Changing Peach Hearts (Akashi X OC)

Chapter 25 - Family

Chiharu stared at the sly looking woman. 

She slung an arm around Akashi's shoulder, in which Akashi briskly shoved off. So instead she leaned against the bench that the couple were currently dining on. 

Chiharu awkwardly continued eating, half listening to their conversation.

"Seijuro, you're so cold to your aunt," Yuka whined. 

Akashi's icy eyes met hers.

"Aunt Yuka, you ran away to Europe without contact for the last five years, leaving our company without its vice president. Your reason; you found your destined partner," Akashi replied.

Yuka's golden eyes dimmed and watered. 

"It's not my fault that that asshole left for another woman!" she complained. 

Akashi sighed, his fingers now rubbing his temples.

Chiharu watched from the side. This was not what she had expected when she had heard of the renowned Akashi empress.

Akashi Yuka was known as Akashi Masaomi's right hand woman. She was a queen in the business world and a fine strategist in the arts of politics. She had helped build the Akashi name to greater levels but it had seemed that in the last five years she had gone missing.

Now Chiharu had understood. 

Although this woman was a genius in the business world, as per her family, the perfectionistic Akashi, she had one thing they didn't have.

A huge weakness.

In other words, Yuka got easily deceived by men.

Akashi glared coldly at his aunt. 

"Father was furious when you left. Since then, the company's been in a decline and father's health has deteriorated."

Yuka's eyes softened. 

She knew that without her, all pressure was left on her brother's shoulders and consequently, her nephew's shoulders. 

She sighed. 

"That's why I came back. I had heard Masa-nii was ill and I knew that you were still in high school." 

She glanced to the side where Chiharu sat. An amused smile finally entering her lips. 

"And you've got other priorities now too."

Chiharu flushed, looking down and fingering with her violet dress. 

Yuka eyed Chiharu's carefully plaited braid that swirled into a peach-coloured bun, followed by small, curled strands of hair. Chiharu's petite face had been lightly touched with make-up and she was adorned in a simple yet elegant gown.

"You've found yourself a pretty one," Yuka whispered to Akashi. 

Although vaguely hidden by his intentional scowl, Akashi's cheeks held a faint red tint and he elbowed his aunt sightly annoyed and embarrassed.

"And how about you? You're already in your thirties and you still haven't settled down," he countered. 

Yuka grinned wildly.

"Men suck. I will never be tied down," she announced. "They're all distractions anyway."

"Says the one who can't keep her hands off men," Akashi muttered.

Yuka ignored him and looked towards Chiharu. 

"So I've only be gone for five years and I come back to find that you have a girlfriend? Akashi Seijuro has a girlfriend?! How in the world did she tie you down?!" she exclaimed dramatically.