Special Chapter Five
Holy Diver IF IV
"I am a tool of the Kuzuryuu Gang. I live only for three things." Pekoyama walked towards Mista, her feet wading through the puddle of blood. The police, idiots that they were, thought they could stop her with pistols. "The first is to serve my Master in any way he deems pleasurable. Whether it is killing or torturing others, or even simply humiliating myself, I do it without question."
Mista had to keep calm. He couldn't waste his bullets. Not in a tiny space like this where it'd be so easy for Killing Machine to spit out a hundred blades and trap him entirely.
Pekoyama smiled to herself as she said, "The second is to serve Lord Dio. The man who showed us the futility of Hope and the glory of Despair. In life, he wished for my services in more ways than one. A tool is not meant to feel pleasure, but I cannot deny that he made me feel something approaching humanity. It might have been the hair and eyes, especially when I was paired with Master. But that is beside the point. In death, he is now the symbol of our future. We will serve the Heir in avenging his father."
She was lecturing. Good. That meant she was more concerned with seeing him sweat and panic than making sure there wasn't any way to escape. The room he found himself stuck in, trying to help the soldier and police in the barracks- imagine saying that a year ago- had a window far above that would get him outside. If he used Sex Pistols smart, he could slip out and get somewhere safe.
"But there is a third thing I live for. Something that I wonder if even Lord Dio knew, in his infinite wisdom." Pekoyama said. The way she spoke had changed.
Until now, she'd been like how she was in Venice. Completely without emotion and focusing all her efforts on finding the best method of gutting him like a fish. The only time she ever displayed feelings was when she saw Kuzuryuu get the shit stomped out of him. That flash of panic and fear as she dashed to his side and got a back-hand for her troubles.
This? This was different. This was something a lot more human than a 'tool' would be.
Mista really wished she'd go back to the blank-slate crap she had going. It was a disgrace to see someone meant to be protecting their boss simply turn that idea into destroying their own identity. It sickened Mista to his core to hear her say that she considered her work anything like his.
It was still better than the serial-killer-like smile that cut across her face and the way her red eyes shined in delight. Her tongue reached out to one of the bloody blades and licked a section of it clean.
"Killing." She said, almost drunk from the blood. "The way that the life disappears from the eyes of another as I stab my blade into their flesh. The cacophony of screams depending on how deep the tip can pierce into their bones. I am a tool made to serve, but I become the master of humans when I use my blade." She shivered and licked her lips, creating a red smear around them. "I wonder how you'll act, Guido Mista, when I keep you on the very knife-edge of life and death? Will you beg for mercy, or will you be defiant to the end?"
"That's a question you're never going to find the fucking answer to!" Mista jumped back and turned to try and land his back against the corner of the room. Climbing using two walls as support was always easier than one.
He wasn't running away. This bitch had too much blood on her hands for his pride to ever accept something like that. What he was doing was simply playing it smart.
She loved killing and torturing people? Fine. Mista could use that. If he interested her, like a cat with its prey, then he'd play the mouse and get her somewhere big and empty. A place where Mista would have a lot of room to avoid Killing Machine's swords and try to get close enough to use Sex Pistols.
In a fight against the Ultimate Swordswoman, he would never win in close-range combat. Victory would come from the long-range game; using Sex Pistols to make the bullets go faster and further than normal.
Mista wasn't just fighting for Passione and Italy, important as they were, but something else as well.
Pekoyama insulted him; from her philosophy down to her methods, and his role as Giorno's bodyguard. This wasn't just a battle between Stand users but a battle between two ideas. Was a bodyguard simply an extension of the boss's will, or were they something else?
All he knew, as he climbed the walls and looked carefully at the windows, was that he was going to defeat this psychopath or die trying!
Johnny had been sitting on his ass for about half an hour, making sure Gyro and Togami were going to make it through, before both woke up at around the same time. He spent about half that time gathering his stuff and pretending to ignore Togami's occasional glares, and then Gyro shooting the heir one in turn. One of them took the news about Naegi better than the other.
It was Togami, who liked to play the 'too good for everyone else' act, who was insisting that they immediately go and pick a fight again.
He was different now. There was nothing but poorly-hidden panic in the way he dashed to his things and packed empty pistols and whatever else could be a weapon into his bag. Spandau was feasting on what few blades of grass there were around this place. Gyro and Johnny were packing their things too for the rescue mission.
There was no sense in letting Naegi die, and they certainly weren't going to let Togami run off and get himself killed.
Johnny just had one problem.
"You have a plan, right?" Johnny asked. "Because riding all the way down to Death Valley and demanding they give him back isn't a plan. We need to think of a way to beat them."
Togami violently stuffed a compass into the bag and shot his head around. "Yes, and while we're sitting here, licking our wounds, the Remnants get further away from us. Getting closer to where they'll torture the prize they've sought for years now."
That was enough to make Johnny look away. He didn't blame Togami for seeing this as Johnny's fault. Naegi was the big prize that the Remnants of Despair sought for years and he let him hand himself over.
"Don't act like this Johnny's fault. If it wasn't for him, we'd be dead and Naegi wouldn't have any help coming." Gyro shot back, defending his friend for reasons beyond him.
"You should have run! Tusk could have delayed some of them and you might have gotten closer to a base where more time could have been bought. Rescue would have come and we wouldn't be talking about the return of the Tragedy!" Togami snapped. He threw his bag over Spandau and had already tied it to the saddle, before Johnny could even realise what he was doing. "That is why I'm leaving now." He said, ignoring the fact they agreed to go to the base and grab help.
Johnny couldn't hide his shock behind derision as he asked, "Really? I thought we agreed to look to others for help. Togami, if you think this is going to end well for you- going off on your own and thinking you can just win-"
"I don't." Togami began flexing his muscles. Not out of arrogance, but simply to see if they recovered from Akane's attack. "My plan is to distract them and, if you'll come after me as I predict, you will both grab Naegi and head as fast as you can for sanctuary. There's a Future Foundation base a few miles west of Death Valley. Using your Stands in combination, you should be able to reach it in time."
"What about you? You know what they'll do if they have you and lose Naegi?" Gyro asked, beating Johnny to the punch.
"Of course I know," Togami spat. "They'll simply broadcast my slow and painful death for everyone to see in place of Naegi. I'll be whipped, flayed, burnt, poked at, used as a plaything, and if I don't break from despair, or beg for death, they simply kill me. I imagine I'll look quite the wretch when it's over."
He tried to be calm and matter of fact about it. He really did. As if saying it would make it easier to contemplate.
It was still obvious that Byakuya Togami was scared. That might have been why he kept his back to Johnny and Gyro. It was shaking with the rest of his body as he lectured them on the ways he'd be killed. His voice shook when he finally admitted that they'd kill him. The last of the Togami line extinguished in some sick ceremony broadcast worldwide.
Togami spoke in a single breathe and said, "But if I don't, they'll do it to Naegi. They'll do it to the symbol of hope for the entire world and use it to make everyone believe that Dio's legacy is still in command. That he still rules this world even in death. No matter what you do, it'll be useless to resist. That is something I will not allow. What is my life compared to the world itself?"
No one said anything. What could you say? The only sounds you could hear was Togami lacing up Spandau and getting ready to chase Naegi down no matter what.
Johnny saw that resolve and felt ashamed. Would he have ever put his life on the line for Naegi? Offering himself to be some kind of hostage or whatever they wanted from him, if they'd just let Naegi go. There were a hundred things he should have done and he did the one thing he shouldn't have.
Letting Naegi sacrifice himself.
Now he was sitting here and letting Togami be the one to throw himself into the fire. All to save the world. Johnny never cared about something so abstract like that. The only reason he came on this trip was to heal his legs.
What would Jonathan do? Johnny didn't have to wonder. His brother would have charged ahead, sacrificed himself, and the Remnants would have probably joined the Future Foundation out of shame of killing someone like him. The kind of thing that'd never happen with Johnny. Jonathan, I'm not you. I don't awe people with my physique, I don't win over the masses by being an impossibly nice guy. I'm...I'm...
It finally hit him.
Imagine a blockage in a river that lets out a tiny spurt, and then the spurt unleashes a massive flood that cleanses the messed-up trench. That was Johnny's mind.
He would never be Jonathan Joestar. He knew it, his father knew it, Erina knew it, hell even Jonathan knew it.
That was the problem.
He spent all this time measuring himself against the perfect son, brother, and person, and would always be less than zero in comparison. No two people would ever be alike and comparing yourself to someone else by their virtues would only make you look like trash.
Someone who looked at Jonathan Joestar and thought he was the ideal man would never think the same of Johnny. He was small, sarcastic, and drove most of the people around him away. His brother was the exact opposite, never doubting the love of the people around him for one second, and Johnny hated himself because he could never be that.
But what if he compared himself not with Jonathan, but with the person that Johnny Joestar could be?
The time he spent hating himself instead improving himself. It was a long and hard road, one he'd likely never reach the end of, but at least it'd be something! It'd be a goal to reach! It was definitely better than simply sitting and waiting for Naegi to die!
A plan came to Johnny. It was stupid and insane and exactly what would work on those psychopaths.
"Y'know, I think those Remnants of Despair probably still miss Jonathan. Probably enough to still fetishise me as some kind of new version of him, or kill me for not being him." Johnny said, letting the words hang in the air. Gyro caught on immediately.
"Nyohoho. I don't know, maybe some of my jokes can cure them of despair." He said with a laugh.
"That's the first good joke I've ever heard from you." Togami muttered. It wasn't enough to hide his interest in the plan.
The plan for Johnny to make the charge towards Naegi. Gambling it all on the Remnant's hesitation to really kill Jonathan's younger brother.
The problem was that they had to buy Naegi time to escape on Journey when the time came. The Remnants outnumbered them three to one, without Naegi, and could easily just send a group after Naegi. Someone would have to go with him while the other two held them off.
It would be Gyro who'd run. Johnny wouldn't take no for an answer.
The wounds he got from Tanaka still hadn't entirely healed, unlike Togami's, and it would be easier to have him go with Naegi while Johnny and Togami fought a fighting retreat. The sight of one of Dio's killers and 'the Lesser Joestar' would get their attention. Maybe even bait them away.
Johnny turned to Gyro and looked him right in the eye. "I'm not going to lie in the mud and feel sorry for myself anymore. All that's gonna do is get me covered in shit. This time, I'm moving forward."
"Great news! I'm sure we're all behind you on that." A voice that definitely didn't belong to Gyro or Togami said.
No, Johnny definitely recognised that voice. He turned to find a man in a zebra-printed hat, a five-pointed Sheriff star on his left side, and having a recently-acquired scar across his face courtesy of the Remnants of Despair. He was above-average height, had light-hair, and was wearing the closest thing to a stereotypical cow-boy costume.
"You did me a favour after saving me from Safety Dance. Now I have the perfect chance to repay the favour." Mountain Tim said, tipping his hat to the group, mirroring the way their horses bowed their heads to him. "I know what you're thinking. 'Tim, you can easily take on three of those freaks, but what about the others? That still leaves three more, including the kid.' Have no fear. Our illustrious President has heard about these Remnants causing trouble and he wanted me to gather some help."
Behind him were the sounds of multiple boots clicking as a small group trailed behind him. A group that made Johnny wonder if he wasn't just hallucinating in the heat. There must have been just under a dozen of them, but they were almost unreal.
Each one of them wore a flat-brimmed cowboy hat, a green range coat, gun holsters on the side, and a purple shirt and light brown trousers combination. The strangest thing about them wasn't even that they had writing on their hair; both facial and head, depending on which one he was looking at.
It was the fact that every one of them looked alike.
All eleven of them looked nearly identically similar.
"They had you outnumbered three to one? How about we outnumber them for a change?" Mountain Tim chuckled and pointed his thumb back. "Meet the Eleven Riders. You're gonna love their Stand. Mine too."
Togami couldn't stop himself from sputtering while Johnny and Gyro's eyes widened. They knew it was possible to get a Stand from more than just an Arrow. Both Tusk and Ball Breaker were testaments to that. But these riders had a Stand? Tim had a Stand?!
Despite that, Johnny could feel the mood around them change. What was once just shock turned into something warmer and brighter. They were under a clear late morning sun and yet the day only now got brighter. Johnny could actually see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Why?
Because they finally had a chance.
They finally had hope.
Izuru watched as Pekoyama pierced her blade through Mista's side and he already knew the result.
She had lost.
The swordswoman was so focused on finally cutting Giovanna's bodyguard that she neglected to keep an eye out for his Stand. She thought she took out all six when she really only took out five. The final one was still in the air, flying from the force of the upward wind from one of her side slashes, when Mista fired his pistol.
Pekoyama smiled when it cut through a few strands of hair. She didn't realise her mistake before it was too late.
The sound of metal being kicked back and she span in time to find the bullet racing straight towards the centre of her forehead. She extended her blade so that she could keep the tip wedged in Mista while still intercepting in time to keep the bullet from going through her cranium and killing her.
She failed to stop the bullet from hitting her in the sword-hand and making her drop the blade.
The metal going through Mista's side dissolved and he moved through the pain to pistol-whip Pekoyama to the floor.
Boring. Izuru had expected this outcome from the second that he saw Pekoyama prioritise injuring Mista over the half dozen moves she could have taken to cripple him. Despair had once again driven a member of Class 77-B to ignore instinct and training in favour of gratification.
In the name of achieving pleasure, they threw away victory.
It might have made him angry, if Izuru wasn't bored of it by now.
Mista, although for entirely different reasons, seemed to feel the same way in terms of frustration, "Don't think I know why you got sloppy. It's because you don't give a damn about anyone but yourself and Dio. It's all about you deep down," Mista growled. "All the shit you take from Kuzuryuu. You like it. It gets you off to suffer unde rhis abuse and be dehumanised. It's not because you think he's better than you. It's because of who he is!"
"I serve my Master. He who leads the Kuzuryuu Clan that I owe my existence too." Pekoyama chuckled. "It just so happens that he's the only one left."
"You fuckin' disgust me," Mista spat out. "You think your Stand and Talent make you strong? Well, let me tell you something. You're weak. Anyone can kills dozens of people in this world, especially if they're working for Kuzuryuu. What kind of tool takes pleasure in their job? What kind of tool moves and talks on its own?! You're not a weapon, you're nothing more than tissue- no, toilet paper! Useful for one thing then get blown away. I'm almost mad I didn't take off a finger. You hear that?! I'm almost glad I didn't turn five into four! Although technically, it's only four fingers so four becomes three-No you don't!"
Pekoyama had tried to grab her blade again, to bring made the forest of metal that Killing Machine could bring, but Mista kneed her in the face. Her glasses broke and her nose was bleeding when he grabbed her by the hair and threw her to the side.
"You know what? You can't even be used once. Your Master? He just uses you dozens of times to wipe away the shit, and then gets his hand dirty. What does that say about you two?" Mista managed to regain some control of his emotions. "Giorno is my Boss, but he's also my friend. A friend who's been through more with me than you can imagine. I'm his bodyguard, but if I were a tool, I'd be a tool to help shape him into being more than he is right now. Not just enable him because it gets me off to obey orders."
Pekoyama wasn't even listening. Izuru wondered what Mista's point was supposed to be, if not to convince Pekoyama. Was he really just saying this to please himself? Or to prove himself to someone?
Izuru didn't care. He had to save the Remnants again.
If he wanted to truly test Giovanna's Stand Requiem, it would need a situation as stressful as possible and involving him to see the odds as against him. It was convenient that Mista and Pekoyama's battle had taken them to the outskirts of the Colosseum. Tsumiki, Kirigiri, and the remaining members of Passione and the Remnants were there.
It'd be easy to force the two of them inside.
The Ultimate Jumper's Talent of Class 71 was useful for going from the roof of a nearby building to landing just in front of Mista. He seemed so surprised, just when he was moving to knock her out with his pistol again, only to find Izuru Kamukura staring at him. The face of the most feared Remnant of Despair.
The butcher of the Hope's Peak Student Council, the man who only knew Talent, and the wielder of a Stand stronger than Holy Diver.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams had seen Sex Pistols in action and Izuru had brought a revolver of his own. It was child's play for him to use Sex Pistols against Mista; even as the mimicked-Stand lacked the emotional energy of its true user. Izuru being the more effective user made up for it.
The Ultimate Marksman Talent of Classes 3, 23, 37, 43, and 69 helped too.
Mista's revolver fell from his hands when the bullet struck in time, the man himself still in shock at the sight of another Sex Pistols, and he couldn't react in time for Izuru to slam the butt of his revolver right where Pekoyama stabbed the bodyguard. He could feel the body groan in pain from the strike.
It wouldn't kill, or even incapacitate him. It'd simply help put all of Giorno's friends and partners in one place.
Izuru would see if Giorno could defy destiny, or if he was simply like everyone else.
Mitarai's blood ran cold when he acknowledged Giorno again.
"Ryota...you have a Stand?" Giorno stared at Virtual Insanity and wasn't even trying to hide his surprise.
Mitarai and Giorno were standing in the now-ruined Senate assembly while Sonia rested against the left wall with a vacant expression in her eyes. She was doing as commanded after she was affected by the images Mitarai had shown her. Nothing too complex that would interfere with the Despair program that Dio made, but enough that she'd follow orders given.
The problem was that the only way he could use that technique was with his Stand. He had to do it fast as well.
Giorno wasn't his usual self. The sight of Fugo losing against Sonia and Koizumi was enough to make him jump into the fray, and he managed to avoid getting caught by Into The Lens. But there were still problems.
His heart was weakened and divided against itself. The sheer confidence and certainty he had was gone and replaced by doubt. Unable to tell if his fight actually meant anything or if he was merely somehow following the plans of another. Whether he was in control or not.
It meant he wasn't entirely focusing on not getting caught in Ballroom Blitz's range and in keeping Fugo from being caught by Koizumi. A brief glance in the wrong direction, follow by a flash, and the loyal follower was pulled into the world of the photograph. He barely got a scream out.
The leader of Passione found his rage after that, but not his normal rage. This anger was chaotic and made him reckless. He went straight for the Stand Arrow and didn't even realise that he had just led the Queen of Novoselic straight to Mr. President.
Mitarai had stayed hidden under one of the desks by Giorno's orders. It was a fight the animator could easily win- especially when they were this deep into the building- but he stayed out. No one could know his secrets at any cost!
That's what he told himself until Sonia finally got a hit in. Koizumi had announced she was going to the Colosseum, Giorno tried to go after her, and then he was struck by Ballroom Blitz. He collapsed to the ground when he finally touched her and she was talking about using the Stand Arrow and him to create what she thought Dio wanted. All these horrible things about how he'd learn to be the new Dio and to simply let her take charge until then.
It was when she offered to be his Queen, in bed as well as leadership, that Mitarai finally leapt up and unleashed Virtual Insanity.
So here they were. Both of them looking at one another and one looking for answers that the other wanted to give; if only the former would understand.
"I wanted to tell you. I wanted to tell you a lot of things." Mitarai said quietly. He self-consciously grabbed at his left arm and added a bit more volume. "Maybe we should have that talk now. I can explain everything!"
Giorno once said he regretted never getting Bruno Bucciarati's ability to 'taste' a liar. Mitarai didn't know if that would have made this easier or harder. There were truths he wanted to say, and yet he feared what Giorno would do when he heard them.
But this had to happen! Giorno had to be brought out of this depression and understand just how special he really was!
He has to know. He has to know that Dio only wanted the best for him. If he had survived at Hope's Peak, he would have come for you, Giorno! This was all because he wanted you to decide your fate! Mitarai could help Giorno realise his purpose. Realise that he and Dio weren't so different in wanting to create a better world.
"First, Giorno, you do matter! No mater that you think, you're still the man who saved Italy from Diavolo. You ended Despair in Italy. That's why," Mitarai's voice wobbled. It should have been Dio here saying this to his son! "I don't want to see you like this. Trapped in doubt and losing everything that made you so special. I don't know what you think happened, but it doesn't matter! You're still Giorno Giovanna."
Giorno was just standing there silently. His eyes pierced through Mitarai and he didn't move a single inch. Mitarai had no way to tell if Giorno was having a mental battle or if he was just processing his words. Passione's Boss never really gave much with his facial expressions. There were so many ways he was like Dio and yet so many ways he wasn't.
He was Hope, but a different kind. One that could be convinced about the need to reach Heaven and how this required hard choices. The Remnants of Despair would be blunt, but still useful for the cause!
It was when Giorno turned to Sonia that Mitarai finally heard a reply, "Sonia, lick Mitarai's shoes clean."
The Queen immediately left her spot and walked straight towards Mitarai, who was too shocked by Giorno's command to react. The brainwashing worked by obeying orders given- although prioritising Mitarai's above all- and it meant Sonia did not protest even as she fell on her knees, bowed her head, and stuck out her tongue centimetres from his shoes and-
"Wha-Stop!" Mitarai stumbled back as if her tongue was coated in acid. He sighed in relief when he saw her pull back her tongue, before turning to his friend. "Giorno, what are you-"
Mitarai felt Giorno place a firm grip on his shoulder. His eyes held a lot of emotions all fighting with each other, but this time calm had won out.
"I do not know much, that has been made apparent. I do not know if I, a clone of Dio Brando, am truly ever capable of making choices. Perhaps I am, but I can no longer see it because of the doubt in my mind." Giorno tightened his grip and pulled Mitarai in closer, the latter only now realising that he had still been crying, and said, "But I do believe one thing. You are a good person. A bit soft and unwilling to see dark truths, but good nonetheless. At least, that is what I think."
"And it's true. You are a good person too! You're right because you know, deep down, that you're right. That's what someone close to me said a long time ago, and now I'll say it to you. As many times as you need until you can say it yourself." Mitarai always said it to himself when he was at his lowest. When he doubted in Dio, he said it and his spirits lifted.
The least he could do was do the same for Giorno.
Whatever impact his words had, it was hard to tell. Especially when Giorno let go of Mitarai and walked forward, passing Mitarai, and heading straight for the door on top of the steps. He was obviously heading to follow Koizumi to the Colosseum to fight her and the other Remnants.
He was going to burn his bridges before he even realised the truth!
Mitarai acted quickly to try and stop him, shouting out, "Wait! I know this sounds strange, but I'd like to ask you for two things. Don't mention my Stand to anyone- not until I feel ready to explain it to them- and please don't go yet. I'll tell you the story about my Stand but it has to be now! It's selfish and it's stupid, but you have to trust me on this."
Here it was. The crossroads that only Giorno Giovanna could decide.
One road had Giorno stay and let Mitarai explain the truth about Dio and how he planned for Giorno to decide his own path. About the better world that he and Dio wanted to create and that it could still be in their grasp. The other path was Giorno going forward and fighting with the Remnants, leaving Mitarai alone to hope that he'd make the right choice.
Would he choose to be a Gang-Star only, or would he achieve his destiny and become Emperor; the one who would help mankind reach Heaven?
Giorno stood on the steps and both men stayed silent until he said, "I will respect the fact that you wish this to be a secret. Maybe it is from memories of being a clone, but a Stand Arrow is not the only way to attain one. As well, there may be more than the Arrows that archaeology dig found." Mitarai dared to dream when it came crashing down on him. "That is why I must leave now. Control her for as long as possible while I round them up." He said, pointing at Sonia.
Mitarai made a mental note to have her fall back to Novoselic and order her soldiers to follow her. No need to risk her, or any more innocent civilians, harm.
"Be careful." He said instinctively. It was obvious he didn't just mean for Giorno. He knew what the Gang-Star was capable of. "They were my classmates once. If I can ask one thing-"
"I won't kill them. As long as they learn one simple lesson." Giorno took the final steps up and turned back to Mitarai. The look in his eyes was the kind of certainty he had only ever seen in Dio's eyes. Now they were his son's eyes. "Giorno Giovanna does not appreciate intruders in his home."
They said that the heat sometimes made you see things. Crazy things that you'd never imagine.
They said the same about stress. When you had, say, nails pierced through your palms, a cannibal tell you how you were to be tortured in front of millions watching worldwide, and a very unsettling tall man who looked eerily similar to you talk about you being reborn, it could mess with you. Make you see stuff you'd never think could be.
For example, Naegi was pinned down to some kind of cross, feet still firmly planted on the ground, and was seeing eleven identical riders all fighting with the Remnants. With them was Mountain Tim somehow merging into rope and laughing at Souda's frustrations.
Monaca was pinching him hard every ten seconds, on the skin next to the eye, so Naegi knew he wasn't dreaming.
"What the hell is this! You two get back in range so I can turn you into the kind of crap I flush down the toilet! Or hole, technically!"
"Waaa! I almost got one of those riders from behind when he turned and shot me! It was like he saw me coming!"
"Damnit! Welcome To The Machine almost had him before he turned into fucking rope!"
It was strange. The Remnants of Despair were feared not just because of their bloodthirsty nature, but also because it was incomprehensible how they killed you. An invisible and unknown force gave them the power to torment everyone around them. To break their comprehension as well as their spirit.
Now it was their turn to be attacked by the unknown. Their turn to see their desires turn to nothing because of circumstances they couldn't imagine.
Naegi was sure now that they were not in control; that they were victims of Dio's manipulations like the rest of the world. It didn't mean a small amount of justice for their victims wasn't being served. Nor that he wasn't relieved about the fact that his friends came back for him.
He could see Johnny fighting out with Ibuki. She unleashed everything she had with Feel The Noize, unleashing sound-waves as big as a horse before going for something subtler. She lowered the pitch so that it wouldn't be seen and she'd do harm to the body itself. All to make him stop talking.
Johnny wouldn't stop. He dashed and leapt and even threw a few attacks of his own using Tusk and wouldn't let up. Each and every attack he hammered in the point that should have been obvious to anyone not infected with Despair. That their veneration of Jonathan Joestar made no sense with worshipping Dio Brando.
Did they really believe that he'd want this? That he was happy about Dio killing him?
Ibuki didn't take those kind of questions well. She immediately played her guitar at full-volume for no purpose other than to block out Johnny's words. At first, she tried singing one of her songs as always, but she started getting mad. Mad that her attacks were growing erratic, that none of them were hitting Johnny, and, worst of all, she looked like she knew what he was saying.
She knew the truth and wanted nothing more than to pretend it wasn't there.
"LALALA! Ibuki can't hear you! She's busy playing this sweet melody about how cool the real JoJo was, how shitty you are, and the fact that he and Lord Dio are best friends! Oh JoJo! How you SACRIFICED YOURSELF to show us Despair!" Ibuki screamed furiously, unleashing everything she had on Johnny and Slow Dancer.
"I told you once, I told you twice, I'll tell you a million goddamn times!" Johnny positioned his thumb straight at Ibuki and screamed, "Jonathan would have never wanted this!"
The nail shot forward and skimmed over Ibuki's sound-wave, barely shaking its trajectory, before it impacted on the guitar. It never stood a chance against Tusk Act 3 and the instrument burst into nothing. She was still playing for a few seconds as if it were still in her hands, before she realised that it was gone.
Ibuki stopped trying to fight and threw her hands over her ears, letting out a piercing scream that made Naegi wish he could cover his ears. Monaca was doing it, but the nails wouldn't let him do the same for himself.
Johnny jumped off from Slow Dancer and crashed into Ibuki. The two stumbled towards Naegi before they found their footing; Johnny shoving his right forearm against Ibuki's throat and the Ultimate Light Musician not even trying to escape.
"Say it. I want you to say it." He growled. Ibuki said nothing, and he punched her left cheek. "Come on! You were happy talking shit! Now you get to scream it!"
"No! Ibuki won't! Ibuki's not betraying Lord Dio and JoJo's friendship!" Ibuki screamed. She tried to cover her ears again and Johnny trapped her arms with his own.
"Say it! Tell me just exactly what Jonathan said when he was dying then? Tell me how he was talking about how great Dio was and that they were best friends! Was that how he died? Did he and Dio shake hands over it?! Say it then! How did my brother die?!"
Ibuki didn't say anything, Johnny pulling back his fist to give another punch, when she finally cracked.
"HE KILLED HIM!" She screamed, her voice choked and fighting against the sounds of battle nearby.
Ibuki Mioda changed. Naegi knew she was a high-energy girl. The few pictures that survived Hope's Peak and the Tragedy showed her having fun with her friends, and even the butchery she partook in as an Ultimate Despair, all showed her having fun. A giant smile on her smile and showing infectious excitement.
Not anymore. The guitarist before him looked as if saying those words had sucked the energy out from her. It was pooling away and each second made her look more like the empty husk that she was. Her cheeks were already getting drenched in tears and her eyes flickered for just a moment.
They were still red, but there was no light or shine behind them. Just an empty void to match the still girl.
Her voice lost all of its energy as she confessed, almost too quiet if the wind didn't carry her words, "L-Lor-Lord Dio-to m-make us despair...he erased him." Ibuki was speaking through her tears. "Holy Diver's third power. He then smashed through Chiaki-chan's chest like she was nothing...everyone fell into despair."
Johnny put a hand over his face to hide his own tears. "Damnit..." Naegi wanted to reach out when Johnny glared down at the musician. "Get up and I break your skull." He warned, using a hand to call over Slow Dancer.
"Don't worry...I don't see the fucking point." Ibuki said. She laid there with her arms and legs stretched out while Johnny was getting back on Slow Dancer. "Lord Dio is my God- he blessed me with the chance to worship him in more ways than just my music- but he also killed JoJo. I'm nothing more than a slave. Just some dumb bitch who thought she could be the next Hendrix, then tried to make everyone like her, but it's worthless. All I do is play loud music, scream, and be dumb." She laughed. Or rather, she gave out an empty noise that resembled a soft chuckle. "Guess that's why I bought into my own shit for so long."
Naegi wanted to say something to her. She was so close to breaking free and a single Hope Bullet from Livin' On A Prayer could save her and help him prove the truth about the Remnants of Despair. It wasn't like that Komaeda guy was around to stop him, or get weird about making him 'strong Hope'. The only problem was Monaca.
Would she use She Sells Sanctuary if he tried to escape? He turned to find a sharp smile that didn't belong on a child's face.
"I won't hurt you. Not while he's around." She said, motioning her head at Johnny. The smile widened until it cut her face in half and she leaned in close enough that he could smell her breath. "I'll wait until you're in a more pitiful state. Then we can have fun!"
"Shut it." Johnny rode to Naegi's side and looked him right in the eye. "Naegi, I'm gonna come out and say it. I'm an asshole and any and all insults and punches to the face after this are totally fair game. I'd just like to point out the fact that we're in a war-zone and should probably get the hell out before doing anything."
"Johnny, that's the smartest thing I've heard you say this entire trip." Naegi smiled, before looking behind his saviour, expecting a certain friend of his. "Is Journey-"
"Yeah. He's fine, but still spoiled as hell."
Johnny helped Naegi get the nails out from his palms. It somehow hurt even worse than when they were hammered in, but Livin' On A Prayer managed to heal them enough that it didn't sting for too long. He was lucky that they were thin and long rather than thick and short. That'd have been hard to heal.
Naegi managed to climb onto Slow Dancer just behind Johnny and he warned, "We need to get going. Tanaka's not the only dangerous one. There's also Nagito Komaeda; the one who has Get Lucky. Togami probably told you enough to know he's bad news."
"Your number one fan, I heard." Johnny said almost teasingly.
"Shut up." Naegi replied. It felt good to feel like laughing again.
"It'll be you who shuts up, Makoto Naegi." A dark and booming voice declared. Naegi and Johnny both turning to see who had just spoken, even when they knew who it was.
A pitch-black cape billowed against the wind and contrasted with the dirty drags and bandages that almost served as a straitjacket. Blood-red eyes stared at the two of them, almost into their very souls, and he was already raising his arms to reveal large talons bursting from where his fingernails should be. The scarf around the lower-half of his face did nothing to conceal his voice.
Gundham Tanaka wasn't going to let them go that easily.
Kirigiri wondered if the relief she felt earlier should have been dread, no matter what side Giorno chose.
The Remnants of Despair, both injured and uninjured, lurked around the front seats of the Colosseum, acting as an audience for the battle they had just witnessed. No, to call it a battle would give it too much credit. This lasted but a handful of seconds when the two giants faced off and the victor was obvious.
Giorno Giovanna was the Heir, the man who would be their new Ultimate Master, if they had their way, but this was Izuru Kamukura. His Boulevard of Broken Dreams could copy any Stand he or its fractured-glass witnessed the effects of. Surely not even Gold Experience could stand up to such a powerful force?
Yet here they were.
The fearsome monsters who destroyed the world had changed. They were now a group of cowards hiding away- not even daring to touch Kirigiri and Asahina's weakened forms just behind Giorno- as they realised who they were dealing with. First, they thought he was nothing more than some mob-boss with a Stand, then he was the new Dio.
Now? Now he was Giorno Giovanna and he was furious.
Kamukura remained on his knees, staring into extended palms, and could not hide the amazement on his face. Boulevard of Broken Dreams was back in its original form and looked nothing like the glowing golden figure that utterly crushed it.
Gold Experience Requiem only needed a single blow to sentence Izuru Kamukura to eternal death. The fate Giorno proclaimed he delivered onto the former boss of Passione.
"I hate it when I have to repeat myself. It means that I'm either speaking to idiots, or people who don't listen," Giorno's voice dropped and Kirigiri could feel the threat pouring out from him. "Get the fuck out of my country, unless you want to experience death without end." He promised.
"So this is Requiem's power." Kamukura said to himself, his voice barely heard over the wind. "The power I cannot achieve."
"A creature like you will never see true power. A being that only seeks to be interested without reason does not know courage." Giorno replied, before looking up to the Remnants. "I am Giorno Giovanna. The leader of Passione, the protector of Italy, and the man who will end you if you don't get the message. Who my father is does not matter. You are not welcome here and neither are your minions."
"You found out...and you still helped us..." Kirigiri said, finally getting her wind back. Tsumiki's Voodoo had almost killed her until she discovered its hidden weakness. "I underestimated you."
Fugo stepped forward and gave a middle finger to the Remnants, having escaped Into The Lens, and screamed, "Yeah! Take your damn drugs, guns, and men and get the hell out!"
The Remnants looked at one another and seemed to be quietly discussing the idea with themselves. Pekoyama was still nursing the wound on her right hand, the situation serious enough that Kuzuryuu didn't dare transfer his own to her. The sound of harsh whispering grew louder until there was a sharp silence.
Tsumiki, even with the bruise on her right eye, burst into tears which Kirigiri took as a good sign. It was obvious that they would accept the command, after seeing what happened to Kamukura.
They may have yearned to feel Despair and to feel the dominance of Dio Brando; but they still had logic. The concept of dying in an infinite loop for all time was nothing short of a nightmare. The rush of despair from death would only be temporary compared to an eternity of suffering.
Maybe that was why the Remnants fled as quickly as they did. Kirigiri noted that they didn't even try to save the Queen of Novoselic, although the lack of explosive sounds from afar suggested that she might have fled earlier. Fugo did say that she and Giorno had been fighting earlier, to Mista's frustration.
He didn't complain for too long, although that was more due to the busted rib.
Not even a few seconds later and Mitarai could be heard heavily panting and running downs the steps of the Colosseum. The Ultimate Animator had arrived just slightly too late to see anything but it was for the best. He wouldn't have coped well in this fight.
The look on his face, however, was one of panic, clearly fearing the worse.
All those emotions melted away when Giorno turned and looked at him impassively.
"You were right, Ryota Mitarai," Giorno said. "I am in control of my destiny. The chains of the past will not keep me bound to a single spot. My choices are my own and I will not let the hunger of my father define me."
So this was what it meant to be a 'Gang-Star'. Kirigiri had thought he simply looked for a way to define himself as something other than a gangster, but this was different. His eyes no longer held the endless hunger for more, nor the ambition to become the master of all he saw.
What she could see was the face of a man who wanted to protect his country and to ensure that the Tragedy never happened again. A man who would retreat back into the shadows as a mobster when this was done. A man who had surrendered the title of Emperor.
But still, there was that flash of ambition. The desire to, while not be Emperor, still reign on the top of the mountain as the crime-boss of Italy.
Kirigiri didn't like him remaining a criminal, when all this was over, but she'd take what she could get.
Giorno had joined the side of Hope, after all.
"Ah! Isn't this a wonderful Miracle?" Komaeda cackled as he saw his now-missing left hand hit Johnny's leg. His other arm wrapped itself around Tanaka's neck, as the Ultimate Breeder dashed with the legs of an ostrich. "Tusk Act 4 was going to forever trap me in a spiral, but Lord Dio's hand saved me! Now it's going to send you to a fate worse than non-existence! Dio Brando kills another Joestar! Naegi, remember this Despair! You'll overcome that too."
"Silence yourself! Lesser Joestar! This is the price you pay for aiding the Ultimate Hope!" Tanaka barked, the two slowly closing the distance between themselves and their two victims.
It'd been so easy to get Naegi on Journey and for the two to start fleeing. Johnny even thought that Tanaka would have given up once he realised how far away he was getting from the others. They were already starting to retreat from Death Valley. He even thought maybe they'd actually make it through this.
Until Komaeda emerged, leapt onto Tanaka's back, and each one acted like the other's motivator. It didn't matter how far Johnny and Naegi got, so long as Tanaka could get closer.
Johnny had only just unlocked Act 4 and now it was going to kill him! How could a hand have been flung at such speed that it'd have hit him in the right leg?
A Miracle, that's how.
He could feel the infinite spin of the Golden Rectangle wrench him towards the point of impact. If he wasn't on Slow Dancer, who was panicking to all hell, he'd have been stuck on the ground and would be doomed. The horse was barely managing to keep pace as its rider was falling out of the saddle.
I have to stop it! How?! There's got to be a- Johnny thought of something. It was crazy and stupid, but it was all he had left. If you had to stop one unstoppable force, then why not use another? Maybe if I-
Fate had turned against him in that very moment. Slow Dancer must have stumbled on a stray pebble or from the force of Act 4 because it started to slow and shake itself. The survival instinct was overriding its attachments and it tried to free itself from what probably seemed like doom.
Johnny was still attached enough to the saddle that he wasn't thrown to the ground. Instead, he dangled from his right side, facing Naegi, and he was dangerously close to the ground. He didn't dare turn his head to see how close Tanaka and Komaeda were to them, and instead focused on trying to get back on Slow Dancer.
If he didn't get enough speed in time, he'd be dead!
Of course, then, he'd hit his head against the ground. Even at Slow Dancer's reduced speed, Johnny felt the top side of his head crack open and blood began to pour out. The ground itself was stained in red as the chase continued and Johnny's vision began to get blurry.
If he didn't get a concussion from that, maybe he was the real Ultimate Luckster.
Naegi reached out one hand and screamed, "Johnny! I'll hold them o-" He stopped and swallowed. Livin' On A Prayer held back its Hope Bullets. "You have to calm down! Focus on getting back on Slow Dancer! We're still outpacing them!"
Individual Hope Bullets shot out from Livin' On A Prayer's fingers, one for each sentence, and they landed right where Johnny hit his head. The ex-jockey managed to pull himself up enough that he wasn't hitting the ground anymore and felt his wounds close. Yeah, he could do this.
But how to pick up speed? Act 4 was pulling him in closer and closer and he couldn't fight it for much longer-
Naegi was screaming at the top of his lungs now, whilst darkness danced around the ends of Johnny's vision. "Remember Johnny! Remember everything that's happened! Meeting us, meeting Gyro, fighting against the Remnants, discovering Tusk, and discovering yourself! A Stand is a reflection of the spirit, right? It couldn't have become something this strong unless you've grown as well! If Jonathan was here now, things would be different. But he's not! I'm here, and you're here, and that's what I'm going to say..."
Livin' On A Prayer clapped its hands together and the barrels at the end of the fingers joined together. A large Hope Bullet was coming. If the smaller ones were regular-sizes, this was the size of an RPG round. It emerged from the combined barrels and aimed straight at Johnny. He just managed to read the words inscribed along the Hope Bullet.
"You can move forward from this!" Naegi's words matched the one from the Hope Bullet.
At Slow Dancer and Journey's speeds, it didn't stop the Hope Bullet from crashing into Johnny and coating him in white energy. It called upon the determination in his heart and strengthened it until it was a roaring inferno, extinguishing the doubt and fear holding him back.
Johnny had years of experience in riding horses behind him as he timed his movement. When Slow Dancer's hoofs hit the ground and were about to lift off, Johnny used that moment of push to lift himself up and use the force to take him all the way. Despite Act 4, he managed to get himself back on the saddle fully.
He placed a hand on Slow Dancer's side and timed his breathing with the horse's. It was panicking because it didn't know what was happening to its rider. He had to make it see that only he and it working together would save them.
Whispering in its ear, he said, "Come on, Slow Dancer. We're not letting some marshmallow-haired shit beat us now."
The old bastard actually liked those words. It stopped jumping left to right and began riding forwards again, galloping straight on ahead and getting back into the proper speed. The speed he'd need to time and direct the Spin just right. It'd be harder than before, now that the target was himself.
His right index finger aimed straight for the wound and the Golden Rectangle was forming in his eyes just as Act 4 was pulling him in further. Any second would be the moment where he would be doomed forever!
"Tusk Act 4!" The nail shot from his hand and crashed against the first infinite Spin. The two collided just as Johnny heard Tanaka's frantic breathes closing in on them.
The infinite Spin was unstoppable on its own. Nothing but itself could stop it. The two Spins were the reverse of the other and clashed together, two endless cycles testing whether the other was truly infinite. They had that to stop an oncoming force, you needed something of equal or greater force to meet it.
What else could stop infinity, but infinity?
Johnny's leg was freed from the curse of Act 4 and Tanaka's pace was already slowing. Johnny turned to Naegi and both men nodded, knowing that the 'fight' had ended. Slow Dancer and Journey were slowed to a stop, if still keeping distance, and Johnny could already see the mad glee in Komaeda's eyes and the despair in Tanaka's. Not the kind of despair he revelled in either, but one much colder that resembled Ibuki's.
"I...He beat a Miracle." Komaeda said. He wrapped his arms around himself, the bleeding stump staining his clothes, and cried out, "Jonathan's brother and Makoto Naegi defeated a Miracle with their Hope!"
"Impossible..." Tanaka collapsed onto his knees and stared into his palms, dropping a wheezing Komaeda onto the floor. Johnny could already see the tears in his eyes. "JoJo couldn't even defeat those odds, and yet they did? How? How?!" He asked, lost and confused.
"It's because we didn't give in." Johnny glared at Tanaka and decided to try one more time to get it through their thick skulls. "Jonathan wouldn't be ashamed that you cracked. He'd be ashamed that you're trying to justify it by pretending he'd give his life for a monster's ego."
"Aaah, so this is how Despair-"
"And you," Johnny turned his attention to Komaeda and said, "It wasn't because of Hope- or whatever you think Hope is. There was some cosmic force helping us out. It's because we had reasons to fight and survive. Not just because we gave up our identities. We have people waiting at home hoping for us to come back. I'm not gonna leave George and Erina alone to die to some psychopaths who only know how to worship Dio."
With that, knowing that they lost the will to fight, Johnny focused on what came next.
Gyro and Togami had told Johnny to make sure that Naegi was safe before coming back for them. It wasn't like they were having a hard time, with Mountain Tim and the Eleven Riders helping them. Now that they had the numbers and surprise advantage, victory was drawing closer.
Nothing left to do but head for the rendezvous and wait for the others to get back. It was just a few more miles west and then they'd be in California for Johnny to prove his brother's innocence. To finally cut Dio's poison off from the Joestar name.
The Remnants of Despair hadn't just been defeated physically, but spiritually. Johnny proved himself to be Jonathan's brother and that made his rejection of them all the worse. Tanaka looked nothing like a fearsome beast and more a lost and lonely child.
Naegi might have even said something to him, if it weren't for Komaeda's deceptively vacant-looking grin at the two of them. No, that guy still had a Tragedy to come and Johnny didn't trust that guy's luck not to screw them. Better they accept what they had and fight another day.
As the afternoon sun glared down at Death Valley, Makoto Naegi and Jorge 'Johnny' Joestar rode forward to the place where they'd meet their friends and allies. They rode away from the war, carnage, and despair behind them.
They rode to safety.
It was a bright morning by the docks of Rome where a lone ship owned by the Future Foundation was readying to pick up its ambassadors to Passione. It wasn't anything impressive, but it was certainly suited to fight off an ambush. The disintegration of Ultimate Despair into the Remnants hadn't stopped some fools from trying to win every skirmish they could.
Not that those were likely in the Mediterranean. Even under Diavolo, the seas were safe around Italy, if ruled by a tyrant.
It was a good sign of trust that the Future Foundation were sending a boat now, at least. They trusted Giorno to not intern their ships or have it investigated. Not after the rumours of how he fought off half of the former Class 77-B, the vanguards of the Tragedy.
There were two sides by the docks, each facing the other, as the leaders of Passione agreed to see off the delegates from the Future Foundation. On the one side from left to right were Trish Una, Guido Mista, Giorno Giovanna, Pannacotta Fugo, and Sheila E, and on the other was Asahina, Kirigiri, and Mitarai.
"I'm guessing this is your final offer?" Kirigiri asked, looking over the document that Giorno had given her. Despite her level tone, and choice of words, Giorno knew she wasn't unhappy.
"The Future Foundation will not control Italy. Passione liberated this land and I will decide how things operation. If they do not wish to cooperate on those terms, then that is their own decision." Giorno replied, before continuing. "However, perhaps there is a need for those more equipped with the Remnants'...tendencies to have a presence here."
He had readied the offer with that in mind. It was true that the threat of Gold Experience Requiem would keep the Remnants of Despair far away from Italy, both in their physical presence and the smuggling of drugs and guns. He could possibly keep Italy stable.
But what about Europe? He could not be in all places at once and the Remnants would not stick around. Italy wasn't ready to invade Novoselic and it was barely keeping the peace on its own. It wasn't as if Valentine would send help, not without strings.
A deal with the Future Foundation would give him what he needed. Giorno could not let himself fall into his ambitions and become some kind of new Ultimate Master. An emperor of the world would be what his father wanted. Instead, he would do his part to help heal the world.
That didn't mean there weren't conditions.
"You want to join the Future Foundation?! As the 13th Branch Head?! Immediately?!" Mitarai couldn't contain his shock as he read through the papers over Kirigiri's shoulder. Giorno resisted the urge to scold him for repeating what was said on the paper.
He didn't look like he had enough sleep last night...more than usual, anyway.
"I will naturally maintain control of Italy, but will go no further, and I have a voice in certain operations. In exchange, I renounce any involvement in political affairs and promise to restrict Passione operations to Italy," Giorno narrowed his eyes. "Until the crisis has passed."
He kept himself from softly laughing at the annoyed expression on Kirigiri's face. Either she had started slipping, or she was letting her defences down.
Asahina looked inquisitive. "Does that make you my boss now?" She asked, before her smile somehow brightened even more and she ran to grab Trish's hands. "We can be co-workers, Trish! We can go out together, we can see movies, go swimming, oh there's a great place where Osaka's being rebuilt where they make the best doughnuts and-"
"That's if the Future Foundation accepts the deal. Otherwise, we might have problems." Mista replied gruffly. Giorno did appreciate his willingness to play 'bad cop'.
"Mista!" Trish scolded, before turning back to Asahina. "But yeah, your bosses are gonna have to decide if this is going to work."
"The recommendation of two Branch Heads should be enough. As will the reports of Giorno Giovanna fighting off an attack by multiple Remnants within Rome itself." Kirigiri frowned and put a hand to her chin in thought. "It will be a close vote. Munakata, Sakakura, Yukizome, Kimura, all of them vote as a bloc. Andou and Izayoi aren't fond of new people either, and could vote against you."
"But the Chairman will support you! I know he's more trusting than Munakata, and definitely will see that you're on the side of Hope. Maybe I can convince Miss Yukizome too!" Mitarai offered, his eyes burning with determination.
"Ryota, I know I can count on you." Giorno smirked as he said, "Simply ask Munakata why he wishes to side against those fighting against Despair. Or if he has ambitions for the Arrow rather than Hope."
"I'll go with a more diplomatic slant on those words." Kirigiri still smiled. "Goodbye, Giorno. It's been a unique experience meeting with you."
The three of them went up the plank towards the boat and waved goodbye from there. Kirigiri gave a quick wave before heading inside, Mitarai softly waved at Giorno while lingering, and Asahina was throwing her hand in the air even as the boat began to set sail, disappearing from sight.
Giorno and the others waved as well, although Asahina's enthusiasm did force them to keep waving despite the ache in their arms. Mista was the first to break, mostly because of his injury and everyone complaining about having to smell him, and Sheila and Fugo gave up next. Trish was clearly trying to not accidentally hurt Asahina's feelings.
Everyone was rubbing their arms once the boat was finally out of sight.
"What do we do now?" Fugo asked, speaking as the soon to be newest under-boss of Passione.
"Let's check up on those Future Foundation outposts," Giorno replied. He didn't know if Kirigiri really thought they were secret to him or not. "If Munakata has his way, maybe a friendly message will push him to reconsider."
As to what he'd do if Munakata had the Future Foundation reject his offer, even Giorno didn't know. At worst, they'd be made to leave with their files and secrets known to him. There would be no war, especially if the offer was accepted and they answered to him instead.
There was no reason for the forces of good to bicker while the legacy of his father still haunted them all. He was not only going to refuse the fate his father wished for him, but he would destroy it as well.
Father, I wonder if you thought I would make this land my empire. If I would be a man like Diavolo. Giorno looked at the bright blue sky that he remembered Bruno promising to return to Italy. Back in the days where the heavens bled and the clouds were dark as night. I have struggled with fate before and won. Yours is no different. I will not be a new Ultimate Master. I will be a man who lives by my own code. A Gang-Star creating where you only destroyed.
Giorno would not let the past bind him down. He, and those he called comrades and friends, rejected that fate and chose a path of their own. Not the path of a conqueror.
The path of freedom.
Johnny and Gyro leaned against the railing and watched as the dot in the distance became nothing. It was still early morning but they had just enough sun to be able to see the ship off. That, and Naegi vomiting off the side of the boat from sea-sickness.
He'll get used to it later. Johnny told himself. The kid- technically only younger by a few weeks- had a knack for adapting to situations he didn't like.
Nothing much else for him and Gyro to do but head back to the only inn in town that let them keep horses in the back and pray the rooms weren't too shabby. They at least had a bathroom, so there was that. Certainly better than their normal sleeping situation for the past month and a half.
After that, well, Johnny hadn't figured out the specifics yet and he guessed that Gyro hadn't either.
"So what do you want to do now?" Gyro asked, making his steel balls dance between his fingers to pass the time. "Italy's apparently been a lot of fun when I left. Remnants tried to take two targets at once and failed at both sides of the Atlantic."
"First, I gotta call Erina and George and tell them I'm fine and walking. That second one's gonna be a lot harder to explain than the first." He looked down and still couldn't believe it. He was walking again. He was still supporting himself with the cane, but he was actually walking!
Two months ago, it was stuff of dreams he wished would never end.
Still, there were other things to think about. Mountain Tim and the Eleven Riders had parted ways with Johnny's group after they confirmed that the Remnants were fleeing the US. They had probably went back to report everything to the President and confirm that Naegi was safe.
It was a short ride then to California, a couple hours finding a place to stay and explaining everything that happened, and Jonathan's story would be heard. The truth of his sacrifice would be known and his name would be cleared. Also they'd reported that Naegi wasn't going to be used as a human sacrifice by the Remnants of Despair.
Journey and Spandau were heading to the ranch back in Danville; Naegi and Togami promised to visit the Joestars and the horses again. Naegi was bubbling with Journey, and even Togami seemed a little attached to Spandau as well. If Johnny didn't know any better, they were just in it for the horses.
But now they had to go back to the Fourteenth Branch HQ while Johnny and Giorno had to take the horses and themselves home.
"About the journey, some of the trains here can fit the horses, if we call in a few favours. We can take the train with them back to Danville. It'd take a few days and I'm sure Giorno wants to hear my report on how things went on. May prefer it in person." Gyro said with a shrug of his shoulders.
Johnny could tell, by the unenthusiastic tone, how Gyro wanted him to reply, "Or we can take the scenic route?" He asked sarcastically.
"It'd be like the days of the Wild West! For real this time, now that we're free of having to play babysitter and getting away from those psychopaths." Gyro beamed.
"Yeah, now we get to go through all the normal shit that comes with camping and riding out. Sure, I might as well break the new legs while I've got them." Johnny said.
"I'm not hearing a no." Gyro wasn't wrong to say that.
Johnny was pretending to be reluctant but it did appeal to him. He just learnt how to ride again, not to mention now learning how to use a cane, and there was so much that he could have seen and embraced, if it wasn't for the personal drama and the constant chase.
It made the journey thrilling, but there wasn't really ever time to think about what they did. To take in the world around them.
Besides, Johnny felt he at least earned this kind of trip with his friend.
He smirked, "Why the hell not? Might as well grab some souvenirs for George. You sure your Boss will be fine with it?" He didn't want to get Gyro in trouble.
"I get the feeling that the reason he sent me here is about to become moot. Still, I can call him in an hour and explain. He'll understand...hopefully." Gyro laughed to himself and Johnny couldn't help but laugh with him.
The two had just finished an adventure and now they were going on one again. There was stuff they'd have to do first, Johnny calling his family and Gyro his boss, and also getting supplies for the trip, but the worst would be having someone escort Journey and Spandau back to Danville. It was two train rides but horses needed a lot of care.
As for Slow Dancer and Valkyrie, they'd be taking the long road home.
The sounds of the ocean waves crashing against the docks filled the air as Johnny looked at the blue skies above. There were a handful of clouds in the sky and Johnny wondered, just maybe, if someone above was looking down on him.
Jonathan, there's a lot of things I wish I said when you were alive, and a lot of crap I wish I didn't say. That's never gonna change. Johnny thought to himself, praying that his brother could hear him somehow. Even so, he let himself smile. I'm not going to wait anymore. I'm not standing still and I'm not going back. Maybe this is what you thought I could be...a guy who can move forward from the shit hand he got dealt.
He turned back and faced the city, Gyro humming that stupid catchy song to himself as he joined Johnny. It was going to be a long walk back to the inn but Slow Dancer and Valkyrie needed feeding, especially for what they were going to do next. The two riders were going to take the long way back home to where the Joestar family was waiting for them. Erina would be kind-f mad, but once she saw Johnny, with the cane in hand...he had a feeling she wouldn't give a damn about timing.
Either way, he didn't look back.
