The Mafia Boss's Secretary

What!?

     Getting ready to go off to college was a stressful time for me. It wasn't stressful because I was leaving my territory; where I feel relatively comfortable. It was stressful due to the fact that I have a secret that I can't have discovered. My biggest fear is that someone is going to find out that I am in fact Saiyu Korikoshi. I will have a security team, but I'm fairly certain that they can't be with me at all times. For example; they most likely won't be allowed in the showers, classes, or in my dorm room. I've put so much effort in to keep this secret for the last fifteen years, and I'd hate for all of that effort to go to waste because someone somehow figures it out. That's supposed to be the point of the security team; aside from the basic protection detail they'll have to do. Mom kept trying to assure me that as long as I was careful; like I am here, then everything would be just fine. I just feel like something is going to happen and my life is going to fall apart. 

    I've tried to distract myself with the usual back to school shopping, graduation parties, and going away parties. Nothing seems to work for very long before my mind starts to wonder again. I suppose that my fears are going to be ever present as long as Shiero is still around, but that doesn't make dealing with them any easier. Not only am I worried about my secret getting out; I'm also worried about how my lack of any real social life is going to effect my campus life since I'm going to be staying in the dorms. There have been a few times that I've tried to talk myself out of going, but my mom or dad always ends up changing my mind for me. If I don't go then how can I expect to be successful? My brothers have even talked me out of changing my mind about going by pointing out that since it's a four year college; I can pick another course to minor in, and if I do that then I won't have time left over for anything other than classes. That means there will be less time for people to figure out my secret too.

    I'm all for change; don't get me wrong, but changes that endanger those around me; those aren't welcome changes, and this can be a potentially dangerous situation. I can't go through anything like I did when I was five. It's going to be odd for a college student not to mingle; I know, but being labeled as an outcast would be preferable to any of the worse case scenarios that I keep imagining.

    I leave in two days, and mentally I don't feel at all prepared for another new life. A new new life if you will. The second fresh start for me. Physically, however, I'm as prepared as I can get. I've been training for years, and with even more training sessions taking place these last couple of weeks; I feel like I can handle most physical altercations with no major issues. Of that I'm certain. I still have a couple books to pick up before I have everything I need for my classes.

    "Hatchiko, are you ready to go?" Takashi, my oldest brother, asked shaking me from my thoughts. "We need to go get the rest of your books before the store closes."

    "Yeah, I'm ready." I joined him at the door. "Can we make this quick?"

    I hate being out and about for long periods of time for obvious reasons. That's why I prefer to go do any shopping i have to do with my brothers. They always make sure that the trips are short. Mom likes to browse so she ends up taking an eternity it seems when she shops.

    "Of course, we're just getting your books." He stated.

    We went out to the car, as per usual I sat in the back. I can't sit in the front since the accident. Call it anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress, irrational fear, or just being a chicken s**t, but I freak out any time I'm in the front. Luckily Takashi seems to understand because he never gives me s**t over it like everyone else seems to.

    "Mom wants me to stop by the bakery too, but you can sit in the car if you want to." He stated after receiving a text just as we started to pull out of the driveway. "I'll be quick, it's just a pick up."

    "Do we really have a choice?" I asked.

    "No, not really." He chuckled. "Do we ever when it comes to mom?"

    "Point." I sighed. "Lets just hope that my books are ready when we get there."

    "They should be, they called dad a few minutes ago to let him know that they arrived." He stated. "We have about an hour to get there and the bakery before they close."

    "Where's Niero and Kaminae?" I asked wondering why they weren't tagging along.

    "Out on a job."

    That means it's something I don't need to know. Which means it's dangerous, and usually has some kind of backlash. Which can mean someone's going to get hurt. 'On a job' means that it's need to know, and I'm not privy to the details.

    "That's reassuring." I mumbled crossing my arms and glaring at the window.

    "Don't be like that." He sighed. "You know how dad is when it comes to you."

    "Yeah, daddy's little princess can't know anything." I mumbled again. "It's not like I'd be targeted anyway. I never go on jobs, so people just assume that I don't know anything."

    "Don't start this again." He grumbled. "You know why you can't."

    "I'm not Saiyu anymore." I snapped back. "Look at me, Saiyu died fifteen years ago." I turned my glare to the back of his head. "I can't be kept in the shadows forever."

    "Stop!" He hit the steering wheel. "You know exactly why we try to keep you out of clan business."

    "Because poor little Hatchiko can't handle it." I sassed. "I've heard the men talking."

    "That's not it at all and you know it." He snapped glaring at me through the rear view mirror. "It's so you don't get pulled into any messes that we make."

    "I get pulled in anyway." I argued. "Every single time." 

    "How do you figure that?" He snapped back.

    "Who do you think the police always come to first for information when any of you get arrested?" I stated. "It's me." I pointed out. "It's always the same thing too. 'Poor innocent Hatchiko, ostracized and left out, surely you know what goes on behind the scenes.' I'm always drug into the messes you all make."

    "Does dad know?" He asked.

    "What do you think?"

    "It doesn't sound like he does." He parked and turned to face me. "He doesn't know, does he?"

    "You think I could hide getting dragged to the police station from mom or dad?" I asked. "Thanks for the vote of confidence in my abilities to hide s**t, but no I'm not even that good."

    "Go get your books." He stated after a few seconds of silence. "We need to hurry up and get to the bakery too."

    Almost as soon as I got out of the car he was on his phone, and I knew that he was telling either mom or dad that we just had this argument again. I'm in for a lecture when we get back. The severity depends on if it's mom or dad who does it. I sighed as I entered the book store and gave the shopkeeper a fake smile.

    "Hatchiko Kurosaki here for a pick up." I stated once I reached the counter.

   She went to the back and a few minutes later returned with a bag. She had me double check that the books I had ordered were the ones in the bag; like she always does; before ringing them up. Once the student discount was added and she gave me my total I paid and left; wishing her a good rest of her night on the way.

    Takashi hung up just as I got back in the car. Yeah, I'm in for a hell of a lecture when we get back. He spun tires as we left the book store's parking lot. What does he have to be angry about? It's not like he's the one always being left out of everything like he can't handle it. We made it to the bakery in record time; because of his obnoxious driving. He got out without saying a word making sure to slam his door. Like I couldn't tell that he's pissed already. I just sighed and leaned against the door waiting for him to come back. The sooner we get home the sooner the lecture can happen and be done, for now, until it happens again. He came back with a huge box and nearly threw it in the passenger seat.

    "Mom's going to be pissed if you messed that up." I stated.

    "So."

    "Your ass, I guess." I sighed.

    He peeled out of the parking lot again and nearly spun out making me panic a little. This is why I don't like cars; they're so touchy and by extension unpredictable. I tried to hide my panic, but judging by the smirk on his face; he definitely noticed. What an ass! He did that on purpose. I huffed and glared out the window again.

    When we got home mom was waiting outside for us. The scowl on her face was hard to miss, but watching her look turn from a scowl to shock and back again because of the way Takashi was driving was almost comical. Slamming on the breaks so he didn't hit the back wall of the garage most definitely not helping his situation at all. That just means my lecture is going to be a lot worse since she's now mad at both of us.

    Takashi got out of the car and grabbed the box before kicking his door closed again. I sighed and slowly followed him. I could feel a bruise forming on my collar bone from the seat belt digging into me. Great, that's what I get for bruising easily. I sighed and followed mom inside. Resisting the urge to rub my aching shoulder and collar bone was hard, but I didn't want to make things worse than they already are for either of us.

    "Got to your room." She pushed me towards my room. "I'll be up there in a minute."

    Well, I'm in for a long lecture from her tonight. That means we're probably going to get into an argument. I'm so going to regret today. I can already tell. this isn't going to end well for me at all. I obediently went to my room and waited for her. I waited for over an hour for her to finally come up. Needless to say I just wanted to get this over with.

    "Don't give me that look." She said sitting next to me. "I'm not your dad."

    "I know." I sighed. "How much trouble am I in?"

    "Less than your brother." She stated. "He knows not to be an i***t behind the wheel of a car."

    "I don't think he really cares right now." I stated.

    "He does now, I can guarantee that." She said in a tone that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. "So, you got into another argument about being involved with the clan."

    "You know I did." I sighed. "Sorry." I added when she gave me a look. "He ratted me out as soon as it ended." I looked at my hands in my lap. "I'm tired of everyone looking at me like some kind of weakling all the time."

    "No one-"

    "Everyone does!" I cut her off. "I've heard the men talking around here." I stood up and took a couple steps away from her. "I'm just 'poor little Hatchiko' to everyone." I sighed and looked at her. "I'm tired of being looked at like the Saiyu that came back fifteen years ago."

    "I know." She sighed, which surprised me. Does that mean she's noticed it too? "Your dad is just trying to protect you for as long as he can."

    "I leave in two days, mom." I pointed out. "What is he going to do then?" I asked. "How many phone calls am I going to get telling me that someone is hurt, and I need to come home right away, but everything is need to know, and I don't need to know?"

    "I understand that it's frustrating." She said.

    "If i'm supposed to be masquerading as a boy; why is everyone still treating me like a girl?" I asked. "Someone is bound to notice." I pointed out. "Shiero could notice." I added quietly. "The men work while the Women stay at home to care for the home front."

    "I know, and I see your concern, but you're not ready for the field yet." She stated making my temper flare.

    "Not ready?" I laughed. "I've been training for fifteen years. Fifteen!" I threw my hands up. "If i'm not ready now; then when in the hell will I be ready in your eyes?"

    She moved so fast I almost didn't block the slap she aimed at me. Without thinking I swung back connecting with her cheek making us both freeze. Did I just hit mom? There's no way. I'd never. I did, but I'd never purposely lay a hand on her like that. I backed away slowly covering my mouth. I could feel tears growing in my eyes. I can't believe I did that. I didn't do it on purpose; it was instinctual, but that doesn't change the fact that it happened. I just turned and bolted.