Hello and welcome back to another chapter!ヾ(・ω・*) It's JoJo Friday!

I apologize for not updating last week, currently busy trying to get everything ready for a convention before I pack my stuff to go!

***WARNING***
There's a very small flashback of a sexual assault, it's a bit explicit but not too much so be warned! Once you get there you can skip if you want to!

.。.:・° .。.:・° .。.:・° .。.:・°

Anyway, I hope all of you had a wonderful week! Enjoy! (*ﾉωﾉ)

The Lovers, Part 1

After defeating Enyaba and taking her along with them, the Crusaders managed to find a carriage as their transportation to reach Karachi. The city is near the Indus River Delta and it's the leader to both trade and commerce. Joseph was the "driver", Polnareff sat next to him while Jotaro and Noriko sat in the back with an unconscious Enyaba sitting between them. It was Joseph's idea to have the two teens sitting together.

Riding through the town, one of the food stands caught the elder Joestar's attention.

"A doner kebab stand!" Joseph pointed out. "Hey, why don't we stop and grab something to eat before we purchase a television?"

"Fine by me, Mr. Joestar." Polnareff answered.

"I am a bit hungry. We haven't eaten since the morning…" Noriko remarked.

Jotaro let out a hmph under his breath as a response.

"Great!" He tugged the leash for the horse to stop while licking his lips with anticipation. Once he parked the carriage, he got off.

Joseph approached the vendor, "Excuse me, I'll take five, please."

The vendor wore an all white robe with a hood and shades on. He turned his face to the foreigner.

"That'll be 120 rupees!" The vendor said.

"120 Rupees?" Joseph raised a brow and removed his hat. He was surprised at the high price but he shrugged it off with a laugh, "Don't be ridiculous, sir! That's way too much!" He told the vendor.

The vendor stepped a bit closer to Joseph, "Then how much are you willing to pay, sir?" He asked.

"Make it 30 rupees for five!" Joseph proposed.

The vendor laughed, "If I sold them at that price, my family would starve!"

Joseph stared at the vendor for a moment, "Well, perhaps I'll just go somewhere else then…" Pretending he's about to leave.

"Okay, okay!" The vendor stops him. "I'll cut you a deal since you're a foreigner. It'll be 85 rupees."

"Make it 35!" Joseph objected.

And the haggling begins…

"75!"

"45!"

"65!"

"50!"

"55!"

"52!" Both the vendor and Joseph shouted the same number.

"Deal!" Joseph said with a grin on his face. "Yes! I got them half off the original price! Take that! I made it out like a bandit!" He handed the vendor the money and received the paper bag filled with their food.

Turning around with a smile still on his face, he was proud of him but the vendor had a sly smirk on his face.

"I usually sell five for 10 rupees!" The vendor told himself, satisfied that he made the foreigner pay more than he had to.

"Bye, bye! Thank you kindly!" The vendor said, waving.

Walking back to the carriage and putting his hat back on, he noticed the old woman was awake but her eyes were wide open as if she had seen a ghost.

Dropping the bag with their food, he pointed at Enyaba. "Everyone! The old lady is awake!" He alerted the group.

They all turned their heads at Enyaba, expecting her to attack them but she didn't. She remained in her seat trembling with fear with sweat pouring down her face with her eyes still wide open.

"I-I…" Enyaba's lips quivered. "...I haven't said anything! So w-why have you come for me?! Do you really think that I, Enyaba, will tell these bastards the secret of Lord Dio's Stand?!"

The Crusaders averted their attention to who Enyaba was talking to. She was talking to the doner kebab vendor. He slowly started removing his hood and sunglasses, revealing a tanned, dark-haired handsome man with maroon eyes.

Suddenly, tentacles began coming out of Enyaba's eyes, ears, nose and mouth. The tentacles thrashed around, destroying the carriage and ripping Enyaba apart. With the carriage being destroyed and their horse running off, the group who sat close to her quickly jumped off the carriage.

"W-What the hell are those?! Are those tentacles?!" Polnareff cried.

"...Why…" Enyaba managed to choke out from the pain. "Why have you come to kill me?!" She demanded.

"Because it's already clear that Lord Dio trusts no one…" The vendor, who's now the enemy, said as he removed his all-white robe. "It's my job to make sure you never speak again, Enyaba." He dropped the robe on the ground and turned to face the Crusaders.

"As for you four…I'll be taking your lives!"

The tentacles spread and extended all over the place hurting Enyaba with blood splattering everywhere.

"Ma'am!" Polnareff tried to go up to her and help but stepped back when the tentacles got more aggressive.

Enyaba was thrown to the ground, helplessly screaming in pain while the tentacles were killing her.

"My name is Dan, Steely Dan." The Crusaders new enemy introduced himself. "My Stand represents the Lovers card. I will see to it that you all will meet the same fate as Enyaba."

"You bastard! How could you?!" Polnareff yelled at Steely Dan. "Isn't she one of your allies?!" He turned his attention to Enyaba. "Ma'am!" He ran towards her but stopped when she began speaking.

"...L-Lies...A-All lies!" Enyaba choked out, barely able to lift her arms. "All of that is a lie! Lord Dio would never do this to me!"

Noriko, who has been observing the tentacles, widened her eyes in realization. "Those things that are coming out her body aren't a Stand!" She informed everyone. "They're corporeal! Actual moving tentacles!"

"Lord Dio would never do something like this to me," Enyaba continued while groaning. "He would never plant a flesh bud on me!"

Noriko widened her eyes in horror, "Flesh bud?!" A shiver ran down her spine as a flashback flashed before her eyes when she met Dio.

"Noriko…" Dio's sweet, gentle voice spoke behind Noriko's ear. "There's nothing to be afraid of…" He assured her sincerely as his hands traveled around further down between her thighs.

"Let's be friends." He grinned and used one of his hands to playfully mess with her cherry-shaped earring.

A soft moan escaped from the red-haired girl's lips, feeling relieved but unbeknownst to her was a long tentacle flesh bud right in front of her before it could pierce her forehead.

Jotaro shifted his eyes to Noriko, who was trembling from fear and anger. He could see her discomfort and wanted to comfort her but held back against the idea. He then looked back at Enyaba.

"I live to serve Lord Dio...I believe in him…" Enyaba muttered.

"Enyaba!" Polnareff cried out while summoning his Stand. Silver Chariot cut the tentacles into pieces and they scattered under the sunlight.

The tentacles quickly disintegrated right before their very own eyes. Just like when Joseph used Hamon to disintegrate Noriko's flesh bud after being removed.

"I-It is a flesh bud! They're Dio's own cell!" Joseph pointed out.

"My, my, what a great observation, Joseph Joestar…" Steely Dan had a smug grin on his face while leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. "I'm impressed you were able to figure it out. This is what a flesh bud from Dio's cells looks like when they're fully grown. I just simply helped it sprout a little faster." He then stepped away from the wall uncrossing his arms.

"Enyaba," He continued. "I heard you were the only one who told Lord Dio the existence of Stands but there is no way Lord Dio would trust a decrepit old woman such as you. It would appear this never occurred to you…"

"Enyaba!" Joseph shouted and rushed over to her. He kneeled down next to her. "Tell us the true identity of Dio's Stand!" He desperately asked.

Everyone including Steely Dan gasped in shock from the question.

"Please tell us!" Joseph demanded. "You placed your hope and trust in Dio and look how he repaired you for it! He's not the man you thought he was! I have to defeat Dio! Please, tell me! You need to tell me about Dio's Stand!"

Enyaba was panting heavily while the blood squirted out from her wounds. It was obvious she was a few seconds away from dying.

"...L-Lord...D-Dio…" Enyaba whispered in a raspy voice.

The Crusaders stood there staring at the woman, aching to know her answer. This was their opportunity for them to be at an advantage to defeat Dio and save Jotaro's mother, Holly.

Another long silent moment passes, waiting for Enyaba to finish her sentence.

"...He still believes in me...I will not say anything…" With those final words, her entire body went limp.

Enyaba is dead.

"OH GOD!" Joseph screamed from all the anger and frustration that had built inside him. They were so close.

A chuckle interrupted their silent moment and they all averted their eyes at Steely Dan, who was sitting down at a small table with a cup of hot tea already served.

"How pitiful…" He chuckled again. "What a truly pitiful woman Enyaba was. But the fact that her trust ran so deeply further proves the power of Lord Dio's sinister charm."

All four Crusaders surrounded the cruel man, giving him a deadly glare. They didn't say anything and watched him casually drink his hot tea.

Polnareff raised up his hand, "Because Enyaba was linked to my sister's death, part of myself is glad but…" He bawls up his hand into a fist. "...I'm still gonna kill you." He seethed.

"We won't hesitate even if it's four against one…" Noriko warned as she narrowed her eyes at him. "So you better prepare yourself."

"Get up." Jotaro ordered with a frown on his face.

Steely Dan ignored the delinquent and sipped his tea again.

"Hey, jackass!" Jotaro called him out. "Quit acting like you're the hot shit. We'll kick your ass if that's what it takes."

"Go ahead then…" Dan challenged him. "But none of you will be able to lay a single finger on me, the great Steely Dan-"

"ORA!"

Star Platinum cut off Steely Dan's sentence by punching him hard in the chest, sending him flying away. And behind the group, Joseph was also sent flying. Both men screamed while spitting out blood.

Jotaro looked back at his grandfather, confused. "What?!"

Steely Dan crashed into the store's window.

"Mr. Joestar!" Noriko cried out.

"What the hell just happened?! They both flew back at the same time!" Polnareff pointed out.

Steely Dan groaned from the pain, slowly lifting his head up. "Y-You bastard! I wasn't finished talking!" He hissed, shakily standing back up and wiping the blood off his mouth. "You were so close to killing your own grandfather. Listen carefully...Do you really think I appeared before you just to kill Enyaba?"

"Y-You bastard!" Joseph groaned. "You said you have a Stand that represents The Lovers, didn't you? W-What does it do?!"

"The only thing you must know is that the battle has already begun, Mr. Joestar…"

Jotaro, Noriko and Polnareff looked around to try to find his Stand.

"You fools…" Steel Dan continued. "No matter how hard you look, you won't be able to find my Stand that easily." He turned his head to the side, a little boy humming while sweeping the ground caught his attention.

"Hey, kid!" He called out the little boy while digging into his pocket. "Here, I'll give you a tip so hit my leg with your broom." He pulled out a bill from his pocket.

He tossed the bill to the little boy and Joseph widened his eyes in realization.

"I-It can't be!"

The little boy happily accepted the money by catching it with his little hands.

"Hit me!"

The boy smacked Steely Dan's left leg with his broom, hard.

Steely Dan didn't budge nor made a sound from the hit but Joseph let out a painful scream and grabbed his own left leg.

"W-What happened, Mr. Joestar?!" Noriko asked.

"I-It hurts!" Joseph cried, placing both hands on the sides of his face. "I don't know what the hell is happening but this pain is unbearable!"

"You still haven't figured it out, Joseph Joestar?" Steely Dan had a devious smirk on his face. "I'll explain it to you then. You see, Mr. Joestar, my Stand enters the bodies of others! The moment Enyaba died, it entered your brain through your ear!"

"WHAT?!"

"My Stand and I are one in the same. If my Stand is hurt, so will I and vice versa." Steely Dan explained. "Let's say you scratched me. My Stand, which is inside your brain, will react to the pain and suffering at the same time by going berserk! It will inflict pain several times greater to the same part of your body. I'll say it once more…" He lifted up a finger.

"None of you will be able to lay a single finger on me! I should also mention that my Stand, The Lovers, has taken Lord Dio's flesh bud into your body. It's growing inside your brain as we speak. Just like that old bitch, Enyaba, it will eat you from the inside and kill you!"

The boy who hit Steely Dan moments ago with the broom, giggled and smacked his leg again.

"OOOOWWWW!" Joseph wailed from the pain.

Steely Dan chuckled while the boy held out his hand, ready to receive another tip.

"Did I say you could hit me again?" Steely Dan asked the little boy and turned to look at him.

"You stupid fucking brat!" And with that he strikes the boy with his bare fist.

The boy was thrown back to the ground with a yelp. He quickly stood up, picked up his broom and ran off.

"Well, if you want me to be honest…" Steely Dan shrugged off the dirt from his pants. "My Stand, The Lovers, is extremely weak. It's not even capable enough to pick up a strand of hair, making it physically the weakest Stand in the world but…" He glanced at the four Crusaders.

"You don't need power to kill humans…"

"If I were to get hurt in a car accident, hit by a baseball, or even trip and fall, Mr. Joestar…" Steely Dan took a step forward. "Your body will suffer much greater damage than mine." He began cracking his fingers.

Joseph flinched, "W-What?! I can even feel pain with my prosthetic hand?!"

"And in ten minutes your brain will be devoured and you'll be dead just like Enyaba!" Steel Dan smirked.

An enraged Jotaro growled under his breath and grabbed the collar of Steely Dan's shirt, raising a fist along with his Stand. Ready to pulverize the bastard.

Noriko quickly stepped between the two men. Her back was firmly pressed against the delinquent's chest while she was face to face with Steely Dan.

"J-JoJo, calm down!" She ordered. "I don't want you doing anything stupid!"

Jotaro ignored the teen and moved his fist farther back, prepared to punch the shit out of Steely Dan. "No. I'll kill this son of a bitch so quickly that he won't have a moment to feel pain."

Since Jotaro was keeping a tight grip on Steely Dan, behind him, his grandfather began to suffocate. Alarmed, he immediately let go of the bastard in front of him to prevent any pain transmitted to Joseph. The elder Joestar coughed in relief, finally able to breathe again while Steely Dan adjusted his collar.

Steely Dan scoffed, "Hmph! Without a moment to feel pain, huh?" He said. "What a wonderful idea, Jotaro. Let's see you try it." He challenged.

"It sounds quite fascinating, don't you agree? Where were you planning to hit me? My face? My throat?" He taunted the student.

Jotaro remained silent, with his fist still in front of him. Noriko could see he was slightly shaking from all the anger that was boiling up inside of him. She had no doubt that at any moment Jotaro would explode and kill him in an instant despite it killing his grandfather.

"Come on, Jotaro! What's wrong? Try it, already! Let's see what will happen. How about busting a hole through my chest since it'll be quick." He turned to the side and walked towards a rock that was nearby, it was the size of a fist. "Or perhaps you should probably forget about using your Stand altogether and just bash my head open with this rock. It's this size good enough?" He bent down to pick it and the moment he turned around, Jotaro grabbed him by the collar again, pulling him close.

"You don't wanna underestimate me, pretty boy." Jotaro snarled, giving Steely Dan a deadly glare. "When I say I'm going to do something, I fucking do it." He narrowed his eyes as he tightened his grip on the collar.

With the tension building up and Joseph already struggling to breathe again, Noriko knew this time Jotaro was going to attack him this very moment.

In a flash, Star Platinum came out and his fist charged at Steely Dan. Noriko quickly grabbed onto Jotaro's shoulder and summoned her Stand. She used Hierophant Green to grab Star Platinum's fist on time before it could make any contact with the enemy. She was surprised at herself for being able to hold the delinquent back and his Star Platinum with Hierophant Green.

"Don't do anything rash, Jotaro!" Noriko yelled, desperately trying to keep her grip on him to prevent him from hurting Steely Dan. Then their Stands diminished.

"We already saw what his powers can do!" She reminded him. "Are you trying to kill your grandfather?!" Behind the two was a choking Joseph, his hand was on his throat trying to breathe.

Seeing Noriko struggle, Polnareff steps in to help and uses his arm to pull Jotaro back.

"H-He might be the type to actually do it…" Polnareff remarked.

"Tch!" Jotaro frowned.

"You're not taking me seriously…" Steely Dan said while smirking at Jotaro. He smacks the heavy rock against Jotaro's bicep, making Noriko and Polnareff let go and step away from the Japanese student.

Jotaro hesitantly releases his grip from the enemy. But this only amuses Steely Dan.

"You…!" He swings the rock right into Jotaro's stomach, making him drop to his knees and spit blood out of his mouth.

"JOTARO!" Joseph screamed.

"Don't underestimate me , you son of a bitch!" Steely Dan warned. "After your stupid grandfather dies…" He raises the heavy rock in hand.

"Watch out, JoJo!" Noriko cried out.

Jotaro used his arms to block the blow, the hit forced him to fall down on the ground.

"I'll be sending The Lovers into your brain to kill you next!"

All three Crusaders rushed over to help Jotaro. Noriko rubbed his arm to soothe the pain while Joseph shot a glare at Steely Dan.

"What the hell is your problem?!" Joseph snapped at the man.

Steely Dan doesn't respond. He dropped the rock and only laughed at them for what he was doing. Jotaro hissed while slowly getting on his hands and knees, blood dripping on the ground from his mouth while he trembled with rage.

Joseph placed a hand on the side of his head while panicking, "D-Damn it! How can this be?! My own grandson is being beaten to protect me! We're completely at this bastard's mercy! His Stand is inside my brain...When I was younger, a ring was placed in my heart and throat! But...come on, Joseph, think! I have to do something! I need to do something!"

An idea comes into mind and averted his attention to Noriko, who was attending Jotaro.

"Noriko." He called the red-haired teen.

Noriko turns to look at him. They stare at each other for a brief moment before silently nodding and standing back up on their feet. Her hands slipped away from Jotaro, making him look at Noriko and his grandfather. Missing the contact from Noriko.

Both teen and the elder started to run without saying a word. Leaving Polnareff and Jotaro behind.

"H-Hey! Wait for me!" Polnareff shouted, having no idea what they're planning to do and chased after them.

Noriko half-turned while she ran, "JoJo! Make sure to keep him away from Mr. Joestar! We're gonna get as far away as possible!"

"Oh, I see…" Steely Dan muttered, a little amused. "Those idiots think that by going far away it'll weaken my Stand's power? Even the weak can possess a different kind of strength. My Stand, The Lovers, may be weak but once it's inside someone's body. I can still control it much farther away than any other Stand. Even from hundreds of kilometers away."

Jotaro got back on his feet without looking at Steely Dan but he still had a dark look on his face.

"Hey, Jotaro!" Steely Dan grabbed the collar of his coat. "I'm talking to you, you bastard! Why are you looking away so calmly? Look at me!"

Jotaro shifted his eyes at him, "You sound like you're starting to lose your cool."

"Do you plan on following me until your stupid grandfather dies?" Steely Dan asked.

"You said your name was Dan, right? I'll make sure you pay for all of this…" Jotaro threatened.

Not intimidated by his threat, he walked in front of the delinquent and chuckled. "Making empty threats now, huh? But since that's your reasoning for following me, perhaps I should borrow a few items." He reached into Jotaro's pockets and took out his wallet and watch.

Opening the delinquent's wallet, Steely Dan didn't seem impressed. "Is this all you have?" He then looked at the watch. "But you do have a nice TAG Heuer watch though...I'll just borrow these." He placed them in his pockets.

Jotaro continued to stare at him with his menacing glare.

"There!" Noriko pointed at an electronics store that had televisions displayed behind the window.

All three Crusaders followed behind her while they panted, trying to catch their breath after running for so long.

"Mr. Joestar there's a lot of televisions! You can use one of them here!" Noriko said.

"W-Wait a minute, what are you guys planning to do?" Polnareff asked as he tried to catch his breath.

"Polnareff, did you seriously think we were just simply running away and leaving my grandson behind?" Joseph asked the Frenchman. "We're going to fight this Stand that's inside my head."

"F-Fight?!"

"You'll be assisting us, Polnareff." Noriko stated. "We most likely have less than a few minutes to defeat the Stand."

"Huh?!"

Joseph pressed his hands on the window, "Hermit Purple!" Joseph shouted as the purple vines manifested and went through the glass, wrapping around one of the televisions.

The televisions started off with a lot of static before it settled down showing an image of the Stand. It appeared like a robotic humanoid creature with an insectoid head and with crab pincers for hands.

"There it is!" Noriko pointed out. "That's the Lovers!"

"Oh no!" Joseph cried. "Never have I once thought I'll be seeing my own brain!"

Polnareff began to sweat drop, "That is a super tiny Stand…" He then turned to Noriko. "How are we going to fight this damn thing?!"

"Our Stands will enter Mr. Joestar's body and defeat it there." Noriko answered.

"W-Wait what?!" Polnareff stared at her like she was crazy. "How?! Our Stands are not tiny like the Lovers!"

"Stands are images created from energy." Noriko explained. "It shouldn't be a problem to make them shrink."

"Are you serious, Noriko?!"

"H-Hey," Joseph looked over his shoulder at the two Crusaders. "Take it easy on me, will you?" He nervously asked.

"Alright, Polnareff, we don't have any time to waste! We're going in!" Noriko declared.

"Hierophant Green!"

"Silver Chariot!"

Both Stands were summoned and began shrinking to shrink much smaller than a mosquito. The little green and little silver figures headed their way inside Joseph's ear, traveling down the canal at high speed.

"Smaller." Noriko knitted her brows, concentrating . "We'll be entering through the blood vessel."

While Joseph, Noriko and Polnareff are about to battle The Lovers, Steely Dan and Jotaro come across a drainage ditch.

"A drainage ditch?" Steely Dan muttered, "You know, I could try jumping across but I would risk tripping and twisting my ankle. And I don't feel like walking all the way over there to that bridge…" He looked over to Jotaro.

"Hey, Jotaro, lie down across the ditch and make yourself into a bridge. I'll be using you to walk over." He requested.

Jotaro ignored him and avoided eye contact.

"What, are you not gonna do it?"

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Jotaro retorted.

"I SAID MAKE YOURSELF INTO A BRIDGE YOU IGNORANT JACKASS!" Steely Dan snapped at the teen and slammed his leg against the hydrant that was next to him.

The sudden wave of excruciating pain shot through Joseph's leg while he let out a painful scream.

"What's the matter?!"

"Mr. Joestar!"

"M-M-My leg! I-It went numb!" Joseph groaned as he was forced to move his hands away from the window and dropped down on his knee.

"What the hell is Jotaro doing?!" He asked while gritting his teeth.

Jotaro stared at Steely Dan with a dark look on his face with his fists clenching tightly.

Steely Dan chuckled, "What's the matter, Jotaro?" He taunted the delinquent.

Jotaro looks away and walks towards the ditch. He got down on one knee and stayed like that for a moment, to which Steely Dan found very annoying as he waited for him to become a bridge.

"Come on now! Hurry the hell up! I don't have all day!"

"Tch!" Jotaro gritted his teeth and made himself into a bridge.

Steely Dan grinned, "Good." He said in a raspy voice.

He began walking over the delinquent, each step he took was putting more and more pressure on Jotaro. He stayed in the center by standing on one leg.

"You're quite a sturdy bridge, aren't you, Jotaro?" Steely Dan teased while Jotaro grunted and hissed under breath.

He was fuming from the embarrassment and wanted to beat the shit out of him right here and there but he had to wait a little more longer before he could do so.

Steely Dan stomped on Jotaro's hand, hard, before finally getting off of him.

After recovering from the terrible pain, Joseph got back into position and used Hermit Purple again on the television. This time a different image appeared of Joseph's brain on the screen.

"Mr. Joestar." Noriko approached the elder Joestar and pointed at a glowing light on the image. "It appears our enemy, The Lovers, is in the brainstem, the point where the nervous system begins." She informed the two men. "Polnareff and I will have to enter through the vein from inside your ear, then swim through the blood vessels towards the brainstem." She turned to Polnareff.

"Polnareff, open a hole in the wall of the blood vessel so we can pass." She ordered.

"W-Wait a minute, Noriko!" Joseph protested. "You're both using Stands! Can't you two just slip through it?!"

Noriko placed a hand on her hip, "I apologize, Mr. Joestar but it's not possible for this size." She said. "The walls of the blood vessel are too thick but don't worry, the hole will be microscopic." She assured him though he didn't seem convinced. "Cutting through a blood vessel or nerve could take several minutes otherwise we already would have cut down the enemy's Stand. And this is only the beginning…"

Joseph was nervous and panicking more than before. Noriko's words didn't help at all to calm him down.

"Keeping our Stands this small is really exhausting, it uses so much Stand power…" Polnareff said with a strained voice. He was already tired but he had a look of determination.

"Here we go!" And with that Silver Chariot cuts a hole big enough for both Stands to fit through.

"OH MY GOD!" Joseph cried from the sensation. "I think I'm gonna be sick…" He mumbled as he felt a little strange from it.

As for Jotaro, he followed behind Steely Dan while furiously glaring at the bastard who was humming cheerfully. He was trying his best to hold back and could only wait for his companions to defeat The Lovers.

To be continued….

So what did you all think? I hope it wasn't too much the explicit scene but it's a small preview of Noriko's backstory when she first encountered Dio and what happened.

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and have a great weekend! Cya on the next one ～('▽^人)