Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my OCs.

I looked down at my feet as I stepped out of our car and then up at the backs of my fellow officers. I felt sorely out of place. In fact, I was wide eyed at how cool their backs looked as they stood ready to enter the Vongola Main Base together. It was the first time I ever thought Xanxus looked like he suited the role of the Varia's boss.

The longer I looked the more… herbivorously nervous I felt about my presence among these mafia legends. I was the only one here who was not a famed fighter or born as a mafia member before joining the Varia and I was the only one who would not have a previous record here. I felt… small behind these extraordinary men. As much as I hate to admit it, I felt that I didn't belong here-like I hadn't earned my place among these fighters with my own skill.

Xanxus turned and the rest of the officers turned to look at me over their shoulders. His crimson orbs assessed me and he growled low, "Trash, should just shut up and follow my lead."

Confused by those words, I glanced to Squalo for help and he just smirked and cocked his head towards the door as if to say 'we're together' in his own silent way. I took a deep breath and took my place in line with the rest of them.

The minute the doors opened and we made our entrance, the bustling party halls fell silent. Xanxus' very presence made people move out of the way. They were as wary as they could get as we marched through the crowd towards the head of the room where Vongola Nono was standing amongst his Guardians and greeting the guests.

Vongola Nono immediately noticed the change in the mood of the guests and turned. The current Don Vongola was an elderly man with gray hair and a wrinkled smile beneath a bushy mustache. I wondered how long he had been Don Vongola for but I didn't dare ask at this moment. His eyes swept over us and settled on me, clearly surprised.

Our officers came to a brisk halt before Don Vongola and his currently present, four Guardians. The others were probably amongst the security team for this event. As if they already knew what was going to happen, the officers were watching our boss and I could tell that Don Vongola was nervous.

"Old man." Xanxus grunted and that was the first time I heard him speak in a tone like that.

I couldn't describe it even if I wanted to. All I know is it didn't suit him but it suited him all at the same time. It made no sense to me either.

"Xanxus, I'm glad you could join us today." He hadn't taken his eyes off me and it was clear he didn't intend to quite yet, "Hello, young one. Welcome to the Vongola Family. I am the Ninth boss of this family and Xanxus' father, Timoteo. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."

I was clearly flustered. I had expected a rough mafia greeting something along the lines of a 'Hey, brat. I heard you fight good. Good shit' and then a handshake. I didn't expect the soft smile or the kind hand extended my way.

His eyes softened further when I didn't take his hand right away, "Come, child. What is your name?"

I glanced at the boss, watching, waiting. Xanxus' lips pulled upward in a dangerous snarl and he grasped the Ninth's hand in my stead, giving it a hard shake, "Don't mess around, old man. That's the girl who replaced Silvio and you know it already."

Timoteo looked awfully hurt for a moment and then he sighed, "Yes, Xanxus, but I want to make her feel welcome in this place. She's not like us. She's a small girl."

"Kira." I called out to him, catching the attention of our leading officers and the Vongola Guardians, "Hibari Kira. But you've been calling me the Varia's Cannibal."

Timoteo stared down in wonder at the hand I offered him belatedly. Shock had passed through the crowd and Timoteo's Guardians were now starting to murmur amongst themselves about the credibility of my statement.

The old man's orbs shook, "We may be mafia but I'd like to think that our family has morals above the others. You… cannot be among our assassins for that reason."

My eyes flashed with anger and I felt the red seeping into my vision. This was something that often happened when I got angry. I would slowly start to see red and if I'm angry enough I would most likely lose consciousness of what I'm doing and regain it when I've calmed down. I do have lapses in my memory from past occurrences.

The old man's eyes widened and something told me that he now believed that I was the Cannibal.

I withdrew my hand quickly, clenching my fists and Don Vongola put his hand out once more as an apology at the expression I made but Xanxus would not have it. He held onto his father's hand in an aggressive vice grip that made the old man flinch.

In a voice low with anger, Xanxus snapped, "Her name is Hibari Kira. She's our newest officer boasting combat abilities rivaling or above that of the rest of our officers. I only recruit the strongest of the strong. You insult me."

"Xanxus… I didn't mean it in that-"

"Come!" The boss ordered and spun on his heels to lead us out exactly the way he came.

Our officers followed at his heels instantly and I did the same. It was the tone of voice he used that made us obey and I realized that this is what made everyone here follow our boss.

Suddenly, Xanxus' hand reached out and drew me under his arm in one sharp motion. He had me pressed close to his side and I felt my heart flutter just the smallest bit. I looked up at him in confusion but he didn't look back at me.

For the first time, I called out to him in a daze, "Boss…"

His lips pulled upward in a smirk, "Trash should just shut up and follow me."

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O

My gauntlet rang and vibrated from the force of Lussuria's kick. I gritted my teeth at the way my very bones rattled from his strength. I scowled at him from my place and made my counter attack. Getting my whole body off the ground, I spun my foot into his face. My heel slammed into the arm he lifted up to block my blow. Not giving him a chance to counter, I spun once more. We had sparred plenty of times before and each time the same thing defeated Lussuria-my speed.

He was definitely stronger than me and he was certainly just as, if not more, experienced than me in combat. It's just that as much as he trained and sparred with others to improve his speed, mine was improving just as much. Letting out a rather feminine scream, he went crashing to the floor. I knew that was the win for me.

"Ugh!" He threw up his hands in frustration, "Kira-chan! I'm going to win someday! It's just a matter of time!"

A deep chuckle from the doorway was the signal that our training session was over. Ottavio held up his clipboard, shaking it at us with teasing authority, "You're both too good. But that fight lasted too long. Our training session was over nearly ten minutes ago and you've spent the whole time fighting each other."

"It's Lussuria's fault." I spat, "He should've surrendered earlier."

"Me?! You're so not cute!" The okama shrieked, "I'll beat you to a pulp tomorrow!"

"I've got prior arrangements." I snorted, wiping at the sweat that was pooling under my hair against the back of my neck, "Squalo-senpai wants his turn."

"OH COME ON! Squ-chan has beaten you before! Give me a chance!"

I shot him a deadly glare, "Squalo-senpai got lucky."

We stared at each other a moment. We both knew that wasn't true. Squalo was much stronger than me and much more talented. Out of all the officers, Squalo had the most experience in one on one battles. But I wasn't about to say that out loud and Lussuria lost to me and had no right to say that out loud but I knew he was about to.

"Alright, guys." Ottavio cut in before we could start fighting again, "We need to gather up. We're meeting our newest officer tonight, remember?"

"Newest officer…" I grumbled.

My time as the newest officer was short lived. Apparently, tonight's new guy was royalty from another country. He had already made a name for himself by stabbing his twin brother to death and escaping the heavily guarded castle to join us here just because he was bored. He was immediately recognized because of his genius fighting abilities and previous murders. Apparently, they were calling him "Prince the Ripper" already but I wouldn't know about his skill until I fight him myself.

As if Ottavio knew what I was thinking, he nudged me in the side, "No. There is no fighting today."

I scowled at my bare hands and looked back up at him.

As if he could still read my fucking mind, he smiled and said, "Not even if you go easy on him, Kira-chan."

"VOIII!" A roar from behind sent shivers down my spine and suddenly, Squalo shoved himself between us. He had effectively put some distance between me and Ottavio, "Leave her alone, you pedo!"

The blonde officer chuckled. He was very used to this by now and he had made it clear each time before, "I'm not trying anything weird on our Kira-chan. That's not right, Squalo."

"I don't care!" He snarled, pointing an accusing finger at Xanxus' right hand, "She only likes you because you remind her of Cavallone so fuck off!"

Dino.

I had seen him at school a few times but really, he was thoroughly ignoring me. Maybe it's cause I joined the Varia but he really, really doesn't even look at me anymore but it doesn't matter anymore. It doesn't bother me or so I thought but when I saw this new officer, I went through seeing Dino in someone else all over again.

I stared wide-eyed at the young, blonde boy that grinned widely back at me. Call me nuts but I think everyone who smiles and has blonde hair looks like Dino.

Ottavio stepped forward first to introduce him to the officers that had gathered here, "Well guys, this is Belphegor. He's that Prince the Ripper the world has been talking about. He's young, only eight, but his talents are real."

"V-Voi… So short." Squalo grumbled.

Ottavio chuckled, "Yes, well, I know someone else who has strength that's unproportional to their size and I'm sure you all do too."

I felt my pride flare because I knew he was talking about me and I stood up as straight as I could but even at my full height I was still barely taller than this new boy, "Tch."

"He'll be staying with us from here on out and that brings me to our second topic."

I froze. Second topic? I hadn't heard about this yet. We have two new officers?

"Kira-chan." He grinned, motioning for me to come closer and I did just that. From his coat pocket, he drew a key looped on a chain, "We've been holding out but I finally convinced Xanxus to let me do this. As you know, all of our officers and even most of our regular members live here at HQ. It makes things easier for us if we're all together but you're a girl so we've been kind of skeptical about it for a while… But anyways! We want to finally invite you into our home. How about it?"

I reached out for the key in wonder and then I paused, my eyes followed the key upwards and up his arm right up to the grinning face of his and I smirked, "Ottavio, you said it makes it easier for you guys if I live here? Is it a must?"

"Huh?" He blinked at me in confusion, "W-Well, kind of? It's been a requirement for the rest of us and we'd like to have you follow our previously set rules too."

"Then fight me for it." I had yet to spar with Ottavio. In fact, I've never seen Ottavio fight. People tell me that he fights well but he's not an officer because of his combat ability, "If you win, I'll follow your rules."

"A-Ah… That's…" He hesitated, glancing around the room, "Kira-chan, I'm no match for you. You're actually an assassin. I'm… For other purposes."

"Then I won't be staying here."

"Kira-chan!" He whined and I felt my resolve grow weak at the way his voice tinged like Dino's often did, "Come on! You can't be serious! I'll never win!"

"Ushishishi." Our newest officer's laugh startled us and we spun to look at him incredulously, "Can I fight for him?"

My lips curved upward in a delighted, devilish grin, "Ottavio is rumored to be no challenge but you… Fine. I'll settle."

He smiled at me with that wide grin of his and he put his hand out, "I'm Belphegor. It'll be nice doing battle with you."

"Oh?" I arched my eyebrow and accepted the handshake skeptically, "Awfully friendly for someone who's called Prince the Ripper, aren't you? I'm Hibari Kira."

"Ushishi. You have pretty eyes for someone they call the Cannibal." He shot back at me with wit that didn't suit an eight year old, "Should we add our own bet on top of Ottavio's?"

"Oh?" I pulled my hand away just as he pulled his away.

"Yeah?" He was such a cheerful child that it made me rethink his rumored abilities, "If I win, you'll bow down to me and call me 'your highness' until you beat me."

I heard the gasps ripple out behind me from my fellow officers as I sneered back at him, "Very well, Belphegor. But if I win, you'll bow to me and call me 'Kira-senpai' until you beat me."

"Ushishishi." He was very confident and it ticked me off, "Sure. But alright, let's meet in one of your training rooms in an hour. I hope you don't mind if I invite an audience just in case you try to bail out on your end of the deal."

"That's my line."

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O

The training room was crowded compared to usual but this was to be expected. Everyone wanted to witness our newest officer's talents so the news of our expected battle spread like wildfire. I turned to the left to find Squalo and Lussuria standing together at the doorway. The other members of the Varia were trying to look over them. Above them, Mammon was floating.

"Kira." The Arcobaleno called out to me, "I hope you don't mind but I bet on Prince the Ripper."

"Hmm? You would bet on someone you don't know anything about?" I spoke the words myself but I felt that there was something off if Mammon was betting on Belphegor instead of me. Maybe this was a trap.

He didn't reply. In fact, the crowd grew dead silent and parted. Even Squalo and Lussuria moved over to let our boss and Ottavio through to the front. My eyes went wide, "B-Boss?"

Xanxus fixed his cold, crimson eyes on me. He was assessing me but it wasn't just me. He turned and did the same with Belphegor. Xanxus also knew nothing about Belphegor and it was clear that Xanxus was here for that reason-to figure out how talented this young man really was.

"Ushishishi." Belphegor's snicker was really unique. I thought he was making that noise on purpose at first but he literally just laughs like that. It's natural. He raised his hands to show me his weapons. The knives glinted at me dangerously under the lights of our training room, "So, peasant, I'll play fair. I've got good aim."

"So you intend to throw them at me?" I pulled my gauntlets from my belt and shoved them onto my hands, displaying them proudly, "I hope you know how to fight up close too."

"Enough talk, trash!" Xanxus was getting impatient and that was fine by us. The ringing of his voice became our fight's starting signal.

I moved first but he threw his knives immediately in response to my movements. I easily stepped to the side to avoid them… or so I thought. My instincts warned me mid-charge that I was not in the clear and indeed, the same knives I thought I had managed to dodge were coming at me again.

Impossible!

I took my armored hands and swatted them down. They clattered to the floor and while I was distracted with that Belphegor threw a new set of knives at me. I ducked out of the way and they embedded themselves in the floor behind me. I rushed towards the young blonde in the hopes to reach him before he could throw another set but he was not as stationary a fighter as I thought he would be. He continuously moved about while throwing knives at me. It was impossible to touch him.

Every other or every third set of knives would be impossible to dodge because they would redirect themselves towards me even if I ducked away. Frustrated, my vision was slowly starting to go red.

"Kira-chan, no!" Ottavio's voice was sharp and commanding when I tried to move in for a solid blow. It froze me in my tracks and I felt it. A wire was cutting into my throat just below my chin.

"Ushishishi." Belphegor's grin look absolutely demonic from this angle as he displayed a brand new set of knives in his hands. He took aim dramatically at my face, "Too late, peasant!"

He threw the knife straight for my face and I heard Squalo screaming at me in the back over everyone else. I was desperate for victory so I did the only thing I could think of doing. I went wild. I placed all my bets on my fists and I ran my hands up and down. The invisible wires cut into my clothes and subsequently my flesh but I could feel it going slack. My armored fingers were tangled tightly in the wires and I gave it a hard yank. I felt the wires twist and tear at my skin as I loosened them but they were not dangerous for long. The slackened strings did nothing against me and I moved, ducking away from the knife he had just thrown.

Belphegor looked horrified to be met with my full speed. He stumbled backwards but it was too late. I brought my fist crashing down onto his face. He went flying back and he knocked his head against the wall roughly. I swung my arms to the sides and the wires that were tangled against my body fluttered uselessly to the floor.

It took only two seconds for Belphegor's scream to fill the room. I felt a chill go down my spine as he screamed out, "My blood! The blood of the royals! Ushishishi!"

He spread his arms and to his left and right, knives fluttered out into the air. It was no doubt another trick of the light. Wires were suspending those knives expertly and I realized that this is why they called him a genius. It takes a lot of planning and thought to be able to pull off such a complex fighting style.

"Die for your prince!" He screamed and all at once the knives began to fly forwards in an endless waltz of blades.

I threw my arms up, protecting my face and core with my armored hands. I could feel the knives tearing through my skin and stabbing into my legs but I could not be stopped. I knew that the only thing waiting for me was death if I tried to wait out the onslaught of blades so I did the only thing I could do and I ran. Protecting my core, I ran blindly towards the laughing Belphegor and once more, he was taken by surprise by my speed.

Once I was within his safe zone, he could no longer use the knives that were previously floating at me because it would trap him in the wires too. If it was close combat, I was confident that I would not lose to anyone.

Indeed, Belphegor was no match for my iron fists. My first punch slammed dead into his jaw and the second one gave him no chance to recover as it plowed into his ribcage. He attempted to slash me with a new knife but there were no opportunities as my foot slammed harshly into his wrist and disarmed him. A third backhanded punch slammed into the side of his face and sent him flying off to the side. It rattled his brain so hard that he was unconscious the minute he hit the floor.

Gasping for breath, I felt my knees give out. My vision was growing so blurry as my body told me all at once that I was finally safe. I heard my fellow officers calling out to me, worry and relief mixed into their normally crude voices. I threw my gauntlets to the side and grasped at my deeper wounds. Actually, I couldn't tell which wounds were deeper than the other anymore. They all felt bloody and sticky to me and it shook me to my core.

"Call for the medical team!" Ottavio's voice rang in my ears over and over.

I looked up one last time to confirm that my opponent was completely unmoving and unconscious before my own consciousness slipped away from me.

And it continues. :)