Susanne didn't know what to say, what to do. Roger was her Guardian. And he'd left.

"Hotohori no Otaku."

He'd just left... why didn't he stay? Why didn't he fight?

"Hotohori no Otaku."

She would have fought. But she couldn't, now. Had he deserted her?

"Hotohori no Otaku."

"Stop calling me that, goddammit!!!!!!!!!" She suddenly screamed. "My name is Susanne!"

"Call yourself what you wish. You are Hotohori no Otaku, and you are a vital element of the Game."

"Shut up."

"I am Christopher, your Guardian for the moment. When the Game is over, you may testify on Roger's behalf."

"Shut up."

"If he is found innocent, he can still be your Guardian. But for now, the Council has decided that it is too risky to keep him here."

"I said, shut the fuck up!!"

The cat walked around to stand in front of her. "You will not speak to me in that tone, nor will you use such crass language. You will conduct yourself as a lady at all times."

"Bite me."

"You're only making it worse for Roger."

"Leave me alone."

"I will not. I am your Guardian, if only until the end of the Game."

"I don't want you."

"That's too bad."

Susanne finally took her eyes off the horizon and looked at him. "Whatever. I'm leaving."

"And I'm going with you."

"Fine," she said with a sigh. "Come on then, Chris."

"It's Christopher."

"What, I can't cut down on the syllables here? I'll call you Chris."

"You'll call me Christpoher."

Susanne glared at him for a full minute, and walked silently away.