Dark Hamon

No Longer

Since Aria's injury, Jotaro had taken it upon himself to be her sole nurse, and he was now checking more regularly since he saw discharge coming out of the wound. He fumbled with alcohol strips as he cleaned around the stitches. She winced and sucked in a thin stream of air. Jotaro responded by caressing her cheek with two fingers and got back to work. He inspected it one last time and wrapped it up in new bandages. Aria groaned at the dull ache the tight wraps plagued her with.

"That'll teach you to be more careful," Jotaro chided. "These stitches could have healed ten times over by now with how quickly you heal if you hadn't busted them fighting Lovers. "

She smiled sheepishly.

He washed his hands with water from his canteen and then rubbed in hand sanitizer. The smell tingled in his nose. "And we will have to keep an eye on that inflammation. It's still hot when it shouldn't be."

"Alright," Joseph announced, "it's about time to get going, so hurry up, Jotaro."

"I'm already done, old man."

Joseph grumbled. He'd never get used to the term.

***

They arrived in the United Arab Emirates shortly after sunrise. The first order of business was breakfast, and as they searched for a restaurant, Aria's attention zipped to a coin insert toy machine.

"Cool!"

She hopped a bit in the air and jogged to the machine. The group watched in confusion as she eagerly inserted several coins in the machine. She held the toys in her hand and jogged back up to the group. Plastic made crinkling sounds in her hands as she opened her package, and then she tossed one to Polnareff, Kakyoin, and Jotaro.

"Arm yourselves," she trumpeted as she stood with the side of her body facing the men. "Emerald splash!" Kakyoin felt a splat as something green hit his face.

"What the hell is that," he asked, rubbing his cheek.

"It's a sticky slap hand," she giggled. "I love these things! Now," her attention turned to Polnareff, "En Garde!" He jumped as it slapped and clung to his face. She pulled it off and turned to Jotaro, who's eyes widened as he realized that he was now her target. "ORA, ORA, ORA, ORAAAA," she yelled, slapping him repeatedly.

"Oh now you've done it!" He grinned as he opened his package.

She bolted away to hide behind a corner as he chased her down. The other two shrugged and ran after. An innocent civilian was almost struck by their weapons, and he wore a baffled look as he followed the big children that ran wild through the streets. Aria ducked into an alleyway and listened for the three sets of footsteps.

One... two... three.

She appeared from behind the corner just as the three were about to pounce, struck Jotaro in the face, and sprinted off to the next corner and waited.

One...two...huh?

She had lost track of the steps. She knitted her eyebrows together in an attempt to observe every sound around her. She whipped around when she heard shoes hitting the ground to the side of her, and she squealed when she saw Jotaro stalking her with a mischievous grin. She attempted to escape, but her body went backwards as she felt two arms wrap around her waist. She kicked when she felt her feet leave the ground.

"Oh no you don't!" He said, holding her tightly. She shrieked through her laughs, and he waddled with her in his arms.

"I've caught the menace!" He declared as he held her in the air. The two men howled in victory.