The lady is involved, isn't she?

I clenched my fists, mumbling: "I need to know what happened."

"Impatience will blur your mind. To know what happened, you need to stay focused." - She then smiled, continuing - "Come, child. I will be your aid for your final tests."

I ran towards her and said: "You better not be joking about this.."

Her expression switched from a smile to a serious one, as she replied; "I don't expect you to trust me right away. You radiate your father's energy."

"Yeah, I won't trust you so soon either.. For now, I'm only doing this because I need to know what happened and why. And the urge to kill the one who killed my father is unbearable…"

"Are you afraid?"

"Afraid..? Kind of."

"There is nothing to fear. You've come this far.."

"Just lead me to where my first test is. I will crush them."

"You will find them in your own time. Once you're done with the first one, I will guide you to the next."

I stopped in my tracks and watched her walk away from afar. I had a feeling she was telling the truth, somehow.. I walked back to my Dad's house and jumped on the roof to reflect on everything that happened.

I sighed and looked at my own hands. I then heard Fugo say: "Wait.. Natsuki?!"

I looked down at him and smiled slightly, saying: "Hey.. Surprised?"

"Explain. Who did we find dead in your room?"

"That was Lily. We disguised ourselves as each other. It was a plan for me to take a break and also hopefully get away from Killer.Chr.."

He glared at me in surprise. I wouldn't believe myself if I said I faked my own suicide just to take a break from everything, I get him.

"….Show me your stand." - He looked up at me.

RTTC got in front of me, holding a cupcake in its hand. I then looked back at him, saying: "Proof enough that it's really me?"

"…It just seems unreal for someone to just.. Fake their own suicide just to escape everything."

I jumped down and said: "You never had someone hunting you down like a terminator, for years on end, right? Who doesn't exactly kill you, but still tears you apart psychologically at any given chance..?"

He grew silent and walked inside, looking away.

I looked at him and followed him. I didn't expect an answer but then he replied: "…I've had someone in my journey not only try to kill me but the gang, along with Bucciarati.. Before I left."

I then grew silent. I looked at him, he had experienced something this hard.. He then broke the silence by saying: "Anyway.. We should check what your father has in his room. And take anything that's useful. And I will be taking the arrow with me.."

"No."

"You turned Lily into a stand user, and see how she ended up. You're reckless, I am more responsible and mature than you."

"….I'm not gonna give it to you. I need it."

He sighed and then walked up to my dad's room, I followed.

As soon as he walked in, he commented: "His room is dusty.. Let's hurry up, I'll open the window a bit."

He opened the window and I started searching for anything in the drawers that would be a clue to his disappearance or anything about his life, while Fugo searched in the bed side tables and his wardrobe.

I found a picture. Some lady, but.. It was a lady wearing very "exotic" clothes and a long cloth that covered her private areas that also served as a hood over her head. My eyes widened, it was the same lady I had talked to a few moments ago before going to my dad's house..

"F-Fugo..? You have to see this."

He walked over to me, I took a photo on my phone of the photograph I was holding. He looked at the photograph, saying: "A woman.. He must have known her."

"…I talked to her before heading here.. It was the same woman.. She knew about my dad passing away, the attacks that happened before it happened.. She even knew my name!" - I started sweating, looking at the photograph.

"…That's no coincidence. She must have something to do with it."

"Yeah.." - I said, taking a deep breath.

Fugo started searching for anything else, but he didn't find anything else other than old wine and his suits.

I walked out, putting the photograph back in its place beforehand. I then thought to myself: "I gotta find my first test then.. She's up to no good, I just know it. These tests have proven to be a test of survival.."

Fugo and I parted ways, waving good bye to each other. I walked over to my mother's neighborhood and reached her front door, ringing the bell.

She opened the door, saying: "Natsuki! Did you ever meet Seth?"

A shiver ran down my spine, I looked behind her and saw him. Killer.Chr, still disguised. I had to put up an act again, especially because she didn't know about him or what he did to me..

I saw him smirk and I talked through telepathy, saying: "YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE."

I read his thoughts, he replied: "And you're not supposed to be alive.. Are you?"

I walked in, my heart racing. I then talked through telepathy to him: "How did you know?"

"Easy, your uniform is burnt. Hers wasn't. A small detail that made a big difference." - He smiled, knowing I was reading his mind.

I sighed and then turned to my mom, saying: "Mom, I made up my mind, I'll be living at Monika's place. I don't wanna bother you with my issues."

"Natsuki, you would never bother me with anything! You can tell me anything, sweetie.." - She said.

I glared at "Seth" and then said: "Some things are better left unknown."

"Excuse me. I will be talking to Natsuki in private for a bit if you don't mind."

He then went into the other room and I followed. He closed the door behind us and I asked: "What is it?"

"Going back to Monika's place, huh? Guess you do still need her protection after all."

"Shut up. I wanna ask you something."

He smirked, crossing his arms, waiting for it.

"Do you know a dark skinned lady with exotic clothes?" - I said, RTTC reaching his neck from behind.

I saw one of the robotic tentacles grip RTTC's arm tightly. I closed one of my eyes, holding my arm.

"I'll let you figure that out on your own. Now that you're back, don't expect anything less from me. In fact.. I'll make you go insane." - He whispered.

I growled and then he walked out of the room, saying: "I will be going home now. Nice talking to you, Momsuki."

I tried following him but then heard my mom scream for help. I jolted and looked back at my mom, seeing a stand grabbing her.

"Oh.. Found you." - I said, with RTTC coming out.

"I wouldn't advise that! I could easily kill this lady right here." - It spoke.

"....No. Whoever your stand user is, meet me at the gas station. I know why you're here."

"W-Who are you talking to?! What's going on!?" - My mom asked me.

The stand growled and started traveling through the electricity wires before I walked out.

I smirked and walked out of my mom's apartment. I then sprinted to the gas station, seeing that there were tires.

"Perfect.." - I smiled.

I then stopped near it, walking to the parking lot, I saw someone..

I then said: "Hey you, bozo.. This station is closed."

He then looked at me. I smiled, walking to the opposite side of the parking lot, it was a strategy for me. That guy didn't seem to need a car, the gas station was closed.. It had to be him.

RHCP then said: "You're pretty dumb for someone who's the daughter of a Brando.."

"We will see about that.." - I said, confidently - "So! Station's closed, you don't have a car. I assume that you are the guy whose stand is that humanoid bird that travels through electrical cables?"

"Damn, telling me to come to a closed gas station? You knew that if I attacked your mother right there, you'd have no chance. But keep in mind, Natsuki Gushiken.. Red Hot Chilli Pepper has a vast range. If I were to use Chilli Pepper to reach your mother or any of your friends to threaten their life, it would take about 5 minutes. And I know you sprint fast but you would arrive later than it would." - He started rambling while fidgeting with his guitar pick.

"So I was right.. You are the stand user." - I smiled.

"You're looking at Akira Otoishi, age 19. Oh, and don't let the guitar throw ya off! One day I wanna be a rocking guitar player." - He started playing a solo - "One day, people around the world will know my name.."

- Red Hot Chilli Pepper -

Stand user: Akira Otoishi

Power: B

Speed: A

Range: A

Durability: B

Precision: C

Development Potential: C

Ability: Red Hot Chilli Pepper possesses the power over electricity, being able to infiltrate power lines and come out at any electrical appliance, even drawing energy from electricity in that specific area. It can even take people into the electrical lines by turning them into electricity. It can electrocute victims as insinuated by its ability. As it is electrical though, it's power is finite with the power stored inside and must stay within an electrically charged area, like a city or such.

"Yeah, hope your dream becomes a reality or whatever, I'm not here to hear about your aspirations." - RTTC came out.

"I'm ready to fight ya then." - RHCP then disappeared into the ground. I looked at the ground, there were gapes in the ground and I could see cables for both petrol and electricity.

"One thing you didn't consider.. Is that I already have experience with electricity used as a weapon.. Just not as a stand ability, this is a whole other level of "Let's give it a zap".." - I said, jumping on top of the roof of the gas station. I looked down at the roof and realized - "Sun panels?!"

RHCP then punched me and RTTC tried to make a punch barrage, but he'd already disappeared into the ground. I started bleeding from my lip and growled.

I fell to the ground and got up, licking the blood off my lip. I looked angrily at Akira and then RHCP who was popping up from the gaps, fast enough so that my eyes couldn't keep up with where it was.

RTTC started punching the ground which exposed petrol on the ground. I looked around and saw sparks on it. I smirked and as soon as RHCP exposed itself, RTTC started punching it repeatedly.

"HA, NOT SO FAST!" - I said as RTTC was about to deal one final punch but then was interrupted by a familiar sight. The same lady in the photograph who talked about the tests to me at the entrance of the gas station.

Before I could look back, RHCP cleaned the blood off his mouth after coughing up some blood. He saw me distracted and smiled, RHCP punched me with all it's strength to an old car which was parked on the other side of the street.

"GAHHH-!" - I started breathing heavily as I felt one of my ribs break - "Y-You motherfucker.."

I saw one of the tires get off the car and RTTC turned it into a cupcake while Akira was laughing along with his stand. I looked to my left. A lake right over the fence of the gas station. My back healed and I started laughing silently.

"Huh? WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING ABOUT, PUNK?" - Akira angrily asked.

I got back up on my feet and said: "It's funny.. Because even though you managed to hit me twice, I just know you're already finished.." - I was holding the cupcake in my hand and then positioned myself to where the lake was, also in front of RHCP, continuing - "Electricity.. I'm far too familiar with it.."

RHCP started backing away slowly and my eyes started glowing in a bright shade of red, while I said: "Are you hungry? Or maybe.. You would like a drink?" - I smiled widely like a maniac, my fang showed.

RTTC threw the cupcake at RHCP and I snapped my fingers. Before RHCP could escape, RTTC punched the tire repeatedly while RHCP was behind it, throwing both into the lake.

"W-WHAT?! A LAKE? NO, I CAN'T- MY POWER-" - RHCP started struggling to get out.

I walked over to the fence and crossed my arms, saying: "Heh.. Guess you really needed some water in your system."

RHCP started dissolving in the water, I got surprised while it struggled more. I looked over at Akira and he fell to the ground once it dissolved completely.

I walked over to him and got behind him. He was unconscious so I stabbed my nails into his back and drank his blood until his body was blood dry. I sighed and then looked over at the entrance.

"...Good job." - The lady spoke, leaning against the wall, looking at me with the same smile she had given me when she first met me.

"....You're involved in his disappearance, aren't you? Either that, or someone knows you're with me." - I glared at her.

".....Natsuki. You mustn't accuse someone without proof. Besides.." - She walked over to me as I dropped Akira on the ground, she continued - "I am the only person you can trust to know exactly what happened to your father."