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...
"Go get her!" Gaara left his hiding spot with Temari before making his way to Akimi.
"Akimi, would you like to go to the beach with Temari, Shikamaru, me?" Gaara asked shyly, looking at the chef lazying on the rooftops.
"Do you mean now?" She asked, shutting her book.
"After I finish my paperwork. I'll be quick," he said softly.
"Okay. I'll make lunch and snacks to bring with us. You find me in the kitchen when you're all done and stuff, yes?"
"That's good for me. Thank you, Akimi," he said, relieved. Akimi hopped to her feet, pecked a kiss in his nose, and headed back inside.
"Now, I hope this goes well," Gaara muttered to Temari.
"It will!"
With the clock reached half an hour before noon, Gaara found Temari and Shikamaru with Akimi, all ready to go. He switched to more casual clothing and the four left for the beach. Akimi served mini sandwiches, fruit salad, and some soda. Temari and Shikamaru spent time playing in the water, enjoying the coolness.
"Gaara, you can control the sand anyway you like, right?" Akimi confirmed, snuggling close to him.
".....yes. What of it?"
She clasped her hands to get her eagerly and begged, "Then can you please make a sculpture of a sand castle? A really impressive one!"
Gaara was puzzled, but had it up in three seconds flat. Akimi stared at the massive castle in awe. Gaara went a step further and had the tiny drawbridge open and close and the little flags wave in the wind.
"That's so cool," she gasped, studying the castle closely. "Then can you make a sand model of your house?"
Gaara silently broke down the sand castle and made the model of his house. But he didn't stop there. He continued making the interior of Akimi's own room, and the Kazekage building. Akimi laughed and looked at each sculpture closely, finding every detail was there.
"Okay, how about a sand rabbit?" She asked. Gaara deftly moved his other hand to create the sand rabbit, making it hop over to Akimi and rub its sandy cheeks against her hip. "Awww, this is adorable!"
Gaara stopped controlling the rabbit and created a sand bird. Akimi watched in amazement as the bird flew in circles before landing on her shoulder and returning back to the sand.
After awhile, Akimi looked around and spotted Temari and Shikamaru in the water. "Gaara! Can you sculpt them in that position?"
"I suppose." Gaara quickly recreated his sister and her boyfriend in the water. "How's that?" He had captured a miniature model of Temari stealing Shikamaru's hair tie, making him look back at her, unimpressed.
"Pretty good," Akimi said impressed more than ever. "Uh hey, can you sculpt me?" She asked a little hesitantly.
"Yes." Akimi watched the sand form a sculpture of her body, exactly her height, and same outfit she had donned on. Then, the sculpture changed to the time she met Gaara for the first time, then to the time she was in the hospital, and finally to the time she moved to Suna. "That's amazing!" She praised, looking at her boyfriend.
Gaara blushed and destroyed all the sculptures before facing the ocean. Akimi sat back down next to Gaara and drapped her arms around him. "You're so comfy."
"Akimi! Come over here!" Temari shouted to her.
"Coming! I'll be back, Kazkeage-sama," she winked. While she was gone, Gaara made another sand sculpture. This time, however, it was a large mother-of-pearl oyster shell. He placed the hard black box in the mouth of the shell and waited for Akimi to return.
Sure enough, Akimi returned, wrapping a towel around herself. "Cool, Gaara is that an oyster shell?"
"Yes. I have something for you inside."
"Huh?" The clam shell opened, revealing the box inside. However, Gaara didn't open the box yet.
"I can't say anything fancy, but I want you to know that you impacted my life for the better. Akimi Maruboshi, will you marry me?" Gaara proposed, his pale face turning bright red.
"Yes," Akimi breathed, her face a mixture of surprise and excitement. "Yes! I will!"
Cheers could be heard from behind, and Akimi looked over her shoulder to see Temari and Shikamaru clapping.
"Open the box!" Temari screamed. Gaara opened the box for her, revealing the engagement piece inside.
"Wow, it's beautiful," Akimi whispered, her face breaking into a lovely smile. "It's just like you, Gaara to get me something that would suit me."
"Temari suggested that I get you an ear clip, since rings tend to be in the way when working," Gaara said, removing the ear clip from the box.
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"Can you put it on me?" Akimi asked. Gaara reached over and fastened it on her right ear. Temari squealed in joy, while Shikamaru had the decency to look interested yet bored at the same time. (What does that look like anyway?)
"Look!" Temari held up a mirror, and Akimi admired the piece reflecting in the mirror. Suddenly, she turned back to Gaara eagerly.
"I love it, thank you, Gaara," she said, kissing him.
