Here goes nothing.

Rumor of Skin

Yui was nervous, and she had a right to be. The person she saw as her new mother had just found out her biggest secret. She stood in the shower and allowed the hot water to run along her body and sooth her. After a few minutes she got out and changed clothes.

"Alright, here goes nothing." She grumbled into the mirror and walked out into the living room. There she found nobody. She thought about trying to sense her Master's presence, but thought against it. 'better leave his privacy alone.' So, she took a seat on the couch and dozed off.

Not 15 minutes later, Ezra walked out into the living room from the hall to his bedroom. He found her curled up in fetal position against an arm of the couch. He gently sat beside her and turned the holonet back on at low volume. "I wonder what it was that she wishes to speak to me about?" He said quietly as he looked over at his padawan. She stirred softly in her slumber and changed her position so that she now had her head in his lap. "Oh well, I guess this is more comfortable than a couch arm." He smiled and stroked her long blonde hair to help her relax. Yui smiled in her sleep.

"She seems to be happy where she is, even if it is my spot." Sabine laughed as she walked into the room and sat next to Ezra.

"Yes, I don't know her background, but I wish I did. Maybe then I could help her."

"I'm sure she doesn't remember a whole lot about it either. Don't younglings get taken to the temples at a very young age?"

"That is normally the case. However, I think she was brought at a little older age. I can sense her distrust of anyone but Mai."

"Those two are borderline inseparable, aren't they?" Sabine smiled at the girl in her husband's lap.

"Yes, they are. That is how she has survived this long. She can't truly depend on adults, so she puts all her trust into Mai." He continued to stroke the girl's head. He could tell that she was dreaming something nice and was glad to see her smile.

"She still has a long way to go. Do you think she could have fallen to the dark side?"

"Without proper training and care, it is possible that in time she could have fallen." Ezra stared down at his padawan as she stirred again. It seemed her dream shifted from joy to pain. Her face contorted and she whimpered.

"Ezra, what is happening?" Sabine seemed worried about the girl.

"She is having a nightmare. Much like you had in the past. I can sense she is in terrible pain. Allow me to work with her for a little while; go and tell Mai to stay with the girls while I handle this." Ezra was not joking around. This was a serious matter.

"Alright. But be careful." She stood and walked out the door to find the girls in the snow.

Ezra picked up Yui and took her to her bed and laid her down. He then knelt beside her and meditated. With some time and concentration, he was able to enter her mind. What he found there was not surprising too much. However, it still shocked him.

Outside

Sabine walked out the front door and found Mai and her daughters all building a large snow man. It stood easily around 10 meters tall. She was soon stopped by and overjoyed Celeste.

"Mommy, Mommy, look what we made." She bounced as she spoke and pointed to the large monument.

"I see it baby. Wow, did Mai help you?"

"Yup, she got the big snow balls up top for us. She's the coolest." The little girl jumped up and down.

"Even cooler than me and Daddy?" Sabine teased her daughter.

"No, no one can ever be cooler that you and Daddy." Celeste hugged Sabine's leg and Sabine began to cry. "What's wrong Mommy?"

"Nothing sweetie, just the new baby messes with my emotions. So, when something makes me really happy, I can start crying."

"Okay, wanna come help us?"

"Sure."

Inside Yui's mind

Ezra stood in a room he did not know. It was cold, dark and depressing. There was little light, only enough to see the walls. He could see a little blonde girl cowering in a corner of the room. He could tell that this was Yui. As he began to approach, she pulled her legs up tighter.

"Yui? It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you." He tried to reach out to her, but she tucked her head in her knees.

"No, Daddy. Please." She pleaded with him.

'So, she thinks I am her father?' Ezra thought to himself. "Yui, my name is Ezra Wren-Bridger. I am your Jedi Master and you are my padawan. I can assure you that your father will not hurt you anymore."

"Jedi Master?" She wiped her teary eyes and stared at him. The more she looked, the more his features changed. The man before her no longer looked like her father, but someone else she knew. Though she didn't know who.

"Yes. I brought you into my family with your friend Mai." Ezra could tell he was getting through to her, he just needed to keep at it. "My wife Sabine told me you had something you wanted to talk to me about. I can now guess that this is what it was." He paused and offered a hand to the young girl. She still rejected him.

"Daddy said that strangers are dangerous." She spoke in a soft voice.

"Well, he is not wrong my dear. But that being said, he seems to also be dangerous. If you're willing to take my hand and trust me, I can guarantee you a life of happiness and love." Ezra tried one last time to reach the frightened child in front of him. This time she reached her frail hand out and help his own. "Thank you, Yui. Now how about we get you out of here and back home." She nodded her head and knelt before him.

"How do we do that?"

"Open your mind, and let all thoughts fall away. Feel the Force flow through you and let it guide you. Feel the warmth and love of your new family. Come back to us."

Yui bolted upright in her bed and looked around. She was sweating profusely, and her purple eyes were wide. She glanced around until she heard a voice.

"Yui?" Ezra said sitting next to her.

"Daddy!" She jumped on him and knocked them both to the floor. Her arms wrapped tight around him. After a minute she got up, realizing what she called him. "I-I'm sorry, Master. I don't know why-"

"It's okay Yui. I see you as a daughter. If you wish to call me your father, I'd be more than happy to oblige. Although the age difference would lead to questions." He held the crying girl close as she let all of her emotions out.

"Thank you, for everything."

"You never have to thank me Yui. I will always be here for you and Mai. You two are part of my family now." He held her and let her cry until the sun was gone for the day.

I figured the best way to have Yui's background brought out was to give a visual to Ezra and let him help like he did Sabine.