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If Kakyoin had any strength left in his body, he would be fighting tooth and nail against his captors right now. He’d have Hierophant by his side, knocking them to their feet with a barrage of emeralds. He’d get up on his feet and start running, far away from this place, from this horrid mansion.
But there was nothing left in his body to keep him standing. Instead, he was being carried in the arms of Dio’s servants through dark and dingy hallways, feeling so painfully helpless. He wanted to fight back, but every nerve in his body screamed in pain, and Hierophant was nowhere to be found. Someone had taken Hierophant. Someone had taken his only friend from him and left him wracked with horrible aching pain. He couldn’t even walk on his own two feet anymore, and he hated it.
A pair of doors swung open, and Kakyoin immediately knew where they were. Dio’s throne room. He’d had the pleasure of staying far away from that monster in whatever decrypt dungeon he was being held captive in. But he knew he couldn’t be that lucky forever. He closed his eyes, not wanting to even look in his direction.
“Leave him right here.” Dio instructed. The servants lowered Kakyoin to the floor, resting him on his knees in front of the throne, and he winced in pain. He swayed for a moment, but forced himself to remain upright. He wouldn’t bow. He’d keep whatever dignity he could.
“Oh don’t be like that, dear Kakyoin.” Dio’s fingers gently grasped his chin, lifting it upwards. “Come now, let me see those beautiful eyes of yours.”
But Kakyoin refused. He tried to break free from Dio’s clutches, but his grip was far too strong.
“Don’t be so stubborn.” Dio murmured. “You know full well that I can easily tear those eyelids of yours clean off if you keep disobeying me.”
The thought of anymore pain befalling him was too much to bear, and Kakyoin reluctantly opened his eyes, gazing up at Dio’s vile smirk.
“There we are. That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Dio brushed his fingers over Kakyoin’s cheek. Kakyoin flinched. They were cold. So, so cold…
“I understand your fears, I really do.” Dio continued. “You remember what happened to you, yes? You remember what you’ve done.”
He did. He betrayed Dio, willingly. He sought to take his life, and perhaps he could have succeeded, had he known the power of The World before their battle.
“You spat in the face of our friendship, dear Kakyoin. You betrayed me, and that’s something I don’t take lightly.” There was a pause, and Dio’s smirk grew wider. He curled his fingers around the loose strand of Kakyoin’s hair. “So why then, have I decided to spare you?”
To laugh at him, surely. Why else would he pull a traitor from the brink of death and let him live in pain and misery, if not to watch him suffer? It was the only reason Kakyoin could think of.
“It’s because I believe you can change.” Dio answered. “Those Joestars misguided you. They corrupted you and turned you against me. But now,” he chuckled darkly, “now they’re gone, forever. They’ll never try to trick you again, dear, and you can stay here with me. All you have to do is say the words,” his fingers trailed over Kakyoin’s lips, “and all of this will be forgotten. You want that, don’t you?”
He did. He missed Hierophant. He missed his friends. He wanted someone to want for him like they had. But now he had no one. He was alone. Alone and weak at the feet of his sworn enemy. An enemy he’d once loved. An enemy who was granting him exactly what he wanted.
No… He couldn’t give in.
Dio’s hand guided his head forward, resting it at his knee. He stroked his fingers through his hair. “I know you do. So just say the words. Say them for me.”
This was just like when they first met. This was exactly what he’d said. He’d promised friendship. He’d promised freedom from his loneliness. He’d wanted it then, and he still wanted it now…
But he couldn’t give in.
“Say them, Kakyoin.”
“I…”
“Yes, just like that. Say it-”
“I don’t...apologize...for anything.”
Dio stopped stroking his hair. “What was that?” His voice was cold.
Kakyoin reached up with both arms, shaking and heavy as they were, and gripped the armrests of Dio’s throne with as much might as he possibly could. He pushed himself upward with all the force he could muster, shaking and falling back down at first, but slowly rising up again. His throat was hoarse and his lungs ached, but he pushed the words out anyways. “I’ll...never...apologize.”
One foot planted itself in the ground, then another. His legs were shaking terribly, but he held himself up with everything he had. “I don’t regret...anything I’ve done.” He spat. “I’m not a...scared kid...anymore.”
Dio narrowed his eyes, but said nothing.
Kakyoin continued. “I don’t care what...you do to me...after this. Kill me...if you have to.” His grip was slipping, his strength seeping fast, but he couldn’t give up now. “I don’t...belong to you...anymore. I’d sooner die...than continue to...kneel before you.”
“Really now?” Dio’s voice was cold. The facade of kindness was gone now. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
With one swift kick in his legs, Kakyoin was sent tumbling face down onto the floor. He trembled, trying to pull himself up, but all his strength had been used to keep himself standing. Now he was barely able to push himself up with his hands for a few moments, before collapsing again.
“You won’t kneel before me, will you? I don’t see how you can manage that if you can’t even stand.” Dio rose from his throne, bending down before him. He grabbed Kakyoin’s head by his long red locks, digging deep into his scalp, dragging him up to face him. “Try as you might, you’ll never be strong. Not on your own.”
Kakyoin grimaced. He could taste blood. But he glared back as forcefully as he could. “I’d rather you...call me weak, than...be your servant...any longer.”
Dio scoffed. “How unfortunate.” He slammed Kakyoin’s head back onto the stony ground, making his vision spin. “I’d hoped you’d be more willing to submit, but I was wrong. You’re useless to me now.”
Kakyoin could hardly see anything, but he could hear footsteps slowly walking away, a door creaking open. “You said you’d rather die than join me? Very well then. I’ll see you make good on that promise.” The door slammed shut.
He was alone now, he knew. It wasn’t the first time he’d been on his own, left to rot. Back then, he’d had Hierophant. But now Hierophant was gone. He was alone.
But he’d stood against Dio. He’d won, and that was all that mattered to him, as the pain overtook him, as darkness overwhelmed him, as light drew nearer…
He had won.