This chapter isn't going to be quite as long as the others, just to warn you, but I hope you enjoy it! Next chapters should be back to being a tad longer, fyi.
Anywho, onto the story!
God Bless and Good Day!
~The Lupine Sojourner
"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.
"I heard a lot of what he said." Mr. Joestar's voice comes from directly behind me and I whirl with a startled squeak.
"Mr. Joestar!" I put my hand on my chest. "You scared me!"
"I'm not the only one today, evidently." He replies softly. "I'm sorry you had to go through that experience, and for three months..." He grimaces. "Can't have been easy."
I nod, rubbing my arm. "Well, I didn't notice any significant changes for about a month after our trip, but...then it was like there was a stranger in the house, sometimes. There were moments when I swore he was coming out of it, but then he'd go right back to being a jerk."
"He's lucky to have such a caring sister." Mr. Joestar chuckles, hand on my shoulder.
"Thanks."
"Remind me how you met my grandson?" Mr. Joestar asks.
"I had never seen him before this morning. I left a little after Noriaki for school, and when I caught up, he used his Stand to slash Jotaro's leg, I think to see if Jotaro had a Stand, and then when we got to school Noriaki disappeared, so I used my Stand and found him attacking Jotaro in the nurse's office. Jotaro assumed I was after him, too, when I tried to get Noriaki to stop, and he kinda smacked me into the wall." Mr Joestar winces, but lets me continue without interruption, "By the time I got up, he'd defeated Noriaki. From there, Jotaro basically kidnapped me and Noriaki and dragged us here."
"I'm sorry he was so rough. Jotaro seems to have a chip on his shoulder and I can't figure out why." Mr. Joestar replies with a sigh, crossing his arms.
I shrug. "Well, I can tell he's a good person under all that tough guy attitude, so I'll let it slide." I quip.
Mr. Joestar chuckles. "You have a kind heart, Naoko." He then sobers and glances at the room we're borrowing. "How's your brother?"
"Good...I think. He's lying down." I murmur, sighing.
"That's good. He's been through quite the ordeal."
I shiver. "So you heard him talk about his encounter with Dio?"
"Bits and pieces."
"It must've been so terrifying…" I shudder, hugging myself.
"Indeed." I then notice Mr. Joestar looks grim and pensive...and he's staring right at me.
"Is something wrong?" I ask, gulping. Does he think I'm lying?
"Naoko, I must confess something." He puts his hand on my shoulder, guiding me away from the door to the room Nori and I are borrowing.
I frown, but don't resist. "Yes, sir?"
"There's something that's been nagging at me about this whole situation, and it has to do with how you avoided a flesh bud."
"Yes?"
"Well, it's obvious Dio wants as many Stand users on his side as possible, and for them to be loyal to him, so it stands to reason he wouldn't let you go without some kind of intervention, especially since you were nearby with your family. He could have easily found you and given you a flesh bud as well."
My head whirls and I gulp thickly. I didn't even think about that! I don't like where this is going, but maybe I'm wrong… "Meaning?"
"Meaning I believe that, perhaps, your brother struck a deal with Dio, preventing you from sharing his fate."
My eyes snap wide. "What?!"
"I know how it sounds, but I think it's possible. Noriaki never told you about Dio the entire time he had the flesh bud in his head, correct?"
"No, he didn't."
"Hmmm, so perhaps your brother made a deal so that you would be spared from this nightmare as long as he was loyal to Dio."
I gulp. "You're kidding!"
Mr. Joestar shakes his head sadly. "I wish I was, but it's a possibility, I'm afraid. Considering that Noriaki made sure you didn't know a thing about what he was up to until he attacked Jotaro, and the fact that he kept you out of this for three months is another factor. He could've forced you to go to Dio and get a flesh bud put in your head at any time, but he didn't."
I tear up, my knees feeling a bit shaky. "Noriaki…"
"I'm sorry, Naoko." He puts a steadying hand on my back, looking me over with concern. "Maybe I shouldn't have said anything…"
"No, no. I'm glad you told me." I reply, sniffling and wiping my eyes, trying to keep myself under control. "If your theory is true, it just means Noriaki was looking out for me, even under a flesh bud's control. He's an amazing brother, and I hope this whole mess is behind us." I'm putting on a brave face, sure, but I'm genuine about the sentiment of what I said.
"I'm not sure it is, Naoko. I think you two should be careful. If Dio learns you know of him and about the removal of Noriaki's flesh bud, it may put you and your brother in serious danger."
I pale. "Really?"
"Like I said before," Mr Joestar sighs, folding his arms, "Dio won't stop til he kills me and my family. If he finds out about Noriaki getting his flesh bud removed, and he may already know, given that the flesh bud is made from his own cells," I gulp, "it could spell trouble. Big trouble."
I frown. "So what do we do?"
"For now, let's keep the theory to ourselves, alright?" Mr. Joestar replies. "If I'm right, the less people who know about this, the better. You can confirm our theory with Noriaki later when he wakes up. Once he recovers, you two go about your lives like normal, but let Jotaro or I know if there's any trouble."
I nod. "Are you staying for a while?"
"I am, especially now I know my family could be in danger. My wife should be safe in New York, so I don't think I need to go home just yet. Besides, I need to help Jotaro learn more about his Stand."
I frown. "Wait...what?"
"Jotaro only very recently manifested his Stand. There's a lot I need to teach him about them."
"So do you have one, too?" I ask, unable to help myself. "A Stand?"
Mr Joestar nods. "Yes, but it's not nearly as flashy or impressive as Avdol's and Jotaro's." He holds up his hand and suddenly thorny purple vines shoot out, waving around almost as if seeking something. "Its name is Hermit Purple."
"What does it do?" I ask, curious. I'd never seen a Stand take the form of vines, other than mine when I asked her to transform into vines for recon work.
"It can grab things, let me swing around, tie someone up, and use something called spirit photography." He announces proudly, releasing his Stand.
"What's spirit photography?"
"I have to bust a camera every time I use it, but it creates a picture that illustrates a threat or someone I need to find if I use it."
"...Interesting." I reply, unsure how to feel about it. It's an unusual Stand, to be sure, but it's also impressive.
Mr. Joestar then leans down to me a little. "Forgive me if I'm overstepping," He smiles warmly at me. "but, while we're on the subject of Stands, may we see your Stand? Mr. Avdol, Jotaro, and I are rather curious. We'd like a closer look at her."
I nod. Why not? I follow Mr. Joestar out to the yard area where the others were waiting and bring her out.
She's an impressive sight if I do say so myself.
She looks like some kind of nature goddess with dark green skin and simple clothes made of what look almost like brown leaves but is a kind of cloth.
Her eyes are ocean or sky blue and she has a tiara with a jeweled flower in the center, braided gold 'vines' forming the bands. The background of the flower centerpiece looks like a sky blue sapphire. There are four scars on her face, one on her cheek, almost hitting her lip and three over her left eye, narrowly missing blinding it. I don't know where they came from, but they have always been there as far as I can remember.
Her cheek scar mirrors a scar I have on the right side of my lip from an accident where Noriaki accidentally hit me with one of his Stand's tentacles before I learned my Stand could heal.
Thick light green vines wrap around her arms and legs, linking together in the space between her shoulder blades. In her hands she holds an ironwood (or so I guess, given how nearly unbreakable the thing is) staff with several different leaves on it. Her hair floats around her head, similar to Jotaro's Stand.
"Impressive. What is she named?" Mr. Avdol asks as I put her away. "I'm a fortune teller, so I find myself curious."
I frown, scratching the back of my neck. "I...haven't named her. I could never decide on a name…"
"You said your brother's Stand was named Hierophant Green." Mr. Avdol points out.
I shrug. "That's what I heard him call it, but he never told me the name before, or how he came up with it, except a lie about him 'thinking about it for a while'." I reply, feeling embarrassed I hadn't named my Stand.
"Jotaro's Stand hasn't been named yet, either." Mr. Joestar points out, seeming to pick up on my embarrassment. "Though that's easily remedied." He then smirks. "So, what can she do?" Mr. Joestar asks, nodding to my Stand.
"Well, she can transform herself into vines to do much the same as your vines, Mr. Joestar, minus the spirit photography." I explain, smiling and standing next to my Stand. "That staff is made of super tough wood and I trained on how to fight with a staff for two years, so she knows how to use it well, too."
"That's impressive, Naoko." Mr. Joestar praises, smiling.
"Thank you. She can also use her vines for recon stuff," My Stand makes her arms vines and everyone seems duly impressed, "and when she does, she can scout out the land and the vibrations travel back along the vines and gives me a rough picture of what's going on around the vines. I can even see Stands through the vibrations, but it's still just a rough picture."
"Magnificent!" Mr. Avdol exclaims. "Such a versatile Stand!"
I blush a little and my Stand acts shy, fiddling with the staff, as a result. "Thanks. There's only one more thing; my Stand can heal, provided I have access to life energy. That means I can use a plant's basic version of life energy, an animal's life energy, or a person's life energy. The worse the injury, the more life energy I need. Minor things like scrapes, bruises, and small cuts she can heal with her own energy, but anything worse requires life energy from something. I try to use plants, but if I have to, I use my life energy."
"Hmmm that's a fascinating set of abilities, Naoko. You should be proud!" Mr. Joestar commends, coming forward to clap my shoulder and get a closer look at my Stand.
"I am." I then get an idea. "Jotaro, hold out your arm." I suggest.
"What? Why?" Jotaro asks, stepping back a step.
I roll my eyes. "I just told you my Stand can heal. I want to heal you."
"I'm fine." Jotaro replies.
I roll my eyes. "Don't worry. It just tickles a bit." I explain before sending one of Ace's vines over. Jotaro tries to move his arm, but I manage to nab him and have Ace start the healing.
"Hey! I said I'm fine." Jotaro protests, trying to get the vine off, to no avail.
"Look, it'll be over soon, and I owe you for helping Noriaki, alright? Don't sweat it." I choose not to have Ace use the Kujos' plants as a life energy source, so I use my own life energy to finish the healing once Ace couldn't spare more energy.
I start to feel drained, but I don't care. As long as Jotaro heals, I'm good with being tired.
"Hey, that's enough. Are you using your life energy to heal me?" Jotaro demands, trying again to remove the vine now that I was showing my tiredness.
"Yeah. Figured you wouldn't want me killing your plants…" I explain, swaying just a little. Mr. Joestar puts his hand on my back to steady me.
"Easy. That should be enough, at least for now, alright? Why don't you stop and resume once you've recovered?" He suggests.
I yawn If I wanted to heal Noriaki later, Mr. Joestar has a point. "Alright, fine."
"You didn't have to waste your life energy on me." Jotaro grumbles when the vine leaves his arm.
"I wanted to. Like I said, I owed you."
"No, you didn't." Was that...concern in his eyes? Just for a second, it almost looked like he was concerned about me...must be my imagination.
To change the subject, I turn to Mr. Avdol. "Can I see your Stand before I go, Mr. Avdol?" I ask tentatively. "It's the only one I haven't seen."
Mr. Avdol smiles. "Of course." He inhales and suddenly a- -whoa!
His Stand..! It's so...so badass! It's a humanoid figure up to the neck (shirtless with flames for pants, apparently), with the head of some fierce bird who caws proudly as he shows off, flames coming from his hands, going up to his elbows.
"Whoa! That's badass!" I exclaim without thinking.
"I'm glad you find him impressive." Mr. Avdol replies.
"How long have you been able to summon him?" I ask.
"Since I was roughly five years old. If I may, how long have you been manifesting your Stand?"
"Noriaki and I have been able to manifest them since we were really young. I don't remember when we got them, really. We've been able to use them as long as I can remember."
"Fascinating." Mr. Avdol murmurs.
"What does yours do? What's his name?" I ask rapidly, unable to contain my curiosity.
"His name is Magician's Red, and he is the master of flames and heat." Mr. Avdol chuckles, crossing his arms proudly. Beside him, the Stand squawks proudly, the flames flaring up to show off. Mr. Avdol then recalls Magician's Red. "Now then, Ms. Kakyoin, why don't we name your Stand, if you are up for it? And Jotaro's while we're at it."
I blink. "Really? That'd be awesome! I've always felt guilty not naming her, but I couldn't come up with anything I really liked."
Mr. Avdol chuckles. "Your Stand is an extension of your soul, Naoko. It's not like it can feel mad at you for not naming her."
"...She's an extension of my soul?" I ask. I always knew she felt what I felt (that much was obvious from just watching her), but...somehow, I never knew she was quite that connected to me.
It just made me feel guiltier for not giving her a proper name...for at least 12 years...
"Kojo." I hadn't noticed how somber I'd gotten, my Stand's hand on my shoulder startling me back to reality. She's saying she isn't mad at me.
"She can talk?!" Mr. Joestar asks, surprised but excited.
"Just the word 'kojo', which is Japanese for 'plant'." I explain, smiling again as I pat her shoulder in thanks. "I can tell what she's really saying, though. Just now, she said she's not mad at me."
"That's fascinating!" Mr. Joestar exclaims and turns to Jotaro. "Didn't your Stand say something when it fought Mr. Avdol?"
I blink. "When he...what?" I ask, raising a brow.
Mr. Joestar chuckles. "When Jotaro first manifested his Stand, he assumed it was an evil spirit that had attached itself to him. The Stand apparently first manifested during a fight Jotaro was in. Afterwards, Jotaro was arrested and put in jail. He decided to stay there til he figured out what was going on. Holly called me and I knew I had to see him and explain in person. Avdol was a last-minute addition since I suspected simply explaining what Stands are wouldn't convince Jotaro he was safe to leave the cell. Though my Stand has its uses, Hermit Purple is no match for Jotaro's Stand. So, Avdol had to force Jotaro out and demonstrate that Stands can, indeed, be completely controlled by the user."
"So...who won?" I ask, smirking.
"It was a draw." Mr. Avdol says, stalling Jotaro's angry interjection with an upraised hand.
"What does your Stand say?" I ask Jotaro curiously, hoping to distract him from his anger.
"None of your business!" Jotaro snaps, and I decide to drop it, smiling at Mr. Avdol.
"Ok, ok. Mr. Avdol, how do you plan on helping me and Jotaro name our Stands?" I ask.
Jotaro huffs, but doesn't try to reroute the conversation to his irritation.
"Using Tarot cards. Mr. Joestar drew the Hermit card, and he came up with the name Hermit Purple based on that." I grin.
"Fascinating!"
"I'm glad you think so. I happen to always have my Tarot deck on me, so I can do readings if the mood strikes me." Mr. Avdol explains, drawing the deck out of some inner pocket of his robes.
"Mind if I go first, Jotaro?" I ask.
"Do what you want." He grumbles in reply.
I roll my eyes and turn back to Mr. Avdol as he spreads the cards in his hands.
Feeling compelled for some reason, I grab a card closer to Mr. Avdol's right hand and turn it over. "Um...it says Ace of Wands." I report. "What does that mean?"
"That's an interesting card to draw. It symbolizes potential, growth, and inspiration. I can see how your Stand fits the card." He replies, smiling. He then puts a finger on his chin in thought. "It is a Minor Arcana card, however. Which would seem to indicate that the other Major Arcana cards have been claimed by other Stand users."
"How do you know?" I ask, raising a brow.
"It's a guess, but fate seems to have drawn you to the Minor Arcana, which I take to mean the others are already claimed by other Stands."
Hold on…
"We may never know." Mr. Avdol continues.
"Mr. Avdol?" I ask.
"Yes?"
"Is Hierophant a Tarot card?" I ask. If it was, that would mean that someone else who reads Tarot cards helped Noriaki name his Stand, but they're likely serving Dio...for some reason, that makes me frightened.
"Yes, it is. Why do you ask?" Mr. Avdol replies, looking at me curiously.
I shudder. The more I thought about Noriaki being under Dio's influence for three months, the more pissed off and disturbed I get. How many times did Noriaki sneak off to meet one of Dio's servants or Dio himself while the flesh bud was in his head?
"Well, I was thinking...I think one of Dio's servants helped Noriaki name his Stand with Tarot cards."
Everyone gasps.
"I hadn't thought of that." Mr. Joestar confesses, holding his chin in thought. "It would make sense, since I doubt Noriaki knows the Tarot well enough to name his Stand after a card."
"No, I have no clue about Tarot cards, and I've never noticed Noriaki looking into them."
Mr. Joestar taps his chin in thought. "He was under Dio's influence for three months, which means he likely had a decent amount of contact with the enemy."
"Probably, much as I hate to say it." I shudder. The thought of Noriaki meeting with anyone who works with Dio…
I shake myself.
"Are you alright?" Mr. Joestar asks.
"Yeah. Just glad Noriaki will never have to follow Dio's orders again." I reply, swallowing and trying to remember that Noriaki is free of the flesh bud now.
"That's right. I'm hoping we won't have to involve you or your brother further in this mess, but likely, someone will try to attack Noriaki, considering he got his flesh bud removed. You might be involved in that, as well. It's hard to say, but if you have any trouble, don't hesitate to call us, alright?"
"Alright." I reply gratefully. Honestly, knowing I can call people if anything happens makes me feel less stressed about the future. "I really appreciate it, Mr. Joestar."
"Anytime. Now, you look a little pale. I think you should probably lay down. Healing took a lot out of you and it's been...a long day to say the least."
"You're right. Noriaki probably won't wake for a while, anyway. I'll lay down for a bit." I concede, yawning.
"Don't worry about Noriaki. He'll be fine once he gets some rest and you use your Stand to heal him." Mr. Joestar calls after me.
"Thanks. I'll see you guys later, I guess." I reply, waving a bit before yawning again and heading inside.
When I get to our room, though, I see Noriaki lying with his face toward the door, looking pensive.
He looks to me the next second as I walk inside, shutting the door behind me.
"Couldn't sleep?" I ask.
"Not a wink." He replies, sighing and moving to lie on his back. "These walls are paper thin…"
I wince a little. That's Noriaki's way of telling me he'd heard me and Mr. Joestar's discussion, and that that's the reason he couldn't sleep.
"Mr. Jeostar drew that conclusion on his own, Noriaki." I explain. "He's a smart man." I sit down beside him, grabbing his hand. "...is it true?"
"Naoko…" He tries to withdraw his hand under the covers, but I hold it firm.
"Please. If Mr. Joestar is wrong, then I'm just lucky to have not gotten a flesh bud put in me, but if he's right...we could be in trouble. I need to know...please."
"...I hate myself for it." Noriaki whispers, this time succeeding in getting his hand back. He doesn't look at me now, too ashamed.
"Noriaki, it was so brave of you to think of me, to take that kind of risk to protect me from someone like Dio. I can't believe Dio held up his end of the deal, but I'm glad."
That makes Noriaki frown a little, looking at me in confusion. "What?"
"If Dio had put a flesh bud in me...we would probably still be under Dio's control, and maybe...maybe we'd have killed Jotaro. Who knows…" I swallow. "But I know this; you're free from Dio's control now. We'll face whatever comes next...together." I take his hand again and this time, Noriaki tugs me down against his chest, moving the covers over me, and I feel small sobs in Noriaki's chest.
"What did I do to deserve a sister like you?" He asks into my hair. I squirm a bit so I can hug him.
"Shhh...we both need sleep. I healed Jotaro, so I need sleep, and you definitely need sleep. C'mon…" I yawn. Today has been exhausting… "It's ok. We'll handle whatever happens next, and we've got the Joestars on our side now, plus Mr. Avdol." I rub his back. "Let's rest for now, ok?"
Noriaki clutches me tighter to him, and for a while we stay like that as he tries to calm himself down.
Eventually...we both fall asleep.
