DISCLAIMER: *swats Obi-Wan and snatches the Ring* A-HA! My One Ring of Unlimited Copyright Privileges, which lets me own Star Wars and all other stories! Yes! *Mace Windu pokes me with the Force and steals the Ring* Oi!

I don't own Star Wars. *sulks*

Many thanks to those who have reviewed the first chapter!

Eikciv63- We plan on continuing this! We also are huge fans of Obi-angst ourselves. Hee hee. :)

*************

One Year Later...

The Force was disturbed. It swirled around him, assaulting him with dark feelings of premonition and anxiety. It did nothing to improve his sullen mood.

Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi sighed as he came out of meditation, looking around his small apartment. This had been the story of his life for the past two weeks- whenever he meditated, he could sense something dark in the Force, warning him of something grim to come. But he couldn't for the life of him figure out what it was.

Of course, the Force had been moody and sullen around him for the last year. Ever since that moment, that one line, spoken in the Council chambers. I will take Anakin as my Padawan learner.

Obi-Wan had never forgiven Qui-Gon for that betrayal. After saving him from the Sith on Naboo, he had avoided the older Jedi as much as he could, using every excuse in the book and making up some of his own on the way. He had assigned himself to the Queen's guard, which helped him ensure he would be too occupied to deal with his estranged mentor. He had delayed slightly on-planet while Qui-Gon and Anakin (the brat) returned to Coruscant, only returning to formalize his Knighting. That was his first time dealing with Qui-Gon since the fight with the Sith.

The pair had gone through the Knighting ritual with the Council, only speaking the lines necessary. After the ceremony, Qui-Gon had caught hold of Obi-Wan's shoulder and told him, "I'm very proud of you, Obi-Wan. You will be a fine Jedi Knight and a great Master."

Obi-Wan had responded with a polite, "Thank you, Master" and tried to leave, only to feel his former Master's grip on his shoulder tighten.

"Obi-Wan... We still need to talk about-"

"There is nothing to talk about, Qui-Gon. You got your wish and now have the Chosen One as your apprentice, without me in the way. What effect will my words have?" Qui-Gon had been so stunned by Obi-Wan's words that the new Knight had been able to pull away from his former friend and escape

The next day, despite the hangover he had, he had gone to the Council and asked for a mission. They had given him one, and he had luckily been kept busy for the past months now. Almost too busy to think about Qui-Gon and his replacement.

Yet, it would still strike him, in the cockpit of a transport, or in meditation, or even just walking around the Temple. He would see something that reminded him of Qui-Gon, or come across a situation and find himself wondering, What would Qui-Gon do? The worst had been when he'd seen the other pair one day, while he'd been strolling along a Temple corridor. He should have turned and fled in the opposite direction when he heard the dreaded voices ahead, the higher pitched one laughing in response to some comment that the baritone voice had made. But he hadn't. He'd casually ducked into a nearby alcove, watching the interaction between his former mentor and his replacement.

He never could figure out why he had watched. He reasoned it was a strange, twisted curiosity that had made him linger. But not even that curiosity could make him stay when he saw Qui-Gon wrap an arm around Anakin's shoulders, affectionately holding the boy close.

Qui-Gon had rarely, if ever, done such an affectionate gesture for Obi-Wan. He wanted to scream, Did you forget me already, Master? I'm still here! But he didn't.

The Knight had managed to slip away to the training salles, straining to hold in his anger. He took it out on some undeserving training droids, cutting them all to pieces. Since that day eight months ago, he'd avoided all sign of Qui-Gon or Anakin, despite finding two messages on his com link from his former mentor asking if they could talk. He'd left a hasty message in response to the first, saying that he was too busy, which had been true at the time. The other he had deleted without listening to it.

His com link chirped, bringing Obi-Wan back to the present. Looking at the code, he answered. "Kenobi."

"Did you forget we had a sparring match set?" The voice of his old friend Cin Drallig sounded over the com link. He had only been permanently assigned as the Temple Battlemaster four months ago, and from the sounds of it, missed the open field. Obi-Wan had been friends with the older Jedi since he was a young Padawan himself, just learning to use a lightsabre.

Obi-Wan glanced at the chrono on his wrist. "Sith! Sorry Cin, I'll be there in a moment."

"Take your time, Obi-Wan." The Knight could almost hear the grin in his friend's voice. "I'll just pick on the Younglings until you get here."

"Why would I make the Younglings suffer any more of you than I must? I'm hurrying." Obi-Wan quickly closed the connection before he could hear Cin's indignant retort, a smile on his face. Despite being almost fifteen years older than Obi-Wan, Cin was one of his good friends.

He swiftly rose to his feet and strode out of his apartment, only pausing to pick up his lightsabre. It was a brief walk to the training salles, for which he was grateful. The less time he spent in the halls, the less chance he would run into Qui-Gon. Unless, of course, the older man was in the salles, training that boy.

Thankfully, there was no sign of Jinn or Skywalker in the salles when Obi-Wan arrived. Instead, Cin just outside one sparring arena, coaching the two fighting Padawans in the centre of the ring. When he noticed Obi-Wan had arrived, Cin ended the match, letting the two children leave before he turned to his friend. "You ready?"

"To win? Of course." Obi-Wan removed his robe, setting it over a bench and holding his lightsabre in his hand. He grinned as Cin drew his own sabre. "Today will be the day I beat you, I'm sure of it. I can sense it in the Force."

Cin snorted. "You keep dreaming, Kenobi." He ignited his lightsabre, the blue blade shimmering before him.

"Oh, I will." Obi-Wan snapped his own blade to life, saluting Cin before attacking him.

Half an hour later, Obi-Wan looked up the length of Cin's lightsabre from where he lay sprawled on the arena floor. "I concede."

Cin grinned down at his friend. "What happened to sensing that you would win today?" He reached a hand down, helping Obi-Wan up.

"The Force is confused today," retorted Obi-Wan. "I still say you cheated."

"Me?" Cin looked mockingly affronted by the accusation. "Cheat?"

"Yes, you. Most people don't use concentrated Force-energy as a weapon in a friendly duel, my friend."

"Ah, you're just jealous that you can't do it." Cin smirked.

"Whatever." Obi-Wan glanced ruefully at the burns on his arms and torso.

Cin started walking out of the arena, waiting for Obi-Wan to catch up. "May I ask a slightly personal question?"

"Sure." As long as it doesn't include one Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan added mentally.

"Have you considered taking on a Padawan of your own?" Cin watched Obi-Wan carefully, looking for the younger man's reaction.

Obi-Wan hesitated in his footsteps. "No, I've been too busy. Why do you ask?"

Cin shrugged. "We have a whole new class of Younglings who are nearly of apprenticeship age. I think some of them would be a good fit with you, Obi-Wan." He paused for a moment. "I already have my eyes set on one in particular."

"Really?" Obi-Wan looked at his friend, curious. "Who?"

"Serra Keto." Cin gestured to a dark-haired human girl in a training ring with a group of other Younglings. "She shows great potential with a lightsabre."

Obi-Wan nodded, watching the girl spar against one of her age-mates. She was talented, there was no denying it. "Hmm. Have you asked her yet?"

"No. I was going to seek Master Yoda's council first."

Obi-Wan glanced at his friend. "Does Zara know?" he asked, referring to Cin's former Padawan. Zara Taerich, who had been one of Obi-Wan's friends since their creché days together, had been Knighted seven months ago. From what Obi-Wan had heard, she was still on close, friendly terms with her former Master. Obi-Wan had to admit he was envious of their relationship.

Cin raised an eyebrow. "Are you still bitter about Skywalker?"

Obi-Wan said nothing, merely pressing his lips into a fine line. Cin sighed. "She was the first person I spoke to about a second Padawan. She's fine with it, Obi-Wan. While she doesn't have any interest in taking an apprentice herself yet, she has no problem with me taking on another Padawan."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Well, if you think the Force is telling you to take Serra on, who am I to speak?"

"Obi-Wan..." Cin hesitated. "Have you spoken with Qui-Gon since your Knighting?"

Obi-Wan shrugged. "Define 'spoken'."

"It's been over a year since that happened." Cin looked hard at his friend. "I was angered at him when I heard what he'd said in the Council chambers against you, and I'm still upset with him, but you two need to make things right between yourselves."

"Did he talk to you?" Obi-Wan couldn't quite stop the bitterness in his tone. "Or are you speaking on your own?"

"I've barely spoken with Qui-Gon in the last year, Kenobi, and even then only in terms of training Skywalker. I've been upset enough with his actions towards you that I don't count him as a close friend anymore. But I'm talking to you as a friend. Make up with him, otherwise you two are going to hurt each other even more."

Obi-Wan said nothing to his friend. Cin sighed again before turning back to the children. "There is one Youngling in particular that I think you'd find to be a good Padawan for you. Her name's Kayce Pedaen. The little human in the back, brown hair in a ponytail, blue lightsabre."

The younger Knight obediently looked at the afore-mentioned Youngling, although he felt no inclination to take on an apprentice. "Cin, I can't take on a Padawan right now. I... just can't. Too busy and whatnot."

"Fair enough." Cin shrugged and started walking away from the arena. "Just so you know, she's eleven and a half years old."

"So I have a year and a half to make up my mind then," said Obi-Wan as he followed his friend out of the salles.

"Less, probably. I know she's got the attention of a few different Knights and Masters." Cin paused as a com link went off. "Is that yours or mine?"

"Mine." Obi-Wan pulled the com out of his pouch. "Kenobi."

"Knight Kenobi, you are to report to the Council Chambers in thirty Standard minutes for a mission briefing." spoke the Council aide. "Any questions?"

"No, thank you." Obi-Wan closed the communication before turning back to Cin. "I'll think about Kayce, but I make no guarantees."

"Thinking is a good place to start." Cin clapped a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "But more than anything, talk to Qui-Gon. You need to reconcile yourself with him. I don't like seeing either of you like this, too angry to speak to each other. You used to be the closest team in the Temple; there still has to be something that can reconcile you."

"Fine," said Obi-Wan, as much to get Cin off his back as anything else though. "I'll do what I can."

"That's all I ask." Cin released him. "Good luck."

"Thanks!" called Obi-Wan as he headed back to his quarters to shower and change.

Twenty-five minutes later, he was entering the turbolift that would take him up to the Council chambers, freshly cleaned and wondering about this new mission. He'd been back in the Temple for four days already, and while he'd enjoyed the reprieve, he wanted to be away from any possibility of running into Qui-Gon or Anakin.

The doors to the chamber opened as soon as he stepped up to it. The entire Council was in session, awaiting him. Obi-Wan strode to the centre of the ring, bowing to Yoda. "Masters."

"Knight Kenobi." Mace Windu inclined his head in greeting. "We wait only for the other two members of your team before giving the briefing."

Obi-Wan looked questioningly at Mace. "Who else is-" But he did not need to finish his question. For the doors had swung open again, revealing the afore-mentioned team members.

Obi-Wan paled as Qui-Gon Jinn and Anakin Skywalker walked into the chamber.

*************

Hee hee... angst... *gleefully laughs*

Evidently, it turns out that I cannot resist adding Cin to this. The fact that I'm one of his only fangirls has nothing to do with it. *winks*

Please review! Nanashi and I both thank you!

Xaja