Work Text:
Perhaps this is the karma that Kishibe Rohan must endure.
Don’t get him wrong, Kishibe Rohan has never done anything wrong. After all, he’s one of the greatest mangaka ever, the author of the “Pink Dark Boy” that conquered millions of hearts. Everything Rohan does it’s for the sake of that masterpiece.
So, Kishibe Rohan is always right. Even though the things he did are considered evil in other’s eyes, that’s never a problem to our great mangaka. Of course, everything has a price to pay, and his usual inspiration is no exception. No cost too great, because as for Rohan, money, fame, or even relationship, it’s nothing to be compared to the act of reading. Just like the way he uses Heaven’s Door to look through people’s life, he also thrives for his art to be looked at, and he would do anything so that Pink Dark Boy continues to take a part in his readers' life.
At first, Rohan thought that the 2 months trapped in hospital was the worst one.
Kind-hearted and courageous Koichi, idiotic to be pitiful Okuyasu, they can do nothing in front of the seemingly undefeatable Heaven’s Door. And then that one brat. Higashikata Josuke. So simple-minded and quick-tempered that makes Rohan laugh every time he thinks about it. Too simple that surpasses even Rohan’s calculation, in fact, that’s the reason why he lost that day. How hilarious.
Surprisingly, for Rohan, there is more than just hatred for Josuke .
Josuke this, Josuke that, it’s not intentional but sometimes, Rohan heard something about that person. It can be from his best friend Koichi, and could be also just from random someone on the street. Empathic and considerate, it’s nothing contradictory to the things he has read. It’s the kind of person that people couldn’t help but fall in love and go crazy about. Perhaps if this world was a manga, would he be the protagonist - the hero who saves Morioh town from a serial killer? That will be the series Rohan refuses to ever read in his lifetime. Ever.
Because after all, Josuke is still an unbelievably unbearable brat.
Not only that bothersome impulsive nature, Josuke is also a liar, a cheater that does anything to become the winner (even though until now the mangaka still has no way to figure out how he cheated). A greedy, materialistic brat, an average highschooler plays the role of hero just because he possesses the powerful Crazy Diamond. That’s exactly the type of person that Kishibe Rohan is willingly to spend the rest of his life despising.
But also the type of person that Kishibe Rohan couldn’t stop setting his eyes on.
There is something undeniably attractive about Higashikata Josuke. Does it lie in that face, with those muted blue eyes, deep set eyes, high nose bridge that almost ressemble a sculpture made from marble? Or the figure that towers above others? Or that outrageous hairstyle that fits him ridiculously. Maybe it didn’t come from his appearance but his personality. Approachable and friendly, but also can be determined, unhesitated to use any means necessary in order to reach his goal. Each characteristic, as much as Rohan doesn’t want to admit, he never gets bored when observing the character named Josuke.
Rohan assumes it is his hatred. It makes him unceasingly search for the demonstration of his ill nature, and hates him even more.
It also makes him unceasingly think about that brat.
Josuke is just a half-hearted hero, the type of person that is far from the protagonist of the renowned artist Kishibe Rohan’s works. The type of putting his life on the line for someone else’s sake, knowing that he is incapable of healing himself. The type of person lives with his strong faith in human and justice. The type of person that shines like a dazzling light, but also steady and durable, almost resembles that of a diamond. However, Rohan will never acknowledge it as a diamond.
Just like moissanite.
Just like moissanite will never become a diamond, Josuke will never become a true hero.
But, can we really distinguish diamond and moissanite? Can we resist that bewitching reflected light from those complex cuts? Can we do anything but admire that luminous unbreakable gemstone? Those questions, Rohan can not give an answer.
These suffocating continuous thoughts perhaps are the largest price Rohan has to pay. Maybe because he hated that guy, maybe a little bit too much. This ‘hatred’ from Kishibe Rohan to Higashikata Josuke probably is the karma that the artist must endure.
Even so, Rohan can not admit that he enjoys these feelings.
Perhaps this is the karma that Higashikata Josuke must endure.
Josuke didn't really consider himself to be a good person. As his mom always said, he’s a bit childish, not so thoughtful, sometimes too impulsive for his own good. Sure, he helps others, but just because he thinks that is the right thing to do - something that his savior would do, so probably he’s not that great. Receiving karma should not be surprising to him.
It’s that artist, Rohan Kishibe.
It’s almost unimaginable that Josuke could hang around with Rohan. He’s arrogant, unlikable, willing to do anything just for some inspiration for his manga. His action is so bizarre that Josuke wondered if there’s a moment this guy can act normally for once, or he’s just like that all the time? Rohan may look polite at first glance, but he’s easy to get angry, and also has that resentful look all the time.
As a result, Josuke couldn't take a liking to this bizarre artist.
Rohan, even though always considered others as some random books and don’t hesitate to take a peak without any basic means of morality, is never gonna turn his back to his standard and ready to sacrifice himself, even for the guy that he despises the most. Even though he's always said that his manga is his top priority, he contributed great help in the search of Yoshikage Kira, so that his old acquaintance, Miss Reimi could rest in peace. His ego is enormous, even when injured he won’t let Josuke heal him, but behind that cold behavior is a stubborn man who gives up everything to chase his idea.
And Josuke adores the way Rohan focuses on his work - his passion. A Rohan observes attentively anything he deems interesting, a Rohan gives his all onto his stories and his artworks, and in those moments, the artist’s eyes are filled with the light of passion, almost similar to the stardust traveled through millions of light years only to be reflected in those pupils. That’s a miraculous sight, so much that it looks like actual magic.
Josuke obsessed with that sight, and with the light in the eyes Rohan gave him every time their eyes met. It’s something complex and indescribable by only mere words. It is the way a cat observes its prey, but also resembles how someone fixating on a work of art in the museum. Full of alertness and curiosity, but deep inside there’s certainly others emotions that only Rohan knows. Sometimes, he wondered if the way he looks at Kishibe Rohan is similar to the way the artist observes him? Because anytime their gaze met, the fire inside Josuke’s heart reacted offensively, then became painful as if it touched electricity. Is there any chance Kishibe Rohan thinks about him similar to the way he’s drowned in these thoughts about that artist?
These rumination are the karma that Higashikata Josuke must endure.
But he never said that he disliked it.
Their relationship has been like this for a while.
Josuke rang the doorbell, Rohan opened the door, grumbled a bit but still let him in. They talked for a little, and the host would make some tea. then continued to his work, left the guest alone on the sofa, watching him from afar. Although there was no gain, neither side suffered any loss, so this scene repeats almost everyday.
A panel, two panels, in just a few moments a page was done. After all, it was the genius artist Kishibe Rohan. Quite pleased with the result, he stretched a bit, then saw Josuke spreading his arms on the sofa. Pushing the chair he was sitting on away, he slowly walked over, into that embrace, and lay down.
Hard, not soft at all. But extremely warm. Like sitting in the late autumn sunlight.
Gestures like this, both Josuke and Rohan didn't know who initiated it first. They didn't have any affirmation, attracted to each other, gradually moving towards each other, then enjoying being together like that. No beginning, no end, if Rohan were to judge it, it would be no different from the plot of a boring romance manga, and there was no use of reference at all.
But they didn't complain at all.
"Maybe this is karma," Rohan thought aloud, "of all the people, it's us, you and me. Being together like this."
"Is that so bad?" Josuke replied, while gently caressing the other's soft hair.
"Maybe. Maybe not. I mean, it must be some kind of punishment, doing this to someone we both hate."
Josuke laughed.
"Well, so be it. This is karma. This is karma we have to bear."
It is the karma they have to bear. It’s the hate, the long chain of thoughts, the feeling when their eyes meet, admiration, or being overwhelmed by emotions.
It is something they have to endure in this life.
It is love.