Chapter Text
August 16th, 2008
The harsh white lights shined down upon the redhead as a familiar beeping filled the silence. Footsteps just beyond the doorway caught his attention. A warm smile on his face as the blurry form he recognized so easily stepped into the room.
"Jotaro." His voice was slightly hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken in a few hours. His barely functioning eyes followed the other as he sat down beside him.
"Kakyoin." Jotaro responded, clasping his large, warm hands around the other's cool, pale-skinned one. Kakyoin gently squeezed his hand, and the brunet echoed this action in response.
"Let's go." The words fell gently from the redhead as he gazed at his lover.
"Hm?" The brunet seemed confused at first. "Where?"
"Oh, you know," The redhead's unfocused gaze drifted down to their hands together. Lifting his free hand, he tenderly ran his fingers across the back of Jotaro's. "Let's go to the usual place."
"Now?" Though he didn't voice it, Jotaro was slightly concerned. "It's half-past midnight."
Kakyoin slowly looked back up at Jotaro, his expression soft and longing. Ah, Kakyoin knew just how to get past Jotaro's tough exterior. Over the years, the redhead had managed to help him turn from a rude, brooding teen to the decently-rounded man before him that day. While not everything was Kakyoin's doing specifically, it was him who helped him through it all. It was Kakyoin Noriaki who stayed with him, despite the redhead initial distrust after their trip to Egypt. It was this man who was there for him, even at his lowest of lows. Even when he royally screwed himself over. Even when he failed.
A pale hand traced Jotaro's, cold to the touch. Slipping under the sleeve of his jacket, it caused him to shiver slightly. The redhead let out a huff- Jotaro couldn't tell if he was amused or not- then drew his hand back to rest on top of theirs once more.
"I'm... kind of sad." Kakyoin said with a small smile on his face.
"Good grief." Jotaro let out a gentle sigh, tugging his hat down. It's been so long since I've seen the ocean, I guess I should.
The wheelchair sat discarded on the sands, a pair of hospital slippers and black shoes sitting on its seat. The two carefully made their way over to the rocks by the shore and took a seat.
The two didn't talk much at first, comfortable with how the crashing waves filled the silence between the two of them. Jotaro was glad to be here, glad to spend time with the two things that calmed his heart. Whenever he was around Kakyoin, he felt at ease.
Glancing up at the star filled sky above, the man let a small smile adorn his face. A small twinkle danced across the sky- Ah, a shooting star. The only sky close to this one's beauty was the night sky, back in Egypt... As much as Jotaro liked to reminisce, perusing that part of his mind stirred up more bad memories than good.
The gentle feeling of something pressing against his shoulder pulled him from his thoughts for a moment. Glancing down, sea-green eyes meeting his companion's lavender, and eliciting a quiet huff of amusement from the latter.
"What's on your mind?" The other's tone and tenderly inquisitive gaze made him pause for a moment. His eyes flickered up to the sky once more as the redhead took hold of Jotaro hand, fingers fitting together like puzzle pieces.
"...There was a shooting star, it just reminded me of something."
"Ah, yes." Kakyoin muttered. Confused by this, Jotaro waited, trusting he wouldn't have to wait long for an explanation.
A soft green glow emanated from around the redhead as he summoned his stand's hands over his own. With Jotaro's attention set on the horizon, he worked his magic in momentary secrecy. Only to be found out as he planned, when the gentle flickering of little green lights caught his eye. Blinking, he borrowed his stand's eyes to better look. Upon closer inspection, the lights were, in fact, small luminescent emeralds.
"...Fireflies?" His expression softened slightly upon the realization.
"You remember?"
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Of course, how could he forget? Fireflies... memories of a crisp, cool winter night in the desert. Stars were twinkling in the sky, and the group was having their usual talk around the fire. Somehow, the old man managed to bring up the subject, telling the whole group about how Jotaro used to case around the fireflies as a "young lad." Ah, Jotaro was thoroughly embarrassed, but easily forgot it when Kakyoin joined in.
"Fireflies? Take a look, Polnareff." He'd done the same thing back then, sending small emeralds into the sky to mimic the gentle flashing of the insect. "They glow like this."
While the french-man remarked about what he called fireflies back home, Jotaro had been watching the gems float, gaining a comforting sense of nostalgia from it.
"...Nice view." He muttered, catching the redhead's attention.
Kakyoin merely smiled at the comment, seemingly in his own world. Muttering something to his stand, of all things.
"...Oi, Kakyoin." In Japanese, so the others wouldn't but in, "After the trip's over- When we're home..." Kakyoin had blinked and turned his head to Jotaro, his gaze inquisitive. "Come to my house, we can watch the fireflies."
That same smile he'd see so many times before adorned Kakyoin's face.
"Yeah, sure."
A moment of silence, hesitation, then...
"...We could make it a yearly thing-" He tipped his hat down- Ah, why'd he have to embarrass himself like this? "If you want."
Kakyoin looked over to him, causing Jotaro to glace over quickly. Their eyes met, if only for a split second, before Jotaro averted his gaze once more. He could feel Kakyoin's gaze linger for a moment before he answered.
"I don't see why not."
"It's a deal, then."
"Of course. I'm looking forward to it, JoJo."
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"Jotaro~" Kakyoin's voice served to pull him back down to reality.
"...Yeah." He answered eventually, "I remember."
The flow of the crashing waves served to fill the lull in conversation as the two sat there, observing how the emerald floated in the sky. The silence between the two of them had always felt... right, in a way. Neither of them felt awkward, and neither of them were in a rush to fill it with anything they could think of. At least, not usually. Somehow, this time was different.
"Has Jolyne seen fireflies before?" Kakyoin started small. Jotaro felt some joy in talking about his daughter, and a warm feeling sprout in his chest. Talking about his daughter . A faint smile found its way onto his face.
Yes, Jolyne had in fact seen fireflies before. Jotaro continued on to describe the experience, noting what he thought about it by simply dubbing it "cute." Kakyoin himself smiled at that before continuing.
Somehow, their conversation about Jolyne had managed to last a few hours and span over a variety of subjects, ranging from old fast she'd grown (having turned 16 that year), to the last time they visited the aquarium together. The talk managed to stretch over a decent amount of time, but neither of them noticed. Though, eventually, Kakyoin let his stand and emerald dissipate, leaving the two of them with only the moonlight and twinkling stars as the conversation died down once more.
"Say, Jotaro..." The shorter lifted his head from his shoulder, eyes fixed loosely on the horizon. Jotaro stared out in the same direction as he listened. "Do you ever fear death?"
Jotaro blinked. The other's knowing tone helped him piece it together in his mind, causing him to remember. To remember that night, and the events directly afterwards. To remember something he had buried for years. He shot Kakyoin a look.
"Do you ever fear death, Jotaro?" Kakyoin repeated. Instead of answering, though, Jotaro stood up and took Kakyoin's hand.
"Let's go." He said, short and simple.
"Hm? Go where?" His mouth quirked slightly.
"Into the water." Jotaro very gently tugged. "It's warm this time of year."
The redhead let out a short huff. "You're avoiding the question." He muttered, slowly getting to his feet with Jotaro's help. "But, yes. I would love to." The look in his eyes told Jotaro he wouldn't get away from the question that easily.
Of course Jotaro was avoiding the question. He didn't want to have to think about that- about death. He had grown used to expecting it around every corner back in Egypt, and beating to a pulp before it had the chance to take any of them. Though, the cost of the trip was still cemented in their minds, as death had held it's skeletal hands clamped tight on three of them. Avdol, Iggy, and Kakyoin.
But, somehow, Jotaro managed to loosen it's grip on the redhead. It felt like a miracle when the other's vitals stabilized enough for him to be transferred to hospital. Only later did Jotaro realize his mistake; it was later that he realized how he hurt Kakyoin. But, in the end, Jotaro would never regret his decision. After some years, Kakyoin managed to forgive him, or at least not hold it against him. And they were finally together, as fate had elected them to be.
Jotaro's mind managed to delve into the depths as he guided Kakyoin along. Step by careful step into the shimmering moonlit abyss. The brunet didn't bother to remove his coat, and Kakyoin didn't bother to remove his own, either. Neither of them cared all that much about getting wet. Such trivial things didn't matter. Not when they were with each other, anyway. They continued on into the blue. Hand in pale hand as they danced a sort of tango into the tide. Only pausing then the water reached the shorter one's waist.
Their bodies remain pressed together as they stood there, allowing Kakyoin to secure his footing on the ocean floor below. A quiet hum from the redhead caught his attention and drew him back to the moment.
"Now, Jotaro..." The pale man muttered, pulling away from the other so he could see his face. "Should I repeat the question?" His tone was gentle, as his unfocused lavender eyes searched the taller man's face. Though Noriaki may have a hard time seeing it, all Jotaro greeted him with was a blankly somber expression. Though appearing rather blank, this was all Kakyoin needed to read him like a book.
Now that he was faced with the question in such a head-on manner, Jotaro actually took the time to ponder. His memory brought him back to that fateful night. The night where only hours before, Kakyoin had asked him a nearly identical question. Of course, he answered honestly, or at least what he thought was honest at the time. He couldn't afford to fear death back then. But now? Oh...
These days, he couldn't afford to die. He couldn't handle the possible consequences of his death, he couldn't afford to leave those he cared for behind so suddenly, so soon. Naturally, he wasn't so much afraid of his own mortality as he was afraid of what might happen after he was gone. But that wasn't what he feared the most, regarding death.
He wasn't ready to lose any of those around him. Ah, nothing he loved ever came out unscathed, and that was a horrible truth he was afraid to acknowledge. He knew he couldn't lose anyone, especially if it was Kakyoin. He had fought so hard to keep him around, even hurt him in doing so. Now that all was said and done, he couldn't waste any time.
"Everyone dies eventually, but..." Kakyoin's voice brought his mind back into focus once more. The other's cool hands loosened their grip and left his own large, warm hands. Slowly, they drifted upwards to cup the brunets face, and gently press their thumbs against his soft cheeks. "If you were in hospital, and slowly pieced together that your condition was terminal, what would you do?" Lavender met cerulean as he spoke. "Would you try to outlast your doctor determined fate with sheer force of will, or would you let the sun's rays consume you before your condition had the chance to change who you are?"
The brunet's brow furrowed upon hearing his companion's explanation. With one arm curled around the smaller man's waist, he pulled him close and held him tight once more.
"Don't say shit like that." He murmured as he brushed his face against the other's ruby red locks. "You aren't leaving yet. You can't-" Emotion bubbled up within the usually stoic man's chest, slowly working to break apart his words into shaky breaths instead. "I'm not ready to lose you, Noriaki. Not yet." He wasn't sure he'd ever be ready. " Not again, please. " His voice lowered to barely a whisper.
"Oh, Jotaro..." The redhead cooed as he wrapped his slender arms around his lover, running his hand over his back in smooth, soothing motions. "It's alright, there's nothing to fear. After all, death is merely the end of one's journey."
Jotaro, unable to form much else, let out a simple hum of confusion.
The redhead pulled away just enough to look his companion in the eye. Jotaro was reluctant to loosen his grip, but allowed it to happen, despite no longer being able to hide the tears forming in his eyes.
"There's a quote I heard, from a old friend of ours, that's stuck with me ever since." Pale thumbs caressed warm cheeks, wiping the tears from the corner of his eyes.
"Death is not the end of life; it is but the completion of one's journey. Hope is not just robust courage, but it is also revitalized willpower..." A short pause was punctuated by a soft huff from the pale one, then a slow turn of the head. Aquamarine eyes widened as the two men caught the beginnings of the sunrise. A sunrise which began by staining the sky a deep crimson red. "Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my cherry tree."
Before he had the chance to turn his head back, tears had already spilled over, drifting silently down his cheeks. He let a sharp breath in, only to be met with Kakyoin's heart-wrenching gaze. The sunrise-stained couple drew their faces close as the redhead drew the taller man in for a kiss. Kakyoin's lips were soft and sweet, mixed with the bitter taste of a goodbye.
It left him wanting more.
It was then that the sudden realization hit, as the soft yet noticeable sound of crackling caught the brunet's attention. Glancing over, his heart nearly skipped a beat as he saw the half of his lover which was closest to the sun's rays catch fire.
"Kakyoin." His voice was rough and strained.
"It's alright, Jotaro. I may be leaving now, but..." Kakyoin's voice flowed into his ears like butter on hot toast, which only served to remind Jotaro of his mother's kind voice. "I don't like being lonely, so please talk to me from time to time." His heart pounded his his chest as he searched his lover's eyes. "You can meet me here, at the usual place. I'll be listening."
"Nori-" Jotaro swallowed down waves of emotion as he struggled to get his words out. "I love you."
This that I told you with so few words, I'm not sure if you remember anymore. Regardless, you made me really happy.
"I love you too." The redhead smiled as his lover cried, and the fire licked at his frame. "We'll meet again soon."
The supernatural fire took only seconds to spread, even burning under the water. Jotaro held his lover close as he felt the flames burn hot over the pale man's skin. Pieces of him started to flake off, falling into the depths below. Jotaro held on as tight as he could, despite knowing he was powerless to stop this. He held on, as if he could pin him down and keep him from slipping through his fingers.
"Until then, JoJo~" Jotaro's heart nearly jumped out of his chest as he felt Kakyoin's figure disintegrate under him. Ocean eyes watched as pieces of his companion were slowly carried away by the sea-breeze. His heart sank in his chest, pulling him down as if it was suddenly made of heavy steel, despite shattering like glass.
Slowly, he let his hands drift down to his sides, only to bring them back up as he pulled his coat tighter around himself. Hoping it would keep Kakyoin's warmth close to him for as long as possible.
After watching the final embers of his one true love float into the distance, he turned his head back towards the sunrise. Watching what had taken his lover away rise slowly into the skies as it painted it's surroundings with more astounding than any paint-based recreation he had seen in the past.
Once the sky had settled and all was still, Jotaro finally lifted Kakyoin's coat from the water. Somehow, it stayed in perfect condition through the burning, only being heavily water-logged. Lifting the soggy coat and clutching it tight to his chest, he spoke barely above a whisper.