Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was truly annoying to Jotaro that he had to stretch himself between his studies and various Dio fanatics that seemed to think they could avenge him in some way.

Jotaro would typically have Star Platinum end things quickly with guys like that, but he felt the villain’s loud mouth would feed him some information. Now that he was threatening his ex-wife and child, Jotaro knew it was a laughable thing to think he had any information to use against him.

He said nothing, letting Star Platinum defend and push him back. Since he had no emotional reaction, Jotaro’s opponent only grew angrier.

“Seriously? What type of husband and father are you? I see. You don’t care, do you? Is this a clever distraction? Do I need to go after your other family instead?” He grinned slyly.

Jotaro ignored his useless threats. “I have no other family.” He plainly said. Of course he had his grandparents and mother, but they didn’t really count to Jotaro.

The villain tried to strike once more. “Fool- your friends! I’ll go for that french weirdo first! Then, Kakyoin will get his head caved in by me!” He laughed, but finally got a reaction like he wanted.

Jotaro’s jaw clenched tightly at the name- Kakyoin? Why was he bringing up an old friend that died 8 years ago already? You’ll do no such thing, he said in his head. No one can hurt those who are already dead.

Still, the villain didn’t toss in the towel. He rambled on about how Kakyoin wasn’t too far and he could get it done within the hour. It was all lies and tricks to manipulate Jotaro- that much he knew. But then again, this opponent hadn’t used any sort of mind games until that point… What use was it debating the matter?

Jotaro had enough listening to him and was pissed off enough that he finally had Star Platinum punch a hole through the stand user himself. “I trust Kakyoin will beat your ass in the afterlife.” He said to the lifeless body, walking away and brushing off his jacket.

It wasn’t like him to let words affect him that way, but something about his opponent was… off. He spoke as if it was a fact that Kakyoin was indeed not too far away, like the opponent didn’t even consider that he had passed almost a decade ago. Could he really be…

No. Ridiculous. Kakyoin Noriaki is dead.

Jotaro sighed inwardly and let the air out through his nose as he stood with his hands shoved in the jacket pockets. He stared out at the ocean and watched the light reflecting off the ripples for a while. It was always the ocean that calmed him down, but even then… Kakyoin was on his mind.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Jotaro recalled the times he thought he had seen Kakyoin in passing. At the manga store, grocery markets, random places that had no significant value to their past together. It only happened when he was Japan, but he wrote it off as delusions. It was normal for people to think they’ve seen a ghost, he thought.

Even after 8 years? Why couldn’t he let him go…

It ate away at him, though he never would speak about it out loud or let anyone know he remembered… the only hint that he was still holding on was a small picture locket that he carried with him that held the photo of kakyoin and the rest of the Stardust Crusaders.

At that time, he pulled out the locket and stared down at the photo. He always carried it with him, but he rarely looked at it. It felt so natural when he stood close beside Kakyoin to take that photo. He remembered Kakyoin moving through the other side of the group as if he specifically wanted to stand next to him. Jotaro wanted that, too.

He shoved the locket and his hand back in his pocket and closed his eyes. What a bother… What was the point of holding on to the past? Kakyoin is dead… There is no going back.

He turned from the ocean and walked towards the Speedwagon Foundation to find his old man and use the computers for some self-indulgent research.

The place was pretty noisy that day, but Jotaro didn’t stop to talk with anyone. Instead, he went to where his grandfather typically was. As his hand turned the knob and pushed the door, he thought he had heard Kakyoin’s name come out of Joseph’s mouth.

Joseph and the doctor he was speaking to both looked to the door and saw Jotaro, now silent from their conversation.

“Jotaro! If it isn’t my favorite grandson!” He beamed.

Jotaro ignored him and squinted his eyes. “What were you just talking about?” He asked plainly.

The doctor seemed a bit afraid, but Joseph only laughed. “Now, I know my Holly didn’t teach you to eavesdrop into conversation that has nothing to do with you… We were talking about my medications, or does that interest you?”

Jotaro made a face of disgust and thought maybe he was going crazy after all if he heard that name when it wasn’t there. “Forget it. I need your key card, I lost mine.”

“Again?” Joseph grumbled. He shoved his hand into his pocket and fished out the card from his wallet. “Bring it back when you’re done, or I won’t get to have one…”

Jotaro snatched it and made his way to the computer lab. For a while, he distracted himself with research on a particularly interesting starfish he had found off the coast there in Japan. Somehow, he ended up in the Speedwagon database searching Kakyoin’s name.

He hadn’t expected there to be files on him and wanted to clear his mind of the matter, but he clicked enter and a list of files showed up with Kakyoin Noriaki’s name.

Why? Why was Kakyoin in Speedwagon’s database?

He clicked the first one, but it was hidden behind a password wall. He considered unlocking it, but thought someone might find out the file was accessed so he continued to find an unlocked one. Except… they were all passcode protected.

Jotaro clenched his jaw and clicked on the file with the largest data size and typed in his password with a heavily beating heart. Password denied? Odd. He typed in Joseph’s password. Password… denied.

Every single Joestar was able to access any file in the database, so why was this file secured behind extra password walls?

Jotaro exited the files and didn’t even bother to turn off the computer. He went room to room looking for Polnareff in hopes that his password could unlock the information.

He hesitated before opening the next door at the sound of Polnareff’s voice. “Mkay… yeah, I can meet you in 20! ….uhuh. …..see ya then, Kakyoin.”

Kakyoin? Kakyoin?!

That time, Jotaro knew for certain he heard his name. He kicked the door in, eliciting a shriek from the French man. “Jotaro! What are you doing here?”

Jotaro snatched the phone from him and looked at the screen. Call ended: Kakyoin Noriaki.

Polnareff’s face lost all of its color after failing to retrieve the phone. “What the hell is this?” Jotaro asked, trying his best to stay calm.

“Uh- it’s…” Polnareff scratched the back of his head and tried to think of some sort of excuse. Shit! Mr. Joestar would kill him if he let Jotaro know!

“I was calling my mom…” Polnareff said unconvincingly.

Jotaro slammed the phone down and grabbed Polnareff by his shirt collar. “Bullshit! Why did I hear you talking to Kakyoin? Why does the database have files on him?!” He demanded.

“Arrête, arrête! Don’t lose your temper! Allez quoi, Jotaro!” Polnareff swatted away his hands and then put his own up as if surrendering when he failed to release Jotaro’s grip.

“Start talking.” Jotaro said through gritted teeth, Star Platinum faded to his side as his emotions became more intense.

The ruckus must have attracted some attention, because Joseph hurriedly rushed into the door the same time Polnareff said, “Kakyoin is alive.”

Chapter Text

Kakyoin… is alive.

Kakyoin…. 

The sentence played over and over in Jotaro’s mind until it sounded fake. At the same time, Joseph started arguing back and forth with Polnareff. 

“Why did you tell him?!”

“He was going to kill me!”

“He wasn’t, you were fine!”

“How do you know?! It’s Kakyoin we’re talking about!”

“How hard is it to lie?! I always got away with any slip ups and you ruin the FIRST ONE you have?!” 

Jotaro dropped Polnareff and clenched his hand to his side. “Oi!” He said to cut them both off. “The files. I want to see them.” 

Joseph sighed. “I can’t let you do that.”

“Polnareff, you’re taking me with you in 20 minutes, then.” Jotaro demanded. 

“I- I-“ Polnareff stuttered and looked to Joseph for support. 

Joseph’s eyebrows were furrowed and he looked to be considering his options. “Fine. I will show you the files… Jojo, you might not like what you find… are you prepared for that?” 

Without a proper answer, Jotaro simply said “show me.” 

Joseph reluctantly took Jotaro back to the computer lab with Polnareff in tow and pulled up Kakyoin’s files. He typed in a password that Jotaro couldn’t quite see and it successfully unlocked the data. 

“Here it is.” Joseph said, stepping aside to allow Jotaro to scroll for himself. 

Jotaro blinked at the screen, not particularly wanting to see photos of Kakyoin’s lifeless body with a hole through it. This all happened within the Speedwagon Foundation… who did all of it?

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Jotaro asked in a low tone. He stared at a photo of Kakyoin in the hospital, sitting up with a soft smile on his face and eyes that were curved with his lips. He was alive- his face had color and he was sitting up… there was no way that photo was newer than the last ones. 

Polnareff spoke up in hopes it wouldn’t sound so bad. “We figured it was best since you had your hands full with school and Jolyne and your w-“ 

“What do they have to do with Kakyoin?!” Jotaro snapped angrily, glaring his turquoise eyes at the excuse. He hated to hear about his family and never brought it up around them, so why was that the reason for keeping Kakyoin hidden away? 

“Jojo… It’s more complicated than that. Here,” Joseph clicked on another file- the one with the most data. “Read this and it will explain everything.” He sat back in another chair and watched. 

Noriaki Kakyoin 

Age: 25

Condition: Stable

Case Study: Amnesia

Amnesia? Jotaro’s stomach turned uncomfortably with anxiety as he continued.  He started with the mist recent entry. 

Patient’s progress: Personality is consistent with pre-trauma personality. No progress in memory recovery or recognition. When teaching patient about hierophant green, he had another episode. Upon waking, he had no memory and seemed to have regressed. 

“Episode?” Jotaro asked, what did it mean by episode? 

“Ah. Every time Kakyoin remembers something about his past, he gets overwhelmed and gets a severe headache before passing out.” Polnareff explained. 

Joseph nodded. “That’s why we haven’t let you see him. He wakes up worse than before when we try to make any progress on his past. It’s hard, since he wants to remember so bad.” 

“Why do you two get to see him and not me? You don’t think I can keep my mouth shut?” Jotaro questioned; he wasn’t having their excuses. 

Joseph and Polnareff shared a glance to one another like they were trying to debate explaining something to Jotaro. He stared at them as well, silently demanding an answer. 

Do you not realize how fucked this is, he wanted to say. Eight fucking years that his best friend was alive and he was left to mourn his death silently. Even a scumbag Dio follower knew before he did! Was it all some sick joke that he wasn’t in on? 

“Polnareff and I can see him because he… doesn’t remember us.” Joseph started in a cryptic way. “When we first started to work on his memory recollection, he didn’t remember me or Polnareff. We asked if he remembered Avdol and even Iggy, but he said no. Before we could ask if he remembered you, he asked if ‘the six of us’ were all friends before.” 

“Six…” Jotaro repeated. Not quite understanding, he waited for more context. 

“Six,” Polnareff chimed in. “He remembered one more person being there. We thought we might tell you and let him see if he remembered, but then we showed him a picture of you and it undid all of the progress we made. He didn’t even remember the doctor when he woke up.” 

Jotaro thought about it as he looked back to the computer screen. Kakyoin had remembered him? No, he only remembered another person with the group. Still, why couldn’t Jotaro visit like they had? He didn’t understand. “How long ago was this?” He asked. 

Joseph shrugged. “A few years. He never remembered his past, but he’s living a pretty normal life now…” 

“Without me.” Jotaro reminded. He wanted to ask if they even considered what he would want or how he felt about the situation, but he knew the answer. “I want to see him.” He said plainly. 

Polnareff and Joseph looked at each other again, but Jotaro was too busy staring at the computer screen to notice. 

Without words, the conversation was clear between the silence of Polnareff and Joseph: He won’t give up, will he? To which Joseph responded by shaking his head, I’m afraid not.

At least they knew that much. 

“Fine. But there will be rules… You can’t overwhelm him and you need to expect for him not to recognize you.” Joseph told his grandson. “For starters, you canNOT let him know you know who he is from before he lost his memories. That is the most important rule. 

Rule 2, keep the conversation casual but do not ask where he is from or what his family and friends are like. 

And finally rule 3, no mentioning stands at all.”

Jotaro nodded, barely retaining the rules. “Polnareff will keep an eye on you.” 

Jotaro stood up suddenly and turned to Polnareff with a stern “let’s go.” They went to the car and Polnareff spoke about the plan as he drove. The plan was that Polnareff would meet Kakyoin and Jotaro could come in after a few minutes and talk with them; Polnareff even planned to invite him to their table. 

As the car parked at the cafe, Jotaro could only hear buzzing in his head. He knew Polnareff said something as he went inside the cafe, but Jotaro had no idea what it might have been. He waited for what seemed like forever, but in reality it was only two minutes. 

Polnareff smiled wide at Kakyoin, who looked up from his book. “Polnareff,” he greeted pleasantly.

“I’m sorry I’m late! I hope you weren’t waiting long.” He sat down across from Kakyoin and propped his foot on the bench seat.

It was at that time Jotaro entered the cafe way earlier than they had agreed. He immediately clocked Polnareff’s location and walked directly up to the table, which was another thing that was definitely not part of the plan. So much for casual; he walked straight to the two men sitting at the table and just… stared. 

He stared directly at Kakyoin, who was looking back with a puzzled expression. 

Kakyoin was right there… he was alive and whole. His eyes were the same sparkling purple hue as the ones that haunted his dreams and every thought since eight years ago. They had feint scars vertically across those eyes, and maybe that’s what Kakyoin supposed this strange man was staring at so menacingly. 

Jotaro didn’t peel his eyes away from Kakyoin. He really was alive. Kakyoin Noriaki was ALIVE. He had been so for eight years; eight years grieving and thinking he would never see his best friend again. Eight years that he could have spent at his side… They could have grown up together, studied together. Jotaro would have given up everything in those eight years to have Kakyoin back- his daughter, his ex-wife, anything, all of it. 

The more he considered it, the angrier he felt. The fact was, no one told him. 

“Buddy, you good?” Polnareff asked before watching Jotaro proceed to storm out of the cafe, knocking someone out of his way as he did so. “Mon Dieu,” Polnareff muttered under his breath. In the matter of a minute time, Jotaro managed to fuck up every aspect of their plan. Now Kakyoin must think he’s a creep. 

Kakyoin indeed looked freaked out, but turned his attention to Polnareff. “Do I…. Know him?” 

Polnareff considered his options, then shrugged and shook his head. “Never seen that man a day in my life.” He assured. 

Chapter Text

Idiot. An actual fucking idiot.

Even though he had quit years ago, Jotaro felt like he could only feel at ease with a cigarette. He went to the nearest convenience store and bought a pack as well as a lighter, then only got to right outside the store before slumping against the wall and tearing one out of the package. Only when he breathed out his first puff of smoke did the anxiety in his chest leave along with the exhale.

A while later, he had gone through quite a few cigarettes that he could really think over how much of a fuck-up he just was for ruining the one chance he had to meet Kakyoin. He leaned his head back against the brick wall and sighed out with his eyes closed. Kakyoin must think he’s a weirdo, huh? Polnareff probably didn’t help much, either.

He put the cigarette out and slid his boot over it, then shoved the rest of the pack and lighter in his pocket (along with the key card he never gave back to Joseph). He walked down the streets to get to the beach, wanting to distract himself with… anything else.

The tide pools weren’t under the tide, so he was able to visit the royal starfish he had seen previously. He was still there, a deep blue color and hiding in one of the deeper pools. It was odd to see that species so far up the coast since they preferred warmer waters, but this one was content even in a tide pool.

Jotaro sat there for some time, then moved on to the boardwalk when the tide got higher. He decided on yet another cigarette, seemingly to have undone his entire progress since quitting. In his tracks, he stopped suddenly when he saw someone leaning against the railing and watching the sunset.

Cigarette between his lips, he could only once again stare as he watched Kakyoin. Sensing someone was staring, Kakyoin turned his head. “Hm?” He turned so only one arm was on the railing and his body was facing Jotaro. “Hey, aren’t you the guy from the cafe?” He asked redundantly. Jotaro didn’t answer and could only watch Kakyoin walk closer. The redhead had a suspicion he wanted to confirm. “You know who I am, don’t you?”

Jotaro nodded slowly and only once. Wait, didn’t his old man tell him that was one of the rules?! Fuck!

Kakyoin smiled softly, but his sunglasses covered the expression of his eyes. “Were we friends?” Jotaro nodded again. “Hm… Then why haven’t I seen you before?” He asked.

Even if he had fumbled time and time before, Jotaro knew better than to explain the situation to Kakyoin. He then dropped his eyes to see a hand extended to himself. “Well, my name is Kakyoin Noriaki. It’s nice to meet you.”

Jotaro’s heart strained at the words. They weren’t meeting, they had known each other before… But even if it wasn’t what Jotaro wanted their reunion to be, he was grateful to have a reunion in the first place. He kept his hands in his pockets, not daring to shake the pale hand in front of him. “Jotaro Kujo.”

Kakyoin diverted his hand to drop to his side instead. “Jotaro,” he said as if testing how it sounded on his tongue. He went back to leaning on the railing that looked out to the ocean. Jotaro stood where he was and only moved his head to follow Kakyoin.

His cherry colored hair was more golden in the sunset light and it highlighted his features well. Kakyoin wasn’t the same teenage boy he knew before. Just like himself, he had grown into a young man and his face had sharper angles than before; still, he aged beautifully. Maybe it was the bliss from finding out his best friend was alive, but he felt Kakyoin was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.

“Come on, Jotaro!” Kakyoin said, walking away and down the boardwalk. “I’m getting ice cream if you want some.”

Jotaro followed like a stray dog and the two of them stopped at one of the boardwalk ice cream shops. It all seemed too oddly mundane to Jotaro, but it was nice. They walked down the boardwalk together as if they had known one another the entire eight years.

If he closed his eyes, he could almost pretend this was how it was every other day. Kakyoin never died and it was all just a horrible, HORRIBLE nightmare. He was the only person he had ever met that he could feel comfortable enough around to settle into silence with him. The only one who he would consider sharing a room with because he knew he would be able to sleep soundly through the night. He was his best friend… Jotaro missed him more than anything. He was more than just his best friend, he-

“Rero, rero, rero, rero, rero~”

Jotaro snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Kakyoin with utter disgust. His ice cream had a fucking cherry on it!? “Can’t you eat it normally?!” Jotaro snapped, face still contorted in disdain.

His voice made Kakyoin jump and the cherry fell from his mouth. “Hey-“ he frowned and picked it up off the ground. “I like cherries… I was eating that.”

“You were barely ea- do not put that back in your mouth.” Jotaro grabbed his wrist, but then quickly retracted it as if he grabbed a hot pan.

“I wasn’t going to? I was throwing it away. I’m not THAT crazy.” Kakyoin laughed, walking to throw it into a trash bin. Jotaro heard none of that and only stared with widened eyes at his hand.

That was the first time he touched Kakyoin… he was a bit cold, but nothing like the coldness of his still body. He was really alive…

“Jotaro?” Kakyoin asked, now standing in front of him with his head tilted to one side. Jotaro noticed his cherry earrings followed suit as well as his bangs and he wanted more than anything to run his fingers in his hair. Now that Jotaro was looking at him, Kakyoin spoke again. “Did you hear me? It’s okay if you don’t want to, but if you don’t have plans I wanted to invite you to my place for some games?”

Jotaro blinked and focused on the purple eyes in front of him, chin tilted down to adjust for their height difference. “Why? You’ve just met me.”

“Ah,” Kakyoin seemed to be red in the face and looked away for a moment. “For why I suddenly want to invite you over, I’m not entirely certain myself.”

Wait- those words… Jotaro had heard them before. No, not those exact words. Very similar, the time Kakyoin first invited himself to go on the journey with Jotaro and Joseph.

He should have said no and Kakyoin would still be here… but, he is? Kakyoin was right in front of him once again inviting himself into Jotaro’s life. Who was he to refuse? “Okay,” Jotaro agreed.

Unsurprisingly, Kakyoin had his own apartment very close to the Speedwagon Foundation’s facility. Jotaro assumed they had purchased it for him to keep a close eye on his progress. It was a very nice place, resembling the size of a penthouse apartment and wasn’t short on luxuries.

Kakyoin noticed Jotaro looked uncomfortable, so he frowned. “What is it?” 

“I never took you as the type for expensive tastes, is all.” Jotaro admitted. Little did he know, his words had actually comforted his friend.

Kakyoin smiled warmly and turned away to put his keys down. “Honestly, I’m glad you say that… I don’t think I really am that type of person, either.”

“Is that so?” Jotaro asked, standing in the exact spot where he had been since he entered.

Kakyoin on the other hand, was sitting cross-legged in front of the television and fiddling with some controller wires. “Yeah, it’s all a bit… much. I feel like I have too much space and I don’t even use half of the furniture in here. But, I can’t complain.” He stopped untangling wires to look up at Jotaro. “Is this where I lived before?”

“No.” Jotaro answered plainly. He almost said he lived with his parents, but he remembered the old man telling him not to? Something like that.

Kakyoin nodded and extended one of the controllers. “Come sit with me, Jotaro.”

He said his name a lot, which was something Jotaro quickly noticed. Was he trying to remember him by saying it, or maybe had he never realized before how much he called him. Jotaro sat a decent distance away from Kakyoin on the sofa and held the controller. He knew Kakyoin loved games, but they had never gotten a chance to play together as they always planned to.

The game was simple, but Jotaro wasn’t great at it. Kakyoin beat him with ease every time and when it was cooperative, he carried Jotaro’s dead weight and won for their team pretty much alone. Sometimes, if Jotaro died, it really was all by himself. “I don’t understand this game…” Jotaro pointed out.

Kakyoin laughed lightly and got up to change the disk. “Halo is probably not the best one I could have started you on. Do you want to play something else? I have Mario Kart or… hmm, I seem to have a lot of single-player games.

“I wouldn’t mind watching you play.” Jotaro said, retiring his controller to the floor. He wondered if Kakyoin had new games he wanted to play or which one was his favorite.

Kakyoin looked over his shoulder at Jotaro. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to be bored.”

Jotaro nodded. “I don’t mind.”

With a smile, Kakyoin plopped in a different game and sat back on the sofa with his legs tucked up on the sofa as well. “This one is new and I’ve been looking forward to playing it but haven’t had time. Oh, are you hungry? I can have something delivered to here.”

“I can do it.” Jotaro stood up and went to the desktop to boot it up. “Anything particular you’d like?”

“Mmmm…” Kakyoin was barely paying attention already and had started the game tutorial. “Pizza?”

Jotaro clicked onto the website and ordered a pizza for the two of them, a large one of course. He added drinks and an appetizer then checked out after getting Kakyoin’s address information from him. He then returned to the sofa and watched Kakyoin play his video game. One of his elbows was on the side of the sofa and was used to prop his head up to watch. It wasn’t anything exciting and Jotaro didn’t care much for games in general. Honestly, he was happy Kakyoin wanted to play a single-player game.

The two of them ate the pizza and didn’t really say much besides Kakyoin making comments about the game he was playing or going on some tangent about how the game could have been. Jotaro only listened contently and occasionally made a remark or a noise of agreement.

It didn’t take long for Jotaro to daze off into sleep, his body winding down and being comfortable enough to relax in Kakyoin’s presence. Even if he had lost his memories, he really was the same Kakyoin he remembered.

Jotaro’s impromptu nap turned into a sleep and he only woke in the morning on Kakyoin’s sofa. Kakyoin was there too, proving it wasn’t all a dream. His head was rested against Jotaro’s shoulder while still holding the controller in one hand. His character was still idle and occasionally said one or two phrases in his idle. He reminisced of Kakyoin falling asleep on his arm in the car constantly on their trip to Egypt, but this wasn’t Egypt and Kakyoin didn’t remember any of that.

“Kakyoin,” Jotaro said as he shrugged his shoulder to wake the man. He sleepily woke up, but barely wanted to move at all. He groaned in complaint, but it only made Jotaro narrow his eyes. “You’re too trusting. How can you sleep next to a stranger?”

Finally, Kakyoin lifted his head and blinked his purple eyes open. “Jotaro?” Well, at least he remembered him. “Why are you lecturing me on it? You said we were friends before.”

“Anyone can say they were your friend.” Jotaro pointed out.

“Well, thanks for not killing me, I suppose?” He sat up and stretched his arms up in the air with a yawn. “I’m sorry, I should have given you an actual bed to sleep in or something.”

Jotaro didn’t say anything and just watched Kakyoin as he stood up to put away the controller and game. He didn’t mind not having a bed and didn’t even care that he had fallen asleep in Kakyoin’s apartment. What he cared about was that Kakyoin didn’t remember how they used to share rooms and naps constantly before. Even if he didn’t remember, how did his body still remember to feel comfortable enough around him?

Those memories… were they still hidden away in there?

He wanted to find out, but he didn’t want to hurt Kakyoin if he triggered another episode rather than a memory. His thoughts were interrupted by Kakyoin’s voice. “I would ask you to hang out, but… I’m meeting some friends for breakfast.” He smiled politely and stood a distance away from the sofa.

“Friends?” Jotaro asked, raising an eyebrow.

Kakyoin made a face. “Don’t look so surprised, Jotaro. Actually, do you remember the guy at the coffee shop with me yesterday?”

“Polnareff,” Jotaro said plainly. He knew him, of course. We all knew each other. I knew you before Polnareff did!

“Oh, yeah. You know him?” Kakyoin furrowed his brows and looked to the side in thought. Then after consideration, he pressed a palm to his forehead.

“Kakyoin?” Jotaro stood from his seat.

Kakyoin closed his eyes with a grumble. “I’m fine. Ow, shit.” He sat on the floor where he was and closed his eyes, trying to stop his head from splitting. His thoughts were running wild- Jotaro, Polnareff, Mr. Joestar… They were all connected, weren’t they? “Actually, I’m not okay.” Kakyoin said after opening his eyes and noticing his vision had started to go black in the corners.

His ears were ringing and his head hurt like someone was drilling into it. “Jotaro, I don’t.. I don’t want to forget. Please, help me.” His breathing quickened and Jotaro quickly realized he was having some sort of panic attack on top of everything.

Jotaro crouched down to his knees beside Kakyoin and put a vaguely comforting hand on his back. Did I say something wrong? He wanted to ask, but didn’t want to overwhelm him.

“Polnareff is-“ Kakyoin seemed to be straining for answers, so Jotaro shook his head and said “don’t think about it anymore.”

Kakyoin looked to him with widened eyes, but he somehow felt those eyes had no focus in them. “Who is… Hierophant?” With those last two words, Kakyoin’s eyes closed and he passed out in Jotaro’s arms after being caught.

“Kakyoin? Kakyoin…” Jotaro lifted him up and slung him over his shoulder. What would be the best for him? The hospital? No… If the hospital couldn’t fix his memory in those eight years, then there must be a better way. Have they ever tried to have him wake up somewhere else?

Chapter Text

Kakyoin woke up in an unfamiliar place, but still vaguely familiar. Before he could completely come to his senses, his hand raised to his forehead and his eyebrows furrowed. 

“What are you looking for?” Jotaro asked, leaning against the doorframe with his hands shoved in his pockets. 

“It’s…” he patted his fingers where his hairline starts, but he couldn’t figure out what he was looking for either. “It’s nothing. Thank you for saving me.” Kakyoin made a strange face after saying those words. What had he just thanked him for? He couldn’t remember. 

Kakyoin sat up and looked around the room as if more people should be there. Then, he faced Jotaro. “Sorry, I’m a bit scrambled right now. Um, It’s nice to meet you; my name is Kakyoin Noriaki.” 

Jotaro’s frown set deeper at his words. “You don’t remember?” 

“Huh?”

“Forget it.” Jotaro pushed off the wall and turned away, just looking over his shoulder. “Jotaro Kujo.” 

Kakyoin smiled. “Your Japanese is very good, but you have an accent? Where are you from?” 

“Here. My mother is American, but I am still Japanese.” Jotaro told him. He didn’t want to tell Kakyoin about himself all over again. He just wanted him to remember… 

“Oh, that’s right… my memories.” Kakyoin sighed and put his face in the palm of his hand. “How much did I forget this time?” He sounded exhausted. 

Jotaro turned back around. “Do you remember Polnareff?” 

“Of course. I remember Mr. Joestar, too. And Iggy.” Kakyoin said happily. 

“Iggy?” Jotaro questioned. 

Kakyoin’s smile faded the more he thought about it. “Actually, I don’t know why I said that name… Jotaro, I feel like you and I- were we close before?” Jotaro only nodded, but said nothing else. Still, Kakyoin smiled at his answer. “That’s good.”

“You were asking about Hierophant Green before you passed out.” Jotaro reminded in hopes he could at least remember that much. Kakyoin’s eyes held no glimpse of remembrance as he asked, “what is that?” 

Why now must you ask what rather than who, Kakyoin? 

Jotaro sighed. “Forget it. Let’s go, they’re waiting already.” He didn’t say who it was that was waiting, but Kakyoin correctly assumed it was Polnareff and Joseph. 

Originally, Jotaro thought that bringing Kakyoin to Holly’s house would make him remember, which he was right for thinking so since Kakyoin may have been looking for the flesh bud when he woke up. Still, he forgot as he woke up and now there was nothing. 

The two walked to lunch together where Polnareff and Joseph were waiting outside. At the sight of Kakyoin, Polnareff hurried over and put his hands on his arms. “Are you okay?! I’ve been worried sick!” 

“What are you, his mother?” Jotaro grumbled. 

“And you-“ Polnareff huffed. “Where have the two of you been? What was with that cryptic call?” 

Kakyoin laughed and gently removed the french man’s hands. “Don’t worry, I had another episode. I feel fine now and Jotaro was helping me.”

“Was he?” Joseph chimed in with a wide grin. “Come on, let’s all get a table.”

The four of them sat in a booth, Jotaro and  Kakyoin next to one another in the seat. “So, mind telling us what happened?” Joseph started. 

Since Jotaro wasn’t going to respond, Kakyoin spoke up. “Well, I’m not sure… I don’t remember. I woke up at Jotaro’s house again.” 

Again? 

Jotaro was the only one who realized exactly what Kakyoin had said. For starters, he knew that house was Jotaro’s even though he never said it. It was possible that he could have assumed it was his house, but then what was with him saying ‘again’? 

“Oh?? You slept over at Jotaro’s, huh?” Polnareff teased, eyebrows raised and an elbow on the table. 

“I guess so? Again, I don’t remember.” Kakyoin replied apologetically. 

Joseph also seemed interested in the scenario, especially since the last he heard was that Jotaro ran away from the cafe without saying a word to Kakyoin. “Jotaro! You have one bed, where did Kakyoin sleep?”

On his own sofa, old man. Kakyoin doesn’t remember where he actually slept. Instead of saying any of that, he only grumbled an annoyed, “Good grief…” Jotaro then sighed and stood from the table, walking to the bathroom.

Kakyoin watched him walk away, staring too long. His eyebrows were furrowed and the other two could tell he was considering something. 

“Is everything okay, Kakyoin?” Joseph asked. 

Kakyoin hummed a “hm? Yeah, I-“ then turned his head to the two of them after Jotaro disappeared. “He is very familiar to me.” 

Polnareff smiled. “That’s good! The more you remember, the better it is. You haven’t been able to remember him for a long time even though you’ve asked about him.” He explained. 

His explanation rewarded him an elbow in the ribcage by Joseph as if warning him not to overwhelm Kakyoin. “I have? Hmm… Do you mind if I ask what we… uh, were we close?” 

“Very.” Polnareff laughed. 

“Oh, he was saying I was asking about something that was green before I passed out?” Kakyoin started to ask. 

Joseph raised an eyebrow. “Hierophant Green?” He asked, then exchanged a look with Polnareff after Kakyoin nodded.

Kakyoin’s face lit up. “Yes, that! Can you tell me what it is?” 

“Hierophant Green is not a ‘what,’ but a ‘who.” Polnareff corrected with a wink. 

“Oh…” Kakyoin didn’t understand the poorly timed wink. “Who is it? Can I meet him, then?”

Joseph leaned back with the menu to scan over it. “In time, maybe. Don’t worry too much about Hierophant Green right now.” 

Kakyoin nodded and Jotaro came back shortly after, sitting beside Kakyoin again. “Is Avdol running late?” He asked casually, looking over his shoulder to where the door was. 

The three of them stared at Kakyoin with different expressions, but all startled. 

“…who did you just…” Polnareff said in a quiet voice. 

“Huh? Oh,” Kakyoin furrowed his brows and scratched his head in thought. He must have made up a name or someone. “I’m sorry, I was saying nonsense; it’s nothing.”

“Nothing?” Polnareff said with a laugh. “You said his name, didn’t you? Who are you asking for?!” 

“Polnareff!” Joseph warned loudly, grabbing onto his shoulder for comfort. “Calm down, don’t overwhelm him.” 

“Overwhelm him?! What about me, huh? He can’t just say shit like that and you can’t expect me to be calm about it.” Polnareff stood up and pointed to Kakyoin. “If you’re doing this on purpose, then I’ll have no choice but to-“

Jotaro stood up suddenly and stepped closer to where Polnareff was standing, expression dark and daring him to say anything else. Polnareff finally came to his senses and looked to each of them. Jotaro seemed two seconds away from having Star Platinum summoned, Joseph looked extremely concerned, and Kakyoin was looking down shamefully like he had committed a cardinal sin. 

“I’m… sorry.” Polnareff sat back down with a sigh and buried his face in his hands. 

“Where are you going?” Joseph asked as Kakyoin slinked out of the booth. Kakyoin offered a hesitant smile and said, “I just need air, I’ll be back. Order without me.” 

He left the three of them at the table and Jotaro was suddenly conflicted between following him outside or shouting at Polnareff. What if he had been sent into another episode so soon and lost even more memories? What if he suddenly recalled all of the carnage when facing Dio? 

Jotaro ultimately walked outside to find Kakyoin sitting down by the fountain and tossing petals in it from a flower he had found growing through the concrete cracks. He sat down casually a few feet away from Kakyoin, back to the fountain. 

Kakyoin curiously looked over and watched Jotaro light a cigarette. He never looked over to Kakyoin even when the redhead spoke. “I thought you were going to quit smoking.” He softly said. 

Jotaro blew out a puff of smoke. “You remember that?” He asked nonchalantly. 

“I guess…” Kakyoin turned so his thigh was on the fountain and his body rotated towards Jotaro. “I want to remember things, but they are always afraid that I’ll pass out.” There was an implied ‘so what’ as Jotaro continued to stare forward and smoke. “You’re not as afraid. Can you help me remember?” 

There was a silence for some time while Jotaro considered. He didn’t want to info-dump on him and risk his health, but he couldn’t help but want Kakyoin to hurry up and remember everything. Finally he asked, “What do you remember from before you lost your memory?” 

Kakyoin smiled, happy that his friend wanted to help. “Not a lot. I remember fragments of things, but I’m not sure what order they happened. I feel like I remember you, though. How did we meet?” 

Jotaro finally looked at Kakyoin, turquoise eyes looking down to make up for the height difference. It was the same look he always gave Kakyoin, which made him confused what Jotaro was ever thinking. He was just so… hard to read. “You tried to kill me.” 

Kakyoin’s eyes widened. “I- WHAT?” 

Taking the cigarette out of his mouth, Jotaro said “It wasn’t your fault, so don’t worry about it too much.” He fiddled with the cigarette in his hand as he spoke. “You were being controlled, but I brought you back… That’s why you thanked me for saving you.” 

“Oh… Jotaro, how long has it been since I lost my memory?” Kakyoin asked in a steady voice, trying not to sound as if he desperately wanted the answer. 

They hadn’t told him? Whatever, he needed to know at some point. If he couldn’t handle it, then he would simply forget. “Eight years.” 

Kakyoin’s mouth parted at the number. He wanted it to be fake, but Jotaro wasn’t the type to joke around- that much he knew. “Eight…” 

He had more questions, but suddenly felt too afraid to ask. Why do you guys still try, then? Why do you stick around? What is so important about me that is worth such misery? I want to remember you… All of you. 

“Okay. Thank you for telling me.” Kakyoin put his head in his hand with a sigh. 

Jotaro quickly tossed the cigarette to the ground and didn’t bother to even put it out. He grabbed Kakyoin’s wrist and used his other hand to cup the side of his face. “Kakyoin?” He sounded panicked. 

“Huh?” Kakyoin looked up, wrist uncovering his curious purple eyes looking up to Jotaro. He looked afraid and Kakyoin realized it must have been from how his hand was on his head. He almost said something to reassure him, but he figured out why it was always odd how Jotaro looked at him. 

With Jotaro’s hand firmly on his wrist and the other softly on his face, Kakyoin felt a mesmerizing heat from the touch. It was the same warm feeling he felt when Jotaro looked at him, too. To his remembrance, Jotaro rarely ever touched him; when he did, it was firm and intentional and lasted longer than a touch should linger. “Jotaro… were we…” Kakyoin swallowed, unsure how to ask. Now that he thought of it, Jotaro was ridiculously handsome of a man. Could it have been possible that… “were we more than… just, friends before?” 

Chapter Text

“Jotaro, were we… more than just- friends… before?” Kakyoin asked. 

The question threw Jotaro off completely and his face did nothing to hide his confusion, a bit of disgust that would definitely be taken out of context by Kakyoin. Before Jotaro could figure out what was happening, Kakyoin recoiled and stood up from the fountain quickly, moving away from the touch. 

“Nevemind. I’m sorry… I misread the situation.” Kakyoin said in panic. 

Jotaro was still confused. Why was Kakyoin’s face red? “Okay…”

“I’ll… be inside.” Kakyoin quickly went back into the restaurant without looking back or waiting for Jotaro to follow. 

Before too long, Jotaro went back in as well and sat beside Kakyoin again. For whatever reason, Kakyoin would barely look at him for the entire meal… On the plus side, he and Polnareff seemed to have mended their argument. 

Jotaro assumed everything was back to normal until Kakyoin excused himself to go to the restroom. As Jotaro sipped his drink, he noticed the two idiots across the table were staring at him with the shittiest grins he had ever seen. 

“…what?” He asked plainly. 

“Did something happen? You two aren’t talking.” Polnareff said in a weirdly teasing tone. 

Jotaro made a disgusted face. “I don’t talk.” 

Joseph laughed and slapped the table. “Come on! We can see him turn red when he looks at you. What happened out there?” 

He carefully sat his cup down with squinted eyes, trying to decipher what they were getting at. “He asked me some questions about his memory loss.” 

…

…

“Go on~” Polnareff urged. 

Jotaro muttered a quick “good grief” under his breath before recalling the events. “Asked how long it had been since he lost his memory; I told him eight. He asked how we met and I told him he tried to kill me… Uh… and he remembered I quit smoking.” 

Joseph and Polnareff glanced at one another and then to Jotaro who had inconspicuously picked up his sandwich again to eat. It got to his lips before he first spoke, “Oh, and he asked if we were more than just friends before? Don’t know what that meant.” He bit into the sandwich. 

“JOJO!” Joseph yelled in excitement the same time Polnareff shouted, “C’est l’amour!” 

Jotaro once again had an ugly scowl on his face, not able to enjoy the bite of his sandwich by the way the two of them had reacted. 

Joseph couldn’t help but make another comment through delighted laughter. “Don’t have another kid, Jotaro!” 

Polnareff also seemed to find that funny, but Jotaro had yet to catch on. “Why would I need another?” 

The laughter and comments came to a start as his old man and Polnareff moved on to a different focus, which was plans for the weekend. 

Meanwhile, Jotaro was going over the conversation in his head and slowly putting the pieces together one by one. Wait… when they mentioned another kid did they mean…. with Kakyoin?! 

Jotaro suddenly slammed his fist on the table, making the two of them jump. His face was bright red- half in rage and half in embarrassment. 

They immediately realized Jotaro had finally caught on and they started laughing again. The laughter continued even as Kakyoin walked back to the table. 

“Damn annoying.” Jotaro grumbled, looking away and towards the window, using a hand to tilt his hat over his eyes. 

Kakyoin smiled, happy his friends were having a good time. “Jotaro, could I slide back in?”

Jotaro’s face turned even more red and the other two had to hold their breaths not to completely lose their shit; they were practically clinging on to one another watching the show. 

He refused to look at Kakyoin and also refused to turn his head anywhere in his direction, so he slid into Kakyoin’s seat and left the outer seat open. 

…

Kakyoin hesitantly sat in Jotaro’s seat, staring at the half eaten sandwich he did not order. “Jotaro, can I have my plate?” He asked sweetly. 

Jotaro shoved it away from himself, nearly knocking the other plates off the table. Kakyoin stopped it in time and switched their plates. “What were you all chatting about?” 

“Oh, just the casual stuff. Finding love and what not. Kakyoin, do you have any crushes?” Polnareff teased. 

Kakyoin covered his embarrassment with a lighthearted laugh. “You never change, Polnareff.” He ignored answering the question.

Nothing else noteworthy happened since Jotaro was staring out of the window for the remainder of the lunch. After paying, the four left and split into two’s. 

“So, what do you have planned for the rest of the day?” Kakyoin asked casually as they walked. 

Jotaro shrugged. “Nothing.” 

“Oh. I heard you were writing a thesis paper? Are you done with it?” Kakyoin questioned. After Jotaro said no, Kakyoin hummed thoughtfully and said “I would love to hear about it some time or read it when you’re done.” 

He said that for a certain reason, and that reason was the split second he saw Jotaro’s eyes light up before he could cover them with his hat. “If you’re really interested, I could tell you about it.” He sounded so casual, but Kakyoin knew how excited he was. 

And so, Kakyoin listened to Jotaro talk about Starfish and go on side tangents about other marine life as they walked together to Kakyoin’s apartment. 

“Basically, that means climate change may be happening quicker than we even realize. These species of starfish and also certain crustaceans are being found further north than usual, but they are overlooked because the species itself is common. I am trying to prove that unnaturally warmer waters are bringing these species further north. It seems unnecessary to worry about, but it will throw off the entire food chain and ecosystem.” Jotaro was sitting on Kakyoin’s sofa at that point as the redhead silently watched him and enjoyed the explanation. 

Kakyoin tilted his head. “Is it possible they ran out of food down south and had to evolve to suit colder waters?” 

“It’s possible, but that is what I am trying to discern.” Jotaro told him with half of a smile. 

“I look forward to your findings, Dr. Kujo.” He teased with a wide grin. Jotaro smiled back before returning to his usual stoic demeanor. It made him feel warm… fuzzy. 

He hated that. 

“Jotaro, did we go to school together?” Kakyoin asked. 

“Not really.” Jotaro replied, remembering they had a solid ONE day of classes before Kakyoin tried to kill him. He wasn’t even sure Kakyoin actually had transferred there or not. “You enjoyed learning.” 

Kakyoin propped a foot up on the sofa and lounged his arm across his knee. “Still do. I like talking with you about things like that. I can learn on my own, but it’s nice when I hear it from someone as passionate as you are.” 

Rambling. Kakyoin was always such the over-explaining type. Even so, Jotaro never minded when it was him. 

Jotaro nodded, then lifted the TV remote. Apparently, he had no plan to leave. Kakyoin was fine with that… It was odd, yes- but it was fine. 

Nothing interesting was really on, so it was more just background noise as the two sat together. Kakyoin relaxed with a book while Jotaro stared at the TV screen eith crossed arms thinking about his thesis paper. 

“Hierophant…”

Jotaro snapped his attention to Kakyoin who had at some point fallen asleep against his arm once again. 

“Hierophant… Green.” Kakyoin mumbled in his sleep again. Jotaro watched with widening eyes as the familiar green stand faded into existence for the first time in eight years. Hierophant Green! He had been summoned!

Jotaro kept quiet and watched Hierophant’s tentacles slither their way to Jotaro and wrap themselves around his hands and arms as if giving him a hug. He smiled at it and decided to uncross one of his hands to lay flat in the air. Immediately, Hierophant Green seemed to cuddle into Jotaro’s palm. 

“Long time, no see.” Jotaro said quietly, moving a thumb as if petting the stand like a cat. The tentacle shuddered at his touch, as did the sleeping Kakyoin next to him. 

He had forgotten Hierophant and Kakyoin were so closely connected! 

His face turned bright red and he quickly pushed Hierophant Green away from him, then shoved Kakyoin off of him and onto the floor from the sofa in a panic. 

“Ah!” Kakyoin thumped on the floor, then looked around groggily. “Jotaro? What happened?” Luckily, Hierophant had disappeared before Kakyoin woke up. He squinted at Jotaro, “you’re red… Is everything okay?”

“…” Jotaro tilted his hat to hide his eyes. “There was a bug.” 

Kakyoin blinked. “Uhuh…” he sat up from the floor with a yawn. “I’m sorry I fell asleep, I guess my body was worn out from everything today.” 

He checked the time on his watch, then looked to the kitchen before looking back to Jotaro. “I should make dinner. Do you want to have some, also?” 

“Aren’t you tired? I can make dinner.” Jotaro offered. 

“You’re the guest here, why would I make you do it?” Kakyoin asked with a laugh. 

Still, Jotaro stood up and walked towards the kitchen. “I can do it.” 

That… wasn’t the point. Kakyoin got up and followed him to the kitchen. “Do you even know what you’re doing? I will just help you, then.” He looked in the fridge for anything to make. “What do you want to make? I don’t think I have much to make if you want to go out with me…. to eat. Uh, instead.” 

Shit- nice, Kakyoin. Keep your fucking cool, will you? Smooth as hell, idiot.

“We can.” Luckily, Jotaro didn’t sound suspicious of how Kakyoin fumbled his words.

On the other hand, Jotaro was wondering why Kakyoin would be flustered asking such a thing? Had he asked if they were more than friends because he himself wanted it to be true? 

Chapter Text

The two walked together from dinner, Kakyoin once again inquiring about his memories. Jotaro stopped short and Kakyoin noticed quickly. “Is everything okay?”

“Sh.” Jotaro listened to the empty air and turned over his shoulder slightly. Something wasn’t right… 

“Kakyoin, get behind me. Something is off…” Jotaro kept his hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the darkness for the enemy. Horrible fucking timing… how would Kakyoin react if he saw a stand user attack? He barely remembered his own stand’s existence and the idea of it made Kakyoin pass out before. 

Kakyoin didn’t, but also went on alert like it was a natural response to prepare for battle. Jotaro knew he couldn’t protect him like that, but he also knew the Kakyoin of before wouldn’t need to be protected. 

Just then, a sludge erupted from the asphalt and dragged Kakyoin with it.

“Kakyoin!!” Jotaro dashed and reached for Kakyoin, but failed to grab him. 

“Jotaro!” Kakyoin yelled back, trying to reach. 

Fuck. FUCK. How was he supposed to explain Star Platinum to Kakyoin? The stand dragged Kakyoin as if taunting Jotaro. Think, Jotaro. Think! 

“Kakyoin, close your eyes and keep them shut, okay?” Jotaro called out, running to the side to catch the stand off guard. 

Kakyoin was still trying to free himself, so he ignored Jotaro’s request. “What?! Why would I do such a thing at a time like this?!” The sludge started to drag him up the side of a large building. 

Jotaro gritted his teeth. Now was NOT the time for Kakyoin’s stubbornness. “If you trust me, do it!”

Kakyoin closed his eyes tightly and heard Jotaro say “good, keep them closed until I say.” Kakyoin nodded in agreement and could only feel the battle between Jotaro and whatever the hell had a hold on him. 

Even when Kakyoin felt like he was falling-

Wait. 

Kakyoin opened his eyes just to see himself falling from a fatal height. What?! When was he dragged so high?! 

“Jotaro!”

“Kakyoin!!!”

He wasn’t going to make it… he wasn’t close enough to catch Kakyoin. He knew it, and Kakyoin knew it as well. He closed his eyes tightly and braced himself for the fall, not wanting a countdown of when he would slam into the concrete. 

But it never happened…

Kakyoin never hit the ground, but he didn’t feel Jotaro’s hands on him either. In fact, he only heard Jotaro skidding to a stop nearby. But, why hadn’t he hit the concrete? Was he floating?

His eyes slowly opened just to widen instantly at a familiar set of emerald eyes staring back at him. There was a long silence before Kakyoin hesitantly said “Hierophant?”

He didn’t notice or care that the enemy stand had been defeated, but he knew this old familiar face was the one who kept him from falling to his demise. 

Hierophant Green… how could he have forgotten such an important thing such as that? What else was he forgetting?

Jotaro expected Kakyoin to pass out, but he surprisingly didn’t. “Kakyoin, are you okay?”

“Mn..” he got down from where he was suspended and brushed himself off, Hierophant disappearing as he gathered himself. “I’m okay… More importantly, that was… my stand.”

“Hierophant Green,” Jotaro clarified. Kakyoin nodded and started to walk with Jotaro. Kakyoin chewed the inside of his cheek in thought and Jotaro didn’t bother to say anything as the two of them walked to Kakyoin’s place. 

“Jotaro-“

The man in question turned over his shoulder from the door to look at Kakyoin. “I suddenly remembered something… When I was younger, I didn’t get along with anyone that much and I was happy being alone. No one understood Hierophant Green. I don’t remember yet why I chose to follow you, Polnareff, and the rest, but-“ he looked towards the empty room. “Being with you… it makes me feel happy. Thank you.”

Jotaro tilted his head so Kakyoin couldn’t see his smile. I wish you remembered… “Don’t worry about it.”

Jotaro left Kakyoin to his own devices for the first time since seeing him again. Kakyoin honestly started to believe the man would never leave, but he apparently figured that he was overstaying his welcome. Not that Kakyoin minded, but he had other things in mind. 

He went to his bedroom and held out a hand, palm facing the ceiling. “Hierophant Green, are you there?” 

The green humanoid answered his call and untethered itself seemingly from Kakyoin’s shadow. Still not used to seeing the vaguely familiar stand, Kakyoin’s eyes widened again when it appeared. He moved his hand to touch its arm, surprised that it moved as well with his intention to feel it. 

“During the fight, you got hurt and now…” He held up his other arm to show the closed scratch. “I’m the one who got hurt. I wonder, was it coincidence, or are we somehow connected?” 

The stand seemed to only stare back at him in his eyes, having no knowledge of the conversation. Even with his expressionless face, Kakyoin felt he could physically feel Hierophant Green was excited from seeing his master after such a long time. 

“Would you mind testing a theory for me?” Kakyoin asked, his stand uncoiling a tentacle to reach the kitchen. It came back holding a pocketknife as Kakyoin intended. “You seem to be made of membranes, so I will have to be careful where I test. Easiest, I would say…” He flipped open the pocketknife, “would be your arm.” He cut a small abrasion through the membrane, but Hierophant Green seemed not to acknowledge any pain related to the action. Instead, Kakyoin hissed at the feeling as if a knife had just cut through his own arm. 

“Interesting…” he examined the new blood on his arm. He sensed Hierophant Green’s sorrow that his master had been hurt, but also recognition that it was necessary.“Which leads me to wonder, what would happen if it was one of the coils?” 

He used the blade to cut almost completely through one of the coils, but he felt no pain on his own body. So, it was certain parts of him that correlated? Kakyoin hummed in thought, then reached to his nightstand and retrieved a lighter. 

“Curious, don’t mind me.” He muttered to Hierophant Green, then used the lighter to try burning a different coil. Nothing- he didn’t feel the pain even when it was a broad area. “Must be some sort of defensive use, then.” He muttered to himself. 

Kakyoin reached a hand to lightly tap his finger on one of the metal eyes of Hierophant Green. “Looks like you don’t get hurt when I do, huh? That seems unfair.” He teased, tapping where the eye scars should have been. 

His eyebrows furrowed suddenly, then he picked up a coil to examine it. “Membranes…” 

Kakyoin quickly reached into his drawer once more for a notebook and pencil, then scribbled down his thoughts before they could escape him. 

“Hierophant Green, you have my memories, don’t you?” He wrote as he spoke, “if I can use your membrane coils to regulate the connection in my neurons, then…” Kakyoin looked up from his notebook with wide eyes at Hierophant Green, who was still expressionless. “You could give my memories back to me…”

Kakyoin laughed out loud at the idea, then grabbed Hierophant Green by the face in his palms. “I’m so happy, I could kiss you! Hahaha!” He let go of his Stand and wrote down some scribbled details in the notebook just in case he lost the memory between now and whenever he could figure out a way to fix his memory for certain. 

“Now, I’m not entirely sure if this will work…” Kakyoin mumbled, moving to get comfortable on his bed and look over the scribbled mess of notes. 

He didn’t want to drill a hole in his skull, and was aware Hierophant wouldn’t have the proper precision to do that in the first place. Besides, it was much easier and less invasive if he had Hierophant enter through his nose. 

If he could get Hierophant small enough, he could easily travel through his nasal cavity and pass through the cribriform plate through the olfactory nerve holes. 

It was more painful of a process than Kakyoin had hoped. For one, making his stand so small required quite a lot of effort mixed with the physical distress his body was in having something poking around his brain. Originally he was only bleeding out of his nostrils, which was expected, but he ended up coughing up blood as he attempted to find where Hierophant should go. 

Since there was no way of seeing where Hierophant was exactly, Kakyoin had to just… feel. If he had gotten someone’s help, it may have been easier on his mind and body. But, Kakyoin knew it was a 20% chance at best to get his memory back, and those were odds only he would be willing to take. If he asked for help, no one would aid him in the procedure and would likely keep a close eye on him in case he, well, tried to do it himself. Besides that, Kakyoin didn't feel the need to bother anyone else with his rabbit hole of an idea. 

Yet, 5 hours later and a puddle of blood drooling from Kakyoin’s mouth- he found it. He had finally found where he needed  Hierophant to hook in to. If he could just keep himself from fainting just a little longer… if his body could withstand the pain as Hierophant dug his coils in to Kakyoin’s brain, then there was a chance he could get all of the memories back. 

Chapter Text

Florescent lights weren’t the most flattering lighting to wake up to, but they were immediately identified as Speedwagon Foundation’s hospital. Kakyoin closed his eyes again and grumbled at the steady beeping of machines that weren’t doing anything to help his migraine. 

He pressed his palm to his face as he tried to recall the events from the night before. That’s right… Jotaro, he and Jotaro had sushi together. Kakyoin chuckled slightly to himself and grinned, remembering Jotaro had asked Kakyoin to order for him and pointed to what he wanted. 

He was always like that- avoiding conversation with strangers at all costs and having Kakyoin order for both of them. Did he know Kakyoin hated it, too? He did it because it really wasn’t that big of a deal. 

What else happened that night? Right… Didn’t Jotaro smile at him that way again before he left? It was truly a wonder why Jotaro hadn’t confessed his little crush. He wasn’t exactly subtle, after all… Silly man, did he think he’d be shouted at for being vulnerable about it? 

And the way he protected Kakyoin when the taxi driver attacked… He had that same look on his face when they were fighting Dio in Egy-

Kakyoin’s eyes flew open and he sat up quickly in the hospital bed, trembling slightly. That’s right… he…

It worked. 

Hierophant Green really…

Kakyoin looked around the room, suddenly remembering all of the times in the past eight years he had been there. He was there so often, it was more like a second home at that point.

Some memories were still hazy and the timeline was extremely confusing, but they were all there. If he could wait to tell anyone until he unscrambled his own brain… maybe they wouldn’t care he operated on his own brain? 

The door opened and the doctor stepped in along with Polnareff and Jotaro. “You’re awake! That’s wonderful.” The doctor greeted. 

“Oh… yes, I just woke up.” Kakyoin said, breathing a little heavy still. Polnareff seemed happy, but Jotaro immediately narrowed his eyes at Kakyoin- something was off, and he immediately clocked it. 

Kakyoin got checked out by the doctor for his vitals and any injuries. When he glanced at Jotaro, he seemed to still be concentrated on Kakyoin while deep in thought. 

Polnareff asked questions. “Do you know what brought this on? You were out like a light for three days this time! We were all worried, especially Jotaro over here.” He teased, a thumb pointing over his shoulder to the stoic man at the door. 

“Was he?” Kakyoin chuckled, grinning at Jotaro. He looked back to the doctor doing her job. “Well, I don’t remember what happened before. Doctor, am I alright? I’d really like to leave.” 

She dropped her stethoscope back around her neck and rolled the chair to the countertop. “Let me get your discharge papers, and you’ll be free to go.” 

Polnareff seemed excited, “good! Just in time.” He nudged Kakyoin in the side, to which he got a mildly annoyed grunt in response. “Easy,” Kakyoin warned. “What exactly am I just in time for?” 

A new voice spoke up from the door. “Shopping trip, of course!” The voice came from an enthusiastic Joseph Joestar. 

“Of course,” Jotaro muttered in a much- MUCH less enthusiastic tone. 

Kakyoin laughed a little. “Jotaro, how did you get conned into this?” 

“Oh, he just… I mean, look at him.” Polnareff gestured dramatically to Jotaro. “He’s wearing a turtleneck, AND a vest, AND a coat…. none of them match.”

He turned to Jotaro, “this is why you’re div-OUCHIES!” Polnareff shouted at his foot being stomped on my Jotaro, who otherwise remained calm with his hands in his pockets. 

“Can we just go?” Jotaro reluctantly asked. 

The four of them went into Polnareff’s car, Kakyoin and Jotaro in the backseat. Judging by how often Jotaro would look over to Kakyoin as if checking he was still there, Kakyoin deduced that he did in fact still seem to have that old crush. 

Before, when they were traveling to Egypt, it was something Kakyoin had noticed after some time. The way Jotaro would rest his head on Kakyoin’s shoulder to take a nap in the car, the way they would always share a room together and sometimes- on occasion, a bed. Kakyoin also seemed to be the only person Jotaro was comfortable starting an unnecessary conversation with. Nothing ever came of it of course, but Kakyoin always wondered if there was something Jotaro wanted to say to him. He had planned to bring it up after they fought Dio, but Kakyoin obviously never had that chance. 

Now, he thought it was pretty amusing… Since Jotaro didn’t know about his returned memories, wouldn’t it be funny to watch him scramble and try to avoid Kakyoin if he was intentionally ‘unintentionally’ flirting with him? He wanted to test his theory… could Jotaro really have a crush on a man? 

“Hey- how far is this place?” Kakyoin asked, scooting up in his seat to position his head between the front two seats. 

“Oh, didn’t I mention? It’s in Utsunomiya! I took the liberty to book us a hotel there, so don’t worry about rushing.” Polnareff happily explained. 

Jotaro made a face, as did Kakyoin. “…why” Kakyoin stressed, “is it in Utsunomiya?”

“I know a really good tailor up there! Come on, relax~ it will be fun!” Polnareff said unconvincingly. 

Kakyoin sighed and slumped back to the backseat, but went straight back from the console so he was in the middle seat directly beside Jotaro. 

Jotaro tried to scoot closer to the window to give Kakyoin some space, but as the large man he was- his face was practically smooshed against the window glass, the bill of his hat pressed down. 

At that reaction, Kakyoin grinned wide and bumped his knee against Jotaro’s to keep it there. Nothing happened, except Jotaro inconspicuously moved his knee closer to his other so it was impossible for Kakyoin to keep that up. He was being so polite- it was hilarious. 

Kakyoin did end up sliding back to his window seat so Jotaro wouldn’t be compacted into the corner for nearly four hours. Then, it took him an impressive half hour to get bored again and plot against Jotaro. 

Suddenly, he gasped. “Oh! Look at that!” Kakyoin mused, leaning fully over the seats and placing his hand firmly on Jotaro’s thigh to hold himself up. Oh- wow, his thigh was really muscular even when it was resting… impressive. “Is that really a traditional French bakery in Japan?” He was unaware that the thigh he thought was rested was in fact very much tense now that his hand was there. Jotaro bit the inside of his cheek and furrowed his brows, forcing himself to look out the window. What bakery? He didn’t see a-

“Huh!?” Polnareff gasped loudly, nearly running them off the road. 

“Polnareff!” Joseph shouted, hand gripping the side handle of the car as he screamed in horror. 

“Fuck!” Kakyoin hit the window, then fell into Jotaro’s lap. Though he wanted something like that to happen, he didn’t expect for Polnareff to actually run them off the road. 

Jotaro’s body jumped in panic when Kakyoin fell into his lap. Jotaro made a noise that didn’t sound human and definitely didn’t sound like himself. Kakyoin was- touching… somewhere he didn’t want to be touched- somewhere that may have been not too soft. “PULL OVER, DAMMIT.” Jotaro shouted angrily, losing his temper in fear Kakyoin would feel something shameful. 

Polnareff did as he was said. “Okay, okay. Désolé, désolé, I’m sorry. Geez.” Jotaro manhandled Kakyoin off of him as he kicked the door open, nearly knocking it off its hinges. 

Oops- maybe he went a little too far? How was he to know Jotaro would have such a low tolerance? 

…hehe. 

Jotaro forced Polnareff to trade places, him driving and Polnareff now in Kakyoin’s old seat- which placed Kakyoin directly behind Jotaro. 

Jotaro drove for a little while, silent other than Joseph and Polnareff having random conversations that occasionally involved Kakyoin. When they weren’t including Kakyoin, he scooted up and leaned his head between Jotaro’s ear and the frame of the car. “Jotaro-“

There was an annoyed exhale, but Jotaro kept his cool. “What is it?” 

“I’m sorry I fell on you… Are you okay?” Kakyoin asked in a concerned tone. 

The hair on the back of Jotaro’s neck stood up at Kakyoin talking so close to his ear; he really wished Kakyoin would sit back where he was and say nothing. “It’s nothing.” Jotaro said coldly, not moving his head no matter how much he wanted to escape. Instead, he kept his eyes focused on the road. 

Joseph noticed the redhead leaning to whisper in Jotaro’s ear, but he couldn’t hear what it was about since Polnareff and he were previously talking. As Jotaro responded, Joseph glanced into the middle mirror to look at Polnareff, who gave him an interested expression with raised eyebrows and his lips a little pursed. 

Kakyoin promised he would tease the man ONE more time, so he inched closer and said “are we close?”Jotaro used a hand to push Kakyoin’s face back from beside his shoulder and said nothing else. 

Defeated, Kakyoin slumped back into his seat and watched out of the window for the remainder of the drive. 

Shopping wasn’t too interesting, but Kakyoin did find a nice black and green outfit that was well suited for the contour of his body. It fit snug in all of the most flattering areas, so he actually managed to get something out of the shopping trip. 

Jotaro hated every single outfit he was told to try on, so it became a competition at one point to find something for him.

“Jotaro, try this, won’t you?” Kakyoin said from outside the dressing room door. 

“No.” He said plainly. “I can’t get the other dammed outfit on, don’t give me another.”

Kakyoin hung the outfit on the outside of the door. “Are you decent; can I help?” He asked politely. Jotaro opened the door with a frown. He had a full button-up on, but he had somehow confused which buttons went to which holes. Kakyoin smiled, but he really wanted to laugh. “Let me help you.” Jotaro held the door from shutting and Kakyoin used his thin fingers to unbutton all of Jotaro’s work. 

“Hey-“ Jotaro grabbed his wrist as he unbuttoned the lower ones. “What are you doing?” He watched purple eyes curiously look up at him; a horrible feeling surged through his body at that angle. Why was he taking his shirt off? Wasn’t he supposed to be helping?

Kakyoin made a confused and slightly annoyed face at him, then yanked his hand away to continue undoing his shirt as he said “you have them in the wrong holes, so I’m fixing it. Don’t forget, I wore a button jacket all my life.” 

Shit- 

That’s true, and he really did just want to help… but what if Jotaro realized he referred to the past he had supposedly forgotten? Kakyoin didn’t have time to consider it could have been a passing memory, but he instead slid one finger just barely into Jotaro’s hem as he buttoned it correctly. 

At the skin to skin touch, Jotaro nearly fell as he stumbled backwards into the dressing room. “Just- let me do it.” He tilted his hat for comfort and started to button his own shirt. 

“Suit yourself.” Kakyoin said with an innocent smile. “I got it back on track for you, anyhow.” 

He went to another dressing room to try on his own idea for an outfit, but it wasn’t as good as the last one. Hmm. He walked out to see Polnareff posing in an interesting looking suit and Joseph hyping him up for it. They were incredibly precious and Kakyoin was happy to see that side of them again despite everything that happened in Egypt. 

“Has Jotaro come out yet?” Kakyoin asked. 

“He did, but I think he disappeared.” Polnareff said with a nonchalant shrug. “I dunno.” 

Kakyoin also shrugged and walked over to join the two. At that moment, they heard a voice say “I’m right here.” When they turned, who could have possibly expected that Jotaro had found his own… unique.. outfit and tried it on. “What?” He said, lip curled and staring at the three pairs of widened eyes. 

“Are we sure you’re… my grandson?” Joseph asked in sheer horror. Polnareff looked too stunned to speak for the first time in his life. 

“I know… it’s perfect, isn’t it?” Jotaro asked with a glimpse of a smile. 

“Oh,…” Kakyoin hesitated and swallowed hard. “Jotaro,“ 

Jotaro had found himself a pair of golden snakeskin jeans that were way too tight and seemed to have matching shoes that hr somehow also found? If that alone wasn’t bad enough, he paired the hideous jeans with a white and green shirt and a… purple trench coat. He still had his white hat on, really sealing just how ridiculous it all was. 

“I think I’m going to get it.” Jotaro said, clearly pleased with himself. 

“Oh… okay…” Kakyoin forced a smile. At least that meant they could leave..? Polnareff had said they weren’t allowed to go until everyone had a new outfit. 

Reluctantly, the three of them allowed Jotaro to get the outfit and silently vowed that they would never let Jotaro dress himself again as long as they were breathing. 

Chapter Text

They arrived at the hotel to find Polnareff had cheap’d out and only bought two rooms for the four of them. Polnareff put his hands halfway up in surrender, “hey, hey! Don’t be mad… Kakyoin- you don’t remember this, but you used to share rooms all the time with Mr. fashion icon over there.” He teased.

“It’s just one night, so try not to let it get to you.” Joseph chimed in with a smile, picking up his duffel bag and the hotel room key. “Looks like we’re on separate floors, so let’s meet in the lobby for breakfast tomorrow.”

Jotaro followed Kakyoin to the elevator and up to their room. “Hmm,” Kakyoin looked at the card and said “1112.. aha! Here we are~” he sang with a wide smile, eyes curved happily along with it. Jotaro pushed the door open and walked past Kakyoin to claim the bed he wanted. He placed his book-bag down on the bed and slouched on it.

Kakyoin chewed the inside of his cheek and made the decision not to tease Jotaro anymore for the night since he seemed stressed enough as is. He crossed the room and sat on the other bed, leaning back and reaching for the TV remote. “Anything you want to watch?” Kakyoin asked, flipping through channels.

“No.” Jotaro snapped, earning him an ‘ okay ’ from his roommate. He grabbed his draft for the thesis he was writing from his bag and relaxed to read it.

For a bit, Kakyoin looked at whatever he had landed on to watch before getting bored and summoning Hierophant Green in its original unravelled form. The coiled tentacle  swirled around his arm and to his hand as if cuddling its master. Kakyoin smiled at it and mentally thanked him for giving his memories back.

Turquoise eyes cut over like daggers from his thesis paper and glared at Kakyoin. “You didn’t forget about Hierophant Green?” He asked.

Hm? Kakyoin looked over curiously. “I didn’t… is he normally something I forget?”

“Yes.” Jotaro sat down the papers and turned to face Kakyoin. “What else do you remember?”

Kakyoin picked the first thing he could think of that wasn’t of too much importance. “Emerald Splash,” he said with a small smile. He looked at the coil and played with it around his fingers carefully. Right, he would normally ask questions about his past. “Jotaro, the one you had… what was it?”

Jotaro remembered using Star Platinum in the fight, but didn’t realize Kakyoin had seen it. “Star Platinum.” He responded.

Hierophant Green went away when Kakyoin moved the covers to get up suddenly. “I’m going to take a shower unless you wanted one first?” Kakyoin asked.

“No,” Jotaro said with disinterest. He picked up his papers again and read them while listening to the running water in the bathroom. Jotaro still felt a bit dizzy from the events of the day, but it was nice to relax finally after everything. A decent amount of time later, Kakyoin came out of the bathroom.

Jotaro’s mistake? Looking up from his paper. Suddenly, he felt his IQ must have dropped a dozen points as the sight completely erased any logical knowledge. Kakyoin’s hair was flat and wet, dripping from the ends of his red hair and onto his bare chest. He had barely wiped the water off and it didn’t help that steam was coming from the bathroom, either. Kakyoin wasn’t completely naked, but the towel he had tied low around his waist was hanging on by a fucking thread just like Jotaro’s sanity.

There was a prominent scar on Kakyoin’s stomach, reminding Jotaro of how he was killed. It seemed sturdy, yet like it was paper thin at the same time. Jotaro told himself not to stare, and even more not to touch it.

His eyes moved down to see the V shaped line protruding from the white towel. And there it was- any dense opinions he had that he wasn’t attracted to Kakyoin were gone faster than Star Platinum could catch a bullet.

“Ah, the water was hot and so relaxing~” Kakyoin sighed happily.

Jotaro’s lip twitched and he shifted uncomfortably. “Do you not own clothes?” He asked lowly.

Innocently, Kakyoin tilted his head and poked out a hip to place his hand on. “We’re both men here, aren’t we? Don’t act like a maiden I walked in on or something,” he said with a devious laugh.

Right… Kakyoin must not have had clothes since Polnareff basically kidnapped him straight from the hospital. He stood up and retrieved a shirt and pants from his bag as well as a mobile game device and extended his hand to Kakyoin without another word about it.

“Mm~ thank you, princess.” Kakyoin said in a teasing way, calling him out for acting like a maiden.

“The fuck did you just say to me?” Jotaro asked in a dark voice, eyes piercing Kakyoin.

The half-naked man smiled and shook his head, walking towards his own bed. “Nothing~”

Jotaro gave a “that’s what I thought” under his breath and turned to walk to the bathroom- except… being distracted by being called princess from Kakyoin, he ran directly into the wall instead.

Kakyoin looked genuinely concerned. “Are you okay?” Jotaro closed his eyes and exhaled deeply at the question.

“I need a smoke.” He grumbled, taking his lighter and cigarette box outside to the patio. He closed the sliding door and sat on the lounge chair to light his cigarette.

Fuck- fuck . What was happening? Ever since Kakyoin came back into his life, he had been fine. It took him years- EIGHT years to get over Kakyoin and he wasn’t too sure he ever truly did. He didn’t have feelings for him anymore… yes, Kakyoin had grown into a very attractive man, but that was all. Kakyoin is his best friend; moreover, he had lost his memories of all the times they shared together.

As long as he couldn’t remember their past, there was no use in falling in love with the memory of a Kakyoin he once knew… even if they were the same physical people, they were different.

It wouldn’t be fair to pursue something with Kakyoin when Jotaro would be the only one in a decade-old relationship.

Jotaro breathed in the smoke and closed his eyes to concentrate on calming down. Maybe he was overreacting… he never cared about finding out what his feelings were towards Kakyoin, so why would he care now? He was just bothered from being so close to someone, is all! It could have been anyone! He just needed to take care of it himself in the shower and everything would be back to normal.

Once he finished his cigarette, he went inside and saw Kakyoin sitting cross-legged on the bed and playing on his game. He had put his own boxers on and was only wearing those and Jotaro’s shirt that was adorably large on Kakyoin. The towel previously slung around his wait was wrapped around his hair and perched on top of his head. Since Kakyoin was too focused on his game to notice Jotaro had come inside, he went to the bathroom and locked it for a shower- preferably a cold one.

Despite wanting to ignore the issue, Jotaro ended up having to give in and take a hotter shower to relieve his frustration. It wasn’t anything pleasurable- he didn’t care to entertain himself and rarely did such things, but he needed to calm down if he was going to be in the same room as Kakyoin all night.

After a suspiciously long amount of time, Jotaro exited the bathroom in a towel; Kakyoin was still very engrossed in his game and didn’t say anything or even look up.

Figures .

He was still the same Kakyoin… it wasn’t fair.

Kakyoin did sneak a glance at Jotaro when he was faced away. Oh, wow- he really had kept up with his physical condition all of those years… good for him; he aged very handsomely. Kakyoin was making an astute observation, but somehow it didn’t stop his cheeks from turning a shade of red at the thought. More-so, he couldn’t pull his eyes away as he watched those muscles moving to find something in the book-bag.

He must have sensed someone was staring at him, since he made a curious hum and turned ti glare at Kakyoin. Pretending to have been looking at his game, Kakyoin looked up casually. “Jotaro,” he said cooly.

“Kakyoin,” Jotaro said back with matched energy.

Kakyoin’s eyelashes drooped down before he said “well, goodnight.” Then, he turned to lay facing away from Jotaro.

In the morning, the four of them met up in the lobby for breakfast. Kakyoin was incredibly tired and didn’t want to be woken up at all, but figured he could sleep in the car on the way home. Which, is exactly what he did.

Jotaro and Kakyoin were in the back seat again, but Kakyoin had uncomfortably slouched his head in fatigue and went to sleep. Seeing this, Jotaro felt it would hurt his neck when he woke up, so he decided to lean closer in hopes the other two wouldn’t notice and moved Kakyoin’s head to his own shoulder when he was low enough. Kakyoin didn’t wake up from the movement, but his body allowed him to rest his weight against Jotaro.

Despite his efforts, the two men in the front did indeed see Jotaro and Kakyoin, but it was only after Jotaro also leaned his head onto Kakyoin’s and fallen asleep. Joseph was driving, so Polnareff saw it first and frantically shook Joseph’s arm with a quiet, “look, look!”

Joseph looked in the rear mirror, but then turned in his seat to see it with his own eyes. He had to physically restrain from shouting, but he managed just to whisper “oh my god!”

The two quietly celebrated and even high-five’d over it. There would absolutely be a screaming session over it once they were able to safely do so.

Back in Tokyo, Kakyoin and Jotaro went their separate ways for the day; Jotaro didn’t try to stick around, but that seemed fine after everything that happened… maybe Kakyoin would reel it in a bit with the teasing…

Chapter Text

It had been a few days since Kakyoin last saw Jotaro. He assumed the man was busy with research, so he decided to conduct a timeline of memories in hopes to fix his muddled brain. 

It went well at first, but the more he thought about all of it, the more his head would hurt. Luckily, he didn’t forget any of it and stopped when his head started to hurt… Had he not done it thoroughly enough? 

He considered a few times if he needed to use Hierophant Green again, but opted out of it until he could do what he was able in order to sort out his memories. It was… overwhelming. So much so, he often cried when his head was in pain. 

That particular day, he was already in the Speedwagon Foundation’s Tokyo location trying to look through files on brain anatomy. He had gone too far into a rabbit hole and found information on Dio instead, sending him into what felt like one of his old episodes paired with an anxiety attack. 

Except… he was alone. 

He tried to stand from the computer chair, but he instead fell out of it and to his hands and knees with heavy panting. Tears blurred what was left of his fading vision and he could only gasp out two words: “Hiero…phant. Green.” Hierophant uncoiled and he was able to extend the coils down the buildings hallway in hopes someone was there at such an hour and would see. 

He coughed violently, blood spewing out and leaking from his nose. Please, please not now. Not like this… Someone, can’t anyone help me?

Down the hall, Jotaro had gathered his things and stepped out of his office when he suddenly saw Hierophant Green stretching down the hallway; it stopped suddenly at his feet and sent a chilling sensation up Jotaro’s spine. 

“Kakyoin…” 

He dropped his stuff and rushed along the coils to reach the source, finding Kakyoin unconscious in a puddle of blood from his mouth. “Kakyoin!” Jotaro quickly grabbed the nearest emergency phone and rang for the overnight doctors. 

Hierophant Green didn’t seem to want to leave Kakyoin and stayed even when the doctors came to take him away. Jotaro stayed to grab Kakyoin’s things, but froze when he hit the computer mouse and woke it up from its sleep. 

It was a file on Dio… When did Kakyoin remember that name and why did he feel so inclined to research it on his own? 

The tight feeling in Jotaro’s chest only got worse when he looked over at the notebook Kakyoin had nearby. He squinted his eyes and picked it up:

>Dio- two memories(?) one alone, one with others. When did these occur?

>Gap between being with parents and jotaro saving me? 

>BABY STAND

>cant remember eye scars

>> according to file 03639 i was attacked by a stand user who scratched my eyes. Vaguely familiar. 

>what happened to avdol? Why has no one mentioned him?

Some made more sense than others, but Jotaro was more concerned with just how much Kakyoin had remembered in such a short time. It took eight years for him to get to a point where he remembered Hierophant Green, so what made him remember all of that other stuff? 

He flipped a few pages back to track where the knowledge had come from until he reached an especially sloppy page; it was a poorly drawn diagram of a brain and notes about neurons and membranes. None of it made sense until he saw written at the bottom:

Make Hierophant Green microscopic to enter brain and patch the disconnected neuron transmitters. 

His eyes widened at the words. He wouldn’t have… but how else would it explain the sudden memories? 

Jotaro closed out of the files quickly and shut down the computer before gathering the papers and stuffing them in the notebook. Why the hell had he done such a reckless thing completely alone in the middle of night in a fucking computer lab? 

Despite his growing panic that Kakyoin had just gotten himself killed, he at least convinced himself Hierophant Green would have disappeared if he was truly dead again. He found the room they kept Kakyoin in, but was stopped by a nurse. “You can’t go in there, Mr. Kakyoin is in critical condition.” 

Hearing that only spiked Jotaro’s anxiety more and he reverted to his old habits. “Bitch, get out of my way!” There was an implied ‘don’t you know who I am’ as he shoved her aside a bit too harshly and knocked her over before entering the room. 

Kakyoin should have been connected to a bunch of machines, but Hierophant Green still had itself wrapped protectively around its master. So much in fact, the doctors couldn’t get to where they needed in order to give him proper support. 

Jotaro stepped forward and got a frustrated, “what are you doing in here” from one of the doctors. 

“You need the coils gone, don’t you?” Jotaro snapped. “I’m clearly the one who called you, so let me help him!” 

He pushed aside another doctor who had just been slapped by Hierophant Green. “Get out. All of you.” He grumbled. No one moved. “Get out!” 

The doctors quickly, but reluctantly waited outside of the door. Jotaro walked closer to a particularly protective coil and reached out his hand like he was coaxing a wild animal. He felt stupid, but he did it. 

Slowly, the coil came into contact with his hand. At the familiar touch, the coil shivered as if in pain and loosened its grip on Kakyoin. He thought about talking to the stand, but felt it would be too stupid. Instead, he waved the doctors back in so they could properly hook Kakyoin to the machines. The whole time, the coil had itself wrapped around Jotaro’s hand. Honestly, he wasn’t quite sure which of them needed the comfort more in the moment. 

Jotaro was left alone with Kakyoin after the doctors stabilized him, but he still held that coil in his hand. He hadn’t slept since Kakyoin got there and he didn’t notice when the sun had risen. Joseph was the first to visit after finding out the news and walked in holding the things Jotaro had dropped on the floor in the hall. 

“Knock, knock~” Joseph said from the door. Jotaro lifted his head from the side railing and tried to take his hand away from Hierophant Green, but it didn’t let go. “Oh…” Joseph made a face at the condition his grandson was in with the sleepless dark circles under his eyes and raspy voice. “How is he?” He asked instead, looking to Kakyoin. 

“Alive.” He stated, leaning back in his seat despite his hand being held hostage. 

Joseph hummed in thought. “I figured you haven’t eaten, so I had Polnareff pick up something to bring you. Don’t worry, I’m sure he will wake up soon.” 

Jotaro didn’t respond to his comfort and instead stared at Kakyoin. The old man didn’t understand… he almost lost him again. Just as quickly as he had him back, he could have lost it all. 

“If I may- a word of advice from your old man. You should-“

“No.” Jotaro said flatly. 

“But, I-“

“Did I ask?” 

“I’m trying to help-“

“Good grief.” Jotaro glared at his grandfather. “Keep your advice, old geezer.” 

Joseph pouted. “My own grandson… I can’t believe it! My favorite grandson doesn’t want my advice anymore…” 

“I never wanted it. Where is Polnareff?” Jotaro asked; desperate times, huh? Needing to resort to wondering where that French buffoon was. 

It was enough to distract the old man, though. “He should be here any moment. I told him to bring something with meat! Real meat, not what you guys have in this backwards country.” Joseph then rambled about how much better his home country was. 

“Good grief.” Jotaro sighed and put his hat over his eyes with his free hand and closed them to hopefully ignore Joseph’s ranting. 

Before long, Polnareff showed up with food and it took everything in him and Joseph to convince Jotaro to eat. They both noticed the coil attached to him, but neither of them said anything about it. If anything, they understood stands were connected to their users and it was likely Kakyoin himself who needed someone to hold on to. In a way, it was comforting to know his conscience was still aware. 

Jotaro silently struggled to eat with his one free hand, but didn’t make a deal out of it. Polnareff and Joseph chatted for the most part and would occasionally ask questions to Jotaro about Kakyoin, to which all were given straightforward answers. The only thing he didn’t tell them was about the files and notebook. 

“You should really get some sleep, Jotaro; Mr. Joestar or I can wake you when he’s awake.” Polnareff suggested. 

Jotaro didn’t even look away from Kakyoin. “I can’t.”

“Come on, you need sleep. Kakyoin would chew you out if he found out you haven’t slept.” Polnareff argued. Jotaro finally looked to him with a blank expression and said “no, I literally cannot move from this” then lifted the coil in his hand. 

The nurse in the room overheard and walked over. “Here, this should help…” she undid the metal bar at the side of Kakyoin and lowered it down below the hospital bed. Now, there was nothing separating Jotaro from the bed or Kakyoin. “You can rest your head on the bed now.” She happily explained. 

Jotaro didn’t bother to thank her and actually put his head down to Joseph’s surprise. He for certain thought Jotaro would stubbornly refuse sleep, but it seemed he really was exhausted judging by how quickly he fell asleep. 

Kakyoin woke up a day later, head splitting and Jotaro awake beside him. Polnareff and Joseph were there, too; the three of them ate food, though Jotaro was using one hand. Kakyoin made a weird face at Hierophant Green holding on to Jotaro’s hand before he made the coil retract. 

At this movement, Jotaro and the others quickly looked to see Kakyoin with his eyes open. “Kakyoin!” Polnareff said excitedly, mouth full of food still. Joseph chimed in, “look who’s awake!”

“Please…” Kakyoin grumbled, lifting his hand to his forehead. “My head hurts, so don’t be so loud.” 

“What even happened?” Polnareff asked in a quieter tone. 

Kakyoin groaned at the idea of having to respond. “I… don’t really remember.” It was true, he didn’t remember at the moment since he had just woken up.

“You should eat. Here.” Jotaro handed him an extra serving of food and waited for him to sit up in the bed and take it. 

“Thank you.” Kakyoin was starving, so he had no complaints with the choice of food. Besides, eating would probably help his splitting migraine. 

Polnareff looked between Jotaro and Kakyoin, noticing Jotaro looked a bit more miffed than usual. “…We’ll go get the doctor.” Polnareff said and then dragged Joseph along with him. 

There was a silence before Kakyoin finally looked from his burger to Jotaro. “Hm? What is it?”

“What do you remember?” Jotaro asked. 

Kakyoin reached to grab an unopened water bottle and drank a sip as he thought it all over. He remembered… everything. The trip to Egypt, fighting Dio, all the times in the hospital… he even remembered sending Hierophant Green into the hallway desperately in his last moments of consciousness. 

Not receiving an immediate response, Jotaro reached into his bag and pulled out the notebook before all-but throwing it on Kakyoin’s lap. After it plopped noisily, Kakyoin picked it up and examined it. 

It was his own handwriting, but he could only vaguely recognize it at the moment. As he read, his eyes widened at the realization. It was opened to the page where he wrote out the plan to operate on himself with Hierophant Green! 

Kakyoin looked up from the papers and only asked “you were the one who found me?” 

Jotaro couldn’t blame him for wanting to do what it took to remember, but he was reckless about how he went about it. He almost fucking died, and the fear of that made Jotaro angry. He clenched his jaw and gave a slight nod. 

Instead of explaining himself, Kakyoin closed the notebook and set it aside as he said “please don’t tell anyone about this, if it isn’t too much trouble. I don’t want them running tests on me or ask a ton of questions; I want to figure this out on my own.”

Jotaro’s eyelashes dropped as he looked down to Kakyoin’s hand on the bed. “No,” he looked back to worried purple eyes. “You’ll figure it out with me.” Jotaro really just wanted Kakyoin to be safe and he refused to let him get himself killed. “Whatever it takes, I will be there.” 

“Thank you, Jotaro.” Kakyoin sighed out in relief and relaxed a bit. The door opened and the doctor came inside. “Kakyoin, it is nice to see you again.” She said with a smile, coming over to the empty side of his bed. 

Kakyoin laughed lightheartedly. “We have to stop meeting like this, don’t we?” Kakyoin grinned wide and handed over his arm when the doctor reached for it. 

She took the IV out with a smile as well. “It certainly would be nice to see you on different circumstances, that’s for sure. Mr. Kakyoin, please take these pills to ease any painful symptoms. Otherwise, you are good to go for today. Remember to drink lots of water.” 

Jotaro’s eyes cut to the lady from under the brim of his hat. What was he feeling about their interaction? Kakyoin was being friendly like usual, but it strangely made Jotaro a bit irritated to hear it. 

“And remember, you can always visit me in a different way- no need to keep getting yourself hurt.” The doctor smiled through her lighthearted joke, earning a similar one from Kakyoin. 

“I will keep that in mind, doctor.” Kakyoin agreed with a grin. She left the room and her presence was exchanged with Polnareff and Joseph. 

It was on purpose, of course! Kakyoin thought that flirting a little with the doctor may have made Jotaro a bit pissed, and he was so right. 

“She was HOT!” Polnareff said once the door closed, a thumb tossed over his shoulder where the doctor had gone. This seemed to make Jotaro even more irritated. “Kakyoin, you’re telling me THAT’S your doctor? Now I don’t blame you for passing out all the time, sheesh.”

Kakyoin chuckled with a delicate smile. “Am I able to leave now? I appreciate the food you brought, but I am rather starving still.” He could feel his stomach growling unhappily at the thought of how hungry he was. 

“Yes! Let’s get you out of here and we can all get some lunch together.” Joseph announced. 

Kakyoin looked to Jotaro, who had his hat tilted down to hide his sulking. “You’ll come too won’t you, Jotaro?” It actually took an impressive amount of strength for him not to call Jotaro something like princess again. 

The four of them parted ways first for Kakyoin to go home and shower, then they met separately at a small bakery near the Speedwagon Foundation. Before Polnareff and Joseph got there, it was only Kakyoin and Jotaro. 

Kakyoin had ordered quite a bit of food and was happily enjoying himself on some cinnamon rolls that were freshly baked. Jotaro had a coffee, but was holding off for the others before getting food of his own. Instead, his turquoise eyes were glued to the redhead and his sloppy eating habits. 

Currently, he had icing around his thin lips and one strand of icing was dripping down to his chin. He was a sticky mess and Jotaro felt it was very…. Inappropriate… 

Jotaro casually passed a napkin to Kakyoin. Please, wipe it off. Kakyoin smiled and thanked him, but only wiped his fucking hands off. 

He had to be doing it on purpose, right? 

Despite how hard Jotaro was chewing the inside of his cheek, his mind still managed to betray him with awfully embarrassing thoughts that flashed through his head. Had he become so desperate that he was now imagining the icing was his own cum?! 

He cringed at the thought then huffed angrily and leaned forward in his seat. He reached over the table with a napkin, roughly wiping at Kakyoin’s lips and chin. “You’re disgusting,” he grumbled.

Kakyoin chuckled and allowed the man to clean his face, even if it was a bit too much pressure to be pleasant. “Jojo-“ he said with a laugh, “I think it’s all off! Please, spare me-“ a few of his words were mumbled when Jotaro pressed the napkin nearly into his mouth. Kakyoin swatted his hand away with a playful, “that’s enough, you dickhead!” 

Jotaro smiled to himself before ending the man’s torture. He sat back and sipped his coffee to hide that smile, eyes still fixed on Kakyoin. 

Kakyoin wiped his own mouth as well now that he could feel how sticky it was. “About my memories, do you think we could discuss some questions I have later at the office?” He put his elbow on the table to prop up his head and he played with his drink straw with his tongue while waiting for an answer. 

No, because THAT had to be on purpose- Jotaro was almost certain of it if it wasn’t for the casualness that accompanied the redhead’s actions. Jotaro already knew Kakyoin’s tongue was a bit longer than average; he, unfortunately, found that out after watching him eat- no- harass a cherry. 

His gleaming eyes dropped to Kakyoin’s wet tongue that was spinning his straw in a small circle by licking around the edges. It was dangerous, knowing Kakyoin’s eyes were already fixed on him. “Sure.” He agreed, then tore his gaze away from the scene unfolding before him. Luckily- and God forbid he ever called it luck again- Polnareff was walking towards the table chatting with Joseph. 

Nothing much happened until they had all ordered food and Jotaro was quietly eating his omelet. When he looked up, he found an awfully horrifying sight across the table from him: Kakyoin, but he had his finger IN his cinnamon roll and twisted it with an odd grin on his face. Just when Jotaro thought it wouldn’t get worse, Kakyoin put his finger to his mouth and sucked the icing off of it with a happy hum. 

Jotaro’s knuckles were starting to turn white from how hard he was gripping the fork in his hand. No matter how disgusting the sight was to see, Jotaro couldn’t stop staring… why… was he kind of in to it? No- fuck. It’s so gross. 

He looked back to his omelet and did his best to ignore Kakyoin’s weird ass eating habits. “Jotaro, can I have a bite of your omelet? It looks delicious.” Kakyoin reached a slightly wet finger to point at the egg stabbed onto Jotaro’s fork. 

Bright eyes moved from the fork, to Kakyoin’s slender finger, to the disturbing grin on his face. Polnareff and Joseph were suddenly quiet, staring at the two’s interaction and waiting for the hand to be slapped away. “Sure…” Jotaro said, then went to place the bite on Kakyoin’s plate. Instead, Kakyoin grabbed his wrist and moved it up to his own mouth and took the bite right off of the fork in the most seductive way he possibly could. Or, at least Jotaro thought so. 

Just as Jotaro made an appalled expression of absolute disgust, Joseph screamed “OH MY GOD” with his hands on his cheeks. Polnareff was no better, gasping loudly and saying something over and over in French. 

Jotaro stared with a curled lip at Kakyoin for a minute, then calmly placed his fork down beside Polnareff’s plate and grabbed the unused fork before going back to his omelet. 

Kakyoin smiled pleasantly and dabbed a napkin to his lips. He placed it down, looking rather smug with himself and said “excuse me” while standing from the table. While teasing Jotaro was fun, he could still feel the disgusting icing on his mouth and wanted to wash up. 

Now that Jotaro had been left alone with the two idiots, he quickly got up and nearly sprinted out of the bakery. “Wait! Mon ami!” Polnareff called out to no avail. 

Joseph laughed. “That kid is long gone by now… What do you suppose all of that was about?” 

“I haven’t seen Joot that red since, well… ever. The closest was that one time Kakyoin fell asleep at the campfire and cuddled JoJo in his sleep.” Polnareff recalled. He tried not to think of it too much since Avdol was there at the time.  

Joseph chuckled deeply. “I thought those two would have gotten together by now now that Kakyoin is alive.” He hummed in thought and tapped his finger on the table. “Maybe he wants Kakyoin to have his memories back first?” 

“What makes you so certain Kakyoin actually likes him in that way?” Polnareff challenged. 

“What are you two talking about?” Kakyoin asked, joining the table once again. “Where did Jotaro go?” 

Joseph and Polnareff shared a suspicious glance, then both started shrugging and saying various excuses that conflicted with one another. Kakyoin laughed and ran a hand through his bangs. “Anyway, I should get going. Thank you for meeting with me.” He bowed in thanks and left the cafe as well to go to the Speedwagon Foundation. 

Chapter Text

“I thought I might find you in here.” Kakyoin greeted, leaning against the doorframe of Jotaro’s office. His legs were crossed and he stood with a hand on his hip to accentuate his curved. “Should you be smoking inside like that?” He asked. 

Jotaro glared at the door and took the cigarette from his mouth. “It’s my office.” There was a painfully obvious ‘I do what I want’ implied in the statement. He watched Kakyoin invite himself in and his hips seemed to sway as he walked closer. Fucking hell, had he always done that? Was he just now noticing? 

Kakyoin sat against the edge of Jotaro’s table and crossed his arms. “Did you have a moment, or should I come back?” 

Truthfully, Jotato had a lot of work to do. His time at the hospital worrying about Kakyoin put him behind on his thesis and he needed to catch up. Though, what was another day behind going to change? 

He clicked off the monitor and sat back in his seat. “What did you want to know?” 

“Avdol. What happened to him?” Kakyoin asked, straight to the point. Jotaro could tell he came to him sincerely wanting help with answering his confusing memories. 

Jotaro didn’t beat around the bush and that wasn’t a quality that was about to change. In fact, it had been proven helpful when Kakyoin didn’t have to connect the dots by himself. “He died. A stand user manipulating space erased half of his body from existence, so he was unrecoverable.” 

Kakyoin frowned and dropped his head to focus on the floor. He remembered Avdol and was saddened to hear of his death. Still, he didn’t linger and moved to his next question. “How did I meet you?”

“As I said before, you tried to kill me. You were being mind controlled, so it makes sense if you don’t remember any of that.” Jotaro explained. His arms were also crossed as he lounged back in his chair to watch any changes of expression from Kakyoin’s side profile. 

Kakyoin squinted his eyes like he was thinking. 

“Kakyoin, don’t think too much. Ask the question you’re pondering.” 

“Who was controlling my mind?” Kakyoin asked.

“His name was Dio.” 

Kakyoin’s eyes widened, his body reacting despite him not entirely knowing why. He felt afraid, but he couldn’t remember so much as a face to the name. “Who… is Dio?” 

Jotaro blinked and kept his answer related to the flesh bud incident. “A stand user that targeted my family. After I removed the flesh bud he was controlling you with, you joined my grandfather and me to destroy him.” 

“Hm, I do seem to remember that now…” Kakyoin just barely turned his head to eye Jotaro from the side of his eyes. “Jotaro, how did I lose my memories?” 

…

Jotaro inhaled deeply to steady himself. “Can you handle the answer?” Kakyoin hesitantly nodded. “You… were killed. Saw it myself. SPW brought you back somehow.” 

Even if he thought he was ready, the news still startled Kakyoin’s core. It seemed like it was an exaggeration or straight up incorrect, but he trusted Jotaro wouldn’t joke about such a thing. “Who killed me?” 

“Bring Hierophant Green out.”

“What?” 

“Bring him out.” Jotaro said sternly. Kakyoin did as he asked even though it was a confusing request. Jotaro was afraid the answer would send Kakyoin into another episode and Hierophant seemed to do a great job keeping him stable. 

Once Hierophant was standing idly by, Jotaro adjusted in his seat and sighed out. “Dio killed you.” 

Sure enough, after a moment of digesting the news, Kakyoin grabbed his head with a pained groan. That’s right… Dio’s stand went right through his stomach. He could manipulate time; Kakyoin died before he realized what had happened…

“Ah, no-no!” Kakyoin doubled over and held his head with both hands. He could barely register someone in front of him grabbing his face; even though the realization was lagged, he realized Jotaro was kneeled in front of him and forcing him to look at him. 

“Don’t you fucking quit on me, Kakyoin!” Jotaro shouted, mostly from fear. 

“Jotaro-“ Kakyoin cried out in pain, dropping to his knees with Jotaro holding his face level to his own. “Help me. I don’t wanna forget again. It hurts so bad, make it stop.” 

“I’m trying… look at me. Just look in my eyes. Kakyoin-“ Jotaro lifted his head a bit in hopes Kakyoin would look at him. Those beautiful purple eyes were full of tears and seemed to look straight through Jotaro. 

He was losing him…

“Please, I can’t lose you again.” Jotaro slid himself closer so their knees touched. He pressed his forehead to Kakyoin’s and gritted his teeth. “Noriaki…” Don’t take Kakyoin. Take anyone else, take my own life. I will trade places with him if I can. Just not him. Not again. 

Kakyoin suddenly got quieter, but he wasn’t slumped in unconsciousness. Instead, he was panting heavily with his eyes shut. “Kakyoin?” Jotaro pulled his forehead away to look at the man. He was trembling softly, tears still running down his face, but he was still awake. 

“Jotaro…” Kakyoin whispered, then pushed aside his own sense of pride to wrap his arms around Jotaro for a hug. Even if he was still crying, he didn’t care about his image at the moment. Jotaro’s arms wrapped around him as well and they quietly held each other for a while until Kakyoin could control his breath. “Thank you.” He said softly, then buried his face into Jotaro’s shoulder. He didn’t want to let go, ever. 

Jotaro moved his hand to gently rub Kakyoin’s back. He didn’t know how he managed to get Kakyoin out of an episode, but he desperately hoped it would continue to be effective. Not thinking much of it, Jotaro kissed the top of Kakyoin’s cherry red hair and then rested his cheek against it. He didn’t say any words and simply held Kakyoin until he wasn’t needed anymore. 

Kakyoin eventually gathered enough energy to remove himself from leaning on Jotaro, practically in his lap. He sat a few feet or so away from Jotaro and put his face into his palm. “Sorry… I said I could handle the answer. I didn’t… expect to remember.” 

“You… remember?” Jotaro’s expression went soft as his mind also reminded him of how it looked when The World punched a hole through his best friend. Kakyoin nodded slowly and then sighed out. Jotaro felt like he wanted to say sorry, but it really wasn’t anything he had done and he didn’t want Kakyoin to think he was pitying him. 

When Jotaro scooted closer, Kakyoin looked up from his hand and to those turquoise eyes that held a rare and unmasked emotion of worry in them. They were close- too close if they weren’t best friends. Even if Jotaro was worried, Kakyoin didn’t feel like he pitied him. He wanted to touch his face, but resisted the urge. Sensing his strong desire, Hierophant Green betrayed his efforts to hold back and a coil slid up Kakyoin and then bridged the small gap between them to touch Jotaro’s face. 

Kakyoin’s face turned a shade of red and he looked down and away. “Sorry…” 

“It’s fine,” Jotaro said in a whisper. Star Platinum just barely phased out of his body and placed its hand on the coil delicately. Since Hierophant Green and he were connected, Kakyoin closed his eyes at the feeling and a soft smile pulled at the corners of his thin lips. 

A hand turned Kakyoin’s chin towards Jotaro- was it Star Platinum, or Jotaro’s own hand? Kakyoin never found out since Polnareff and Joseph busted into the door. 

Their stands both quickly disappeared and the two turned towards the door. Polnareff made a face of confusion when he had to look down. “Why are you on the…” 

“Nevermind that!” Joseph said, pushing past Polnareff. “Jotaro!! Guess what? I just got a call- Jolyne is awake!” 

Jolyne? Who is… 

“She is?” Jotaro asked, face hard and expressionless. He stood up and went to sit in his chair again. 

“Isn’t that amazing?!” Joseph trilled. 

“Sure.” Jotaro typed on his keyboard. 

It was all very odd to Kakyoin, but he stayed sitting on the floor where he was comfy. “Who is Jolyne..?” 

Jotaro spoke nonchalantly. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Doesn’t matter?” Polnareff laughed. “Acting so stoic, are we? Jolyne is JoJo’s daughter, of course.”

Kakyoin’s eyes widened and he couldn’t stop his mouth from hanging wide open. 

His… daughter? 

His daughter. 

His. DAUGHTER? 

Wait, no- no, no, nonono. Jotaro never had any interest in women… Wait- does that mean he was hitting on a STRAIGHT MAN?? 

He quite literally could have KISSED that straight man not even 30 seconds ago! 

Kakyoin suddenly felt nauseous and forced himself to close his mouth and look away. To think he was so shameless to flirt with a man who must have been worried sick about his daughter the whole time. Not to mention flirting with a MAN in the first place. He wasn’t even… gay. 

“Didn’t he tell you she was in a coma?” Polnareff inquired, scratching his head curiously. “Well, regardless.” 

“Good grief.” Jotaro grumbled, squeezing the bridge of his nose.

Joseph made a face. “I just thought you’d like to be the first to know!”

“Now I know. Is that all?” Jotaro harshly asked. Once the two of them had finally left, he went back to looking at the desktop screen even though he wasn’t actually reading anything. 

He was… concerned.

He didn’t know how to look at Kakyoin or even begin to explain why he hadn’t mentioned having a child. What was he going to say, it was a mistake? He wouldn’t have done it if Kakyoin was there all those years? 

“Jolyne…” Kakyoin wearily said, standing finally and turning to look over at Jotaro. He said nothing. “How old is she?” Nothing. “Are you going to visit your family, then?” 

Jotaro finally cut his gaze to Kakyoin. “I’m busy.”

“She’s your daughter…” 

“What does that have anything to do with me?” Jotaro stood and walked across the room to file away some papers. 

Kakyoin’s eyebrows furrowed. Did he actually have a kid? Was he just… that’s it- he must have figured out the whole charade and decided to trick Kakyoin into believing he was a father! 

Hah, he almost fell for it. 

“You have to visit.” Kakyoin sternly told him. 

Jotaro glanced over. “Fine.” 

“You don’t mean that.” Kakyoin huffed, placing a hand on his cocked hip. 

“So what?”

“…” Kakyoin crossed his arms and glared at Jotaro. Not in an attempt of intimidation, but he was considering other options… 

Aha!

“Fine.” Kakyoin turned on his heels and walked straight out of the office. 

Jotaro was initially relieved he left it alone, but it was almost too easy. He was up to something. “Good grief…” He followed Kakyoin to find where he had gone and eventually ended up in the lobby where Joseph had his arm slung around Kakyoin’s shoulder, who had a mischievous smile spread across his face. 

Oh no… That couldn’t mean anything good. 

“My favorite grandson!” Joseph greeted happily. He lightly shook Kakyoin’s shoulder, “Kakyoin here was just offering to accompany me to America, isn’t that great!?” 

He… invited himself to America?!

“Did he?” Jotaro challenged, raising an eyebrow at Kakyoin. 

“Yup! Didn’t want me to go alone; isn’t that sweet?! Now I don’t have to bother trying to convince you to come along. It’s quite a shame you can’t come with us, but I understand work is very important.” Joseph started to ramble about travel plans and sightseeing as Kakyoin and Jotaro stared at one another as if having a private conversation with just looks. 

You really invited yourself to America to visit my own child?

Hah- take that, Jotaro. I don’t care if I have to be with Mr. Joestar the whole time, I will uncover your lie. I win. 

I won’t let you win this. 

“Who told you I wasn’t going?” Jotaro challenged, voice louder than Joseph’s rambling. Unfortunately, this made Joseph’s eyes turn into giant sparkling ones. 

“You’ll come with us!?” He pretended to wipe a tear. “I’m so happy, I’ll go pack!” He scurried off and left the two alone. 

Jotaro wanted to ask, why are you doing this? But, Kakyoin waved with a smile as he walked away and said “Looks like I have to pack~”

Chapter Text

The trip was a long one by plane, nearly 20 hours having to deal with airports without including delays. Kakyoin had originally thought it was a great idea to get Jotaro to go, but he quickly regretted his decisions and wanted nothing more than to be back in Japan. 

The him from a week ago would have been ecstatic he was staring a row with Jotaro, but it had been pretty awkward between the two of them since Jolyne was mentioned. Not to mention, they hadn’t talked about the near-episode Kakyoin had and how Jotaro held him for a long time to comfort him. 

None of it really made any sense. He could have sworn away his own soul that Jotaro had a very obvious crush on him, but maybe it was Kakyoin getting ahead of himself. Jotaro was fast asleep against the window while Kakyoin opted to listen to his Walkman. On the second plane, Kakyoin took the window seat since he was exhausted and wanted to rest his head. 

When he woke up in America, Jotaro was fast asleep against Kakyoin’s shoulder like he used to do. It made him smile, but that smile immediately faded. I’m sorry, Jotaro… I have been inappropriate and unfair to you. 

“Jojo-“ Nothing. He was still sound asleep even after the plane had landed. Hmm. Kakyoin unplugged the jack of his headphones and used it to carefully poke at Jotaro’s face. When that didn’t work, he started to poke it into his ear. Finally, that woke him up!

“Oi!” Jotaro swatted him away and looked grumpy to be awake. Kakyoin’s laugh that followed his awakening made Jotaro feel more relaxed. “We’ve arrived,” Kakyoin said with the remnants of another laugh. “You have to get up so I can get my bag.”

Jotaro grumbled and stood in the aisle that was too small for such a large man. He grabbed his briefcase out of the storage and retrieved Kakyoin’s bag as well. “I can carry my own bag.” Kakyoin protested, but was blatantly ignored as Jotaro walked away. 

“Okay, so as for travel arrangements! SPW allotted us a couple rooms. Two, specifically.” Joseph announced as they stood outside for a taxi. He had two fingers in the air. “Since Jotaro confirmed he would be coming too late, you get the choice of roomie for the trip! Kakyoin, or your own dearest grandfather!”

“Good grief… You forgot to book another room, didn’t you?” Jotaro waved down a taxi as he spoke. “In the case of process of elimination, I’ll stay with Kakyoin.” Jotaro announced. 

“You’re missing out,” Joseph whined. 

The three got into a taxi, Kakyoin squished in the middle, then they made it in one piece to the hotel. It was very nice and seemed expensive, definitely something Kakyoin expected from Speedwagon. 

Jotaro and Kakyoin made it to their room and opened the door. Shit- absolutely not. This is not going to be some weird one-bed trope… 

“The sofa pulls out. I’ll sleep on it.” Kakyoin announced. Jotaro made a face at that, to which he replied “this is your room, so you get the bed. I will take the sofa.” 

“You can barely fit through the fucking door, Jotaro, why would you sleep on the sofa?” Kakyoin challenged; he placed his bags on the sofa. 

Jotaro removed the bags and put them on the bed. “You’ll sleep on the bed.” He sat on the sofa after placing his belongings down. 

“I’ll sleep on the sofa,” Kakyoin corrected. He tried to push Jotaro off of the sofa, but was fighting with a brick wall. “Don’t fucking dead-weight, you prick!” 

Jotaro ignored him and couldn’t help but allow a small smile on his lips. Kakyoin was desperate to push him off, but Jotaro was immovable. “You know what-“ Kakyoin summoned Hierophant Green. 

“Don’t-“ It was too late. Hierophant Green obediently used several coils to wrap itself around Jotaro and pulled him off of the sofa to the bed, chaining him down. Triumphantly, Kakyoin sat on the sofa. 

Until Star Platinum, of course!

Jotaro could have gotten Star Platinum to pick Kakyoin up or even unattach the coils, but he had other plans; he was used to tickle each of the coils until Kakyoin himself was gasping for air and rolling around the floor. “Jotaro! Joot! Please, stop! Hahaha!” 

Kakyoin wouldn’t let Hierophant Green release Jotaro, so he crawled his way to the bed and onto it before attempting to push Star Platinum away from the coils. 

It didn’t work to get him away, but it eased the tickling sensation enough that Kakyoin could elbow Star Platinum in the nose. Of course, Star Platinum caught his elbow easily and proceeded to pick him up. 

“What are you doing?!” Kakyoin shrieked angrily. He kicked and thrashed as he was carried to the sofa and slammed down like a wrestling match. Due to the force, the sofa snapped under the pressure and Kakyoin felt his body dip down with a crunch of the sofa’s frame. 

They all paused, Jotaro and Kakyoin quickly looking to one another. Both stands disappeared as if they were afraid to get in trouble from rough housing despite their masters being the reason. Kakyoin quickly got up and turned to look at the damage. 

The knobs of the sofa had been indented in the wooden floor, a split coming out of the worst corner and the sofa itself was noticeably snapped in the middle. “I’m… sure this is still fine.” Kakyoin removed the cushions and tried to pull out the bed, but the bars could no longer budge. “Oh. Uh, do you think they’ll notice?”

“No,” Jotaro shrugged, sitting up in bed. “I can still sleep on it.”

“First of all, the sofa was MINE. Second, neither of us are going to sleep on it; we are going to ask for a new room with TWO beds.” Kakyoin corrected. 

The two went down to the lobby together to request a new room, specifically one with two separate beds rather than a pullout-sofa. 

“I’m sorry sir, but we are completely booked… We do have a room with a king size bed, though.” The receptionist hesitantly suggested. 

Kakyoin wanted to bang his head against the counter, but held it in so he wouldn’t take any frustration out on the service worker. “I understand… is there… anything else? Even another sofa bed- just, anything.” 

“Well other than the King bed…” She typed on the computer and scrolled through the rooms available. “We do have one room, but it is more expensive than your current. It has a single bed, but it is about twice the size of a regular king bed…“

“Hm?” Kakyoin tapped a finger on his chin wondering why a bed was made so large. Still, it was late and the bed sounded big enough that he wouldn’t need to cuddle up to Jotaro. “Do you think that would work?” He asked the taller man. Jotaro shrugged, so Kakyoin smiled at the lady. “We’ll take it! Please charge the original card on file.” 

The two grabbed the key and their belongings from the room and went to where the new room was located, both exhausted from travel and the late hours. 

Kakyoin noticed the numbers on a large door, decorated fancier than the other ones in the hotel. “Hm, must be the president suite or something… I hope the foundation doesn’t mind the bill.”

Jotaro stood patiently behind Kakyoin as he unlocked to open the door to…

No. 

Kakyoin turned on his heel to walk back to the lobby, but he bumped straight into Jotaro’s chest since he was standing too close. “It’s late. This is the only option, so we can just deal with it.” The last thing he wanted was to talk to that lady again. In fact, he would rather be shot than have to speak to her ever again. 

Even if the room was… the honeymoon suite. 

“You’ve got to be shitting me… Jotaro, the bed is HEART SHAPED.” 

Jotaro stood his ground, blocking the doorway with his unreasonably massive body and looking down at Kakyoin. “It’s just a bed. We’ve shared them before; at least this one is bigger than the other.” 

Kakyoin’s face changed from frustration to one that looked a bit desperate to think of an excuse, but quickly fell into a pout. “Fine, whatever.” He turned and walked into the room. 

The nightmare only got worse. 

“Now why would they put fresh roses in a room they didn’t know anyone would be booking? It can’t be a popular room. Besides, who takes their newly wed to a fucking hotel?” Kakyoin picked up one of the chocolates on the coffee table and tossed it into his mouth. 

He turned to force a smile at Jotaro. “No offense, if that’s where you took your wife.” 

Interrupted from unpacking his belongings, Jotaro shot a nasty glare at Kakyoin. He only laughed at the look, “what? It was here, wasn’t it?”

“No.” Jotaro said with a sigh. Why would he have taken her somewhere after getting married? All they did was sign some stupid papers to later be nullified. 

“Well, alright.” I don’t want to hear where you took her, so please don’t explain. Not that you’d be the type to share. 

Kakyoin lounged on one side of the heart shaped bed and stretched out. “Wow, I didn’t even know they made beds this huge. I could use one of these every night.” 

“It’s a bit excessive for two people, isn’t it? If it is meant for a couple, why would it need to be so big?” Jotaro asked. 

He looked over to the boy beside him, but his face was almost as red as his earrings. “Jotaro… you can’t just- can you really not understand why it would need to be bigger?” 

It was a rhetorical question, but Jotaro considered the answer. The silence was finally long enough that Kakyoin put his hands to his own face to hide his embarrassment. “Jojo- sex. They have sex in it- rolling around and shit.” 

If Jotaro isn’t gay, Kakyoin wondered, then why am I still so embarrassed to say it?

Of course, he also believed himself to be straight; had honestly never thought much of it besides people in class assuming he was gay for the way he spoke. Which, if it was Jotaro- then that would be ok- no. No, no. Empty those thoughts!

Then, Kakyoin remembered the most important part of all of this… 

Did Jolyne actually even exist? 

Kakyoin turned over and propped himself up on his elbow. “You DO know what sex is, don’t you Jotaro? I mean, Jolyne does exist, right Jotaro?” 

Jotaro’s eyebrows scrunched and he turned over so his back was facing Kakyoin. He heard a small devious little laugh, then felt the bed dip behind him; Kakyoin was right next to him. He saw a hand place itself in front of his vision, then Kakyoin’s face leaned over menacingly looking down at him. 

His little bang was just barely touching Jotaro’s cheek. “See, you put your dick into a woman’s vagina and-“

That was all he could say before Jotaro turned quickly with a pillow in an attempt to smother Kakyoin. “What would YOU know, virgin?!” Jotaro said with a red face, still trying to suffocate the poor man underneath of him. 

Kakyoin mumbled a defensive, “this isn’t about me!” He then flailed a bit and eventually used his knee to try hitting him in the balls. Instead, he unfortunately only could press his knee there and got stuck between Jotaro’s thighs. It would have been quite the embarrassing situation if he wasn’t fighting for his life. 

“Jojo! Okay, okay!” Kakyoin gasped for air after Jotaro released the pillow, but was still on top of him and glaring down. They stared at each other for a moment before Kakyoin noticed their provocative position. 

Not learning his lesson, he smirked at Jotaro. “Oh, is this the position you like? Huh? Jotaro, you’re married. You could at least take me to dinner first~” 

To make matters worse, Kakyoin put his two fingers up in a V shape to his mouth and used his tongue to lick between them. He was good at it- way too good at it for Jotaro to handle. His eyes widened and he slapped the hand away with a stern, “don’t do that.” 

“Eh? Why not?” Kakyoin brought his fingers immediately back and did it again, that time with a smirk tugging the corner of his lips. 

“I said stop-“ Jotaro swatted them away again, and again when Kakyoin did it again. 

He desperately hoped his breathing was still even. In all the years fighting enemy stands, none of them could quite get his heart racing like Kakyoin did. He was making stupid innuendos with his tongue and was pinned beneath of the typically stoic Jotaro, so why now was it so hard?

No, but… Literally. Jotaro was hard. 

Panicking, Jotaro smothered Kakyoin with a pillow again to discreetly move his hips away from Kakyoin’s knee. Kakyoin kept swatting and eventually tossed the pillow away. “Okay, asshole! Are you trying to kill me or fuck me?!” He asked with a loud laugh. He really didn’t mean it. 

His wrist was snatched into Jotaro’s and forced into one of the handcuffs that came attached to the head of the bed. Kakyoin’s purple eyes widened, “Wait!” He tried to yank it away. “Jojo, it was a joke!” 

He really didn’t mean it. 

Jotaro tried desperately to get the other hand in the other cuff. He needed space. He needed to get away. He needed to keep Kakyoin still so he could leave and get some air. It was too much. 

He really didn’t mean it. 

“Just- behave, won’t you?” Jotaro snapped. 

And even Jotaro REALLY didn’t mean it. Not in that way. 

“This is harassment!” Kakyoin scolded, doing his best to be an absolute menace to try handcuffing. Jotaro pinned his flailing legs down with his knees firmly on Kakyoin’s thighs and he grabbed the cuff with one hand and Kakyoin’s free wrist with the other. 

“Oh!” Neither of them had said the startled word… it wasn’t either of them. 

Jotaro whipped around to look over his shoulder at the door to see Joseph looking like a deer in headlights. He was somehow too stunned to say his entire Oh my God phrase. Kakyoin peeked around the broad shoulder keeping him still underneath Jotaro. 

Joseph’s eyes went from Kakyoin, to Jotaro and saw a look that he could only interpret as: get the fuck out of here or I will kill you for ruining this. 

“Oh ho ho~~ I see you two are finally-“

Star Platinum emerged looking just as intent on murder as Jotaro. Joseph put his hands up. “Okay, okay! I’ll take the hint.” Joseph quickly retreated and closed the door behind him. 

“Wait what did-“ Kakyoin’s eyebrows furrowed, then he pointedly glared at Jotaro. “Get OFF of me, Jotaro! Let me go, now!” He snapped. 

Jotaro’s face went soft and he realized how everything must have looked. He quickly and silently released Kakyoin, then hastily got up from the bed and retreated to the secluded patio with a cigarette and his lighter. 

Kakyoin sat up in the bed, back hunched as he tried to just breathe. What the fuck was I l doing… Jotaro has a family.

He grabbed a pillow and put it between his knees and chest, then cuddled it closely while dissociating at the wall. 

Even if he wasn’t married, he still isn’t gay. Even if he is gay, why would he be interested?

After some time, Kakyoin cautiously walked to the patio door and slid it open. “Hey,” 

Jotaro turned to look at Kakyoin, then took another hit of his cigarette. 

“Mind if I join you?” Kakyoin asked. Jotaro slid over on the bench and made room, so Kakyoin joined him. It was quiet, but it didn’t feel awkward anymore. Kakyoin looked out at the stars that were hazy from cigarette smoke. “The stars seem so different here than in Japan.” 

Jotaro looked up at them as well and tried to remember what the ones back home looked like. Kakyoin sighed and leaned forward against the patio railing. He wanted to apologize for teasing Jotaro so much, but he couldn’t do so without blatantly admitting he was doing some weird type of flirting thing to piss him off. 

Kakyoin finally asked, “Are we really meeting your daughter tomorrow?” 

Jotaro rolled his eyes. “Isn’t that what you wanted?” 

“I suppose. Forgive me, but I’m a bit surprised you have a daughter.” Kakyoin admitted. 

Turquoise eyes moved to the man leaning forward, but he was only able to see a quarter of Kakyoin’s profile from that angle. It wasn’t enough to get the information he was hoping to find, but he still asked the question “why does it matter?” 

Kakyoin looked down with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’re right- I suppose you’ve changed a lot in these eight years, huh? I forget we’ve only actually known each other for a couple of months.”

But it felt like forever. 

“How long have you known your wife?” Kakyoin asked to keep the conversation off himself. 

Jotaro actually huffed a short laugh that threw Kakyoin off enough that he turned to look. “Ex-wife,” he corrected. 

“Oh… I’m sorry..” 

“Don’t be.” Jotaro let out another puff of smoke. “We were hardly together- just for a year or two.” 

Kakyoin furrowed his brows. “Is that so? Why did you marry her, then?” 

Jotaro actually seemed to blush, but he pulled down the brim of his hat before he could be discovered. “America… has some very nice Ph.D programs…”

…

“No way…” Kakyoin gasped quietly. “You married her for a green card.” The statement was meant to be a question, but came out more like a realization. 

“There was also Jolyne…” Jotaro said as if it would make any of it better. 

Kakyoin snorted a laugh and relaxed back against the wall. “Jotaro, you sure are an interesting man.” He leaned his head against Jotaro’s shoulder and looked back out at the stars. 

The only movement for a while was Jotaro’s arm muscles from moving the cigarette. He did his best not to bother Kakyoin with the movements, not that he would ever admit such a thing. 

Jotaro let him lean on his shoulder until the cigarette was done for. He put it out, then shrugged his shoulder. “Kakyoin,” he watched sleepy purple eyes open slightly. “We should get some sleep.” With much reluctance, Kakyoin made it to the bed before crashing into a deeper sleep. 

Chapter Text

This was it. This was the day Kakyoin really got to find out if Jolyne was real or not… Though, he had lost any suspicion of her being made up when they landed in America to meet with her. 

Joseph was driving the rental to the park and Kakyoin was more anxious than Jotaro… not that such a statement meant much. 

The park was huge and busy, but Joseph walked with purpose like he knew exactly where to go. There were several children, and Kakyoin considered each of them being Jolyne until they had ran off out of sight. Finally, a voice of a young girl shouted “pappy, pappy!” 

“OHHH!!!!” Joseph exclaimed, squatting to the ground. “Is that my beautiful great-granddaughter?! No, I remember you were this tall last time I saw you!” He put a hand up to her shoulder to demonstrate. 

She laughed happily and put a hand on her hip. “You just got shorter, old man!” 

Kakyoin’s mouth had practically fallen open. He watched Joseph pick up this tiny child and say “can you say hi to dada?” Jotaro turned his face away with a pout, arms crossed. Jolyne did the same, turning the other way with crossed arms and her lips poking out. 

Even more-so, Kakyoin was sure his jaw had hit the ground like a cartoon. He was thankful he had sunglasses to cover his awestruck eyes. 

First of all… she was real… Jolyne was real, which meant Jotaro really had… he- no, he had to have made her in a petri dish or some shit…

Second, she was just a tiny Jotaro… Even their pouting face looked the same. Most of her hair was a dark green color, but the front was blonde. How odd it was in America for children to color their hair so young… 

“Who’s dat, pappy?” Jolyne asked, suddenly interested in the man that came with them, a finger pointing accusingly at Kakyoin. 

“Oh, this is our friend- Kakyoin.” Joseph said, bouncing Jolyne a little as he carried her closer. 

She looked as though she was inspecting Kakyoin, her eyes looking exactly like a greener version of Jotaro’s. Jolyne truly was a tiny, tiny version of him… 

“Hmmm…. Ka- uhh…” she couldn’t remember. 

Kakyoin smiled pleasantly. “Kakyoin.” 

“Kaaak- ween?” Jolyne made a confused expression. 

“Kakyoin,” Kakyoin repeated. She glared at him, obviously not understanding. “Let’s try one at a time. Can you say Kak?”

“Kak.” 

“Yoin.” 

“Ween.”

“Kakyoin.” 

“Cat… ween.” 

Kakyoin chuckled and nodded. “Close enough. 

“Cat-ween.” She said triumphantly. 

“Very good!” Joseph complimented, stepping up for the lack of knowledge Kakyoin had on how to speak to children. Jolyne reached her hands in an attempt to get to Kakyoin. “Whatcha doin there?” Joseph asked with a laugh. 

“I want Kitty hold me!” She complained, whining that she wasn’t immediately getting her way. 

“Oh. I- i don’t-“ Kakyoin took a step back, but Joseph had already shoved her into his arms with a “ah, you got this!” 

Kakyoin did his best to hold the human child without dropping her. She was already messing with his hair curl and putting it atop her head like a hat. “Kitty, look at me!” 

Kitty apparently seemed to mean him, so Kakyoin hesitantly nodded. “I see.” He walked over to Jotaro. “Do you want your… dad to hold you?” 

“NOOOO!!!!” Jolyne wailed and hugged around Kakyoin’s neck tightly as if she was holding on to the edge of a cliff. “I like you bettwer!” 

Kakyoin laughed nervously and awkwardly pat her head with his free hand before using it to help hold her again. “Okay, I will hold you.” 

“My name’s Jolyne!” She said happily, playing with that hair curl again. “I think you’re pwetty.”

Kakyoin smiled genuinely. “Thank you.” 

Oh shit, am I supposed to compliment her, too?!

Luckily, she had moved on. “Uncle Rwo!” She called out. Kakyoin turned, but couldn’t see anyone paying attention. 

“Ah, let’s go over to him or else he’d never listen.” Joseph sighed, then walked forward. Jotaro also led while Kakyoin was left to follow with Jolyne in his arms. Why was he trapped with the child?!

They came up to a man who had an impressively large easel that he was using to paint park scenery. He mumbled to himself and put his hand pretentiously on his hip when he was thinking. Then, every time someone passed his view in the public park, he would look awfully irritated that they had the AUDACITY to get in his way. 

“Rohan.” Jotaro called coldly from behind him. The voice made the man jump, then turn around. His hair was just as flamboyant as Kakyoin would imagine America to be and he had a tray of paint in one hand with a brush in the other. 

“Jotaro!” He greeted, then aimlessly pointed the brush at him with paint dripping off. “Didn’t actually think you’d show! How’ve ya been? How’s Japan?” 

Since he knew very well he wouldn’t get an answer, he turned his attention to a gasp that was aimed at his canvas. “You did all of this with watercolor?” 

“Hm?” Rohan quickly moved to beside his canvas and leaned an arm on it. “Sure did!”

“Oh, that’s impressive.” Kakyoin moved his sunglasses to his head and looked a little closer at the painting to fully appreciate it. “The control you have with dimensions is insane. You must have a very steady hand.” 

Rohan nearly knocked over his canvas at the comment, clearly taking it in the worst way imaginable. In his head he thought, ‘is this… the love of my life?!’

No, no he was not. Kakyoin would never like you- chill the fuck out dude. 

Even if someone had shouted that at Rohan, he would have ignored it. “I- I do! I really do! Wouldn’t you like to know how I do it?” 

“I’ve never been great at watercolor, but I can still admire the effort that went into making this piece.” Kakyoin complimented with a smile. 

Jotaro’s eyes narrowed at Kakyoin. 

Rohan nervously laughed. “Yeah? I- I could paint you some time. You have a sharp jawline and dynamic curves to your body, so you’d be a perfect subject for an art piece. Oil, perhaps.” 

Kakyoin blushed at the compliment and pulled his sunglasses back down over his eyes out of being self-conscious. “I don’t know about that…”

Jolyne made the same face as Jotaro and looked to her father, who was glaring in disgust at Kakyoin still. 

“What?! You’re perfect. Come to my place some time and I can show you some of my art I’ve done. I’m very good at portraits.” Rohan assured. 

Kakyoin opened his mouth to respond, but Jotaro stepped between the two of them with an excuse that he wanted to hold Jolyne. Kakyoin immediately was distracted and raised an eyebrow at Jotaro standing there with his hands out flat. “Give her to me.”

“She’s not a steam bun, Jojo.” Joseph laughed. He assisted to two awkward men with handing Jolyne against her will to Jotaro. “Okay, well we should get going!” Joseph announced. 

Kakyoin smiled at Rohan. “It was nice to meet you.” 

“Likewise…” Rohan said, simply in awe of the beautiful man. 

Jotaro waited until Kakyoin followed Joseph so he could keep an eye to make sure he didn’t stay behind with Rohan. “Kitty is pwetty.” Jolyne said to Jotaro, playing with the edge of his hat. 

“He is very pretty.” Jotaro agreed in a quiet voice, eyes turning to Jolyne. He carried her the whole way they walked to where they were going to have their picnic. 

Kakyoin helped set up the blanket with Joseph. “Was her uncle not invited to the picnic?” 

“Oh, he isn’t actually her uncle- he is a close friend of her mom’s and just took her to meet us.” Joseph explained. 

Jotaro’s teeth were grinding at the question. Why did it matter and why did Kakyoin want him there? He sat down after placing Jolyne down and opened the basket. “Here, this must be yours-“ he placed a juice box and some pre-portioned cut snacks in front of Jolyne. 

Jolyne struggled with the straw and got more and more upset as she tried. Kakyoin chuckled at Jotaro’s willpower to ignore her. “Jojo-“ he leaned over Jotaro to grab Jolyne’s box and straw to insert it for her. “There you go, princess.”

“Thank you, Kitty!” She cheered, then sipped happily on her box. 

Jotaro received an unwelcome memory of Kakyoin calling him princess and felt a bit betrayed he used it for someone else- who cares if it was just his daughter or the fucking bastard Rohan. 

“Can I wear th’ gwasses?” Jolyne asked, reaching her sticky fingers to Kakyoin. Jotaro lightly slapped her hand away with a stern, “do not ask that.” 

Since she was scolded unexpectedly, she teared up and started to cry until Kakyoin quickly took his glasses off. “Hey- hey, don’t cry… here, you can wear them.” He placed the glasses on Jolyne to make her stop crying, then shot a glare at Jotaro for doing that. 

Jolyne was instantly healed and posed with the glasses. “Am I pwetty?!” She asked Kakyoin. He smiled and nodded. “You are the prettiest, in fact!” 

He normally didn’t like children… at all, but Jolyne was quickly becoming the one child he accepted and thought was completely valid. Plus, she was a mini Jotaro! How cute!

“Put on daddy!” Jolyne demanded, reaching the glasses to her dad who was making zero effort to play along. 

Kakyoin took charge and grabbed the glasses from Jolyne, then placed them carefully on Jotaro. “Whatcha think, Jolyne?” He asked, smiling at the look. 

“Mmm… Ugly!” Jolyne said, pointing directly into Jotaro’s face. 

Jotaro clenched his jaw, but said nothing. Kakyoin, on the other hand, couldn’t help but to laugh out loud. “Jolyne! Hahaha! Your daddy isn’t ugly. He is very handsome, don’t you think?” 

Despite the words being told to Jolyne, they still made Jotaro’s heart skip a beat… Did Kakyoin actually think that? Did he even have opinions on the way he looked to be able to call him handsome? 

“No.” Jolyne went back to juice box and ignored any other complaints from Kakyoin. 

Kakyoin took his glasses back and put them back on. The four of them ate their picnic meals and chatted (mostly about what Jolyne wanted to talk about, of course) and then returned Jolyne to Rohan before going back to the hotel. 

Jolyne had an appointment within the hour, so the rest of them went to the hotel to relax and catch up on jet lag. 

Kakyoin was uncharacteristically quiet the whole ride home and even after getting back to the hotel room. 

“What’s the matter?” Jotaro asked, turning while in his side of bed. 

“Oh, it’s nothing.” Kakyoin assured. Though, if he was being honest:

Jotaro has an actual daughter… 

She looks just like him! Why does this… bother me? She’s such a sweet little kid, so? 

“Your daughter is lovely…” Kakyoin said to ease the awkward silence. 

Jotaro didn’t respond and stared at Kakyoin, then looked away. “I suppose.” There was a silence and Jotaro snuck a glance to see Kakyoin pondering to himself on the bed and holding a pillow in his cross-legged lap. 

Kakyoin subconsciously ran the back of his nail across his bottom lip and dissociated at the blankets as he considered the day. 

How had I never suspected Jotaro was a straight man? I could have sworn all those times going to Egypt, that he was flirting with me. Could I have mistaken his intentions? He was so… close to me- and touchy, definitely more-so than he ever was with the others…

“Kakyoin-“ Jotaro called out. 

Even if so, why does my stomach feel so tight at the thought of him having a family? Wouldn’t a good friend be happy for him? Maybe I just… forgot that the world kept going when I was in the hospital? To me, it’s been only a few short weeks after Egypt. Or- 

“Kakyoin-“ Jotaro said louder. 

Kakyoin looked up at Jotaro in half of his daze. Could I be the one in love with Jotaro?

“There’s something else on your mind. What is it?” Jotaro asked, standing from the wall he was leaned against. 

Kakyoin looked down, then played with one of the frayed threads on the bedsheet. “Do you promise not to hate me or be weird or think any less of me if I said something strange?” Kakyoin asked. 

Jotaro blinked as if saying ‘nothing would ever make me hate you.’ Jotaro sat beside Kakyoin on the bed and said “promise. Is everything okay?”

He wished Jotaro hadn’t gotten so close. It would only sting more if he moved away after hearing what he had to say. “No, Jotaro. I- am I- aaah.” Having no other way to stall, Kakyoin closed his eyes and blurted out “I think I might be gay, Jotaro. I don’t know… I’m so confused right now.”

Jotaro could feel his heart sink to the pit of his stomach. He felt as though he had wanted to hear those words since he met Kakyoin, but why now? Why did he have to say it after meeting Rohan of all people? Why couldn’t it be him? 

He narrowed his eyes at Kakyoin and couldn’t keep his jealousy from manifesting itself. “Have you ever even kissed a man?” 

Kakyoin’s face turned red. Why ask that?! “What?!” He covered his face with his hands and said, “what dumb fucking question is that?! No, of course I haven’t! I haven’t kissed anyone!”

“Hm…” Jotaro looked away and to the wall, thinking if he should do something about the situation. If Kakyoin liked Rohan, then that was okay- wait, no it wasn’t. Still, it couldn’t be helped. What could be helped was Jotaro making sure he was the first one to ever kiss Kakyoin. That way, if he did come around in the future… 

He looked back to Kakyoin. “Well, if you were ever curious then I could… help.” 

Kakyoin made an ugly face at Jotaro, one eye wider than the other and his lips curled in what could only be described as disgust. 

“…what” Jotaro asked.

“You’ve kissed a man?!”Kakyoin screeched. 

“No.”

Kakyoin calmed down a little, then tilted his head so his hair curl flopped over to almost cover one eye. “Then, what exactly are you offering here?” 

Not that I’ll set you up with Rohan, that’s for damn sure, Jotaro said in his head. “Just that, you dont know if you’re- you know. And I don’t care, so if you wanted to kiss a man to see how it was…” His heart was beating faster than he would ever like and he hoped Kakyoin couldnt hear it over their vocies. 

And I don’t care… Kakyoin looked down to the blanket in front of where he was sitting. That was the issue, wasn’t it? Jotaro didn’t care if Kakyoin was gay or not, because he wasn’t. He felt a lump in his throat and wanted to scream at Jotaro that he wanted more than anything for him to care. He mumbled, “I don’t want it to mean nothing.” 

‘To you. It would mean the world to me.’

Jotaro frowned at the words. He hadn’t expected for Kakyoin to blatantly say kissing him would mean nothing. “Okay,” he grumbled, then got up from the bed. 

“Where are you going?” Kakyoin lifted his head curiously at Jotaro. 

“Old man wanted to gamble.” Jotaro informed, grabbing one of the room keys. 

Kakyoin said, “oh… can I come?” 

“Sure.” 

Chapter Text

Pick up! Please, pick up!!!! 

“Hello?”

“Polnareff!” Joseph nearly shouted loud enough that the voice was static over the line. 

“Mr. Joestar? How is America?” 

“Doesn’t matter! No time! Jotaro- he- he-“

“???”

“Jotaro and Kakyoin had sex!” Joseph sounded way too excited for his grandson’s sleeping habits… and wasn’t as impressed when he had a child. 

“WHAT?!” Polnareff screeched. “ARE YOU PULLING MY LEG?!”

“I’M NOT. IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED!” 

“Gah! Of course, when I’m not there! What the hell?! Do you think I could get a flight and get there tonight?!” Polnareff shuffled over the line, undoubtedly running to his desktop to find out. 

“Get Speedwagon Foundation to take you; this is an emergency!” Joseph assured. 

“I’ll be there!” Polnareff hung up, so Joseph left the phone booth and rushed back to the beach. 

Kakyoin jumped awake to the sound of Joseph bellowing a “GOOOOOOD MORNING!” 

Jotaro grumbled and sat up, sand sticking to his… bare skin? He somehow only had underwear on and his hat. He was immediately discombobulated, looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings. How did he end up there, why couldn’t he remember? 

Kakyoin was lying beside him, still not fully awake yet and had just as little clothes on, but at least his pants were still on…. Backwards? How did his pants end up backwards? 

“Good morning, grandson!” Joseph beamed, smile wide and smug. Then, his eyes widened. “Fucking Christ, did you have sex with Kakyoin or Hierophant?”

“What?” Kakyoin mumbled, finally waking up at the weird question. He opened his eyes with a splitting headache, then looked over to a nearly naked Jotaro. He had scratches all over his body that had dried blood and sand in them, lips that were bitten swollen, and bruises all over his body. 

Quickly, Kakyoin looked down to himself. He had many bruises, but wasn’t in as bad of a condition otherwise. “I…” he looked over to see Hierophant and Star Platinum lying asleep on top of one another. “What… happened?”

“I don’t remember, either.” Jotaro assured. 

Joseph laughed. “Well, which was it?! Kakyoin, do you feel weird?”

Jotaro looked concerned, barely able to keep the expression down. “Um…”

Kakyoin shot a glance at Joseph. “What makes you think I would be the bottom?!” 

At that, Jotaro snorted a small laugh that made Kakyoin redirect his glare in his direction with a hostile, “what?! I wouldn’t be!” 

“You’re suggesting you topped me, then?” Jotaro asked, an eyebrow raised. Fuck, why did he say that?! 

“No.” Kakyoin puffed out his chest with a mischievous grin. “If I was the top, you wouldn’t be able to move.” 

“Well, I can.” Jotaro replied plainly. 

Kakyoin’s face became strange. “Then…” he looked to Hierophant asleep on Star Platinum, then quickly back to Jotaro with wide eyes.

“No.” Jotaro shut that thought down real quick, “I didn’t get fucked by your stand.” 

“But…”

“NO.” 

Joseph laughed, keeling over and holding his stomach like it hurt to laugh so much. 

Kakyoin retracted Hierophant and sat to his knees, brushing off the sand. “But seriously, what happened last night?” 

~The night before~ 

Jello shots. A beautiful invention and one of the only valuable contributions of the United States. Unfortunately, they could be mistaken as a yummy treat to someone like Jotaro. 

He had gone through over two dozen of them, slowly getting tipsy until he was tipsy enough to take straight shots. Kakyoin was no better, drunk before he could realize he didn’t take alcohol very well. 

They had ended up in the hotel lobby together at an art exhibit, one that Rohan was participating in. It took Kakyoin saying two compliments to Rohan’s painting before Jotaro decided to step in. “Why don’t you just kiss him already, then? This is disgusting to watch.” Jotaro at least had the decency to say that in Japanese so no one could hear what he had to say. 

Except… he didn’t know Rohan could speak Japanese. Kakyoin didn’t know, either. 

The redhead whipped around to Jotaro and spoke in Japanese as well. “Eat a dick, Jotaro!” 

Jotaro pointed a finger in Kakyoin’s face. “That’s your job, isn’t it?” 

Kakyoin gritted his teeth and slapped the hand away, then again and again as Jotaro kept putting it back up. Meanwhile, Rohan was staring while star-stuck, thinking that Kakyoin must have had a crush on him! How wonderful!

Unfortunately for Rohan, he was sadly mistaken. 

He hadn’t tried to stop them as he was spaced out, but a thud knocked him back to his senses; Jotaro and Kakyoin were fighting and rolling on the floor. 

“Don’t bite me, dog!” Kakyoin shouted, then immediately tried to bite Jotaro back. 

Rohan made a disgusted face at them as he noticed they were trying desperately not to just bite one another… but they were biting at each other’s mouths like fucking weirdos. “Uhh… people are starting to stare…” Rohan gently said, even though he was ignored. 

He sighed and squatted down and said in Japanese, “If you two don’t knock it off, I’ll have to get security.” 

Kakyoin and Jotaro both quickly looked to Rohan with widened eyes, freezing in their fight. Jotaro had gotten bit on the bottom lip and was bleeding from it while Kakyoin’s canine tooth had a bit of blood on it that was from Jotaro. 

Rohan spoke Japanese?!

His threat meant nothing since security had already been called and they were escorted out of the hotel. 

The air outside was still hot despite the sun setting and the humidity made Kakyoin feel extra icky being outside. Annoyed with Jotaro getting him sent away, he walked pointedly in the opposite direction of the man. 

“Where are you going?” Jotaro followed Kakyoin like a lost puppy, stumbling a bit as he tried to fast-walk to catch up. As he walked faster, so did Kakyoin; eventually, the two were practically running. 

Kakyoin slammed on breaks and whipped around. “I’m leaving. Don’t follow me!” He huffed and turned back around to walk away, expecting to hear footsteps behind him. The more he walked, the more he realized there was no one behind him. Annoyed, Kakyoin turned around and glared at Jotaro. “Are you not gonna come after me?!”

Jotaro threw up his hands with a groan of  complaint, but ended up following Kakyoin like he was told to. 

The golf course was a strange place to end up, but then again, Jotaro and Kakyoin had stopped questioning their late-night adventures about five- five… hours? Days? What day was it? They didn’t know. 

Jotaro was trying to look cool, but was thrown off course when his foot caught into a golf hole. “Great,” he grumbled, pulling himself free and giving Kakyoin an accusing glare, as if he had personally offended him.

“Excuse you! Why the hell do you think I did that?! You’re the lousy clumsy idiot!” Kakyoin defended. Jotaro huffed and stood up to clumsily brush himself of dirt.

They continued wandering across the course, their banter echoing in the night until something caught Jotaro’s eye near the edge of a pond. His eyes narrowed, and he nudged Kakyoin. “Look.”

Kakyoin squinted. “Oh my god, it’s an alligator!”

“No, that’s a crocodile,” Jotaro corrected angrily, crossing his arms

Kakyoin scoffed, “How do you know?”

“Only one way to find out,” Jotaro decided with sudden inspiration. He lumbered forward, ignoring Kakyoin’s persistent protests. The crocodile disappeared into a patch of thorny bushes, and Jotaro followed, grumbling as thorns scratched at him. He emerged a few moments later, triumphant but covered in small scratches, dragging the crocodile back.

“See? Told you it was a crocodile,” he said with a grin. The crocodile seemed incredibly frightened as it desperately tried to escape Jotaro’s bear-hug. It managed to slip free, but not without a fight from Jotaro. The crocodile caught a tooth onto Jotaro’s pants and there was a loud ripping sound as the pants came off with the crocodile’s escape. 

Kakyoin broke down laughing loudly until he had to squeeze his stomach from how hard it was hurting . “Okay, hahahaha! Okay, okay.” He cleared his throat and removed his pants. “You lost your pants, you should have mine. 

They tried for around half an hour to fit the pants on Jotaro, but Kakyoin ended up putting them back on in defeat- backwards, but still physically on. 

They stumbled away, eventually finding themselves on a beach. A sudden shadow loomed in front of them—a stand user, and not a friendly one!

After a pathetic fight on their end, the two came up with a genius plan to capture the enemy stand user with their two shirts tied together (instead of Hierophant, of course…). They dug into the sand until it was big enough for a human, then placed the stand user inside before covering him up to the neck in sand for him to wake up latr and be stuck.

Or...

“Let’s watch the tide take him!” Kakyoin said with an excited gasp just before. 

With that bizarre adventure at its end, Jotaro and Kakyoin eventually fell asleep with their stands nearby while waiting for a high tide to show up. 

Chapter Text

“I desperately need to shower.” The comment was more to himself since Jotaro and he hadn’t spoken a word on the way back to the hotel. Besides, Joseph had quite enough to say in the car ride home… Even if he was bothersome, the two were glad not to have to call a cab while half naked. 

Jotaro was still limping a little- not too noticeable, but enough that Kakyoin felt bad for him. “Why don’t you take one first? I take a long time.” He knew Jotaro wouldn’t accept if he thought Kakyoin was taking pity on his condition. In fact, he’d say some asinine shit about how he isn’t even limping and he’s in peak performance. Who knows. 

“Okay.” Jotaro wasted no time taking Kakyoin up on the offer and disappeared in the bathroom. 

Kakyoin sighed and once he heard the water turn on, he brought Hierophant out. “How ya feelin’, buddy?” He asked rhetorically, placing his hands as if checking for a fever. Nothing was off about Hierophant, so Kakyoin could safely assume he hadn’t been involved in any… nefarious activity. 

Himself on the other hand, Kakyoin couldn’t be too sure. 

He frowned at the thought, looking away and to the floor silently. If something had happened… is it something he and Jotaro should talk about, or would it be best to ignore everything and pretend it didn’t happen? 

That isn’t exactly what Kakyoin wanted for his first time, even if it was something he wasn’t sure happened or not. 

He retracted Hierophant Green and stood up from the stupid heart-shaped bed. This whole trip had turned into a nightmare… How was he supposed to visit Jolyne- Jotaro’s DAUGHTER that afternoon? What if Jotaro and his ex-wife were trying to make amends and now he’s gone and potentially slept with a MAN? 

Kakyoin took off his backwards pants and set them in a corner to wash since they had dried up sand and sticky residue from god-knows-what on it. No, not that type of sticky substance you filthy delinquent. 

While he only had boxers on, he used the closet mirror to check on his bruises and injuries. He had quite a few dark ones that were sensitive to the touch as well as a few scratches here and there. Nothing like Jotaro had, but the bruises were definitely worse. 

“How did they do it?” 

Kakyoin hadn’t noticed Jotaro was back from his shower until he heard those words and saw a man behind him in the mirror. He turned around, startled. “Jotaro, I didn’t hear the water stop.” 

Jotaro was staring down at the large scar on Kakyoin’s stomach, reminding him of the question that had been asked. Kakyoin self-consciously wrapped his arms in front of his stomach to hold himself and cover the massive scar. “You mean, put me back to together from being a human donut?”

“I wouldn’t say it like that,” Jotaro replied. 

Kakyoin shrugged slightly. “Pluripotent stem cells. I don’t remember any of the details, but the doctors at Speedwagon are incredible.” 

Jotaro hummed in acknowledgment. Kakyoin had initially been distracted, but now he had realized Jotaro only had a towel around his waist. Even with the scratches, he still looked impossibly gorgeous. Oh, and Kakyoin was wearing just boxers? Embarrassing. 

Kakyoin’s face turned red slightly and he looked for something else to say, anything. Unfortunately, the honesty of his procedure came to mind first and out of his mouth before he could stop it. “I don’t know why they bothered bringing me back.” 

The look Jotaro gave him was unsettling, so Kakyoin immediately regretted it and laughed it off. “Anyway, I should shower now.” He dropped his hands and started to walk, but Jotaro stood in his path and didn’t let him pass. Jotaro asked, “why wouldn’t they?” 

Kakyoin stared up at Jotaro with dull purple eyes and a blank expression. “Jotaro…” He didn’t want to talk about it, but Jotaro didn’t want to back down. Seeing no way out, Kakyoin folded first. “You told me before it had been eight years since you last saw me, correct? Well for me, it’s been three. Barely even that, to be honest.” 

After a look of confusion from the taller man, he continued. “Jotaro, how long do you suppose I was lying on the operating table before they had generated enough material to put me back together? After that, how long do you think it took to get my body back to normal and accept the new organs?

The amount of time I had lost my memory was nothing compared to that. Sure, I performed a fucking lobotomy on myself and got those memories back, but they all seem fabricated. I know they’re real, but it’s like something I read in a book.”

Jotaro’s mouth opened like he had something to say, but he closed it again. Instead, he used his thumb to wipe a tear off of Kakyoin’s cheek that was along his scar. 

Which was apparently the wrong move, since Kakyoin yanked away and used the back of his wrist to swipe at his own eyes angrily. “Don’t do that! What’s wrong with you, Jotaro!? You can’t just go touching people in nothing but a fucking towel. You have a wife and a daughter and a family.” 

“…”

“Sorry, I-“ Kakyoin turned to the closet and put on some clothes just so he wasn’t so indecent in front of Jotaro. 

“Ex-wife.”

Kakyoin’s face scrunched, pulling on his pants. “Huh?”

“Ex. Wife. Stop saying I have a wife.” Jotaro demanded. 

Kakyoin noticeably rolled his eyes and ran a hand through his bang. “Whatever. It’s weird seeing you so… I don’t know, grown up? I know time didn’t stop when I wasn’t there, but it’s strange. I think I wanted so badly for things to be how they were before, but it’s all so different and so overwhelming.” 

“You’ve grown up too, we just didn’t grow up together.” Jotaro explained as if it would help anything. 

Kakyoin chuckled at it and shook his head in defeat. “Jotaro, do you really think I could have grown up in that time? I’m still stuck in Egypt, you know. I’m that stupid, afraid boy you knew back then. And you’re…” he motioned his hand to the man in front of him, and then dropped them like dead-weights. “A father, I guess.” 

It seemed like Jotaro was digesting the information, heart sinking at the tears in his eyes. “You’re wrong, Kakyoin.” Jotaro stepped closer and grabbed the man’s arm like he would run away otherwise. “You don’t think I’m not still stuck in Egypt? The moment you died was the moment I did, too.” 

“Don’t give me that shit, Jotaro.” Kakyoin scoffed. Jotaro used his free hand to hold under Kakyoin’s chin and used his thumb to place it on his lower lip. 

“Good grief, don’t you understand?” He leaned in until Kakyoin could feel his words close to his lips. “Things are exactly the way they were before, but they can be better now.” 

Kakyoin’s head was spinning and his body felt like he had put on a winter coat in the middle of summer. Then, as if being dosed in ice cold water, he felt refreshed with the taste of Jotaro’s lips against his own. 

His stomach turned and his heart nearly stopped. Had he accidentally kissed Jotaro? Was he hallucinating or dreaming? No, he hadn’t kissed him back yet… Jotaro was the one to kiss him. 

Without considering the weight of his decision, Kakyoin kissed Jotaro back and let the man pull his body closer. Kakyoin’s first kiss… first love, first friend, first everything.

The two kissed deeply and Jotaro had his hands on Kakyoin to keep him as close as possible. 

The same couldn’t have been claimed for Jotaro. He was a father, so it had all been done before and he had even been in love enough to get married to someone. In a way, Kakyoin felt relieved that Jotaro was able to move on with his life…

But Jotaro didn’t need to get stuck in the past with him. Jotaro didn’t need to be back in Egypt with him just because he was incapable of moving on. 

Kakyoin summoned Hierophant Green as Jotaro and he kissed desperately. Kakyoin knew exactly what needed to happen, but he also knew Jotaro was impossibly hard-headed. Since he was distracted, Hierophant Green wrapped himself around Jotaro and then Kakyoin stepped away from Jotaro once Hierophant was in position. 

Jotaro looked abandoned, then confused. When had he been wrapped? “Kakyoin?” 

Kakyoin’s eyes were wet with tears and his lips were just as wet from being kissed swollen. He wouldn’t look Jotaro in the eye. “I shouldn’t have come here; it isn’t right.”

“Wh-“ Hierophant Green quickly used a coil to cover Jotaro’s mouth so he couldn’t speak. 

“Jotaro, meeting you… it was really life changing for me. I felt like I didn’t have to be afraid, and you helped me overcome my fear of facing Dio. You were… well, that doesn’t matter.” He backed up again and looked to the mirror at himself. “You’ve done what you could for me. That chapter of your life is over, so you should move on without having to worry about old attachments that shouldn’t have lived through some plot hole. Heh.” 

He finally looked to Jotaro, who was desperately trying to get out of the containment. Kakyoin wished he hadn’t looked to see the confusion and pain in those turquoise eyes, but it still was for the best. “Jotaro, you’ve grown into an amazing man… Selfishly, I’m happy to have met you in this life- twice now. 

Truly, Jotaro, it was nice to meet you.” 

With those final words, Kakyoin left the hotel room. 

Hierophant Green refused to let Jotaro go and only squeezed tighter when he struggled against him. 

Jotaro wanted to shout for Kakyoin to come back, but Hierophant Green wouldn’t let even his mouth go. Finally, he managed to get Star Platinum to at least rip the coil off of his mouth. 

“Hierophant! Let me go!” Jotaro demanded, struggling. 

Hierophant Green looked somewhat sad, but only stared back at Jotato while refusing to let him go. 

Then, he started to fade away and let Jotaro go since he wasn’t strong enough to hold him anymore. 

“No!” It was Jotaro’s turn to try to grab Hierophant Green now that he realized he was leaving. “Take me to him,” Jotaro grabbed one of his coils and refused to let go. 

Hierophant wrapped that coil around his hand as if holding his hand through it and the only way they let go was when Kakyoin was so far, Hierophant faded away from being out of range.  

Chapter Text

“When is your next flight to Japan?” Kakyoin asked the lady at the desk. 

“Sir, I apologize, but you cannot have sunglasses on inside an airport.” She said with an exhausted sigh. 

Kakyoin would typically have a pleasant response, but he instead silently removed them to reveal his two matching scars as well as puffy eyes from crying on the bus ride there. 

She seemed to get uncomfortable and maybe a bit empathetic, but she said nothing. Instead, she typed in his request and said “there’s one that leaves in two hours.” 

“Perfect. Just one-way, please.” Kakyoin said, fishing for his card. He paid and took the ticket, then went through security until he was in the terminal. I23… hmm. 

He walked a bit down the hall until he came to a corner and nearly ran into someone. He stopped in his tracks. “Polnareff?” 

“Kakyoin?!?!” Polnareff excitedly gasped. He put his hands on Kakyoin’s arms and squeezed. “What are you doing here?!”

“Me?” Kakyoin made a disgruntled face ad he was shaken lightly. “Why are you in America?” 

“You and Joot-Joot, obviously!” Polnareff slapped his shoulder playfully. “I heard the good news!” 

As attentive as ever, Polnareff didn’t notice the tear-stained eyes until Kakyoin pushed past him with a solemn “I have a plane to catch.” 

“A… plane?” Polnareff’s expression showed how confused he was, then he realized something must have happened. “Wait, Kakyoin!” He trotted over to the man walking away and started walking backwards in front of him. “Whatsup?” 

Kakyoin was originally going to ignore him, but he then remembered Polnareff was likely the only one who would understand. “Can I ask you something personal?”

Polnareff, “You know I’m an open book.”

Kakyoin shook his head. “You won’t like this chapter.” He walked to a more private area before turning to Polnareff. “Avdol.”

Just at the one word, Polnareff’s smile disappeared. He said nothing, but stared at Kakyoin with that broken expression. 

“Do you miss him?” Kakyoin asked. 

Polnareff saved calling the question and simply said “every day since the one he died.” 

“If he had come back today, would you rather he stay away? If you were stuck in two different places in life, would it be better if you were never to meet again?” Kakyoin questioned. 

Polnareff’s eyebrows furrowed. “This is about you and Jotaro, isn’t it?” 

“…”

“Do you honestly think anything would be better than having Avdol back?” He asked softly. 

“You think he’s different now, huh? Haven’t you considered that everything that man has done since you died was in a desperate attempt to move on from what happened that day? He and I… everything we’ve done since that day was to cope with what happened to you two.” Polnareff explained. 

Kakyoin looked down to the floor. So Polnareff was still stuck in the past, too? “Fuck.” Kakyoin sighed out, crouching down and putting his face in his hands. 

“Kakyoin, what did you do?” Polnareff asked. Not that he needed to, since it seemed obvious that Kakyoin was leaving for Japan without Jotaro. “What do you think will happen from here? You’ll go back to Japan, sure. Then what? What is Jotaro going to do?” 

“Figure out a way to move on just like he did before.” Kakyoin replied. 

“…”

“…”

“Aight.” Polnareff yoinked Kakyoin up from the floor and tossed him over his shoulder. 

“POLNAREFF!” Kakyoin squirmed and punched at Polnareff’s back. 

“Shhh. If you panic, they’ll think I’m kidnapping you.” Polnareff scolded. 

Kakyoin glared daggers. “You ARE kidnapping me!” 

“Right…. Off we go!” 

“If you don’t put. Me. Down. I’m going to control you with my stand!” Kakyoin wailed in the hotel lobby. 

“You’ve been shouting threats the whole trip, do you think I or anyone else around us cares much?” Polnareff asked with a small laugh.

He took Kakyoin to Jotaro’s room and knocked, but there was no answer. Now, Kakyoin was desperately attempting to release himself from Polnareff and his stand. “He’s not even here! He’s meeting his daughter at this time. Let me go!”

Polnareff made a face. “You really don’t understand how much you matter to him, do you? He is still in there.” 

“What do you know? It’s passed noon, so he’s out.” Kakyoin snapped. 

Polnareff dug in Kakyoin’s jacket pocket and retrieved the key he had left, then opened the door. “Hah! What the fuck did I tell you?” 

Jotaro was indeed still there. He was sitting on the floor with his back to Polnareff and Kakyoin. He was by the open patio door and seemed to be smoking a cigarette. Judging by the discarded butts on the ground, he had smoked quite a few. 

Kakyoin’s eyebrows went soft and his body stopped trying to struggle. Something seemed… off. 

Polnareff called for Jotaro, but it took a few times before he lazily turned around. His eyes were glazed over and bloodshot red, two cigarettes in his mouth. 

He had no reaction to their arrival and it almost seemed like he didn’t believe the two of them were real. 

Polnareff came over and plopped Kakyoin down on top of Jotaro. “Fix this. And no running away, or else.” He stood in front of the hotel door and placed headphones on his head with crossed arms as if giving privacy. Even Silver Chariot stood guard at the door, looking just as grumpy. 

Kakyoin quickly got off of Jotaro. “Sorry, sorry- oh, your hat-“ he reached to fix Jotaro’s hat for him, but he froze solid at the reaction. 

Jotaro… flinched. He flinched away from Kakyoin’s touch as if he were an abused stray. 

Kakyoin retracted his hand and placed it on the other in his lap. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry. I-“ he didn’t know what else to say and his body could only repeat those two words. 

He had never seen Jotaro in such a vulnerable state and it was all because of him. How reckless… did he think leaving Jotaro would help him out, or was he simply afraid to watch the man break apart before piecing himself together? 

“Fuck. I’m sorry. I’m- I was wrong. Jotaro.” Kakyoin felt himself shaking and he wanted desperately to hug the unresponsive man. 

Please. Say anything. 

Jotaro was still dissociated and his gaze was fixated on the concrete patio wall. He used a hand to move his cigarettes, but made no other movements. Kakyoin never minded when he smoked, but it felt dangerous that he had smoked… one, two, three,…. Seven in row with no sign of stopping. 

No progress had been made when Polnareff heard a knock at the door. He opened it to see Joseph standing there with bushy eyebrows. “Polnareff, you made it! Is that what’s keeping the lovebirds from their prior plans?” He asked with a laugh. 

“Sadly not.” Polnareff let him in and gestured to the two. 

“Eh? What happened to them?” Joseph inquired. 

“They had a fight. I think Kakyoin broke up with Jotaro and now he won’t even look at anyone.” Polnareff explained. 

Joseph made a pfft sound, then spoke as he walked to Jotaro. “No, no! He’s fiiiine. He did this at Avdol and Kakyoin’s funeral, too. Remember? You just gotta reset him” 

“Reset him? Like… a video game..?” Kakyoin looked at Joseph with concern. Had he gotten to the age where he was starting to get delirious?

“Not like a video game.” He stepped between the two to get in front of Jotaro. “You just gotta punch him real hard square in the face!”

Polnareff, “!”

Kakyoin, “Mr. Joestar, I don’t think that’s a-“

BAM. 

Right in the face, knocking Jotaro back from the blow he never even saw coming. “Ah, what the FUCK!?” Jotaro held his face, then glared with killing intent at his attacker. “You better explain, old man.” He demanded with a grumble. 

Distracted from Joseph, his eye caught glimpse of the red-head beside him who was staring with wide eyes at what had happened. He was… still there? Had he always been right there? No, he remembered him leaving. He remembered it too well. 

Joseph picked up his hat that fell and handed it to Jotaro. “Get cleaned up. Jolyne’s mom is wondering where the hell you are.” He yanked Jotaro up, not giving him much time to sulk. 

Even if he was a bit overwhelming, it couldn’t be said that he didn’t know how to deal with his grandson. “Polnareff and I will wait right here, so hurry up.” 

Jotaro glanced at Kakyoin, then quickly away and stood to freshen up. 

Kakyoin stood up as well and walked to the bathroom to at least take a well-needed shower. After, he dressed in the bathroom and came back out ready to go; there was no use fighting his involvement with Joseph there to force his hand. 

He went out to the lobby where the three were waiting. Jotaro seemed surprised to see Kakyoin show up, which truthfully made Kakyoin feel like a shit human for trying to abandon him like that instead of talking it out. 

The car ride was uncharacteristically quiet, save from Polnareff and Joseph’s conversation up front. They would typically try to include the other two, but it seemed they knew it wasn’t the time. 

Jotaro felt that kissing Kakyoin was the worst mistake he could have made. Was it coincidence that only after kissing him and attempting to acknowledge his feelings, Kakyoin ran away? 

If Kakyoin didn’t have those feelings, then Jotaro completely stomped on his heart and stole his first kiss selfishly. He vowed to himself he would take his crush on Kakyoin to his fucking grave before he ever made an advance like that again. 

The four of them made it to the botanical gardens where Jolyne and her mother were waiting. Jolyne saw the group before they saw her, so she ran over shouting “kitty!” 

Kakyoin turned to the voice and squatted down so he could get tackled by Jolyne. He hugged her with a smile. “Hey Jolyne, sorry we’re late.” 

“Ah, so you’re Kitty. I thought she was talking about a cat.” The voice made Kakyoin’s throat catch with a lump. He looked up and saw a blonde woman walking closer- she must have been Jolyne’s mother. 

Kakyoin swallowed his anxiety and nodded. “Oh, yes that’s me… Sorry, I’m Kakyoin Noriaki.”

“Kakyoin? Well aren’t you just famous today, huh? The same Kakyoin Rohan told me got kicked out of the hotel for fighting with Jotaro?” She questioned, arms folded over one another. 

He looked to Jotaro as if for support, but he was pointedly ignoring all three of them, looking instead towards the people entering the garden. 

Typical. 

Kakyoin normally didn’t care for children, but maybe something about how cold Jolyne’s parents were made him reminisce his own childhood. He felt Jolyne deserved to have someone who was kind to her. “It was a misunderstanding.” He said with a smile. 

He picked Jolyne up and held her with one arm on his side, which she seemed content with. Joseph came over to tell her hi and played some weird ‘I got your nose’ game, not that Jolyne was tricked. 

“You’re as smart as your daddy.” Kakyoin commented with a chuckle, poking Jolyne in the nose with his free hand. 

Jolyne made a face at Joseph. “No, he’s just dumb.” 

“Jolyne, watch your mouth.” Her mother said sternly. She looked to Jotaro, who was now only staring at Kakyoin and Jolyne. “Jotaro.” It was meant to be a greeting, but sounded like she was simply identifying him. He did not respond. “Try to be on time next time for your daughter.” 

Kakyoin tried not to pay attention to the two parents. He spoke small-talk with Jolyne, but he wasn’t entirely paying attention. Instead, he was reminded of Jotaro kissing him early that morning- but why? 

If they had done something together while drunk, that was one thing. But, why did Jotaro have to kiss him when they were both sober? Could he have felt pity for Kakyoin and was hoping to do him a favor? 

Well Jotaro, Kakyoin thought, I will do you a favor and pretend it never happened. 

Jotaro stopped in front of where Kakyoin was holding Jolyne. “Let’s go.” Kakyoin looked to the ground ahead of him and followed Jotaro in hopes he wouldn’t have to interact with Jolyne’s mother anymore. 

“Hold it, Jotaro.” The woman’s voice called out. Jotaro almost didn’t stop, but he realized Kakyoin’s footprints had disappeared from behind him; he reluctantly turned around and glared at her. 

Her attention turned to Kakyoin again, who was still holding Jolyne. “I wasn’t aware this was going to be more than just you and our daughter? How am I supposed to trust this stranger with Jolyne?” 

“Kitty is my favorite!” Jolyne defended, hugging Kakyoin’s broad shoulder. “He’s not mean like dad.” 

Your dad isn’t mean, he just doesn’t know how to express his feelings, Kakyoin wanted to say. 

“What does it matter?” Jotaro asked flatly. “She likes him enough, and the old man left already.” 

“How do you two know each other?” She asked. 

Kakyoin felt anxious, like she somehow knew what had happened between the two of them. “We were students together in Japan, I think.” 

“You think, or you know? You wouldn’t be lying to me, would you?” She hounded. 

Kakyoin’s mouth opened, then closed, then repeated the process. He was pretty sure they had met in school… but his memory was hazy now that it was being questioned. Jotaro seemed to notice this and stepped to his side. “Kakyoin has amnesia, so don’t ask those questions. We were students together and close friends. He is extremely trustworthy.” 

“Mhmn… Just watch over her, will you?” Jolyne’s mother said with a sigh. 

Jotaro nodded briefly and walked with Kakyoin and Jolyne. He kept looking back at Kakyoin tentatively entertaining Jolyne as she ran around to look at different flowers, but Jotaro couldn’t help but feel something was wrong still. Had he been shaken up from just that one encounter?

“Kakyoin,” Jotaro stopped and turned around to face him. “What’s the matter?”

“Hm? It’s nothing- why?” Kakyoin asked. Jotaro only stared at him, so Kakyoin turned his attention to Jolyne. “Hey, wanna play a game?” He squatted to her level. “You have to find a flower of each color of the rainbow, in order. Red, orange, yellow, green, then blue, then purple.”

Jolyne excitedly held up the red rose she was holding. “Good job! You’re already ahead of me! Do you wanna team up with your dad and see if you two can beat me?” He challenged. 

“That’s not fair, we will win!” Jolyne proudly announced. 

“I dunno~ I’m pretty good at this game myself.” Kakyoin smiled and reached to grab a different red flower. “And they can’t be the same as the other group’s flower. Got it?”

“Got it! Daddy, come on! We’re gonna lose if you’re slow!” Jolyne rushed to yank at Jotaro’s hand. 

Kakyoin stood up with a grin and walked to Jotaro. “Oh, and Jolyne has to be the one to collect the flowers. No cheating.” 

“Good grief…” Jotaro grumbled and followed Jolyne, who was attempting to drag him by his hand. Kakyoin searched for his own colors. 

Orange was surprisingly hard to find, but he found a small poppy and plucked it from the stem. “Got orange!” He called out with a grin. To that, he heard Jolyne shout “KITTY HAS ORANGE ALREADY, DAD! HURRY UP!”

Kakyoin chuckled and searched for a dandelion or anything else yellow. Unfortunately, it seemed the garden kept control over weeds and he didn’t get the quick win on yellow. 

“I gots orange!” Jolyne announced loudly into the air.”

“Got yellow!” Kakyoin called in return, plucking a daffodil. 

Since grass didn’t count and green was hard to find in plants, Kakyoin was stuck on it for a while. Luckily, he hadn’t heard Jolyne say she found yellow yet. It was odd, since yellow was pretty common in the gardens. 

Ah, finally. A hydrangea in a pale green color!

“Found green!~”

“HOW?!” Jotaro shouted in frustration, which amused Kakyoin into a small laugh. 

Kakyoin collected the green flower and easily found blue and purple ones after that. He walked over to the two’s territory to see what they were up to since he had already won the challenge. 

Jolyne had a handful of pretty flowers, obviously distracted from the game and showing her dad the pretty flowers she found. 

“YELLOW.” Jotaro firmly told her, “THAT. IS NOT. YELLOW. WE NEED YELLOW.” He took a deep breath and pointed to his hat. “Like this. You see this color? This is YELLOW.” 

Jolyne made a face and inspected the hat for a second. “Daddy, that’s gold.”

“My fucking god.” Jotaro rubbed his face in his hands in frustration. “Jolyne…. Do you like any of the yellow flowers?”

“Mmmm… oh! Kitty!” Jolyne dropped all of the flowers and pranced to Kakyoin. 

Kakyoin laughed and held up the flowers. “Too slow; looks like I won this time.” 

“Ooo! I wanna see! I wanna see!” Jolyne jumped up and down reaching for the flowers. 

“Look, you made us lose. Worst teammate ever.” Jotaro grumbled. 

Kakyoin walked over and sat crosslegged across from Jotaro. “Don’t be a bad sport… um,” he trailed off and handed the flowers to Jolyne. “If you like them, do you want me to put them into your hair?”

“Yes, yes!” 

Jolyne excitedly sat in front of Kakyoin for him to do her hair. Kakyoin took out her messy space buns and used his fingers to comb her hair, aware that Jotaro was watching and seemed jealous of the attention he wasn’t getting. 

“Kitty, what’s your favorite color flower?” Jolyne asked while her hair was braided with the flowers. 

“Mmm… I like green best.” Kakyoin told her, finishing one of the braids and wrapping it around a bun similar to how she had it before. Then, he worked on the other side. “What’s your favorite?”

“Green!” She said, copying him. “But actually the blue one is better…. right, daddy?” 

Jotaro grumbled to himself in complaint and picked a blade of grass to entertain himself, his fist propping his head and elbow on his knee. “Blue, sure.”

Kakyoin grinned wide at Jotaro and finished the final bun. “Aww… does someone want a flower in his hair, too?” He teased. 

Jotaro pouted his lips and tilted his head so his hat would cover his eyes. “No.” 

“Are you suuuure?” He scooted closer and help up a strand of blue flowers. “I have bluuee~” 

If he wasn’t mistaken, the man wad definitely blushing under his hat and even more-so when Kakyoin placed the flower between his hat and his ear. “You look very beautiful,” he teased. 

By time the park was closing and Jolyne was sent back with her mother, Kakyoin and Jotaro waked to the parking lot. Kakyoin looked confused why Jotaro suddenly stopped, but he did as well and stood beside him. “What is it?” He asked. 

Jotaro furrowed his brows at him. “Waiting for the old man.” 

“Ah.” Kakyoin chewed on the corner of his cheek and said nothing else.

“And apparently Polnareff, too.” Jotaro said with a sigh, seeing the car pull up. 

“Polnareff?” Kakyoin mumbled. 

“Heeey! How was it?” Joseph asked, window down and unlocking the backseat. The two entered and Kakyoin fixated his thoughts out of the window. 

“Fine.” Jotaro said, then crossed his arms and rested his head back. Truthfully, he was exhausted from the day and wanted another cigarette. 

After returning to the hotel, Kakyoin grabbed Jotaro’s shoulder to get his attention. “Do you know where my room-key went? I seem to have misplaced it.” 

“I don’t think you brought it.” Jotaro told him. “I have mine though, so let’s go together.” 

Kakyoin hesitantly followed and they went to the room together. After opening the door and Kakyoin walked inside, Jotaro stood at the doorway and watched the man carefully. 

He looked at the bed with a puzzled expression, then tried to sneak an inconspicuous glance at Jotaro. Of course, it was caught by his watchful gaze. 

Kakyoin moved across the room like he was looking for something, but seemed to only halfway open drawers. 

“What are you looking for?” Jotaro asked. 

“Just my room key.” 

“This is our room, so why do you need it?” Jotaro asked. 

Good question… “I guess I wouldn’t, then.” Kakyoin walked to the mirror and messed his hand into his curl casually. 

Jotaro’s turquoise eyes that had been honed in on Kakyoin narrowed. He needed to test something… If he was wrong, he would look stupid- but it didn’t matter. 

He walked calmly over to Kakyoin and behind him, then wrapped his arms around the man’s waist and rested his chin on his shoulder. 

Kakyoin didn’t move away, and just chuckled like it was something he was used to. He put his own hands on Jotaro’s arms and leaned his head back. He grinned and said, “Someone’s in a cuddly mood, I see.” 

Jotaro frowned and closed his eyes with knitted eyebrows. Why did he have to be right? He wanted nothing more than for his theory to be proven wrong. He wanted Kakyoin to push him away and ask what the hell he was doing touching him like that after everything that happened. “Kakyoin… What is my name?” 

Kakyoin’s body tensed in Jotaro’s arms, but his voice was calm and even. “What are you asking that for?” He laughed at the question like it was childish. 

Jotaro opened his eyes and repeated, “what is my name, don’t you know?” 

Kakyoin chuckled again, undoubtedly a little more nervously. “You think I don’t remember your name? Come on, you don’t seriously think I wouldn’t know, huh? Ahahha! Cut it out already.” 

Avoiding the question…

He was turned around to face Jotaro, who glared deep into his purple eyes. “What. Is my name?”

Kakyoin stared back, body finally tense enough that it shook slightly. In the dead silence between the two, Kakyoin’s eyes started to get wet for reasons he wasn’t sure of. “I.. I don’t know…

I can’t remember.” 

Chapter Text

Jotaro had demanded to Joseph that they go back to Japan as soon as possible, but he ended up having to explain why and was told there was a Speedwagon Foundation in America as well. In fact, the largest and best branch was there and would be most likely to help Kakyoin. 

“Are you going to leave?” Kakyoin asked, holding Jotaro’s warm hand. 

Since he had been brought (dragged) to the hospital, Kakyoin had been afraid of what they were going to do to him. It wasn’t his typical amnesia, but the doctor explained that his self-operation must have just been borrowed time and memories. 

Jotaro stood by Kakyoin’s bed the whole time and let him hold onto his hand, occasionally asking if he was going to abandon him there. Jotaro always answered the same, “of course not.” 

“What are they going to do?” Kakyoin asked through the mask covering his mouth. He was hooked to an IV as well as a respiratory mask, which was honestly terrifying for the man. He didn’t remember ever being hooked up to so many things, so he held on to the one thing he knew felt safe- Jotaro’s hand. 

Jotaro kissed the back of Kakyoin’s hand lightly and rested his forehead against it, a thumb carefully rubbing the redhead’s hand. He wanted to tell him not to worry about it, but he said nothing. 

The doctors came in and smiled politely at Kakyoin. “Mr. Noriaki, how are you feeling?” 

“Mm… okay.” Kakyoin subconsciously held that warm hand tighter. 

“That’s good. Dr. Barrow here and I are going to make sure you’re back to you soon, okay? We’re going to have to put you to sleep for a while, is that okay?” She asked. 

Kakyoin blinked and glanced at Jotaro, who helpfully nodded to him. “O…kay.” Kakyoin looked back to the doctor. “I want him here.” 

“That’s fine, Mr. Noriaki. As long as he isn’t interfering, he can stay. He will be right there when you wake up, okay?” She pulled over the tank and hooked it to Kakyoin’s respirator. 

“You’re going to feel a little lightheaded at first, maybe a bit cold inside, then a bit sleepy, and then you’re going to be awake again before you know it. We’ll start off slowly, okay? Try to breathe normally.” 

Kakyoin did as he was told, but it killed Jotaro to see his eyebrows slanted to give away the fear he must have been experiencing. His purple eyes were locked onto the doctor and he immediately felt the gas making his lungs feel cold. Then, his consciousness nearly slipped but he hadn’t fallen asleep. 

He felt like he was on the earth still, but stuck behind a glass wall unable to scream for someone to wake him up. Feeling a spike of anxiety, Kakyoin’s breathing suddenly became erratic and he tried to scramble and reach for the mask to rip it off. 

Kakyoin heard the doctors and even Jotaro say something, but he couldn’t quite hear. His hands were taken away from trying to remove the mask. 

Jotaro frowned at the tears rolling from Kakyoin’s eyes. “Why the hell isn’t this working?!” He demanded. 

The doctor adjusted the gas with a casual, “a bit too much, i’ll bring it down. Okay Mr. Noriaki, you feelin’ sleepy now?” She chuckled lightly as Kakyoin had already closed his eyes and fell asleep. “There he goes. Mr. Kujo, would you mind waiting in the lobby? We will get you before he wakes from the operation.” 

Jotaro nodded and stood up, not wanting to leave Kakyoin’s side while also knowing he shouldn’t get in their way. Please help him, he wanted to say- to beg. 

In the lobby, Jotaro stood to the side where Joseph and Polnareff were sitting. “What did the doc say?” Polnareff asked after Jotaro settled against the wall. 

He needed a cigarette… 

“That they’d do what they could.” Jotaro shrugged, hands shoved into his pockets and his eyes fixed on the floor. 

Joseph smiled and stood to pat Jotaro’s shoulder. “Kakyoin’s a tough kid, he’ll be alright.” 

Jotaro shrugged him off and walked outside while retrieving a cigarette from his pocket. It wasn’t that Jotaro thought Kakyoin wouldn’t be, but rather that the doctors had told him it wasn’t a guarantee he would get any memories back. It would stop his memory from getting worse, but they couldn’t do much about what he had already lost. 

Which was basically… everything. He didn’t even remember Jotaro’s name. 

He smoked in peace, thankful the two inside didn’t bother him. This time was different than before when Kakyoin would pass out, so what had caused it? Could he have stressed Kakyoin out so much that it caused him psychological damage, or was it really just coincidental timing? 

As the sun had started to set behind the horizon, Joseph came outside to fetch Jotaro. “JoJo, the doctor needs you.” 

Jotaro immediately stood and went inside after tossing his cigarette to the ground. “Is he okay?” 

“Yes, we had told him you’d be there when he woke up.” The doctor reminded. She guided him back to the room where Jotaro heard gentle beeps from the heart monitor. Kakyoin was asleep still, breathing deeply through the respirator and finally looking relaxed. His head was wrapped from his forehead to the back of his head, that cute red curl rested on top of the bandages. 

Jotaro reached for his hand in both of his and sat beside the bed in a chair as the doctor spoke. “The operation was successful. We were able to find the problem areas and stop it. Unfortunately, what Mr. Noriaki had done to himself… If what you said was true, then I am genuinely concerned for him. Please, Mr. Kujo, make sure he never tries something like that again.” 

He knew he could never stop Kakyoin if he wanted to try again, but he also wanted Kakyoin to heed the doctor’s warning. “Here,” the doctor handed him an inhaler. “Get him to take this before bed and first thing in the morning and it just might help his memory to restore. No matter how dangerous his procedure on himself was, it is very impressive what he managed to do in there… I don’t want to give you false hope, but he just may be able to regain his memories with this.” 

Jotaro took the inhaler with a nod and returned his gaze to Kakyoin. If he wouldn’t remember anyway, Jotaro had half the mind to kiss him when he woke up… 

Not long later, those thick eyelashes fluttered and opened just slightly. Jotaro watched his purple irises move as he sleepily scanned the room. They landed on Jotaro and he was afraid those eyes held no light in them. Then, “Jotaro?” 

His voice was groggy, but he had definitely said Jotaro’s name! “Nori..” Jotaro croaked, unable to finish his name. 

Kakyoin hummed happily and smiled, closing his eyes again like he was still exhausted. 

“You won’t have to give him the inhaler until tomorrow, but let me know when he is fully awake so I can check on him.” The doctor said, then politely left the room. 

Kakyoin’s eyes opened to see Jotaro again and he smiled weakly, his hand lightly squeezing his hand to say hello and maybe even thank you. 

“How do you feel?” Jotaro softly inquired. Kakyoin nodded with a small hum of approval. “You remember me?” Kakyoin nodded again, eyes closing softly once more.

“Princess,” he teased, managing a smug ass grin even in his condition. Jotaro still smiled at it and couldn’t help but to kiss the top of his hand. 

“Kakyoin,” 

Kakyoin scrunched his nose. “Mn… You said something else earlier.” 

Jotaro searched his brain and could only find a few moments ago when he hadn’t quite been able to say his whole name. “Nori?” 

Kakyoin hummed in approval and rolled his head to the side towards Jotaro. He looked extremely tired and probably wasn’t even fully awake. “Nori, hey-“ Jotaro reached his free hand to cup his face and lean close, happy to see those purple eyes open in response to his voice.

He had so much he wanted to say to him, but he didn’t know how. I thought you were gone again. I was scared I would lose you. I never want to leave you. I love you. 

“Do you remember Hierophant Green?” Jotaro instead asked. Kakyoin nodded his head and lifted his arm, Hierophant emerging and moving to perch on the railing of the hospital bed. 

Jotaro was happy to see him, and even happier that Kakyoin remembered him that time. “What is the last thing you remember?” 

Kakyoin thought about this question for a moment and let Hierophant Green disappear once again. A few things were out of order and foggy, but all of the memories seemed to be right there waiting to be sorted out. What he did remember above anything else, was the way Jotaro had desperately kissed him. He couldn’t remember why he had, but he remembered kissing him back. How did he taste again, or what did it feel like? Kakyoin couldn’t remember, but he wanted to. 

To answer the question, he lifted his hand and touched one of his thin fingers against Jotaro’s full lips. Using his thumb, Kakyoin softly pulled down on the bottom lip with a gentle smile. 

Jotaro’s eyelashes fell down to where Kakyoin’s hand was, his cheeks feeling a bit warm. Out of everything, that’s what he remembered? 

Kakyoin kept playing with his lips and Jotaro had half the mind to rip that respirator off of him and take what they both clearly wanted. His stomach felt heavy and like a dozen butterflies had taken flight. There was an unfamiliar pressure in his body and a dangerous desire that pulled him closer to Kakyoin. 

It was a feeling he hadn’t felt with anyone else. Kakyoin was… different. Kakyoin was his one exception and it nearly frightened him how badly he wanted to take those cherry lips. 

Fuck it. 

Jotaro swatted away the hand and leaned forward, removing the respirator and pressing his lips onto Kakyoin’s all at once. The redhead gasped at the fresh air between the first few kisses. Since he didn’t need the assistance anymore, it didn’t matter if the respirator was gone or not. 

The kisses were sweet, but they simply were not enough to satisfy Kakyoin. He moved his hand to grip onto Jotaro’s shirt and pulled him closer, nearly on top of the hospital bed. 

Desperately, they kissed. The saliva on their tongues mixed together with embarrassing wet sounds as their lips smacked together. Kakyoin groaned at the feeling of Jotaro biting at his bottom lip and pushing further into the kisses. He felt a weight on the bed and quickly realized Jotaro had helped himself to crawling nearly entirely on top of Kakyoin, only one foot on the chair to keep him from being fully rested on his body. 

“Jo-jo” Kakyoin gasped between another attack of kisses and moaned softly. “Jo… taro.” 

At the sound of his name coming off of Kakyoin’s mouth like that, Jotaro could feel his entire body had broken into a sweat and his breath was hotter than the fever he felt he had. 

It was what he had wanted for nearly a decade at that point… and to think Kakyoin was enjoying himself just as well. 

Kakyoin felt a hand grab his waist tight and he moved so his spine would arch his back up for Jotaro. Anything he wanted, Kakyoin wanted him to have. 

Forgetting they were in a hospital, Kakyoin’s heart rate unknowingly skyrocketed and alerted several worried doctors. 

Kakyoin was lost in Jotaro’s lips and couldn’t think of much else. He had always thought kissing Jotaro, if it ever happened, would be pretty awkward at first. It wasn’t, now that it had happened. Not being drunk and not being in the midsts of a depressive episode, but because they both wanted to. Kakyoin wasn’t confused anymore if Jotaro had feelings or not; knowing his friend well enough, he knew Jotaro wouldn’t do something like that if he didn’t want to or need to. 

“Mr. Kujo-“ 

The nurse had initially ran into the room afraid that something had happened to her patient, but she was in a way relieved to see the sight before her instead. These two buff men that she had originally thought were just codependent best friends were in fact- making out on the hospital bed. 

After she had gotten their attention, she couldn’t help but laugh lightly at their surprise. Jotaro still had one knee over Kakyoin, and the other foot in his previous chair. Kakyoin looked rather smug about the whole thing, but Jotaro had frozen in embarrassment. “Mind getting off my patient?” The nurse teased, walking over and picking up the respirator once Jotaro had retreated to his seat. “Mr. Kujo, I’m glad you’re excited to see him, but you cannot take his respirator off.” 

She placed it back on Kakyoin with a gentle smile and turned the machine back to where she had it. “It’s not just air, he’s getting doses of the inhaler as well.” 

“Sorry.” Jotaro mumbled, looking to Kakyoin’s hand in his own to avoid eye contact. 

“That’s okay.” She turned her attention to Kakyoin. “Mr. Noriaki, you seem rather pleased with yourself.” 

Kakyoin smiled wide and nodded, moving a little to sit up in the bed. “I apologize for all of that, really.” 

“I’m just happy you weren’t actually hurt. I can see now why your heart rate had jumped so suddenly. You’ll be out of here in no time, are you okay with two more visitors?” Kakyoin nodded again, so she left to retrieve Joseph and Polnareff. 

The two men shared looks with one another once she left, not having much to say but also not feeling awkward in their silence. 

Kakyoin was the first to move, eyes looking down and he reached for Jotaro’s fingers and entangled them in his own. He didn’t care to ask if Jotaro had feelings for him or not and would much prefer Jotaro coming to him with that information when he was ready. 

Polnareff was the first to make it to the room, holding some flowers and a cheap card in hand. “Good morning!” He teased, then brought the flowers to the opposite side of the bed as Jotaro.

“Thank you, Polnareff.” Kakyoin smiled and took the card with his free hand to read it before setting it aside. Joseph came in the room at some point as well.

“Has Joot been with you this whole time? We’ve had to wait so long to see you.” Polnareff complained. 

“I’m not sure? I woke up and he was here…” Kakyoin removed his hand from Jotaro’s in case the two made a big deal about it and he instead brushed it through his bangs. 

“Were you two just holding hands?” Well, apparently it hadn’t gone unnoticed by Joseph. Polnareff gasped to himself and they both looked to Jotaro for an answer. 

“Good grief.” He tilted his hat to cover his embarrassment and relaxed back in the seat lazily. Kakyoin spared him and spoke while using his hands. “Do you think I can leave yet? I’m really tired of being in hospitals.”

“Well, how is your memory?” Joseph inquired. 

“It’s there, but it’s just a bit jumbled right now and the past week is kinda blurry.” He honestly explained. 

Joseph looked to Jotaro who had risen quickly from his seat and turned to leave. “Grandson, where you think ya going?” 

“Cigarette,” Jotaro said in a mumble. 

Joseph made a face, mostly a scowl. “You’ve been smoking a lot lately, weren’t you planning to quit?”

“What’s it to you, old man? Been a rough week.” He fetched the cigarette and left the hospital for a smoke. Meanwhile, Kakyoin enjoyed his company. “I apologize, it’s probably my fault he fell back into the habit.” 

“I would love to say it wasn’t you, but he definitely started back up after finding out you were- y’know- alive.” Polnareff explained. 

Joseph interjected, “not that that should make you feel guilty at all! He is very happy to have you back- we all are. Just, probably a but stressful for him to bear alone… Not like he would talk to any of us about it.” 

Kakyoin smiled, eyes fixated to his folded hands. “That’s fair. I hope this is the last time I’m in a hospital, at least for a while.”

After some time, Kakyoin was released from the hospital and the respirator as well as the IV were all taken off. 

“Would you like to grab something to eat? You gotta be starving.” Polnareff asked. 

Kakyoin nodded. “I am, but I am also disgusting. Would you mind if I ran back to the hotel for a shower first?” 

“Not at all! Bring Joot-Joot along.”

“I’ll stop by your room when I’m ready… I should probably collect Jotaro, too.” Kakyoin waved to the two and went outside to find Jotaro, who was still smoking a cigarette. “Is that still your first one?” He asked, hand on his hip. 

Only Jotaro’s eyes moved to side-glance at Kakyoin. “Second,” he admitted while balancing the cigarette between his lips. 

Kakyoin meandered over to Jotaro and bent at the waist, two long fingers taking the cigarette from his lips; Jotaro let him. “Let’s put that mouth to better use, yeah?” Jotaro went to grab him after saying that, but Kakyoin stood up straight again and put the cigarette between his own lips with a smile. He stared at Jotaro menacingly, then removed the cigarette with a small puff of smoke. 

He didn’t particularly enjoy smoking, but he was more curious how Jotaro would react to it. Since he didn’t do anything interesting, Kakyoin put it out in a nearby ashtray. “Well, Polnareff and Mr. Joestar have invited us to a meal, but I want to shower first… Hospitals are icky.” 

Jotaro stood to his feet and stepped closer to Kakyoin, nearly towering over him despite them both being above average height. His gaze was intense and made Kakyoin lose his train of thought. Jotaro kept staring at him and placed another cigarette in his own mouth before lighting it. “Let’s go, then.” 

Kakyoin blinked a few times to come back to earth, then walked alongside Jotaro to the hotel. Jotaro was typically quiet, but he seemed extra… odd? What word was there to describe such an odd man being more odd than usual? 

“I won’t be long,” Kakyoin promised, collecting a set of clothes from the dresser. “Do you need to use the restroom before I shower?”

“No,” Jotaro leaned against the doorway of the patio, having opened it to finish his cigarette. 

“Mkay! Be out soon~” Kakyoin closed the bathroom door and cut the water on so it could heat up while he got undressed. 

The mirror hadn’t gotten foggy yet, so he was able to examine the bruises that had all either faded or gone away completely. He looked much healthier than a day ago, so he was grateful for the liquids the IV gave him. In the shower, he let the hot water pummel his face and run through his hair to saturate it. 

The hotel had a surprisingly high shower head, probably because it was the honeymoon suite room. No matter, the various jets and settings were delightful and it really felt like he was being pampered at a spa. 

He thought he heard the door open, so he furrowed his eyebrows and looked to the marbled glass that distorted his view too much. “Jotaro?” 

…

…

The only sound was the running water and where it collected then fell off of Kakyoin’s elbows. He must have heard things. 

He shrugged and faced the water again, lifting his hands to slide them through his cherry hair. The shower door slid open forcefully. “Jotaro?!” 

Only able to turn to look at the door, Jotaro had already intruded into the shower and slammed his body against Kakyoin’s, attacking his lips with his own. 

Kakyoin made a confused noise in the kiss, eyes wide open. Jotaro was still completely clothed! He even had his hat and jacket on, what was he doing in the shower?! 

Making another noise, he pried Jotaro away from himself just enough to speak. “What’s the matter with you, who showers with clothes on!? If you wanted to shower first, you could have just said so!”

Jotaro pressed forward again, their lips connecting once again. Kakyoin mumbled in the kiss, feeling majorly underdressed in the situation. As Jotaro pressed closer, Kakyoin felt the man’s hips against his own and revealed the reason Jotaro couldn’t take it any longer. 

Kakyoin’s body was still tense, but his lips became pliable to keep up with Jotaro’s eager kisses. His hands were shamelessly on Kakyoin’s body and squeezing bruises into his hips. He held back a noise wanting to escape and tried to steady his breathing. It was clear to him in that moment that any question if he and Jotaro had sex when they were drunk was just a consideration; he likely already had fingerprint bruises on his hips. 

Jotaro pulled away just to catch his breath, water tapping on the brim of his hat and running down to frame his face. Kakyoin swallowed and stared back into his bright eyes. “I can taste your cigarette,” Kakyoin commented, rolling his bottom lip under his teeth to distract himself from the silence. 

Could Jotaro tell how anxious he was, is that why he stopped? His body was still tense and he nervously counted his breaths to fein a relaxed temperament. Jotaro had experienced having sex before, which Kakyoin knew he clearly wanted at the moment- he’d be naive to think Jotaro just broke into his shower for another few kisses. 

However, Kakyoin wasn’t the same. Jotaro was his first kiss mere days ago and he hadn’t figured out what he meant when he realized he was gay… Then again, did either of them know how to have sex with another man? 

Jotaro’s hands moved from the other’s waist and his forearms rested on the shower wall, framing Kakyoin’s head between them. 

“Is everything okay?” Jotaro asked calmly, always keeping his cool. Kakyoin’s eyes darted away with a “oh, yeah. You know, a delightful shower and I’m glad you’re feeling better-“

“Noriaki.” Jotaro said sternly, eyebrows furrowed and impatiently awaiting a serious answer. “Are you nervous?”

Kakyoin smiled hesitantly and looked down, water dropping down from his fringe. Jotaro’s clothes were completely drenched and the thin white fabric clung to every muscle and bump. “A little bit, yeah” he honestly answered. He added, “I’d feel better if you didn’t have so many clothes on. Seriously, who gets in a shower completely dressed?” 

Jotaro rolled his eyes and pushed off the wall, quickly taking his hat and the rest of his clothes off and plopping them in a pile outside of the shower. “Is this better?” He asked once completely naked and standing close to Kakyoin again. 

Kakyoin’s face was red and he avoided eye contact even though Jotaro was staring intensely through him. “Jotaro, you sure are bold…” and fucking hot. Jesus fuck, who looks like that?! 

Embarrassingly, he could feel his own body screaming for Jotaro’s to touch it again. He felt too exposed with Jotaro standing away from him, so he pulled the man in closer to kiss him again. This time, Kakyoin was the one pushing his tongue in further and letting his hands scrunch in the dripping black hair. 

Jotaro groaned in the kiss and pulled Kakyoin closer by placing a hand behind the small of his back. The feeling of their dicks pressing together made his heart race faster and his body scream for more. 

He trailed his kisses down to Kakyoin’s jawline until he made it to his supple neck where he could bite down and suck as he pleased. 

“Ah! Jotaro, you-“ he stopped. He was biting, but it felt nice. The sucking, even better. 

“Do you want me to stop,” Jotaro asked, breath seemingly hotter against his neck than the water pummeling them.

“Fuck no,” Kakyoin sighed out, sounding needier than he intended and immediately making him cringe at himself. Embarrassing. 

Jotaro didn’t ask again and bit harder, one hand pulling the man closer while the other reached down and wrapped around his erection. 

“Ah!” Kakyoin dug his nails into Jotaro’s shoulders at the surprise touch. “What are you doing?” 

“What do you think I’m doing? I assume you don’t want me to fuck you, so this is what I want to do.” Jotaro told him, hand slowly moving along his shaft at an agonizingly slow pace. He watched Kakyoin like he was engaged in conversation, but he really just enjoyed seeing the way it affected him and how his breathing changed. 

Kakyoin was unable to keep his breathing normal for long and panted, head back against the shower wall. “Jotaro,” he moaned, the feeling better than any time he had done it himself. 

The hand Jotaro had on Kakyoin’s hip tightened at the sound and his teeth gritted together. “You’re making it hard not to fuck you, Nori.” 

Kakyoin pulled his head back from the wall to look at Jotaro with half-open eyes, soft enough to melt his stone heart. “Then do it, Jotaro.” 

A desperate groan pressed out of Jotaro’s throat as he pressed his body against Kakyoin, a hand massaging the space between his hipbone and groin. “Don’t say things you don’t mean… Are you sure?” 

He wanted to immediately agree, knowing he had been waiting for that very moment for a long time. Still, he held himself together enough to really consider it. Or at least that’s what he planned to do… instead,  he collected Jotaro’s face in his hands and pulled him in to kiss his lips. He spoke against his lips, “I’m sure.” 

Jotaro quickly moved his hand to grab Kakyoin’s hip and turn him around so his chest was to the wall. “Ah! The hell was that for?” Kakyoin asked through gritted teeth. 

He was pressed against the wall once again and Jotaro was on his knees already. “Do you not know how to…” He stopped and turned Kakyoin back around, looking up to him from the shower floor. 

“Of course not… Don’t you remember I hadn’t kissed anyone before you!? Fuck you!” Kakyoin’s face was red and he tilted it away with a pout. 

Jotaro stood up again and smiled gently at Kakyoin, then kissed the top of his head. “Tonight, then.”

“What, why?” Kakyoin complained, now looking up to Jotaro. 

Without answering, Jotaro got some shampoo and put it in his hand before slathering it in Kakyoin’s hair. Kakyoin made a face and glared at Jotaro. “What are you doing?” 

“Helping you.” 

“Why?”

Jotaro moved Kakyoin under the water and smiled after his purple eyes closed tightly so he wouldn’t get shampoo in them. He rinsed his hair and made sure to massage his fingers through his scalp gently. “Polnareff and the old man are waiting, so we shouldn’t be long.” 

Kakyoin wiped his eyes and opened them to see Jotaro. “Okay…” He couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed and maybe like he had done something wrong, but he let Jotaro help him shower anyway so it didn’t feel awkward. 

They dried off and got dressed before going together to Polnareff’s room. 

Chapter Text

The promise from earlier came back to the front of Kakyoin’s mind, but he wasn’t sure if Jotaro had remembered or even wanted to keep his word on it. He tried to still his beating heart as they reached the hotel room they shared, walking a bit behind Jotaro. 

Jotaro retrieved his keycard and unlocked the room, allowing Kakyoin to enter first. A bit nervous, Kakyoin decided to fill the empty air with useless words. “Today was fun, huh?” 

“It’s about to be” Jotaro promised, hands on Kakyoin’s body at the same moment the door closed. Kakyoin made a startled noise and nearly stumbled backward at the impact, but he stubbornly stood his ground and grabbed the arms that were holding him. Before he could say anything, Jotaro’s lips were on his and sparing no time for catching breath. 

He kissed Kakyoin like it was something he would never get to do again if he didn’t act on his desires right then; as if Kakyoin would push him away. Kakyoin kissed back the same, eyes closed tightly and his tongue twisting with the others. He at least knew Jotaro was enjoying himself based on the soft moans, and he was enjoying it too. 

Eventually, Jotaro was finally able to coax Kakyoin to the large heart-shaped bed and caged over him. His kisses trailed down the red-head’s neck and his hands quickly undid whatever buttons or zippers were in his way. He then kissed down the man’s naked body and kissed extra gently over his large scar, knowing it was sensitive. 

He had read before what to do having sex with a man, but he had never put it to practice. Not… that he would admit to Kakyoin he did some research on it after meeting him. In fact, he knew how to have sex with a man long before he knew how to with a woman; it was most familiar to him, so it was pleasant being able to put his skills to use. 

“Are you still nervous?” Jotaro asked, sitting up on his heels to remove his own shirt and start undoing his belts. Kakyoin watched underneath of his forearm that halfway covered his eyes. 

“How aren’t you nervous, is the real question. I thought you didn’t want to do it.” Kakyoin told him. Jotaro seemed far too casual as he placed a finger into his own mouth and then brought it down to Kakyoin. He placed the wet finger inside of Kakyoin’s hole as he said “I clearly do.”

Kakyoin tensed up and nearly crawled out from under him, but Jotaro instinctively had Star Platinum hold Kakyoin’s hips in place. “Don’t. I don’t want it to hurt you.” Jotaro said in his collected voice. 

Kakyoin’s breathing hitched and quickened, so he covered his eyes with his forearm and tilted his head back. “Then why didn’t you earlier? Why stop when we were both…” His voice was cut off by an unfamiliar feeling of something against his hole. Was it Jotaro’s tongue!? 

As Jotaro spoke, he used his fingers to replace the feeling of his tongue. “We had people waiting on us, and I need more than a lousy half-hour.” He explained. Kakyoin, you taste immaculate… How could you think I would have been able to resist? Stop making me talk, won’t you? 

“Ah-“ Kakyoin tried to move his hips by arching his back, but Star still had a grip on his hips and it only pressed his head further back and exposed his neck. He was trapped. 

Jotaro felt something slide along his lower back and also around his thigh. Looking down, he saw Hierophant’s coils emerging from Kakyoin and snaking their way around the two of them. 

“What are you doing?” Jotaro asked with his lip curled. 

“Huh? Nothing.” Kakyoin opened his eyes and tilted his chin down, immediately blushing at the sight. “Sorry… he’s… I’m not doing anything.” 

So Hierophant had done that by himself? 

Jotaro blinked at Hierophant, curious to see where it would stop. He couldn’t blame Kakyoin if he had used his stand since Star’s arms were already out, but he hoped the coils wouldn’t find him a threat and attack. “Very well,” Jotaro positioned himself back over Kakyoin and kept one hand down to guide himself.

He pressed only the very end of his dick in before Kakyoin’s body tightened again. Even though Kakyoin seemed to be calm and didn’t make any noises of complaint, the way his body tensed and how Hierophant squeezed tighter. Jotaro gritted his teeth. It wasn’t going in… he loosened him up, he lubricated the hole, why the hell wasn’t it working?

He noticed Kakyoin’s lips had flattened into a hard line and his cheeks were turning red from embarrassment. He must have noticed, too. “It isn’t going in.” Jotaro sighed, aiming to sit back on his heels but ending up on one of the coils instead. 

Kakyoin made a noise from embarrassment and completely covered his eyes and half his face with his arm. “I’m sorry…” 

Jotaro snorted in disgust. “Why would you apologize?” Star Platinum’s arms faded away and Jotaro pulled Kakyoin’s arm away from his face. “Look at me, do I look upset?”

Kakyoin opened his eyes and scrunched his face at Jotaro. “You always kinda look upset, so…” 

His response managed to illicit a rare smile from Jotaro and an even cuter chuckle. “I’m not. There are other things we can do than having sex, Noriaki.” He gently kisses Kakyoin, then moved a hand down to wrap it around Kakyoin’s dick. He smiled in the kiss when he felt it had hardened at his touch. 

“Is it okay if I suck you off?” Jotaro asked against the man’s lips. 

Kakyoin’s stomach felt like it had turned over at the request; when had Jotaro become so bold to say such a thing?!

“Yeah,” Kakyoin was given one last peck on his lips before the weight over him moved down the bed. He still couldn’t keep Hierophant from wrapping around Jotaro, and now it seemed like he had bound Jotaro completely around one of his thighs. “Is Hierophant going to bother you?” He asked while Jotaro was getting to a comfortable position. 

“It’s fine.” Jotaro grabbed one of the coils in his hand and stared in a daze at it. He remembered when Kakyoin was asleep and Hierophant had grabbed on to him… touching Hierophant made him shiver, didn’t it? Was it just coincidence? He ran a thumb along it, eyes softening as he watched how the coil wrapped itself around his hand. 

“He’s part of you, isn’t he? Your soul?” Jotaro rhetorically asked. If he was wrong, this was about to look very strange…

Before Kakyoin could answer, Jotaro pulled the hand with the coil closer and deliberately licked slowly up it. Luckily enough for him, his theory was proven right. Kakyoin let out a sound he hadn’t been able to catch in time to stop. “Jotaro!” He scolded, sitting up quickly. 

He then frowned and pressed his forehead to Jotaro’s chest, hands grabbing onto Jotaro’s arms. “I can’t… I can’t do this.” 

Hierophant defeatedly unraveled from Jotaro’s arm. He looked down to Kakyoin and finally noticed that all the while Hierophant was hindering him, it had protectively wrapped itself around Kakyoin’s body as well. 

Jotaro rubbed Kakyoin’s back and kissed the top of his head. “Nori, what exactly are you afraid of?”

He hadn’t considered that question… what WAS he scared of? He wanted Jotaro- that much he knew for certain. He had been in love with that man for a long fucking time and his body was… well, maybe that’s what scared him. Kakyoin had never actually been turned on like that before, so the sensations in his body were all too much. 

“I dunno. That it will hurt? That you won’t want me after?” Kakyoin mumbled. 

Jotaro held back a laugh at the last part, instead keeping a calm face and moving Kakyoin to look him in the eyes. “You are all I have ever wanted, Noriaki Kakyoin. We do not have to do this… We never do, if that’s not what you want. I will still be here.”

Kakyoin stared into the pools of turquoise, finding nothing but sincerity in them. He knew it, too. Jotaro wasn’t just saying shit for his own benefit to get laid. 

Kakyoin pressed forward to kiss Jotaro, but this time he was the one pushed away. “No, I’m not continuing this unless I know you’re absolutely certain you want to.” 

“Jotaro,” Kakyoin said with a small laugh. “I want to. Just… take it slow?”

Slow, he did. Jotaro took his time to prepare Kakyoin far past when Hierophant had released him and even past Kakyoin nearly begging for Jotaro to fuck him. Okay, so maybe he didn’t beg… not even close, but Jotaro could have his imagination. Kakyoin would NEVER beg, even in his situation. 

Chapter Text

The flight back to Japan was a long one, but paying for the extra legroom proved to be well worth the price. Kakyoin had the window seat and mostly stared out of it to reflect on the trip to America. There were still some spots missing, but he clearly remembered what he and Jotaro had done together one of the last nights.

They hadn’t had time to discuss it, and Jotaro was fast asleep against Kakyoin’s arm on the plane- not that a plane is where Kakyoin wanted to talk about such a thing.

After landing in Japan, all Kakyoin wanted was to go home and sleep for the next 12 hours. There were no arguments and everyone went their separate ways, meaning it was yet another day he couldn’t talk to Jotaro about it.

That wouldn’t do.

Instead, he texted and asked Jotaro if he could come over to talk. After the acceptance, Kakyoin showed up and knocked on Jotaro’s door.

It was answered with Jotaro in his pajamas, hair messy and eyes tired.

“You didn’t have to agree if you’re exhausted.” Kakyoin remarked, an eyebrow raised.

“It’s fine,” Jotaro assured nonchalantly, moving to the side for Kakyoin to enter.

Kakyoin turned to face Jotaro as he closed and locked the door, then jumped straight to the point. “So…” okay, so maybe he felt a little too embarrassed to outright ask what are we like a school girl.

Jotaro stepped closer and looked down slightly to Kakyoin, then wrapped his arms around the man and squeezed slightly. Kakyoin was startled at first, but quickly realized he was being hugged.

Jotaro hugged him.

How auspicious.

“Jotaro?” Kakyoin wrapped his arms around the man as well and allowed his body to relax in his touch. He really felt safe there.

“I’m just glad you’re here. We’ve spent nearly every night in the same room, so it’s hard to sleep without your company now.” Jotaro quietly explained.

“Right… I suppose we did.” Kakyoin nuzzled the side of Jotaro’s neck to surround himself in the man’s scent. “I wanted to ask about that… where do we stand now? If it was just a vacation thing, that’s fine too.”

“Just a-“ Jotaro pulled away to stare at Kakyoin with furrowed brows. “Is that what you want it to be?”

“No,” Kakyoin admitted. “Is it a big secret I like you?”

Jotaro smiled at that faintly and moved his hands to Kakyoin’s waist. “No… Did you fathom I could feel the same?”

“I had an idea…” Kakyoin said with a small laugh. His own hands rested on Jotaro’s shoulders and hung off behind him. “Well, what now?”

With a hum, Jotaro pulled Kakyoin closer by a few inches. “Be my boyfriend.”

The boldness shocked Kakyoin, but he quickly determined it shouldn’t have been such a surprise coming from Jotaro of all people. “What if I say yes and then I don’t remember tomorrow?”

“Then I’ll ask you again.” Jotaro replied cooly.

“And if I ask who you are?” Kakyoin questioned, taking a tiny step closer until his nose could very well brush against Jotaro’s.

Jotaro shrugged. “I will do my best to remind you.”

But was it really that easy? Could Jotaro deal with having to remind Kakyoin every time he forgot? Wouldn’t he feel unloved…Kakyoin finally sighed and looked off to the side. “I’m really no good… Why would you go through all of that trouble?”

“To me, you’re worth it. Kakyoin, even if you forget me a million times, I will go through it all over and over to have you back in my arms. Don’t you get that? I won’t take it personally if you forget me, but I will hope to hear you say it was nice to meet me.”

“Do I say that a lot?” Kakyoin looked to him once more.

“You do, almost every time you’ve forgotten… it’s how I know I’ve gotten you back in some way.” Jotaro rubbed the waist between his palms and tapped his nose lightly to Kakyoin’s.

“Then, it was nice to meet you, Jotaro. For as long as I can remember, I’ll remember I am yours. As long as I don’t forget, even if I do… I’m still yours either way.”

“You mean, you’re willing to try?” Jotaro questioned in nearly a whisper.

“Of course I am. Are you kidding?” Kakyoin laughed in response.

Jotaro kissed him, pulling his waist closer until their bodies touched. No matter how many times he had to remind Kakyoin, it was worth it to taste his lips even once more.

And so, Kakyoin spent the night with Jotaro and nearly every night after that.

Months passed, and their days seemed to fall into a pattern that they both could have anticipated. There were good days, where Kakyoin remembered every moment they’d shared, and there were bad days where Jotaro had to reintroduce himself, patiently guiding Kakyoin back to the truth of their relationship.

But through it all, they stayed together.

On one particularly evening, they found themselves on the sofa in Jotaro’s home, much like any other given day. Kakyoin closed his eyes softly while rested up against the other man. “Do you think we’ll always be like this?” Kakyoin asked in a soft voice.

Jotaro turned to him, studying what little he could see of his profile. “What do you mean?”

“This... us. You reminding me, me forgetting. It’s not fair to you.” Kakyoin had been thinking on the fact and once again concluded he had been selfish staying with Jotaro.

Jotaro frowned slightly but didn’t respond right away. Instead, he gently twirled at Kakyoin’s red curl. “I have never cared about fair, Kakyoin- I care about you.”

Kakyoin glanced up to Jotaro , his lips curving into a faint smile. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Maybe. Or maybe I just know what I want.” Jotaro’s shrugged. “And I want you. No matter how many times I have to remind you, I’ll always want you.”

“Then I guess I’ll just have to keep falling for you, over and over,” Kakyoin said, his voice hiding a sarcastic chuckle at how disgustingly cutsie that comment was.

Jotaro moved slightly so his face could look directly towards Kakyoin’s. “I can live with that.”  He kissed Kakyoin’s lips softly with a small smile, using his other hand to pull him in close.

Kakyoin kissed him back naturally and muttered a quiet“me too” against those soft lips.

And though Kakyoin couldn’t promise he’d remember tomorrow, he knew as much that as long as Jotaro was by his side, he’d always find his way back.

Always.