A/N: Ok, this will be the final chapter until fem!Yuu is finally revealed! I know I promised it would be chapter 12 but when I wrote it, the chapter turned out much longer than I expected so I had to split it into three parts but I really wanted the build-up to be good so I hope you understand. Keep in mind that this fic is AU and will have some differences from the canon story; please refer to the footnotes at the end. I would like also to thank all my readers and reviewers so far for your support of my story as well as my beta reader and editor, ResidentialPsycho, for her help in making this fic possible.
Chapter 13: The Hidden Dragon
May 12, 2017
"Hey, what is this, Shigure?" Yuichiro asked curiously as the older raven-haired woman placed what appeared to be a small and short dagger in her hand with a ring on the pommel.
"It's called a 'kunai,' Yuu. And they're what I use as a secondary weapon in addition to my cursed gear. I also use them for minor skirmishes when taking out my main weapon is unnecessary." *1*
Looking the strange metal object over curiously, Yuichiro was about to touch the point with her fingertip when she felt Shigure still her hand.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," she warned. "While kunai do not appear as intimidating as other weapons, they can still hurt you if handled improperly."
"But it looks so small," Yuichiro said as she turned the tiny dagger this way and that. "Can you actually kill a vampire with this?"
"To be frank, likely not. A human, yes, if struck at a vital point on the body. But against a vampire, the best it can do is probably slow them down and buy you a little time. It may not sound like much, but the outcome of a battle can easily be determined by even a split second."
"I see… so how are these used?"
"The kunai is a weapon that was originally a farming tool centuries ago until rebellious peasants discovered they can easily be sharpened and used in combat as well. Against a human enemy, it can be used as a primary weapon and for close-range combat. But since the kunai is not effective against vampires in that manner, I'm going to show you how to use it as a secondary weapon in addition to your sword."
To demonstrate her point, Shigure took another kunai from inside her jacket, which had several slots made for holding them, and threw it at one of the target boards they had set up in Guren's yard earlier that morning, hitting the circle at the center with astounding accuracy.
"Wow, that's incredible!" Yuichiro exclaimed, impressed that her instructor was able to hit a target that was at least a dozen yards away, though she strongly suspected that Shigure could hit a target from even further than that if necessary. And although she was not as expressive as Mito, Shigure still loved getting praised just as much as her scarlet-haired friend.
"Thank you, Yuichiro. Now I want you to try it!"
The younger girl looked at the target with Shigure's kunai embedded in it for a moment before making her own attempt at throwing the small dagger she was holding.
And missed her target completely.
"Crap, I missed," Yuu said sheepishly as she lowered her head and let her bangs drop over her eyes, hoping that her instructor couldn't see how embarrassed she was that her throw was completely off. "Sorry, Shigure."
The older woman sighed before managing a small smile.
"It's ok, Yuu. It's actually my fault, really. I should have taught you how to hold the kunai properly first before asking you to throw it, but the thought slipped my mind." Taking another kunai out of her jacket, she placed in Yuichiro's hand. "Here. Since you're still new to this, you can stand a bit closer to the target."
Relieved that she was not being asked to throw her kunai at such a great distance for now, Yuichiro started moving closer to the target until she was about half as far from it as she was on her first attempt.
"Is this ok, Shigure?" the younger girl asked as she looked to her instructor for approval. Shigure followed suit until she was standing next to Yuu again.
"Right about here should be fine. Now, in regards to the kunai: keep your palm flat and put it in your hand, with the blade facing inward and the 'eye' of the handle pointing toward your target."
Yuichiro obeyed and after making sure her pupil was holding the small weapon properly, Shigure continued.
"Now bend your arm at the elbow, raise and throw while keeping your wrist straight. Put enough 'spin' on the knife so that it turns midair and the blade points toward your target as it approaches."
Taking a deep breath, Yuichiro followed Shigure's instructions to the best of her ability and made a second attempt at throwing her kunai which, thankfully, turned out better than the first. Even though she still could not hit the center like her instructor, Yuichiro was still able to at least hit the target board instead of missing it completely like her first time.
After hitting the target, the girl turned to see Shigure giving her a nod of approval.
"That's much better, Yuu."
"Thanks. I still missed the center, though."
"It's all right. I don't expect you to get this overnight. It took me several years of practice before I could throw with the accuracy I can today. I started off the way you did now, by hitting still targets at a closer distance and kept practicing at it until I could hit moving targets at further distances. There's no reason why you can't do it either. One day, you'll even be able to throw multiple kunai like this…"
To demonstrate her point, the older woman took out three more kunai from the slots in her jacket before placing one between the fingers of her right hand and throwing them at another target board with all three embedding themselves in the center in a perfectly straight row.
"Wow!" Yuichiro exclaimed excitedly. "I didn't know it was even possible to throw more than one of those at a time."
"Actually, it is possible throw up to six kunai, three in each hand. But before you can do that, you must be able to throw at least one correctly," Shigure said, amused by the younger girl's enthusiasm.
"I know, I know. But there's no need for me to hurry, is there? Sayuri did say the Demon Army have all the soldiers they need for now, right?" Yuu asked.
"Yes, she is right," Shigure agreed. "But that could change anytime. Remember, Yuichiro, we are living in… uncertain times now. Which means we must be ready for anything. I'm not saying that you should rush, but don't take too long to become the best fighter you can, understand?"
"Yes, I understand, Shigure."
"Good. So, shall we continue? I can only spare a limited number of kunai for you to practice with so try not to lose them, ok Yuu?
Yuichiro blushed at the older woman's implication and went to pick the kunai she and Shigure threw earlier from the target boards as well as dig the one she missed the target with on her first attempt, out of the nearby flower bed. As soon as Yuichiro was sure she had them all, she went back to where her instructor stood waiting patiently for her.
"Yes. Let's continue!"
"Ok, Yuu. Are you ready?"
"Sure am!"
"Great! Here goes!"
As the two went back to target practice, Yuichiro could have sworn Shigure was actually enjoying their time together and saw the older raven-haired woman smile more in the two hours they practiced throwing kunai than in all the months since she moved into the Ichinose household.
SSSSSS
May 13, 2017
"So before we begin, tell me this Yuu: have you ever gotten into a fight where you had nothing to defend yourself but your own two hands and feet?"
Yuichiro was startled at Mito's question as they stood face to face in Guren's yard with only six feet of space between them. Like Yuu, the older woman was dressed in knee length shorts but wore a tank top instead of a t-shirt since she wasn't trying to hide her female form.
"You mean at school?" the younger girl asked.
"Anywhere."
Yuu was silent for a moment as she recalled a memory from her life in Sanguinem, an incident that she would have rather forgotten if it had not left such an impact on her life.
"There was one…" Yuu admitted. "I think it was about two years ago when I was living in Sanguinem with my adopted family. My best friend, Mika and I were out in town minding our own business when we saw a little girl being attacked by two older boys…"
"What happened? What did you do?" Mito asked curiously.
"I tried to stop them. And without a weapon or a plan. Though I was much smaller then both of the girl's attackers, I still managed to distract them long enough for her to get away but not without sustaining some painful injuries. The older boys looked so angry that I let their intended victim escape that I thought they were going to kill me but Mika stopped them."
"And how did he do that?"
Yuu was silent for a moment as if recalling the incident was uncomfortable for her but Mito persisted. Before she could teach the younger girl what she knew, Mito needed to know of any prior experience she might have had with unarmed combat.
"Well, Yuu?"
"I'm sorry, Mito," Yuichiro apologized. "I haven't thought about this in a while. But I remember Mika scaring the two boys off by telling them that he was the 'favorite' of Ferid Bathory, the vampire noble he was 'servicing' at the time." *2*
At the disturbing revelation, Mito raised a brow.
"Oh…"
Yuichiro shifted uncomfortably on her feet.
"Yeah…"
"Well from what I can see, both you and this Mika were very lucky those older boys took your bluff. If that's what it was."
"I guess…"
"But I must say, I'm impressed you chose to help that little girl even though you knew you had little chance against her attackers."
"I know…" Yuichiro said quietly. "Mika did not like to brag about being Bathory's favorite. He only used the noble's name to scare off those boys when they turned on me after one of them managed to tear off a part of my shirt, nearly exposing me as a girl."
Mito's breath hitched in her throat at Yuichiro's story. Clearly this was an uncomfortable topic for her so she decide to change the subject and get down to business.
"I understand. Your friend was only trying to protect you. But as women, we must also know how to defend ourselves as well, should we ever find ourselves in a situation when we need to."
"Is it true what Sayuri and Shigure say? That you fight completely bare-handed?"
"Well, yes and no," the older woman answered. "I do not use weapons like swords, guns, kunai, etc. But that does not mean I fight totally bare-handed. My main weapon, cursed gear, takes the form of two black gauntlets that enhances my strength. Without them, I'd stand little chance against a vampire, though I can still hold my own against a human opponent."
"Wow, I wish I could do that."
Mito smiled. "You can, Yuichiro. That's what I'm here for, to teach you how to fight with your bare hands should you ever find yourself in a situation where you might need it. Your own strength may not be a match for a vampire's, but there are still things I can show you that are useful in helping you get away. The bloodsuckers may be physically stronger than us and may heal from injuries quickly but even so, that does not prevent them from feeling pain and discomfort. Do you know what I mean?"
Yuichiro was startled. "Vampires can feel pain?"
"Of course they can. They may not be able to get sick like we do but they can still get hurt, especially if exposed to the sun unprotected. They can also feel hunger and fatigue even though they have more stamina than we do."
"Oh… well I guess you know better than I do since I've never really seen a vampire in pain before."
"You haven't? But Shigure told me you shot one in the head with a revolver before escaping Sanguinem."
Yuichiro shuddered when reminded of her violent confrontation with the silver-haired vampire lord who massacred her brothers and sisters.
"I did. But he looked like he fell over dead right away. If he was in pain, he didn't show it."
"I see. Maybe that particular vampire wasn't a good example. But I assure you that vampires are just as capable of feeling pain as we are. And we can use that against them. However, before I can show you anything complex, I have to teach you the basics. Which are easy enough."
"I'm all ears, Mito."
"That's the spirit. Now I'm going to show you some basic kicks and punches as well as how to get away if someone is trying to grab you. Do you know how to take a proper fighting stance?"
"I do," Yuichiro answered as she took the stance Guren taught her a few days ago. Only this time, she didn't have the bokken in her hands to brandish.
"Ah, so you know how to take a stance with a weapon. It's a bit different if you're fighting bare-handed. Depending on the art, there are a variety of stances one can take when preparing for a fight but the most basic and common one is the 'shallow standing squat.' This position is generally employed as it is a neutral and agile position from which both attacks and defenses may be launched. It provides for the delivery of force when attacking and stability when defending."
To demonstrate, Mito placed her left foot a little over twenty inches at an angle in front of her right and bent her legs so that she was in a semi-squatting position and aligned her arms out in front of her, fists closed, before continuing with her explanation.
"Stances are the position from which all attacking and defensive moves begin. They combine balance, defense, and readiness. A good basic stance is essential. If you have a weapon, such as sword or such, you hold it in front of you. If you are bare-handed, you align your arms in front of your torso to guard your center. Always remember to guard your center-line because that's where all of your major organs are." *3*
"I understand," Yuichiro said as she imitated the older woman's fighting stance. The new stance felt a bit awkward to her since Yuu was used to having a weapon in her hand but she said nothing and waited for further instruction.
"From this stance, you can do all your basic punches and kicks. You can also block attacks as well. Shall we get started on those now?"
"Yes, Mito, I'm ready."
"Good. Now let's begin. The most basic punch is the straightforward front punch. I know you must have seen them a lot in the movies but to throw a punch effectively in real life, the most fundamental thing you should know is that your thumb needs to be on the outside of your fist, between your first and second knuckles on your index and middle finger. If the thumb is on the inside upon hitting a hard target you will break your thumb, guaranteed. So for this reason, always make sure your thumb is tucked below your curled fingers, to be out of the way of the impact."
"You mean like this?" Yuichiro asked as she closed her right hand into a fist while keeping her thumb on the outside as per Mito's instructions.
"Yes, that's right. You also want to keep your fists tight, but not so tight that you start cutting off circulation. It is important, in martial arts, to remain fluid and yet still powerful."
"I understand."
"Remember, Yuu, it's extremely important that you align the first two knuckles in your hand with the bones in your forearm for maximum structure so that you don't hurt yourself. Commonly, people will hit with their ring or pinky knuckles and break their hand, and that obviously impedes your ability to fight. When you see someone shaking their hands after a punch, it's usually because they impacted, more often than not, with the wrong part of their hand. Many people think that you punch with your fist straight but the truth is, you aim to punch with the first two knuckles. In order to achieve this, you need to slightly tilt your wrist down (which actually strengthens your punch as well). By tilting your wrist down slightly, you put your knuckles in front of your fingers. You also align your wrist with your forearm, so you are less likely to bend your wrist back or down and break it. Does that make sense?"
"Yes."
"Ok, good. Now I want you to hit me."
Yuichiro blinked and stared at her instructor like a deer in the headlights.
"What?"
"I said hit me. Aim for my center. And don't worry about hurting me, I know what I'm doing."
"Ok, if you say so, Mito."
And without another word, Yuichiro attacked, aiming straight for Mito's solar plexus to which the older woman easily caught with her palm.
"Now how does that feel, Yuu?"
"Honestly, it does hurt a little," Yuichiro admitted.
"Right. Even if your technique is correct, pain or at least some discomfort will be inevitable when you strike something or someone hard, especially if you're not used to it. Since I've been practicing martial arts for quite some time, my own hands, feet, and limbs feel the impact a bit less than someone like you would because you're still new to this."
"Is it the same way with kicking?"
"Yes. Like with punching, there is a right and wrong way to kick. Kicking something or someone the wrong way could easily end up hurting you more than them."
"I believe it."
"Right. Now the most basic kick is the front kick which is executed by lifting the knee straight forward, while keeping the foot and shin either hanging freely or pulled to the hip, and then straightening the leg in front of your body before striking the target area. I recommend retracting the leg immediately after delivering the kick, to avoid the opponent trying to grapple your leg and, unless you are planning a combination attack, to return to stable fighting stance. Now when you do this kick, always remember to pull your toes back so you don't break them."
"I get it," Yuu said. "Now if only I had something to kick since I'd rather not kick you if that's possible."
Mito laughed softly. "Well, not like I wouldn't know how to block your kick as well but if it bothers you that much, we can look for something else for you to practice on. Say, how about that tree over there? It looks sturdy enough."
"Ok," Yuu said as she went up to the tree her instructor recommended. When the girl finally stood in front of it, she turned to Mito for her cue.
"Go on, try it!" the older woman urged. "And remember what I told you."
Taking a deep breath, Yuichiro nodded, lifted her right leg out in front of her and made sure she pulled her toes back before kicking the tree. The girl did her best to follow Mito's directions precisely and was certain she did.
But kicking the tree still resulted in her leg and foot hurting like hell.
"OWWW!"
After retracting her leg, Yuichiro found herself hopping on her other leg while holding her hurt one close to her chest in her arms. The scene looked so hilarious, her instructor could not help bursting into laughter.
"Well, I'm glad one of us is enjoying this!" Yuichiro said through gritted teeth as she glared at Mito.
After she had finally managed to get a hold of herself, the older woman apologized.
"Sorry, Yuu. I guess I shouldn't have asked you to kick a tree on your first time. I'll remember to tell Guren to let you come to my place to train next time, instead. I have my own gym with a punching bag and all the proper equipment you need to practice with."
When she heard this, Yuichiro could not help staring at her instructor incredulously.
Now, she tells me!
SSSSSS
May 14, 2017
"So how's your leg, Yuu? Does it still hurt?" Shinya asked as he gently massaged Yuichiro's bare foot.
The girl blushed, the ache in her right leg and foot almost forgotten when she saw the white-haired man look up at her with concern in his icy-blue eyes. Yuichiro was sitting in a chair under the roof of a gazebo with Shinya kneeling before her like a servant and using both of his hands to try and relieve her of the lingering pain she sustained from trying to kick a tree in Guren's yard under Mito's instruction the other day.
"I-I'm ok. You don't have to do this, Shinya, really!"
The older man laughed. "You know, if you're not up to it, we really don't have to do this today. I should have known something wasn't right after I saw you limping a little back at Guren's house when I picked you up this morning. I can't say I approve of Mito asking you to kick a tree on your very first training session with her."
"It's ok, I want to learn how to shoot. As long as it doesn't require the use of my legs too much, I'll be ok." Yuichiro insisted.
"Hmm…are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Well, then, if you insist, I can show you a bit of what I know today. How do you like my shooting range, Yuu?"
Glad to have an excuse to look away from the handsome young man whom she swore was flirting with her, Yuichiro allowed her gaze to roam Shinya's private shooting range that was much larger and more ideal for firearms practice than Guren's back yard. It also had the luxury of a gazebo for relaxing as well as being surrounded by trees for privacy.
"It's very nice," Yuu admitted. "Is this where you practice every day? What's wrong with the one at JIDA headquarters?"
"Nothing at all," the older man answered. "I actually do use the range at headquarters when I'm instructing the new JIDA cadets on sniping or basic firearms use. But when I'm practicing myself, I prefer to do it here where I can concentrate better."
"Oh, really? Well, I think it's nice of you to bring me here; you could easily train me at headquarters like the cadets, can't you?"
"I could… but you're a little young and anyone who sees you there might question your presence and my willingness to instruct you since you are not a cadet, at least not yet."
"Oh… that makes sense."
Shinya smiled as he leaned a little closer and lowered his voice even though there was no need since Yuichiro was sure they must be alone in this entire wide, open area.
"What's wrong, Yuichiro? You seem… uneasy having me take care of you yet Sayuri and Shigure tells me you're perfectly fine with them doing it when you get hurt."
"I…" Yuichiro was at a complete loss as to what to say but Shinya had a good idea why the younger girl was feeling embarrassed. The pink hue on her already rosy cheeks made it quite obvious.
Could it be that this is the first time she's been touched intimately by someone of the opposite sex?
For a moment, Shinya thought that may be the case but then he remembered Shigure saying that Guren was the one who picked up and carried Yuichiro when she collapsed from pain and exhaustion after escaping the vampire city. But Guren probably never treated Yuu himself whenever she got hurt, always leaving it to either Sayuri or Shigure. Especially since they all knew he had a terrible bedside manner which Shinya had often been on the receiving end of when they were teens.
"Am I being too rough?" he asked gently.
Yuichiro shook her head furiously.
"N-no! Not at all. I'm just not used to…this."
Shinya regarded her curiously. "Really, Yuu? Sayuri told me there was a blond boy your age that you were quite close to when you were still living in Sanguinem. His name was Mikaela, right?"
Yuichiro frowned at the mention of her late orphanage brother. Though she'd prefer not to talk about Mika, the girl didn't want to be rude to Shinya either since he had been very good to her since the day they met.
"Well, yes. But we weren't like that. Mika was family. And we were supposed to be 'brothers' since everybody thought I was a boy, including our younger siblings. Only Mika and Akane ever knew I was a girl."
"But you weren't blood-related, were you? You and other Hyakuya kids were a foster family."
"We were more 'family' than our real parents were to us. Don't you feel that way about your own adopted family? The ones who actually raised you, Shinya?"
The older man frowned slightly at Yuichiro's inquiry.
"Unfortunately, neither my blood parents nor the Hiragis have ever treated me like a son, like 'family' in your sense of the word. However, I do think of Guren, Goshi, Sayuri, Shigure, and Mito as being the closest to a real family that I've ever had. My adoptive father and siblings have always been cold and distant towards me with the exception of Shinoa. Even though she is a Hiragi by blood, they treat her no differently than myself. Ironically, she is closer to me than her real brothers."
"Shinoa? I think I met the one you're talking about; she's in one of my classes at school, been bugging me since the say we met. She says you've been talking about me to her but doesn't know I'm really a girl."
"Well, I did promise that I wouldn't tell anyone who doesn't already know your secret and like I've told you before, I am a man of my word even though I normally dislike lying to my little sister whom I'm also very fond of. That's why I think you're being a bit cruel to Shinoa and all the other girls who like you by keeping up this boyish charade, Yuu."
Although she knew Shinya was only teasing, Yuichiro sensed a hint of sadness in the older man's voice and expression when he said that.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean it would be a bit disappointing to Shinoa or any other girl who crushes on you when they find out your true gender."
"I never asked or wanted them to 'crush' on me, Shinya."
"I know you didn't. But these things do happen. Sometimes we can hurt others by lying about ourselves even when we don't mean to. Do you understand what I mean?"
"I… don't know. Maybe."
Shinya smiled. "I'm glad you understand, Yuichiro. Lies cannot last and you can't keep pretending to be something you're not. Even the best actors can only pretend for so long. I thought it was a miracle you were able to fool so many people into thinking you were a boy for as long as you have."
"Yeah, I know. Shigure told me that too. I did promise Sayuri I'd try to get the girl thing going soon."
"How soon, Yuichiro?"
"I'll know when the time comes."
Shinya sighed. "I suppose that's all I can ask for. Anyway, do you want to get started on your shooting lesson now?"
Relieved that the older man was offering her a way out of this uncomfortable conversation, Yuichiro took it even though she secretly did enjoy having him massage her sore leg and foot though she'd die before she ever admit it.
"Yes, I'd like that."
"Ok, good," Shinya said as he gently set Yuu's leg and foot down so she can put her shoe back on.
"I've never seen you fight before, but Guren said you specialize in firearms."
"Yes, that's right. I'm most useful as a sniper though I can hold my own in melee combat if necessary. I'm pretty decent with the sword and unarmed combat though not nearly as good as Guren and Mito."
"You must be a very good shot, then."
"The best! I almost never spend less than a few hours a day practicing here when I'm not on a mission somewhere or on the battlefield. I do have a reputation to maintain after all," the older man joked. "Anyway, what about yourself, Yuu? Shigure told me you do have some experience with firearms."
Yuichiro nodded and reached for a case she brought with her from Guren's home and placed on the gazebo table earlier. When she opened it, Shinya saw what appeared to be a vintage revolver from the 19th century. Curious, the older man tilted his head and asked:
"Where did you get that, Yuu?"
Yuichiro was silent for a moment as she took the revolver in her hand. It was the first time she touched or even looked at it since that fateful night she and the other Hyakuya orphans made their disastrous attempt to escape Sanguinem together.
"It belonged to the vampire lord Mika was 'servicing' before he stole and entrusted it to me to safeguard the younger kids when we tried to leave the vampire city," Yuichiro answered quietly. "Unfortunately, it failed to protect any of them, only me."
"How so, Yuu? If you don't mind, could you tell me what happened?"
The younger girl frowned as if this was an uncomfortable topic for her. But like Mito, Shinya had to know of any previous experience Yuichiro had with firearms before he could train her efficiently.
"Please, Yuu, I must know. I'm sure Mito asked you something similar for the same reason."
The girl turned to face her instructor, her solemn expression making her look much older than her twelve years before answering.
"It was a trap. Ferid, that was the vampire's name, tricked us. He knew what Mika had planned from the start and never intended to let any of us go, either to the outside world or back into the city. Even with this gun, I was powerless to stop him as he murdered my brothers and sisters. I always believed that if I was a better shot, I might have been able to save them. But I have never even touched a gun before that night."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Yuichiro. But you know vampires can easily evade bullets. Even if you managed to hit this vampire lord, it still wouldn't have been enough to stop him. Especially if it was just an ordinary gun with ordinary bullets" Shinya explained even though he was sure the younger girl already knew this. What she probably didn't know was that even a common vampire could not be killed by a normal gun and Shinya strongly suspected that this Ferid must have allowed Yuichiro to shoot him on purpose and escape. But he thought it best not to tell her that.
"You're may be right about that, Shinya. But the very last shot I fired, the one that saved my life, was true. After I watched that bastard run Mika through and sliced off his arm, I completely lost it and charged at him. I managed to get in close, so close that I knew I could not miss, and hoped that there was still just one more bullet left in the gun so that I could take him down. And I was lucky there was when I saw how I blew his brains out."
Although the older man was no stranger to violence on and off the battlefield, he still found himself somewhat disturbed at the younger girl's confession and the fact that she actually sounded like she was glad, even proud, that she had shed the blood of another in such a gruesome manner.
"Yuichiro…" Shinya began calmly as he gently took her face in his hand and forced her to look into his ice-colored eyes, "You might think this strange coming from me, a sniper, but killing is not something to be proud of. I know this vampire lord took away the people most dear to your heart but whenever you take a life, no matter whose, and no matter the reason, you die a little inside as well. Even if you don't realize it."
Feeling ashamed, the girl looked down at her feet.
"I'm sorry, Shinya," she apologized.
"It's alright, Yuichiro. You owe me no apology. At the end of the day, the person you must answer to for your own actions is yourself. Do you understand?"
"I think I do."
"Good. Well, let's take a closer look at what you've got before we start."
"Sure," Yuu said and without hesitation, handed Shinya Ferid's vintage revolver and watched as the older man looked it over before whistling at the impressive craftsmanship as well as the pristine condition of the firearm.
"I don't believe it, this is an 1874 Smith and Wesson revolver! It's in such good condition, I'm not even sure if it's authentic or a replica."
"I'm not sure myself," Yuu confessed. "Mika was the one who stole it; he said it belonged to Ferid Bathory and that he always takes good care of his things so it might be authentic. One thing I do know for sure is that it works."
"Oh, I don't doubt that it does if you're standing here in front of me; vampires never let their prey get away if they can help it. Unfortunately, the chamber is empty and finding bullets for this particular gun might be difficult since it's most likely discontinued. I'll just have to get another gun for you to practice with. Please wait here for a minute."
"Ok," Yuichiro obeyed and remained at the gazebo while Shinya went back to his car. When the older man returned, he had a somewhat smaller case in his hands and offered it to her. When she opened it, Yuichiro found a modern semi-automatic, the kind that uses magazine clips *4* like she often saw in the movies and on TV.
"This should be easier for you to practice with; it can hold more bullets and is faster to reload once you get the hang of it. Even if it's not as impressive to look at as this Ferid's revolver."
Yuichiro laughed. "That's ok, Shinya. Whatever works."
"That's the spirit. Come with me. Before you can practice on a moving target, you must be able to hit a still one first."
"Like throwing kunai?"
"Well, yes and no. Handling a firearm is a bit different than throwing a kunai. There's more to using a gun efficiently than most people think. I'll explain on the way."
"Ok," Yuu said as she got up and followed the older man further out into the shooting range where the target boards were set up.
"Now, I know you've held a gun before but since you've never had proper instruction or prior experience when you did it, I'm guessing it caused you discomfort when you used it, correct?"
Recalling the pain in her hand and wrist caused by the recoil of Ferid's gun the night of her escape from Sanguinem, Yuu nodded.
"Yes. I fired so many rounds, the gun felt like a hot iron in my hand. My wrist hurt, too."
"As it should. You weren't used to the recoil and might not have been holding the gun properly either. Well, now is the perfect chance to start over and learn it right. But before you try aiming, loading, and firing any gun, respect it for what it is: a dangerous and powerful weapon. Anyone who sees firearms as toys should never be allowed to touch them."
"I understand, Shinya. I never thought of any weapon as a toy."
"Good. You've got the right attitude, like Sayuri says. That'll make things a lot easier for both of us. For safety reasons, never put your finger on the trigger until you're ready to fire. When you're not in firing position, keep the gun pointed straight down at the ground and never in the direction of yourself or anyone you're with. And always, always assume the gun is loaded."
"Yes, sir."
"Good. I normally don't use regular handguns. My cursed gear takes the form of a rifle with a bayonet. But I can hold it with one hand and use it like a regular handgun; it just takes a bit of strength and practice. However, for you it's going to be a little different since the gun is not your primary weapon, just a back-up in case you lose your main weapon, like Shigure's kunai or Mito's hand to hand combat skills."
To demonstrate, the older man stretched out his right arm and Yuu watched with amazement as a black rifle with a bayonet appeared to materialize out of thin air accompanied by a small cloud of black smoke, in his hand.
"Wow, that's amazing!"
Shinya smirked. "You don't know the half of it, Yuu," he said with a wink. "Now, I know our guns are different, but pay attention to the way I hold mine with one hand. While a two-handed grip is your best bet in any situation, there may be times you won't have that luxury, a reason could be an injured arm or hand or if you're multi-tasking so to speak. I'm guessing you to be right-handed like myself, but it's important you learn to shoot with your weaker arm and hand as well as dominant one since it gives you more options when confronted by an enemy. But for now, I'll show you how to shoot with your dominant hand which is your right, am I correct?"
"Yes, it is."
"Ok. Now for starters, place the gun in your right hand. For a semi-automatic pistol, the gun back strap should rest as high in the crook between your thumb and first finger as possible. This placement in the strong hand stays the same regardless of which type of grip you take from here. The back strap of the handgun is placed as high as possible in the strong hand. The hand is wrapped around the gun with the thumb touching on top of the middle finger on the grip. A firm grip and straight wrist is necessary to be effective."
Yuichiro obeyed and found that handling a semi-automatic felt a bit different from handling a revolver. Neither felt comfortable to the girl since she knew they were weapons made to kill but she also understood the importance of learning how to use a firearm as a back-up weapon in battle.
Once he was certain his pupil was holding her gun correctly, Shinya continued.
"The next step is to aim at the target," he said as he made a gesture to the target boards. "First, when aiming, focus your dominant eye on the front sight of your gun. The target and the rear sight should be a little bit blurry because your eye cannot focus on all three simultaneously. One of the most common problems among shooters is the failure to focus on the front sight."
Yuichiro said nothing but watched as her instructor took aim with his rifle at his intended target, paying attention to the position of his head and eyes as he did so.
"Second, position the front sight in the notch of the rear sight. The top of the front sight should be level with the top of the rear sight and there should be an equal amount of space on either side. If the front sight has a bead on it, adjust your sight picture such that the bead is over the center of your target. Do you understand?"
"Um, I think so," Yuu answered as she tried her best to imitate Shinya's actions and follow his instructions to the best of her understanding with her own gun and listened as he continued.
"Now, most shooters, such as myself, usually squint or close one eye when aiming. It allows them to focus on the front sight better. For defensive shooting, such as in your case, I recommend that you learn to aim and shoot with both eyes open. That way you don't restrict your field of vision and you can see more bad guys."
"Oh, I see. Can I fire now?"
"As soon as you have your target in sight."
Yuichiro took a deep breath and pulled the trigger. Shinya was right, firing a gun was not the same as throwing a kunai. Not only that, the sound of the firearm going off reminded Yuichiro of that horrible night. In her mind's eye, she was no longer firing at the target board in front of her but at the silver-haired vampire lord who was but a blur as he cruelly slayed her brothers and sisters one after another, moving faster than she could see or fire, blood spraying everywhere as their lifeless bodies hit the cold tile floor.
"Yuu, what's wrong?"
The girl was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard her instructor calling out to her and looked at Shinya, who had just made his demonic rifle disappear as suddenly as he summoned it earlier. It was then that Yuichiro realized that she was crying even as she emptied her gun of bullets. Unlike her first attempt at throwing a kunai, nearly every round she fired hit the still target more than a dozen yards away.
Wiping and dappling at her eyes with her left hand after letting her right which was still holding the gun drop, Yuichiro apologized.
"I'm sorry, Shinya, I don't know what came over me. It's just that when I started firing, I saw him again, that vampire I shot after he killed my brothers and sisters. I know I was only able to hit him because I was foolish enough to run up to him. If the gun had no more bullets left, I'm sure he would have killed me along with Mika and the others."
"Yuichiro, if it bothers you that much, maybe we should put this off for now. It's not like you need to know how to use a gun right away" Shinya said gently as he placed his hands on her shoulders in an attempt to pacify her.
The younger girl shook her head. "I'm ok, Shinya, really. I just need a moment; I want to learn how to fight as best as I can so that nobody I care about has to die again."
"Are you sure, Yuichiro?" Shinya asked in concern. He couldn't help thinking how much the younger girl sounded like Guren when she said that.
"Yes, please."
"All right then, let's continue. But if it gets to be too much for you, I'll have to end this session for today, ok?"
"I understand."
"Ok, I'm sure you still have some bullets left so once you use those up, I'll show you how to reload your gun."
"Of course," Yuichiro said before taking another deep breath and moving in front of a new target board. She waited for her instructor to bring out his rifle once more before giving her leave to fire again.
This time, the girl was able to successfully hit her target without seeing wisps of silver hair...
Footnotes:
1. A kunai is a Japanese dagger, possibly derived from the masonry trowel. The two widely recognized variations of the kunai are short kunai (小苦無shō-kunai?) and the big kunai (大苦無dai-kunai?). Although a basic tool, in the hands of a martial arts expert, the kunai could be used as a multi-functional weapon. The kunai is commonly associated with the ninja, who used it to gouge holes in walls. Kunai were originally made to be farming tools but soon evolved into the weaponry they have become today. Many popular manga and ninjutsu characters use kunai as both their primary and secondary weapons.
2. In the Vampire Mikaela LNs which details the lives of the Hyakuya orphans in Sanguinem before the main story, male!Yuu never knew how Mika was able to scare off the boys who turned on them after Yuu thwarted their attempt to assault a young girl in the city. But for my AU, I had Mika tell fem!Yuu what he said to make the older boys cease attacking them and run away. I've also made fem!Yuu remember Ferid Bathory better than male!Yuu.
3. As a student of kempo karate, I was taught by my instructor that in unarmed combat, it is always important to guard your center line where all your major organs are when taking a fighting stance. This applies to pretty much all martial arts as well.
4. A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a repeating firearm. Magazines can be removable (detachable) or integral to the firearm. The magazine functions by moving the cartridges stored in the magazine into a position where they may be loaded into the chamber by the action of the firearm. The detachable magazine is often referred to as a clip, although this is technically inaccurate. Magazines come in many shapes and sizes, from those of bolt action express rifles that hold only a few rounds to drum magazines for self-loading rifles that can hold one hundred rounds or more.
