The blonde Otaku glared at her Guardian. "Of course I'm okay. I'm not doing anything that would warrant me getting hurt. And I'm still peeved with you, you know. How could you not tell me that--"

"Ano... excuse me, miss?"

Mercy stopped in the middle of her tirade and swivelled around in her chair. "What the hell do you... you... uh..." Mercy stared at the black-haired, blue-eyed man who was standing behind her. One tiny part of her mind faintly registered that her looked somewhat familiar, while the majority of her mind screamed that this man was too perfect to exist. Her senses were on overload. Then it clicked.

He was Bishounen.

This fact went unnoticed by Orion, who sprang up from his chair and interposed himself between Mercy and the Bishounen. "What the hell do you want?" he snapped out.

Mercy fumed, grabbed Orion by the shoulders and pushed him away. "Of all the times for your Guardian instincts to come in! Leave me alone, Orion!"

"Look," the man said, holding up his hands. "I'm not looking for a fight... I just want to talk to the young lady. You're Tasuki no Otaku, ne?"

Mercy looked at the man and nodded her head. He's not my Bishounen, she told herself. He's not my Bishounen... He's not my Bishounen... He's not Tasuki... Demo... Kakkoiiiiiiiiiiiiii...

"Ah, good. Ore wa Chiba Mamoru. It's a pleasure to meet you. I believe you know my sister, Celeste."

Mercy's jaw dropped. "You... you're... her *brother*?!"

"Hai. And she's my Otaku. Celeste told me that you might be waiting here. Is Nyx also here?"

"No. Nyx took off a bit ago. Why?"

"Well, I'm here to take you to Castle Anthrax. Let's just say that Celeste is going to hold a Council of War." Mamoru smiled and Mercy melted. "Do you mind coming with me? Your Guardian too?"

The words were out before she could think about them. "I'll go anywhere you want."

From behind her, Orion snorted in disgust and mumbled something. Mercy threw a withering glance over her shoulder.

"What was that, Orion?" she scathingly asked.

"Nan demo nai. I'll come too."

"Figures."

Mamoru just chuckled to himself as her watched the antics between the two. Mercy and Orion reminded him of how he used to act with Celeste... back when they were trying to kill each other... Aaahhh, how the times changed...

Before the two could start anything physical, Mamoru interrupted. "Minna-san? Ikimasho... Celeste is waiting for us."

Mercy blushed as Mamoru held the portal open for her, and Orion grumbled again. Mamoru smiled. They definitely acted the same way. It was sort of cute...

TBC...