Thankless

Prologue

Trigger Warning!

A/N: There is violence written in this story, might be a bit graphic for some readers. If you're squeamish or if violence and death make you uncomfortable, don't read or read at your own risk.

7 Years Ago Today...

Karin was deep in her science textbook trying to follow the instructions carefully. No matter how many times she read it though, her brain still processed it as jumbled words.

Her partner couldn't help but stare at her with a smile on his face, clearly amused at how hard she was trying to concentrate.

The way her brows furrowed, the way she would occasionally tap her pencil against her cheek, how focused her green emerald orbs were on that page, how she would bite her lip...

Karin looked up from the book when she felt a pair of eyes on her. "Having fun watching me struggle, Takuya?" She folded her arms as she grinned at him.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Takuya slightly laughed, almost embarrassed that he had been caught.

Almost.

"Why don't you just let me do it? I can have this done in less than 5 minutes." He offered.

Takuya was the kind of student that pretty much excelled in anything he did academically. This and his awkward, anti social personality often branded him as a nerd, loser, and a freak.

He didn't care though. He had one friend at least. One he wasn't afraid to socialize with and she was all that mattered to him.

Karin shook her head at his offer. "We are partners, as in two. As in I want to contribute as well." Just because Karin sucked at science didn't mean she was going to let her partner do all the work.

Takuya pushed his glasses upward from the bridge of nose. "As you wish." He did his half of the work while Karin was in charge of the written part.

Minutes had passed and Karin had yet to finish.

"The bell is about to ring." He reminded Karin who seemed lost in concentration.

Karin frowned, staring up at the clock. She sighed, ready to just throw in the towel.

Takuya chuckled. "Can I help you at least?"

"Hmm..." Karin considered it. She didn't like asking for help all that much, but given that the bell was about to ring and she had yet to finish, she pretty much had no other choice.

"Fine..." She mumbled feeling displeased with herself.

Inching closer to her, Takuya couldn't help but blush. "You tried, and in my book that's just as good. The real failure is when you give up."

Karin smiled at his words. He really was a sweet guy. A little weird and quite the loner, but sweet. It was a shame just how much of a hard time the other kids would give him. 'If only they could meet this side of you.' Karin mused.

He went on to explain the assignment. Karin was happily marveled that she now understood. She wrote out the answers as fast as she could, finishing with 2 minutes to spare.

They got their things ready and handed in their assignment. The bell rang right there and then.

"Thank you for helping me... again." Karin said, feeling a tinge of embarrassment at her partners constant assistance in science.

With a shy smile on his face Takuya shrugged. "No problem. Are you-"

He was interrupted when Karin's friend, Lynn burst into the classroom. "Karin! Come on. Some of the seniors are going out for lunch and guess who got us invited to go join them." Lynn smiled.

Karin chuckled. "Alright, alright. I'll see you later." She said turning back to Takuya.

"W-wait! Karin..."

Upon hearing her name, she turned around. "Yes?"

Takuya tried playing it cool but his nervousness was getting the better of him. "T-tomorrow... Thanksgiving? Wanna spend it with me? It's just me and my grandma. We're both cooking. It- it could be nice. Thanksgiving is about family and I, uhh.. consider you f-family." He mentally kicked himself for stuttering so much.

Both Karin and Lynn were surprised. "Uhh... Thank you Takuya, but if I spend Thanksgiving anywhere but my house my mom would flip. Thank you though." Karin said.

She and Lynn slowly left the classroom in a bit of confusion. Once they were further down the hall Lynn linked her arm with Karin's and leaned in slightly. "Okay, how weird was that? Like hello, you have a family, of course you're gonna spend Thanksgiving with them. And the considering you as family thing? You guys aren't even that close. You have one class together and it's a boring class at that. He's so weird... I swear he has like some freaky crush on you or something."

Karin tried to play it off but the invitation had left her a little unnerved.

Thanksgiving, 2008

With the surprising approval of her mother, Karin spent the afternoon with Lynn at her place since she and her family would be leaving for a short vacation the day after.

Around six in the evening Karin was getting ready to head back to her place. Lynn's father offered to give her a ride home which Karin gladly accepted. Lynn tagged along as well since they hardly ever separated.

On their way to her house, Karin called her mom a few times to let her know she was on her way but it would go straight to voice mail.

She thought her mom would have at least called her since Karin was supposed to be home around five to five thirty. The time had slipped from her mind.

Once she was dropped off they said there goodbyes. Lynn's father stuck around till he saw Karin go in her home.

When Karin got her keys out to open the door, she was surprised to see it was already unlocked.

"That's weird..." She said to herself as she stepped in. She closed the door behind her, locking it. She figured with the excitement of things, one of her parents or even her younger brother had gone out, came back and forgot to lock the door.

She didn't think much of it. Karin heard the tv on. The football game was on. "I'm home." She didn't get an answer. Karin didn't think much of it though. When the game was on, there was nothing that could come between her dad, her younger brother Kyo and the game.

"Hm?" There was an odd smell that was starting to hit her. It smelled like something was burning. She immediately went to the kitchen and saw some pots with their contents overflowing. Karin turned off the stove. "What the... ?" For as long as Karin could remember, her mother had never let anything burn.

She went to the living room only to find it empty. The tv was on at high volume, but no one was watching it. There was something on the carpet though that caught her attention. She bent down, touching the red substance. "Blood..." There wasn't too much. Just a few splatters here and there, but it was enough to concern her. She went upstairs to check on her family.

'Maybe mom or dad got cut... Or Kyo.' Karin thought it was more likely to be Kyo's since he's quite the lively 11 year old. Always running around, bumping into things.

As she walked down the hall something felt... off. Karin couldn't shake the feeling. She turned around when she heard someone downstairs. She was about to make her way to the staircase until someone grabbed her from behind, covered her mouth, leading her into a bedroom.

The second Karin was released she turned to see who her grabber was.

"Mom?"

Karin was shocked to see the state her mother in. Her cheeks were tear stained, her blouse in disarray, but the thing that stood out the most were the blood stains all over her.

"Oh my god, mom. You're hurt we need to get you to the hospital. Where's dad and Kyo?" Karin tried leading her mother out the door but her mother wouldn't budge. She just covered her mouth to keep her sobs quiet.

"It's not my blood, sweetie. We need to hide. Now." She said as she tried to compose herself.

Karin looked her at mother up and down, analyzing her. "... Whose blood is this?"

Her mother ran her hand through her hair, looking off to the side. Unable to look her daughter in the eye. "It all happened so fast. Kyo opened the door and... I don't know I was in the kitchen. I heard a commotion and... there was so much blood! Your father fought him and I tried to to help Kyo but all of the lines were dead and I couldn't leave with him without that monster catching us."

This was all too much to process. "Where are they?" Karin asked. It had come out as a whisper.

Fresh tears ran down her mothers face as she shook her head. "I don't know where your father is. Kyo... he..." She couldn't bear to finish the sentence. "The only reason I'm still alive is because he's playing some sick game of cat and mouse to make me tell him where you were. I need to hide you. Now."

Karin broke down at the news of her now being an only child. "Why me? Who is he?" Karin asked.

"I don't know." Her mother answered. They heard someone going up the stairs. Karin's mother made sure the door was locked.

They both hid under the bed. They could hear someone walking back and forth outside in the hall.

"Can't hide forever ya know. We can keep doing this until she gets home. I've got nothing but time." A males voice came from the other side of the door.

'That voice...' It sounded very familiar to Karin.

A few seconds after they could hear the rattle of the doorknob turning. The man on other side snickered. "So this is where you're hiding." He began to kick the door. Around the fifth or sixth kick the door gave in and busted open.

Karin's mother held onto her daughter as tightly as she could. Both very careful not to make a sound. They saw the man's legs walk over to the closet, searching frantically after opening the door.

"Only one other place left in this room. Under the bed..."

Karin looked over to her mom, wide eyed in horror. This was really happening. Whatever were to happen next, Karin just hoped it would be quick and not too painful.

She saw her mother mouth 'I love you' Confused at first, she didn't get that that would be the last time her mother told her she loved her. She saw her mother inching out from under the bed. Karin shook her head mouthing the word no over and over again, but it was too late.

"There you are. Are you gonna tell me where she is now?"

That male voice. Karin knew who it was.

'Takuya...'

She watched as he grabbed her mother, forcefully pulling her up and demanding an answer from her. "Where is she!?" He yelled.

"I- I don't know! She went out with some friends earlier today. She should have been home an hour ago. I don't know where she is." Karin's mother cried out.

Takuya sneered at her. "Wrong answer."

He turned her so her back was against his chest, and with his other hand he swiftly ran the blade he held across her neck, slitting her throat open. Blood poured out from the wide cut.

No longer being of use to him he dropped the body to the ground.

Thud!

She fell with her face facing Karin.

Karin covered her mouth so she wouldn't scream. She saw what Takuya had done to her mother. Some blood was still oozing out from the fatal slice, her wide eyes no longer vibrant. They looked almost glassy from the tears.

'Why is he doing this?' The question played over and over in Karin's mind. She couldn't think of a reason on why her seemingly harmless science partner would do this to her.

After she heard him walk out the room she waited a few more minutes before getting out of the room and running downstairs.

She was close to the door until a voice behind her stopped her dead in her tracks.

"You open that door and this knife will make it's way either to your back or your head. I have very good aim, Karin." Takuya threatened.

She slowly turned around. Looking at him sickened her. He was covered in her family's blood.

"W-why?" Karin chocked out.

Takuya laughed as if he had just heard the funniest joke. "Why? I've been so in love with you since kindergarten but you've never noticed me, not once. Not till we were made partners this year. That just wasn't enough. You still had your own circle of bitchy little friends, but you know what? I could find it in me to forgive you for that. I never really had the courage to ask you out till yesterday." His laughter died down. "And what do you say?" His mood had done a complete 180 now.

He took a few steps towards her. "You turn me down. For your so called family! They didn't love you the way I do. No one does. But now, with them out of the picture, I'm your only family now. We can be together."

Karin couldn't look at his face. He had this non genuine smile that was just the definition of crazy.

Taking her chances, Karin made a dash to the door.

"NO!" Takuya threw the knife. It ended up grazing her ear, landing on the door. He ran after her, but there was a cop outside. He grunted wondering who the hell called the police. Changing his mind on chasing Karin, he ran the opposite direction.

The officer who had just gotten out of his vehicle and was going to make his way to the Hanazono house saw a girl running in his direction. "Help me, please!"

He quickly drew out his gun, but before he could get any closer Karin had ran into him. She clutched at his uniform. "Please there's a psycho trying to kill me!"

The officer had stumbled back a little at the impact. "Miss, please calm down." He saw the blood on her. He told her to wait with his partner by the car as he entered the home. There was a bit of blood here and there but it didn't compare to the upstairs area. The bathroom and one of the rooms were a complete blood bath. A woman and a young boy.

He ran back down and noticed blood coming out under from one of the doors. With his gun in hand he cautiously opened it, not prepared for what he found.

A mans severely stabbed body drenched in blood fell right onto the officer.

Back up was immediately called and the home was now one of the grizzliest crime scenes the town had ever had. Karin told the officers at the scene was had happened, including the name and description of the perpetrator.

A forensic investigator put together how it all must have gone down.

Judging by the male bodies, their death had occurred sometime between 4 and 5 in the afternoon. Takuya had gone over at 4, looking for Karin. The younger brother answered the door and told him Karin had gone out. Some kind of struggle had ensued and Kyo had been the first fatality with a single deep stab to the side of the neck. The parents had gone to see what was going on and the father and Takuya physically fought it out. The mother took her son upstairs to their bathroom to tend to his wound, resulting in her blood stained attire. But the damage was done. He had bled to death a few minutes later.

The investigator found a phone covered in blood which she assessed was used to call 911, but the phone line had been tampered with.

As for the fight between Takuya and Mr. Hanazono, although putting up quite the fight, it ended with Mr. Hanazono receiving multiple cuts and stab wounds to his body. On his chest, arms, hand, face...

The mother had been killed last with a slit throat.

Less than an hour later Takuya was caught. A student in uniform running around covered in blood at night wasn't hard to miss.

Out of formality though Karin had to be brought in to properly identify him. He was being held in a questioning room where he was being anything but cooperative.

Any questions about the crime would be ignored and he would simply answer just how much he loved Karin.

Lynn and her parents accompanied Karin to the station when they heard what had happened.

"Miss, is this the man that was in your home?" The officer asked.

Karin wiped the tears from her now red and puffy eyes as she nodded. "Yes."

The moment she looked at him, her stomach dropped.

Takuya turned to the mirror behind the detective.

Karin jumped back slightly. He was staring at her. The window was a one way mirror, how could he have known she was there?

"I'll come back for you. I'll always come back to you." Takuya cackled.

"Can I please go now?" Karin asked the officer. Lynn held onto her friend for support.

The officer nodded. "Of course. I'm so sorry for your loss. If you ever need to talk." He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a card. "I'm here for you."

Karin accepted the card. "Thank you Officer Nakagawa."

After leaving the station, Karin went to live with Lynn and her parents for a while, while social services got in contact with her other relatives to see who she could live with.

The car ride was silent. No one knew what to say. Karin looked out the window, the sights weren't enough to erase the images etched into her brain.

She could still smell the blood, she could still see her mothers corpse, still hear that awful sound it made when she was dropped to the ground. Closing her eyes wasn't any better either.

Whenever she closed them she only saw Takuya with a knife in hand, covered in blood.

That inhumane, ruthless, and remorseless smile was something that she would never be able to forget.

This probably might be too long to be called a prologue, but I'm gonna stick with it XD

There are 4 more chapters to this short story which will be published from tomorrow till the 29th so stay tuned!