"Whoa! Cool scenery! I guess if it has to be a dream, it might as well be nice!" She didn't say it very loud, but the guy looked up from his book and began to look at her strangely.

"Well, aren't you going to go meet him?"

"Him? You mean HE'S my Bishounen?"

"Absolutely." Meredith's creator led her over to the bench on which he sat. "Keisuke, meet Keisuke no Otaku."

"Meredith, so that's what you look like. I always wondered what my Otaku would be like in real life. You're kinda cute, actually."

Meredith blushed. Normally she would be all over this situation, flirting and smiling and all that stuff. But somehow she was quiet. This wasn't any guy. Her universe here in the Game revolved around this man. True, she had to fight and all that, but it was all for him. So her creator had explained. All the Otaku were fighting for the honor of their Bishounen. A million things went through her head, and she just couldn't seem to get herself to do more than shyly smile at the georgous guy who had stood in front of her.

"Th-thanks." She managed to squeak out when it became apparent he was waiting for her to respond. She turned around to find her creator, but she was gone. Meredith was truly scared now... here in a very unfamiliar place with her Bishounen, who scared the crud out of her, and the certainty that it was all a dream was becoming less and less certain.

"Here, sit down." Keisuke gestured to the bench next to him, and Meredith nervously sat down. "Why are you so nervous? It seems out of character for you."

"How would you know what my character is?" Meredith suddenly found a voice.

"Because I read your story as it happens. See, look. Here's where I heard you say the same thing I was reading in the book, which is why I looked up and saw you. Here you are blushing, and here's what you're thinking."

"You mean you can read my thoughts?"

"Not all of them, just the ones your Author writes."

"Which ones are those? How do I know if you know what I'm thinking right now?" Meredith didn't seem to like this idea at all, but at least her shyness had completely left her. This had been Keisuke's purpose.

"See, look. I know that you're not scared of me anymore, and that you 'didn't like this idea at all.'"

Meredith pulled the book away from him and began to read. She flipped back a few pages and caught a few paragraphs.

"Susanne's not dead, by the way."

"What?"

"She's not dead. Here, look at this." He pulled the book away and found the spot. "She died, but she's immortal. Roger too. They're hiding away right now. You were right. She's not dead."

"That explains the feeling... it was really awful, then it was okay..."

Meredith calmed down considerably as her voice trailed off. Keisuke closed the book and stood up, reaching out his hand to help Meredith up.

"Come. This is much too wonderful a day to sit there. Besides, I need to get to know you."

"Don't you already know all about me?"

"I've read all about you, but reading about someone and meeting them are two different things."

"But there's nothing I could really tell you."

"Don't tell. Just talk. Let's walk around. Just relax, this is a dream, you know. For you, anyway."

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"Meredith!! Wake up!" The third time Kristsi said it, Meredith finally opened her eyes. "You were yelling and tossing and turning, hon. You okay?"

"Yeah, I guess." Meredith blinked a few times, and fully woke up. "Man! Why'd you wake me up? Why didn't you just go see what I was yelling about?"

"Yeah, right! Like I'd go in there and face the whatchamacallit that was scaring the crap out of you! And I'd still have had to wake you up. It's time to eat. And besides, you're boring when you sleep!! Usually you just lay there. I must say, this is the first time you've yelled." Kristsi chuckled, and Meredith threw David at her. They had a brief pillow fight, then headed out to go catch something to eat.

"Where today? WE haven't been to Texas in a while." Meredith grinned from ear to ear, and Kristsi agreed. The beef there is the best! I could really go for a big juicy burger right about now."