Chapter One: Almost Emo…

Life was never the same without Zoro. It was dull and lifeless. The sun didn't shine as brightly and jokes weren't as funny as they used to be. Yet getting through it all was much easier with Hibiki around. Actually, she went by quite a few nicknames. Either, Taco or Chiaki, either way…Hibiki was the best friend an almost emo chick could have…

Another boring day started, and Bikki lay awake in bed. Her hazel eyes blank, staring at the ceiling. She hadn't spoken to her own family for a year. It was like she had fallen off the face of the earth when Zoro had to go. The July weather was beautiful, but her thoughts were dwelling in her estranged behavior. By December, her family stopped calling her to check on her. They had given up. Their theories had led them to believe that she had run off somewhere with "that green haired punk" and probably on her second or third child.

Children…oh how she was hoping and praying she was going to have Zoro's kid after he vanished. But she didn't, and it was sort of a relief and a damper at the same time.

The phone rang and Bikki's zombie like hand groped around the night stand. The cordless phone fell to the floor. Bikki groaned and sat up, rubbing her eyes and then leaning down to pick up the phone.

"Hello…" She moaned. Hibiki's voice piped.

"YO! GET UP! STOP MOPIN'!"

"Please, don't be so loud…"

"I'm right outside your door, come and open up."

Bikki perked up and flopped off the bed. She hung up the phone and slouched over to the door. She opened the door and Hibiki was standing there, with Nobu at her side.

"We've got the best birthday present ever…" She said, and Nobuhiro nodded.

"Yes…we do…" He said and Bikki's eye brows rose, almost vanishing amongst her jet black hair.

"OMG! Are you going to bring…"

"…No, not yet," Nobu said. Hibiki strode into the apartment, Nobu in tow. He sat on the couch. The two friends expected Nobuhiro to be the kind of guy who crossed his legs and was proper, but Nobu was as normal as a guy could get; despite his pale skin and neon green eyes…

"…When am I going to see him again?"

"When you watch that fuckin' DVD I bought you!" Hibiki growled and she pointed to the DVD lying on the floor near the DVD player. Bikki slouched into a sloth like posture.

"It's not the same!" She whined. Hibiki grimaced.

"Nobu, make her stop whining! Bring her man back!" Hibiki pleaded. Nobu shifted in his seat.

"I need a little bit more time…" Nobu replied wearily. Bikki sat next to him and Hibiki did too. They pleaded with their hands pressed together, their cheeks pink, eyes cute and sparkly. Their boobs pushed together as they pressed close to Nobu.

"Pleeeaase!" They whined cutely. Nobu's face turned instantly red. He never had women so close in such a long time.

"I need at least another two days." He said. "And then I can bring Zoro back…"

Bikki was going to hug him as thanks but Hibiki beat her to it.

"Oh Nobu!" She piped. Bikki raised a brow. Hibiki was squishing Nobu's head into her bosom. She was hugging him like they were good friends and she secretly liked him. "You're not so bad for Ryuu's brother…"

"That's because we're half related…" Nobu said as he was released and Hibiki nuzzled against him one last time. Bikki rubbed her nose.

"Yeah, thanks for helping me out. It's very nice of you…" She thanked the Netherworld prince. He smiled. The sadness she used to notice was starting to diminish. Why was that?

"Do you want to stay here and chill or go out for something to eat?" Hibiki asked the other two as they surfed through the TV channels. Nobu had no suggestions. Bikki raised a hand. Hibiki nodded to her.

"I say we don't go out!" She said. Hibiki scoffed.

"Just because you've given up eating like the Normal Bikki doesn't mean Hibiki's being emo with you as well…" She replied. "I'll just make a sandwich though. Nobu, do you want anything?"

"I'll have whatever you're having." He said. Hibiki smiled and then went into the tiny kitchen. They found something on the telly to watch. Bikki turned to Nobu after setting the controller down.

"In two days, you'll be able to bring my love back?" She asked. Nobu nodded solemnly.

"Yeah…"

Hibiki walked in and placed a sandwich on the coffee table with a beer. She sat down next to him, her sandwich in hand and beer in the other.

"Do you know why Nobu-kun had to wait so long?" Hibiki inquired her long time buddy. Bikki shook her head.

"No…" Hibiki looked haughty because she had such information handy.

"Well…" She began, "His family has been keeping tabs on him. Well his mother," Bikki made a face indicating confusion. "She was suspicious he was up to something…something to help him become King instead of his brother. He was allotted a certain amount of magic…so he decided that he was going to not use magic until after a year…"

"Oh…I didn't even know mothers had powers like that…" Bikki mused. Nobu laughed a light laugh.

"Well when your mother is the Queen of the Netherworld…" He began and Hibiki smirked.

"That's an awesome career though…to rule over such a place…"

Bikki had an odd feeling about this…something eerie was going to happen. Not just to Bikki but Hibiki's going to get caught in the mix too…