"You haven't seen a uh, strange looking man around here, have you? Asides from you of course. Maybe you can be a bit of use to me." Ice glared down at his feet.

Nukesaku looked eagerly up at him, eyes wide and only fixed on the fresh rat corpse Ice held above them.

"No, I haven't."

"Really?" Ice began moving the rat further away.

"Wait! Wait! I have seen some weird lookin' guy!"

"Where?"

"Near the. The. er-"

"5..."

"Near the entrance! With Pucci!"

"4..."

"And he was big. with weird stitches all over him."

"3..."

"And he had a star on his back! Blue hair. Green, no blue, no greeney blue eyes!

"2..."

"And he was with lord Dio!"

Ice stopped counting. lost in thought.

"Take me there."

"But don't you know how to-"

A kick in the stomach.

"1..."

"Ok, ok. I'll take you."

Nukesaku began hobbling off. Ice draining the rat dry before letting it plummet into Cream's void.

"Are you really going to go?" Jojo asked. He held the small brief case with ease for Pucci.

"I'm afraid so. It is my calling."

"You don't want us to take you to the airport?" Dio chimed in.

"No thank you my friends. I hope our paths cross again soon. You know where-"

"Yes, I know where they are Pucci. And. Thank you."

"It was nice to meet you. even if we didn't have the best time together." Jojo sighed. Saddened by Pucci's departure to America and yet hopeful. Glad.

The door opened. Jojo and Dio watched in silence, stood together. As Pucci looked back at them. Only smiles exchanged. As the door closed behind him.

Silence.

A gentle tug. Dio took Jojo by the hand as they left. Unease gently creeping back into his mind. Dio was unable to face Jojo. Or even anyone as they walked down the corridor. Dio's hand slowly slipping away from Jojo's. He stopped as their hands parted.

"Dio?"

"How did you feel? When you lost your father?" Dio refused to turn and face Jojo. "Have you ever felt like you'll never see someone again?"

"Even if you don't see Pucci again, you still remember him, don't you? I had to remember that with those I had lost-"

"I see."

"And I have felt like I'd never see someone again. I thought I'd never see- -see you again. After I threw you off the balcony." Jojo's words becoming subtle, fragile. refusing to even acknowledge such events so begrudgingly.

"What would you like to do? Jojo? Ice or fix your finger?"

Dio reached his back turned hand out, prompting Jojo to take it. Still unable to look back at him.

"I just want to make sure you are ok." Jojo took Dio's hand.

"I'm in a good mood. I think Ice needs a good talking too. We've held this off long enough."

Dio began marching down the corridor. Jojo barely keeping up behind him. "We don't have to do this now."

Ice arrived at the entrance. a grand door and once luxurious structures now decayed and decrepit.

"What a liar" Ice look down at Nukesaku.

"I swore this is where they were going!"

"And I swore you both where in your chambers!" And echoed yell from down the hall.

"My lord, please forgive the intrusion, I was just looking for you."

"So was I." Dio let go of Jojo's hand.

"What can I do for you?"

"Nukesaku. You can start by leaving. now."

The vampire left with no hesitance.

"And ice."

"Yes, my lord?"

"You can believe me when I say that this man is near enough on my level and should be served and respected as I, Dio, am. Do I make myself clear?" Dio gestured to Jojo who cautiously stepped to stand beside him.

"This 'man' is-"

"Hm, my friend, companion, close to me, deserving of your respect and service. What else is he?"

"Dio, I don't think-"

"Really? So, he isn't just-"

"He isn't just another follower, Ice. Now do I make myself clear?"

Ice bowed, a streak of fear, a sudden shock through his body. "Of course, my lord."

"Good. Any ill will towards this gentleman and you are no longer of use to me."

"Yes, my lord." Ice departed after another bow.

"Aren't you going to apologise?"

"I'm so sorry my lord."

"Not to me."

Ice looked to Jojo. A glare of hatred staring right at Jojo. "Forgive me my lord but I see no reason to-"

Another look to DIO. His eyes a burning crimson red. Wide. Arms crossed.

"I mean- I'm sorry Jojo." hesitance and bitterness seeping unconditionally through every word.

"Do you accept this behaviour, Jojo?"

"I accept the apology. Please Dio let's just leave it alone now."

"Very well. leave us ice. And remember my words."

Ice left without another sound. Only a last glare at Jojo before joining the shadows.

"Since he's so loyal he gets attached. Attachment means jealousy. Don't worry, he was jealous of Pucci too. Shall we fix your finger?"

Dio looked back at Jojo. His outstretch hand. An odd eagerness to fix the mess he'd made.

Only a worried look could stay on Jojo's face. He took Dio's hand and together they went to the kitchen.

"Why don't we look at the parting gift? That Pucci left for you? Instead?"

"Too late. I found it. This should do nicely." Dio had been rummaging around the freezer for some time. Jojo inspecting the numb stub of where his pinkie was supposed to be.

"Now hold still."

They sat at the kitchen table. Hearts pounding as Dio sewed the finger back on. Such precision. Such carelessness.

"That's not on the right way is it?"

"It is Jojo."

"So why does it bend the opposite way?"

"Piss."

An hour passed as they both tried to figure out how this pinkie was supposed to go on.

"I thought you knew how to do this? You did it before didn't you?!"

"It's been a while, Jojo."

"Dio..."

"Now it's on the right way this time! And to make sure you don't fall apart again, rap this around your stitches.

Dio placed a roll of bandage material on the table as he went to deal with the needle.

Jojo stared at it for a while. and reached for it. He contemplated how he was going to do this? Some stitches being in hard or awkward spots to reach. and not enough to cover everything.

As he wrapped the bandage around the seams in his hand, his mind began wandering.

'Is this, ok? Is this ok for us? To do? Can we be together like this? There isn't something that condemns this? Why would he really do this? But Dio would do anything to get what he wants. And he wanted me. I'm kind of honoured, flattered I guess?'

"Jojo."

"Mm?"

"You wrapped the whole thing around your hand."

Jojo looked down. And entire roll of bandage tight around and between his fingers.

"Even now you still daydream."

"Dio. I've been thinking."

"Huh?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Letting me be here. Again. With you. I forgot how much I had missed you. When I was-"

"How could you miss me when you were dead?" blush invading Dio's face as he tried to wipe it off.

"There is a heaven. I went there. and waited for you. When you brought me back. It was optional. I chose to come back. I remember now."

"Even though you didn't want to? Or you didn't like this." a gesture to Jojo's body.

"I think I was just curious at what would happen. And if you were any different."

"How did you get to heaven?"

"I'm not supposed to have told you anything."