Peni jumped out of the large castle doors, and as the zombies noticed her and groaned as they stumbled to run over, the Phantom appeared from Peni's storage portal. The Phantom's arm was the only thing that came out, it grabbed a zombie by its neck and threw it into a group of zombies not far away. "Come on! We have a path! I'll leave you if I have to!" Peni yelled, as she ran past the zombies.
Kumetsu, Maruchi, Tetsu, and Kuream all followed Peni, leaving Tenshi at the castle. 'Since when did she start putting emotion in her voice? She must really be worried about Tenshi...' Maruchi thought, as they were all surprised by Peni's tone.
"She's getting pretty far, we've gotta catch up!" Kuream said, as she started to run faster.
"Yeah." Maruchi said, agreeing as she pushed herself to go faster. Tetsu quietly went ahead of them, quickly catching up with Peni.
"There's Peni!" Kuream yelled, as both her and Maruchi caught up.
"About time." Peni said, obviously annoyed.
"I'm still not exactly full of blood, y'know!" Maruchi shouted, feeling pretty angry that Peni made her run so fast and far.
"Any Zombies on your trail?" Peni asked, as she observed the door to the old building.
"No, I don't think there's any." Kuream said, as she looked around.
"Good. Come on." Peni said, as she opened the door.
"Yes, Ma'am!" Kumetsu shouted, as she rushed into the building, behind Peni, along with Tetsu who quietly followed.
"I didn't even realize those two were here already..." Maruchi said, trying to rest still.
"I'll wait with you, we can catch up in a moment." Kuream said, as she kept watching over the old porch of the abandoned-looking building.
"N-No... Tenshi risked her life for you, and I'm sure she'd do the same for all of us..." Maruchi said, as she stood up straight. "It's only fair that I do the same!" Maruchi continued, as she walked into the building.
"Oh, I guess that's true." Kuream said, as she followed Maruchi.
"Any idea where this... Flame thingy is?" Maruchi asked, as she caught up with Peni who wasn't far ahead.
"Not a clue, but we'll search this place top to bottom." Peni said, in a serious voice.
"Yay..." Kuream said, softly and sarcastically, dreading the idea.
"Where should we starrrrt?" Kumetsu asked, as she floated through the air, following Peni.
"Hmm..." Peni mumbled, as she looked around.
"I'll count to twenty, and you hide, kay?" A voice said, which sounded close to the girls.
"Huh?" Maruchi asked, as she turned her head towards Kumetsu.
"One." The voice spoke again.
"That wasn't Kumetsu, or any of us." Maruchi said, realizing it as she was looking at Kumetsu when the voice spoke again.
"Two." The voice spoke again.
"It said hide, that means we've gotta hide!" Peni said, quickly, as she ran down a hallway to look for a hiding spot.
"Three." The voice spoke again.
"What should we do?" Kuream asked, becoming worried.
"Hide, obviously!" Maruchi yelled, failing to understand how Kuream doesn't get it yet.
"Four." The voice spoke again.
"Bye byeee!" Kumetsu said, as she floated into the floor.
"We just gotta hide?" Tetsu asked, as she began to understand. "Got it!" Tetsu said, as she began to crawl up the wall.
"Five." The voice spoke again.
'We're already one-fourth of the way through the counting...' Maruchi thought, as she looked around.
"I-I don't like this!" Kuream said, with a scared and worried tone, as she rushed to the door.
"Six." The voice spoke again.
"Where are you going?!" Maruchi yelled, as she watched Kuream run.
"Anywhere but here, this is strange!" Kuream shouted, as she made it through the door way.
'Says the zombie...' Maruchi thought, sensing irony, but not realizing her own irony.
"Seven" The voice spoke again.
"Kuream, come back!" Maruchi yelled, trying to get Kuream's attention.
"Aaahhhh!" Kuream screamed, from outside.
"Oh, shit!" Maruchi said, as she ran up the stairs she saw. 'I'm sorry, Kuream, I don't have time to worry about you!' Maruchu thought, as she made her way up the stairs.
"Eight." The voice spoke again.
'Left... or right...?' Maruchi thought, looking both ways.
"Nine." The voice spoke again.
'Left!' Maruchi thought, as she made a quick decision.
'This'll have to do...' Peni thought, as she closed some small door, shutting herself in somewhere.
"Ten." The voice spoke again.
'You better leave me alone...' Peni thought, as she saw a spider web close to her head.
"Eleven." The voice spoke again.
'I'll pick the second room on the right, I guess.' Maruchi thought, as she rushed down the left hallway, and looked at her choices.
"Twelve." The voice spoke again, as Maruchi went into the room that she'd picked. There was a single metal bedframe in the bottom left corner, the room was dark and difficult to see, it bothered Maruchi. In the top right corner was a bunch of boxes that reeked an awful smell that filled the room. In the bottom right corner was a mouse hole that was near mouse droppings. And in the top left corner there was a big, wooden dresser, its right door was left open and the left was still closed, the inside of the right door had scratch marks, they seemed more human than the sratch marks on the outside of the left one. Maruchi looked around at everything, observing as much as she could within a second.
"Thirteen." The voice spoke again.
Maruchi rushed to the back side of the room. 'It's my only option! I don't have time to check the other rooms!' Maruchi thought, as she hopped in the dresser to hide, though she left the doors how they were, hoping that it'd seem less suspicious if she left it the way it was.
"Fourteen." The voice spoke again.
'I feel bad for Kuream... I tried to stop her... but she didn't listen.' Maruchi thought, wondering what happened to Kuream.
"Fifteen." The voice spoke again.
'Maybe... it had something to do with this girl's ability? Assuming she even has one.' Maruchi thought, trying to figure things out in the little time she has.
"Sixteen." The voice spoke again.
'She's almost done counting... I'm getting nervous...' Maruchi thought, as her chest began to feel light, and her body began to shake slightly.
"Seventeen." The voice spoke again.
'Nervousness... it's been a while... Can't say I missed it though.' Maruchi thought, trying to distract herself with anything.
"Eighteen." The voice spoke again.
'Does it end here? Just when... I found friends... when I found trust again...' Maruchi thought, beginning to worry about the others.
"Nineteen." The voice spoke again.
'And, what about pepper? We're only doing all of this because he got himself killed or something... This is his fault if he die... No I shouldn't think that.' Maruchi thought, trying to find someone to blame for this situation.
"Twenty." The voice spoke again.
'Here we go...' Maruchi thought, as she grew slightly more nervous.
'It's time...' Peni thought, at the same time as Maruchi, right after the voice spoke, as she sat in almost complete darkness, aside drom the small holes in the wooden box that let light in, though the light wasn't bright in the slightest.
"Ready or not... here I come, kay?" The voice spoke, as Maruchi heard footsteps.
'Sh-She must be nearby...' Maruchi thought, becoming worried for herself.
"I'll explain the rules as I search for the four of you." The voice spoke, as Maruchi could hear the door across from the room Maruchi is in open, creeking slowly.
'If I opened that door instead... That could have been the end of me...' Maruchi thought, realizing how dangerous her decisions were.
"Umm... So, you'll all be able to hear my footsteps if I'm close to you, and there is no time limit, this ends once I give up or I've found all of you, kay?" The voice spoke, explaining rules to what she sees as a game.
'Is this really just a game? Is Kuream still... alive?" Maruchi thought, trying to look on the more hopeful side.
"It's been so long since I had friends to play with!" The voice spoke, sounding childishly excited. "I wonder why no one ever comes to see me... It's been... so many years that I've been alone..." The voice spoke again, losing the excitement in her tone. "But it's all okay now! Because I have new friends! And... you won't leave me, right?" The voice continued, asking as if they'd respond while they're in hiding.
'I don't have time for this, just hurry up and give up!' Peni thought, as she became impatient. 'Why am I acting like this? I've been so worried about Tenshi that I didn't notice how strange I've been acting... what happened to me?' Peni continued thinking, as she waited to either get found or for the seeker to give up.
"I know you won't leave me. Hahaha!" The voice spoke, as the voice's person walked away from the door to the room that Maruchi was hiding in. "Because I'll find you, then you won't be able to leave me!" The voice spoke, walking but not sounding farther by much.
Maruchi hadn't realized it until now, but the voice sounded like it was all around her, though Peni noticed it before.
'While they hide, I'll look for the Family of Together, or whatever it was called... kehe...' Kumetsu thought, as she floated around, throughout the underneath of the house. 'Just dirt... just dirt... just dirt... just dirt... Aha! Some brickssss!' Kumetsu continued thinking, making sure to be quiet, as she knew she should be hiding too. Kumetsu peeked her head through a brick wall, she looked around and saw a short staircase that went down from the old house. When Kumetsu looked up, she could see what looked like a trap door, and it was locked. 'The weird girl that's looking for us would never think we could get down here without breaking the lock, so I should be in the clear.' Kumetsu thought, as she began to float downward, trying to figure out what's down the stairs.
"You'll be my friends forever... I'll take wonderful care of you... so, please... let me find the rest of you." The voice spoke, as she began to search the house. "You wouldn't want Kuream to be left alone, would you?" The voice continued, almost begging for them to come out.
'Kuream is alive! That's good...' Maruchi thought, feeling relieved. 'Wait... how does she know her name?' Maruchi continued thinking, finding it strange that this unkown voice knows Kuream's name. The footsteps ring, sounding farther and farther away from Maruchi, when they suddenly stop. And then, soon after, they begin again, continuing as if nothing had happened. 'What was that? Why'd this person stop?' Maruchi thought, hoping that Kumetsu, Tetsu, and Peni are safe.
"Maybe... I should check behind me, first." The voice called out, tuning itself to cause suspense and fear to anyone who may be here she intends to go.
'Behind her? If she went down the hallway... then, that'd be... where I am...' Maruchi thought, gaining the fear and suspense that the girl had hoped to cause.
"Hehe... I'm gonna check these doors, kay?" The voice spoke, hoping to alert anyone behind any of the doors.
'Shit! She really is coming here!' Maruchi thought, as she began to breathe heavily.
"Oooh... That's where you are... I found you! Yay!" The girl's voice said, as she kicked in the door that Maruci had entered previously. Maruchi jumped slightly, not expecting such a loud noise so suddenly.
'Please, Peni, Tetsu, Kumetsu... You have to get out of here somehow!' Maruchi thought, hoping that they can survive and help Tenshi. 'I'm done for...' Maruchi thought, as she began to give up hope.
"I can smell the fear that lingers off of you... But I don't really like scaring you... I just wanna be friends... forever..." The girl's voice spoke, as the girl slowly grew closer to the big dresser that Maruchi had hid inside.
'She'll get me anyway... It's worth a shot!' Maruchi thought, as she bursted out of the desser and faced the girl that was seeking them. This girl had short, blue hair that began to curl at the end. And in front of her ears, there was red hair that peeked out. Her skin was extremely pale, exactly like Kumetsu's, and her eyes were both pink. She wore a pink bow in her hair, and she had a red and black-striped sweater on that was shoulderless. And ontop of her shoulderless sweater, she had a gray jacket that was barely even on her. Her face was filled with joy at the sight of Maruchi, her pink eyes wide as she stared at her in surprise, along with a smile that could only be called off-putting, but it seemed sweet in a way.
"Oh! Hehe! I've never had a hider surprise me like that!" The girl said, as her voice didn't sound an echo anymore.
"You... I knew it, you're a female pepper, aren't you?" Maruchi asked, trying to confirm her hunch.
"Mhm! I am." The girl said, as she shook her head up and down just once.
"Look, we're all female pepper's too, we're trying to gather a bunch of friends to help a friend be revived." Maruchi said, hoping she can convince this girl to not only spare them, but also join them as their seventh member, leaving only three more to find.
"I don't understand..." The girl said, as she looked confused at Maruchi.
"It's friends you want, right? We'll gladly be your friends, all you need to do is join us." Maruchi said, trying to show the girl what she wants.
"So... you'll be my friends?" The girl asked, still looking confused.
"Yeah, we will, just stop seeking us, and give us Kuream back too." Maruchi said, trying to negotiate a little.
"Would you be my friend... if I said no?" The girl asked, looking into Maruchi's eyes.
"I already am your friend though." Maruchi said, with a light smile.
The girl gasped. "Really? We-We're friends?!" The girl asked, beginning to become excited.
"Yeah, I mean... unless you don't want to." Maruchi said, looking away.
"No! I want to!" The girl shouted, becoming worried that they'd no longer be friends.
"That's great!" Maruchi said, with a bright smile. 'I know I had to lie a little... but it's fine, this girl's happy, we're all safe, we can help Tenshi, and we have another female pepper.' Maruchi thought, feeling slightly guilty for lying.
"So... the rest of the girls here... are my friends too?" The girl asked, hoping that was the case.
"Yes, they'll gladly be your friends too, let's go meet them." Maruchi said, hoping the others will trust them and come out of hiding.
"Yay! Let's go! Kay?" The girl said, as she began to swiftly walk to the door.
"Wait." Maruchi said, holding her arm out towards the girl.
"Huh?" The girl said, as she stopped and tirned around.
"What's your name? We're friends so I thought we should introduce ourselves. I'm Maruchi." Maruchi said, introducing herself to the girl.
"Oh, I'm C-Ku! I'm really glad we're friends!" C-Ku said, as she took Maruchi's hand and shook it.
"Okay, C-Ku, I wanted to ask if you could, possibly, bring Kuream back?" Maruchi asked, hoping that's a possibility.
"Oh, sure she's right here. Kay?" C-Ku said, as she held out a plush doll that looked identical to Kuream.
'Holy shit... is that...?' Maruchi thought, failing to believe her eyes as they widely looked at what C-Ku held. "Can... you bring her back to normal?" Maruchi asked, still feeling a bit surprised and worried.
"Oh, sure." C-Ku said, as she sat the doll of Kuream on the floor and then poked it, causing smoke to appear and clear quickly.
"Kuream?" Maruchi asked, wondering if it's actually Kuream who lays in the spot where the doll was. 'She... looks like Kuream, I'm sure it's her. This ability is strange though...' Maruchi thought, feeling a little worried about what might happen if they get on C-Ku's bad side.
"Where... am I?" Kuream asked, as she stood up.
"Kuream, you're okay, right?" Maruchi asked, as she stepped a little closer.
"Yeah, I think so." Kuream said, as she looked around. "Wait, are we still in that creepy house?!" Kuream said, as she noticed how damaged and eerie the surrounding room is.
"Yeah, we are. But everything's okay now, see?" Maruchi said, as she walked closer to C-Ku and put her hands on C-Ku's shoulders, as if she was presenting her.
"Is that the creepy counting girl?" Kuream asked, looking freaked out.
"Yeah, her name's C-Ku, and she's our friend now." Maruchi said, as C-Ku happily smiled as she tried to greet Kuream.
"O-Okay..." Kuream said, as she felt suspicious about the situation.
"Come on, we've gotta tell the others that they don't need to hide to anymore!" Maruchi shouted, as her and C-Ku rushed out of the room.
"W-Wait up! I don't wanna be left in here!" Kuream yelled, as she ran to catch up.
'Phantom... you'll be quite useful here...' Peni thought, as she had come up with a plan.
"Peni went this way, let's stick together." Peni heard Maruchi say, as footsteps grow closer.
'Wait... is the coast clear?' Peni thought, wondering if there is no longer a threat. 'Did Maruchi defeat the enemy?' Peni continued thinking, trying to piece together what might have happened.
"So, she's behind this door then?" Peni heard C-Ku say, as it went quiet for a moment.
'Who was that?' Peni thought, as she found the voice familiar but hard to place. And suddenly, the door was kicked in, though it didn't seem to surprise Peni. 'That... didn't sound very friendly.' Peni thought, as she believes the person to be hostile.
"Why'd you kick the door in?! That scared me!" Kuream shouted, becoming annoyed at C-Ku.
"I'll find her, kay?" C-Ku said, as she skipped into the room to search for Peni.
'I can see her through the cracks... she's another female pepper... I'll force her to join us, find the stupid Flame, and get the hell out of here.' Peni thought, as she knew exactly what she'd do.
"Peni? That's your name, right? Come out, kay?" C-Ku asked, trying to get Peni to come out. "Hmmm..." C-Ku muttered, as she walked around, and eventually made her way near where Peni is hiding.
'Wait... Wait... NOW!' Peni thought, as her Phantom appeared in front of C-Ku.
C-Ku gasped in shock and failed to move. "Ahhh!" C-Ku shouted, feeling frightened by the dark, shadow-like, humanoid creature.
"C-Ku?!" Maruchi yelled, as her and Kuream rushed into the room. They both saw Peni standing in the middle of the room, and Peni's Phantom that held C-Ku off the ground by her neck, they could see C-Ku squirming and she looked scared and confused.
"P-Peni, stop!" Kuream yelled, catching Peni's attention.
"Stop it! She's our friend!" Maruchi yelled, as Peni turned around to face them.
"Are you certain?" Peni asked, not believing Kuream or Maruchi.
"YES!" Maruchi yelled, becoming frustrated.
"Okay." Peni said, as her Phantom let go of C-Ku, causing her to fall to the ground as she caught her breathe. The Phantom crawled back into its dimension, as Kuream and Maruchi quickly helped C-Ku up.
"I... I thought you said... we were all friends..." C-Ku said, feeling lied to.
"We are! Peni just didn't know, please forgive her..." Maruchi said, feeling bad for C-Ku.
"Do you... promise?" C-Ku asked, looking up at Maruchi with puppy-dog eyes.
"Yeah, I do. Isn't that right, Peni?" Maruchi asked, as she turned over to Peni, who nodded.
"Yay! Friends!" C-Ku shouted, beginning to smile again.
"Alright, do you know where the Flame of Forever is?" Peni asked, as she walked closer to C-Ku.
"Mhm, I can show you, kay?" C-Ku asked, as she began to walk out of the room to guide them.