Blank

Chapter 16

Jotaro glanced over at Noriaki and tried not to wince.

They were just a few kilometers outside Tokyo, another hour drive to the Kakyoin residence. The closer they got, the more Noriaki twisted his fingers together. Jotaro's own fingers ached in sympathy.

"You keep doing that, your art career will be over before you get started."

Tenmei jumped a bit, startled at the sudden break in silence, "Huh?"

Jotaro nodded to his hands, "You're making my fingers hurt."

Tenmei looked down at his hands and suddenly the pain in his fingers registered and he pulled his hands apart, flexing them open and closed to work out the soreness, "Sorry."

"Nervous?"

Tenmei gave him a small smile, "How can you tell?"

"You don't have to do this. We can still turn around."

"No. I...I need to do this. It might help me remember more."

"Ok. If it gets to be too much, just say the word."

Tenmei looked at Jotaro, "Thank you. For everything. You don't have to do this; you have your own life to live and work to be doing. I...I really do appreciate what you're doing for me."

Jotaro reached up to pull his hat down, then hesitated, he was driving. He couldn't hide his face and keep them on the road. He grumbled what sounded like 'good grief' then reached over and grasped Noriaki's hand, "It's not a problem. I want to."

"What are they like?"

"I don't really know them. I only met them briefly at your...umm, funeral. They were not happy to see us, jiji and I." Jotaro said.

"Hmm, so we're both going in blind." Tenmei sighed.

"It'll be ok. If they upset you, I'll punch them."

Tenmei laughed, "Funny, Jotaro. Real funny." He looked to Jotaro, seeing his usual stoic face, "You...you are joking, right? Jotaro? That was a joke?"

Jotaro simply glanced sideways at him and raised an eyebrow.

"Oh god..."

****

Jotaro stopped the car just down the street and out of sight of the Kakyoin residence.

"It's still not too late to change your mind." Jotaro said.

Tenmei shrugged, "We're already here and I think I would regret it later if I didn't at least try."

"Ok. Wait here. I'll go...explain things." Jotaro said. He reached over and gave Noriaki's hand a squeeze before exiting the car.

Jotaro made his way to the Kakyoin house and, after a brief hesitation, knocked on the door. It seemed they were waiting for him as the door opened almost immediately.

A middle-aged man nearly as tall as Noriaki stood in the door way, looking up at him.

"Mr. Kujo. Come in." He said, being only as polite as necessary.

"Thank you for agreeing to see me, Mr. Kakyoin." Jotaro said. He paused and looked around, "Is Mrs. Kakyoin here?"

"She is. But she doesn't want to see you. Neither do I, if I'm to be honest. Please, say what you need to say and leave."

Jotaro sighed. He knew they had a good reason not to want him here. They had a perfectly good reason to hate him. He repeated that in his mind as he fought to remain as polite as he could.