Venice, 1939
Morioh-cho, 1982
Joseph Joestar sits at a fancy restaurant, a bit more
well dressed than usual. Across from him, a beautiful
young woman, with
shimmering blonde hair
raven black hair
smiles at him. When he's with her, he feels
like he could be young forever. The waiter
stops by their table, and asks "Is
there anything I can get you two lovebirds?"
With a twinkle in his eye,
The young Joestar smiles
and says, "The very best
wine for the most beautiful
woman in Italy!"
A subdued smile curls on
Joseph's face, only a slight
wrinkle on his cheek and black
hair dye hinting at his age.
"The 1962 Yamanashi Koshu,
Whole bottle, two glasses."
The young woman raises her hand to her mouth,
shocked, before reaching over to Joseph
"That's over 30,000 yen!
Really, Joseph, you don't need
to impress me. Your company
is more than enough…"
Her hand tenderly grasps his
worn palms, but a sweet smile
and a nod sends the waiter back
for the wine regardless.
"Hey, Jojo, don't get any
expensive ideas. I'm the
one paying for this date,
so don't splurge!"
Her hand grabs him by
the earlobe and pinches
hard, her lip puffed up
as she squints at him.
"Easy now, Suzi Q! We
just got married, we can
celebrate a bit, right?"
"Tomoko, I…"
"Joseph…don't. Let's just enjoy
ourselves. You always get so tense
when you're out in public like this."
A swirl of guilt and calm tear at his
heart, the pleasant warmth of her
hand on his melting the ice cold
doubts in his mind.
"Oh, Jojo…"
Her grip loosens as she
retreats her hands back to
her face. Cupping her jaw
with her hands, she looks
at him dreamily before
continuing,
"I can't be mad at you,
after saving my life like that…"
"Suzi Q, you saved my life, too.
Remember what I said during
our vows? 'We may be even,
but I'll be with you 'til I die.
You're stuck with me now.'"
A confident grin and a wink
accompanies Joseph's hand as
he brushes her hair behind her
ear and runs his fingers down the
side of her face.
"Sorry…I was a bit distracted.
Would you like to hear one of
my stories?"
A shell of a proud grin coats
Joseph's words, but the look in
her eyes tears it up immediately.
"Darling…it's okay to be here with
me. No need to run to the past
to liven things up. I haven't been
around you for these months
because you said you saved the
world or a martial arts master."
Her genuine, passionate smile
burns a hole in his chest as
she continues,
"You're humble, kind, charming,
even a bit funny sometimes.
Even with all that, I've waited until now
to say this."
She looks him dead in the eye,
with that ferocity he fell for on
a boardwalk in Morioh.
"I love you, Joseph Joestar.
Never change from being who
you truly are. So full of life and love.
So dashing, brave, heroic,
even if you're a jerk sometimes.
Tender, caring, supportive,
even if you're unsure of yourself.
I love you for you.
And nothing will ever change that,
even if you get old and ugly!"
So don't pretend you need to be
anything than the man I fell in love with."
"Sweetheart, I love you, too."
Pride and hope swell in Joseph's
heart. New beginnings waft in
as the smell of Italian cooking
flows around the Venetian
restaurant, the wounds of the
past few months finally healing,
both the physical and the
emotional ones.
His words are tinged with shame and truth.
A part of him wants to scream out right now
that no matter how much he loves her,
he made a promise years ago. So long ago
it feels alien, like a different man altogether
made that vow. But that fierce, passionate look
in her eyes, it burns through those doubts
like it had already etched a spot in his heart.
She's a livewire, sparking wildly with life,
and it makes him feel whole again just
watching her strength and tenacity.
He reaches out for her, hoping to hold her
in his arms one more time. The table fades
between them, only the black void
of the mind separating them.
He looks deeply in her eyes, his heart
beating with joy, longing, separation.
But, as always.
He wakes up.
Some Road in Iraq, 1988
Joseph shakes himself awake, his cassette fully stopped in his ear. He hadn't slept much in the days he's spent here, in 1988. But it's always the same dream. That girl he can't ever go back to. Still, recently, he's been smiling when he wakes up.
She lived a happy life, even if it was with some faker…
He chuckles a bit to himself as he looks over at the sleeping Jotaro beside him.
Hah, I wasn't even dreaming of kids back then. No way that guy was me! But still…
He smiles as he looks at the midnight sky out the window.
I'm glad he settled down…a family. I guess that's what I really needed, and he figured it out for me…Hopefully after all of this, I'll get to figure it out, too.
Helicopter over the Gulf of Oman, 25 Days to Save Holly
Joseph shakes himself awake, banging his head a bit against the metal hull of the helicopter. Polnareff and Kakyoin seem to be discussing something amongst themselves, not looking over at Joseph quite yet. He puts his hands to his temples and rubs them rhythmically. He's been having this dream a lot more lately. To this day, he hasn't gotten the nerve to tell Suzi Q everything…
What a fool…Falling in love with a girl in another country…
His hands feel the tired wrinkles on his face, the gray hairs he knows he's touching, the aches that haunt his body barely suppressed by Hamon.
For what? To prove I'm not some old, ugly grandparent? Stupid…
He bundles his hand into a fist, clenching his nails tight into his palm.
And I might not even make it out of this alive to tell either of them everything. How sorry I am…how much I love them both…
His ears prick up as the intercom starts up in the cargo bay. Avdol's voice crackles into the room, both Kakyoin and Polnareff springing to attention.
"Attention my dear friends, I have received word from Speedwagon Foundation. They have spotted a man matching the description of 'N'Doul' at our destination, and they have followed him near our intended landing point. He's holed up in one of the neighboring skyscrapers, Silver Tower, but they can't get much closer safely. How about we switch places now, Mr. Joestar, so the rest of us can give him a warm welcome?" The intercom cuts shortly after and the pilot's door clicks unlocked.
Rising to his feet, Joseph steps silently up to the cockpit. Opening the door, he feels two sets of eyes on his back, the both of them more than likely noticing the glum mood of their friend. A hollow smile forms as Joseph turns and gives them a thumbs up.
"Let's teach him a lesson, for Jotaro." As Joseph turns back to step in and take Avdol's seat, he feels the determination radiating off his friends behind him. Even with his roiling doubts and regrets, he knows deep down that only that determination will save him, Holly, Jotaro, and everyone else.
"I like this one very much, Mr. Joestar. Take care of her, now." Avdol gives him a half-worried look as he switches with Joseph.
"Don't worry so much, Avdol. Even if it gets trashed, I'll buy you another one since you like it so much." This time his smile is much more genuine. Maybe the reality of the present is catching back up to him after the dream, but he starts to share the heated bravery and determination radiating from Avdol.
"Good. And, Mr. Joestar…"
"Yeah?"
"After this one, if you need to talk about something…" Avdol clicks his tongue as he has his hand on the cockpit door, "Remember, we are all family. I would be delighted to talk with you about what's eating away at you. I have a feeling it's not just Jotaro."
Before Joseph can respond, Avdol shuts the door, his boisterous laughter rumbling from the other side of the cockpit door.
"You're right, Avdol," Joseph mumbles to himself, "We have something to take care of, now." His eyes focus on the Abu Dhabi coastline ahead of him. They should reach their helipad and Silver Tower in less than half an hour…
N'doul…we'll take you down. And if I get my hands on you, I'll wring out all the information I can about DIO before sending you somewhere so dark and distant you won't be able to hurt anyone ever again.
As they always do, his dream fades to the back of his mind. Still there, but quiet. His heartbeat is far louder, his spirit alive and burning.
END of MEMORY 2