Anakin felt a ripple in the Force as his Master approached him from the stands. Through their training bond, he often experienced Obi-Wan's emotions and what he felt now could only be described as aggravation. He turned just in time to face his mentor.
"Anakin!" Obi-Wan hissed at him in a hushed tone. "You are not taking this competition seriously enough!"
The young man's eyebrows lowered in confusion.
"You need to focus on your upcoming opponent…not your…your…" Obi-Wan leaned in and whispered, "personal desires!"
Anakin looked at the Jedi Master as if he had grown another head. "Huh?"
"Just focus, padawan or you'll find yourself in the loser's bracket!"
The apprentice watched with a bewildered expression as his Master spun on his heel and stormed away.
Padawan Liet'tya who was standing nearby and witnessed the episode, approached her upcoming competitor. "What was that all about?"
"I'm not completely sure, but I have an idea." Anakin replied with a quizzical look as he removed his robe and unclipped his 'saber from his belt.
"I'll bet you'll be glad when this whole Shidoki mess is over." Liet'tya teased as she elbowed Anakin in the arm good-naturedly.
"Oh, you have noooo idea." Anakin teased in return as they both approached the number two arena in order to prepare for their bout.
Padmé noticed the pair moving onto the mat, but was keeping an eye on Obi-Wan's return as well. When he did finally make it back to his seat, he was much quieter and to Padmé's dismay, was not sitting as closely as he had before. In fact, he was at least three seats away.
She turned her attention back to the competition and watched as Anakin bowed to Liet'tya who then bowed in return. Their lightsabers touched for an instant, and then the young woman leapt almost straight up into the air, coming down on Anakin's left side.
Anakin rolled in defense, blocking a series of blows that rained down upon him before he even had the chance to rise to his feet. It was obvious that the girl was determined to win, and it appeared she was giving it everything she had.
Ten minutes into the match, Anakin had performed very little offensive maneuvers, staying mostly in a defensive posture, reflecting the other padawan's blows, one after another. Liet'tya seemed to be everywhere at once, but Anakin remained alert. One strike to any body part would end the match as well as cause a minor burn injury, even though the lightsabers had been adjusted to their lowest power settings for the competition. Other than that, the only other option for victory was to disarm your opponent.
Padmé looked back over at Obi-Wan, the concern for Anakin showing on her face. She smiled as Obi-Wan scooted over closer to her, although obviously quite reluctantly, in order to explain Anakin's strategy.
"If you'll notice, " he began, "he is not in any danger. Liet'tya is young and has much to learn. It may appear that she has the upper hand, but she's really just…" He paused, searching for the appropriate term.
"Showing off." Padmé finished for him.
Obi-Wan chuckled. "That too. She's just impatient, and that's one thing that Anakin and I have trained very hard on. Hopefully, our hard work will pay off today."
Turning once more to watch the match, Padmé noted that Liet'tya's movements did appear to be slowing down.
"You see?" Obi-Wan replied a few seconds before the younger padawan faltered, allowing Anakin to take advantage of her mistake and land the winning blow.
Liet'tya looked disappointed, but then smiled, bowed to Anakin and began to rub the slight burn on her neck where Anakin's 'saber had struck. The two of them left the mat together, Anakin's arm about her shoulder.
"Very well done." Mace Windu turned around and congratulated Obi-Wan.
"Yes." Yoda agreed. "Proud you should be."
"Thank you Masters." Obi-Wan replied, but he knew the battle wasn't won yet. The toughest match was yet to come.
He had to admit it though. He was pround of his apprentice. It appeared that the young man was finally growing up.
Obi-Wan's smile of approval disappeared however, as he sought out Anakin in the crowd and discovered him in the embrace of a girl with short, dark, curly hair. He quickly grabbed his electrobinoculars from his utility belt to take a closer look. Dark, curly hair, blue eyes, and an Aratech uniform.
"Ashlyn." He mumbled in irritation.
"Pardon me?" Padmé asked, looking at him curiously.
"Nothing." Seeing Anakin in the embrace of another woman was something Padmé did not need to see.
"Excuse me." Obi-Wan once more rose abruptly, moved through the crowd in the stands and descended to the arena floor.
Padmé sighed, leaned over and propped her chin into her open palm.
This evening wasn't going entirely as she had hoped.