AN: Well, my first FFX fanficcy. =X Hope it doesn't turn out too bad, do review and let me know. Might include some pairings and whatnot, most likely not any with my character though. Just leave a little note for me if you want to see a certain pairing in this fic. Well I shall be shutting up now...oh yeah, before I forget, I do not own the wonderful FF series. But I do own my character whose name I will not reveal yet. Kay, now I really will shut up. Enjoy. ^^;

Once you're in, there is no escape. Well unless you count death...but very few would go that far. Heh, it was funny in a sad way. They live their lives on the edge staring death straight in the eye and then wink flippantly. Every time they leave their safe little homes and enter the streets they risk their lives. People who fight for no particular reason, as though it were a mere hobby such as crocheting or collecting rocks. Why do they do this? Some would retort for pride and honor. ...But then what about the famed saying, "There is no honor among thieves"? They were nothing more than worthless men (and occasionally a woman) who talked big and toted guns, and even spilling blood of the innocent. But she could not say anything about them really...she was no different.

What would make someone wish to join a gang? Most adults say they are just looking for love and affection. That most definitely wasn't in her case. In fact; she wasn't looking to join anything at all. But that day...someone came to her with an offer she couldn't dare refuse. It was the only slight glimmer of hope that appeared to her in a long time. So she went along obligingly. After that day, she stripped everything of her former self away. Even going as far as to rid her real name.

She wished for strength, so that's what she recieved. They poked, prodded, and molded her into the girl she is today. She even became a semi legend among gangsters. The girl even had developed a moniker of herself courtesy of her so called 'family'. The Scarlet Butterfly. She had the kind of beauty that looked pure and innocent as Christmas snow. Her raven hair was midback length and cascaded down with the smoothness of a calm night sea. Her violet eyes had a twinkle to them like a mischievous child one minute then can darken with an unidentifiable emotion the next. She had a warm smile that could brighten anyone's day up along with her dimpled cheeks.

This brings up yet another saying, "looks can be misleading", which was most definitely true in her case. That's how they managed to fool some of their victims. Nobody that fresh and young could bring harm to them right? Heh, were they sorely mistaken. Butterfly...the whole gang said she was one. She was like a beautiful butterfly dancing through the sky with such grace and no one could ever catch her. She fought with smoothness and barely broke a sweat. And as for the Scarlet part of her name...blood, what else could it possibly stand for? She remembered very vividly the first time she killed someone. But of course it only happened nine months ago. A celebration for her birthday...

But she did not want to think of that now. Nope, the infamous 16 year old wanted nothing more right now then to get some shuteye. She turned and buried her face into the side of the old crappy couch and pulled the small blanket up over her shoulders nearly covering her whole face. All thoughts slowly began to drift into a slow but surely coming dreamy sleep when a voice interrupted her.

"Wake up Sleeping Beauty," it said with mocking smoothness. She chose not to respond and silently prayed he would leave her be, but of course there was no such luck.

A few seconds passed by in silence. She could feel his gaze burning into her backside. "I'm serious Butterfly, get up."

She felt a hand roughly shake her shoulder but she did not respond. A brief moment later a heavy impatient sigh filled the air. Her eyes abruptly snapped open when the blanket was rudely ripped from her, and because she was so wrapped up in it her body came crashing to the floor.

Peering up at the perpetrator through thick strands of her obscuring her vision she groaned. "Lance!" She hissed.

A half smirk crossed his handsome face as he helped her to her feet, "Hey, you should be more careful."

Butterfly finger combed her hair quickly and sat down on the couch. "Why does it have to be so damn difficult for a girl to get any sleep here?"

Ignoring her question he dug his hands into his pockets and exhaled. "We have a job to do."

Hearing this somewhat perked her up as she turned to him with a smile. "Ooh, what is it?"

He laughed at her response and plopped down next to her. "Don't get too excited Sunshine, it's nothing big. We're a little low on cash so they want us to hit up a small convenience store or something."

She crinkled her nose. "...Oh. Then you go on ahead without me. I'll just catch up on my zzz's."

Lance crossed his arms over his head and stared up at the ceiling with a dull expression. "They specifically told me to take you along." He stated plainly.

Her back stiffened. "Huh? Why would they do that?"

The corners of his mouth tilted downward into a small frown. "I don't know Butterfly." He said quietly. She couldn't help but get a bad feeling as his eyes looked at her worriedly.

Shaking her head she stood up and grabbed the pair of pistols on the coffee table, the ones that were custom made for her. She stuffed them into her leather jacket's pockets and barked, "Let's go."

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The car pulled to a stop in the parking lot of a small Stop-n-Go. It was a chilly November night and the cold air was getting to her. White wisps appeared when she exhaled or spoke. There were few stars out and nary a person there, save for the lucky cashier who was working now. Lance switched the engine off. "You ready?"

Butterfly studied his face. He was the only friend she truly had. ...Actually no. There were no friends in this life, so maybe he was just an ally? A companion? "Yeah." She pulled on a pair of black leather gloves and entered the store with Lance close behind.

An elderly man stood at the counter listlessly reading a magazine as a slow country song droned on in the background. He smiled warmly at her. "Hello young lady, my I help you?"

She leaned on the counter and smiled back with her freshly glossed lips. "Actually yes," she said slowly. She tapped the register with a hard object, her gun. "You can start by handing over what's in there."

His eyes widened in shock as he slowly comprehended the situation. "Surely, you can't be- "

Butterfly sighed impatiently and scratched the back of her head with the gun handle. "I am very serious. Now let's hurry up Gramps, I'm a bit cranky and could use a nap."

He shook his head in disbelief and opened the drawer flustered. Butterfly watched the scene with little interest when she felt a burning sensation in her side. She glanced down, horrified to see the scarlet substance. The one, which she usually drew from others, poured fluently from her. Clutching her side she collapsed onto her knees. Shot? She was shot? This was the first time she had ever made a clumsy move, she was usually always aware of her surroundings, but she had not been paying full attention tonight. 'This is what happens when one is sleep deprived', she thought bitterly as she lay on the floor.

Who did it? She glanced over at the cashier who didn't even bare a gun and looked just as horrified, if not more so then her. She turned her head frigidly in the other direction to see Lance staring fixedly at her. "Lance, get-" She stopped mid sentence when she noticed his expression. He was...smiling at her. Everything slowly started to feel so very distant and her vision grew hazy, though this was happening she could have sworn she heard Lance say "one of the lucky ones". It was after that she blacked out.

AN: Thank Yevon for spring break. ^_^ Gives me time to write. So you know what to do. Review por favor. Comments, suggestions, criticisms, cookies?