Eternal Balance II: Chapter Four

By Allied to Darkness

A/N: This chapter is a definite break from the depression in the live of both Anakin and Akaia. I love it. But it's probably the shortest chapter so far. Of course, in order to write it, I had to listen to Star Wars original score from Ep. III. OVER AND OVER. Anyway, R'n'R!

Both lowered their lightsabers, switching them off. Akaia felt hers slip from her hand to the floor, Anakin's falling right next to it. This is just another dream…another way to torture me, she thought. She shut her eyes tightly as her heart beat grew quicker. This isn't real…It can't be…Moments later, she felt a rough hand touch her cheek.

"Akaia?" she heard him ask as if he wasn't sure any of this was real either. Her eyes fluttered open once more, matching his look of astonishment. A smile spread across his lips as he enveloped her in his arms, hers still limp at her sides. She drew in a shaky breath, taking in his scent. She heard him speak again, as if she needed that last confirmation. "You're here…You're finally back."

Blinking back tears, her arms encircled his neck as she sank into his embrace. Everything faded away…the war, her mission, the three years they had spent apart. In that instant the world had disappeared. Just like the Jedi and Sith on Docugan…just like my parents, were the only coherent thoughts in Akaia's mind at the moment. Minutes passed, seeming all too short when they let go and reality set back in. Still smiling, Anakin's gaze became clouded with confusion while his head was swimming with question after question. "Where've you been?"

She hadn't even considered the questions he had…how was she supposed to answer them? I won't lie to him. I can't, she thought sternly. "…everywhere. The entire galaxy…" she trailed off, unsure of what she should say. "I'm so sorry…I never wanted to leave…"

"Why did you leave?" He queried.

"I…" Akaia started, not knowing how to start. I have to tell him, he deserves to know. Tearing her eyes away from his she began, "I had to protect you…I couldn't let what I saw come to pass."

His brow furrowed in concern. "What did you see?"

She remained silent for a few seconds, staring at the ground. "When my memory returned, I saw more than the past. I saw exactly what I had seen two hundred years before." She paused. "A small boy able to escape slavery, become a Jedi Knight, and…and be swayed by the darkside." She lifted her gaze to his. "I'd seen your future and I couldn't let it happen."

Anakin's thoughts returned to when he had first entered the room…seeing the hooded figure, red lightsaber in hand…He stared at her in disbelief. "You're a Sith?"

"…The Sith Lord the Jedi are looking for thinks I am," she replied. "I had offered to be their apprentice. I had to. It was the only way to keep the balance…to keep you from someday doing the same."

"Is that why you're here?" he asked.

She nodded slightly. "On my master's order."

He wrapped his arms around her once more. "I'm sorry you had to go through all of this…"

"Don't be sorry," she responded, leaning against him. "In the end, it'll all be worth it."

"When's the end?" He wondered quietly.

Akaia let out a short, empty laugh. "I wish I knew." She lifted her head. "Aren't you going to ask me who the Sith Lord is?"

"Would you be able to tell me?" came the question.

"Not yet," she told him. "When the time is right, all questions will be answered." She pulled away reluctantly. "I have to go."

"What?" he asked in shock. "You can't, not again."

"I have to," she argued. "If I don't, no one else will."

"As much as I'd like to, I'm not asking you to give up this plan of yours," Anakin began, "I'm asking you not leave…Even if it's only for a few days."

All she wanted to do was stay, to leave everything behind even for a little while. But the consequences… "A few days are all it takes for things to spiral out of control." She searched for any reason she could find. "Besides, people would get suspicious…the Jedi, my master…it's a risk. If the council found out, you could be expelled."

"I don't care," he replied immediately, earning a stunned glance from Akaia. "I can't lose you again." He took her hand in his. "Just a few days."

"You're not going to give up, are you?" She eyed him curiously.

He grinned. "You should know me better than that."

She took a deep breath. "Fine. A few days." She thought for a moment. "I'll report the information I gather from the archives quickly and meet you outside the temple in an hour. We can go from there."

"Alright then…an hour," he repeated. She was about to pull away again, when he pulled her back to him. "Wait."

"What?" she asked. Without another word exchanged, she felt his lips touch hers softly. It was unlike the kisses they had shared before. There was no uncertainty, no questions, no goodbyes…only hope.

As they parted, Anakin leaned his forehead against hers, whispering, "I love you."

"I love you too," she whispered back. "I'll be back."

"I know," he answered, unwillingly letting her go.

She kneeled down, grabbing her lightsaber. Taking off her cloak and re-pinning her hair up, she again held the piece of cloth tightly in her arms. She headed for the door, slowing her pace for a moment as she glanced one more time at Anakin. She gave him a reassuring smile before walking out of the room.

Anakin still stood there, his mind coming to terms with what had just happened. She's back…She's really back. But he had been right all along…She had turned to the darkside, she was calling a Sith Lord 'master', she was going through misery all because of him. But for now, he put it out of his mind. All that mattered was that the woman he loved was here and they had only a few precious days together, days he was sure not to waste.

Akaia strode out of the temple, spirits higher than normal. There was still danger, but for now it didn't matter. All that mattered was that for the first time in years, she had a chance to be happy. Like she had thought night after night in that dream, being selfish once and while isn't so bad.

Little did she know how much she had changed fate in that brief meeting…

TBC

A/N: 1, 2, 3…AW! Haha. Hope ya like the chapter!