It was late, Mio was in the bath and Eizan was sitting on a bench in the back garden staring at a small koi pond. He was lost in thought. His father approached him from the direction of the house. “You always did like to sit here when something was bothering you.”

Eizan looked over at his father who was slowly approaching. Eizan looked back at the small pond. “It’s a nice place to gather my thoughts.”

His dad sat down next to him. “What’s bothering you, my son?”

“Do you think I’m doing the right thing with this whole arranged marriage business?”

His dad looked up and gazed at the night sky above them. “I’d say that depends on why you’re doing it.”

Eizan laughed softly “I knew you would say something like that. I just don’t know if this is what’s best for her. You know what he wants me to do. If I accept his proposal, do you think she would want to live that life?”

“Were you actually thinking about becoming his successor?”

Eizan sighed “Honestly, there are more upsides than downsides. I know his reasons for wanting me to take over aren’t pure. But I know him well enough to know he’s doing it for my own good or what he thinks is my own good. Wealth provides opportunities.”

Itsuki looked at him and frowned “It’s also a prison. You would never know who your true friends are. You have to be constantly on edge. People will try to harm you and your family. You ought to know that first hand.”

“Yeah, I get it. After what happened how could I forget.”

“I was foolish enough to think I could protect our family on my own. Now I have to rely on that old demon’s protection. Right now, your still relatively unknown you could lead a normal life if you wanted. Unlike your mother who grew up with the media and fame. Luckily her family is relatively unknown here in Japan.”

“We’ve been lucky so far. We were only attacked once. What happens if I try to lead a normal life and someone finds out who I really am. I could put the ones I love at risk. Some people would do anything to get just a piece of his fortune. Could I ever truly feel safe.”

Itsuki rubbed the top of Eizan's head. “Hell, if I know.” Itsuki pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket.

“When did you start smoking again?”

Itsuki laughed “Don’t tell your mother. She might kill me.”

Eizan giggled “You know she already knows right?”

Itsuki laughed “Your probably right about that.” Itsuki lit his cigarette. “You know life isn’t always that simple. Would you give up on the things you love to protect them. I know there’s that old saying if you love something set it free. But I always thought that was a load of crap. If you love something cherish it, hold it close, and never give it a reason to leave. I married your mother knowing the risks, have you told her about it yet?”

Eizan shook his head “How could I tell her that marrying me might put her in danger?”

Itsuki blew out a big puff of smoke “The question is how could you not tell her. You have to tell her so she can make an informed decision.”

Eizan balled up his fists “But what if she decides to run away? What if she decides it’s all just too much. I wouldn’t blame her for leaving. Hell, I might even say it was the correct choice.”

Itsuki smiled “You know everyone says your just like Alexander. But I would say you’re much more like my father. He would always brood over things like this. He never wanted to be an inconvenience to anyone. He would rather sacrifice himself than to let harm come to others. I see more of him in you than anyone else.”

Eizan looked a little stunned “You think I’m more like Atsushi?”

“You remind me of him more every day.” Itsuki laughed “Even if you look nothing like him. Unlike Alexander you have compassion. You lack his ruthlessness. I know you have the ability to be ruthless. You just don’t have the heart for it. Alexander feels nothing when he hurts someone. You on the other hand feel bad for anyone you’ve ever hurt. There’s a huge difference there.”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Eizan laughed “I don’t always feel bad about it.”

Itsuki shook his head “It doesn’t count if they deserved it.”

“You might be right about that.”

Itsuki put out his cigarette “We better get inside before they start to worry about us.” He stood up and looked down at Eizan “Also, you should apologize to your mother. You know she worries about you. Find some time to talk to her before you leave again. I’d prefer not to watch her cry again when you leave.” Itsuki turned and started to walk towards the house.

Eizan raised his voice “Hey dad. Thanks.”

Itsuki turned back towards him “No need to thank me. I’m your dad that’s what I’m supposed to do.”

While Eizan and Itsuki were in the back yard talking Mio had already exited the bath. She was currently standing in the kitchen with Mary. “Mio, are you looking for Eizan?”

“Yeah, do you know where he went?”

“He and Itsuki are in the garden.”

Mio tilted her head in confusion “It’s a little late for that isn’t it?”

Mary smiled “It’s where Eizan likes to go when he has something worrying him.”

“Is he worried about something?”

Mary giggled “If I had to make a guess, I would say he’s worried about you.”

“Me, why would he be worried about me?”

Mary sighed “That boy may not seem like it but he’s constantly overthinking things. Mio, I have a question for you. Have you decided if you’re going to marry my son?”

Mio gulped “I have made my decision.”

Mary smiled “I figured you had. Are you actually prepared for what that means?”

Mio looked confused “I’m not sure what you’re asking.”

“Are you going to marry my son for his money?”

“Wait. Isn’t he poor. I know your family has money but Eizan doesn’t. Frankly, none of that matters anyways. Thinking back, I was probably in love with him even before the whole marriage business. Given a little more time we might have become a couple on our own.”

Mary giggled “Well, that’s surprising. I’m glad your already in love.” Mio blushed. “I know Eizan is trying his best not to inherit my father’s money, but he may not have a choice.”

“Why wouldn’t he have a choice?”

“Right now, my father is giving him an option. But he could just leave him everything after he dies. What would he do then?”

“I-I never thought about it.”

Mary laughed “Yeah, but he has.”

“Is that what he’s worried about?”

Mary shook her head “Even I’m not sure what’s going through his head right now.”

“Then why do you think it’s about me?”’

“He only goes to the garden to think when it’s about family. His grandfather and him used to spend a lot of time there, when he was a child. Minami and him used to play in the garden all the time too.”

Mio looked down at the floor “I heard they were close.”

Mary sighed “Yeah, they were really close.”

“W-was he in love with her?”

Mary giggled “I’m not sure. But I can definitely tell you she was in love with him.”

Mio looked up in shock “Wasn’t she dating someone when all the trouble started.”

Mary sighed “I think it was a ploy to make Eizan jealous. Not surprisingly it didn’t work. Eizan is the type to be happy, if it seems like, the ones he loves are happy, even when it’s not with him.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

Mary shook her head “It probably makes perfect sense to him. He thinks of himself as a freak of nature, and why wouldn’t he.”

“I don’t think he’s weird.”

“Oh please. Of course, he’s weird.”

Mio giggled “Yeah, maybe a little. But I’m fine with it. I mean he is really handsome.”

Mary giggled “So it’s his looks you’re attracted too.”

Mio smiled “It sure doesn’t hurt. Besides he’s also kind, funny and charming, when he’s not being a smart ass.”

Mary laughed “Yeah, he can be a handful. I’m glad we had this talk. I feel a lot better about you marrying him now. But you should ask him what he’s worried about. I’m sure he has a legitimate concern. Our family has more problems than just money.”

Mio giggled “Yeah, I figured that much out already.”

Mary walked over and lit an incense stick.

Mio smelled the nice fragrance “That smells nice.”

Mary frowned “It’s to cover up the smell of cigarette smoke.”

“Cigarette smoke.”

Mary laughed a cold laugh. “My husband likes to think he’s hiding the fact he still smokes from me. I know he’s doing it just because he doesn’t want to upset me, but he’s not really that good at hiding it. I’ll use it against him one of these days.”

Mio shivered a little bit and thought “I must always remember to stay on her good side. I have a feeling I don’t want to ever have her be truly angry at me.” She said a small prayer for Itsuki in her heart.