There isn't enough YasuJosu/Yasugap on here. Let's change that!
Disclaimer: I do not own Jojo's Bizarre Adventure; it rightfully belongs to Hirohiko Araki.
Perfect Catch
"You've been awfully quiet tonight, Yasuho. Is anything wrong?"
The tone of his voice made the little mermaid's heart ache; it was terribly quiet and gentle. The look in his bicolored eyes hinted with concern—the permanent result of a magical mishap from his childhood, one among several other faults in his appearance that he didn't bother fixing. (If only Joshu used half of that brain of his to give himself a better haircut instead of screwing around with their father's prized staff.)
His trusty sailor cap bobbed in whichever direction he tilted his head. The one that he wore to work each day, including the first time he had encountered Yasuho after rescuing her from a cluttered fish net. She was always struck with curiosity why he never removed it. Perhaps it was personal attachment?
They remained in silence for quite some time, with only the sound of the soft waves crashing against the shore of the secluded beach. Seagulls were snug in their nests on cliffs. The aroma of salt hung in the air as threads of orange covered the sand while purple and pink clouds merged together in twilight.
Josuke wriggled his toes on the edge of the tiny dock, hesitant on whether or not to dip a couple into the water. Yasuho watched as a flicker of jealousy boiled inside of her. If she had legs, she could easily rush into Josuke's arms at any given time. In yet… she couldn't. Because all she had were these glistening, zigzagged scales and a large stupid fin. She could swim to any corner of the world if she desired, but what good would it do if she was nabbed by another fisherman who had wicked intentions, or was swallowed by a blue whale entirely by accident?
Yasuho sighed.
"I wish…"
"Wish what?" asked Josuke.
"I just wish I could see what all is… out there," she replied. She gestured a hand to the snug little village that rested between and beyond a pair of enormous rocky hills, and where Josuke's very own sweets shop resided. "To experience what your life is all about day in and day out, y'know?"
"Oh! Now that you mention it," he said, jumping up. "I have something that I've been wanting to show you. I'll be right back!"
He took off before Yasuho could bombard him with questions. All she heard was Josuke's feet pitter-pattering against the wooden planks, followed by the noiseless kicks in the sand as he ran for the little cottage in which he called home. Thankfully she didn't have to wait long. He returned moments later with a couple of thick books underneath one arm, and a cloak over the other. He screeched to a stop and plopped down beside the mermaid, letting the books slide between them as he dangled his legs over the dock.
Gently, Josuke leaned over and drifted the hoodless cloak over Yasuho's bare shoulders. The material was heavy, but soft on the inside; it had a faint smell of fruit and challenged the lavender sky with its dark eggplant color scheme. Embedded on either side of the chest were pins that was a golden heart and peace sign respectively. More golden pins were sewn on the collar displaying an anchor and two, smaller hearts. Yasuho's eyes widened in awe. Did he make this himself?
"The sun's almost down; it may get a little chilly, so… I figured you may need this," he said.
She flushed, her heart swiping away any depression and replacing it with a swelling of happiness.
"Thank you, Josuke," she whispered gratefully, "it's warm."
He smiled her favorite smile—the one that featured the adorable gap in his upper teeth. The very smile that made her heart thump wildly.
"I'm glad," he replied softly. He grabbed the first book from the pile, opened it and skimmed through its many pages. "I'm sorry for coming home later than usual. I went to the library after work to grab some books, but… ah… bumped into someone I haven't seen in a while." He scratched his cheek, all the while rolling his eyes in annoyance.
Taking no notice, Yasuho scooted closer and tried getting a better look. She cooed in wonder at various illustrations as Josuke flipped through the pages of the giant storybook. One featured a boy befriending a creature that was shot down from the sky, another with a woman lying on a number of mattresses, and there was also a tiny mouse facing off against an enormous bird of prey. The mermaid's tail swayed back and forth excitedly in the water, causing small ripples here and there.
"What beautiful pictures," she commented.
"Didn't your mother ever tell you fairy tales?" asked Josuke curiously.
Yasuho shook her head, now fidgeting with a pin on Josuke's cloak. "No," she said. "I've never heard of them until now."
The man gaped with incredulity. He then shut his mouth and furrowed a brow in deep thought. He remembered she had once told him that she and her mother weren't on the greatest terms. Hence another reason why she began staying with him instead of returning to her own neck of the ocean. And who in their right mind would venture to the depths of the sea to search shipwrecks for soggy and non-readable books, anyway?
His smile returned in the blink of an eye. "Well, then again… you've lived underwater your whole life, so it makes sense. At least this can be a whole new experience you can enjoy!"
Yasuho nodded enthusiastically. "You're right!"
She lay her head on his shoulder, feeling tremendously cozy.
"Hey, Josuke?"
"Yeah?"
"Could you… read me a story?" She tapped the latest illustration with her finger. It showed an elegant young man with a questionable hairstyle kissing a turtle. "Preferably like this here."
Josuke flicked a few pages backwards when he let out a yelp. Yasuho had curled her tail fin around his right foot! He brushed off this surprise with a simple clearing of his throat before he began the narrative.
"Once upon a time…"
After finishing three fairy tales, grabbing (also lighting) a lantern, and opening a box of fresh sesame honey dumplings later, Josuke finally pressed onward to the second book: Covering the Basics of Fauna & Flora.
Yasuho asked him all sorts of… interestingly bizarre questions: Why do some animals have horns while others don't? What's the difference between paws, hooves and flippers? Why do dogs have cold noses? Cats have EIGHT nipples instead of twooo?! That's crazyyy! Two breasts should be plenty!
Josuke thought it was now the perfect opportunity to fast-forward to the flora section.
The moon was full and he wondered if they even needed the lantern after all.
"This is a traditional water lily," said Josuke, "it's hardly ever seen without the lily pad, its partner in crime. They're found in ponds and lakes. Think of… teenier, tinier versions of the ocean, except they have freshwater instead of saltwater, and sometimes different species of frogs, turtles or fish!
"This one is a sweet pea. Over here we've got a poppy, and this—this right here," he said, hovering his index finger over a picture of a bundle of tiny periwinkle blue flowers, "these are called forget-me-nots."
"They're adorable!" squealed Yasuho.
"Legend tells that male fairies will make necklaces out of forget-me-nots and offer courtship to their secret beloved," Josuke explained. "They symbolize true love."
Her eyes sparkled in admiration. "That's… amazing."
He giggled. A grin shortly followed after.
"So are you, Yasuho," he told her earnestly.
She glanced away with tints of pink dusting at her cheeks, but with modesty.
The next moment arrived in silence, only this time they had the pleasure of being in one another's company. Light from the moon came pouring down on them. The sheen from Yasuho's lower body wanted to make Josuke shield his eyes away, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. The way the moonbeams bounced off her large barrettes… how her hair reminded him of sugary cotton candy, and her eyes illuminated with such life and warmth like the heart she owned which mirrored the stars above.
She was… breathtaking.
"Hey, Josuke…?"
Her lovely voice shattered the spell, causing him to break from his once dreamy daze.
"Hmm…? Yeah?"
Yasuho pointed at a particular flower.
"I haven't seen this before, what is it?" she asked, as though she was a little kid.
Josuke was instantly charmed by her naivety.
The bud's many petals spiraled like numerous rolling hills, its crimson color giving off such a glow that had the mermaid captivated.
"A rose," he replied.
Yasuho gazed at it thoughtfully, as if secretly praying the rose was actually enchanted and would bloom to life on its own right before her very eyes.
"A rose," she echoed, "it's… beautiful. I mean, they're all beautiful, but…"
"You like roses best," Josuke finished for her.
She nodded sheepishly. "Yes."
He squeezed her hand.
"Don't worry. You aren't hurting the flowers' feelings," he assured her. "If you love roses best, then you do! There's nothing wrong with that."
"I wish I could see one," she said happily, "a real one!"
Josuke immediately pulled her close. "Maybe someday you will."
She lovingly nuzzled against his chest, hanging onto every word.
"Josuke… thank you."
"For what?"
"All you're trying to do is cheer me up."
"Is it working?"
"Absolutely!" she answered. "… I'm glad that I made the right choice to stay with you—I just hope that I'm not too much trouble…"
He stared with jaw-dropping disbelief.
"Whaaat? Yooouuu?" he cried.
"Well, it must be a pain to carry me back and forth from the ocean to the cottage every day," she pointed out. "And bringing me home books and hair products once in a while…"
"Nooo waaay!" He shook his head. "Yasuho, I like doing things for you. If I didn't want you around, I would've fed you to the sharks all those weeks ago—" He nearly exploded in obnoxious laughter from seeing the look on her face. "—I'm kidding. Besides, you're too sweet to eat!"
There was a brief pause.
"To be brutally honest, Yasuho," he whispered tenderly, cradling her cheeks, "I wouldn't trade you for the world."