Chapter 12

Obi-wan's perspective-

The two were catapulted into their own minds, and Obi-wan awoke with tears covering his face. Alone. He was alone. Never again would he feel Anakin's gentle presence caress his mind, sooth him after a battle, or calm him when everything else seemed ready to fall apart. Never again. So much lost.

Normally a bond wasn't broken like that, but the bond he'd had with Anakin was special. It had been truly unique, and it's breaking had left Obi-wan shattered and feeling more alone than he'd ever had in his life. He gasped for Anakin to leave, and the boy did, and Obi-wan collapsed onto his bed, sobbing. He had gotten Anakin back, after so long, so very long, and now their relationship was broken. He knew that Anakin's request had been more than about the bond. He'd wanted to end them both. Forever.

Anakin had been always there, been there so much that he'd began to take the boy for granted. Began to assume that Anakin would always be there. Oh, he'd been so wrong. How could he have believed that? Oh, how he wished that he could turn back the clock, could somehow stop Anakin from being captured. Oh Force, he had taken every precaution, done everything possible to ensure that it was him that was in the thickest of the danger, that if one of them was to die or be seriously hurt, that it would be him. Anakin wasn't supposed to have to go through this. It was supposed to be him.

Obi-wan allowed his tears to soak his pillow, feeling his heart break into a million pieces as reality came slamming home. Anakin wanted nothing to do with him. Perhaps he had, after all, they had bonded, but that must have been a decision without thinking. A spur of the moment thought, something he hadn't really considered. And there was something in the way Anakin had attacked the bond, ruthlessly slaughtering it, and Obi-wan had known then that Anakin truly was dead. Perhaps some of what he had been could be salvaged, yet Anakin was gone. Obi-wan knew this, and it broke his heart. It must have been something he had done. He had somehow said or done something wrong, and it had driven Anakin away.

He buried his head in his hands, and sobbed quietly. Would chasing after Anakin be a good idea, or would it only drive the boy away? He didn't know. His lack of forethought had already been detrimental to then both, leading to a bond that should never have existed. His over enthusiasm in accepting Anakin had only made the boy uncomfortable, his willingness to disregard the things that had been so deeply imprinted in Anakin's mind had brought momentary trust, but in the long run had only served to pull Anakin away. He had failed so badly, unknowing of how he could possibly redeem his lost once padawan. What should he do? How could he help Anakin now? He took a deep breath, and pulled himself together. The first part was obvious. He couldn't stop trying to help Anakin. That was a given. So the only option he really had was to try to help his brother come back to himself. It was really all he could do.

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Anakin's perspective-

The bond was broken, and it left a strange hole in his heart. He ignored it. There was no reason for it to exist, it served only to hinder his relationship with his master. And as this was true, it had needed to be destroyed. Now to see what else may come up. He would find the things that were preventing him from having a correct conventional relationship with his master, and he would remove, nullify, or destroy them. It was really all he could do.