A Devil with an Angel's Heart

Chapter 11

||Jotaro

They had changed from the train to a ship, which was currently heading for India. "Well, I'm a little bit worried. I mean is there anywhere to get a cheeseburger there? I've always heard India was a land of rampant disease." started the old man. "I know." agreed Polnareff adding that he was worried his stomach couldn't handle the culture gap." "I'm not worried at all. I've got a pretty strong stomach." Kate declared. "No wonder. You eat as if you were pregnant, sometimes. Your stomach is used to it." grumbled Kumiko. "You're just jealous." Kate countered. "But it's true. I once saw you eat a salted tomato and then a bread with jam and another bread with honey right after." retorted Jack. "The tomato was just a healthy snack before the real deal." Kate tried to defend herself. Avdol cut in, chickling, "Mr. Joestar, Polnareff, that assessment is rather distorted. You needn't worry. India is a country with extraordinary people. That I assure you, my friends." The ship docked and Avdol stated, "Well, we reached Calcutta. Let' get going."

The moment they stepped foot on land, they were surrounded by people. Kids begged Jotaro for a tip. A man asked to carry Polnareff's luggage. Another man, an old one, asked Kakyoin whether he wanted a tattoo, as he was rather pretty. Yet another man asked the old man if he wanted some anti-venom. It wouldn't hurt his stomach. Another screamed something about showing them a hotel. In the distance someone screamed about having stepped into cow shit. The boys were standing in a circle, the girls in their middle. "Somebody's already stolen my wallet!" Kakyoin detected. The children were clinging to Jotaro's clothes, "If you don't give me a tip, you won't be able to got to heaven, sir." one said. Another apparently had rubbed it's nose on the French's luggage, getting snot all over it, because the silver-haired complained. "Avdol, so this is India?" Jotaro's grandfather asked. Avdol turned to the silver fox, "See? Great country isn't it? They are what makes India great, don't you think?" "Most definitely not." a voice behind the raven-haired grumbled. Kate had been startled in the beginning and instinctively pressed up against the delinquent, though she seemed to have recovered from her initial shock and was now pressing herself through the gap between him and Kakyoin. She stood straight, her head raised a familiar look in her eyes, that conveyed 'Don't you dare approach me.'. The people actually started to make way for the woman. Jotaro decided it was a good idea and started glaring at people, causing them to shrink away. Together they cleared a way.

Finally out of the crowd Kate shoulders relaxed, it was the tiniest of changes but Jotaro had known her long enough to notice. "I say we get something to eat." Kakyoin suggested. On their way to a restaurant Kate had started to fix Kumiko's way of walking, or rather she tried to improve it. "If you want a man to notice you, you'll have to get out of that shell. Stand straight, stop hunching your shoulders." Kate sounded rather harsh, but her eyes, though sharp, were kind. "How will I know I'm doing it right?" Kumi inquired. Kate chuckled, "When you can do this." she declared and made eye contact with a random man her age, who was walking by. The poor man, she had declared her guinea pig, was transfixed and stopped looking where he was going. Shortly after he ran into a traffic sign. Jotaro couldn't see it but he knew Kate was smiling smugly. "That's always a highly satisfying feeling." after that she continued giving instructions to her friend. "Walk more confidently. Make the world your catwalk. Yes, like that. Now you just have to match your expression. Either invite them in or shut them out. Your eyes are either warm or cold. They either say, 'Hey, I'm approachable.' or 'Careful, I bite.' If you do well, I'll buy you something."

A little boy ran against Kate, the oranges he was holding falling to the ground. "Oh my, you alright?" Kate asked. The little boy nodded shyly as Kate crouched down before him, handing him an orange. "There you go." she patted the boys head. "Where are your parents?" she asked. The boy didn't answer. "Siblings?" Kate inquired further. Again the boy answered with silence, shaking his head. He was an orphan. Before Kate could say anything else, two women, nuns, came running. "Timothy! There you are!" they stopped in their tracks, when they saw Kate. "Timothy, get away from that woman. She is wearing the sign of the devil! Hurry and come over here, we need to bath you in holy water!" Kate touched her choker, the pentagram shining in the sun. She looked hurt, though she masked it with a smile. "She's right. You should go. Be more careful next time." she patted his head once again. "Bye, devil lady." he grinned and then ran off. "What did she do to?! Did she curse you?!" the nuns asked frantically. For once Kumiko grinned teasingly, "You always say you're not good with kids, but they apparently love you." "Babies always cry." Kate muttered. In that moment two women approached. Jotaro mentally prepared himself for it, expecting them to be here for him, but to his (pleasant) surprise, they approached Kate. "Uhm...." they started, catching Kate's attention. "Huh...?" Kate straightened herself, now standing up again, looking at the two women slightly smaller than her. Kate's eyes didn't show any particular warmth, but weren't hostile either, only predatory. "Y-your The Demon Whisperer, correct?" the black-haired woman asked. "Kate's eyes flashed, the women shrinking back, as Kate slowly walked towards them, until their back hit the wall of the house next to the sidewalk. Kate slammed her right hand down next to the woman's head. "What do you want from me?" she hissed. "W-we wanted to ask for a autograph?" the black-haired stammered. "Is that a question or an answer?" Kate growled. "I-It's an answer." the woman stammered. Kate released the woman, stepping back, she responded coldly, "I'm no celebrity. I don't give autographs." Kate turned around, about to leave. "We can pay you!" the other woman, the red-haired, screamed. "Oho? You think you have something valuable enough to buy my autograph?" Kate's eyes flashed with something Jotaro couldn't quite determine. Was it greed? Or maybe a twinkle of sure success? Maybe both. The women held up a necklace with a red gem on it. "Indeed. That is quiet valuable. If it is real, that is." Kate snatched the gem and inspected it. "Hmmm. Even if it doesn't work, in the human world you can get a lot of money for it." Kate signed what the women held out to her, one had an article called "An Extraordinary Exchange Student" the other had an magazine with Kate and a white-haired demon on the cover, titled with, "Behind the Walls of The House of Lamentation".