The Aftermath of The Crusaders

3

Jotaro laid in bed that night, worried. His arms were tired from making up his assignments. Jotaro wouldn't have any problem getting some of it done quickly, but he couldn't focus for long periods.

Jotaro was still confused. The moment he got to his room that night, the hospital visit replayed. Kakyoin studying, talking, laughing-. He felt embarrassed at the thought.

'What the hell is wrong with me? Kakyoin, you bastard!'

He tossed and turned in his bed, trying to get comfortable. His thoughts came back, the ones revolving around his feelings. Jotaro shook his head. 'This is a waste! Why am I so bothered by his presence alone?'

Jotaro was reeling in confusion. His mind had now wandered onto another topic, sexuality. Jotaro hardly ever thought about it. Without getting an answer, he drifted into sleep.

[.....]

Jotaro could be seen in the hallway walking. Behind him, a female classmate. Jotaro looked to be annoyed with her. He headed towards Kakyoin's room, and outside his door was Lily.

"Are you here for a visit?"

Jotaro nodded. The classmate behind him grabbed his arm, "Hey! Hey! Answer me! Why weren't you-" She stopped as Jotaro shoved her away.

"SHUT UP! LEAVE ME ALONE!"

She ran away. Lily looked at him in confusion, "Who was that? Your girlfriend?"

"No. That's a classmate of mine."

"Do they all act like that?"

"A few, unfortunately."

She knocked and opened the door. Kakyoin was there, reading a book, his face covered. He looked up, "Hello there."

"Hey." Jotaro replied, "Are you feeling any better?"

Kakyoin nodded. He placed the book down, "I am. How are you?"

"Tired."

"Tired? Did you sleep?" Kakyoin smiled with a bit of concern, "Please don't stay up all night doing them. You need sleep. It can have an impact on your health."

Jotaro huffed, "You aren't one to talk."

Kakyoin sighed, looking annoyed now. "What I did was reckless, I know. I could've died. but, do you think we could have found out DIO's power without doing something as reckless as I did?"

As much as Jotaro didn't want to admit it, Kakyoin was right. He quickly changed the subject.

"DIO is dead now. I'm here to help you with your homework and to bring it back to school with me." Jotaro grabbed a chair, sitting down. "So, if you have anything to turn in, I'll take it now."

Kakyoin grinned as he handed him the whole folder, "It gets rather boring here. I managed to complete it."

Jotaro hesitantly took the folder. He sharply sighed, "I don't have any work to give you."

Kakyoin smiled, "Going on a different topic, I have to relearn how to walk again, starting tomorrow." He turned his head to Lily, "What time?"

"Around noon."

"Tomorrow would be the weekend. I'll be out of school. Do you want me there?"

Kakyoin asked Lily, "Miss Lily-"

"No, I'd like him to concentrate."

"What about visitations?" Jotaro asked her, "Same time?"

"By then, you may. But since you aren't tutoring, today I'm not letting you stay much longer than an hour."

"Fine," Jotaro looked over at the book. Jotaro was changing the subject again, "What's that book about?"

"Hm?" Kakyoin looked over and picked it up, handing it to Jotaro. The cover was rather simplistic. Only the title and author were on it. "It's an ax murder mystery, apparently about a real one."

Jotaro handed it back. Kakyoin continued, "I feel like it's too obvious, hardly any mystery at all."

"Why are you reading it then?"

He smiled, "I want to see if I'm correct."

Jotaro turned to Lily, "You can see our Stands, right?" He brought out his Stand. "What's yours?"

She smiled, her eyes glowed. "My stand is to see other stands. Boring, I know. But in the world of stands, anything is possible. I'm kidding. It can heal small wounds like cuts or bruises just by looking at them."

Jotaro looked down to the ground. He didn't know what to talk about now.

Just as he was about to say goodbye, Kakyoin finally spoke up. "How are Polnareff and Avdol doing?"

"All I know is that they are going to search for something of Enya's. A 'Stand Arrow.'"

Kakyoin's expression was confused, "A Stand Arrow?"

"I am unaware of the details."

"I see. Tell me if you hear anything about that." Kakyoin picked up his book and looked outside, "It's getting a bit late. You should probably head back."

Jotaro picked up Kakyoin's finished work and headed towards the door, "Until next time." Without waiting for a reply, he closed the door.

[.....]

Jotaro grabbed a beer out of the fridge. Holly was in the kitchen too. She sat at the table, a glass of water in her hand. She looked tired, considering it was late.

"Where's the old man?" He asked her, wiping nonexistent sleep from his eyes.

"He left this morning. Mom has been nagging him to come back. You know how she is."

Jotaro sat down across from her in the dark kitchen. Jotaro didn't say anything to reply.

"Is school going all right?"

Jotaro hummed in approval, "Are you?"

She smiled brightly, "Of course! I'm just fine now! Thank you, all of you. When you see Kakyoin again, tell him I'm grateful."

"I will." He said as he took a sip of his beer.

"How is Kakyoin? He is in the hospital nearby, isn't he? You've seen him every day."

He sighed, "He's going to start relearning how to walk tomorrow."

"Oh." Her expression worried, "It was that serious?" Jotaro nodded.

"He'll get better, won't he?" She looked hopeful. Jotaro himself wasn't sure, yet, he had started trusting in the recovery himself.

"They say so."

She smiled. She looked at a nearby clock, "It's rather late. I'm going to bed. Goodnight. Get some sleep, okay?" She stood up and walked over to her room. Jotaro didn't reply. He sat there quietly, holding the can for a few minutes before he too went to bed.