Hey everyone, sorry for the wait.

I haven't been able to keep in touch or update anything during the holidays or new years, been busy with work and things in general.

Luckily though I have been able to post this chapter that I've been stuck trying to finish.

Thanks to everyone who tried to keep in touch, and sorry that it me so long to reply.

Enjoy!

Standing in the middle of his living room Matthew stood with his furniture pushed against the walls, with his living space opened up and turned into some makeshift dojo he stood in place and prepared himself.

Breathing out steadily Matthew looked around and felt comfortable with room he made for himself, looking down to the floor Matthew saw the tips of his swords hanging as he held the grips tightly.

"Okay, nice and slowly." He whispered to himself, raising his blade into the air into a readied stance his feet followed into a similar form.

Then slowly Matthew traced his blades across thin air mimicking a familiar stance he saw once before.

Slowly moving into a rhythm he continued on with this new tempo of training he had barely learnt yesterday, the one day of joint training with his fellow student Connie and new trainee Steven, the worry of cutting himself still floating in his mind as light nicks and cuts dotted his arms and hands from the day before.

"One, two, one, two..." He repeated out loud trying to keep his spatial awareness in mind, not wanting to get another cut Matthews movements were slow and rigid.

This continued on for a little over an hour, with little difference noticed Matthew let out a sigh as he knew that the progress he made was minor.

After this Matthew made his way to his black leather wrapping and placed his blades onto it and wrapped them neatly. A very thoughtful gift given to him by Pearl, he handled it with extreme care as he didn't want any damage to done to it by a simple mishandling, to him such a thing would be an insult to Pearl.

Then after wrapping and tying his blades tightly and fixing his living room he looked onto the room and after seeing that everything was in order he bowed slightly and left his blades sitting at the foot of his bed. Taking his leave Matthew went downstairs and walked out of his home and out onto the city streets.

Walking along the inner city, Matthew went between building scouting out the alleys and more secluded secrets of the city. Keeping his attention focused on everything that he passed, knowing full well what could be lurking behind any corner as he knew from many nights ago that something could pounce at any given moment, this though sadly left him wary of the city itself.

After several moments of traversing in between buildings he finally made his way out and into the city park, the bright green shining from the bright noonday. Letting out a sigh of relief Matthew made his way into the park proper, looking around he saw several people lounging around either sitting on the park bench's or sitting in pairs under the trees.

By the looks of it several couples were spending the perfect summer day as a time to be together, soft laughter and light giggles flowed through the park as Matthew walked along his serene surroundings.

As he walked along the concrete path laid out through the park he noticed how he was the only one alone, the only one without someone to talk to, to share his day with.

Turning his gaze down to the asphalt Matthew finished up his stroll through the park and continued on, his mind fogged over by the lingering feeling of loneliness he paid no mind to his destination.

As his mind raced over trying to make sense of what he was feeling he was left confused, his face changing from confusion to sadness and then to shame. As the familiar face of an old friend came to mind he shrunk into his thoughts as he drowned out the world around him.

As he wandered on silently, aimless as to any true destination Matthew argued with himself, his mind flying back and forth as he was left dead in the middle of an argument he had with himself a long time ago.

'If you'd just find anyone you wouldn't be here.'

'But who would want to have you around?'

'Why do you think you would be good for someone?'

'She wasn't interested.'

He flinched, taking himself out of his thoughts Matthew took a sharp breath in as he tried to gain control of his mental state. He struggled though, his thoughts running amok as he tried to reel them in as best as he could, they kept belittling him as they kept on telling him of his worth, nagging him to do more with his life and that he wasn't worth the attention.

"Shut up!" Matthews voice echoed through the constrictive alley, his eyes finally taking notice of where he stood.

As Matthew stood there he leaned onto the alleyway as all he could do was take deep haggard breathes, the sudden weight of the world pulling him down left him wanting to curl up there and now, a feeling that he recognized but never fell back into for so long.

As he felt his legs giving out Matthew placed his hands onto the alley walls behind him to stop himself, he knew that this wasn't needed, he also knew that this isn't what he wanted either. Pulling himself back onto his feet Matthew pushed away these feelings of self doubt and worthlessness, not wanting to think on either Matthew decided to keep them inside for now, he would handle them some other time.

Letting out a deeply worn sigh Matthew continued on out of the alley and onto the the beachside.

CRASH!

"Amethyst!"