Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Silent Rain ❯ Matchmaking ( Chapter 1 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

"Eh??! Matchmaking??"

Riza Hawkeye nodded. Her cheeks tinted with a slight blush.

It was lunchtime. Riza was having lunch with one of her female colleagues, Randy. The petite brunette raised her eyebrow as she stared at Riza in disbelief.

"So your mom asked you to go?" Randy asked, her brows furrowed. "When is it?"

Riza ate a spoonful of her lunch as she stared into space thoughtfully.

"Riza-san?" Randy inquired, peering into Riza's face.

"Ah, gomen," Riza apologised. "It is going to be this Saturday."

"Oh." Randy said with a sigh. "But what about the Colonel? He wouldn't have a chance like that, isn't it?"

"Wha-What about Colonel?" Riza asked in surprise. A blush appeared on her usual poker face.

"Poor poor Colonel," Randy said, shaking her head as she stood up from the table. She collected her tray as she continued muttering, "Poor Colonel is going to be oh-so-lonely."

Riza was left speechless as she watched her colleague walked off to drop off her utensils. She frowned as she stood up as well, collecting her tray thoughtfully. And what about the Colonel? She thought to herself. She shook her head from side to side, as if shaking away the thought.

She heaved a long sigh after she had washed up and walked out of the canteen. Suddenly, she felt as if the stress she had been under came to her all at once. Especially the stress from the matchmaking. It all happened in a call her mother made a few days ago.

Riza was reading a book when her mother called that 'fateful' night. The phone rang, once, twice before she got up from the counch and walked over to the phone. "Hai."

"Riz honey? Okaasan desu. Genki desuka?" A familiar voice came over the line.

"I have been fine, mother. How are you?" Riza said, a smile on her lips. Her mother only called once in a blue moon. Since she had joined the military and started living in an apartment on her own, Riza was grateful for her mother's occasional calls.

"I've been well, so is your father," Riza's mother said in her usual cheerful tone. "Listen up, Riz honey, I've got a piece of good news for you."

"...Good news?" Riza asked in curiosity.

"Okay, are you ready for this, honey?" Her mother asked in suspend.

"Yes?" She wondered what all the secretivity was about.

"Alright! Kaasan had find you a fine gentleman for matchmaking, darling," Somehow, her mother sounded very proud of what she was saying.

On the other end, her daughter was bewildered and speechless. "Kaasan...? Did I hear correctly...?"

"Oh yes, my dear. Mother has got everything arranged for you. See, I've got the dress ready, it will be sent to you by post and should reach you soon. And I've talked to the gentleman. The both of you will be having a romantic dinner at 7pm at Clover Hotel." Riza's mother continued.

"But--" Riza started to protest.

"You told me you will be off-duty on the day, isn't it, honey? So no worries, it's all been arranged and all will go smoothly."

"But... Mother, you did not seek my consent... And why--?"

"See, honey. You have a dangerous job, and you're already in your late twenties. If you don't feel a thing about it, kaasan have. You know, Otoosan and I are getting old day by day. It's our wish to marry our one and only daughter to a fine man." She tried to sound pitiful as she explained to her daughter.

"....Alright, I will go. But no promises, alright?" Riza said in a troubled voice.

"You'll like him, honey, trust me. I picked him from hundreds of male species. And he's the only one that matches my expectation. Ah, I got to go, honey. Take care. Jaa~" The call ended with a sharp click, leaving Riza starring at the receiver in her hand.

"Lieutenant, can you pass this to Colonel Mustang? Lieutenant?" A young sergeant stood in front of Riza, with a tall stack of paperwork in his hands. Seeing no response from Riza, he tried to catch her attention, "Lieutenant Hawkeye?"

"Ah, sorry." Riza said, she seemed alittle startled by the person standing inches in front of her. "Paperwork? Alright, I will pass it to Colonel."

"Thank you, Lieutenant." These sergeant said, handing the stack to Riza. "I bet Colonel wouldn't be so happy to see these."

Riza smiled alittle, turning back and looking at the sergeant. Then, she turned back and started walking again.

She stood in front of Roy's office, balancing the paperwork on one hand as the other reached out and knocked on the door.

No response.

She rapped on the door again. Still no answer. He must be sleeping again, Riza thought to herself. She wrestled with the door knob for awhile before the door sung opened to reveal a fast asleep Roy.

His desk was in a mess. Sheets of paper, files, empty coffee mugs strewn across the desktop. She let out a sigh yet again, setting the paperwork down on an empty stool beside the door. She turned and closed the door behind her quietly as she walked over to the desk.

Her shadow hovered over Roy as she watched him sleep. Should I wake him or not wake him? Riza asked herself, looking at the sleeping Colonel. He was breathing softly and looking peaceful while he slept. Riza almost felt bad waking him up from his sleep. After a few minutes of hesitation, she decided to let him sleep for awhile. He had been sleeping late and reporting early for work recently. She dropped down on a chair to the side of the desk and started looking through some of the paperwork.

The orange sun outside was setting. Streaks of pale sunlight peeked through the blinds into the office. Riza had lost track of time. It was not until she found it difficult to read in the dim room that she realised, it was already evening time. She set aside sheets of paper as she looked at Roy. He was still sleeping. He had barely stirred at all in the past few hours that he had slept.

The corners of Riza's lips turned up into a smile. Without actually realizing what she was doing, she reached over and gently ruffled Roy's shiny black hair. She ran her fingers on his locks. They felt soft and had a faint scent of cologne.

"Hnn..." Roy muttered, stirring abit. Riza hand recoiled back, startled by the sudden movement. Her heart was running wild as she tried to act normal. She thought he was waking up. She starred at him, wide-eyed. She waited. One minute, two minutes... Roy continued sleeping, snoring lightly.

She felt somewhat relieved. She looked at her hand, not believing what she had did just now--reaching out and touching the Colonel's hair. She shook her head from side to side, thinking that she must have been too tired recently. That was why she did that. Yes, that is why I did that, Riza reassured herself.

"Lieutenant?"

Riza almost fell off the chair. There was a loud 'clack' as the wheels on the chair banged against the floor.

"Are you alright?" Roy asked, coming up to her side, to steady the chair.

She did not dare to look at him in his eyes. "I'm fine, Colonel..."

"That's good-" Roy said. He looked half awake. His eyes was half opened when he shifted his gaze from Riza to the stool beside her. "...More paperwork?"

"Yes, Colonel and look how long you have slept?" For a moment, Riza was her usual stern self again. She got up from her seat and waved a few sheets of paperwork in front of Roy. "These are dued this Friday and the ones you were doing just now are dued tomorrow, Colonel."

"Darn..." Roy said in a tired tone, a drop of sweat sliding down his forehead.

"Have you sleep enough? If the answer is yes, let's carry on and finish up those dued tomorrow." Riza said in a firm voice.

"Alright..." Roy could find no words to argue, he could only return to his seat obediently and finish up his work.

The rest of the week went past in a flash. Thanks to the busy work load, Riza had little time to think about the match making date during Saturday. When the day actually came, it felt as if a bucket of ice cold water had splashed right onto her face... It was like any other ordinary day. The colonel was doing a large amount of paperwork and Riza was looking after him. (Like a hawk looking at its prey)

Seconds by minutes by hours past by. Riza felt her heart grew heavier. She did not want to go on the date. But she did not want to let her mother down as well. A heavier silence hung over the office. Roy was working on the paperwork and Riza was looking through the work he had done. Neither spoke as the time went by.

Finally at ten minutes to six, Riza spoke, "Colonel, can I get off an hour earlier today?" Her voice seemed to bounce off the wall.

"Sure. Most of the things had been done." Roy said, looking up from his work. "And you had been really helpful, Lieutenant." He glanced at his watch, "You may actually go now if you like."

"Thank you, taisa." Riza stood up and saluted Roy. Turning on her heels, she started toward the door.

"...Are you alright, Lieutenant?"

"Sorry?" Riza turned and looked at Roy.

"You don't seemed yourself these past few days," Roy said, looking at her in concern.

Riza was alittle surprised at what Roy said. She tried to put a smile as she said, "I've just been tired, taisa. Thank you for your concern."

"...Alright. Rest well," Roy said, returning her salute. He watched her as she walked out of the office.

Roy could not seemed to sit still after Riza left. He set down the file and stared at the paperwork. Something seemed amiss, Roy thought. He picked up the phone and dialed the extension to Second Lieutenant Havoc.

"Please come to my office now," Roy said in a serious tone.

"Aye, sir." Havoc replied, scratching the back of his head with a cigarette between his teeth as usual. "Be there in a minute."

A minute later, there was a knock on the door. "Come in." Roy called out from the desk. The blonde lieutenant entered the office, the cigarette still stuck between his teeth.

"At your command, sir." Havoc saluted Roy sheepishly.

Roy was silent for awhile before saying, "...Do you have an idea where first Lt. Hawkeye is going tonight?"

Havoc sweatdropped, his jaw dropping opened, "...Taisa, you didn't summon me to ask me this, do you?"

"Answer me." Roy shot a look at Havoc. He propped his chin with his hands and looked at Havoc straight in his eyes.

"Er..If you really want to know..." Havoc said, scratching the back of his head uncertainly. "I did heard from one of Lt. Hawkeye's female friends. She had a matchmaking date tonight at a certain hotel."

There seemed to be a dark cloud hanging over Roy as he said through gritted teeth, "Matchmaking date---??"

Havoc shivered. The colonel's words seemed to send a chill down his spine.

"A mission for you, second lieutenant. Listen up," Roy said, swerving to face the side in his seat.

"Yes, sir!" Havoc stood up straight.

"You are coming with me to Lt. Hawkeye's date, to ensure her safety." Roy said in a business-like tone.

"Wha-?!" Havoc almost stumbled on his feet.

"Without further ado, let's go." Roy said, starting to change into his civilian clothes.

"But, I have a date with my girlfriend tonight. I just know her and you know I will like to cherish her and--" Havoc started to argue.

"This is an order." Roy said, a determined sparkle appeared. "She will understand, because you are following orders and doing your job. Let's go."

Tears flowed down both of Havoc's cheeks as he was being dragged out of the office unwillingly. VERY unwillingly.

I'm sorry~~~~ Cindy~~~ Havoc thought miserably. Cindy was of coz, his new girlfriend.