"Kujo Jotaro, you cannot be here." Giorno said with dark eyes.
The group fell silent. They were experiencing a lot of conflicting emotions all at once. Were they truly destined to die moments ago? Was Gold Experience Requiem as powerful as it seemed? Could they beat it if they needed to? The most anxious one out of them was definitely Jotaro. The son of Dio had quite the ability.
"What do you mean?" He questioned.
"Your very presence in Italy violates carefully tailored treaties between Passione and the Speedwagon Foundation." The boss explained.
A shiver ran down Jotaro's spine. "There were actual negotiations about me? What did Dolly tell you?"
"I know about my father, that you killed him, and I know you were the one who sent Koichi all those years ago without the foundation's approval. What would you have done if he said I was a threat?" Giorno raised a brow. "Would you have killed me?"
Silence filled the alley. Despite the severity of the question, Jotaro knew he had to answer honestly.
"The thought crossed my mind." He admitted.
If Shizuka didn't know any better, she'd define Giorno's current expression as sadness. He just looked down in contemplation for a moment before continuing.
"Imagine my surprise when I contacted the foundation and found out you'd gone rogue. Very curious, don't you think?"
The situation was deteriorating quickly.
"I'm what many would call a criminal, Professor Kujo." Giorno explained. "Despite that, I have my honor. I'm an honest man. That's why I'll be completely transparent in saying that a gunman is watching us right now. Any movements he doesn't like will result in the death of one of your allies."
"You don't understand!" Shizuka burst into the tense discussion.
Once again, dead silence. Everyone was on edge, and no one knew what to say next. After a moment or two of consideration, the boss spoke.
"Then make me understand." Is all he said.
Shizuka felt like she was going to be sick. She dragged everyone to Italy for assistance, not to get them killed. It was her fault, and she had to fix it.
"The Speedwagon Foundation is the one who went rogue." She explained, sweat forming on her back as she swallowed heavily. "Madam Dolly is a fraud. She plans to infect the entire world with the arrow's virus. She wants the whole world to have Stands, and thinks everyone who can't handle it deserves to die."
Giorno raised a brow. "How old are you?"
She wasn't really expecting that type of response. "Around ten." She shrugged.
"Around?"
"Well, we're not exactly sure. Probably ten. I'll stick with that."
Once again, the boss took a moment just to think. "I assume you're Shizuka Joestar, Joseph's daughter. And you," He pointed to the eldest of the group. "You must be Higashikata Josuke, Joseph's son."
It took a moment for Joseph to realize what was happening. "What? Oh, no! I'm actually Joseph Joestar! It's a long story, but I'm young and handsome again!" He smirked.
"I'm sure it's an interesting story." Giorno mumbled, looking over to the others. "Then we have Marina Archer, the daughter of an English millionaire, and Raven Ripley, an ex-agent of the Speedwagon foundation."
Marina raised a small hand as if to say "hello," meanwhile Ripley just crossed her arms and looked away.
Giorno rested a hand on his face in thought. "Your story is troubling, Shizuka. The only reason I'm even entertaining it is because I can't think of another reason the Joestars would bring their ten-year-old along for the ride. Whatever your situation is, I can tell it's dire."
Before anyone could say anything, though, he raised a dismissive hand.
" However, I'm reluctant to accept the severity of your accusation. Why would I trust the man who killed my father over an international organization founded for peacekeeping and research?"
"Because we're family!" Shizuka blurted out.
This certainly caught the boss off guard. He just looked at her with confusion. Joseph and Jotaro were stunned silent as well.
"Family?" Giorno questioned.
"How much did the foundation tell you? Your father, Dio, possessed the body of Jonathan Joestar when you were born! You're a Joestar by blood!"
"It's true." Joseph admitted, pulling the collar of his shirt down and tilting his body to reveal the Joestar birthmark on his neck.
Jotaro did so as well. "You have one too, don't you? This is a sign of the Joestar blood. Undeniable."
Giorno's eyes widened. "You mean to tell me you all have that same birthmark?"
"I hate to be the one to say this, but your father was a bastard." Jotaro said in a low tone. "I'd kill him again. That's not the problem here. The problem is that Josuke, your blood, is dying on our ship. Madam Dolly is a fraud. She goes by Blondie now, and she tried to kill us. That's the truth."
The boss had never been very close with his family. His adoptive father was a bastard, and his mother was a neglectful party animal. To top it off, he'd heard nothing but bad things about his biological father "Dio." The very idea that he was related to this group of strangers was baffling. Not only that, but one of his family members was dying? He gritted his teeth. Despite being born in Japan, Italy was where his soul dwelled. It was his home, through and through. He was an Italian, and Italians viewed their family above all else. Even the boss of the most powerful crime organization on Earth had morals.
He lowered his head for a moment, looking down at the ground as he clenched his fists. "This Higashikata Josuke." He began. "...will he die if I do nothing?"
"Yes." Joseph answered bluntly. "He's been hazy for almost eighteen hours now. We managed to get him some medicine to slow it down, but I'm afraid this is our last bet. If you won't heal him, we have nowhere else to try."
Giorno took a deep breath, raising a hand signal. A moment later, Jotaro's keen eyes noticed window blinds closing across the street. It would seem the boss called off his gunslinger.
"I'll heal him." He said calmly. "Come with me. I assume by the look of you that it's been a few days since you've had a safe place to rest? It's the least I can do."
Shizuka felt the weight of the world being lifted from her shoulders. She let out an audible sigh of relief, fighting the urge to hug the dangerous mob boss.
"Thank you, Mr. Giovanna."
He smiled softly. "To friends it's Giogio."
"Woah." She mumbled under her breath. "That's pretty close to Jojo, huh?"
The boss smirked. "Is that your nickname? I like it. Now, c'mon. I try not to make a habit of closing off roads. I'd like to get traffic going again."
That's when Shizuka noticed that a single car hadn't passed for the entire encounter. Had Giorno seriously closed the roads in case a battle occurred? His influence was beginning to dawn on her developing mind. She could only thank her lucky stars that he was on their side. She didn't want to think about dealing with two invincible leaders of dangerous organizations, after all.
They arrived at a humble academy on the other side of town. It seemed like it was maintained very well. Sure, it was odd that the mafia boss brought them to such a place, but it didn't look half bad. He led them inside, walking through the winding hallways.
"There's a wing of this academy that isn't inhabited anymore. It has four dorm rooms, a bathroom, and a common room. It's where I bring good people who need a place for the night." Giorno explained as he guided them through the halls.
Shizuka looked around in fascination. There were actual students and teachers walking among them. "Doesn't the academy wonder why we're here?"
"I make generous donations to keep this wing available. Everyone knows not to ask questions when Passione is involved. They're just grateful that the city is clean."
Joseph exchanged a cautious glance with Jotaro, but they decided to keep their mouths shut for the time being.
"So Giogio," Marina looked out the lovely windows as they passed by. "What's the point of bringing us here? I'm grateful for a shower, but three of our friends are still on the ship."
"Oh, I didn't mention? I had a few trusted subordinates retrieve them shortly before I revealed myself to you. Don't worry, they're already here."
That made Shizuka wonder if they were always going to be treated like friends. Was that standoff with Jotaro all talk? No… Perhaps Giorno planned on treating everyone but Jotaro civilly. She was still uneasy at the thought of such a powerful man wanting trouble with her uncle. Would Gold Experience Requiem's power override Star Platinum's? She didn't want to find out.
They arrived at the private wing shortly after that. Giorno opened the door, revealing a lovely common room with assorted furniture. Shirlie was sitting with her arms crossed as Pa-Pa-Power was arm-wrestling with another Stand. Shizuka didn't recognize the other woman. She was rather short in stature wearing very little in terms of clothing. She seemed to be in a bra, underwear, and a large coat with poofy leggings that failed to allow her any modesty. The woman had an eight-pointed scar over her left eye, and a certain sharpness in her gaze that would intimidate anyone.
The Stand was odd as well. It wasn't as humanoid as most Stands with bodies were. Its head resembled that of a rat, and a long pointed tail that seemed to go on for nearly a meter. There was a line of jewels going down the center of its head and outlining its arms. It was a respectable size, but Pa-Pa-Power still dwarfed it in both height and mass.
Power's eyes drifted over to the door, and an enormous smile appeared on his face. He effortlessly slammed the other Stand's hand to the table, standing up and tugging at Shirlie to approach the group.
The other woman cried out in frustration. "Oh God dammit! You were holding back that entire time!?"
Giorno raised his hand calmly. "Sheila E, please calm down."
The young woman nodded in embarrassment. "Sorry, Gio. I got the intruders, just like you asked."
"Thank you. Everyone, this is Sheila E. She's one of my most trusted friends. Sheila E, these are the rest of the Joestars."
She smiled at them. "Hello! You all look like shit!" She said happily.
"We feel like shit." Marina shrugged. "Been on the run for a few days now."
"Oh, I know how that is. I'll leave you to it! Just don't get too comfortable! It's my job to make sure nobody leaves the academy without permission." She snickered, opening the window and crawling out of it.
Shizuka realized that they were on the second floor. Where had Sheila E gone?
"What a strange lady." She mumbled under her breath.
"Where's Josuke?" Giorno asked, scanning the room.
Shirlie had just finished slapping Pa-Pa-Power off of her. He'd been trying to drag her over to the group for the better part of a minute at that point. "Oh, Pepsi is shrouding him over there." She pointed toward one of the couches. "Pep, it's alright. I think this is the guy who's gonna heal him."
After a moment's hesitation, Pepsi and Josuke appeared on the far side of the room. The mysterious teen stood up, stepping away from the couch and leaning against the wall.
Giorno approached Josuke with a frown. "These injuries…" He mumbled to himself. "What on Earth happened to him?"
Shizuka stepped forward, feeling more comfortable with Giorno than the others did. "Blondie has the ability to change things to her will. It doesn't seem to have any limits. She sunk through floors, made wine out of thin air, and killed a man just by touching him."
Giorno traced a hand up Josuke's chest. "These are severe burns, but they're odd."
"They're from the inside. We think she made his blood boil or something."
"What a terrifying woman." He mumbled softly, a golden glow emitting from his hand.
Gold Experience Requiem appeared as Josuke began to tremble on the couch. The sergeant squirmed and groaned in pain as the healing energy surged through his body. Still unconscious, he threw his head back and screamed in agony.
"He's nearly dead. I have to replace several layers of flesh, a good portion of blood, a few bones and three failed organs. The process is painful. I need people to hold him down." Giorno explained.
Joseph and Jotaro walked up first, each pinning the man down carefully. After a moment, Pa-Pa-Power held his head down, and Marina stood by cautiously. Ripley was watching in fascination, deciding they had all the manpower they needed.
The boss narrowed his eyes and continued working. Requiem leaned closer to Josuke, its entire body resonating with a powerful golden aura. Josuke was screaming at this point. His body thrashed around in confusion and pain. The man's skin seemed to look better than before. That was something, right?
"Is Josuke's Stand a close-range combat type?" Giorno asked as he worked.
"Yes." Jotaro nodded.
"Then be careful. As he gets better, his Stand might subconsciously attack the cause of his pain. That's me. I'm a little occupied, though. One wrong move and I could seriously hurt him."
A moment later, as if on cue, Crazy Diamond erupted from Josuke's body. It was flickering with muted colors, but still looked just as dangerous as ever. Star Platinum grabbed the Stand, forcing it into a headlock. Just to be safe, Hermit Purple wrapped around the two Stands, tying them together like a rope.
The boss gritted his teeth. "Almost… Just keep him off me for another minute. I'm nearly there."
Jotaro and Joseph seemed to be struggling a bit as they held Crazy Diamond back. The Stand was immensely powerful, and its distress only made it thrash harder. That's when Shirlie got an idea.
"Power, calm him down!" She suggested.
A light of recognition appeared on Pa-Pa-Power's face as he let go of Josuke. He threw his arms out and engulfed Crazy Diamond, Star Platinum and Hermit Purple in an enormous bear hug. He squeezed them tight, sending waves of calmness and tranquility through the Stands.
After a moment, Josuke's thrashing ceased. Gold Experience Requiem finished its job and pulled away slowly. The man's eyes slowly fluttered open. That's when he gritted his teeth, bucked the Stands off of Crazy Diamond, and sent Crazy Diamond flying forward immediately.
" Doradoradoradora!" It cried out.
Gold Experience Requiem raised a gentle hand, immediately ending Crazy Diamond's attack barrage. Josuke was sweating buckets, panting as he looked forward. His vision slowly adjusted after a moment and he realized it wasn't Blondie standing in front of him.
"W-Who are you?" He questioned.
"I am Giorno Giovanna, and you are safe."
The sergeant immediately sank into the couch. He let out an exhausted groan and rested a hand over his face.
"What in the hell happened?"
" Josuke!" Shizuka jumped right onto the man, hugging him.
He let out a pained grunt but wrapped his arms around her immediately. "Woah, woah! Everyone's here?" He chanted happily.
Joseph just leaned back against the nearest wall, cupping his face in his hands and sighing. His son was okay. Blondie didn't get any of them. He could finally relax for a moment.
The stylish sergeant was tossing Shizuka up and down effortlessly, feeling completely rejuvenated. He laughed with his sister as they reunited. Giorno's eyes wandered curiously over to Pa-Pa-Power. He raised a brow.
"You can put your Stand away, Shirlie. There's not going to be any fighting." He explained.
She crossed her arms, blowing some hair from her face. "Power doesn't wanna go back in. He'll go when he wants."
This intrigued the boss. " Wants? " He echoed. "I see, so your Stand is self-aware? A consciousness beyond your own?"
She just blew air from her lips, groaning. "Pa-Pa-Power feels more emotions per second than any of you do in a day. He's more a person than me. Period."
"I'm sorry if I offended him." He turned his eyes to Power. "And excuse my rudeness. Would you prefer if I spoke directly to you?"
Pa-Pa-Power looked Giorno right in the eyes. He seemed a little surprised to be directly addressed. He couldn't really think of a time that it had ever happened before in his life! Most people couldn't see him, and the ones who could always spoke to Shirlie. His face lit up with joy, and he extended a hand. He aggressively shook Giorno's hand in his own, squeezing it in the rubbery boxing gloves he wore at all times.
His current bout of joy hit Giorno like a runaway train. The boss could feel every ounce of Power's eagerness, and fully comprehended how much his actions meant to the Stand.
"Hello, Pa-Pa-Power. I am Giorno Giovanna. I don't think I introduced myself to you." He said softly with a smile.
Power eventually stopped shaking, giving a little formal bow in response.
"So you don't speak then?"
Shirlie shrugged. "He doesn't really have vocal cords, I guess? And sign language doesn't work with big spiked boxing gloves. I guess you could say he's mute, but it's pretty easy to know what he's feeling."
"I can see that. He's clearly an independent, living thing. I'm glad I could bring him so much joy."
Power swept the boss into an enormous hug. Giorno couldn't help but laugh, experiencing the Stand's utter joy. His laugh was infectious, causing Shirlie to join in. She spread the emotion to the entire room, causing everyone to laugh happily. Even Jotaro was letting out a few chuckles under his breath.
The room was peaceful. Everyone was enjoying themselves, and soon the day turned to night. The group was quite ready to settle in and experience some level of peace. After they all got their showers and a sizable dinner, the group retired to the four bedrooms at their disposal. Pepsi and Shirlie took one, Marina and Ripley took another, Jotaro and Josuke took the third, and Shizuka roomed with her father.
In the dead of night, Josuke's eyes opened to a subtle sound. The bedroom door had creaked open slowly. He looked over to Jotaro cautiously. The man was still fast asleep, too exhausted from the long day to wake so easily. Josuke's keen senses were still a little foggy, but he knew someone was in the room. After a moment, his suspicions were confirmed.
"Josuke," His father's voice cut through the night quietly. "Get up. We need to talk in the common room."
It was very late, and Josuke found himself to be half asleep when he tried to stand up. Careful not to wake Jotaro, the man swayed and stumbled to the door before closing it behind him. He saw a single lamp was lit in the common room, revealing his father sitting on a couch. Joseph seemed very troubled. His eyes weren't focused on anything in particular, and he was nibbling on the tip of his right thumb.
Josuke walked in and sat across from the nervous man. "Everything okay?" He asked, still not one-hundred-percent comfortable calling him 'Dad.'
"This has nothing to do with Blondie. It's personal." Joseph explained softly.
The son raised a brow. "What does?"
The old (yet young) man just sighed. "A friend of mine died today, son."
"Oh…" Josuke said softly. "I'm sorry to hear that." He bit his lip. Why was Joseph telling him? Wasn't he much closer with Jotaro?
"You're probably wondering why I'm telling you this. We're not exactly the closest a father and son could be. In fact, I bet you're thinking that I'd rather be telling Jotaro."
Josuke's eyes widened a bit. How was his father so perceptive?
"I mean…"
"It's okay, son. I'm talking to you for a reason. A selfish reason. You're a detective, and I need your help."
The sergeant's eyes narrowed, darkening a bit. "You think there was foul play?"
Joseph leaned back on the couch, folding his hands. "She drowned."
"People drown every day."
"She drowned in her car."
There was silence for a moment. Josuke had certainly never had such a case before. He rested his chin on his hands, deep in thought. "Was she drinking anything?"
"No liquid was found. None. The car was dry as a bone. The autopsy discovered a large amount of water in her lungs, and the verdict was decided. She drowned."
This was certainly intriguing to the younger man. He nodded his head as Joseph explained the situation. "Sounds supernatural."
"Nothing is supernatural, son. There's just a whole lot about science that humanity doesn't understand yet."
The sergeant just nodded groggily, still trying to fully wake himself up. Eventually, he had something to say. "So your friend was killed by something beyond understanding? And the local law enforcement has simply ruled it as a drowning?"
"Yes. That's why we need to go to Munich, Germany and investigate it ourselves."
" Munich? You want to leave the country? Aren't we a little busy?"
Joseph sighed. "This might be my only chance, Josuke. Everyone's safe under Passione's watch. They have a place to rest, a place to eat. They can wait a day or two. I need to make sure Mira's killer doesn't get to walk free. I can't-" He let out a sharp breath, closing his eyes for a moment. "...listen, son. When you're as old as I am, you get used to losing people… Until you can't stand it anymore." He admitted, wiping underneath his eye. "Every last one of them drops like flies, and you're still here. It gets unbearable. The idea that Mira didn't get to live her twilight years in peace… That some scum went and killed her violently, painfully, it's more than I can take. So please, come with me to Munich. I don't want Jotaro there. I don't want Shizuka, or Holy, or Suzi, or anyone else. I want my son's help. You're the professional here."
Josuke just gave a weak smile, extending his hand. "Okay, Dad. We'll check this out."
Joseph's face lit up, and he shook his son's hand proudly. "Thank you. We should go now. It'll be easier to explain over the phone. That way no one will come with us."
The two left the common room and walked silently through the academy halls. Once they exited the building and went down the staircase, Joseph sensed something. His hand began to glow, and vines of Hermit Purple wound around his arm.
"Who's there?" He asked sharply.
That's when Sheila E. emerged from the shadows. She was tossing a switchblade into the air, letting it spin and catching it by the tip every time. "You know, Joestars, I was given a pretty simple order. Gio didn't want anyone leaving the academy."
Josuke gritted his teeth. "Oh great. So we're prisoners now?"
Sheila E. shook her head. "No, no. We just can't have you roaming our streets and doing whatever you want."
"We're not going to cause any trouble. We're just getting on a train. We'll be leaving Italy for the day, and returning tomorrow. That's the entire truth." Joseph explained.
Sheila E. tossed the switchblade up into the air, letting it fall past her hand. It looked like it was going to hit the ground, but she lifted up a bare foot and caught it between her toes. She looked up into Joseph's eyes, glaring into him. Then, she kicked her foot up, sending the knife past Joseph's head and into the doorframe. It stuck right in, wobbling back and forth.
"You'd better hope that's the whole truth. I'll be telling Gio your plan. If it turns out he doesn't like it, we're all in trouble." She growled.
"So… You're letting us go?" Josuke asked nervously.
"What can I say? I'm a sucker for pretty eyes. Now go, Joestars, before I change my mind." She grumbled, crossing her arms and turning away from them.
They didn't need to be told twice. Joseph and Josuke rushed down the rest of the steps and down the street to the train station. Sheila E. watched them go, smirking to herself. The young woman's eyes were fixated on Joseph's tight rear end.
"Mmm, now that's a man." She mumbled, reaching up and freeing her knife. "Back to patrolling."
Deep beneath the surface of Washington D.C., Blondie sat in her executive chair ripe with boredom. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that she'd get the feather. No, it was merely a matter of when. She was growing tired of waiting on others. That's when the door to her office opened unexpectedly. She was met with Mortimer, a trusted underling, carrying a small Egyptian man by the scruff of his neck.
Mortimer threw Boingo onto the ground, brushing his hands together to rid himself of the man's pathetic energy. Blondie lifted her head, her sharp jawline obscuring her face somewhat to the man below. She put her glass down, sitting up completely and folding her hands.
"Mortimer, I remember sending two men to Naples. Where's the other?" She asked in a dry, irritated voice.
Boingo got onto his knees, groveling for dear life. "W-W-W-Well, Ma'am, you see… You see, yes… My brother Oingo was…" He gritted his teeth. "Defeated, yes."
The woman's dangerous eyes narrowed, fixating on Boingo's pathetic posture. "Let me ask you something, Boingo. " The name rolled off her tongue like it was foreign. She detested such a ridiculous word. "You can predict the future with absolute certainty, yes? " She mocked his habit of always repeating that word. "Yes. So how do you manage to lose to the Joestars three times in your life?"
Boingo cleared his throat, unable to look the woman in the eyes. "Well you see, yes. I uhm… I usually hang back, yes. I let my partner do the infantry work while I provide prophecy from behind, yes."
"So, you're a coward?"
"No! My Tohth can only manifest as a comic book. It has no offensive capabilities. If I were to try and fight, I'd die. Instead, I give plans."
"I was eager to hear about your Stand. Tohth is very powerful in theory. " She droned in a low, disinterested voice. "But it falls into the category of wasted potential along with so many others. Stands are an interesting concept, Boingo. There are many abilities that would be unstoppable in the right hands, yes? Stands that would be able to destroy even myself if used properly. Despite that, they're never successful. I like to use a past subordinate as an example." She stood up, walking around the desk and circling the man like a predator.
"One of the first Stands I created went by the name of Easy Street. It was a passive ability that protected the user without his knowledge. Easy Street would give its user substantial luck. Enough luck to live life without worries. All he had to do was envision a world where he accomplished something, and the route would make itself clear. One time he was jumped by three thugs outside a bar. Do you want to know what happened?"
Boingo nodded slowly, unable to see where this was going.
"The thugs defeated themselves by accident. They hit one another, tripped, and ultimately killed each other. Easy Street's user was fine. I presented him with countless scenarios that would normally cut any life short. He played Russian Roulette with five rounds in the chamber. He slept in a bed of poisonous snakes and wasn't bitten once. He fought one of my more powerful Stand Users with a blindfold on, and won. Do you see where I'm going with this, Boingo?"
"T-That Easy Street is unbeatable?"
"Precisely. But there was one problem. The user had absolutely no ambition. He was fine living his life exactly as he'd always lived it. He didn't enter any lotteries, he didn't run for public office, and he didn't pursue love. He just went on with business as usual. For such a long time I was puzzled by this. How could someone with such a potent ability live with such humility? Doesn't he want more?" She shook her head, grabbing her glass of wine and sipping it.
"The truth is, you are the only person in the world who could develop your Stand. Easy Street was so entirely him that it was practically comedic. He got all C's in school, lived within his means, and just wanted to be left alone. He developed a Stand to ensure such a lifestyle would never be interrupted by outside forces. That was his reason to live. I could never have developed Easy Street because I have ambition. I have drive. My tenacity would never have allowed for such a passive, easygoing ability to form. Every single Stand is entirely catered to suit the user. Nothing more, nothing less. The idea of an ability being powerful removed from the limitations of the human operating it is absurd. Those limitations are the foundation of the ability."
"W-What are you getting at?" Boingo questioned, sweat beading down his face.
A dark expression overtook the woman's face. She glared down at him, sipping from her wine once more. "I thought your ability had potential. I'm displeased to discover that it belongs to a useless, pathetic bacterium with no hope of growing stronger. There's nothing I can do to improve you, Boingo. Your strength is merely a means to protect your meager, depressing existence for another day. A fighting spirit is meant to change the world. Instead, you simply created a rock to hide under, and it disgusts me."
Boingo was close to pissing himself. Would Blondie really kill him? Was this the end?
"What… What are you going to do to me?" He asked softly, paralyzed in fear.
"Why don't you read your little book and find out?" She growled.
He let out a squeak of fear before grabbing Tohth and opening it slowly. The blank page began to take form.
"The mean lady was really starting to scare Boingo, but he was going to be brave, yes!" He read with a trembling voice. "Despite her t-terrifying speech, she had no intention of killing our hero, yippie... "
She scowled down at him. The man cleared his throat before continuing.
"Instead she'll just…" His eyes widened. "No! Wait!" He screamed.
In a flash, Rapture appeared and touched Boingo. He fell to the ground, motionless and unresponsive. There was dead silence for nearly fifteen seconds. Mortimer said nothing. Blondie said nothing. After that, she finished her glass of wine, turning the glass to oxygen and letting it fade away. She knelt down for a moment, picking up Tohth and finding where he left off.
"Instead, she'll just paralyze him. Without the use of his legs, Boingo will have to crawl around like the rat he is for the rest of his life. He'll retire to the same home as his brother, living out his days in modest luxury. At least there's good TV. Yippie." She read in a dark tone.
Blondie closed the book firmly, causing it to fade out of her hands. "Badum-tis." She read the final line, turning away from the unconscious man and sitting down once again.
Mortimer waited an appropriate amount of time before speaking. He let the woman get settled in her chair, and to look him in the eyes expectantly. Once that happened, he nodded.
"Oingo and Boingo were failures, Ma'am. All of the Joestars are fine."
"And where are they now?" She questioned.
"Unreachable. Passione is protecting them in Naples. It's safe to assume Gold Experience has healed Josuke. They're back at full strength."
"That's too bad. I hoped our arrangements with Passione would discourage such a thing. Giorno Giovanna has betrayed the foundation." She mumbled, tweaking the position of a pen on her desk to be perfectly aligned with the others.
"The feather is in Naples, but two of the Joestars have left the country." Mortimer continued.
Blondie raised her eyes back up to the man curiously. "Oh?"
"I may have planted some bait to draw them out. Nothing you would disapprove of, I promise."
"So what happened?"
"Joseph and Josuke have gotten on a train bound for Munich, Germany to investigate the death of an old friend."
Blondie clicked her tongue a few times, adjusting the pens on her desk once more. They weren't spaced out properly. Her lips pursed together as she worked, making a few absentminded noises. Once she was satisfied, she looked back to Mortimer.
"Why did you arrange this?"
"Because I'm going to kill Josuke and permanently cripple the group." He said confidently.
The woman considered his statement for a moment. "That would be ideal, yes. It seems like you've laid everything out to create an offer I can't refuse."
"You know if I fight Josuke, he'll die. There's not even a question. My Stand is an unstoppable force."
"Or an immovable object. Either way, I agree with your sentiment. Go ahead, Mortimer. Deal with the troublesome boy."
Without another word the underling turned around, walking to the door. He was stopped by the sound of fingers snapping.
"Oh Mortimer? One more question." She mumbled, reading something on the screen in front of her.
"Yes, Ma'am?"
"How many times did we have this conversation before I finally agreed?"
He couldn't help but smile. "Seventeen, Ma'am."
"Seventeen." She echoed. "I see."
There was a bit of an awkward silence.
"...is that all, Ma'am?"
"Hmm?" She asked, as if she forgot he was even there. "Oh, yes. I just wanted to remind you of one thing."
Blondie's eyes flashed, turning a bright orange. The same color as the crystal on rapture's scepter. "Even with one million tries, you would never defeat my Rapture. You know that in your heart, right?"
He felt a sense of impending dread. Her words were intimidating enough, but the atmosphere of the room seemed to have shifted. It was hot, too hot. So much so that he found himself sweating almost immediately. The room was humid and the air was thick. Some sweat got in his eyes. He went to wipe it away only to discover that Blondie was gone when he finished. His eyes widened, and the hair on the back of his neck stood straight.
A pair of slender hands wrapped around his body from behind. She cupped his stomach, pressing herself against his back. She was taller than him, resting her chin on his shoulder and purring. She leaned in, kissing his neck gently. Then, without warning, her left hand reached right into his chest and grabbed his heart. It phased effortlessly through his skin, only touching the organ it desired. He tensed up, feeling the absolute pain of having his heart squeezed.
"It would always end like this." She whispered into his ear, kissing it as well. Her tongue traced his earlobe, filling his head with the sound of her breathing. He became even more stiff, letting out a terrified gasp. His entire body shook, and he felt himself cringe at the sensation of her tongue.
He was a sweaty, panting mess. Blondie's actions might seem sexual from an outside perspective, but they were far from it. She was controlling, imposing, and intimidating. She touched him however she wished in ways she knew he didn't want. Why? Because it displayed her power over him. She was above him in every sense of the word, despite his immense strength. As she clenched his heart in her hand, she couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle into his ear.
"I just wanted to remind you that everyone has a place. I never want you to feel too comfortable with me. Do you understand, Mortimer?"
He nodded feverishly, wanting this unique hell to end.
"That's a good boy." She pulled her hand from his body, sinking into the floor and vanishing without a trace.
Mortimer was completely alone. The room's temperature returned to its normal state, and Blondie was gone. He fell to his knees, holding his pounding chest as he let out an involuntary sob. Without an ounce of shame, Mortimer threw up all over the floor. She was right. He could try a million different ways and still fall to her Rapture.
The world belonged to Blondie.
After sleeping for a majority of the twelve hour train ride, Josuke slowly woke up to the feeling of his father shaking his arm.
"I'm awake, I'm awake…" He groaned, slapping Joseph's hand away.
"We're here, Jojo. C'mon." Joseph stood up and adjusted his belt.
"Jojo?" Josuke mumbled. He hadn't been called that since high school.
"Takes one to know one. Now up and at 'em. We're here. Munich, Germany."
The great land of Germany: Since the middle ages the land that would one day be known as "Germany" existed as an assortment of cities that fell under the Roman Empire. In 1871 the country we know today truly formed under Wilhelm Friedrich Ludwig, the first Emperor of Germany. Like every massive country that exists today, Germany has a long bloody history. However, it's important to note the beautiful qualities of the country in the present. Tourists from all across the world flock to see the Cologne's Cathedral, the Reichstag Building, Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, and much more. Munich in particular has a fascinating past. Settlement in the area can be traced back to the neolithic age, though records of the monks who eventually gained the area city-status only tracks back to the eighth century. The city, like many, was nearly completely rebuilt with American assistance after the second world war. In modern day, it's a lovely city with a population of over one million people.
Joseph and Josuke stepped out of the train station and into the bustling streets. The elder stretched his arms, yawning a bit. Josuke checked his phone and saw two missed calls from Shizuka. He sighed, pocketing the device and looking around.
"So, old man, where we heading?" He asked, taking a comb out and running it through his hair to calm his nerves.
"Well, you don't exactly have jurisdiction as law enforcement in Germany, so we can't take the direct avenue." Joseph mused, rubbing his chin.
"I doubt we'll be doing anything the right way if we plan on wrapping the investigation up before sundown." Josuke grunted, yawning as well. "We should head to the scene of the crime. See if there's any evidence the police missed."
"Good plan. We should get a cola first. I'm famished."
"W-What? There were drinks on the train!" Josuke protested.
" Pepsi products. I wouldn't expect you to understand, but Coca Cola is the only key to my heart. I've been drinking it for nearly a century, and I won't let some Italian train change my ways." Joseph pointed right at Josuke and poked his chest. "Now c'mon, this is serious. We need to find some prime cola."
Josuke stood there motionless as his father strutted away. "Serious." He sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Oh great. This is gonna be a disaster."
They arrived at the bridge where Mira met her end. Since it was only a matter of hours ago, traffic cones blocked off a damaged sidebar. Bits and pieces of plastic lined the sidewalk, and a lone hubcap was catching sun by the police tape bordering everything off.
"Any chance there are officers nearby?" Joseph looked around.
Josuke stepped forward with hands in his pockets. "A single-vehicle accident with a low-profile fatality? Not a chance. The city will probably do cleanup overnight. Now's our opportunity to do some sleuthing."
They approached the scene, ducking under the police tape and arriving at the damaged sidebar. Josuke rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
"There's water underneath this bridge." He mumbled.
"You're right." The father agreed, already on a similar train of thought.
"If your theory is right, this would be the perfect place to use such a power on her. She'd drown and plunge right into the water. It would just look like a regular accident."
"But this bar stopped her just in time. Barely." He ran his hand along it thoughtfully. "There is another thought, though."
"What's that?"
Joseph's eyes turned serious for a moment as he eyed the crash site. "It was meant to look like a failed plan so we'd come. We're being sandbagged."
Josuke's eyes darted around in paranoia for a moment. "Sandbagged?"
The father nodded. "Deliberately underperforming to set your opponent at ease. ' If this schmuck can't even use his power right, this'll be a piece of cake.' That's what he wants us to think."
"So you're saying he fudged the homicide on purpose?"
"I know he did. We have to be extremely careful, Josuke. Somehow this enemy managed to drown someone in a moving vehicle without leaving a single trace of water. I doubt he was in the car with her, otherwise he could have gotten hurt in the crash."
"This is a ranged ability? Are we assuming it's a Stand?" Josuke mumbled.
"With how the arrows seem to be getting around lately, I wouldn't be surprised. Stands with this much range of devastation are usually automatic. They're triggered by something. What could Mira have done to activate it?"
"It could be practically anything. We need to be careful. Neither of us are exactly immune to drowning."
The men finished looking around before stepping away from the crash site and walking down the sidewalk.
"We don't exactly have much to go off of." Joseph mumbled.
"Something's bothering me."
"What's that?"
Josuke stopped walking, crossing his arms. "You said this has nothing to do with Blondie, right? Now you're talking about sandbagging, and premeditation. Who else would go around killing your friends? How is this not a Blondie problem?"
Joseph sighed, looking away. "I wasn't sure until we got here. The crash site really changed my view of the case."
"Bullshit." Josuke said sternly. "You might be able to play people like instruments, but I'm trained to spot liars. You're not making eye contact with me because you're ashamed. What's the problem?"
The father clenched his fists, looking his son in the eyes. "Because Mira wasn't just a friend." He admitted.
This caused a line in Josuke's mind to snap. He'd tried to look past his father's past for years. For a while he really thought he'd moved on. His department-mandated anger management sessions eventually drifted into discussions about his family and their strange situation. His therapist was a wonderful woman, but the city of Morioh only paid for a certain number of sessions. And, though he hated to admit it, Higashikata Josuke was too proud to seek out mental help on his own.
"You son of a bitch."
"Josuke, calm down. It's not-"
"You lying, cheating…" Josuke worked himself into a frenzy, his hair seeming to stand up in rage as a blue aura surrounded him. "...egotistical dickhead. " He stomped his foot.
The old man had no defense for his past infidelity. He just stood there and let his son go off.
"Come to think of it, I've never seen a picture of Mira. Is she a purple-haired Asian woman? Is she in her twenties? Does Suzi know about her? Maybe we should be on the lookout for another bastard Joestar walking around! Maybe his Stand will be able to fix this shitty family, because mine can't!"
Joseph reached toward his son, only to have his hand slapped away. The sergeant was absolutely livid, fuming with anger.
"This isn't the time. We really are under attack." Joseph attempted to reason.
"When aren't we under attack!? Like you said, this might be our only opportunity, right? Our only chance to talk this out before Blondie kills us all? Well I'm talking! Who was Mira?"
" Josuke." The older man hissed. "Can we at least do this someplace private? Not in the middle of a busy city?"
The son got a grip, at least for the time being. He took a deep breath, nodding. "We should eat anyway. I'm willing to calm down, but I'm not going to forgive and forget. We're talking about this."
"Okay, okay. We just can't afford to make a scene right now. We'll find a place to sit. Come on."
The father and son found themselves sitting in a charming little restaurant a couple blocks from the scene of the crash. Josuke was tapping the table restlessly while Joseph considered a way to explain.
"I know that you think what I did was unforgivable." He sighed.
"Because it is unforgivable, Joseph." Josuke growled, refusing to call him 'Dad.' "You cheated on your wife with my mother. Do you even realize what you did to her? She still hasn't moved on. She's still in love with you! Some nights when I visit her unannounced, I can tell she's been crying. You swept her off her feet when she was young and vulnerable and dropped her right on her ass, and I hate you for it." He put his fist down on the table roughly, causing some silverware to shift around loudly.
Joseph didn't know how to react to such a strong stance. Did his son really hate him? "Tomoko and I… We had fun. I didn't realize she was getting so attached."
"How? You can read everyone like they're cheap magazines. How am I supposed to believe that you never realized the child you were stringing on was in love with you?"
"Child? Come on, Josuke. You're not really being fair."
"She was twenty-one. You were sixty-three. You were a wealthy foreign casanova who showed interest in a young woman who had no idea what she was getting herself into. It's sick. I'm sorry, but I've felt this way ever since I found out about you. I held it in because you seemed senile and I didn't wanna disturb the peace. But now you're young and I'm comfortable saying it. What you did was wrong! You ruined my mom's life!" He growled.
Joseph just sat there in silence. He never would have believed his son harbored such resentment for him. If his words were true, they were cutting him deeper than any knife.
"Tomoko." He frowned. "She really never moved on?"
"She saw something in you, I guess. Forty-seven years old and she's still hung up on her college fling. The few times I've asked about you she lit up like a Christmas tree. You left her, Joseph. You left with no idea what kind of damage you caused. You're reckless, plain and simple." Josuke finished, sitting back and pushing his plate away.
"I'll admit, I spend most of my life in my own head. I never even took a moment to think if Tomoko would miss me. I just assumed she was young and would move on. To be perfectly honest, I thought she was growing bored of me. It's no excuse, but that's my reasoning."
Josuke leaned back in his chair. "What's your plan then? She knows about Stands, Kira, and the bloody Joestar history. She wouldn't be too surprised to see you young again."
"I'll go see her." He said plainly. "It's my responsibility. I never gave her closure."
The sergeant seemed to immediately relax in his seat. He rested a hand on his forehead. "Thank god." He mumbled under his breath. "I don't like being that direct, but it's just been building up all this time. It wasn't healthy. None of this is healthy." He admitted.
"We all need to play the hand we're dealt. I'm just sorry your hand was so bad. I never knew my father, but at least I don't see him as some deadbeat." Joseph sighed.
"Deadbeat? Joseph, no." Josuke sat up a bit. "It's not that. You just need to take responsibility for this."
The father took a sip of his drink, eyes drifting past his son and into the crowd of people enjoying their meals. "Mira wasn't exactly some affair. Suzi actually knew about her."
Josuke raised a brow. "Wait, for real? What happened?"
"It wasn't very acceptable at the time, so we don't talk about it much." He began. "But Suzi and I aren't exactly straight. We aren't exactly exclusive either."
Josuke's eyes were wide like dinner plates. "Whaaaaaaaaaat!? You're in an open marriage!?"
The old man chuckled a bit. "No need to make such a big deal about it. We wanted things the other couldn't give. She would explore her more feminine desires, and I'd spend time at a different type of gentleman's club. Purely innocent, I promise."
The son was seeming to follow. "So Mira wasn't your lover?"
"No. She was Suzi's. They had a real connection. It wasn't exactly romantic, but they were inseparable for some time. Eventually, they drifted apart. Mira was facing questions at home she'd rather not answer, so she stopped calling. Suzi accepted it and moved on. Sometimes she still talks about her, though." He smiled fondly.
"You were both allowed to explore same-sex relations?"
"Yes. We always discussed the other person, screened them medically, and used protection. The most important part was communication." Joseph explained.
"But… My mother isn't a man." Josuke frowned.
"...No. She's not." The older man said in a low tone, sipping his drink.
"That's why Suzi was livid?"
"I violated the terms of our arrangement. More importantly, I violated her trust, and our marriage." He nodded, resting a hand over his face. "I don't regret it."
Josuke's eyes widened. "You don't? Why not? It nearly ruined your marriage! I mean-"
He was interrupted by Joseph sharply shushing him, raising a finger up cautiously. "Hold on. Something's wrong."
"What is it?"
The father's eyes fixated on Josuke's glass of water. "Did you ask for lemon?"
"What?" The younger man asked in shock. Sure enough, a lemon wedge was pushed into the rim of his glass. "No, they just do that sometimes, don't they?
"Then why doesn't everyone in the room have lemon in their water?" Joseph mumbled under his breath, eyes scanning the restaurant.
"Why would you notice something like that?"
"Josuke, that lemon belongs to the enemy!" He pointed directly at it. "Use Crazy Diamond on it! Send it back, and we'll follow it!"
The young man's eyes widened, but he nodded in agreement.
"Crazy Diamond!" He cried out, punching the glass. It shattered into a thousand shards, restoring itself instantly.
The lemon was lifted into the air, drifting through the restaurant. Both men got up and followed it quickly. It wound through the establishment, eventually drifting into the "Employee Only" area. They stormed inside with determination. Several employees shouted in shock. They pushed past the confused staff and followed the lemon all the way to the back of the kitchen.
At the end, the devious fruit ended up in a large bowl of perfectly cut lemon wedges. They seemed fresh, too. Joseph and Josuke stared at it in confusion.
"If it was poisoned or tainted by a Stand, you can isolate the effect from the rest of the fruit, right?" Joseph questioned.
"I'm trying, but it doesn't seem to be working."
" Punch them all then! They're all rigged! Destroy the lemons, Josuke!" His father screamed, clenching a fist and stomping his foot.
Crazy Diamond emerged once more, spinning around and flexing its enormous muscles for a moment. Then, in a fierce rain of strength its fists pounded the bowl of lemons to mush.
" Doradoradoradoradoradoradoradoradora!" He cried out.
Shards of glass flew all over the kitchen. Lemon juice was everywhere, and the once-beautiful pile of delectable fresh fruit was nothing more than a yellow pile of mushy paste. The men panted, staring in anticipation.
"Where's the Stand?" Joseph questioned.
It began to dawn on Josuke that they might have overreacted. "I don't… I don't think…" He mumbled.
On the same wavelength already, Joseph got out his phone. Hermit Purple wound itself around the device. "Are the lemons rigged by an enemy Stand? One for yes, two for no."
The number two appeared on his dial screen. He immediately closed his flip phone and shoved it into his pocket.
"Oh boy, oh boy. We're really gone and done it." He rubbed the bridge of his nose.
" Great. " Josuke groaned.
That's about the time that they thought to turn around and scan the room. The entire cooking staff was staring at them in total confusion. Some of them were gripping their knives protectively, as if they needed to use them. Both men's cheeks flushed pink in embarrassment.
"Hey son?"
"Yeah?"
"I think we're about to get kicked out."
And they were. Shortly after decimating the lemon population of Germany, both men were tossed outside without finishing their meals. Joseph rubbed the back of his head, smirking.
"We kind of got caught in our heads there for a minute, didn't we?" He chuckled.
Josuke couldn't help but laugh with him. "Like father like son. I can't believe we just did that."
For a moment, all they could do was laugh. They found it incredibly funny in an odd way. Neither of them had ever noticed how similar they were. That lemon situation really painted it clear as day, though. They were both overly cautious, reckless quick-thinkers who sometimes got into trouble due to how far they took things.
"I'm an officer of the law, and I just destroyed a bowl of fruit." Josuke laughed even harder.
"You gotta admit, those cooks were a little too sour with us."
...
…
" Bwahahahahahaha!" Both men erupted together once again.
Joseph was wiping tears from his eyes. He couldn't remember the last time he had such a genuine laugh. After another minute or so of laughter, sirens could be heard whining in the distance. They became hard to ignore as they grew closer and closer. For a moment, Josuke was afraid they had the cops called on them. However, he was surprised to see an ambulance swerve down the street. Paramedics ran into the very restaurant they were just evicted from.
"Heart attack?" Josuke questioned.
"Or a drowning. We've gotta go back in."
They followed the busy men inside only to find mass panic. People were running toward the door so fast the men were nearly washed outside by the crowd. Then, clear as day, they could see an old man floating a few feet above his chair. He was kicking, his body slowly bloating from the water intake. The disturbing thing was that neither of the Stand Users could see the water. This didn't stop Josuke from sprinting up to the man.
"Out of the way!" He screamed at the paralyzed paramedics.
Once he was close enough to touch the drowning man, he actually felt himself covered in water. In shock, he pulled back. The moment he was far enough away from the man, he was dry.
"Joseph! The water is fixed in place around him."
"Grab him! Pull him out with Crazy Diamond!"
Josuke nodded, sending his stand in and grabbing the man. As he pulled, the old man actually moved effortlessly. However, as the man got closer, Josuke could feel the water envelope him once again. He grit his teeth and pulled the floating man across the room. The water never left.
He had to pull away to breathe. Coughing up water, he called out to his father. "The water is surrounding him! He's the center, no matter where he goes!"
"Shit! That means we have to find the user! This was a way to bring us back into the restaurant!"
"I'll try to get him out. Look for the user!" Josuke shouted, trying to use Crazy Diamond to remove the water from the man's lungs.
It wasn't working. He could remove the water from the lungs, but there was still no oxygen flowing in. He couldn't force the man to breathe. All he did was stop the bloating.
"Shit, shit, shit! " He shouted, wracking his brain for a way to save him.
Joseph stormed into the kitchen in search of the user. Such a powerful Stand had to be close range. He scanned the room frantically for anybody who seemed suspicious. He took a bowl of cleaned forks and lifted it above his head.
" Hermit Purple!" He shouted, throwing the bowl onto the ground. Every single fork pointed in the same direction after scattering on the floor.
Joseph nodded, following the direction of his Stand and walking across the room. He noticed a small cup of water sitting on the table all alone. Instantly skeptical, he stopped in his tracks and glared at the cup. That's when he noticed something below out of the corner of his eye. He looked down and saw a little flounder flopping at his feet. The odd-looking fish was bouncing onto his dress shoes. It took a moment to realize that it wasn't just odd. It looked like…
"A Stand!" He shouted, wrapping Hermit Purple around his foot.
It was too late, though. He watched in horror as a large orb of water rose from the flopping flounder. In an instance it completely absorbed him. He coughed in shock, bubbles forming around his mouth as he held his throat in a panic. He managed to mouth the words " Oh my God!" as he kicked and thrashed in the bubble.
Joseph was drowning.
Josuke was busy dealing with the man in the dining area. The logical part of his brain had given up, hoping that Joseph would find and defeat the user. However, his irrational side was still tugging at the man in a futile attempt to keep him alive. Crazy Diamond couldn't restore oxygen to his lungs because whatever force was drowning the man seemed to be of equal strength. It was overriding the power of Crazy Diamond's restoration. He couldn't give the man air.
That's when a powerful footstep could be heard from the far side of the room. Josuke turned his head expecting to see his father. Instead, he saw a very clean cut young black man tapping his dress shoe. He was wearing a purple dress shirt with the top three buttons undone. White dress pants with an odd belt that resembled a life raft. Sticking with the strange attire, he had on "life jacket" earrings, and a tattoo of an anchor on his right hand.
"Daddy can't come to the phone right now. Can I take a message?" The man grinned.
Josuke clenched his fists. "And who the hell are you then?"
"The name's Lester Lane, and I'm gonna get you wet."
"Let this man go! You caught us! He doesn't have to drown." Josuke reasoned.
"You think I give a shit about that guy? He's a pawn in our chess game. That's it. If you wanna save him, come at me."
The sergeant grit his teeth in anger. Lester was trying to antagonize him. He needed to keep his cool. Otherwise he'd die too. If the enemy was being honest, Joseph was drowning that very moment. It was all up to Josuke now. He flexed his hands nervously, biting into his lip and looking over Lester's appearance.
"My guy." He growled in a low tone. "If I come at you, I'm not sure if even my Crazy Diamond will be able to clean the blood off these pretty white walls."
Lester Lane couldn't help but smile. "Do you know what's beautiful about drowning, Josuke?"
The sergeant wasn't impressed. "What?"
"The human body is seventy percent water, right? So in a way… I'm making these people whole."
In a flash, Lester found a fork lodged in his throat. He stumbled back, holding the fork in utter shock. Josuke had enough of the man's ramblings. He displayed his superior speed and force by throwing a fork across the room at near-light speed. Lester fell back against the wall as unpleasant sounds escaped his pierced throat.
"Aghhhhhhhhgghghhhh… You… F-Fuccccccccc" He tried to berate Josuke, but to no avail.
With two hands in his pockets, Josuke stomped forward. Crazy Diamond took the comb and fixed his hair as the man approached Lester confidently. "What's the matter, Mr. L? Having trouble swallowing your food? Maybe wash it down with some water."
Crazy Diamond grabbed a glass of water from one of the tables, hucking it at Lester's face. The glass shattered, lodging shards in the man's skin. He cried out in pain, water getting all over his nice clothes.
"I can appreciate your style. The earrings are pretty garish, but the shirt really works for you. Too bad it's about to be covered in your messy blood." Josuke growled, getting ready to pummel Lester into oblivion.
That's when he felt something strange underneath his foot. Something wet, slick and floppy was currently writhing underneath Josuke's shoe. He raised a brow, looking down. It seemed to be some kind of messed up fish. It looked relatively normal, but there were strange armor-like protrusions from its forehead, and its fins seemed to be spiked. It took a moment for his brain to put two and two together.
"A Stand!" He shouted.
But it was too late. Swim Good had emerged victorious. A dome of water surrounded Josuke immediately. He coughed in shock, accidentally inhaling some of the bitter salt water. It burned his throat, causing his entire head to ache. His nose was inflamed, and he could feel an odd pressure in his forehead.
Lester pulled the fork out of his throat, throwing it aside. Then, a bit of water formed in the found, staying perfectly in place. No more blood could seep through. The water was acting as a barrier.
"That's right, fuckface! I was playing you! The big guy told me you had a temper! My Stand is perfect for guys like you. So inconspicuous, so unassuming! It hides and waits for the perfect opportunity! Just like my all time favorite Pokemon, Magikarp!
The sergeant was busy clenching his own throat in a futile attempt to protect himself.
"Ever since I was a little kid I always looked up to Magikarp. He was trying his best, goddammit! A fish out of water! He was flopping around and fighting his little heart out! We were one in the same! I had this biiiiiiiiiig Magikarp stuffed pillow when I was growing up. And for my eleventh birthday my dad dressed up in a home-made Magikarp costume! Man, wild times." He laughed. "I've got a good family. I really should call my Momma."
As Josuke choked to death, Lester got his phone out and dialed his mother's phone number. "Momma? Momma? What do you mean it's early? It's like one in the afternoon."
There was a pause.
"Oooooh! Time Zones! Dammit, Momma, you're right. I'm in socialist time right now. What time is it back in America? Really? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up. No, no. I love you more. G'night, Momma." He made the iconic Magikarp sound from the Pokemon animated cartoon before hanging up the phone. "Where were we? Oh, right! You're drowning, and your Daddy's drowning too." He laughed.
The only thing Josuke hated more than losing was losing to someone as insufferable as Lester-fucking-Lane. He thrashed around in a bubble of water, unable to break free. That's when he tried to attack with Crazy Diamond. He still wasn't quite within reach. It was beginning to seem hopeless.
"Hey Josuke, you're from Japan, right? Isn't it like, super messed up that you guys get Pokemon games first? Even though the American population actually buys them even more than you?"
Josuke's last moments weren't going to be centered around Pokemon. He wouldn't let that happen. He needed a plan. Something had to give. There was no such thing as an invincible Stand. Despite that, he was beginning to feel lightheaded. He wouldn't be able to fight it much longer. Higashikata Josuke was nearly out of breath…
That's when a crash could be heard from the other room. Lester turned his head curiously. A moment later, a purple vine wrapped itself around a table on the far side of the room. Joseph came bounding in, pulling himself with all his might and bringing the orb of water right along with him. With Hermit Purple it was merely like gliding around in zero gravity.
Lester's eyes widened. "That doesn't make any sense! You should be drowning!"
All Joseph could do was smile. Now that he was properly positioned in the dining area, he looked over to Lester and pointed right at him. Hermit Purple wrapped around Swim Good's user effortlessly, pulling him into Joseph's orb of water. The old man held Lester close to him, planning to force him to drop the Stand Ability and save everybody.
You fool! Lester thought to himself. Ever since I was five, I would practice holding my breath underwater in case a Magikarp wanted to take me on an aquatic adventure! You've already spent three minutes in this orb! You can't outlast me!
Joseph just looked into Lester's eyes fiercely without any intent of letting go. He held the water-fanatic tight for over a minute. All the while Josuke was drowning in his own bubble. Joseph wasn't even flushed. He didn't seem distressed at all. After another minute, Lester's lungs were stinging. He didn't know how much longer he could hold it.
What's happening!? How is Joseph holding out so long!? Is he… Could he be?
After another fifteen seconds, Swim Good's ability was released. Everyone washed onto the floor, coughing and gasping for dear life. The old man from before was unconscious. Josuke was heaving, barely able to move. That just left Joseph and Lester. The moment the shorter man caught his breath, he was already being slammed against the wall.
"You son of a bitch." Joseph growled, slamming him again. " Why'd you kill Mira? WHY!? People aren't just pawns in our game, you sick bastard."
Lester was still dazed from before. He was panting for air, unable to speak. The man coughed a bit of water onto Joseph's shirt, trying to lift a hand.
"Ma-Magik…. Magikarp…" He groaned.
"What in the hell is a Magikarp?" Joseph demanded.
"You… You're a real-life water type." The enemy managed to explain.
Joseph didn't know about all that. Yes, it was true that he held his breath for a pretty extreme amount of time. He was trying not to think about the state of his body because it honestly frightened him. He had no real idea what exactly Blondie did to him. His only guess was that Santana's DNA had made him Pillar Man enough to not require as much oxygen as the average human. For the time being, he didn't fret about the details.
"Josuke! You bipedal yet? Tell me what he's talking about. Is it one of those youtube things?"
The sergeant was busy healing the innocent old man who nearly met his fate at the hands of Swim Good. Once he was done, he groaned.
"Pokemon. It's a kid's game."
"It is not!" Lester screamed, kicking around as Joseph held him by the collar of his shirt. "Pokemon is a game for all ages with comprehensive battle systems and elemental mappings that are clearly for adults to master and for the kids to enjoy! So fuck you!"
Joseph let go of the man, raising a brow. "Pokemon? I think Shizuka has a blanket of one of those little guys. The orange dragon, right?" He asked, tapping his lip with his index finger thoughtfully.
"That's Charizard." Josuke mumbled, walking up and standing next to his father. "He's honestly pretty cool."
Joseph laughed heartily, nodding in agreement. "He is! I'd love one of those as a guard dog for my buildings!"
Lester just flopped on the floor helpless and alone like a Magikarp. He was soaking wet, and his throat hurt from the fork earlier. "Why'd the big guy tell me you two would be easy?"
The father and son stopped discussing potential pokemon-themed Halloween costumes for Shizuka and noticed Lester's question.
"The big guy? Who are you talking about?" Josuke questioned.
At that moment, Lester began to shake uncontrollably. Foam oozed from his lips, and his eyes bulged out wide and bloodshot. He reached up desperately for help. But before Josuke could stop the reaction with Crazy Diamond, Lester was gone. The men just stared in horror for a moment, trying to understand what happened.
"Is he…?" Josuke questioned.
"Joseph Joestar." A gruff voice called from the other side of the dining area. "Your next line is: Who managed to poison him while we were right here?"
Joseph and Josuke turned to see a man cloaked in darkness about twenty feet away. He wore a sinister mask with ancient wind-like designs and an hourglass on the forehead. If his Stand was what poisoned Lester, the range was terrifying. And how on Earth did he predict Joseph? They were in a load of trouble.
To be continued...