Ok! Went back and tweaked a few things so hopefully that first chapter looks a little better now lol. The formatting got messed up copy-and-pasting, but I think I fixed everything!

Anyway, onto the story! :)

Feel free to leave any questions or comments in a review!

God Bless and Good Day!

~The Lupine Sojourner

I stare at the strange thing attached to Nori's forehead. "W-what the Hell is that thing?" I ask weakly, my head whirling and the room spinning a bit. This doesn't feel real…it's like I'm dreaming. "I don't understand…"

"I'm sorry, Ms. Kakyoin. I know this is overwhelming. Let me start from the beginning." Mr. Avdol says sympathetically. "There is a man who has been plaguing the Joestar family for 100 years."

"One man? For that long?" I ask, feeling a little steadier now I'm distracted. "How?"

"It's a long story, but he became a vampire, and- -" Mr. Joestar begins, and I can't help interrupting.

"A vampire? Seriously?" I interject, incredulous.

Mr. Avdol nods, picking up the tale again. "Yes. As strange as that sounds, I swear it's true. This man, Dio, has sworn to take over the world and wipe out the Joestar family. He is a very crafty man and a master manipulator. He recruits people and never lets them go."

"But Noriaki would never join him!" I protest. "He's not evil!"

"I believe that." Mr Joestar replies placatingly, hands up, "But Dio doesn't care if the person comes willingly. He'll still recruit them."

I frown, a sickening thought occurring to me. "Does this have to do with the thing on Noriaki's head?" I ask, parting Noriaki's hair again to look at whatever that thing is.

It's disgusting! It wriggles and looks like some little alien or something!

"Yes, it does." Mr. Joestar growls, glaring at the thing.

"Looks like a spider or a piece of flesh." Jotaro grumbles. "That's it? That's what made him swear allegiance to Dio?"

"Yes. It's a fleshbud, formed from Dio's cells." Mr. Avdol explains.

A chill went up my spine. "So...my brother met this...this Dio person, and Dio put the fleshbud in his head?"

That must've been so terrifying! I wish I had been there...I might have been able to help.

"It would appear so." Mr. Joestar replies sadly, shaking his head. "This poor boy had no idea who he met, and now…"

"Now...what?" I ask, my heart sinking into my toes with dread.

"This thing is connected to his brain." Mr. Avdol explains. "The flesh bud is small, but it has the power to influence a man's thoughts and actions."

"So...the flesh bud is what made him act weird these past few months?" I ask.

"Yes. That thing, simply put, stirs him and awakens a certain feeling far beyond his control; charisma!" Mr. Joestar starts to get spirited, and I find myself backing up a little. "The sheer emotive power that drives a soldier to follow a dictator, or a believer to put his faith in a corrupt cult!" Mr. Joestar clenches a fist, shaking in rage. He then points at Noriaki. "This young man revered Dio and that's why he swore allegiance to him!"

"Bullshit!" I snap, my anxiety and fear starting to fade now. "My brother would never revere someone like that!"

"I'm not saying he voluntarily swore allegiance." Mr. Joestar heaves a sigh to calm down. "Dio knows how to use the power of charisma. There will be others he will try to influence." He looks at me curiously, hand on his chin in thought. "What's curious is that you haven't gotten a flesh bud put in you."

I absently feel my hairline as a chill runs down my spine. No lump... "Why?"

"Because...Dio's not the type to let Stand users slip through his fingers without some reason. I'm sure there are other Stand users he's used the power of charisma on." Mr. Joestar explains, frowning at me and gripping his chin in thought.

"Ok...hang on. How could Dio know who has Stands and who doesn't? Seems to me like I managed to avoid Dio by just not being in the same area or something." I point out a little shakily.

"...I think we should count our lucky stars you were spared, Naoko." Mr. Joestar says, but I can tell he's still thinking it over, and his thoughts aren't very good, judging by the glance he's not subtle in exchanging with Mr. Avdol before turning back to me. "Regardless, he's ordered your brother to kill us and he won't stop til he has!"

I swallow, recalling how menacing Noriaki had been while fighting Jotaro. But I know he isn't evil. It's not like he wants to do this...it's just Dio's flesh bud making him act like this. But still...he's terrifying when he wants to be.

"Ms. Kakyoin, Jotaro, there's something I must tell you." Mr. Avdol says, looking very somber. His voice pulls me back to reality. "Four months ago, while I was still there in Cairo, I encountered Dio!" He takes a deep breath and begins. "I am a fortune teller by trade, and I have a shop in a souq called Khan el-Khalili. It was a full moon that night. I was returning to my apartment above my shop when...there he was."

I frown, suddenly remembering our trip to Egypt three months ago.

Was that when this nightmare started? Did Noriaki get this thing put in his head back then? The timeline seems to add up...but maybe I'm wrong...

Regardless, how did I not notice the flesh bud before now?!

"He just stood at the top of the stairs outside my shop, silently, with eyes so cold, it felt like he was invading my heart." Shivers run up my spine. Just hearing about this guy made me feel like I was there.

I could see it all; the full moon lighting up the streets, the streetlights, and then seeing something so terrible, it stops you dead in your tracks, freezing the blood in your veins. "Golden hair and translucent alabaster skin, and worst of all, a dubious sensuality." Mr. Avdol grimaces and I can't help frowning. Why would he bring that up? "The kind you wouldn't expect from a man. Because Mr. Joestar had warned me about him, I knew exactly who he was; Dio, resurrected from the depths of the Atlantic!"

Despite never seeing this Dio, I feel as though I've met him. And I'm already shaking in terror.

Mr. Avdol goes on to describe Dio asking for a demonstration of his 'ability beyond that of a normal human'.

"Sorry, but is that 'ability' a Stand?" I ask tentatively.

Mr. Avdol nods patiently. "Yes." He then resumes his story, talking about how sweet Dio's voice was, how calming his voice was, even in light of the terrifying truth, then Mr. Avdol describes leaping through a window to avoid Dio, sprinting through Cairo to lose the vampire.

I can't even imagine meeting this guy. I shudder to think what Noriaki went through...

Don't think about it too much… "Dio was trying to put a flesh bud in you?"

"Yes, as I suspect he does whenever he meets a Stand user he can't convince to join him willingly." Mr. Avdol replies, sighing. "I was very fortunate that night, but it seems, whenever your brother had the misfortune of running into that monster, he had no forewarning about Dio and thus fell under his spell."

"We need to remove the bud. Simple as that." Jotaro says, surprisingly determined and firm. I didn't think he'd want to help Noriaki after Nori attacked him…

"No!" Mr. Joestar protests. "The brain is very delicate! If he even twitches while we remove it, it could cause brain damage."

"We have to try!" I retort. If there is even the smallest chance, I have to try! "We can't just give up on him!"

"The flesh bud will take over more and more of his mind, eventually turning it to mush and killing him." Mr. Avdol says slowly. I swallow thickly. Don't cry...don't cry… "I'm sorry, Naoko. I truly am. If there were any way to safely remove the flesh bud, I'd do it myself, but...I'm afraid the risk of brain damage is too great."

Mr. Joestar crosses his arms with a grimace. "It's true. He has a few days at most until the flesh bud consumes his brain and leaves him a lifeless husk."

My stomach falls to my feet. These men seem to know what they're talking about…and if they say it's impossible…

I feel myself tearing up as I stare at Noriaki. "He's really...gone?" Was Jotaro wrong? Is there really nothing anyone can do?

"Let's not jump the gun." Jotaro growls. "Kakyoin's not in great shape...but he's not dead yet!" Jotaro calls out his Stand and I instinctively throw myself over Noriaki's chest protectively.

"Your Stand just punches things! You can't just yank the flesh bud out like a splinter!" I protest.

I know I'm probably making a fool of myself, but I can't help it. My brother's life is on the line here! I can't just let Jotaro try to yank out the flesh bud with a Stand that's basically just really strong, from what I've seen.

It nearly overpowered my Stand's staff with just his fist, and then punched me so hard into the wall, I couldn't get up for at least a few minutes.

But that doesn't mean it could safely yank a weird brain thing out of my brother's head!

Jotaro glares at me. "You want to help your brother, right? You wanted to try something, so move it! I'll pull it out with my Stand!" Jotaro growls, but I stay where I am.

"No, Jotaro! Naoko is right! You have to stop!" Mr. Joestar protests, but Jotaro is already walking over.

"Old man, just back off!" Jotaro growls back, looking like he was about to use his Stand to move me aside. "I can remove this thing without damaging his brain. If my Stand has the precision to catch a speeding bullet, then it can also do this."

...It did what?! It seriously caught a speeding bullet?!

"Yeah. I shot the gun myself at my own head to prove what was happening. My Stand caught it, no problem. It also has good reflexes, so it has the best chance of removing that thing without killing your brother or damaging his brain. Now move it." Jotaro replies gruffly.

...I said that out loud?

Strangely, however, if what Jotaro says about his Stand is true...I trust Jotaro. Even given how we met and how today has played out, he strikes me as someone who, once he says he'll do something, he follows through because he's given it thought and decided it's at least worth a shot and has a good chance of working. He sounds so certain...but even so…

"Is that true?" I ask, looking Mr. Joestar directly in the eye. "Did it really catch a bullet?"

Mr. Joestar nods. "Yes. I heard about it from my daughter and Jotaro. It even swiped something from me without my knowing!"

There's only a moment's hesitation. "...I'll hold his head." I decide.

"Good, then let's go."

I nod, moving Noriaki's head into my lap and putting my hands on his cheeks. Jotaro grabs Noriaki's forehead on either side of the flesh bud.

I take a final deep breath and give Jotaro a small shaky smile. "Go for it."

Mr. Joestar grimaces. "That flesh bud is alive! Can't you see part of that flesh bud is outside his body for a reason?! Even a skilled surgeon can't remove it without serious damage!" Mr. Joestar protests, taking a step forward as Jotaro's Stand grabs the bud.

"Surgeons don't have Stands!" I snap back, just as one of the tentacles in the flesh bud reacts to Jotaro's Stand grabbing it, whipping out and catching me on the cheek in a stinging slap.

I tear up a little at the pain (damn that stings!), but hold firm. My brother's brain depends on me holding him still.

I then feel something on my hand like the world's worst bee sting, and I can barely refrain from moving, gritting my teeth, then I look down to see a tentacle burrowing inside my hand! "Shit!" I growl, but again keep holding Noriaki still.

The pain only increases and the sensation of something foreign in my hand and wrist is freaky. But I have to stay strong!

"It just sunk itself into their flesh! This is bad! You have to let go! Now!" Mr. Avdol cries worriedly.

"No way! We started this! We have to finish it!" I grit out, fighting the pain as the tentacle keeps moving up my arm. "Hurry, Jotaro!"

"I can't go too fast, or I'll jerk his head!" He replies, gritting his teeth and I notice tentacles in his hands too, but they're going faster, for some reason.

"It can infiltrate the brain of anyone who dares try to remove it!" Mr. Joestar says and I turn to glare at him.

"Should've said that earlier! I could have had-hang on…" I call on my Stand and have her grab the tentacles, carefully pulling them out, which was hard, seeing as the thing was fighting the entire time and I had to keep my hold on Noriaki's head still.

It's slow going for a moment, then suddenly, Noriaki wakes up. He's confused, but taking things in quickly.

"Don't worry; we'll save you. Just hang on." I murmur as we continue working.

"Why are you- -Naoko, what are you doing?!" He growls, looking torn between anger, worry, and confusion. "Stop!" My grip tightens on his head. Now that he was awake, it was going to be a bit harder to keep him perfectly still.

"I'd hold still if I were you! If I mess this up, your brain is fried!" Jotaro points out.

I look up at Jotaro, and-

"Jotaro, it's up to your neck!" My Stand can't pull it out faster because I'd risk her moving your hands, and thus Noriaki's head. I'm sorry. I apologize internally.

"It's fine. We're almost done." Jotaro grits in reply, and Jotaro's stand eases the flesh bud further out.

"You have to let go!" Mr. Avdol worries, but Mr. Joestar stops him coming forward.

"Hold on, Avdol!" He says, suddenly changing his tune. "My grandson and Ms. Kakyoin are very impressive. That thing's made it halfway through Jotaro's body, and yet he's still completely calm! Not even a tremble from him or his Stand! He can move with more precision and strength than I ever anticipated! And young Naoko not only is staying calm herself, but she also had the brilliant idea of using her Stand to try to pull the tentacles back out, even knowing not to go too fast! If anyone can pull this off, it's them."

My Stand grits her teeth, yanking a bit more of the tentacles out and wrapping it around her hand so the tentacle's progress is virtually impossible.

I smile and nod at her in thanks, then, as if on queue, Jotaro's Stand finally pulls the spike of the flesh bud out, growling something as it yanks the tentacles forcefully out, snapping the tentacles wrapped around my Stand's hand off near her hand.

My Stand just looks a little shocked, but gets over it quickly and drops the tentacles.

Before Jotaro's Stand can grab the last of the bud and destroy it, Mr. Joestar hits it with his hand, and I notice it's crackling with...some kind of energy as it hits the bud, and I notice strange vines wrapped around Mr. Joestar's arm, but then I'm distracted by watching the bud disintegrate.

"Overdrive!" Mr. Joestar exclaims.

I don't have it in me to ask what 'overdrive' is, partly cus I assume that's Mr. Joestar's Stand, mostly because I don't really care right now if I'm honest, and instead focus on looking down at my brother, who's watching the dust of the bud fall to the ground with relief in his eyes. I dismiss my Stand and heave a sigh, ignoring the pain in my hand and arm.

Jotaro manages to catch my eye and he dips his hat a bit at me as he walks away.

Finally, this nightmare is over! My brother is gonna be okay!

Noriaki sits up and feels his forehead, specifically where the flesh bud had been.

"Noriiiii!" I sob, finally releasing all the emotions I'd had to suppress all day, and frankly for the last three months. "Thank God you're ok!" I hug him fiercely and just let it all out. "They said you'd die! I was so scared!" I surprisingly feel little shame in doing this in the presence of other people. I just...I just needed to let this all out.

"Hey, don't worry. I'm ok." He murmurs into my hair, kissing the top of my head like he always does when comforting me. It feels like forever since he's done this... "It's over now, I promise." I slowly begin to calm down, still hiccuping and twitching a bit, keeping my face in Noriaki's chest as he absently pats my back. "Tell me...why did you risk your life to save me?" He asks Jotaro, who had paused walking out of the room.

There was a long moment of silence between the two, during which I got control of my hiccups and breathing.

Jotaro then shrugs. "I dunno. I don't really have an answer for that…"

Bullshit, Jotaro. You're a good guy whether you admit it or not. I think to myself, shaking my head a bit. I move off Noriaki and smile at him, noticing some tears in his eyes.

"Hey now. You said it yourself, it's over. You can rest easy now." I say and Noriaki grabs me for another hug and buries his face in my shoulder, clinging tightly to my shirt. "You ok?" I ask, rubbing his back like he had done for me.

There's something he's definitely isn't telling me. Now that he's back to normal, I'm pretty sure I can trust my assessment of him again.

Maybe it was something I said that set him off somehow, maybe it's just all that he'd been through while under the flesh bud's control that needed to be released. But, whatever the reason is, my brother is upset and I need to do my best to comfort him, so I sit there for (what felt like) several minutes, just holding him.

Finally, he seemed calm enough that I let go.

"...Thanks, Nao."

I smile at him. "Of course. I love you."

Noriaki chuckles, ruffling my hair. "I love you too." He then shifts a little as he looks up at Mr. Joestar. "Can I get a rag and some water? I'd like to clean up a bit."

I stand. "Hang on. I can- -"

"Here. I saw the blood and figured you would want the first aid kit." The voice of Jotaro's mom comes from the doorway and I look to see her walking into the room. She sets down the first aid kit and kneels in front of Noriaki and I. "...I don't believe I caught your names." She muses, smiling warmly at us.

"Uh...I'm Naoko and this is my twin brother, Noriaki Kakyoin." I introduce.

Noriaki clears his throat. "Nice to meet you, Ma'am."

"Pleasure to meet you, dears. Just call me Mrs. Kujo." She says and gets to work, retrieving what she needed out of the first aid kit. "Jotaro, go get a rag and water. We need to get these wounds cleaned."

Jotaro simply walks out, and I instinctively walk with him. Jotaro is a fascinating guy. I want to talk to him a bit.

"Why're you following me?" Jotaro demands tersely.

"I wanted to say 'thank you'." I mumble, suddenly unsure if this is the right move as we walk toward where I saw Mrs. Kujo earlier.

It already feels so long ago…

"What for?"

"For saving Noriaki, even given how this whole mess started. You don't know how much that means to me." It felt good to say it out loud, so this must've been the right call.

"I know."

I blink, unsure if I heard that right. "..." I don't want to break whatever this moment is, so I keep quiet.

"I know how much he means to you, so you can shut up about it now."

So I was right; he is a good guy. He saved Noriaki because of me. He just doesn't want to admit it.

I somehow know not to tease him about it like I might have normally, and just nod as he grabs a rag and a bowl.

"Your Stand is really impressive." I'm not sure what made me say it, but here I am.

"...I know."

I snort, (confident much?) but by now, he's filled the bowl and we're walking back to the tea room.

Mrs. Kujo had begun tending to Noriaki, and I can tell she's being as gentle as she can.

"That's a nasty wound on your head. Where'd you get it?" She asks Noriaki and I see him subtly flinch.

"T-tripped. On, er, the stairs." He mumbles.

"Oh. Stairs are steep here. Fell myself a few times at first." She chirps as she keeps working and if she can see through the obvious lie, she doesn't show it. Within five minutes, she's done, wrapping Noriaki's head and fastening the pins to keep the wrapping in place. "All done!" She cheers as she finishes.

"Thank you. For everything." Nori mumbles. He's been very quiet since he stopped crying, which is fairly normal for him, but at the same time I'm still worried about him.

He'd been through something indescribable, for the past 3 months, and I knew it'd take a long time for him to recover from this.

"I know this is an odd way to meet you, Mrs. Kujo, but I really appreciate your hospitality." I murmur, smiling at Mrs. Kujo and bowing a little.

"Of course! Any friend of my Jotaro is a friend of mine!" She replies happily.

Then she turns to Noriaki, missing the glance Jotaro and I exchange.

I wouldn't call us friends, exactly, but we're...not strangers. Honestly, I don't know what to call us.

"Noriaki, wasn't it?" Mrs. Kujo asks, and Nori nods subtly. "You need to rest for a while. Why don't you two stay here tonight?" Mrs. Kujo suggests, glancing between us.

"I don't know…" Noriaki mumbles, exchanging a glance with me, but Mrs. Kujo is already asking Mr. Joestar and Jotaro to get futons ready for us.

"You don't need to- -" I try to protest, but Mr. Joestar's face turns angry.

"Huh? Why do I have to do it? I've never even liked the idea of sleeping on the damn floor!" He accents his words with smacks on the flooring like a spoiled child.

I smirk. Well, that confirms the Joestars aren't Japanese.

"In fact, that futon in my room? Replace it with a real bed!" Mr. Joestar crosses his arms petulantly and I have to hold in laughter.

Like father, like daughter.

"No way!" Mrs. Kujo replies firmly, patting the floor in return. "You're in Japan now, Papa, and here in Japan, we sleep on the floor." I'm guessing Mr. Joestar doesn't visit often… "And, I'd prefer if you call me 'Seiko' here." She adds, crossing her arms just like Mr. Joestar.

Mr. Joestar's face turns red. "What?!"

"The Japanese also have a name for Holly, which is Seiko-ru, so that's why all my friends call me Seiko!"

"What the Hell is that?!" Mr. Joestar protests. "Holly is a beautiful name! I gave it to you myself!"

"If you don't call me 'Seiko', I won't answer!" Mrs. Kujo replies, nose in the air, as petulant as her father.

I chuckle as Mr. Joestar gets even madder somehow.

"Holly!" He snaps, but Mrs. Kujo merely looks at Noriaki.

"How's the pain, Kakyoin?" She asks. "Bad?"

"Ergh! Holly!"

The discussion continues and I see Jotaro leaving the room, so I again decide to join him and get those futons.

"Stop following me." Jotaro protests, irritated.

"Just point me in the direction of the futons and I'll be out of your hair." I reply, shrugging.

"Linen closet over there." Jotaro snaps, pointing out the right room. "Now get outta here."

I nod and jog off to get the futons. Jotaro is still pretty intimidating...but at least he doesn't want to beat me up. Or hurt/kill Noriaki.

He isn't too bad, actually, once you get him on your side.

I walk back to the tea room, only to find Mr. Joestar still yelling for Holly, but she is true to her word and ignores him, trying to get Noriaki to take off his uniform.

"Good luck trying to get him out of that thing, Mrs. Kujo. He wears it around the house, believe it or not. Never takes it off."

"We're students, Naoko." Noriaki retorts, as always.

I laugh. "Don't start on that again!" I protest, rolling my eyes. It's amazing how quickly Nori and I have resumed our usual repertoire. Now that the flesh bud is removed, Noriaki has snapped back to normal, but I know a lot is broiling under the surface.

Shaking that thought off for now, I turn to Mrs. Kujo. "Where can I set these up?" I ask.

"Oh, just in there." She says, pointing to a room off to the side of the tea room.

"Ok."

"Where did Jotaro go? I asked him and Papa to set those up."

"Holly, stop ignoring me! I'm talking to you!"

...I just noticed Mr. Joestar still rambling.

I refrain from laughing and go to the room to set up our futons. "I don't know where Jotaro went, Mrs. Kujo." I call to her.

Unsurprisingly, Noriaki joins me. "These people are so odd." He muses, smiling and shaking his head as he closes the door behind him.

"I know, but I kinda like them." I reply.

"Of course you do." He teases, nudging my ribs. "You always were friendlier than me."

"Hey now. You're friendly...enough." I tease back, tucking the fitted sheet around the futon.

Noriaki chuckles, finishing putting his fitted sheet on.

I pause unfolding the top sheet for a moment. "Hey, Nori?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you ok?"

"What do you mean?"

I pick a little at the sheet. "I mean...well, you went through a lot, and I just...I'm worried about you."

Noriaki draws me in for a hug. "Naoko, I'm so sorry for worrying you and for what happened these last few months...you have no idea how sorry I am."

I blink, rubbing his back. "Nori, I know it wasn't you. It was the flesh bud, that's all." I finger the bandage around his head. "Can I...can I ask how it happened?" I ask softly before I can change my mind.

After Mr. Avdol's story, I want to know just what happened the night my brother met Dio.

Noriaki gently moves my hand. "I...I'd rather not. It's really not a pleasant story."

"I wanna know, if you can tell me. I want to know how to help you and I can't do that if you don't talk to me." I press, trying to be gentle about it, at least.

Noriaki sits there for a long time, holding me. "Ok." he finally murmurs, so quiet I almost missed it. "But don't beat yourself up about it...ok?"

I nod. "Ok." My heart clenches a little. What happened, that he thought I might beat myself up about it?

"...Do you remember our trip to Egypt, when we spent a few days in Cairo?"

I nod. "Yeah, and we stayed at that hotel with the weird beds and decor."

He fiddles with his fingers. "Right. That one. Well, the night I went out by myself is the night I met Dio."

I gasp. "You mean the night after we toured the pyramids and I was too tired to go for a walk?" Damn! You mean I could've helped him out of that situation if I'd just gotten off my butt and gone for a walk with Nori?!

Now I get why he told me not to beat myself up, but...still. There had to have been something I could have done if I were there!

Although, given what Mr. Joestar said, Dio might've overpowered even the two of us together and given us both flesh buds…

Noriaki nods slowly. "It was a cruel twist of fate that on my walk I ended up near some strange ruins...it was a full moon and I could see my way around fairly well. Thing is, I wasn't alone. You should have seen it, Naoko! There was some kind of ice tree or pillar with a bird on it in the middle of the ruins. I think it was a falcon. And there were rose vines everywhere, even circling my ankles." Roses? "Then...someone called my name."

"What?"

"I'm serious. I called out Hierophant Green, and then I saw him." Noriaki grinds out 'him' like it's a curse, and I don't need to ask to know who he's talking about.

I swallow. "Go on."

"I couldn't help myself! I was so scared, Hierophant Green dissipated and I was left alone with...with Dio." Noriaki describes the scene further.

The rose vines seemed to come out of Dio himself, according to Nori, wrapping all around the pillars and there was a man and woman laying claimed by the vines.

I shiver as he describes Dio himself. It's much like Mr. Avdol's description, golden blonde hair that flowed even without wind, alabaster skin that glittered with something like sweat in the moonlight, and glowing golden eyes. His body was apparently one of the largest Noriaki had ever seen, comparable only to the Joestars.

The longer Noriaki talked, the more uncomfortable I got, but at the same time...I'm happy he's letting it out and talking it through. Noriaki has a tendency to bottle things up sometimes.

Then he described Dio coming up behind him and wrapping his arms around Noriaki's shoulders in what was both a restraining and (what was supposed to be, I'm assuming) a comforting hold. That sent shivers of terror up my spine.

Dio then, according to Noriaki, asked if they could be friends. "You should've heard his voice, Naoko." Noriaki shudders, head down in shame and guilt. "It was...it was like honey, so sweet you don't notice the poison til it's too late. His voice washed over me and I...my biggest regret is that, for an instant, I relaxed. For a second, I believed him."

I take a breath, chills running up my spine. "So, then Dio put the flesh bud in your forehead?"

"Yes..." I could tell I'd pushed for as much information as I was going to get from him right now, so I hug him.

"Thank God you're free again."

"I hated every second, but I couldn't make myself stop." Noriaki sobs, tearing up again, grabbing fistfuls of the back my uniform top as he hugs me back. "He made me do so many horrible things, Nao, but nothing was worse than how he made me treat you, Mom, and Dad."

He'd been only a little better toward our parents than to me, and it weighed on him.

I start rubbing his back again soothingly. "It wasn't your fault, Nori. It was the flesh bud, and the flesh bud only." I assure him. While I wish he would tell me absolutely everything about what happened that night (I could tell he was holding something back from me), I knew I couldn't press him anymore right now.

He had to choose to tell me. And when he did tell me, I'd be there to comfort him and help him through whatever it is that happened.

"I think I need to lay down." Noriaki murmurs.

I nod, letting him go. "Probably. I'll heal you when you wake up, ok? I love you." I kiss his cheek and stand.

"Love you, too." Nori mumbles through a yawn as I step as quietly as I can back through the door to the tea room.

I breathe a sigh of relief. He's alright now. Everything's ok…

And, if anything happens, at least we've got people who can help us...I hope.