Sanada – thanks for the review.

One review = 1 chapter. I have another story I'm working on in addition to this one but I will only post it if I hear more from people. As stated in my profile, stories do NOT get posted on here unless I have it all pre-planned so that they will never be dropped in mid story.

Chapter 2 – The Jaws of Darkness alt title – Came to Confusion

And ere a man hath power to say 'Behold!' The jaws of darkness do devour it up: So quick bright things come to confusion. Shakespeare

Kubota shifted uneasily. He knew he probably still had close to an hour before Tokito showed up but he couldn't relax. He wasn't near enough to the alley to be able the hear if the ones left alive had moved or if they were all still there. He was angry that he had dropped both the package and his gun back there and hadn't been able to look for them. "Be honest," he told himself. "you were afraid to look for them. Afraid that someone would wake up while you were crawling around on your hands and knees trying to find them in a darkness that only applied to you."

Anger at his inability to act, at his fear, made him suddenly lash out with his fist and hit the side of the waste container with a loud thud. Instantly he froze, feeling his blood turn to ice. If someone heard him – He listened closely for several minutes but didn't hear anyone talking or moving near the dumpster. He had to get a hold of himself. He wasn't helpless. It wasn't like he had to depend on anyone else. He was Kubota Makota, he could care for himself, run his own life, buy his own clothes and pay his own bills. He didn't need anyone's help, never had. Even as a child he had stood alone and he still could. "Yeah," said a small voice in his head. "That's why you had to call Tokito to come help you out." He gritted his teeth against the need to lash out again. To throw his head back and scream.

Ten minutes later, trembling and drenched in sweat, Kubota decided to start practicing breathing. Maybe if he concentrated on how to breath he could quit thinking about things he didn't want to. "Breathe in through the nose. 1..2..3..Breathe out through the mouth. 1..2..3..Breathe in through the nose. 1..2..3.." He had to try over and over again but finally he had himself relaxed and breathing in the right pace, and just a few breaths later he surprised himself by falling asleep.

*******************************WAWAWAWA************************

Dammit! Why did Kubo-chan have to call just then? He was on a good streak, he was going to win that time! Tokito paused for a moment to scratch his elbow and give an old man who had moved too close a wild eyed glare until he moved back the few inches required to make Tokito happy. And why did he have to sound.... weird! He hadn't sounded breathless, he hadn't sounded weak, he hadn't sounded like his lips were punched out of shape, he just sounded – not right. Almost, well almost tentative. Suddenly the bell rung and Tokito noticed they were coming up on E station. Thank god he could finally get off this crowded train.

It only took him 5 minutes of walking to find the alley. He looked around but couldn't see anyone hanging around or paying any attention. He stepped into the alley but had only walked a few feet when he noticed the blood. So, this must be where whatever had happened. He looked down, there was more blood and a few pieces of paper. He was shuffling halfheartedly at the papers just to see if there was anything else around when he caught a gleam underneath a trash can. Surprised he bent to look and then reached under and pulled out a gun. He darted another quick look around to see if anyone was watching then examined the weapon. He stopped when he saw the jagged scratch on the handle. This was Kubota's gun. He was the one that had scratched that handle with the claws on his left hand one time trying to see if they got in the way of holding the gun. Suddenly chilled he shoved the weapon under his waistband beneath his t shirt.

"Relax", he told himself. "No need to worry, that dammed ex-Yakuzi is too tough to be hurt bad. Besides, he called didn't he?" Tokito quit looking around and headed for the adjoining alley. He walked into the smaller, dirtier alley and looked around frantically. There was nobody there, there was trash and decaying food around but not enough to hide a body. "Kubota?" He didn't want to call too loudly. He waited but didn't get a reply. "Kubota!" Still no reply. Tokito tried to think what to do. He didn't want to yell, that didn't seem a good idea, so what could he do? On impulse he reached into his pocket and brought out his cell phone and dialed Kubota's number. The sudden ringing from the large common garbage container just a few feet away made him jump. He immediately flipped the phone closed and dashed to the container, dragging over a couple of pieces of wood to stand on. Just as he pushed the lid up, craning his head to see inside, he heard movement. A familiar face stared up at him. He was startled to see how tense Kubota's body was.

"There you are! What did you do, fall asleep you idiot pervert?" Kubota's body suddenly relaxed. "You've got blood all over you. Were you hit on the head? There's blood on your face. Well come on, don't just sit there. You need to get out." He couldn't understand, why hadn't Kubo-chan used the time while he was talking to stand up. Was he hurt more than he thought?

"Oh." The words were very soft. "Its you."

"Who else did you expect it to be? You did call me, and I'm standing right here. Are you blind stupid Kubo-chan?"

There was a slight hesitation, then "Well, actually, it seems I am."

Tokito gripped the side of the container so as not to fall over as he just stared at Kubota. Wait? What? He was kidding, right? He had to be kidding. People didn't just go blind – did they?

Kubota wished fiercely he could see the look on Tokito's face. But rather than continue to speculate on it or even think about why he couldn't, he gathered his feet under himself and managed to stand up. Then he grabbed the container's side with his left hand. It felt like he was high enough from all the junk in the container that he could get out fairly easily – not a bad thing as he didn't seem to have any strength in his right arm.

"Tokito, if you could hold up the lid from the left side over here near my head, I think I can just hop out." There was silence. Kubota took a deep breath "Tokito, if you move, you're going to have to tell me."

"Um, um. Just a moment Kubo-chan. Just a moment." Tokito shook himself out of his panicked trance.

Kubota heard the rustle of clothes and then Tokito's voice from near his head. "Okay, I'm out of your way now."

Kubota leaned forward and then picked up his right arm and hung it over the side of the container, on the outside. Then he swung his right leg over and kicked off with his left. Everything seemed to go fine. Out of habit he let go of the side of the container as he pushed off and therefore had nothing to hold onto when he came down and landed; not on the flat concrete he had expected, but instead on some of the wood Tokito had gathered to stand on. He had absolutely no way to prevent himself from pitching forwards.