Shen huffed angrily at that. "Go away...I'm not like you.... Just fuck off! Long looked over at him. "Did you ever "fuck off" when I asked you to?"

"Eventually."

"Eventually."

Shen sighed. "Why the hell cant you just be a horrible dream?"

Long preened. "More like a wet dream."

"Don't flatter your self"

Long blew him a kiss, at which Shen snarled at.

The original laughed. "So cute."

Shen got up. "That's it. I'm not going to stay here with you any damn more," he said as he stalked away.

Long smiled darkly as he slicked into the shadows.

Shen just walked restlessly, his long night starting to get to him. The salt ridden air stung his eyes, but even that didn't stop him seeing his current 'haunt with relief.' oh he knew that Long was probably following him, but the clone didn't care. Inside was everything he owned...including that beretta, he wasn't joking about that.

The martial artist was sitting on a rock, watching him. Between his slender fingers he twirled the lighter. He caressed the object, feeling every bump, crack, niche and smooth side on it, studying it

The lighter that Long held was cracked, with tiny notches cut out, much like Shen's own less then perfect appearance, in truth, animate and inimate beings seemed to reflect each other.

Long found it almost fascinating, fingers pausing over one area. It was the weakest point on the lighter

It was a small spot, worn white by consent handling, other then that, there was nothing special in that one spot, but the right hit could make it shatter.

The Kempo Master's fingers closed almost lovingly over the area, gently applying pressure until he could feel the last strand of resistance, near cracking point*

It didn't take much really, a subtle give and a slight crinkling noise were all signs give to Long that the pressure was being felt by the plastic tool

He smiled, releasing the object unharmed

The lighter lay in his hand, pale, cracked, but still whole, a battered and torn thing, but all the stronger for it, except that one spot.

Long found the symbolism so ironic, his smile widening until he started laughing

Shen dug around under the coffee table until he came up with the gun, with a relived sigh, he practically flung himself down on the bed, curling up around the object of destruction like it was a long lost teddy bear, involuntarily, his eyes closed, and he could almost hear the echo's of Longs mocking laughter... "Damn you..."

The martial artist's slender fingers crushed down cruelly over the lighter, the object splintering and falling apart in his grasp.

There had still been some lighter fluid in the fallen object, which leaked over the pale didgets, it was clear, so it didn't stain, but it made itself known by the dampness and the kerosene smell

"Oh my...it appears I've dirtied my hand..."