Omake 19: Tender Affection (1)

Just as I concluded those musings, I felt the carriage slowing down its pace and then… it came to a pause.

My thoughts were smoothly drowned as I let my own state of masterful composure, born from experience and practice, take over the expressions of my new face as I prepared for quite the encounter.

I didn’t need to create issues with the one waiting just outside the vehicle, I didn’t certainly need to spark the Dio-Joestars rivalry that would see me failing horribly and painfully.

I was too attached to life to consider falling onto the overly-childish attitude displayed by the younger Dio and his self-destructive anger toward rich people.

But I couldn’t certainly behave too ‘kindly’ with the fellow, I needed to keep myself polite and ‘friendly’ before the gullible young man that was Jonathan Joestar.

So I slowly stood up from my seat, ignoring my aching legs as I took hold of my baggage with both of my hands, and I moved to leave the limited place.

The door opened calmly, part of my giddy self almost demanding to try and pull off the same dramatic stunt the blond achieved in Canon… but I wasn’t in the general mood to fail epicly thanks to my uncoordinated sense of mind-body.

While my body had changed, my mind had remained untouched and… still prone to commit quite the awkward physical reactions when given the unique opportunities.

Descending from the small height between the carriage’s room and the floor, I closed the door behind me and… I turned to see a happy-looking woman standing right there, waiting for me. A frown adorned my face as I tried to make sense of who I was looking at. This wasn’t Jonathan Joestar… yet she was still familiar to me. At least through the series itself.

It took me a moment to recognize her. She was a brunette with her hair combed in a short manner, her warm chocolate-shaded eyes regarded me with motherly affection and curiosity. The lovely creature was wearing a simple suave yellow pink dress. Her smile was shining in a way I had rarely seen in a person, and I could help but urge myself to not gawk at her beauty.

This was… Mary Joestar. This was Jonathan’s mother and George’s wife.

…

What is going on here?

“Why hello!” She greeted me with a gorgeous voice, my eyes having to widen a fraction more as she regarded me with such warmth.

Like seriously, why is she here? Shouldn’t she have died in that carriage accident ages ago? Shouldn’t her lack in the series be the main motivation that drove George to take in Dio? If she was here, why was I summoned to this mansion?

“You must be Dio Brando, a pleasure to meet you,” She continued with a caring tone. “I’m Mary Joestar.”

Yep, that’s her but… why do I feel like I’m still missing something important?

Soon, an even more familiar individual leaned to the side, standing behind the kind woman. Dark-blue hair, a lighter-shade for the eyes… That was Jonathan.

“This is your brother, Jonathan,” Mary introduced him to me, but paused as we both glanced on the other side. A pup moved closer, and I was surprised to notice how calmer Danny was in this universe compared to the original one. There was no doubt in my mind that this was indeed an alternative universe, and I wasn’t sure this was a good thing or a bad one for me. “Oh! And Danny, our beloved dog.”

Jonathan took initiative, shyly waving at me and I silently returned the gesture. My mind was just having a hard time wrapping up the entirety of the situation, and I couldn’t exactly blame myself for keeping quiet until now with how absurd things were turning into. And before I could say anything about the matter, the woman offered her open palm, the one that had her wedding ring on.

The one Dario Brando tried to steal in the original universe from her dead body.

“Well, come along, Dio. Your father is waiting inside.”

It was at that very moment that I realized what I was actually missing out from the bigger picture. Brother, father… The reason why I was taken in wasn’t to be used as a ward to be shown around like a trophy, a sign of kindness manifested through my presence here in the Joestar family.

No, I, Dio Brando, had been supposedly adopted in the Joestar family. And from the looks of it, it was Mary the one that had spearheaded this idea. Not that I didn’t like the better disposition but… I was grasped by uncertainty. What if this ‘improvement’ was there to heighten a greater tragedy? What if the challenges before my path were going to be tougher to match up with this pleasant first step in this new life of mine?

“Y-Yes,” I eventually answered, allowing her to grasp my hand as I had it sat on her palm. The softness of the glove mixed well with the comfy warmth coming from her pale skin. “Lady Joestar.”

She giggled at my response, making me frown for a moment… but from the way Jonathan was eager to show sheepishness I could tell the ‘joke’ wasn’t really one to begin with.

“Oh, please! Call me ‘mother’,” Mary corrected with a happy smile. “You’re my son now after all.”

…

I blinked, nodding at her as I failed to compute why I was having this much trouble with a woman of her caliber. Maybe it was because I didn’t know much about her and her behavior was catching me off-guard, or maybe it was because her tender care reminded me so much of… my own mother.

Gulping nervously, I hoped nobody noticed that I was putting my whole being into not tearing apart as I felt overwhelmed by the situation. I expected a gritty reality… and I was blessed with motherly love.

“Y-Yes… mother.”

Her smile widened, and I could tell that by saying that I had made her day. We soon started to walk towards the manor, and I felt my heart swell at how nicely my stay here at the manor has begun- no, how nicely my stay here at my new home has begun.

Yes, I, Dio, was feeling happy of how bright the future looked… and I was going to protect this at all costs!