Dead Set: Rebirth

Chapter 10

"Lady Reina has been my friend for the past seven years. She was known to be rough around the edges even the majority of the townspeople assumed her to be a boy due to how she dressed." Jonathan explains to Speedwagon. The small group of men rode in the carriage. Speedwagon was curious about the woman Jonathan spoke of. The carriage rode along the dirt road to leave the town. "Well, Reina is known as Rei. She is a seamstress and a shoemaker. Her family's shop is pretty popular in town. Father tells me that her mother's blood is of foreign origin." Jonathan continues to speak. Speedwagon nods as he listens to him.

Knowing that Jonathan's close friend would be in possible danger made Speedwagon grow concerned. Dio was Jonathan's adopted brother of seven years. The two boys grew up together and became men ready to graduate college. Speedwagon could not trust a man after hearing the crime that was attempted. Who knew what else the man could do to the people around him. Specifically the woman he was engaged to. The snow was slowly falling from the sky. Jonathan looks out to watch the snowflakes fall and melt once they hit the ground. He could only think of keeping Reina out of danger.

His own brother. To be precise his adoptive brother. The man who made his life hell when he first showed up. The death of his dog, Erina's first kiss, and Reina's trauma. Now to the attempted murder of his father. Everything was becoming a twisted repeat of history. Jonathan was conflicted. "That woman you speak of...She's safe." The short man spoke. To hear that gave Jonathan some temporary relief. He closes his eyes to rest for the remainder of the ride.

"Hey Jojo." Reina spoke up as she had been fixing a pair of shoes in the shop. She was sixteen years old and still dressed like a boy. Her hair was longer and kept under a hat. The teenager had been busy helping her father with the business coming in nonstop. "Yes." Jonathan was watching Reina work. He stood beside her. "What can I do to be more feminine?" Reina asks. Her attention never left her work. The girl was becoming interested in the opposite sex. She had a slight attraction to Jonathan and a conflicted attraction to Dio

Although, she spent time with both boys equally. Jonathan taught Reina what it meant to be a gentleman. They studied together, sparred together, and danced together. The two remained two sides of a coin. Both were inseparable of each other. Even though Reina continued to fight, Jonathan would always come around to save her. Reina was the black knight and Jonathan was the white knight. Jonathan takes a few moments to think of an answer. He did not see Reina as feminine nor that he saw her in need to change.

"I am not sure what to say Rei. You are fine the way you are. It is better to stand out." Jonathan speaks and places his hand on Reina's hat. Reina was hoping that Jonathan would have given her a different answer, but this one was acceptable. She could not help, but laugh. "W-What is that laugh for?" Jonathan was now flustered. He was embarrassed and became temporarily awkward. His fair skin was currently flushed. Reina finishes aligning the leather of the shoe and begins to stitch it all together. Reina had a few chuckles escaping her lips.

"I apologize. I just expected a different answer from you." She replies. Jonathan looks surprised as he was now confused. "I will tell you the truth. In the beginning, I liked you. Well, I guess the word is "crush". You never teased me nor questioned my gender. Hell, you even protected me a couple times. Okay, more than a couple. I guess I can say I love you, but that's too weird for someone like me. I am not one to behave or think in that manner." Reina said. She did not feel any emotion as she spoke the truth. After the two first met Reina was starting to like the Joestar boy. She honestly loved him, but she did not want to challenge the friendship. The girl had her emotions and memories repressed due to the traumatic experience.

"I am not going to chase you. You already have a love to return to." Reina said. "Rei...I do love you. As a special person who cannot ever be replaced. Also, Dio has his eyes set on you. He just refuses to admit it." Jonathan explains. He never even thought of Reina liking him more than just a friend. She did not give him any hints or even change her behavior around him. She did not say he liked him before and she did not flirt with him either. Deep down Jonathan had an unexplained love for this girl. He knew he had to protect her.