Warning: this is quite a heavy story. While it starts with romance, it ends how part 6 starts. Be forwarned!

While I'd recommend reading this fic without warnings to get the full, unspoiled effect, each chapter will have warnings at the top.

There are no warnings for this chapter.

This fic takes place in the same universe as my one-shot, Jotaro

Jotaro was at the kitchen table, drinking his morning tea with Joseph, when the phone rang. Suzie, who was hovering over the stove, called out, "Can someone get that?"

Jotaro stood, stepping carefully past Holly, who was dozing in a rocking chair, wrapped in a blanket, still recovering from her stand illness, and pressed the receiver to his ear, "Kujo Residence." As he listened, the feeling drained from his face, and he slammed down the phone.

Jotaro stormed back through the kitchen and out the back door, into the forested backyard, then kicked a rock near his feet. It flew through the serene silence, ricocheting off a tree trunk, before falling to the ground. He heard the door open behind him.

"Who was it?" Joseph's voice rang out. Gravel crunched beneath his feet as he moved to his grandson's side.

Jotaro stared into the trees, which seemed to fade into nothing, then down at the ground, "He wants us out of the house."

Joseph's brow furrowed, "Who? Your father?"

"His agent," Jotaro croaked, his voice getting caught in his throat, "Fucker couldn't even speak with me." He kicked another pebble, then felt Joseph's arms catch him in a hug. It felt strange, being held by another man like that, and Jotaro fought a brief impulse to throw him to the ground before cautiously squeezing back. "Sadao wants to settle with us," Jotaro murmured, "Pay Mother and I to get out of his life." He sucked in a breath as Joseph rubbed his back, "I'm going to have to tell her that he's met someone else."

"I can do that." Joseph gave Jotaro one last pat, then released him, "And I want you to know that you and Holly always have a home with me."

Jotaro nodded, glancing back at the vast, simple, home where the Kujos had lived for generations. Shoguns. Princes. Ordinary mothers and fathers. But Jotaro supposed he'd known, deep down, that first time he'd slammed his fist into a stranger's face, that first time he'd thrown a teacher against a blackboard, that he'd never hear his father's voice again.

"You're going to love living in America," Joseph wavered.

Jotaro shrugged.

"I promise." Joseph put his hand on his grandson's shoulder, "Now, how much did Sadao offer?"

Jotaro hesitated, "Five million yen."

Joseph buzzed his lips "Do you know how many records he sells? That's nothing!" The old man's eyes glinted, "You applied for American colleges, right?"

Jotaro's shoulders slumped, "Florida International is the only one that accepted me."

"That's better than I did. I mean, I didn't actually apply for any-" Joseph chuckled, "But it's going to be expensive." He rifled through his pockets and pulled out a notebook, "I'm guessing five hundred thousand yen per year tuition." He found a pen, "And do you know how much apartments in Miami cost these days?"

"Not really."

Joseph scribbled some numbers, wearing a smile he always wore when he was scheming. "Then give me that agent's number." He winked, "You deserve compensation for having such a shitty father."

Holly wouldn't go, no matter how much Joseph cajoled her. "Where will you live?" he demanded, every few hours, his voice full of exasperation.

"With the neighbors," Holly smiled, strangely chipper, as she rocked back and forth, "They need a babysitter."

"Instead of me," snapped Joseph.

"I won't leave the country where I've spent most of my life." She jabbed him with her finger, like he was being silly. "Maybe I'll meet another man," she said in a dreamy voice, laughing at Joseph's shocked reaction.

Soon, Jotaro, Joseph and Suzie left her at a house that could have been confused for the Kujo home, except the nameplate read Satashi and several young children played outside. Jotaro gave her one last hug, then waved goodbye.

Joseph watched her tie a little boy's shoes through the back window as the car pulled away. "Why does she degrade herself like that?"

Jotaro stared out at the streets of Miami as Joseph drove their rental car towards North Beach. At first, the sidewalks felt sterile, almost vacant, with the rare pedestrian chasing shade to stay out of the heat, but as the car moved closer to the ocean, they grew crowded.

"Holy shit! Look at this place." Joseph's head swung to the side.

"What about it?" Jotaro asked flatly.

"The women!" Joseph gaped at a girl in a red bikini as the car rolled through a stop sign, cutting off a pickup truck. The driver honked.

"Good grief," Jotoaro groaned, "You're going to cause an accident."

Reluctantly, Joseph focused back on the road.

"Who are these people?" Jotaro asked, "Can they not afford clothes?"

Joseph laughed, "It's how people dress around here."

Jotaro stared. There were thin girls, fat girls, pretty girls, ugly girls, even some old enough to be grandmothers, with their stomachs hanging out, their legs exposed, their asses wrapped in the tightest shorts he'd ever seen. His gaze moved downwards, and he frowned, "Why don't they wear shoes?"

Joseph laughed harder.

"It's unattractive," Jotaro insisted, "They look like farmers."

"You should move your eyes up a bit," Joseph grinned.

Jotaro let out a long sigh.

A musty scent poured out of Joseph's investment property as he opened the door. "Sorry, I haven't been here for years." He pulled up some shades, revealing a large balcony overlooking the ocean, then threw open the doors, "Don't worry, we'll fix this place up."

Jotaro looked around, opening a door to an airy master bedroom, then a study, then another bedroom.

"It's a bit big for one guy," said Joseph, "But it will be good to have someone living here."

Jotaro stood on the balcony, smoking as Joseph inspected each room, then made a string of phone calls, the words "carpet cleaning" and "drywall" reaching Jotaro's ears. An endless parade of beachgoers moved along sidewalks below. Jotaro watched a girl in a short dress amble into a nearby bar. Her ass wasn't half bad, though he'd never be uncouth about it like Joseph. He moved to another girl. Nice legs, but her shorts were sure unflattering. He noticed she was talking to an older woman, who had the same hooked nose that she did, dragging a dolly stacked with brown cardboard boxes. Then he saw a man his age in a shirt that read FIU, gesturing towards a For Rent sign, accompanied by a couple that were clearly his parents. Were these his new classmates?

Jotaro glanced back through the balcony doors at Joseph, who was now staring, eye-level, at an electrical socket, gratefully. It had been years since Holly had done anything to get him ready for the school year. When had she stopped? Certainly, when he was a boy, she'd bought him shoes and books and uniforms. Back when Sadao was still around, leaving Holly detailed lists of daily tasks, a strange mesh of kanji with excessive hiragana, interspersed with English words in block letters. Buy chicken drumsticks and onions from Tanaka's Grocer. Pick up Jotaro from school. Buy Jotaro running shoes. Cook chicken with onions for dinner.

As Sadao slowly vanished, Holly's help was replaced by an awkward April ritual, politely greeting the family of every classmate ran into, as he visited store after store with the school supply list clutched in his hand. Making polite excuses. Mother's sick with the flu. The furnace broke and Mother's waiting for the repairman. But she was helpless without Sadao.

Jotaro sucked at his cigarette, which had burned down to its filter. Stomping it out beneath his boots, he reached into his pocket for another, but the carton was empty. "I'm going to get some smokes," he called out to Joseph.

"Give me a minute," he replied, "I'd like to get some air."

The two strolled down the block to a small corner store, passing a young man with an FIU tote bag. It felt good to be seen with a relative. When they got to the store, Jotaro approached the clerk, "Seven Stars."

"Excuse me?"

Jotaro pulled an empty pack of cigarettes from his pocket and laid it on the counter.

"Oh, I've seen those," the clerk said, "They only sell them in Asia."

Jotaro's lip curled, "Can you recommend something similar?"

The clerk paused, "Well, I smoke Camels-"

"You should let him try one," Joseph interjected, "My grandson's a heavy smoker. He'll be a great customer."

The man hesitated, but pulled a yellow pack out of his pocket, extracted a cigarette and handed it to Jotaro, who lit it and took a puff.

"It's alright." He put it out on the countertop.

The clerk searched around, then offered another cigarette, "Marlboros."

The taste was much better, "Nice. I'll take eight packs," said Jotaro.

The clerk's eyebrows shot up, "Eight?"

Joseph laughed, "I told you."

Joseph admired the finished apartment with his shoulders high, "I think this place is ready to live in."

Jotaro nodded, "I appreciate it, Old Man."

"Follow me," Joseph said with a gleam in his eye, "There's something I want to show you."

Jotaro was expecting him to show off his refurbishment handiwork, but instead he led Jotaro out to the parking lot and towards a white convertible.

"A college student in the family is something to celebrate," Joseph said, "I wanted to give you a gift." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys, which he gave to Jotaro.

They jangled in Jotaro's hand. Being so close to the college, he couldn't think of anywhere to drive, but he was overwhelmed by the gesture. "Thank you," he whispered.

Joseph squeezed Jotaro's shoulder, "It's nothing," then ruffled the side of his hair. "It's been great getting to know you. I always wished I had a son."

Jotaro blinked his burning eyes.

"Besides, you need a car if you're going to pick up girls." Joseph winked, "You know, back when I was young, you took a girl on a date, and if you were lucky, she gave you a kiss goodnight. But now-" He gestured at their surroundings, "So give your old man a call every now and then. Let me know what it's like." Joseph grinned, "You're going to be such a king."

Thanks for reading!