// These are the last words I'm ever gonna get to say to you

[bornfromdeath]

Who: Kimihiko Ooe and Elena
When: Late afternoon, 29th
Where: Elena's store
Summary: "Lucy Monostone" decides to have a little fun during one of Kimihiko's lessons. It ends badly.
Warnings: Violence, death, possible suicide/talk.

Comments

[provenworth]

[Since opening her shop Elena had taken on a small number of students in learning basic defensive shooting. It was the first time she'd actually taken on teaching as a full-on profession and, with no surprise, had quite a fondness over it. She got to share her knowledge with others and, in return, got to learn more about her students.

Kimi was certainly one of her up an coming students. Despite having the opposite dominate hand as her, his determination to master his firearm was impressive. He was in her shop, focused and ready to learn. It made every lesson enjoyable, even if it was sometimes a struggle.

They had moved back into the shooting range that she'd included in the shop, talking about the finer points of how to maintain a firm grip and the importance of using the outer hand as the gripping force to prevent limp-wristing.]

Of course. I'll put the target at 10 yards for now. Ear guards down.

[The target was a simple, basic red and white bullseye, sent back by a simple automated pulley system to the first marker that

[bornfromdeath]

[Obediently, he slid the ear guards into place. Elena was an interesting person. One he'd come to admire slowly over their time together. It was a shame his reasons for learning had been ones she surely would not agree on. Still, he was very appreciative of the lessons.

His eyes were sharp, focused entirely on her movements, on the way the gun was set up, loaded, held. Her aim was remarkable. As if he would have doubted her qualifications.

Three shots. And then the slide. He stepped over to where the firearm left with an obedient nod, his hand reaching out to it. There was a slight pause, perhaps difficult to see, as his hand seemed to tense. Then his fingers grasped the handle, following the first lesson (don't touch the trigger until you're willing to fire, keep your trigger finger just outside of it) automatically.

Carefully he loaded the gun, readying it. He stepped to the range - and then he stilled.]

...

[provenworth]

[Elena watched in silent observation as she stepped aside for Kimihiko to come forward and take his turn. Being a teacher of various students had been difficult at first, having to learn names, personalities, and shooting styles. One thing she never had to - or chose to - learn was their reasons for coming for lessons. Some had offered that information up front, other kept that reason secretive. Whatever the case, it was never something she felt the need to ask.

Arms folded lightly across her chest, fingers lightly rubbing at the pale turquoise sweater. She wouldn't have told anybody, but she'd developed an admiration for Kimi since teaching him. He, who fought against his dominant hand, who worked so hard to become better at his handling and grouping. It sort of reminded her of herself when she was younger and just learning how to shoot.]

......

[He was...taking a bit longer than usual to fire his first shot. Her eyes narrowed slightly, body shifting to one side to get a better look at his features.]That's good. Line up your shot

[bornfromdeath]

[Not now.

Not now not now go away what do you want leave me alone-

His hands shook just barely, eyes falling shut for just a minute. A war was at play. Already, one side was winning. No - perhaps it was truer to say that one side had already won before the battle started. This was just play, now. It did not last long. The hands steadied, the body relaxing.

A deep sigh, a drawing of breath that didn't seem to reach his lungs, and he moved. The gun in his hand lifted, finger on the trigger now. Up, forward - and to the side. Ah... death was so much fun. This woman whose words drew giggles from his throat would look good in pieces. No, even if Kimihiko had been a beginner to holding a weapon, he who held those memories of the past close to himself was not. His back straightened, head lifting.]

I have a better idea.

["Kimihiko" smiled as he pulled the trigger.]

[provenworth]

[The silence was deafening, even through the heavy weight of her ear protection. He never took this long at the range, even on his slower days. And, even from the distance in which she stood, she could see the faint trembling of his hands. Something - something was definitely up. Maybe he'd had a hard few days and needed to take time off.

Except he hadn't come across as a person to let those things prevent him from continuing his training.

Elena moved, taking a single side-step, for a better angle and paused his whole body's posture changed. Where it had been tense, muscles locked and umoving, now it was looser, fluid. And he was moving to take his shot. Eyes moved first towards the target, to watch where his shots would and, head turning afterwards. A quick glance back to ensure his positioning and grip was solid brought her staring down the barrel of the gun.]

K-Kimi?!

[What in the hell?? Seconds moved like minutes. Just what on Gaia's green earth had happened? Where had this unseen, unknown aggression come from that drove him

[bornfromdeath]

"Kimi"...? [Loud raucous laughter echoed in her wake as blood splattered to the ground from her movement. She was fast. Good. Playing was good. How had Naoya shown the boy-?

Ah... yessss. A quick flicker of focus, a lapse that allowed Kimihiko's voice to echo free-]

Elena! Run!

[-just a faint flicker of concern in the back of his mind from the struggling fool and-

fire.

He had to laugh at that, louder than ever.]

NICE TRICK! BEAUTIFUL! HAHAHA!

[His voice lowered as the gun followed her, firing again. There was something manic in his expression, uncontrollable and brash]

Stop struggling, boy. You know you want to see it too. Yes... You want to see death again. Shut up-! Elena-! I'll give you what you desire.

[Bubbling, racuous laughter echoed from his throat, bouncing from the walls as the two struggled for control.]

[provenworth]

[Pain exploded in a brilliant ring around the gunshot wound, hammering down her arm and elbow to her fingertips. That had been close. Too close. Another inch to the left and it would have struck bone. Blood seeped into the fabric of her shirt, an unseen trail of hot liquid seeping down against her skin.

To say she was totally and utterly confused would be the greatest understatement of all time.]

W-what? What's going on? Why are you-?

[Run? Running sounded like the best option. In the cramped quarters of the shooting range, she had little room for maneuverability and absolutely no coverage. Furthermore, while she had her spare gun tucked snugly at the small of her back, the remainder of her arsenal was resting, unaware of their master's plight, on the other side of the wall.

There was little time to figure out the situation beyond what she could immediately ascertain. Her student was flipping out and using her as target practice. If that was even her student at all. But the clear and obvious difference of voice - He told me to run

[bornfromdeath]

Y-you-!! Get out! I don't need you!

[Kimihiko's voice was filled with rage, but not directed at her. The dark laughter of the man within him was almost dizzying and he could practically feel his intent.

Lucy's mind was awash with violent thoughts.

so fun fun all of her pain her shock her anger bring them all out she'll die too like they all did like they did she won't lay a finger on me haha how ordinary skilled but ordinary weak breakable want to see her breathe for the last time gasp choke writhe in pain and disappear eyes grow dim just as always so entertaining too like her too like that woman that wretched woman so fun look at her blood hear her cries isn't it wonderful fantastic fantastic fantastic~ kill die tear her apart tear them all apart they're nothing not like me I'm perfect I am I'm Lucy Monostone they can't stop me kill me I'll just come back how dare she even try just like that bitch like that whore Wakana going to rip burn shoot kill kill kill her die die die die die die die!

He laughed, throwing his free hand out

[provenworth]

[So-so close! Another quarter of an inch and she could have grabbed the whole of his sleeve instead of just grasping at the cuff of fabric that remained just out of reach. She could have removed the firearm from his hand, throw it across the room, and taken care of the rest. Had she not been taken aback, surprised the the outburst from the more familiar voice of Kimihiko. That had caused her to pause, no more than a heartbeat of hesitation. That was far too much time.]

-ah?

[It was a stupid, rookie mistake. She was letting her emotions, her concern for the student she'd taken under her wing, overwhelm her natural instincts. When had she gone soft? This isn't Midgar. This isn't Edge. But a Turk is a Turk, Elena! Stop hesitating! But she had. The rage and fury was unexpected and, for a moment, she was sure it was directed at her. But she couldn't - she wouldn't leave him to fight off whatever demon lived within him by himself

[bornfromdeath]

[What she might have seen was the way his face twisted between Lucy's over-dramatised expressions and Kimihiko's own anger and fear. The two were still warring, not that it would have shown easily. It was a struggle for him to speak, struggle for him to even concentrate on anything. He was drowning, sinking in death and fear and not again, no, please, he would not die by this hand again-!]

Stop him-! [I don't want to die again-!]

Liar.

[And with that statement directed seemingly nowhere, he grabbed for the gun again and lifted it, firing in her general direction and aiming for central mass.]

[provenworth]

Count on it.

[So it was true. Kimihiko suffered from split personalities, or at least something close enough. That helped some that she had a student gone rogue, more that his other side decided to rear its ugly head. Cause damage to her shop. Hurt/upset one of her students.

Unacceptable.

Honey colored eyes narrowed, the usual warmth they had for her student replaced with a cold, hardened steel that rest beneath the surface. Even if this wasn't Kimihiko, the fact that he took such joy and pleasure from violence and death - that was enough to warrant her intervention. She was moving before he took up the firearm again, charging straight forward. Even at this range she couldn't dodge a shot to her chest. Nor did she try. Blood sprayed across her blouse, sending droplets across the floor, and yet her pace never slowed.]

That's not enough to stop me!

[Hands and feet moved with the utmost precision, her years of Kendo coming to good use. If she did this right, she would not only remove the gun from his hand, but also knock him off

[bornfromdeath]

[The gun skidded to the ground, slamming into the wall violently as he stumbled backwards. It was unexpected. He hadn't expected a direct assault like that and Kimihiko's body - my body mine I'm in control here - was weak when it came to physical combat.

Some of her blood splattered onto his skin as he lifted his hand to direct the fire again. If he could knock her back, he could get to one of the many other weapons and load it. Or recover his own.]

[provenworth]

[Elena is as relentless as she is stubborn. She could only go for so long before the adrenaline rush slowed and the pain of her gunshot to her chest - just below the left breast, you over-compensate with your left hand as you pull the trigger - took over. Hell, she could feel it just beneath the surface, a blazing hot inferno just waiting to burst forward like the blood that had already stained the lower half of her shirt and was working its way down to her jeans.

She's not making the same mistake twice, taking hold of his lifted wrist to stop another potential attack. Eyes narrow as her grip tightens and twists.]

[bornfromdeath]

[How dare she.

how dare she how dare she what did she think she was doing insects should just lay down and die die suffer a glorious death beautiful and powerful just as they desired as everyone die everyone should disappear they both wanted it needed it why wouldn't he stop struggling why was she being such trouble women should stay where they were listen why am I stuck like this listen listen listen what was that sound oh oh oh perfect perfect thought simple enough do what the false copy did do what shinji did die and come back that way they can't imprison me can't stop me-]

What do you think you can do, woman? You're injured.

[provenworth]

[A ghost of a smirk forms at the corner of her lips, her grip tightening. Had she broken it? Probably not, she didn't have that kind of strength, but it would at least prevent additional burns.]

Who me? Why I can do plenty of things, injured or not. You see, you underestimated me. Now...

[Another wave of pain shot through her left arm as she withdrew her spare firearm. Her beloved personal firearm, Maria. Keeping the pressure, and using every ounce of will to keep her hands from shaking, Elena brought the barrel to Not!Kimihiko's forehead, her grin growing.]

Release him.

[bornfromdeath]

[The gesture didn't earn the same reaction she likely expected. Lucy's pleasure at her gesture twisted Kimihiko's lips into a garish smile. Bright and wide, cruel - and utterly insane.]

Do it.

[He barely whispered the words, a low chuckle following them.]

End it. He wants it too. It'll spare him, free him, and admit it... You want it. You want to see us fall, don't you? Ah... you long for it.

Your hands are stained with blood. What's a bit more onto the mix? You don't get to be that good with a weapon and be an innocent. What does it matter if you add one more life to your list? Yes... if you want to kill, then kill!

[His free hand shoots out, not towards her but gesturing widely to the ceiling.]

SHOOT, WOMAN!

[And if she did, the moment she did... it would not be he who endured it.]