Disclaimer: I own the OCs, the rest is Akira Amano's work.

Fratellanza

"Are you okay? I promise your classmates will be nice."

"Sure, that's why you came back with a black eye the other day," I retorted as we were in front of my classroom. "Do I really have to?"

"Yes, every children have to go to school Ana, you're no exception." I puffed my cheeks. "Would you look at who's becoming a capricious little girl?"

"See you at lunch," I mumbled as he knocked, muffling a laugh behind his hand.

The entire morning was hell. There were the introduction, everybody looking at me, during and after, the teacher asking me to answer, just to see what I knew sure, but in front of everyone, and the girl sitting next to me chatting way too much.

It was hell, and I made sure to let Dino know once I joined him for lunch.

"So, how was it?" I turned my back to him and started eating. "Heh, Ana? Was it that bad?"

"Yes," I answered coldly. "People talk way too much. I hate kids."

"You're a kid." I turned my head to him with a brow raised.

"Your point?" He sweat dropped.

"Invalid I guess?" I smirked at his answer. "Aren't a little bit too manipulative for a seven-year-old sometimes?"

"You gotta do what you gotta do."

"VOIIIIIIIIIII!" I covered my ears, like Dino. Who was the moron screaming so loudly?

"Hey Squalo!" A notebook was thrown in my brother's face and I frowned. Who was the trash bullying him? "Thanks, it's the History lessons I missed?"

"Yeah! Why were you even absent Cavallone!? I have other things to do than taking notes for you!" I got up and slowly approached him.

"I know, sorry, but I was busy with my baby sister." The guy blinked and pointed an angry finger at him.

"VOIII YOU DON'T HAVE A SISTER!" Dino was about to tell him otherwise when he opened his eyes wide at me and my raised leg to kick the guy.

Unfortunately, he saw it and dodged, throwing a punch at me right after. I saw through it and stopped it by catching it in my hand.

But damn did he have more strength than me.

"What the...a kid?" I glared in return and Dino pulled us apart.

"Squalo, this is Luciana, my newly adopted younger sister. Luciana, even if it looks like he was mean to me, it's how Squalo is so don't mind it." I blinked at my brother. It was still weird to call him brother, and Dad Dad but...Dad didn't like it when I said 'sir'.

"Oh, sorry then." Dino shot me a look. "Right, and nice to meet you. I'm Luciana." Another look from Dino and I gulped. "Lu...Luciana Cavallone."

"Superbi Squalo," he replied, looking at me weirdly. I snorted. "Vooiii, where did you learn those moves!?"

"Somewhere."

"Where!?"

"Not here." A vein popped on his forehead.

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME BRAT!?"

"Hey Squalo, she doesn't want to answer that question so just let it go, okay?" Dino asked him nicely, trying to calm him down. Squalo stopped gesticulating and stared lengthily at Dino. He ended up scoffing.

"Fine." He turned around.

"Moron..." I muttered under my breath. Dino heard me and shot me a dumbfounded look. Squalo heard me too. He stopped walking, his hands in his pocket.

"Voiiii..." he started slowly, not turning around, "what did you just say?"

"Luciana, don't…"

"White hair does mean you're old, deaf moron." It was dead silence and I could hear the silent prayers Dino was sending my way. Like a robot, Squalo turned around and I realized I had said too much at the murderous glint in his gray eyes.

"I'M GONNA KILL YOU BRAT!"

I started running for my life, not knowing where I was going. Squalo was screaming behind me, Dino was screaming at him to leave me alone, that I was a seven-year-old and didn't know what I was saying.

"VOIII I'M GOING TO...WAIT BRAT SERIOUSLY STOP RUNNING THAT WAY!"

"LUCIANA, SQUALO IS RIGHT IT'S THE..." I looked back. Dino tripped.

"IT'S THE SHOOTING RANGE!" I blinked and slowed down, enough for Squalo to grab me and pull me back, avoiding a lost bullet. "The beginners' shooting range," he added, slightly out of breath. He had one knee on the ground, my arm in his hand and me sitting on the ground. "Fuck brat, Dino's already troublesome enough, don't add to it."

"Thank God you're okay!" Dino said as he knelt next to us. "Thank you Squalo, I didn't know what I would have done if something had happened to her." I reached my hand to his forehead and poked where there was blood. "Don't worry, it's nothing."

"Your sister's as annoying as you are Cavallone."

"But isn't she cute though?"

"Humph, you could say she stands out from the crowd I guess." I didn't comment.

"I'm sorry, you're hurt Dino," I whispered to him. He sighed.

"It's nothing, but apologize to Squalo, for real this time." I raised my eyes to his expecting ones.

"I apologize for calling you a deaf moron Squalo."

"Tch, fucking brat," he muttered.

"May I know what you three think you're doing?" We froze and looked up. A mean looking woman was staring down at us.

"Miss Rossi..." Dino started.

"In the principal's office, now."

It was a great first day.

"I know what a horse looks like, I don't..."

"Are you scared?" Dad asked me.

"No I'm not but..."

"Then please come with your old dad?"

Resigned, I followed him and Romario to the stalls. It smelt in there. It smelt like hay and poop. From the corner of my eyes, I saw someone cleaning the place and understood the poop smell.

"See, there is nothing to be afraid of." Dad pushed me in front of a horse, whose head was sticking out of his stall. He looked at me and neighs.

It was big though, the horse was big.

I ran away.

"Luciana!" Dad screamed.

"I saw it I'm fine!" It was without counting on Reborn appearing out of nowhere. "Reborn?"

"Overcoming the fear of people bigger that yourself is important Luciana, so go back there.

"But I..." I widened my eyes when Leon, Reborn's pet cameleon, changed into a whip and wrapped itself around me. Then the baby dragged to the stalls. I struggled to get free, but it was useless.

"Thank you Reborn."

"It's nothing, Dino is working on his geography." Leon disappeared and I got up. I lowered my head and went to Dad. He was quickly tired, I was not being nice.

"It's okay to be scared, it's an impressive animal after all. But they're not mean. Try to pet it on the nose." I gulped and with a shaking hand, I did. The animal didn't push me away and even closed its eyes, leaning into my hand even more.

"Here Princess," Romario told me, giving me a carrot. I carefully handed it to the horse who ate it quickly. I smiled faintly and petted him with a little more confidence.

"He's cute," I admitted quietly.

"You should be sleeping." I jumped in my chair at my desk and looked at Reborn next to me. "You need sleep at your age."

"I'm not tired." Reborn looked at what I was doing.

"I thought you were doing better than expected at school?"

"It's easy, I've caught up on the curriculum they said," I confirmed. "But it's for me."

"The piano lessons you asked to have too?"

"Well yes."

"It's not to appear as the perfect daughter, is it?" I choked on my spit. "Spot on it seems."

"What...why would I want to..."

"Because you're scared to go back in the streets if you're not good enough?" I opened my eyes wide. I bit my bottom lip and smile sadly.

"Am I that obvious?"

"Oh no, Dino thinks his sister is a little genius good in everything." He spared a look at the several academic books on my desk. "Although, I have to say I wish he showed half the enthusiasm you have for studying."

"I'm not a fan of it, it's necessary though, and I don't like not understanding something." Reborn smirked.

"It's a nice thing if you know what you can know or not, remember that. Everything is not good to know."

"Talking about knowing, did you hear from Shamal?" He was taken back.

"Shamal?"

"The blood tests. Dis they show something?"

"They explained why you don't feel pain in a way, but to know the full extent of what the Estraneos did you would need more exams."

"Oh, I see."

"It will be your decision later to see if you want to know or not."

"Okay. But can't you tell me what the results are?"

"Everything's fine, it's all you need to know. Now go to bed. It's a school night." I sighed and closed my notebook. I turned off my light as Reborn turned on the one on my nightstand. I slipped under the covers and pulled them up to my chin before taking a deep breath of my inhalator. "Good night Reborn."

"Good night."

Hum...that was weird.

I'm sure there was something weird with the result. Reborn avoided the question and he never avoided questions.

He was hiding something from me.

On this thought, I fell asleep. I thought so at least, because as I looked around me, I was pretty sure I was in clearing.

"Kufufu~." I turned around.

Nothing.

"Oya oya."

"Hey, it's not funny!" I yelled in anger.

"It is, trust me on that Ana," a silhouette said in indigo mist. It was...familiar.

I gaped when I recognized him.

"Mu...Mukuro?"

"Well, hello there." I blinked away the tears and jumped on him. "Oya, you didn't think I was dead, did you?"

"N...no?" I stuttered in a strangled voice. He sighed.

"I'll admit it took me some time to perfect this technique, but as long as you have your necklace, it will be our link."

"How?"

"It's a medium, just don't take it off." I nodded immediately. "So, I heard you have been adopted into a Mafia Family. Is it true?"

"Yes, they're not like the Estraneos. They're nice. I swear they're nice Mukuro!" I said with conviction as his suspicious look.

"If you say so. You're well taken care of?" I nodded. "Well, that's what matters the most I guess."

"What about you? I heard the Estraneos were destroyed."

"Oh, I'm in a Mafia Family too."

"Really?"

"Kufufu, I'm not going to be like you though." I tilted my head on the side. "Don't worry about such things Ana. It's...ha, I don't have enough strength to maintain my presence here for longer than a minute it seems. We shall see each other again."

"Hum...sure?"

Mukuro...what did you have in mind?

"Voiiiii what are you doing here!?" Superbi yelled at me, his sword in my direction. I sighed and sat on the trunk of a dead tree. Somewhere in the wood, I heard Dino's yelling.

"Reborn took Dino on a camping training trip for his whip and I came along. I'm done with Dino's apologies." He raised a brow and I glared, daring him to comment on the whip print on my cheek. "What are you doing here?"

"Training! The Mountain of Death is great for that!"

"Huh, sure." I looked up at the sky. "Dino said you were not in school last week. You were sick?"

"Vooiiiii getting sick is for weaklings!" He sliced the tree in front of him in anger. "Shitty family stuff that's all."

"You're already in a Family?"

"No, I meant blood family." I blinked. He never spoke about that before, I kind of thought he came out of nowhere.

"At least you know where you come from," I muttered under my breath, the pendant around my neck feeling so heavy at of sudden.

He didn't comment on this. I jumped on my feet and stretched out, my hoodie falling back on my shoulder.

"I'll go back to Dino, see you at school."

"I'm not going back." I looked at him in wonder. "I'm leaving on a training trip, I'll be gone for a while. Tell the Cavallone."

"Got it, don't die a stupid death."

"VOOOIIII!" I waved at him without looking back. My ears will have a vacation, that was nice. For the past four months it had been hell.

"Luciana!" Dino whined when he saw me. He was bleeding more than before. The bear was still up and roaring. "Please stay next to Reborn!"

"You're struggling." My flame would kill the bear in the blink of an eye, wouldn't it?

"I'm fine!" he tried to reassure me with a pained smile. I frowned and walked up closer. "Luciana don't! Reborn do something!"

"You're hurt Dino," I stated flatly, stopping in front of him.

"Please don't Ana, you'll get hurt."

"I'm good," I replied as my flame appeared in my hand. Dino held his breath as the flame burned the bear to a crisp. "See, I'm good!" I turned to him with a small smile. It disappeared at his horrified face. "Di...Dino?" I widened my eyes and looked at my hand, then him. "I'm sorry, I won't do it again but you were hurt and..." Me apologizing broke him out of his astonishment and he grabbed my arms gently.

"Hey hey, I was shocked that's all. If you're careful with it, I don't mind it. Just be careful of who knows about it. You're still my sister, it doesn't change anything." I looked at him with uncertainty and his face broke into a smile. "And you don't react at me touching you!" I blinked and looked down.

"I'm not afraid you might hurt me I guess," I mumbled and it seemed to make his day, even if he was hurt everywhere.

"It's a huge step! We're celebrating once we're home."

"Not so fast." We looked down at Reborn, on the ground next to us. His fedora was hiding his eyes but when he raised his head, I shivered at the seriousness in them. "Luciana, when did you start doing it?"

"When I escaped the lab...I was so angry about being hurt everyday that I wanted him to feel the same and it appeared. Is...is it bad? I don't really know what it is, just that it protected me so far."

"It is the Flame of Wrath." I tilted my head but Dino seemed to know what it meant. He grabbed me and pressed me against his chest possessively.

"We adopted her Reborn. You can't take her to the Vongolas!" Reborn sighed.

"I've never said anything about taking her. I don't want to hear you whining."

"Hey..."

"What do clams have to do with anything?" They looked at me. I was confused.

"No, the Vongola Family. It is the most powerful Family in the Mafia, more than the Cavallones. If...if they want something from another Family, they usually get it." I didn't miss the worry in my brother's eyes.

"But my home is here?" I asked just to be sure. "I...don't want to leave home." Then, for the first time in my life, I saw something in Dino's eyes that made me think Dad might be right about him and the future of the Cavallones.

"You won't."

"Still, I have to contact the Ninth."

"Well you do that, we're celebrating Luciana's accomplishment today." As Dino dragged me away from Reborn, my hand in his, I shot a look at Reborn behind us. He seemed concerned.

Was I going to be in trouble?

The old man's gaze on me was making me uncomfortable. He was just staring at me without saying anything, and there was something in his eyes that just...made me very uncomfortable. I gulped and looked for Dino in the room, or Dad, but they left me alone with the old man.

"I'm sorry, I am making you uncomfortable. Your name is Luciana, isn't it?" I nodded slowly, unsure of what to do. Who was that guy. One of the Vongolas Dino told me about? "My name is Timoteo, I am the Ninth Vongola Boss."

"Oh. Great." I was in trouble then? "Did I do something wrong sir?" He seemed surprise at my question. What, I didn't know him, I wasn't going to be rude. Dad told me not to.

"No, you have done nothing wrong," he reassured me in a kind, warm voice. "Would you show me your flame Reborn told me about?" I bit my bottom lip and shook my head. "Why not?"

"Dino told me to be careful not to show it to anybody." He chuckled at that.

"Young Dino is right, you love him very much, don't you?" I nodded without hesitation.

"He's my big brother sir!" Something weird appeared in his eyes again.

"Siblings should not be separated, don't you think?" I blinked at the question.

"Of course not, it would be mean. Sometimes Dino is annoying but I don't want us to be separated." He chuckled weakly.

"Well, would you be kind and get your brother for me?" I nodded and ran to the door.

"Dino, come!" He raised his head, looked at Dad and came. I went back in front of the Ninth, Dino next to me.

"Dino, would it be okay if Luciana showed me her flame?" Dino was taken back at the request, but nodded. So I did. I hunched and huddled closer to Dino.

It was not I didn't like the way he was looking at me.

I hated it.

"Luciana, do you like living here?"

"Well yes, of course." He nodded. "You're not taking me, are you?"

"No I'm not. Your home and family are here." I sighed in relief and hugged my brother, who was startled. "I shall take my leave now. I will just have a talk with Reborn first, you do not mind Dino?"

"Not at all, take your time Ninth!" he replied in a second, his arms around me. "You think he'll take him back with him?"

"I like Reborn, he's fun to have around."

"He's insane! He always has some weird plans to 'train' me!"

"I know, that's why I said he was fun. I didn't mean it was fun for you." I smirked at his defeated face.

"It's too late huh, he tainted you." I grinned happily at him.

"Yup!"

"Don't smile like that!"

"I will not take her to the Vongola Estate." Vincenzo sighed in relief.

"Thank you Ninth."

"But she will not be a member of the Cavallone. Once she is old enough, she will join the CEDEF. I will talk to Iemitsu about it."

"CEDEF?"

"She was adopted by the Cavallone after we found her file in the Estraneos' archives, but truly was kept here so that one of their experiments was not in the wilderness. Ninth, I know she has the Flame of Wrath but are you sure you should not just seal it away and let her live a life as normal as possible?" Reborn asked him, which got him a stern stare. "She went through enough."

"Unfortunately, I can't let a user of this flame outside of the Vongola. I am willing to let her stay here, do not make me reconsider it."

"Of course Ninth," the Cavallone said as the Vongola got up, gesturing his Storm Guardian they were leaving. "Take care."

"You too old friend. Reborn, I trust you to keep an eye on her, and that she has some training once she is in CEDEF." Once they were gone, Vicenzo looked at Reborn.

"Thank you for trying Reborn."

"It was nothing. If that Alaric left her here and not at the Vongola it's for a reason. I'm sure he knows what Xanxus looks like and what he can do too."

"Do you think Luciana is Timoteo's daughter too?" The hitman lowered his head.

"No, I don't think so. However, she is related to Xanxus, one way or another. The red eyes and flame are the same, no matter how you look at it. For some reason, he doesn't want Luciana too close though."

"Is it a bad thing though?" Reborn looked at the Don. "She is acting like a child, and I heard how that boy could be. Even if they possibly are related...is it wrong of me that I do not want him close to her?"

"No, she's your daughter, you want to protect her from bad influence. And anyway, at some point she'll hear about him. Once she's old enough, it will be her choice."

Although, Reborn had heard Xanxus was isolating himself more and more, was getting more and more violent toward others. He was the illegitimate child of the Ninth, but then where did that put Luciana? She did not fit in the equation he knew. Yet, the reason the Ninth took in Xanxus was because of the flame he shared with the little girl.

But the Ninth left her here.

What was he missing?

"Dad, Dino fell and broke a lamp," Luciana told them as she entered the room. Her father sighed.

"Yes, well, what's new?"

"It's almost time for your piano lesson," Reborn reminded her. She clapped her hands once.

"Right, I forgot about that!" She ran away.

He noticed the potential in her. It was blatant and just begging to be exploited by the right people.

However, would her mind take it?

A few months flew by. Superbi was still...somewhere training, but definitely not at school. Dino was Dino, and Reborn was Reborn. For some reasons, Reborn would often give me some 'training' exercises to me too. It was fine.

At some point, Reborn left for a few days. Something about the Vongolas having troubles with one of their teams. I was eight at the time.

Not long after, Dad started to leave his bed less and less.

"Abstract or ugly?" I asked, a drawing of a wannabe horse in my hand.

"A beautiful unicorn," he whispered weakly. I lowered the paper and furrowed my brows.

"Are you going to die Dad?" I asked sadly. His smile mirrored my feelings.

"Eventually, everybody die. Some people happen to die earlier than others, that's all." I clenched my fists on my pants.

"...'s not fair..."

"No it isn't. Would you come closer?" I did and he put his hand in my hair. "Please have your brother's back. He will struggle in the future but if you're here, it should be okay, alright? Stay together."

"Obviously, Dino would cause WW3 if I looked away for too long." It made him laugh.

"It's much better to hear you making fun of your brother than when you got here. It has been more than a year, hasn't it?" I nodded. "Do you wonder where your friend went?" I averted my eyes to the windows.

"He's fine, that's all I need to know. And I'm happy here." He smiled but started coughing. I looked at the blood on his hand in horror. "Dad?"

"Ro...Romario..." I ran out of the room.

"Romario!" He turned around. The panic on his face was enough for him to run to Dad's room.

I slid against the wall.

I didn't want my Dad to die.

Fratellanza

Thanks for reading this chapter!