Raising Problems - Part 5
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
Description: Ayano Ichinomiya was beginning to fear for her parents' marriage. Eisuke and Melody have been married for at least sixteen years but Ayano swore she saw their relationship crumbling. Not that her brothers Eito and Sosuke were being much help to the situation either.
Children: Eito Ichinomiya - 16, Ayano Ichinomiya - 12, Sosuke Ichinomiya - 6, Evie-Rose Woods – 8, Lihwa Oh – 15, Mamoru’s invisible child 1 – 14, Mamoru’s invisible child 2 – 9
Word count: 1739
Eito was starting to get used to the idea of working with his mother. He didn't exactly like being a maid, but he stopped complaining and worked hard in hopes of being moved to a better position. Then again, his mother had been working in this job for at least twenty years, twenty-two he thought he had been told and it still baffled him. She had married one of the richest people in the world, she never had to lift a finger again if she wanted to, but still she worked as a maid. Granted, she wasn't just a low level one, she was basically the 'head maid' if there was one. Eito had also noticed recently that she worked very close to Mr. Kenzaki which only made sense as the manager was getting on in his years, so he was beginning to suspect that she was working to maybe one day take over from Mr. Kenzaki or something like that.
But he figured asking was going to get him more concrete answers over speculating.
"What do you mean?" She asked handing him the new towels for the room.
"I mean. You are the wife to one of the richest men in the world. Why continue working as a maid?"
She stopped shortly before continuing to pack up the cleaning materials, "For one I didn't marry him for his wealth, and I don't ever want anyone to think that. But mostly, I love my job. I've always wanted to work in hospitality, and I'm not going to give up my job just because I got married, whether he is rich or not."
"Uh-huh. So you work because you want to?"
"Exactly. But I do more than cleaning guest rooms. I essentially run the entire cleaning staff."
Eito wasn't sure exactly what type of answer he was looking for, but when he heard his mother's answer he knew that was the answer he was going to get. The all too familiar pager beeped at Melody's hip. Quickly glancing at it she took the unmoved towels' from Eito's hands, "Your father wants to see you in his office. You have five minutes." At his mother's words, Eito ran from the room, wanting to get up to his office quickly. Melody giggled a little as he ran, knowing she added the five minutes part on herself.
Breathing heavily as he burst into Eisuke's office, Eisuke chuckled already knowing what his wife did. Without needing to say a word, Eito took a seat while he caught his breath. He wasn't out of shape or anything, he just wasn't used to running across the hotel in under five minutes, especially when he decided the stairs were a faster option to get higher.
"As promised, since you are now sixteen, you can now attend the I.V.C. if you which to do so." Eito became nervous when Eisuke began to talk. He had his business voice on, "But, there is something else your mother and I agreed to tell you when you were sixteen."
"Then why isn't Mum here?" Eito asked before he could stop himself.
"She isn't too fond of this secret, and it isn't hers to tell really. The thing is Eito, the I.V.C. is just a front for a different sort of party. A very exclusive one, that only those invited can know about." Stopping, Eisuke tried to think of the best way to tell him without having him get angry or anything. He'd been trying for years to plan this out perfectly, but somehow he still didn’t know how to do it right. "You understand Soryu's job don't you."
"He's the boss of the Ice Dragons." Eito said simply.
"And you know he's not a bad person, despite what he does." Of course he knew that. Sure he wasn't very expressive unless someone annoyed him, but he'd known Soryu his whole life, so he couldn't judge him on his career.
Trying to think of how this fit in with what Eisuke was trying to tell him, Eito blurted out, "So you're doing illegal stuff like Uncle Soryu?"
Eisuke sighed, "If that's how you want to put it, yes. Soryu, Ota, Baba, Hishikura, Mamoru, Luke and Hikaru are all my partners in this. We run an auction, a black market auction if you will. Not everything put up for sale is illegal, but you can buy anything and everything there."
"Even people?" Eito's voice only showed a little shock as he spoke. Typical teenager.
Eisuke laughed quietly at his question, "Yes even people at their own will. But listen Eito, if you are to be my heir to the Ichinomiya group then understand you cannot tell anyone."
"I understand." Eito said quietly. He wasn't sure how he felt about the whole thing. He remembered some kids at school in Japan used to comment on how there had to be dirty money somewhere in his family income. He had denied it, but apparently they were right. Were these auctions the only reason his family was so wealthy? "Why hold them?"
Leaning his head against his hand, Eisuke thought, "It's been so long now I'm not sure I remember exactly why. Soryu needed extra money to get where he is now, Baba needed somewhere to sell items he acquired. Ota eventually was brought on so he could appraise and sell his own art, and I don't even know Mamoru's, Luke's, Hikaru's or Hishikura's reasons."
"What did Mum say when you told her you were starting this?"
Eisuke laughed again, "The auctions began before I met her. But she did really hate me for a while there when she found out. She's never liked it. Still doesn't to this day I think. But I would like to slowly bring you in to help me, and when you take over from me you can choose to shut them down should you wish."
"I'll think about it." Was Eito's final response. Eventually, the teen would come around to it. His father's genes of a good business venture overtaking his mother's genes of good morals.
"So how long have you known about the auctions?" Eito said casually to Lihwa the next day at lunch.
The girl quickly hissed to shut him up, smacking his shoulders a couple of times, "Don't be such a blabber mouth. This is why none of you have been told."
"How come you haven't blabbed?"
"Have you seen the environment I grew up in? I was raised to keep secrets."
"So was I."
Lihwa sighed at Eito's childish insistence, "I think I was around five or so when I found out. That was about when I started to understand what Dad did and well I was young. I don't know how I found out exactly."
Sighing, Eito took a sip of his drink, "I'm still not sure how I feel about it."
"I suppose I come from a dangerous world, so I'm used to it. But don't worry little prince. I'll protect you if you enter the dangerous world." Lihwa giggled patting Eito's cheek. He frowned at the nickname he had for her but found her promise a little reassuring. Feeling irritated by something that wasn't the nickname, he lightly knocked her hand away from his face.
"I need new friends." He grumbled.
It was the first time since their promise that Eisuke and Melody had free schedules, although Melody had a feeling that Eisuke was behind it. Sitting across from Eisuke at the café felt strange. It wasn't a big, fancy and expensive restaurant. It was a small café, that was currently filled with workers quickly grabbing lunch on their break and a few elderly couples. How Melody would describe it would be, out of character for Eisuke.
Melody was enjoying herself as she watched Eisuke scan the menu, "So who told you about this place?" She finally asked, setting her small menu aside, "Baba?" She watched his face for a reaction, "Mei Ling?" Nothing. "Ota?" Eisuke's face didn't change as Melody went through anyone and everyone she could think of, knowing Eisuke wouldn't have thought of this place on his own.
"Mamoru." Eisuke finally gave in and answered her, "He told me about it and I thought you might like it."
"I'll be sure to tell Naomi thank you." Melody giggled knowing it would have been Mamoru's wife who knew about this place. Also the fact that she just saw Naomi walk in, clearly on her lunch break. "But you know it's not the place we're at. It's being together that I love." She reached across the table and placed her hand on his arm. After all these years she had become used to the fancy restaurant, so she wasn't as awkward in them as she was in their early years together, but she really didn't mind where they were.
"You've been watching sappy romance movies again haven't you?" The corner of Eisuke's lip twitched upwards a bit as he briefly glanced up at her.
"I am merely human Eisuke. I'm weak to two things. Sappy romance and back muscles."
Eisuke rolled his eyes at her words as he put his menu down, and added, "And arm muscles." But his lips twitched even more this time.
The two began to talk about nothing in particular, even though it was mostly Melody rambling on while Eisuke half listened.
"-and you don't care. I'm boring you aren't I?" Melody finally caught Eisuke's apparent lack of interest and she quickly silenced herself.
When Eisuke finally realized her voice had stopped, he snapped back into attention, "Oh no. You weren't boring me. I was just wondering where our waiter was. I'm ready to order."
The smile returned to Melody's face at his words, "It seems wisdom doesn't come with age. What did you want Eisuke?" She asked looking over at his menu as he told her. Once she knew what she wanted she went up to the counter to order them lunch.
Eisuke found himself smiling as he watched her place their order. Even after all these years he still refused to lose her. He quietly admitted to himself that he would give up everything if it was the cost of keeping her and his family. But as she came back and resumed her rambling, this time with a bit more input from Eisuke to keep her talking, he knew he would never have to do that.
Part 6 - Coming eventually