All of the colors swirled and everything twirled. The whole world seemed to spin around and there was a ringing sound that she just couldn't ignore. Her mouth felt like cottonballs had been stuffed into it, but she must have said something because she could tell people were coming closer.

"Xxxxx yyyyy zzzzzzzz. Ggggg ssssss hh."

"Rrrrr aaaaaaa wwwwwww?"

"Cccccc eeeeeeeeeee llll...?"

One blink. Two. The colors formed and meshed into coherent shapes. Finally, a dazed mind was able to make out the figures hovering over her.

"R... Remy...?" Celly managed to slur out. She turned her head to look at the others. "Dion? 'Nii-chan?"

The other Otaku nodded. "Hai, Celly. How are you feeling?"

Celly moaned and rubbed her head. "Do I have a hangover? Is this what it's supposed to feel like?"

Dionysus smiled. "Considering that you were knocking back Nuriko Specials like there was no tomorrow, we're suprised you woke up so quickly."

Celly greatfully took the glass of water that her brother handed to her and took a few sips. "Okay... so hangovers are *supposed* to feel like I just got my ass kicked in a brawl?"

"Eh heh," Mamoru said sheepishly. "That's because you *did* get your ass kicked in a brawl, imouto-chan."

"NANI?! Iiiiiiiitttttaaaaiiiiiiiiii..." Celly whined. "Who did this?"

"Don't you remember anything, Celly?" Remy asked. "You got into a fight with Susanne while you were drunk. She worked you over pretty good."

"Susanne?" Celly frowned as she thought about her rival. "I don't suppose it's a lot to ask if I got any good hits in, is it?"

"Iie, Ce-ko. She beat you good this time. However, Nyx came in before Susanne could finish you off. Nyx shot and killed her." Dionysus winced as he said this, and watched Celeste's reaction carefully. She continued to sip from her glass clamly. He decided to go on. "When Roger found out about Susanne's death, he killed himself as well."

There was silence as Celeste tilted her head back and finished the last drops in the glass. "Ah... can I have some more, please?"

Jaws dropped.

"Don't you care that Susanne is dead?!?" Remy asked, shocked. "Shouldn't you be crying or bouncing off the walls or something?"

Celly took the refilled glass from Mamoru. "Domo, 'nii-chan." She stared down at the glass and said quietly, "All of you are being silly. Susanne isn't dead."

"Are you in denial or something, Ce-ko?"

"No, I am not in denial! Susanne isn't dead. It simply isn't possible. She's an Otaku like me. Like Remy. Like the whole *freaking* lot of us that are in this *freaking* Game! She can't die. It's one of the Rules. Hell, I'm living proof that Otaku can't be killed."

Celeste downed the glass of water as the three absorbed her words. Then, without a word, she threw off the blanket covering her and hopped out of the bed.

"Celly!"

"Ce-ko!"

"Imouto-chan!"

"Daijobou, daijobou! Genki desu." Celly reached out and grabbed Remy's hand, dragging her along. "Remy-chan, where's Nyx-chan?"

"I don't know. Once we got you out of the bar, Nyx took off. She said something about a 'ditzy blonde.'"

"Oh... she must be looking for Mercy then. Good. We have work to do. Nobody kicks *my* ass without me striking back! 'Nii-chan, Dion-chan... don't follow us."

"Nani?! Why not, imouto-chan?" The two males waited for an answer.

Celly gave an enigmatic smile. "Because I'm afraid that you two aren't going to like what I'm about to do." She winked and blew the two of them a kiss. "Atashi wa daisuke!"

Celly opened a portal to Castle Anthrax and dragged Remy along with her.

TBC...