The following morning, Obi-Wan accompanied Anakin to the Space Harbour and walked with him to the ramp of the ship his young lover would pilot to Kashyyyk.
Obi-Wan's lips bent in a smile as he remembered Anakin's enthusiasm when he had been chosen for that assignment.
"Kashyyyk!" hein had exclaimed, his eyes as bright as those of a child who had received a much desired toy. "I will have to stay in the system for two months to hop the diplomats from one planet to the other. Do you think it would be possible to hire speedbikes there and tour the places? I wish to explore, to see with my eyes the things and the landscapes you described to me!"
Obi-Wan had felt a pang at his heart when he had first heard about the length of Anakin's assignment. They had never been separated for so long, but he had released his sadness into the Force, and smiled, not wanting to ruin Anakin's enthusiasm at the trip.
Anakin was young, curious, full of life. It was right and natural he wanted to see more of the galaxy, especially after the kind of existence he had led on Tatooine. Also it would do him good to be away from the Temple. Maybe, by the time of his return, the situation would be more stable.
"Take care, young one," Obi-Wan said as they stopped near the ship lowered ramp, and could not resist smoothing Anakin's blue uniform jacket.
"Only if you promise to do the same, my beautiful Jedi master," Anakin replied softly, making a show of adjusting Obi-Wan's robe and laughing gently as his lover blushed at the compliment. "I love when you do that; it makes you look younger."
"Do you mean the rest of the time I look old?"
"No. You always look perfect to me." Anakin's eyes became very bright as he whispered. "I am going to miss you very much."
Obi-Wan was surprised by the sudden change of mood in his lover. "I will miss you too, Anakin."
"I should be near you, now that the Council is giving you a hard time."
"Shhh. Don't think of it. Concentrate only on the trip and the many wonders you will see on Kashyyykâand remember you can call me anytime."
Anakin nodded and opened his mouth to say something, but the arrival of his co-pilot blocked him.
So they exchanged only a formal salute, before Anakin climbed on board to ready the ship for the departure.
Obi-Wan remained in the Space Harbour until he saw the red diplomatic vessel take off, then returned to the Temple.
The next two months passed quickly enough.
The classes Obi-Wan were teaching approached the end of the term, and he was busy correcting the final tests and writing his evaluations of the students.
Yoda and Mace did not try to talk with him again in private, nor was his case brought to the Council's attention.
Now and then a Jedi would come in front of the Council, petitioning to have his or her union with another person officially sanctioned and recognized by the Order.
Garen was one the first to appear in front of the Council, and he refused to meet Obi-Wan's eyes for the whole time he stood inside the Council Chamber.
Permissions were granted to all the petitioning pairings, but even then the topic of Obi-Wan and Anakin's situation was not raised.
Obi-Wan did not think he was out of trouble, for often, after having listened to some petition, he would feel Yoda's eyes rest on him. However, since he had promised Anakin not to take any steps until he was back, he wisely refrained from raising the topic with Yoda or Mace.
Obi-Wan talked to Anakin often, enjoying the younger man's excited and sometime picturesque descriptions of the places he had been visiting on Kashyyyk. Anakin also entertained his lover with hilarious imitations of the attics and quirks of the diplomats he was working with, although, sometime, Obi-Wan had the feeling some of his gayness was forced.
One evening he asked Anakin if he was all right, and his young one rushed to reassure him, telling he was just sad because he missed his favourite Jedi master.
Obi-Wan told him he too missed Anakin's company, but that the two months would soon be over. Also, Obi-Wan thought but did not say aloud, they both had to get used to longer separations. Even if the Jedi master was now mostly Temple bound, he was still one of the most sought-after negotiators in the galaxy and there was always the chance he might have to leave for a months-long missions.
The day Anakin was set to return to Coruscant, Obi-Wan cleared his schedule to be the at Space Harbour by the time the ship landed.
The diplomats on board thought the Council had sent him to greet them and inquire about the outcome of their mission. Obi-Wan indulged them, using his diplomatic experience and smooth talking to make them feel important until the moment he was finally left alone.
Obi-Wan moved closer to the ship just as Anakin walked down the ramp, and he steps faltered for a second at the sight of his lover.
Anakin was pale, his tanned skin looking sickly grey, and there were dark shadows under his eyes. He was thinner, his angular features more prominent.
Obi-Wan's anxiety escalated as he walked closer. "Anakin, young one," he began concerned, "Are you unwell?"
Anakin did not even try to deny the evidence, something that worried the other man even more.
"Yes, I must have caught some local bug. My stomach is queasy, my head hurts and I am always tired."
"Did you have a doctor check you on Kashyyyk?"
"Yes, but he did not find nothing wrong in me. Perhaps he is just used to Wookies and didn't know how to deal with a human," Anakin tried to reassure Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan nodded grimly, stroking his beard as he thought.
Anakin forced a smile. "I am sorry; this isn't how I had envisioned our reunion."
"It isn't your fault, Anakin. Now come, let's go to the Temple. I am sure the healers will discover in no time what kind of ailment is plaguing you."
Anakin nodded, as Obi-Wan put an arm around his shoulders and led him toward the harbour exit.