Chapter 2.

"You cheated!" Sano shouted slamming his hand into the table where he and a rather rough looking Rodian had been playing saabak. The table shook under the force of the blow and he saw several blasters start to inch out of their holsters.
"That's enough." A smooth commanding voice filtered out of the shadows. The various creatures glanced back, sneering.
"And just who do you think you are?" Sano demanded, not liking the intrusion one bit, but before he could get a real answer blaster fire erupted in the tiny bar. The shadow leapt forward, and with a snap hiss a golden amber lightsaber lit up the room. At the sight of such a weapon the various creatures all jumped back, and rushed for the door, but not before the Rodian was cut down in one smooth sweep.
Sano surveyed the cloaked figure with folded arms. He knew it was a woman from her voice, but her appearance hinted to the untrained eye that she was nothing more than an old cloaked man.
"Jedi eh?" Slender hands drew back the deep hood revealing a set of glittering amethyst eyes, and long brown hair streaked thoroughly with red and black at random intervals. Sano's eyebrow raised slightly liking what he saw, but there was something strange behind those eyes...a devious glance....he liked it.
"Something like that yes. I've been following that Rodian for days."
"Why'd you kill him?"
"That's a secret." She said winking coyly. "Name's Annli...Annli Haban." As she spoke she started removing layers of rough clothe that fell uselessly to the floor. When she was finished only a rather short high necked top, and a pair of low tight fitting suede pants with several brown belts hanging awkwardly off of her hips remained.
"I'm Sanosuke...my friends call be Sano." Annli smiled throwing a gloved hand toward him.
"Nice to meet you Sano." He tilted his head, examining first the hand, and then the long gloves that disappeared under billowing sleeves...his eyes drifted slowly up taking every aspect of her personage as a cocky smile began to spread across his lips.
"No no....the pleasure's ALL mine." His gaze met her's lingering on her smooth features sending him drifting into a dream like state. Just as he was about to slip completely into the euphoria of the meeting a screeching shout from outside jerked him roughly back into the moment.
"Sanosuke!!! You lying monkey lizard!" The bar door was kicked open by a spunky looking young girl in a navy flight with a blaster strapped to each hip and scowl on her face.
"You said you were only gonna be in here for ten minutes because you were actually gonna pay your tab for once. I take a short nap and wake up an hour later, and here you drinking, and flirting with some girl." Annli raised an eyebrow at the chagrined man, and cocked her head slightly.
"Friend of yours?"
"Unfortunately." Sano said turning. His words came out slowly with a cynical smile. "I told you to wait in the speeder Misaou. You have the patience of a WOOKIE!!" At this a vein seemed to appear in Misaou's forehead, and her nostrils flared.
"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME??!! I told you NEVER to compare me to a wookie." Sano ignored her temper tantrum turning back to Annli who watched with slight amusement.
"Whatever you say wookie girl." Misaou stomped her foot and lashed out at a rusty can then went flying across the floor.
"I don't know why you come to this dump any way. It's a rat hole." She was right. The place was a dump. It was dirty, dark, and welcomed the scum of Coruscant without a question. Misaou glared around the place receiving a rude look from a beautiful but scantily clad Twi'lek female who stood behind the bar.
"Nevermind, I know EXACTLY why you come here." She said folding her arms. "Now come on I want to get out of here, its gross, I feel like I need to take a bath."
The loud youth pulled her hands in pockets as the inhabitant of a nearby stretched out a rubbery hand trying to touch her.
Sano rubbed the back of his head nervously shoving one hand in his pocket and smiled sheepishly. "Hey uh Annli...could I maybe see you some time, or are you out of my league being a Jedi and all." The young woman smiled, and tilted her head. "How do you know I am who I say I am?" "I'll take my chances...I'm a gambler remember." Annli smiled genuinely her features softening, and the devious gleam receding back somewhat. "Alright....Here..." She grabbed his hand, and pulled a duramarker out of her pocket. "Meet me here...tonight." She looked him in the eyes smiling again, winked, and then disappeared into the shadows. Sano stood there for several minutes just staring at the space where she had stood, but was again jerked out of his daydreaming by Misaou's shrill voice. "Sano!!!" He turned slowly and walked out the door waving a hand at the Twi'lek. "Put it on my tab!" She nodded and went back to scrubbing the stained glasses that lined the counter top.

"Sano who was that girl? Sano?!" Misaou peered under one shoulder, and then the other as they walked along the shadowy lower level path back toward the bright yellow speeder they had borrowed from the academy. Misaou sat down in the pilot's seat and folded her arms. "Tell me or we're not going anywhere." Sano sighed folding his arms behind his head. "A Jedi...Annli Haban." Misaou rolled her eyes. "She didn't look like any Jedi I've ever seen." "What would you know?" Sano asked nonchalantly; he was floating on air or so it felt like to him. She was beautiful, and obviously has serious skill, and he was going to see her again. He didn't even realize it when Misaou pulled the controls back lifting the speeder slowly out of the hole she had parked it in.

"We're bAAaack!!!" Misaou called down the hall of the Jedi academy. Neither she nor Sano were Jedi, but they were always welcomed at the academy as they often helped them out and were considered trusted friends. Misaou was the captain of a rogue X-wing squadron and her help was never unwelcome, and Sano...well, Sano knew the underworld like the back of his hand and that could often be helpful when Jedi were checking out the dirty dealings of various organizations. Kaoru met them at the landing pad with a bright smile. "You missed it; Kenshin woke up." Sano who had daydreamed all the way back from the rat hole he called a bar suddenly snapped back to life. "Really? How's he doing? Where is he?" Kenshin was like a brother to him even though they'd only known each other for a short while. "This one is right here." A familiar voice floated from around the corner of the hall as a very happy looking Kenshin walked around with Yahiko beside him. Misaou practically leapt on the Jedi with happiness, and Sano suddenly hid his excitement. "Oh Kenshin don't you ever scare me like that again. I swear I'll kill you...." Misaou rambled on and on hugging him first, and then straightening out her flight suit trying to compose herself. "Hello Sano." Kenshin nodded looking up at his friend. "Its uh..." Sano scratched his head trying to uphold his cool guy look, but suddenly broke down and hugged his friend. Kenshin's eyes went wide for a moment as the girls and Yahiko laughed quietly. After a moment he stepped back regaining his composure, and sneered. "You're an idiot ya know that?" "Oro? This one didn't do it on purpose." "I know...just be more careful." Kenshin nodded smiling innocently.

"Yahiko...its time for you to go to bed like the other Padawans." Kaoru's gentle voice broke in.
"What?! Why?" The young woman took a deep breath.
"Because you're a padawan learner, so you do as your master says."
"But you just passed the trials, you can't do that! It's not fair." Kaoru smiled with feigned sweetness placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm the one that found you and got you into the academy even though you were too old, and even though I am a novice I am still your master....SO GET TO BED YOU LITTLE BRAT!" Kenshin and the others all watched the exchange holding back their laughter not wanting to hurt Yahiko's feelings.
"Shut up ugly ...I'm going."
"That's no way to address your Master."
"Whatever ugly." Kaoru threw a desperate glace to the others as Yahiko finally left.
"I don't know what I was thinking. The kid's a monster." Kenshin placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder much as she had just done to Yahiko.
"He'll learn in time. Just have patience." She nodded with a sigh.
"So...what are you guys doing back here?" Kaoru said her face lightening as she changed the subject. Misaou smiled, and started to answer the question, but was cut off by Sano.
"We're returning..."
"I'm just dropping off Misaou. I have to take the speeder back out....have an informant to meet." Misaou spun toward him frowning.
"What are you talking about?" Sano just smiled.
"It's a secret....well, I really must be going. I'll be back....later." Kenshin and Kaoru exchanged confused glances as Sano hurried back out to the landing platform, and leapt lightly into the speeder then disappeared into the crowded space-ways.
"He's up to something." Misaou said folding her arms.
"Just because he didn't tell you where he's going doesn't mean he's up to something Misaou." Kenshin said smiling. That didn't change Misaou's attitude though... She was convinced the man was doing something he wasn't supposed to, and she wanted to know what it was.
"Hey uh Kenshin, have you ever heard of a Jedi named Annli Haban?" Kenshin shook his head slowly looking at Kaoru who shrugged.
"No...why?" Misaou frowned.
"It's nothing...I was just wondering." Kenshin shrugged, and the lifted his shoulder's high, stretching them out as best he could.
"Alright...well it's late. I think I'll be off to bed." The girls nodded, and then they all walked down the hallway eventually going their own directions.