oathshackledbird | SoulGemmed Mailbox

[Kakyoin scowled again, hand moving to his glasses.]

...yes, I can. No matter what it takes.

[He'd managed to save Caesar at the last minute. And even if it had twisted reality itself, the fact remained that his wish had surely been granted. Jotaro Kujo and Jean-Pierre Polnareff were alive somewhere, and that meant something.]

So you don't have to look at me like you're sympathetic. And I do't need you to patronize me because of my age or experience. My family can take care of our problems, on our own without anyone's help.

[Diarmuid sighs. One saved, another lost. In the end, the world always comes back to a certain balance. That is why, the more Diarmuid thinks about the wishes they have been given, the more he worries. Sure, one world may have been spared one event, but what about another world? It has to be balanced somewhere. One world saved. One lost.

Is it right if all they care about is their own worlds? Diarmuid isn't sure himself, but it is something he will figure out later. There is still another issue that needs addressing.

He turns to look back over his shoulder.]

Just because you think you hear something in someone's words, doesn't mean that is the intent. My sympathy, though, I will give as I wish. If you really don't want it, you are free to ignore it.

[No one is going to tell him how to feel or when to feel again.]

It is a lonely road that you have chosen to walk, since your family isn't here. It would be smart for you to form a new family if you don't wish to be alone for the rest of your life. If you do, well, that is your choice.

No one ever said my family wasn't here. There's no need for you to spare concern for that.

[But they weren't, were they? Lisa Lisa had gone back to California. Fujiko and Noriyuki Kakyoin were both back in Tokyo, with both of Fujiko's parents. Hopefully all of them would stay right where they were instead of getting involved with that goddamned cat.]

[...Caesar may have been 'Caesar Anthonio Zeppeli', but he wasn't 'Noriaki Kakyoin's grandfather'. The lack of a birthmark on his shoulder left Kakyoin with some strange disconnect, attached to a person fifty years too young that was and wasn't blood relation. Later, he'd acknowledge that DIarmuid was right about one thing...it was lonely.]

[But that didn't matter. The Zeppeli family would handle their own problems from now on. No more outsiders, no more innocent bystanders tagging along and dying for them. Never again.]

[Kakyoin shook his head and turned on his heel, hand moving to his pocket in almost an afterthought to take out a small object. He'd brought this just in case, but...it felt pretty stupid now that he thought about it.]

...I don't know if your magic works like his power did. This is more than likely to be useless if it does, but take it anyway. [He looked over his shoulder and tossed whatever was in his hand over to Diarmuid--a small stopwatch.]

If it functions at all, it's easier than measuring frozen time in the steps you're taking.

[Kakyoin's answer causes Diarmuid to raise an eyebrow. Granted, there is a small chance that some of his family has arrived, so Diarmuid won't flat out call the young man a liar. However, it's just as likely he is just saying that in an effort to keep all the burden on his shoulders. Diarmuid doesn't like the idea of letting him continue like this, but in the end, this is just another choice that Kakyoin has to make on his own.

He is about to speak when Kakyoin pulls a small item out of his pocket and tosses it to him. Once he catches it and realizes what he is holding, Diarmuid can't help but look at it in surprise. After all their arguing and how much he fears this power, why would Kakyoin give him something that will possibly strengthen that ability, or if not strengthen it, at least allow him to know it better?

Why?

In the end, Diarmuid can't find an answer to that question, so he lets it go.]

Thank you. I am really not sure how it works. Maybe now I can start trying to figure it out. If I learn anything or the power changes, I will make sure you know.

[It's the least he can do to help put Kakyoin at ease.]

[Kakyoin didn't really have an answer for that question either, so it was better that it was left unasked. But...no matter how little he trusted anyone with that ability, Diarmuid wasn't Dio. Even if he was lying about wanting to help...the redhead had the nagging feeling he'd know if that was the case. People like Diarmuid were too honest, wore their hearts on their sleeve and were terrible liars.]

[Kind of like Kakyoin himself. And he could understand having a responsibility one didn't ask for.]

You'll know where to find me if you need to. I won't kick you out, and I don't want to fight you.

[They both stood to benefit from this; if his magic let a held stopwatch work in frozen time somehow, then Diarmuid could keep track of how many seconds he had left. And provided he was an honest person, he'd be able to reliably tell Kakyoin if that time grew longer or not.]

[Diarmuid turns the watch over in his hand as he listens to Kakyoin speaking. Will he really be able to use the watch during stopped time? Everything with him seemed to be able to move before, but he never really checked that closely because most of the time when he used the power, it was just so he could have the side effect of it. He didn't care about the power itself.

Now he does. It's time to find out what makes it tick.

He nods and slides the watch into his pocket, gaze returning to Kakyoin.]

I don't want to fight you either. As out of place as it may sound coming from a knight, I prefer to avoid fighting when I can. Too much is lost during battle and most of it can't ever be gotten back.

[A small smile crosses his face.]

I'll be in touch.

[Kakyoin looked over his shoulder again; he didn't smile, instead looking impassive and cold. Or...maybe he was just tired.]

[Too much is lost, and most of it can't ever be gotten back.]

...I know.

[Kakyoin turned back, outfit changing in a quick burst of emerald light--on the back of his shoulder the scarlet birthmark was finally visible, a circle with four smaller triangles surrounding it. That was the source of his entire problem, the legacy that was very literally resting on his shoulders. If it wasn't for that, he wouldn't be here. He'd be back in Tokyo, probably still in school and living like a normal teenager. His friends would still be alive, and the deep fear of being helpless outside of stopped time would be nonexistent.]

[But 'if it wasn't for that' was useless. Useless, useless, useless. It was what it was and the heir to the Zeppeli legacy had already lost everything and everyone. So...if he could just prevent anyone else from losing the same, then it would be fine. He could make this stupid, broken wish actually worth something, couldn't he?]

[Hesitating like he wanted to say something more, Kakyoin quickly thought better of it and took off in quick and practiced motions with a few small white feathers shed from the clip in his hair.]

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