PhantomKnightPercival: Yep, let's just say...Diego will have a lot on his hands.
TheSBRdude: DIO isn't after Santana, although he IS planning to possess somebody.
CoolK: Not Heaven...the opposite.
"Open your eyes."
Giorno groaned. "Five more minutes."
"Giorno...I must speak with you, this is urgent."
The voice that currently filled Giorno's ears had a silky British accent, it was gentle, kind. He slowly opened his eyes, to be greeted by the biggest man he had ever seen. He had bluish-black hair, and he was built like a tank. His eyes, however, had a kindness to them, they made him feel safe.
In the back of his head, Giorno already knew who he was.
"Father?"
Jonathan Joestar smiled. "Yes...I'm glad you recognize me. I've wanted to talk to you for so long."
"Wait...JOHNNY! He's in danger! He's-"
"Fine. Johnny is just fine." Jonathan put a reassuring hand up. "Overhaul was dealt with."
Giorno sighed in relief. "We won then. Good...why are you here? Where am I?"
"Your head, Giorno. I have only just begun to make contact with the living world, but I have a message for you."
"Ghosts seem to be popping up more frequently, are you a ghost now too?"
"No. I'm right where I belong, in paradise. Dio, on the other hand..."
Giorno went pale. "No...he CAN'T be..."
Jonathan nodded solemnly. "He has been running around, gathering his forces, he convinced Susan Cujoh to hate her son, and he wants to come back to life, through Diego."
"Diego?!"
"Do you think it was an accident that Diego had a bad childhood? A childhood ever so similar to DIO's? Do you think it was an accident that YOU ended up with a neglectful mother? No...DIO put you in those situations...because you two were intended to be his second coming."
"You mean, if I had ended up like him...he would've took my body?!"
"Not you." Jonathan put a hand on Giorno's shoulder. "You are a Joestar, you always were. You just had a bit of Brando sprinkled in. Diego, on the other hand...he has only recently tapped into his Joestar blood. He has rejected Dio's legacy, but his body has not yet rejected his blood."
"So Diego's at risk."
"He almost gave in...when he fought the vampire Suede Shoes during the Steel Ball Run, his father attempted to seduce him into putting on the Stone Mask, which would have given Dio the opportunity to possess him. In order for Diego to be saved, he must defeat his father, once and for all."
"What about Johnny? Will he have to be involved in this?"
"Johnny has a different destiny. It was also no accident he was named after me."
"What do you mean by that?"
"As I was the first JoJo, I defined how the bloodline would be like going forward. Johnny is a rebirth of sorts, the new me. Of course, he is a separate individual, but he will change the Joestar bloodline forever, the first JoJo of a new era."
Giorno rubbed the back of his head. "That's a lot to take in...what can I do? How can I help?"
Jonathan chuckled, and pulled Giorno into a warm embrace. "Truly, you are my son...I'm sorry I wasn't able to be there for you, but it looks like my descendents have been taking care of you. Take care of Diego, that's all I ask of you. Guide him towards the light."
Giorno sniffed and returned the hug. This was the first time he had ever experienced a father's love. "I will, father."
"Well, it's been fun." Diego said, patting Johnny on the back. "But I have an evil poltergeist to send back to hell...and you have a date."
Johnny snorted. "I don't know if you should be comparing those...good luck Diego, I know you can do it. I put my faith in you for a reason."
"And I will do my best to live up to it." Diego pressed something into Johnny's hand.
It was a new horsehoe.
"It's from Slow Dancer. I've been taking good care of her...and something tells me you're going to need all the luck you can get."
"Thanks Diego, I knew I could trust you with her. Now I just need a hat."
"I think your girlfriend could help with that."
"She isn't my girlfriend...yet. We're going for a...well we're testing the waters. Unlike you and Hot Pants, we're starting in the shallow end instead of diving right in."
"Are you insinuating that I am a pervert? You infectious ill-breeding clotpole."
"Just because you're British, doesn't mean you can just start throwing Shakespearean insults at me, you surly elf-skinned mammet!"
"Ruttish knotty-pated barnacle!"
"Villainous half-faced lout!"
"Artless swag-bellied boar-pig!"
"Dissembling hell-hated bum-bailey!"
"I don't even know what half of those words mean." Diego said, and he and Johnny burst into laughter.
"Hey." Diego put a hand on his shoulder. "Make sure you stay in contact, we were getting a little worried...now more than ever, with my father and Santana running around."
"I will." Johnny said. "It's...hard to believe...DIO was responsible for pretty much everything that went wrong in my life. I know my mother did those things willingly, but he planted the seeds...even when he's dead he's still trying to ruin the family."
"I bet your father is upset."
"You have no idea...after all that he went through to defeat DIO, the bastard just...came back. My dad lost some of his closest friends in Egypt. And not to mention he made my mother turn psycho, which made my father's life even worse...he's pissed."
"I bet...I'm going to send him to Hell, where he belongs, don't you worry."
"Hey Dino Lips! You coming?" Hot Pants yelled from the plane. Diego grinned and ran over, waving at Johnny. "Until next time, my friend!"
Johnny raised a hand, and Twice bolted right past him. "GUYS WAIT FOR ME!"
"He got pardoned for his crimes." Giorno said, walking up beside his nephew. "Jin is a free man."
"I'm glad...Diego really has grown, not only has he redeemed himself, but he's redeeming others." Johnny said. "I'm glad I saw the good in him."
"I am too. We're going to try and give this whole "brothers" thing a shot."
"I am not calling him Uncle Diego."
Giorno chuckled and brought Johnny into a hug. "Goodbye Johnny, I would stay forever if I could, but I have a mafia to run."
"See you Uncle Giorno...and keep that idiot safe, okay?"
"I will...and is there a particular reason as to why your friend is pole dancing on a street lamp?"
Johnny turned around. "GYRO! COME ON MAN, THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS WEEK!"
Giorno deadpanned, but a soft smile soon grew on his face. I think Johnny will be just fine. The future of our bloodline is in good hands.
Kyoka looked up from her phone to find her two friends bickering, as usual. She smiled to herself as she got up to join them.
"You can't just dance provocatively in public Gyro."
"You just don't appreciate that I have talent."
Kyoka raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, taking Johnny's hand and giving it a squeeze. Johnny looked down in surprise, and Kyoka quickly withdrew her hand.
"S-sorry, was that too much? I know-"
"No...sorry you just surprised me. You can...you can keep doing that if you want."
Kyoka smiled and wrapped her hand around Johnny's once more. Gyro smirked, satisfied that he had finally accomplished his goal.
To be honest, he was just happy his friends were happy.
"So...where are you two thinking about going? For your...outing?"
"Um...we don't know yet." Kyoka said, twirling an earphone jack. "I'm, still kind of in shock that you liked me back, I really didn't think I would get this far."
"Well I would suggest something you would both enjoy, perhaps something to do with music?" Gyro suggested.
"Maybe..." Johnny said, deep in thought. "I'd want it to be special, meaningful...you know? I'm pretty sure this has been a long time coming..."
"Really?" Kyoka looked at Johnny in surprise. "I...I didn't this this would be so important to you."
"You're important to me...I just want to prove it to you."
Kyoka fumbled for the right words to say, but failed. God dammit, for someone who has avoided romantic relationships up until now, he's GOOD.
I have to beat him. I'm going to make our date the best night he's ever had.
"So...if this works out, do we make our relationship public, or do we keep it a secret?" Johnny asked.
"Johnny, if I came out and yelled "I'm dating Johnny Kujo! I am dating the most good-looking guy at UA!" I would be burned at the stake and pronounced a witch by your fangirls."
"But if we kept it a secret, they would still make moves on me. Personally, I really want that to end."
"Johnny, people still flirt with your dad, and he's a middle aged man with two teenaged children. Hell, Jolyne's an adult!" Gyro said. "I think it would happen regardless."
"One can only hope, Gyro."
"Well, I'd kick their ass it they tried anything." Kyoka said.
"Haven't gone on a single date and you're already protective." Gyro noted, causing Kyoka to blush.
"I-I would've stood up for him regardless."
"Because you'd be jealooooous!"
Johnny didn't know why, but he found the idea of a jealous Kyoka both amusing and comforting. Maybe it was because it showed that she really did have feelings for him, and it wasn't some kind of trick like last time.
Of course, last time wasn't really a trick, was it? They had both assumed that the other's affections were the work of the enemy stand, when that was far from the truth. Unfortunately, it took almost losing each other for them to realize that.
But know he knew that she loved him just as much as he loved her. With everything that has been going on, he was going to make sure that she knew it.
Izuku, Kirishima, Uraraka, and Tsuyu rounded the corner, Johnny and Kyoka immediately detached their hands, much to their dismay. "Hey guys!" The redhead yelled out. "Ready?"
"Not really."
The group of students opened the door to the Heights Alliance, only to be bombarded by their classmates.
"Yare yare daze..."
"Here, have some cake!" Sato exclaimed, shoving a piece of chocolate cake into Gyro's mouth, which the Italian consumed without a moment of hesitation.
"Are you guys okay? That raid looked sick!" Kaminari said to Johnny and Kyoka.
"I was worried." Momo said, her eyes briefly meeting Gyro's. The Italian gave her a thumbs up in response, before getting assaulted with pastries once more.
"Alright everyone, they have been through a big ordeal, we should take their feelings into account." Iida said, stepping in between them and their classmates.
"Thanks Iida...but it's okay." Izuku said with a smile. Clearly, he had taken Nighteye's last words to heart.
"Then...if I may..."
Iida began shaking Izuku violently. "I WAS SO WORRIED! YOU GUYS! YOU GUYS!"
"Calm down Iida, holy shit!"
Santana angrily punched the wall, cracks splintering all over it.
"So both Chisaki and Susan were slain? And Twice has betrayed us?"
"That's right Lord Santana...he broke my heart." Toga responded, now sporting an eyepatch. There were diagonal scars across her face. "And now I don't have an eye anymore...thanks to Brando..."
"So much for our alliance with the Yakuza..." Santana muttered. "We are low on villains. All the others are either dead, traitors, or arrested. It appears that Shigaraki has the advantage..."
"You're better than him Lord Santana. You should just kill him and assert your dominance." Toga said, smiling.
"He has made himself incredibly hard to find. Tracking him down will be extremely difficult, with our depleting followers."
"My my...the mighty Pillar Man is desperate."
Santana lifted his head to see a massive black cloud forming in the middle of the room. Toga took a step back, drawing her knife as the shadow took the shape of a man. "Kurogiri?" Santana said, standing up. "Go back to your master! Shigaraki's underlings are not welcome here!"
" Not quite...I am much worse than he...I am an equal to YOU. "
Santana squinted his eyes and summoned his hammer. "You are a spirit...if you are dead you cannot match me in power. I would advise against using such proclamations in the future."
" Or what? You'll kill me? Anyway...I am actually here to offer you a partnership... "
"What can a dead man possibly offer me?" Santana asked.
" Much my friend, much. While it is true that I can no longer match your power, at least while I am deprived of a physical form, I have more...influence...HOL HORSE! "
"Yes Lord DIO!" A man with a wide-brimmed hat and long greying blonde hair emerged from the black smoke. He had a cigarette in his mouth, but most importantly: he had FEAR in his eyes.
"Show him my army."
"Right away!"
"DIO? As in Dio Brando? You were the vampire that antagonized the Joestar family for centuries." Santana said, putting a hand to his chin. "My...they call you Lord? A lowly vampire?"
" I had a stand more powerful than any up until that point! I have single-handedly caused most of the Joestar family's suffering, while you scratched up Joseph Joestar a little bit. The Joestars shudder at the mere mention of my name! I came closer to annihilating them than you ever will! And..."
Santana's breath caught in his throat as the black mist revealed several horrific abominations. One of these things was a centipede with multiple heads, decaying corpses shuffling along, and reptilian dog-like creatures. Several stand users followed behind, some dead, some not.
"I have the creatures from Hell itself at my beck and call! An army that you sorely need. You can have all this...for a price..."
"You cannot fool me with these illusions Brando. One of your stand users can summon these creatures, not you. However, I could use them...what do you hope to gain from this?"
"I'm glad you asked. You see, I fully intend to use you. There's no point in lying to you. But you are alive, I'm not. You can move freely in this realm...I want you to continue to pester the Joestars...and locate my son, Diego. When you do..."
DIO stepped forward, and Santana could make out a psychotic grin from his concealed face.
"I will no longer be confined to the shadows...I will have a body of flesh once more."
Santana pondered the decision. DIO already admitted he was going to try to use him...
But Santana was far from stupid, he would surely see DIO's betrayal coming. Perhaps...DIO could be convinced he was in control, only for Santana to pull the rug out from under him. Betray the betrayer.
"DIO...you have a deal."
