Thanks for all the great reviews! LOL, I don't think this chapter is as good because I wrote it while I was in a depressed mood over a bad GPA . . .

Part II

Obi-Wan really wasn't sure what he should feel. He was angry, yes, but at the same time he was embarrassed. Qui-Gon had yelled at him in front of the entire Council, then Obi-Wan had proceeded to defy Qui-Gon in front of the Council - was it some weird Force manipulation that caused him to always, always, break the rules in front of the most highly respected Jedi of the Order?

He sighed.

"Obi-Wan, wait!"

It was a female voice. Obi-Wan felt hope rise in him. But a second later he realized that it wasn't Bant. He turned. "Eritha," he greeted. "Does the Council need to see me?" Or do they simply want to reprimand me for my temper loss? he finished mentally.

"No, Obi-Wan. This whole mess wasn't your fault," Eritha pressed. "I know how you must feel."

"Nobody knows how I feel," Obi-Wan said shortly. He knew he was being rude, but he just couldn't stop it. "If you'll excuse me," he continued brusquely, "I have - stuff to do."

Eritha leaned forward until their noses were practically touching. "Obi-Wan, trust me," she said, her warm breath blowing gently on Obi-Wan's nose. A lock of hair fell onto Obi-Wan's chest. She was so close that through the Force - and without it - he could hear her heart beating softly.

"Eritha, please," he tried pushing her away. "It was all my fault. Everything Qui-Gon says is right. I'm his apprentice. He is my Master."

"So that means he is allowed to accuse you of everything that goes wrong in his life?"

"Uh, yeah, that sounds about right," Obi-Wan muttered sheepishly. Why had those words of wisdom sounded so stupid when coming out of his mouth? It was a revered rule of the Jedi and he had made it sound like a foolish request. But isn't it?

Obi-Wan tuned out the voice in his head. "Eritha - " he started again before he noticed the tears forming in her eyes. Feeling a twinge of sympathy, he leaned closer to her. "What's wrong?"

It was eerie. He felt her pain as if it were his own. "What is it?" he repeated again.

Eritha looked up, unshed tears behind her eyes. Obi-Wan now could barely stand the pain he keenly saw in those normally bright green eyes, which had used to hold so much truth and innocence behind them. "It's just," Eritha whispered softly.

Obi-Wan leaned closer. Her voice whispered softly in his ear. "It's just knowing the man I love doesn't love me back," she said.

***

"Well there you go, Qui-Gon," Adi Gallia snapped. "Another apprentice has run from you again! Your Padawan supports you and you never seem to return that support!"

Qui-Gon felt bitter anger and impatience jolt through him. "I love Obi-Wan," he said roughly.

"You do a wonderful job of showing it." Qui-Gon drew in a sharp breath at those words, not at the shame they were intended to instill, but at the familiarity of them. How many times had Tahl thrown those words at him back three years ago?

"Qui-Gon, I'm sorry," Adi said gently, her previous annoyance beginning to melt away at the bleak expression on Qui-Gon's face. "I did not mean to remind you of - " she broke off abruptly.

Qui-Gon's sadness quickly turned to something different. "This is wasting my time," he said. "I should be tracking down Balog now."

"Under the Code, you will act?" Yoda asked, cutting off Mace Windu's next word.

"I always act under the Code." I hope I will this time, Qui-Gon mentally finished. It was not a direct lie. Half a truth is still a lie . . . shut up conscience!

"Then may the Force be with you," Yoda said.

As Qui-Gon left, Mace Windu turned an amazed expression on Yoda. "Yoda, why did you let him go? We know he is not calm and he will act rashly."

"Broken once more, the bonds are between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon," Yoda said softly. "Perhaps, it shall be the will of the Force, that can bring those two back together once more. To do so, interfere with the Force, shall we not."

"Even if it involves placing Obi-Wan in harm's path?" Ki-Adi-Mundi inquired. "Qui-Gon will go anywhere to stop him and will push Obi-Wan to his limits. Beyond his limits, even."

"Loves Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon does," Yoda responded. "But keep him out of danger, I do not know . . ."

***

Obi-Wan stepped backwards quickly. "Eritha!" he said, astonished.

"I love you, Obi-Wan," Eritha said hoarsely. "I have ever since I first saw you!" Her eyes, glistening with moisture, glanced at Obi-Wan.

How can I say no to her? Obi-Wan wondered. He was a Jedi. Jedi did not love. And yet . . . Qui-Gon had. And look where it brought him, Obi-Wan recalled. "I'm a Jedi," he said, pleading with her to understand his dilemma. "I'm forbidden to love."

"Forbidden to feel?" Eritha asked.

Obi-Wan paused, confused. Eritha reminded him of - Cerasi. Her manner about the Jedi Order was causing Obi-Wan to doubt the Jedi Path once more! But I loved Cerasi. Can this new feeling about Eritha be love? No, he silently thought. True love isn't something that develops in a few weeks time. But with Cerasi . . .

Obi-Wan turned away from Eritha, a baffled expression on his face. Now, he wasn't so sure of his own path anymore. If only he had turned around, he would have seen Eritha's smug - cruel - smile.

tbc (Another part up soon, I promise)