Bloodbath

Chapter 2

Nineteen year-old Takuya Kanbara got out of the cab he was in.

"Thanks," he said to the driver, handing him the money he owed. "I'll just walk the rest of the way. It's been a while since I've last been here and I want to see if anything's changed."

"Alright, kid. Enjoy your stay." The driver flashed him a smile, then drove away.

Takuya looked around, shifting his backpack slightly. It had been ten years since the last time he was there. Kamakura was just as beautiful as he remembered it. There were shops along the street, selling a variety of items such as ice cream, jewelry, burgers, and pretty much whatever else anyone could want. He stopped by one of the stands and bought himself a coke. As he walked away, he heard a voice call to him.

"Takuya Kanbara?! Is that you?"

The brunette turned around to see his best friend since childhood, Kouji.

"Hey, what's up?" Takuya asked as Kouji jogged up to him. "Long time no see."

"Yeah, no shit. I only saw you for like a month last year, and then of course you had to leave for the whole friggin summer," his friend said. "How was Europe?"

Takuya had taken a trip, as he had always wanted to travel there some day.

"It was awesome," he replied. "I went to like ten different countries-"

"Yeah, I don't care," Kouji cut him off. "So, what are you doing back here? And why was I not informed?"

Takuya rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Um...sorry, it was kind of a last minute thing. I came back here for college. Besides, why are you here?"

"Same reason as you. My parents decided that I have to go to college, too." Kouji had a sullen look on his face. "Anyway, where are you staying?"

"Eh, an old family friend's. I mean, it used to be a restaurant, but it got closed down due to lack of business. They told me that as long as I keep the place clean, I can stay there rent free," Takuya said.

Kouji raised an eyebrow. "You're not talking about Courtney's parents, are you?"

"Yeah, her parents were friends with my parents. It's been a few since I last saw them, but they trust me to live there without wrecking the place."

"That's cool. Are they living there, too?" The raven-haired boy asked.

"Nope. I get the place to myself." Takuya smiled, only to have it fade a moment later. "I just hope Courtney doesn't come by everyday......"

Kouji smirked. "Why? She's pretty hot, and you know she's had a crush on you since you were kids."

Takuya shook his head. "I'm just not interested. She's a good friend, but I don't see her as anything more than that."

"Um.....if you're moving, shouldn't you have more than just a backpack full of stuff?" Kouji asked.

"I'm having the rest shipped over. I just brought enough for a few days to get me by, that way I didn't have to lug along a ton of shit." Takuya took a sip from his drink. "How's Kouichi?"

"He's good. Right now I'm staying in an apartment with him and J.P." Kouji dropped his gaze and sighed. "But I don't know how much longer it'll last."

Takuya frowned. "Why? What's wrong?"

"Our landlord jacked up the rent by another five hundred dollars, not to mention Kouichi just lost his job," he said.

"He was working at that small retail store, right? I think it was called Jason's or something........" Takuya almost walked into a pole, not paying attention. He managed to dodge it, however, at the last minute.

"Smooth," Kouji quipped. "Anyway, it was called Johnson's Men Wear. He didn't get fired for doing anything wrong, but it got closed down because the owner died and the building was bought by someone else."

"That's too bad," Takuya said quietly.

Kouji shrugged. "He'll get a new job. It just happened at a shitty time."

Takuya chuckled. "Yeah, he's the only one of us that's not lazy. Took me three months just to get off the couch to before I found a job."

"No kidding. Wanna check out the beach for the hell of it? It's been about, what, ten years now?" Kouji asked.

"About that. And sure, why not. I've got nothing better to do right now." Just then Takuya noticed a hot dog stand. "Be right back!"

Kouji laughed and shook his head as his friend ran off. Same old Takuya. A twang of sadness ran through him. He had been friends with Takuya ever since they were five when got into a fight in a sandbox over a tonka truck. Takuya had hit Kouji in the head with a plastic shovel and Kouji had poured a bucket of sand down Takuya's pants. They had laughed it off, becoming friends from that point on. About four years later, Kouji and his brother Kouichi gone away for the summer to stay with their grandparents so their parents could take a trip. While they were away, Takuya's family had been in a terrible car crash. Both of his parents and his younger brother Shinya had died. Takuya had been at a friend's at the time. The news had been devastating to Takuya, and he had spent almost a year in a psychiatric ward. During his stay, Kouji and Kouichi had visited him often, trying to keep their friendship alive and to let Takuya know that he was not alone. Takuya eventually recovered and stayed with his aunt and uncle after he was released.

Takuya ran back, holding two hot dogs. He was stuffing one into his mouth, eating nearly half of it in one bite.

"Wan thum?" He asked, his mouth full.

Kouji wiped a piece of the bun off his shoulder where it had shot from Takuya's mouth. "No thanks, I'm good."

Takuya shrugged, finishing what was left in his mouth. "More for me."

The two friends walked down the ramp leading to the beach. It was a little on the windy side today, so as far as they could see there was no one around.

"Wow, I'm surprised," Takuya said, looking around. "I figured that by now it would be a dump. But it looks pretty much the same as it did ten years ago."

"Yeah, I figured the same thing." Kouji stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening. "Uh.....Takuya?"

Takuya yawned. "Yeah?"

"Um.......I think you should take a look at this.........." Kouji's voice trailed off.

Takuya, confused, looked in the direction he was referring to. When he realized what Kouji had been talking about, his eyes almost bulged out of his head.

Straight ahead, standing in the water, was a naked girl. Her head was cast down, the wind blowing her blond hair around her face.

"What's.....going on?" Takuya asked in a low voice.

He didn't realize it, but from that point on, his life would never be the same

so ends chapter 2 of my story. lot less bloody than the previous chapter, huh? hope you liked it, and even though its a cliffhanger, the next chapter will be out in less than 24 hours. so don't kill me! *dodges a pitchfork being thrown* read and review laterz ^_^