Better Days

Chapter 5

Kakyoin sighed heavily, "Jotaro, you HAVE to talk to your therapist. Otherwise, you will never get out of these restraints."

"I don't need a fucking therapist!"

"You've spent the last 2 years hallucinating the ghost of a dead friend! You tore apart half of Tokyo during one of your episodes! YOU NEED A FUCKING THERAPIST!"

"I'm not talking to him and that's final!!!"

"GAAAHHH!" Kakyoin yelled, throwing his hands up in the air, "You're too stubborn for your own good! Is this how you want to spend your life? Locked in a padded cell? In a strait jacket? Don't you want to be a part of the world again? Go to college? Get married? Have a life? I know I do!"

"Why can't I do that without a therapist?!"

"Because you need help!! I can't be your only lifeline, Jotaro! You need to learn to live for YOU!"

"I'm not going, Kakyoin!"

"UGH!" he cried, heading for the door of Jotaro's cell.

"Where are you going?

"I have physical therapy! I'll talk to you later!"

Jotaro flinched as the door slammed shut behind the redhead.

*****

Jotaro sighed and stared at the ceiling of his room. Nori hadn't visited the day before. He suspected he was still angry at his resistance to therapy. Jotaro just didn't feel like talking to some random stranger about his feelings. He didn't need to. Nori was alive. Nori was what he needed.

He heard a familiar voice outside his room and scrambled to get himself in a sitting position as the door opened.

Kakyoin walked in and gave him a hesitant smile, "Good morning, Jotaro. Umm, how are you?"

"I'm good. You?"

"I'm fine. Thanks. I, ummm, wish to apologize for losing my temper the other day. I just...really want you to get better and I know from experience that therapy can help..."

"You see a shrink?"

Kakyoin nodded, "Yes. When I first woke from my stasis, I had some trouble dealing with things. Especially the memory loss. It's...hard to not know things about yourself or those you care about."

"It's helped you?"

"A great deal. Won't you at least consider it?"

Jotaro looked away, "I don't know..."

"I'll go with you. If you like? You don't have to do any of this alone."

"You would do that?"

Kakyoin smiled, "Yes. I would."

"Why?"

"You're my best friend, right? I believe it comes with the job."

Jotaro gave a tiny smile, "You gonna stand there all day or come sit down?"

*******

"See. That wasn't so bad."

"That was awful."

"Don't be such a baby, Jotaro. You heard the doctor. If you keep cooperating and making improvements, you could be out of your fancy jacket in a couple of weeks."

Jotaro sighed and leaned back against the wall, "Now there's a goal. I hate this damn thing."

"See, it will all be worth it. Just imagine getting out of here for good? Going to a restaurant, to the movies..."