[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure] Standstill Bonds

Chapter 23 ~ A Heavy Revelation

Josephine's reaction to the revelation wasn't lost on Jotaro, not one bit. Her face was a crystal clear picture of confusion and worry. She had known of course that Pucci was after him, but just how serious his predicament was had been kept hidden. He knew that telling her the full truth, his entire story, would only add to her concern exponentially. And though he didn't want to pull her deeper into this mess, he knew then that he couldn't avoid it forever.

"He's... got a personal grudge against the Joestars," Jotaro began, his voice steady but weighed down by the burden of his family's history, their curse. "My last name might be Kujo, but I'm a Joestar descendant, as is my mom."

Josephine pulled at her sleeves, "But... why? What did your family do to him?"

Jotaro sighed, looking away for a moment, the words heavy on his tongue. There was a lot to unpack and he hesitated.

Before he could speak again, Polnareff wheeled slightly closer. "She deserves to know the full picture, Jotaro," he said quietly but firmly. "Tell her everything."

Jotaro glanced at him and he exhaled deeply, nodding once.

He looked back at Josephine, "It's a long story, involving a Stand user named Dio Brando. He was an evil man, a vampire, actually. He killed my great-great-grandfather, Jonathan Joestar, and stole his body to place his own severed head on it to survive. Disgusting, I know."

Josephine internally gagged and she shuddered at the thought. But she stayed silent, listening intently as Jotaro continued.

"Pucci was fanatically devoted to Dio who was like a mentor to him when he was a young man. When Dio returned and threatened my family, threatened the world, I killed him. But Pucci... he's trying to finish what Dio started."

Josephine's breath caught in her throat. "You mean... he's after revenge?"

Jotaro's voice lowered as he clarified, "It's more than just revenge. Pucci wants to carry on Dio's so-called 'heavenly' plan. And that plan includes eliminating anyone who can stand in his way. That's us. The Joestars."

The room seemed to close in around her as she took in the new information, Pucci wasn't just after Jotaro for a fight. He had told her he was dangerous but... not this, now she knew the man wanted Jotaro, his family, dead, and she didn't want to believe what she was hearing.

Polnareff, his face grave, chimed in. "He's going to be tough to deal with Jotaro, he's not going to make it easy for you to find him at his weakest."

"I know," Jotaro clipped, "That's why I have to be prepared for if he reaches his strongest, and why I can't let Josephine get dragged into this mess anymore than she already has been."

Josephine, despite the tightness in her chest, spoke her protest, "But I'm already involved, aren't I? He knows about me already."

"This is a fight you stay out of Josephine," he ordered firmly. "No arguments."

Josephine blinked, her expression disbelieving, was Jotaro for real? "How can you expect me to stay out of it now? You just told me that Pucci wants you dead! How am I supposed to just sit here and do nothing?"

"That's enough! I've had enough of you trying to push this issue!"

Josephine froze, her heart dropping into her stomach as his sudden outburst took her by brutal surprise. Jotaro's patience had snapped and his eyes were filled with a shaking ire as he continued, his voice rising furthur. "I've told you no over and over again, but you keep pushing it! You don't understand how dangerous this is, you've proven time and time again how irresponsible you are and I will not let you in on this, do you understand me?"