Are you guys ready for more feels?
Chapter Three
Kakyoin hated the hospital room. He hated the doctors poking and prodding him, hated the drugs that kept him asleep and the pain that made it impossible to rest otherwise. He hated waking Jotaro with his nightmares and had no idea why the other young man was even still sharing a room with him.
He didn't really understand why Jotaro and Mr. Joestar were still here at all. Surely it wasn't because of him.
Yes, he'd considered himself their friend, but now, he couldn't be sure if they would still consider him theirs. And he wouldn't blame them. After all, he was just a weakling who had allowed Dio to break him, not once, but twice, and gotten his stand destroyed because he had been overconfident. Kakyoin hated himself, so why should they look at him any differently?
He didn't want to be here anymore.
When he woke one day to Jotaro talking quietly on the phone with his mother, Kakyoin realized that he'd never called his parents.
"I know, mom." Jotaro said in a peculiarly soft voice. "Look, we'll be home soon. Yeah, I promise."
Kakyoin wondered what his parents thought had happened to him. Did they think he had run away? He had to have been acting strange after their trip to Egypt though he couldn't remember all the details of the time he had been under Dio's influence. He just vaguely remembered the need to find and kill Jotaro. Nothing had been clear until Jotaro had used Star Platinum to destroy the fleshbud, and after that, he hadn't even bothered calling his parents to tell them he was traveling across several continents to fight an evil vampire with a bunch of people he barely knew, but instantly felt more of a kinship with than he had with anyone else, ever. It had truly been the first time that he'd ever felt like he belonged.
But there was no point now. The mission was over, and he was no longer a Stand user. He was useless, and he just wanted to see his parents again. The least he could do was not worry them.
"I want to go home," he said softly the next time Mr. Joestar came in to see how they were doing.
Jotaro glanced over at him, but didn't protest. Mr. Joestar furrowed his brow.
"I don't know if you're recovered enough to travel yet, Kakyoin," he said gently, but the young man knew he wasn't going to say no. After all, Jotaro was definitely recovered enough, and they both must want to see Mrs. Kujo.
"I'm able to get up, I can at least manage a plane ride," Kakyoin said firmly. Getting up was a bit of an exaggeration. Jotaro had had to help him most of the way to the bathroom earlier because his legs had given out half way there, but the doctors had said he wasn't at risk of bleeding internally anymore.
Joseph sighed. "I'll talk to the doctors about it."
He left the room and Kakyoin felt Jotaro's eyes on him. He wished the other young man would stop watching him so much like he was going to have a panic attack or something. He'd gotten over that, at least.
"Don't worry, we'll be back soon," Jotaro told him.
Kakyoin nodded, a little relief flowing through him. And yet he had to wonder how much of him would actually be returning. It was possible his parents wouldn't even recognize the son who came back to them.
How could they, when Kakyoin didn't really recognize himself?
Jotaro felt a little better as he pulled his coat on and finally replaced his hat, tugging it low. He shoved his hands in his pockets, and watched his grandfather helping Kakyoin into the wheelchair the hospital had provided. Jotaro was still worried about his friend leaving the hospital so soon, but maybe it would be better for Kakyoin at home; certainly, he wasn't getting any better here than he would anywhere else and the familiar surroundings would hopefully only aid in his recovery.
"Ready?" Joseph asked with a small smile.
Jotaro nodded and they made their way out to where a cab was waiting to take them to the airport.
Once there, they loaded their meager luggage, and headed to the plane to find their seats. Jotaro helped Kakyoin as they went. The other boy hadn't really said anything the entire trip, but he was pale and sweating, and even Jotaro was already exhausted by the prolonged exertion, still feeling his injuries, so he couldn't imagine how bad Kakyoin was.
The old man shot him a worried look as Jotaro gripped Kakyoin's elbow more firmly when he stumbled, and moved in on Kakyoin's other side.
"Come on, kiddo, just a little further," Joseph said as the boarded the plane.
Jotaro let Kakyoin have the window seat and he slumped, wrapping his arms around himself in a protective manner as he closed his eyes, breathing heavily. Jotaro and his grandfather took the other two seats in the row, and Joseph instantly hailed a stewardess.
"Excuse me, can we have a glass of water?"
She brought one a couple minutes later and Jotaro took it, turning to Kakyoin.
"Hey," he said, nudging his friend. "You should drink this."
Kakyoin shook his head briefly, eyes still closed. Jotaro nudged him again. "Come on, at least drink a little."
Kakyoin's violet eyes showed a little bit past the scarred eyelids and he finally reached out to take the cup. He was shaking so badly it spilled across his hand and into his lap.
"Good grief, just give it to me," Jotaro said but without his usual condescension and retrieved the cup, bringing it to Kakyoin's lips. The other young man sighed in defeat and allowed Jotaro to hold the cup while he drank, hands twisting together in his lap.
After a few sips, Kakyoin turned away and pulled out his sunglasses, slumping against the seat.
As he began to breathe deeply, Jotaro knew he was asleep. He turned back to his grandfather and handed him the cup. "I don't think you should have let him leave yet."
"What else was I supposed to do?" Joseph asked. "His wound's healing and the doctors won't know what to do for him otherwise. They can't understand what really happened."
Jotaro pressed his lips together firmly. "You think his parents will?"
The old man looked sad and tired. "I don't know. I'll try to explain what I can to them but…"
Jotaro nodded, a weight settling in his chest. He didn't think Kakyoin's parents even knew what a Stand was. He began to wonder if Kakyoin would really be better at home. He already felt like he was losing his new friend—one of the only ones he'd actually ever had.
But there was no point worrying about it now. Maybe it would help Kakyoin get back into a normal schedule. Jotaro didn't even know where he was going to start with that himself.
He leaned back in his seat as the plane began to take off and tugged his hat down over his eyes. He had a feeling going back to a normal life after everything had happened wasn't really an option.
Once they landed back in Japan, the Speedwagon Foundation was there to meet them with a car. Jotaro and Kakyoin had both slept most of the way, and were groggy from that and the jet lag as they piled in.
The old man seemed relieved to be back even though he complained constantly about Japan like he had before, but Jotaro didn't mind, just smiled to himself. Honestly, he was glad to be back too. He really wanted to see his mom, make sure she was really okay. Talking to her on the phone hadn't been enough.
He glanced at Kakyoin, but didn't see any change in the other boy's demeaner. He still curled into himself, and Jotaro didn't think it was just from the pain of his wounds. His detachment could be a product of the pain medication he was still taking, but Jotaro wasn't so sure.
For some reason, this part of the journey seemed to be the one that took the most time, driving from the airport to the Kujo household. When they finally stopped in front of the place, Jotaro discovered that he had inexplicable knots in his stomach.
His grandfather smiled at him, reaching out to grip his shoulder. "Go on, Jotaro. I'm going to accompany Kakyoin home but I'll be back soon. Tell your mom and grandma to save some supper for me."
Jotaro ducked his head and nodded. He turned to Kakyoin who was still huddled against the side of the car, but watching him.
"Hey, you feel better, all right?" Jotaro told him, and held out his hand. "See you round?"
Kakyoin hesitated a moment before he clasped Jotaro's hand without his usual firm, deliberate grip. "Sure," was all he said.
Jotaro released his hand and opened the door of the car, but Kakyoin's voice called him back.
"Jojo," the other boy said, his voice wavering slightly. "I…thanks. For everything."
Jotaro wasn't entirely sure how to take that, and the finality of Kakyoin's tone left him feeling slightly uneasy for some reason. But he simply nodded and tugged his hat over his eyes before he glanced at his grandfather. Joseph gave him a small smile and Jotaro finally stepped out of the car.
He stood at the end of the path as the vehicle drove away, feeling the knots in his stomach increase. But he took a deep breath and made his way down the path.
Before he could reach for the door to open it, it was flung open and his mother appeared, staring at him wide-eyed and breathless.
"Jo-Jotaro," she breathed.
Jotaro dropped his bag on the ground a second before his mother flung herself at him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head down to her shoulder. He went willingly. He smelled her hair, the familiar floral shampoo a scent he had known for as long as he could remember, and suddenly all the anxiety knotted up in him went away. She was okay. She was really okay.
He wrapped his arms around her in turn, holding her close, and realized he was trembling, but he didn't care.
"Hey, Mom," he whispered.
He was home.
Homecoming after a long journey was a strange thing, Kakyoin mused detachedly as the car drove down the road to his house. He'd often thought about it when reading books where heroes went on epic journeys, gaining and losing friends on the way, but rarely was the aftermath recorded. The reader was left to believe that the part where the heroes rode off into the sunset was where it ended, and that there was no fallout, no deep, abiding grief. No damage done. That the heroes were finally allowed to live happily ever after once the evil was defeated.
It wasn't like that.
Kakyoin stared out the window at his house as the late afternoon sun streamed down on it. It was all so familiar, and yet not. After everything he'd been through, it just didn't really seem real anymore. He'd secretly hoped that he would feel better once he was there, but now seeing his house again, he was certain that was not going to be the case.
"Come on, Kakyoin. Your parents are waiting," Mr. Joestar called to him.
He'd called Kakyoin's parents once they got to the airport, but Kakyoin hadn't spoken to them himself yet. He didn't know what their reaction would be once they saw him; his injuries, his scars. He didn't even know how to explain where he'd been and why. He was suddenly glad Mr. Joestar was there, he was sure he would handle most of that for him.
Kakyoin allowed the older man to help him out of the car, and was ashamed of how heavily he leaned on him. He kind of just wanted to be in bed. His pain medicine was wearing off and his abdomen hurt badly, but he couldn't do anything about that now.
Mr. Joestar helped him up to the door and knocked.
It was wrenched open in only a couple seconds.
He saw his mother first. She already had tears streaming down her cheeks and she reached out with shaking hands to take his face between them.
"Oh, Noriaki," she whimpered and pulled him into a gentle, yet earnest embrace. His father wrapped both of them in his arms, seeming at a loss for words, just relieved.
Kakyoin simply stood there, pressed between them, his arms at his sides. His mother seemed to realize his lack of response first because she pulled away and looked at him worriedly, taking his face between her hands again and stroking his hair out of his eyes. "Oh, honey, your eyes…what happened? Are you okay?"
Kakyoin felt his throat close, and it was all suddenly too much. Tears slid from his eyes and he found he no longer had the strength to stand upright.
It was Mr. Joestar who caught him as he mother cried out. "It's all right, he's just been through a lot, and he's injured," he assured Kakyoin's parents. "I think it's probably best we get him into his bed."
"O-of course," his mother said, tears in her eyes. "I'll get it ready."
"I'll take him," his father said and Kakyoin felt himself lifted up and cradled in his father's arms and carried to his room like he hadn't been since he was a child.
He was only vaguely aware of his clothes being changed and another dose of medicine being administered before he was tucked into his bed, his mother stroking his hair for a few minutes before everyone left and spoke with Mr. Joestar in the hall.
Kakyoin didn't care about what they were saying, he simply allowed his eyes to slide shut and pulled the blankets around him tighter, wishing for the security of his Stand that he would never feel again.