#raisingproblems

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.

As he continued to stare at the ceiling, Eito sighed. He knew going to Japan was a stupid idea but he was upset and needed to be in familiar surroundings. Not that he wasn't familiar with London, it's just that it wasn't home. In Japan Eito had been popular. He was friends with everyone, and he even had a small group of close friends or so he'd thought. Since moving to England he had only heard from one of them, not including Hinata and when he met up with her while he was in Japan to ask her to explain, she had told him his fears were true.

 He didn't really have any friends, they were all using him for his family money. Hinata did explain that she did return his feelings, but a long-distance relationship was too hard. That left him with only one friend, Masamune. The one friend who responded to his calls this entire time. The one friend who agreed to convince his brother to pick him up from the airport. The one friend who became friends with him without knowing his last name.

 "You really are an idiot you know?" A voice came from his door. Lifting his head slightly he saw Lihwa standing there with a grin plastered across her face. She had taken after Soryu in the looks department, but thankfully had her mother's personality. The way Baba had described it was, "If Soryu was a girl he would be beautiful."

 Sighing again, he flopped his head back onto his bed, "It's just you." He said sarcastically.

 "You ruined our plans for your birthday you idiot." He felt his bed shift as she sat at the end.

 "I might feel bad if you stopped calling me an idiot."

 "What were you hoping to achieve?" She asked, her voice turning serious, "If you wanted to be sent to boarding school in Japan that was the worst way to do it."

 "Boarding school was always used as a threat against me before. Maybe it'll be finally used as a punishment." Eito shrugged as he linked his fingers behind his head.

 "I seriously doubt you'll be let out of the city without an escort ever again."

 "Hey, maybe you could take up a job as an escort rather than a mob boss then." Eito suggested.

 Once he said it, he then heard it and went to apologise but Lihwa leant over and hit him in the stomach muttering, "Asshole," at him before leaving.

 Eito groaned in pain as he held his stomach and curled up into a ball. She had always been strong, curtesy of her upbringing, and often hit Eito if she thought he deserved it.

 Later, Eisuke called Eito into his office. It was all very businesslike as Eisuke asked Eito to take a seat while remaining behind his desk.

 Eisuke remained quiet, when only a few minutes later Melody came into the office, "I was busy Eisuke." She was wearing her work uniform. She must have only just begun her shift.

 Glancing at his watch when she came in, he gestured for her to come around the desk and she stood beside him as he spoke, "Your mother and I have decided that you are still to have your birthday party."

 Eito's eyes lit up at this but was crushed immediately. "But," Melody added, "only on certain terms."

 "You will work at the hotel. A month after you turn sixteen you can go look for work elsewhere, but you must sustain a part-time job until you are eighteen." Eisuke explained.

 Unconsciously, Melody's hand made it onto the top of Eisuke's chair, "This will also be your source of income. As of your birthday you are no longer to receive an allowance and 10% of your weekly earnings for the next year will come to us as payment for the jet you hired. You must also tell us where you are going before you go somewhere again. But no leaving London without permission."

 "Should you agree, we will fly your friends over from Japan for your birthday and you can invite some from here and you can have your party up here in the penthouse." Eisuke concluded. Eito's face twisted a bit as he thought. They weren't sending him to boarding school in Japan like he kind of hoped, but deep down he knew that wasn't going to happen. It seemed like a fair punishment, but it was beginning to sound like his grounding would last for two years to him. It didn't seem like a fair trade for a small party.

 "Oh." Melody suddenly remembered something as Eito's face twisted, "You'll only be grounded for a week from Monday." She nodded, satisfied that they had covered everything.

 "So, let me get this straight. I'll only be grounded for a week, I can have some form of party and all I have to do is get a job and pay you back some money?" Eito summed up.

 "And you will lose your allowance and we must know where you are." Melody added.

 "Seems fair." Eito said excitedly, getting up and reaching over the desk to Eisuke, "Deal?"

 Eisuke grinned, "You've got to learn to control your excitement during deals." Eisuke chided as he shook Eito's hand, "You begin today."

 "What?" Eito's eyes widened.

 "You will be ghosting your mother. She will teach you everything about her job."

 "I can't be a maid!" Eito shouted. He was kind of hoping for maybe a job in one of the restaurants, or the casino or even the front desk.

 "Well I cannot have a minor working in the casino or at a bar. Just for the time you will work with your Mum and we will see where we can put you." Eisuke leant back in his chair, "You can't go back now, we shook on it."

 "A verbal contract means nothing!" Eito shouted. He refused to be a maid.

 "You taught him well." Melody commented, laughing a little.

 "A little too well." Eisuke's eyes narrowed, "A verbal contract may mean nothing, but we are your parents so none of that matters."

 "Come on Eito." Melody came around the desk and pulled him up from his chair, "We have work to do." She said as she dragged him from the room. Eito continued to complain, but he still followed Melody. Eisuke laughed when he heard his wife threaten, "Continue to complain and I will find you the women's uniform."

 That Tuesday, Eito woke up to Ayano and Sosuke jumping on top of him yelling, "Happy birthday!"

 "Do you feel old now?" Ayano asked as Sosuke pulled one of Eito's eyes open.

 "He looks old." Sosuke declared.

 "I look the same as I did yesterday." Eito grumbled swatting Sosuke's hand away before sitting up.

 "He's grumpier." Sosuke also decided as they got off Eito's bed.

 "Bugger off." Eito swatted them away as he swung himself out of bed.

 "And he's adopting English mannerisms." Ayano observed, "Too bad it wasn't any of the gentlemanly ones." Sosuke nodded and the two ran out of the room before Eito could do anything. When he came into the lounge room he found Eisuke and Melody sitting on one couch, while Sosuke and Ayano sat opposite them, staring at the presents on the coffee table like it was Christmas, except none of the presents were for them.

 "Happy birthday my baby boy." Melody cheered enveloping Eito into a hug. Hearing a disapproving noise from Sosuke Melody laughed, "You're all my babies." Pulling away, Melody pinched Sosuke's cheek before sitting back down.

 Before he knew what was happening, Eisuke also hugged him saying, "Happy birthday."

 "Oh, so we're doing this." Eito teased hugging his father back. Eito had already nearly caught his father height wise and he wasn't too far behind in appearance either.

 "You're finally of age where you receive boring, practical presents." Melody said happily as she handed him his first present.

 "I've seen the presents Dad gives you. I don't think he understands practical presents." As it turned out, Eito was wrong. Either that or Melody had bought all his presents. He received a watch, a few games he had asked for, a book from his grandparents, movies from Ayano, a figurine from Sosuke and a couple of outfits, a few casual and some formal. He had figured the formal ones were to hint that he was soon allowed at the I.V.C. but it was never mentioned. For a normal family, the presents Eito received would have been a lot, but not for an Ichinomiya, especially with Eisuke's history.

Before leaving for school, Eisuke pulled Eito aside. After glancing around to make sure Melody wasn't looking, he handed him an envelope, "Don't tell your mother, but happy birthday."

 The envelope felt empty, but Eito had a good guess at what it was, "Thanks Dad." He said sincerely.

 "We'll talk about the I.V.C. tomorrow after school. For today enjoy your birthday." Eisuke said as his way of goodbye. Eito laughed quietly to himself when he opened the envelope later, it was true Eisuke didn't understand practicality.

 As soon as he arrived at school Eito was knocked back by Lihwa screaming, "Happy birthday!" As she threw her arms around him.

 "Doesn't this school have a 30cm policy?" Eito laughed awkwardly as he glanced back to his mother who had driven them. His hands awkwardly hovered around Lihwa, unsure of where to put them.

 "Have fun at school!" Melody called before leaving to take Sosuke to school.

 "It does but no one enforces it unless its puke worthy." Lihwa said as she stepped back, handing him his present. He laughed as he opened the bag and saw the assortment of items. It was mostly an assortment of coffee flavoured candy, but Eito noticed they were all his favourite ones from Japan.

 "How did you-?"

 "Samejima." Lihwa said simply, "I do have more to bring tonight, this is all I could bring to school." Eito laughed a little more as Ayano peeked over into the bag, making a disgusted sound before going across to her school's campus. "All I could think to myself when trying to find you a present was, 'what do you get the kid who has everything?'"

 "You should have asked Mum. She somehow finds presents for Dad."

 "Yeah but all she has to do is put a bow on." Lihwa said, quoting Baba from one year.

 Eito's face twisted in disgust, "I never wanted to hear that again."

 The party that night was low key but Eito was happy with it. Eisuke had flown Masamune over for his birthday while Lihwa was his only other friend. Lihwa had been going to school in England for a long time, after spending the first few years at school in Hong Kong, and had good friends in England. Eito had no interest in making friends up until this point, and just hung around Lihwa and her friends. Ayano and Sosuke were also there, along with Evie-Rose, Baba's daughter. Evie was only there because Baba was unexpectedly given her for the next few days, but Eito simply thought of her as another sister.

 Eisuke and Melody were upstairs with the door open along with Soryu, Mei Ling and Baba. Melody and Mei Ling had forbidden them from talking business, but as the girls got distracted with their own talk their conversation ended up delving there.

 "You sure you can't get your parents to transfer you over here?" Eito begged Masamune.

 "My parents aren't rich like yours. I'm only where I am because of a scholarship." Masamune laughed. The truth was, Eito was also Masamune's only friend. He was beginning to make a few new ones but a lot of the kids at his school looked down on him.

 Eito sighed, "I'm starting to get sick of having no friends." He mumbled.

 Lihwa hit him hard, "And what am I? Chopped liver?"

 "Ow." Was Eito's response as he rubbed his arm, "Don't abuse the birthday boy."

 "Still. The only reason you haven't made any friends is because you don't try."

 "Pft. Effort." Eito leant back on the couch before realising he needed more food and leant forward to the huge array of snacks.

 "See? This is why you're not allowed at the I.V.C. you're still a child." Lihwa sighed before getting up to join the little ones in a card game.

 "So," Masamune leant over towards Eito and whispered quietly, "do you think Lihwa would give me her number?"

 "Why would you want that?" Eito frowned looking at his best friend. When realisation hit him, he laughed quietly, "Masa. I wouldn't even try dating her." Was his response.

 "Why? Do you think I have no chance?" Masamune asked, sounding quite hurt.

 "No, it's not that." Eito shook his hands, "It's her dad. You're my only friend and I don't want him killing you."

 "He wouldn't literally-" Masamune began but cut himself off when he saw Eito's face. It screamed seriousness.

 It wasn't long before Ayano demanded they play Mario Kart, "Isn't this my birthday?" Was Eito's attempt at an argument.

 When Ayano beat Eito out of his spot in the game, Eito sat back munching on a bag of his coffee candy as he watched the amusing scene before him unfold. As it turned out, Sosuke dominated them all, coming first each game easily.

 "How does he do it?" Masamune mused as he sat next to Eito, stealing some candy.

 "Pure talent?" Lihwa suggested.

 "Good genes?" Eito offered.

 "That would mean you would be good at this." Lihwa retorted.

 "He plays all the time with Daddy and Uncle Suke." Evie explained in her quiet voice.

 "Wait, when has Dad played this?" Eito asked sounding excited. The thought of Eisuke playing this amused him, "Don't worry just call me next time he is."

 "So, the little girl is your cousin?" Masamune whispered to Eito.

 "I honestly don't know." Eito stopped to think about it, "I think her Dad works for mine. They don't seem to be friends really."

 "It'd take way too long to explain." Lihwa sighed as she handed her controller to Eito as she was eliminated.

 "Wait so you understand?" Eito asked not paying much attention to the game as the next race started.

 "Like I said. Children." Lihwa casually threw a piece of candy at Eito.

 The race was over, Ayano had come last so Eito was still in, "Hold up!" He suddenly shouted, "Inui is allowed in the I.V.C. and he's more of a child than Sosuke."

 "Ryosuke works."

 "But-"

 "Eito pay attention!" Evie suddenly shouted surprising everyone. Evie was a mystery to everyone except Baba. She was quite one minute and then she could be swinging from the chandelier the next talking to everyone in sight.  

 Even though he got yelled at by Evie, bossed around by Ayano and called a child by Lihwa, Eito was slightly glad he got grounded and his party was downgraded.