Dark Hamon

Icarus Descending

It was as if two rival lions stared each other down before mortal combat, but Joseph knew that he could never subdue Kars; Kars knew that as well. That immortal man held his daughter close, knowing that no one could pry her away, and though Joseph fought him with his gaze, Kars sat as proud as a Roman statue, secure in his strength.

Still, Joseph was aware of the guilt his adversary carried, so if he couldn't separate Aria with strength, he could do it through emotions. Gears clicked in his head about the most effective way to get him away from her, but if there was anything he learned about Kars it was that, once he had put his mind to it, no amount of manipulation could distract him. The only time Joseph succeeded was a fluke. It was a man trying to gain all the power in the world and not just for himself like in the beginning. He fought to protect his family, and his foresight proved right when the men from the Speedwagon Foundation tried to hunt down and kill his family.

So the question twisted in his head, making the gears grind. Was it better to just let him be a father? What could be the harm in allowing Aria to have what she always wanted, and was Joseph's urge to protect her actually about protecting the girl or his own pride as a sort of adoptive father? The events that Aria described- the attacks, the isolation. She was a pariah, a product of an untouchable woman and an unholy god.

So what was the harm of giving Aria her one wish, to let Kars be with her?

Evening light reflected off of Kars' blood red eyes, and though he looked at his daughter with affection, he still looked at Joseph like he wanted to rip his flesh clean off the bone. Joseph had seen that cruel, primal stare fifty years ago. Starting off as an aloof stare, his view of Joseph morphed into a vengeful look after Joseph killed Esidisi and then into pure hatred after Wamuu's death. Those same eyes stared into Joseph's as he had Joseph's mother dangling upside down with a rope passed through the flesh of her feet.

Was he really fit to be a father?

It was true that Kars wanted to jump out of his seat at the old man's malicious glare and rip his throat out with his teeth. He no longer had any use for human blood, but he might indulge in Joseph's. Aria squirmed in his arms, repositioning in her sleep. His chest felt as if it was deflating from his melting heart.

If it wasn't for Joseph's life, she would have never found someone to love as much as she loved Jotaro. Kars may have had to put the boy in his place when he made a move on his daughter, but overall, he approved. Jotaro had a warrior's spirit and a caring heart, and he would go to any length just to make Aria smile. Kars lifted his eyes to look at Jotaro, and Joseph jerked up, ready to go to battle for his grandson. Kars sneered at the reaction but did nothing.

Why would he hate Joseph when he gave his daughter a very precious gift?

Joseph was a welcome avatar for her father's love, but it was this man who banished him in the first place. If it weren't for Joseph's victory, Aria would never have had to go through the pain she had to endure. Kars could have been there to see all of those birthdays, victories, and failures. When he first met Joseph in the caves, he found him so irritating that he wanted to dispatch the Englishman right there, but he didn't think it was worth his time. Wamuu or Esidisi would kill him, so Kars could focus on the more important task. How wrong he was.

Every day while he was drifting he tortured himself with regret. He should have known that this man was a threat when he single-handedly defeated Santana (Saviento, as the Germans named him). His heart twisted. Wamuu. Santana. He had raised them both, and he led them into death. He was so confident in their superiority that he never even thought they could die at the hands of humans. His own hubris clouded his recollection of the past. The Amazons had once nearly defeated them, and other clans of elite Hamon users were challenging to defeat.