---CHAPTER IV: Gunshots (Part 2)---

~Reader-chan's PoV~

I know this part of the game...but things aren't really making sense. Why did Japan and the others suddenly disappear? Did I jump through time or something? No.. I'm not that far in the game yet...

I was thinking of so many things that I didn't notice that we were already in the fourth floor.

All three of us went inside the room with the AmeriMochi in it.

England then notices something. "Oh! That's..." He points to the red chair.

"What a creepy chair.It looks like a cursed chair I saw somewhere." China comments.

*coughBusby'sChaircough*

England fell silent.

"Well, we've come all the way to the 4th floor,but... everything looks pretty normal. The air is terrible, though." He finally says.

China nods. "The bad feeling still isn't gone. Let's go back to France and go home!"

England agrees. "Yeah. Well, let's--"

On cue, we heard gun shots.

"That sound..." England whispers.

China furrowed his eyebrows. "Is it the sound of America's pistol? He fired a lot."

England gave a worried look. "That means something must have happened,right?"

"In a place like this? Don't you think he just fell for Russia's provocation?" China reasons.

"Oh, well.They do get carried away when they mess around with each other..." England agrees.

"Are... you guys sure?" I ask quietly.

"No... I feel that it's something different from messing around...Anyway, let's join France and go take a look." China finally says.

England huffs. "Pfffff...If you insist!"

We then rushed down to the second floor.

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==2nd floor==

"15 minutes...

... Isn't France coming?" England says as he tapped his shoes on the floor.

"What's the meaning of this? It shouldn't take this long to see the second floor." China says.

"Maybe he got tired of waiting and went downstairs?" England concludes.

"Well, he certainly gets bored easily. I'll check the rooms on the second floor tomake sure we didn't miss each other. You two wait here!" China tells us.

England nods. "Yeah, or else we might miss each other again."

"W-Wait!" I exclaimed.

China then turned around to face me. "What is it, aru?"

"I want to check that room over there, too." I told him.

China then motions me to join him. "Alright. Let's go."

We entered the fireplace room again.

"Mhhm...So they really aren't here.." I say softly.

China walks over to the fireplace "Burnt firewood...So this is the source of the bad smell."

I went closer to where China was and saw him very confused and out of words.

Finally, he was able to speak, "... Huh?

These are? No doubt about it... It'--Japan's clothes.

Wh-why are they covered in blood like this...? There are... remains of several things in the fireplace. But I can't tell what got burnt." He states frantically.

"O-Oh...let's go back to England, then.." I tell him.

We met up with England who was by the staircase.

"Well? Did you find him?" He asks.

China didn't answer.

"You--you look frightfully pale! Wh-what have you got there?" England pointed to the cloth that China held.

"It's... It's Japan's clothes...Half of it got burnt, though..." He said, showing it to England.

England inspected the item. "This is... blood... right? Wait, did you say they're Japan's clothes? You mean they?"

I tried to say something, but China spoke before I could.

"This place is dangerous! But if Japan is here,it's a different matter! I'll look for him and then go home!"

"C-calm down, I say!Try thinking about this rationally! Why would Japan be here?

Listen, we only came here because we went along with America's idiotic story and had nothing better to do, right?" England asks.

"That's why this is so weird!" China says, exasperated.

"You said it yourself, didn't you? You sent that message to Japan.

When you talked to him about it at the meeting place, he said, 'I'll see what I can do,' which is what he says when he doesn't want to do something, so he didn't come. And when we got into the mansion, you sent him a message saying, 'We're here', and he replied, 'Be careful,' only once.

But he sent that from the meeting place!" England explained.

China pauses for a moment. "Oh..."

"Just think about it.He's in the meeting place right now! He couldn't possibly have got here before us." England continues.

I was supposed to say something again...but China cut me off....again.. Dangit, China!

"Th-then what is this?! These are the same clothes that Japan was wearing today! Why would the same clothes be burning in the fireplace?!" He asks loudly.

England tried to think of a sound reason "Well..."

"France is missing, too. America was shooting at something. This place is too weird! I'll go talk to the others about it. And also, we should really get you to somewhere more safe and less weird, _____." China says.

I am finally noticed, but all is not forgiven. I pout internally.

England nods. "All right. Anyway, let's go back. The chances that these belong to Japan? Well, we can't be sure of anything yet. Let's go."

China, England and I then rush downstairs. When we reached the first floor, I told them that "I think I heard something in the kitchen."

-------------

When we entered the kitchen, we saw the Thing battling against Russia and Canada.

England looked up and was shocked. "Aargh!! What the?! Uh? Huh?!"

China did so, as well. "Th...Wha...What the hell is that monster!?"

"Ah, you guys sure took your time, didn't you? As you can see, we're in the middle of an assault." Russia said.

Canada was sort of trembling, but managed to get up. "Y-you two... b-b-better run..."

The Thing suddenly attacks Russia.

"R... Russia!!" Canada exclaims.

Russia took a hold of his arm for a while. "... That hurt. The water pipes in this place really are no good at all. Good thing I got one of my own!" He said, smiling.

Canada creased his forehead. "I-it's not use! Even if it's yours, it's just a tap!"

Russia tries to prove the Canadian man wrong by attacking the Thing once more..

"Huuuuuuuh!? How come the pipe turned into a sword!?" China said in a surprised tone.

"Ahah. Actually, this is a sword cane. I asked Japan to make it for me! It's really sharp, isn't it?" Russia says proudly.

Russia attacks the monster once more.

China covers his eyes a little. "Woeeeeh! That's nasty!!"

"But it didn't cause any damage at all..." Canada says in a low voice.

"L-let's give them reinforcements!" England suggests.

China nods. "Right, aru!"

"Yeah!" I said, pumped up for another battle.

England suddenly stops me from taking a step farther. "Uh.. No, love. You stay where you won't get attacked by the monster."

I frown. "W-Wha.."

Then, they all go to Russia and Canada's side and try to battle Steve.

I waved my hand in front of me to check the battle stats.

This monster was one crazy mofo. He didn't even give the four countries time to give one attack. Then they all fell down. Though I know it was part of the game, I was still worried.

"Y-You guys..!" I called out.

"Ts... Aah... Haa..." Canada panted heavily.

Russia started to get up. "Aww, too bad. It didn't work at all."

China turned to the British man beside him. "England, why aren't you doing anything useful?!"

"No, er... Sorry. This place itself is blocking my magic; it looks like I can only use a small part of it..." England apologises.

"What a troublesome place!I have no strength left..." China says as he tries to stand.

Suddenly, Steve charges towards England....

"Er, wait a s-" England stopped and closed his eyes when he realised he was the target.

"England, watch out!!" I shouted.

Japan suddenly appears from above and attacks the monster like a ninja.

"I won't let you lay a hand on my friends." He says.

"EH?! J-Japan?!" England opens his eyes to see his Japanese friend.

I wave my hands frantically to catch Japan's attention. "JAPAN!! You're here!"

He then turns to me. " ____-chan?! There you are! We were looking all over for you."

China looks at Japan. "Japan? You know this girl?"

"I'll explain that later. Let's take care of that Thing first." I said.

Japan nods. "You're right. Ah, but this time..I'll do it on my own."

He turned to us all.

"I'm going to have to ask you all to wait a little before we can talk."

"Japan! So you did come here!!" China realises.

"Everyone is all right, I suppose? Excuse me while I deal with this Thing, then." Japan said.

Canada warns Japan, "B-but it's awfully strong..."

"We'll help?" Russia asks.

Japan shook his head. "No need to worry.

... It really did a number on you, didn't it? Allow me to pay it back in kind for the injuries you sustained.

This is quite a convenient opponent for me to unleash my wrath on!!"

I waved my hand in front of me to monitor Japan's status for the battle.

I saw he had his special skill "Blade of Wrath". He used it and in one attack, he was able to defeat the monster.

The screen displays:

Japan was victorious!

25 EXP were received!

100HETA were obtained!

The Thing fades away like a ghost.

"Wow. He looks just like Canada now." Russia says, amused.

Canada pouts, offended. "Just say he disappeared, will you?"

"Can you get up, England?" Japan asks.

"Y-yeah. Anyway, Japan, have you fought that monster before? It wasn't the first time... was it?" England inquires.

Japan looked at his friend, confused. "What? What are you talking about? You have fought it before, too, haven't you? You got here first, after all."

China stepped forward. "We haven't been here for even an hour. And you... weren't even supposed to be here yet."

"That's true, when you put it that way. I mean, China sent Japan a message and Japan replied from the meeting place, right?" Russia said.

Japan nods. "Yes, and then Italy started saying that he wanted to come, too, so Germany, Prussia,and I came with him... but..."

Canada looked confused and spoke, "What? But it takes 3 hours to come here from the meeting place. We really have been here for only about an hour. Don't you think that's a little odd?"

"... There are many things we need to talk about. First of all, let's go to the second floor. I know of a safe room there." Japan said.

China then remembers the cloth he picked up. "W-wait a minute! What about this, then?! What's with these clothes of yours?! They're covered in blood!!"

"Oh. Those are the clothes that I threw into the fireplace. Why do you have them?" Japan asks.

"I found them when I went to that room! Aren't you... hurt...?" China said as he inspected Japan for any noticeable injuries.

"Um, that's... tomato." Japan said monotonously.

China became more confused. "..... Huh?"

"I'm fine; I'm not hurt at all. Now, let's join Germany and Italy and I'll explain the situation to you." Japan says.

All of us headed for the second floor. On our way up, Japan told me to call for Germany and Italy and tell them about the meeting.

Everyone else then went to the 2nd floor in the fireplace room, while I went to the room with the iron door to call Germany and Italy.

On my way there, I heard someone call my name.