Greetings! I have recently got into JJBA and who else would be my fave character if none other than Japanese David Bowie? (I like the others too but y'all know what I mean)
This fic centered on the aftermath of 'Dead Man's Questions', where our spiritual mercenary met someone important... (The POVs kinda alternate between 1st and 3rd; the former would mostly be Kira's)
In case you're wondering, the year setting of this fic is still 1999 (BIZARRE YEAR), starting in mid-September and approximately will end around the end of said year.
I walked toward the main street, leaving the alleyway where [The General's Mansion] was. I winced as my injured legs took a step ahead and gritted my teeth at the sight of the terrible stump where my left arm used to be. Some trickles of ghostly blood stained the curb, but I cared nonetheless about it.
Wonder if her arm will stick there, I mused and kept walking, as well as being careful not to bump into other people.
As in living humans, that's what. Then again, there weren't many of them out right now since it was already nighttime, so I needed a place to bandage my wounds and rest for the day. Although I could reattach my missing arm, I didn't want to face those creatures again.
The [Cleansers].They hunted spirits that were stuck in the world, and effectively removed them forever by turning those poor souls into something that resembled plants.
I shuddered as the unpleasant memory came to my mind, all the while lamenting the permanent loss of my left arm.
Being a [Ghost] was something I hadn't wished nor remembered wishing so. If anything, I barely knew who I was before my demise. I only knew my [Name]. And even though this was more akin to a gut feeling, I was certain that I cannot go to [Heaven].
Doing somewhat dubious works for the monk wasn't my choice either; it was more toward thinking of a [Purpose] on why I was still here. She saw me wandering across town one day and I stared at her, wondering if she could see me.
(Of course she could since she was a "holy" woman, but I won't admit that. The fact she even knew I was around the temple where she stays in the first place was during the instances where I make my voice to be heard by humans.)
And before I knew it, I worked as a mercenary for her; hunting down criminals who had evaded the laws, and sometimes, those who had such strange beings beside them. Those kind of criminals were the most frustrating ones that I had encountered, but they were also fascinating.
Those strange beings had powers; ranging from mediocre to mind-blowing according to my observations. They were called [Stands]; made sense since those beings were always standing beside their [User] whenever they appeared. And it seemed that those criminals with [Stands] could see [Ghosts].
Oh dear, it seemed I was so lost in my thoughts and had unknowingly reached a suburban neighborhood. I knew I was still in Morioh, though. I could leave the next day if I wanted to, but I should find a place to rest soon.
Besides, didn't I deserve a break after haphazardly endangering my [Soul] while investigating that mansion?
I sighed again at what was left of my arm. A handicapped hitman certainly would make killing criminals harder. I had kept the gun that I took from the general's painting in the mansion for safety reasons along with its bullets, though I doubted I need to use it again. Guns weren't exactly my preferred weapons, but it will have to do.
It was such a shame really; that mansion was the best I could hope for a shelter, secluded from main streets and far from troublesome humans. If it weren't for those [Cleansers], I would consider staying there. At least there was some compensation from such incident.
This town was perfect for someone like me. It appeared that autumn was around the corner, and I smiled as I saw some brown and red maple leaves were being blown by the wind.
Truly a [peaceful] night this would be.
That was, until I saw a man running toward me.
He sighed as he peered into a two-storey house with light yellow walls and dark brown roof through the kitchen's window.
It looked like they were asleep now, he thought. After lingering for a while, he walked out from the house's compound and headed to his left.
I will have to rest for the day, he continued, both hands in his pants' pockets. I have found a rather small home, but it will do.
That was when he saw a man ahead of him.
The man wore such eccentric clothes; a wide-brimmed bowler hat with concentric orange square patterns, followed with a green necktie of same designs and a dark suit. From what he saw from afar, the man was limping and clutching a box under his right arm. However, that wasn't what made his skin crawl.
The man didn't have his left forearm; the hems of his suit's sleeve was slashed as if the limb was torn out.
Frightened, he wondered what caused the man to be injured in such way. And as he had it, his gut couldn't help from feeling familiar with the scene.
And yet...
And yet...
"Mister, are you alright?"