Jump 12: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure - Part 4: No One Ever Bites the Dust

(Music: https://youtu.be/YzNfYD-BK8w)

More things happened that are unrelated to me, but are of some note. Joseph and Josuke found a baby with a Stand that turns her invisible. It was quite the father-son bonding experience I hear. Koichi and Hazamada met another Stand user, the mangaka Rohan Kishibe. His Stand Heaven’s Door seems quite powerful. While a bit antagonistic at first, he wasn’t all that bad and hasn’t endangered anyone else since. Josuke and Jotaro went hunting for a pair of rats with Stands. Rohan and Koichi met a ghost and found out about a murderer that’s been living in Morioh unnoticed for years. Josuke and Okuyasu met a middle school Stand user named Shigechi, Koichi and Yukako started dating and the murderer that Reimi (the ghost) told Rohan and Koichi about killed Shigechi. The only piece of evidence left behind was a button from his jacket.

For my part during this time I had to deal with the four from before on numerous occasions. Django went out of his way to find me away from the hotel by himself more times than I wanted to count. I did get a good laugh at his reaction when I asked about his brothers though. Dingo was right about that. Sigmein challenged me a number of times, setting different stipulations that I can only assume were to gauge my limits and help her plan for a more serious confrontation. Besides learning what she can do, I got an unintentional (or maybe she planned it that way) tour of the best places to get food in Morioh out of it. Deamond… I just didn’t bother with him. Before he could get going I would already be gone. Although it was very annoying when he started threatening to smash all the windows in the shopping district. I almost sent him on fire once because of it. That got him to stop for a while.

As for the girl…to be honest I was and still am intimidated by her. Whatever power her Stand holds… I’m not sure I would be able to overcome it. So whenever our paths crossed, I made sure to get away before we could interact with each other… most of the time. There was one time Sigmein unintentionally lead me to her as she was treating me to a meal.

“This place has the best pasta in Morioh besides what Tonio can make and their breadsticks are like lightly salted Heaven. Today’s fight was pretty fun, so I figure you deserve some good food.”

“Is there room for one more at this table?”

Sigmein and I both jumped out of our seats at the sound of her voice.

“You…”

“Boss, how’d you find us? I never tell you where I go out to eat.”

“When you left this morning I heard you mumbling something about being in the mood for Italian. I know you enough to know that you really only come here when you’re craving Italian food.”

“I didn’t think anyone could pull one over on you Sigmein. So, why are you here? I hope you don’t intend to fight here.”

“You can relax, I’m not one to be impatient with my meals. Besides, I want to relish in Django’s feelings of inadequacy, Sigmein’s jealousy and Deamond’s psychopathic rage over how easily I can deal with you.”

“You act like I’m not even here.”

“Oh, my apologies Sigmein. I should have asked you to leave earlier. I wish to speak with him in relative privacy. Go busy yourself in the bathroom of something. I think you’ll know when I’m done here.”

“Right, right. Sorry King, my hands are tied here.”

Sigmein breathed a sigh of defeat and left the two of us alone at the table. The other diners surrounding us all mysteriously left too, further ensuring our privacy.

“I must say, you are very hard to find when you want to be.”

“You know where I’m staying, you could find me easily if you wanted.”

“True. But we both know that would be too easy, don’t we? Just like if I used Mine Song to end this farce now. It would ruin the fun I’m having watching you and the others run around like chickens in this coop called Morioh.”

“So I’ll ask you again. Why are you here?”

“To talk business of course. There are some interesting people besides you in Morioh currently. Stand users, most of which you know of. Now now, don’t make that face at me. I don’t personally intend to do anything to the ones you find yourself allied with. I haven’t even told the others about them. It’s better for that type of knowledge to come to them naturally. But I do know that you all are on the hunt for a certain murderer. Don’t look so shocked, I have many more people under my thumb than the three you’ve met.”

“So then why would you need me? Can’t they find the killer for you? And what do you even want with him?”

“As you know, this individual is highly dangerous on top of hidden in plain sight. You’ve already met the only three combat focused people at my disposal. I think you can work out why I wouldn’t want to risk losing them. As for why I want the murderer… that’s something I’ll have to keep a secret. Maybe if you do a good job I’ll tell you as a reward.”

“I don’t have any reason to comply with your demands.”

“They’re not demands, more like requests really. And if you leave the killer with me for a while, you’ll have no trouble apprehending him and turning him over to the authorities. I merely have an interest in how they’ll taste, thinking he’s escaped before I rip the thought out of their head.”

“…”

“I’ll have Sigmein keep a close eye on you. Should you agree, she can lead you to me when you subdue the culprit. Merely call out to her, and she’ll make her presence known if she hasn’t already.”

“…”

“I hope the next time we meet will be on similar terms for your sake. So long.”

With that said, she got up and left the restaurant. Moments later Sigmein returned with a worried look on her face.

“Hey, you’re still you right? She didn’t use that cheat ability of hers on you did she?”

“I’m as me as I was before you left. All we did was talk.”

“That’s a relief. I’ve got the feeling fighting you won’t be as fun when she’ got you working for her too.”

“Who’s to say that I’ll lose this fight the four of us are having? I’ve still got plenty of tricks up my sleeves.”

“I think I’ll miss the overconfidence the most…”

Our conversation stayed on that topic as our food arrived and before we parted ways. I pondered over the girl’s offer, and also the fact that I still hadn’t gotten her name. I came to a decision when an opportunity to alter the course of time here further presented itself.

(Music: https://youtu.be/8QPEVQp1MZw)

Jotaro and Koichi planned to survey tailor’s that would could be repairing a jacket with the button Harvest left Josuke and the others. I offered to join them and we were eventually in front of a shop that could be repairing the murderer’s jacket. I silently took both Jotaro and Koichi’s fortune and found their futures to hold success at a price looming for the both of them. I decided to watch things play out from a distance and see what this ‘price’ would be, instead of having a demon take the killer’s scent and lead me to them.

(Music: https://youtu.be/HmCG_On7zcs)

I excused myself from the two of them and hid myself. Watching from afar I was made very aware of the price Koichi and Jotaro were going to pay when the killer’s Stand attacked the owner of the store and… blew him up. I watched the killer retrieve his jacket and leave the scene, his Stand staying to deal with Jotaro and Koichi. Following him for a bit, I summoned one of the more dog-like demons to get a hold of his scent. Positive that I could find him at my leisure, I returned to find that Jotaro had been badly injured, but Koichi had figured out the weakness of the Stand. I thought all would be well seeing that Koichi had called Josuke to get him to heal Jotaro, but the Koichi’s stall tactic could only last so long.

(Music https://youtu.be/LW0n7JT_eKU?t=1m8s)

Again, I wanted to intervene, but Koichi is ever full of surprises. His Stand, Echoes, evolved once more and stoped the advance of the enemy Stand with its new ability. So I remained hidden, as the killer came back to retrieve his Stand, Sheer Heart Attack (I learned the name afterwards), and see who it was that beat it. I suddenly had an idea that would only work if Koichi could manage to beat the killer. Unfortunately, his ability was limited, so he was nearly killed. But he did manage to learn the name of the killer, Yoshikage Kira. As he lay on the ground, beaten to a pulp, I spotted a rising Jotaro and my hopes were restored. His Star Platinum pummeled Kira for as long as he was able to maintain consciousness, heavily wounding him. Josuke and Okuyasu arrived in just enough time to save Koichi and Jotaro, easing the tension weighing at my heart for letting things progress that far.

Kira ended up giving away that he could see Stands when he saw Josuke heal Koichi and Jotaro and was completely cornered. His only option was to cut off his own hand and send Heart Attack at the group and run away while it distracted them. That’s when I followed him and made my move.

“Yoshikage Kira. It seems like you’re in quite the predicament.”

(Music: https://youtu.be/8QPEVQp1MZw)

“Who- who are you? Are you with them?”

“Not at all. In fact I’m a friend, here to help get you away from them and fix your hand. I’ve been looking for someone to help me get rid of those four for a while, and I think you’re the one I need. Wherever you plan to go, they’ll keep chasing you and they will find you.”

I hadn’t tried lying this much since I obtained the ability to do so, and I hoped it wouldn’t show. Glancing at the blood dripping from his arm, Kira decided to trust me somehow.

“Take me somewhere safe, away from them.”

“With pleasure.”

I picked up the battered and beaten man before leaving the area. I used some basic ice magic to freeze his wound and stop the bleeding before I found Sigmein on a rooftop.

“So you brought him after all. I didn’t think you would for a while there.”

“Who is she?”

“I’m a business associate you could say. We’ve got a deal coming up is all. No need to worry about it. Although, I did see a floating hand and some people chasing after it. Looked an awful lot like yours.”

“Seems like they really are going to keep chasing you. We better hurry before they catch up. Lead the way Sigmein.”

“Roger.”

I once again took hold of the injured killer and followed Sigmein as she worked her way across the rooftops and to and through the streets below.

“And here we are. Boss, he agreed! You owe me three meals!”

“Is she referring to your boss?”

“No not his, just hers.”

“Is this a joke? Why did you take me to this little girl? I thought we were going to escape.”

“Did I say that? I must have gotten the words mixed up in my head.”

“Killer Queen!”

As he summoned his main Stand, I grabbed Sigmein and moved the both of us back behind the girl. I didn’t feel like finding out first hand what he was truly capable of.

“Don’t worry, after this you care one way or another if you’re caught. Mine Song.”

Once again, I bore witness to the emergence of her shadowy Stand. It made its way over Kira, who for his part, tried to attack it with Killer Queen. But that only served to speed up the process. Mine Song coiled around Killer Queen and enveloped it completely. Kira screamed for the briefest of instances, cutting off so suddenly it felt unnatural. He lost his look of anger, it wasn’t replaced by despair, nor acceptance. There was nothing. It was as if he no longer was himself, just a shell with the same face.

“Oh this is lovely! I’ve never tasted such feelings before. The relief, the sorrow, the pain, the anguish! All of them, his feelings are emphatically mine! Now until the day he dies.”

“Um…boss? You’re going a bit crazy here.”

“Ah, yes you’re right. I was awash with so many new sensations that I lost myself in them. You’ve done well King. I guess you deserve something for your trouble, don’t you? Ask and I might deliver.”

“First tell me something, how is he going to stop being an issue?”

“Unlike most people I do intend to leave him like that. To kill is to steal a life, and everything in Morioh belongs to me. He’s stolen too much already, but I doubt he’ll find a reason for much anything besides eating, sleeping and the like.”

“Then I want you to leave Josuke and his group of friends alone. And their families as well.”

“Oh? Them, but not you? And what about the rest of the city? There’s still plenty of people besides them.”

“I can deal with you myself, and you don’t seem nearly as bad as Kira for this city. All you really want is to claim all that’s in the town as your own, correct? If the people won’t suffer from it I see no reason to completely stop you. You’d continue once I leave anyway.”

“So you opt to spare those you’ve grown familiar with, rather than trying to forcibly change my ways, or even ask what my Stand can do?”

She could do nothing but laugh at me for a couple of minutes.

“My you are such an interesting person. I can’t wait to relish in my victory over you one day. But for now, I’ll take my leave. Come, Sigmein. I want to know what this man has been hiding away at his house. Since he’s soon to be imprisoned for the rest of his pitiful existence, I deem his belongings to be mine.”

The two of them left moments before Kira’s hand finally caught up with us. He paid it no mind as he stood listlessly in place.

“I’ve got a feeling we’re finally done chasing this hand around. Wha- King? And Yoshikage Kira?”

“You guys sure took your time. I was beginning to wonder if I should help the murderer out of boredom.”

“What!? You were going to help this asshole?”

“He’s just joking Okuyasu… right King?”

“Of course. I figured I’d do my part and subdue him. The Speedwagon foundation should be able to put him into custody without much hassle now.”

“King, how did you do this?”

“That’s going to have to remain a secret.”

“Eh? Come on just tell us. We’re all on the same side right?”

“Maybe I’ll tell you if you can beat me in a fight. But I doubt any of you could take me when I’m serious. Not even all together.”

Okuyasu summoned The Hand and glared at me.

“You wanna go right now then? Everyone besides me got to do something after all.”

“Enough, Okuyasu. You can try fighting him later.”

“Josuke’s right. We need to take Yoshikage Kira away to the authorities.”

“If you don’t want to tell us I’ll leave it at that. We achieved our goal, and Morioh is safer because of it.”

True to her word, Kira put up no fight, and obeyed any orders we gave him like a sheep. It was a rather anticlimactic way to end the murders, but I still had things to deal with on my own.