Humanity has been creating weapons to stab each other for thousands of years. And as I learned from my uncle, nothing is more beautifully simple than the shiv. Not only is it useful for ending a life, it is also a versatile tool that can be used for picking locks, slitting throats and even cutting up your food after having been properly washed. And in many cases, while there are better weapons than the good ol' shank, it's resourceful and easy to make, which is useful if your in a situation where you're low on options or in a place where you have no convenient weapon. Easily craftable from scissors or any type of short, but sharp metal and some tape, with an average length of about 5 inches, it's simple, elegant and long enough to make sure the job gets done, as you only need to go in about 2-3 inches to hit something vital.

There you go! Even if you don't think we're funny, you're learning something!

[That's half the point of this fanfiction. Learning what's the best way to end the life of your opposition.]

Perfect for the element of surprise and sneaking up on unsuspecting enemies, Arkham Asylum style, leaving their buddies unaware of their own impending doom. And if you read the first chapter and prefer a more "get up in their face and kill them" style, you can partner it with Tsubaki (or any form of smoke, if you have smoke bombs or a pipe in a building is conveniently leaking steam), run in and stab them in the face... or wherever you want to stab them.

What if you don't like getting that close?

[We have a solution for that,too.]

More tape! With just a little extra tape, you can attach a shank to something that's already deadly, like a lead or steel pipe, broomstick, canoe paddle, or one of my personal favorites, a sword and/or machete. Because more blades equals more blood and more pain, which equals more fun. It's also great for defense when a zombie apocalypse happens and one of the meatbags gets lonely and wants a hug and to give you a hicky. Play the last of us and you'll know just how useful a shank can be. To quote the late, great Pappy Blade (R.I.P, Grandpa), "If you wish to live, always carry a shiv", which is why I'm adding this simple, but deadly and effective weapon to the armory.

The Shiv:

ADDED