Clash! The swords met. I twisted and turned, trying to get the upper hand. Dodge. Strike. I was completely focused. Me and the sword were one. I could feel my muscles working, feel the vibration that every new strike brought. But just one false move could bring it all to an end. One that I didn't make. I pointed the sword to Alex's throat. He lay on the ground, panting and obviously exhausted from our duel. I offered him a hand and helped him up.

"That was amazing!" He exclaimed. "You've really come along well these past few weeks."

A few weeks. That was how long I had been here now, it already felt like home. After that first night, I had moved in with Alex, and he had offered to teach me how to fight. So here we were now.

"I just got lucky, we all know how good you are," I shoved him playfully.

"You won't be so lucky next time," he smiled and sheathed his sword. I went to do the same with mine, but I was stopped.

"Don't put that away, I want to see how good you really are."

I turned around to face the smiling girl. Eve.

"If you insist," I grinned back, just a bit surprised. I hadn't seen her around much, only caught glimpses of her in the street and exchanged smiles. We hadn't talked since the initial day she had found me, which wasn't really classified as talking. I vaguely heard Alex whisper good luck.

I was caught by surprise as she lunged forward and I barely managed to block it. This threw me off balance and I only just had enough time to dodge the blade as it came whistling my way. The next time, I was ready, and I met her sword with a clash. Concentrating hard, I lunged, only to be expertly blocked. It was like an intricate dance, stepping, forward, backwards, everywhere. Just us, the rest of the world was a blur as we moved, and I was hardly aware of the crowd that had gathered. I didn't expect her to be this good. She counteracted my every move, I couldn't have gotten my blade to touch her if I tried. Faster and faster we went, I could feel myself tiring. I knew it was the end when I angled my sword wrong to try and deflect the lunge, and it was knocked out of my hand. I looked at the tip of her blade, pointing straight at my neck. She lowered it to her waist, and sheathed it with a flick of her wrist.

"You're not bad," she commented. I could see that she wasn't tired at all. I knew I was just standing there, unable to say a word, because of exhaustion and shock. She seemed to figure this out and with one last smile, she walked away. I watched that brown ponytail all the way back to her house.

"Dude, that was awesome! No one's ever been able to last that long with her." I could see why.

"How did she get that good?" I asked Alex.

"I don't know, she just seems to have a talent for it. Along with everything else."

I didn't find that hard to believe. As I started to catch my breath, I could see the crowd that had been watching starting to disperse. You could tell they were impressed though, looks of amazement on adult's faces and kids whispering to each other. I sheathe my sword and make my way back to our house. I grab a piece of steak out of the cupboard and munch on it, my thoughts still on the duel. "I'm going for a walk," I say to Alex, he just nods in response, absorbed in reading something. I walk to the gates and wait patiently for the guard to open them. "Thanks."

"Just be careful," was all I got in response.

I walked out into the desert. It felt good to escape, not to have people everywhere for once. Subconsciously, my feet took me toward the jungle where my old home was. I stepped over the leaves, more aware of the crackling sound they made when I stepped on them. I found my old tree and started to climb, it was much easier now than it used to be. I had gotten fitter and stronger. I opened the trapdoor that lead into my house. I nearly fell back down the tree when I saw her. The first thing I noticed that her hair that she usually wore in a ponytail, was down, spilling over her shoulders and back in a rippling wave.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, clinging onto the vines for dear life.

"What are you doing here?" She fires the same question back at me, turning around and challenging me with those eyes. I could see a flicker of a smile cross her face.

"I asked you first."

She paused for a moment. "I guess the same reason as you." She paused for a moment. "You picked a nice tree," she gazed around, the her eyes came to rest back on me. "Feel free to come in."

I realised I was still half in, half out, hanging on awkwardly to the vines. I quickly got up, unsure of what to do next. I went out onto the deck, and I could could her footsteps following me. I looked around at the view, it had been ages since I had stood here. I had changed since I had been here, since I had been in this new world. I was more aware, my senses had sharpened, allowing me to hear the slightest ruffling of leaves in the breeze, or spot prey in the undergrowth. I was fitter, able to wield a sword and fend off monsters as if they were nothing more than flies. But I was mentally changed as well. Now I thought differently to how I had before. I wasn't as outgoing, I considered everything I did, and what could happen because of it. I had changed a lot, and I'm sure it was for the better.

I had almost forgotten about the other person standing beside me, when the wind snapped me back into the present. I looked at her, the breeze was ruffling her hair, causing it to shimmer in the dusk light. I think she could feel me watching her, so she looked at me. I looked away, embarrassed. Why was I embarrassed? I didn't know... or did I? I looked over the canopy top. I had picked one of the highest trees, it had an amazing view. I looked into the sunset, watching the blues merge into oranges and reds as the sun touched the horizon. The light was cast over the jungle, making it look mystical. I could see the stars starting to form. Stars. I smiled at the thought. I think that was the night I changed.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" her voice almost whispered, sounding like the breeze.

"Yeah," but not as beautiful as you are, I wanted to add. Was I seriously falling for this girl? I didn't think I would love again, not after Dawn. That broke my heart, but it was for the best. But Eve was nothing like Dawn, I couldn't compare them.

I leaned forward onto the fence, feeling my hand brush hers. It was a simple gesture, but my hand was tingling. Neither of us made an effort to move away, so their we stood, watching the sunset fade away into night. I realised I hadn't been watching the sunset, I had been watching her, the slight movement as she breathed, and her hair occasionally fluttering out of place. I could see a strand now, dancing in the air, the moonlight reflected on it. I was mesmerised, not just by the hair, but by all of it. I reached out to tuck it in place, it was so soft, so smooth. I didn't take my hand away, I couldn't. She turned around to gaze at me. It was the first time I had really noticed her eyes. Dark brown, they seemed to go on forever, solemn, yet playful at the same time. I could still feel her hair under my hand, and I looked into her eyes, searching for an answer. They sparkled in the moonlight, I'm sure she said yes. So I leaned in, and our lips met.

(A/N) Aww, this made me so happy when I was writing it! I hope you guys liked this chapter, it took me forever to write :P

Pengiunsmaster: Lol, and I know, that's the second time I've heard that. See if you can spot the ref above ;)

Guest: I'm so sorry! I know how short the chapters are, it seems so long when I'm writing it, but when I put them up on here I'm like, oh. I just can't write long chapters xD. But I do try to update as much as possible, and I hope that makes up for it.

Keep calm and taste the rainbow,

~ZZefyre