┏━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━┓
Akemi's Bizarre Adventure
Chapter 9: The Hanged Men
┗━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━┛
╔═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╗
"So, we're finally heading to India." Sighed Polnareff. "The man with two right hands is called Centerfold..." He murmured the last part more to himself, though everyone could hear him. The aura he had around him in that moment was so intense that it made her squirm uncomfortably in her seat. He turned his vengeful gaze on the rest of the gang.
Akemi looked past Kakyoin at Polnareff, her eyebrows raised.
Polnareff's dark atmosphere dissipated suddenly.
"By the way, where's Anne?" The Frenchman asked, his question mainly directed at Akemi.
"Oh, she was at the train station until it departed. I made sure she would be safe." Akemi assured him.
That was true- Anne had been at the train station. She had also boarded the train, and was a few cars down from them.
Akemi had gone on one more shopping trip, just for Anne. Joseph didn't mind giving them the money, so they were able to get quite a bit for the preteen. Just about everything she could think of needing, and Akemi gave her the rest they didn't spend, which amounted to about two thousand Singapore dollars.
Akemi had told her that they had to go their separate ways for her safety, but if they were to run into each other again, she couldn't help it. However... she didn't account for how easy Anne would make that by just straight-up following them. She just hoped they wouldn't have a second party to avoid being tracked by.
"I'm sure that the time for her to meet her father had arrived, so she went to see him." Mo added.
"I can't help but think that kid was lying about seeing her father, though..." Said Polnareff.
"Oh, she was." Said Akemi casually.
"What?!" Exclaimed Polnareff and Joseph.
"Yeah, kids aren't very good at lying, usually. I could tell the first or second time she mentioned it." Akemi confessed.
"But... Why would she lie about that..? Wow..." Said Polnareff, putting a hand on his forehead.
"Maybe we'll cross paths with her again." Akemi giggled, a foreshadowing echo to her voice.
"Hey, talk about creepy... a Stand that perfectly disguised itself as me?" Kakyoin changed the subject with a calm smile, looking beside him. Akemi shuddered.
"Well, I wouldn't say perfectly... I really thought you were drugged, or something. It didn't take me long to realize it wasn't you." Akemi said, her expression one of perturbedness. Kakyoin and Akemi laughed.
"Apparently, it had already transformed when we left the hotel." Jotaro said, a finger raised.
"Jojo, are you going to eat that cherry?" Asked Kakyoin, pointing at his plate. "I don't mean to be greedy, but they're my favorite. Could I have it?"
"Yeah." Jotaro responded.
Akemi took a cherry from his plate and handed it to Kakyoin. He took it with a cheerful smile, dropping it in his mouth. To Akemi's shock, he didn't eat it, but he licked it, balancing it on his tongue, doing all kinds of tricks, and stared out the window.
Jotaro gave him a disgusted look while Akemi stared with wide eyes and an alarmed expression.
"Hey, look. Flamingos in flight." Kakyoin said, as if what he was doing was normal. Akemi, however, was distracted and turned toward the window. She raised her eyebrows.
"I didn't know flamingos could fly..." Akemi murmured, leaning on her fist.
"Good grief." Groaned Jotaro, doing the same.
"Hey, there's something I need to talk about." Said Joseph from across from her. The other five looked toward him, hearing what he had to say. "Listen, I know Akemi can defend herself quite well, but the middle-eastern countries are extremely dangerous for a young and pretty single woman. Especially in a few where she could even be arrested. So to ensure any complications don't come up, we need someone to act as Akemi's husband." The room's atmosphere changed immediately. Akemi understood, but she covered her face, blocking a blush.
"What?" Akemi exclaimed.
"Wha?!" Cried Polnareff.
"Are you sure you're not overreacting?" Kakyoin asked. "I know some countries can be very traditional, but is this really a good idea?"
"Well, it's not a bad idea." Mo said thoughtfully. "A lot of men in India will find themselves justified to claim any young, single woman they see to be their own, so that could put Akemi in a lot of danger- not just physical danger, but legal danger, as well- and retaliating could get us in trouble with the law. Plus, she could get in trouble in a few countries for not wearing chador, since she's not married. This is the safest option." Akemi understood his reasoning.
"Ara, ara. I guess I'm on board." Akemi sighed, a touch of uncertainty in her tone. "Who should it be, though?"
"Maybe we should let you pick." Offered Mo.
Suddenly, all eyes were on her. Akemi tensed.
It was silent for a moment, and the teen girl couldn't take the pressure much longer.
"Can't I pretend to have a husband that isn't present?" Akemi blurted out, looking at Joseph with a bewildered expression. Joseph shrugged.
"Not everyone is respectable like that. It'd have to be one of them." Joseph explained. Before Akemi could begin considering who to pick, Jotaro scoffed.
"Tch. It's not our fault she's a woman." Jotaro muttered, causing Akemi to frown. "So what if we get in trouble with the law? We'll be outta there faster than they can find us." Akemi shot him a nasty look, crossing her arms.
"You know, smartass," Akemi began, leaning back in her seat, a boot on the table. She held out a hand, leaving the other to rest across her chest. "For someone as smart as you, it was pretty dumb not to realize that being wanted in a country could make it a lot easier for Dio's assassins to find us. Our faces would be everywhere." Akemi took her boot off the table, leaning forward, her eye contact intense. "If there's a bounty on our heads, that means more enemies to fight, and less rest for all of us, and less energy for me to heal your reckless ass." She narrowed her eyes, staring into Jotaro's wide ones, letting the silence stir for a moment. Then, her eyes widened as an idea popped up in her head. "You know what? Jotaro, I choose you to be my fake husband."
If the auras around her were bright with shock from her outburst, they got even brighter.
"What!?" Exclaimed Polnareff.
"Wait, do you really think that's a good idea?" Mo asked.
"Why me!?" Jotaro exclaimed, almost childishly. Akemi crossed her arms again, smug.
"I'm thinking the role might teach you a little responsibility." Her hand hung loosely under her chin, her head tilted slightly. "You're smart, but you really tend to act like a child sometimes, and you can be pretty selfish. Maybe putting my safety in your hands will open your eyes a little bit." Jotaro could only stare back at her, his jaw slack. After a moment, he seemed to find his words.
"Hell no. I'm not being your fake husband. That's wack as fuck." Jotaro growled.
He was more bothered on the inside than he seemed on the outside, from what Akemi could tell from his deep maroon aura. He was giving her a nasty side-glare, and his upper lip was curled slightly.
"And I don't act like a child. This is a dumbass solution to an easy problem."
"Kujo, do you realize how dumb you sound right now?" Akemi deadpanned. Jotaro opened his mouth to shoot back, his aura flaring, but Joseph put an arm around his shoulders.
"C'mon, Jotaro." Joseph said. "We have to stay as undercover as we can. It's important that we make it as hard as possible for Dio's underlings to find us, even if they already know pretty well where we are, thanks to Dio himself."
"Plus, why would you give up the opportunity to stand in as a husband for a pretty girl?" Polnareff leaned into Jotaro as well, his thin eyebrows raised. Jotaro scoffed, pushing him away.
"And the best way to do that is to not cause any uproars in the countries we pass through." Mo piped up. "A lot of people in the middle east don't think of women as people, but as property, and they're not afraid to say so. Therefore, this is the best way to stay undercover while protecting Akemi from the law." Jotaro shoved Joseph's arm off, scowling heavily. He seemed to finally see the logic in this plan, however, from the relenting colors in his aura. He scoffed.
"G- good grief." He muttered, crossing his arms and looking to the side. "Fine, I guess." Joseph clapped his hands, a grin on his face.
"Alright!" He exclaimed. "We'll need to get Mr. and Mrs. Kujo some forged marital documents and rings, and we'll be set!"
Akemi couldn't help but feel satisfaction at the embarrassed look on Jotaro's face and the colors in his aura.
I have to be... married to her... Jotaro thought.
Kakyoin's watchful eyes narrowed, his observant nature not missing the subtle signals in the other teens.
╚═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╝
╔═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╗
Akemi blinked her eyes open, her slumber having been interrupted by a strong energy source near her.
Rubbing her eyes, she opened her mouth and yawned. The peaceful awakening was interrupted by another wave of powerful emotion, causing Akemi to flinch and gasp lightly.
Alert, she looked around the boat's guest room. Herself under the covers of the twin-sized bed, and the two sleeping bodies on the floor, cushioned by a moss blanket Akemi had grown on the wooden panels for the stubborn teens that had offered the bed for her once they saw the sleeping situation.
Jotaro was dressed in his tank top and his boxers, the latter being hidden along with the rest of his lower body save for his cankles and below, which were poking out of the dingy white blanket that had once covered Akemi's bed.
Beside Jotaro was Kakyoin, dressed in his purple striped pajama pants and the Sting shirt Akemi had given him after Yellow Temperance had been dealt with- one she'd bought from the mall. He was deprived of the blanket, Jotaro having stolen it from him while they slept. He was turned away from her, but she could see that his shoulders were hunched inward and his muscles were tense. His breaths were quick and uneven, and he shifted frequently. The silence seemed to enhance the quiet noises Kakyoin made. She couldn't tell what he was saying, he was too quiet and too far away.
By the look of the moon high in the sky through the window, it wasn't anytime near when Akemi was supposed to be awake. She was getting a sense of deja vu.
She looked back down at Kakyoin's sleeping form. His fear and panic were overwhelming, and prevented her from sleeping. No doubt this would take a toll on both of them in the morning if she didn't do something.
Akemi stretched and silently moved from her position, tip-toeing past Jotaro and crouching by Kakyoin.
Having a better look at his face, she saw that it was contorted in fear and discomfort, and his skin was clammy. His arms were wrapped tightly around himself, and it almost looked as if he were shivering. It wasn't that cold- it was probably about twenty-one degrees outside.
She placed a soft hand on his shoulder, and he jumped with a gasp, causing Akemi to retract her hand, but he didn't wake.
After a moment, she tried again, brushing her hand against his shoulder.
"Kakyoin." She whispered. "Wake up, you're having a nightmare."
With a loud gasp that nearly caused Akemi to release one of her own, Kakyoin's eyes snapped open and he shot up, nearly whacking Akemi in the head with his own.
He panted, his hands on his head.
"K- Kakyoin?" Akemi asked, her voice small. "Are you okay?" Kakyoin turned to her, all the emotions that he had been feeling earlier faded away, the energy calming down.
"I- I'm sorry, Akemi. I didn't mean to wake you. Again." Kakyoin apologized, his voice gravelly, his face hot with embarrassment. Akemi shook her head.
"Don't apologize. You can't help what you dream about." Akemi reassured him gently, kneeling in front of him and relaxing her posture. "I'm glad it woke me, in fact. You would've kept having a nightmare, then." Kakyoin opened his mouth, then closed it, running a hand through his hair with a sigh.
"Y- you're right." He admitted. He cleared his throat. "Thank you, Akemi." He sent her a quick, small smile.
"Of course- hey, do you need to talk..?" She asked, holding out a hand. The salmon-haired boy shook his head.
"I... I think I'll be fine. I'll sleep better, thanks to you." Kakyoin smiled. "I don't even remember the nightmare anymore, actually." He admitted shyly. Akemi let out a small huff.
"That's good. I'll see you in the morning, yeah?" Akemi stood as Kakyoin laid back down.
"Yeah." Kakyoin agreed. He watched, his eyes half-lidded, as she stepped over Jotaro and walked over to her bed, nestling herself back into the thin cot, resting herself against the pillow. "Good night, Akemi."
"Ninite, Kakyoin. Sweet dreams." Akemi whispered. "I mean it." A small giggle was shared between them, and sleep came easily to both of them not moments later, joining Jotaro in peaceful slumber.
╚═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╝
╔═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╗
"But, well, I'm a little worried." Said Joseph. They all stood in front of an enthusiastic-looking Mo. "Of course I'm worried about enemy Stands, but it's actually my first time in India. It gives me the impression of beggars, thieves, curry-eating, disease-ridden people." Akemi winced at his racist comment, but Mo's shine didn't die down in the least.
Though she didn't have the same assumptions, she was still a bit squirmy. It wasn't racist, but a fact, that India wasn't the safest place. She had changed into her new jeans and crop top since the hot weather wouldn't allow her to be comfortable in sweatpants or a long-sleeved shirt. Though it would be the end of the world before Akemi ever took off her jacket.
"I'm worried that my body may not be able to handle the culture gap." Added Polnareff. Mo just shook his head with a laugh.
"That assessment is rather distorted. You needn't worry. It's a nice country, where simple people live. I can guarantee it." Mo promised. The boat shuddered as it arrived. "Well, we're in Calcutta. Let's go." Mo said excitedly. He opened the door. The first thing Akemi heard was a loud horn. There were tons of people crowding them.
"Hey, give me a tip!"
"S- sorry, I don't have Indian money."
"Let me carry that for you!"
"No I'm good, thanks."
"Want a tattoo? You're so pretty."
"N- no thanks."
Actually, a tattoo sounds kinda nice…
"Need some anti-venom? It won't hurt your stomach."
Anti-venom!? For what!?
"I'll show you to a hotel!"
"I stepped in some cow shit!" Cursed Polnareff.
"My wallet's already been stolen!" Kakyoin hissed angrily. Akemi felt her jacket zipper being fondled with, and looked down to see a small child with a ravenous grin on his face.
"Hey! Get away from there!" Akemi exclaimed, lightly pushing him away. He scurried away, and Akemi zipped her pocket back up.
"Tip! Tip! Tip!"
"If you don't give me a tip, mister, you won't go to heaven." Akemi whipped her head around, giving the kid who said that to Jotaro a bewildered look.
Another man wrapped a hand around her arm and yanked her toward him. She yelped, panic flashing in her. Akemi whipped her head around, looking for the owner of the hand. An old man with a creepy smile stared back at her. His aura was a dark, aroused color that caused her to feel disgust.
"You're beautiful... Come with me, I'll show you a good time." He said in a raspy voice. Akemi made a noise of alarm and tried to pull away, but his grip was tight. Suddenly, a large arm wrapped around her and yanked the arm away.
"Hey! That's my wife! Fuck off!" Jotaro snarled, knocking the man down with a hard kick to the gut. Akemi watched the scene with wide eyes. The man quivered and crawled away. Akemi let out a relieved breath.
"Thanks, Jotaro." Akemi said gratefully. Jotaro stared after the man, pissed off.
"Yeah." He muttered in response. He seemed to snap back to the present, and took his arm from around Akemi, tugging his hat down. "It was nothing."
Wife... Akemi blushed at the thought, but it was gone quickly. So he actually is taking this seriously... I really didn't expect him to.
"A- Avdol! Is this India?" Asked Joseph incredulously. Mo turned with a smile.
"See? Isn't it a great country?" Grinned Mo. Akemi gave him a bewildered look.
"Yeah, probably if the people here were at least three meters away." Akemi answered, pushing another kid away. Mo laughed.
"This is what makes the country so wonderful!" Mo replied. Akemi exchanged looks with Jotaro.
"I don't wanna see what makes the country bad, then..." Polnareff groaned.
╚═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╝
╔═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╗
"Here, have this. This is chai. It's delicious." Consoled Mo. Akemi took the teacup with uncertainty, not trusting Mo's opinion any longer, but raised it to her lips. Her eyes widened.
"Wow, this is amazing!" Akemi breathed with a smile. "Why didn't you show me this earlier!?"
"At last, a little peace." Sighed Joseph, a peaceful smile on his face, his muscles relaxed for the first time since he'd woken up that day.
"It's just a matter of getting used to it. It seems chaotic at first, but once you do, you'll see how wonderful this country is." Explained Mo graciously, clearly in a good mood.
"Well, it's a big country, so I suppose we'll have to." Murmured Akemi into her teacup.
"Eh, it's alright." Said Jotaro nonchalantly. Akemi looked across from Mo to look at him.
She really couldn't tell if he was lying or not, even with access to his aura. It unnerved her slightly.
"Seriously, Jotaro? You really mean that?" Joseph exclaimed, surprised.
"I can't tell... Jotaro, you're joking, right?" Akemi asked.
"Hey, it's not that bad. I mean, that bai tea is nice, isn't it?" Jotaro shot back, meeting Akemi's gaze. She narrowed her eyes, leaning back into her seat, and took another sip of her chai.
"Chai. Chai tea. And yes, it's damn delicious." Akemi murmured. Her Stand materialized behind her and flipped Jotaro off with both hands. Jotaro didn't show any outward reaction to this, but Star Platinum appeared behind Jotaro and flipped her off, pulling his lower eyelid down with his middle finger and sticking out his tongue.
"It's actually just chai," Mo corrected, "chai means tea in Hindi. So if you say 'chai tea', you're just saying tea tea."
"Talk about culture shock." Sighed Polnareff. "I'll like it once I get used to it, huh? Well, I guess people can adapt to their surroundings." Polnareff bent over and picked up his bag.
"Where's the john?" He asked a waiter.
"It's over there." He replied, pointing to a doorway.
"Polnareff." The man stopped in his tracks, turning back to Joseph.
"Eh?"
"What about your order?" Polnareff waved a hand.
"I'll leave it to you. It had better be something amazing. Gorgeous, splendid food that suits a Frenchman like me." Polnareff replied with a grin before he walked away. Akemi laughed, partly at Joseph's expression.
"Which means we can pick anything." Said Kakyoin, throwing a menu open with a smirk on his face. Akemi looked in his direction with a snort. "Let's see, something he'll like... excuse me." Kakyoin called the waiter.
After the waiter helped him, they all ordered.
While they made conversation, they heard some shouting coming from the back. Akemi frowned, but didn't think anything of it.
The food finally came, and just as Akemi raised the fork to her mouth, Polnareff came tumbling from the bathroom.
"Stand!" He blurted out, successfully getting the attention of everyone in the restaurant. Akemi jumped out of her seat, the men following suit. "Where's the user? Who is it?! The man with two right hands..." His eyes darted around.
Then he barreled out of the restaurant.
"Damn it!" Akemi heard Polnareff curse as she followed him, the boys in tow.
"Polnareff, what's the matter?" Akemi asked, concerned. His aura was an intense red.
"What's happening?" Asked Mo.
"If that... If that was the Stand, that means..." Polnareff said, his quiet voice shaking with rage. "That means he's finally here! Jotaro, the Stand user you heard about that uses mirrors is here!" Akemi's eyes widened. "The bastard that killed my little sister! The bastard that stepped all over my sister's life, soul and pride. I can finally... I can finally see him!" Akemi's heart crushed as she remembered the story.
"The one you seek vengeance upon is here?" Asked Mo. Polnareff turned around, ignoring Mo for a second time, to his disdain.
"Monsieur Joestar, I'll be traveling on my own here." Proclaimed Polnareff.
"What?" Gasped Akemi and Mo.
"Now that I know that the guy who killed my sister is nearby, I'm not going to wait for him to come after me. I'll be at a disadvantage if I let him attack me, and it's not my style. I'll find him first, and kill him!" Polnareff vowed.
"Even though you don't know what he looks like, or what his Stand looks like?" Kakyoin disagreed. Polnareff turned.
"Knowing he has two right hands is plenty! And he knows that I'm after him, as well. He should be worried that I'll come for his head in his sleep. See ya." Glowered Polnareff.
"Polnareff, wait! It's dangerous, you can't go alone!" Akemi exclaimed. "You have no idea how powerful he is!"
"I can handle it. Ten years of intense training, remember?" Polnareff said darkly. Akemi bit her lip, worried.
"You'll go out for wool, only to come home shorn." Said Mo cryptically.
Polnareff stopped in his tracks, turning around again.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Asked Polnareff, his tone dangerously quiet. Mo stepped forward, their auras matching in intensity. Akemi gulped.
"Just as it sounds." Challenged Mo slowly, his consonants hard. Angry, Polnareff turned on him.
"Are you implying that I'm going to lose?" Polnareff snarled.
Akemi moved to step forward as well, but Jotaro put a hand on her shoulder. When she looked up at him, confused, he shook his head. Akemi got what he meant- to let him go if he wanted to leave. Akemi's expression turned to one of sadness, and she turned back around to watch the scene.
"Yes! Can't you see that the enemy purposely attacked to get you alone?" Cried Mo incredulously, throwing his hands up. "I will not allow you to travel alone, Polnareff!" He shouted. Polnareff swiped his hand away and leaned forward, putting a finger on his chest.
"Listen up. I'm going to make this clear. I never cared about Dio. I told you in Hong Kong that I was only traveling with you so I could get my revenge. Monsieur Joestar, Jotaro and Akemi should already know this." Akemi looked away. He was right. "I've been alone from the start! I've always been fighting alone!" Mo walked forward, putting a hand on his chest.
"Such a selfish man... Did you forget that you were brainwashed by Dio? Have you forgotten this all leads back to Dio?" Mo accused angrily.
Polnareff leaned forward. Mo didn't back down. They were inches apart. Akemi was starting to get anxious. Their auras were burning bright, it was almost overbearing.
"Like you'd understand how I feel after having my sister killed! I heard that the last time you met Dio, you got scared and ran away! A coward like you would never understand how I feel!" Polnareff snarled. Akemi paled. Uh oh.
"What did you say?" Mo asked him, deadly calm. He gripped the single strap of Polnareff's tank top.
Polnareff turned and knocked Mo's hand away.
"Don't touch me." He snapped. "You were just lucky that you beat me in Hong Kong. Don't lecture me."
"Why, you..." Mo said, quivering with anger.
"Oh, did that piss you off?" Polnareff mocked with a scowl. "But don't forget that I'm a lot more pissed off than you are right now! You can keep acting like the mature one as always, Avdol."
"Why, you-" Mo raised a fist, and Joseph moved in a flash to his side, taking his arm in his hand. Polnareff backed up, surprised.
"Joseph!" Mo exclaimed, angry, though his aura was fading slowly to embarrassment.
"That's enough. Let him go." Joseph commanded grimly. "Now that he's like this, no one can stop him."
"No, I'm just disappointed in him." Mo said dejectedly, his muscles relaxing as the blue washed over his aura. Joseph let him go, and Mo straightened. "I didn't think he was that sort of man... I did indeed run in fear." Mo looked back up at Polnareff, fire glowing in his dark chocolate eyes. "That's also why I believe we will win, and can say with certainty that you'll lose."
Polnareff reeled back, offended.
"What?" He questioned. He stormed toward Mo. "Then I'll say this with certainty, too. Your divination will be wrong."
"But, Polnareff, I have a feeling he isn't." Akemi cried out, concerned.
Polnareff rounded on her. He looked her in the eye, opened his mouth, then he felt a rush of... affection and familiarity? It was uncertain. Lots of emotions were rushing through his head.
He closed his mouth.
He turned back around, and continued walking, choosing instead to ignore her.
Akemi watched him go, feeling as if he were taking a part of her chest with him, and she was feeling the wind rush through the hole he'd created. It allowed her to realize how close the unlikely band had grown before this moment, and a tear stung her eye.
╚═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╝
╔═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╗
"So he didn't come back after all." Lamented Joseph, looking beside him.
Akemi, who was about to take a bite of her last modak, lowered it, closing her mouth. She looked across the table from in between Jotaro and Kakyoin at the empty seat with a neatly folded napkin on the plate.
"We should go look for him." Claimed Akemi. Jotaro scoffed.
"He chose to leave. If he dies, it's his fault." Jotaro said. Akemi bit her lip.
"He's blinded by his vengeance. He doesn't see his mistakes." Mo agreed, cleaning his area for the waiter.
"Wait, are you going after him?" Asked Joseph, his gaze intense. Mo was silent for a moment.
"Yes." He answered with finality. Jotaro scoffed.
"Then I'm going, too." Akemi claimed, just as she finished her modak. Jotaro looked up at her with wide eyes.
"I'll be back soon. Akemi, come with me." Said Mo.
"Right." Akemi nodded and got up.
"Wait, you..." Kakyoin stood up, raising an arm.
"Don't try to stop us, Kakyoin." Mo interrupted him intensely, sending a glare to the taken-aback Kakyoin.
"He's a part of our team... and he's our friend." Akemi said determinedly. "You all may not give a rat's ass about him, but Mo and I value him more than that. We'll be back soon." The table was shocked into silence by her words, and Akemi nodded at Mo, and they turned and exited the restaurant.
╚═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╝
╔═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╗
"Alright, we should split up and ask around. Polnareff shouldn't be very hard to find. He sticks out like a sore thumb." Mo said.
"Right." Said Akemi. "Be safe." She told him before setting off.
"You too." He replied before going in their own directions.
Akemi wandered the dirty streets of Calcutta, a puddle of dread making itself at home in her chest.
Not only did she have an awful feeling, but seeing all these people in dirty clothes, leaned up against the wall and coughing made Akemi aware of how well-off she was, being in a rich Italian family.
She kept her ear out for shouting…
...And it seems she'd done so with a good cause. One pierced the air, not too far away from her.
She froze. It was Mo's voice shouting in the distance, and it sounded like he was fighting someone. Without hesitation, she ran in that direction, smoothly dodging whoever happened to be in her way.
She appeared at a clearing, and saw Polnareff and Mo arguing... right in front of an enemy.
"What bad timing for an outsider to interfere." Said what seemed to be an enemy Stand user. His gaze landed on her. "Oh, if it isn't that bastard's brat. I've got a vendetta against you, since your daddy took what was supposed to be my Emperor card. I'll kill you next." The man said cockily.
Akemi's gaze snapped toward him, bewildered.
"Y- you know my dad?" Akemi asked, shocked. Before he could say something, she spotted something violet moving in the air. "M- Mo!" Akemi cried. Mo pushed Polnareff away, and he stumbled toward her, a look of rage contorting his pale features.
"Move, Polnareff! The bullet's coming back!" Mo shouted. "Magician's Red!" At his command, Magician's Red appeared in a burst of flame and a cry of rage. "I'll burn it to cinders!" Just as Akemi was getting ready to join them, she saw a figure in the puddle.
Wait, that's not right... there's nobody there to cause the reflection..? Akemi thought.
Suddenly, panic rose when she remembered what Jotaro told them.
"Mo, watch out! behind you!" Akemi shouted.
She was too late.
She watched, horror-struck, as the reflection's hand created a knife and stuck it in his back. Mo cried out in shock and pain, twisting his body to look behind him. Though there was nothing that stabbed him outside the puddle, it was exactly as if he had been.
"The puddle..." He managed. Akemi didn't fail to notice something worse.
"M- Mo! The bullet!" She screamed.
Time seemed to go in slow motion.
Mo gave her one last bewildered look before blood sprayed everywhere, hiding his expression from her. The bullet nestled itself in his forehead, breaking his headband in half. He toppled over and landed on his back in the puddle.
"What?" Polnareff breathed, as if he didn't quite process what had just happened.
"Mohammed!" Akemi screamed desperately. Tears began to crowd her sight.
"Avdol!" Shouted Polnareff. The onlookers scattered the scene, suddenly afraid. Akemi's gaze was locked onto Mo's body as the tears began to overflow.
"Man, today must be my day." Bragged the gunslinger. "My gun and Centerfold's mirror don't do very well with Avdol's flames, so we thought he'd be our most formidable enemy. Talk about luck! There are no scary pieces left in this game of Stratego."
Akemi and Kakyoin, who had just arrived, ran to Mo's side. Kakyoin picked him up, holding his limp body in his arms.
"Avdol-san!" He cried.
Akemi covered her mouth, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. Kakyoin took his hand out from under Mo's back, and it was covered in blood.
"H- he's just hurt..." He muttered to himself. "It's just a minor wound. See? He's going to start speaking... he'll open his eyes at any moment. Right, Avdol-san?" Kakyoin began shaking him, as if trying to wake him. Kakyoin looked up at Akemi. "Can't you do something?!" He cried, panic edging his voice. Akemi looked up at him, her eyes wide and panicked. She shook her head, looking back down at Avdol.
"I... I would be giving my life to save him..." Akemi whimpered. Kakyoin gave her a desperate glance, clearly conflicted.
"Impossible. It was so easy... so quick..." Kakyoin said, laying him gently on the ground. Akemi reached a shaky hand out, illuminated by Empress Gaea's. Kakyoin quickly grabbed her hand, stopping her.
"N- no, don't. He wouldn't want you to give your life for his. C- can you just heal his back wound..?" Kakyoin told her, his eyes wide. Akemi gripped the fabric of his robe, a tear staining his shirt.
"I- I think so..."
Behind her, Polnareff spat on the ground and kicked up dirt.
"That's what he gets for lecturing people. Look at him now." He said, his tone nonchalant.
Akemi froze, her gaze turning slowly around.
"What?" She asked, deadly calm.
Her anger died down when she saw the... the grief in his aura. The muted blue seemed to strike her in the heart.
"What did you say, Polnareff?" Asked Kakyoin, disturbed. "Avdol-san was worried about you-"
"Who asked him for help?!" Polnareff interrupted him with a shout. He threw a hand up. "He likes to meddle in other people's business, but he's slow as hell, so they got him. Guys like him just get in the way, just like you, Akemi. That's why I said I'd do this myself." Polnareff said. She bit her lip, no longer feeling the strength to be angry at him.
"You bastard..." Kakyoin growled. "He saved your life... how dare you..." Just then, they noticed something wet dripping on the ground in between Polnareff's legs. The shake in his arms.
"It really annoys me!" He said, turning around, revealing his expression, contorted in sadness, his cheeks matching Akemi's. "Having people up and die on me..."
"Polnareff..." Akemi breathed, crushed.
"It just annoys me so much!" He cried. Akemi was pulled from the situation by the enemy's chuckle.
"He's got such a strong face, and yet he died in an instant." Akemi's gaze switched from Polnareff to the enemy. She went to heal the wound on his back, and realized quickly that his wounds... they were dire, but not life threatening. She... she could seal the wounds, and…
"Well, the end of someone's life is usually a pretty sudden curtain call. It's probably normal to die without being able to say goodbye." The gunslinger dropped his cigarette with a laugh and crushed it under his boot. Akemi could feel rage build up in her stomach. However, she focused on healing Mo.
Keeping Empress's body out of sight, she let the jasmine vines grow behind Mo's figure, the energy bolstering his healing factor. Kakyoin flinched when he felt a leaf brush against his hand, and looked at Akemi, who held her free hand in front of her lips. His aura brightened with enlightenment, and he gave her a curt nod.
"It may seem like I'm talking as though I know everything, but..." The enemy giggled again. Beside her, Polnareff began to walk forward.
"Polnareff..." Kakyoin said in a low, warning voice. He didn't respond. "Polnareff, please, don't let him get to you!"
"You... you do know it's three versus two now, right?" Polnareff croaked. The enemy seemed a bit uneasy. He kept walking forward.
"Do you still not understand? Avdol-san told you not to fight by yourself, Polnareff! And you ignored that... you wanted to get revenge, even if it meant dying with your enemy. Avdol-san followed you because that worried him, and this is what happened!" Polnareff froze at Kakyoin's words.
"So what am I supposed to do?" Polnareff growled desperately. Akemi had sealed the wounds. He was no longer bleeding, though he did still have some physical trauma to recover from. The bullet didn't pierce his head, but his skull was cracked, and he was definitely concussed at the very least. Though she was tired, she could still fight. She stood, her posture straight and her expression intense. He gave her a disbelieving look.
"He's... not going to be fighting alone." Akemi said, a tone of untamed rage in her voice that neither Kakyoin nor Polnareff had ever heard before.
"Akemi, no!" Kakyoin shouted. Akemi froze, and glanced behind her. "You guys, we need to fall back for now." Akemi's eyes ignited with anger.
"Mo was stabbed in the back and shot in the head. Polnareff's sister was raped and killed. Kakyoin, it's two versus three! We can fucking take them!" Her proclamation started quiet and grew into a desperate snarl.
"But look at how smug Hol Horse is, still! If he thinks they can take us, they could have a trick up their sleeve! Do you know how quickly they took out Avdol-san, even with the three of us with him?! They could take any of us out just as easily, we don't know how their Stands work! Don't you see, Akemi?! Polnareff?! Don't fight a battle that will kill you! That's what Avdol-san was trying to tell you, Polnareff, in the first place!" Kakyoin shouted with the same intensity.
Akemi's expression softened as she realized he was right. She bit her lip, trying to fend off more tears.
"Hey! C'mon, lil Pol Pol. Let's go, baby girl." Hol Horse teased. Polnareff and Akemi glowered ahead.
"Why, you..." Polnareff said lowly, a fish shaking.
"Polnareff! Akemi! Slowly come back toward me. We're going to use that truck to get out of here." Kakyoin shouted, intense. Akemi sent Hol Horse a withering glare before she backed slowly toward the source of Kakyoin's voice. Polnareff turned slightly.
"You're telling me to hold it in?" He asked, his voice slightly wobbly. He looked at Akemi. "You, too?" Akemi was silent for a moment.
"Polnareff. We are not in any way letting them go. We're just making a tactical retreat. We'll be back when we know more, and you never know. That could be very soon. Trust me, these two aren't gonna be living for more than a few more days, at most." Akemi persuaded.
Polnareff looked incredibly conflicted. His eyes kept flitting from Mo's body to the two teens. He narrowed his eyes, and shut them tight.
"A- alrigh-"
"Hey, Polnareff." Hol Horse teased. Polnareff looked to his side, his eyes wide. Akemi was confused until... she noticed it too.
"Avdol died for you. I think that means you owe him. He might not have died, if not for you." The mirror Stand said. Polnareff whipped around, looking for the Stand's real figure.
"Y- you bastard. Where's your real body?!" Cried Polnareff desperately, reverting all progress.
"Polnareff! Calm down!" Kakyoin exclaimed, attempting to get his attention back.
"But there's no need to be sad. Actually, you should be happy... since you'll be together again soon. You'll die, and then you can be with those fools in the next world!" That bastard kept talking. "Your little sister was really cute, Polnareff. Once you're reunited with your sister, you should ask her exactly how I killed her! Once I'm done with you, maybe I'll kill Akemi in the same way... she's really cute, too..." Akemi bit her lip worriedly. If she was angry, she couldn't imagine how Polnareff was feeling right now.
This... this is his sister's killer. Centerfold.
"Polnareff, don't let that asshole provoke you! He doesn't deserve the satisfaction!" Akemi cried. Despite what she said, Polnareff summoned his Stand.
"Bastard!" He snarled, sending Silver Chariot to stab the window several times.
In the shattered glass, Akemi could still see Centerfold's Stand hanging behind Polnareff.
"Your Chariot cannot cut my Hanged Man." Claimed Centerfold with a malevolent chuckle. Silver Chariot ignored him and sliced the shard of glass in half. It didn't work. "I am within a mirror. Your Stand can't enter a mirror. That's why!" Centerfold laughed. He must've put a hand on his neck, because she could see the dents around Polnareff's throat.
"You mad? I bet you're mad." Teased Centerfold. "Oi, Hol Horse. Fire away. Let's put an end to this idiot." He commanded. Akemi's eyes widened with panic.
"Aye, aye, sir." Hol Horse agreed with pleasure, summoning his Stand.
"Die!" Shouted Centerfold.
"Oh, no you don't! Empress Gaea, Ivy Tether!" Akemi snarled, summoning her Stand.
She sent several massive, leafy roots toward Hol Horse, tying him up with ease.
He cried out in surprise, firing a bullet that landed in the ground.
"We need to get out of here." Akemi looked up at Kakyoin, who matched her gaze.
"Right." He agreed with a nod. They hotfooted to the truck Kakyoin said they were going to steal, just as they started to tease Polnareff again. Akemi stopped at the driver's seat, and looked up at Kakyoin with puppy eyes.
"No, you need to sit between Polnareff and I. Since, well, you could fit between us." Kakyoin answered the unsaid question, his eyes flitting up and down her figure.
"Yeah, you're right." She sighed.
She bounded over the hood of the truck and got into the passenger seat, just as Kakyoin got in, twisting the key in the ignition and starting the truck. Kakyoin hit the gas immediately, driving toward Polnareff. Akemi kicked open her door and had her Stand use vines to drag him inside. He was practically tossed into the vehicle, causing Akemi and Kakyoin to lurch with the impact of his body against them.
She scooted to the side, sitting a bit uncomfortably between Polnareff and Kakyoin. With sad eyes, she watched the truck leave Mo's healed body in the ground where he fell. Hopefully, he would remain unconscious long enough to let the enemies believe that he was truly dead.
"S- sorry, you guys. I- I..." Akemi looked over at Polnareff with soft eyes as he spoke apologetically. "I don't care if I die, so long as I could avenge my sister. But I understand now... I understand how Avdol felt. I won't let his feelings go to waste. I'll fight to keep living." Polnareff vowed. Akemi put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you, Polnareff. I can't even begin to imagine how you feel." Akemi said gently. Polnareff gave her a small smile in return.
"Do you really understand?" Kakyoin asked, his voice low. Polnareff leaned forward with a sigh.
"Yeah." He said. With that, Kakyoin elbowed him hard in the face. Akemi looked with surprise and panic.
"K- Kakyoin!" Akemi exclaimed, reeling back. She looked at him, only to see tears in the teenager's eyes.
"Take this instead of a handshake as proof we've made up, Polnareff." Said Kakyoin. Blood spurted out of Polnareff's nose.
"Right. Th- thank you, Kakyoin." Polnareff said, his voice nasal. Akemi let out a small giggle.
"When they come after us again, we'll defeat them together." Kakyoin told him, blinking away his tears. Akemi clenched her jaw to stop her own tears from forming. She put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, and his lips formed a quick, small smile.
"Here, let me heal you two." Akemi told them, spreading her vines to the two men, healing their injuries.
"Thanks, Akemi." They chorused, earning another small chuckle.
They drove past a few camels.
"...At that moment, I'm sure that I stabbed him with the sword. But the strike didn't land. There was no resistance. Even after breaking the mirror, his Stand, Hanged Man, still attacked from the shards. He'll attack my reflection from within the mirror. My Stand can't go inside a mirror... how am I supposed to attack him if he's inside some kind of mirror world? Damn it!" Polnareff said, certainty in his voice.
He plucked the rear-view mirror from its place. Akemi raised her eyebrows in shock, but didn't say anything about it.
"You stabbed the mirror, Polnareff, not his Stand. Maybe his physical form is invisible, or intangible. What I do know is that mirror worlds don't exist. It's just a reflection." Akemi reminded him, then suggested. Polnareff made a 'hmph' noise.
"You may be on to something, Akemi. Polnareff, you keep talking about 'inside the mirror' and 'the mirror world'. This may be an abnormal situation, but it's no fantasy or kid's book." Kakyoin agreed, glancing at Polnareff. Polnareff gawked at them.
"What are you talking about? You saw it too, didn't you?!" He exclaimed defensively. Akemi nodded. "You can only see him in a mirror, and when you turn around, he's not there!"
"I'm not saying it was fake- this is definitely weird, but this is still just a Stand. He has a physical form somewhere. It's got to be disguised somehow. That's the only explanation I can think of." Akemi explained thoughtfully.
"Right. A mirror is just a reflection created by light." Kakyoin added. Polnareff gave him an incredulous glance.
"You don't have to tell me that! Listen, I'm talking about what's going on right now. If there are such things as Stands, there could be a mirror world, too!" Polnareff exclaimed. Akemi snorted.
"How ridiculous would that be? What else are there, vampires?" Akemi joked. Polnareff narrowed his eyes.
"Look, you..." He growled. Akemi raised an eyebrow.
"I think that fact is what will let us solve the mystery of Hanged Man. If Stands can defeat other Stands, then there's still something we don't know about this-" Kakyoin cut himself off, and looked down. Akemi turned her confused expression to him.
"Kakyoin, are you okay?" Akemi asked.
He answered with a horrified gasp. He looked behind him, panicked, and looked back at the steering wheel.
"He's inside the plating on the steering wheel!" Kakyoin cried. Akemi gasped.
"What? He's caught up to us!" Polnareff exclaimed.
"Pull over!" Exclaimed Akemi.
All of the sudden, the glass behind her shattered.
"Look out!" Shouted Polnareff. Akemi leaned forward, putting her hands on the dash.
Kakyoin swerved and slammed on the brakes, creating a dust cloud behind them as they drifted and spun.
Akemi noticed the risen land getting closer and braced herself for a crash. The truck was launched into the air, treating the wall like a ramp, and flipped over. Because she wasn't wearing a seat belt, her head smacked against the roof of the car, and she felt an explosion of pain in her head and back.
They landed with a loud shatter.
Silence, then a ringing in her ears.
Akemi blinked, her vision fuzzy.
With a groan, she tried to move. Pain erupted from her head.
She put a hand on her forehead, and it felt... oddly cold, yet warm? She looked at her hand, and saw red on her fingers. Merda, this isn't good. She thought.
"A- are you okay, Kakyoin?" She heard Polnareff say from ahead.
"I- I hit my chest, but I'm fine." Kakyoin replied from beside her.
Akemi, despite her pain, tried to move. She groaned as she felt pain reverberate throughout her body.
"Merda." She breathed.
"Akemi?!" Called Kakyoin urgently. Akemi let out another groan as she tried to move. "Akemi, are you okay?"
"Kemi?" Polnareff's voice joined in nervously.
"Y- yeah, I'm alright. My head... hurts." She managed.
Kakyoin turned and reached a hand out to help her from outside the window, and Akemi took it. She cried out when Kakyoin tugged her forward.
"Akemi, are you sure you're okay?" The redhead asked, concerned, as he helped her stand up. "You're covered in blood... did you hit your head?" Akemi nodded, a hand remaining on her head. It was like someone was repeatedly hitting her on the head with a hammer.
"Y- yeah, I'll be fine..." She assured him, waving a hand. Her state did not assure him in the least. She sounded just about as convincing as a beeping lie detector.
"Akemi, you're in no state to fight, that's for sure. You should sit d-"
"What?" Exclaimed Polnareff, interrupting Kakyoin's concerned scolding. The Frenchman was looking at the truck. "Chariot!" Called Polnareff.
His Stand sliced up the bumper.
Kakyoin and Akemi watched with wide eyes as she leaned slightly on him, winded.
Polnareff got up urgently, running away.
"Kakyoin! Akemi! Get away from anything that's reflective!" Polnareff shouted.
Akemi blinked again, having a hard time focusing over the pounding headache. Kakyoin tugged her roughly out of panic and the three dashed behind a rock. Akemi sat next to Kakyoin at the edge of the rock, starting to regain her senses, but nauseous from the sudden movement.
"Damn it... I got it. I just saw it." Polnareff said. Akemi put a hand on her head, leaning forward slightly. Her head was still pounding.
"You.. you got what?" Akemi asked weakly, turning to look at Polnareff.
"He's going from mirror to mirror. He moves by jumping from one reflective surface to another! He traveled all this way by reflecting over and over!" Polnareff explained. However, it was lost to Akemi. She lost track of what he was explaining about halfway through, she guessed, but tried her best to gather the shards of information that came to her.
"Reflecting?" Kakyoin echoed. "That means he's actually light! The true nature of his Stand is light?"
Ugh, what's happening to me? Did that car crash do more to me than I thought? Akemi thought, concerned. I don't have time to worry about it, either way. I'll heal soon enough.
"He was just in the car's bumper! He's going to reflect off of the car's bumper and into something else. Don't go near anything that's reflective." Polnareff said. Akemi's brain seemed to finally start working again. Panic shot down her stomach, making her nauseous.
"Wait... that would mean my jacket is..." Akemi trailed off.
The men stared at her, then down at her jacket. Polnareff gasped lightly.
"Take anything off your body that reflects!" He exclaimed frantically.
Both him and Kakyoin took off their earrings, and Akemi followed suit. She tried to take off her bracelet, but was having a hard time with her blurred vision and shaky hands. Kakyoin noticed and helped her, his slender hands doing the work for her. In doing so, she felt like she was on autopilot.
"Akemi, your jacket." Reminded Kakyoin. Akemi looked at him, confused. But then she remembered.
"Oh, right!" She quickly took off her jacket and threw it away. She felt a bit revealed, since she was wearing the corset she'd gotten from Singapore, but it was a welcome change, as she felt as if she'd been overheating.
"Akemi, you should get to safety. You're-"
"Mister, are you guys okay?" Asked a kid's voice, cutting Kakyoin off for the third time that day.
Akemi turned her head, seeing a small boy with an orange headband. He held his arms nonchalantly behind his head.
"Want me to bring some medicine or something?" He asked, his question seemingly directed at Akemi and Polnareff.
"Hey! Kid! It's dangerous, so get out of here!" Called Polnareff in an attempt to shoo him. The kid ignored him, looking at the totaled truck.
"Hey, your car's totally messed up..." He said absentmindedly, as if he were thinking of something else.
Kakyoin and Polnareff both looked at her, as if they were her only hope. Akemi widened her eyes at them, before she saw something flash right by the kid's eye. She gasped quietly, and they turned to the kid.
"Hey, you're all bleeding." The kid noticed, his expression growing concerned. She raised an eyebrow.
"I... am?" She asked airily, putting a finger on her lip. She looked at it, seeing blood. Her nose must've bled.
"A- Akemi-"
Their attention shifted as they came to a sudden realization.
The kid's eye. In the reflection of the kid's eye was the Stand.
"Th- that asshole!" Exclaimed Polnareff.
"He's in the kid's eye!" Shouted Kakyoin. They shot up quickly, their Stands hovering by their sides.
"Hey, kid. Don't look at us." Polnareff shouted, coming off as mean. Akemi looked at him.
"Hey, don't say it like that. He has no idea what's going on." Akemi scolded as they jumped away. Polnareff gave Akemi a strange look. Why was she slurring? Before he could speak, the boy did.
"Huh?" He questioned, utterly confused, his vision tracing Polnareff. Akemi bit her lip. The motion was making her dizzy, and she had a stomach ache.
"I told you not to look at us!" Cried Polnareff, running away again. Akemi felt too dizzy to move anymore. She gagged, and Kakyoin sent her a worried look.
God, what's happening to me? Why hasn't my healing factor done anything yet? It just feels like the pain is getting worse… Akemi thought as she watched Polnareff run around, telling the boy to stop looking at him with no result. Her head was pounding.
"Damn you, Centerfold!" Polnareff cursed, summoning his Stand.
"What are you going to do?" Asked Centerfold's voice, sending ice through Akemi's chest. "You wouldn't stab this cute little kid's eye out with that sword of yours, would you, Polnareff?" The girl groaned as she got up to her feet, her vision clouding, her movements too quick for her body. Centerfold had his hand on Polnareff's neck again.
"Polnareff!" Shouted Kakyoin.
"I finally got you!" Centerfold cried triumphantly. "You can't run anymore. Not unless you stab the kid's eye out!" Akemi flinched when she saw Centerfold's knife pop out of his wrist.
"What a coward! This is unforgivable!" Growled Kakyoin. Akemi's brows furrowed when Polnareff started chuckling lowly. He must have a plan... or he had a concussion, too, and it was driving him crazy.
"Oi, Kakyoin. You don't say things like that in this kind of situation. Listen! In situations like this, you've gotta say something more like this before you get your revenge." Polnareff readied himself. "My name is Jean Pierre Polnareff. You killed my sister. Prepare to die... Forgive me, kid! I'll buy you a caramel later!" Exclaimed Polnareff.
Akemi raised her eyebrows at the sudden proclamation. Just then, Polnareff sent a kick that sent enough dirt in the air to blind the kid.
"There's sand in my eye!" The boy cried, covering his face.
The second he closed his eye, Silver Chariot sliced at the flash that came from him.
The flash, however, felt like a stab in the eyes to her. It was too bright... Now that she thought of that, everything was far too bright. And the sound of Silver Chariot slicing at Hanged Man made Akemi's ears feel like they would bleed. Maybe she really wasn't in fighting condition... there was no time to think about it, though. She would have to soldier through it, until she had a moment to relax.
"P- Polnareff, he's in your eye..." Kakyoin said. After speculation, Akemi realized he was right.
Polnareff held out an arm, pushing Kakyoin and Akemi back slightly. She felt as if she would fall over.
"I don't really understand the principle, but he essentially moves at the speed of light. A speed that you wouldn't normally be able to see. But I knew that if the kid closed his eyes, the next place he'd move to would be my own eye." Polnareff explained, motioning toward the poor boy rubbing his eyes.
Akemi's headache seemed to increase from trying to wrap her mind around the explanation.
"I see..." Said Kakyoin. Polnareff continued. Akemi widened her eyes in an attempt to listen.
"Hanged Man can only exist within the world of reflections. When one world is about to be destroyed, he has to move to something else that's reflective. So... as long as I can read his trajectory, he'll be easy to cut with a sword." Polnareff said triumphantly. That was easier to understand. As if on cue, they heard a scream of pain from a village nearby.
"His real body is over there!" Shouted Polnareff. Akemi groaned quietly.
They would have to run over there? She wasn't sure her head would take it. But killing the Stand user was more important than a little headache. It was that and nothing else, just caused by the car crash.
Kakyoin turned and looked at Akemi, a concerned aura about him. Polnareff did the same.
"Akemi, stay here. We'll handle Centerfold." Polnareff told her. Akemi shook her head slowly.
"N- no. I can still fight." Akemi said stubbornly. What she said went against her whole body screaming for her to stay, to sit down, maybe take a rest…
"No, you can't." Kakyoin snapped, catching Akemi off-guard. "Listen- if you fight any more, you'll collapse and get in our way. You have to stay, we'll come back and get you once the enemy is down." She bit her lip. "We have to be quick- we'll come back, I promise, okay?" Akemi nodded.
"We need someone to stay and watch our things, anyway." Polnareff added quietly.
"O- okay." Akemi murmured, sending a nod. They both sent a nod back and turned and ran toward the village.
"Y- you better stick to that promise, Noriaki Kakyoin, Jean Pierre Polnareff..." Akemi sighed, before blacking out completely and falling over.
╚═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╝
╔═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╗
"Hold it!" Called a familiar voice. Kakyoin and Polnareff stopped in their tracks, and turned. It was Hol Horse.
A bit late.
"I finally caught up with you guys." He said triumphantly. He summoned his Stand, twirling it between his fingers.
The two men turned back around. They needed to get Akemi to a hospital, they didn't have time for his nonsense.
"Why are you walking so slow? If you're gonna run, run like your lives depend on it. Right, Centerfold?" Hol Horse said smugly, shooting a nearby vase. The men turned again. "Better say your prayers. Your lives end here! So act like this is the end and come at us! Show us what you've got, damn it! One of y'all are already dead, why don't you go join her? Right, Centerfold?" Hol Horse began shooting into nearby windows.
The men had no reaction. Polnareff crushed some shattered glass beneath his boot. That seemed to unnerve Hol Horse.
"Hey, are you listening, Centerfold?!" He cried, barely keeping his composure together.
"I don't think he's listening anymore." Said Polnareff smugly, shifting his weight to one leg.
"Eh?" Asked Hol Horse, genuinely confused.
"He's rather busy right now... since he's being sentenced in Hell!" Polnareff proclaimed, his Stand appearing at his side. Hol Horse looked convinced for a second, but wiped his fearful expression away with a sweaty smirk.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! Don't try to pull that nonsense! Bluffing won't work on me! There's no way you can beat him! Even I don't stand a chance against the invincible Hanged Man! Polnareff, your jokes suck." Shouted Hol Horse, his tone wobbly, sounding more as if he were trying to convince himself.
"That piece of shit's body is about two or three thousand meters that way. Want to take a look?" Challenged Polnareff, completely calm and nonchalant. Hol Horse's expression fell immediately from its smirk, and he turned away, hotfooting in the other direction.
"Okay, I will!" Hol Horse agreed fearfully.
"Oi! You're running away?!" Roared Polnareff incredulously.
Hol Horse didn't respond. Instead, he turned a corner and met a fist.
The man was thrown to the ground with a cry of fear and pain. Kakyoin and Polnareff walked toward the corner, catching sight of two men they were eternally grateful to see.
"Joestar-san! Jotaro!" Marveled Kakyoin.
Jotaro's eyes were immediately locked on Akemi. Dread slapped him in the chest when he saw her, unconscious and covered in blood in Kakyoin's arms. Some of her snow white hair was dyed reddish-pink.
He walked forward, wordlessly taking Akemi from Kakyoin. He gave him an odd look, but let it happen. The look on Jotaro's face was hard to decipher.
"We already know about Avdol." Said Joseph grimly. "Though it was a simple funeral, his body's been buried." Jotaro looked down at Akemi with an unreadable expression, but he gripped Akemi's jacket sleeve with anger. Their gazes were suddenly on Hol Horse, who cried out in fear at the sight of the four scary men.
"The one who stabbed Avdol-san in the back was the man with the two right hands, but the cause of death was Hol Horse's bullet. What shall we do with him?" explained Kakyoin.
"I'll give him his sentence." Polnareff stepped forward. Hol Horse cried out in fear once more, crawling away. He summoned his Stand. "Death!" He barked. Suddenly, however, he was knocked to the side. "Wha?!" He cried as he fell on his side.
"Please run, Mr. Hol Horse!" Beseeched a feminine voice. "Mr. Hol Horse! I don't know what's going on, but I'm always thinking of you! That is my reason to live! Please run! Hurry!"
"What's with this chick?!" Accused Polnareff, enraged. He struggled against her surprisingly strong grip. The other men watched with varying expressions, all some sort of surprise and disgust.
"You bitch! Let go of me!" Cursed Polnareff bitingly, trying to shove her off. "What are you thinking?! Kakyoin! Joseph! Don't let Hol Horse get away!"
"Too late." Said Jotaro. Polnareff calmed down a bit, looking up at Jotaro then ahead of him, confused.
"Eh? Oh..." He uttered, staring ahead with a wild look.
Hol Horse had found a horse somewhere and had already mounted it, a triumphant expression on his face, although he'd just been whimpering for his life not two minutes ago.
"Well said, baby!" He crowed. "I'll gladly accept your feelings and keep on living! I'm running away because I love you, baby! Forever!"
Man. Jotaro wasn't experienced in love in any way, shape or form. But even he knew that was fucked up.
"Why, you..." Growled Polnareff lowly. He gave up on trying to push the girl off and stood up, dragging her with him as he tried to pursue him. "Come back here!" He boomed angrily to deaf ears.
The girl fell over, clinging to his ankle. She let out a cry when she hit the ground and let herself be dragged. Polnareff turned on her angrily.
"Don't 'ah' me, you bitch!" He snapped. When he looked back up, Hol Horse was gone.
"Polnareff, that woman was just another one he was using." Sighed Joseph, walking toward the girl, who had since let go of him. Joseph held a bandage, crouching at her side. "...And he no longer had any intention of fighting. We have no time to deal with him. His Stand wasn't even assigned to a Tarot card, so he's not worth it either." It was silent for a moment while Joseph wrapped her wound.
"...Mohammed is gone. But we have to hurry ahead. It's already been fifteen days since we left Japan." Joseph said as he tied the bandage.
"Well, I guess it can't be helped." Polnareff walked past them, then paused. "Alright! Let's get Kemi to a hospital and resume our trip to Egypt."
"Actually, she won't need to go. She can't heal herself as fast as she can heal others, but it's better when she's unconscious." Joseph explained, seeming rather annoyed than concerned. He groaned, pinching his nose. "She depends on it too much. She needs to know when an injury is too much for her self-healing to handle, especially in the midst of a battle!"
"Hm. That's why she didn't say anything earlier. She thought her injuries weren't that bad. I'm glad we said something." Kakyoin muttered. Polnareff harrumphed.
"Listen up! In order to defeat Dio, our hearts have to be as one. We can't go off on our own! That's when he'll come after us. Got it?" Polnareff lectured. The other three looked at him, small smiles on their faces. "Vamanos, muchachos!" Polnareff finished, raising a fist. Kakyoin raised a hand to usher them on.
"Good grief." Jotaro said as he followed, shaking his head. He looked down at Akemi's unconscious form, scanning her state. The blood was all dry- none was fresh. Her breathing was normal. He supposed he would just have to carry her until she woke up.
╚═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╝
╔═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╗
mhm okay polnareff let's see about that in a few days
i hope y'all enjoyed this absolute whopper of a chapter, i included both parts of the emperor and the hanged man lol. this will be happening again. i hope y'all like long ass chapters bc this is a norm.
facts
-due to akemi's increased vitality, she also has an increased healing factor. she, however, sometimes depends on it too often to heal her quicker than it's able to. joseph is sure to scold her for that later.
-the reason akemi is most comfortable using branches and vines is because joseph was the only stand user to train her until she met avdol, and he wasn't able to expand much since he knew just about as much as she did about her stand. so when he found common ground, he took advantage of it. she had to do her own research for the rest of the possibilities of her stand.
PS: i got the marriage idea from a kakyoin x reader fic i read. i really liked it, but it also made sense. it's SO good, please read it. it's called 'A Fake Marriage, but A Real Adventure'. it's so cute but it also made me cry. TEARS. so many tears, and i'm not normally a crier.
ok bye hehe
╚═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╝
word count: 11,294