Archive of Our Own

"Can you go lay out a futon in one of the guest rooms, Jotaro?" His mother asked.

Jotaro watched her ministrations a moment longer, half to make sure the red-headed boy was really alright, and half to not seem like he'd just do whatever his mother asked of him with no hesitation. It'd be rude not to listen to her, but he didn't want anyone else to know he thought that. Jotaro got the added bonus of agitating his grandfather when he ignored her, too. He’d only been here two days, but Joseph had overstayed his welcome.

Kakyoin Noriaki wasn't looking exactly better. His uniform was a mess, so was Jotaro's, and he still had crusty patches of blood coming out of his ears. That was one thing Jotaro was learning about Stand battles, they were fuckin' dramatic. But that didn't diminish Kakyoin's skill. Jotaro couldn't even have a cigarette since their fight, he was pretty sure one of his ribs was cracked. He'd almost asked Joseph for a zap of that energy bullshit he'd used after his fight with Avdol, but it was hard to speak up when Jotaro couldn't predict the old man's reaction. Jotaro was on the verge of punching the geezer every time he opened his mouth. Not hard enough to hurt the man, of course, but enough to get the point across that Jotaro could not deal with him. So, Jotaro had decided to sleep on the ache and see what happened.

With a slow step that surely conveyed his heavy reluctance, Jotaro went back out to the engawa. He headed deeper into the house and thought which of the three other guest rooms would be the best one for Kakyoin. In a way, the guy was Jotaro’s prisoner of war, so he had to take care of the other boy. Jotaro chose the one that was closest to his own room, it was in the back of the house but there was a near bathroom, and the kitchen was a short walk, too. Jotaro stopped in the kitchen himself for a dishtowel to tie around his hand. He had pressed the wound from the flesh bud into his pocket, so he probably didn’t drip blood on the way, but the hole in his skin hadn’t quit bleeding. Kakyoin had given him a beating all around, even by proxy the Emerald Splash had fucking hurt, but he wasn’t wuss enough to admit it aloud in front of the others. He’d washed his face at a water fountain on the way home, that was enough for now. 

The guest room was clean, his mother was a demon with cleaning and this was a one in a million situation where it was paying off, even the closet smelled fresh when he kicked it open. Jotaro dumped the futon on the floor and unfolded it in the middle of the room. The bedding was that ambiguous patterned one he’d told the woman to throw out. The quilt was a strange mash of pink sakura and darker chrysanthemums, short lived spring and the autumn symbol of longevity thrown together. It didn’t make any damn sense. Wasted effort to go find another futon, though, so Jotaro finished arranging it and went back to the tea room.

Everyone was still just sitting around, the only one not touched by the awkward air was Jotaro’s mother. She’d put the first aid kit away, Jotaro would have to snag it from the kitchen later for himself so she’d better restock it. Avdol and Gramps were sipping tea and coffee respectively, avoiding the gaze of Kakyoin, who’s bloodshot eyes were at least free of tears now.

“Jotaro, you’re back.” Holly smiled at him.

Jotaro grunted, curling his lip. Why did she have to be so damn cheerful, there was nothing in the last few days to be happy about. This was a shit situation that was entirely unbelievable. Jotaro wanted his normal fucking life back already.

"Will you help your friend to the bathroom to clean up, Jotaro?" Holly asked.

"Why'd I gotta fucking do it?" Jotaro grumbled.

Friend she called him, like they were school chums. Sure, Jotaro had told her it was none of her business why Kakyoin was in the shape he was in, but Jotaro knew his mother wasn’t stupid. She’d been there when they left the jail and had that talk about Stands, she even said she could see them, her optimism was disgusting.

"I'm going to go get one of your dad's yukatas for him." Holly answered.

Jotaro snorted. The yukata would be too short, but whatever. He was going to help the boy regardless, Kakyoin was much too big for his mom to lug around, and of course his grandfather wouldn't bother to be even a little bit helpful. Once he got Kakyoin up on his feet, Jotaro noticed that he looked dazed. They’d spoken right after removing the flesh bud, and during, and Kakyoin’s eyes had seemed clear then, but the situation was catching up with him. Jotaro shifted to lift and carry him like before, but Kakyoin resisted.

"I can walk by myself." Kakyoin stepped away from Jotaro's arm, "Please, just lead the way."

Hey, this guy's normal tone of voice wasn't bad. It was probably just because he had the shit beaten out of him, but Jotaro preferred soft spoken people in general. He'd figured this guy would get mad at him sooner or later, so Jotaro was surprised he was bothering to be polite. Whatever the man wanted, Jotaro strode off. Kakyoin stumbled to catch up, staying behind Jotaro by a few paces. Annoying. Jotaro couldn’t keep an eye on him back there. Jotaro dropped back. Kakyoin’s face was pensive.

“Hurtin’?” Jotaro asked him.

Kakyoin looked surprised to be talked to, “Quite a bit, thank you for asking.” 

Was that sarcasm? It sounded like it. So there was some anger simmering there.

“‘M sure she’ll get you some medicine.” Jotaro said.

“Your mother?” Kakyoin asked for confirmation.

Jotaro nodded.

“She gave me a dose already.” Kakyoin said.

Good, that would help, surely. Jotaro wouldn't have let his Stand squeeze the guy’s head so hard if he knew Kakyoin would be getting impromptu brain surgery right afterwards. Jotaro disliked unpredictability, and his life was currently so unstable he thought he might lose his goddamn mind. He was a man of facts, and he had to suddenly learn a whole new dataset. Random fights weren't out of the ordinary, but other Stands were not like his own. While he was trying to figure out his punch ghost, there was Avdol with a rooster who could control fire at will, and now Kakyoin’s Stand came apart and shot rocks from its hands. Were all Stands completely different, then, was it useless trying to find similarities between them?

“I owe you both.” Kakyoin spoke up after a beat.

“Don’t worry about it.” Jotaro responded.

He opened the guest room door for the other boy, “Tch!” He clicked his tongue at the sight inside. That damn cat was already sleeping on the futon, how had the fucker gotten in? It could even open a locked door, Jotaro was sure.

“You fuckin’ fuzzball.” Jotaro picked the patchwork cat up by its neck scruff, “Scram.” He tossed it out into the hall.

“Oh, Mikeko, were you warming the bed for our guest?” Holly’s voice cooed from the hall, and she appeared in the doorway.

“Mikeko.” Kakyoin repeated.

“You aren’t allergic to cats, are you Noriaki?” Holly asked.

Good grief, she was already calling him by his first name. Jotaro did not understand how his mother was best friends with people immediately after meeting them, most people were shitty assholes.

“No, Mrs. Kujo.” Kakyoin didn’t share her casual tone, thankfully.

“Mikeko has been with us for seven years now, Jotaro brought her home and named her.” Holly unnecessarily explained.

“Shut up.” Jotaro snapped.

“Was I embarrassing you in front of your new friend, Jotaro?” Holly asked.

Jotaro was sure she was doing this act on purpose, she knew him too well to think he didn’t find her cutesy voice annoying as all hell. He gave her a dirty look.

“Sorry, sweetie.” She said before turning to Kakyoin with her armful of fabric, “Here’s a yukata, Noriaki, you get yourself cleaned up and put your uniform in this basket and I’ll clean it for you.”

“I’m only going to rest for a bit, Mrs. Kujo, then I’ll go home.” Kakyoin said.

“In your condition? No way. Tell me your phone number, too, and I’ll call your parents and explain that you’re staying here tonight.”

Kakyoin’s shoulders went rigid, “There’s no need for that, please, you’ve shown me enough hospitality.”

That was putting it lightly, considering this all started because Kakyoin had tried to kill Jotaro a few hours ago. 

“Well, so long as you do rest, how about you stay for dinner at least so I know you’re okay? Jotaro can walk you home or to the station after that.” Holly said.

There she went again, volunteering him for shit. If she had just kept her mouth fucking shut he could have helped Kakyoin without it seeming like it was her idea. That was three fucking things in a row now, Kakyoin must think he was a mama’s boy who did what she asked all the time. Shit.

“Yes, so long as I’m not imposing too much.” Kakyoin accepted the basket.

“Of course, not, dear! Jotaro, show him the way to the bathroom.” Holly said.

“Already going to, bitch, just go.” Jotaro rolled his eyes.

“Take your time cleaning up, Noriaki.” Holly patted the boy’s arm and swanned out.

Most. Annoying. Woman. On the fucking planet. Jotaro gave her a minute to actually be gone before looking out into the hallway to make sure. He gestured Kakyoin follow him when the coast was clear. He again opened the right door for him, revealing the sink and counter of the front half of the bathroom.

“Toilet is next door, need it first?” Jotaro asked.

“No, thank you.” Kakyoin said.

“Tub works like a tub.” Jotaro said, “I’m going to clean up, too, be back to help you in a bit.”

“I’ll be fine getting back to the room, don’t rush on my behalf.” Kakyoin said, “I’ve caused you enough trouble as it is.”

“Wasn’t really you, was it?” Jotaro mentioned, “Fuck off with the modesty, we beat the shit out of one another, there’s no point.”

Kakyoin gave him a single nod and Jotaro left him to his bath. The other bathroom was on the other side of the house, Jotaro grabbed some sweats and a shirt and prayed he would meet no one on the way. Luck blessed him, and he locked himself in. Some peace and quiet to decompress. Finally. Gramps didn't let him have any time between coming home and telling him the redhead was going to fucking die. Just one crisis after another.

Showed the old geezer, though, Jotaro snorted. Kakyoin Noriaki lived.

It was time to assess his wounds. He’d forgotten the first aid kit, he realized as he peeled his clothing off. If his Stand wasn’t such a brute, Jotaro realized he would have worse than the scratches and bruises that littered his body. The worst cut was the one on his leg from the morning fall, but lines of pressure marks with the strange patterning of Kakyoin’s Stand’s flexible tentacles marked him in several places. They were already purple and he wanted to soak them in a salt bath, but the tub on his side of the house was too small for him. Jotaro untied his hand last, the towel already soaked through, that wound still hadn’t stopped bleeding. He settled for a quick spray down, cursing every time he had to reach around with the showerhead and he tweaked his torso. Getting dressed was just as bad.

“Jotaro?” His mother called as he slipped his t-shirt over his head.

Her knocking on the door was too fucking loud. His ears had yet to quit ringing since the stupid ass gun trick he’d pulled. He quickly opened the door, making sure to glare down at her.

“My handsome boy was under that mess.” She gave him that annoying giggle.

“What do you fucking want?” Jotaro snarled.

“I noticed your hand.” Holly grabbed his hand, the flesh bud hole oozing through another towel, “Let Mama look at it.”

“It’s fine.” Jotaro shouldered past her.

“It needs a bandage, Jotaro, at least until it quits bleeding. That Noriaki boy already let me take care of his wound, let me do yours, too.” She insisted, doggedly following after him.

“Just fucking wash my uniform, the pants need to be sewed up.” Jotaro refused, he wouldn’t be letting anyone see him flinch. Men didn’t flinch.

“Take the kit, dear.” Holly forced the first aid container into his hands before leaving him alone.

Jotaro dropped the first aid at his door and went to see if Kakyoin was in the guest room. Not yet, but the cat was back.

“You’re just as fucking annoying as the other bitch in this house.” Jotaro grumbled as he shooed the cat away again.

The door for the front room of the bathroom wasn’t locked, so Jotaro opened it. Kakyoin was inside, tying his yukata closed. A minute earlier and Jotaro would’ve seen too much. What a miss, it was his mother’s fault, too. Like he thought, the garment was too short for the guy. Jotaro’s father was several inches shorter than Kakyoin, and much less muscled. Well, it would work for a few hours while his mother washed Kakyoin’s uniform. The guy looked good in traditional clothing, school uniforms or yukatas.

“Need any bandages?” Jotaro offered.

“I’m fine, thank you.” Kakyoin responded, touching at his forehead. 

The length of bandage still looked tight around his head. If it was anything like Jotaro’s hand, it was a wonder it hadn’t bled through yet. Maybe he should let his mother wrap his hand if it worked as well as Kakyoin’s first aid. No, no, that would be going back on something he already decided, and he couldn’t do that. Jotaro stepped out of the room to lead Kakyoin back to the guest room. There was no way for Kakyoin to get lost, like he’d said, the bathroom was just around the corner, but Jotaro was more worried about the guy passing out again. His eyes were still hazy. And Jotaro found himself right to worry, Kakyoin’s foot caught on the doorframe, and he tripped, like he didn’t have the strength to lift his leg all the way.

Jotaro caught Kakyoin. It'd been too sudden for him to be any sort of gentle. The other boy couldn't hold in the groan.

"Alright?" Jotaro peeked Kakyoin’s face around the wet curtain of hair, and his eyes were shut, he was unresponsive.

Jotaro shrugged him back over his shoulder and ferried him to the guest room. He tucked Kakyoin into the futon and watched him for a few minutes. Kakyoin didn’t stir. He’d put a good front making it this long without passing out again, but his loss had been hard. That fucking bug in his head couldn’t have made him feel very good, either. 

After another moment of still, Jotaro figured he could leave for a bit. He went to his room and wrapped up his hand, craving a cigarette like a fucking drowning man needed oxygen, but his ribs were basically a band of fire so he just tried to put it from mind. He went to the kitchen next, finding a plate of snacks left out on the table. There was a note on top of the plate, but he didn’t bother to read it, some shit with a heart at the end. Jotaro devoured the food. There was also a tray with a packet of powdered medicine on it, along with a pitcher of water and a cup. Jotaro took that back to Kakyoin and settled in to wait for him to wake up.

When he’d seen the redhead coming down the shrine stairs, Jotaro knew he was trouble, there was something about him. Even his name stuck in Jotaro’s head, he didn’t bother to remember the names of the bitches that followed him around every day, but Kakyoin was so solid . He wasn’t sure what that really meant, but Jotaro had taken notice right away. Maybe it was a Stand thing. Jotaro didn’t recognize the style of his uniform, and the way he didn’t want Holly to call his parents, said he wasn’t from the Tokyo area. Jotaro had beaten the ass of someone from every school in the area, he was pretty sure. An unwanted reputation as a delinquent brought them to him, but he’d been able to tell right away that Kakyoin wasn’t one of those. Kakyoin’s eyes held intelligence. An interesting guy beyond his looks, for sure, and while Jotaro had tried to save him on a whim, he was glad he was able to do it. It made him feel like the ‘demon’ that had materialized at his back could be good for something.

The afternoon was quiet as Jotaro sat beside the guest futon and read a book. He was hopelessly behind on his school work after his stint in the cell he’d decided was a good idea, but hadn’t made it to class to pick up his missed work. So long as he went tomorrow, Jotaro figured he’d be alright. School was so fucking boring, but it was necessary, and he’d chased off the annoying teacher so it was at least that much less terrible lately.

"You don't have to sit and watch over me." Kakyoin said.

"Na?" Jotaro startled at the sudden voice.

Kakyoin shifted around on the futon, and the lavender eyes had cleared some when they met Jotaro's gaze. The nap had done him lots of good.

"You're tired, too, right?" Kakyoin continued, "I'm fine on my own, you could say I’m used to it."

"Jus' making sure." Jotaro shrugged.

"Your concern is appreciated, but," Kakyoin's eyes rolled shut, "I'm fine, thank you."

Goddamn was he polite. Jotaro wanted to throttle him again. There had to be a true personality between the sadistic puppet and the overly formal Japanese school boy, Jotaro wanted to see it.

“Maybe I’m making sure you don’t use your Stand like you did on the school nurse.” Jotaro prodded at the facade.

That made Kakyoin flinch, “I won’t. Ever again. That ability is not something I would ever think of, and as far as I’m concerned, it does not exist.”

“Never know what sort of experience it could be good for.” Jotaro said, knowing he used to think justice could be clean.

Kakyoin was quiet for a while, but Jotaro didn’t go back to his book, he had the idea that the other boy had something else he wanted to say.

“I never met anyone else with a Stand before I was embedded with the flesh bud.” Kakyoin said, “Can I see yours again?”

Jotaro called forth his Stand. He hadn’t yet thought of a name for the creature. He was shit at naming things, it was too bad somebody wouldn’t just do it for him. The purple monstrosity loomed over Jotaro, he wasn’t used to letting someone be that close to his back, but there was a familiarity growing for the Stand. He hadn’t been afraid of the Stand when he locked himself away, but of the power that the Stand possessed. He needed that time away to learn to control it, and gramps giving it a proper name helped a lot on that front. He could have been less of a shithead about it, but that was his grandfather. Joseph Joestar arrived on a scene with a bang. What still unnerved Jotaro about his manifested will were the teal eyes exactly the same as his that looked back at him, like he was looking into his own soul. Self reflection was not appealing. 

“He’s such a big guy.” Kakyoin softly said, examining Jotaro’s Stand.

“Bring out yours.” Jotaro demanded, “Hierophant Green you called it?”

“Yes.” Kakyoin lifted the futon quilt and his Stand slithered out.

The Stand had already been out? Jotaro hadn’t even noticed. Kakyoin hadn’t been kidding that the thing was sneaky. It somehow looked much more docile than it had been when Jotaro first saw it, of course at the time it had been leering out of the depths of that nurse’s mouth. Jotaro glanced at his Stand again. His was the only one of the four he’d met that looked human. He hoped that didn’t say something about himself that he didn’t see. Hierophant Green reached a segmented hand out and touched Jotaro’s foot. He couldn’t tell if he was truly looking the thing in the eye, but Jotaro kept his eyes on it until it crawled back under the futon with its master. Jotaro sent his Stand away then.

“I thought I was the only one to exist.” Kakyoin said, “For such a long time, I thought I was the only one.”

Jesus, the guy was crying again. He must be really messed up, being emotional in front of so many people he was barely acquainted with. Jotaro didn’t know how to comfort people, if he tried to hug someone, they thought he was leaning in to intimidate them. Even the annoying-as-all-hell girls club who followed him around didn’t come to him when they were upset. He couldn’t fucking make them cry and leave him alone, but if the other boys did, he had a little peace. Unless the boys in question were being assholes, then Jotaro made sure they learned their lesson.

“Just got mine like a week ago.” Jotaro admitted, “Sorry if my control was shit.”

“I deserved every hit you gave me.” Kakyoin said.

“Nah.” Jotaro disagreed. His Stand was violent, he still needed to learn how to curb that.

The futon undulated again. Jotaro expected Hierophant Green to poke its head back out, but instead Mikeko popped out. Her muddy green eyes stared straight at Jotaro, and he swore she was smiling at him.

“You damn flea bag.” Jotaro growled at the cat.

He was sure the animal was not in the futon when he’d laid Kakyoin in it. He’d dozed a few times, but he hadn’t heard her bell ring the entire time. He looked over at the door, sure enough, there was a cat-sized gap.

“Mikeko-chan was keeping me warm.” Kakyoin said, stroking the animal head to tail.

“She just can’t resist a futon.” Jotaro said, “I switched to a mattress, so she doesn’t even come into my room anymore.”

“Is that why you’re mad at her?” Kakyoin asked.

The bastard was teasing him. About a stupid cat. He did have a personality, and it was a little mean spirited. That was interesting.

“I ain’t mad.” Jotaro grunted.

“You don’t like him, Mikeko-chan?” Kakyoin asked the cat.

The cat only purred as a response, she didn’t talk much. Jotaro had found her hurt on the side of the road on the way home from school. No one ever came forward to claim her, so she just stayed at their house after her recovery. The animal had one good use, she could divert Holly’s affections so Jotaro wasn’t her only target. And the cat endured the affection much better than he did.

“Not a very creative name.” Kakyoin added.

“I was ten.” Jotaro responded.

“I named my dog after my favorite dessert, so I can’t really talk.” Kakyoin said.

Jotaro watched the other boy continue to pet the cat, his hands seemed gentle and Mike certainly was enjoying the attention. Jotaro was pretty sure he’d squash the cat if he tried to pet it nowadays. He was hopeful his growth had finally stagnated, but he still felt too big. Only in the last six months had he stopped banging his head on the top of every door jamb in the house.

“Knock, knock.” 

Holly was now in the crack of the door the cat had left. Kakyoin carefully sat up, his soft expression from before replaced with the polite one. Back to the dull version of Kakyoin for a while, it looked like.

“This was where you were hiding, Jotaro?” She winked at him.

Jotaro scowled.

“Dinner is about ready, Noriaki, can you get up?” Holly asked.

“Yes, Mrs. Kujo.” Kakyoin folded back the futon quilt, his Stand was gone for sure now.

“Oh my, Mikeko, you were watching over him, too?” Holly fussed, picking up the cat and giving it a kiss, “Good girl. Go get Papa for me.” She sent the animal out the door, “Are you sure you don’t want me to call your parents, Noriaki?” She asked, watching him struggle to stand.

Jotaro remained sitting, he wouldn’t be like Kakyoin and show how sore he was by getting up in Holly’s presence. His mother needed to know that Jotaro was grown and did things on his own; she treated too much like a child. He regretted not being able to help Kakyoin, though, who was in bad shape.

“No, it’s not necessary.” Kakyoin said.

“Let me check your bandages before dinner.” Holly said, dragging him away.

Jotaro was slow to get to his feet. He probably should have laid down, too, the bruises on his legs had stiffened up. By the time he got to the kitchen, everyone was in there, even the cat. It was noisy.

“Jotaro, sit down, your mother wouldn’t let us eat until you got here.” Gramps whined.

Jotaro walked extra slow the rest of the way to the table.

“He’s close enough, Holly, let’s eat.” Joseph began filling up his plate, asking what everything was.

Jotaro sat beside Kakyoin. He kept his left hand in his lap, it had bled through the bandage again and he knew his mother would nag him about it. The only thing about his mother Jotaro couldn’t complain about was her cooking. He’d do it if someone pushed him into talking about her meals, but they were always outrageously tasty. Kakyoin, as reserved as he was, dug in after his first taste. It could just be that he hadn’t eaten well under the fleshbud’s control, he did seem a little skinny with the too-small yukata cinched around a narrow waist, but Holly’s cooking put a little happiness into his mein. Even when Avdol got him into a conversation about Stands, apparently Kakyoin was born with a Stand like the Egyptian was, he put away two platefuls of food and three bowls of rice. Jotaro had to sit and wait while the redhead ate, catching and killing several conversations from his mother and grandfather. He would have left earlier, but he didn’t want to rush Kakyoin.

When Kakyoin finally put down his chopsticks, and was denied his offer to help clean up, Jotaro followed him back to the hall.

“You mentioned the toilet earlier?” Kakyoin asked.

Jotaro sent him to the right door. Mikeko had come along with them, she wound around Jotaro’s ankles while he bit at his nails. The urge for a cigarette had hit critical. He would have to have one, aching ribs or not, before his Stand started trying to stuff them in his pockets like it had done in jail when he was feeling the withdrawal. There was a clatter in the bathroom. Jotaro walked over.

“Alright?” He asked the door.

“I knocked the soap dish down. It’s broken, I’m afraid.” Kakyoin’s voice sounded pitched.

Jotaro tried the door, but it was locked, “Need any help?”

“Uh, no, no.” Kakyoin answered, “Well, maybe, just a moment.”

The door rattled and opened. Kakyoin stood there, fresh blood flowing from one of his fingers. He’d cut himself on the broken dish. Jotaro pulled him to his room where he’d left the first aid kit.

“Sit.” Jotaro pushed him into the chair at the desk.

The cut wasn’t bad, and Jotaro didn’t see any pieces of the soap dish in it, so he deftly stuck a plaster on. It would probably heal with a lick, but Jotaro wasn’t going to stick the boy’s finger in his mouth. What his mouth wanted was a fucking smoke. He hadn’t realized how bad his addiction had gotten, Jotaro had only picked up the habit to break the law and look cool.

“Thank you.” Kakyoin said, “Let me get you.”

“Eh?” Jotaro, still thinking about the cigarette he promised himself, grunted.

“Your hand.” Kakyoin pointed out the bloody bandage.

“It’s alright.” Jotaro tried to deny him.

“It’s the one from the flesh bud, isn’t it?” Kakyoin took the box of medical supplies, “The one on my forehead hurts like a bitch, I can’t imagine yours doesn’t need some attention.”

“Mine isn’t a hole in my skull.” Jotaro muttered, but sat on the edge of his bed.

If it made Kakyoin feel better and stopped the bleeding, two birds with one stone and all that. Kakyoin grimaced at the sight of the dark bruise and puncture wound. He held some gauze to it and put on some pressure. Jotaro suppressed a flinch. Kakyoin then wrapped it up carefully. His hands really were gentle, like they had looked petting the cat. They were shaking, though.

“Are you going to make it home, Kakyoin?” Jotaro asked.

“I don’t think so.” Kakyoin said.

“Need to call home?”

“No.”

Jotaro had spent nights away himself, he understood the hard denial. Parents, even ones like his mother who were nosey, didn’t always get why a son didn’t want to come home. Better to just apologize later.

“Tired?” Jotaro took back the first aid kit and packed it up.

“Very.”

“Go sleep it off.” Jotaro said.

“I’ll help clean up the bathroom first.” Kakyoin insisted.

“Don’t bother, my mom will do it.” Jotaro said.

“But-” Kakyoin tried to protest.

“It was an accident, she’ll be happy to. You look ready t’drop.” Jotaro spoke over him.

Kakyoin swayed on his feet, it was more than his hands shaking. He’d decided to stay, so all he had to do was go lie down. It was that easy, and Jotaro was happy he wouldn’t have to walk him anywhere on his trembling legs. 

“Sorry to trouble you.” Kakyoin said.

Jotaro made sure Kakyoin got back to the guest room, the damn cat waiting on the pillow. Kakyoin spoke sweetly to Mikeko as he settled in, pouring himself some water and taking the medicine that was still waiting, and lastly taking out his pendant earrings and setting them on the tray, too.

“If you need anything, I’ll be sleeping next door.” Jotaro said, “Everyone else is on the other side of the house.”

“Oh, okay.” Kakyoin said.

“Turning off the lights.” Jotaro said.

“Thank you. For everything today.” Kakyoin said to his back, “I really do appreciate it, the help, the food, everything.”

“Yeah.” Jotaro acknowledged.

“Good night, JoJo.”

“Night.”

Jotaro felt no better by the morning, but he was determined to go to class. Things had been so weird since his Stand manifested, he needed a regular day to feel more normal again. Not that he ever felt the same as other people in school, but it was what he was used to. He got dressed and went to check on his guest before leaving.

The cat was sitting on him, but she got up and left when Jotaro knelt down beside the futon. Jotaro shook the other awake. Kakyoin blinked groggily at him.

“Feeling okay, Kakyoin?” Jotaro wanted to know.

“Much better, thank you.” Kakyoin’s speech slurred a little, eyes remaining droopy.

“I’m leaving for the day, call my mom if you need anything.” Jotaro instructed.

“Okay.” Kakyoin sighed.

Jotaro stood and made to leave, but turned back when he thought of another question.

"D'you really transfer to my school?" Jotaro asked him.

"It's fuzzy, but I think so." Kakyoin answered.

"Hrn." Jotaro hated ambiguity.

But he held off on disturbing Kakyoin again, as it looked like he’d fallen back asleep. Jotaro left the room figuring he'd get a copy of the school work for Kakyoin anyway. It kinda wasn't fair asking the other boy more questions when he looked so at ease, like the day before, and whatever time he’d spent controlled like a puppet, hadn’t happened. Mom would make breakfast and see how he was doing later, so Jotaro didn’t have to worry about Kakyoin being neglected at least. As soon as Gramps got up, he'd harass her, but she wouldn’t forget Kakyoin.

"Holly!" 

There was Joseph’s annoying voice already. Jotaro grimaced and headed the opposite direction, even though he had to go the long way to the front door to do it. The laundry line was strangely empty as he passed the poles in the side yard. On a sunny morning like this, she typically had at least a few pairs of pants drying. Jotaro made it to the front door, determined to make it to class, though the stairs he fell down yesterday sounded like terrible work for his sore legs. Just putting on his shoes turned into a laborious endeavor, and even though he took so long, his mother didn’t catch up to him. That was strange, too, she never missed ambushing him at the door with a kiss goodbye. Yesterday she hadn’t looked entirely well, but he’d forgotten that with the flesh bud stuff. Jotaro was early yet, and after all his blood loss yesterday, he could go and get breakfast and see if she was alright without seeming like he was checking on her. She was hosting lots of people, she was probably just running behind.

Reaching the door to the kitchen at the same time as his grandfather, Jotaro found Avdol lifting his mother off the floor, some sort of vines growing out of her back. As he watched, the plants faded in and out like his Stand had when it first appeared. Before Jotaro had learned to master it.

“...Ho…lly.” Gramps whispered.

“Mr. Joestar… JoJo…” Avdol said when he noticed them, panic in his eyes.

Things moved very quickly after it came to light that Holly was suffering under the same curse as Jotaro and his grandfather. She was too kind to overcome DIO’s vile influence. The inherent darkness flowing through the connection to the dead man with their relative’s body was twisting her Stand’s manifestation, festering into an illness that would kill her. Instead of getting a normal day at school, Jotaro found himself agreeing to chase down a hundred year old vampire and kill him. Murder. It was justified, DIO was obviously beyond the laws of regular society, still, it was murder. Jotaro never thought he’d stoop to that level for his shade of justice, but he’d do it for his mother. She was as annoying as fuck, but she was kind, no one kind deserved to suffer. Thanks to Jotaro’s Stand, and Kakyoin’s confirmation, they knew DIO was waiting for them in Egypt. Grandpa told Jotaro to go pack a bag for an international flight, and went off to call in all the favors he could for Holly’s care while they were gone.

Jotaro tossed his school bag aside and went to his room to fill a suitcase. The house was strangely silent, the ringing in Jotaro’s ears seemed to amplify the stillness. He thought he might elbow drop his bed and break the frame in half just to get out some aggression. Seeing Holly suffering, his grandfather had grabbed him and shoved him, and Jotaro understood his desperation. As annoying as his grandfather was, he loved his family. Joseph wanted nothing bad to happen to them because his grandmother had lost his grandfather young, and he’d suffered in his youth, too, and now they were backed into a corner by an old enemy of the family. It still seemed like a fantasy, but Jotaro would chase down DIO until it did feel real. Neither he nor Gramps could watch Jotaro’s mother die without doing something about it.

“All packed?” Kakyoin asked from the doorway.

Jotaro grunted and put his bag over his shoulder. He sort of wanted to go visit his mother one more time before they left, but he knew Gramps was probably hovering all over and he didn’t want to be seen doing the same. Already, the last time he was with her, he’d tripped over his words and almost upset her. She’d passed back out from her fever before she could guess why he was being so weird, but he knew he’d fucked up by the way his grandfather sweated. His mother just needed to reserve her strength so she could hold on for as long as they needed. A flight to Egypt was only half a day, and they were sure to find DIO quickly with their Stand powers combined.

“Good, I don’t know the way to the front door.” Kakyoin said, “I wasn’t conscious when you brought me in yesterday. I would like my shoes, also.”

“That reminds me,” Jotaro went for the item he’d found in the laundry with his gakuran this morning.

“You have them here?” Kakyoin asked.

"No, I've got your little friend." Jotaro pulled the wooden marionette from his coat pocket that Kakyoin had been swinging around during their fight.

"Burn it." Kakyoin immediately responded.

"Fhaha." The laugh slipped past before Jotaro could squash it.

Kakyoin smiled, a taught pull of his wide mouth, like he'd won something. Jotaro would be trying much harder to resist giving up more outward reactions if a small laugh had that effect. Though, Kakyoin did look nice with a smile on his face.

“I have no attachment to it.” Kakyoin said, “I don’t know where it came from, to be honest.”

Jotaro tossed it aside and they made their way to the front of the house, only stopping at the step for Kakyoin to slip his shoes on. Jotaro remembered the brown leather being splattered with blood, but Holly must have cleaned them along with the uniforms.

“Thank you again for letting me join you, JoJo.” Kakyoin said as they stepped out the door into the sunshine.

It had been impossible to tell him no. Kakyoin had a determined look in his eye. Well, if he turned out to be unreliable, they could send him home. Jotaro felt like that wouldn't be the case. Kakyoin had a dog in this fight, the same as the rest of them.

Jotaro would have to do something about that ‘JoJo’ eventually, though.