Suna's Ninja (Gaara Love Story)

19: Start again

Author's POV

"Gaara, don't you think it's time now?" Temari scolded, watching her brother absentmindedly fumble with his finished paperwork. "It's been decades now! This is tearing you apart, and you can't keep living like this. Plus, Matsuri's instability is causing you problems!"

Months had passed since Gaara's kidnapping. However, life isn't all peaches and roses for the beloved couple. Recently, if not harshly, a line of tension snapped between Akimi and Gaara. Uncertainty and confusion often flitted across the girl's mind, while the boy juggled work and emotional restraints from speaking to her.

"Temari's right, Gaara," Kankuro agreed. "You should move on. It's not healthy for you to be so....."

"Discombobulated!"

"Yeah."

Gaara sighed, placing the picture of Akimi and himself face down. "Just a little longer."

"I can't watch you walk around all jumbled up!" Temari muttered. "Get yourself together. You have a village to watch over." She stormed out with Kankuro at her heels.

Gaara pushed his chair back and stood up, stretching his numb legs. His eyes wandered towards the watch towers where the KP Team was working. He couldn't let her go. Akimi was too precious for that. He developed romantic feels for her, words couldn't describe the conflicting emotions.

"Lord Gaara," his bodyguards acknowledged him when he left his office. "Shall we--"

"No. stay here. I'll return shortly." Gaara left the building to complete his daily rounds inside the village as a habit. He felt at ease when he personally saw work being done the right way. If it wasn't he would always be able alert the workers in time.

Meanwhile, Akimi was scolded by Jini then promptly sent to help grind herbs in the greenhouse with the other doctors. At least there, she could "work in her sleep," according to Jini who wasn't happy to see her disoriented thanks to the rift between her and Gaara.

"Here you go," Akimi mumbled, gently tapping the powdery herb into the little containers. "Anything else I can help with?" She asked the head doctor there.

"No. we're good, thank you very much, Akimi-san."

"No problem. I'll be going now." She bowed shortly and left the greenhouse. I should report to Jini-san.

Gaara strolled by a jewelry shop, his eyes catching sight of the rings and their sets at the window. Frowning, he entered the shop, taking in the cool, dark room with dimmed lighting to enhance the jewelry on display. His gaze reached a set of beautiful rings, all with precious metal, unique shapes, and polished gems. But somehow, just somehow.....they didn't fit Akimi. He couldn't see her wearing an engagement ring, or a wedding ring. It didn't--no--it wouldn't work out.

At the very least, I should at least order a custom ring for Matsuri, he thought. Perhaps, I should send Akimi on a mission outside the village for awhile, he wondered. Maybe then, I can find a solution for Matsuri.

Sure enough, Akimi was summoned to Gaara's office. "Yes, Lord Gaara-sama?"

"A certain young lord has requested for help to cook for a evening party, since his head cook won't be able to," Gaara said professionally, steadily keeping his eyes on her. "He specifically asked for, and I quote, 'a cook who can be thrown away afterwards'. This is, in other words saying, 'Send for a cook that will be of other use, not just cooking'."

"Hai. When do I leave?"

"In an hour. He wishes you to arrive at his mansion 5:30 AM tomorrow."

"Yes, Lord Kazekage-sama. What's the client's name?"

"The young lord's name is Ciel Phantomhive."