Chapter 2: Leaving
"Do I have to stay with Master Yoda? I don't think he likes me."
"Of course he likes you, Ani. He wouldn't have offered to take you on the spur of the moment if he didn't."
"Obi-Wan, Master," the boy quickly added as an afterthought, "Why do you have to go? Couldn't someone else escort the Princess of Alderaan home?"
"Yes, except she asked for me in particular. I can't imagine why…" the handsome twenty-six-year-old master replied, running his hands through his lengthening ginger hair before increasing his pace in an effort to get away from the still nearby Council chambers.
"I have to hurry. The ship's already waiting. Master Yoda's suite is two floors down, okay. I'll see you in a week, Padawan."
"I thought this mission was only for three days," Anakin Skywalker replied, confused, running to keep up with his master's longer stride. Obi-Wan Kenobi stopped suddenly and Anakin ran into him, knocking them both down. Obi-Wan managed to deftly twist himself so he landed on his rear and managed to direct Anakin's face-first fall on top of his own body instead of the floor. The Knight let out a whoosh of air, followed by a soft groan, as his apprentice landed upon him.
"Sorry, Master. I should have been paying attention to where you were going." Obi-Wan shook his head.
"No, Ani, it's my fault for stopping so suddenly and not giving you warning. Now what did you say?" The tow-headed boy paused, lost in thought.
"Something about the mission being three days."
"It is."
"Then why'd you say you'd see me in a week?" Obi-Wan frowned. Why did he say that? It had seemed so right when it had left his lips…
"A slip of the tongue, Padawan," he replied, brushing away the slightly disturbed feeling at the edge of his senses. Anakin, however, seemed unconvinced.
"You are coming back, right?" Obi-Wan sighed. It had been a year since Anakin had become his apprentice but the child still suffered from abandonment issues. The little boy was always a bundle of nerves whenever the Council sent him on a solo mission.
"Of course I'm coming back. If I had it my way, I wouldn't be leaving. As it is, I want you to work hard while I'm gone. If you keep up pace at which you're learning, there's a good possibility you could join me on a mission.
"Great!" the boy responded enthusiastically, hugging his prone master.
Someone softly clearing their throat interrupted the picturesque moment. Obi-Wan looked up and up and up, right into the face of Mace Windu. Suddenly Obi-Wan realized that he was lying on his back in the middle of the hallway leading from the Council chambers with his ten-year-old Padawan straddling his abdomen.
"Oops," Anakin whispered, scrambling off of his master. Obi-Wan quickly stood up and bowed, Anakin imitating his actions.
"Master Windu! I, uh… um…"
"Don't you have a transport you should be catching, Knight Kenobi?" Obi-Wan, recognizing the avenue of escape for what it was, nodded.
"Yes, of course. Thank you for reminding me, Master Windu. I'll be going now. Come along, Ani." Grabbing his Padawan, an embarrassed Obi-Wan beat a dignified, if somewhat hasty, retreat. Mace Windu shook his head, a smile crossing his lips and quickly disappearing back into his normal stoic mask as the rest of the adjourned Jedi Council appeared in the hallway.
TBC…