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Jotaro got Kakyoin's message. He understood his supposed last Emerald Splash. And with that, he defeated Dio once and for all.
He sees Kakyoin rushed to the hospital by the Speedwagon foundation. His skin was deadly pale. The normally bright lavender eyes were dark, lifeless. His heart broke into a million pieces, said fragments piercing him back all the same.
Jotaro ran after the ambulance.
-
Kakyoin was operated on. The big hole right in the middle of his torso hit many vital organs. Even Jotaro could tell with a simple glance. His hands shook as he waited in Kakyoin's hospital room, sweat dripping down his chin, lips quivering.
He was normally very composed. Almost no one ever saw him like this.
Jotaro's waiting for his friend to finally put a hand on his shoulder and whisper into his ear; it's okay, JoJo. I'm here. I'm fine.
He swatted away the annoying nurses who tried to tend to his wounds, muttering I'm fine. I'm not that badly hurt. Fuck off. over and over again. He doesn't care what happens to him, he needs to know if Kakyoin is okay.
At one point, Polnareff and Joseph forced him to sleep. He sure as hell needed it.
-
Jotaro wakes up to the sound of steady beeping. The sound of the heart monitor is pissing him off. No one is inside his room, so he gets up and leaves. Of course he had to take his hat along with him.
His feet guide him like instinct; and before he knows it, he’s standing in front of the room Kakyoin was operated on. Reality hits him and he panics once more, searching for a doctor or a nurse. He desperately needed to know if his friend was alive, or he might actually go insane.
He grabs a nurse and shook him a bit. “Kakyoin Noriaki. Where is he?” Jotaro hurriedly asks, and the man leads him to a room down the hallway. He grabs the door handle and slams it open, eyes widening at the boy on the bed.
Kakyoin.
His eyes were closed, the colour hasn’t come back to his face, but the beeping monitor indicates that he’s alive. Jotaro shakily reaches for his hand, gripping it tightly. “Nori,” he softly calls out. There’s no answer.
“Noriaki.” he tries again, softly rubbing the top of the other’s hand. Jotaro wants to see his violet eyes again; to hear his voice ramble on about something nerdy. He wants to see his face light up at the mention of cherries, his nose scrunching up before he laughs from being tickled.
Jotaro’s crying.
Tears cloud his vision as they drip onto the pristine white sheets of the hospital bed, wetting them just slightly. He wanted to say so much, yet all that comes out is the other teen’s name, over and over, softer and softer.
“JoJo?” a tiny voice speaks. Jotaro immediately looks up, and the tears just flow down even more. “Nori,” he sobs, hands reaching to embrace his friend, hands trembling more than ever. His tough demeanor crumbled away to tiny bits and pieces. Kakyoin hugged back as best as he could, with all the tubes connected to his body.
“I’m okay, JoJo..” he reassures the crying teen, a weak smile managing to creep up his face. Tears run down his pale face too.
Kakyoin’s alive and well.
-
“JoJo, have you ever been to a festival?” Kakyoin pipes up, smiling at the other teen stealing one of the cherries off his small pile. Jotaro eats the fruit and nods his head. “Jiji always complained about wanting to go every time he’s here.” a short pause, “I like seeing the koi too.” He looks up at Kakyoin, who was still smiling. He can feel his cheeks warm up.
“You’ve always loved anything tied to marine life. It’s quite endearing.” he eats a cherry before speaking again. “I haven’t, actually. I was thinking if we could go together.” Kakyoin’s cheeks are tinged pink. “I’ve only seen fireworks from my room. I would like to see them upfront for the first time...with you.” Jotaro’s blushing even harder. Damn Kakyoin and his sophisticated, charming wording. He’s never nodded so quickly before.
“Of course. Haven’t been to one in a while anyway.” Jotaro hid his red face behind his hat. Kakyoin lights up like a lightbulb, grinning wider. “Thank you, JoJo.” Excitement radiates off of his entire being. “When are we going?”
-
After a long discussion about dates, then a small bicker about Kakyoin able to just use crutches and Jotaro insisting on a wheelchair, they decided everything. Holly even bought them yukatas that compliment their eye and hair colours. Jotaro felt like she was more excited than them.
And the day finally came. Jotaro took off his hat, smoothing back the messed up dark hair. Kakyoin smiles at him from the couch. “You look nice. Take it off more often, JoJo.” He shrugs and helped the red haired teen onto the wheelchair, with a few more soft complaints about how he can walk already.
Then they set out, waving bye to Holly and Sadao. Kakyoin softly smiles as Jotaro helps to push his wheelchair along the road, slowly approaching the small festival spot.
It was lively, children and adults alike laughing and just enjoying their time. Kakyoin visibly lights up, lavender eyes sparkling brightly along with a smile creeping up his face.
And they have fun, waiting for the fireworks to start. Praying for good luck this year, reading their fortunes (and Jotaro cursing out a piece of paper saying he’ll never find love,) and getting candied apples. It felt like a nice little date- though the both of them would deny it when asked.
One of the men patrolling around told them that the fireworks were starting soon, and Jotaro helped Kakyoin find a perfect spot to watch the show. They eventually settled on a secluded spot next to an abandoned train station.
A few people chose that spot as well- a gay couple and a small group of girls. Jotaro leans against the railing, visibly a bit tired from pushing Kakyoin around in that wheelchair. “And you said you’re the strongest man alive, JoJo!” the teen jokes, nudging the other as he sighed. “This is nothing, if it meant you being comfortable.”
Kakyoin gave a gentle smile.
“Really, now? Flirting will get you nowhere.” he teases, reaching to hold Jotaro’s hand, tangling their fingers together. Jotaro squeezed his hand, face flushed a soft pink. Kakyoin was satisfied with his reaction, a wide grin slowly making its way upon his face.
Jotaro turns to see him smiling off to the distance, cheeks tinted pink and a satisfied look on his face. ‘Pretty,’ he thought, reaching to softly play with his hair.
The intimate moment is interrupted with Kakyoin abruptly saying; “JoJo, the fireworks are about to start.”
“Nori.”
Kakyoin turns to him, smiling. “What, JoJo?”
The taller teen leans in, their lips not even an inch apart.
“I love you.”
They give each other honey-sweet smiles, and shared a tender kiss as the fireworks exploded in the sky.