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I
The thing was ugly, a bud of mutilated flesh with tentacles that made no haste in crawling its way into Jotaro’s hand.
The boy held a smaller redhead’s face on either side with his rough, calloused hands, Kakyoin staying so still he almost looked like a statue. The tentacle continued its way through Jotaro’s arm into his face.
With a swift yet precise motion, the bud was pulled, tied and killed with the help of Jotaro’s stand and his grandpa’s Hamon. Jotaro removed his hands from the boy’s face, and stood up to the side of his body.
The redhead looked at the trickling pile of dust that was once the bud stuck inside his brain with a grimace. The fog in Kakyoin’s brain was slowly disappearing, along with the constant anger that seemed to fill him ever since that night with DIO.
He sat up, feeling the wound from the teeth of the flesh bud. The more he came to, the more confused he got. Kakyoin could vaguely remember fighting the guy who just kneeled over top of him, fighting somewhat against the control of the bud in hopes of freeing himself.
He glanced up at the teen in black, and Jotaro turned around to look back. Kakyoin was pretty confused as to why Jotaro had gone to such lengths for someone like him, who had just attacked him out of nowhere. The flesh bud was seconds away from entering his brain, and yet he continued on.
“Why’d you risk your life to save me?”
Jotaro paused, maintaining eye contact with Kakyoin, before turning back towards the door once more.
“Who knows? I’m not really sure myself.”
Kakyoin supposed that was a fair answer.
Holly came in not soon after, and cleaned and dressed Kakyoin’s wounds from both the fight and the removal of the dreaded flesh bud.
Surrounded by people he barely knew, who had gone to many lengths to save him, a mere stranger, Kakyoin decided he should pay the favour back.
Morning came, and with Holly being sick from her stand, it wasn’t hard to find a way to help out.
Plus there was something in it for him too. He had a bone to pick with a certain vampire.
II
The entire group was exhausted after fighting not one but two stands in the span of time they were out on sea, making quick work of getting hotel rooms for the night.
Kakyoin made some comment about Jotaro and him rooming together because they were students or whatever, and honestly Jotaro preferred it that way.
He’d finally get away from his Old Man’s awful snoring.
A call from Polnareff, a meeting and a one man stand fight later, Kakyoin and Jotaro finally went into their rooms to stay for the rest of the night.
After a lengthy routine from Kakyoin and a quick rushed one from Jotaro, the boys went into bed. Jotaro immediately fell asleep, and Kakyoin sayed up for a bit longer to read.
Eventually he shut off the lamp and fell asleep too.
Jotaro was woken up some hours later to the sound of the bathroom fan flicking on with some haphazard steps being taken before the door was clumsily shut. A quick glance towards Kakyoin’s bed told him that it was in fact the redhead in the bathroom.
Jotaro rolled his eyes. You think he could be a bit quieter than that.
He pulled the covers back up over the top half of his body and tried to hang on to the remnants of slumber before he woke up completely in the dead of the night.
Kakyoin sat leaning against the wall, across from the toilet. The cool tile felt nice against his clammy skin, and helped ground him a bit.
He could still feel the phantom breath of DIO, his nightmare bringing back the painful memory of that night in Egypt. The thought of the vampire’s grip on his shoulder made him nauseous once again, and he leaned back over the toilet to dry heave some more.
The floating feeling would not go away, and he figured it wouldn’t be such a good idea to try and stand right now.
He could vaguely register tear tracks on his face, although he didn’t remember exactly when he’d started crying. Maybe he already was before he even woke up.
Twenty minutes had passed by now, and the bathroom light was still on, door shut. Jotaro figured something must be wrong now, and dread crawled up his throat.
He really didn’t want to have to deal with the idea of a stand attacking Kakyoin right now.
Jotaro pulled the comforter off of his body and walked over to the bathroom. He paused, turning his head and leaning towards the door to try and listen for any sounds of struggle or fight. Honestly, Kakyoin could definitely handle himself but he’d check just in case.
When no noise came through, Jotaro turned to go back to bed but stopped almost immediately. Just as he had started to walk back to his bed, a shaky breath combined with what sounded like coughing came from the other side of the door.
“Kakyoin?”
Jotaro’s voice was rough with sleep, and cut through the silence of the night. A shuffle was heard from inside the bathroom, and the door was opened by Hierophant Green. Jotaro glanced down to see Kakyoin sitting with his head in his hands, slightly shaking.
“...Kakyoin?”
Kakyoin pulled his head out of his hands now, looking up at Jotaro with red eyes. The black haired boy looked so uncomfortable, obviously not used to seeing Kakyoin in such a vulnerable state.
The awkward pause stretched on, Jotaro not knowing what to say to the obviously distressed boy below him, and Kakyoin started to wonder if the ground would be able to swallow him up right now so he could never be seen again.
“Do you need the toilet?”
Jotaro stared.
Kakyoin moved to get up, “Sorry you were probably waiting for awhile-”
Jotaro finally stepped forward into the bathroom towards Kakyoin, sinking down beside the redhead and putting a hand on Kakyoin’s shoulder, pushing him back to lean against the wall again.
“I was just checking if you’re okay, I don’t need the toilet.”
“Oh.”
Jotaro sighed, at a loss on how to go about this. Kakyoin is obviously a very private person, and probably feels pretty awkward being in such a vulnerable state when he’d never really let his guard down in front of anyone in the group.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Kakyoin gave a noncommittal shrug picking at the sleeve of his pajamas. Did he want to talk about how his nightmare was actually more of an extremely vivid memory of terror and fear and that stupid vampire breathing down his neck that he’d rather just forget and go back to bed? No, not really.
“You don’t have to Kakyoin, but if you need to, you can.”
Jotaro’s hand still hadn’t left Kakyoin’s shoulder, and the weight of it helped ground the redhead. Jotaro somewhat awkwardly kept his hand there, rubbing his thumb up and down in a soothing motion.
“I just had a nightmare. About DIO.” Kakyoin swallowed as some of the dream came back, “I’m- I’m fine, it was just pretty vivid.”
Jotaro hummed, and gave Kakyoin’s shoulder a squeeze when the boy seemed to zone out a bit, no doubt being sucked back into the uncomfortable dream.
“He’s not here you know. He can’t hurt you anymore. I- I won’t let him hurt you.”
Kakyoin looked up from the floor and towards Jotaro, who’s face had turned downwards in a frown. He gave a weak smile, grateful for the boy across from him.
“I know.”
Eventually Kakyoin and Jotaro returned to their separate beds after about another hour of talking and laughing, and both boys went back to sleep without any further trouble.
Anytime after, when Kakyoin would wake up from the depths of his nightmares, Jotaro was always there with a hand on his shoulder.
III
The state of affairs that was the aftermath of the fight against J. Geil was a disaster. From the apparent death of Avdol, to the exhausting chase that followed, Kakyoin was quite frankly, done.
The fights against DIO’s minions up until now have been challenging sure, but this was an entirely new thing. The Hanged Man was not to be underestimated, and it proved that today.
Now, as Hol Horse stood in front of them, blabbing his mouth off, Kakyoin was about 5 seconds away from strangling the man with his bare hands. Him and Hierophant were stretched thin, from making sure Jotaro and Joseph knew where to find Avdol’s body, to everything that happened in the car crash, and the defeat of J. Geil. A pounding headache made his injuries feel that much worse, making his vision slightly wonky.
“There’s no way you could’ve beaten him!”
No way my ass.
“That piece of shit’s body is about two or three thousand meters that way. Want to take a look?”
Hol Horse paused for a second, before taking off down the road. Polnareff cried out, and started to chase after the man. Kakyoin inwardly sighed, following quickly after and pointely ignoring the shooting pain in his head after each step he took.
If he would just give up already...
Hol Horse went to turn into an alleyway, but was stopped when an arm shot out and delivered a shift punch to his jaw. The familiar black jacket made Kakyoin sigh in relief, thankful that it wasn’t another enemy stand user and that this whole day could come to an end.
The group began to discuss Avdol’s funeral, and Kakyoin schooled his face. It wasn’t really fair to Polnareff, but they couldn’t announce his survival right in front of the Hol Horse, or in the middle of the street where anyone could be eavesdropping.
As the discussion heated up over the decision on what to do about Hol Horse, Jotaro glanced over to Kakyoin. He knew the redhead must be tired, having to stretch Hierophant so far to reach him and the Old Man, plus the amount of blood on him proved that the fight against the Hanged Man was definitely a challenge for the two crusaders.
Kakyoin’s gaze was fixed on Hol Horse, but something was off. Jotaro frowned, noticing the way the boy’s eyes seemed to not really be focused on the asshole on the ground, instead like he was somewhere far away from here.
Kakyoin was trying to figure out why his vision was suddenly starting to go spotty. He shook his head a little, and his headache pounded back, making the redhead stumble backwards just a bit.
Kakyoin felt an unmistakable pair of eyes on him, and shifted his gaze to meet eyes of ocean blue. Jotaro’s face was pulled down in a concerned frown, roaming Kakyoin’s face.
Kakyoin’s breath seemed to stop short now, and the spots in the corners of his eyes weren’t disappearing. Kakyoin mumbled some half assed excuse and turned around, sort of half walking half stumbling away from the group and into an unoccupied alleyway.
He leaned against the brick wall, breath coming in short gasps. He felt so dizzy, like the world was going to collapse around him, like everything was going wrong. Kakyoin’s gut turned, nausea crawling up his throat.
Panic had a vice like grip on his chest, like it was squeezing out all the air in his lungs and he could barely breathe. Hierophant had come out now, wrapping itself protectively around Kakyoin, just like it used to when he was a kid.
Kakyoin vaguely registered someone entering the alleyway and coming closer to him. A familiar voice was heard through the cloudiness of his mind, and he felt himself being guided down to the dirt, sitting against the brick wall.
Jotaro was kneeling right in front of Kakyoin, meeting his eyes, although the boy across from him was in a much different place than he was.
“Kakyoin. Hey. Look at me.”
Kakyoin let out a sharp inhale, and an involuntary whine of panic followed as the redhead shook against the wall.
“Nori, you gotta breathe.”
Kakyoin gave a shake of his head, hands held tightly against his side. Jotaro, in a moment of resolution, gently grasped one of Kakyoin’s hands, pausing as the boy flinched from the touch. He brought Kakyoin’s hand up from his side, shifting to move closer to Kakyoin.
Taking Kakyoin’s hand in both of his now, he unfurled the tight fist and placed the hand in the centre of his chest.
“Breathe with me, okay?”
Back when he was little, he remembered the times when the bullying was bad enough that he’d come home from school and would end up much like Kakyoin is now. Holly would kneel down and take his little hand in both of hers, placing on her chest. “Breathe with me sweetie, you can do it.”
Kakyoin sucked in a choked breath with his eyes squeezed shut, fingers tightening around Jotaro’s shirt. Jotaro let his controlled breath out, and Kakyoin tried to follow suit. His lungs seized from the attempt to let in a full breath, and Kakyoin coughed.
“That’s okay, you’re good.”
“It feels like I’m dying.” Kakyoin wheezed, and Jotaro let out a soft huff of a laugh.
“Yeah, but I promise you’re not.”
Kakyoin’s face was still twisted in a grimace, but this time his breath was a little bit more controlled. Slowly but surely, the two sat there in the shade of the alleyway as Kakyoin’s breath returned to normal.
Kakyoin’s vice-like grip on Jotaro’s shirt loosened, and the boy unintentionally slumped forward against Jotaro’s chest. Jotaro stiffened against the touch.
“Sorry, ‘m just tired.” Kakyoin gave a little laugh.
Jotaro just shook his head, a slight smile forming on his lips. He relaxed, slumping down to sit beside the redhead.
Kakyoin moved so that he was leaning against Jotaro’s side, his head tucked against the taller boy’s neck. He was still shaking a bit, and Jotaro wrapped his arm around the redhead, pulling him closer protectively.
They sat there for a bit, Kakyoin slumped into the taller boy’s side, hands threaded into Jotaro’s jacket. Eventually though, they’d have to get up and return to the group, in fact they were probably going to start searching for the duo.
With a sigh, Kakyoin reluctantly pulled away from Jotaro’s arms, flashing a little smile. “We should probably go back to the group now.”
Jotaro gave a nod of acknowledgement, and started to get up. He dusted off his pants and held his hand out to Kakyoin.
Kakyoin smiled a bit wider and grabbed hold of Jotaro’s hand. It was warm, and solid. He was pulled up, and used his unoccupied hand to dust off his pants too.
The two boys walked out of the alleyway, and found the group exactly where they left them. Joseph spotted them first and waved them over, concern across his face.
“Mon amis! Did you get attacked or something?”
Kakyoin’s lips quirked upwards a bit when Jotaro muttered under his breath in complaint about the exuberance of their friend. “No Polnareff, we’re fine, I just...thought I saw something, so I went to check it out and Jotaro came to help.”
Polnareff put his hand on the redhead’s shoulder and smiled. “Well I’m glad you're okay.”
Avdol piped in, “You didn’t find anything though?”
Jotaro shook his head at the same time Kakyoin answered with a simple “Nope.”
“Well if that’s the case, let’s get going. We’ve been here making chaos long enough.” Joseph turned to walk down the street.
“Funny coming from you, Jiji.”
Kakyoin laughed, a clear and beautiful sound, and Jotaro made a mental note to do anything he could to make him laugh like that again.
The rest of the group followed after Joseph, and if anyone noticed Kakyoin’s hand still clasped in Jotaro’s, they didn’t point it out.
IV
The desert was a fickle, despairing place. The irony of fighting a water stand in the sandy blaring heat was not lost on Kakyoin, and if the situation wasn’t so dire he would’ve laughed.
Polnareff was crouched on the ground beside him, protesting Kakyoin’s idea to slice up the canteen, the blood inside pouring out, staining the stand below it a muddy red.
“No means no.”
Polnareff turned towards Kakyoin, whining. “Well, I already told you, I’m not going to do it either!”
Just then, both parties turned to look at the water pulling up and out of the sand, a hand forming out of the water.
Kakyoin gasped, “That’s the…”
The hand reached out, two claw-like fingers slashing Kakyoin’s eyes, and pain followed after. Red flooded his vision, and he fell back into the sand.
Polnareff called out his name, rushing over to lay right beside Kakyoin, placing a hand on the younger boy's chest in worry. Blood poured freely out the wounds, streaming down his cheeks and into his bright red hair, painting it a deep crimson.
Jotaro stiffened in alarm, seeing his friend fall back against the sand, limp. Panic clutched at his heart, and he almost didn’t hear Avdol and Joseph talking beside him. The stand was the water, that much was clear now, at least.
The stand was about to leave Polnareff with the same fate as Kakyoin, who now resided in the Frenchman’s arms, but the beep of a watch pulled the attention of the stand away from Polnareff, and it jumped over to cut off the hand with a golden watch around it.
So sound is what it follows.
Avdol called out to Polnareff across the dunes, “Sound, it attacks its enemies by sound!”
Polnareff cocked his head, “Sound?”
Then, he turned towards the boy in his arms, alarm filling his features. Jotaro’s chest seized once again.
The blood that had been pouring steadily out of Kakyoin’s eyes was collecting in a puddle on the sand, the sound of drips filling the still air. The hand of water turned abruptly, shooting towards Polnareff.
“Shit! Polnareff! It’s coming for you this time!”
Polnareff scooped Kakyoin’s body into his arms, swiftly standing up and beginning to run towards the others. Kakyoin’s head lolled to the side, and his arm hung loosely towards the ground.
The sight made Jotaro sick.
The stand just missed Polnareff, and began chasing him in earnest, the sound of his feet against the sand giving away his location.
“Get to the car!!” Joseph was frantically pointing at the car, everyone standing at the ready now. Jotaro scrambled onto the car, and Avdol and Joseph followed after him. Polnareff was screaming about the stand shooting through the sands, panting but never slowing down.
He just about reached the car when the hand formed into a spike and slashed across the back of Polnareff’s calf, and he cried out in pain.
Joseph brought forth his stand and grabbed the two men straight out of the air, pulling them towards the car. Kakyoin landed safely into Avdol’s arms, and was laid out on the hood of the car. Polnareff landed stomach first into Jotaro’s waiting arms, and Jotaro helped him sit down.
A discussion broke out, and Jotaro looked around, trying his hardest not to look at Kakyoin. If he had to see him like that one more time, he might not be able to keep a level head.
Polnareff lifted himself up and limped over to the opposite side of the car where Kakyoin laid. He crouched down beside the boy, a scowl on his face. “How’s Kakyoin?”
Avdol shook his head, “It’s not good. He may have been blinded.”
Jotaro stiffened even more, dread filling his entire body. He crouched down beside Polnareff now too, biting the bullet and taking a good look at his best friend, his first friend. He prayed he wouldn’t freak out.
The blood was still pouring out of the twin wounds, albeit not as bad as before. The redhead’s features were strained, even unconscious. It didn’t fill Jotaro with much hope.
Blinded.
Kakyoin couldn’t- he can’t. He can’t be that hurt, he can’t be blind. While Jotaro is sure Kakyoin could make do just fine without his sight, he knows the boy would never live with himself if he couldn’t see this mission through to the very end.
As much as this was a journey to save his mom, this was revenge for Kakyoin too. He deserved to continue on. He deserved to see it through to the end.
He didn’t deserve this.
Jotaro couldn’t live with himself if that was the case.
Avdol, the ever sensible one of the group, snapped Jotaro out of his spiralling thoughts, and he turned to the man. “Let’s drive. We have to get him to a doctor immediately.”
“But if we drive, it’ll attack.” Joseph pulled a hand up to his chin, deep in thought.
Jotaro let out a puff of air, eyes flitting back to Kakyoin. Most of the blood had been wiped away or poured away from the wounds, and Jotaro could clearly see the deep, straight gashes cutting through his soft pale skin.
Suddenly, the car tilted, and began to sink into the sand. Joseph cried out, and everyone grabbed hold of the car. Avdol grabbed Kakyoin’s arm as the car kept turning.
“The tires are in the water! Shit! It’s no use. It’s pulling us in!” Jotaro’s clutch on the car tightened.
Kakyoin had now slipped farther into Avdol’s arm, being held around the shoulders.
“I can’t hold on much longer! Everyone move to the back!”
The group shuffled towards the back end of the car, scrambling for purchase on the set of tires in the air. They all took a look at Iggy, standing there in the sand. Jotaro is filled with anger now, at this puny dog who just stood there, as if they weren’t fighting for their lives as we speak.
Good fucking grief, what an annoying dog.
Polnareff was outraged, “Hey fleabag! You’re supposed to help us dammit! Help already! Hey!”
Iggy stayed unbothered however, now laying down peacefully in the grass. Polnareff’s fist shook with anger at the dog.
Suddenly, the water swam out and slashed the front tires clean off, and the car started to tip over. “Get back now!” Joseph screamed, and the car slammed on the ground. The impact caused the entire group to fly off of the car and into the sand.
The group stayed deathly still, and Avdol began to pull off his bracelets, tossing them one by one into the sand.
The stand formed by the final ring that was thrown a couple seconds later, and Avdol summoned Magician’s Red. The stand was clever however, and managed to catch Avdol by surprise, striking him in the neck. He fell back into the sand, blood pouring out of the wound.
Fuck.
Jotaro decided that was enough, the hastily formed plan in his mind would just have to do. He’s not having another friend get hurt.
He booked it across the sands towards Iggy, snatching the dog up and Iggy yelped in protest. He was pissed now, but at least he figured out why the stupid mutt was acting the way it was.
Jotaro pushed the dog against the sand, threatening the possibility of no gum, and of course, death by the stand lurking underneath the ground they stood on. Iggy froze, and suddenly a wall of sand swirled around Jotaro.
When it had cleared, Iggy was being held by his stand, up in the air. Jotaro growled and jumped up, catching his hand on the claw of Iggy’s stand. The weight of the teen slowed them down, pulling the duo towards the ground.
A few pushes from Star Platinum later, the stand user came into view. Jotaro shook with anger at his point. This was the man who hurt Kakyoin. Who may have blinded him. This was the shithead who could’ve killed the man he loved- his best friend.
He willed Star Platinum to snatch Iggy out of his stand’s claws, and chucked the dog across the desert sky.
After an almost crash between dog and opponent, the stand user scrambled to try and find Jotaro.
It was too late however, since the teen was right behind the user, and Star Platinum struck the man with a hard blow to the chest, blood spurting out of his mouth.
Good grief.
After a successful interrogation and a somewhat touching moment with Iggy later, a car came driving into view. Joseph was waving, and Jotaro shook his head, jogging over to the car.
With a nod of greeting to the conscious members of the car, Jotaro hopped into the back seat, right beside Kakyoin. The redhead’s eyes were now wrapped with a makeshift bandage, and he was still out of it.
The grimace of pain still riddled Kakyoin’s features, and Jotaro reached out to run his thumb over the crease in his brow. Kakyoin relaxed under the hold a little bit in his now-to-be slumber, breaths still agonizingly small.
All the anger in Jotaro’s body dissipated, replaced with concern. He guided Kakyoin’s body to lean against his own, practically placing the boy on top of him.
Screw what everyone else thinks.
Feeling the slow rise and fall of Kakyoin’s ribs against his front made the tension in Jotaro’s body flow down and out of him, like a cool stream of relief passing through his being.
He ran his fingers through Kakyoin’s hair, careful of the dried up blood on his head. His other hand wrapped shakily around the boy’s waist, securing him against Jotaro’s body.
The tightness of Kakyoin’s features were now almost non-existent, and Jotaro was exhausted. With the knowledge that they were safe, at least for now, and that Kakyoin was here, alive, in his arms, brought Jotaro the reassurance he needed to fall asleep.
The desert sun was cast over the two boys, as delicate as their sleeping forms.
V
Cold.
It seeped through his bones, a contrast from the thick, warm blood flowing out of his abdomen, mixing with the water around his body. The iceness of the water cut through his daze, and a gasp tore from his mouth.
The pain was so much it almost felt like nothing, and Kakyoin could only assume that was not good. He didn’t need to glance down to know the state of his stomach, focusing instead on the thoughts plaguing his mind.
It’s 5:15...that means it’s around midnight in Japan.
He hoped his parents were okay, his relationship with them was sometimes strained, the miles of unsaid things, hopes of them finally understanding he wasn’t crazy, that Hierophant was real, and right there, a giant chasm between son and parents. He still loved them, and would miss them just as much.
Wait. It’s 5:15.
That can’t be possible, he thinks, it was 5:15 when I let my emerald splash go against DIO. It can’t have been that fast.
He glances up to his stand’s fallen strings, coughing up blood. Now that he remembers, all of the green tendrils snapped at once, no time in between.
How on Earth is that possible? Unless…
No. There was no way that DIO’s stand could stop time, of all things. It was an inconceivable, laughable thing, and yet...
And yet.
He looked over to DIO now, still standing on the spike of a roof, illuminated by the glow of his fiery power around him. DIO was looking over at Joseph, and Kakyoin decided that his unbelievable hunch would just have to do.
With a burst of effort, he summoned Hierophant Green and produced an Emerald Splash, choking on blood from the strain of it. Tears formed in his eyes, as he shot towards the clock tower.
The last thing he heard before he blacked out was DIO’s laughter, and Joseph’s scream of his name.
Please understand, Mr. Joestar. It’s our last hope.
Jotaro glared at the man in front of him. DIO stood, ever so confident, annoyingly smug over his grandfather’s body. The smirk he gave made Jotaro want to walk right up to him and smack it off his face.
Which he supposed, he would.
“I’ve already taken care of Kakyoin.”
His heart stuttered. He supposed the first thing that should fill his body after hearing that would be sadness, or sorrow or panic, but pure, unbridled rage coursed through his veins instead. How dare he hurt Kakyoin.
His brows shook with his anger, and he continued to stare down the vampire across from him. What a despicable man.
“Polnareff must be hiding somewhere.” He gave a slight chuckle, “But it doesn’t matter.”
Now, DIO looked at him with fire in his eyes, and pointed at the teen. “You’re next, Jotaro!”
Jotaro wanted to throw something. No way was DIO hurting his mom, making him haul his ass over to Egypt, taking away Kakyoin, and getting away with that. No way in hell would he give up right here, right now.
Jotaro’s fist shook, and his voice was filled with venom, “You bastard.”
DIO would pay for what he’s done, Jotaro was sure of it.
DIO’s body, well, half of his body, was laid out on the street, a steady cloud of steam emerging from his fatal wound.
Good fucking grief.
The sound of sirens and tire screeches filled the air, and Jotaro turned to look behind him. There was police, of course, and the Speedwagon foundation as well.
Jotaro walked over and hopped into the nearest truck, demanding that they go back to the city. “There’s...bodies. We can’t just leave them there.”
The city was a mess, now that Jotaro could get a good look at it. The Speedwagon foundation immediately rushed over to Joseph’s body, but Jotaro’s eyes trailed somewhere else.
Right. Kakyoin.
Bile climbed into his throat as he ran through the streets, using Star Platinum to shoot himself up and across the rooftops over to the destroyed water tower.
Water no longer heavily streamed from the hole in the side of it, instead a slow trickle was all that was left. Nestled in the dented metal was Kakyoin, a giant hole in his stomach.
Jotaro cried out, jumping to land right beside Kakyoin. He crouched beside his friend, eyes roaming the other’s pale, expressionless face. Jotaro shakily reached out a hand, wrapping it around Kakyoin’s cheek.
Tears swam in his vision, and his throat constricted. Kakyoin was freezing, to the touch.
It felt like Jotaro’s heart was cracking into a million pieces as he sat down in the freezing remains of water, dragging the limp body of Kakyoin into his lap. Kakyoin’s head rolled into Jotaro’s shoulder, a dead weight, and Jotaro let out a sob.
50 days. That’s all they got.
Jotaro could feel all the plans he’d made for the future, the ones of graduating together, moving in together for university, the ones of-
The futures where they were dating. The ones where they married. Where they loved and were loved.
Jotaro pulled Kakyoin’s body closer, and another unwanted sob tore through his chest. He shook with sadness, with grief, and if he hadn’t pulled the redhead close he would’ve missed it.
Kakyoin’s chest expanded, just a little, and the hiss of a breath could be heard. Jotaro’s heart leaped.
He’s alive.
Jotaro, with renewed energy and hope, scooped Kakyoin into his arms, reveling in the gasp of pain the boy let out. Yes he was in pain, but that meant he had a chance at survival.
“Nori. Hey. Please hold on, okay? Just hold on.”
Kakyoin’s eyes lifted open, locking into that of ocean blue. Jotaro let out a watery smile, and Kakyoin slumped back, limp once more.
It was enough though.
+ 1
It was a rough few months of waiting.
Jotaro had been skipping school, and he knew Holly just didn’t have the heart to ask about it. It filled him with guilt, more, if that was even possible, but he was grateful for it.
The first day back in Japan, was, to say the least, an absolute mess. Jotaro had collapsed into his mother’s waiting embrace, shaking and letting out dry, grating sobs as she rubbed his back up and down and sat there with him for what seemed like forever.
Kakyoin was finally stable enough to travel to a hospital in Japan about a month or two ago, but he still hadn’t woken up. The wires and tubes that surrounded him whenever Jotaro would visit never failed to make him feel dizzy.
So all in all, school was not that important to Jotaro at the moment. Why spend every hour of his day worrying about Kakyoin and if today was the day he’d finally kick the bucket at school, when he could do it literally anywhere else instead?
He’d stayed today though, only because he’d promised to himself that at least once a week he’d go, for Holly’s sake.
He was currently in chemistry, which could not be more boring and simple. He really was considering just slipping out when the teacher wasn’t looking.
His musings were stopped when an announcement blared through the speakers. “Kujo Jotaro, please make your way to the front office. Kujo Jotaro, please make your way to the front office.”
Jotaro thinks to himself that whatever god is up there in the skies must really like him today, and picks up his bag, roughly shoving his notes into the opening and zipping it up. He leaves the classroom and practically books it to the front office.
His mother was waiting there, sporting a grin. Jotaro gave a quizzical look, and Holly giggled. “Jotaro hurry up, sign yourself out so we can go to the hospital.”
Jotaro paused in grabbing the sign out sheet, whipping his head towards his mom. His brain stalled.
“What?”
Holly just smiled even wider, and gestured to the paper clutched in Jotaro’s hand. “Sign that and I’ll tell you honey.”
Jotaro hurriedly signed the paper and slid it across the table, handing it to the secretary. Hope bloomed in his chest, but he squashed it down. He assumed the smiles his mother was sending his way were a good thing, but the pessimist part of him told him it was just to ease a blow that was sure to come.
Holly and him walked out to the car, and he buckled in. She turned to face Jotaro, and noticed how tense he was. Holly placed a warm hand on his shoulder.
“He’s awake.”
Jotaro turned to his mom and stared. It was like all the air had been sucked out of the car.
He’s awake.
“I- He- really?”
Holly let out a chuckle and reached up to ruffle Jotaro’s hat on his head, knocking it askew. “Yes sweetie, he is.”
Jotaro slumped back against the seat, and Holly offered one last shoulder squeeze before starting the car.
The car ride was agonizingly slow, and the trip that was usually filled with dread and more questions of ifs rather than whens was now filled to the brim with hope. Butterflies flew loops in Jotaro’s stomach, and for a while he wondered if he was going to pass out.
All those futures he’d spent imagining in Egypt, the ones crushed under the sunrise in Cairo came back full force, and Jotaro’s head felt like it was spinning.
The trip to the hospital really couldn’t have been more painful to sit through.
The hospital staff was pissing him off a bit. Yeah yeah, no running. Yeah yeah, he’s still fragile. Jotaro knows. He’s already terrified to break him, no need to make it ten times worse. He'd already been here almost every day.
Finally, the nurse opens the door to Kakyoin’s room, and Jotaro makes his way inside. The redhead is sitting up, propped behind his back are some pillows, and he’s using Hierophant Green to shakily drink water from a cup with a silly little blue straw.
Jotaro just stands there, in the doorway and stares. A chorus of he’s awake, he’s here chants in his head, and Jotaro feels pretty content to just stay there forever, staring at Kakyoin, his red hair and lavender eyes. They aren’t as vibrant, but they’re his, and for the first time in months, Kakyoin is here, really truly here.
Said teen finally notices Jotaro and his mother standing in the doorway, and let’s out the most breathtaking smile Jotaro’s had the pleasure of witnessing.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
The two boys just stare at each other across the room, before Holly gives Jotaro a little nudge on his back. “C’mon sweetie!” she says with a little laugh, “He’s not gonna break if you come closer you know.”
Yeah but I might combust.
Nevertheless he trudges forward, and Holly follows, going right up to Kakyoin’s bedside. She grabs his hand, giving a little squeeze. He smiles at her and she smiles right back.
Jotaro stands on the other side of the bed awkwardly. Holly wastes no time delving into conversation with Kakyoin, and the other boy is happy to oblige. Eventually though, Holly gets up and mentions something about a snack, Jotaro is a little too concerned with watching Kakyoin, giving Jotaro a little wink before she leaves.
Jotaro decides that whatever that means will be asked about later, and he gives his full attention back to the boy on the bed beside him.
“You can sit down, you know.”
“Huh?”
Kakyoin’s eyes are filled with mirth, and he laughs, a breathless simple one, but it’s a laugh all the same, one he hadn’t heard since god knows how long.
Jotaro slumps down in the seat behind him, pulling it up to be closer to Kakyoin’s bedside. Kakyoin holds out his hand, and Jotaro clasps it in his, turning their hands so that their fingers fold together.
His hand fits perfectly in Jotaro’s, just like before. It’s smaller though, more delicate, and his heart clenches in guilt. Kakyoin squeezes his hand.
“You’re making that face again.”
Jotaro looked up from their hands. “What?”
Kakyoin’s thumb brushed against Jotaro’s. “You make this face, when you’re feeling guilty. Your brows furrow and you get all pouty and look far away.”
Jotaro hummed.
“It’s not your fault, you know that right? He’s gone because of you.”
Jotaro shook his head, scoffing. “Yeah, but you got hurt in the process.”
Kakyoin let out a sigh, pulling his hand from Jotaro’s. He deflated at the loss of the warm hand in his, but it was immediately replaced by two hands cupping his face, much like their first meeting.
“Jojo. Look at me.”
Jotaro stayed put, not wanting to meet Kakyoin’s eyes, see the definitely deserved hatred, or resentment, or disappointment for letting down the one person who mattered most to him.
Kakyoin moved one of his hands to cup Jotaro’s chin, and lifted it, giving him no other choice than to meet Kakyoin’s eyes.
Kakyoin’s face was so breathtakingly soft, lavender eyes filled with concerned amusement, and he leaned forward, placing a chaste kiss on Jotaro’s forehead. Jotaro flushed pink, and Kakyoin wasn’t faring much better.
“It’s not your fault, Jojo. No matter what you think. I’m not mad at you, I don’t resent you, I don’t think I ever could. You saved me Jotaro. I don’t think I can ever make that up to you.”
You being here is enough for me.
He leaned his forehead against Jotaro’s, stroking his cheeks. Jotaro’s eyes watered, with so much adoration for the boy a breath away from him.
“Even before all the fighting. You were my first friend, the first person who I felt like I could be me around. Never ever feel like you haven’t done enough for me.”
Jotaro let out a shaky breath, and Kakyoin shivered from the feeling of his breath on his face. Tears streamed down Jotaro’s face now, and Kakyoin wiped them with his thumbs.
Jotaro wanted to say so much, about the way Kakyoin makes him feel so bright, how crushed he was back in Egypt, how broken he was seeing Kakyoin slumped over in the water tower. How lucky and relieved he felt to feel him here, breathing steadily with him again.
The words were stuck in his throat, fighting to get out, so Jotaro did the only thing he could think of. He sealed the space in between them, and Kakyoin gave a little noise of surprise. Kakyoin’s lips were chapped from being asleep for so long, and it was a pretty clumsy kiss.
It was perfect.
Jotaro pulled back and watched Kakyoin’s delayed reaction, reveling in the way that his eyes fluttered open to meet Jotaro’s, cheeks flushed red, and a dopey grin made its way onto Jotaro’s face.
Kakyoin giggled, actually giggled, and snaked his hand into Jotaro’s hair at the back of his neck, pulling Jotaro back in. They melted into each other, never wanting to be the first to let go. Eventually though, air was needed, and they broke apart. Jotaro tucked his head into Kakyoin’s shoulder.
“Nori I...” Jotaro whispered into the crook of his neck, and Kakyoin let out a shutter.
“Jojo?”
“...I love you.”
Jotaro placed a delicate kiss on Kakyoin’s collarbone, and Kakyoin’s heart did a flip. “Say that again.”
Jotaro looked up at Kakyoin, a hint of confusion on his face. “What?”
Kakyoin exhaled.
“Say it again. Please.”
Jotaro brought his hand up to Kakyoin’s face, cupping it gently. His heart hammered in his chest.
“I love you, Kakyoin Noriaki. I love you so much.”
Kakyoin let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding and surprised Jotaro by practically jumping into his arms, as much as the wires and scars on his stomach would allow. “Holy shit.”
Jotaro let out a puff of air and gave a slight chuckle. “Holy shit?”
Kakyoin laughed in embarrassment. “Sorry. I- ah, I just didn’t think you really...”
He pulled away, staring right at Jotaro, lips pink from their first kiss, and the second and third, and at his disheveled hair, the hat he always wore having dropped on the floor from Kakyoin practically knocking him over merely seconds ago.
I love this boy so much.
“What I was trying to say was I love you. Too. I love you so much Jotaro.”
Jotaro smiled, bright and breathtaking and a smile that was so rare from him that Kakyoin vowed he’d spend every minute telling Jotaro how much he loved him if it meant he’d smile like that.
Jotaro took hold of Kakyoin’s hand once more, and gave it a little squeeze. Kakyoin squeezed back, and it felt as though all was right in the world.
Holly came in a bit later, and squealed when she saw the two boys holding hands. She kept stating how proud she was of them, and about how she really thought they’d take longer to confess.
“Good grief Mom, no need to make it such a big deal.”
Kakyoin laughed, and Jotaro smiled all the same. No one knew him better than his mom, after all.