Age: ten
Interests: duels, pudding
Dislikes: let-downs, slip-ups
"Did you see that?!" Geltiss cries out, nearly smacking me in the face when he stretches out his arms and flails them about wildly before pointing at the duelling duo.
"That's impossible!" MinMin agrees with the Zygerrian, covering her mouth with a little pale blue hand.
"Most extraordinary," our Samuac friend, Les, agrees. He nods sagely, red eyes shut.
I sigh. Sure, it's a cool fight, but I wanted to watch Obi and Master Qui-Gon duel. Somewhere in the back of my mind, a voice is urging me to pay attention and learn something from this battle, but my impatience outweighs my hunger for knowledge and I haven't seen Obi fight since he left for his mission three whole months ago and now that he's finally back I've been dying to have him teach me some moves.
As if I needed a reminder anyway, Ferus Olin walks up and stands behind me, to my left, still able to see over MinMin's head and my shoulder.
"We could learn a few things from those two," he comments, pushing back the golden streak of hair that falls in front of his eyes and letting it mingle with the ordinary brown locks sprouting from his scalp.
"Stars!" Geltiss gasps, gripping the railing tightly as he broadcasts his enthusiasm. "She just blocked Cho mok in Shien/Djem So!"
"A very aggressive attack," Les remarks.
"Sometimes it is for the best to be aggressive," Mikeil replies.
"As long as your emotions don't rule you," Ferus puts forth.
I sigh again. "Spare us your lectures," I mutter darkly, chin cupped in one hand as I gaze ahead, irked by Ferus' constant need to put us in our place. All he does is quote the Code, as if we all haven't studied it enough to know the entire thing out of our heads by now. Okay, and I'm annoyed by the fact that the entire Council dotes on him like he's some sort of work of art. I mean, so what if he's mature? Maturity isn't everything.
MinMin's absolutely horrified expression snaps me back to reality and the severity of my words suddenly hit me. Surely, Ferus will use this childish outburst against me whenever the occasion calls for it, and I have brought it all upon myself this time, just because I was awaiting a match that was going to happen at a time that inconvenienced my impatient mind. How un-Jedi-like of me.
I give Ferus a short, small bow in apology, hastily scrabbling the words "Sorry, don't know what came over me," out of my cluttered mind.
Mikeil grins stupidly, but to his credit he adds, "She hasn't had any pudding in an entire week." And even though Ferus doesn't know much about me, he knows enough to smile at the comment and let my rude remark slide.
Luckily, the match ends and finally, and Master Jinn and Obi-Wan enter the arena. I watch, mesmerized, as they bow graciously and start off strongly, pure strength demanding the upperhand. But as usual, Obi-Wan's grace and fluidity manages to get better of Master Jinn's imposing figure and experience, pushing the Master to use his speed as well as his mind.
My friends are making loud and excited exclamations, but I barely hear them as I am so in-tune with the duel and my most favourite Master-Padawan unit.
It's a close call, but eventually Master Jinn's cunning talent manages to make Obi-Wan try and block a feint to the left which then becomes a diagonal slash toward his collarbone in a flurry of a hazy movement and bright green light.
The blazing emerald blade kisses the skin of his collarbone briefly, but the searing energy burns only mildly as the blades have been specially set for the match. I catch the wink Master Qui-Gon grants Obi and the returned smile on Obi's face as they face each other and bow again. The crowd claps loudly and I join them, showing my enthusiasm with vigor.
I take the stairs three at a time, bounding off to the changing rooms to await Obi. I ignore a random young Knight who gives me a funny look as he exits the room with a towel slung over his shoulder and position myself next to the open doorway, pressed to the wall so no-one can see me.
"- didn't see it coming at all," I hear Obi's voice, and minding my timing, I pounce on him the moment he enters the changing room.
He's mildly shocked, but doesn't broadcast it. Instead, he smiles softly and says, "Hello there, Kira," as if the three months that I haven't seen him were three hours. But of course, Obi is smart in that way that says that time is only a part of the mind or something like that.
"Initiate Zhun," a voice behind me greets me, and I look up with an embarrassed flush on my cheeks, noticing the imposing figure of Master Qui-Gon Jinn. His blue eyes are alight with humor, though, so I know I'm in the clear. For some reason I just never rubbed the right way with this man. I admire him, and I know how much Obi looks up to him so in a way I'll like him just because Obi likes him, but there has always been something about him that I have been unable to grasp.
Shin Dan, on the other hand, seems completely comfortable in Master Jinn's presence, and sometimes even jokes around with him or steals food off his plate. It's strange to see the two of them interact, especially since they have no real connection whatsoever. It's not as if they go on missions together often, and Master Jinn isn't that close with Master Laffon, either. Their whole relationship baffles and confuses me. But whenever I ask Shin Dan about it, he just tells me something annoying like, "Someday you'll get it," and leaves it at that.
"Is there a particular reason as to why you're in the men's locker room?" he asks, a curious sparkle brightening the mystical blue of his eyes.
"Yes Master Jinn," I answer, straightening up to at least try and exhibit a semblance of Jedi etiquette. "I wanted to congratulate you both on your most intriguing and awe-inspiring match. It was simply sensational watching the two of you engage in combat."
A sudden bark of laughter interrupts whatever else my brilliant mind had the courage (stupidity) to cough up, and a more composed chuckle from Obi-Wan adds to the bite of the insult.
"Is there a problem?" I ask, raising a brow at Obi-Wan, for I would never dare even do so much as scrunch my nose at Master Qui-Gon.
"Oh, nothing Initiate Zhun, pardon my poor manners. We feel most appreciative toward your kind words," he replies.
"Don't tease your future Padawan, Obi-Wan."
My face flushes with heat and I look away, not sure how to react to this comment. I had always felt like that was the only path the Force would lead me on, but I hadn't known that others thought so, too.
"Master!" Obi-Wan objects, though not without a good deal of joviality in his voice.
"You know it is true, little one. I despair the time we must go our separate ways, but at least I'll know that I leave you in capable hands."
Master Jinn settles his big hands on my shoulders and I struggle to release the tension in them. The thought of being Obi-Wan's apprentice still fills my stomach with jitters, even though I've fantasized about it plenty.
I may be ten now, and many of my friends have already been taken on as Padawans, but I am willing to wait for him. I have been willing since the moment I met him.
"Getting a little sentimental, Master?" Obi-Wan asks, smirking.
Master Jinn cuffs the side of his head lightly and Obi chuckles. He may be only twenty-four, but I'm sure that by the time I am thirteen and he is twenty-seven, things will be different. He will be ready.
I will be ready.
It will be most splendid.
