Queen of Cups

The Hermit

A.N. Because canonically Holly's Stand doesn't have a name, I decided to give it one myself for now.

XI

The Hermit

It represents Contemplation, Search for Truth, Inner Guidance

Joseph looked at the teens sitting on the ground. He couldn't help but somehow feel at fault for what was going on... But it wasn't. It was everything written in their destiny, as Avdol would say... "If only you were here, pal... To guide me through this dark time I face..."

Jotaro fixed his hat, and rejected any emotions his body wanted to show, all the empathy he had for (Name). It was worthless to cry with her... Why should he do that?

Holly came back and knew instantly that something was wrong. Her guts told her so.

She put everything on the table and patted the two men that sat next to the crying girl.

"Boys, I think you should lift up. Normal people can't understand why you're here sobbing and bleeding suddenly." Holly pointed to Kakyoin's cheek. "(Name), can I talk to you outside? My coffee needs to cool down a bit. Let's go outside."

(Name) wiped her tears and went outside with Holly. The two women looked like a mom and daughter walking together during a sunny day.

"Darling... Tell Mom what happened..." Said Holly hugging her tightly.

(Name) just hugged back, words couldn't get out of her mouth, but she knew Holly could hear her thoughts. She was a mother herself. She understood... She... felt small vines caressing her head?

"My stand, Lovely Raspberry, can feel the emotions of those around me. It's no good for combat, neither a long distance... It's just to protect me and my family, as much as it can... And their well being is what I care about the most. It also tells me if someone had any sickness. You don't have to use words. I will feel your pain..."

(Name) smiled. Holly remembered her so much of her own mother now. "My mom didn't need a stand or her tarot cards to guess the way I felt... Ever. Heh... But it feels well to see her through you, Holly-san."

One of the vines that caressed her head had grown a beautiful ripe raspberry. "If you eat one of the raspberries, it will help you get over your pain. I did that to Jotaro, when Kakyoin was in the hospital."

"Wait... Kakyoin was in the hospital?"

Jotaro's mom nodded."He couldn't sleep or drink... All he thought was that he killed his friend... But he lives."

(Name) looked through a window and saw the 4 men at the table, seeing Kakyoin happy, and Jotaro with a subtle smile as he saw his classmate chuckling at... Whatever Polnareff said. Joseph was laughing his ass off.

"Do you want to forget your pain?" Asked Holly, snapping the teen out of her train of thoughts.

"No. I want to use all the pain this caused me and pay my father back... It's the right thing to do."

Holly smiled. "I might not like the violence... But the way he treated you... He deserves it..." She said and went ahead. "Can she... Read my memories too?"

"Oh, the ladies have decided to return!" Said Polnareff.

The ladies sat themselves at the table and took their drinks.

"I spoke with the Speedwagon foundation. The school will be searched for stand users that will be hidden as classmates and teachers. Polnareff here will be your sports teacher, since this school only teaches English."

Polnareff scoffed. He didn't like the idea of going back to school... But if that meant his friends will be safe, he'd become a student once again...

"Ok... But why?" Asked the young girl sipping her drink.

"Since your stand seems to try and kill you and your father wants to kill my grandson."

"Right... I'm sorry guys. I wish I wasn't here to do so much bad to you..."

Once again, the beverage in her cup turned into a feminine face, in front of them, like a genie. It kissed her forehead, but left a trace of ice, that started soon to cover her whole head, but not the face... Somehow only (Name) seemed to not see her own stand.

Jotaro called for the Star Platinum, and it suddenly, against it's user's command, hugged (Name)'s stand. Nobody understood what happened... But everyone was relieved to see that the ice vanished.

.•°•~~~~~~~~~~~~~•°•.

As the day went on, Polnareff, Joseph and Holly went back to the Kujo residence, while the three teens remained together. Their excuse: homework.

Deep inside, Jotaro was curious why Star Platinum didn't just break the ice and disobeyed Jotaro by hugging Moonhigh Queen.

On the other hand, Noriaki wanted to spend time with his friends, to know them better. He wanted to help (Name) understand her own stand.

And in the end, (Name)'s thoughts were only on what shall she do.

"We don't have any homeworks for tomorrow. It all was just a bluff to let us sit with you. Wanna go to a park? It always helps me clean my mind." Suggested Kakyoin.

"Oh my God! I do that as well." Replied (Name). She looked at her phone, 7 pm.

After a not so long walk, the empty park was looking as it was waiting for them. 3 swings, an empty castle shaped slide... A typical playground in the middle of the park. (Name) ran for the middle swing, plopped herself in the seat and started going up and down again and again.

Jotaro got out his pack of cigarettes and started smoking while he sat on one of the empty swings. Only Kakyoin joined this childish behavior, doing a contest of height and speed on the swing with the girl.

After some time, both slowed down and started talking.

"You two are done fooling around?" Jotaro asked, finishing his cigarette.

"I'm sorry, but the swing is the only thing that has my most happy memories. Life is like a swing. Gets you up and down... With it I can pretend to fly... In a world of Stars."

Jotaro looked at her, thoughtful, listening to her, as well as Kakyoin.

"Well, my mom's birth card was The Moon, my father's was The Sun. My ascendant is Aquarius, ruled by The Star."

"I'm sorry if it hurts you but... How were your parents?" Asked Kakyoin.

Jotaro lighted another cigarette, while biting hard on it's butt, as if something was off.