The Mafia Boss's Secretary

Party?

    Getting home it was awfully dark for dad having dinner plans. I was on edge as we pulled into the garage. It's not normal for our house to ever be this dark even when we're not at home. I slowly got out of the car and Looked around to see if anything was off. Other than the lights all being off. Mom came over to me and put her arm around me.

    "It's okay, honey." She smiled at me. "Come on."

    "I thought you said dad had dinner plans." I stated. "Why is the house so dark?" I asked. "It's never this dark." I pointed out.

    "It might be because no one has been home all day other than us." She answered. "Tokiyame turned all the lights off when we left earlier."

    I finally let her pull me into the house. I just wanted to eat, take a hot shower, and relax for a bit before going to bed. I sighed as mom opened the door. She pushed me forward to go in before her since we both can't fit through it at the same time. I felt around the wall until I found the light switch, and as soon as I turned on the light; once I found the switch, I wish I hadn't.

    "Surprise!" I jumped and got into a fighting stance. It seemed like every member of the clan was here.

    "You're okay." Mom whispered in my ear from behind me. "It's your going away party."

    "My going away party?" I asked confused. "I didn't expect anyone would want to come for one." I stated. "Especially after this weekend."

    "Mistakes were made, but they have been paid for." She lifted my right hand up showing me the cast on my hand. "Try to have some fun." I nodded and walked further into the room.

    The room was decorated with red, black, and silver streamers and balloons. I looked around to see that there were pictures of me from various points in my life in the center of each table. The tables were all set, and and food had already been dished out. If i'm being honest it looks like some kind of banquet instead of a graduation s***h going away party. I Gave each of my brothers a hug as best as I could and thanked them for setting everything up. I put on a fake smile and tried to look like I wanted to be at a party. I greeted everyone, thanked them for coming, and made polite conversation when I had to. After I made my rounds and finished eating I attempted to sneak away a few times. I kept getting caught and pulled back into the party by either mom or dad. I spent a fair amount of time around my family and Tokiyame. 

    We were talking about anything from the weather, my health, and today's duel. He told me he was proud of how well I fought against him today. It's the first time I've ever really landed a hit on him. I ended up with a broken hand, but it was totally worth it. We were just chatting about what I planned to do at college when Niero came up and told me dad wanted me in the kitchen. I followed him to the kitchen with everyone else following behind us. Mom and dad were both standing in front of the box Takishi and I picked up from the bakery Friday night. I sighed and walked over to them. 

    "You got a cake?" I asked with a light chuckle.

    "Red Velvet." Mom smiled. "Your favorite." 

    "Thank you." I returned her smile. "Can I go to bed after this?" I whispered in her ear.

    She nodded and pulled me into a side hug. Dad was putting candles on the cake. I don't see why; it's not like it's my birthday or anything. Once he finished and had them all lit he pulled me to stand right in front of the cake. 'Good luck at college' was written across it in red icing. The picture under the writing was one that we had taken at my first college graduation. The one of me standing by myself still in my cap and gown while holding my diploma.

    Mom had her camera out and was recording me blowing the candles out. Once they were all out, stupid trick candles, I smiled at the camera and threw up a peace sign as I stuck my tongue out.

    "Really?" She asked with a chuckle.

    "If you record me, you know it's going to happen." I stated and took the camera from her and held it above my head as I turned my back to every one. "Say hi, guys." I called out getting an almost deafening hello from everyone in the room. dad and the boys all jumped right behind me to get in the frame too.

    Niero took the camera from me and pointed it at me. "So, Hatchiko, have you decided on your major yet?" He asked.

    "Yup." I answered taking the plate that mom was holding out to me.

    "And?"

    "Wouldn't you like to know?" I laughed and went to sit down with him following behind me.

    "Oh come on." He whined. "Tell me."

    "How old are you?" I asked chuckling.

    "Twenty one." He stated. "Now tell me." He whined again. "What's your minor going to be?"

    "Will you leave me to eat my cake in peace if I tell you?" I asked looking right into the camera hopefully looking annoyed. "You know I don't eat much sweets, and this is red velvet cake, my favorite." He nodded and smiled hopefully. "Graphic design." I stated and waved him away.

    I dug into my cake as he got up and left taking the camera with him. I noticed that he went right to Kaminae and Takashi; he whispered something to them and they both sighed looking annoyed. He held the camera out to them and they both stared at it before glaring at it. They walked over to mom and handing her money. Did they really bet on what I was going to pick as my minor. Dad tapped me on the shoulder bringing my attention away from them.

    "You got some gifts to open before you head to bed." He stated handing me a small box. I opened it to find a ring with our crest on it. "Don't worry there is a necklace too." He whispered in my ear.

    "Why am I getting this?" I asked confused. "I'm not even seen as a member of the clan until I do something stupid." I looked up from the box. "Isn't this given to the men when they're deemed ready for the field?" I asked hopefully.

    "You're going into another territory." He stated. "It's just so people know not to mess with you."

    "Thank you." I smiled giving him a hug. I didn't have the heart to tell him that even on our territory people knowing where I belonged didn't stop them from messing with me. "I'll be sure to never take it off."

    "That's probably going to be for the best." He stated and pulled me into a loose hug. "There's more on the table by the window when you're done with your cake."

    "Okay." I smiled and continued eating my cake.

    I sighed as I finished my cake and took my plate to the kitchen. I realized that all of the dishes being used tonight were going to need to be washed still. I couldn't just leave these for mom to do by herself. I got started on them and had a fair portion of them done before I was pulled away and sent back out to the party. I sighed realizing that I probably would have gotten them done if my hand wasn't in a cast.

    "This is your party why are you doing the dishes?" Takashi asked as he drug me over to the table with the small pile of presents on it.

    "Because I didn't want mom to have to do them all on her own." I stated. "There was a lot so I did some of them." He just shook his head at me.

    "Present time." Dad announced as he picked up one of the boxes and handed it to me.

    He made sure to tell me who each one came from as he handed them to me. I spent about a half an hour just opening presents. It was mostly clothes, school supplies, and gift cards. There was also a coffee maker, hotplate, and a microwave. I made sure to thank everyone as I opened their gifts to me. Dad had the boys help to take the gifts upstairs while I socialized and showed my guests out. After everyone left dad sent me off to bed. He told me not to worry about the clean up, he would help mom finish cleaning up. I went up to my room and grabbed clothes for a shower before heading off to bed. I'm exhausted and in pain I just want this day to end already.

    Niero caught me as I was coming out of the bathroom to tell me that mom and dad needed me downstairs. He stressed that it was definitely worth it. I sighed and told him that I would be down there in a minute. I wanted to get the bag off of my arm that stopped water from getting on my cast. The tape is insanely uncomfortable where it stuck to my skin. It didn't take as long to take it off as I expected it to. After I slipped my slippers on I headed downstairs to see what mom and dad wanted. To say it was worth staying up a little longer for is a gross understatement.

    Dad took me into the living room and handed me another small box. "This is from both your mother and me." He smiled and gestured to the box just as mom popped up with her camera again. "Open it."

    When I opened the box there were two keys in it. I wasn't allowed to take the wrapping off of the tops of them until I saw what they went to. Dad covered my eyes before leading to the garage. The distinct oil smell gave it away. He uncovered my eyes and I was standing in front of one of my dream cars. A 1963 Volkswagen Beetle.

    "No way." I said loudly. "You've got to be kidding me!"

    "It's a graduation present." Mom chuckled. "We wanted to get you something special."

    "Well, this is definitely special." I stated. "Why didn't you just get some old clunker though?"

    "Because your dad and brothers have been rebuilding this for you."  She explained.

    "It's been so hard to keep it a complete secret from you." Niero sighed. "Now I don't have to worry about it anymore." He smiled slinging his arm around my neck. "You'll take care of her, won't you?"

    "Like you have to ask." I stated slightly glaring at him. "Is this why you have been insisting on teaching me how to drive a stick?" I looked over at dad.

    "Bet you're less annoyed about learning now, aren't you?" He chuckled.

    "You should go and get some rest." Mom stated. "You have an early day tomorrow."

    I smiled before hugging everyone; as best as I could, and thanking them. It took quite a bit for me to be able to fall asleep, but I did finally manage to at around two o'clock in the morning.