So, another new project. This one inspired by several stories I've seen featuring Shizuka Joestar, our favourite invisible baby. That, and the fact that the JJBA category on this site seems far too underwhelming for such a mad romp through the ages. Hopefully, I'll come up with something more or less unique for this.

The beginning of this chapter features dialogue taken directly from the ending of Part 2- you know, what, you'll know what it is when you see it.

OoOoO

February 28th, 1939

"NO! YEARGH!" A voice cried, unheard amidst the near-vacuum the speaker had found itself in. "This… the void of space!

"Don't panic, just find the Earth!" He admonished himself, suppressing his panic as hollow tubes of bone ripped their way out of the flesh on his back. "I can use the air inside my body to change my trajectory… Once I make it back to solid ground, I will tear that fool apart!"

If someone were very close at that moment, they would be able to hear a slight hiss as gases were forced through the tube, slowing the speaker's escape from Earth's gravitational pull. And they would also be able to see the frost spreading across the man's back, icicles forming from frozen air.

What they would not hear, however, was the internal screams as he felt his entire body freeze in the near Absolute-Zero temperatures!

'NO! IT'S NOT WORKING! I-I'M FREEZING!' He struggled vainly, his muscles locking in place, even as scythe-like blades forced themselves out of his forearms. His shoulder blades shuddered before erupting into magnificent feathered wings, which iced over almost instantly.

'The air around me… it turns to ice the moment it leaves my body! I-I can't alter my path! ROOOAAAARRRRGGGHHH!'

So ended Kars, the so-called 'perfect lifeform', defeated by a young and brash warrior, and rejected by the very planet he called home. His body turned hard as rock, forming an impregnable shield to preserve his life. Though he begged for death, there was nothing out there to kill him.

Eventually, the spark of intelligence, the very core of his knowledge, will and being, sputtered out, and he ceased thinking altogether.

It was truly the end of his existence.

Or so the story went in many worlds.

In one, however, Kars would eventually be struck by a ball of ice and stone. Though it was not enough to damage his form, the sheer impact sent him spiralling in an entirely different direction, his new orbit bringing him dangerously close to the origin of his unplanned, unwelcome flight.

Perhaps this was 'fate', that Kars, fragments of that glittering golden meteor still embedded in his stone flesh, would find himself once again approaching the Earth?

And deep within his very soul, within a mind that had long since ceased to be, a single name echoed, the product of animal instinct and hatred for the one who had defeated him.

The memory of his hated foe's appearance, his scent, his voice, all wiped clean from Kars' memories. All that remained was the name.

'Jojo…'

OoOoO

March 7th, 2013

In the penthouse apartment, on the top floor of Pendleton Tower, Manhattan, the morning light was just beginning to spread across the bedroom. As the rays reached the edge of the bed, a pair of bright green eyes slowly opened, their owner smiling softly as he took in the sight of the woman next to him.

"Good morning, Suzi." he mumbled, the light making its way over to his wife and gently rousing her from sleep. Her own blue eyes flicked open, eventually focusing on her husband's as she mimicked his smile.

"Good morning, Jojo," she yawned, blinking away the last vestiges of sleep. "What time is it?"

Joseph Joestar groaned, reaching over to his bedside cabinet to grab the glasses on top, making a show of checking his watch. "About seven thirty... it won't be long now."

Suzi giggled, sounding much younger than ninety-two. "Ah, well. It keeps us young, doesn't it?" A faint thudding echoed from the hall outside, prompting another quiet laugh. "Three... two..."

Joseph grunted, shakily pushing himself to a seated position. "One." he finished, as the door swung open and a teenager bounced in.

"Happy anniversary!" Shizuka Joestar cried, two trays of food floating into the room behind her and placing themselves in front of the elderly couple. "Me and Achtung made you breakfast!"

"You... did?" Suzi asked hesitantly, managing to find her own glasses after a few minutes of scrambling around. "What about-?"

"I didn't try anything crazy this time, Mom! Tonio sent me some recipes, and I stuck to the instructions, I swear! Achtung, back me up!" the black-haired girl turned to stare at something the other side of the bed. After a moment of silence, she pouted, pulling her sunglasses down to cover her eyes. "Fine, be that way. What time is Josuke's plane coming in, Dad?"

Joseph coughed at that, something flickering around his hand as he took a drink. "What? When'd you hear that?"

Shizuka rolled her eyes, smirking. "Yeah, if you wanna keep a secret, don't tell Okuyasu. I heard him telling Josuke not to get a taxi after what happened in Italy," she paused, the air shimmering behind her. "What did happen in Italy, anywa-?"

"Nothing!" Joseph interrupted, his smile just a little too wide. "Just tourist stuff, one of their friends got mugged or something."

"Ookaaay..." his daughter drawled, waving her hands. "Well, whatever, enjoy your breakfast. We've got a big day coming up!"

OoOoO

"Hey, Jeeves," Shizuka grinned at the middle-aged man stood in the hall outside their apartment, his bushy red moustache bristling at her tone. "What's up?"

"Ms. Joestar, I have told you several times that my name is Mr. Rollins. Now, I need to speak with your father urgently regarding the Foundation." he blustered, attempting to push past her.

"Ah-ah-ah!" Shizuka held out a hand, looking almost straight up to face him directly. "He's getting ready for today. You can wait in the kitchen 'til he's ready." she stated bluntly, her sunglasses making her expression harder to read.

Rollins made to push her aside, only for something to firmly deflect his hand away from her. "Ms. Joestar, I've already told you that your father is needed urgently. Now please move aside, before I have to move you myself." he ground out, before her expression shifted, somehow making the teenager look much more dangerous without any of her features changing.

"Is that a threat, Jeeves?" she asked, her voice level. "I told you, you can wait in the kitchen. Dad won't be able to do anything to help the Foundation until he's ready for today. So either you leave a message and get out of our home, or you wait. In. The. Kitchen. 'Kay?"

Rollins forced himself not to snap at the girl. He hated people like that, who threw around their families' influence and got away with it, when honest, hard-working men like himself were just whipping boys for the rich and famous. "Fine then. But, as this is a matter of security, I will have to insist that you not be present for the meeting." Having said his piece, he finally brushed past the girl, who was now frowning at him.

"Anata wa, bakadesu..." Rollins whipped around at the muttering, in a language he couldn't understand.

"What did you say to me-" he demanded, only remembering himself at the last second. "...Ms. Joestar? I'm afraid I must have misheard you."

"Oh, no problem, I just said; Lei, signore, sei un coglione." she rattled off, a wide grin stretching across her face. She knew. She knew he didn't speak Italian, or whatever the other language was, and was blatantly insulting him.

"Ms. Joestar, perhaps I wasn't clear. I wished to know what your statement actually means, not a direct translation."

Shizuka leaned against the door, feeling secure thanks to the second presence buzzing inside her. "Trust me, Jeeves, you'll be happier not knowing. Kitchen's on your left, by the way."

Rollins tried not to growl at the girl. She always made a game of pushing his buttons, and he knew it. If she didn't grow up soon, her smart mouth would get her into trouble-

"Eh? Richard?" Joseph greeted him, hobbling into the kitchen with the help of his cane. "What are you doing here?"

Rollins sent a last disdainful look out to the hall before he spoke, Joseph making his way over to the coffee maker. "Twenty four hours ago, the Foundation Deep Storage facility was broken into..."

OoOoO

A grumbling noise seemed to come from nowhere as Suzi Q entered the living room, along with the sound of pacing footsteps. "Bambina, what are you doing? You shouldn't be spying on your father when he's in a meeting like this."

Shizuka suddenly appeared in the middle of the room. "Mom! I'm not a little kid anymore! Stop calling me Bambina!"

"Oh, don't be like that, sweetheart. I still call Holly my baby, don't I? It's a perk of being a mother. Your babies are your babies, no matter how big they get. Now, stop messing with Achtung Baby and sit down with your Mama." Suzi gestured to the couch beside her own chair. Shizuka flopped down on the cushions with a pout, the ones beside her deflating under an invisible presence at the same time.

Suzi hummed quietly, something occurring to her. "Shizuka?"

"What's up, Mom?"

"Tell me about Achtung Baby. Jojo's told me about Stands before, but I've always wondered what yours was like. I can't believe I've forgotten to ask for so long."

Shizuka blinked, sitting up straight and glancing over at the place where her Stand was sat. "Uh, sure, I guess. What do you want to know first?"

"Start simple. What does she look like?"

Shizuka took in the full view of her Stand, slouched on the couch cushions. Achtung Baby seemed to be around her own age (obviously), with a similar build to herself. The Stand's entire body was concealed by what looked like a white jumpsuit, a white helmet with a dark pink visor, heavy black-and-pink gauntlets, and a fluffy, bushy scarf resembling a feather boa in multiple shades of pink, from darker magenta to almost-white.

"Oh, wow..." Suzi breathed, Shizuka belatedly realising that she'd spoken aloud. "Oh, sometimes I wish I could see them for myself."

"Really? I would've thought you'd be happy not to. Dad told me how sick Holly and Josuke got when they got their Stands."

"Well, sometimes it just seems unfair, that everyone else in our family gets to see them and I don't," Suzi pouted slightly, before freezing. "I-I mean, how you and Jojo can see them." Shizuka raised a brow, glancing at Suzi over the top of her shades.

"Mom? Why are you being weird?"

Suzi was spared from having to answer by Joseph's appearance. His eyes were shadowed, dark in a way she hadn't seen since his return from Egypt, all those years ago. "Jojo?" she ventured, as Rollins made his way past them.

"It's... fine. Just... some Foundation assets have gone missing. Old ones, from back when Uncle Speedwagon was still around. I'll need to let Jotaro know, he's still in Florida-" Joseph stopped short as Rollins abruptly lost his footing, tripping over thin air and crumpling to the ground.

With a grunt, the Foundation worker stood back up, hastily fixing his suit and hair. "If Mr. Kujo had left the Foundation a way to contact him, I wouldn't have had to involve you, Mr. Joestar. In any case, have him contact us as soon as possible. You have my number already." he gritted out, turning on his heel and leaving at a brisk pace.

"You shouldn't use your Stand like that, Shizuka. Especially not against someone who's on our side." Joseph admonished his daughter.

Shizuka shrugged, trying not to wilt under the half-hearted glare. "He might work for the Foundation, but I wouldn't say he's on our side. He's got no respect for our family."

Joseph opened his mouth again, only to close it with a sigh. "Look, just go grab your jacket. I've got a car waiting downstairs for us, and I want to get to the airport early."

The girl barely even heard the last part of what he said, instead bounding out to her own room and leaving her parents behind. As soon as she was out of earshot, Suzi stood up, frowning at her husband.

"What is it? The Foundation wouldn't come to find you unless it was serious. It- it's not Dio, is it?"

Joseph shook his head, shakily raising his prosthetic hand to his face. "No, Jotaro made sure we wouldn't have to face him ever again. But... God help me... I-I almost wish it was." He met her gaze, faint traces of fear visible in the green eyes.

"Santana's gone missing."

OoOoO

"Yo, Rosas!" Shizuka greeted the young man outside as she helped her father down the steps of Pendleton Tower. "You're back!"

"Hey, kid. Good morning, Mr. Joestar," the driver smiled politely. "My parents send their regards. Grandma's feeling better, too."

"That's good to hear, Alex. I can't imagine how hard it was for her..." Joseph shook the blond man's hand, climbing into the back seat with some difficulty. Shizuka bounced in after him, jumping through to the front seat in an impressive display of acrobatics.

"Eager as always, kid," Rosas grinned, straightening his cap. "Now, sit back and enjoy the ride. Our next stop will be JFK International Airport." With practiced ease, he shifted into gear, moving seamlessly into the lines of traffic and turning south.

"Man, I haven't seen Josuke in ages," Shizuka grinned. "At least this time he won't be laid up in bed the whole time. You ever going to tell me what happened to him in Florida?"

"It's not my call to make. That's up to Jotaro and Josuke himself, if either of them want you to know about it."

She scoffed, using her glasses in place of a hairband to stop her bangs from falling into her eyes. "Great! So either I get Mr. Anti-social to say more than two words, or I have to get around the 'Big Brother knows best' thing Josuke's got going on."

Joseph glanced over the newspaper he was reading to deliver a 'look'. "Sarcasm doesn't suit you, sweetheart."

"Come on, Mom taught me Italian, I wanted to learn your first language as well. It's part of my heritage, right?"

He sighed deeply, turning to look at Rosas. "I suppose I brought this on myself, didn't I?"

"I couldn't possibly say, Mr. Joestar." was the reply, along with a grin that said much more than the words with it. Joseph scoffed, pulling up the paper to hide his own smile.

"Traitors, the lot of you..." he grumbled good-naturedly. For a while, the trio sat in comfortable silence, leaving behind the skyscrapers as they made their way through Queens. As they approached the airport, however, Shizuka cleared her throat.

"So, Dad... Did Jeeves want you because of Stands?" she asked, keeping her face blank as she turned back to look at him. "'Cause, no offence, but I don't know why else they'd need you."

Joseph froze, the action so unlike her usually easygoing father that it startled her. "Shizuka, this isn't something you need to worry about."

"Which means it totally is," she countered immediately. "Dad, I know what Jotaro does for the Speedwagon Foundation. I know what you used to do for them. Wouldn't it be easier if you just told me what's going on? I mean, maybe I can help. I've got a Stand too-"

"Shizuka." Joseph's voice was firm, with a slight set to his jaw that meant he wasn't going to back down. "There are worse things out there than rogue Stands. Things that I'd hoped were finished with. Things I have no intention of letting near my family, least of all you. You're only fourteen."

"But I-"

"I know you've got an incredible level of control over Achtung's abilities. But I need you to promise. Don't pry into this. I'll share some of it with you when I tell Josuke, but you're not getting involved any further, alright?"

"Fine..."

Joseph was unmoved. "Shizuka. Promise me."

"Okay, okay, I promise," she conceded, sitting back down in her seat and glancing to her side. Achtung Baby shimmered into visibility briefly, just long enough for Shizuka to see her crossed fingers, before she disappeared to... wherever Stands went when they weren't following people around.

Well, it wasn't like a little white lie was going to hurt anyone, was it?

OoOoO

"Okay, Rosas, we'll probably be gone for at least a couple hours," Joseph grunted, using the car door to steady himself until Shizuka passed him his cane. "You can consider yourself on break 'til then."

"Mr Joestar, I have no problem coming with you as soon as I find somewhere to park-" the driver tried, only for a raised hand to cut him off almost immediately. Joseph leaned in conspiratorially.

"Look, consider it a favour to me. It's not often I'm doing well enough to bring Shizuka out, just the two of us, at least not recently," he muttered, eyes glancing sideways to where Shizuka was waiting impatiently, rocking back and forth on her feet. "Both of us have phones, we'll let you know when we're done, alright?"

"Understood, Mr Joestar," the younger man sighed, looking sympathetic. "Perhaps I've forgotten a couple of errands I need to run. I'll be back as soon as they're completed?"

"Perfect-"

"Come on, Dad!" Shizuka called, bouncing back over to the car. "I wanna get a look around before Josuke gets here!"

"I'm ready, don't worry," her father shook his head. "I guess this must be karma for all the stress I put Granny Erina through."

OoOoO

"Which gate is it again?" Joseph asked to thin air. The crowd was huge, hundreds of people milling around, with some of them seeming to stumble whenever they came too close to the old man.

"Come on, Dad, I think I see him," came the hissed reply from nowhere, as Shizuka darted ahead invisibly, clearing a path for her father to take. "Oi, Josuke!"

Her target, a tall, well-built Japanese man with his hair styled into an elaborate pompadour, started in surprise as he caught sight of Joseph. "Hey, Dad! Hey, sis!" he grunted as Shizuka materialised again, grabbing him in a hug. "Oh, man, you're a lot stronger than I remember..."

"You're looking well, I see," Joseph commented, looking the younger man up and down. "How's the leg?"

"Better, yeah. At least I'm not stuck with the cane anymore..." Josuke grinned at Joseph's halfhearted glare. The expression made him look much younger than thirty, almost like a teenager, if it weren't for the faint lines and scars visible on his face.

"You know, one of these days, you're gonna need to tell me what the hell happened in Florida," Shizuka grumbled, though she couldn't keep her excitement hidden. "How long are you going to stay with us, bro?"

Her brother tapped his chin thoughfully. "I mean, Okuyasu and Koichi have things handled back in Morioh, so..."

"Hell yes! That means I'll finally be able to show you around the city!" Shizuka burst out, drawing the crowd's attention to the three of them.

One of their impromptu audience approached, a teenager from the looks of him, holding out a small square of leather towards them. "Hey, I've been looking for you, sir," he greeted Joseph, a half-smile tugging at his lips. "I passed you earlier - is this your wallet? Someone dropped it..."

Joseph smiled back at the young man, taking in his short, spiked hair and crumpled, ill-fitting clothes. "Ah, I'm afraid not, though I appreciate the attempt."

"S-Sir?"

Joseph chuckled gruffly. "You think you're the first person to try one of these tricks on me? I've caught more pickpockets and thieves than you'd believe, kid."

The boy shook his head, pocketing the wallet with a flourish. "Can't blame a guy for trying to make a living, can you?"

"Keep your hands where we can see them," Josuke warned him, looking very intimidating all of a sudden. "Like the old man said, we've seen better."

"Oh, I doubt that - Kidding, kidding! Jeez, some people," the newcomer held up his hands in surrender when Josuke took a step forwards. "Look, I'll get out of your way, alright? Man, you're way too intense for me..." he muttered, sidestepping away and vanishing into the crowd.

"Man, we almost got caught out like Koichi did way back when..." Josuke mumbled, before turning back to Joseph and putting his hands in his jacket pockets. "We better go pick up my luggage, Dad. I don't want to get stuck borrowing your shirts like last time-" he paused, pulling out a familiar brown square with a slip of paper poking out of it.

'Told you you hadn't seen better~ - :P'

"SON OF A BITCH!" Josuke burst out, patting his pockets. "Shit, he got my wallet! Dad, check your pockets!"

Joseph hurried to comply, managing to find a twenty dollar bill wrapped around another note. "Wha- How the hell did he do that?"

'Felt bad about this, maybe you can get a cab home? - ;]'

"That absolute..." Joseph bit out, before he noticed something else, even more pressing. "Josuke?"

"I'll have to kick the shit out of him-!"

"Josuke!"

"What?"

"Where's Shizuka?"

"...Ah, shit."

OoOoO

"Man, those guys were pretty loaded, no wonder they were so paranoid..." the thief muttered to himself, rifling through bills as he stepped outside. "Nearly a thousand dollars for five minutes' work? Man, I'm good."

"Not good enough," a voice hissed in his ear, before something collided with his midsection and knocked him to his knees. "Caught a glimpse of your Stand when you tried to vanish into the crowd. Now, you gonna give back what you stole? Depending on your answer, I might have to kick your ass!"

"Who the fuck are you?" he coughed out, as the teenage girl who'd been with his targets flickered into visibility, striking a dramatic pose as a translucent form appeared behind her.

"I'm Shizuka Goddamn Joestar."

OoOoO

So, that's the first chapter of this, something that I've been wanting to put together for a while. If anyone's interested, I'll keep going with it.

Anyway, catch you next time!