" Hey, buddy. Let us buy this truck off ya. What do ya say? " Joseph asked the man in the truck.

I stood by Kakyoin on the ground, with Joseph looking through the window a truck. JoJo and Polnareff were away from us and waiting.

   " What the hell is wrong with you?! This baby's my bread and butter! No way, I'd- It's all yours."

Only with a stack of cash in his face, did he give up the truck. He got out of the truck holding the wad of cash and we jumped into the truck. I between Kakyoin and Joseph. Joseph had the wheel in his hands ready to drive.

   " Buckle up you two. "

Joseph pressed on the gas and we started making our way away from the mansion. The sun was gone from the sky and there was no light except for the street lights, but that was artificial. I looked out of the window behind my head, and at the top of the mansion, I spotted Dio standing at the top with a red cape behind him.

   " He's left the mansion and watching us. "

   " Tell us when he starts moving. " Kakyoin said.

My eyes focused on Dio standing at the top of the building. He wasn't smiling this time, instead, he was frowning. He jumped from the dome-shaped top and started bouncing from building to building after us.

   " He's coming our way. "

   " Alright, get prepared, you two. "

I took a breath and looked forward watching the road. We were going fast, and the gas was pressed to the floor. A hand was placed on my shoulder and I turned to look at Kakyoin.

   " I'm not going to tell you that everything is okay, but take a breath. I-Joseph and I will protect you. "

   " That's my job. As I told Polnareff, before death I'm the protector not the one who should be protected. "

   " But I'm choosing to protect you, so I plan too. "

   " Don't Kakyoin. Because if you do, I'll lose you too. "

   " I'll be by your side. I won't let you be alone with him again. "

Kakyoin grabbed my hand and held it up between us. He kissed my knuckle before staring deeply into my eyes through his sunglasses.

   " That I promise. "

   " You know I would say this is cute, and all but I'm going to let you have your moment. Y/n, I promise you, this time you'll stick around after this is over. Kars took you away from me once and I'm not going to let it happen again. " Joseph said focusing on the road.

   " Thank you both. I've got your backs. "

Kakyoin continued to hold my hand tight. I knew he wasn't planning to let go and I was fine with that. I didn't want him to let go of my hand. It made me feel safer. The fear I once had was gone, and I felt ready. I looked behind us, but I didn't see Dio.

   " I still sense Dio's sinister bloodlust. Its presence is overwhelming. He's coming after us, you bet your ass he's on our trail. "

   " Are you saying, Dio knows our precise location? " Kakyoin asked.

   " Not quite. He stole the body of my grandfather, Jonathan Joestar. I can sense his body, but I can't tell if he's nearby or far away. I have a general feeling. I don't know exactly where he is. "

   " I feel it too. My birthmark has the same reaction. "

   " Yeah, it was like when we got to Cairo, I knew he was here but I couldn't pin point his lair. "

   " The same thing goes for Dio then. He only knows if we're close or not. "

   " We're lucky because of that. He's unable to tell the difference between us, but Y/n when your birthmark activates you feel a burn right? "

   " Yes. "

   " He'll use that burn to his advantage. I bet on his body it flares here and there when you get close or far. "

   " Then it's a good thing I came with you. He won't realize we've separated. "

   " For now. "

We continued driving, but I felt my own birthmark flare a bit, but settle down. I looked out of the window and spotted a car speeding right behind us and there was blood on the hood.

   " I can tell you where he is. He's right behind us. "

Hierophant Green formed beside Kkayoin and flew out of the window towards the car. Joseph and I both screamed at Kakyoin, but he didn't seem fazed. I could see green water and emeralds form in Hierophant Green's hands and he shot them at Dio. I waited to hear from Kakyoin, who saw through Hierophant's eyes, what happened, but the look on his face didn't look good.

   " Incredible! He deflected my attack with the flick of a finger! He barely moved! "

Hierophant sent a concentrated splash his way, but it had the same result. He deflected the splash with a wave of his hand. His stand came out as quick as lighting and hit Hierophant. Hierophant flew towards the road signs and hit each one of them. He went back to Kakyoin and Kakyoin was breathing hard.

   " Be careful Kakyoin! You were way too close to it! " Joseph yelled.

   " Forgive me. I didn't mean. . ."

I looked at Kakyoin and saw blood spilling from the side of his head and his hands. 

   " Kakyoin, give me your hands! "

I held Kakyoin's hands in my glowing ones. They started to heal, and I moved on to the side of his head.

   " Did you look at his stand? " I asked.

   " I did. I saw it when I attacked Dio ten meters away. If I had gotten any closer, I would have been done for. But one thing is for sure, he holds a stand more horrific than we could ever imagine. But we know two things about it. First, his stand doesn't have the reach of my Hierophant Green or Joseph's Hermit Purple. "

   " So, it's close range, like Star Platinum. "

   " Right, it can attack within ten meters. Second, it attacked me with its fist. It doesn't use projectile weapons. So, if we can sneak up on him within ten meters we might be able to finish him off. "

   " We have to figure out his secret. We have to exercise extreme caution when approaching this bastard. "

I looked out of the window and noticed that the car was stopped in the middle of the road. It wasn't moving.

   " Guys the car's stopped! "

   " What!? "

   " Incoming! "

A man's body flew through the window and it pushed me into Kakyoin and Joseph's arm to turn the wheel drastically. The truck flew in the air, and when it landed it skidded on its side. Gold Spirit's sword tore the door facing the sky apart, and I held on to Kakyoin. 

   " Kakyoin, Joseph, use your stands to pull us out! Get us to the roof! "

Hierophant and Hermit Purple flew to the top of the building and we flew out of the truck before it crashed and burst on fire. Kakyoin held me with one arm while his other was free and holding on to Hierophant Green's line. I looked down before we reached the rooftop and saw Dio smirking up at us from the ground. We stood on the roof looking for a direction to go, but when we turned back to Kakyoin, he was looking down at Dio.

   " I understand now. "

   " What do you mean, Kakyoin? " I asked him.

Kakyoin threw his sunglasses off showing the scars and his eyes.

   " I know now how to uncover the secret of Dio's stand. "

   " What? "

   " I'll explain, on the way. Just follow me, Mr. Joestar. "

Kakyoin held my waist, and Hierophant formed in front of him. We ran to the edge of the roof with Joseph following behind. Kakyoin jumped off and Hierophant Green shot a green string at parts of the building. We started swinging with Joseph following behind with his Hermit Purple. Since Hierophant Green was a manifestation of Kakyoin, Kakyoin really just followed him, and he held me as we swung around the city. I held on to Kakyoin as we started swinging around at a rapid speed.

   " Y/n, I want you to know something. "

I looked up at Kakyoin's face and saw he was thinking deeply and picking his words carefully.

   " This journey has been amazing. I made some friends that understood me. Before this, I had no friends or family that I thought could understand me because they couldn't see Hierophant Green. But when I met you all, I finally got a family and friends that I could trust and rely on. "

   " Noriaki Kakyoin, why are you saying all of this to me now? "

   " Y/n, I love you. And no matter what happens I always will. I never had anyone like you in my life, and you mean the world to me. You're kind, loyal, and determined. You always cared for others before yourself, even if that meant death for you. "

   " Kakyoin? "

   " If anything happens to me, I just wanted you to know that, and remember that even when I'm gone, I will watch over you. I'm glad, in a way, that Dio put that squid in my head because I got to meet everyone and have them as friends and allies. And I got to meet you and know what love is. I love the friends I've made and I would risk my life for them, and I love you, Y/n, to the moon and back. No number could tell you the amount of things I would do for you, and I would do anything you asked me too, and I would travel the whole world to get to you."

   " Noariaki Kakyoin stop talking like that! "

Kakyoin kissed my forehead and whispered in my ear.

   " So, I'll protect you this time. "

Kakyoin pulled away and smiled at me. He embraced me once more before turning towards Joseph.

   " Mr. Joestar! Take Y/n! "

   " What!? "

Kakyoin let me go, and Joseph caught me with his free arm. Joseph held me to his chest and flew to a roof. Kakyoin flew around the area before landing on the tip of a cell tower. He was standing with both his feet on the very small platform.

   " What is he doing? "

   ' 'This journey has been amazing. But when I met you all, I finally got a family and friends that I could trust and rely on. Y/n, I love you. And no matter what happens I always will. I never had anyone like you in my life, and you meant the world to me. If anything happens to me, I just wanted you to know that, and remember that even when I'm gone, I will watch over you. I'll protect you this time.' He's going to sacrifice himself, and he's going to put his life at risk to keep us safe. '

   " Joseph, he's going to put his life at risk! "

   " What do you mean? "

   " Joseph before he let go of me he talked like all the others have before they died. He reflected on his life and admitted things that no one else knew, like his family life. How he met us and everything. I've heard it before, he's going to put himself at risk. "

   " Oh no! Kaky-"

I heard the emerald splash signal and I looked over and saw Dio was caught in the web. Joseph put a hand over his mouth and we stood there unable to get near Kakyoin.

   " We can't ger near him, or we'll set off his web. " I said.

   " He wants to make sure that we won't interfere. " Joseph said.

Dio stopped moving when he realized he was stuck. Joseph and I were a couple of feet away and we could barely hear what was being said between the two. The shining green lines went from building to building and they looked like they would break at the slightest contact from Dio. 

   " Now, die! Twenty-Meter Emerald Splash! "

Kakyoin set off one of the lines and they started setting off some of the others. All of the emeralds were flying towards Dio, with some of the lines still intact in case he moved.

   " You're a fool, Kakyoin! With my stand, I have the ability to rule the world! What can you do in the face of such overwhelming power!? Behold, The World!"

I watched the emeralds get closer to Dio, and they looked like they were about to hit him, but suddenly a cloud of dust formed around Dio, hiding him from sight. I heard something loud from Kakyoin's side and I looked back to where Kakyoin was supposed to be standing, to only find, that he wasn't there. I heard another sound like someone had hit something and when I looked further back I saw Kakyoin hit the water tower. 

   " What!? "

   " Kakyoin! "

He impacted the water tower so hard that his body stayed in the dent he made, and water spilled from the tower. His stomach had a hole through the middle and the blood mixed with the water. Kakyoin wasn't responding and I tried listening for his breathing, but I couldn't hear it. He wasn't moving at all and the hole in his stomach was too large to be healed. I saw something green fly by the corner of my eye and I looked at the ropes that he created. They were gently falling apart and their green sparks were flying in the air as they disappeared.

   " Kakyoin. . ."

You couldn't feel it, but tears streamed down your cheeks and hit the ground. Your heart felt like it was in so much pain, that it would have been considered a heart attack in your mind. You felt your breathing shift and you felt like you couldn't breathe at all. Hierophant Green's web was gentle as it fell as if it was lighter than air. The sparks flew through the sky before disappearing, forever. Your legs felt like jelly, and it hurt to even stand. You fell to the ground, in pain. You couldn't take your eyes off the water tower.

   " Shit! I've had enough of this! Hermit-"

You felt it too. Joseph turned around and Dio was floating in the air behind you two. You didn't have to turn around to know he was there. Your eyes wouldn't leave Kakyoin and your tears wouldn't stop.

   " You're next on the chopping block, Joseph. In order for Jonathan's body to finally become mine completely, I must drink the blood of a Joestar. And I think now is a good time as any to partake. And Y/n, my dear, don't shed tears over that simpleton. He was in the way, so I had to do what I must. He was a threat to me and the love between us. "

   " Dio! " Joseph yelled.

Joseph brought you up from the ground by your arms and his eyes looked into yours. He felt heartbroken by seeing Kakyoin die, but in your eyes, he could see the heartbreak. He felt bad for pulling you and not letting you grieve, but it was for the best. Joseph held you up as he glared at Dio.

   " You're gonna pay for what you've done. Just you wait! I'm taking that body back in the name of Granny Erina! "

You could barely listen to what the two were saying, your heartbeat was in your ears and you felt the adrenaline calm down in your veins as you looked at Kakyoin's body.

   " Erina? Ah, you mean that backwater shrew. Nonsense, I'm going to drink your blood then eliminate you vermin. And then I can take Y/n and live peacefully as I take over the world. She never has to with the Joestar Clan again, where she will be hurt, and brought into danger. "

   " She was never brought into danger! I always protected her! "

   " Oh, then what brought her here? If you protected her then what led to her appearance here in this time? Obviously, as a protector, you failed and you can't keep her out of danger, can you? "

   " Dio. " You said with a stern voice.

All eyes were on you now. You stood up from Joseph's arms and looked at Dio straight in the eyes. The tears had stopped spilling and you were glaring at Dio. Dio recognized the fire in your eyes, from when you protected people. It was a fire that couldn't be put out.

   " You're right, they can't keep me out of danger because I go with them! I love the Joestars! They have and always will be my family no matter what generation I'm in! And I leave them behind because I protect them and keep them safe from danger! I do it out of my love for them! Not just from the birthmark, but because they are innocent people, loving and caring towards those who can't help themselves! People like you! They housed you and loved you, but you turned your back on them for money! That's what it's always been about! It's always been about money and greed! You say that something is always in the way of us coming together, and you're right, but it's not me! It's you! "

Dio felt stunned by your words, and he felt his heart break a little in his chest.

   " Dio, you are a monster. You've killed innocents, and family. You even killed your own father Dario Brando. Only when you're dead can I rest. "

You fell back on Joseph, not feeling any strength in your feet. Dio, wasn't happy to hear at all what you said, because it sounded right. And in his mind, he looked back on the memories he had and agreed with you in his soul, but the greed consumed his feelings, and he wanted to kill the Joestars. A flash of green flew by the three of you and you could spot emeralds flying by and hitting the clock tower. You looked back at Kakyoin seeing Hierophant Green floating in front of him. He disappeared slowly, and I could hear Kakyoin's words, from the way his breath left his mouth.

   " That. . .was my final. . .emerald splash. . .make it count. . ."

    " Kakyoin! "

   " But why? That attack was utterly pointless. Well, now I suppose you're just a dying hero longing to make his mark on the world. "

   ' As, if he wouldn't waste his attack like that. '

Steam started rising from Kakyoin and he started to go limp against the water tower. You sensed his breathing, but there was none. He wasn't breathing at all, in fact, there was no airflow coming from his body, only blood.

   ' Noriaki. . .I. . .I'm sorry. '

   " K-Kakyoin. . ."

Joseph and you both looked at Kakyoin's body, feeling frustrated and upset. Joseph felt rage. He grabbed your hand and pulled you up from the floor.

   " Hermit Purple! "

Hermit Purple flew at Dio and wrapped around him.

   " Take this! Hamon from the sun! "

   " You old fool! Out of all the stands I've seen yours is the weakest! "

Dio broke free from Hermit purple's bindings and Joseph ran to the edge of the building with me following. I wiped the tears off my face and Joseph jumped off the building, hugging me close.

   " You're not escaping me! "

Joseph started flying around with Hermit Purple and he held me close. I started thinking about why he destroyed the clock.

   ' Focus, Y/n. . .you can cry later, like you always do. . .He clearly aimed for the clock's hands, because of where the emerald splash hit. So what happens when you stop the hands on a clock? The time on the clock stays still, meaning time stops. That's it! '

   " Joseph, I figured it out! I know what Kakyoin was trying to tell us! The World can stop time! "

   " That's impossible! "

   " No, it isn't! That's how Polnareff and I moved on the stairs! It's how he left the coffin and replaced it with the puny vampire! It's how he killed Kakyoin! He stopped time, flew to Kakyoin and punched him. He can stop time whenever he commands but it's only for a few seconds! "

   " I understand now! But we might not have what it takes to beat it! "

   " There's gotta be a way to beat it. "

Joseph and I looked back at Dio to see him gone from the sky. Joseph used his feet and planted himself on a roof. He let go of me, and I charged up my Hamon overdrive, letting it go all over my body. I heard the sound of Dio and his stand reappearing and when I turned around his fist was already heading towards Joseph. It was so quick I couldn't even comprehend the seconds or milliseconds it moved. The fist stopped right in front of Joseph's face, not even touching him. Joseph and I jumped away, and a smirk played on Joseph's features. 

   " Say, what's the matter? Aren't you going to hit me, Dio? Or don't you care about drinking my blood anymore? "

   " You're running Hamon through your body to protect yourself. Quite the strategy, you both are using. You've wrapped your body with Hermit Purple but you've infused it with Hamon, and Y/n, you're using your overdrive to encase yourself in it. It's like a cloak of high-voltage wires. Very clever, a geriatric genius. "

   " It's just like you said, I've been using this little trick to protect myself, and I've wrapped Y/n with it here and there when she's close to me. But thanks to Kakyoin's message, we've learned something about your stand. "

   " You can bring time to a standstill. But only for a short while, a few seconds. Your limit is about 3-4 seconds. The reason we know you have this limit is that if you could stop time for longer you wouldn't be out here chasing us around, but you would have killed us back in your mansion. And I would say that every time you use it, you get a little more time added to the next point when you stop time. " I said.

   " So, you've figured it out. I'm impressed, my dear. What an accomplishment. Congratulations to you both. "

   " You should congratulate, Kakyoin. He gave up his life to give us a fighting chance! "

   " So what? Am I supposed to care? It doesn't matter if you know my stand's ability! What can your pathetic Hamon do against my power!? "

   " Hermit Purple and Hamon! "

   " Gold Spirit bring out your Hamon sword! "

Joseph's Hermit Purple and Gold Spirit with her sword lunged at Dio, and the white sword Gold Spirit held was laced thickly with Hamon.

   " Idiots! I can hurt you even without touching you! "

Dio's stand kicked the chimney and sent huge chunks of it our way. It knocked us both off the roof and it gave me terrible scratches. Joseph grabbed my hand and used Hermit Purple to grab something, but he would be too late. Below us, the ground was getting closer and closer. I grabbed Joseph's hand and pushed him above me. Gold Spirit appeared above us, and she was ready with her sword, but her free hand grabbed Joseph and held him up, but I hit the ground. 

   ' Now, that hurt. '

   " Y/n! "

Gold Spirit let go of Joseph and he landed beside me. He crouched beside me and picked me up off the ground. I could taste the blood falling from my mouth and I felt it drip from my head. We looked up and saw Dio jumping from the building. We stood up fully and started to run, forward, but stopped seeing a familiar figure.

   " Old man! Y/n! " 

Jotaro stood on the other side of the street, but Polnareff was nowhere in sight. He started moving forward, but I yelled at him.

   " Stay back! "

He stopped moving and his eyes were dilated. 

   " Stay far away from us! " Joseph yelled.

I looked behind us and saw Dio land. I took one more glance at Jotaro and Joseph. Jotaro was out of Dio's range but we still were.

   ' He's going to kill Joseph first. '

   " Jotaro! Dio's stand, The World, gives him the ability to control time! Whatever you do stay out of its range-"

   " Once more! The World! "

   " Joseph! "

Before Dio stopped time I pushed Joseph forward to try and get him further out of Dio's range. And I sent my Hamon to him, to cover him in case he forgot to cover himself. 

   " JoJo! "

When I blinked, I couldn't feel the air around me for a second. I held my breath, and I could hear my heart beating in my eardrums. I felt hands under my knees and on my back. When I opened my eyes, I was in Dio's arms, and he was holding me off the ground.

   " Dio! "

   " Hello, my love. "

   " AHHHH-Ahhh. . ." 

   " Joseph! " I yelled.

I looked behind Dio and saw Joseph on the ground with a knife in his throat. He couldn't speak, and blood was rushing out of his throat quickly.

   " Joseph, no! "

   ' I can heal him, I can heal him! '

   " Old man! Y/n! "

I looked and saw Jotaro running towards us and I felt my anxiety peak.

   " R-Run. . .stay back! " Joseph tried to yell.

   " JoJo stay back! Stay out of his range! "

   " Please. . .keep your. . .distance. . .Stay. . .faraway from him. He's. . .invincible. . ."

I watched as his hand went limp and Hermit Purple disappeared from his hand.

   " Joseph! No, Joseph! "

   " My love, stop struggling. It's annoying. "

   " Then, let me go! "

   " Why do you still fight? Tell me, what drives you? You've failed as the Joestar Protector. You couldn't protect Jonathan nor Joseph, so why fight? You know I have the power to do what I wish within range, so stop fighting. "

I looked up in his eyes and Joseph's words rang in my ears.

   ' He's. . .invincible. . .'

Tears started pouring down my face and I felt utterly useless.

   ' He's right. '