Chapter Text
It was over. It was finally over. Kira had been defeated, and the city of Morioh can live peacefully again. Josuke Higashikata had never felt more relieved in his life. Finally things could get back to normal. No more serial killers, no more enemy stand users. He could finally be a normal teenager again.
He glanced over at Okuyasu, and smiled weakly. Okuyasu was alive. Josuke didn't know how, and he didn't care, but he was alive . If Josuke wasn't so tired, he would hug him. He would hug him and never let go. Just to make sure that nothing bad ever happened to him again.
"That was pretty close, right Josuke?" Okuyasu sighed as he punched Josuke lightly on the arm.
" Yeah !" Josuke opened his mouth to say, but before any words could come out, he began feeling a strong headrush. In the moments that followed, Josuke found that he was no longer standing besides Okuyasu, but instead lying facedown on the pavement, in a small puddle of blood. Seems he had had a brief lapse in consciousness, but he was okay.
"Josuke!" He heard Okuyasu shout from above him. He heard his other friends call out his name as well, from the distance. He was just a little dazed and tripped, though, no big deal. It was the damn pole sticking out of his leg, is all. Damn, that hurt. Damn, everything hurt. But he was fine.
He fell out of consciousness again.
When Josuke awoke, he was surrounded by paramedics. Lucky for him, there had been an ambulance right there. They were strapping him onto a gerni, and he could just make out the silhouettes of his friends behind them.
He caught a glimpse of Okuyasu's face. He looked terrified. What was he so scared of? Everyone was fine. And Kira had been defeated. It was all over, nothing to be worried about now. Maybe he was still freaked out about his near death experience. Yeah, that was probably it. Okuyasu had been through a lot. Anyone would be freaked out in his position. Josuke wanted to sit up and tell Okuyasu that he was there, and that it was okay, but he couldn't find the strength.
"Oh god," Josuke heard Okuyasu yell, "Oh my god. Is he going to be okay? Is he dying? Oh my god."
Josuke fell out of consciousness again. When he awoke, he was in the ambulance, strapped down and wearing an oxygen mask. There were lots of people, and he heard a paramedic yell, "Everyone, stay back, please, he's in critical condition, we have to get him to the hospital immediately!
Josuke wondered who they were talking about. Was someone hurt? He could just heal them with Crazy Diamond. He had to go find them, and make sure they were okay, if only he wasn’t so tired.
"Let me come," Josuke heard a deep voice yell, "I'm his father."
His father? No, that wasn't right. Josuke's father was nowhere near here. And he was old, his voice didn't sound so commanding. His father probably wouldn't want to come to the hospital with him anyway. His mom would be there, and it would be too awkward.
Josuke saw a flash of white climb in the ambulance beside him. Oh, it was just Jotaro. He supposed it was believable enough that he could be his father. He looked a lot like him. Just older and taller, he guessed. But why would he lie like that? He could've just ridden to the hospital in Rohan's car with the others, what was the rush?
"Jo...taro..." Josuke tried to speak, but he still couldn't quite form words.
"Sh, don't worry kid. I'm here." Jotaro tried to comfort him, "Just relax, it'll be fine."
Josuke relaxed and closed it eyes, and Jotaro put his hand on his forehead. Jotaro sure was a cool nephew. He was always looking out for him, and he was crazy strong, and always pretty nice to him.
Jotaro kept talking, "You're not gonna die. Jiji would kill me."
Die? Why would Jotaro say something like that? Josuke wasn't dying. He was pretty banged up, sure, but Josuke was pretty sure he would know if he was dying. He was fine. He was always fine.
He opened his mouth to tell Jotaro that, but all that came out was blood. And a lot of it. Josuke was confident that if there hadn't been so much blood in his mouth, he could've told Jotaro he was fine.
Josuke plunged out of consciousness again, as Jotaro yelled his name from inside the ambulance. The paramedics began scrambling around in a panic. Josuke heard a loud, continuous, beep from behind him. It was really annoying.
. . .
When he awoke again, he was still in the ambulance. He wasn't sure how much time had gone by, though. The paramedics were crowding him again, but it was easy to see Jotaro behind them, since he was so tall.
Jotaro seemed worried. Josuke thought this was super weird, because Jotaro was never worried about anything. But right now, he looked more worried than he did during their fight with Ratt. Josuke wondered what could be getting him so worked up. But, the more time passed, Jotaro's face was quickly becoming more relieved, so whatever was worrying him seems to have passed.
Josuke glanced down. Huh, Star Platinum was there too. Or, more specifically, Star Platinum's arms. That's weird, it was almost as if Star P's arms were reaching inside of him. Probably just his imagination, though. Josuke wondered why Jotaro had summoned Star P in the first place. Maybe there was danger? Josuke tried to summon Crazy Diamond, but he couldn't focus hard enough. Even just trying caused him to pass out again. Oh well, Josuke thought, Maybe I could use some rest. Josuke wasn't worried. Jotaro would protect him.