The Dark Side of Matchmaking

Written for: man

Summary: Mia and Isaac have both been feeling a little lonely lately. So their friends decide they need matching up. But, to their dismay, not necessarily with each other . . . !

Rating: PG for kissing and implications.

A/N: I had way too much fun writing this! The idea, when it came to me, was enough to make me chortle, and I hope it does at least that for you, my dear readers. ^_^ Also, this is another long one-shot, just because I was enjoying myself so much!

Yoshimi sent me his responses to the reviews, and it seems he became a little carried away . . . .

Void -- Boy, you sure like Mudshipping! I think I might actually try a romance fanfiction to help stem the flood of Mudshipping.

SSJ-KybokSilverfang (what a mouthful!) -- Thank you very much!

Kyarorain -- Wow! I impressed someone with my attempt at angst! I feel special.

Eternal Outcast -- Thank you!

Yoshimi Takahashi -- Well, if you don't like it, you can just shove off and be quiet about it! Honestly! No one's forcing you to read it, you scum! What a moron!

Richard: . . . Yoshimi, you ~ARE~ aware that you wrote this chapter, right?

Yoshimi: What? Oh. *pause* I guess that explains things.

Phil: *lack of head in non-existent hands* Yoshimi, Yoshimi, Yoshimi . . .

The Faction's Lord -- Yes, I can't really write too much angst, and furthermore . . . ACK!

Menardi: *taking over the keyboard* # IN YOUR DREAMS, LOSER! I COULD TAKE YOU AND SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHERS! WHY, JUST THE OTHER DAY . . .

Yoshimi: Where did she come from?

Wilhelmina: In case we needed help getting your sorry carcass into review-mode, I gave her this address.

Menardi: *ranting*

Phil: Maybe that wasn't the best idea . . .

Wilhelmina: *looking like Menardi is at the moment* Are you questioning my orders?

Phil: ^^; No, not really . . .

Wilhelmina: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, NOT REALLY? I may have to strip you of your rank as second in command!

Yoshimi: *sneaks away*

*later, at another computer*

Yoshimi: Now, for the rest of those reviews.

Vyctori: This had better not take long, Yoshimi! I want to read one of the new Proxian fics out there! *waves Prox flag* PROX ROX!

Yoshimi: Okay . . . sorry, TFL, for getting a little off-topic . . .

Vyctori: I TOLD YOU TO HURRY!

Yoshimi: *snaps to attention* Yes, ou-Vyctori-sama! *types madly*

MercuryAdept -- Thank you! Well, he just liked saying "fool." Uh, actually it was because I was too lazy to think of something else.

Kevin C -- Thank you very much! Gee, I'm saying "thank you" a lot . . . I hadn't really noticed how little Felix work there was, but you're right! Well, Cage is actually a real move by Agatio.

Akachi -- Arigato, Akachi-san (hey, I've been saying thanks too much . . . so, in another language!)! Well, Jenna, Felix kept this hidden, and they all liked the rest of you.

LilMako17 – THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH! ^_^ Wow, I've got a fanatical fan already!

Vyctori: How can you tell if he's only reviewed once? And you're still not finished?

Yoshimi: Hurrying, ou-Vyctori-sama!

Knightblazer 88 -- Merci beaucoup! Ou peut-être merci trop! (TRANSLATION: Thank you very much! Or maybe thank you too much!) Wow! I was hoping you'd like it, but I wasn't expecting this much! I sure was lucky with the way I portrayed Felix and especially with the couplings! THANKS AGAIN! Oh, and I will write more if anyone asks! AHEM!

Vyctori: *kicks Yoshimi* Hurry up!

Yoshimi: *wimpers* Sorry, ou-Vyctori-sama.

oBsCuReDoblivion -- Thank you! And you've tortured me again. It occurred to me (after I wrote your name, of course) that I should have copied/pasted. Oh well.

man -- Thanks very, very much! ^_^ Well, some people would probably think that the Proxians are demons . . .

Vyctori: *glowering* Stupid people.

Yoshimi: Yes, yes . . . and since Felix helped them, then they'd think he was a demon-servant, which would probably be bad in those days.

Vyctori: Poor Fewix-chan . . .

Yoshimi: And that's the end of the reviews!

Vyctori: Good! I get my computer back! *boots Yoshimi off the computer* Now for the update . . .

Yoshimi: Can I read?

Vyctori: *points out the door* Home!

Yoshimi: *scurries off*

******

Thank you to all who reviewed, and thanks to Yoshimi, for that bout of random humour! ^_~ Now, go read the fic! Shoo! Shoo!

~ * * * ~

Mia was sitting in a comfortable chair in Jenna's house and reading a book--or trying to, at least. For some reason, no matter how many times she tried to read the words on the page, they stubbornly refused to make sense. She set the book in her lap, rubbed at her eyes, and let go of a sigh.

"Will you stop that, already!" Jenna cried out in complete exasperation, breaking off her conversation with Sheba.

Mia blinked in surprise. "Stop what?"

"Those heartrending sighs!" Jenna gave an over-exaggerated demonstration. "You're driving me crazy!"

"Crazier, at least," Sheba amended with a giggle.

"I'm sorry," Mia apologized. "I don't know what's with me lately. I've been feeling so depressed and, well . . . lonely. I don't know why--I mean, I've made so many friends since our quest, but . . ."

Sheba's green eyes began to shine with a light that meant trouble for Mia. "I know what's wrong!"

"What?" Mia asked cautiously. Whenever Sheba got excited, it usually was bad news for everyone else.

"You need a boyfriend!" Sheba declared.

"Hey, yeah!" Jenna rapidly got caught up in her younger friend's enthusiasm. "Sheba's right! That's exactly what you need!"

"Do you think so?" Mia queried.

"Sure! Now, let's see who we can match you up with . . ." Sheba began thinking over their friends and acquaintances.

Mia's mind instantly went to Isaac. She didn't want to say, but she had been developing quite deep feelings for the thoughtful, strong Venus Adept. She was afraid she would lose him as a friend if she spoke up, but if she were to allow Jenna and Sheba to pair her up with him . . . well, everyone knew how forceful those two could be. A smile settled on Mia's pink lips. She could lay all the blame at their feet if it turned out Isaac didn't return her feelings. And if he did in fact love her, then Sheba and Jenna would congratulate themselves on a job well done and Mia would be with her true love.

"Well, how about Ivan?" Sheba suggested. "He's a nice chap."

Mia tried to picture herself in the throes of passion with quiet Ivan and failed utterly. "Um, I don't know. We're just friends, that's all. I don't think . . ."

"Yeah, you're right, Mia. She needs someone more exciting than boring old Ivan," Jenna interrupted.

"I didn't say he was boring!" Mia protested.

Jenna ignored her. "No, what she needs is someone interesting . . . what about Agatio?"

"Agatio?" Mia stared.

"He's a Proxian--how much more interesting can you get?" Jenna answered practically. "Besides, he's blue. You know how much you love the colour." She pointed at Mia's pale cerulean robes.

"Yes, but not that much blue!"

"No, Agatio's no good. Mia needs someone she can have a good conversation with, and unfortunately, Agatio just doesn't make the cut." Sheba nodded decidedly. "It's too bad Menardi's already taken Saturos. I mean, there's a perfect combination of looks, intelligence, and blueness!"

Saturos? Agatio? Ivan? Where were her friends getting these ideas? Mia wondered incredulously. Couldn't they see that the perfect man for her was right under their little matchmaking noses?

"Um, what about . . ." Mia began.

"Piers! That's it!" Jenna shrieked, completely overriding Mia's soft suggestion.

"Perfect!" Sheba beamed. "He's good-looking, smart, certainly not boring, a Mercury Adept, and he's got blue hair! Aw, wouldn't they make the cutest couple?"

Jenna pictured the Lemurian and Mia side by side. "Yeah, you're right. Okay, Mia, there you go! Problem solved!"

"But . . ." Mia tried to get in.

Unfortunately for her, there was no stopping Sheba and Jenna once they set their minds on something. The two girls shook hands with each other firmly.

"We'll start first thing tomorrow," Sheba announced.

Mia sank lower in her chair and tried not to moan. While it was true she liked Piers a lot, their relationship was purely friendship. Neither of them desired a deeper relationship with each other, but if she didn't figure out a way to stop the dreaded force of Jenna and Sheba, it looked like they were going to be a couple whether they liked it or not.

* * *

Over at Isaac's house, there was a similar gathering of the male Adepts. Garet, Felix, Piers, Ivan, and Isaac were chatting about this and that, enjoying themselves quite a bit. However, Garet noticed that Isaac was being unusually silent, even for him.

"Hey, what's wrong, buddy?" Garet set down the mug of ale he had been enjoying and looked directly at his friend. "You've been really down these last few days and you haven't said why. Come on . . . you can tell me," he cajoled.

Isaac cupped his chin in one hand. "Well, to tell the truth, Garet, I've just been feeling like . . . I don't know, like there's a hole in me. A place that needs to be filled, and I don't know how."

"Well, I do!" Garet seemed pleased to know something his friend didn't.

"Really?" Isaac was surprised. Usually Garet, though a very good friend, wasn't the brightest of their group. "What is it?"

"You need a girlfriend, that's what!"

Garet never was much for speaking softly. His pronouncement came in a lull in the conversation and the remainder of the group turned and looked at Isaac with interest.

"What's this about a girlfriend?" Piers questioned.

Isaac was brilliant red. "Well, Garet kind of thinks I need one . . ."

"You know, that's a good idea," Ivan approved. "You have seemed kind of sad, lately."

"Almost all the girls are matched up, already, though." Piers frowned. "That's going to make this difficult."

"You could always date Jenna," Felix suggested.

"Hey! I'm dating Jenna!" Garet protested.

"Exactly." Felix gave him a dark look.

"Um, why don't we think about the women we met on our travels and see who would go best with him," Ivan quickly suggested, trying to avoid conflict.

"What about Karst? She's still single," Piers put forward.

"And with reason," Garet muttered. The intimidating Mars Adept had made quite an impression on him.

Felix glared at him. He and Karst were close friends and he didn't like it when people made remarks about her. "Keep your big mouth off her, Garet. Karst can be very sweet."

"I'll take your word for it, Felix. Come on, people, you can't seriously be considering that she and I date!" Isaac held up his hands. "I mean, she tried to kill me, for Fate's sake! Even now, I still catch her looking at me and fingering her scythe. I don't think I'd survive a day with her!"

"You're right. Well, what about Feizhi?" Felix asked. "She certainly seems to like you well enough. She even gave me a ring to give to you."

"Feizhi?" Piers wrinkled his nose. "I don't know. I think that was Kraden's crazy imagination about her having a crush on Isaac."

"Well, Mia's certainly out," Garet said decidedly.

Isaac had just been entertaining thoughts of being matched up with Mia at the hands of his friends. He had loved her for several months, but didn't feel worthy of the pure healer's feelings. If he allowed his friends to push them together, he wouldn't be able to say anything--after all, it would be their fault, not his. But . . . .

"Why not?" Isaac inquired, trying to be casual.

"Come on! Mia's always off healing some sick person or another. She doesn't have time for a boyfriend! No, definitely not." Garet shook his head for emphasis.

"Well, what about my sister?" Ivan mentioned softly. "She's too withdrawn and serious. She needs someone to make her lighten up."

"Are you sure Isaac's the one for the job?" Felix regarded his solemn friend dubiously. "I mean, no offence, Isaac, but you're not exactly Mr Cheery, are you?"

"Compared to Hama, anyone would look perky," Piers remarked.

"True. So Hama it is!" Garet decided. "Let's go get the Teleport Lapis from Mia and, ahem, invite her to Vale for a visit! Great idea, Ivan!"

"Thank you," Ivan replied.

"Hey, don't I get a say in this?" Isaac asked, now definitely annoyed.

"We already gave you a say in this, buddy, and you didn't do anything," Garet informed him sympathetically. "So now it's time for your friends to take over."

Isaac let out a groan and closed his eyes. Reduced to getting dating advice from Garet, he thought. What have I come to? His friend had stumbled through his courtship of Jenna, nearly getting himself fried by Felix for some of his larger errors. He wasn't sure he was going to survive this. . . .

* * *

The next day was brilliantly sunny, in direct contrast with Mia's mood. Her dreams had been filled with images of Isaac just about to declare undying love to her, only to be rudely hauled off at the last moment by Sheba and Jenna. Then it would be Piers on one knee in front of her, and she would wake, pounding the feathers out of her pillow.

A knock on the door interrupted her frustrated contemplations. She answered it to find Jenna, Garet, Sheba, Felix, and Piers on her doorstep.

"Hello," she greeted them cautiously. The girls had obviously engineered it so that there would be an odd number of people in the group . . . until she joined them.

"We were wondering if you'd like to come for a walk with us," Felix offered. "It's such a nice day, after all."

Briefly, Mia considered the idea. While it was a blatant attempt at matchmaking, she did need something to clear the cobwebs out of her head from her restless night, and it could be that a walk was exactly what she needed.

"Well, okay," she agreed with some trepidation. "So long as a walk is all we're going on," she added with a hard look at Jenna and Sheba. Neither so much as blinked.

"Of course, Mia," Jenna said innocently. "Whatever else would we do?"

"I shudder to think," Mia muttered, stepping out the door and closing it after her.

Mia spent the first part of the excursion in a tense, wary mood, expecting her friends to do something that involved her and Piers in a romantic way. However, she began to relax and enjoy herself. It helped that Piers got involved in a discussion with Felix and Sheba, which allowed Mia to converse with Jenna and Garet without having to watch her every word, in case she uttered a syllable that just possibly might be interpreted as romantic.

The group ended up at the riverbank in a small stand of trees. The sunlight filtered gently through the trees, sparkling off a small waterfall that was nearby.

"Oh, Felix!" Sheba exclaimed. "I think I left something very important at home. Would you be a darling and come with me to get it?"

Felix slanted a sympathetic glance at Mia, but said only, "All right, Sheba."

And the two strolled out of the forest, arm in arm.

Mia clenched her fists. I should have known, she thought. Now Jenna's going to manufacture an excuse to take her and Garet out of here and leave Piers and I alone!

"Garet," Jenna spoke up, "remember that your mother wanted to talk to us about something?"

"Huh?" Garet was confused--as usual. "I don't remember that--ouch!" Jenna had stomped on his foot with tremendous force. "Oh right . . . now I remember . . . ow." He bent down to rub his foot, but didn't get the chance, as he was bodily dragged away by an irked Jenna.

Wonderful, Mia thought sarcastically. She looked for Piers and found him sitting contentedly beside the stream with his bare feet dangling in the water, unaware of the danger he was in from the matchmakers.

Mia sighed and turned to leave. She managed to make two steps before she was confronted with a scowling Jenna. The Mars Adept made violent shooing motions back in the direction of Piers.

"Fine," Mia snapped softly and returned back to where Piers was sitting.

Is there anybody in Weyard today who has worse luck than me? she mused in a dark way. I seriously doubt it.

* * *

Is there anybody in Weyard today who has worse luck than me? Isaac wondered unhappily, somewhat later on.

He, along with his supposed friends, had just returned from Contigo, bringing Master Hama with them. Now he had just been "volunteered" to show Hama around the newly reconstructed Vale--alone.

My friends are as subtle as a rockslide, he decided. Actually, less so.

Garet elbowed him. "Be sure to show her all the pretty, romantic places Vale has to offer!"

"Like that lovely waterfall," Ivan reminded him.

"Right. Well, come on, Master Hama," Isaac said reluctantly.

"Please, just Hama is fine," she told him in her lovely voice.

"Okay . . . Hama." I just want to get this over with, he thought.

However, once they were out of sight and earshot of the matchmakers, Hama turned to Isaac and stated, "No offence, Isaac, but I simply am not interested in you in a romantic way, and I can tell you are not interested, either."

"What the . . . ?" Isaac spluttered before remembering. " . . . Oh right. You're a Jupiter Adept. You can read minds."

Hama chuckled. "That is correct. It was nice of our friends to want to make us happy, but they are going about it the wrong way."

"Try telling them that." Isaac sighed.

The Jupiter Adept smiled in sympathy. "Do not fear. I am sure you will find a way to confess your feelings to Mia."

"How did you . . . I wish you'd stop doing that!" Isaac exploded.

"Doing what?" Hama inquired impishly. "Now, if you do not mind, I would like to continue with our tour--without viewing the romantic locations." She began to walk off, leaving an aggravated Isaac to catch up.

* * *

That evening, sleep simply would not overtake Isaac, and so, still steaming from the day's events, Isaac left his house silently to cool off by the river.

But when he arrived, he discovered he was not alone. Mia sat by the water's edge, staring into the stream's shallow depths with an expression that bordered on disgust.

That can't be right, Isaac thought. Mia never gets upset about anything.

At that moment, Mia looked up. Seeing Isaac, her expression improved considerably. "Hello, Isaac. Would you like to join me?"

Suddenly, things didn't seem so bad. "Sure, Mia. I'd love to."

For a while, the two sat together. They didn't speak--they didn't need to.

"You know, I love my friends, but sometimes they drive me crazy!" Mia burst out.

"Why?"

"Jenna and Sheba think I'm too lonely and they're trying to match me up with Piers!"

Isaac felt his stomach give a most unpleasant lurch. He tried to be casual. "And, ah, do you want to . . . ?"

"Of course not!" was the indignant reply. "I like Piers, but he's my friend and nothing more."

"Well, I've been having the same problem," Isaac confessed a few moments later.

"Really?"

"Yeah, only they thought Master Hama of all people was destined to be my soulmate."

"Well, they thought Agatio and I would do well together." Mia grinned. Talking with Isaac, her predicament wasn't irksome, but . . . amusing. Isaac always had a stabilizing effect on her, something she appreciated right now.

Isaac couldn't stop himself from shuddering. "You and--Agatio?"

"Uh-huh."

"Wow."

"Exactly."

Some more time passed. The two Adepts gradually moved closer and closer together until Mia was resting her head on Isaac's shoulder and he had his arm around her, hugging her close. Then Mia gazed up at Isaac's face with such beautiful, soft eyes that it was only natural for him to close the small gap between them with his lips.

For a long while, they kissed, both tenderly and passionately. No words were needed as both realized that they had been hiding their feelings when there was no need.


Eventually, Isaac pulled away with reluctance. "Mia, I love you."

"And I love you." Her voice was filled with wonder and joy; she moved closer to kiss him again.

But Isaac drew back. "What will our friends say?"

"They can say what they want, for all I care," Mia declared with an unusual undertone of iron in her voice.

"No, what I mean is, they'll think that we're only pretending to feel the way we do to get out of their matchmaking plans," Isaac clarified.

"Oh." Mia thought for a bit. Then what only could be described as an evil look crossed her face. It was, Isaac considered, an unusual expression for someone who he normally thought of as an angel of purity to wear.

"I know what we can do . . . ." she began with mischief in her voice.

* * *

"Where is that Isaac?" Garet grumbled the next morning outside of Isaac's home. "Hama's waiting for him! He's supposed to be courting the woman of his dreams and he sleeps in? Honestly!"

"Maybe he's not feeling well," Felix worried. "He was looking faintly ill when he returned from his outing with Master Hama."

"We should see if he's all right," Jenna decided, barging into his house without a knock. "Where's his bedroom?"

"This way." Garet brushed by his sweetheart and opened the door. "Hey Isaac, what are you--whoa!"

"What's going on, Ga . . ." Jenna's voice trailed off in shock.

"What? What? Let me see!" Sheba shoved her way to the front. ". . . Wow!"

Felix also entered the room and immediately clapped his hands over Sheba's eyes. "That's not something you should be seeing, Sheba." He stared at the floor with great concentration, face flaming red.

Piers commented with a raised eyebrow, "They certainly don't waste any time, do they?"

Isaac was curled up in bed, seemingly sound asleep, sunlight glinting off his golden hair, blankets tucked up to his chin. It would have made a lovely, innocent picture . . . were it not for the fact that his bed had another occupant--namely, Mia.

"Okay, I'll just be going now," Garet backed out of the room, Jenna following quite quickly.

"Hmm, I do believe that sounds like a good idea, Garet." Piers also left.

"Hey, Felix, we ought to . . ." Sheba began, trying to remove Felix's hands from her eyes.

"No. You're too young," Felix informed her. However, the effect of his words was ruined with a wistful sigh. "Let's let Isaac and Mia have whatever vestige of privacy they can."

"All right."

As soon as Isaac heard the door shut behind them, he opened his eyes. "It's safe now, Mia."

Mia smiled and pulled back the covers to sit on the edge of the bed, revealing that both she and Isaac were fully dressed. "I think we made our point quite clear, don't you?"

"Uh-huh." Isaac nodded, lying back against a pillow. "They'd have to be pretty determined to interpret this as the two of us spending time together as friends. I have a feeling they'll be leaving us alone now."

"And that's definitely a good thing." Mia smiled at her love.

Isaac returned her smile and they were quiet for a while, enjoying each other's presence. Then Isaac started, "Hey, Mia . . . I don't suppose you'd want to, well, give substance to our friends' suspicions, would you . . . ?"

"Isaac, I'm shocked!" Mia's eyes were wide.

Isaac flushed and gazed at the blankets. "Mia, I'm so sorry--that was incredibly insensitive of me."

"You're right! I haven't had breakfast yet!"

Isaac stared at her in total astonishment.

"I can't do anything on an empty stomach!" She grinned at the stunned expression on his face. "After breakfast . . . well, we'll see."

The Venus Adept grinned and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "I'll just have to make an extra-delicious breakfast, then!"

"Sounds like a plan to me!" Mia winked at him and then headed to the kitchen.

I'll never be lonely again, she thought happily as she seated herself at the table. And neither will Isaac. Now we have each other, and life is whole once more.

~ * * * ~

Vyctori: Ta-da! One Romance/Humour fic!

Menardi: ¬_¬ I can't believe those girls thought they'd match up MY Saturos with Mia! The nerve of them!

Vyctori: *sweatdrop* But they didn't, so all is fine, right? I mean, they didn't consider it for long . . . .

Menardi: Knowing I'd rip out those two's beating hearts and crush them in front of their eyes.

Vyctori: *cringing* Okay, someone's a little protective . . . .

Menardi: Review, everyone, and send in requests, too. Or I'll inflict upon you a torture equally painful and even more creative. I'll leave it up to your imaginations to decide what the particular torments are.

Vyctori: Ouch.