Ocean Eyes (a part 4 JotaKak fanfic)

Chapter six

    It was late out, the stars sparkling up above the dunes where their camp had been set up. Desert nights were cold but Jotaro didn’t mind, it was a refreshing break from the steady heat of the day, and he had plenty of ways to stay warm.
    His friends had long since gone to bed, having been worn out by the day’s events. He smiled softly as he looked around at their still forms, Polnaref huddled close to Avdol, the warmest member of the team, and Joseph laying so close to the fire that Jotaro was afraid he’d burn himself. And finally Kakyoin, wrapped up in his sleeping bag as well as Jotaro’s coat, lying less than an arm's-reach away. He had his eyes closed but Jotaro knew he wasn’t asleep.
    “You as well?” he asked quietly, and his friend nodded.
    “Too many thoughts, I guess. The rest of me is tired but my mind’s not.” He opened his eyes to look over at Jotaro. “I wish it would be quiet.”
    “What are your thoughts about?”
    “Same as last night. This journey has changed my life so much I don’t know how I’ll be able to go back.” he sighed. “Sure, DIO’s henchmen are our enemies, but they’re also stand users. We’re all similar, part of this different world, and I… don’t want to leave it.”
    “You don’t have too.” Jotaro said softly. “None of us are young to leave you- not Avdol, not Polnareff, not Joseph, I doubt even Iggy will ever leave you alone after this, even if you want him too.”
    “What about you?” Kakyoin whispered. “Will you stay?”
    Jotaro looked into his eyes, the deep purple staring out at him through a mess of cherry-colored bangs. Those eyes were the ones he loved the most, their deepness seeming to drag him in, flecks of gold flung about like gold leaf. He knew he could never leave them.
    “I’ll stay. Always.”
    Kakyoin smiled, a gesture that warmed up Jotaro more than any fire ever could. “I was hoping you’d say that.” he murmured, rolling closer. A slight tremor ran through Jotaro as he rested his head on his shoulder- they were so close he could feel them both shaking, each for a different reason. “It’s cold, isn’t it?”
    “Yeah.” Jotaro said, leaning back. This was a lie, he wasn’t cold at all. The warmth that seeped off of Kakyoin was enough to heat him up hotter than an oven.

    It took him a bit to realize he’d woken up, mainly due to the fact he could still feel the warmth beside him. He had those types of dreams often, his conscious going back to those fifty days they’d traveled across the world. He hated them more than the nightmares, since when he woke up the realization that almost all those long-ago friends were gone. But not this time. He looked over at the sleeping figure beside him, the early morning light that seeped through the window casting patterns on his face and making Jotaro wonder whether or not he truly had stopped dreaming, that these past few days were just his confused brain playing tricks on him in the dark. But when he reached out he could feel that the person sleeping next to him was very real, albeit a bit more mechanical. Jotaro felt himself smile. The relief of waking up and knowing that Kakyoin was alive and in reaching distance was something he had dreamed about often, a thought called out by his wishful thinking. But it had come true.
   
    The sun was just beginning to rise, it’s comforting rays splitting the storm clouds apart for the first time in days. Josuke felt this was a stark contrast from the slump he had fallen into the day before- relying on Rohan for help never left a pleasant taste in his mouth. But it was over, and although he knew the mangaka would most likely use it against him in the future, he could forget about it for now. Besides, he had other things to worry about.
    “We might have a lead.” Kakyoin had called him earlier, his voice sounding exited through the phone speaker. “An unusual man says he has some information- he seems safe.”
    “When are we going to meet him?” Josuke asked, the other man’s enthusiasm rubbing off on him. Kakyoin’s good moods were almost always contagious. “And did he give a name?”
    “We’re supposed to meet him around noon, he didn’t give us a specific time. And the name he gave is Mikitaka, although we don’t want to assume he’s telling the truth. He seems like an honest enough person, though.” 
   Josuke hoped he was. Maybe this time Rohan wouldn’t have to get involved and injure his pride. After getting the details, he hung up and selected a new number, listening to it ring until the other end picked up.
    “Nijimura household here! Who is this?” the familiar voice almost shouted through the speaker.
    “Okuyasu, I’m gonna have to teach you how to use a phone.” Josuke sighed.
   “Oh hey Josuke! What’s up?”
   “We have another lead. Get ready and meet us at the park at twelve.”

    “Good, you're here.” Jotaro stood up from the bench he had been sitting on, Kakyoin waiting beside him. It was uncommon to see the two separated since Kakyoin had arrived- Jotaro tried not to let his red-haired friend out of his sight. Josuke thought that maybe he was worried about losing him again. "And you brought Okuyasu." He added, sighing.
    Josuke nodded, out of breath. They had run all the way to the park, as Kakyoin had not given them a specific time, and Jotaro was usually annoyed when they showed up late. “How did you find out about this guy anyways?”
“Speedwagon Foundation.” Kakyoin said. “They have ears everywhere.” 
“And mouths.” Jotaro grumbled. “I’m surprised that the whole of Morioh hasn't heard about the serial killer on the loose.”
   Kakyoin elbowed him to shut him up. “Anyways, we’re still waiting on him. We know roughly what he looks like, so if someone starts approaching us we’ll know whether or not it’s him.”
   “You mean we ran all this way for nothing?” Okuyasu groaned.
   “At least you’re on time this time.” Jotaro said, but felt sorry enough for him to offer him his seat. As Okuyasu sat down gratefully, Kakyoin pulled out a piece of paper covered in notes. “The Foundation says he has blond hair and green eyes, as well as some sort of weird nose piercing, and looks about your age.” Kakyoin skimmed through the writing for further details. “Oh, and he claims that he’s an alien.”
   “A what?” Josuke asked, incredulous. “But those don’t exist, right?”
   “Hence the ‘claimed’. Some people believe some pretty weird things about themselves.” He shrugged. “He has information, and we’re going to accept that from anyone we can.”

   Jotaro sighed and looked down at his watch. “He’s almost ten minutes late. Do you think he’ll show up?”
   “Let’s give him five minutes.” Kakyoin said, slumped in his spot on the bench. “If he hasn’t shown up by then we can leave.”
   “What do you mean, ‘show up’? I’m ready whenever you are.”
Both Okuyasu and Kakyoin shot from the bench like it had caught fire. Josuke and Jotaro whirled around to see where the voice had come from. 
   “T-the bench TALKED!” Okuyaso shrieked, pointing at the seemingly normal wooden structure, sitting innocently in the grass.
Jotaro bent over to check the ground underneath it, Kakyoin pressed firmly to his side looking shaken. “Are you sure it came from the bench and not from under it?” 
   “I’m not a bench.” The bench insisted, causing Jotaro to jump back as well. As they watched speechlessly, a face began to take shape in the wood, forming itself into pale skin. Slowly, the rest of the body emerged, revealing a figure with blond hair, about as tall as Kakyoin and slimly built. “My name is Mikitaka, although you must already know that if you are who I think you are." When Kakyoin gave a shaky nod, Mikitaka grinned. "Well then, shall we begin?"