Akimi has returned from Totsuki Institute, and it's been two years since she's secretly confessed to Gaara. With some surprises of a new citizenship and a new relationship, Akimi discovers a new world of possibilities (preferably with a handsome red...
"Akimi, I have orders from the Kazekage," Jini called during the morning announcements. "Lord Kazekage wishes for you to make dinner for his guest, Princess Ji Mi. I've already split your boxes to everyone else, so you only have to scan and pile thirty boxes tomorrow."
"I get to cook? Awesome!" Akimi cheered. "I'll do it!"
"Don't worry about that, Ling," Akimi sneered back at her newest rival. "Anything I make will outrank yours."
"Why you--!"
The next day during the afternoon, Akimi busied herself with the preparations for tonight's dinner. She wandered around the chilly pantry, looking for the freshest vegetables. She idly flipped through her notebook of ideas of what to make for dinner, not really concentrating. Unlike in Totsuki, she had plenty of time to deeply think about what food to serve, what courses would be appropriate, or what cuisine would suit the diners' palettes.
"I've always wanted to try making Hojo's pineapple stir-fry dish," Akimi muttered to herself.
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There we go, she thought, nodding satisfied with her work. She carried the ingredients to the kitchen, only to be greeted with a surprise.
"Who do you think you are to be all nice to Gaara?" Princess Ji Mi asked angrily. "You're just a cook and a servant. So then why does he look so happy when you come into the room?"
"Um, Your Highness, I don't--"
"Shut up! Don't you ever stop talking!?" The princess screamed irristedly. "Listen, girl. Gaara is mine. Hands off. We'll be married soon enough, and by then, you'll have to find some other work to do. If you get close to him, that is."
".....that's not my place to say....."
"What?! Never mind. I could get you fired right now." She smiled evilly.
"Uh, what?" Akimi slowly placed the ingredients on the counter. The princess marched over to her and shoved her back onto the floor. "Wahhh!" Akimi struggled as the princess seized her cutting knife and flicked it over her hand and cheek, effectively injuring herself slightly. She ripped the sleeve and skirt of her gown and stained her gloves with her blood. "Wait! What are you doing?!" The knife was shoved into Akimi's hands in a hurry.
"Don't you dare raise your voice against me!" Princess Ji Mi screamed. She let go of Akimi immediately and ran out of the kitchen.
"HELP! SOMEONE, HELP ME! I'VE BEEN ATTACKED!"
Akimi set the knife down on the counter along with the rest of the ingredients. She clenched her jaw in hopes of stopping herself if she did anything rash. Her best two decision now was to either beg for forgiveness, or tell the truth. She glared at the knife. Suna was her home! She had every right to stay here, especially if she did nothing wrong.
"Where?" Akimi snapped her head up, watching the kitchen being flooded with people. Mainly, the princess, her bodyguards, and the other servants.
"There she is! She injured me!" Princess Ji Mi cried, pointing to Akimi. Bodyguards grabbed Akimi, and one man successfully landed a heavy punch in her gut. Akimi escaped quickly, attaching herself to the corner of a wall and ceiling. "Get her!"
Akimi couldn't hold herself there in that position very well. Those bodyguards had hit a tender part of her stomach, and even if she had Chakra to stick herself to the wall, she still needed her upper body strength and muscles, which of course, caused her stomach muscles to tense up and hurt herself. After three minutes, she lost her grip and the bodyguards were all over her again. Fists flew, feet kicked, and the princess was screaming and yelling all over that.
"What is going on here?"
Those very words stopped everyone in the kitchen, causing everyone to look straight at the cold-eyed Kazekage.
