Chapter Two

Twenty years later…

Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi waked as the first dawn light shone through the windows. He jumped off the bed and quickly went into the refresher to get himself ready for this new day. As he walked out of his room, he kept his steps quiet enough not to wake his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn.

When he passed by the door to his still resting Master's bedroom, he stopped to ensure that he hadn't disturbed his Master's slumber. He smiled lightly after he had heard the steady breathes from Qui-Gon's sleep.

Obi-Wan carefully prepared the first meal and couldn't help imagining the smile that would be on Qui-Gon's face when he found the meal, as it was in every other morning, already waiting for him on the table.

Will Master consider having me for a Padawan as one of his glorious honors? With anticipation, Obi-Wan left the quarters and headed for the Gardens to practice the 18th level kata, in order to make sure that he would perform perfectly when he was in front of Qui-Gon later that morning, so that he could be rewarded with the satisfied praise and smile from his beloved Master.

Obi-Wan always cherished the praises from Qui-Gon; and for those precious smiles from his Master that were only for him, no service was ever too hard for the apprentice.

The Temple was still at rest, and Obi-Wan thought running would be a good way to save more time for his practice since he wasn't likely to bump into anyone in the corridors in this early morn.

So he did begin to run towards the Gardens through the quiet corridors, but he also did bump into someone.

Obi-Wan accidentally knocked down a youngling on his way with himself being tripped off as well.

"Hey! Watch where you're going, Mister!" The angry youngling complained as she rubbed her forehead on the floor.

"I'm really sorry, little girl. I didn't mean to hit you." Obi-Wan said, massaging his sore knees, also still sitting on the floor.

"Of course you didn't mean to, but don't you know better than to run in the corridors? You might hurt someone, and mind you, you HAVE hurt someone NOW." The angry youngling started scolding him in a tone as if she was an aged Master, "You should reflect upon your flawed behavior, not just apologize –– though you DO need to apologize for what you have done to an innocent child only because of your lack of concern for other people ––"

"Listen, kid! I said I was sorry, okay? So why don't you just shut up and get lost!" Obi-Wan shouted and waved his hand impatiently. He knew it was his fault, but he had already apologized and why did that little girl think she could reprimand him like that? After all, he was a Senior Padawan, and that youngling was only a dumb little…youngling.

"My name is not kid, Mister, I have a much better name than that impolite creation of yours. I am Mira from the House of Virgille."

"Whatever." Obi-Wan rolled his eyes at that grandma-like tone and accent. He got to his feet and again headed for the Gardens, but this time by walking.

"I see you have progressed in your behavior though you were being very mean and harsh to a future Jedi Master with promising prospect." The angry youngling announced as she started following him.

"Keep dreaming, kid." Obi-Wan snorted at the angry youngling's thought of herself being a Jedi Master someday.

The angry youngling ran up to his side and glared at him, "I've told you before! My name is Mira. Say with me, Mi…ra…" Her tone sounded like she was patiently teaching an infant how to talk.

"You sure your parents didn't ditch you and you were adopted by the Order, Mi…ra…?"

"Why, how rude!" The angry youngling became angry again. "But I would be satisfied if you call me by my family name, Virgille, so you won't denigrate my esteemed given name."

"Whatever you say, Virgule." Esteemed given name? Ha! Obi-Wan couldn't help rolling his eyes again.

"It's Virgille!" She somehow managed to keep herself beside Obi-Wan even Obi-Wan had begun running again so as to lose her.

"Whatever." Obi-Wan was surprised and despaired by Virgille's ability to constantly catch up.

"How rude!" Virgille's brow furrowed deeply.

When Obi-Wan began to wonder if he could ever be able to get rid of this talking-like-grandma grumpy youngling, he finally saw someone approaching to give him a hand and so he halted.

"Is there something wrong, Padawan Kenobi?" Master Lal'mar, one of the members of the Council, stopped before him with a concerned look on her kind face. She was a fair woman, though aged, but still possessed the beauty of her prime.

"Um, nothing really important…" Obi-Wan hesitated, "only that I've got myself stuck with an angry youngling."

"I see…" Master Lal'mar smiled as she turned her soft gaze to Virgille, "Mira often has…constructive points of view to indicate…"

Virgille smiled brightly at Master Lal'mar's words, and ran to her to give her a happy hug.

Well, THAT'S more like a child…Obi-Wan thought dryly as the Council member hugged her back and coaxed her to return to the Bear Clan.

"By the way, what are you doing out here at a time this early?" Master Lal'mar asked Virgille softly after she had finally agreed to go back.

"I have heard someone running in the corridor, thus I went here to discover who that irresponsible person was." Virgille said solemnly as she cast Obi-Wan another disapproved glare.

That grandma-talk again…Obi-Wan's heart sank abruptly as he finally realized he was just the one who had caused himself so much trouble. Better not to run in the corridors near the Bear Clan in the future. He noted himself to fully learn from this lesson so he wouldn't have to suffer this angry youngling ever again.

After Virgille left them to go back to the Bear Clan, or, to fulfill her oath as she so-called it, Obi-Wan thanked Master Lal'mar for her significant help and continued on his way to the Gardens, regretting the time he had wasted on that angry youngling.

Obi-Wan completed the 18th level kata with a graceful salute, and waited for his Master's reaction. Qui-Gon was deeply pleased with his Padawan's progress and skills, and he smiled warmly at Obi-Wan.

"Well done, Padawan. Very much impressive." He praised as he put his hand on his apprentice's shoulder, and the Padawan shivered a little under that touch.

"Thank you, Master." Obi-Wan was content, as always, to hear Qui-Gon's praise and see his smile for him. He had loved Qui-Gon for as long as he could remember, and that love was far beyond the one that a Padawan would have for his Master.

And Qui-Gon's hand was on his shoulder to again show the intimacy between them, so he dared to hug Qui-Gon tentatively and was relieved to feel his Master embracing him back. I wish he had the same feeling for me as I have for him. Obi-Wan buried his face in Qui-Gon's tunics and was suddenly reminded by this posture of the angry youngling and generous Master Lal'mar. I do hope I could never see that disastrous youngling again.

To be continued...