The four people faced each other on the sidewalk. Students came and went, seemingly not noticing the fight ready to take place. The tension in the air was palpable and an eerie silence settled over them.

Susanne would be damned if she let the looney get the upper hand in the fight. Her aura flared as she launched herself at Celly, hands outstretched to strangle her, if need be.

Celly was surprised by Susanne's offensive, but quickly leapt into a defensive position. Her eyes narrowed, carefully watching her opponent's movements for any sign of an opening.

Both girls was amazed when their Guardians moved with unnatural speed, grabbing the both of them before they could actually touch one another. The two men pinned their respective charges' arms to their sides and brought them to stand before one another.

"Hey, Roger," Dionysus started casually, tightening his grip on Celly's swordhand. "Nice to see you again."

"Same here," Roger answered, shifting his grip on Susanne. "Though technically, you shouldn't be here."

"Let's not start that tired conversation again."

"Dion! Let me go!"

"Roger! Get your hands offa me!"

The girls stopped struggling after a while, but the Guardians kept their holds on them.

"Are you going to be good?" Roger asked the two Otakus. The girls fumed, but nodded. "Great! Now we can have a discussion like normal human beings!"

"What's there to discuss?" Celly snapped, nodding her chin towards Susanne. "She's the one who won't accept her position as Otaku. She refuses to see the Truth."

"Truth?! Is that what you call that line of bull? I told Dionysus already... I don't believe you!"

"You're blind! Why won't you accept the one of the fundamental laws of this world? You're not real! You're fiction created for the amusement of the Authors!"

"You're even more deluded than I thought! You saw what happened when we fought. I was *bleeding*. I was feeling *pain*. You don't do that in a dream!"

"That's just necessary depth to make everything more real. The Authors can bend this world to their will! They can do whatever they damned well please! We Otakus are granted with the knowledge of our existence, so that we can fulfill our roles in the Game."

Susanne's mind simply shut down. She didn't want to think about what Celly and Dionysus were trying to tell her. It had to be a lie. Something to get her guard down. Of course she was real! She could feel pain and emotions, and she definitely had control of her own life. There was no trumped up omniscient being controlling her life, thank- you-very-much! Well, maybe God... Susanne's mind scrambled to launch an offensive against the raven-haired girl who thought she knew everything. She needed something to throw at her to shake her beliefs.

"Well... if I'm not real, then neither are you! How do you like that? How do you deal with being not real?!?" Susanne shot out, then smiled to herself. This would shake Celly the same way it did her. Celly would break down, just the way she did the first time. What Susanne didn't expect was for the anger to suddenly dissipate from Celly.

Celly's face took a softer setting as she smiled gently. The fuku-clad girl leaned into her Guardian's arms. Dion's stern hold shifted into a loving embrace. Celly smiled up a Dionysus briefly, a content look in her blue eyes, before turning her calm gaze at Susanne. "I have my ways," she said matter-of-factly.

TBC...