimae," Kinatarou called. "Help me get another girl. Please?" his eyes twinkled filled with hope only to be crushed by Ryoma's answer.

"No."

"Why? We're best friends right?" his lips quivered.

"Only parasites could depend so much," Ryoma said and started walking, dragging Kintarou who was still clutching tightly to his arm.

"That's right!" Kintarou said with a determined expression, his fist clenched with excitement. "I'll be the parasite and you'll be the host. From now on, we'll do the operation to get revenge on the girl who doesn't like a boy like me but likes a boy who is someone else who is not me! Hah! I'll bet my life that we'll be the best partners in the whole wide world."

Ryoma could only sigh.

~To be continued

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A/N: Penny for your thoughts?