Chapter Text
Ever since he defeated DIO, Jotaro was constantly in contact with the Speedwagon Foundation; currently in Morioh with their backup. He was going through the Speedwagon database on his personal computer in his suite at the Morioh Grand Hotel, sorting through old cases regarding stands and classifications of different abilities. It was then that he had fallen upon a case file labeled as classified.
Jotaro found it odd for such a file to be accessible to him but, his specialized ID as a descendant of Jonathan Joestar gave him unlimited information as long as it was entered into the database.
That was where he found it. A case under the name of the woman he loved and lost. The person who died without ever knowing how he felt about her. His cursor hovered over the painfully nostalgic name, unsure if he really wanted to read further. Even Kakyoin didn't have a classified file, so why her?
Jotaro pursed his lips together as he clicked on her name, pulling up multiple pages of data which filled the screen. His eyes darted across the pages, his mind steering his eyes away from her profile. Jotaro had to force himself to read, his heart constricting as he did so.
Suddenly, he shot up, both hands slamming the desk, chair falling over. His eyes fixated on one short line.
"Current Status: Alive."
Alive. Not dead. It had to be a mistake. A terrible joke. Jotaro felt his hands shake, a feeling he hadn't experienced ever since he held her hand as she coughed out blood, eyes glazing over as she gave him one last smile before closing her eyes.
His hand shakily reached for the phone, desperately needing confirmation from the foundation but, he stopped. Jotaro's mind raced, he knew that if the case was classified, it wasn't meant for him to see. It wouldn't be in his favor to let the foundation know that he knew about her acclaimed status of being alive.
He turned off the monitor, grabbed his room key and hastily strode out, slamming the door behind him.
Jotaro harshly knocked at his grandfathers room. Tapping his foot on the carpet out of impatience as he waited for an answer. As soon as Joseph opened the door holding the invisible baby, he quickly made his way to the television in the room.
"What's the matter, Jotaro?" Joseph asked in a concerned tone. Although Jotaro wore his usual stoic expression, it was obvious to Joseph that his grandson was aggravated and stressed beyond words.
"I need you to do me a favor." Jotaro breathed out, placing his hand on the television. "I need you to find (y/n) with Hermit Purple."
Joseph frowned, eyes lowering as he whispered out to the younger man before him.
"Jotaro... (y/n) has been dead for 12 years. I can't produce images of-"
"Shut up and do it." Jotaro said sharply at the old man, demanding action.
Joseph sighed. He knew how much she had meant to him and how her death had a detrimental impact on his life. But Jotaro had gotten married and even had a child. Though he did divorce, Joseph believed that Jotaro had given up on (y/n). Now he couldn't be so sure.
Placing the baby in her crib, Joseph hesitantly walked over to the television and placed his hands on the screen.
"Remember Jotaro. The dead don't come back." As Joseph said so, Hermit Purple's vines erupted from his gloved hands and plunged into the screen, causing striations to appear and flicker. Slowly, an image surfaced. Joseph's eyes widened in shock as Jotaro's narrowed.
On the screen was a young woman making her way across a busy crosswalk in what seemed to be Japan. She immediately turned around, her eyes glistening in the sunlight as she did so.
Jotaro watched silently as she frantically searched her surroundings, feeling eyes on her, not knowing where the intense gaze was coming from. Flickering, the screen went black and Joseph was the first to speak.
"J-Jotaro. That was... No it can't be! She was killed by DIO, there's no way she's alive!"
"Don't speak of this to anyone." Jotaro said, cap shading his eyes as he walked toward the door. "Tell Josuke and Koichi that I'll be back in a week." With that, Jotaro left.
***
The nostalgic sparkle in her eyes, slight curl of her lips, and how her hair swayed in the wind didn't leave his mind. She was just as he remembered her to be.
12 years. 12 years she was alive all this time yet she never came to see him. Why? He lived in agonizing ignorance, not forgiving himself for letting her die, and not telling her how much he loved and cherished her. Now she was back and he was going to find her.
Star Platinum had seen the minuscule street names while watching the short visual produced by Hermit Purple. She was in central Tokyo, a busy business district which was also home to the Japan base Headquarters for the Speedwagon Foundation. Jotaro grit his teeth as he pressed on the gas, eager to reach the metropolis.
***
For two days, he walked through and around the vicinity she was last seen. No luck. On the third day, Jotaro decided to go further. The sun beamed down onto the concrete jungle, it was noon and Jotaro scavenged as if he was a carnivore searching for prey. He turned a corner, taking him down a quieter alley lined with smaller shops. His hat covered his bright eyes as he paid attention to every detail, searching for any clue of her whereabouts.
He was beginning to feel himself become desperate and anxious. Considering the possibility of an elaborate mistake, the reality of death began to seep into his heart as he continued to carry himself through the narrow streets.
"Oh! Are you alright? I'll get those for you." A familiar voice caught his attention.
A young woman crouched down to pick up some fruits dropped by an elderly woman standing next to her. She had her back to Jotaro who had stopped and was silently watching. The woman wore a long navy coat similar to his, and a pair of brown, heeled ankle boots and a leather shoulder bag to match.
She stood up, turning to drop some oranges into the elderly woman's bag. Jotaro's breath caught in his throat as he saw her face; paralyzed, as his mind registered reality.
She smiled the same warm smile at the elderly woman, then turned to continue walking to her unnamed destination. She glanced over at the tall man standing a couple meters away from her.
Jotaro felt his body constrict, heart almost stopping as her gaze met his piercing stare. It was her. The woman who was never to return was present and alive right before him. But, his moment of incomprehensible emotion was abruptly ended.
She had halted for a split second, allotting time for her eyes to recognize the man in white. Her eyes widened and a pained expression swept across her face. Immediately, she broke into a sprint in the opposite direction. Desperately she ran, sharp clicks echoing off the stone walls as her heels hit the black, sweltering pavement.