🖤-Unveiling Fate's Threads- 🖤 Book-1

Chapter 23

( Curious Conversations)

This chapter is back in Celest's Pov.

Our steps led us to the tranquil pool deck, where only a few scattered souls remained. I nestled into the shade, seeking refuge from the sun's relentless rays, while Kakyoin chose a more sunlit spot. Lost in thought, I gazed at the shimmering pool waters, a pang of homesickness tugging at my heart.

"Celest," Kakyoin's voice broke my reverie. I turned to him, curious about his inquiry. "Yeah?" I responded.

"I've been curious about you," he admitted, sitting up and turning to face me. "I hope this doesn't come off as rude, but what is your ethnicity?" His question caught me off guard, and I raised an eyebrow. "That's an unusual question," I remarked, my tone nonchalant. "I'm a mix of different backgrounds. My father's roots trace back to Hawaii, and my mother has African and British heritage. It's as simple as that." I sighed, bracing for another common question that had always irked me. "And if you're wondering how I ended up living in Japan, please spare me the 'are you lost?' inquiries."

Kakyoin raised his hands in a defensive gesture, chuckling. "Alright, fair enough," he conceded. We fell into a moment of silence, the weight of our unspoken stories hanging in the air.

"Do you have any siblings?" I ventured, breaking the quiet. Kakyoin's question had stirred my own curiosity.

"Another peculiar question," I noted, tilting my head with a faint smile. "But sure, let's indulge in this get-to-know-you game. Yes, I have a younger brother. And what about you? Any siblings?" I asked in return.

Kakyoin shook his head, his eyes distant. "No, I'm an only child," he replied. My thoughts wandered to what it must be like to grow up without siblings, and a hint of sympathy welled up inside me.

"What's it like having siblings?" Kakyoin continued, looking back at me. His question took me by surprise, and I pondered it for a moment. "Well, to start," I began, leaning back in my chair, "there's no such thing as 'privacy.' You're constantly in each other's business, always trying to outdo one another. Everything becomes a competition. My brother can be quite the little troublemaker at times, but he also has these fiercely protective, territorial moods that I find both cute and laughable."

I met Kakyoin's gaze, struggling to articulate the complexities of sibling dynamics. "Having a brother is like carrying a small chihuahua in a purse. It's fun and endearing at times, yet it can also be incredibly annoying. We have our ups and downs, like any siblings do."

Kakyoin nodded, his eyes reflecting understanding and curiosity. "It's hard to explain, isn't it?" he mused, his own experiences with family dynamics shaping his understanding. I let my gaze drift, lost in my thoughts of Luke.

"It's fine; I get it," Kakyoin assured me. Our conversation flowed easily, each exchange fostering a sense of comfort and camaraderie. I learned about his passion for games, a topic that clearly lit up his face. However, his childhood remained somewhat shrouded in mystery.

Meeting someone who shared the peculiar circumstances of my life brought a newfound sense of comfort. "Hey, Kak," I interjected, drawing his attention. "Why did you call me 'CC' earlier?"

Kakyoin regarded me with a bemused expression. "For the same reason you call me 'Kak,' 'CC,'" he replied.

"Why not use my actual nickname?" I suggested, intrigued by the idea of forming a more genuine connection. "I mean, if we're friends—assuming we are by now—why not use it?"

Kakyoin turned to face me fully, raising an eyebrow. "Since we're friends," he said, a small smile gracing his lips, "you can call me 'Tia.'"

I blushed slightly at the use of my special name, feeling a warmth in my chest. "Tia," he repeated, and the simple act of hearing it from his lips made me happy. Outside of Jotaro, I didn't have many friends, and those few I had were relatively ordinary. But there was something about Kakyoin and the others that gave me hope.

"We should head back up to Mr. Joestar and Avdol's room," I suggested, realizing we had forgotten about Jotaro and Anne in our conversation. "Maybe they know where Jotaro and Anne are, or if they've returned."

I suddenly remembered the urgency of the situation and the potential danger Jotaro might be in. "Or perhaps they need our help," I added, concern for our absent companions driving me to action.

As we made our way back to the hotel room, a sense of unease lingered. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, and my thoughts were filled with a mixture of guilt and worry for leaving Jotaro behind.

Upon our return to the room, we found Mr. Joestar in a state of panic, frantically talking on the phone. His words were a blur, the conversation too fast to decipher. However, a specific phrase caught Kakyoin's attention, and he interjected, bringing us into the spotlight.

"Where the hell have you two been?" Mr. Joestar demanded, his agitation palpable.

"Jotaro left us behind, so we decided to 'sunbathe' by the pool," Kakyoin explained casually, and I looked at him in a slight agreement. "Correction, I was not sunbathing, I was laying in the shade of an umbrella, but you were sunbathing though!"

Avdol, who had been observing quietly, furrowed his brow. "In your school uniform?" he inquired skeptically.

Kakyoin shrugged. "Why not?" he replied, not missing a beat.

I spoke up, addressing the situation at hand. "What's going on? Are we in trouble?" I asked, my voice laced with concern.

Mr. Joestar continued his phone conversation, reassuring the person on the other end. "It's alright; we have the real one here with us," he assured them. His cryptic statement left us puzzled, and I exchanged a glance with Kakyoin.

"It seems Jotaro has run into some trouble with an enemy," Avdol explained, casting light on the situation. I stood up, a sense of urgency sweeping over me.

"Shouldn't we go after him? To help him?" I implored, my thoughts racing. "Or at least get Anne out of there. We agreed not to involve innocent lives, but we should try to protect her from this mess."

Avdol looked at Mr. Joestar, who sighed and reluctantly relented. "Anne, where are you?" he inquired into the phone. Her response guided our next steps, and my heart raced as we prepared to retrieve her.

As we set out, I couldn't help but feel guilty for leaving Jotaro behind, even though I knew he was more than capable of handling himself. The journey to the cable cars was filled with a mix of determination and unease, as we navigated through the bustling crowds.

We successfully avoided most people, but a long flight of stairs blocked our path. Frustration welled up in me, and I groaned at the sight. "Why are there so many stairs?"

Kakyoin, always calm, approached me and gave my shoulder a reassuring pat. "Calm down; it's not that bad," he said, offering a placating smile.

I began the ascent, determined to overcome the obstacle. However, my luck seemed to have abandoned me, and I stumbled on the final step. "Celest!" Anne's voice called out as she rushed toward me. I tried to regain my composure but whined in discomfort.

Kakyoin, always there to lend a hand, reached out to help me up. Anne's expression held a mixture of surprise and curiosity, no doubt fueled by Kakyoin's earlier impersonation. Reluctantly, I accepted Kakyoin's assistance, appreciating his support.

My concern shifted to Anne, who seemed somewhat taken aback. I sighed with relief when she confirmed that she was unharmed. Still feeling the effects of our frantic run, I couldn't help but wish that I could be carry back to the hotel.

On our way, we encountered Polnareff, who seemed perplexed by our group. "What's up with you three?" he inquired. I couldn't find the energy to explain our situation and simply replied, "Don't ask."

Finally, we returned to Mr. Joestar and Avdol's room. Mr. Joestar's frantic phone conversation continued, but its content remained indecipherable to us. I sank into a chair, exhaustion washing over me.