The next morning, Azumi woke up to Naga tapping her nose with his. She groaned softly. "Good morning to you, too," she said quietly without opening her eyes. She reached a hand out to pet him gently and then opened her eyes, realizing she was in Sasori's room, and instead of being on the daybed, she was in his bed. She did not even remember falling asleep on the rock. Sasori's sleeping form was very close to her body. He moaned softly in his sleep, his eyes squeezing a little. She turned around to look at him. 'Did he carry me here?' she thought. 'Why did he not wake me up?' She watched him for a few moments, wondering why he had been so nice to her. Naga shifted on her to look at Sasori. Sasori grunted in his sleep, throwing an arm over Azumi's stomach. Her breath hitched and she froze for a second. Naga hissed softly, trying to nudge Sasori's hand with his head. For fear that something would happen to the snake if Sasori woke up and saw what he was doing, she pushed him away. "Do not worry," she told Naga quietly. She gently lifted Sasori's arm in an attempt to move away.
A smirk started to curl Sasori's lips. "I can practically hear your heart racing," he rasped, pulling a little closer to her.
She tensed up a little when he pulled her closer. "Well, you are...very close. Good morning," she said softly. He was spatially invasive normally, but this felt different and she did not know if she liked it.
"I am," he hummed. "Good morning." He stretched gracefully, digging his nails into her side. "Run a bath, then get breakfast." He pressed his face into her thigh.
She was a little less gentle when she lifted his arm to unwrap it from her when she got out of the bed. She went into the bathroom and started his bath, using the salt and oil that she made for him the day before. She inhaled deeply, smirking at how well it turned out. Once it was ready, she stepped back into his room. "I will be right back with your breakfast," she told him.
"Make sure you eat this time," he said from his pillow. "Or I'll force feed you."
Azumi sighed as she walked out of his room and made her way through the halls to the kitchen. She smelled coffee and hummed. She looked around the kitchen for a tray and served two bowls then made two cups of coffee. One of the usual three servants entered the kitchen just as she finished making Sasori's coffee. "Good morning," she said to them. She did it to be polite but in reality, she did not want to have a conversation with them.
"Good morning," they said with a small grin. They walked over to grab their breakfast and make their own cup of tea. "You and the young master are really getting along, aren't you," they winked at her.
Her brow furrowed as she looked at them, knowing exactly what they were implying. "No," she said simply. "He is being nicer, but there is nothing more going on."
"Mm," they hummed, squinting at her. "The pool is only going to grow," they sipped their tea and took their seat at the table just as another one of them walked in.
"Pool?" she asked. "As in a betting pool?" She tried her best not to growl the question, but she was already growing annoyed with these servants, this was only making it worse.
"Duh," the third one said as they walked in. "You really think there wouldn't be one with how strangely the young master has been behaving with you?"
"We're honestly surprised every day how long you're living," the second one said, getting breakfast.
"And how nicely he's treating you," the first one chimed in. They squinted at her, with a grin.
"I can assure you that I have not slept with him," she said. "And I do not intend to."
"That doesn't mean he doesn't intend to," the second one smirked.
Azumi frowned, thinking about how he acted when they woke up. "It will not happen," she told them. She gave them a polite nod as she picked up the tray and went back to Sasori's room. She shook her head, trying not to let her anger get the best of her. "Disgusting," she muttered as she entered the room and set the tray down on his desk.
"Bring it in here," Sasori called from the bath. "Both of them." She took a second to regain her composure before picking up the tray and taking his breakfast to him in the bathroom. She handed him his bowl first, then set the coffee down next to him. "Eat," he said, taking the bowl from her. "But strip first. I want to see something," he grinned, taking a sip of his coffee.
She looked at him for a moment, before taking a step back. She started to take off her dress, letting it fall to the ground easily. It was not the first time she stripped in front of him. They had seen each other naked many times since she became his slave. But this was the first time since she had become his slave that she started to feel a little uncomfortable with it. She chalked it up to what the other servants said minutes ago starting to get into her head.
He noticed her body language instantly. His eyes narrowed as he put his cup down. "What is it?" he asked bluntly. He did not have time for getting shy all of a sudden.
"Mm," she hummed. "Nothing important. Just the other servants of the house getting on my nerves. I usually try not to let such things bother me."
"Which ones?" He did not mind having Chiyo's servant reprimanded. It was fun to watch them cower when he walked by when he bothered to pay them any mind.
She thought for a second. "I...do not even know their names," she said. "But they always seem to be in the kitchen. They gossip like old women. All three of them seem to have a hard time minding their own business."
Sasori's nose wrinkled in disgust. "Oh, those three," he grumbled. "Don't pay attention to them. They are Chiyo's personal servants and have a bad habit of running their mouths."
"So I am gathering," she sighed. "I will try to limit my interactions with them."
"Good." He continued to eat his food. "They seem to think they have an immunity to me but they don't. Especially if they start messing with you." He waved her closer to him.
She could not resist the smirk that appeared on her lips at the thought of them cowering. "I am sure they will learn," she mumbled to herself as she stepped closer to him.
He reached out and traced his fingertips down along her snake tattoo. His eyes fixated on the shape and detail that went into it. He smirked, envisioning what he could do to it. He tapped her hip so she would turn around. She turned around for him, letting the anger over the other servants subside and then looked down at him. She had no idea what he was planning but the look on his face told her he was planning something. He ran a hand up her back and played with the end of her hair. "So much canvas," he hummed with a grin.
'Great, he is going to destroy my body some more,' she thought, rolling her eyes.
"Take a bath once you're done eating," he said, giving her a small push.
She nodded and picked up her bowl to start eating. As she ate, she set up her bath so it would be ready by the time she was done. She used the newer salts and oil that Sasori made for her, unable to hide the smile when she smelled how good it was. She sat on the edge of the tub, dipping her feet into the pool as she ate. She looked out at the river, trying to figure out where she was when Sasori saw her and how to avoid being seen again.
"I'll leave you to add and set up all of the new scents in the shop," he said, finishing his breakfast. He sighed, leaning back in the tub. "I really don't want to deal with this stupid party," he nearly whined, as he stretched his legs out of the tub.
She looked at him and hummed. "All you have to do is look like you are making an effort," she told him. "She did not say you had to leave the party with a wife." She finished her food and slipped into the tub then took a sip of her coffee.
He turned his head to look at her hard. "She won't accept that at all," he sighed. "But it might keep me from murdering Deidara." He rested his head on the backs of his hands on the edge of the tub. He narrowed his eyes at her. "Mmm, yes," he grinned. "I'll use you to deflect ladies while 'making an effort,' and you can keep me from murdering Deidara."
"I do not think you need me to deflect them for you," she smirked. "You seem to be perfectly capable of doing that on your own. However, keeping you from murdering him, I can try to do."
"Either way, you're sticking close to me," he sighed. "I'm not dealing with that alone."
She leaned her head against the edge of her bath and sighed. "Alright," she said. She had been hoping to have the freedom to move around as he gave her during the first party. She had to admit to herself that she just wanted to hang around with Gaara. Then she realized she would be seeing Gaara later in the day when they went to the shop and she sipped her coffee excitedly.
Sasori sunk low into the bath to wash his hair. When he came back up, he pushed his hair all the way back and sighed. "I'll meet you in the room," he said, pushing himself out of the tub. He dried off before pulling on his robe.
Azumi watched him walk out of the bathroom and finished her coffee. She set the cup next to the bath and started to clean herself off, taking a couple of minutes to enjoy the scent of the water. When she was done, she stepped out carefully, grabbing a towel to wrap around herself. She picked up both of their empty bowls and cups and set them back on the tray. Stepping out into the room, she set the tray back on his desk.
Sasori was fully dressed when she walked out. "We should get there in time to do some work in the shop before my mother comes around."
She nodded as she found her clothes and dropped her towel to get dressed. Once she was dressed, she stepped into the workshop to put the cologne for Sandaime and the perfume for Sasori's mother into their respective boxes. She found the cologne she made for Gaara and put it into one of the folds of her dress. Seeing that she was ready, Sasori started for the door. They made their way to the shop easily without any interruption. Gaara was already in the workshop when Sasori pushed the door open.
"Good morning," Azumi grinned at Gaara as she walked into the shop. She set the two boxes down on the counter and immediately started tending to the snakes.
"Good morning," Gaara gave her a megawatt smile. "How are you this morning?"
"Could you turn that down, Sunshine?" Sasori grumbled as he walked up to the second floor.
Azumi and Gaara watched him go up to the second level and then shared a look. "What is his problem today?" Gaara smirked.
"He has lunch with his mother today," Azumi told him softly. "She wants him to find a wife at this upcoming party."
"Aah," Gaara nodded. "That's fair," he nodded. "My father is already getting on my case about it."
"About marriage?" she hummed. "It seems it is about that time for parents to bother their children about the subject. My father did the same to me before I left."
"Yeah," he hummed. "I think Kankuro has someone." He looked up in thought. "Or he's telling my father that to keep him off his case."
"That is one way to push the issue aside," she chuckled. "Have you considered doing the same or are you actually looking for someone?"
"I...can't play like that," he said, blushing a little. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I am interested in someone but they are a little tied up right now," he admitted.
"Oh," she frowned. "That is unfortunate. But I suppose that is not enough for your father." She started to take out the new colognes and perfumes meant to be sold in the shop from their boxes.
"It's not," he sighed. "He wants me out of his hair as soon as possible. As if I'm such a burden on him." He rolled his eyes then grinned, leaning in closer to see what she was pulling out. "What are these?" he asked brightly.
"Perfumes and colognes that Lord Sasori had me make," she smiled. "Would you like to smell them?" Without him answering, she pushed one of each fragrance toward him for him to smell. She could not keep the smirk off of her face.
He smirked, reaching for the bottle without looking away from her. He opened the bottle and waved it under his nose. "Whoa." His eyes widened. He took a deeper breath of it. "That's amazing," he breathed.
"I know," she smirked. She opened the second one and made the same motion for him to smell it.
He took a deep breath. His eyes practically rolled back. "How do you make this?" he groaned with a grin.
"Pretty easily," she hummed. "I like to think I have a good sense of what notes go well together. And then I add an amplifier." She picked up the rest of the bottles and nodded for him to follow her out to the shop so she could set up the display.
"You're amazing," he laughed, following her out. "Your talents are boundless," he grinned.
"You would be surprised at the number of things I cannot do," she chuckled softly. They worked on the display for a couple of minutes. Just as they finished, Sandaime and Sasori's mother entered the shop.
"Good morning, Uncle, Auntie," Gaara smiled, pausing to bow to his family.
"Good morning, Gaara, Azumi," Sandaime nodded.
Sasori's mother smiled, opening her arms and walking over to pull Gaara into a hug. "Good morning, my cute nephew." She kissed his cheeks.
Azumi bowed to both of them. "I have your fragrances," she told them. She stepped back into the workshop to grab the cologne and perfume, returning to hand each of them their respective boxes.
Neither of them waited long to open the boxes. They opened the bottles and took a deep breath. Sasori's mother gasped first. "This is astounding," she sighed. "I've never smelled anything like this before. Did you really just make this?"
"I did, my Lady," Azumi smiled. "I am glad you like it." She looked at Sandaime who was still nose deep in his cologne bottle. "Do you like yours?" she asked him.
He took another deep breath. "Aah, yes," he breathed with a grin. "I'm going to wear this every day from now on." Sasori walked out moments later. "I can't thank you enough." He took another whiff.
Sasori's mother pulled away from Gaara to hug her son. "Good morning, son of mine," she smiled, kissing his cheeks.
"I am glad you like it," Azumi grinned with a slight bow.
"Good morning," Sasori said softly to his mother as he hugged her.
"So where are you taking me for lunch?" she smirked at him.
Sasori chuckled, wrapping his arms around his mother's shoulders.
"I have the perfect place in mind," he grinned. "It's a new place and the food is right up your alley."
"Ooh! I can't wait!" she grinned, placing her hands over his.
"We'll leave in just a few minutes," Sasori told her. "I'm just finishing up a composition upstairs."
"I can finish it for you," Gaara told him.
"Well, then," Sasori chuckled. "Shall we go to an early lunch then, Mother?" He offered her his arm.
She grinned as she took his arm and giggled. "Let's do dessert first," she said, walking with him towards the door.
"Whatever you want," Sasori smiled as they left.
Azumi, Gaara, and Sandaime stood there for a couple of seconds in silence. Sandaime looked at Azumi. "Are you doing well?" he asked her.
She smiled and nodded at him. "I am doing very well," she told him. "Since your visit last night with his mother, he has been much more calm than normal."
"That's good to hear," he smiled kindly. "Let's hope it lasts."
"Hopefully, it's not the calm before the storm, though," Gaara said a little worried. "You know how he likes to plot and snap."
"I know," she hummed. "I am just enjoying it for now. But he is letting me indulge myself in making these fragrances. I even made a few for myself." She chuckled softly and looked back at Sandaime. "If you wear that every day, as you said, then just let me know when you are running low and I will make more for you."
"Will do," he smiled. "He handles pressure well, so he shouldn't snap any time soon. Not over something he's dealt with before."
"Let us just hope the upcoming party actually goes well for him," she sighed. They went into the workshop to sit down. Azumi started making coffee for her and Gaara and tea for Sandaime. "But it is interesting to see how he acts around his mother. But also how...very similar they are."
"Sasori's always been a mama's boy," Sandaime chuckled, taking a seat. "He was very shy when he was little and would hide behind her whenever he'd come over or go out."
"They used to go on weekly dates when he still lived at home," Gaara smirked. He moved to close up a few boxes and put them on nearby shelves. "They've always been really close."
"The party should not be an issue."
"But Deidara might be."
"Don't worry about Deidara, he'll be preoccupied," Sandaime smirked deviously.
"That sounds a lot like you are going to 'take care' of him," Azumi chuckled.
"Oh, no, once he realizes Sasori's mother is there, then he'll relax," Sandaime clarified.
"Oh..." she hummed. "That is...interesting to know." She was hoping that meant she would not have to worry too much about trying to stop Sasori from murdering Deidara.
"Sasori gave you free rein to roam the party last time, so we can watch both train wrecks together," Gaara smiled.
"Mm, I would love to...I would prefer to," she hummed disappointedly. "But he told me to stay close to him for this one."
Both men frowned. "Did he say why?" Sandaime asked.
Gaara was trying his best not to pout. "He can handle ladies on his own," he huffed.
"That is what I told him but he does not want to deal with them alone," she scoffed. "It feels like I am babysitting him." Once the water was boiling, she poured it over the beaker with the coffee and the rest into a cup of tea. She handed Sandaime his cup of tea as she waited for the coffee to finish filtering.
"Mm, it is always nicer to have a partner to field with the dating pool," Sandaime sighed. "The women in this town can be scary." Gaara pressed his lips, annoyed he could not deny this fact.
"But he could not get his best friend to work as a wingman for him?" she grumbled quietly, pouring the coffee for her and Gaara. She handed Gaara his cup and leaned against the counter. "Well, at least I know I would not have to deal with that and Deidara," she sighed.
Both men thanked her for their drinks. "That's a relief," Sandaime nodded.
"I don't think Komushi is going to be at the party," Gaara frowned, sipping his coffee.
She chuckled softly. "I think that is normally something I would find a bit relieving," she said.
"Yes, Komushi can be a little much sometimes," Sandaime smirked. Gaara went up to the second level to finish up the composition Sasori was working on. "I am going to treat you two for lunch. What would you like?"
Azumi looked up at Gaara who leaned over the railing to look at her. "Arayes?" Azumi suggested.
"And shawarma?" Gaara smirked.
They both looked at Sandaime who chuckled. "Alright," he said, finishing his tea. "Then I will get that for you."
"Thank you," Azumi grinned, bowing as he stood up. Sandaime nodded to her then slipped out of the back door of the shop.
"I'll see if I can tear you away from my cousin at the party," Gaara called down to her. "There is no way he's going to hold onto you the whole night."
"Hopefully, he will meet someone that he actually hits it off with and I then I will not be needed anymore," she chuckled as she made her way to the second level. She watched as he finished up whatever Sasori started. "However, I am also not getting my hopes up for that. He seems to be very adamant about not getting married."
Gaara looked up and pulled a stool over for her to sit with him. "Sasori's never seemed like the marrying type," he said easily. "Not even when he and Mei were heavily involved. Frankly, I don't think any woman should be stuck with him."
"Mm, I agree," she hummed. "He would not make a good husband." She leaned on the table and rested her head against her fist as she watched him bottle up whatever he was working on. "Oh!" she said, remembering the bottle she hid in her dress. "I made this for you." She pulled it out and handed it to him. "I was having a lot of fun making these. It is made to go well with your natural scent."
Gaara stopped what he was doing to take the bottle with a look of surprise. "You...made me this?" he grinned, taking the bottle. He opened it and took a deep, excited breath. "Oooooh," he breathed out. He felt his heart speed up and a giddy feeling bloom in his stomach. He looked at her and leaned in close. His lips pressed gently against hers before he gained a little confidence and pushed a little harder.
She hummed in surprise before relaxing and pushed gently back into the kiss and cupped his face. When they finally pulled apart, she chuckled softly, feeling her face get warm. "Uh...you are welcome," she said.
Gaara's face was almost as red as his hair. "I..sorry," he laughed, looking away. "Thank you so much." He smelled the cologne again. "This is amazing."
"I am glad you like it," she smiled. She took the bottle from him, dabbing a little onto her finger and moving a little closer to him. "I want to smell it on you." She gently dragged her finger across his neck. He tilted his jaw up a little so she had better access to his skin. He smiled, looking up at a shelf as it dried on his skin, holding his position so she could smell her work on him. She closed the bottle and leaned in close to smell him, grinning wide at how good it was. "I love it," she whispered, taking his hand and placing the bottle in it and closing his fingers around it.
He curled his fingers around the bottle and turned his face back to look at her with a wide grin. "Then I'll have to wear it every day." He took her hand and kissed the back of it. "Thank you again."
"You are very much welcome," she smirked, leaning in to press a quick and gentle kiss to his lips as she stood up. She heard the back door to the shop open. "Your uncle is back," she whispered. Gaara smiled dreamily as he stood up. He pulled her into a tight hug then released her to walk over to the top of the ladder.
"I got a few extra things," Sandaime called up to them.
"Oh?" Gaara chuckled. "Do I smell...churros?"
"Churros?" Azumi asked excitedly, leaning over the railing. She followed Gaara down the ladder as Sandaime set the food down on a counter. She smelled the food as she approached it and groaned happily.
"They are in fact churros," Sandaime laughed. He pulled the food out and set each dish out.
Gaara walked over to a cabinet and pulled out dishes for them to eat off of. "The one true weakness of our entire family," Gaara chuckled. "We can't resist them."
"They are a weakness of mine as well," Azumi admitted. She took the plate that Gaara handed her and served herself. She took a little bit of each dish and a couple of churros.
"No wonder you fit right in with us," Sandaime chuckled, dishing out a plate for himself. Gaara smirked, stepping between them to dish out some food. Sandaime noticed the scent on Gaara immediately. "Did you make something for Gaara, too?" he leaned over to look at Azumi with a grin.
"I did," she smiled as she sat down to eat. "I may have gotten a little too excited when I was asked to make these fragrances."
Sandaime chuckled as Gaara took a seat. "No such thing," he smiled at her. "I'm glad you're smiling and have something you can enjoy."
Gaara nodded. "And we all got something one of a kind out of it." He looked at her with another dreamy smile for a moment then turned back to his food. He hoped his uncle did not notice him slip just now. But Sandaime was a very sharp man. He definitely noticed.
"I am glad you enjoy them," she chuckled. "I also made bath salts and oils for Lord Sasori, so if you are interested in those, I can do that for you as well."
"How luxurious," Gaara chuckled.
"I'll put in a request," Sandaime grinned. "I'm weak for things that smell good," he smiled.
"Then you can expect them soon," she smirked. "I already know which scents they will be."
"I'm excited to try them out." Azumi finished the arayes and shawarma she served herself and immediately started eating the churros. "You're missing the best part," Sandaime chuckled, handing her a small tub of icing.
She let out a small gasp as she took it and dipped the churros into it. "This was a very rare thing to have in my village."
"Really? What kinds of foods are common where you lived?" He finished off his food. "Do you miss any of them?"
"We have an international shop here, we could maybe find some stuff if you miss something specific," Gaara smiled.
She hummed in thought for a moment. "There are a lot of foods here that are very similar or even the same. But churros were something that had to be specially imported so they were rare."
"I almost can't imagine this city without churros," Gaara smiled. "They are a scent of my childhood." He finished his food and picked up his own share of churros.
"Your mother made some of the best homemade churros," Sandaime hummed, chewing on his own.
"Ooh, making them," Azumi hummed. "I never thought to make them myself." She sat back in her seat as she finished her churros. She looked at Gaara. "Would you like to try making them?"
"I...would like that," he said softly. He looked hard at the churro in his hand, getting lost in thought. "I think Temari has her recipe," he said, snapping out of it and flashing her a big smile.
"If she doesn't, then Kankuro definitely will," Sandaime hummed. "He cooked with her more often than Temari." He dipped his own churro into some icing.
Azumi smiled back at Gaara. "Get it from one of them and we will try to make it," she said.
"You are welcome to use my house," Sandaime smiled. "I'm not sure your cousin will allow you to have his slave over."
Gaara nodded to his uncle. "Thank you," he smiled. "He's not fond of how human I treat you," he frowned, looking back at Azumi. "The question is how will we convince him to let you out of his sight."
"That would be impossible," she frowned. "I cannot think of a reason for me to be able to leave his side. I was thinking of making them here," she chuckled.
Gaara looked up at the second level, drumming his fingers on his chin. "It might be a challenge but I think we could manage it," he said with a smile. "I'll bring a few extra things from home. I should be able to get the recipe this week but you can tell me when you want to make it."
"Sounds like a date," she smirked, completely forgetting that Sandaime was right there.
Gaara blushed a little, finishing his churro. "A date," he confirmed. Sandaime smiled discreetly, standing up to clean away the mess before Sasori returned.