Current Ages Based on Birthdays:

Shirou, Rin, Shinji, Hibari: 15-16
Gokudera, Yamamoto, Ryohei, Ken, Chikusa, Mukuro: 14-15
Sakura, Kazuki: 13-14

Dead or Alive

'Class, we have a new student.' said the old guy who's the Homeroom and Social Studies teacher. 'This is Gokudera Hayato. Its a bit late to transfer now, but due to required moving by promoted employees, the school made an understandable exemption out of circumstances.' he said. 'Take a seat behind Sawada.'

As classes went by, Kazuki really does struggle in Math due to the formulas in algebra Gokudera happily helped her out...along with Yamamoto whose comprehension was WAY WORSE than hers. Because all he has is Baseball in his head that classes go one ear in, out the other!

And now, meeting Hibari. Both boys together!

'Uhhh Kazu-chan, I know you're in the Committee but is it OK for us to be here?' Yamamoto sweated nervously, hiding it behind a sheepish smile.

'Its OK. I informed Hibari this morning!' Kazuki chimed. 'You'll live, don't worry!'

Gokudera eyed Yamamoto's reaction. He was spooked out of his wits. Well, Juudaime is part of the committee judging by the uniform she wore, a black uniform with a red inside, and red above-the-knee socks...and red fighting gloves on her hands.

So when they went in, Hibari eyed the pair with a pair of sharp, assessing eyes.

'So the fanged baby got you into recruitment eh?' Hibari stated.

'Yup. Still under training but if sharpened enough, they'll be part of us.' Kazuki smiled. 'For now they need some work.'

'Hn. Have you told baseball-boy?'

'Not ready yet.'

'Eh? Not ready yet for what?' Yamamoto asked, puzzled.

'I'll tell you after New Year.' Kazuki smiled. 'Lots to do, so little time. But its almost Summer now so let's work hard boys.' she said. 'I'm terrible at Math and Yamamoto-kun, you severely neglected all your schoolwork Finals is your last chance to avoid Summer School.' Yamamoto winced and sported a strained grin. 'Who wants to go to school on summer when we should be having fun, right?'

'Ehehehehe...'

'Don't give us any more work, herbivores.' Hibari growled. 'Or I'll bite you to death.'

'Gokudera-kun, wait for me on the roof with Yamamoto-kun, I'll follow you after ten minutes.'

'OK.' and the boys left.

'...Hibari, Reborn opened up an idea. I know you'll go for it but I still want to ask you anyway as its proper.' said Kazuki. 'It started because Gokudera-kun aspires to be my Right-Hand Man some day. That, and a boss needs both Left and Right-Hands. The Right-Hand who is number two and specializes in Diplomacy and Politics incase the Boss is unavailable...while the Left-Hand is the one holding the knife or gun incase deals go south. I thought about the matter but you're more suited for Underboss. Equal of power with the Consigliere. Nii-chan, due to his...circumstances, is more suited to be the Left-Hand to protect the Consigliere, the dagger behind his back.'

Hibari thought about it.

Can't argue with that one. Shirou is a Sword Incarnate. He would thirst for battle whether he likes it or not unless he has some self control as long as he periodically gets his fighting fix.

The Mafia has few ranks divided into Divisions and Subdivisions based on Specialties.

Boss

Consigliere w/Left Hand

Underboss

Capo

Captains

Lieutenants

Soldiers under Capos in assigned Divisions and Subdivisions

Associates

Kazuki is Boss of Vongola to succeed her predecessor as Vongola is blood-locked unlike most organizations. Only those of blood must be a Vongola Descendant and have Sky Flames. The ranks can then, be anybody else. Her predecessor is also The Godfather, being very influential all over the Mafia and powerful, she has a lot to live up to. Is there a Godmother in the Mafia? Hmmm...

Consigliere is the Bosses right-hand man, and the administration to the family. The Consigliere is not officially part of the hierarchy of the Mafia, but he plays one of the most important roles in a family. He is the close trusted friend and confidant of the mafia family boss. The consigliere is meant to offer unbiased information based on what he sees as best for the family. He's not supposed to factor emotional concerns, such as retaliation and blood feuds, into his decisions. Unlike the underboss, the Consigliere is not required to be a direct relative of the boss. Instead, he is chosen solely for his abilities and the amount of knowledge and intelligence he possesses. Generally, only the boss and underboss have more authority than the Consigliere in a mafia crime family. This is what Gokudera aspires to be instead of Underboss? Maybe he didn't have the mettle for it and settled for the next best thing hence why Kazuki gave Hibari the more fun job?

As for Underboss, he is the second-in-command in the hierarchy of the Mafia crime family. His level of authority varies from family to family, but he is ready to stand in for the boss at any given moment. In the violent, brutal, ruthless, deadly, dangerous and volatile world of the Mafia, the underboss can easily find himself at the helm of the family so, for the most part, they are usually groomed for an eventual takeover, particularly if the boss's health is failing or if it looks like he's headed for a long sentence in prison.

Highly-unlikely for Kazuki of all people to be in prison...but hey, Underboss suited Hibari just fine. He is also in-command of the lower-ranking grunts under him.

Capos are Captains of Divisions in the Organization each of whom, has a Lieutenant under them. Their jobs is based on where their Division specializes in best while in charge of handling the funding of their division. They are in charge of over 100 Soldiers.

Soldiers are those at the bottom of the Food Chain, the grunts of the organization who do the majority of the work for the mafia and generally sticking out their neck in the hope of making a name for themselves by demonstrating their loyalty to the organization, and protecting the organization at all costs. Children as young as sixteen have been admitted. Said kids are obviously, kids of their older relatives in the organization or those invited in.

Considering a Sky has Six Guardians, the remaining four would most likely be Capos...unless Kazuki learns more about the organization?

However, due to the Flames issue, a Sky's Guardians have higher authority than anyone else, rank-be-damned. That and considering, the only Italian was Gokudera albeit 1/4 Japanese. It would take one hell of a battle to gain respect among the 'Italians-only Mafia' traditionalists and butt a lot of heads to bash their way through.

Hibari has NO problem with that and looked forward to the future as he envisioned himself putting herbivores in their rightful places...under his foot.

Lastly are Associates. Associates are not actual members of the Mafia Society, but they work for the Mafia as neutral entities. Essentially 'Freelancers' who'll do ANYTHING the Mafia asks of them to do and the pay is good the more notorious you are for your records. However, it also means they can't refuse any work chucked at them as its also the opportunity to make a name for themselves that a Famiglia would then invite them into the Organization, working their way up the ladder. They vary from lowest of the low, to Arcobaleno Status. To be of the highest caliber of Associate, you must never have a failing mark in your jobs.

Currently, Gokudera is an Associate specializing in wanton destruction with his bombs and Intel invited into Vongola.

xxx

'So Reborn, what kind of girl is Vongola Decimo anyway before I can comfortably leave Hayato to her?' Shamal asked Reborn while having a coffee break in a cafe.

'Kazuki...she's a trained pragmatic killer and soldier yet she's modeled after Emiya's innocently-spotless wife with a princess personality. In short, the girl wasn't even herself, her own identity so I will have to fix that. She is NOT Irisviel von Einzbern dammit, she is Sawada Kazuki and I'll have to work on making her her own identity.' Reborn grunted.

'Can you imagine an innocently-sweet, smiling girl gun down a few men as if its nothing at all? Only, unlike Irisviel, Kazuki likes kissing and inappropriate skinship. A lot.' he growled as Shamal's eyebows reached his hairline. 'I want to meet the bastard who taught her how to be intimate at a young age and torture him before having Nono and the father kill him. Seems nothing wrong to the naive fools who don't see but there's a lot of wrongs in her.' he sighed in frustration. 'As she is now, she's seemingly perfect by civilian standards if only they knew the truth. I wouldn't have known if I didn't catch the brats kissing in the kitchen years ago...and I only learned how far they went this year!'

Shamal was floored with horror.

Wut? Did he hear that right?

'Kazuki is a bland, boring existence exposed to things she shouldn't have. That's what happens if you're perfect in some way. In her case, its her personality, mannerisms and fashion while everywhere else, fucked up.' Reborn continued after taking a sip of his Espresso. 'She's the ideal good girl any traditionalistically-idealistic, countryside mother and grandma in the 1700s would want just like in fairy tales. Due to her being reduced to a blank slate in Fuyuki Fire years back, its easy for Emiya to make her his ideal daughter had his wife lived long enough to bear him one and he's a traumatized widowed man who lost his wife in said fire after having just married. Ideals came into play and that ideal is living as Sawada Kazuki.'

'Friends and lovers will not last long around her and she'll end up all alone eventually. Humans who remain interesting and worth sticking around for are those who are NOT perfect which is ironic yet the truth as bonds forged by fire and trial is worth keeping and fighting for.' he said curtly. 'Teaching her how to be a Donna aside, I have to make her discover her own true identity and nature first to become her own person and become her own Donna before the other boys sees what's wrong.'

'Emiya means well but screwed the pooch for her future as at her current bland boring self, the other Dons will eat her alive.'

'Exactly. For now she has us focus on Gokudera first as he's the weakest of the bunch before I can focus on her so I'll have to leave her more homework for her to do and somehow trick her into becoming her own damn self. Sheesh...Nono better compensate me for this. Or better yet, we switch kids for now as you're a Doctor and better-equipped to fix her mental mess.'

Operation Personality-Bash is a Go, both Associates thought.

xxx

'Oh! Welcome!' Kazuki greeted him. 'What brings you to visit?'

'Well, my job is to give you the spine of steel since Donnas really have it hard in a men's-only world that there's only a few Donnas in existence as these women bit and clawed their way up to the top.' he said. 'Reborn will be grilling Hayato real good.'

'OK.'

Shamal laced Mist Flames subtly into his Reformation Education...it will take time, but its sure to work.

(in this case, experience won over immense power)

Either way he thought, Irisviel Emiya must DIE for real for this girl to truly LIVE as Kazuki never truly lived her life. At all. Emiya copy-pasted his wife on her. Literally. Reborn found out when Shirou talked years back.

In the meantime, Nana simply thinks Reborn got called out on jobs and had Shamal 'temporarily replace him'. Its fine for her as stuff tends to happen...in her husband's line of work.

xxx

Shamal took Kazuki exploring Namimori Town.

'Kazuki, look at what you want. As in truly want.' Shamal instructed her. 'Can't buy anything though.'

'What's the purpose, sensei?' Kazuki asked him as they walked together.

'To know what you truly like, dislike and enjoy to downright hate. We're doing this for your own good.'

'How come?'

'Because I'll be blunt with you...you're living the life of a dead woman.' said Shamal bluntly. 'Your life is not your own but somebody else's. Your manners? Personality? Hairstyle until you trimmed your bangs? Style of dress? All this lady, your foster father's wife.' he said, showing her a picture of a caucasian albino woman they got from Fuyuki's records in the airport. 'Where was the 'you' in your current self now? Are you even truly alive?' he asked her seriously.

Kazuki did a double-take at Shamal's words.

She never saw this coming at all.

She, live the life of a dead woman?

Wasn't she...herself?

'E-eh?'

'That is the purpose of this trip.' that, and he left the mother a note by the living room table folded and labeled for her to find while they're gone. 'For you to gain your own identity by learning what you like, dislike, enjoy, love and hate. Heck, do you even enjoy looking like a doll every day? For all I know your taste in clothes are different but sadly, looking like a doll was the only options you've got growing up while not knowing there are other fashions out there.' he stated. 'And as a soldier, fighting in long, flowy skirts is a no, right?' he grinned.

'W-well yes but...'

Next was activities.

Playing arcade games. Doing sports and other activities. Tasting other food. Clothes.

All this every after school.

After that, changing her way of speech.

'Kazuki, nobody speaks the way you do anymore.' said Shamal. 'Only the Emperor, Empress and their family do these days. You're unwittingly distancing yourself from potential friends by speaking like you do.'

'Huh? Why? I'm a normal girl aren't I?' Kazuki gasped, alarmed.

'You're a good normal girl but think of social status quo.' Shamal pointed out in lecture mode after patting her head. 'Rich kids, sporty kids, studious kids, the in-betweens, the artsy people, budding musicians and delinquents. Your family classifies as in-between as you're well-off, living a comfortable life and living a normal lifestyle. Your classmates are like that too. The only rich guy in school is Hibari and that's cuz' his family historically owned the whole land of Namimori for generations they still govern it themselves to this day.'

'So I should be like an in-between?'

'Yep! Manners, habits and hobbies! Again, we'll find how you like things your way, not what you were taught!'

'Oooh...'

One night...

'Sensei, how are things with Kazuki?' Nana asked Shamal worriedly. 'That note you left me days ago really worried me...my daughter's life is not her own all this time?!' she cried in dismay.

'That's what we're trying to fix...its why Reborn called me to fix Kazuki.' said Shamal kindly to the distraught mother. 'And we're making good progress to make her become her own girl, not live somebody else's life. Your kid was raised to live like her posthumous foster mom that she never met.' Nana sported a WTH? on her face. 'Poor girl doesn't have her own identity and true self which is why we explored town into finding what she truly wanted...which explains why she threw her dresses out. Looks like Iemitsu will have to send for closet money again.'

'Well, its for a good cause.' Nana smiled before deflating. 'We...never knew about Kazuki's upbringing...we just thought Emiya-san raised our daughter well but...we never realized its all wrong...'

'We'd never realize either until Reborn talked to Shirou about what he knows about how they grew up.' said Shamal darkly. 'If we never asked, we'd never catch this on time and it'd be bad in the long run...it was good Shirou was no Emiya Kiritsugu in personality, he's a genuinely selflessly nice boy...' with dangerous flaws at that, Shamal inwardly mused to himself.

Shirou was the stereotypical Lightning and he's intimately-dependent on his sister to keep nightmares at bay. Heck, what Reborn told him was WRONG in all levels and to think the youngest people do it was around high school!

So really, there's a list of deadly people who wants to kill whoever took advantage of Emiya's blindness to teach kids what they should have learned waaay late in life. Probably some sicko pedo!

Yep, still hunting for pedoes in Fuyuki City...Iemitsu's on a warpath last the two Assassins heard.

He just wished he was a fly on the wall when Reborn suffered giving Kazuki The Talk.

xxx

'Hey, I'm just noticing...the way you speak changed.' Yamamoto complemented. 'You talk like one of the girls now!'

'Yeah...Shamal-sensei said that the way I was taught alienated me away from potential friends...I didn't know that, it was what I was taught while I'm a hostage.' said Kazuki.

'You're taught how to talk like a rich kid while hostaged?!'

'Er...they were gonna sell us...' Kazuki stated awkwardly while fidgeting. 'I don't know why we had to talk that way either. We were told to or get whacked.'

To be honest, only Gokudera and Hibari knows the full truth. Yes, Kazuki was kidnapped but for what, nobody knows as the transaction never happened, saved by an act of God called Fuyuki Fire wherein only she and Shirou survived.

Silence fell from those seated near the group and earned her spooked, wide-eyed looks.

Due to what happened to her family, Namimori became a paranoid town distrustful of newcomers below 18 years old and Police patrolled a lot more often and Curfew was set tighter that 8 pm was the latest a kid below 17 could stay out. Freedom was restricted, but it was the better alternative than be kidnapped and sold and most schools employed Martial Arts Instructors for sports clubs with kids required to take it though some actual sports clubs still remain.