"Daddy!" I jumped into his arms, bawling in his shoulder. In a way, I should've seen this coming. Daddy was the type to play off a surprise incredibly. While we were on the phone earlier today, I should've known. But that didn't matter. What mattered was that I had my Daddy here and nothing in the world could possibly go wrong.

"Surprise, princess." And I knew damn well Daddy was just as happy to see me as I was to see him, "I missed you so much, kid."

"I missed you, too," I sobbed, hiding my face.

"Hey, now," he lifted my chin up, running his thumb under my eyes, "What's that all about, baby girl? You're not crying on my watch. You should know better than that."

"I'm sorry," I tried to calm myself down as best as I could, "I didn't mean to. It just happened."

"I know, Rei. I know," Daddy settled me, "You're human just like the rest of us. I like giving you shit. Keeps you on your toes. You running things yet?"

"Not yet," I reported, "I'm still the low man on the totem pole, but I'm getting there. Just have to overthrow the head and the rest will fall into place."

"That's my girl," he kissed my cheek, catching a glimpse of Ritsu behind me, "I didn't know your building had a bellhop, Rei. Thank you. I think we got things covered."

"Daddy," I winced, wiggling out of his embrace, "He's not a bellhop."

"Oh," Daddy brushed it off, "Then, who are you and what the fuck are you doing in my daughter's penthouse?"

"Excuse me?" Ritsu jumped on the defensive. Oh, shit. This isn't good.

"Daddy," I stopped them both, holding them back from each other, "He's alright. He's with me."

"What do you mean?" Daddy wondered, "He's with you?"

"This is Ritsu," I introduced him.

"This is Ritsu?" he looked Ritsu over, sizing up his prey, "Like…That Ritsu?"

"The very same," I hated how he phrased it, but at this point, I'm happy if they're not killing each other.

Ritsu kept his guard up as Daddy walked circles around him. Ritsu looked like he was ready to pounce. But Daddy's done this a lot longer than what Ritsu has, "You're trying real hard not to show weakness right now, aren't you, kid?"

"Yes, sir," Ritsu nodded.

"I see…" Daddy studied him closer, "Ever get tangled up in mafia business?"

"You could say that," Ritsu wasn't budging. His eyes shot all around the room, no doubt looking for escape routes or makeshift weaponry. I knew that look all too well.

"Well," Daddy figured, putting a hand on Ritsu's shoulder, "You don't seem like a patsy. You're strong, got a good head on your shoulders…"

"You can tell all this from looking at me?" Ritsu gave him a look, glancing back at me for confirmation.

"What can I say?" Daddy shrugged, "I know the type."

"Daddy can read people like a book," I told him, "It's like a superpower. Now, Daddy, can you please leave Ritsu alone? He's about to come apart at the seams."

"No, I'm not!" Ritsu squeaked.

"Thank you for proving my point."

"Dammit…"

"Alright," Daddy sat back down, "I'll leave him alone."

"So," I plopped down on my couch, "What's the occasion you're in town?"

"Well, princess," Daddy began, "Things are running kind of slow these days. The legit business is getting quiet, but it's also getting to be that time of year again."

"Wait until November," I knew how things worked, "Then, everything will pick back up again full force. Just don't do what you did last year and overwork yourself."

"I won't," he promised. Then again, I've heard that promise before and he damn near worked himself into a fucking heart attack.

"I mean it, Daddy," I put my foot down, "I only got one of you left and I sure as hell don't want to go to the alternative."

"Like I'd ever let that bitch take you," Daddy grumbled, "Not in life. Sure as fuck not in death. It's you and me, Reila. You're stuck with me."

"Good," I stuck my tongue out at him, "Likewise."

"Hey," he wondered, "Have you had dinner yet?"

"Not yet," I looked over at Ritsu, who was sweating bullets. Jesus Christ, did Daddy make him that nervous? He shouldn't. Come on, Ritsu. You're yakuza. You should have more of a spine than this, "I think we were going to go get something, right, Ritsu?"

"Your dad's in town, Rei," Ritsu backed off, "If he wants to take you out, that's fine by me."

"I like him," Daddy smiled, "He gets it."

"Really?" I wondered.

"Yeah," Ritsu dropped it, "It's fine."

"Then, let's get dinner," Daddy decided, "Say goodbye to your friend, Rei."

"Ok," I nodded, "Do you think we could have a minute alone, though, Daddy?"

"Go ahead," he allowed, "But make it quick."

"I will," I took Ritsu out into the hallway, "I'm so sorry…"

"It's ok, Rei," Ritsu wrapped his arms around me, pulling me away from the peephole, "Did you know he was going to be here?"

"Obviously not," I scoffed. But then, my tone softened a little, "Are you mad?"

"What?" he looked at me like I was on drugs, "Why would I be mad?"

"You didn't answer me," I pointed out, "You're avoiding the question."

"So are you," Ritsu argued, "Why would I be mad right now?"

"Because my dad showed up," I explained, "We had plans for Hakone in the morning. I'd be pretty pissed, too, if my girlfriend's dad showed up out of nowhere."

"Look," he wrapped his arms around me in attempts to make me feel better, "You had no idea your dad was coming, so I can't be mad at you about that. Does it bother me that we won't get to go to Hakone for the rest of the weekend? Yeah. Shit sucks. But I can't fault you for any of that. It's not like you knew. Tell you what. If you're not the host club's slave next weekend, we'll leave Friday after school. How does that sound?"

"Better," I gave him a smile…and a decent kiss.

"And," Ritsu added, "To make up for this weekend, I'll pick you up Tuesday morning. Be sure to tell whatshisface, so I don't have to kick his ass to the curb again."

"Roy," I giggled, "Yeah. Got it. Coffee date?"

"Coffee date," Ritsu gave me one last kiss, "I'll see you Tuesday."

"Sure will." He's making it harder and harder, isn't he? What an asshole. I wonder if he knew what it was like for me when those elevator doors close. Nevertheless, I went back into my penthouse and got my shoes on.

"You ready, princess?" Daddy asked, practically halfway out the door.

"Yeah," I nodded, "I'm ready."

"Alright," he took my hand and the two of us got into the elevator, "You know anywhere good?"

"There is this one place," my heart melted at the mere thought of it, "But that place is kind of sacred. It's where I go sometimes after school. Before I ended up joining this club accidentally."

"What does that club do?" Daddy wondered, "I've been meaning to ask."

"Well…" How do I explain the host club to him? By the way, Daddy, the after school club I joined is glorified prostitution and these girls pay to have me treat them like shit. And the catch? They think I'm a dude because I got short hair and no tits. The president's dumb as a box of rocks, but the vice president makes up for it and knows damn near everything about me because he hacked into my records, "It's a social club. Partially performance based. Sometimes, it's improv."

"You could've just told me you joined drama, baby," he leaned up against the wall, "It would've been much simpler."

That's one way to put it. Instead of taking Daddy to the ramen shop, I took him to the pizza place around the corner from the building. Neither one of us were in the mood to walk very far. My legs already felt like pudding between all the walking I did in Osaka and the ride back from Ouran. Although, the walk was totally worth it. Especially when we had just begun our journey. And a loud engine rev echoed through the streets. Followed by a black blur going by.

"Jesus," Daddy groaned, "Fucking assholes on motorcycles thinking their hot shit."

"That couldn't be further from the truth," I giggled to myself.

"What do you mean?" he wondered.

"Daddy," I held my face in my hands, "Chances are, that was my asshole on a motorcycle. Trust me. He doesn't think he's hot shit. People like that piss him off to no end."

"So," Daddy held the door for me, "About this Ritsu kid, Rei…"

Should've seen this one coming, "What about him?"

"You like him?" he never was one to mince his words. The two of us got a table and made ourselves comfortable. Even though Daddy's question was like a slap to the face.

"I do," I nodded, "He's good to me, Daddy. I promise you that."

"That's good to hear," Daddy let it go, "Who does he belong to?"

"The Kasanoda Syndicate," I reported, keeping my voice down. Ritsu did say his family was notorious. I'm sure dropping that name wasn't exactly a safe thing to do, "They're a big yakuza clan here."

"I've heard about them from Roy," he thought it over for a moment or two, "Are you and Ritsu close?"

"I'd say so," I nodded. I wonder how much he'd flip his shit if I told him we slept in the same bed last night. Probably not too bad, but for the sake of his blood pressure, we'll just keep that to ourselves.

"Could he offer you protection?" Daddy asked, "Because there's no way in hell he's just a runner. He's strong as hell, but I can tell he carries himself like upper management. Like that kind of cockiness your uncles got."

"Um…" I held back a smile, "I wouldn't say he's got that cockiness. I'd say he's more on my level. Ritsu's last name is Kasanoda, Daddy. He's pegged to head the syndicate."

"Ex-fucking-scuse me?" he gasped, his eyes damn near falling out of his head, "The kid I just met is pegged to head local mafia? And BIG local mafia?"

"So am I," I reminded him, "You told me that once I get out of school, I'm running shit back home."

"Yeah," Daddy nodded, "But I didn't think he was. Holy shit, baby. Good for you."

"Thank you?" I wasn't quite sure how to take that.

"You really are your mama's child, aren't you?" he laughed to himself, "History repeats itself, I guess. I'll take it. Could've been worse. He could've been spineless. Dreams of being an accountant. That sort of thing."

"No," I shook my head, "I don't think so."

But then, Ritsu's true ambitions did pop into my mind. How he didn't want what he had. He didn't want the power or the notoriety. And the more and more we hang out, the more I can understand. Don't get me wrong. Since I was little, I had dreams of running the family back home by Daddy's side. He's taught me everything he knows already. All I have to do is take over. But…Ritsu had a point. That respect gained by fear…It's not respect.

"Reila?" Daddy nudged me under the table, "You still in there, space cadet?"

"Yeah," I shook it off, "Hey, Daddy…Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, baby," he allowed, "What's on your mind?"

"Would you ever want out of this?" I wondered, "Like…If someone told you tomorrow that you didn't have to run New York anymore, would you get out?"

"I'm going to one day," Daddy pointed out, lacing his fingers between mine, "When I retire. That's the thing, though. I know everything will be taken care of. Because I'm leaving it in the best hands I know. Why do you ask, Rei?"

"Just curious." How could I tell him? Maybe the dream has changed. Maybe I've been introduced to a new way of thinking that goes against everything I've been taught. Daddy always told me that respect was respect, no matter how we got it. But…Maybe that power is overrated. Or maybe I just need a reminder of why I want this in the first place…

A/N: Rei's got her Daddy. And that's all that matters. But...She's also got second thoughts. Maybe that Kasanoda kid has put ideas into her head. Or maybe he's showing her different ways of thinking. The world may never know. See you next chapter! xx