WELP, here we go. Another chapter. Hope you guys like it.

Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah, it's Natsume's.


The next day was just like any other: She woke up, got ready, instructed Luke on his daily chores, went into town, worked and tried to maintain some kind of chatter with Gill, went to the bar and act annoyed when Chase refused to serve alcohol to a minor, and go home. Akari thought that maybe this was her new boring routine, or at least until a month had passed. It wasn't until the next day that she found something different. The package of spinach she had ordered, all five pounds of it.

Should she just hand over the box to him as it is? No, that was lazy, she should try and cook it, but wait. She was pretty sure she was worse than Maya when it came to cooking and that was really saying something. Akari needed to ask someone, someone named Chase in particular.
Akari could see Luke jogging up from the distance and quickly took the box inside, hiding it under a stray blanket. She came back out just in time.

"Morning 'Kari!"

"Morning," Akari smiled at her nickname, a slur of her name that had since turned into an affectionate saying. "Hey Luke, what's your favorite dish?"

"Spinach!"

Akari mentally slapped her forehead, this would get her nowhere, but she couldn't ask him outright-well more than she already had-so she dropped it.

"Alrighty then! Um, you have to water... and weed... and 'juice the cow' today," Akari began to back away eager to head to work.

"Ughhh, not the cow! She hates me!"

"Hahaha"

When Akari arrived at the city hall she immediately had a question for the blonde, but kept quiet. She settle in, smiling and saying their usual greetings. A comfortable silence overcame them and she worked fast and furiously, finally glancing up as the boy's cowlick bobbed around, his attention on the sheet in front of him.

"Um... Gill?"

Gill looked up, tapping his fingers restlessly, "Yes, Akari?"

"Do you have any.. cookbooks?"

GIll's eyes softened, his fingers stopping to rest on the desk camly. He pushed himself up from the desk and walked over to her.

"Why?"

"I need to cook for someone..."

"Who?"

"No one in particular."

Gill frowned, his finger rubbing his temple, "Alright, come with me."

"What about work?"

"We'll call lunch early."

GIll began to talk off, Akari clumsily coming up behind her on her crutch.

Akari was surprised when they left the town hall, instead heading up to the Hamilton's house behind them. Akari said nothing though, and followed him silently into his home.

The house was a soft place, full of neutral colors but was deathly plain, almost in need of a... woman's touch. Not her's though, she had absolutely no style... okay... maybe Julius's touch. Wait no, that's too much.

"Over here," Gill pointed to the refrigerator and Akari noticed the stacking of books on the top. Gill was just tall enough to touch the binding of a couple of books, extracting them from the tight cluster slowly but surely.

He went to the dining room table, centered in the middle of the room and dropped them softly on the table, dusting them affectionately.

"What are you cooking?"

"Vegetables... I guess."

"You guess?"

Akari didn't answer and Gill was fine with her silent response. He sifted through the books and picked the second one from the bottom. He held it out to her, "See if what you need is inside here."

Akari sat down in the dining room's chair, accepting the book graciously. Flipping through the pages, she couldn't help but wonder why Gill had all these books. The curiosity ate her up.

"Gill, do you like to cook?"

Gill sat down across from her, watching her read. He closed his eyes for a moment, thinking.

"No."

"Then why do you...?"

"My father."

Akari tilted her head at the blond. Maybe Gill could teach her how to cook instead of... but Gill doesn't like it so she won't ask. Akari had another question burning inside her.

But she absolutely would not ask.

Akari found a page in the book and her finger slammed down on the recipe. This was perfect.

"Spinach Risotto! It's perfect!"

It was Gill's turn to tilt his head, "Spinach Risotto?" He frowned in obvious distaste.

"Can I borrow this?"

"That's why we came here."

"Ah thank you Gill!" Akari beamed the brightest she could. Gill looked to the fridge giving a nod.

Wordlessly he picked up the leftover books and placed them back in their respective positions. Akari stood in the chair maneuvering her way back on the crutch as she held the book in her other arm.

"When do you get off the crutch?"

Akari looked behind her. Gill walked up behind her, his arms crossed.

"In two more weeks."

"Oh."

After work, Akari worked her way over to the bar. Chase stood behind the counter, cleaning a glass, but at the sight of her turned around, ready to pour her a glass of a legal substance.
"Wait, no."

Chase rose an eyebrow as Akari moved into the bar-stool, "I need something else."

Chase's eyebrow went even higher, but he leaned onto the counter and closer to her, "What?"

"I need your help," Akari swirled side to side in her swivel chair nervously.

"Oh man, where is this going."

"I need to learn to cook."

"Why the heck are you cooking," Chase went back to wiping his glass once more, losing interest.

"Please just help me! Here, I even have my own recipe," Akari pulled the book from the seat next to her, laying it out on the table. She found the page with the risotto. "I'll even bring all my own ingredients."

"Why can't you just cook on your own then?"

"I don't... I can't cook. I'm like Maya, minus the cute adorable way of messing things up. I just blow things up," Akari looked down to the recipe, sulking in her own in-abilities. She hated asking Chase for help, but hey, he was the most respected chef in the region for a reason.

"I refuse."

Akari shot him an angry look, "Why?"

"I just really don't want to," Chase set the glass down under the counter. He crossed his arms and looked at ceiling.

"Don't be an ass," Akari hit slammed the book closed.

"I don't think you're in any position to be calling me an ass."

She balled her hands on the counter, holding back a fire of insults on this annoying man.

"Please," Akari mumbled through gritted teeth, "I really need to cook this."

"Why?"

"I just need to."

Chase leaned over the counter again, "Persuade me."

"You know what?! Screw this!"

Akari reached for her crutch, but Chase pushed the crutch to the ground from over the counter, releasing a loud clang into the bar. Ramsey, Owen, and Kathy glanced over, but went back to what they were doing.

"What the HELL?!" Akari silently screamed to the man. Chase could only smile, chuckling hard to himself, holding in an outburst of anger.

"I'll help you."

Akari wanted to slap him, punch him, kick him in the nuts, but he was going to help her, so she held it in.

"Wha-"

'Don't question it Akari'

"Whe-"

'Who cares Akari. He's helping you, the end...'

Akari could only sigh deeply.

Chase laughed out loudly this time, holding onto his gut, "You looked so stupid!"
Akari imagined him dying alone as an old senile man, who cooked himself stupid old people food all day.
Chase regained his composure, running a hand through his bangs, "Come over on saturday."
"Um, that's the Flower Festival."
"Perfect, we both don't have to work."
"But um..."

"And I'm always in charge of the food, you can help me."

"But..."

Chase's eyes shot open, "Wait, you don't think that I want to go with you. You're coming early... real early."

"I knew that idiot!"

"Seven o'clock. The door will be unlocked for ten minutes, otherwise you'll have to manage with the window."

"You wouldn't."

"I would."

Akari began to pack up, dreading the next few seconds. Her crutch was still all the way over there on the floor.

She heard Chase sigh as she got ready to bend and reach for it. She found herself struck with stupidity when she saw Chase next to her. He bent over and picked up the crutch. He handed it to her and walked back to the counter.

She looked behind her. Chase was leaning on the counter watching her with squinted eyes, "If you aren't going to buy anything, go."

"Shut up."


ALRIGHTY THAN! Sooo... how was it? No one leaves reviews so I wouldn't know.. *hint hint wink wink*

Anyway if your here for Luke, don't worry, I haven't put that juicy stew on the back burner my friends. Plus I was just going through some pics on the internet and I realized how hot Luke was so... he may get some special time soon. Gale too, I realized how much I like him too, so while he won't be an interest, I do want to include him later.

Okay well that's about it...

~Foxliax