A.N: Welcome to the next story of mine….I hope to keep this one updated constantly and finish fairly quickly compared to my others. There's inspiration put into this too!

Disclaimer: I don't own, or am associated, with Gorillaz in any way or form.

Summary: Emotions, tensions, conflicts, and angst start to come between the band members after a horrible ordeal. Is everyone going to be able to handle it in the end?

Chapter 1: Cold

It was…cold; not the atmosphere that he was placed in though. In fact, the summers in Essex were quiet warm, even with the depressing weather that never left the haunted studios. But it was he, his emotions, that had ran cold. Hands clenched behind his back as he ambled down the dirt path, dead grass on either side of it, he sighed. His stopping point was when he reached the fence that marked the territory that firmly separated the studio grounds from the rest of the world. Peering through the partially rusted bars of the gate he noticed that the massive gray clouds ceased just a few yards outside of the gate.

"Tha's juss' typical," he muttered to himself. Reaching up slowly he traced the letters that were welded to the old metal bars. Though they were backwards, he knew what it said from reading it over and over again.

K…O…N…G.

What was wrong with him? He had it all. Wealth, fame, his music, girls, and three of the best friends anyone could ever ask form though all of them very unique. He pivoted on his heel and looked back up at the studio that rested atop the massive hill. Yes, something was defiantly missing from his life; however, he couldn't quiet place what it was. Looking at his surroundings, it only made his mood more bleak. On either side of him, the haunted graveyard. It was the exact location that, ironically, made the band mates and himself famous all those years ago. It was the infamous set of the Clint Eastwood music video. However, no demonic zombie apes were around at this time of hour. Blinking again he realized there were not zombies out stumbling around either, which was very strange indeed. Perhaps they had felt his emotions and knew not to bother him. He snorted at the thought. With all the zombie movies he'd spent hours watching in the past, he knew better.

Glancing a bit farther, past the studios, his eyes rested on the landfill. Perhaps one of the most vile places miles around, and they lived, basically, right on it. The place, including the studios, smelt absolutely dreadful during the summer. The unforgiving heat beat down on it, even with clouds in the way. It reeked with smells that the human nose never thought possible, making anyone want to empty their stomach the first second the scents were shot up the nostrils. He shook his head. Of course, out of all the places the band leader could have picked, he picked this one. It wasn't a bad deal either…they had gotten the studio basically for free. Then again, it had came with a very spooky and demonic price. He glanced down at the black tourmaline rock shaped as a crystal that hung from a leather string around his neck. Noodle, the youngest and only female member of the band, had given to him the other day. Within the past few months she'd been researching "new age" things: healing crystals, tarot, and all the other things that went along with it. She had always been very spiritual and decided to look deeper into it after she had turned nineteen. When she had handed him the necklace he just gave her a confused look. She explained it was a protecting stone against evils. After all he had seen from living at the haunted studios, anything was possible. He hadn't taken it off since. His mind started to click a little, rusty wheels turning. Perhaps that was why there was no zombies out while he was walking. Nodding to himself at his conclusion, he looked back to the studios, his home. Noticing movement he squinted his eyes. A violet-shaded hair young women stood at the doors of the massive studio. He smiled. Not that he was to favorite, but if he did, Noodle would be his favorite band member, and probably person. Raising one of his lanky arms and waved to her. After a second Noodle replied back in a wave and began to amble down the path towards her band mate. Being considerate, he began walking towards her. Half way up, or down the trail, depending on who you were following, the two met.

Noodle looked considerably different since she had been fifteen. True, she had grown taller, but standing next to the 6'2 singer, her appearance gave the allusion of her looking much shorter at 5'7. At fifteen, she still took on the body much like a young girl. Her body took shapes of sharp angles and lines. Now she definitely had more curve than angles in all the right places and her face had matured along with the rest of her. When it came to her hair had, it had grown longer. Bangs no longer covered her eyes but joined the rest of her violet hair in length that stretched to the small of her back. She was nothing short of beautiful.

He was greeted with a hug quick, loose hug.

"Morning tah ya, luv,"

Noodle looked up at him and smiled, "You're up early."

2D looked down at the large, black, bulky sports watch on his think wrist. It was almost an oxymoron to be wearing such a big watch with his small wrist. The digital numerals shot back 10:45 at him. Softly, he chuckled.

"Early fir me, not the res' of the world though…" His voice was soft, almost a whisper. It in contained a note of sadness, angst perhaps. Noodle picked this up right away. Barely anything got by the young Japanese women these days when it came to her band mates. She'd been with them for nearly ten years now, allowing her to know every little personality tick each one of them had. It was her job to put any little thing back into place if it came out of order. It was, moreover, for the sake of the band, the living arrangements, and her sanity.

"Is something wrong?"

The singer looked down at the guitarist. The therapist of the group. A soft smirk twitched across his lips. He looked her over. Ever since she had blossomed into this beautiful bombshell, he couldn't help it. On this particular summer day, she donned a knee length flowing white skirt with a light periwinkle tunic, with a ribbon tied loosely under her breast. On her was her, now usual, arrange of crystals; a quartz and hematite bracelet, amethyst necklace, chlorite earrings, and a black tourmaline stud in the top of her left ear. All, of course, for protection, as she had explained.

"Yea," he sighed, "jus' thought I'd take a walk tah clear me mind. Lots to think about, ya know?"

Noodle raised an eyebrow. 2D never went on walks to clear his mind. In fact, his mind was pretty blank most of the time due to all the pain killers he consumed; which was how he cleared his mind. He wasn't going to get away with that answer. It was too suspicious in Noodle's book.

"Yeah…" Noodle replied, "what's been on your mind though, 2D?"

The blue-haired man shook his head slowly, "S'awright." He tried to reassure the guitarist with a smile. It didn't work. Noodle glanced down at her feet for a second and then back up at the singer; a few strands of hair fell in front of her shoulders. As she pushed the hair back to join the bulk of it she noticed the hematite crystal around 2D's neck. She gave him a genuine smile.

"You're wearing that?" she asked reaching out and taking it in her hand. She closed her fingers around it and started whispering some gibberish that 2D couldn't understand. 2D looked down at her closed hand and frowned in confusion.

"Wot are ya sayin'?"

"It's a chant to activate it," Noodle explained as she let the crystal go and fall back onto 2D's chest. 2D shot her a weird glance.

"Chant?" he asked. "You turnin' into Murdoc or some fin'?"

Noodle smiled lightly again, "No, not at all," she began to explain, "I wasn't sure if you'd really…wear it…being a necklace and all."

"S'a cool necklace though!" 2D exclaimed. "Why wouldn' I wear it?"

Noodle shook her head, hair swaying behind her, "never mind, 2D. It's nothing…I just wasn't sure."

2D began to scrutinize her. Had he offended her? Licking his lips he concluded that, likely, he didn't. They stood there in an awkward silence, wanting to catch each other's gaze but quickly averting their eyes as soon as they came close to. It was then 2D realized something that was rather sad to him; Noodle and him had grown apart over the past couple of months. Looking at Noodle, the singer let out a long, sad sigh. Noodle shot him another weird glance.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Noodle asked out of concern again.

"I dunno, luv, I dunno…" he looked her over again, trying to pinpoint what happened to separate them emotionally. Perhaps this was the cause of the emotion he had earlier? Yes, perhaps it was Noodle he was missing. When she had first came to Kong, the two could not be separated. Noodle, not knowing a word of English at the time, clung to 2D's side at all times of the day. It had been one of the most enjoyable experiences of his life though…being the best friend to her at such a critical stage in her life. The blue-haired singer looked her over once again. She was staring at him, obviously deep in thought; perhaps about him. Yes, this was why he was feeling like he was missing something, and it was time to do something about it.

"Noodle?" 2D asked softly.

Noodle blinked and looked up at his face, "Yeah?"

"I was finkin'," 2D started, "that maybe we should spend the day together, ya know? I mean…we 'avn't really had a day where it was juss' us runnin' about fir…ah, I 'ave no idea! It's been ages though!"

The violet-haired girl looked up at him with a sad expression edging at her eyes, "Ah…I really wish I could," she muttered, "and I'm really sorry to disappoint, but…Russel has me set up for interviews and press conferences from noon 'till nine…"

2D raised an eyebrow, in shock. Ever since the book had came out and fans were no longer worried about he guitarist, knowing she was fine after the El Mañana video, she had wished to be taken out of the public's eye. Russel had made sure of this. It had taken nights of battle with management, productions, press, and about every other force in the world, but he had managed and succeeded. For the past four years, Noodle had kept her privacy. True, she had been on vacation for a while, traveling. She wanted to see the world for herself, not as a member of Gorillaz. She had gotten along quiet well, too. Due to her training in Japan when she was just a small child, she was equipped with the weapon of language. No matter what country she was in, she was able to communicate with the locals, fluently. Every single time she switched languages, she'd hear the same thing, again and again; "You know how to speak whatever language it was!? I am grateful to you!" The only down side though, was that her Japanese accent remained thick. It was rather peculiar though…no matter how much she tried to practice the accent of any language, she could never master it. However, like last time, she couldn't stay away from Kong for too long. Her home called to her. She returned at age 17. Although she had kept in contact with every member of the band, even Murdoc, it was still overwhelmingly joyous to be back with her family again. Things had been quiet for the young guitarist since then, and she had seemed happy with it. Such an abrupt change would defiantly shake things up for her and disturb the perfect little world she had created around her.

"Are ya sure, Noodle?"

The singer's heavy Crawly accented snapped Noodle's attention back to the present. She smiled slightly.

"I have had it good compared to you," Noodle replied, "all of you have covered for me in the past few years, especially Russel, and I can't thank any of you enough. However, I think, if I enter back into the world of celebrities, get back in the spot light, they might leave you alone. Even if it is for a short time, it will give you a chance to rest. I can take care of it from here…"

2D blinked several times, letting the words bounce around in his brain, trying to be processed. He knew that Noodle was not one to enjoy being in the spot light for a fact. On her 16th birthday she had called him from Thailand, crying about how she didn't want to be recognized anymore and that she wasn't cut out for the celebrity life. Along with this, he knew Noodle hadn't changed her opinions and feelings on that. Without warning, the singer pulled Noodle close to him and hugged her tightly, as if she was a child again. Noodle breathed in sharply, in shock at the sudden move of physical affection. Although it had been a normal act of 2D to make several years back, he had became more withdrawn lately. A hug was rare these days. Actually, Noodle had noted 2D hadn't been himself, especially lately, at all. Yes, something was wrong with her blue-haired best friend. Slowly she brought her arms up and wrapped them around his ribs, making the embrace just that much closer.

The blue-haired singer sat in the living room, slumped down on the old, over stuffed sofa, remote loosely in one hand, half empty beer in the other. All the channels in the world, it seemed like, but nothing interested him. In fact, ever since he had the conversation with Noodle in the graveyard earlier that day. No, it wasn't the conversation, it was more of the hug he was concentrating on. He had gotten a weird sensation in the pit of his stomach as the young woman placed his arms around him and forced him to step closer, a feeling of fullness; being complete. It felt strange to him when her chest was pressed just below his and her face rested on his chest. Her face had became hidden from his eyesight as her violet hair fell in front of her shoulders and covered the side of her face. Hesitantly he raised one of his hands and ran it through her hair. Perhaps it was her way of thanking her for the personal sacrifice she was about to make. It was unfortunate though, that when they did let go of each other, how awkward it was. 2D continued on his walk around the studios while Noodle returned to the building to get ready for her re-debut. He hadn't seen her since. By the time 2D entered back into the building, his stomach forcing him from hunger, Noodle had been swept away by the drummer. After raiding the kitchen, and perhaps eating the last few edible things from it, he had grabbed a six pack of beer, fresh pack of cigs, and parked it on the sofa. The rest of the day was spent drinking, smoking and channel surfing.

Take a sip of beer.

Click

Click

Click

Drag of the cig.

Click

Click

Take another sip followed by another drag.

Click

Ah, Fuck…finish the beer.

The longer he did this, the more and more he regained that emotion he felt earlier today in the graveyard. Had it only been several hours before? Something was starting to click though. with every bit of the intoxication of alcohol and tobacco he took into his blood system he could feel something forming in his mind, it just hadn't been translated to something he could understand, yet. The singer was about to doze off from being so inactive when he heard the clicking of boots. Cuban heeled boots. He listened as the clicking came closer and closer until it was in front of him.

"Wot the fuck are you doin'?"

2D didn't even look up at the source of the gravelly voice and but he allowed himself a drunken grin, assuming the bassist would see it.

"'Ello, Murdoc!" His voice was covered with a drunken slur. Murdoc kicked an empty beer can away from his foot.

"I asked ya a question, dullard," Murdoc muttered.

2D didn't lift he gaze off the floor. He sat there, chuckling to himself. Something made him feel…happy, light. He took a deep breath in. Was that…? 2D's ebony black voids for eyes snapped up.

Yes, in the bassist's hand, held between two fingers, was a rolled up joint. He knew it was pot; the smell gave it all away.

"Where'd ya get tha'?" 2D asked, eyeing it. Murdoc quickly jerked his arm behind his back, taking it out of 2D's sight.

"None of ya business," Murdoc replied, "'owever, I fink I might need ya tonight, Dullard…"

The blue-haired singer snapped his eyes up to Murdoc's. If it wasn't related to music, any of Murdoc's plans that involved him went disastrously wrong. Although drunk, he couldn't forget some of the other outcomes.

"No, fank you, Muds," 2D said, struggling to get up on his feet. "I fink I'll jus' go tah bed now…"

It's ironically funny how plans can change so quickly…

A.N: End of Chapter 1. I have to tell everyone right now, this is going to be one of my more darker and twisted writings. Just to warn you. I have all the details filled in and whatnot. The beginning is a little slow, I know, and I'm sorry. It will all come roaring in…in my next chapter! Woo! But I wanna hear your thoughts so far! Reviews are VERY appreciated and loved!