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Jotaro inhaled.
The sweet musky smell of smoke dulling his senses to a lull.
The rain outside fell in sheets as he heard his mother’s tea kettle hiss back at the approaching thunderstorm.
He exhaled, letting the smoke drag out the fine memories of companions, of adventures some people could only dream of having.
Dreams that were his everlasting nightmares.
Even two years after the defeat of the Joestar’s arch nemesis Dio Brando the birthmark that branded him Jotaro Kujo of the Joestar bloodline still ached mostly at times like these. Mostly at times when he was alone and an eerie silence crept into him.
Jotaro pulled his jacket tighter around him, standing he went over to the tea kettle and poured himself a cup. He sighed setting it back down. Sometimes it was too much for him, to even let those memories reenter.
“I miss him too yah know” a husky voice almost whispered in the dark.
“Shut up old man. I never invited you in on my alone time” Jotaro snapped, knocking over the cup that shattered just like his emotions did sometimes. When he was alone, when he was weak and the darkness was able to creep in that darkness that couldn't be knocked out by his Stand, Star Platinum, couldn't be burnt away like the remains of Cairo after that battle. That was as stagnant as the rain that poured around him.
“Never said you did” Joseph snickered, sitting down across from his grandson.
The youth held sadness and regret like a cloud that couldn't shed its tears but Joseph was always a constant companion in that sadness because even at his age he still felt it too, the loss, the regret of his choices and the worst were the memories of the good times. Training, fighting over the last bread stick, being a team in the heat of battle and that sweet red bubble handing him the last and most precious gift tied in a bandanna, life.
Yeah, he missed him too.
Jotaro’s hands balled into a fist as he sat down, his head hanging, his teeth grinding. No amount of fighting could dull it. He remembered the times on the journey how everyone laughed, how they fought over the last serving of meat on the table and a voice of reason always purred
“We can get more Polnareff, Joseph sit down, Jotaro are you alright?”
Those emerald eyes dancing in the Indian sunlight, that red hair with that stupid curl bobbing with the waves of the ocean beneath them. The way he sounded concerned at midnight asking Jotaro if they’d make it to the end.
Jotaro always said “Yes” with a huff and rolled over.
Jotaro was such a god damn liar he hated it.
One night in particular Jotaro remembered in India after the loss of Avdol in their party for the time. When Kakyoin and him shared a single bedded room, it smelt of curry and hot tea, filled with a stagnant heat. Still Kakyoin was dead set they were students who should never take off their uniforms no matter the puddles of sweat they slept in that night. Kakyoin rolled over, facing Jotaro who calmly smoked his cigarette bouncing his zippo between open and close, the crickets chirping a melody to the moon.
“Jotaro?” a calm, tender voice asked hesitantly.
“Hm?” Jotaro peeked over taking in the red head, the calm determination in his eyes the stiffness in his arms, his eyebrows pushed together thinking, taking in the details before the attack. Jotaro called on his Stand, making sure he’d stop any sudden moves but sometimes Star Platinum wasn't so perfect.
A sweet scent of cherries mixed with smoke is all Jotaro could smell, warmth of a Japanese summer sun stained his lips and withdrew as quickly as it came.
Kakyoin moved away holding a steady gaze with Jotaro before he rolled over.
“I never kissed anyone before Jotaro, and before I die I wanted to know what it felt like. Thank you” Kakyoin whispered in such a matter of fact way Jotaro couldn’t really process what he said next.
“If it’ll keep you alive longer think of how the kiss will be once we get back home” he huffed, putting out the butt of his cigarette.
“Yes” Kakyoin gave a dry laugh. “I will look forward to it”.
A crack of lightning shining up the dining rooms tatami matted floors and the sounds of thunder awoke him from his nightmares. His grandfather looked at him with pity tainting his teal eyes, as he sipped his own cup of tea.
“Sometimes we Joestars…” his grandfather started out, flexing his metal hand “Sometimes we make promises we can’t keep but we’re always lucky bastards to have companions like those”
Jotaro faintly knew of his grandfather’s youth, Caesar a young Italian who gave his grandfather companionship, loyalty even to his final breathe. Yes, the Joestars were lucky always having such a person there for them that transcended friendship, loyalty, honor and even love.
Jotaro let his fist uncoil as he stared at his grandfather.
“I miss him too… yah know?” Joseph just nodded as the rain fell outside in sheets of regret and memories they’d never let go.