"What the hell do you think you were doing?!?" she lashed out at the three girls, one tiger, and a mouse. "Just because the people you've met so far have been accepting of strange happenings, the people in the Mori are NOT! Do you know what kind of chaos could have happened because you brought that damned tiger in here?!? How many people could have been hurt?!?"

Susanne opened her mouth to shoot off another one of her smart ass remarks, but Celly didn't give her the chance. At the snap of her fingers Susanne's mouth was gagged and her arms were securely strapped to the arms of the chair. Everyone reacted in surprise but before anything could be done Celly snapped her fingers again and the remaining humans were similarly restrained. The mouse ended up in a cage on the ebony deska and the tiger was caged in the far corner.

"Not one *damned* word from the lot of you until I'm done," Celly spoke angrily. She closed her eyes, taking a calming breath. Her anger dissipated and Celly's countenance shifted. "I am quite sorry for that outburst," she said in gentle tones that still had steel behind them.

It was all the Otakus and their Guardians could do not to stare. Celly... was not the same Celly that had ranted at them... was not the same Celly that had ordered free drinks downstairs... she was... different...

"As you can see, the events of the past few days have been rather trying on me. I usually don't get angry like that. Gomen nasai. Actually, I'm here to try to get you to understand why you're here. Even though you have Guardians, they might not be as much help as I."

She looked at the people bound and gagged in the chairs. "Now will you promise to let me speak my peace without undue interruptions?" They nodded. Celly snapped her fingers and everyone was free.

"Who are you?" Roger asked. "You are Otaku... but not."

"That's what I want to know," a new voice piped up. Everyone except for Celly turned to the voice.

"Chia?!" Nyx exclaimed. The kitten came out of the shadows.

"Of course. You didn't expect me to leave you here by yourself did you? Besides. I want answers too." He turned to Celly and his little kitten jaw dropped.

Celly was seated, her legs crossed. She was seated... on... air... Celly was sitting about three feet off the ground as solid as if there was a chair under her. "Nanii?" she asked, bewildered.

"How did you do that?" Anaera asked.

Celly looked down. "Oh. It's nothing really. Any of us can do it. We *are* Otaku after all. We can do practically anything." She pivoted and addressed Roger. "And yes, you're right, I am Otaku, but not. I am the Moderator for the Game."

"The Moderator? Masaka!" Orpheus said, startled. "How can you be the Moderator? You're not supposed to be involved!"

"What better way to Moderate, than to actually be in the Game?"

"Ex-cuse me?" Susanne cut in. "Moderator? What the hell is that? And why are all of you 'Guardians' so afraid of this deranged looney?"

"Shut up!" Roger snapped.

"I rather agree with your Guardian, Hotohori no Otaku," Celly said, the steel more evident in her voice. "You should be wary of your language. It could get you in trouble. I will answer any questions you may have. Yes. I am Moderator for the Game. It is my job to make sure the Game ends satisfactorily and progresses at a timely pace."

"You mean... you're gonna make us fight each other?" Nyx asked, shocked.

"Yes. I'm sorry for that too, but I am moved by higher powers. It is imperative to keep the Game going. Just because you are my enemies, doesn't mean that I hate you. But... as you have seen before, I do not always have control of my actions. Don't you get that feeling too? That someone else's hand writes your destiny?"

The others nodded.

"So you can see my position. I am Moderator. I am Otaku. I am doubly charged to keep the Game alive."

"I have a question..." Nyx said. "I can see that all of us have auras to show which side we belong to. Plus that funky little Buzz thing that keeps happening. But what about you? I can see everyone's auras... but why not yours?"

Celly cracked a slim smile and folded her fingers together. "What makes you think I have one?"

Suddenly, Celly's face twisted in pain and she dropped out of her sitting position and landed in a heap on the floor. Before anyone could ask what was wrong, she held up a warding hand.

"Stop... leave... can't hold back..." her teeth gritted in pain as she fought a battle in her mind. Her face snapped up and everyone gazed into her pain-filled blue eyes. "Go... now... I told you I couldn't control it... Run now... as far as you can..."

Everyone was bewildered.

"LEAVE NOW!!!" Celly screamed. "You don't have much time until I hunt you again! I told you I don't want to fight... but I'm driven to! I'm making it fair! Leave the Mori *NOW*!!!"

Three Otaku and their Guardians quickly exited the office and made their way down the stairs. Would they split up? Stay together? Celly's mind reeled as she moaned in pain. Why? Why all the fighting?

Because... was the only answer.

Celly collapsed in exhaustion from fighting against herself.

When she awoke, she instantly knew that time had passed. How much, she did not know, nor did she care.

Celly's eyes glinted with dangerous fire. "I'm baaaaaaacckkk..."

TBC...?