A/N: The two song lyrics used are from Placebo's songs "Every You and Every Me" and "Pure Morning." Go download/buy the CD. They're really good. I'm not sure if those are the exact lyrics because I didn't look them up. I happened to be listening to Placebo while writing this and I went "Hey... that's a good song for ze storeh!" Yeah.

- - -

"Succumb Intoxication"

by ; andrea

x . c h a p t e r s i x

; a friend indeed

- - -

So, the flowers did not cheer his master up. What was he thinking, anyway? He was just an idiot little boy. He still is just an idiot little boy. Obi-Wan forced himself to open his eyes. He was facing the white wall. Their ship was heading back to Coruscant. And it was because of Obi-Wan. He was being such a burden again.

Stop it, Kenobi. He told himself as he sat up groggily. You're being self-centered. You're being self-centered once again. Think about Qui-Gon. If he doesn't like me the way I am, I better change it.

Obi-Wan made his way to the 'fresher and looked at himself in the mirror. He was a wreck. He splashed himself with cold water and sighed quietly.

"Feeling better?"

Obi-Wan jumped at the voice that startled him and whirled around to face the doorway. Qui-Gon was standing in it.

Composing himself, and building up his mental shields, which were down at the moment, he nodded. "I'm fine, Master. I'm ready to speak to the Council, as well."

"Poise yourself and follow me out."

Obi-Wan stared at himself in the mirror, before stroking his padawan braid. He got a terrible feeling right then—it was as if he knew he wouldn't be able to feel it again.

- - -

Standing before the Council, and the center of their attention at the moment, was Obi-Wan Kenobi. All eyes were on him. Qui-Gon stood behind the boy, his hands in his sleeves and listening to Yoda's words intently. But he kept his mouth closed and kept from speaking or retorting of Yoda's words.

"The boy, much emotion—I sense from him. His feelings are clearer than his last visit, at the least. Hmm." Yoda nodded solemnly, as did Qui-Gon.

"And you did almost send him to Tatooine. The will of the Force had stopped you," Mace stated calmly to Qui-Gon. "And his emotions... they are focused on you."

"Much sadness. Much fear. Much depression. On your decision, are you sure, Master Jinn?"

"The boy is dangerous to the Jedi order. He is vulnerable to the Sith."

Yoda tapped his cane on the tile floor for a moment before nodding in agreement and turning to Mace Windu. The dark-skinned man nodded and turned to Qui-Gon and his apprentice.

"Master Jinn, we are glad you have brought this boy to us before it was too late. He is vulnerable, as you say. And he has gone through a seduction of the Dark side. If another one, I sense he will not be able to keep his word to the Order."

This was where Obi-Wan had spoken up quietly. "But I will—I'll stay faithful to the Jedi no matter what..."

"Sense that, we cannot. Safer it is... this way, our young friend."

Adi Gallia, whom, as well as most of the other Council members, had stayed quiet for some time. She had spoken up, turning the attention to herself. "There are other ways to allow the boy to evade the Dark side."

"Yes, but that, the Force is unclear of. The only discretion, this is," Yoda answered after a moment.

"If the Force wishes it, then so be it," Mace had concluded, raising a hand to silence the whispers between the Council members.

Adi Gallia, as if on cue, stood and kneeled before Obi-Wan, looking at him in the eye. "If the Force believes it is right, then we shall answer it's call." Her fingers traced the boy's padawan braid and she nodded sternly.

Taking a glance at Mace Windu and back, she took out a small old-fashioned knife.

Obi-Wan gasped, backing up into his master clumsily. He stared up at the older man, pleading. It's not true, he told himself. The Force... the Force doesn't mean it. His eyes darted around to all the Council members, whom nodded in approval. But not Obi-Wan's approval. Qui-Gon stared down at the boy, taking a step back because Obi-Wan was leaning on him.

Taking the hint, Obi-Wan stood up straight and bit his lip, his hands at his sides strongly. He would not be afraid of what was to come.

Adi put a hand on the boy's shoulder and then let the knife trace his braid.

Stupid dreams. Obi-Wan closed his eyes.

Yoda shook his head sadly.

Mace watched with his hands folded under his chin.

The rest of the Council held their breath.

But, suddenly, Qui-Gon jerked the boy back. "This isn't right. The Force... it cannot wish this boy to no longer be a Jedi!" Obi-Wan trembled for a moment at his master's touch, but then quickly controlled himself and turned to look up at his master, whose hands were on the boy's shoulders.

The Council was silent.

But Yoda spoke quietly, nodding and tapping his cane on the floor, "Hmm. Faithful you are to your master, padawan?"

"Yes, Master Jedi," Obi-Wan answered quietly but instantly.

"And, Master Jinn, faithful, you are to your padawan. Feel your love for the padawan through your mental shields, we can. Never have cut the boy's hair, we would. Tricked, you did." There was a hoarse chuckle heard throughout the room.

Obi-Wan felt the blood rush from his face, leaving him pale. He was just embarrassed in front of the whole council.

"Glad we tricked you, should be you. If not, young Kenobi trapped on Tatooine, he would be. Maybe even turned. Haven't lied about that. Believe you can make him better—see the light you can, Master Jinn."

- - -

Obi-Wan sat at his desk in his room, his legs swinging idly. He was thinking as he stared out the window at Coruscant. It was raining, still. But he couldn't help to smile. He wondered...

Carve your name into my arm

Instead of stress, I lie here charmed

'Cause there's nothing else to do

Every me and every you.

Sucker love—a box I choose

No other box, I choose to use

Another love I would abuse

No circumstances could excuse

In the shape of things to come

Too much poison comes undone

'Cause there's nothing else to do

Every me and every you

Every me...

Sucker love whose known to swing

Prone to cling and waste these things

Pucker up for heaven's sake

There's never been so much at stake

I serve my head up on a plate

It's only comfort calling late

'Cause there's nothing else to do

Every me and every you

Every me...

Like the naked leads the blind

I know I'm selfish I'm unkind

Sucker love I always find

Someone to bruise and leave behind

All alone in space and time

There's nothing here

But what here's mine

Something borrowed, something blue

Every me and every you...

Obi-Wan stopped smiling. He felt good. He bit his lower lip and tapped his feet against the floor to an imaginary beat. He was to be a padawan—and not just any padawan—but Qui-Gon Jinn's padawan. He smiled brightly again and touched his braid.

And he was to stay on Coruscant!

Wait until Midii and Jiro hear...

A beeping sound interrupted his thoughts. He stood up and took his comm unit that was on his bed and answered it.

"Hello?" he answered.

A picture of Midii emerged on the screen.

"Kenobi!" she gasped. "You're here! I thought—Tatooine—I called yesterday and you weren't here... Obi, you're here! I'll be right over!"

Before Obi-Wan could even say a word, the comm connection was broken. Blinking, he turned the power off and walked into the kitchen. He did eat that morning, even though he was alone. Qui-Gon, at the moment, was out talking with the council about Obi-Wan's training and self-dignity. Obi-Wan was just glad he was allowed to remain a Jedi!

Making two cups of stim-tea, Obi-Wan sat down at the table, waiting for Midii to arrive. He sipped his tea for a moment and half-smiled to himself.

Suddenly, he heard the door swing open and he turned around and in a split-second he was embraced with a hug.

"Obi-Wan!" Midii laughed as she clung onto him. He didn't even have time to get up from his chair. She was always as quick as lightning. She was also out of breath from running. "Damn you! I thought I'd never see you again!"

She pulled on his braid and brought a chair to sit right in front of him. He smiled at her warmly and sipped his tea as if nothing interesting was happening.

"Force, look at you. What happened?"

Yes, he did know he still had a few bruises on him.

"Tatooine is not a nice vacation spot," he chuckled dryly.

She wrinkled her nose and laughed. "I'm sorry, Obi. Ah, Force, I'm just glad you're all right. Tell me—what happened? Huh?"

Obi-Wan told her everything quite calmly, but a soft smile never left his face. When he finished, Midii was speechless. She only sipped her tea as she watched him.

"You've gone through a lot for a fifteen year old, Kenobi."

"Call me Obi," he said quietly with a crooked grin.

She shook her head and smiled, looking towards the table as she set her cup down.

"I didn't mean to call you a liar. I didn't mean a lot of things I said..."

"It's all right."

"Good."

"I better go. I ditched meditation to see you, Ken—Obi." She smiled.

Obi-Wan paused and stood up, and so did Midii.

"Don't go..."

Midii froze for a moment and stared at Obi-Wan. Then she turned and began walking towards the door. "I have to."

Obi-Wan grinned for a moment and put his leg out in front of her, stopping her. She looked at him, scowling. But he had just opened the door with the keypad and she began to walk out before he grabbed her by her shoulder and whirled her around to face him.

"All right, well, bye," he said, half-grinning.

She raised an eyebrow at him and began to walk out backwards, still keeping her eyes on him when he suddenly leaned forward, hanging onto the side of the doorway with his two hands and kissed her lightly on the lips. Her gray eyes widened and for a moment as the two just froze. That was until Obi-Wan pulled away and looked to the ceiling. She blinked and stuttered for a moment before laughing.

"You... You're very suave, Kenobi."

"Why, thank you," he said as she turned around and walked away, laughing to herself.

He leaned against the doorway, staring at the ceiling and he let out a long sigh, smiling.

A friend in need's a friend indeed

A friend who'll tease is better

Our thoughts compressed

Which makes us blessed

And makes for stormy weather

A friend in need's a friend indeed

A friend who bleeds is better

My friend confessed she passed the test

And we will never sever

A familiar voice snapped him out of his happy trance. "Well, you don't even bother to introduce me to the girl, padawan?" Obi-Wan looked upwards to see Qui-Gon staring down at him.

"... Oh... hello, Master."

The boy smiled sheepishly and stood up, making his way to the kitchen, slightly embarrassed.

"We've been assigned a mission, padawan," Qui-Gon said following his apprentice into the kitchen.

"Where?" Obi-Wan asked as he sipped the last of his tea and sat down.

Qui-Gon stood in front of his padawan with his arms folded across his chest. "That's the question. We don't know where. We're looking for Mikal Rela. He's a dangerous man—a dangerous man to be walking around freely. His records are murderous."

Obi-Wan nodded sternly, his face faltering for a moment and then becoming unemotional. "Should I look up his records—to find out where he is? Tatooine was where he was last located."

"That'd be helpful, Obi-Wan."

"I'll look it up in the library."

- - -

A/N: You didn't think I'd have such a happy ending, did you!? :P Of course NOT! And, thus, the search for the evil Mikal Rela begins... bwaha. This chapter was exceptionally short. Forgive meh. The next one shall be long, and, maybe (gasp), the last one...? *Cries.*