This chapter is dedicated to a very special someone, cos it's his birthday in a few days and I'm gonna be on holiday and so won't be able to spend it with him *cries*. Anyway, Happy Birthday, Lewa of the pit, I hope you like this chapter! *glomp*

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Chapter 6 – Flowers and Feelings

Izerix carefully lead the blindfolded Lightning Toa through the woods, warning her about fallen branches, sticky-up (for lack of a better term) roots and large rocks that she may trip on. Upon reaching the clearing he loved so dearly, Izerix decided to place a flower in her mask, a little above her emerald eyes. The flower was dark blue with lighter blue spots on it. After he had the flower just as he wanted, he gently removed the blindfold.

"We're here, Sparky."

She smiled as the material slipped off of her mask, and the grin only widened when she noticed the flower. She blushed and giggled.

"Cute," she said quietly.

You certainly are, Izerix thought to himself. He turned and walked towards the spring, where he sat down and drew his knees up beneath his chin. Xirrea sat next to him, dipping her foot into the cool water. Some of the more curious fish came up to the golden appendage and began to swim around it, as if examining it. Xirrea laughed at the sight, making Izerix smile.

She always makes me smile, he thought as she reached down into the water, making to stroke the little fish that swam away as fast as they could, fearing capture. He laughed at the reaction of the fish and "awwwed" at Xirrea's upset expression.

"Ah, well. I'd probably have electrocuted them by accident, anyway," she laughed again and looked around at her surroundings. "This place is so beautiful… I hope that, no matter where my future may take me, I'll always remember this place."

"If… if you ever have to go… I'll go with you…" Izerix said, blushing deeply behind his mask as the gold and black Toa looked at him, eyes wide with surprise at his words.

"W-what?" she asked, slightly confused. Izerix breathed in deeply, gathering his nerves.

"If you ever have to go, I'll go with you," he said. Because I love you.

He stood up, worried that he should have just kept his mouth shut, and began to walk towards the trees. Xirrea stopped him and made him turn around.

"How far would you go with me?" she queried, looking up at him with such an adorable expression that he couldn't help but feel his heart melt into a rather contented puddle.

"To the end of the world, if you wanted me too, even further, if possible," he answered her. Because I've never loved anyone more than I love you.

"Truly?"

"Honestly," No-one could ever take your place.

"Why would you come?"

"Because I-"

BOOM!

His words were cut off by a rather badly timed thunder clap and an onslaught of horribly humid rain.

"Damn it," the silver Toa cursed, "Come on, Xi, we'll shelter in the tree house."

The two Toa ran towards the huge tree that held up the wooden house. Upon reaching the tree, Izerix helped Xirrea to get a hold of the ladder before following her up, blushing at the sight of her midnight-black rear wiggling from side to side in front of his mask as she climbed.

Once they got inside, Izerix tossed Xirrea a cloth to dry off with. He couldn't help but stare at her whilst she dried off, gently wiping the water away. He saw a little bit she'd missed on her mask and so wiped it off for her. She blushed and giggled as he did so, placing her golden fingers atop his midnight black ones. It was at this moment, with her fingers caressing his own and each Toa's eyes looking longingly into the others, that Izerix took his chance…

And kissed her.

The first kiss was a little shy and a bit awkward – neither Toa had ever really done this before and were a little unsure. But they grew in confidence and before long were having a full-blown snogging session. Izerix wrapped his arms around Xirrea's waist, pulling her towards him until their bodies were flat against each other. Xirrea wrapped her own arms around his neck, standing on her tiptoes to get a little more level with the taller Toa.

It was fairly safe to say that neither Toa had ever felt this good in their lives, and both Xirrea and Izerix were beginning to loose the feeling of loss they held towards their dead, kidnapped and at-war siblings, replacing it with nothing short of pure, golden love.

***

It was late evening by the time the rain stopped, but by then Izerix and Xirrea were too settled, basking in each other's warmth to go back to the village, so they decided to just stay in the tree house. Xirrea didn't want to be anywhere else at that moment, but Izerix couldn't help but wonder if Ro'Dae and Krix were ok back in the village. He closed his eyes to try and get some sleep, but found himself plagued by a disturbing vision from his mask…

One of his own funeral.

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Sorry for the short chapter, I'm having writers block issues today and the plot bunnies are looking a little lifeless *pokes bunnies and receives no response*. Also, I just wanted this to be about the romance (until the very end at least) and romance ain't what I'm best at... that comes later... Please review!