Hola mis amigos.

Ohmygosh I'm been taking it for two years and it's still the only phrase I can say off the bat.

Haha, hope you enjoy this kind of weird but kind of not story.

Had the idea in my head because … of circumstances. Oh and Ryoga is just an OC with his name, I guess? Yeah… Did include some stuff…

Enjoy!

Ryoma sat under the tree, tennis things to his right, Fanta to his left. Ah, his life was complete.

Oh who was he kidding. He snatched the cap off his head ferociously and fanned himself. Optimism was not working for him at all.

Sitting in the shade, he had the perfect view of his senpai playing tennis again. The way he executed his moves so gracefully was just a few notches short of magical.

He wanted to know how to do Higuma Otoshi. He had to know at least one of the countless counters Fuji had. And the ones he had yet to develop. But the tensai had never performed one before him, was it because he had no skill? Or was it because he had too much?

He'd like to think he had too much.

Eyes still fixed on the slender moving figure on the court, his left hand moved to pick up his Fanta. Just in case he did some counter in the second he was looking away.

His can was gone.

He pat the grassy area to his left, this couldn't be right. He had bought the Fanta this time, so no one should…

He turned around. The Fanta can was indeed not present. But there was a hand. Then a sleeve. Then a shoulder. Then a face.

He could have fainted if he was anything less than an Echizen.

"Yo." His doppelganger said, "Nice day to be sitting under a tree."

"Very…" his eyes were popping out of his head as he realized that it probably wasn't a wax sculpture. Was he even famous enough for one? He probably was.

"Do you mind letting go of my hand now?" Ryoma squeezed the said hand tighter, just to prove that this wasn't an apparition.

"Who are you?" Ryoma asked, in shocked suspicion, not caring how rude he probably sounded.

The not so stranger laughed, and raised a Fanta can, His Fanta can, and drank.

Ryoma twitched.

"I," The stranger announced importantly, "am whoever you want me to be."

"Be more specific."

The person laughed again, "I am a product of your imagination, I can be whoever you want me to be."

"Meaning.." Ryoma said slowly, still wondering if his mother had had a twin without his notice.

"My, not very bright are we?" The person put the can down.

"Well, Echizen Ryoma, I was sent by a higher power," the stranger verbalized, as if speaking to a three year old, "because he thinks, that as a Japanese highschooler, you should already have a potential mate."

"Mate. I'm sixteen."

"Partner, or in modern terms… Girlfriend?"

"I don't happen to be interested, thank you very much, now if you might excuse me, could I have my drink back?" He held out his hand, only to receive an empty can.

The stranger grinned sheepishly, "it was very tasty, if it is of any consolation."

"Don't talk to me."

"Unfortunately for you, I have to. You see, It is customary for most healthy males your age to already have a potential love interest, and since you are male, and healthy, it is only right that—"

"I'm leaving." He picked up his bag and aimed the can into a nearby trash bin.

"Hey! Wait! Sorry. It's my first job, I'm a bit nervous."

"Job?"

"Well, as you would put it… Matchmaker? Cupid?"

"I was under the impression that they were little babies in diapers with wings and heart arrows."

"Don't group me with those annoying cherubs."

"Well, you can go back to your higher power, and tell him that I am perfectly happy with my current position."

"So you're telling me to just fail my first job?"

"If that's what it is, go for it."

"I can't! I don't want to spend the rest of my immortal life sweeping the palace backyard!" his clone sobbed pitifully.

Ryoma couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for him. Probably because the person was an exact replica of himself. In any case…

"Okay then, tell me what I have to do."

Instantly brightening, the doppelganger grinned, "All you have to do, is get yourself a lover within thirty days."

"Thirty days. That's impossible."

"Actually you don't have to do thirty days, it's just that, if it's within a month, I get a special reward."

"Uh huh… Well, something more possible that I can do right now."

"Name me! It signifies that I am your cupid right now and I have the right to do anything to get you together with your selected love interest."

"Just a name?"

"Just a name." the person confirmed.

"Well, how about… Ryoga."

"Ryoga… Echizen Ryoga? Am I supposed to be related to you?"

"Well, you do look kind of like me, so I'm saying yes."

"But… how am I supposed to do my job if I am a family member?"

"Why can't you."

"In tactic 00135, it says that the cupid can act as a lover to incite a certain amount of jealousy within the selected love interest, to further—"

"Then why the hell do you look exactly like me?"

"Well… it was kind of an accident…" Ryoga scratched his head, "it is my first job. And I can't do transformations too well."

"Okay then—"

"AHHH! LOOK THERE ARE TWO OCHIBI'S NYA!" Eiji stood frozen to the spot pointing one quivering arm to Ryoma.

"Eiji, stop shouting, what do you mean there are…"

"ECHIZEN? Why are there two of you?" Momo yelled.

"Shut it you peach, are you halluci— Fshuuuuu"

"Saa…"

Slowly the entire team gathered around the tree, which suddenly became the most densely populated area in the whole of Japan.

"Uhh… hi! Everyone!" Ryoga started, nervously waving.

Ryoma rolled his eyes and fixed the cap back onto his head, "Hello, this is my twin brother, Ryoga, he just came from America."

"OOH! Is he going to school here?"

Hey, I'm not enrolled.

What the hell are you doing in my head.

Twin telepathy.

We're not twins!

Eh? But you just said…

"No… he's just on vacation."

"Echizen, I am very confused, why hasn't all my data on you included this brother of yours?" Inui flipped through his notebook madly.

"That's because…" Ryoma struggled to find a watertight explanation.

"That's because I was stranded on a desert island the moment I was born!" Ryoga said triumphantly.

That had just got to be the spongiest one ever.

"Uh.. Ha ha ha, Ryoga, very funny. Maybe you just haven't searched thoroughly enough, Inui-senpai."

"My data… is flawed?"

"I guess so."

Inui walked off, overcome by this outrageous suggestion, mumbling something about collecting more data under his breath.

"So, Echizen, do you play tennis as well?"

"Umm…" Ryoga looked to Ryoma for an answer, which the latter promptly gave.

"No, not at all."

"Oh, that's too bad then, I was hoping we could have a match sometime" the tensai smiled brightly and headed towards the changing rooms.

"Uh, Ryoma?"

"Yes?"

"Is it just me…"

"No, it's not just you."

"Good."

"So," Ryoga started the conversation as they walked back to Ryoma's temple-home, "Found anyone yet?"

"Huh?"

"Well, you were supposed to choose someone within 3 days. That's the rule."

"The rule?"

"It's in the book, it has to be a rule. So, anyone? I saw that girl, on the girls' tennis team. Long hair. She was pretty cute."

"There are plenty of girls on the tennis team with long hair."

"Exactly, so who?"

"What makes you think I want someone on the tennis team with long hair?"

"Well, it says so here, that humans tend to take an interest towards those with similar interests as them, most of the time."

"This isn't one of those times then. What about the long hair?"

"That wasn't referring to a single person in question. If that person is the first that pops into your mind after some vague features, it says so here, that it is more likely for things to work out."

"Could you stop referring to this like it's some sort of homework assignment?"

"Technically, it is. Well, does any face pop out?"

Ryoma thought deeply, he frowned, "Define long hair."

"Huh?"

"Does it have to be really long, like to the waist, or is to the shoulder considered long, or does it just have to be longer than mine?"

"Uh, never mind, obviously that doesn't fit anyone. Well, have you thought of anyone else yet?"

"Do you have to ask? No."

Ryoga sighed in dejection, flipping through the handbook once more, "Well, that person with the glasses was nice."

"You mean Tezuka-buchou? No way."

"No, I mean the female one. Hey, we're talking about love interests here, are you sure we're on the same page?"

"Of course we're on the same page. It's just that Tezuka is the only person I know who wears glasses, apart from Inui… and that girl from the third class, but she's so annoying.

"Ah. So… moving on… what about the girl with brownish hair, she was pretty enough?"

"You mean Fuji-senpai? Oh, everyone thinks he's a girl at first, trust me. But he's a guy."

"No, I meant the girl in your class, with the hair like that," Ryoga held his hands to his head and grabbed a few tufts of hair in demonstration.

"Okay, okay, you can stop that now, it's still creepy to see myself do things."

"Right… that wasn't it either, what about the girl with the hair like that, shortish longish but straightish but still sort of curled."

"That doesn't make sense."

"Okay, like that." He put his palms face down towards his shoulder and drew the shape of this hair.

"Ah! That one is Fuji-senpai, I told you, everyone mistakes him for a girl."

"No, I was talking about the one called… the one who was with the loud guy."

"Momo?"

"Yeah, he has purple hair, yes?"

"Yes."

"So, what about her?"

"What about who?"

"Never mind."

Ryoga was almost in despair. He had heard the job was hard, but never this hard.

Or maybe it was just because this guy was so damn clueless.

"Hey, you want to play some tennis?"

"Hitting a ball around with that net-on-a-stick? No thank yooo."

"Come on, it'll be interesting, I'll teach you."

"Are you always this annoying, because then, I know why there aren't any girls after you."

"Hey, normally I don't brag about this, but I've got an entire fan club after me. Unfortunately."

Fanclub? Now he was getting somewhere.

"So, do you know anyone?"

"Not really, they just run away whenever I look at them, it's pretty funny actually."

Hopes dashed all over again, Ryoga followed Ryoma glumly.

"This is where I live, I wonder if we can fool dad for a while."

"Huh?"

"I'll try." Ryoma rang the doorbell, jumping out of the way to the left of the door.

"Now, you stand here." Ryoga was positioned in front of the double doors, "And wait."

"Seishounen! Come in! I have a surprise for you!" Nanjiroh grabbed Ryoga-as-Ryoma by the shoulders and pulled him into the property.

"Hey. Hey! Oi! Wait! Put me down!"

"No way, I'm not letting you run away this time." Poor Ryoga was slung over Nanjiroh's shoulders like a sack.

"Okay, you go to your room and change. Don't even think about getting out the window, because I've locked it. And, the one in the toilet as well, and, I've nailed in the vent, so you just be a good boy and listen to your dad, okay?"

Nanjiroh closed the door, looking quite pleased with his foresight.

"Hey, Baka-oyaji. What are you doing in my room?"

The smile faded off the old samurai's face as he caught sight of his son, whom he had just locked in his room, out in the corridor. Smirk creeping its way up his lips, Ryoma threw open the doors to his bedroom.

"Hey dad, say hi to Ryoga!"

"Oh my god." There was a thud as the Samurai's limp body collided with the ground.

"Come to think of it, who was the girl were you going to make me meet?"

"You knew, didn't you." It was more of a statement than a question, which Nanjiroh offered moodily.

"Of course I knew. I marked off every Friday as O miai day. I specifically asked Ryuuzaki-sensei to schedule my practices on Fridays, but nooo, you still went ahead with it."

"That's not nice Ryoma, you know I just want the best for you."

"Thank you, Dobby."

"What? Yuki was such a sweet girl too."

"Sweet? You mean sexy, curvaceous, voluptuous, scandalous, slu—"

"Hey! Is that the kind of person you think your dear father is?"

"Yes. And I say that with confidence."

"That's not nice, not nice at all."

"Uh, where do I fit in in this conversation?" Ryoga crouched down beside Nanjiroh on the rug.

"And Ryoma, I just want to know, who is this person and why does he look exactly like you, after I force you to wash up." He added as an after thought

"Well basically some guy up there thought I was in serious need of a partner, and… he sent him, and… he is supposed to help me find one, and he made a mistake with transformation, and… he doesn't want to fail his job."

"Wait, you mean he's going to help you find a girlfriend?" Just like him, selective hearing.

"Not going to happen, but he'll be nice to have around."

"Boy," Nanjiroh clapped Ryoga on the shoulder, "If you manage to get him a girlfriend, you can stay here as long as you want."

"Uh, thanks?"

"Welcome. Anyone will be welcome at my home if they can find Ryoma a pretty girl." He looked up to the ceiling fan in passion, "Now you, Ryoma, go follow your brother's example and brush your hair. NOW. And Ryoga, make yourself at home, do you want to share a room with Ryoma?"

"Okay, sure dad!"

"BROTHER? DAD? WHAT THE HELL?"

"Don't worry Ryoma, he's just joking, I'm sure. I was."

"Oh you don't know my dad, he's serious."

"Hm, I wonder why I was sent down when you have your dad to do the job already."

"Obviously because he's not doing a very good job about it. Now, how about that tennis match…"

"From what I've gathered, you just returned home from tennis practice, are you sure you want to—"

"One can never get too much tennis, come on, I'll show you." He pulled his new brother up by the wrist.

"Be GENTLE!"

"Okay, here is the serve, you throw it up, and you hit it." Ryoma demonstrated a normal serve slowly, allowing it to hit the net and roll back to him, "now you try."

"Like this?" He hit the ball. Ryoma just barely dodged the ball flying at his face.

There was an awkward pause as Ryoma stared, open mouthed, at his twin, while Ryoga frowned at the racquet, wondering why the ball hadn't had the same path as the one Ryoma had hit.

"It took me one week to learn that. How did you do it?" He ran towards Ryoga's side of the court, looking at him from head to toe and back again.

"I dunno. I was trying to copy what you did just now and suddenly. BOOM! It just happened. I swear I wasn't aiming to hit you."

"Nonono, not that, wait, try it again. I want to see.

Ryoga hit another ball, still a bit confused.

"Twist serve." Ryoma whispered to himself.

"You see? I goes the sa—"

"Wait! Do it again, but hit the ball from the side."

"Like this?"

"Yes, you just have to, drop the racquet by this much, okay?" He held out the measurement between his forefinger and thumb.

"Okay… but I don't know where you're going with thi—" Ryoma had already sprinted to his side of the court.

"I'm serving now!"

"This much, right?"

"Yes!" the word was almost shouted in exasperation, just lower it down, and hit it."

A serve. Ryoga followed his given instructions, lowered the racquet, the given amount, closed his eyes, prayed that the ball wouldn't land anywhere near his face, and hit the ball whizzing towards him.

No sound. Ryoga opened his eyes, and Ryoma was jumping on his side of the court in as much excitement as a little kid learning that santa was real.

"Drop shot! Yes!" He punched his fist into the air. (A/N sorry, super out of character)

"Huh?"

"Ryoga, how would you like to come with me to practice tomorrow?"

"Are you sure this is okay?"

"Just don't mess things up."

"And how am I supposed to do that."

"You think of ideas yourself." Ryoma pulled his cap lower, "You ready?"

"No!"

"Too bad then."

After pulling his cupid-twin out from bed and dragging him to school, Ryoma was feeling quite irritated with the world, yet similarly eager to show his senpai this new development.

"Buchou, I brought Ryoga along, is that okay?"

"As long as he doesn't disrupt—Just make sure we can tell the difference. Why are you wearing the same things?"

"It's fun."

"…"

"Hey, Ryoga, you know what we went through yesterday, right?"

"Kind of… but I don't think—"

"Then don't! Just do what you did yesterday. Here." Surreptitiously, Ryoma snuck his cap onto Ryoga's lap, which the latter quickly put on.

"OI! Echizen! Want a game with me?"

"He's talking to you." Ryoma hissed.

"Oh. OH! Yes please!"

"Too polite,"

"Right, I mean, well, you asked for it Momo."

The look of puzzlement was immediately erased from Momo's face as he heard the second line, leading Ryoga to the courts.

"Your serve."

*Imagine a tennis game over here. Between Momo and a more social Ryoma.*

"Well, I won't say that was unexpected, but, good game. Good game." Momo held out a sweaty palm, which Ryoga accepted.

Wait, there had been something Ryoma had asked him to say after the match… what was it again?

Right.

"Mada mada daze." (A/N got this from Wikipedia. I think that's what ryoga said…)

Silence, then Inui's furious scribbling of pen against notebook paper.

"Saa… New catchphrase, ne? Not bad, Ryoma, not up to your usual standards but…" Fuji whipped Ryoga's cap off, put his hands on the boy's shoulders and stared into his eyes, "hmmm…" He straightened, and looking straight at Ryoma on the bench, declared, "Ryoma, I thought you said your brother didn't play tennis?"

"About time you found out senpai-taichi. Mada mada dane."

Another silence, then Inui scratching out what seemed to be the last two pages of his notebook. But adding a new one, presumably on Ryoga.

"Didn't you ever learn that it was wrong to lie, Ryoma?"

"Not my fault, he only ever showed any talent yesterday at home."

"WOW, AMAZING! I couldn't even tell the difference! You're good!"

"Naturally, since he's related to me," came Ryoma's smug voice.

"You brat! Four years and still the same!" Momo held Ryoma in a headlock, "You should learn from your brother, you see, so humble—"

"What does that word mean again?"

"Hoi hoi nya! Can you two play doubles?"

"Eiji, I told you, I don't play doubles."

"But he's your twin, nya! All twins play doubles!"

"No, Eiji."

"Just try! One game?"

Ryoma looked towards Ryoga, still standing in the court in a daze. He smirked.

"Well… one game."

"Saa… Tezuka, are they in synchro?"

"Just watch, Fuji."

The regulars watched in awe as Eiji shot the ball towards the net, and the two Echizens moved towards the ball in uniformed speed from the separate directions.

I will take this racquet, and HIT IT! Drop volley…?

"Hard to tell who's who, eh, Taka?"

"No, the one on the left is Ryoma, on the right is Ryoga."

Before the team had a chance to make any comment about Fuji's extreme insights, there was a loud crash and clatter from the courts, as Ryoga and Ryoma seemingly collided while attempting to hit the ball from the exact same position.

"You IDIOT!" the two shouted in the perfect synchronization. Which they had apparently lacked during the game.

"I told you I was going to hit the ball!" Ryoma started.

"I told you I was!"

"I said so first."

"No, I did!"

"Are they really sixteen?"

"I think so."

"Good to know."

"Saa… Ryoma, seems like you're still hopeless at doubles, ne?"

"Shut up, Fuji."

"Ryoma?"

"hm?" He pulled on his pajamas, buttoning every other button on his shirt.

"I think I know who your selected love interest is already."

"You do?" Ryoma said distractedly, now smoothening his bed, "who?"

"It's that… guy… isn't it."

"Wait. No, I don't have one."

"Yes you do."

"I don't"

"You do, and I don't blame you, he's nice, except that there's not a single section," held up his handbook, "in this thing that tells you how to get guys. I've read it twenty times and I couldn't find anything."

"I wonder why," Ryoma stated drily, "anyway, I don't get what, or who for that matter, you're talking about."

Ryoga turned to face Ryoma on his side of the double bed, "Fuji Syuusuke. You get it now?"

"You're saying I like him?"

"Well, for one, he was the first thing that popped into your mind when I asked you yesterday. Twice, maybe three times."

"Yes, so what?"

"And, you did tell me yesterday you wanted to learn his signature tennis move."

"Yes, so what?"

"So, just that! You like him."

"Of course I like him, he's a bit creepy, but not unlikable you know."

"Oh you are hopeless."

"Hey!"

"Well, section 13 does tell us how to deal with people in denial—"

"I am NOT in denial for christ's sake."

"Sure you aren't."

"I'm NOT."

"Say that to someone who cares, now you listen, I'm going to help you get him, alright?"

"I told you, NO."

Sighing in exasperation, Ryoga briefed section 13.

13.1.12 If the subject does not acknowledge his attraction for the selected love interest, the matchmaker can take it to his liberty to carry out his job, provided he has enough justification to do so, without the subject's consent.

Don't consult? Not to consult the subject? But wasn't that, like, forcing him into it?

Provided he had enough justification to do so…

He grinned.

Ryoma was fuming. Oh he was going to kill Ryoga, he really was. It was the fifth time in the last two weeks that he had been locked in the changing rooms with Fuji, alone, and he did not appreciate being alone with the tensai any more than he did the same tensai staring at his half naked form cursing bloody hell while trying to kick open the changing room doors.

Not at all.

"Ryoga!"

"Oh! Did you confess, finally?"

"NO!"

"Did he confess?"

"NO, you listen to me, could you please STOP locking us together? It's embarrassing!"

"That's kind of the point, you see, in tactic 02281, it says that—"

"I don't give a damn, alright? Look, I appreciate what you're trying to do here, I really do, but I don't think you should be too pushy in this sort of thing. It must be… gradual! Yes."

"Someone's romantic, aren't we?" Ryoga teased, elbowing Ryoma in the ribs.

"Shut up! Listen, I also don't think Fuji-senpai likes this too much either. Just… leave us alone, alright?"

"But… Fine. If you don't get him by the end of this month, then I'll interfere, alright?"

"Alright. Wait, who says he was the one I am looking for. HEY! At least give me two days to find someone! OY! COME BACK HERE!"

"I hate you."

"I know you do, just think of it as study material, alright?"

"No it's not alright. I can't believe the kind of things people DO to get girls."

"Or in your case, a guy." Ryoga said slyly.

"I'm not listening to you. And you should give this to Oyaji, he likes this sort of thing."

"You know, I am thinking of doing that."

"Good to know, I really do need more of his girlfriends swarming up this place while mom is gone."

"You mean he's cheating?"

"No, but he's perfectly capable of it, let me tell you first."

"Seems so."

"Wait, am I supposed to, according to 14355, kiss some person I remotely like just t—"

"All's fair in love and war."

"Now you know why war is so chaotic. And… oh, look at 14357, walk around shirtless as much as possi—What kind of thing is this?"

"Well, people who have to have matchmakers at this stage are usually desperate."

"This would be pretty interesting if it had nothing to do with me. Number 14362, ask her out on a date, but insist it's not a date. What the hell? Is this successful at all?"

"Works every time, according to boss."

"Tell your boss I hate him."

"Funny, everyone seems to love him."

"How do you know."

"My senpai told me."

"I have a feeling I shouldn't ask."

Ryoga nodded in agreement, "Just read the handbook, it has everything you need."

"Yeah, except if the other party is male."

"AHA! So you admit it."

"If, I said if."

"You are so in denial, mister."

"I am not. Besides, even IF, I said IF, I did happen to be… more attracted to males, oyaji would disown me."

"But you would willingly be disowned for love, yes?"

"Er… no." Ryoma stated flatly, effectively wiping the glassy eyed fangirl expression off Ryoga's face.

"Darn. So, anyone in mind?"

"Well, I do think Ryuuzaki-chan would be quite okay if she can get rid of your annoyingness and her shyness."

"So? Are you going to ask her out?"

Ryoma thought for a moment, "Nah, her hair is too long, causes imbalances."

"I see…"

"Well, I guess Tachibana would do fine as well… On the other hand, she doesn't go to our school, and I'm pretty sure she's with Momo. I like her hair though…"

"Yeah. Right. Just admi—"

"No, don't even go that direction."

"I'm never wrong with my intuition, Ryoma."

"Because this is your first job, remember?"

"I was hoping you would forget… Just say you need my help already."

"I don't need your help! I just need some time to… adjust."

"Adjust to what? The fact that you're so obviously ga—"

"Don't say the word, Ryoga, don't say it."

"aaaaaa," Ryoga continued dragging the one syllable word out as long as his breath could hold.

"I told you, stop it!"

"AAAAAAAAAAYYY!"

"Now you've done it. I swear I'm going to burn the book."

"NOOOO! Give it back! Give it back! You can't burn it!"

"Oh yes I can."

"No, you can't. Literally. You can't destroy anything from my world."

"That explains why your shirt wasn't pink when baka oyajii washed it with the tablecloth."

"I guess so."

"Wait, so number 14387 says that one must spill a colored drink on his own shirt, and proceed to take it off—isn't this exactly the same thing as 14357?"

"Wow, you're good at this. Not exactly the same thing, though it is kind of similar. I guess boss was running out of ideas."

"Well, with so much to write, It's no wonder. Let me see… 14403, look into the other party's eyes, smile, or blush, and look away."

"You'd be surprised at how much imagination boss really has."

"With this? I don't think I will be." Ryoma dropped the book into his bag, "Well, don't bother me for…" he did some calculation in his head, "ten days, and I'll do something about my single situation, yes?"

"Yes, I keep my promises, you know."

"Yeah right. Please, do me a favour and just not come to training tomorrow."

"Will you promise to—"

"YES I WILL!"

"Good, now shoo you, go to bed."

"Best idea you've had so far." Ryoma threw the blankets over his head, blocking out all unnecessary grinning and noise on Ryoga's part.

"I know."

Ryoma scrambled out from under the covers, face flushed, "PUT ON SOME PANTS!"

"But it's so troublesome." Ryoga whined.

Hello!

Sorry if the story was a bit… strange… and fast paced with conversations popping out and making up most of the story. But I just had to get it down on paper, or in this case, computer.

Oh and this chapter had very little FUJI in it, but I guess I'll bring him out later.

This could be a very long introduction of sorts.

Probably gonna to only have, what, one? Two? More chapters? Yes. Maybe that many only.

Well, happy holidays to those who have it, and has it started snowing in non tropical countries already?

I've never seen snow before…

Oh well, let's all have fun either way!

Bye!