Kumo layed flat on the bed, she sighed in comfort and relaxation.
"Daddy's out of the shower, Kumo, it's your turn, get up." Niku said, putting her hands on her hips.
Kumo groaned. "No shower... must relax... tummy too full..." Kumo said, continuing to lay on the bed.
"Ugh, you shouldn't have eaten that much, like, jeez. You're gonna get fat if you eat like that again." Niku said, trying to tell Kumo to cut down on eating.
Kumo puffed her cheeks. "No I'm not!" Kumo exclaimed.
"I know you won't but it isn't healthy, you'll live in pain." Niku said, hoping Kumo would listen to her.
"I don't have to..." Kumo said, starting to pout.
"Ugh, whatever, live a painful life." Niku said, walking into the bathroom.
"D-Daddy..." Utsu stuttered.
"Yeah? What's up, Utsu?" pepper asked, wondering what's on Utsu's mind.
"Um... When w-we were at the r-restaurant... I saw a-a girl... she had... b-blue hair." Utsu said, trying to tell pepper that there's another female pepper that knows about them.
"Yeah... I saw about four." pepper said, not understanding Utsu.
"N-No... Y-You don't understand..." Utsu said, shaking her head. "Um... She was o-outside the w-window..." Utsu said, trying to think clearly.
"Oh, so you mean a new one." pepper said, thinking he understands.
"Y-Yes!" Utsu's eyes lit up as she said that, she was glad he understood. "B-But... she wrote something... I-I couldn't read it... I'm s-sorry..." Utsu said, losing the light in her eyes.
"No, it's okay, Utsu. You let me know about her, that's all that matters." pepper said, crouching down to Utsu's level. "You did a good job, Utsu, thank you." pepper said, feeding Utsu head pats.
"Daddy, you're just a chick magnet, aren't you! Kehehe!" Kumo said, jokingly.
"I guess. Maybe it has something to do with me apparently being the only one that wants to protect you and make sure you're happy." pepper said, sharing his thoughts. "Or maybe it's just a sort of fate. Who knows?" pepper continued to think out loud.
"Whatever... We don't need to think about it, we just need to be happy!" Kumo said, rolling off ger stomach and onto her back, looking ready for bed.
"Right, I'll certainly do my best to keep you girls safe and happy." pepper said, looking serious.
"Fuhuhu. No need to stress yourself, you're lucky that Human food can satisfy me or I'd have to help you relieve some stress." Muma said, looking at pepper deviously.
"Yeah, I guess I am lucky." pepper said, not really understanding how that makes him lucky.
"Well, I am exhausted, a lot has happened today, and I'd like some rest, if you don't mind. Let's all get ready to sleep." Polly said, removing her shirt, exposing a massive wound across her back.
"Polly?! Why are you stripping?!" pepper shouted, in surprise.
"Huh? I cannot sleep unless I am nude." Polly said, turning just her head around to show another one of her creepy smiles.
"I-I see... Aren't you embarrassed at all?" pepper said, not getting the answer he was looking for.
"Why would I be? I am yours pepper... or do you prefer Daddy?" Polly asked, accidentally changing the subject.
"Um... Y-You can call me whatever you prefer." pepper said, answering her question as best he could. "B-But... Forget it... It's fine." pepper said, sighing at the realization that she won't change her mind.
"Have I upset you, Daddy? I apologize... I've been told I am... different..." Polly said, feeling bad for possibly upsetting pepper.
"N-No, I'm not upset, just a little surprised and... maybe confused is all. And you are different, but to me, it's a good different." pepper said, trying to light up her mood.
"I see... I'm glad you like that I am strange." Polly said, with a genuine smile.
"Now... let's just get ready for bed." pepper said, laying down next to Kumo.
"Alright... Let's see here." pepper said, while observing a large bookcase. "Hercules, no. Poseidon, no. The Giants, no. Ah, Zeus, here he is." pepper said, grabbing a book. "I'll take this to the lady at the front desk." pepper said, walking to the front desk.
"How can I help you?" The lady said, looking bored.
"I'd like this book, please." pepper said, handing the lady his book.
"Do you have an account? If not you can make one there." The lady said pointing at the tablet.
"Oh, alright, I don't have one." pepper said, as he moved over to the tablet and made his account.
"Great, here you go." The lady said, handing the book back to pepper.
"How much is it?" pepper asked, getting his wallet out.
"Sir, it's free, this is a library." The lady said, looking puzzled at pepper.
"Oh, sorry, I've never been to a library before." pepper said, apologizing.
"I can tell." The lady said, rolling her eyes sarcastically.
'Who knew you could just take books for free? Perhaps I have to return it soon? I'll do that.' pepper thought, as he walked out of the library.
"Daddy!" Kumo said, happily, as pepper opened the door.
"Hey, everyone, I'm back." pepper said, with a smile.
"What'd you even get?" Niku said, crossing her arms.
"I got this book, it's about Zeus. I thought I should learn about him if he's gonna be my enemy." pepper said, looking at the book.
"Reading? That's lame..." Muma said, smooshing her lips together.
"I don't think so. Reading has taught me a lot. There's a lot that I don't remember, so reading has helped me." pepper said, smiling, hoping they'd understand.
"Ugh, don't care." Niku said, rolling over on the bed to look away from pepper.
pepper looked down with a little bit if disappointment. "Well, I'm gonna read this..." pepper said, sitting in between Kumo and Niku on the bed.
'Really? Zeus has brothers? I hope most of this is just myths, these brothers seem like a pain, I hope they aren't a problem.' pepper thought, to himself as he reads the book.
'So, he's apart of Greek mythology, no one knows if he's real but science points against it. Hm... maybe I was lied to, maybe there is no Zeus.' pepper thought, thinking of possibilities.
'Zeus and other Gods frequently visit Mount Olympus, which is exclusively for the God, Goddesses, and Angels, huh? Angels...' pepper thought, as he read more of the book.
'Well, I did meet an angel, so maybe Zeus is real.' pepper thought, still trying to figure it out.
"Ugh! How long are you gonna, like, stare at that stupid book? Niku shouted, at pepper.
"Huh? What's wrong?" pepper said, as he closed the book.
"I dunno! But you reading that book is pissing me off." Niku said, getting mad over something so small.
"Alright, I'm sorry. Do you wanna do something?" pepper said, genuinely feeling sorry.
"I don't even know what there is to, like, do here on Earth." Niku said, rolling her eyes.
"Fine, let's just take a walk and look around. Just you and me. What do you say?" pepper said, throwing out ideas.
"Whatever, it's better than sitting here." Niku said, walking to the door.
'Oh boy... She's definitely a hand full.' pepper thought, as he got off the bed.
"Bye! Have fun!" Kumo said, making a huge smile at them as they left.
"Jeez, it's already so freakin' late." Niku said, getting annoyed again.
"Don't like the dark?" pepper asked, as he kept walking with her.
"It's not that!" Niku quickly responded, getting a bit flustered.
"Hey, Niku." pepper said, grabbing her hand.
"Wh-Why are you holding my hand?!" Niku shouted, getting even more flustered.
"I've felt three presences for a while now. It's gone up to four and higher, but it's never left three. Myself, you, and one other. I was trying to get them off our tail, which is why it got late." pepper explained, trying to tell Niku the situation.
"So, there's, like, someone following us?" Niku asked, making sure she understood.
"Maybe, but that's my guess. Just seems odd to me." pepper said, looking around to try and see anyone.
"Ugh, where even are we? We've gone so far away from the hotel!" Niku shouted, getting frustrated.
"This is the place where I first awakened. My first memory is getting up right there on that sidewalk." pepper said, pointing at the sidewalk infront of them.
"What happened here? That place looks like it was, like, burned." Niku said, wondering if pepper knew.
"I have no clue, that gas station was like that when I woke up." pepper responded, unable to answer her question.
"Finally, you went down this street." An unknown voice said, sounding like it was all around them.
"Ugh! I am NOT in the mood to fight right now!" Niku shouted, trying to tell whoever it is to go away.
"Niku. If I tell you to run, then run and don't look back." pepper said, with a serious face. "You have your key, right?" pepper continued.
"Wh-What? Yeah, I have it... But I'm not, like, leaving you here." Niku said, looking at pepper with a confused and slightly scared face.
"I didn't ask you if you wanted to. Your safety is my number one priority. You will do as I say." pepper said, starting to get protective.
"Um... O-Okay..." Niku said, slowly, agreeing to what pepper demanded.
"Hey. Did you miss me? You remember right? Right?!" The voice said, sounding cute but angry.
pepper pulled Niku against him and held her tight. Niku blushed and felt confused.
"Hey, why aren't you talking? Are you scared?" The voice continued.
"No. I'm being cautious and waiting for you to show yourself." pepper said, responding to the voice.
"I see that you must care for that girl deeply, holding her so tight, you don't want her to die, right?" The voice said, continuing to bother pepper.
"What do you want?" pepper asked, seeing if he can satisfy this person and be on with his night.
"Revenge" The voice said, happily.
"Revenge? On, like, who?" Niku said, thinking out loud.
"Revenge on him!" The voice shouted, making Niku jump.
"Me? What did I do? I didn't exist-" pepper said, getting cut off by the voice.
"Shut up!" The voice shouted. "I don't want your excuses." A girl said, walking out from the alley that pepper met Nidai in. This girl had the same voice as the voice they heard around them. This girl had short blue hair, and red hair that was almost like pig tails that came off both sides of her head. She a right eye that was blue eye and her left eye was red, but the blue eye was much brighter than the other girls, it was about as bright as Tenshi's eyes. She wore a black dress that exposed her shoulders and collar bone, and her skin was pale, as pale as Polly's.
"Oh, you're a female pepper." pepper said, not expecting her to be one.
"You didn't know? Or are you playing dumb?" The girl said, walking closer to pepper.
"Daddy." Another voice said, the voice aslo surrounded pepper and Niku.
"Polly?" pepper asked, the voice.
"This is another Ghost. But she has turned into a Vengeful Ghost. That means the rules that I mentioned before are mostly irrelevant to her." Polly said, in her spirit-like state.
"Well great. What exactly can she do?" pepper asked, trying to learn what he can.
"I am not sure, I have never delt with one before, I only know of their existence." Polly said, in her spirit-like state, not able to give any helpful information.
"Alright. Tell the girls what's going on and stay in the hotel, lock the door." pepper said, staring down the girl.
"Understood." Polly said, as she reverted from her spirit-like state, disappearing instantly.
"Look, I don't want to hurt you." pepper said, trying to figure out another way to deal with the situation.
"Yeah, right. If that was true... I wouldn't be here..." The girl said, looking angry and sad at the same time.
"Please, don't try to attack me, I won't fight you." pepper said, begging her not to attack.
"You didn't stop when I begged you!" The girl said, angerly, as she flew towards pepper and Niku. "Hahaha! Sweet, sweet revenge! This'll be fun!" The girl laughed.
"Please!" pepper continued begging.
"Silence!" The girl shouted, flinging her arm at pepper causing both him and Niku to go flying backwards.
"Woah!" pepper yelled, as he crashed into a wall, using his body to protect Niku.
"pepper! Are you okay?" Niku said, worryingly.
pepper caughed up a little blood. "Yeah, nothing I can't handle." pepper said, smiling at Niku.
"Quit smiling!" The girl shouted, getting annoyed.
"Just leave us the hell alone! Jeez." Niku shouted, at the girl.
"I'm gonna kill you where you killed me, but you won't get a second chance like I did." The girl said, as she slowly walked closer to pepper.
"What are you-" pepper said, getting cut off by the girl.
"SHUT UP!" The girl screamed. "I can't listen to your voice anymore... It hurts too much... Just please, shut up." The girl continued, starting to cry.
'I don't know what happened to her... But I guess it's my fault somehow... I'm sorry...' pepper thought, staying quiet just like she asked.
"What did he even, like, do to you?" Niku asked, trying to understand the girl's motive.
"He murdered me... In that gas station." The girl said, pointing at the burned gas station.
"H-He would do that!" Niku shouted, in disbelief.
"Well, he did!" The girl shouted, back.
'I don't remember doing anything of the sort, eber since I woke up I've only wanted to protect, not hurt... But what about before I woke up? Was there a time that I can't remember... that I killed her? No, I would never. She must have the wrong guy.' pepper thought, trying to figure out his past.
"Look... I'm not sure what happened to you... But I just woke up from that side walk right there a few days ago. Anything that happened before that in my life... I don't remember." pepper said, trying to explain himself. "So if I really did kill you... I'm different than whoever I was before, and I'm really sorry..." pepper said, starting to think that he really did kill her.
"What do you mea-" Thr girl said, getting cut off by Niku.
"Ugh! I don't care what happened. If you're not gonna, like, fight her, then I will!" Niku said, as she jumped at the girl, grabbing her by her hair.
"Oww!" The girl shouted, as she pulled Niku's hair, causing them to both fall on the ground. Niku went to a swing but she stopped when she heard pepper.
"Hey, stop it!" pepper said, running over to the girls, picking them both up, and prying them off each other. "Niku, that's enough." pepper said, telling her to stop.
"Ugh, whatever!" Niku said, being annoyed.
"Look, I don't know who you are, but I guess you know me. But let's just start over." pepper said, smiling at the girl.
'This... feeling... it's exactly like when I first met him... Maybe he's telling the truth...' The girl thought, to herself.
"My name is pepper, it's nice to meet you." pepper said, with a genuine smile.
"What? Your name isn't-" The girl said cutting herself off. 'No... he's clearly different... but what if... Fine, sometimes you need to take risks.' The girl thought to herself. "Nevermind. I'm Mae..." Mae said, feeling a bit paranoid.
"Mae... That is an interesting name, but I like it." pepper said, smiling.
"Ugh, get a room." Niku said, feeling slightly jealous.
"Hey." pepper said, hugging Mae. "I'm really, really sorry for anything that I've done in the past." pepper said, his eyes beginning to tear. "You can hate that me all you want, but this is a new me. I don't know much about my past at all, but I know there's a bright future ahead for everyone. And if you want, we could share ours with you..." pepper continued, holding her tighter.
Mae's eyes started to tear and eventually she started to cry. "Your words... th-they resonate more than, like, ever before..." Mae said, feeling extremely confused.
"Ugh, you would, like, pull another one out of another bull shit situation, gimme a frickin' break..." Niku said, getting annoyed.
'Mount Olympus... The place seems interesting at the least, how am I gonna find it? Is this even the right book? It shows a map, it says it's only a few years old so it can't be completely out of date or anything.' pepper thought, questioning this map. 'The map shows places I've never heard of or seen on any other map, it shows places called The United States, China, Australia, Japan, and many more. They don't exist on any map I've seen here. What does it mean?' pepper thought, as he closed the book, turned off the lamp, and rolled over in the bed.