Bearticguy7: Wow, you were busy while I was gone! Great Stands!
Euphoria: It seems like cool idea, but I don't think Stands can ever truly be erased. They're souls after all. Still, neat concept!
Jpx0999: DIO's story won't end on the Barge, but the callback to Jonathan IS foreshadowing for some good old fashioned humiliation.
Dumpstertrashfire123: No, I just changed it to suit more classic interpretations of ghosts. I like ghosts with an air of mystery to them.
BryanV2: Plan B is coming soon...although I wouldn't say he's the final villain...of THIS story anyway.
Guest: Well, there are hints to what it might be in this chapter...pay attention to when she realizes they're gone. Also, unlike Afton, DIO will be meeting his end in a different story that runs parallel to this one.
Monster King: Thanks!
Minakos Love Ryo: DIO is still technically dead...although I guess he's alive at the moment, since he's in a living body?
Kasumi Kenshiro: As of right now, The World isn't fully formed, and it can't stop time yet.
Sailor Hunter: Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it!
Guest 69: I love writing Kyoka. I'm not hesitant to admit it, her arc throughout this story has been a blast. The Detective is an interesting case...he might just be a mix of both.
Also, I'm glad you're enjoying it!
Madvertise: As cool as Diavolo is, I kinda like leaving him in the death loop. It just feels like something I shouldn't touch, y'know?
Death Omen Star: I don't remember saying Siren Head would be in the Barge...but he might show up eventually! Maybe I did and I'm just stupid, but Siren Head at sea seems a little odd to me at the moment.
It's a special thing...being a mentor.
When you know someone looks up to you, you try to be your best self. You share a bit of yourself with them, and more than anything, you want them to succeed.
They become special to you, and you take enjoyment in watching them grow.
Being a mentor means to devote yourself to guiding your student into being their best self, just as parents do with their children. There's a form of love between mentor and student, a bond that is not easily shaken. The student looks up to and emulates the mentor, and the mentor leads by example, leading the student until the student no longer needs them.
There was certainly this type of love between Josuke Higashikata and Kyoka Jiro, and it was only strengthened by her potential to become family. Josuke genuinely thought the world of her, this snarky, somewhat cranky punk with a heart of gold that had come into his life through his nephew...
Which is why when DIO had used her body to beat and humiliate him, destroying his precious hair...it hurt even worse than when his grandfather died.
His grandfather, while his death was tragic, had lived a full and fulfilling life. Kyoka was still growing up...and he was helping her do it.
Wounded, and wallowing in sorrow, a broken Josuke Higashikata was now sitting in a corner within the bowels of the demonic boat that had snatched his apprentice from him. His hair fell to his shoulders, his comb broken by one of The World's punches, along with one of his ribs.
"How many times have I told you to drop the 'mister?' Just call me Josuke!"
"B-but...I...I just wanted to be polite, and..."
"...I've been training you for how many months? Kyoka, you've come to me for DATING advice, which has absolutely nothing to do with hero work...I think it's safe to say we can drop formalities."
"You're right...Josuke."
Josuke gritted his teeth, trying to choke back a sob. Memories of Kyoka, and DIO sneering at him with her face...just made him want to turn back time. To hold her back...to have DIO possess him in her place, to do something...ANYTHING.
Instead, he had failed her.
He couldn't help but recall his conversation with Rohan just a few hours after her first internship with him.
"So...the girl actually defeated the Stand User?" Rohan asked, scribbling in his manuscript. "Color me impressed."
"Was that a pun on the color spread you're working on?" Josuke quipped, shooting his frienemy a smirk as he limped past. His knee injury from Takuma Hasumi's crossbow trap hadn't quite healed yet.
"Shut up." Rohan put his pen down for a moment, and then turned to him. "Frankly, I'm surprised you even gave her a chance."
"What is that supposed to mean? She has potential!"
"Oh, I'm not denying that. Her Quirk is so unique, strangely elegant...I still want to draw it in action, my pride as an artist won't let it go. I'm talking about you Josuke." Rohan crossed his arms, giving his rival a pointed look.
"Johnny?"
"Johnny. Her internship was supposed to be his, and when he was shot, you were completely against having an intern at all. Your family experienced quite the tragedy...so why the sudden change of heart?"
Josuke sighed, taking out his comb and sitting on Rohan's desk, much to the manga artist's annoyance. "...Johnny asked me to. He clearly saw something special about her, he teamed up with her during the Sports Festival, and they fought together during the USJ incident. After seeing her spirit in action...I can see it too."
Rohan hummed in thought.
"Perhaps...having an intern would be good for the agency you're trying to build. Perhaps it's also good for you."
"You just want her around so you can draw her."
"She impressed you, did she not?" Rohan continued, not denying the allegation. "You saw something in her, and you want that potential to go to waste? Help her realize it!"
"...I've never...actually taken someone under my wing like that before, Rohan."
"Josuke, you're an insufferable moron...but you're unfortunately an inspiring one. I could see it in her eyes when she left, you left an impact on her. I think it is in your best interest to see it through...after all...you can't protect Morioh forever, none of us can..."
That line struck Josuke in particular.
You can't protect Morioh forever...he's right. I mean, I'm only 30 but...I'm not going to stay that way...someone will have to take over the agency when I retire...
Still, she's a kid, and I don't want to groom her into being my successor or something...but...she does have potential, a lot of it. Jiro went to protect Okuyasu without any regard to her own safety, despite being told to run away...
She also imitated Crazy Diamond's Stand Cry...so she does look up to me. She has the heart of a real hero...why the hell wouldn't I want to encourage that?!
"You know what Rohan? You're right...I sent her a training schedule...but I think I'll take a more direct approach."
"Are you hiring her?"
"Get your pencil ready Rohan, that's all I have to say."
She went from an intern studying under him for a week, to his full-on apprentice. Josuke was determined to teach her everything he knew, and more.
They trained her Quirk to the best of it's searching and destructive capabilities, she built up muscle, he taught her to think outside of the box during fights, and how to outwit Stand Users, and she caught on quick.
He was there when she defeated her second Stand User, Hot Shot, and he was overcome with pride for her.
She came to him for advice for everyday life too, and he always gave her answers to the best of his ability. How to ask Johnny out, how to deal with Setsuna's borderline harassment, homework, and just for some kind words of encouragement.
He went from her mentor in hero work, to her mentor in life.
I should've done something...I should've came with her, I should've continued to watch over her! Now...I...I might have lost her...
Josuke sniffled, wiping his face, and limped further into the boat.
I have to hold myself together. Kyoka wouldn't want me to sit around and do nothing...she'd want me to avenge her, to stop whatever DIO is planning in her name...so her efforts never went to waste.
Maybe...she isn't lost. Maybe I can save her.
No, he HAD to save her. He had to believe it was possible, because the alternative would dishearten him to the point of no return. He was her mentor, someone who she could rely on.
"I can save you Kyoka...I know it! I won't fail you..." Josuke muttered as he disappeared around a corner.
Kyoka was also thinking of her mentor, and how utterly hopeless the situation had become.
That's when the Detective of all people chose to sit next to her. Kyoka gave him the side eye, and then looked back towards the floor.
"If you're planning to kill me...don't bother. DIO already did."
"I was never planning to kill you, and your body is still alive."
"Not for long, and I probably have like...a 1% chance to get it back at this point."
The Detective turned to look at her, keeping eye contact.
"That means there's a chance, is there not? It's not 0%."
"Why do you care?" Kyoka finally just put the question out there. There was still so much she had to know about her apparent ally, so she just decided to be frank. "Why are you even here? Why send me the Hand of Glory? You've just been walking around without giving me a hint...what was I supposed to think when I saw Killer Queen?"
Kira huffed, taking off his hat.
"I regained the memories of Yoshikage Kira a little bit after the incident with the Necromancer. As soon as I did...a portion of Killer Queen came back."
"So you are-"
"No. I said I regained his memories...I never said I was him. They feel like they belong to someone else...but nonetheless the past of Yoshikage Kira is my past as well. His crimes are mine, and I still suffer for them. My work as the Detective is my punishment you see...I can never go to the afterlife...I am forced to wander the realm of the living."
"Earth is your prison."
"Yes."
Kyoka gave a soft hum, taking in the information. "So you're essentially serving an eternal sentence, and helping me was part of that."
"No, I did that of my own volition."
"Why? I'm the apprentice of your worst enemy."
"...that's precisely why." Kira said, looking away. "I'm not entirely the same person as Yoshikage Kira, unlike him...I can have regrets. I was initially investigating DIO, but I found out you were a target, so...I tried to equip you to survive an encounter with him...but approaching you directly would raise alarms."
"Are you looking for forgiveness or something?" Kyoka asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No. I can't be forgiven, I can't be redeemed. I'm damned, and deep down...I don't want to be. So keep your bitterness, keep your distrust...I only did it because I wanted peace of mind."
"...we all do."
The two were silent for a while, neither really knowing what to say.
"Where do we go from here?" Kira asked.
"Maybe I'll haunt my friends and family for a while...say my goodbyes."
"You're giving up?"
"What can I do?" Kyoka asked, blinking back tears. "I'm fucking helpless, my body is going to die in about an hour or so...The Barge will reach land, and everyone is hurt. DIO is so close to winning I can fucking taste it."
"Jiro, if DIO wins, your friends will be joining you. His goal is to use the negative energy on this boat to boost the calamity happening on land. Y2K is there to inspire chaos...but the boat itself is part of his plan."
Kyoka winced.
"My friends are in the Gunga Mountains with the page...they're...already in danger from the calamity. Johnny...Gyro...Ochako...they're all there. If the calamity gets worse-"
"They'll die. Brutally and painfully...pure misfortune will rain down upon them and they will be powerless to stop it. Our actions on this boat dictate their fates as well."
Kyoka clenched her fist, biting down on a jack to keep herself from screaming in frustration. The Dark Determination was burning in her eyes...her anger and resentment towards DIO and what he was doing turning lethal. Kyoka was desperate and hopeless, and more than anything...on the verge of exploding.
Fury...sadness...hopelessness. She didn't know whether to rage or to cry.
Fear.
The flames faded once Kyoka remembered looking into DIO's blood orange eyes. The sheer power, the icy cold grip he had around her heart as soon as he spoke. The fear of losing it all to his plan.
What if her parents got caught up in the calamity? It was only a matter of time before it spread across Japan...if it hadn't already.
What if someone was already hurt...or worse?
One thing was for sure...she had to do something. Even if it was at the cost of never getting her body back, she had to try and help stop DIO.
"I'm so fucking scared."
"...I'm sure you are. Most 16 year olds wouldn't be in this position-"
"-but I'm not going to sit and mope about it. I'm pretty sure I'm fucked...but I am not going to stand for my friends meeting the same fate. We need to make sure this boat sinks before it hits land...even if I go with it."
"Really?"
Kyoka was shaking, having come to terms with what she was saying...but she had made up her mind.
The Barge sinking, for the sake of her friends in the hotspot of the weakened calamity...was her number one priority. If she had to sacrifice herself for the people she loved...the this 16 year old would give her life without second thought.
"Yes, I have an idea."
Josuke peered around a corner, listening intently to a conversation.
"Why...why on Earth did you save me you big hunk of junk?! You're supposed to be this emotionless killing machine!" Ungalo was yelling at a defunct Y2K. Apparently, the human computer had taken a hit meant for DIO's son, and the drug addict was trying to understand why.
"It doesn't matter...Y2K is out of commission for the time being, which means his magnetism can't repair the boat." Kyoka's voice responded, much colder than it should be. "Guard him for me, will you? With the other two Stand Users down...it's just the three of us, and he's the only one who can keep this thing sailing."
"What are they saying?" A voice came from behind Josuke.
"Something about...huh?!" Josuke turned around to find Fumikage Tokoyami giving him a blank stare. "Jesus. You're one of Kyoka's bandmates right?"
"Indeed. I too wish to free her from DIO's grasp. Mr. Kujo is in one of the vents, crawling around like a gremlin."
"Since I can't imagine Jotaro doing that...I assume that would be Jolyne's husband...the guy's a weirdo."
"He's kind of creepy." Tokoyami agreed.
Ungalo wandered into their line of sight, sitting in a corner. There was no look of madness on his face...instead it was almost sadness.
"He never said, 'I'm glad you weren't hurt Ungalo', he didn't even seem to care that his pet Nomu almost fucking killed me. You understand, right Y2K?"
Silence.
"Right...you've shut down for the time being. Heh...you saved me. Even though we barely know each other, you pushed me out of the way...why is it that a fucking robot cares more than my father?"
Ungalo huffed, grinning to himself.
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised...I don't think I've ever been loved. That Jolyne bitch was right..."
"Did you just insult my wife?"
Ungalo blinked. "Huh?"
Diver Down suddenly grabbed him by the throat, and he was lifted clean off of his feet. Narciso was crawling down the wall like the freaky attractive goblin he was, angrily glaring daggers at Ungalo. "Did you just insult my wife? I believe I heard the word, 'bitch', come out of your mouth."
"EEEK!"
"I am this close to turning you into a COUCH. Or would you prefer to be a rug instead?" Narciso asked, coldly.
"Woah, easy there Narciso." Josuke stepped out from around the corner, and the former convict looked at him with surprise.
"Jolyne's uncle? What the hell happened to you?!"
"DIO."
"I see...you couldn't hurt Kyoko, could you?"
"It's Kyok-"
"He isn't going to drop it." Tokoyami said, shaking his head.
"I just remembered something Ungalo...correct me if I'm wrong, but when someone is exposed to a fictional character that they recognize, their soul is ripped from their body, correct?" Narciso asked, and Josuke suddenly stepped forward.
"So this little fucker is responsible..."
"I-I..." Ungalo wheezed out, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Josuke proceeded to grab Ungalo's face with his bare hand, and began to squeeze, a look nothing short of pure fury on his face. "BRING HER BACK, NOW."
"E-even if I wanted to...I-I can't do it so easily!" Ungalo cried out from beneath Josuke's palm. "My Stand only separates someone from their body, I have no control over where the soul goes!"
"DIO is already inhabiting her body, she isn't inside of it." Tokoyami stated, narrowing his eyes.
"Use it on DIO then!" Josuke snarled.
"Then...her body will just die...she won't be near it." Ungalo said, shaking like a leaf. "I-I'm powerless here!"
Narciso recalled the fight with Bohemian Rhapsody, and the circumstances he had gone through in his attempts to catch up with his own body.
"Who did Kyoko see?"
"H-huh?"
"Your Stand has the potential to affect the entire world, so you had to unleash in a small burst, considering no one else has been exposed to it." Narciso said. "Which means you only used one character...so who did Kyoko see?"
"I-I won't tell you! I won't betray my fath-"
"DORA!"
Crazy Diamond drove it's fist into Ungalo's stomach.
"Who did she see?" Josuke asked, venom dripping from his voice. "I am willing to do just about anything and everything to make sure my student comes home safe...so don't expect me to continue taking it easy on you for very long."
"M-Mario...I used...Mario..." Ungalo rasped out.
Narciso hummed in thought...and then grinned.
"DIO saw Mario too, didn't he?"
"We should...sink the boat?" Jolyne asked, and Kyoka gave her a solemn nod.
"Sink this fucker right down to the bottom of the ocean. If all of us work together on this, we can do enough damage to the boat to get it to sink while the water is still deep."
"Kyoka...your body..."
"I don't care. Well...I do, but if this boat hits land, everyone out there is done for. Jolyne...this might be the only way."
"No." Jotaro said, looking at her with a furious expression. "No, I do not condone that."
"...I've thought about this-"
"You haven't thought enough." Jotaro interrupted her. "You are one of the least expendable people here."
"My body is going to die soon! I don't have much time left anyway!" Kyoka snapped. "This is my way of helping-"
"You. Aren't. Dying." Jotaro leaned over, looking her in the eye. "I don't care if you think getting your body back is impossible, because that word means nothing to us. We can you back and sink this boat at the same time, we just need a plan."
Kyoka stared her teacher down, feeling a jolt of guilt, remembering how Jotaro lost most of his friends in Egypt...
If she died, DIO would have taken someone else from him.
"...okay...but, I've already made up my mind...if worst comes to worst-"
"Please don't talk like that." Jolyne said, softly. "This isn't like you..."
"-if I don't make it, just tell Johnny I'm sorry...and look after my folks. That's all I want to say." Kyoka finished, turning away from the two Kujos. "From what the Detective told me...the boat already has a hole in it, so it's already sinking, it's just so big that it will take a while. I'm running out of time either way."
Jotaro huffed, and adjusted the brim of his hat, his lips pressed tight enough to turn white. "Yare yare daze...you aren't wrong. DIO said your body could last two days before dying...and you've been here at least 46 hours. We have two hours before your body can't handle DIO's soul anymore."
"Two hours to save Kyoka...how long until the Barge could reach land if we don't sink it?" Jolyne asked.
"By my calculations...45 minutes." The Detective chimed in, glancing at the fog. "Maybe less."
"...so the Barge does indeed need to be taken care of first. Maybe instead of sinking it, we can stop it." Jolyne got up and adjusted the bandage over her burned neck. "Narciso could use Diver Down to stop the engines from running, we just need to find him."
"The boat is about half a mile long, he could be anywhere." Kyoka responded. "I'm sure he's okay...with his Stand and his brains, maybe he's already bought us an advantage."
"Tokoyami, where is he?"
"No idea..." Kyoka responded, when her jacks picked up something that chilled her to the bone. "Guys...we...aren't alone."
Jotaro had clammed up, and both he and Jolyne had looks of genuine terror on their faces...
Which could only mean one thing.
"Did you really think I'd give you Joestars an opportunity to outsmart me?" Kyoka's voice came from the hallway, and DIOka emerged from the shadows, her normally deep purple eyes glowing blood orange with bloodlust. "I can track you, remember? I knew if you all tried to formulate some sort of plan, it might prove to be my downfall. I had hoped for Y2K to keep you all on the run...but he's...out of commission for a while."
Kyoka's pale face smiled maliciously as the broken The World appeared behind her, slamming it's fists together.
"So...I'll simply interrupt you before any plan can be solidified. I can keep you busy for about 45 minutes, right? Oh, and...I wouldn't try and tire this body out too much, the time limit I had was an estimate...in reality her frail heart could give out at any time, now that we're so close to the 48 hour mark."
"You've got to be fucking kidding me..." Kyoka breathed out, and DIO turned to look at her.
"Oh, I'm sorry. You must have had some small sliver of hope left...poor thing."
"I...I hate you." Kyoka growled, gritting her teeth. Tears were dripping down her cheeks as she stared at the man who was tearing her entire future apart. "I...I actually hate you."
DIO laughed right in her face, throwing his head back and letting out a cackle. At that moment...
Star Platinum punched The World across the face, full force.
"DIOOOOOOOOOOO!" Jotaro screamed, the expression on his face almost feral as he unleashed his Stand upon his long hated enemy. Jolyne could only stare in shock as her father almost completely lost his cool, but everyone knew why...
He had made Kyoka cry, that was enough. He had brought her, and everyone on the boat, to the brink of despair. Once more, DIO was torturing people he held dear.
Every fucking time, he crosses line after line! Jotaro thought to himself in his rage, Star Platinum pushing the attack. Egypt, now this! She did nothing to deserve this, except for falling in love with my son! You fucking bastard, I REFUSE TO LET YOU RUIN ANYTHING ELSE!
He couldn't help but picture what DIO had done in these short two days.
The look of utter defeat of Josuke's face, his hair in tatters.
Jolyne's wounds.
Kyoka having been drained of all hope, resigned to a fate that shouldn't be meant for her. He couldn't stand it, when he saw her face...when DIO taunted her.
It made him snap.
"ORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!/MUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDA!"
The two Stands resumed their feud from decades ago with a vengance, exchanging blows as if it was still the 80s, and Joseph was still on the ground with a knife in his neck. Jotaro was the 17 year old delinquent he used to be, unleashing his fury on the man who ruined his life.
The man who was threatening to completely ruin, and end, Kyoka's.
DIO was smirking at him with her face, an expression that was completely foreign on her. A perversion of the girl he had come to know and respect.
The World was weak, nowhere near it's full power, so DIO was simply hiding behind a hostage. Nonetheless, it was still at the very least keeping up with Star Platinum.
"You're getting slow in your old age, Jotaro!" DIOka taunted.
"YAKAMASHI!"
Star Platinum hooked The World's arm and closed the distance, repeatedly bashing the rival Stand in the face. Blood was dribbling from the crack down The World's middle.
"ORAORAORAORAORAORA!"
*CRACK!*
The last punch wasn't The World.
It was Kyoka's chest.
Jotaro gasped as his Stand struck DIOka head on, not enough to rip through her body, but enough to knock the wind clean out of it. If he hadn't pulled back in time...he would've torn Kyoka's body to shreds.
DIOka bounced across the hallway, blood flying out of her mouth, before rolling to a stop. Jotaro stood frozen, unable to move, as he processed what just happened.
He could've just killed Kyoka's body.
"No..."
Jotaro took a few steps forward, before DIOka gasped, coughing and rolling onto her back.
"Damn it all...I was...hoping you'd...actually kill her...that would have...made my day..." DIO coughed again, staggering to his feet. "Turns out...she's...actually quite durable. It was a close call though...her heart stopped for a second there."
Jotaro had his usual glare on his face, but his eyes were widened with rage. Star Platinum, on the other hand, was staring at it's hands, with an expression of guilt on it's face.
Bad move...it's just like Egypt, getting angry will only cause something bad to happen. He had Kyoka's body take the hit on purpose, knowing that in my anger, I would accidentally strike it.
I need to keep my emotions in check, for her sake.
"So...why Kyoka?"
DIO raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"
"Why Kyoka? Why her in particular? You could've chosen anyone close to our family...yet you chose my son's girlfriend. Why?" Jotaro inquired, his anger fading.
"She was an easy target, of course. The Joestar's love interests always tend to be." DIO responded with a grin. "I wonder how your son will react when she dies."
"Didn't Erina wash her mouth out with a dirty puddle after you sexually harassed her?" Jotaro asked. "Sounds like a strong woman to me...and Kyoka is too."
"...how on Earth would you know about that, Jotaro?"
Jotaro smirked. "She had a diary. She said that she enjoyed watching the look on your face."
Kyoka's face turned dark for a moment, before it grinned.
"I see what you're doing here Jotaro, you're trying to get in my head! Well done, you've grown up a little bit! Unfortunately, I'm wise to your tricks."
"Do you know what I think?"
DIO snorted. "What?"
"I think you're targeting Kyoka for the same reason you targeted Erina. She's a light of hope for us Joestars...bringing light to Johnny's life, just as Erina did Jonathan's. Our whole family has been affected by her positive influence."
DIO's expression slowly shifted into that of a frown.
"I think...no I know...you're scared of her, aren't you DIO?" Jotaro taunted, deciding to dig deeper. "I can feel it, you're scared of what Kyoka could do."
"She's weak!"
"I'm not talking about power, and you know it. Even then, you saw it yourself, her body took a pretty solid blow to the chest, and it lived. She's far from weak...Kyoka is stronger than you know, in body and in spirit."
Jotaro wasn't just saying that to get under DIO's skin...
He was saying that because he knew Kyoka could hear him.
Ever since the beginning of the year...you were a blessing in disguise. At first...I only saw some random kid trying to get closer to my son, but...
You're just as reliable as Koichi, as brave as Polnareff...and I know you're strong enough to pull through. I'm truly glad that my son...and I...met you.
Jotaro turned to The World, which was bearing down on him without mercy, and summoned Star Platinum to block the punch.
Kyoka, you get what I'm doing right?
If I keep fighting DIO, I'll end up killing you...and you're way too important to us. There is only one way to give you a fighting chance...
Star Platinum put down it's fists.
And that's to lose.
Kyoka's voice cut through the chaos, screaming in desperation. "NO, DON'T! I'M NOT WORTH IT! I'M NOT WORTH IT!"
"WRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" The World proceeded to pummel Jotaro senseless, beating the elder Kujo down to the ground. DIOka's eyes flashed red with malicious glee, as Jotaro laid there, motionless.
"Dad...DAAAD!" Jolyne screamed in the distance, and Stone Free's string wrapped around her father and yanked him away before The World could land a finishing blow.
"Heheheh...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!" DIO cackled, raising Kyoka's arms into the air. "After all these years...Jotaro is DEFEATED! I COULD SING! HAHAHAHAHA! I knew he wouldn't risk Jiro's life! I knew-"
The possessed girl paused, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.
"That was...too easy...that almost seemed deliberate... WAI-"
DIOka clutched her head, stumbling back, and she began to speak.
"It's my body, so I could easily slip back in. Jotaro knew this...and he'd knew you'd immediately gloat once he was defeated...HE DISTRACTED YOU!"
"JIRO! DAMN YOU!"
"Kira...Jolyne...find the others and...start sinking this rustbucket...I'll hold him off!" Kyoka said, punching herself in the face. "Go!"
"Kyoka, you..."
"GOOO!" The purplette screamed, one of her eyes had regained it's purple color, but the other was still blood orange, and glaring intensely at the other one.
"You insolent little- STOP INTERFERING!" She screamed at herself, clearly DIO was the one speaking.
"I won't stop, I'll never stop! My friends...will MAKE IT OUT ALIVE! I'LL STOP YOU, EVEN IF I GO WITH YOU!" Kyoka's body slammed into a wall, two souls battling for dominance for it, when her eyes rolled into the back of her head.
*splurt!*
Blood dripped to the floor as her jacks suddenly flew off. However, neither Kyoka, or DIO, were conscious to notice.
Foaming at the mouth, Kyoka's body fell to the floor, and laid still.
Jolyne, covered in her father's blood, could only stare. Her lips were fumbling for just about anything to say, anything to do, but in the end she was frozen in place, cradling her downed father.
"You heard her. We can't waste the opportunity she gave us."
Kira was looking down at her with a pointed look, and Jolyne slowly set her father down, and began crawling over to Kyoka.
"Don't."
"She's...she's..."
"Fighting for her life...no, for your life. Your father and Jiro both gave us an opportunity to finish this, we should take it. It's a chain JolyneKujo, everyone's actions here will effect the outcome of those fighting on the land, your father willingly lost to DIO to give Jiro an advantage, Jiro knocked both DIO and herself out, and now we have the opportunity to end this for good."
"Why did her jacks fall off? Her...oh my God..."
"Kujo. Don't let their efforts be in vain."
Jolyne looked at the foam coming out of Kyoka's mouth, and quickly noticed what was happening. Parts of her body were twitching, spasming, as blood leaked from her ears. "She's HAVING A FUCKING SEIZURE! You want me to leave her like that?!"
"We can't help her now. The only way she can be saved...is if she can overcome DIO."
Jolyne bit her lip, and reached down to take Kyoka's hand.
"...you better win...or...I'll kill you, you understand?"
With that, she stood up, laying her father's head to the ground. Taking one last look at the two...and at the jacks laying on the ground...she ran into the bowels of the ship.
It was time to sink the Barge.
Kyoka groaned as she slowly opened her eyes, blinking a few times, and she sat up.
"Ugh...my head..."
Wait...
My jacks fell off. My...MY JACKS FELL OFF!
Kyoka slowly felt around her ear, and her breathing began to quicken as her fingers slowly reached towards her earlobes.
Nothing.
WHERE THE FUCK DID THEY GO?! WHAT IS HAPPENING?!
Feeling where her jacks once were, she felt a small hole. Kyoka was practically hyperventilating, feeling her ears in a state of panic.
Holy shit, did I somehow just lose my Quirk?! What does this mean for me?! What am I going to do?! What...happened?
It was then that she was met with a familiar sight, and she stood up, confused.
This...is my parent's house. How did I go from the Barge to my childhood home? Are my parents here? Last thing I remember was trying to force my way back into my body, and...
"It appears as though...I underestimated you."
Kyoka froze, she slowly turned around...
To find DIO standing in the doorway to the Jiro Household's kitchen, DIO himself, not him in her body. His red cape fell around his shoulders, making him look bigger than he already was. His jacket, adorned with black roses, making him look like a shadow...
His eyes, giving her nothing short of killing intent.
A cold chill made it's way down her back as DIO spoke once more.
"Jotaro...was right. You are indeed stronger than you appear. Here I thought: 'She's just an ordinary girl with a mediocre Quirk'...but...I smell the Joestars on you."
DIO took a step forward, grabbing a chair and tossing it to the side, his lips curling into a vindictive sneer.
"That...annoying persistence. The little tricks...like coordinating with Jotaro to attempt to get your body back, attempting to sink this boat while I'm stuck in here with you." DIO snarled, his killing stare rooting Kyoka to the spot. "You are far more of a threat than I imagined..."
Kyoka's Journal:
So...we were in my head.
When he spoke, I had never felt that kind of fear before. His words, his voice...it felt like there was an icicle dripping on the back of my neck.
At that point...I was intent upon sacrificing myself. In my mind, it was the only way I could do something to prevent this shitshow from reaching land. I had to save my friends, I had to save Jolyne, Jotaro...
When...Jotaro let himself get hurt to give me an opening, I...I can never forget the look he gave me, I can never forget that...it haunts me...
He was willing to die for me there.
Obviously he didn't die, he later went on to help Johnny and Ochako defeat the Rake. Like...immediately after the shit at the Barge ended...but he could've. A homeroom teacher could have been stolen from us again, permanently. Johnny would have lost his father...the man he looks up to the most...
And it would have been for my sake.
Jotaro, if you ever read this for some reason...thank you. Truly...thank you from the bottom of my heart...I love you as much as I love my own father.
I love all of you, the Joestars. I could never imagine a reality in where I never met you. I'm glad...gravity pulled us together.
I'm getting off subject...DIO.
What was someone like me supposed to do? Here he was, this man...no, this monster...the one man the Joestars feared more than anything, their mortal enemy by destiny...and a scared teenager who had apparently just lost her Quirk.
We were still ghosts, and I literally couldn't breathe. I couldn't use Hamon.
I was just frozen in fear...and the only thing I could hear at that moment...
Was the Grim Reaper sharpening it's scythe.
"So...that means I can't afford to underestimate you." DIO said, The World clenching it's fist. "I'm trapped in here due to the body being unconscious, thanks to our little tug of war. However...if I eliminate you here, I could potentially wake your body up in time to stop Jolyne and that blond fool from ruining everything."
Kyoka gritted her teeth.
If...he destroys me in here, I'll be sent to heaven...and my body will be his for the taking. What I need to do is buy time for my friends before that happens...
He can't stop time yet...so that gives me one advantage.
Kyoka broke out into a sprint, running through the front door of her house.
"Running? Really?" DIO asked, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "Yeah, like that will do you any good."
The musician had found herself in the halls of the Heights Alliance, and she looked around, panicked. Memories of her classmates and close friends were walking past, and she began to see herself.
The memory of herself, smiling and laughing with Ochako, hanging out with Momo, making fun of Kaminari...
Johnny and Gyro by her side.
The door to Mineta's room suddenly opened up, revealing DIO, flipping through one of his Playboy magazines. "Tasteless garbage. Your classmate is disgusting Jiro."
"AAAAGH!" Kyoka turned around and ran in the opposite direction, flinging open a random door...
Right into the treehouse.
A memory of Izuku sitting at his desk, muttering to herself, popped into view...
As did DIO, hanging upside down from the ceiling.
"Still think you can run?"
Kyoka gasped and jumped out of the treehouse's window, landing on Dagobah Beach. Scrambling to her feet, she sprinted through the sand, desperately trying to shake off her pursuer.
"Face it Jiro, I will find you. I will not stop hunting you until you are GONE." DIO said from beneath the sand, and his head slowly emerged, The World following. "The crazy thing is, I'm persistent too! I have the force of will to match the Joestar family! I may not be at full power, or alive, but I don't need to be!"
He caught her arm...and pulled it off.
"YAAAAAGH!" Kyoka screamed, both in terror and in pain, as the rest of her arm developed a consistency similar to shattered glass.
STAY AWAY FROM ME YOU FUCKING BASTARD! I NEED TO BUY MORE TIME! I NEED TO GET AWAY!
"You're SCARED, AREN'T YOU?!" DIO yelled, a smirk growing on his face. "It must be hitting you now, isn't it? You're not a Joestar! You're not relevant! You're just another ant for me to step on, another tragedy for Joestar Family History Books! You're the next Kakyoin! The next Avdol!"
Kyoka rounded a corner.
She was now on the rooftop where she had battled Susan, the memory of Johnny dying to Overhaul being played on repeat. Upon seeing said memory, of her boyfriend's upper body exploding, Kyoka closed her eyes and kept running.
"Crying now, are we?"
"SHUT UP!" Kyoka screamed. "JUST SHUT UP!"
Terror, sadness, trauma, anger...all of it was building up.
"Gravity pulls two people together, and fate is not easily defied!" DIO said from behind her, and she turned to find him simply walking after her, a confident smirk on his face. "Many of the Joestars' allies have died over the years, a lot of them to me! Did you think you were immune to this?!"
Kyoka just kept running, gritting her teeth to fight off her feelings of dread.
She found another door, and opened it...
DIO was on the other side.
Kyoka could only scream as he reached for her, and she tripped backwards. She began desperately trying to butt scoot away.
Only to find her back hitting a dead end.
"Even your memories know this simple truth." The shadow in front of her said, slowly walking towards her. "All you are is an extra. It was foolish to believe you could stand against me, any attempt is USELESS. You. Aren't. Special."
Kyoka couldn't keep it in anymore...and she just started sobbing.
There was no hope for her anymore, all of her dreams were about to come to an end. At the end of the say...no matter how much she had achieved...
Kyoka Jiro was a 16 year-old kid, deprived of her power, about to be slaughtered by pure evil.
All she could do was sob...she had nothing else left to do.
"Now you see how out of place you are in this little conflict. You aren't special, you aren't different, the Joestars only care about you because you gave one of them false hope."
The World raised it's fist, ready to put her out for good
"KYOKA!"
Kyoka raised her head as a voice echoed all around them, her mouth dropping open.
"Jo...suke?"
"Josuke Higashikata...did he find you?" DIO asked, raising an eyebrow. "Not that he could do anything to save you no-"
"Kyoka! I...don't know if you can hear me...but I'm here. Jolyne told me you were fighting, and I had to come for you. Kyoka...I need you to listen to what I have to say."
A light began shining down on Kyoka as she heard her mentor's voice...and slowly the light was beginning to shine in her eyes as well.
"I've been training you for a while now, and throughout it all you have been one of the most gifted people I have ever gotten the chance to meet. You've brought this light to my life...I never knew I would become so dedicated to making you the best hero you can be...it's given me some purpose."
Kyoka stood up, staring at the light, it's glow glistening off of her tears. "Josuke..."
"I know you can win Kyoka, I've seen you in action, I've watched you grow into a wonderful hero...and an even more wonderful person. I can't bear it if I lose you now...you're stronger than him Kyoka, you can beat him! You have to beat him!"
"What utter nonsense..." DIO said with a snort.
"You're irreplaceable! I...I NEED TO SEE YOU GROW UP!" Josuke'svoice cracked, but he kept going. "I NEED TO SEE YOU GRADUATE! SO YOU BETTER NOT DIE ON ME YOU LITTLE SHIT! DON'T YOU DARE GIVE UP HOPE!"
"You give people hope Kyoka...and that is a very beautiful thing." Gyro's voice echoed in response.
DIO chuckled, and then broke out into a laugh.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA! So! Higashikata still has some spirit left! A shame, all this desperate rambling from a man on his last embers of delusion! Now, I bele-"
*CRUNCH!*
DIO gagged as Kyoka's hand crushed his windpipe.
"He isn't delusional. That is the greatest man I have ever known."
"GAK!" DIO's eyes were wide with shock.
Kyoka Jiro was no longer in front of him...but rather a being made of purple flames. What looked to be her eyes were blistering with cold fury.
"I can't let him down now, can I?"
"Im...possible..." DIO choked out, and Kyoka shook her head.
"You wanna talk about what's impossible? You wanna talk about who's scared? Strong? Weak? 'Special?' Well, frankly...I don't give a shit! You hear me, you cesspol of SUB-HUMAN FILTH?! I don't fucking care!"
The flames faded, allowing DIO to see her face.
That expression...she's reminding me of...Jonathan?!
"My problem is, you're the guy who is making the people I love suffer, and I won't stand for that! No...no sacrificing myself is off the table now! I'm going to make it out of here alive, and you know why?! My friends, family and I will have a BRIGHT FUTURE, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO!"
DIO wrenched himself free, massaging his throat.
"She's stronger than you know..."
"As I said before...I underestimated you." DIO said, glaring at her. "You really wish to fight me? Despite knowing that the Joestars and I are destined to battle...and a non-Joestar like you...wishes to try their luck?"
Kyoka's torn arm regenerated before DIO's eyes. In fact...it was...gloved?
She looked at her new cartoonish hand, and felt her face...where a mustache was beginning to grow.
DIO blinked as his own hand began turning reptilian...
Then he realized what was happening.
"Ungalo...you FOOL!"
"Oh...by the way, I took DIO's son as my hostage. Forced him to activate his Stand so you'd turn into Mario...and Mario always beats Bowser, right?" Josuke's voice asked.
"Well...it seems as though destiny is favoring someone here, DIO."
DIOWSER angrily turned his head towards Marioka, who was giving him the biggest shit-eating grin she could give him.
"And that'sa me, motherfucker."
*BOOM!*
Distant explosions rocked the Barge, and several of the rooms were filling with water. The tanker was sinking, and the heroes had gained a crucial advantage over DIO's plan.
It looked as though things were finally turning around...
That is...until Y2K opened his eyes.
The man turned machine looked around for a moment, and got off of the bed he was resting on. His frail, naked body felt cold, so he simply outstretched his hand, his armor flying towards him and attaching itself to his body.
He felt better...covered in metal.
*BOOM!*
"DIO was correct. The plan went wrong once I was taken out of commission." Y2K said, talking to nobody in particular. "Not with out any hope of recovery though."
A small panel opened up in Y2K's chest, and it began displaying binary code.
"Calculating Barge integrity."
*boop!*
"I see, 5 minutes with it's current damage. The Joestars are making short work of it. There was a fire started in the kitchens, and it has spread since then. Damage is severe."
A security panel showed that Jotaro was up again, Josuke having healed him. Star Platinum had done a shitload of damage to the hull, while they seemed to be avoiding flooding a certain room with a twitching Kyoka Jiro inside.
Y2K knelt down, and USBs sprung from his back. In fact, there were tons, and they were all wrapping together to form larger, longer cords.
Giant USB cables began traveling through the entire boat, and began physically holding pieces of it together. Kneeling down, he pressed his palm onto the floor, and said one last thing before shit hit the fan:
"Activate the Icarus Protocol."
...
A few hints, because why the hell not?
1. The Icarus Protocol is of course, named after Icarus, the son of Daedalus who flew too close to the sun. I wonder if the sun has been mentioned in this arc before?
2. Kyoka's jacks fell off, because the stress from two souls fighting over one body, and her being close to death...may have triggered something...
3. There's a teamup coming soon.