I distinctly remember the first time I killed someone... Well, let's not say ‘killed'. No, murdered wont work either. The two both sound so bohemian. Let me start over...

I distinctly remember the first time I assassinated someone, from the look on their face, right down to the exact pattern their blood splattered in. I remember it as clearly and vividly as if it had happened only yesterday. I'm just observant, I suppose.

I'm not pleased to say that it was a very untidy job. I did it all over the course of less than an hour, and used no manipulation whatsoever. I didn't really have to, but I should have, which is why I nearly got caught.

As sloppy as the job had gone, the pain, the anguish, the suffering, and the spilt blood gave me a rush the likes of which I had never experienced before. That was five years ago. I was sixteen.

Now, don't think badly of me, I'm not a homicidal maniac or anything of the sort. As far as I know, I'm not even insane. I'm just your average, every day Jou 1 assassin.

I don't remember how old I was when they started my training. For as long as I can remember, they only told me what I would become and why: A professional assassin, because my father paid them a good deal of money to do so to me, so at sixteen when I graduated, I could be his personal body guard and hit man.

So, of course, I assassinated him. He cursed me, and the only childhood memories I have of him are the look on his face when I assassinated him, and the exact pattern his blood splattered into.

This was the first time I had ever experience the lovely art of death first hand, let alone the be cause of it. And then... Death became natural. It became the one and only reason I lived.

|)34†|-| ß3©4|\/|3

I didn't stop my vengeance with my father. Oh, no, that would have been far too good for him. I assassinated his wife, and my step brother, whom he favored in my stead. I easily took out every one in my class, and anyone who had ever taught me.

All this I did in a matter of a couple of weeks. Did I mention I was the best in class? Well, I was.

This was about the time that the Yakuza 2 took notice of me. I'm pleased to say, that it took them dozens of their best men at least three or four months to finally track me down. What can I say? When you're good, you're good. And, oh, am I good.

They said that they wished to hire me on the spot. I joined them, of course, though not simply because they were, and still are, the Yakuza. Hey, don't get me wrong, I prefer to work alone and be my own boss, but the Yakuza pays good money. Besides, being trained in the Black Science 3 as I was, being a mercenary 4 came naturally to me.

Unfortunately, after a series of unfortunate events, the Yakuza now wants me dead. (Oh, well, you can't win them all, I suppose.) Which brings us to the present situation...

Horror of all horrors, I'm looking for an apartment under an alias to hide out in, and the perfect one had a land lord that is, of all things, friendly. Now, the occasional friendly person is nice, emphasis on occasional. But, when you pay one rent to live in their building, they are bound to want to know things. Like your name, for example...

“So, kid, what's you're name?

I'm following him up the stairs at the moment, and I wish he would have waited until we got the the top and given me enough time to think up a decent alias. Something too obvious, and the Yakuza would find me.

My name? Well that would be very easy to answer, but I don't feel like telling you, old man. I grin and bear it, however. Luckily for me, just as I open my mouth and decide to go completely random, we reach the top floor, and the apartment in question.

“Well, kiddo, It looks like we're here,” he says.

As if I didn't already know that! There are no more stairs to go up. God, help the ignorant people of this world! Wait... On second thought, don't. I watch dully as he fumbles with the lock.

Finally, he gets the door open, and I step in and speak before he can get a word in. “It's perfect, I'll take it,” I say, taking the keys. “I'll have the rent in at the end of the week.” With that, I close the door. Unfortunately, he knocks.

“Yes?” I said, opening a door just enough to stick my head out.

“Your name?”

“Squall.” I don't know why I told him that... That's my code name. Ah, well, if it helps them find me, it only means I get to kill them sooner.

“Squall? Just Squall?”

“Uh, yeah. I'm going for the whole pop-star image,” I reply dryly. He just nods, and presses a button on the elevator. He steps in, and waves good bye as the doors close. Why couldn't we have just used the elevator in the first place?

The room is nice enough, furnished for middle upper class. It's large, and rather white, but I can make do. I walk over to the large tinted window. The view is of nearly the entire city, with all of it's skyscrapers and busy car-filled streets.

It was then that I noticed something in the view that I found far more intriguing: my reflection.

No, I'm not conceited. It just amazes me that my hair is still the same snowy-white as ever. You think it'd be the color of blood by now. My eyes fit my nickname, only because they're the main reason I have it.

They're gray. Just gray. Not beautiful or mysterious in any way. Just a cold, stormy gray. That's why my code name is Squall. Storm sounds too girlie, but Squall suits me just fine. The name was bestowed upon me by the other members of my class, who have sadly all passed away.

If no where else, I find humor in my thoughts.

*~*~*

Okay... I've never written anything narrated by one of the characters before, so let me know how it is! The whole story wont be in Squall's point of view, however. A couple other characters will get to talk to themselves too, and parts of it will be written like a normal story. Short, but to the point, I hope. Please review, and then go read my other story!

1 Jou - Japanese word for the name Joe, as if you didn't already know that.
2 Yakuza - the Japanese mafia
3 The Black Science - a term associated with or considered to be another word for ninjitsu 5
4 Mercenary - Someone who's fighting service is for hire
5 Ninjitsu - An ancient form of martial arts used by ninjas, who were freakin awesome assassins, even if they had no code.