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Akemi's Bizarre Adventure
Chapter 12: Wheel of Fortune
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"Soon we'll reach the Indo-Pakistani border..." Said Kakyoin, "We'll be saying goodbye to India very soon."
"Indeed." Joseph agreed. "At first, I wondered what kind of country we'd walked into, but now I miss the hustle and bustle of Calcutta, and the rushing waters of the Ganges."
"Calcutta was... alright." Akemi admitted from between Joseph and Jotaro.
Her and Jotaro's legs were touching, but for the past few hours, neither of them had moved, so she's pretty much accepted it. His arm around her seat for what she assumed was for more comfort, but it was probably because there wasn't much space, because Joseph was pressed against her as well.
But then again, she really couldn't force herself to care. She had too much on her mind already.
"I'll be coming back again, so I can make Avdol a proper grave." Polnareff said grimly. Akemi frowned, looking out Jotaro's window.
"Avdol-san..." Murmured Kakyoin, looking out his window.
"The road's getting narrower." Noticed Polnareff, his voice slightly louder than before, catching everyone's attention.
A red car was in front of them, and it was slower than Polnareff was going. It was kicking up a lot of dust- which happened to get into the car through Polnareff's open window. He coughed, an annoyed expression crossing his face. Akemi waved the dust away, coughing a bit herself.
"Stop driving so slow! You're in the way!" Polnareff shouted. "I'm gonna pass them!"
Oh, great, he's an aggressive driver. Akemi sighed, bracing herself. The car barely made it, missing the red car by a hair's breadth. She heard some gravel bounce off the red car.
"Polnareff! You're being reckless!" Kakyoin scolded.
"This four-wheel drive is great!" Polnareff exclaimed, thrilled.
"Polnareff, if we crash, I'm gonna kill you." Akemi said, annoyed. Polnareff waved her off.
"Yeah, yeah." He said dismissively. Akemi felt a growing irritation inside her but she pushed it down, telling herself it wasn't worth getting aggressive over. It was obvious she was having mood swings.
"Hey, do you think you might've flung pebbles at their car?" Joseph wondered, looking behind them.
"Who knows? It could have." Polnareff replied.
"We don't need any trouble or accidents right now." Joseph shot back. "I'm wanted because of what happened in Varanasi, you know. I'd like to get across the border safely." Polnareff gasped and suddenly braked, causing Akemi to lurch forward. Jotaro put his arm in front of her quickly, with almost lightning-fast reflexes. She shot Polnareff a grating look.
"What's the matter, Polnareff?" Asked Kakyoin, surprisingly calm.
"I just told you we don't need accidents! You almost flung Akemi out the windshield!" Joseph accused.
"N- no, look! Look who's standing over there!" Exclaimed Polnareff, pointing to the side of the road. Akemi furrowed her brows and looked around Kakyoin's shoulder. To Akemi's shock, it was Anne, standing by a sign with her thumb up.
"Anne?!" Akemi exclaimed. Jotaro grimaced, tugging on his hat.
"Good grief." He grumbled. Anne took off her hat with a smile, sticking two of her fingers out.
"Hey! Looks like we crossed paths again!" She said cheerfully. "Give me a lift?"
"I suppose she can sit on Akemi's lap." Joseph suggested. Akemi shrugged.
"Sure." She agreed.
Their car resumed its speeding along the mountainous area.
"I mean, I'm a girl. Soon I'll be wearing a bra, and doing my nails for the boys. I'd look pathetic wandering around the world when I'm that age. No offense, Akemi." Akemi raised an eyebrow, a bemused expression on her face.
"None taken..."
"This is the only chance I have! Right now! To run away from home and see the world... Don't you think so?" Anne ranted. Akemi had heard this story already, and given her thoughts to her. "I mean, I feel bad for lying about going to see my dad in Singapore, but let's just forget about that."
"What?" Polnareff squawked incredulously. "You can't travel the world at eleven years old-"
"Twelve."
"Whatever! It's too dangerous! You need to go back home." The Frenchman scolded. Anne whined petulantly.
"Akemi said as long as I was prepared, I could do whatever I wanted!" Akemi froze when suddenly all the gazes in the car were on her.
"Akemi said that to you?" Kakyoin asked quizzically, turning and raising an eyebrow at the white-haired girl.
"You knew where she was this whole time?" Joseph asked. Akemi laughed sheepishly.
"W- well, I didn't want you guys to trouble yourselves over Anne's safety." Akemi scratched the back of her head. "I stand by what I said, though, that one could do whatever they wanted, as long as they were prepared. Anne can defend herself, and I made sure she had everything she needed."
"So that's what you did with the 4,000 Singapore dollars..." Joseph murmured, mostly indifferent.
A loud honking interrupted their conversation. The gang turned, facing the red car they'd passed earlier, now practically tailgating them.
"It's the car we passed earlier." Jotaro pointed out. "They look to be in a hurry."
"Damn, do they wanna go fast or slow? Talk about indecisiveness..." Akemi voiced.
"Let them pass." Joseph instructed. Polnareff rolled his window down.
"Yeah." Polnareff agreed, waving his hand at them. As it passed, Akemi felt suddenly uneasy, a shudder going up her spine.
The red car rolled in front of them, slowing them down and kicking dust into the window, causing everyone to cough this time.
"What the hell are they trying to do?" Polnareff raged, his flamboyant aura flaring.
"Maybe they're mad because you were so reckless earlier." Kakyoin suggested.
"That's possible." Akemi agreed. Jotaro leaned forward, putting a hand on Polnareff's seat.
"Did you see the driver's face?" He asked. Akemi paid attention to his answer.
"No... maybe it's because of all the dust on the window, but I couldn't see them." Polnareff replied. Jotaro leaned back, his arm going back over her above her seat. "It couldn't be..." Jotaro glanced at Akemi, who glanced back, thinking the same thing. "You see an aura in there, Akemi?" She shook her head.
"If there was an aura in there, it was either small, or I'm unable to pick it up through the car." Akemi informed him. "I did get a shiver when they passed, though..."
"Be careful, Polnareff." Joseph warned. Just as he said that, the red car's window rolled down, and a ripped arm waved at Polnareff to pass them.
"Now he's telling me to pass!" Polnareff cried triumphantly. "Looks like he remembered how shitty his car is. You should've just stayed behind me in the first place, dumbass."
"I'm driving next time." Akemi said, clenching her jaw.
"Do you even have your license?" Asked Jotaro, raising an eyebrow.
"Even if I didn't, does it really matter?" Akemi asked exasperatedly. "I know how to drive. And I can definitely do it better than Polnareff."
Polnareff swerved around him, laughing maniacally.
"Exhibit A." Akemi threw a hand in the air, letting it land on her thigh.
"Yeah, you know what? Akemi, you're driving next." Joseph agreed.
Suddenly, however, the car darkened- caused by a shadow from the face of a huge big rig truck.
"A truck?! That's impossible! It's no use, we're going to crash!" Cried Polnareff.
"Empress Gaea!"
"Star Platinum!"
Star Platinum punched the truck just in time for their car to be flung away. Empress Gaea grew a massive carnation just before it made contact with the ground. The plush flower thankfully caused much less impact than it would've been.
"Th- that was close!" Breathed Polnareff, looking out his window just as the carnation started to brown from the lack of nutrients in the sandy land. "If it weren't for Star Platinum and Empress Gaea, we would've been crushed."
"Nice catch, Akemi." Kakyoin cheered. Akemi laughed sheepishly.
"Where is it?! Where is that car?!" Demanded Joseph, whipping his head around.
"Looks like it took off." Jotaro observed. "I think that car's driver might be one of the Stand users that are after us."
"I think Jotaro's right. There's no way it's some random asshole." Akemi agreed, her gaze intense.
"Of course it's someone who's after us!" Polnareff said as if it were obvious, turned around and a hand out. "We were almost killed!"
"But there hasn't been anything like a Stand attack yet." Kakyoin reasoned. Akemi gave him an incredulous look, almost hitting Joseph with her outstretched hand.
"You're saying that wasn't a Stand attack? That truck came out of nowhere!" Akemi exclaimed. Kakyoin hummed.
"...Okay, you might have a point."
"Anyway, all we can do is be careful as we head for the border." Said Joseph, standing up taller. "If someone comes after us again, we'll just take them down, no matter who they are."
"Yeah." Polnareff agreed, his hand back on the wheel.
"What do you think we should do about that truck?" Asked Kakyoin, sticking a thumb toward the crash. "Star Platinum messed it up pretty badly." Jotaro pulled his hat down, a dark expression on his face.
"Just pretend you never saw it. Ignore it." He said.
Akemi could feel Anne's heartbeat fluctuate and her aura grow pink-ish. Akemi's eyebrows raised when she realized the twelve-year-old had a crush on Jotaro. She surprised herself with a rush of jealousy that she pushed away before she could even think about it.
What the hell? What is there to be jealous of? Even if I had a reason to be jealous, she's literally twelve. Akemi thought, exasperated.
"Damn." Breathed Kakyoin, exchanging looks with Akemi. She shrugged.
"I mean, do we have a better idea?"
"Calling the authorities could get Joestar-san in trouble..."
"Yeah, let's just go." Joseph agreed quickly, hearing Kakyoin's reasoning.
"W- wait!" Akemi cried, causing the gang to turn and look at her. "Can... can I at least check if the driver's okay?"
"Do we have time?" Asked Kakyoin.
"The longer we wait, the further that red car is gonna be away from us. I'm fine with it." Polnareff sighed, kicking his boots up on the dashboard.
"Alright, but make it quick. We need to get through this area as soon as possible." Joseph instructed. She nodded.
"Right."
Anne hopped off her lap, and Jotaro opened the car door, letting the two of them out.
Jotaro shut the door behind them, and they walked toward the wreckage.
"There's two of them..." Akemi breathed, studying the calamity. She could still see auras, but they were faint and fading. There was a lot of blood, and both had an obviously broken leg. "This won't take too much of my energy. Give me a sec."
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"A stop..." Joseph noticed as they came up on a small, isolated building. "Let's take a break. If we take our time, we may avoid running into that car." he suggested. After an all-around agreement, they parked and got out of the car.
Akemi stretched her arms as they walked. The atmosphere was peaceful. She was tired from healing, but not as tired as she thought she would be. She was making progress with her power, and it lifted her mood a little. The men were less hurt than they looked to be- just scrapes and a few broken bones. Nothing horrible, thankfully.
Most of the customers were big, muscular men. An old man was rolling a bamboo-looking material through a flattener, releasing juices into a cup. Joseph approached him, curious.
"What's that?" He asked.
"Sugarcane juice." The man answered enthusiastically, a smile on his face. "Wanna try some?" Joseph looked a little unsure.
"Alright, then..." He said. He picked up the cup and lifted it, but stopped, making a half-panicked, half-confused noise. His aura flared, catching Akemi's attention.
"Joseph?" Asked Akemi, raising an eyebrow. Joseph only turned around, his teeth bared in anger. Eventually, everyone followed his gaze, and their expressions matched his.
"I- it's them!" Exclaimed Polnareff. "That car's here!" The six approached the car, looking inside the empty vehicle. Akemi felt a pit of nervousness as she approached the car. It was as if she were approaching a running train. It was screaming danger.
Jotaro and Akemi both looked back at the tea house, their narrowed eyes scanning every customer.
"Hey, I need to ask you something." Called Joseph suddenly, turning around with a pointed finger. "Where's the driver of that car parked over there?" Two cups of tea and a fist were raised.
"I- I'm not sure. I didn't notice when it parked there..." Said the man that offered the sugarcane juice. While all this was happening, Akemi was trying her best to sense Stand energy around her, but she couldn't feel anything. It was as if the car itself…
"I doubt that the driver will just come out and announce themselves." Advised Kakyoin.
"They're messing with us!" Polnareff growled.
"This leaves us with only one option. Right, you two?" Smirked Joseph, turning to the two teens. Akemi wasn't entirely sure what he was thinking, but Jotaro clearly did.
"Yeah..." He agreed lowly. "It'll involve some innocent bystanders, but... we'll just beat them all down!" He claimed loudly. Akemi's eyes widened, and she raised her hands.
"Hey, hey, wait-" Akemi cried. Jotaro and Joseph already had their hands on someone. Anne stuck to Akemi's side, amazed.
"H- hey, Jotaro, stop!" Called Kakyoin. "Joseph-san, you too? P- Polnareff! This is going too far!"
"Guys, he's right! I can't feel any Stand energy! The driver isn't here!" Akemi exclaimed.
"A face like yours looks the most suspicious..." Said Polnareff, raising his fist at a poor customer, whose shirt was caught in the other fist. He was looking up at him fearfully, his eyes wide, his aura showing absolutely nothing suspicious.
"C- come on..." Bleated Polnareff's victim, raising his shaky hands.
Akemi looked around her, at the men causing destruction for no reason... she growled and summoned Empress Gaea, growing branches from directly beneath Polnareff, Joseph and Jotaro, wrapping them up before they could do any more damage. Shocked looks crossed their faces when they saw the thick wooden vines with purple flowers wrap around them and suspend them a few centimeters off the ground, causing them to release whoever they were assaulting. Anne looked at the suspended men, entranced, amazement shining in her aura.
"Akemi! Let us go!" Joseph exclaimed angrily.
"Put me the hell down!" Jotaro snarled.
"What are you doing?!" Cried Polnareff.
"Shut up!" Akemi snapped. "Idiots! I told you, I didn't feel any bad intentions or Stand energy coming from anyone, so the driver isn't here!" Their expressions fell at that.
"Look, the car's started!" Kakyoin exclaimed, pointing at the red car. The muscular arm was resting on the window, Stand energy flowing off it.
Akemi turned around and dropped them without warning, retracting the vines back into the ground. They all fell ungracefully with a cry of surprise, watching as the red car drove off.
"D- did we just get played?" Muttered Polnareff, rubbing his head.
"Did anyone see their face?" Asked Joseph, wincing as he stood back up. Jotaro groaned, rubbing his back, sending a nasty glare toward Akemi, which just seemed to bounce off of her, much to his distaste.
"N- no." Akemi muttered lowly, her eyebrows furrowed upward.
"What are we going to do? Clearly, they aren't trying to attack us." Remarked Kakyoin. Polnareff growled and clenched his fists.
"It's gonna piss me off if we don't chase them down and take care of this." He said, annoyance plain and clear in his voice.
"Well, they're probably trying to draw us to them, if they're gonna piss us off and just drive away." Akemi pointed out, "They think they can beat us. They're confident."
"Well, let's show them just who's the better Stand user!" Polnareff said raucously, turning and making a dash for the car.
In seconds, everyone was buckled in.
"Not to mention we owe them payback for the truck that almost hit us earlier!" Polnareff added as he swerved out of the tea house.
Akemi felt fear bubble in her chest as they sped hundreds of kilometers per hour down the winding roads. She held on a bit tighter to Anne, who was beyond confused.
"Damn it! For a piece of shit car, it goes fast." Polnareff cursed. They swerved down a forked road, turning toward Pakistan.
"That's strange. According to this map, we should be running parallel with train tracks here." Kakyoin elucidated.
"Who the hell cares?!" Polnareff snapped. "We're gonna catch him in a second. That bastard! I'm gonna nail him on that curve!"
"Be careful, Polnareff..." Akemi said meekly. They swerved around the corner, coming face to face with a dead end.
"Impossible! It's a dead end!" Polnareff cried. He yanked the steering wheel, drifting on the side. He stopped them right at the edge. Akemi let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, feeling relief flood her veins.
"They're gone! Where did they go?" Joseph exclaimed, panicked.
"What the hell are these mind games?" Akemi panted.
"They disappeared after the curve?" Gawked Kakyoin, "And a car couldn't cross that suspension bridge..." Suddenly the car lurched forward. Akemi whirled around, careful not to let Anne fall off her lap.
It... it was the car!
"What?!" Everyone chorused.
Did he somehow get around us without us noticing!?
It backed up and crashed into them again.
"I- It's them! They're coming from behind!" Joseph exclaimed as the car rammed into them again.
"How did they get behind us?!" Kakyoin asked, panicked.
"They're going to knock us off the cliff!" Akemi cried frantically. Polnareff shifted gears and tried to fight back, but while he was in reverse, the car was still moving forward.
"T- they're pushing us with immense horsepower... What the hell is this?! A tank!?" Polnareff hollered. "Jotaro, use Star Platinum to smash that damn car!"
"I can't... there's going to be an opposing force once I hit it. Our Jeep will bounce off of the car, just like with the truck." Jotaro explained.
"I've got this! Gaea!" Akemi cried. "I'll create a roadblock so big it won't matter!" The phantom of her Stand echoed around her body, glowing as Akemi focused her mind on growing a tree that would block the car from getting pushed over.
As the bark swirled up, forming the trunk, suddenly she thought she saw her father. Desperate amber eyes bored into her own and it froze her in place, halting the growth of the tree. Dread poured down Akemi's chest.
"D- dad..?" She breathed, almost inaudible.
"Akemi?! What's wrong?" Shouted Kakyoin.
Akemi was unable to respond. She felt as if a million fire ants were crawling up her chest and walking in circles in her stomach. It was almost painful. She could feel her arms lock up. She couldn't move her fingers.
"What's the matter, Akemi?" Joseph exclaimed worriedly.
"I..." Akemi breathed, feeling as if tears would fall down her cheeks. Panic gripped her, and she withdrew her Stand.
"Akemi, what's the matter!?" Jotaro asked intensely. Akemi didn't face him.
"I thought I saw... my... I- I..." She couldn't finish her sentence.
"We're going to fall down!" Hollered Polnareff.
"Polnareff, what are you thinking?! Why did you take your foot off the brake pedal?" Kakyoin cried. Everyone looked at Polnareff, who had risen his legs upward to brace himself. He looked around, then down at the pedal.
"Oops, uh, I thought I didn't need to put it down anymore." Polnareff said shyly. They all collectively wailed in horror when the car behind them rammed into them one last time, successfully launching them off the cliff.
For a moment, they were free-falling at terminal velocity. It was like a roller coaster, but the fear of losing their lives was much more intense than would have been. Luckily, Kakyoin was able to come to his senses in time to save them.
"Hierophant green!" Cried Kakyoin.
"Stop! Hierophant Green isn't strong enough to carry this much weight!" Joseph shouted. "It'll just tear its body apart!"
"I beg your pardon, Joseph-san, but I know myself quite well. I am not a fool." Kakyoin said, suddenly calm. Hierophant Green hooked a long, metal wire to the red car's grill, effectively stopping the car's fall.
"It flew up holding the car's wire winch!" Joseph grinned.
"Nice save!" Akemi said, a small smile spreading across her face, her fear dissipating. Kakyoin turned around with a smirk. Jotaro returned it.
"That was smart, Kakyoin." He complimented. "By the way, do you like sumo?" Akemi gave him a confused look, and watched as Star Platinum appeared, flying upward and grabbing the wire winch. Jotaro leaned forward, a smile on his face. Something rare, and one she enjoyed, even while she was terrified.
"In particular, deadlocks at the edge of the ring..." Star Platinum let out a loud 'Ora!' as he yanked on the wire winch, accelerating their car upward. "It's exciting, isn't it?" Akemi quickly caught up to what he was doing and summoned her own Stand, unhooking the winch while floating upside down, giving the driver a little wave and smile right before Star Platinum punched the car down the cliff. Just before the car landed, Akemi created a huge flower right beneath them, acting as a landing pad and dulling the crash.
"Phew. What a rush. Thanks, 'Kemi, for your flower cushions." Polnareff breathed, his muscles relaxed as relief flowed through his aura, along with everyone else's. It felt like standing beneath a waterfall during a hot day. Akemi let out a long sigh and fell limp against the seat, feeling quite tired.
"Indeed. I quite enjoy sumo." Agreed Kakyoin with a small smile, turning around. "But Jotaro, in sumo, it's against the rules to punch your opponent." Jotaro responded with a smile in his direction.
The six watched as a pillar of smoke began to rise from the ravine, signaling their victory.
The gang approached the cliff side, looking down at the wreck.
"Well, that's another Stand user out of our way." Akemi sighed.
"There's no way he survived that." Polnareff said enthusiastically. "What an asshole. He totally deserved that."
"Okay, I'm driving next." Akemi claimed firmly. Polnareff let out a cry of protest.
"Wha!? But I did just fine!"
"I feared for my life far more than necessary." Akemi held her hand up stubbornly. "I will be taking over."
"But I wonder why that car was suddenly behind us..." Anne mentioned as the two white-haired individuals argued. "It's so strange." Akemi jumped with a yelp as she heard a voice on the radio behind her.
"It's not strange at all..." Said the voice on the radio. Joseph looked at Polnareff confusedly, and he recoiled.
"Why are you looking at me!? I didn't say that! It's the radio!" Polnareff shouted incredulously, pointing at the car. "It's coming from the car radio!"
"I was able to do that because it was a Stand, Joestar! But of course, your little white-haired puppy figured that out, didn't she?" Mocked the voice.
"It knows my name..." Said Joseph.
"I knew it." Akemi hissed.
"How did it know about Akemi's ability?" Jotaro muttered, perturbed.
"Where's it coming from?" Asked Kakyoin, looking around. "Shouldn't the user be dead?"
"That's impossible! That thing is totaled!" Polnareff protested angrily.
"No, there's a possibility the whole car's a Stand." Jotaro said.
"Just like Strength's Stand was a whole boat..." Akemi added, her brows furrowed.
"The Wheel of Fortune..." The Stand user drawled out, "That is the card my Stand suggests."
"The Wheel of Fortune?!" Joseph exclaimed, panicked. That didn't sound like it would be fun to deal with. The ground below them started rumbling.
"What is that tremor?" Kakyoin rasped, looking around.
"This isn't good..." Polnareff muttered.
"Everyone, get in the car!" Shouted Joseph.
"No, don't!" Akemi and Jotaro chorused. "Everyone, get away from the car!" Jotaro finished, sweat beading on his forehead.
"It can't be..." Polnareff hissed.
"The ground!" Shouted Kakyoin. Akemi grabbed Anne's hand, and they scattered. The ground beneath the car shattered, revealing another car that Akemi didn't take the time to look at.
The force of the car falling on its wheels knocked the six over, and they turned, watching the totaled Stand with fear.
"Impossible! It burrowed up through the ground!" Polnareff exclaimed.
"It's looking pretty damn possible, Polnareff!" Akemi shouted. They watched, frozen, as the car shifted from its broken self to a shiny, scary-looking car.
"What the hell?!" Polnareff cursed loudly.
"What is that thing?!" Asked Kakyoin, fearful.
Just as the words fell out of his mouth, the car began to shift and creak into something totally different. It left the crusaders and Anne breathless and horrified at the sight.
"It's like a living creature!" Joseph exclaimed. The engine revved loudly, striking fear into Akemi's chest.
"It's transformed! It's going to attack!" Shouted Polnareff.
Jotaro let out a small chuckle, raising a fist.
"It wants to see who's stronger." He claimed. Akemi looked at him, bewildered.
"Kujo, are you crazy?! Let's fucking go!" Akemi shouted at him.
"Don't, Jotaro! Don't fight yet!" Joseph commanded. "Not until we know what the Stand's power is!" Before anything could happen, Akemi abandoned Anne's hand to tug Jotaro's arm, yanking him out of the way. They nearly fell over, and Jotaro had to steady them both.
Behind him, the towering rock had massive holes, as if they'd been shot. Jotaro gave her an annoyed look before he looked behind him, suddenly grateful for the save.
"I- impossible. I didn't even see them shoot." He said disbelievingly. "What did it shoot, and how?" The Stand user let out a wicked laugh.
"You couldn't see it? You'll soon find out... when you're about to die, that is!" The car suddenly lunged for Jotaro and Akemi. She saw sparkles in the air, she wasn't quick enough this time. Bullets landed in their shoulders and dangerously close to their vital organs. Akemi let out a cry of pain, clutching her wounds.
"Akemi! Jotaro!" Joseph cried.
"Shit!" Polnareff cried. Anne screamed, panicked. Akemi sucked her teeth, landing on her knees.
"What is this? The wounds aren't deep, but they keep digging in... ugh, my healing factor isn't enough to keep up..." Akemi groaned, pain racking her body.
"I couldn't see anything at all. The Stand appeared to be throwing something at them, but there's nothing sticking out of their wounds!" Kakyoin analyzed intensely.
"Are you alright, Jotaro, Akemi?" Joseph called.
"Don't worry about me. Anyways..." Jotaro said, sticking a hand out to Akemi. She took it and he helped her up.
What's with this behavior all of the sudden? Why is he being... more confident? Akemi didn't have time to ponder her thoughts. She looked furiously ahead at the enemy. The wheels squealed as it began to speed toward them.
"...I don't know what kind of attack it is, but it's got good control." Said Jotaro. Clearly, he was doing more thinking inside his brain than outside. Akemi straightened and bared her teeth, yanking Jotaro out of the way again, narrowly missing another barrage of shots.
"Kujo, you idiot! Come on! This isn't a bull fight!" Akemi exclaimed angrily, looking desperately in his eyes. He opened his mouth to retort, but was caught speechless at the look in her eyes.
"I'll go after your legs so you can't run anymore, and then I'll run you over!" The Stand user exclaimed.
"Run between the boulders!" Shouted Joseph. Akemi pushed Jotaro in front of her and ran after him. The rest of them complied, following Joseph through the narrow ravine. Joseph had to jerk Akemi through the gap so she wouldn't get rammed by the car that tried to jam itself between their escape.
"Stop running away!" Cried the user, clearly getting frustrated. Akemi recoiled when she heard crunching rocks.
"What?!" Coughed Kakyoin. The car was digging through the rocks using the grill and the wheels.
"What the hell are you guys? Cockroaches?!" The Stand user mocked.
"Oh no! It's forcing its way in!" Joseph shouted frantically.
"We're no match for it." Fretted Kakyoin.
"It's acting like some stupid musclehead!" Growled Polnareff.
"Head further back!" Jotaro commanded. Nobody was against him, so they all ran. Akemi looked ahead at Joseph, and realized he didn't have Anne.
"Anne!" Akemi shouted, looking behind her. The girl was running as fast as she could, her eyes wide with fear. She tripped and fell over, landing on her face.
"N- nobody's carrying me!" Anne realized, panicked. "Yeah, I ran away from home. I'm a good-for-nothing! I'm all alone and nobody loves me! I'll just die!" she cried. Akemi's heart broke. She turned to the boys.
"Everyone! Up the walls!" Empress Gaea appeared determinedly by her side. "Empress Gaea!" She shouted. The Stand threw her hands to the ground, releasing a lattice of thick vines with a loud boom. Quickly turning to Anne, she released a vine that coiled around the girl's waist and snatched her up where the others were climbing and tossed her up to Jotaro, who caught her with ease.
As Anne was settled down, Jotaro tugged on his hat and Akemi started scaling the wall quickly.
"Good grief. If you have time to say all that, you can run, you little brat." Jotaro said, annoyed. Akemi was at his side in seconds, ruffling Anne's hair.
"You have to be more careful in a fight, Anne. This is why we can't take you along on our trip." She scolded lightly. Anne smiled, affection filling her.
"I love you, Jotaro! I love you, Akemi!" Anne proclaimed. Akemi rolled her eyes half-jokingly as Jotaro helped her up. She gave the Stand below her a withering glare as it giggled maniacally.
"Climb if you want. There are literally no roads left for you!" The Stand user threatened. "Not for escape, not for survival, not for Egypt, not even a road to your shining future! Because the Wheel of Fortune is going to grind you into a hamburger and splatter you all over these boulders!"
While it talked, its wheels grew spikes, and started climbing after them.
"Bloody hell!" Exclaimed Joseph.
"You've gotta be kidding me." Akemi hissed, getting a bit exhausted from running.
Her wounds were stinging more than before, and it caused her to grimace.
Jotaro stared calmly down at the Stand, Joseph and Polnareff were freaking out, and Kakyoin was analyzing.
"Good grief. Looks like we're gonna have to face it. Everyone, stand back. Once it climbs up here, we'll see the car's underside." Jotaro said, his tone serious. He narrowed his eyes. "That's when we'll know who's stronger." Akemi, uncertain, stepped back.
"I see. Once the car's underside is in view, we may be able to attack it." Kakyoin observed.
Akemi watched as Jotaro's coat billowed behind him, a gust of wind causing her hair to shift. The car sped upward, the machine-clad underside revealed to the six of them.
Star Platinum appeared at Jotaro's side, ready to attack, when the Stand started giggling again.
"You're quite energetic, Jotaro!" The user complimented, raising his hand through the window. "But not smart at all! Your bodies reek of something, and you haven't even noticed!" Akemi noticed it.
The smell of gasoline wasn't just from the cars. It was coming from her. Both her and Jotaro.
Star Platinum disappeared, and Jotaro looked up at the Stand, shocked.
"Come to think of it, I smell gasoline." Kakyoin said, alarmed, looking worriedly at Akemi and Jotaro. Polnareff sniffed around.
"It's them! It's Jotaro and Akemi!" Polnareff cried. The Stand released more of the sparkly bullets. Now that there was time to see it, Akemi could really look…
"It's gasoline. He shot gasoline at us!" Akemi exclaimed, taking a step back.
"It was shooting small amounts of gasoline at high speed, like bullets." Kakyoin realized with a jolt.
"His attacks weren't to wound them, but to soak them with gasoline?" Polnareff added, looking at the two teens.
"Looks like you've finally caught on, but it's too late, now!" The Stand user said triumphantly.
He grabbed a tube next to his arm and tugged on it.
"These electric wires will spark!" Electricity sparked toward both Akemi and Jotaro, but Akemi was too far away to be set aflame like Jotaro was.
"Jotaro!" Screamed Anne. Akemi's eyes widened.
"Jojo!" Akemi shouted, filled with shock. His aura turned bright with panic and pain, blending in with the flames that licked the sky.
"Jotaro!" Shouted Joseph.
Akemi tried to run forward, but Kakyoin wrapped his arms around her, successfully restraining her. She desperately struggled against his arms, but he was stronger than Akemi thought. She couldn't even slip through.
"Don't go near them, Akemi! There's gasoline on your body, as well." Kakyoin warned her.
Jotaro collapsed. The Stand user's laugh was shrill as he slammed the side of the car in amusement.
"Jotaro!" Joseph shouted, anguished. The user pointed to the sky.
"I win! Part three is over!" He cried, victorious. Tears poured down Akemi's cheeks. She couldn't see his aura in the fire. She choked a sob, going limp in Kakyoin's arms.
"Oh? And who exactly is going to replace me, Jotaro Kujo, as the main character?" Said a deep, familiar voice.
The arm flailed in panic as a fist burst through the ground. And out from the rock came Jotaro, a triumphant smirk on his face.
"You didn't think it'd be you, did you?" Akemi's eyes widened, shocked. But then she huffed, wiping her tears.
How could she have ever expected Jotaro Kujo to be defeated that easily?
The Stand user pointed accusingly at Jotaro.
"You burrowed into the ground with Star Platinum!" He shouted angrily. "So the only thing that was burning up was your jacket!"
"By the way, weren't you saying something about roads earlier? You were wrong." Jotaro said. "A road is something you make yourself. And so I, Jotaro Kujo, will show you how it's done... I'll show you exactly how it's done."
Star Platinum then started beating the shit out of Wheel of Fortune.
"That's how it's done." Jotaro said with a smile. "Hmph. Where you went flying, there is now literally a road. Good, good." Akemi joined his side. The appearance of the out-of-proportion Stand user made her giggle.
"What the hell? Did all his muscle mass go to his arms?" Akemi mocked, her stone cold eyes looking down, pointing down at the user as he screamed. "You would think at least his legs would be a little beefy from all that pedaling." Anne and Kakyoin approached the user.
"Don't look at me like that! I can't take it!" Cried the user. "I can't stand it when pretty people look down on me! I can't!" Akemi snorted. How pathetic.
"What an odd character. Talk about a bluff." Kakyoin agreed with Akemi, looking down with a judgmental expression. The user started crawling away, looking akin to the bugs he was comparing them to earlier.
He ended up with his arms wrapped around one of Polnareff's, groveling at his feet. The Frenchman's expression contorted in disgust, raising his arms.
"Hey! Don't you run away!" Polnareff scolded, kicking the user down.
"Ack! Don't kill me! I'm just in this for money!" The user begged.
They all laughed at his begging. Akemi walked a bit forward, putting a mock decisive finger on her chin, bending over and looking around with widened eyes.
"Hm... I dunno, you put a bunch of holes in my mom's jacket, and Jotaro has to get an entirely new one. That's a pretty big fuck up there, bud." Akemi mused. The user sniveled, rambling incoherently.
A noise behind them made them all turn, looking at the beat up car. It shifted and turned into a really old, beat up, roofless car. Joseph cringed.
"Oh, god." He said, grimacing. "To think the Stand was disguising such a small car, too. It looks like a sheep that's just been shorn. How pathetic!" They all laughed at their mockery, until an idea struck Akemi. She turned to the men, who focused on her, seeing her expression.
"Okay, you all may hate me for this, but I have an idea..." Akemi smirked, a look in her eyes the others hadn't quite seen before. Joseph rounded his lips in recognition.
"Ooh! That's the face you get when you come up with something really evil! C'mon, tell us!" Joseph said childishly, rubbing his hands together.
After Akemi told them the plan, she made a vine for them to climb down the plateau. When it was just her and Jotaro, she stopped him.
When she grabbed his muscular arm, he turned around, looking down at her with a confused look. She wasn't prepared for his aquamarine eyes to pierce her like that, and it made her angry. How could he be so nonchalant after all that?
She put her hands on his chest and pushed him angrily. He looked at her with wide, bewildered eyes
"What?" He asked, concerned. Akemi's fists tightened.
"I... I can't lose you too. So don't do that shit again, you got me, Kujo!?" Akemi said angrily, looking at him with glassy lime eyes. He seemed to be at a loss for words, frozen before her gaze.
Before he could respond, she slid down the vine, and away from the conflicted teen.
"Let me heal your injuries, everyone." Grunted Akemi, her healing vines escaping her Stand's forearm plates. The men gathered around her, thankful phrases escaping their lips as their scratches and bruises disappeared under her golden healing energy.
Joseph nailed the sign that read:
I am a priest in training.
Please do not disturb
my ascetic exercises
by undoing my restraints.
The Stand user was chained upside-down to a rock behind that sign, making noises oddly akin to an animal. Poor man's pride was gone.
"Damn, Kemi. I didn't know you could be so cruel. I think Jotaro's impressed." Polnareff teased, pointing a thumb at the mentioned man.
Jotaro gave him a warning glare, but otherwise, his expression underneath his hat and said nothing. His aura stated that Polnareff was, in fact, right.
"Well, I used to be a lot worse. Ask Joseph. I used to hate training." Akemi scratched the back of her head bashfully.
"Well then. Let's take this car across the border, since our car was destroyed." Joseph suggested, standing over the old, beat up roofless car.
"It's pretty beat-up. I wonder if it'll last that long." commented Polnareff, examining the car, acting like the user behind them wasn't screaming for help. "Hey, you still wanna drive, Akemi?" Akemi blanched at the look of the car.
"I- I think I'll just wait for my next opportunity to come up." Akemi put her hands up, a nervous smile on her face. Polnareff smirked, mischievousness in his aura as he smirked.
"Are you sure? You were so insistent on it before." Polnareff teased, causing Akemi to look away, annoyed.
"I'm serious, Polnareff. I need to rest up, everyone was at least a little injured."
They entered the car, and it really was beat up. Akemi had a feeling she wouldn't get a wink of sleep on this thing.
"By the way, you're going back to Hong Kong on an airplane." Jotaro told Anne.
"Aw, why?!" Anne whined. Akemi sweatdropped.
"You're in the way! We can't have you getting hurt!" Polnareff snapped. "Plus, your parents have to be worried sick."
"Did you have to say it like that?" Akemi asked gently. Kakyoin gave her a bewildered look.
"How else was it supposed to be said?" Kakyoin asked incredulously. Akemi huffed.
"Uh, not like a know-it-all? You'll understand when you're a father, or if you get a younger sibling." She chastised, her arms crossed.
"But you're an only child?!" Kakyoin exclaimed, his voice rising at the end.
"I have little cousins!" She shot back. The car bumped and creaked.
"We might not make it..." Fretted Joseph.
"Good grief..." Muttered Jotaro.
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foreshadowing is fun
facts
-akemi has a motorcycle license in italy. in italy, you have to be sixteen to get a motorcycle license. her uncle owns a motorcycle that she uses frequently (against his discretion).
-the leather jacket that akemi wears belonged to her mother. her mother was 5'7", while akemi is still 5'3". the jacket is a little oversized, but not oversized enough to hinder her. the closure in her growth plates is a bit delayed for her as it was for her mother and uncle, so she still has growing to do.
anyways ttyl!
- caelesti
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word count: 7,076