Jotaro met with Sanji Matsumoto at the local beach, a place that lacked electrical wiring. "It seems Red Hot Chili Pepper is getting bolder," Sanji noted, "It's gotten too dangerous for regular Speedwagon Foundation agents to stick around, so for now it's just me and Kakyoin. This user has tried targeting all five kids right in their homes, but he's wound up underestimating them. He's powerful, but luckily they're crafty." He smirked. "Also, I couldn't help but notice Josuke was adopting my hairstyle." He ran a hand over his pompadour. "I guess I made an impression when I helped him and his mother."

Jotaro smiled. "He doesn't even know you yet, and still you're his personal hero. But this is beside the point. Has Red Hot Chili Pepper tried to attack you or Kakyoin?" "Several times," Sanji said, "He seems intent on keeping out unwanted guests. The last time he attacked me, I let him know that I'm a Morioh native. For now I think he's testing the waters, judging our Stands against his. He once tried to dive into Reverse Rebirth, only to get repelled by the electromagnetic force that powers its machines."

"So it has weaknesses," Jotaro noted. Sanji nodded. "The same type of weaknesses you'd expect from an electric-based Stand. Koichi was able to repel it with a splash of water, which made it spark uncontrollably. And though it hasn't yet been tested, I'd imagine rubber would also be effective." "Or wood," Jotaro said, "The Stand user noted Fluttershy could be a real threat to him, since for all his power he can't shoot actual lightning, which would have the raw energy needed to break through her plant barriers."

"All that said, he's doing a good job of staying hidden," Sanji said with a sigh, "Kakyoin and Hierophant Green have searched through the whole city, top to bottom. The most we found was an apartment containing an unusual amount of cash. It's likely where the Stand user is living, but there's nothing there that could ID him, and we can't count on him returning there any time soon. That's why... Joseph Joestar intends to try." Jotaro gasped. "He'll be coming tomorrow at midday," Sanji said, "Even if he can't help us find Red Hot Chili Pepper, he wanted an excuse to see his son, Josuke."

Later Kakyoin delivered a letter to all five teens. "We'll be meeting in the center of the abandoned park on the outskirts of Morioh, kilometers away from the nearest electrical source. I recommend you either walk or bike, but no motorcycles. If you must take a vehicle, use only public transport and only have them take you to the outskirts. Any sort of car battery can carry our enemy, so be sure to leave behind anything that may also carry a battery or circuit. This information is important." Red Hot Chili Pepper happened to see Josuke as he got this letter, then rubbed his chin. "If they follow these instructions I won't know what they're planning. I need to make plans of my own."

The Morioh group was soon gathered at the meeting point, and Pinkie already threw up her Stand's area of effect. "This should help just in case Red Hot Chili Pepper tries anything." "Good thinking," Jotaro said as he approached, "It looks like everyone followed the instructions." "Yeah, but I'm a little bummed I had to leave my sweet motorbike at home," Okuyasu said, "Still, it's a small price to pay for dealing with that bastard." His eyes started to show signs of anger. "Is he going to be okay?," Yukako said.

"Red Hot Chili Pepper killed his brother," Pinkie explained, "He gets irritable just thinking about it." "So how are we gonna find Red Hot Chili Pepper?," Koichi asked, "He's able to duck in and out of houses easily. I think the only reason he hasn't killed anyone else is because of us. He knows if he makes too much trouble we'll be on his tail easily." "The good news is he underestimates us," Pinkie said, "He thought he could easily frizz out Yukako's hair, but her Stand lets her control it to the point where she can contain Chili Pepper without injury."

"And he also didn't realize how fast Crazy Diamond is," Josuke noted, "He seems to fear Star Platinum most of all, but he's forgetting how strong the rest of us are." Jotaro nodded. "Not to worry. I have someone coming in. A Stand user who might be able to locate him. His Stand is called Hermit Purple and it can also travel through electrical wire." He folded his arms. "Trouble is... He's very old, and not able to fight on his own. So we'll need to keep him safe while he does his work." "We're bringing some old geezer in?," Okuyasu said.

"He used to be a lot more buff," Jotaro noted, "But time has made him a shell of his former self. When I compare him to how he looked ten years ago, it's like night and day. Guy's close to his eighties now. His ankles have gotten so weak he has to use a walking stick. He had a gallstone removed two years ago, and he has a cataract." "Maybe we should send him to Tonio's first," Okuyasu suggested, "That might put some spring in his step." Jotaro grinned, having heard of Tonio's Stand. "Maybe, but it won't solve his biggest gripe. See, he recently had to switch to dentures, and he complains that he can no longer eat t-bone steaks. Also... He may have gone a little senile."

Josuke chuckled. "Don't tell me this guy will start talking to inanimate objects while he's here." He then realized something. "Wait... Did you just say steak? Is this guy a foreigner?" Jotaro nodded. "I was hoping to keep him out of Japan, but when I told him about the new arrow we got a lead on, he insisted he arrive. If Chili Pepper's user finds out, he'll see him as the biggest threat since he can find out his identity." Koichi then realized something. "Wait... Is this guy...?"

"Hold that thought, Koichi!," Yukako said, "Someone else is here!" Jotaro looked around. "How can you tell?" "I've had my Stand spread out across the field just in case Red Hot Chili Pepper saw us get those letters and try to approach," Yukako said, "I thought if he was forced to come in person, it'd make things easier. But it seems he got crafty." Love Deluxe whipped out and grabbed a motorbike from a nearby ditch. "Is that my bike!?," Okuyasu demanded.

"Well shoot," Red Hot Chili Pepper said as he came out of the bike's battery, "I was hoping to get more information, but it looks like I got found out. Still, I got enough to track down this old geezer, whoever he is." He started up the bike, but gasped when he suddenly saw a shadow looming over him. He gulped when he looked up and saw Okuyasu, who had used The Hand to draw the bike over. "Where do you think you're going? We're not letting you get away with what you know. Besides, I owe you for my brother's death. The Hand!"

The Hand swiped at Red Hot Chili Pepper how easily dodged. "Nice try, dumbass, but your right hand is too slow since it needs to come in at an arc!" Okuyasu grinned. "I may be an idiot, but I'm no dumbass. I know my Stand's limitations. I wasn't actually aiming for you." He pointed to the bike, and Red Hot Chili Pepper saw the front tire had been separated from it, rendering it useless. "It's a shame I had to wreck my own bike, but at least it was secondhand. The point is..." He cracked his knuckles, The Hand mimicking the movement. "You're now a hundred kilometers away from the nearest electrical line... With no other power sources nearby."

The others joined up beside him as he grinned. "And the numbers don't lie. You're outmatched at six to one. Even I can tell you're dead meat at this point. So... Who's the dumbass now?" "Good grief, and your brother called you dead weight?," Red Hot Chili Pepper said, "Lucky for me you were just a bit too gung ho when you made to attack. Well, you might not have meant to. But I did." Okuyasu looked confused. "Something I learned about Pinkie's Stand," Red Hot Chili Pepper explained, "It can only work for those who are aware its active, and who want to believe it can work for them. Rather necessary since its effect covers the whole city and people would freak out if their little town suddenly started imitating Tom and Jerry."

Pinkie gasped. "Don't tell me..." Red Hot Chili Pepper laughed as it ran into a small ditch created by The Hand. "I took advantage of the effect to make Okuyasu's attack much bigger than it should have been. It's always more hilarious in cartoons when the hero just barely dodges a strike, and I have enough speed to keep plenty of distance away normally. That attack opened up the city's power lines running under the park. But since I don't know when the old man will arrive, I can't stick around to deal with you. Later, losers!" And with that, he disappeared into the exposed power line. "Damn you plot!," Pinkie called out.

With the news that Red Hot Chili Pepper was looking for Joseph, Fluttershy, Jolyne, and Kakyoin hurried out by speedboat to where the ship was coming in, checking the battery to make sure it hadn't been infiltrated. Later at noon, Jotaro used Star Platinum to check the ship's progress. "Here it comes," Jotaro said, "I'm sure Red Hot Chili Pepper's user will assume this is where the ship will be coming in. He knows we're bringing in a foreigner, and that means a water entrance."

Josuke wasn't sure how to feel that it was his father that being brought in. "Is Mister Joestar the only passenger?," Koichi asked. "No," Jotaro assured him, "My own father, Sadao, is there as well. As is Granddad's old friend Avdol. Both of them have powerful Stands of their own. Sanji also headed out to the ship ahead of time to check on them. I honestly wish we could get more, but all our friends have their own lives." He looked up as he thought about what had happened in the last ten years.

Sunset and Ryusei had their wedding and were now traveling the world. They were currently in Russia, too far out to arrive for help. Hol Horse and Antoinette had hooked up, and settled in Manhattan with Hol Horse's parents at the Applaine Orchard. During the month Polnareff was looking after Kakyoin, Iggy, and Avdol, he wound up running into Malena again. They eventually married in France, but lately he'd been busy with an important investigation in Italy. Rudy had gotten too old to fight, and Iggy was too busy being pampered by Suzi Q, not to mention he had a son to look after now.

Radames had also gotten married and was too busy with his merchant venture, and James had gotten into the political scene like his father, so he couldn't come either. Still, they had plenty of muscle just in case. "We know Red Hot Chili Pepper can only travel where there's electricity," Jotaro noted, "But I have a hunch he's prepared something to cross the ocean. But he doesn't know there are other Stand users on the boat, at least as far as I can tell." "This boat's clean," Josuke said, "We're ready to leave."

"About that," Jotaro said, "Koichi, you, Josuke, and Pinkie will be staying here to hold off the Stand user. Me, Okuyasu, and Yukako will be taking the boat. Guaranteed Red Hot Chili Pepper will be hiding nearby, ready to use something like a remote-controlled plane to reach the ship. It's the fastest way with his powers. The ship's twenty minutes out, and a remote plane at its fastest can move a hundred kilometers an hour. Plus with Red Hot Chili Pepper's powers, it can move at will without even needing the remote."

Josuke sighed, then nodded as he got onto the pier. The boat zoomed off, and Josuke said, "So, I have to protect a father I never even knew." "At least your father's still alive," Pinkie said, "Mine died five years ago protecting my mom from some unknown assailant. She was completely shaken by the incident, said some sort of explosive killed him. Her account is the only reason the police know he's dead, because his body was never found." "By the way," Koichi said, "You said your father was Italian-American, but then how come your last name is Japanese?"

"No big mystery there," Josuke said, "Obviously her dad decided to take on her mother's family name, rather than the other way around. It can happen sometimes." Pinkie nodded. Just then, Red Hot Chili Pepper burst up from the grating in the pier. "Looks like Jotaro saw through my plans," came a voice, but it didn't come from the Stand. Out stepped a man who looked like he was just reaching his twenties, and dressed like a rock musician, complete with electric guitar.

He flipped his hair out of his face as Red Hot Chili Pepper landed next him, dropping the model plane nearby. "That Jotaro is one perceptive guy," the man said, "Even without Star Platinum he figured out my plan without effort. And wow... To think he'd bring in so many other Stand users that I don't even know about. But I still have three minutes to sneak onboard and observe them. You see, this new Spitfire can travel at 150 kilometers per hour, meaning it can reach the boat in only five minutes, while Jotaro's motorboat can only reach it in eight to ten minutes."

He then pointed out the trio. "And you're the only ones standing in my way!" "What's the with the guitar?," Pinkie asked. "Ah, forgot the intro. I might as well since I'm standing right here," the man said, "Name's Akira Otoishi, age nineteen. My aim is to be the next Jimi Hendrix! Or maybe Jeff Beck, any of those classic rock guitarists really. I aim to be an ultra super guitarist and live life hard and fast... Hence why I keep this baby with me at all times." He made an impressive guitar solo upon saying this. "I'm gonna use my guitar to blow the whole world away!"

Pinkie, Josuke, and Koichi stared. "Eddie van Halen, eat your heart out," Pinkie muttered, "But why come out here and introduce yourself?" She pulled away part of the scenery like it was a background curtain to reveal a video camera that was live recording. "Especially since my Stand can send that info to the ship without any issue." Akira freaked. "Shit, I forgot the ship's already within Morioh's borders! Ah, whatever. Once I get rid of you three, I can just hide again and send Red Hot Chili Pepper to do the rest. Speaking of which, you notice how most Stand users around Morioh seem to name their Stand after musical references just by accident? Well in my case it was deliberate. While I'm a fan of all guitarists, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are my favorite overall band."

Red Hot Chili Pepper then levitated and held out its pinkie. "Speaking of my Stand," Akira said, "I think I'll just use its pinkie to defeat you. That's how confident I am right now." Josuke chuckled and taunted Akira with a gesture to come at him. "If you think you're that fast and strong, then just try it. I'll set a rule for myself in this fight." Akira scoffed. "Don't act all tough! You don't need to give yourself any rules!" Josuke took advantage of the distraction and physically broke Akira's pinkie, leaving him screaming in pain.

"You left yourself open," Josuke noted, "To the point where you forgot to take advantage of the toon world Smile created. And if I don't need to set rules for myself, then great... I'll just beat the crap outta you! Maybe even literally!" Koichi laughed. "You forgot about Pinkie... And he broke your pinkie!" Pinkie gasped and pointed at Koichi as she got the joke and started laughing herself. "This is no laughing matter!," Akira snapped, "How I can play my sweet riffs if my pinkie finger's broken!?"

"Better yet," Josuke said, "How do you expect to fight me when I broke the very thing you said you'd defeat me with?" Akira growled as he held his wrist, then belted out a scream as he forced the pinkie to right itself through sheer willpower. "Oh wow," Pinkie said, "From the sounds of it, he wasn't using my Stand for that." "I need to keep this anger...," Akira noted, "And let it all out!" He belted out an impressive solo on his guitar that was likely making the gods of rock smile down from the heavens.

He gave a satisfied sigh once it was finished. "I did it... I was able to express my anger and frustration... God I wish I had a bigger audience to experience this..." "That is an impressive musical talent," Josuke admitted, "But while you were doing that..." He had Crazy Diamond slip into its hand into the gutter thanks to Smile's area of effect. "I've been checking the nearby gutters for your Stand. Koichi heard it slip into the asphalt through the power lines."

Akira chuckled. "Nice try, but you still only have two arms." "Maybe," Pinkie said, "But he's not the only one searching." Akira gasped when he saw Smile suddenly had dozens of arms, all slipped into the gutters reaching for whatever they could find. He narrowed his eyes. "Clever, but I learn from my mistakes..." Red Hot Chili Pepper popped out of a gutter, which Josuke had pulled Crazy Diamond's hand out of to attack. Then Crazy Diamond whirled around and tagged the electric Stand with a quick punch.

Akira got surprised when the blow actually hurt and his head reeled back from the blow. "What...? But I was focusing on Pinkie's toon world to protect myself!" "You're not the only one who learns," Pinkie noted, "I've learned how to tune certain people out of my toon world. And guess what Akira... You're no longer living in it. You're in the real world right now. But since the two worlds intersect through my Stand's power, we can still attack you." "Meanwhile the three of us are still in the toon world," Josuke said, "That's why Crazy Diamond was able to tag you. Just like in cartoons when someone tries to sneak up on a cartoon character to attack them, they can suddenly whirl around to counterattack."

Akira growled as he tried to have Red Hot Chili Pepper jump in and out the gutters at rapid speed. 'This is just wasting time! With my Stand's speed I don't need to rely on the toon world to avoid damage, but that doesn't help me get them out of the way! If I don't get moving in the next minute, Jotaro will reach the boat and warn the others about me coming!' Crazy Diamond's attacks were starting to return the asphalt back into coal, meaning tracking Red Hot Chili Pepper was becoming easier.

Akira cried out in pain as the attacks started hitting home. Red Hot Chili Pepper had maxed out stats in everything but precision, but Crazy Diamond and Smile had the physical power to damage it regardless of its high defense. "Damn it... Only nineteen seconds left! I gotta get serious!" Red Hot Chili Pepper seemed to glow white hot with energy. "What the heck is this light!?," Koichi called out. "This is my ultimate trump card!," Akira replied, "Right now Red Hot Chili Pepper is channeling all of Morioh's power at once! It's a last resort move, because once I've used it up there won't be anything to fall back on for hours! But once I take you out, I can still use the plane's battery to reach the boat!"

Red Hot Chili Pepper moved at blinding speeds, knocking Josuke and Pinkie into a nearby forklift. "Someone cue Joel and the Bots...," Pinkie muttered as she picked herself up. The quickly got out of the way as Red Hot Chile Pepper smashed into the forklift before slipping into another gutter. "You guys are way too durable in the toon world," Akira noted, "I may just use the excess energy from this technique to supercharge the plane." "Can you really do that!?," Koichi wondered aloud. "At this point I'm running out of options!," Akira admitted, "But before I try..."

Red Hot Chili Pepper popped out near Josuke. "I'll make one last attack!," Akira announced, "Take the full force of Morioh's power! Go, Red Hot Chili Pepper!" Josuke grinned. "Don't forget I'm from Morioh too. And I don't think the town appreciates you using its power for such trouble. Crazy Diamond!" Red Hot Chili Pepper got a surprise as a shredded tire from the forklift started to surround it. "I destroyed that wheel as we were getting out the way of your last attack," Pinkie explained, "Now Crazy Diamond's repaired it. Your Stand is trapped in that wheel!"

Akira stepped back in shock. "Not good! Rubber is insulated, so there's no electricity flow for Red Hot Chile Pepper to feed off of! I can already feel it getting weaker!" He then grinned. "Luckily I still have enough strength to pop the tire." He strummed his guitar and Red Hot Chili Pepper punched through the tire. "Nice try, but did you really think trapping me a tire would work? That rubber's way too thin to keep my Stand sealed. Looks like you lose!"

Pinkie started laughing. "And you say you learn from your mistakes? Did you hear me say 'trapped in that tire'? Of course a simple tire could never trap Red Hot Chili Pepper... Because there's a big freaking hole in the center to get out of, dummy!" Akira looked confused. "The only reason your Stand was trapped," Josuke clarified, "Was because of the rim in the center of the tire. It's great that you had the power to break through... It would have been better for you if you couldn't."

At that moment, the air pressure from the tire sent the wheel, with Red Hot Chili Pepper still inside, flying into the nearby ocean. "D-Damn it!," Akira said in shock, "I forgot to consider that it was a working tire! Once my Stand hits the ocean... It'll start to disperse!" He screamed as he felt the electric feedback from his Stand getting destroyed. He seemed to pass out right there on his feet. "Is he dead?," Koichi asked. "I doubt it," Pinkie said, "While he can feel injuries from his Stand getting attacked, it's still a remote Stand. But he's not going anywhere. Koichi, by now the boat should be within your Stand's range. Can you let Jotaro and the others know we got him?" Koichi nodded.

Jotaro got word from Echoes as the ship started to approach. "I guess the Stand users in this town are pretty strong," Sadao noted as he walked up to his son. "Josuke and his friends certainly are," Jotaro noted. Sadao shrugged. "Well, he is a Jojo after all." Inside the cabin, Avdol walked over to Joseph and handed him a cup. "Your tea, Mister Joestar." "Thank you, Avdol," Joseph said. Avdol noticed Okuyasu looking at Joseph. "Despite his size," Okuyasu said, "He looks a lot weaker that you'd think."

"It's sad to see him in this state after ten years," Avdol said, getting out a photo of the Crusaders from when they just arrived in Egypt, just hours before the fight with N'Doul. "I never saw Mister Joestar in his prime, but when I first became friends with him it didn't look like he had lost his fighting spirit. But I suppose the loss of his grandfather and lack of Hamon practice forced age to catch up with him." Joseph turned to them. "You there, young man. The one with the school uniform. What was your name?" "Okuyasu Nijimura," Okuyasu said, "I'm a Stand user too."

"Stand user, eh?," Joseph said, "Must be a hard life. Say Avdol, have you seen my walking stick?" "You're still holding it, Mister Joestar," Avdol said, "But it's in your right hand." "Ah, that explains why I lost track of it," Joseph said, "My left hand is a prosthetic, and designed so that I can always feel through it. But my right hand has started to develop some minor palsy. Ah, that reminds me. You said there was a Stand using Italian chef in this town that help cure some of my ailments?"

"Yes sir," Okuyasu said, his eyes lighting up, "And his cooking is way off the charts! The flavor's just to die for!" Joseph smiled and nodded. "I think I'll give it a try. Even with dentures I can still eat Italian, and it's been a while since I've tried some." He carefully stood up. "By the way... Has Josuke mentioned anything about me...? I never even knew he existed since the day of his birth... If not for how well Holly and George turned out I might consider my self a terrible father. But it seems I'm... Neglectful at worst."

"You never actually came up in conversation," Okuyasu assured him, "He never talks about it." A Foundation member walked in. "Excuse me, we're about to arrive. I'll get your luggage." "Hold it," Sanji said, "I don't recognize you." The man hesitated. "I'm a new transfer. Just recently." "I don't think so," Sanji retorted, "I'd have been informed of any new arrivals. Give me your name, buddy." The man started to look shifty eyed. He then noticed pieces of bark had been placed over most of the electrical outlets on the ship.

"Sir!," another Foundation member said as he came in, "We just word from Jotaro! The Stand user for Red Hot Chili Pepper disappeared from the pier!" Suddenly, Red Hot Chili Pepper came out of a small light next to Joseph, looking ragged and in pieces. Okuyasu spotted it and quickly punched the Foundation member who had been going for the luggage. Sure enough, it was Akira, his Stand disappearing as he was knocked over to Joseph. Joseph's cane had slipped out of his hands, and Akira wound up landing on it. "How... How did you know it was me...?" "Sanji was questioning whether or not you were a member," Okuyasu pointed out, "But he said nothing about the guy who just burst in. Even someone as dumb as me can put two and two together from that."

The boat pulled up with no further incidents and Joseph came out. His walking stick had gotten busted when Akira got punched across the cabin. His eyes widened when he saw Josuke. He started to walk over, but tripped a little on the gangplank. "Gotcha," Josuke said as he he caught his father, "You should be more careful. You don't want to fall into the water." Joseph nodded. "It seems my walking stick broke earlier."

Josuke nodded. "Here, let me help." He took Joseph arm and started walking. "But couldn't he have just repaired the walking stick?," Okuyasu asked, confused. "He's got something more important to fix," Pinkie said, "After all, he has a father to catch up with." She looked after Josuke, who was leading his father off the pier and into town. Jotaro smiled. "I don't know what you said to him, Pinkie. But it looks like he's willing to give Joseph a chance."

Hope you like catching up with some of the old crew, or at least most of them. If I brought in too many this chapter could be even longer, but I did at least want to let everyone know what they'd been doing up until now.