[DECEMBER 31ST, 1989]

[ALMOST 12:00 A.M.]

[HALF A MONTH UNTIL END OF THE WORLD]

- • -

Today . . .

Today was the day . . .

That Kakyoin would confess his love for Jotaro.

He wasn't in the slightest bit excited about it. He almost wanted to put it off for later so he wouldn't have to deal with whatever came from confessing his love sooner. But he would force himself to, no matter what. It was the perfect time to, as it was almost the beginning of a new decade.

They had been sitting here for hours, the seven of them. Suzie Q had insisted that they wait for the ball to drop, and with the help of Joseph convincing Jotaro and Polnareff, she was successful in persuading them to stay. Holly and Kakyoin didn't mind the wait, but Polnareff and Jotaro on the other hand weren't too sure, or happy, about waiting hours just for a large, shiny disco-like ball to mark the beginning of a new decade.

They had one of the closest spots to view the ball. Hundreds, if not, thousands of other people had already came to watch as well. It was only a few more minutes until it was officially 1990. The seven of them huddled close together, Kakyoin getting squished between Polnareff and Jotaro. He dug inside a pocket of his heavy coat and slowly pulled out a small, black, rectangular box. The contents of the box was a customized golden chain necklace that Kakyoin had made himself. He was already wearing the other necklace that went together with this one. All he had to do now was give the remaining necklace to Jotaro.

"So, Jotaro," Kakyoin yelled over the crowd, gaining Jotaro's attention within a second. "Um . . . This year really has been bizarre, wouldn't you agree?"Jotaro nodded, lidded ocean eyes briefly scanning the crowd around them. ". . . Yeah. It would be wrong not to think or say anything different." Kakyoin waited for him to say something else, but being as it was Jotaro he was talking to, that likely wouldn't happen until he felt like speaking was necessary.

". . . Thanks for looking after me."

Jotaro cringed, glancing at Kakyoin absurdly. "W-What?"

Kakyoin blinked a few times. "Thanks for looking after me," he repeated. "y'know, in the hospital and during my physical therapy sessions. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't been there to help me out so much. You're the most reliable person I've ever known in my whole life, and . . . I'm glad you're my friend."

Jotaro stared at him, unresponsive, but the corners of his lips turned upwards into a small smile. "I can say the same for you, Noriaki. But, I have to ask . . . What the hell do you mean by "friend?""

Kakyoin forgot to breathe, his words getting caught in his throat. He suddenly felt like he was drowning, a feeling he knew too well yet never grew to be fond of it. Does . . . Does he seriously think we're not friends? Was he just tricking me the whole time, making me think that he actually cared about me? N-No, not even Jotaro can be that cold-hearted . . . I can't be alone again!

Jotaro chuckled playfully. "What's that look on your face for? I'm just saying, didn't we agree on being best friends or whatever?"

Kakyoin finally breathed out, a choking noise emitting from his throat. "Jesus Christ, JoJo! Don't scare me like that! I literally thought you were about to break off our friendship for good!"

Jotaro looked away. "I . . . I'm Sorry, Noriaki. I forgot how sensitive you were about . . . About that." He sounded genuinely disappointed in himself, causing Kakyoin to feel bad. "No, no, it's fine. All I meant to say is I'm really glad we're friends." Kakyoin finished hurriedly, assuring Jotaro and reaching up to pat his shoulder.

"And as I said before . . . I can say the exact same thing."

Neither of them noticed that the ball was already beginning it's way down, the vast crowd around them shrieking with aggressive excitement. There was still enough time left for Kakyoin to give the necklace to Jotaro.

Kakyoin glanced at the box that was still in his gloved hand. He lifted the lid up gently, revealing a necklace similar to the one around his neck. He was about to call out to Jotaro, tell him how he felt for him, how much he had grown to love him over the year.

He felt his heart beating wildly in his chest, his heartbeat pounding in his ears, drowning out the cheers and yells of everyone around him entirely. He saw his breath in the air, now turned a foggy white due to condensation and water vapor, coming out rapidly from his panting. The cold atmosphere of a December in New York didn't even seem to affect him anymore, as he felt nothing but himself panicking.

You can do this, Noriaki.

He used his shaky fingers to grab the necklace in the box by it's chain. He looked up at Jotaro, who was currently being pulled down into a cheek kiss by his mother, who was right next to him on his right. His cheeks turned even more red, despite the chilly air. She wrapped her arms around his muscular form, jumping up as she did so, and he held her in place as he, too, hugged her back closely, burying his head in the curve of her neck. Joseph, who was to the right of Holly, grinned mischievously as he snapped a picture of his daughter and grandson with his Polaroid camera. Polnareff did the same with his own camera, saying something enthusiastically in French as he did so.

Kakyoin couldn't help but smile at the rare sight. He was about to get Jotaro's attention once again and get this whole thing over with. But . . .

He hesitated.

He suddenly didn't want to do anything but stand here, lucky to be alive and well, and watch the ball drop.

He wouldn't tell Jotaro anything, at least not anytime soon. He would be fine with being his best friend for the time being. He didn't need to confess anything yet, unless he felt it was completely necessary. He didn't want to ruin the amazing friendship they've managed to build just because of Kakyoin's stupid feelings. He didn't want to be judged by the one person he trusted more than anyone else, like his parents had done to him.

Kakyoin gripped the golden chain necklace in his hand, running his thumb over the lavender-colored tag next to the cherry charm. He silently placed it back in it's box, shoving the box in his pocket right after.

They watched as the ball was at it's final seconds, everyone in the crowd chanting along in unison.

10!

9!

8!

7!

6!

5!

4!

3!

2!

1!

And then a bunch of mixed screaming, too difficult to decipher anything that anyone was saying.

Polnareff, on Kakyoin's left, reached his arms around the redhead and swung him around in joy, both starting to laugh in happiness. Polnareff set Kakyoin down, ruffling his hand around in his red hair. "Happy New Year, Kakyoin!" They grinned at eachother, performing their special handshake they had done in the submarine on their way to Egypt. "Happy New Year, Polnareff!"

Kakyoin turned to Jotaro, who had just gotten done hugging Holly again and telling her Happy New Year as well. The ink-haired man faced Kakyoin, looking down at him with those bright oceanic eyes. He tugged the glove off his right hand, reaching it outstretched toward Kakyoin. "Happy New Year, Noriaki," he said with his normal, gruff, monotone voice, a smile threatening to take over his face. Kakyoin pulled his glove off his own right hand, taking Jotaro's hand in his grasp and giving him a solid handshake.

He realized that it might be one of the last times he would ever have physical contact with Jotaro, if he didn't hate Kakyoin by the time he came out to him. Kakyoin pushed all of his negative thoughts away, still lucky to have gotten to know an extraordinary person like Jotaro Kujo.

"Happy New Year, Jotaro."

- • -

[JANUARY 12TH, 1990]

[AFTERNOON - AROUND 1 P.M.]

[4 DAYS UNTIL END OF THE WORLD]

- • -

Today . . .

Today was the day . . .

That Kakyoin had to confess his love for Jotaro.

He didn't know what to think about it, but he found himself being more excited than anything else. Maybe it was because he'd finally be able to get these heavy feelings that had been weighing him down for nearly an entire year off his chest. Maybe it was because they only had four full days of life left, and the sudden rush of revealing such personal, mentally-shaking news to his crush would ease his own mind of any sense of uneasiness that he had left.

Or maybe it was because there was that tiny sliver of hope that Jotaro returned his feelings. Whether that be the case or not, Kakyoin would have nothing else to worry about until his last few days came to an end. He would fully allow himself to be at complete ease for the first time in a year, or, as Jotaro oddly worded it, "satisfied with his life." He would have no more regrets, no more feelings of failure that could drive him into darkness, nothing that would put him in a bad mood. He'd be satisfied with how his life had played out to be, even if in the end it had been cut too short too soon.

It was shortly after the two woke up that they got dressed into their normal gakurans, had a nicely made breakfast blessed to them by the marine biologist, and drove over to Kakyoin's apartment. The drive over involved a few car crashes that looked to be suicidal, placing the two in a sort of gloomy mood. Albeit the two young Japanese men already witnessing plenty of death and stress already in their lives, it still hurt a bit everytime when they saw someone completely innocent die just like that. That was why they had acted so unphased when they saw that car from two days ago crash into a house; death didn't phase them much, but it did put a certain dark setting on whatever happened next. Once you get a good grip on the topic of death and witnessing it many times, it changes you, for good or for worse.

Jotaro at the wheel, as it was his car, arrived in the parking lot at Kakyoin's apartment. Kakyoin was already feeling that rush of joy course throughout his body once again, and he managed a smile as he walked up to his door and unlocked it, welcoming Jotaro in first with the wave of his hand.

They sat down at the couch in the living room, Kakyoin already handing Jotaro a controller that fit rather tinily in his large hands. Jotaro stared at it suspiciously. Kakyoin grinned as he placed a game cartridge in his SNES, and a few moments later, the opening screen for Super Mario Bros. 2 flashed upon the TV, theme music blaring loudly.

"Kakyoin . . . What the fuck is this?" Jotaro asked, eyes darting across the screen. "It's exactly what the title says it is!" Kakyoin yelled in a song-song with the beats of the music, seeming to irritate Jotaro further more.

"Yare yare daze . . . I can't believe I agreed to play games with you."

"It's one of my favorite things to do in my free time, and I can see that smile you're trying so hard to contain, Jotaro!"

Kakyoin noticed that whenever Jotaro smiled, even just the slightest bit, his lips would instead form a scowl to make it appear as if he were disgusted or annoyed. That explained why he had looked so disgusted when he had seen the real Kakyoin for the first time do his special cherry licking. Upon hearing this, Jotaro quickly covered his face with his hat, his normal stoic features suddenly shifting back to normal. Kakyoin was lucky that it was so unexpectedly easy for him to make the dark-haired man experience emotions that no one else could make him feel.

If only Kakyoin knew how right he truly was about that.

"Hey, JoJo, excuse me for a moment. Before we begin playing I'm going to use the restroom. Please do not decide to murder my games to prevent us from playing them while I'm gone."

Then Jotaro was left alone, legs up on the coffee table in front of him, trying to relax and sort his own thoughts that were so similar to Kakyoin's. He, too, wanted to spill out his feelings for the cherry-loving man, but was trying to find the exact right way to do so and the right moment to. He sighed, removing his hat and itching his spiky hair, arms falling limp to his sides. His right arm, though, went over the arm of the sofa, and his fingers lightly brushed over something with a smooth velvety texture. He craned his next to peer at it; on top of the table next to him (why does Kakyoin have so many tables?) was a small black box. It was a little bit larger than that of an engagement ring box, but it definitely seemed as if it were made to store jewelry in it.

Although Jotaro didn't want to be nosy behind his best friend's—crush's back, he decided after all to lift the box into his hands and take a peek at what was inside.

Jotaro didn't know what to expect.

Attached to a thin, long golden chain, was a small, lavender, metal tag with letters just big enough to decipher:

Noriaki Kakyoin, written with proper Japanese characters.

Next to the tag was a red-and-green double-cherry charm, jingling freely next to the lavender tag.

Jotaro continued to stare at even as he heard Kakyoin approaching. He sensed him stopping in his footsteps, most likely staring at Jotaro.

"Jotaro . . . I . . . I . . . I can‐--no, need explain what that is."

"What's to explain about it? It's just a necklace, is it not?"

"Of course it is necklace, silly . . ." Kakyoin smiled, eyes shining with what appeared to be glistening tears. His voice had fallen soft. His hands lightly trembled as he brushed the transparent beads on his eyelids. His face looked . . . Relieved?

Kakyoin breathed in deeply, silently.

"Jotaro Kujo, I am in love with you."

Jotaro didn't respond, his solid stone face that was so difficult to break nearly shattering under Kakyoin's words and gaze.

"Have been for a while, actually," Kakyoin continued with a nervous laugh. "ever since Egypt. That hospital changed everything for me. Of course, we had already grown so close over our trip, but the hospital was what topped it off for me. The support and emotion you showed me, how willing you were to help me get back into standing shape, how you visited for what seemed like every single day, how you were always there when I needed you the most. Nobody has ever cared about me like you have. Nobody has ever shown me so much love or care. It felt as if my matters and feelings were more important to you than your own. You took care of me, visited me when nobody else had the time too . . . You laughed with me—hell, you even cried with me one time, too. It was impossible not to fall for someone like you. Even if you basically reek of toughness and a certain audacity and brashness nobody can ever seem to break down or get past . . . I've grown to be so fond of you. I've grown to even like that cold side of you.

"Who looks like your average asshole of a delinquent is really in reality the man that has opened his heart up to me more than any other person ever has."

Kakyoin bit his lip, a sign of nervousness he rarely showed. His voice had fallen slightly shaky.

"A man that has poured out his heart and emotions to me of all people is the one that has stolen my heart, for good or for worse.

"The necklaces . . . That one was meant to be given to you back in New York, but . . . I hesitated. I kept myself from giving it to you since then . . . I was already wearing yours around my neck."

Kakyoin reached up with both hands and felt around the base of his neck, lifting up a golden chain necklace identical to the one Jotaro had just discovered.

Jotaro couldn't think quite clearly at the moment. His thoughts---he didn't even know what he was thinking. The only thing he felt was that feeling you got when somebody liked you back just as much as you liked them.

What was that feeling called again?

Ah, right. Love, I believe it was.

Jotaro noticed a thin line of tears going down either of Kakyoin's scarred eyes. He still kept his smile. He tilted his head down to stare at his feet.

"I understand perfectly . . . That you probably wouldn't ever like someone like me. As a lover, I mean. We were fine as friends, too, but . . . I just really needed to get these feelings out to you before it was too late. You may even hate me now---"

"I don't hate you."

Kakyoin looked back up. Jotaro was staring at him, his lips trembled as though he couldn't stop himself from not talking any longer. There was so, so much emotion in his voice. He almost sounded as nervous as Kakyoin a few moments ago.

"I don't hate you, Noriaki. In fact, it's very much the opposite. I was afraid to admit this, but . . . Noriaki Kakyoin, I am in love with you."

Jotaro stood up, took the necklace from the black box by its chain, removed his hat, made an O shape with the chain using his hands to stretch it out, and placed it over his head, letting it fall freely around his neck. He started to walk towards Kakyoin, stopping a few inches from him.

Jotaro reached out slowly with his hands, gripping them gently around Kakyoin's, indeed fitting together like perfect puzzle pieces. The softness of Kakyoin's palms, his elegant, long fingers, his touch soft as silk. Their hands were so different that they in fact contrasted so perfectly.

"Please, Noriaki . . . Stay with me . . . Stay with me until our days are up, and even then after we're both gone to a different world. All I ask is for you to stay with me for the rest of eternity . . . And it can only be you . . . Because never have I felt so much passion for someone that deserves so much better than me."

Jotaro's eyes were watery at this point, and his eyelids couldn't hold the tears he was trying to blink away. They spilled down his face like two mini waterfalls. They reached all the way down to his chin, dripping off onto the floor shortly after.

Kakyoin blinked away his own tears, vision blurry. He held up his right hand to the taller man's cheek, Jotaro's hand shooting up shortly after to grip it once more. Jotaro's other hand wrapped around Kakyoin's waist, drawing him closer until their bodies were touching. They never broke eye contact, up until Jotaro fluttered his eyes shut as he moved his face in for a kiss-for both of their first kisses, in fact. Kakyoin closed his eyes, lips slightly parted, as he too leaned into the other man's lips-and the gap of air between them closed.

It was the moment they had both dreamt about, their fantasies finally turning into the reality they have imagined for months. They didn't know what to do, and they certainly hadn't planned on this exact event ever happening. They were both horrible at kissing, simply because they never had any experience and never done it before. Their hands trailed across the other's body, trying to get as comfortable as possible during that moment. One moment they would be kissing as well as they could, the next they would cry in the other's shoulder, eyes pouring out their genuine emotions they felt for one another through the language of tears.

But the fact that it was in no way perfect made it more perfect than anything to exist in the entire world.

To be continued . . . ——>
- • -

This. Was. So. Much. Fun. To. Write.

WHOLESOME JOTAKAK 4 EVERRRRRR