You're running out of time.

I know.

Then why do you stand so still?

You're running out of time.

...

You can't ignore me forever…

A figure, a female with long blond hair, looked out over the dark foliage as rain pelted against her skin. The sky was a murky gray, the clouds swirling around, ominously indicating a storm to come. She watched as a few birds cautiously made their way across the horizon. A flash of light streaked against the dark night sky, lighting up the dark gloomy night sky. She enjoyed watching the rain. It had several soothing qualities.

"Nie-Nie-Chaaan!"

She winced as she turned, reluctantly accepting the fact that she had responded to her new nickname. She saw two shadowy figures coming her way, slowly getting more discernable as they drew near.

The first was of a girl with long black hair tied swiftly into two pigtails. The second was a slim but muscular boy with flaming read hear coming off of his head it wisps, held back by a bright green headband. (One which severly clashed with his hair, in her opinion.)

She went over to greet the two, though she smiled sweetly at the girl, her face turned sour as she turned to the boy. She dreaded to hear what annoyances he would bring to her this time.

"Lenalee." the blond haired girl said, pausing before she continued in a sour tone, "Rabbit."

"Aww, come on Rini-chan! Don't be like that." said the boy, pouting.

"What the hell did I tell you about calling me that? I'm warning you, Lavi, next time I'll beat you over the head with your own headband." the blond warned, scowling at him.

Lavi stared at her innocently, either ignoring her or not caring about the threat made towards his well being. Though from past experiences, you would think he would know better.

"Ugh - come on you two, break it up. Lavi, don't call Nikkie that. Nikkie, don't beat Lavi with his headband." said the black haired one, Lenalee.

"Fine, what about-"

"No."

"Not making any promises." Nikkie said, "So, what did you come to tell me, anyway. I'm sure you didn't drag him over just to say hi knowing what might happen."

"Oh, right! A new Exorcist has arrived. Nii-san wanted us to show her around, be her guide and the like, and since you're straight out of the infirmary, we were wondering if you wanted to join us." Lenalee asked, smiling sweetly, though with a slight desperate look in her eyes.

This information was quite a shock for Nikkie. She'd only been in the Black Order for nearly a month and already, another Exorcist has arrived?

"Um, Lenalee, don't you think it would be better if you took Allen or Krory with you? After all, I've only been on the order for -" Nikkie began to count in her head before continuing, "Three and a half weeks! I'm not even used to being around here, at least not yet. Lavi sure as hell ain't helping."

"Well that's even better! Besides, Allen and Krorykins are out on a mission at the moment. Come on Nikkie, we'll have fun! And I resent that comment." Lavi exclaimed.

Nikkie sighed deeply, not knowing what Lavi's idea of "fun" was. She considered the question and quickly decided what she would do; Although despite the fact she didn't really want to meet anyone at the moment, she had a feeling she was going to be dragged along anyhow.

"I just hope they speak English," Nikkie sighed, "My Japanese is getting much, much worse."

"Yeah, it is." Lavi agreed.

"Gee, thanks for the support, Lavi. I feel so much better now." said Nikke, glaring at him.

"Lavi." Lenalee said with an exasperating tone.

"What?"

"That was rude."

"She said thanks!"

"Ugh - I was being sarcastic, you dolt! Oi, how the hell did you become a Bookman's successor, anyway?" Nikkie exclaimed, scowling at the oblivious Lavi.

The three then headed off in the direction of Komui's office, though after a few interruptions. Despite Nikkie's warning, Lavi had begun calling her Rini-chan, yet again, and as promised, she had beat him over the head with his very own headband. The fight didn't last long thanks to Lenalee, who acted as a peacemaker, but Lavi did not escape without a few red marks across his cheeks.

After arriving in Komui's office, the three could hear voices coming from beyond the door. Nikkie could make out the sound of Komui's voice, though the other was of a girl, perhaps the newcomer. Nikkie's heart lifted as she realized they were both speaking English.

Lenalee knocked on the door, which swung open to let the three come in.

"Oh here they are - Oh! Nikkie-chan. It's good to see you up and about! How are you feeling?" asked Komui, waving them further into the room.

"Much better, Komui-san. Thank you for your concern." Nikkie replied.

"I'm glad. Now, where was I - oh yes! I would like to introduce you to some of the Exorcists here in the Black Order." Komui continued, signaling for the girl to approach the three.

The girl was around Lenalee's height. She had jet black hair, cut short, and she appeared to be around 13 or perhaps 14 years old.

"Oh, right. My name is Lenalee, nice to meet you."

"I'm Nikkie, welcome! This is Lavi. I'm introducing him myself because I want to make sure he doesn't say - or do - anything stupid to a newcomer."

"Hey! I knew you were going to say that." Lavi began to pout.

"Oh, you did, did you? Are you all psychic all of a sudden, then?"

"Yes, actually. When you're around, you need to be."

"Oh, I see."

Shortly after Nikkie finished speaking, she slapped Lavi in the back of the head with enough force to knock him to the ground.

"What was that for?" Lavi yelled, rubbing a slowly swelling bump on the back of his head.

"Oh, didn't you see that coming, mister psychic?"

As Nikkie and Lavi continued to fight, Lenalee just ignored them, for once, and turned to the new girl.

"Um, is that normal?" the new girl asked.

"Oh, yes. Don't worry, you'll get to used it it." Lenalee replied.

"Uh.." the new girl shot her a strange look.

"What?" asked Lenalee.

"Er - that girl, um - Nikkie - she just grabbed a stapler from Komui's desk and is chasing the boy - Lavi? - around with it..."

Lenalee sighed and immediately went to break the fight up, leaving the new girl standing there, bewildered. She started to giggle when Nikkie and Lavi reluctantly teamed up to fight off Lenalee. It reminded her of those strange family comedies where the families never got along. Not long after, Komui had thrown what looked like a miniature version of himself at Lavi and Nikkie. When it hit the floor, it exploded. Rope flew out from the tiny contraption, Nikkie dodged the ropes with ease - though Lavi wasn't so lucky. He had bumped into a shelf sending stacks of paper and books, among other things, on top of him.

Just as Lavi poked his head from the pile, bumps began to swell upon his head and Nikkie began to laugh at him, soon followed by the rest of them - even the new girl. The three Exorcists looked at the short black haired girl and suddenly remembered what they were here for.

"Wah! Oh, sorry about that. We got a little, er, distracted. Hm." Lavi said awkwardly.

"Oh! that's right. I haven't introduced myself. My name is Zephyr, pleased to meet you!" Zephyr said.

"Zephyr, huh? That's a cu - GAH!" Lavi began to say, though he never got to finish his sentence due to the likely event of both Nikkie and Lenalee kicking him across the room and into a nearby wall unit.

"Ignore him, it's better for your sanity." Nikke advised.

"Why don't you come with us to the cafeteria to get something to eat? The trip must have been rather long and tiring. You must be hungry." Lenalee offered.

Just as Lenalee mentioned food, Zephyr's stomach started to growl. Zephyr nodded enthusiastically. She glanced over at Lavi, who was still laying on the ground, though the two girls had not put any force at all into the kick.

"Sure, that'll be great, but is he going to be okay? I think he's bleeding." Zephyr asked, meekly.

"He'll be fine." answered both Nikke and Lenalee in monotone.

The three girls left the room, leaving it in complete chaos - though it wasn't as if it was ever tidy. Zephyr could have sworn she heard Komui ask Lavi to keep his blood off of the imported Chinese carpet, but she decided she wouldn't look back to check.

"Anyway, I have to go." said Nikke, waving at them as she started to go in a different direction.

"Huh? Nie-nie-chaan? You're not coming with us?" whined Lenalee.

"Nah, I have to go talk to Reever about Sparda. I'm worried about my little golem. I'll catch up with you guys later. Tell Jerry I said hi." replied Nikkie, smiling.

"Sure thing, see you later Nie-nie-chan!"

"Yeah, bye Nikkie."

Zephyr stared at Nikkie as she walked away. She had a feeling before that her new days as an Exorcist would be long and boring, and she had been rather worried before. Now that she had met them, though, she had a feeling she would enjoy her new life.