Chapter Text
Chapter 1: World of Stars
As the wind brushes through the vast deserted space on where Jotaro and Joseph took their last look of the Egyptian sunrise. Gazing up as the dawn fades away and ashes disappears to the running flow of wind. Though Joseph thought all of their friends were in great danger and had suffered severe injures, they were not in vain in the end. Ever since the beginning of the trip, their relationship together as a team grew stronger into becoming a family trying to rescue another family as well. It wasn't easy for Jotaro to have the thought of losing half of his friends, his emotions have changed throughout the trip and he's even more concerned than before. The journey has come to an end, they have defeated Dio and that will break the curse of the Joestar bloodline.
Jotaro tips his hat down as Joseph gave him a confused glance. "What's the matter?" He pats on the teen's shoulder.
They may have suffered fatal injuries and are taken in immediate medical care, but it was too much to think about it, Jotaro thought. For carrying such a big responsibility on saving his own mother also caused his friends get hurt. He was never thankful enough, if ever there was a god, he never thanked god himself to also spare all of his friends' lives.
"Give me a break." Jotaro pushed away his grandfather's hand and walks away to the Speedwagon Foundation van vehicle. Joseph without a doubt, felt guilt and pity for putting his own grandson in a life and death situation. He had fought Dio and put himself in risk for the sake of his mother and to avenge his friends. Joseph didn't want him to also have the same experience he had once, but yet because of the immortal enemy, Jotaro had been fighting him alone with nobody supporting him.
Joseph looked at him walking ahead, then shrugged his shoulders on the way. He then lets out a sigh and leads on to follow Jotaro as well heading to the hospital to where his other friends are being taken care of. It was a walking disaster. The tragedy was in great pits of horror, knowing that one of them could not make it even if they survived the attacks from Dio. It almost as if, Jotaro thought, they are not done fighting for their lives as well. As much as he is concerned, he has been thinking about his friend Kakyoin Noriaki who also suffered an intense fatal injury, far more dangerous to handle than the others.
He placed his palm on his head as it stung like a flow of electricity waved through his head. He couldn't help but worry, uncharacteristically. Joseph noticed these signs of Jotaro's discomfort ever since the defeat of Dio. In fact, he really was trying to retrieve the bodies of the others that time, feeling the great horror of losing his friend's lives. He was contacting the foundation alone, and he did it all alone. He thought to himself, Jotaro is also a kid who will most likely won't stop remembering this situation he had encountered.
Joseph gently placed his hand on the teen's shoulder and frowns. "Hey..about you rest your eyes for a while before we arrive?" he added more comfort.
Jotaro silently groans, didn't hesitate to deny, but started to lean against the window. "Yeah. I should take a nap." he made himself comfortable as he shuts his eyes closed.
As soon as they arrived on the hospital, Jotaro was woken up by faint noises, trying to escape from the darkness he is seeing. It was then followed by some force and movement on his arms. Joseph has been calling out to him. The other slowly makes his way out as his eyes were still narrowed from the early sunrise. Joseph stretched his way out, and takes a yawn. He then takes a gentle poke on his injuries. "That was quite a long drive."
Jotaro realizes that they had arrived. He ignored all the fuss around him and walks ahead, his hands on his pocket as he paused. "I'll be checking on Kakyoin." he announced to Joseph, not planning on hearing some responses from him and continues to walk with no other words to add. Joseph on the other hand, stood there silently and nodded, as he got distracted by the other people in the foundation. As for Jotaro, he immediately went to the counter to find the room of his friend. A friend so special, he had to see him.
He was welcomed with the scent of the hospital and cold air within the lobby. "His surgery was done just a few hours ago. He doesn't have a room yet, but you can visit him in the ER(emergency room). Please apply these inside for the safety of the patient" The nurse instructed and gave the teen a smile as she points out to where the room is being placed. He did what said and heads on to the hallway leading to the emergency room. He hesitates on opening the two door in front of him, standing steadily with his hand already reaching out, but was shaking. He doesn't want to waste so much time, he has to see him. He then pushes the door and was greeted by a surgeon and two more nurses who were guarding his friend.
"Glad to have you here, Mr. Kujo." The surgeons greets, as he steps forward and looks up to him. Jotaro's eyes are locked to the curtains, not even wanting to look at the surgeon's face to know the situation.
"How is he" Jotaro manages to question, the surgeon was about to inform him but rather answers his question.
He glanced at the curtain and back to the teen. "For now, his situation should be fine. We were able to immediately find a perfect donor for the rest of his organs that were completely fractured. However, we are still in the process on giving Mr. Kakyoin an artificial disc for his lower spine." the surgeon informs
"This was by far the toughest operation we had. It's a miracle that we had a faint pulse" the surgeon added.
Jotaro glanced back and was looking even more concerned. "When will he wake up?" he asked.
The nurses turn their faces away, as the surgeon looks down. "I'm afraid we will have to depend on him for now on. In this moment, it is up to him to decide when to wake up." silence broke in, except for the monitors.
Jotaro nodded without a response, "Thank you." he then wore the requirements he needed to enter further to where his friend is being placed. The surgeon and nurses took their leave and gave them privacy in the room. He has to approach him, by each step he remembers every image of Kakyoin. Just behind the curtain is the one he wants to spend most of his life with. He then slowly moved the curtains and there he lays down on a flat bed surface, with plain white blanket to at least be given warmth. The oxygen mask makes small fogs from the faint breaths he takes. He takes a chair and sits down as he rest his arms on his legs with his finger locked.
The monitor beeping
The faint heart beat
The sound of faint breathing
The tangled wires surrounding him
Jotaro didn't hesitate to hold Kakyoin's hand. For once, it felt cold and unresponsive. The hand he once held to take a walk, to see the stars, and to take warmth was giving no response at all. He added a small movement to try to wake him up.
No response
It was said he hasn't woken up yet since and must be waking up tomorrow, he assumed. "Kakyoin.." he uttered. He then gently shakes Kakyoin's hand once again with a little bit of force.
"Hey..wake up" his voice began shaking.
No response
As expected. He is still fighting for his life supported with these tangled wires. He knew this image of him will probably be stuck with him as long as he could live. He immediately remembers the times they had. They both once had. Under the Egyptian night skies with the road of not knowing where to go. The endless sand and rocks on their way. It was the sight they will mostly see throughout Egypt. The crusaders have decided to take a night rest once they first stepped foot on the country as they had been through sleepless nights already.
The crickets make their way to sound as the night began to grow quiet. Jotaro sighs, taking his last cigarette and throws it away. He then rest his back against the giant rock behind him and gazed up to watch the world of stars. Footsteps then began getting closer, he didn't bother to even look on who's coming.
"Care for some coffee, Jojo?" Kakyoin is holding two mugs of hot coffee, and offers one to Jotaro.
Jotaro takes the offer and hides himself under his collar "Don't call me that."
Kakyoin lets out a small giggle "But the people in our school calls you that, especially the girls you always had around" he takes the initiative to sit beside the other student the same as his.
The other takes a sip of the coffee. "They are all annoying anyways."
Kakyoin looks at the sky as he hums. "Well that's Jotaro for you" he then takes a drink.
It was just silence, except for the crickets that make their tiny faint sounds. For both of them, they just silently stare the the night sky, taking the advantage to appreciate the whole galaxy from where they are seated currently. A loud snore, probably coming from Joseph disturbed their moment as the two youngsters giggled on how random it suddenly came in.
"That jiji..good grief." Jotaro holds his chuckle.
The red haired on the other hand, laughs silently but would most likely to burst it out covered his mouth with his palm. "You'll snore like him too once you grow old." He chuckles.
The other narrowed his eyes and gave an upsetting look "I don't even snore like a fat pig." He then crossed his arms and leans his head on the rock, as for Kakyoin still continues to hold his laughter. Then silence came again. A sudden thought of Kakyoin came to mind, he never had conversations like these before. In fact, he really never had conversations with anyone like these. It was something he would treasure and keep it as a golden memory of his life.
"Say, Jotaro.." Kakyoin speaks up and paused. Jotaro didn't glance, but stayed focused above
"What do you think your future would be?" he asks.
Jotaro was left confused, on how personal he suddenly changed. He thought it would be somehow nice to at least spend a life with his friends until they turn old. He then shrugs his shoulders and sighs. "I took an interest..in marine life." He responds.
Kakyoin never would've thought that Jotaro would think of it as his future occupation, and was shocked to hear that. "Woah! That's amazing, Jotaro!" he sits up straight and looks at him with surprise.
Jotaro takes notice of what he said. "I haven't told anyone about this yet." he looks down, making Kakyoin have a small frown. He was always seen as an intimidating delinquent who would do rough jobs in the future. Considering for his bright mind too, he was also viewed as someone successful because of his good markings in his classes. As so he thought, no one would believe his ambitions in life.
"I can imagine you" Kakyoin smiles at the sky.
The other looks up and turns his face to Kakyoin. He was wrong about him. "How can you tell?" He asked.
Kakyoin then turns to meet him as well, shutting his eyes and shrugs "Well, I saw you reading magazines about the ocean," He responds. He then slowly opens his eyes to meet this aquatic shade. "Your eyes tells me that. It's like the ocean," his voice becomes soothing, adding with a smile makes it more angelic.
"And I believe in that." He added.
Jotaro couldn't help but be flustered about it. He turns away and tips his hat down, he never would have thought he'd say that, considering all the assumptions he came up for his self. It was flattering to hear, especially for someone like Kakyoin.
Kakyoin looks over, trying to see Jotaro's face. "Huh? are you okay? you're red all of a sudden. Are you feeling cold? I guess the coffee is not that warm, huh.." He frowns, reaching over to check both of their mugs.
Jotaro takes a small glance and relaxed soon after. "Good grief.." He sighs and grabs the mug from Kakyoin.
"Your eyes too, blended to the world above" He added.
The red haired paused and looks at Jotaro, taking a drink of the mug, looking confused and speechless. He takes a look at the sky and shows the billions of stars that surrounds the dark. It was all in different shades of dark. The milky way was the top hit of the most beautiful thing they saw that night. Kakyoin was puzzling it up and takes it as a friendly manner.
The galaxy
It honestly felt different than a friendly manner. his cheeks turns into a shade of pink, feeling this fast heartbeat in his chest. He felt sudden butterflies in his stomach, and curved his index finger in front of his mouth as he looks down. "That was.." he paused.
"Hm?" Jotaro turns to Kakyoin, waiting for him to finish his statement.
"Thank you. That was very nice of you, Jotaro." He didn't dare to face Jotaro, he couldn't bear seeing him like this.
Could it be, this feeling of wanting to protect someone, turns into wanting to stay with them forever. He thought.
Few minutes have passed by, it was getting late and they have to wake up early for tomorrow, in continuation of their trip to Cairo. Kakyoin relaxed his back against the rock. "Did you know, majority of the life here on Earth is in the ocean," his voice became soothing and quiet, taking the advantage to be as silent as possible for the others to rest.
Of course, Jotaro knew this already. He read these facts from books and magazines, which made him have an interest in marine life. Kakyoin began talking about ocean facts and even the creatures that exists in the ocean. He was talkative over the night, and Jotaro was there to listen, he couldn't help but smile throughout. It was relaxing and peaceful. It was as if the world of ocean and space collided together, as two of these world have yet to discover and nobody knows what lies beyond them. They would both take turns in sharing some trivia about anything they have known about sea creatures.
The night grows colder, Kakyoin already had brought a blanket with him to have extra cover, but his eyes were feeling a bit heavy as his head starts to surrender and leans on Jotaro's shoulder.
"The octopus..has three hearts...two..." Kakyoin was still talking in his sleep, but he was out of the world. Silence then came in him. Jotaro looks down and forms into a shade of pink on his face just to how peaceful Kakyoin looks. He moves in closer and grabs the blanket that he have left beside the red haired scattered on the ground. He then tucks the blanket for both of them, as Kakyoin nuzzles in closer taking the advantage to get warmth. His hair smelled nice and felt soft.
"Two works and pumps blood for their gills. While the other work for the rest of their body." Jotaro continues, in a whispered toned voice.
"Whatever creature it may be, only one stands out of the rest. As hearts should be." he added.
Kakyoin was quite awake, he heard those words and forms a smile on his face. The two of them ended their night together in warmth and peace.