A small oval shaped window proudly displayed the sea of clouds zooming past you, the metal tube you sat in propelling you to your new home in Japan. The older woman dozing off to your left twitched as she found her way into a deeper sleep, her elbow grazing you slightly. A sigh escaped soft pink lips as your chin rested on your palm firmly.
'What an energetic woman' You thought, an amused smile playing on your expression. 'I hope she's having a nice dream..' The path of your mind wondered back to the recent events that had taken place. As the sunset tinted puffs steadily zoomed past your view, you thought of the recent death of your only remaining parent.
Leah Loraine Zeppeli.
She had been an honest and true woman throughout her life. Sacrificing many of her own comforts in order to make sure the two of you had an exemplary life. Being an Archeologist, the traveling aspect of her career had taken your family of two across the globe on an ever changing journey. The morphing circumstances of your travels not hindering her care of providing you a safe home. Your (y/c) orbs squeezed painfully as you pushed back tears. You were strong. The teachings she had given you stood fast against her tragic fate, her words echoing in your head.
"Zeppelis don't cry (y/n), they persevere."
You and your mother were in Tutankhamun's crypt, the hieroglyphs seemed to dance along the walls as the light of your electronic lantern flickered. Her nimble fingers traced their shapes eagerly as their meaning was lost under her mumbled breath. You glanced around, the dark shadows holding their ground steadily in the surrounding tomb as you watched her read the carved pictures before you.
"Hamon and..s-stand?" That word left her mouth louder than the others, her pique in interest catching your attention.
"What's a stand Mom?" You asked curiously, inching the lantern higher. You had known of Hamon as your mother had trained you, being a master herself. The hieroglyphs displayed small pictures that appeared to form two entities as one, a mask with a man behind it opposing them. Your brows furrowed curiously. She didn't answer.
"It...it looks like this is a prophecy." She muttered, your voice briefly bringing her out of her concentration. Her fingers etched the carvings below the man and mask. "Dio?" She questioned puzzled, a frown formed deeply in her expression. "But why would Dio...?" Your (y/c) orbs followed her slim fingers as they found their way back to the twin form parallel to this 'Dio' hieroglyph. A gasp escaped her lips as she traced the ancient words below the twin form, the movements of her fingers eagerly reading the old language.
"Joestar and...!" She exclaimed. Her form whirled around to you in a frenzy, the harsh light of the lantern exposing the fine lines of wisdom around her eyes. "(Y/N)! We're leaving." She said firmly. Her form rushed towards you, a strong motherly arm encompassing your body and motioning you towards the way you entered. (Y/C) orbs glanced curiously back towards the retreating hieroglyphs as she motioned the two of you back towards the exit. You depicted a shoe, noose, hawk, water and hand. You knew from the teachings of your mother that that was your family name. Your heart beat faster as you desperately tried to read the following glyphs below the scene as the light retreated. A knot. Bound. Your eyes eagerly read the following glyphs. A snake, noose, reed, folded cloth, loaf, vulture, and mouth. The thought of your mothers earlier exclamation rang through you. 'Joestar.'
'Zeppeli bound to Joestar.' You thought. The light slowly retreated from the display as your mother desperately hustled your two bodies towards the exit. Her slim, yet strong arm pulled you closer as the two of you hurried towards your destination.
"(Y/N), listen to me clearly now." She said. Your sight set on her firm expression, her brows furrowed in concentration. "If anything happens after this, you need to contact the Speedwagon organization." Your heart beat faster in your chest. The Speedwagon organization was one of the largest dominating companies in the world, how could your mother have ties with them? You knew this had to be serious for her to say something so substantial. She never exaggerated.
"They'll see to it that you're taken care of." She nodded to herself resolutely. Her face turned away from you as she thought out loud per usual. "They always have after all." You looked at her questioningly, her steadfast expression returning towards the oncoming hallway.
"Mom, why are you saying all this?" You asked, anxiety picking at your heartbeat.
She turned to you, a knowing smile on her face.
"Zeppelis are always prepared for anything, aren't they love?" Her hand squeezed your shoulder knowingly as she braved a smile. You had almost had the time to flash a returning gesture as the cave around you rumbled. The shock threw the two of you off balance. "We must hurry!" She shouted urgently in response. The two of you shuffled through the trembling pathway as the ceiling began to give way. The thought of the crypts curse coursed through your mind as you both hurried through the pathway.
"RUN (Y/N)!" You felt her arm propel you forward as the cave gave another warning tremor. Your mothers scream echoed through the walls as the world seemed to be falling in on itself, the walls warping in an unnatural manner. (Y/c) globes glanced desperately toward the near exit, the suns rays lightly lining the pathway to safety. You sensed the ceiling began to cave in behind you around your mother. The rocks narrowly missing her. Your two bodies dodged miscellanies falling rocks as the hallway you retreated from fell in on itself. You watched as your mothers face formed into panic, a large rock falling right above her path to the shining exit.
"DIO!" She screamed in contempt as a large rock fell heavily on her strong, yet slim form as you both began to exit the hall. Your pace yanked to a stop, your body whirling around to face her fallen one as the jolt of her pinned form pulled you back.
"MOM!" You cried. You immediately fell back to grab her outstretched hand, her upper body and legs pinned under a large boulder. Tears began to well in your eyes as the realization of your situation became apparent. Your mother was going to die. Your hand grasped her weakening one tightly as you filled your hands cupping hers with Hamon. You could try to heal her, so you could both make it to the hospital and she would be okay. You pushed more Hamon into her as you grasped her hands tighter. "Mom it's going to be okay, I'll use my Hamon and-" She cut you off urgently, a pained smile braving her face.
"Remember (Y/N), Zeppelis don't cry" she whispered as fat tears spilled from your (y/c) orbs. "They.." A bloody cough escaped her lips, painting them red. "...persevere." You nodded as more hot tears spilled from your lashes. "Now GO!" She screamed, slapping away your hand. You defiantly grabbed her again, desperately clinging to her fading form to channel more healing energy into her dying one. The suns rays ironically warmed your back as you sat at the entrance holding your fading mothers hand. You couldn't stop the tears flowing from your eyes as you watched the life quickly leave her own.
"Mom don't leave me!" The cry left you desperately. It was like a knee jerk reaction, she had always been there with you. To guide you, educate you in everything she knew.. what would you do without her? You panicked. The feel of her grip fading in your own, you knew these were your final moments with her.
"Mom, I love you so much." You said tearfully. "I'll never forget the things you've taught me." You could see a small smile play across her lips as her head nodded weakly against the ground. You leaned closer to her ear. "I love you to the moon and back." Her hand fell completely slack a few moments after those last words left your mouth. A deep sob wracked your body as her hand rested limply in your own, your frail body rocking back and forth over her outstretched hand. Your sobs echoed within the remaining shallow cave as your childhood words of endearment paved the way to her afterlife. She was gone.
You were alone.
A threatening rumble shook through the ground as you sat over your mothers empty husk. You didn't care if you died in this moment, there was nothing left for you. The warmth of heated tears tickled your cheeks, your eyes looking down at the slack hand in your own. You shook your head, snapping back to reality.
"Zeppelis don't cry, they persevere." Her last words rang through you.
You delicately let go of her still warm hand, turning towards the exit as more rocks fell on top of the boulder trapping your mother. One foot propelled you after the other, your body bolting out of the entrance as you continued sprinting away from the tombs falling entrance. There were panicked screams from the surrounding archeologists, their voices distant as your legs continued to carry you further and further away. Hot air singed your lungs as your feet kicked up sand with every stride. The world fell around you as your foot caught on a stray rock, bringing you to your knees in the golden dunes. A scream erupted from your singed chest as the warm sand enveloped your hands and knees, dark spots appearing in your vision as more hot tears painted the sand.
"No..." A whisper. It hardly sounded like your own voice, hoarse and scratchy. "Nonononono!" (Y/c) orbs squeezed shut, your arms giving way as you fell into the warm sand. Your hands tried to grasp the sand angrily, anything to take away the sorrow welling in your soul. The small sun kissed grains wrapped around you as if they were trying to comfort you despite your aggression. "Mom.." You whimpered pitifully. The bright desert rays lit the back of your closed eyelids a brilliant red as you began to lose consciousness.
Everything faded away like a bad dream.
You woke in a hospital, the soft hum of medical equipment surrounding you. A pained moan escaped your lips as you began to move, a sharp jolt signaling an IV in your right arm.
"Oh my God!" A shout to your right sounded. "You're alive (y/n)!" Your (y/c) orbs snapped open to see an older but very attractive man stand above you, the sound of the chair clattering to the ground rang throughout the room. Your brows furrowed hesitatingly.
"I'm sorry...?" You unconsciously leaned away from the stranger, not sure why this strange man was at your bedside instead of your-
The recent event of your mothers death flashed through your mind at hyper speed. A hand flew to cover your mouth, your stomach flipping on itself. You were going to be sick.
You felt a hard hand rub your back in soothing circles. "Hey hey hey.." His rough voice chided. "It's alright now, you're safe." His tone saddened. "It's going to be okay." You could feel the soft push of Hamon enter your body through his hand, calming your frantic heart. You opened your eyes to look into his green ones, feeling slightly calmer. Small lines surrounded his eyes as he gave you an encouraging smile.
"My name is Joseph Joestar. I'm going to be taking care of you."
"My mom...is she?" His eyes closed, an expression of sorrow taking over his face.
"I'm afraid so.." He has confirmed your worst fears. You gave him a nod, not able to find any words to respond to the affirmation of your mothers death. He inhaled deeply, continuing on.
"The Zeppelis have always been beside the Joestars." His words rang through you, your interest piquing at his second mention of the name Joestar. You looked at the man named standing beside you. 'Bound..bound to Joestar huh?' He paused before continuing again.
"You're going to be staying in Japan until I finish things here, the Speedwagon organization was lucky there was a member at the...accident..when it happened." You nodded again, not really caring about the future as you began your early stages of grief. "My daughter and grandson live there, they'll be watching you to make sure you're doing alright until I can fly over." He sighed, his hand removing itself from your back to massage a kink in his neck.
"Mr. Joestar, you have a conference in 3 hours. We need to board your flight." You both jumped as a head popped through the doorframe suddenly. He paused in his answer, watching you with a worried expression. "I'll be there in a minute." He waved his hand at the secretary as they nodded and popped their head back out of the doorway. He sighed as he bent down to fix the fallen chair.
"Are you going to be okay?" He asked. You nodded absently. His hands dug themselves in his pockets. "Of course you are, you're a Zeppeli!" He laughed, trying to lighten the mood. You didn't respond.
"Alright, well I have to get on that flight." His eyes crinkled mischievously. "You stay sane until I get to Japan okay?" He gave your shoulder one strong squeeze before leaving the room.
You blinked as your thoughts landed back in the present. A soft snore came from your left as the old woman drifted aimlessly through sleep. A smile graced your expression as you began to lift your spirits back up. You were strong, as your mother was. Her teachings of keeping positive wouldn't be put to waste. The pain of losing her still stung deeply, but you would live your life to be twice as fulfilling now. Once for your own, and once for hers too.
The seatbelt sign above you flickered on, signaling everyone to get to their seats. The announcement system crackled as the pilots voice rang through the plane.
"Skys are clear today giving us a smooth flight. We expect to arrive in 20 minutes. If you look to your right you can see the peak of Mount Fuji through the clouds." The voice crackled as it faded out, the announcement ending.
You watched as the pique of Mount Fuji passed your window, the clouds surrounding it contemptibly. The soft tufts of the cumulus forms reached towards the setting sun as you continued to watch them pass through your small window.
'Japan..who would've thought I'd end up there mom?' You thought to yourself. You smiled, imagining her overjoyed expression on a new place.
Your stomach flipped as the plane began to descend, your new life arriving with the oncoming land.