Ah! It's another story! Hope I did good on this one. :)

Single mom Anzu Mazaki is suddenly under pressure to find a new father for her eleven-year-old son. And he's already chosen the guy-former football coach and now a famous billionaire, Atem Mutou. As it turns out, Atem's daughter wants her dad to merry again too. When the kids join forces, Atem suggests he and Anzu start dating, just to satisfy the kids. Anzu figures it's safe enough . . . until he kisses her!

Sit down peeps, cause these two kids have scheming minds a mile long!

Disclaimer!: I own nothing.


The Matchmakers

Chapter 1

"Danny, hurry up and eat your cereal," Anzu Mazaki pleaded as she rushed from the bathroom to the bedroom. Quickly pulling on a tweed skirt and a sweater, she slipped her feet into black leather pumps and went back into the kitchen.

"Aren't you going to eat Mom?"

"No time." As fast as her fingers would cooperate, Anzu spread peanut butter and jelly across two pieces of bread for a sandwich, then opened the refrigerator and took out an orange. She stuffed both in a brown paper bag with a cartoon cat on the front. Lifting the lid of the cookie jar, she dug around and came up with a handful of crumbs. Graham crackers would have to do.

"How come we're always so rushed in the mornings?" eleven-year-old Danny wanted to know.

Anzu laughed. There'd been a time in her life when everything had fit into place, but not anymore. "Because your mother has trouble getting out of bed."

"Were you always late when Dad was still alive?"

Turning, Anzu leaned against the kitchen counter and crossed her arms. "No. Your father used to bring me a cup of coffee in bed." Brad had his own special way of waking her with coffee and kisses. But now Brad was gone and except for their own son, she faced the world alone. Still, the rushed mornings were easier to accept than the long lonely nights.

"Want me to bring you coffee? I could," Danny offered. "I've seen you make it lots of times"

A surge of love for her son constricted the muscles of her throat and Anzu tried to swallow. Every day Danny grew more like his father. Tenderly she looked down at his sparkling blue eyes that he got from her and his blond hair from his father. Pinching her lips together, she turned back to the counter, picked up a cup and took her first sip of coffee. "That's very thoughtful of you," she said.

"Then can I?"

"Sure. It might help." Anything would be better than this insane rush every morning. "Now brush your teeth and get your coat."

When Danny moved down the hallway, Anzu carried his empty cereal bowl to the sink. The morning paper was open and she folded it up. Danny used to pore over the sports section, but recently he'd been reading the ads. He hadn't asked for anything in particular lately and she couldn't imagine what he found so fascinating in the classified section. Kids! At his age she remembered her only interest was reading the comics, come to think of it, she didn't read anything else out of the newspaper.

Danny joined her in the kitchen and together they went out the door and into the garage. While Anzu backed out the Dodge onto the narrow driveway Danny stood by and waited to pull the garage door shut.

"One of these days," she grumbled as her son climbed into the front seat. "I'm going to get an automatic garage-door opener."

Danny gave her a curious look. "Why? You got me." A smile worked its way across Anzu's face. "Why indeed?"

Several minutes followed while Danny said nothing. That was unusual, and twice Anzu's eyes sought his. Danny's expression was troubled, but she didn't pry, knowing her son would speak when he was ready.

"Mom, I've been wanting to ask you something," he began haltingly, then paused.

"What" Anzu said thinking the Seattle traffic got worse every morning. Or maybe it wasn't the traffic that got heavier, maybe she just got later for work.

"I've been thinking."

"Did it hurt?" That was an old joke of theirs, but Danny didn't have an immediate comeback the way he usually did.

"Hey, is this serious?"

He shrugged his shoulders in an offhand manor. "Well, I know you loved Dad and everything but I want a new dad."

Anzu slammed on her brakes. The car came to a screeching halt at the red light as she turned to her son. "You want what?" she asked incredulously.

Danny shuffled a bit nervously, knowing this was a touché subject. "It's been five years Mom. Dad wouldn't have wanted you to mope for the rest of your life. Next year I'm going to junior high and I really want a dad to help me with . . . growing up."

Anzu opened her mouth, searching for words of wisdom that didn't come. Then shortly after a wave of guilt. Anzu knew that she couldn't do some of the things that a father could do, and she had a good feeling that if they went into his "growing up" stage it would be a little uncomfortable to talk about since he was a boy and she a girl.

They drove on in silence before Danny pointed out. "Mom, you just passed school."

"Shit!" She quickly flipped her turn signal on and in a moment of insanity she turned into the lane without even looking.

"Mom . . . watch out!" Danny shrieked just as her rear bumper barely missed the front end of an expensive foreign car. Anzu swerved out of its path, narrowly avoiding a collision.

The driver of the other car blared his horn angrily and followed her when she pulled into a side street that would lead her back to the grade school.

"The guy you almost hit is following you Mom, and boy, does he look mad."

"Joy." Anzu's fingers tightened around the steering wheel. This day was going from bad to worse.

Still looking behind him, Danny continued his commentary. "Now he's writing down your license plate number."

"Great. What does he plan to do? Make a citizen's arrest?"

"He can do that?" Danny returned his attention to his flustered mother.

"Yup, and he looks like the type that would." Judging by the hard, uncompromising face that briefly met hers in the rearview mirror . . . The deep crimson eye had narrowed, and his hair was a little surprise. It was three colors with blond bangs framing his face while he had black hair that looked like it naturally spiked up with violet at the tips. He was handsome, in fact, he was drop dead gorgeous!

"I recognize him," Danny said thoughtfully. "At least I think I do."

"Who is he?" Anzu took a right turn and eased to a stop in front of Cascade View Elementary. The man in the BMW pulled to a stop directly behind her and got out of his car.

"He looks familiar," Danny commented a second time, his wide brow furrowed in concentration, "But I don't know from where."

Squaring her shoulders, Anzu reluctantly opened the car door and climbed out. She brushed her chocolate brown behind her ear as she walked back to meet the tall formidable man waiting for her. His impeccable suit and expensive leather shoes made him all the more intimidating. His eyes tracked her movements. They were interesting and arresting eyes in a face that looked capable of forging an empire-or slicing her to ribbons-with one arch of a brow. Anzu was determined not to let him unnerve her. Although she indicated with her hand that Danny should stay in the car, he seemed to think she'd need him for protection. She didn't have time to argue.

"I don't appreciate being followed." She decided taking the offensive was her best defense.

"And I don't appreciate being driven off the road."

"I apologize for that, but you were in my blind spot and when I went to change lanes-"

"You didn't even look."

"I most certainly did," Anzu said, her voice gaining volume. For the first time she noticed a large brown stain on his suit jacket. The beginnings of a smile edged up the corners of her mouth.

"And what's so amusing?" he said, his voice calm and cool but his eyes flashed with what looked like uncontrolled anger. Anzu cast her eyes to the pavement. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so rude."

"The most polite thing you can do is stay off the road."

Hands on her hips, Anzu advanced one step. "In case you weren't aware of it, there's a law in Washington State against drinking any beverage while driving. You can't blame me if you spilled your coffee. You shouldn't have had it in the car in the first place." She prayed the righteous indignation in her tone would be enough to assure him she knew what she was talking about.

"You nearly caused an accident." He too advanced a step and a tremor ran through her at the stark anger in his eyes.

"I've already apologized for that," Anzu said, knowing that if this argument continued she'd come out the loser. Discretion was the better part of valor-at least that was what her father always claimed, and for once Anzu was willing to follow his advice. "If it'll smooth your ruffled feathers, I'll pay to have your suit cleaned."

The school bell rang and Danny hurried back into the car to get his backpack full of books and his lunch. "Got to go Mom!"

"Alright, have a nice day."

He nodded and was about to race off when he turned around again. "Hey Mom!"

"Yes Danny?"

"Please think about what I asked."

Anzu stared at him blankly before he reminded her.

"You know, about getting me another dad."

Anzu blushed and looked away from both Danny and the man in front of her, extremely embarrassed.

"I'll thing about it sweetie." She whispered.

A boyish grin swept over Danny's face as he turned around and raced off to the school. Anzu returned her gaze to her bag and pulled out her business card and handed it to him.

"Here, take it and if you want me to pay just call." She muttered. He took the card and once he did she spun on her heels and headed strait for her car, but before she got into her car she turned to him and said, "Sorry for the inconvenience Mr . . .?"

"Mutou," he said gruffly. "Atem Mutou." She nodded and noted to herself that his name was slightly familiar. She got in her car and drove off to work.

Of course when she got to the work parking lot it was full and she had to park on the last floor. Oh well, she would be able to get out sooner. Anzu walked in and sat down in her chair with a sigh.

"You sound like you've had a really hard day so far, and it's only the morning." Mana Spring announced.

"How right you are Mana. So, what did I miss?" Anzu asked. Mana sighed and went into an explanation of everything that she missed while she put in a few comments of her own. Mana had brown hair that went a little bit past her shoulders that went well with her earth green eyes. She was happily married to Mahado Spring who got a large income.

"So, that's what you missed." Mana said. Anzu nodded and was thinking of a few ways to put down the husband search that her son had suddenly dragged her into. But then, an idea popped into her head.

She could do the same thing when they went around getting him a bike! "I got it!"

"You got what?"

"A way to get myself a husband and Danny a father." Anzu said with a smile. And despite how the day ended up it went by quickly.

"Hey Mom! What's there to eat?"

"Dinner is almost done."

"But I'm starving now."

"Good, now set the table." Anzu waited until Danny washed his hands and set two plates on the round oak table before she spoke. "I've been thinking about what you said this morning."

"Did it hurt?" Danny asked with a roguish grin, creating two dimples that his father gave him. "What did you decide?"

"Well . . ." Anzu paid an inordinate amount of attention to the cube steak she was frying, and then said. "I'll admit I wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea. At least not right away.

"And now?" Danny stood at the table, watching her keenly. She paused, gathering her resolve. "The more I thought about it the more I realized you may have a valid point."

"Then we can start looking?" His voice was filled with eagerness. "I've already had my eye on a few neat guys. There's Jason-he helps out the soccer coach. He'd be real good, but I don't think he's old enough. Is nineteen too young?"

This was worse than Anzu thought. "Not so fast," she said, stalling for time. "We need to go about this methodically."

"Oh great." Danny moaned, banging his head not too gently on the table. "I know what that means."

"It means we'll wait after dinner and when the dishes are all clean, then, we make a list, just like we did with your bike." Anzu said. Danny pouted for a bit but sat down and ate his dinner anyway. Once they were both through with dinner they went to the sink to clean. Once that was done Anzu went into the living room and sat down, waiting for Danny to start the list.

She watched him grab a pen and a pad of paper before turning around to sit beside her.

"So, what's the first thing on the list?"

"Well, I'm still twenty-seven so someone around twenty-eight, maybe thirty."

"And he has to be tall because Dad was tall and it would look funny if you found someone shorter than you and I don't want to end up being taller than my dad."

"That makes sense." Again Anzu was impressed by how seriously her son was taking this.

"He should like spots. I know you try Mom, but I'd like someone who can throw a football better than you.

That was one duty that Anzu would relinquish gladly. "I think that's a good idea."

"And it'd be meat if he knew karate."

"Why not?" Anzu agreed amicably.

Danny's pen moved furiously over the paper as he added his latest requirement to the growing list. "And most important-" the blues eyes grew sober. "-my new dad should love you."

"That would be nice," Anzu murmured in a quavering voice. Brad had loved her. So much that for a while she'd thought she might die without him. Even after all these years, the capacity to love another man with such intensity seemed beyond her.

"Now what?" Danny looked up at her expectantly.

"Now," she said, taking a giant breath. "Now that we know what we're looking for, all we need to do is wait for the right man to come along."

Danny seemed doubtful. "That could take a while."

"Not with both of us looking." She took Danny's list and attached it to the refrigerator with a large strawberry magnet. "Isn't it time for your bath young man?"

Danny shoved the pad and pencil into the kitchen drawer and headed down the hall that led to his bedroom.

Anzu retired to the living room, took out a book and started to read. Maybe Danny was right. There had to be more to life than work, cooking, and reading. It wasn't that she hadn't tried to date. Mana had tried to help her with that but after the first blind date she was done. She was fairly content except for those few lonely nights.

But Danny needed a father figure, especially when he was getting close to being a teen. Anzu couldn't see any man replacing Brad. Danny had been too young to remember his father that well, since Brad had died when he was six. And sadly enough, even her own memories of Brad were now distant and vague.

The house was unusually quiet. Danny was normally in and out of the bath so quickly that she often thought if he even got wet.

She was about to go see if he was in his room or the bathroom when he came running down, eyes wide with shock.

"Mom! That was Atem Mutou you almost hit!"

Anzu glanced up from her book to look at him. "I know."

"Mom," his voice was filled with awe. "Why didn't you say something? I want his autograph."

"His autograph?" Suddenly things were beginning to add up. "Why would you want that?"

"Why?" Danny gasped. "He's like the richest man in the world and not only that but he was the most amazing coach in history! When he was in his twenties he brought two football teams to the Super Bowl! And after that he quit coaching so he could help children like those in St. Jude Children's Hospital! I hear he even got an award for being so nice and for giving!"

"He didn't seem so nice that morning."Anzu thought. "So how old is he now?"

"He's thirty. Man! I wish I could have gotten his autograph!" he groaned banging his head on the wall. Anzu rolled her eyes.

"Don't you have homework?"

"Aw Mom!"

Anzu turned and gave him that look. His shoulders sagged and lumber up the stairs like a boy who had been denied Christmas, which reminded her that tomorrow was the first day of December. That meant that the stores would now be flooded. Anzu sighed and got up to go to bed.

Thank goodness that it was going to be Saturday tomorrow. With one last sweep of the house to make sure everything was locked up she shut off the lights and headed up to bed.


When she got up in the morning and went downstairs she could hear Saturday cartoons blaring from the living room assured her that Danny was already up. An empty bowl of cereal on the table was further testimony. The coffee was made, and with a soft smile she poured a cup and diluted it with milk.

"You're up." Danny came in the kitchen.

"Don't get hooked on those cartoons," she warned. "I want us to do some yard work today."

Danny's protest was immediate. "I've got a soccer game."

"Not until eleven-thirty."

"Aw Mom, I hate yard work!"

"So do I, but do you see me complaining?" she asked with her hands on her hips. Danny muttered a few things about yard work and went up to his room to go change. Anzu rolled her eyes and went outside to get started.

A few minutes later Danny came out to join her. The day was nice, for December. She asked Danny to pick up the sticks while she worked on getting the dead weeds out of her garden.

She was about to pull the last one out when Danny's peals of excitement rang through the air.

"You came, you came!" Danny cried enthusiastically.

Who came? Stripping off her gloves, Anzu rose to find Atem Mutou staring at her from across the yard.

"This had better be important," he said as he advanced toward her.


Oh dear, next chapter could be a little messy. lol See ya next time!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, did I do good? Should I continue?