...Fear's a peculiar thing. I'm still trying to understand it a little more, myself. [Finally taking off his sunglasses again, Kakyoin set them aside and slowly brought his hands together with a couple inches' space between them.]

I ended up under his control because I was too afraid to fight, and I've blamed myself for that ever since. Because I was terrified of death, I ended up hurting and almost killing people that had never done anything to me. In Cairo, after everything I...wasn't afraid to die anymore. Not if doing it meant saving everyone else.

It was always fear that held me back. Fear of people that couldn't understand me, of death, and especially of my own weaknesses. And I'm still afraid, even after all this. I'm afraid of being too weak to fight beside the people I love, afraid of a power I can't even perceive, I'm afraid of a goddamned clock tower for god's sake. And all I know how to do is to take 'fear' and crush it underfoot; force it back and pretend it doesn't exist.

[Hierophant's hands formed transparent over Kakyoin's own, a faint green glow between them as a small emerald began to form and take shape with a sound like crackling ice. Kakyoin's voice was soft and deliberate, focused on what he was doing rather than look back at Giorno.]

I can understand Buccellati in that I know now what it's like to not be afraid of dying. And because I know Jotaro, I think I can start to comprehend the kind of fear turned to desperation that would lead one to want to prevent it. I'm not calling it right or wrong to try to prevent it--I don't know what I would do in that position, and I don't even know what to do about myself.

[The light glow faded, Kakyoin reaching out and setting an emerald shaped like a ladybug on the table in front of Giorno.]

But I...really do think I understand what it's like to have to fight against your own fear.