Disclaimer: I don't own star wars, it all belongs to George Lucas and I don't make any money with this.


Stepping out of the fresher, Obi-Wan looked around the room again. Even after two weeks of living there he still couldn't really believe it. It was such a different experience, living with Xanatos instead of Qui-Gon. He loved standing outside on the balcony in the morning, like he did now; when activity just started to hum around the temple. It was his new way of greeting the day. Before, he had meditated but now he liked to enjoy the cool morning breeze while having a cup of coffee. He had come to like that stuff quite a lot. Watching the temple slowly awaken when the city already hummed with life was a rather good way of passing time because true to his word Xanatos would not get up before ten. Even then he was grumpy until he had had at least two cups of coffee and it was best not to talk to him before that. Nothing good came of it.

Contemplating, Obi-Wan watched the city. At first he hadn't been sure of what to think about this month of free-time the Council had granted them. It happened all the time that a Padawan got a new Master and never did they get a vacation this long. Normally it was a week at the most.

In the last two weeks however he had come to like this arrangement very much. He wasn't sure if he had ever had so much fun in his life as he had in the past few days.

That was because even though Xanatos loved being a Jedi, he still loved to enjoy life at its fullest. In Xanatos' opinion you couldn't do your job to the best of your abilities if you never got a break from it.

So, while he had spent his evenings under Qui-Gon's care studying and meditating, he and Xanatos had watched some holovids and played card games instead.

It was unconventional but would a relaxing evening really make him a worse Jedi? He didn't think so. After all Xanatos was one of the best the temple had.

On the morning of his first day Xanatos had announced that they would do no Jedi related things over the next four or five days. Therefore they went into the city, visited the most interesting places, got lunch at random cafes and watched the newest holovid in the theatre.

Furthermore they got to know each other. They talked about everything that came to mind and Obi-Wan would have never thought it possible that they should get along so well.

After their period of leeway they started up their training, beginning with the Katas, working through them all until they were in perfect synchrony with each other. They needed to be attuned to one another if they wanted to be successful on their missions. In addition to the physical part they also needed to trust each other blindly. They worked hard on it, talked about every issue they might have with each other, every rumor they had heard was talked through, they left nothing out and they were greatly rewarded for it. The bond that had formed between them when they both accepted the apprenticeship grew steadily. It wasn't possible for a Master and Padawan to talk through their bond from the get go or even to feel the other. No, that just came in time. But due to their talks the bond strengthened and they were able to already get the gist of what the other was feeling. It was not much but it was a start.

Looking at the clock, he realized that he had at least another hour before Xanatos would show his face so he decided to warm up and do some light exercises.

Qui-Gon and Anakin had already been in the gym for quite some time. Qui-Gon had begun the boys training a few days ago. He had shown him the first two Katas so now they were beginning their lightsaber practice. Showing him how to hold the saber and how to fall from a defensive stance into an offensive one, he mused that he really had to teach him from the beginning. Luckily, Anakin was a fast learner. After just two hours he had already mastered the basic steps and some attacks.

The Knights and Masters around them were surprised as they'd been certain that the boy would have difficulties in catching up with his year-mates.

Of course, he still had to learn a lot but if he kept up this pace he wouldn't need much time. Therefore, it was no wonder that several Masters approached them afterwards to offer their congratulations to Anakin. They knew the boy was having some difficulties to adapt to the temple life and they were trying to make him feel more welcomed.

Glowing with obvious pride, Anakin wanted nothing more than to get back on the training stage and show-off some more. They would all see that he was going to be the best.

He nudged his Master and asked: "Can we train some more, Master? I want you to show me more difficult things."

"Of course we can, Padawan. I am proud of you. You're really progressing fast." Qui-Gon praised him.

Walking back over to the stage, they saw it was already occupied by another pair. Xanatos and Obi-Wan.

Anankin frowned. That wouldn't do at all. They were going to ruin his show. And it was him and his Master who had been on that stage before so it rightly belonged to them.

"Master," he whined "they are not allowed to be there. We were training there."

"They have the same rights as we do, Padawan. Let's just watch them for now." Qui-Gon answered Anakin patiently. Anakin huffed, his cheeks reddening slightly. This was the first time that people had looked at him and seen something other than the slave boy they could order around. He didn't want that to stop.

He looked at the two and then at his Master. He could feel Qui-Gons' disapproval and anger. Anakin was sure their training would be disastrous. He had heard Qui-Gon say that these two were too different and would not be able to relate to each other.

Xanatos and Obi-Wan bowed to each other and went into an opening stance, circling each other, ready to strike.

It was Xanatos who finally attacked first with a series of blows which Obi-Wan all blocked easily, only to retaliate at once.

Jumping apart they circled each other again, sabers raised high above their heads, then with a simultaneous somersault they crossed blades in the air and landed safely again.

The next 40 minutes were spend like this, attack, block, block, parry, strike, turn, step, stab, jump, whirl, strike, block, turn, attack. They were moving lightning fast, giving the other nothing. It just fit. They were like dancers in a beautiful yet deadly dance.

Finally calling it a draw they moved from the platform and walked to the freshers, awed silence following them. Xanatos was full of praise, however, he had one thing to criticize, a little mistake in Obi-Wan's footing after a somersault which had given Xanatos the opportunity to strike.

"I knew why I was looking forward to spar with you." Qui-Gon heard Xanatos say.

Qui-Gon felt pride well up inside him but he quickly started to wonder.

How come he never noticed how skilled and elegant Obi-Wan was with the saber until now? He'd always believed that he was only slightly above average.

Shaking his head he decided that it couldn't be, he hadn't underestimated Obi-Wan so much for years. It must have been luck or, what was more likely, Xanatos had trained that little match with Obi-Wan, had it drilled into him over the last few days. That had to be it. No-one could improve that much in just two weeks.

How could Obi-wan play along with it? Had he already been brainwashed this much by Xanatos?

It was unbecoming of a Jedi to try to impress others through cheating. Or to try to impress at all.

He needed to warn the Council about it.

Meanwhile Anakin was seething inwardly. Stupid Obi-Wan. It was unfair. He had been the center of attention, admiration. Obi-Wan wasn't supposed to take that from him. He'd not even been good enough to keep his Master. No, he had driven Qui-Gon away, to him the chosen one, so how did he dare? What was so special about that duel anyway? They were supposed to be able to do that. He, on the other hand, was just a Padawan without any training at all and he had already achieved so much. He was sure he could show all those Masters who were congratulating DuCrion and Kenobi now.

He snapped out of his dark thoughts upon hearing his Master instruct him to warm up again.

During his warm-ups he tried to ignore the voices of the Masters that kept praising Xanatos and Obi-Wan.

After their sparring match Xanatos and Obi-Wan walked through the room of thousand fountains. "Let's fetch some lunch. I am starving." Xanatos suggested. Obi-Wan just nodded. He had learned one thing and that was that Xanatos was always starving. How he was able to maintain his figure was beyond Obi-Wan. He should be rolling around the temple by now instead of walking.

Mace Windu rarely listened to the temple gossip but nowadays it just seemed to be impossible to avoid it. And it was always about DuCrion and Kenobi.

How they could fly through the Katas without ever making a mistake, how cute they were helping the initiates paint the banner for the creche Masters' birthday, how devilishly handsome they were, how cool and perfect and what not they were. Mace was positive that if there had been a popularity contest no-one would have stood a chance against them. He wondered when the Jedi had become such terrible gossips.

Something had to be done about it. It wouldn't do any good to the temple if there suddenly were ranks in popularity. Of course superficial things like that had always been a topic in the temple but not to that extent. And even though he was glad the new team was liked and accepted by the rest, the Council had to step in.

Because in all honesty, it was getting downright ridiculous.

Over dinner that night Xanatos finally approached the topic of Qui-Gon. After lunch, they had ventured into the city again and ended up getting dinner from a small take-out restaurant.

"So have you come to a conclusion about Qui-Gon?" Xanatos asked tentatively.

"Hm, yes, I think so. I thought about what you said the other day. That it is no shame to need someone to help you sort things out. I know I am not perfect but I also know I am not a complete failure. I am a good negotiator and I can't be that bad with the Saber either because obviously I defeated the Sith even though Qui-Gon couldn't. I think the problem lies within Qui-Gon himself. It's him who can't let go. He never really got over what you did or I for that matter. He's so afraid of other people betraying him he doesn't see his own flaws, that he is doing the exact same thing he is so afraid of. Anakin is the chosen-one so he is bound to be the epitome of all good. Qui-Gon doesn't see that that is also a great risk. Anakin will be under constant pressure to excel in everything he does and I am not sure he'll be able to stand that. With that attitude Qui-Gon will fall. And if he does, he will fall hard." Obi-Wan finished his little speech in a calm manner.

Xanatos had a fond smile on his face. This young man was truly amazing.

"I know I had nothing to do with your upbringing and that I can't take credit for it but for what that it's worth, I am truly proud of you. You will make a great Jedi Knight someday and an even greater Master."

Xanatos couldn't help but feel a deep affection towards Obi-Wan. He was getting happier by each passing day that the Force had brought them together. As skeptical as he had been at first, now he was just glad about it and considered himself lucky to work with this great young man.

They would see what the future held for them and until then he would keep an eye on Anakin. He had sensed a lot of anger and hate in the boy when they'd been in the gym. He knew what those feelings could do to one.

Anakin sat fuming in a quiet corner of the temple. The Jedi had taken him from his mother, the Jedi had promised him that he would be a grand Master, the Jedi had told him how special he was, and yet they were so reluctant to accept him and his superiority. He would show them, he would learn everything they could offer him and then...

He swallowed his hate and anger and concentrated on formulating a plan.