NEGOTIATIONS AND FAMILY

The next day, Akage woke up with a scowl on her face. She wasn’t a morning person, but her body was trained to wake up as early as 4 AM and she would spend her time playing games or reading books until breakfast.

She quietly left her room, heading to the kitchen to feed her grumbling stomach, and paused when she saw a note on the freezer door.

Breakfast is in the fridge. Your dad made it, heat it up and eat. Love mama. Akage read as she ripped off the sticky note and whined at the contents.

A driver is going to pick you up around 1 PM. Please be ready. Dad. Akage ignored the note and trashed it before she picked out her breakfast.

Akage headed to the microwave and froze at another disturbing note. Don’t ignore me, I’m serious!

She ripped it off and put her breakfast in the microwave, setting the timer before she sat on the chair close to the island in the kitchen. She fumed at the sight of another sticky note and cursed.

“Come on dad, give me a break!” She complained as she ripped the note, annoyed her dad studied her morning habits to place the notes.

Don’t dress like a man. She read and crumbled the paper before she squeezed it and threw it into the trash from where she sat.

The timer beeped several times as Akage stood up and grabbed a tray. She placed her breakfast on a tray, grabbed a diet coke and went to the living room. She grabbed the remote and put on the TV – she frowned at another note.

“Seriously, dad.” Akage grumbled as she stood up, grabbed the sticky note and read. “Oh, it’s from aunt.”

Make sure you clean your room; it was a mess. Also, I need you to cover for me. I have a date. Akage sighed as she sat down, searching for any notes before finally… eating in peace.

After a healthy breakfast, relaxation exercise and lounging around, Akage went to her room and took her time doing a thorough spring cleaning. She swept her room, reorganised her books and threw all the trash she heaped for weeks.

Akage spent two good hours of her morning cleaning the room, transforming it from a junkyard to a bedroom before she checked the time. She took off her clothes, walked out of the room nude and showered.

She dried her hair with a towel wrapped around her chest. Akage went to one of her bookshelves, selected a Shonen manga and fell on the bed smoothly and read.

Akage was atypical of a normal teenage girl. She wasn’t into boy’s love like other girls; she was obsessed with lolicon like other guys, and she loved Shonen, harem and psychology. Reading was a hobby she enjoyed apart from sports, and it was as well her weakness.

“Shit!” Akage cursed as she climbed down from the bed, ran to her closet, and picked out a short pink gown designed with floral patterns and long white sleeves. The gown rested slightly below her shoulders; she wore pale pink flat shoes and brushed her messy crimson hair and then gathered her short hair into a French braid. She attached black butterfly ear ornaments and a matching necklace before applying a little make-up and lip gloss, giving the androgynous female a more feminine allure.

She stepped out of the house and a black SUV parked in front, waiting. The driver bowed and opened the door. She sat down and crossed her legs with her head held high. The door closed and the car drove to its destination… Tenrou Island.

Tenrou Island was one of the Akazawa family businesses, and Akage was a board member and shareholder. It was their second-largest company, popular for producing gadgets and phones. Akage loved the name and she wanted to give life to the dead island of prodigies in her world, so the name of the company changed from Niuway groups to Tenrou Island on Akage’s demand.

Every employee bowed as the princess of the Akazawa clan strutted into her father’s company.

Entering the elevator, she pressed for the last floor until the bell rang.

Akage stood in front of her father’s office and bowed, regarding Chihiro’s secretary. She was average, slim and tanned, with green eyes and black hair gathered in a low ponytail, giving her a professional appearance. She was efficient and quick with her task.

“Miss Akazawa, welcome. The CEO has been waiting. Is there anything you desire while in your meeting?” Mrs. Haruno, Chihiro’s secretary, asked.

“Strawberry smoothie and potato chips. That will be all Mrs. Haruno. Please have them delivered immediately.” Akage instructed and Haruno nodded before Akage opened the door and entered.

The decor of Chihiro's office was grand and spacious with expensive leather and beautiful crafts. He sat in his chair, reading a folder when Akage sat, relaxed.

“Good day father. You requested to see me.” She said with a voice, clear and void of any intimacy. “This better be important or I’ll be leaving.”

“Even in my office, you can’t be nice to me.” Chihiro whined with a goofy smile.

“It’s called being professional. Aunt has it worst.” She responded as Chihiro chuckled.

“I’m sure she does. You’ve always been a stubborn one.”

“Inherited from both truly. It’s a miracle mom calmed down.” Akage said with a sigh, and they laughed.

“I looked at your request and got you transferred to Seika High School, but I wonder why you want to go to that cheap private school when you can go to any school in the world or remain at your comfortable private school?” Chihiro asked as he supported his head with his knuckles.

“Just hand me the transfer papers. I don’t have answers to those questions.” Akage demanded as she crossed her legs and Chihiro chuckled.

“I will conclude the last steps with two conditions.” Chihiro raised two of his fingers.

“Name your price, you greedy man.” Akage said as a wicked smirk slowly dawned on Chihiro’s face.

The knock on the door held their conversation and Haruno stepped in. She dropped Chihiro’s coffee beside him and Akage’s request before she politely bowed and left the room.

“One, on no account will you use your status, wealth and connections in this school without my permission. If I have knowledge that you use any of these in Seika, you will be removed immediately. Anything you use in Seika must be acquired. I believe you have no problem with this since you’re independent.”

“Sadly yes. After all, if I want to blend in, I need to deprive myself of luxury.”

“Oh, you will receive attention, my dear daughter. You always do something worthy of attention. After all, you are an Akazawa.” Chihiro said with a grin.

“So, what’s condition number two?”

“Sell all your shares to me and replace your mom as the new owner of Maid Paradise.”

“And why would any sane person do that?!” Akage demanded as Chihiro’s smile fell to a straight face.

“We’re leaving Japan Akage. Your mother and I; you are the only one who can save that café and the workers in our absence. Your aunt won’t be able to take over since she’s moving to Kyoto because of her new job and you’re the only one who has the capabilities, the gift. You’re the only one who won’t disappoint me.” Chihiro said as he stood up and placed his hand on her shoulder.

“I trust you Akage, not because we’re similar or you’re my daughter, but because it’s you I trust.”

Chihiro’s confession shocked Akage. Her eyes widened and her frustration that are parents were leaving her again disappeared as a strange feeling tugged in her chest.

“We’ve got ourselves a deal. Run away like you and mom always do.” Akage said as she stood up, taking her snacks and eating it as she headed off.

Chihiro’s serious expression fell as a sad smile washed over his face while his eyes shimmered with kindness and love.

“I wish you could see the world from my stand and maybe you’ll realise how much I love you.” Chihiro whispered.

The door opened as Chihiro exhaled when Haruno peeked in. She entered and closed the door behind her.

“Mr. Akazawa, anything I can help you with? I believe it went well?” Haruno asked, concerned.

“Yes, better than expected. Thank you for your concern, Takako. You’re excused.” Chihiro said as she bowed and took her leave.

Chihiro stared at the picture on his desk from twelve years ago. Akage was five, smiling brightly… How time flies.

Kioko and Kaoru arrived home late, smelling like alcohol as they giggled. They stopped giggling and stared at Akage, who sat on the ground playing video games on her console.

“We’re home!” They shouted together gleefully as they stepped in.

Akage frowned and saved her progress, powered off the TV, grabbed her console and gamepad. She ignored them and headed to her room. Kioko frowned, feeling a little hurt as Kaoru patted her elder sister’s hair, who was shorter than her since she was five feet seven.

“Should I go talk to her?” Kaoru asked, and Kioko shook her head.

“No. She’s mad that me and Chi-chan are going back to the US. Also, you’re leaving as well, and it might just upset her more.” Kioko explained.

“I guess we should have told her a little earlier if we weren’t so busy with our lives.”

“That’s the problem. We’re too busy with ourselves to involve her.”

“I’m home.” Chihiro announced, hours after Kioko and Kaoru’s return, as he changed into his slippers and entered.

“Welcome home, big brother.” Kaoru responded as she took his briefcase and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek.

“Where’s Kioko? Is Akage home?” Chihiro asked as he dragged his feet in exhaustion.

“Yes, she’s home and big sis is in the living room, but she’s not exactly… in the best mood.” Kaoru replied with concern.

Kioko sat in the living room hugging a pillow as Chihiro sat beside her before placing a welcoming kiss on her lips.

“Sweetheart, have you had a conversation with Akage?” Chihiro asked and Kioko shook her head.

She rested her head on his chest as she smiled.

“No, she locked herself inside. She must really be upset we’re leaving tomorrow, even if she doesn’t say so. Actions speak louder than words.” Kioko said.

“We’ll handle our daughter together. Okay?”

“Okay.”

A soft knock distracted Akage from the files she sorted in her library as she set her computer to hibernate. She opened the door and Kaoru leaned against the wall opposite her room.

“Come to the living room, your dad is back, and your parents want to talk. Okay?” Kaoru requested as Akage nodded and quietly followed her aunt.

“No sex in the living room!” Kaoru screamed as Kioko fell with a shriek while Chihiro blushed in embarrassment and helped Kioko up.

“If you were home most of the time, you would hear mom’s moans echoing from the bedroom.” Akage whispered, intentionally letting her parents hear. They both blushed harder while Akage and Kaoru snickered.

Akage and her parents faced each other. The tension in the air was tight; everyone pondered who will be the first to break the awkward silence as they stared at one another.

“I informed you your mom and I are leaving for US and your aunt is going to Kyoto.” Chihiro said as Akage nodded.

“What does that have to do with me?” Akage asked blatantly.

“Excuse me.” Kaoru said and left. Kioko held her chest while Chihiro and Akage maintained fierce eye contact.

“I know you don’t want to go back to Okinawa to live with grandpa, so we got you a smaller residence, a three-bedroom flat closer to your new school.” Chihiro informed her and she clicked her tongue.

“I don’t see why you guys are dragging your departure. If you think I’ll care by doing that, think again because the faster you leave, the faster a sense of relief washes over me. It’s not like you give a crap about me because I am the problem child that you're so ashamed of. You abandon me to feel better.” Akage said with scorn and stood up. “You mean nothing to me.”

“That’s enough!” Kioko stood up and slapped Akage across the cheek, panting hard as Akage kept a stoic face.

“I can’t believe you would say something like that! I tried and tried and struggled to reach out to you, but you keep pushing me away! Why can’t you see how much we love you?!” Kioko’s appealing voice and tear-stained eyes did nothing to waver Akage’s barricaded heart.

“Love me, huh? What a joke! That fantasy you call love died with my childhood because...” Akage lowered herself to her mother’s eyes. “When I needed it, you weren’t there to love me.”

Akage’s words ripped Kioko’s heart off and she crumbled to her knees. Chihiro supported Kioko as Akage smiled in excitement and glared at her dad while Kaoru ran in the heat of the moment.

“I’m the monster you brought into this world, and I despise myself as much as I despise you because we look alike. Oh, and dear Kaoru, take care of your elder sister or she might miss her flight from a heart attack; we wouldn’t want that to happen.” Akage teased as Kaoru widened in shock.

The sound of another slap resonated in the room as Chihiro lowered his hand, grabbed Akage’s shoulders and shook her furiously.

“Why are you behaving like this?! Why are you being a monster?!” Chihiro snapped and a soft chuckle escaped Akage’s lips before meeting her father’s eyes.

“Because I am a monster and I love the thrill pain gives me.” Akage confessed with a sinister smile, scaring her father, who moved away from her.

“Goodnight family. I hope you sleep well… if you can.” Akage said as she walked out, humming.

That night was terrible for Chihiro, Kioko and Kaoru because Akage had revealed a side they had never known existed within her, a side that terrified them and all Akage could think about was… It was a thrill.