Foreword: Welcome to the official chapter one! Thanks for waiting, especially to those wonderful few who reviewed. :D Also thanks to my beta omgpink!

Disclaimer: If you have any claims or issues concerning the series Katekyo Hitman Reborn, I suggest that you take it up with Amano Akira, the creator, cuz KHR is NOT MINE. :P

The Nature of the Beast

Chapter 1: Vegas

5 Days Prior

If there was one thing Hibari Kyoya hated more than herbivores, it was a crowd of them. And much to his ire, Las Vegas, Nevada was swamped with them. He'd managed to avoid the crowded touristy streets via the discreet use of a cab. Unfortunately, his mark was located in one of the most crowded of places—a casino.

His steel blue eyes narrowed dangerously as they swept over the crowded carpets of the Casino-Hotel. They were everywhere, toiling away at the slots, throwing away their lives' savings at tables, and swarming the bar in herds—herbivores. He felt his agitation rise to a level of near suffocation, but regardless, he bore it, for, in just a few minutes, he'd have the perfect target for his frustrations.

With ease he navigated from the gilded entranceway, across the sanguine red carpet, into the marbled halls, and onto a meticulously shined gold elevator. It remains to be seen if this was because he was just that good or because the crowd instinctively knew to move out of the former prefect's way. Yet, despite Kyoya's ease of navigating the casino's lobby, he found himself sharing the elevator space with an unwelcome guest. The herbivore had settled into a corner after meeting his gaze and seemed determined to stay there. Normally, he would gladly ignore such a man, but the herbivore reeked of fear and it only provoked his urge to attack.

So, when the elevator opened up on the fifth floor—with no one waiting outside the doors—Kyoya turned a cutting glare at the balding man and suddenly, as though, awoken from a trance, the herbivore quickly scuttled past and into the hall. As the elevator doors sealed themselves and the ascent continued, Kyoya was unsurprised to notice that the stench of terror still lingered. Normally, he would find himself agitated by the man's weakness, but now, when he was on the brink of what was likely a fight—no matter how pitiful the challenge—he reveled in it. So, this time when the elevator opened up on the twelfth floor, he stepped off the contraption, with his hands tucked nonchalantly in his pockets and a devilish smirk on his face.

There were only a few doors on the establishment's top floor, but Kyoya wasn't counting doors. Instead, he simply turned and walked to his right, ignoring the emerald carpet and gaudy Egyptian themed wallpaper. His attention was held by a set of double doors, guarded by two rather large, surprisingly fit men decked all in black. They eyed him suspiciously, sharing a glance as he continued to approach.

The guard on his left, a dark skinned man who kept his head cleanly shaven and his facial hair immaculately groomed, spoke in a diplomatic tone. "Sir, you don't have clearance to be up here. Why don't you go back down to the lobby and play a few of the games."

"Games?" Kyoya asked, removing his hands from his pockets. His smirk widening into a grin as the two tensed at his motions. "I have no interest in games aside from my current one."

"Wha-" The guards question was silenced by metal 'shlink' of Hibari's tonfas telescoping into their full size. He gave them no time to ponder their scenario and lunged.

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On the other side of the doors, several workers stilled in their tasks; their wide eyes lingering upon the doors from which came the unmistakable sounds of violence and suffering. A few even cringed at the heavy thud of blunt force and breathless grunts. There was a click as the latch was released and the door swung inward. Their tense silence dissipated into confusion as an Asian man stepped in. He was moderately tall and despite his pale skin and shaggy hair, well groomed in a dark Armani suit and violet dress shirt, accented by an equally dark tie. He wore his suit perfectly and it gave no sign of the assumed violence that took place moments before. It wasn't until a curious worker let his gaze land behind the stranger and onto the dark bald head of a familiar guard that chaos erupted. Alarm widened the clerk's eyes as he lifted his stare and met the chilling gaze of the Asian man. Even in his panicked haze, he would remember the fleeting feeling of confusion as the man seemed to smile (or perhaps it was more of a smirk) when he hoarsely cried out, "Security!"

That would, of course, be the last of his recollection as he was quickly silenced by a blow to the head courtesy of an accurate tonfa strike. No sooner had the man's head slapped his desk and his body slumped to the floor, that the metallic clacking of armed guards echoed in the vacant halls. He said nothing when clerks abandoned their paperwork and cash covered desks for the door; he was far more interested in his opposition.

Hibari's grin turned lethal, "Herbivores…"he said, and his gaze flicked to the emerald carpet once as he tested his grip on his tonfas, "…always so eager to crowd." He sprung forward, and the sound of gunfire overcame all others.

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He didn't open the door politely this time around. No, he supposed it could be considered rude when he sent the armed man through the door. The guard sending an uncontrolled volley of bullets into the air and through walls and fellow guards alike as his finger still squeezed tight against the trigger in shock. Kyoya side stepped the spray and was unfazed by the metal hail that missed him by mere centimeters. A few final thwacks and pained grunts later and he stepped through his newly made doorway, only to frown.

Something was wrong. He wasn't quite sure what was wrong at first, his expression falling into neutral as he glanced over the five body guards casually reclining around the office in leather easy chairs or slumped against beige walls with not a care in the world. And more annoyingly, his target slouched over his desk, chin resting on interlaced fingers with the smuggest grin the world had ever seen plastered on his face. Just what exactly was wrong with this picture?

As the realization occurred to him, however, he became aware of the growing crowd behind him. He slid a glance from his peripheral vision to the massive grouping of armed guards. "Kyoya Hibari."

His eyes returned to the man who was supposed to have been his target and his suspicions were confirmed. "We've been expecting you."

"Ah, I've noticed." He closed his eyes briefly. "Have you made preparations, herbivore?"

The man behind the desk laughed, his lank dark hair shifting over his face in the process, "For what you Jap bastard?"

He was irritated…and it was beginning to show. The man's laughter quieted as a violet flame lit the Cloud ring. Then, he smiled and it was nothing if not terrifying. "Your death, of course."

Whatever smug satisfaction the 'target' had been feeling before was ripped from him as he yelled out, "Don't just stand there! Kill him!"

Kyoya spoke only once more. "Kamikorosu."

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It wasn't even a full thirty seconds into the fight and already Krieger was beginning to wilt in his seat. The rumors were true; Hibari Kyoya was a demon. He'd seen his fair share of demons—his train of thought paused as he flinched away when a man was sent flying over his desk-, this man—this beast, was in a different category all his own. Hibari wasn't fighting off his men, no, he was swatting them. Like flies! Panic entered his mind and nothing else mattered, but getting out alive…after all, somebody had to pass on the message. Hibari Kyoya would not be defeated here.

His resolution set, he leapt from his chair, quickly stepping over fallen men and made for the side door. He didn't make it quite that far.

"Scurrying rodent."

He was chilled by the monotone voice, laced with a hint of amusement. He fumbled for his nine millimeter, but it was pointless. No sooner had his fingers wrapped around the weapon had the steel rod of a tonfa been pulled across his throat. He gagged as he was flung back to the other side of the room. He was knocked breathless as his back slammed into the wall.

He was faint and struggling to breath. Barely keeping his eyes open—although he wasn't sure he wanted to, really—he watched his men get tossed around the room like rag dolls and swatted away like annoying insects. Krieger supposed he should be grateful the office was windowless…this was the twelfth floor, after all. Wincing at the thought, he took another glance at the alternative and with a determined face, he struggled to his knees. On all fours, he crept around strewn bodies and armaments, quickly dodging flying bodies. Almost there. Just a little bit fur-

His thoughts halted as he was flattened to the floor, a foot planted securely between his shoulder blades. "Where are you going, rat?"

All around him were motionless bodies. The room was no longer active, rather it was quite inactive. He eyed blood that stained the carpet. A sudden fear seized him as he realized that only he was conscious. He was so frightened he didn't even realize his current captor was speaking.

Hibari frowned as he was forced to repeat himself. He lifted his foot from the herbivore's back and set it on the ground, only to shove it into the man's ribs. With a sharp gasp, the man rolled onto his back clutching his side. "Two of the other rats fled. Where did they go?"

A sort of defiant stare entered Krieger's eyes. "Or what? You'll beat me? Kill me?"

"No."

There was sudden motion as Hibari lifted his tonfas again and Krieger's eyes grew wide. "I was going to do that anyway."

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He took the stairs. A quick glance over his suit for blood stains—there were none, that could be seen, at least—and he reentered the lobby and left the casino at his usual pace. Stepping back out onto paved sidewalks littered with palm trees, gaudy neon signs, flashing lights, and tourists alike, Hibari was once again forced to remember that he did indeed hate Las Vegas. He was thankful, it was still day—the night would be far worse. He hailed a taxi and the cab driver pulled over quickly—he was dressed sharply and the driver had his heart set on a nice tip.

"Where to, man?" The cab driver asked over his shoulder and Hibari purposely ignored the familiar choice of words. Instead, he gave him the address to a district of warehouses just outside of Vegas.

The cabbie raised an eyebrow at the address, gave his well-dressed clientele another look from his rear view mirror, and pulled away from the curb—he needed the money.

The drive was silent as Hibari was in no mood to talk. The attempt at conversation had ended rather sharply after the driver had asked what kind of work he did and the Disciplinary Committee head responded with a pointed glare. For the duration of the ride, Hibari had directed his glare at the repetitive scenery of empty desert.

"Hey… we're here." The cab driver called hesitantly as he drove onto the newly paved lot.

Kyoya was silent, but his gaze was now directed at the new surroundings as the cab slowed in front of a warehouse that was no different from any others aside from the bold printing of numbers on its side.

"That's $75." The cab driver called out, stretching an arm back as he looked to his backseat, only to do a double take as his fare had already exited the cab. "Hey! You can't jus-"

He was silenced as Kyoya turned an annoyed glare at him. "Wait here."

On the outside there was nothing particularly special about the warehouse. Nothing that would give away it's secret, but the inside was a different story. There was quite a bit of weaponry—mostly guns, nothing too advanced, but it was the sheer number that made him pause. And it was not because Kyoya was intimidated, not at all. Rather, it was that Kyoya was struck by the stupidity of weaklings.

There were, perhaps, fifty men in total loitering around the room, many of them wearing smug grins. There was even one of rats from the casino huddled in the corner clutching his swollen jaw. What Kyoya found stupid, however, was the fact that the weapons far outnumbered the prey. Even if they all used two weapons—one for each hand—there would still be a mass over supply. So what was the point?

He snorted. Herbivores.

"Dats 'em!" A nasally voice called out from his left and he took in a man whose nose had seen far better days and whose chin was still covered in drying blood. The other rat, Hibari mused.

There was a metal screech as the doors shut behind him. "You're not going anywhere, Vongola bastard."

Vongola? His gaze narrowed on the one who dared speak such slander. Always, he was associated with that pack of powered Herbivores. His agitation was growing again. "I don't intend to run." He released his flame compatible tonfas from their box. There came an uneasy look in the eyes of his prey, but they were still entirely too smug. He took a step forward and he paused at the click. He looked down at his feet. A land mine.

Well, perhaps, they weren't quite as stupid as he first thought. He smirked, amused.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

10 Minutes later

Back outside the cab driver was in a panic. He'd watched the Asian man go into the warehouse, a minute later the door was slammed shut, and not even a minute later, there was an explosion. He'd have peeled off then and there had that been the last of the disturbances, but they were just the beginning. He'd flinched and tore off his seatbelt, ducking into his seat when the sounds of bullet hales thundered through the air. He prayed to god and whoever else would listen when explosions began to rock the district.

There was never a quiet moment, for when the explosions would stop and the gunfire would pause, the sounds of blunt force trauma echoed from within and he cringed at the cries of pain. He wanted to hop back in his seat and floor the gas pedal—really, he did. However, every time the thought crossed his mind, he'd be suddenly remember the cutting glare his client had sent him and he felt compelled to stay right where he was.

So when the area suddenly quieted, he peeked a glance over his door. He saw nothing unusual and that made him sit back up in his seat. As he did, the warehouse door opened. He flinched for a moment, thinking it wasn't his client, but someone who may have killed him, but no, it was the same Asian man. Still looking unruffled for the most part, although his clothes were a bit skewed, they showed no damage. So it was really no surprise when the cab driver began to question his sanity.

He would have continued if not for the next sounds. There was a strange screeching sound and he pulled his gaze from the man walking towards the cab, and sent it back towards the warehouse. The building screeched again as he began to recognize the sound as metal buckling under pressure. And then there were the sudden screams that ended nearly as quickly as they began. The driver stared, his attention wholly ensnared by the happenings inside the warehouse. Then suddenly, the metal could take no more and there was an explosion of force and the driver stared at what had to be one of the weirdest of sights.

It was a ball—a purple ball—of silver spikes and it was humongous. The thing was bigger than a three-story warehouse. At first it was just the oddity of the situation that held his stare, but as he continued to study the shape, his attention was held by something far more morbid: the bodies. There were several bodies skewered on the ball's spikes, he tried not to notice what had to be blood streaming down the glistening protrusions and he shuddered to think of those that might be pinned beneath it.

"Oi."

He jumped at the voice. When had he gotten back in the cab?

"I'm tired of being here." And as if to prove the statement, Hibari let out a mild yawn, lazily shielded by his hand. "Take me to the private air strip."

"Uh... uhm… yes sir." The now scarred for life cab driver pulled a U-turn and drove out the lot. On the way out, he chanced a glance back from his mirror and was stunned to still see the ruined warehouse, yet there was no trace of the giant ball of spikes. Blinking away his shock, he vowed to lay off the weed… at least for a little while. He failed to notice the purple box being tucked away in his client's jacket.

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Hibari had been fair in his tip, giving the driver 20% on top of his regular fare. It seemed the moment the money was handed over, the cab driver had nearly ran him over, burning rubber as he hurried to get out of the gated area. Hibari had glared after him and it only seemed to make the herbivore flee faster. Still, he was tired, and he yawned again as he turned to board the private jet.

The jet was new, customized to his orders, the interior faintly resembling his committee room from Namimori Middle. It was run on a skeleton crew; he had no desire to be crowded in a small room of metal thousands of feet in the air. Still, he—barely—acknowledged the attendant at the jet's doors and sat in his chair of choice while the woman immediately began to prepare his tea.

"The captain says we'll be ready for takeoff in just a few minutes. Enjoy." She set the tea pot and ceramic cup in front of him and quickly made herself scarce.

He was just beginning to enjoy his tea when an annoyance made itself known. "Sir, we have a problem. They're not letting us takeoff."

Lifting his gaze from his tea with an agitated look in his eyes, he asked, "Oh?"

"Sir!" The excited cry came from the attendant and her gaze was entirely focused out the windows.

Narrowing his eyes, he followed her gaze. Black SUVS, five of them, driving across the desert at full speed, more than likely heading towards his current location. "Take off anyway." He couldn't care less what they said he could or couldn't do.

"Sir!" The woman was persistent. Still, he chanced another look to the window and was forced to pause at the sight. The detail was unclear from this distance, but the shape was nearly undeniable. A rocket launcher?

His question was answered quite suddenly as the missile hurdled at rapid speed towards the aircraft.

Afterword: Thanks for reading! Please review, I could really, REALLY use the feedback to make sure I'm going the right direction with this. Note: This is the Un-beta'ed draft. I was very impatient, so I went ahead and posted. XD The beta'ed version will more than likely be up in a day or two. LEAVE FEEDBACK!...please. XD

Update!: As of 9/4/2012, the beta'ed version was posted. XD lol, same day.

-S.T.