[JANUARY 9TH, 1990]

[AFTERNOON - 12:00 P.M.]

[7 DAYS UNTIL END OF THE WORLD]

- • -

"Dismissed."

Everyone started to file out of the large room and out the doors. Mostly everyone, besides the teacher and a few other students. The teacher, silently erasing some of the things on his whiteboard and writing a few new things. Two other students sat in their own seats, chatting to one another about the weather. The other student sat by himself in one of the front rows, thinking to himself, hat tilted down to hide his face with a pure black shadow.

"Jotaro Kujo, wasn't it?"

Jotaro opened his eyes and looked up from his lap, his attention now focused on his teacher. Although he didn't have to look stare up too far, as his teacher was quite short compared to himself.

"Yes, Mr. . . Mr. . . Uh . . ."

"Mr. Brown."

"Ah, right." Jotaro cringed lightly, remembering that he was not used to many things that were American. Everything was still hard for him to understand, especially names. Even though English was his second language and he did know it quite well, he was still sometimes confused by the words and names. The Japanese language traits and characteristics had been wired into his brain for so long that he wasn't used to speaking English. Going from Japanese characters to the English alphabet wasn't the easiest thing to accomplish. When he went to New York for Christmas, he usually had other people to speak for him. He and Kakyoin spoke Japanese most of the time, while everyone else spoke English. It was only thanks to his grandfather, Joseph Joestar, that he was able to speak English as well as he could. Otherwise, he would've thought more than twice when he decided to move to America.

"You're Japanese, right?"

"Hai."

His teacher immediately turned away, heading back to the whiteboard, leaving Jotaro confused for a moment before remembering; a student next to him told him that their teacher hated Asian people, meaning what Jotaro assumed was known as Asian-racist. Something about his grandfather or great-grandfather being killed during Pearl Harbor. Apparently, Jotaro had something to do with it, and Mr. Brown would probably not go so easy on him when they started their work for the semester.

Because that's just what I need on my first day here.

It was Jotaro's first day at his university in Florida. A university he had chosen specifically for it's marine biology program, and for it's location that wasn't too far from the beach. A two-in-one kind of package that came with the small price of moving from Japan.

It wasn't even 10 days ago when Jotaro moved from Japan to Florida. The same went for his mother, Holly, but she was currently living with her parents in New York. She had asked Jotaro over and over multiple times if he was completely fine without living with her, and he assured her it was. He even promised her that he would visit her at least during Christmas time every year. Something that she was absolutely ecstatic about, and had promised her son vice-versa.

Yes, he would miss his mother. She was really one of the only people Jotaro cared so much about in his life, since his father was never present due to his "tours." He would never admit it out loud, as his pride wouldn't allow him to, but he cared about her. Yes, she wasn't going to be with him for a while, but he didn't move to Florida alone.

Occupying Jotaro on his one-way flight to Florida had been Noriaki Kakyoin.

It was nearly a year ago since Jotaro defeated DIO in Egypt. Without the sacrifices of Avdol, Iggy and Kakyoin, it wouldn't have been possible for the century-old vampire to be defeated. They'd all be dead, and the world would have eventually been taken over by the blonde vampire. Thinking back on it now, Jotaro was so relieved, so happy that Kakyoin hadn't really sacrificed himself just for the sake of figuring out DIO's Stand ability. The first time the news had passed over to him in that Speedwagon Foundation ambulance, he couldn't help but almost break into tears at the mention of Kakyoin's death. It was only added to the grief of losing Iggy and Avdol in that same day. He was lucky he was so good at concealing his emotions, the best he knew.

And then, just after starting up his grandfather's heart and the doctors performing the blood transfusion between him and DIO, a third of that sudden immense sadness was taken off Jotaro's mind: Kakyoin was alive! At least, according to the man in the other SWF ambulance that contained the unconscious Polnareff.

It simply couldn't be fathomed how the hell that was even possible. The teenager had had a literal hole made in the middle of his chest that was certain to be fatal. Jotaro remembered feeling that little jolt of hope ricochet up and down his spine, but he had told himself to shake it off; It might've just been the slightest of signs that Kakyoin wasn't really dead, like the smallest little pulse, that really turned out to be the last of what his body could emit before it went cold.

But fortunately, that wasn't the case. Kakyoin really was alive, and listening to that conversation over the drivers' communicators had proved it all to Jotaro. Both his grandfather and his best friend had been killed and resurrected in the same day. Jotaro remembered the sudden shouts of excitement, relief and astonishment he had assumed came from the other ambulance. The faint but definitely audible sound of Kakyoin's shallow breathing. The sounds of a heart rate monitor flickering on and off in a balanced pattern. The hearty laugh of joy that came from Joseph as he hugged his grandson and cheered with the doctors. Jotaro even remembered his own little smile, the feeling of hot tears that wanted to spill from his eyes from genuine happiness.

It was a miracle, really.

It had been the light that had bursted from the darkness of losing his friends. When he thought only half of the Crusaders had made it out alive, the most amazing, unexpected thing had happened. It made the thought of losing Iggy and Avdol slightly less difficult to bear.

But Kakyoin had been lucky to live through the hell he faced that day and the painful year that followed. He was in the worst condition of the four of them, and he was a special case. So many times while he was unconscious, the heart monitor had given out dangerous patterns of beeps that signaled he was in danger. Jotaro recognized that noise all too well from how often he'd been in Kakyoin's room, listening to him breath shakily, his only signs of life the rise and fall of his chest.

Now Kakyoin was able to walk regularly again, an impressive feat for anyone to accomplish after having a chunk of their stomach blown out. He moved to Florida with Jotaro right after their trip to New York for Christmas. That was when Jotaro, Holly, Kakyoin and Joseph discussed the idea of his daughter and grandson moving in with him. While Holly accepted graciously, Jotaro politely declined his offer. While in the hospital, he and Kakyoin had already talked about what they wanted to do for college. They both agreed on moving to Florida and going somewhere with a good program for marine biology and art. Luckily they found the perfect town, with a university for Jotaro and a college for Kakyoin that weren't too far away from eachother.

As for actually living somewhere, the Japanese teenagers lived in two different apartments, neither too far away from eachother. Joseph had questioned this decision, asking why they didn't just live in the same place since they were close friends.

Easy answer: Things were too awkward between Jotaro and Kakyoin. After Jotaro's endless amount of visits to check on Kakyoin in the hospital, something had formed between the two. Something that they both knew was there, but refused to act upon it. Jotaro didn't know about Kakyoin, but he would admit only to himself that he had formed certain emotions for the red-headed boy.

Easier answer: Feelings, something Jotaro wasn't good with, and he would never admit such things to Kakyoin. He didn't even know if he liked him back, and because of that he saw no point in uncovering those not yet reciprocated feelings. Jotaro didn't even care if he himself was just gay, but he refused to ever fall in love completely with anyone. It wouldn't be good for him, and it wouldn't be good for anyone else. He kept telling himself wasn't meant to be with anybody in hopes that he would eventually lose these feelings.

The last time Jotaro and Kakyoin talked they agreed to meet at some local café after finishing their classes for the day. Not for any special reason, but just to talk about whatever they wanted to talk about.

Jotaro sighed as he gathered his books and supplies. He seriously needed to sort things out with Kakyoin, at least tell him about his feelings, but he knew it wouldn't be that easy, especially for him. He knew it wasn't easy for anyone to confess their love for somebody who's most likely clueless about your feelings for them, but it was already scaring the shit out of him.

I'll have to do it at some point in time. Otherwise I'm gonna live the rest of my life with these feelings on my mind without them ever being spoken about.

Another sigh---Jotaro had already talked about this exact topic with his mom, and she assured him that he would be completely fine. He had her full support, along with Joseph's after Holly had so happily announced that her son loved Kakyoin. Jotaro was super pissed then, but he felt better now that he had at least four people's support. Four, now that the circle also included Polnareff and Suzie Q knowing about Jotaro's situation.

Holly, ecstatic that her son has eyes for someone; Joseph, suprised that he actually had feelings at all; Suzie Q, excited but sad that she wouldn't get any great-grandchildren; Polnareff, who was ready to do absolutely anything to get Kakyoin with Jotaro, happy to play the role of the matchmaker anytime. The Frenchman was 100% with him and had told Jotaro he felt the same, not-so-straight feelings for Avdol when he was still alive. That didn't suprise Jotaro much, as he somewhat suspected the way Polnareff acted around Avdol sometimes.

Jotaro was at the door when he turned around to face his teacher, attempting a friendly wave, only for it to be an unreturned gesture. He just muttered an annoyed yare yare and proceeded to walk out the building and to his car. Screw his teacher; he'd become a marine biologist and be happiest fucking man in the world, even if his teacher was a dick.

About fifteen minutes later he arrived the café Kakyoin had suggested meeting at. The Human Bean, it was oddly named, honestly freaking out Jotaro a bit with the creepy choice of words. He parked his solid black truck next to Kakyoin's car. It was dark green in color, after Kakyoin had decided out loud that red might've been too red for even him and his cherry-loving self.

A small chuckle escaped Jotaro's lips as he pushed open the door the unfamiliar place. Although the inside was small, it radiated coziness and quietness. Spread out across the room were spruce-colored tables and chairs, and sitting at one of them was Kakyoin. His distinctive red and pink locks of silky hair, shiny lavender eyes, smallish cherry earrings, his perfectly carved face. His slim (compared to Jotaro) yet masculine figure dressed in that same pine green gaku-ran he wore those whole entire 50 days. His perfectly curved hips and thighs, those soft and gentle hands that fit like the exact right puzzle piece in Jotaro's own rough hands.

Holy shit . . . I'm gonna end up giving myself a nosebleed if my mind keeps continuing on like that.

Jotaro shook those thoughts from his head and saw Kakyoin giving him a wave from his table. He nodded as he sat down directly across from the red-headed teenager. On Kakyoin's side of the table sat a spiral sketchbook that was white with a design that consisted of small cherries on it's cover. Jotaro had seen Kakyoin sketching just before walking into the café, but it looked as if Kakyoin was trying to be secretive of what he was drawing, judging by how quickly he had put down his pencil and sketchbook. Jotaro decided not to question him, even though he was honestly a bit curious.

"Hello, Jotaro. How's your first day of university so far?"

"I've only been to two classes so far, but it's going pretty good, besides the fact that my teacher in my second class kinda hates me."

"Why does he already hate you?"

"He doesn't like Japanese people."

"Seriously? That's pretty stupid."

"It's fine with me. I'm not gonna let some dumbass teacher get in the way of me becoming a marine biologist."

"That's the spirit."

"Anyways, how was your first day?"

"Normal, I guess. Everybody seems to ignore me, which I'm pretty used to by now."

"Ah." Jotaro knew plenty about Kakyoin's depressing-sounding childhood. He'd told him the details and the story of his pain simply caused by the act of being lonely, never being brought to attention by anyone but his parents. Along with them and Heirophant Green, they were the only ones Kakyoin had learned to connect to. Nobody could see Heirophant Green, and he had claimed so many times that it was in fact a real thing, but he didn't know was only visible to him until after being called 'crazy' so many times. Even his teacher had been concerned for his well-being, and was worried, as well as Kakyoin's parents, if everything was alright upstairs in his head.

Jotaro had grown up in a similar kind of way, but he was always purposely ignored because nobody dared to mess with him or even do so much as look at him funny. That, Jotaro did sometimes seriously kick people's asses for.

"Hey, um . . . Have you heard anything strange lately? About the weather?"

Kakyoin tilted his head at this, an understanding glint in his eyes. He must've been about to ask the same thing. "Actually, now that you mention it, I did hear some of the other students in my classes talk about something like that. It reminds me of New York, when we first started hearing those rumors of world-ending weather."

Jotaro remembered as well. It was at a café, much like the one they were in now. It had gotten so cold outside that people were literally squeezing themselves into the café just for the warmth. Jotaro, Kakyoin, Polanreff, Holly, Joseph and Suzie Q had just been inside the café, and were now shivering as they tried to enjoy their hot chocolates as much as they could before they got cold.

They didn't have anywhere else to go, and all the other places around them were packed full of freezing people. Their hotel was too far to walk on foot, and the busy traffic wasn't moving an inch. They just sat on the bench next to that little café, listening to the growing volume of conversations inside. Some of it was miscellaneous, random talk, but most of it was all about the same topic of extreme weather.

Extreme weather, like tsunamis and tornados. Blizzards capable of making entire cities freeze over. Hurricanes that could flood the entire states of Florida and Texas and follow up with large storms of debris.

While sipping their hot chocolates, Kakyoin, Jotaro and Polnareff had started their own small conversation concerning the weather as well. None of them had thought much of it then, and things weren't much different now. Every time one of them had turned on a TV at Joseph/Suzie's house, it would immediately start going off with weather warnings and agonizing, annoying beeping noises. That still happened, even now.

Jotaro had almost managed to not bring up that short-lived memory in his mind, but he couldn't help himself not think about it. The six of them had still been sitting on that bench outside the café, Kakyoin sitting right next to Jotaro. His breath, now visble due to it's water vapor and the coldness outside, had been blowing up into Jotaro's face. He could feel how cold the redhead next to him was, how often he shivered, how his fingers looked like they could snap in half on his styrofoam cup at any moment. Jotaro had taken his right arm out from his heavy coat and wrapped it around Kakyoin in an attempt to comfort him with heat. That was when Polnareff, who was sitting right next to Jotaro at the end of the bench, had elbowed his side suggestively with a wide grin.

"Covering Kakyoin up with your coat, huh? Why don't you just shove your tongue in his mouth for extra warmth?"

Jotaro then glared icily at the Frenchman, sending a glare of knives his way.

"Just a suggestion."

And then everyone had wondered why Polnareff's nose was bleeding so badly.

"Yeah. That was pretty much the only thing that everyone talked about during classes. I think I heard one of my teachers say they were canceling classes for a few weeks—maybe even months. Everyone is making it sound like a big deal, but I haven't heard anything that sounded convincing enough to believe yet."

Kakyoin shrugged. "Dunno. Who knows—maybe it is all real, what we've been hearing for the last month. Anything is possible, I guess."

About an hour passed by, and the two of them had to go back for their last classes of the day. They each bought an extra coffee, something to snack on, and then parted ways with a "see you tomorrow."

Little did they know, everything was about to change.

To be continued . . . ---->

- • -

And the first chapter is done! Hope it was long enough. I'm gonna try to write more 3000+ words per chapter, but forgive me if I don't; I don't always have a lot of things to write about. I can't garuntee that all the chapters will be this lengthy. I'll try uploading a chapter about once a week.

Anyways, I did very little research on the whole entire how-college-classes-work thing, so just pretend it's how it works and that it's completely fine.

P.S., The Human Bean is an actual coffee place I've been to in Odessa, TX, and it's really frickin good and they have the best chocolate-covered espresso beans there. Seriously, they are worth trying, and I couldn't stop eating them until the bag was completely empty.

P.S.S, I have been to New York for Christmas one time, and let me tell ya: It's worth it, they have amazing food and things to do and see there, but it's so crowded there that you will never complain about anything being crowded again.

See ya in the next chapter. ;)