June 10, 2024 update: Changed the BGM to Bucciarati's theme.

Kotaro lets out a cozy sigh as his body refreshes on a small hot spring. For some reason, he's still wearing his black shades while fully undressed, something anyone would give him an odd look for, not that it bothers him. Besides, does he have to care about it when the performance went well and he liked seeing them promote the sponsored product in the middle of concert?

If the performance had gone well, Kotaro hopes the Stand Users will do the same in disposing the enemy Stand.

"Haaaaah... This is life." He sighs in pleasure.

At the same time the producer is relaxing and the zombies are preparing to sleep after a long day of work, in the hotel's fourth floor sees Kakyoin, Avdol and Bucciarati, still wearing their makeups, walking in the hallway. It is one hour before midnight and the designated Stand Users are searching for any signs of an enemy Stand's presence this late at night. While they were doing this, the other four remained in their rooms, awake and alert, looking after room 606 and making sure the girls were safe. Also, the four have wiped their makeup off so they know better than going out and letting anyone know they are zombies.

Predicting the search will gonna take a while longer thanks to Kotaro's info about the Stand they need to kill, Avdol has Magician's Red create a Life Detector and take the lead in the front. Kakyoin and Bucciarati would then follow him, keeping themselves vigilant for any signs of the enemy. So far, the sixth and fifth floor are safe and currently, the trio is doing this for the third time on the fourth floor of the hotel.

Wherever the enemy Stand is hiding, they are not gonna let it roam around for another month here for the sake of Saga's populace.

The trio hadn't gone far on the fourth floor when the heat radar, after minutes of crackling in the air with no reaction, started growing in size and heat. Avdol looks up and sees the flame pointing forward growing in size. "Ah! The radar! It appears we have found the enemy!"

While he is pleased the Life Detector didn't fail its intended purpose, Bucciarati has reservations under the fact someone other than them is still up this late. "Are you sure Avdol? Is the heat radar truly detecting the Stand's presence, not any guests currently roaming about?"

"I made sure the Life Detector only detects the Stand's presence while excluding anyone else." He told him. "The radar didn't react to few people we came across due to the restraint I imposed on it, so I'm positive we will detect the Stand easily."

"It's a good thing too, because we don't want the hotel's guest to get caught up in our fight." Kakyoin reminded. "The last thing we need to see is anyone getting injured. Or seeing what we are under our human disguise."

"Good point. If the Life Detector has detected the enemy Stand while we're the only ones on this floor, that makes our job less stressful." Bucciarati walks forward in the direction of where the enemy is supposed to be. He looks around for a few seconds before he asks, "Say, I've been wondering... Did Tatsumi specify what type of Stand we are facing? Whether it's a close-range or long-distance type, how it looks like and the ability...?"

"I think all he ever said to us this morning is how the supposed "ghost" of Ureshino is believed to be in the hotel roaming aimlessly." Kakyoin begins recalling. "According to Kotaro's unknown acquaintance, the "ghost" is actually an enemy Stand who is permanently invisible to everyone. Alongside rumors of it springing up last month that is brought up by Kotaro, guests believed they have encountered the "ghost" randomly prowling the floors without purpose. While that doesn't sound too unusual at first, few observers have claimed that they touched the "ghost" while it's standing or walking on ceilings or walls. Not only that, they also heard it mumble something inaudible under its breath. From what they have described it, it's creepy and ominous, especially when they believe it whispered close to their ears when they're out in the hallway."

"Curiously enough," Avdol continues Kakyoin's recalling as he stands beside Bucciarati. "The rumor didn't hamper the number of visitors at all despite it. In fact, some of them came to the hotel just to see or feel if the "ghost" is indeed wandering down the halls. If Kotaro and his unknown contact believe it's an enemy Stand, it could spell trouble for anyone daringly, or foolishly, trying to make contact with the 'ghost'."

"Well good thing it didn't do anything else worrying other than wandering around. Our business with Stands is ours to take." Bruno expresses relief at that fact. "And even if the very few do acknowledge the existence of Stands, they do their best to be aware not to take on something they have little or no knowledge on."

"Right. Kotaro advised us to prevent civilian casualties. Compared to his loud and pompous attitude concerning Franchouchou's goal of saving Saga, he is serious when it comes to enemy Stands lurking in the shadows." Kakyoin remarked. He may be irritated by his constant shouting and demeaning the girls and boys, but he does have restraint in some areas, showing concern and empathy for Saga's populace and knows when he needs to get serious. He would have tolerated the mad producer if he continued that way instead of being an obnoxious man.

"His goal is to｢save Saga｣ after all. He obviously doesn't want the populace to be threatened by enemy Stands if he wants the prefecture to be known. You and Bucciarati should know that from experience." Avdol replied.

"Heh, yeah. I can't believe I'm still roped into Kotaro's crazy plan and has been living in the mansion many weeks ago." Kakyoin chuckled while rubbing his head.

"I could hardly believe it myself too..." Avdol was about to say something more when a confused Bucciarati muttered out loud. "Huh? What was that?"

"Bucciarati?" Kakyoin and Avdol turn to him whipping his head around. He appears to be looking at something because he raises his arms in front of him and tries to get a hold of something. Confused by his act, the two ask what he is doing swaying his arms around.

"Hm? Ah! Well, I was trying to touch something in front of me when I bumped into someone." Bruno explains, reminding himself that the two are with him. "The confusing part about that is...no one's in front of me."

"What?" The two said in unison.

"I'm sure of it. That's why I'm trying to find who I just bumped into. We're the only ones here on the fourth floor so it shouldn't be hard finding whoever I almost walk into."

Something about his words prompts Avdol to recall moments earlier that the heat radar reacted to someone's presence in the hallway. They haven't gone too far but he is sure the three are the only ones out there this late at night. If what Bucciarati said is true and if he considers the rumors about the "ghost" of Ureshino Hotel believed to be wandering in this time of night...

Avdol's eyes widen in realization, just as something chomps on Bucciarati's shoulders when he turned around to face the two. His reaction is immediate.

"AAAAGGGHHHH! W-WHAT THE HELL!?"

"Bucciarati-san!?" Kakyoin looked at him in surprise, watching his left shoulder bleeding profusely. His left arm is stained in blood as Bruno, grinding his teeth, tries to pry off whatever is biting him from behind.

"I knew it! We already found the invisible enemy Stand!" Avdol revealed, summoning Magician's Red and prepares for an attack. "I can't believe it was right in front of us!"

"Really!? Then what are we waiting for?" Kakyoin follows, bringing out Hierophant Green. The two are about to help Bucciarati when the former capo cries out one name needed to free him from the enemy's mouthful grasp.

"｢STICKYYYYY FINGEEEEEEERS｣!"

ビィィィーッ

Coming out from a zipper that appeared in thin air, a humanoid Stand jumps out of the zipper and punches the enemy's head off him.

"ARI!"

The force and strength of the punch is enough to behead the enemy, killing it instantly. Bucciarati clutches his wounded shoulder as he moves away from the disintegrating enemy in panic.

Agh! Dammit! I let my guard down for the enemy to bite down on me! Someone is indeed there after all! I thought it was nothing at first when I bumped into it, until my shoulder got bitten. And from the way I see it, it's invisible. Wait. Now that I think about it, didn't Kotaro mention the "ghost" of Ureshino is the invisible enemy Stand? If that is true...

Positive the fight has only started, Bucciarati leans against the wall for support as he applies pressure and a zipper to the wound while panting from the wound and the nasty surprise he got. "Haa... Haa... Haa..."

"Bucciarati! Are you alright?" Avdol asks, standing to his side and checking his shoulder out of concern for the gangster.

"I-I'm fine..." He assures him despite the stinging pain emanating from his wound. "Just...give me a minute to recover. I'm not gonna let this wound stop me from getting in a fight."

"Are you sure? You were bitten hard without warning."

"I have dealt much worse injuries than this. It's practically nothing at this point." He insists.

"Well, if you are determined to fight, then I will not stop you. I have a feeling we're gonna need your help in defeating the Stand User. Just don't push yourself hard, alright?"

"I'll keep that in mind." Bruno smiles in response to his words.

With Sticky Fingers still floating beside its user, Kakyoin took this moment to inspect the Stand, who is wearing a helmet covering the upper half of its face adorned with column of short spikes resembling a mohawk, dark suit over its torso except its chest and stomach, shoulder pads, elbow pads, forearm guards, knee pads, shin guards, and numerous zippers on each of its cheeks, the base of its neck extending down to its abdomen, on forearm guards near its wrists, a large zipper on its waist and two long zippers on its legs below its knees and extending down to its feet. Based on its rapid punches inflicted on the invisible enemy, he guesses it's a close-range Stand similar to Star Platinum, even having a cry when it dishes out its fists. "Bucciarati-san, this Stand... I saw it came out from a ｢zipper｣. If I were to guess, is it related to your ability or...?"

"It's my Stand's ability." Bucciarati reveals, seeing the two wants to learn what his Stand is now that he summoned it. "Sticky Fingers can create zippers on any surface the Stand touches. Along with its exceptional strength and speed, I wouldn't come home without it due to its practical use in offense and defense that carried me in any given situation."

"Zippers? What use does a zipper have in battle if I may ask, Bucciarati?" Avdol inquired, keeping an eye on the radar still floating above them.

"To be honest, I lost count on how zippers have helped me when I was still in Passione. But considering I was made a leader and eventual capo, Sticky Fingers is there for me to help my group and carry me to many fights." A prideful smile crops up on his face, signifying his satisfaction of the Stand he got.

"It sounds quite a powerful Stand then." Kakyoin sums up his answer. "And say, that reminds me... I have not told you about what Hierophant Green do and its abilities. Are you still curious of my Stand, Bucciarati-san?"

Zipper Man remembered asking him about Hierophant Green and sees where he's getting at, which makes him chuckle. "I suppose I am. But I believe I may learn about your Stand during the fight Kakyoin."

"Heads up you two! The radar has detected a Stand's presence!" Avdol warned looking up at the kindling fire pointing to both sides, including the path they have walked through earlier. While he and Kakyoin have their Stand at the ready, Bucciarati is confused when he mentions another enemy has appeared. "Another one? Didn't Tatsumi say there are only users of the Stand?" Kakyoin stated confusingly.

"I think he didn't mean that. If I recall correctly, Kotaro said something like this..."

Be warned! I heard from my mysterious acquaintance that the enemy Stand has the ability to conjure invisible enemies! As such, take heed of your surroundings and keep an eye out for the user, as defeating it will deactivate the Stand for good!

"...Based on his advice and the way I was ambushed, the enemy's ability is to manifest ｢invisible zombies｣. While killing them is trivial, having to deal with a lot of them will spell disaster to us if we don't thin down the herd and find the user."

"Invisible zombies, huh?" Kakyoin repeats. Hierophant Green shoots out emeralds on the invisible enemies on his side, earning groans and screams of pain for every zombie killed. "I find it ironic we are fighting against our fellow brethren."

"Except the ones we're dealing with are of the bloodthirsty and monstrous types, craving the flesh of human beings." Avdol remarked, assuming a stance as Magician's Red incinerates the zombies using Red Bind. If he attacks through Cross Fire Hurricane, he could burn the hotel down, so he chooses not to use it for this fight. "And unlike us, they have no moral restraints."

"If they have no restraints, we have to find the user quick before all of us are eaten alive and the zombies are free to start the apocalypse." Bucciarati commanded, standing in full attention once he sees he's okay to move and the wound is hampering him a little. Sticky Fingers floats beside him, ready to defend him from any zombies dumb enough to chomp on him.

"...Say, Bucciarati, Avdol." Kakyoin speaks up after the zombies are tied up by his Stand's tentacles.

"Yes?"

"What is it?"

"This must be our first time turning into humans, after Gyro, Sakura, Ai and Junko did when they are up against Black Sabbath." He said as Hierophant Green squeezed the zombies with impunity. "After seeing them almost injured when Avdol and I got to them, I now see what it feels like to be vulnerable."

"If you're worried we might not gonna make it, don't worry." Avdol turns to him, aware of offensive heat radars sent out separate from the heat radar above them as projectiles for unlucky zombies. "They managed to hold on long enough for us to kill Black Sabbath. I'd say we can do this if we cooperate together."

"Here's hoping. I don't want any of us to die again under my watch, especially with our new friends awaiting our return."

"Well, let's not stand around you two!" Bucciarati commanded with Sticky Fingers laying out rapid punches against their invisible enemies to clear the path for them to move. "Time to find the user and put an end to the invisible zombies before this gets worse!"

"I believe the user is already found because one of the radar's flames are bigger and brighter than the rest." Avdol notified. "Based on where it's pointed, the leader is on the right, where Sticky Fingers cleared out the path for us!"

As if reacting to his words, quick footsteps are heard amidst the groans and moans of the unseen zombies.

"There! Let's chase it!" Kakyoin pointed after hearing it scamper away. The two didn't say anything as the trio chased the user. In turn, the zombies chase them as well, unwilling to harm their leader or wanting to taste their bodies.

In room 607, the four Stand Users who chose to remain and look after the sleeping girls are standing by themselves, awake and awaiting Kakyoin, Avdol and Bucciarati's return. Narancia and Gyro are standing beside the door, Johnny is sitting on the tatami mat and Mamezuku stands away from them. So far, nothing is amiss, and the girls seem to be safe. While they would have tried to enter their room, it is possible they are already asleep and it would be rude if they inadvertently wake them up when they open their room. The only thing they can do is check outside every three minutes.

Yawning in boredom or drowsiness, Narancia looks restless, wondering why he hasn't joined the three in search for the enemy Stand if he's gonna be standing around, bored out of his mind as he waits for them to return. If the Stand wasn't in this hotel, they would be asleep after Franchouchou's performance.

Wanting to pass time, Narancia strikes up a conversation. "Hey, you three."

They turned to him when he spoke up. "What?" Johnny said.

"So, uh... How are you all faring as zombies? Is it any good? Different? Or both?" The question comes up in his mind without much thought and Narancia asks it with a smile, seeing no harm in asking it.

"...I'd say it's good." Gyro answers truthfully. "The wounds I sustained leading to my death may stay on my body for my entire undead life, but I don't mind it, considering I am revived despite of it. Guess dying doesn't stop someone with the last name Zeppeli from truly dying out!"

"To be honest, disregarding the limited use I have with my legs, I think I'm getting used to being a zombie." Johnny responds. "Aside from my head feeling funny from time to time, there's nothing wrong for me so far."

"Still getting used to my body." That is Mamezuku's response. "The bandages covering the wounds I got before my death is a little cramped and ticklish. Perhaps give me another month and maybe, just maybe, the bandages don't bother me as much anymore."

"Hmm... Judging from your responses, you are all bothered by your wounds." Narancia sums up their wounds in his own words. "I would like to ask you how did you three died but I might be invading your privacy, right?"

"Yeah." Johnny simply said.

"Well, sorry if I did pry on you without meaning to."

"You didn't Narancia. Don't think too hard on it." Gyro assures him.

"I won't."

"Say Narancia. Now that I take a good look on you, you don't seem to have any injuries on you." Mamezuku's curiosity led him making a statement about his body lacking any signs of injuries supposedly sustained when he died. "And if I remember correctly, Bucciarati doesn't have any injuries on him too. Why is that? Can you explain it?"

"Well, about that... I can't remember the manner of how I died." Narancia rubs his head, feeling sure he has no memories of his death.

"You can't remember?" Johnny asks, now curious of him.

"Yup. While I'm positive I died, I can't recall my death at all. It's like my death is so abrupt that I didn't have a chance to comprehend it, not that it sounds any better. However, there are pounding pains in my head, wrist, arms, chest, waist, and my left thigh occasionally. I don't know why but considering I can feel the pain akin to me getting pierced by something, I have a feeling it's related to my death."

"Hm. I suppose that in exchange of having no wounds on your body, you get occasional pains as a reminder of how you died. That is, if it's related to your death." Mamezuku guesses.

"Well, I'm sure as hell it is related. For now, let's drop it, okay? You are probing on my privacy if you continue asking me that." Narancia is getting nervous learning something about his death and opts to drop the subject before it gets more uncomfortable.

"Alright." Mamezuku stays silent after nodding.

"...Hey, should we check on the girls? Three minutes have pass and we may not know if they are attacked under our noses." Gyro reminded.

"Ah! Right! C'mon! Let's check on them!"

The four are about to go outside when a scream is heard outside the hot spring their room is next to. "Was that a scream?" Johnny asks.

"It doesn't sound like it's Sakura or Junko. Should we investigate it?" Gyro told him.

"Either way, we have to look after the girls, remember?"

Under Mamezuku's words, the four go outside to check up on the girls before going over where the scream is. But when they open the door, Ai, Yugiri, Lily and Tae are outside as well. The girls look at them in surprise just as the guys stare at them in surprise also. "Huh? What are you four outside this late at night?" Narancia asks before noticing three of them are missing. "And where is Sakura, Saki and Junko?"

"That's what we are wondering. They are not in our rooms when we are woken up by a scream." Ai replies. "Speaking of that, who have screamed just now?"

"Who knows? It's either a staff or someone else." Johnny guesses.

Before any of them say anything, Tae sprints off ahead of them, seemingly in response to another scream they happen to hear through the walls. "T-Tae-chan! Wait!" Lily rushes after her.

"Ah! We mustn't let anyone see them!" Narancia follows them in panic. The others soon follow, splitting up to investigate who screamed just now. Hopefully this doesn't go bad for them, especially when they don't have their makeup on...

Multiple tendrils are wrapped around the invisible user courtesy of Hierophant Green.

Groans of protest are heard spilling out from its mouth as it tries to escape from the trap Kakyoin sprung onto him in order to capture him. It barely worked as the user is faster than the zombies it summoned and its superior strength means it can tear the tendrils apart which would make an easy getaway if Hierophant Green weren't quick on the uptake to produce more tendrils. More than the number that is binding on the user.

Kakyoin, bearing scratch marks on his limbs and bleeding from his neck after a zombie nearly tore a vein with its bare hands, smiles on a successful trap, saying, "Finally. We caught the user."

"I can't believe how fast the enemy is." Avdol expressed, clutching his right arm that was bitten when he wasn't aware. "I suppose it's logical for the user to be superior than the zombies it summoned."

"Now that we have the enemy, it's time to kill it before this fight becomes longer if we chase him again." Despite suffering additional wounds on his torso, hands, and his legs and looking worse than the two in terms of blood loss, Bucciarati doesn't let it get to him as he focuses his eyes on the captured invisible zombie confirmed by Avdol to be the Stand User. It wasn't easy capturing it because it kept summoning hordes of zombies to hinder them in their tracks. While they easily take care of them, there is strength in numbers as some zombies manage to injure them when they are focused on either chasing the user or decreasing the horde. Not helping them is that they found out zombies can walk on walls and ceilings, which makes their job a little harder.

However, the three tore through the horde without stop in the name of killing the Stand User, suffering injuries in the process but certainly not worse than what these three got. Eventually, Kakyoin sends Hierophant Green ahead of them and the user to spring a trap on the likely confused zombie by unraveling the tendrils from its legs across the floor, ahead of the enemy. When its sensors detect the user's footsteps, the tendrils quickly wrapped around it. The user tried to escape from its grasp, but the Stand responded by wrapping him in more tendrils until it managed to constrict its movements, only barely hampered by its strength tearing one or two tendrils which isn't much considering Kakyoin producing more tendrils than it needs to be.

Standing before the zombie user, Bucciarati brings out Sticky Fingers with the intent of targeting its head, seeing it's the quickest way of killing the invisible zombies. For this to work out, the user's head is exposed, free from any membranes. The capo's steel gaze stares at the exposed body part intently, unaware of the panicking zombie seeing it's about to die.

It... It can't end like this! Not when the targets are present in this hotel! Their flesh can be tasty for him and his zombies but the main meat of the attack is their brains. Being hungry ever since it appeared in this sickening hotel a month ago, the guy who brought him to this hotel and its zombie-creating Stand, ｢Limp Bizkit｣, told him to not feast its teeth on the guests looking to relax and only target the fourteen "wannabe zombies" if there is ever a chance those fourteen will be staying in the hotel under the manager's directions. As much as it wants to set its teeth on humans, the user decides to be patient, following his instructions without stopping even if his hunger and thirst are reaching its peak until, by chance, the fourteen did appear.

Aware about the rumors of the ghost lurking in the Ureshino Hot Springs hotel, Limp Bizkit decides to wait tonight, when the zombies are sleeping after their work is done. Then, by chance, the three arrived on the fourth floor. While it is ecstatic, Limp Bizkit knows it needs to be cautious. If it wants to eat their brains, its ability needs to be used discreetly. That way, his zombies will prey on them before they know it. But it didn't go that way thanks to their quick thinking and their abilities, prompting him to escape while the horde tries to kill them. That brings him to his predicament.

Seeing he's about to die, Limp Bizkit must act quickly, lest he will bite the dust if his head is forcibly torn off from his body. He could detach it by himself without dying but since his hands are constrained, that option isn't viable. Determined to stay alive, Limp Bizkit performs his counterattack: summoning three zombies on the walls or ceiling to catch them off-guard. He shouldn't have to worry about the radar because the Egyptian extinguished once he sees the threat is almost done. Oh how he likes to prove him wrong...

"GWAAAAAARRRGGHHHH!"

Horrid screams are heard above them, alerting the three to the presence of zombies. Kakyoin and Avdol didn't act quickly enough before they were forced on the floor when the invisible zombie dropped on them, but Bucciarati swiftly punched the zombie standing on the wall next to him. He then took care of the two zombies about to do more biting wounds on them. "Kakyoin! Avdol! Are you alright?" He asks with a concerned look.

"Don't worry about us! Worry about the user! It managed to escape when I was distracted!" Kakyoin reminded him.

"Tch! So he used its ability as a distraction, huh?" He cursed, looking at the torn-off tendrils.

Making haste away from them, Limp Bizkit shares a laugh at their expense. They got distracted long enough for him to break free of the tendrils. Seeing them as competent and dangerous, he decides to go after the other eleven in the other floor, intending to summon invisible zombies on the floor they are in. That way, when he gets there, the vulnerable targets would surely be killed or injured for him and his mob of bloodthirsty zombies to feast on their flesh. At this point, no one will stop him from getting what he wants! Even the three aren't gonna capture him again, not with their abilities!

ボゴォォ

"Eurgh-!?"

He yowled when Sticky Fingers fist landed squarely on his face when he turned around and saw if they were far from him. To Kakyoin and Avdol's surprise, Bucciarati didn't dare move closer to the user, but instead, Sticky Fingers launched its forearm like a rocket through applying zipper around its forearm. It then instantly opened, directing the fist towards his face when he tried to get away.

"Trying to escape? Sorry but I'm afraid that will not happen." Bucciarati confidently stated. "If we let you get away, Saga will be in danger as long as the enemy Stands exist. And that includes ｢you｣..."

BGM: nella cerniera (Golden Wind: Overture; last part)

ビィィィーッ

Quickly pulling the user to its range, Sticky Fingers proceed to lay down a barrage of fast and powerful punches against the invisible zombie user and the zombies surrounding Bucciarati in a last attempt to kill him before he does.

"ARIARIARIARIARIARIARIARIARIARIARIARIARIARIARIARIARIARIARIARI! ARIIIII!"

ドゴ ドゴ ドゴ ドゴ ドゴ ドゴ ドゴ

バカァァァ

Sticky Fingers punches Limp Bizkit's head last after cutting the user into pieces with it zipper ability. It can't be seen due to his invisibility, but his face has a look of utter shock from either the pain or reaction to his defeat.

"Arrivederci."

With Limp Bizkit dead, the remaining zombies not pounded to oblivion all turn to dust, disappearing with their user accompanied by howls of pain. Bruno lets out a sigh of relief, glad the enemy is dealt with. Remembering Kakyoin and Avdol are injured, he asks the two if they are alright.

"...I think we're going to be fine, Bucciarati-san." Kakyoin assures him, not letting his wounds get the better of him. "Avdol and I have suffered worse injuries than the ones we got. All that's left is for us to turn back to normal."

"Turn back to normal? Oh. You mean like what happened to Gyro, Sakura, Ai and Junko when Black Sabbath is defeated?" Bucciarati guessed.

"That's right." Kakyoin nodded.

"But what about our wounds? Would that affect our undead bodies if we don't do something about them?" Avdol brings up this caveat. "It's not gonna be pretty if we turn back to our zombie selves while we have this wounds on."

"Hmm..." Before they come up with an answer, a cracking sound is heard. Bucciarati looks around and sees where the sound is coming from, believing it is nearby due to how loud it is. "What was that sound?" He inquired, wondering if the fight wasn't over yet or if he was too wary this late at night.

"Our skin...! It's cracking!" Kakyoin exclaimed.

"What?"

Turning to him, Bucciarati sees that their skins are cracking steadily. The jagged lines crawling on their skin, the sight of which looks like veins running on his skin, adds to his shock due to it looking uncomfortable and the cracking sound can be heard coming from them.

"Oh no! Don't tell me we're still under attack!?" Bucciarati cried out, not looking forward to another fight.

"No! We are not!" Kakyoin denied the possibility, appearing calm together with Avdol despite feeling uncomfortable at the sight. "This is like what happened to Sakura, Ai, Junko and Gyro after Black Sabbath is defeated. We're about to turn back to zombies through our skin cracking."

"R-Really? I see..."

After a few more seconds, their skin shattered like glass, revealing their zombie forms. While they still have makeup on (albeit their faces or hands slightly smeared presumably from the fight), they can feel their heartbeat and breath no longer and, surprisingly, their wounds or injuries are gone, completely healed without any signs it's been there.

Now, this would call for sighs of relief because this means they have won and are able to live for another day but the sight of their injuries being healed without any complications on their bodies raises questions. "What the? Our wounds... They are gone." Kakyoin obviously stated.

The three process this oddity, staying silent for a couple of seconds in puzzlement and doubt. Then Avdol speaks up to address this. "What just happened?"

"I... I'm not sure..." Bucciarati admitted, having nothing concrete to say. "The hallway is drenched by our blood a few minutes ago and after we turned back, everything is fine, including us."

"...Could this be the work of the same phenomenon that turned us vulnerable as humans?" Avdol speculated, rubbing his chin as he tried to make sense of the situation.

"If it is, then whoever the one causing this strange anomaly is either helping or hindering us." An unsure Kakyoin throws his speculation on the matter.

"What about the unknown user sending enemy Stands against us?"

He shrugs, saying, "Maybe they are separate?"

"But who's to say they're working together in an attempt to kill us? That is grounds for concern." Bucciarati theorized.

"Then we're in for a long haul..." sighed Kakyoin. While pretty much confused over what is happening, what mattered for them is the enemy Stand lurking in this hotel is disposed, thereby completing the objective given to them by Kotaro. The mystery regarding the identity of the strange phenomenon that turns them into mortal humans and back after winning is unknown for now, but he and his allies got to live for another day after narrowly being made into food by invisible zombies. "...Say, I wonder how everyone is doing? I hope they're asleep and haven't caused trouble."

"Well, with the enemy Stand gone, I doubt no invisible zombies are gonna roam the hallway anymore and harm any of them." Avdol stated.

"You know, we didn't learn what the enemy Stand's name is." Kakyoin noticed. "All we know about it is their ability."

"Oh, you're right. We didn't get to know its name." Avdol replied in surprise.

"Don't count on it, because the enemy is dead." Bucciarati reminded.

At this moment, someone enters the scene with rapid footsteps echoing in the hallway. The footsteps stop as a familiar figure expresses relief on finding the three. "Ah! You guys! Thank goodness I found you!"

They turn their heads to a panting Narancia, who appears troubled and jittery for some reason. He also carries a nervous smile. "Narancia? What's wrong? Why do you look so...panicked?" Bucciarati asked.

"And why are you outside with no makeup on?" Avdol reminded him, fearing he might get seen.

"Ehehehe... W-Well It's because... It's because..." Narancia stammers, wondering how he is gonna break the news to them.

"It's because what?" Kakyoin urges him to continue.

After taking a deep breath, he reveals, "...I think Sakura, Saki, Junko and the rest of us have scared the Hisanaka lady so badly she gone catatonic."

"...What? How?" The redhead incredulously inquired.

"Weeeell... when the girls are asleep and the four of us are keeping to ourselves in our room, Sakura, Saki and Junko decided to sneak out and take a bath on a hot spring after thinking no one is out this late at night. However, as they were relaxing, the lady came in, prompting them to hide. Unfortunately for them aaaannd the lady, they get spotted and the lady screamed loud enough for us to wake up. We go out to investigate the scream and, in the process, scare the poor lady further, eventually knocking herself unconscious out of fright after Saki and Sakura slide into her."

After he's done explaining, the three process his words with hanging mouths, appearing like they have witnessed something so out of this world they go speechless for a minute or so. "A-And before you ask, no! I-I didn't mean to scare the poor lady! That includes all of us! A-And-!"

"Narancia, that's enough." Bucciarati sternly told him, feeling a headache coming as he facepalmed with a sigh. "You're not at fault here so don't try to blame yourself. The ones who scared her first are those three..."

"What happened next Narancia? What are the three doing now?" Avdol asks, hoping they aren't up for anymore mischief.

"After spilling the beans, they agree to just forget this ever happened and go to sleep while I go find you four and make sure the pharmaceutical lady hasn't encountered you all. Hope she gets a good night's sleep. Hehehe..."

Feeling tired suddenly, which can be attributed from almost getting eaten by invisible zombies and hearing what Sakura, Saki and Junko did, Kakyoin has only this to say.

"Tatsumi-san is not gonna like this..."

The next morning, Kotaro, feeling refreshed after soaking himself in a spring and sauna last night, bows before the CEO as thanks for letting the sponsorship happen. "Thank you so much for this opportunity. And, if you decide it's a good idea, I look forward to hearing from you about the partnership." When he gets no response, he then sees the CEO sitting on the ground with her knees closed, her body trembling and her eyes widened in shock. "Hm?" He gets confused over her frightened figure.

"Oh, sorry about that..." He hears someone talk to him. "She seems to have had quite a scare last night. The shock made her forget everything that happened yesterday."

It didn't take him long before he guesses the reason as to why she's beyond frightened. Though boiling with irritation inside, he masks it with a strained smile. "...What?"

Back home, Sakura reads the news about the incident last night in a magazine. The incident that she, Saki and Junko caused. Naturally, she couldn't be any more unhappy and guilty for it.

"Sakura... If only you, Saki and Junko heed our warning..." Kakyoin shakes his head in disappointment. He is sitting next to her, reading the article with her. Suffice it to say, he's quite displeased.

"I-It's Saki who came up with it!" She defended, turning a pleading look to his unamused eyes. "I-I only relented when Junko heard her and wanted to go to the spring as well!"

"..." He stays silent.

Before the conversation can proceed, Kotaro appears standing before Sakura, no doubt pissed at her actions last night. Kakyoin didn't interfere, feeling she deserved a scolding. "Next time, I'm shaving your heads." He warned before leaving her and Kakyoin be.

"That's when we went into the hot springs! They wrote an article about us, huh?" Lily stated, looking dismayed after seeing the article.

"Who the hell published that!? Let's find them and lean on them, hard!" Saki demanded, willing to do anything to keep their zombie status a secret.

"Don't make rash decisions miss Saki!" Avdol placated her, thinking of looking after her carefully from now on. "You want to get all of us in trouble?"

"Yeah! Especially when it's you who made the bright idea to go take a dip in the hot springs and almost got caught!" Narancia reminded her of the trouble last night.

"I have no idea that CEO is plannin' to do that!" Saki quickly defended.

"Even if you didn't see that coming, you shouldn't have done that!"

As Bucciarati and Yugiri stop the argument and impeding fight between Saki and Narancia from starting (through Yugiri slapping them), Sakura lets out a sigh out of shame. "...I'm sorry guys. Next time, I'll be more careful." Sakura apologized to everyone for her accountability of the incident.

"Come, now. We all used a foot bath together. I've never shared that kind of bath with a group before. It was a good bit of fun." Yugiri assures her, going back to her seat after slapping the two and telling them to stop fighting or she will slap them again.

"Mamezuku didn't join however." Johnny reminds her.

"Yeah! And I think the better we get along, the better our performances will be!" Number Six concurs, happy to have made such good friends after death. Their words seem to cheer Sakura up, remembering the fun they had together as a group.

"And it's not like we have to worry about getting tired." Yugiri and Lily show the medicinal strips on their shoulder and arm respectively. Everyone reveals the strips on them as well, having got enough Saganship Z for them to use even if the sponsorship failed.

"Sis is right! We'll make up for this next time." Saki assuages her. "We'll just have to bust our asses and earn us a budget! Right girls?"

"YEAH! Sakura, Yugiri and Lily shouted.

"You know, a money's just a means to the end, right?" Ai commented dryly.

"There's no denying that. But if Tatsumi wants to save Saga, we're gonna need money if he wants his goal to come true." Bucciarati replies, feeling like smiling over the group talking as close friends. "I know from experience how important money is when I was in Passione, as long as you know how to use it well."

"Are you accumulating good will from netizens back then, Bucciarati?" Kakyoin asks.

"That's for pragmatic reasons, really." He states.

"But with the way you're acting, I can see you're really a noble person deep down, Bucciarati." Avdol observed.

"Noble, huh..." Repeating the word in his head, Bucciarati does not deny he does have nobler qualities despite, or perhaps because of, being a ruthless mafioso. He may have killed enemies in cold blood but it's strictly professional in the line of work concerning the mafia. If anything, he will protect those he treated under his wing and look after the community he was assigned to, even at the cost of his life.

A good leader never backs down from even the most harrowing trials he had ever faced, after all.

"Say, Bucciarati, what kind of Stand you, Kakyoin and Avdol fought?"

Bruno snaps out of his thoughts when Narancia asks him about the enemy Stand they defeated last night. "I heard from the two that you faced up against invisible zombies. Will you tell us how it went down?"

"Invisible zombies?" Sakura repeated in curiosity and fear.

"Yes. Invisible zombies." Kakyoin nodded and affirmed. "The fight itself would be quite ironic if the three of us haven't turned into humans."

"Considering you three are in the scene, I assume you know Bruno's Stand, right?" Yugiri guesses.

Bucciarati nodded to her, saying, "That's correct. Sticky Fingers is the name of my Stand..."

As everyone is eager to know what went down during their fight and what Sticky Fingers is, Tae is playing with the strip by stretching with her hands. After stretching it many times, she gets slapped back when she lengthened it so much it snaps back to her. Everyone saw it done to her and let out wholehearted laughs.

On the roof of the mansion, Romero howls in the sky despite it being day as the everyday lives of Saga's populace continue as normal.

To be continued

Onomatopoeia:

ビィィィーッ (Biiiii) - Any zippers opening/Sticky Fingers appearing

ボゴォォ (Bogou) - A punch striking someone

ドゴ (Dogo) - Rapid punching

バカァァァ (Bagaaaa) - Zipper rapidly opening or slicing

Stand Analysis:

Limp Bizkit

Destructive Power: Null
Speed: B
Range: B
Stamina: A
Precision: C
Developmental Potential: E

Limp Bizkit is unique in that the Stand itself doesn't take on a physical form. Instead, the user can be considered a Stand itself. Its ability involves summoning invisible zombies who can walk on walls and display enhanced strengths. The user itself is an invisible zombie but it's stronger and faster compared to them. Because the zombies have cravings for blood and brains, they are aggressive by default, which the user has to reign them in and prevent unneeded chaos stemming from their unrestrained instincts.

Sticky Fingers (Stand Master: Bruno Bucciarati)

Destructive Power: A
Speed: A
Range: C (2 meters)
Stamina: D
Precision: C
Developmental Potential: D

Sticky Fingers is a close-ranged Stand with exceptional strength and speed capable of punishing any enemies in direct combat. The ability of applying zippers on any objects its fist touches and its many functions proves this Stand to be one of the most versatile due to its user's quick thinking and experience. So far, zippers are used in opening a hole in a wall, immobilizing someone, attaching several things together, storing or hiding in a dark space when a zipper opens, and even helping the user dodge any attacks when zippers are applied to its body.

Helllooooooooooo everyyyyyybodyyyyyyy! Yujin Zone here publishing the another chapter for Living Things! So sorry for going dark almost two months after taking a rest as the year 2022 rolled around our lives. I originally intended to continue back in January but because of school work, life getting in my way of writing and almost getting a writer's block as I nearly struggled to write down the chapter, I'm happy to continue the story of our favorite zombie idols and zombie Stand Users living in Saga.

Ever since I decided to have past enemy Stands to act as obstacles for the fourteen zombies, I knew back when the story is just getting started to have at least one Stand related to the undead appear in the fanfic. In this case, I chose Limp Bizkit as the enemy in this chapter. It is one of my favorite Stands from JoJo due to the fight itself being intense, gory, and the absolute smacking Ermes dealt upon Sports Maxx as the focus is set on her. Despite this, I have some difficulty writing the Limp Bizkit fight, to the point the fight is truncated from what I originally wrote it the first time. However, it is not anything massive and the spotlight being shined on Bucciarati (One of my absolute favorite JoBros ever) being kept between rewrites. While it became different from what I wanted the fight to be, I think it came out okay, at least for me.

In case you may have forgotten, feel free to leave out a review if you want. As for me, I would gladly read any constructive criticisms because it makes me motivated and take a look on what I need to improve so my writing skills become the best they'll ever be. I may not be in the same level as some prolific fanfic writers out there but I will strive to better myself because I love making fan works for my favorite franchises and make me proud of seeing it in the open. Stay safe everyone. You're gonna need it, especially when the world doesn't seem to get a rest at least once with the events occurring.

And with that, I bid you adieu...