AN: Thank you for the kind words from those who reviewed. Here is part two. Please continue to read and review!
Pulled from his thoughts as their teacher entered, the Padawans all stood and bowed to show respect before they were led through the different positions to start with. They ran though the offensive and defensive positions smoothly, though the precision necessary did not allow them to think of much else.
Even so, Obi-Wan's eyes kept traveling over to Siri who was followed the instructions the teacher was giving, so that the group changed positions at the same time.
Her blonde hair was sticking on the back of her neck, and her breathing was timed, a constant rhythm that allowed her to move without getting short of breath. Her blue eyes showed focus as she brought her blade up and the down smoothly again before thrusting forward, using both hands for this technique, instead of her favored one handed method.
She let out a deep breath of air, in an attempt to blow back a strand of her hair that had fallen in front of her eyes. When that didn't work, she gave a toss of her head so it was out of her way. In the process of this though, she caught Obi-Wan looking at her, and she gave a questioning look back in response.
They were like this for a moment, until Siri broke away first to go back to the exercises. Obi-Wan sighed as he did the same. Sometimes Siri could be too stubborn for her own good.
When the exercises were done, the teacher paired the Padawans off with each other to spar. Bant and Garen were sparring with each other while Obi-Wan and Siri were paired together.
Siri's blue eyes were still determined though Obi-Wan was sure he saw a spark of dry amusement there, which often showed when they were sparring.
Both of them nodded to each other before igniting their lightsabers, which were on their lowest setting possible. It would hurt to be, but would not result in any serious permanent injury, usually stinging for only a day or so afterwards.
Siri attacked first, and she and Obi-Wan traded blows in an almost elegant manner, simply parries and thrusts until Siri became more focused. She flipped over him and landed cat like on her feet before attacking him.
Obi-Wan met her attack, managing to bring his blade up to meet hers, pink/purple meeting blue with a crack.
"Good block, Kenobi," Siri smirked as she attacked again. Obi-Wan had learned that while Siri was very dedicated to the Code, she was known to take action by being the one to attack first, and he had been prepared.
The fight continued and Obi-Wan could tell that Siri might win again. While they fought with different techniques, Siri and Obi-Wan were a good pair since there was never any certainty of who would win. Sometimes it was Obi-Wan, and other times it was Siri. There had even been a few matches that finally were called off due to time, with neither of them hitting the winning blow.
Siri and Obi-Wan were both breathing hard when Obi-Wan saw his chance. Her saber was moving for what she anticipated would be a high attack from how Obi-Wan was swinging his saber. This left from her waist down, unprotected.
He flicked his wrist slightly and his saber hit her leg, just an inch below her knee.
Siri leapt back with a small yelp, hand going immediately to where she had been struck, rubbing at the lightly burned skin. She shot him a heated look, which looked almost eerie with her saber still glowing, casting unnatural shadows over her features. It was enough to make Obi-Wan pause in surprise.
"What is wrong with you?" Siri almost snapped. This was even more surprising. Siri didn't like to lose, but if she did, she handled it more gracefully than this.
"I turned the power as low as I could," Obi-Wan replied in an apologetic tone. He hadn't hit her knee, because he knew from personal experience how painful the rest of the day could be.
"I was trying to stop lower attacks for a reason," she growled, and Obi-Wan realized she was right. She had been keeping her blade lower, which surprised him a bit. Why was it so important that her legs were not hit?
Giving him a disgusted look, Siri turned as the teacher told them class was over. She hit a switch on her lightsaber and the colored beam of energy disappeared. She put the saber on her belt and did not return to bow that Obi-Wan gave her.
Obi-Wan just watched after her as Siri bowed to the teacher and then took off. Something was very wrong. Siri was acting different and there had to be a reason for it. Just what? He vowed to find out, and took off to catch up to Siri.
"Hey, Siri," Obi-Wan called to her as he caught up to her
"Yes?" Siri asked with an exasperated sigh, turning to face him.
"That was a good class, but would you like to spar later tonight? We were doing well."
"Why don't you ask Bant or Garen?" Siri asked, starting to walk again as Obi-Wan fell in step with her.
"Because you are the one that always makes me push myself harder. What else do you have to do today?" he asked. While he did want to spar with her again since it was more of a challenge with her, he was trying to figure out her secret activities without bluntly asking about it.
"I have things to do, just let it drop," she sighed.
Seeing that he had pushed it, the conversation ended for a few minutes.
The two Padawans were silent as they walked, with Siri having a barely noticeable limp. Obi-Wan was certain that she would be fine in just an hour or so. He glanced over and noted the faraway look in her eyes that he had seen the night before. Clearly she was still thinking about whatever had been on her mind at that time.
"You know, you can tell me things. I won't tell the others," he told her, sincere.
"Well, if something was going on, then maybe I would tell you. Since there isn't though…" Siri shrugged, but Obi-Wan picked up that something was on her mind. He could just feel a slight hint of it and quickly reached out with the Force to understand what he was sensing from her. He was a bit surprised to sense that she was readying herself for something. But what?
"It was a good class," Siri remarked as she turned at a corner to go back to her quarters.
Obi-Wan nodded in response and brushed out with the Force to touch on her emotions. However, he quickly stopped when Siri turned around to shot him a look that could have frozen water on Tatooine.
Sighing, Obi-Wan just watched his friend disappear down the hallway. He knew it might not be anything big, but he was going to find out where she was going at night, and why she seemed to preoccupied with other issues. It was not like her. She was one that focused on the moment and never seemed worried about trifle things such as tests and assignments that they had gone through in classes. That was why Obi-Wan had to figure this out. He was worried about her. What he needed, he decided as he let himself into his quarters, was a plan.
The plan didn't take long to come up with. It had come to him as he showered and changed into clean clothes. He would mask his presence and follow her. The hardest part would be to sneak out to do so. He couldn't lie to Qui-Gon and he didn't want to get Siri in trouble either. Could he leave without telling his Master? How?
However, the solution presented itself at dinner.
After a simple meal that he had cooked, Qui-Gon cleared his throat.
"Obi-Wan, I have a matter I must see to with another Master. I might be a few hours, so I suggest you rest. There might soon be another mission for us."
While curious as to what his Master was going to be doing, he was relieved. That meant he could find out what Siri was up to and be back before his Master even knew. He knew he would tell Qui-Gon at one point, but he had to protect his friend until he knew for sure what was occurring. Speculation could only cause problems.
After dinner, he decided to meditate. He hadn't done much on the mission, and felt a need to reconnect to the Force. It would help clear his mind so that he would be able to focus on the task ahead of him. He spent two hours in meditation and when he came out of it, he could not sense his Master in their quarters. He must have already left.
Glancing at the chrono, he quickly pulled on his robe and slipped out of his quarters. He hoped that he hadn't missed Siri. If she had already left, he would have to wait and find another night to try to follow her.
He soon found himself in his hiding place from last night. If Siri hadn't seen him here the night before, she, along with any of the other Jedi, probably would not notice him either. He kept his presence hidden just in case, and waited. Time seemed to drag, the minutes seeming to be hours, and he found himself growing restless. Not a Jedi trait. He was more patient that that. He took a deep breath and slowly released it, his emotions settled. He had to stay patient. He would wait as long as he had to.
Obi-Wan did not have to wait long. Siri came running down the corridor as quickly as she could, the bag from yesterday over her shoulder, hitting against her back with each step she took.
As she ran by, Obi-Wan slid out of the shadows. He was able to sense her Force signature and loosely held onto that so that if he lost sight of her, he could find her again. That wasn't a problem in the Temple, but he had a feeling that she was going somewhere outside of the Temple. He was right, and hung back just a moment as Siri hurried through a pair of doors and out onto the streets of Coruscant.
Exiting the Temple, Obi-Wan found himself momentarily stunned by the lights, sounds and having so many beings around. After so long in the forest, which was often quiet, Obi-Wan needed a moment to adjust to change. He followed Siri as she quickly walked through the crowds of beings. Some moved for her, while others seemed to purposefully make it difficult for her to get by. However, Siri did not speak to them, or do more than shoot them a look. She just pressed forward, moving at a rapid walking pace, the fastest she could move in such thick crowds. Obi-Wan lost sight of her a few times, but being able to sense her, even with all the beings allowed him to continue following her.
After weaving through the crowds, and taking a few turns, Siri waved her hand to someone in a private speeder, who waved back.
Obi-Wan watched as she tossed her bag into the back then jumped into the speeder. The other figure, he noted, was a girl. She looked a year or two older than Siri, and had auburn hair that fell about six inches longer than Siri's. With just a few exchanged words, the two of them raced off, the other girl piloting.
Not about to lose her, Obi-Wan hailed a cab and instructed the droid to follow the speeder. It was a nice speeder, he saw after they got closer. It was a new model, no more than a few months old and clearly well cared for. How would a girl that young be able to get such a speeder? Who was she? And where could these two be going?
"I was afraid you were going to leave without me," Siri admitted.
"I was thinking about it. What happened?" Kalani, the other girl, asked.
"My Master and another Master met in our quarters. I couldn't just leave," Siri explained, as if it was the most logical thing in the universe. Qui-Gon Jinn and Adi had been discussing something in hushed tones, and when they had finally left, Siri had grabbed her bag and raced all the way to meet Kalani.
"I thought you said that your Master wasn't a problem. That she hasn't questioned you about where you have been."
Siri nodded, leaning back in the seat. It was strange. She had been certain that Adi would ask her where she was going when Siri had started to leave in the early evenings. However, her Master had just let her go. It seemed strange since she often would ask Siri what she would do during the day. Even if she left while Adi was in their quarters, Siri was never asked where she was going, or where she had been. She knew that Adi would notice if she was in her room or not.
While it seemed strange, Siri had accepted it. She knew she should tell her Master what she was doing. However, she was worried Adi would forbid her from continuing if she found out, since it was not a Jedi like activity.
It wasn't illegal. It also was not dangerous or scandalous. In fact, it was something that many people enjoyed. Even though popular, Siri had never considered this activity until about two months prior.
AN: The next section explains it all. So please read and review everyone!