Chapter V: Amends

"Ugh, why is he making me wait?" Ahsoka muttered. "Couldn't he have just gotten it over with instead of leaving me here to suffer by myself?"

The agitated and pissed off togruta had taken up a crossed armed stance once again, silently protesting her situation. Her backside had a light stinging sensation already present and it was driving her up the wall. As far as she could tell, that was most likely just a taste of what was to come. She was definitely nervous about the whole ordeal, but her anger and exasperation was just enough to keep it from showing. She shifted uncomfortably and glared daggers at the corner. Mulling over his last statement, Ahsoka recited it out loud, lazily attempting to mimic his voice and accent.

"Now that I have made myself clear, you will stand in this corner and you will contemplate your actions."

"As far as your impressions go, that's probably the most lackluster one I've heard you do so far."

Ahsoka perked her head up and looked over her shoulder at the source of the statement. Obi-Wan stood with his hands behind his back, his face set in a neutral line. Though his face was devoid of emotion, she was keenly aware he was not happy. If one thing was for certain, he definitely wasn't like Anakin. The younger Jedi Knight wore his emotions on his arm, or more so than most Jedi. But as for the man who was standing there silently, he was a true enigma at letting others know what was occurring in his mind.

"Yeah well I'd have a lot more material to work with if you'd actually talk to me." She retorted.

"Oh of that I'm sure," he began dryly. "Tell me, while you were standing here, did you contemplate the reason why I put you there?" Obi-Wan answered evenly.

"Yeah, cause you won't talk or listen to me."

Obi-Wan nodded slowly, his mind flashing back to his previous experiences with Anakin.

Oh it's just like having my old padawan back. He mused sarcastically.

Just as he had done many a time before with a certain Skywalker, he walked up to her and motioning for her to face him. She obliged him, but kept her arms crossed. In that instant, he could see the same stance his former padawan had taken six years earlier. How ironic that both situations would end the same way. As for the teen togruta, she was not letting up. From her point of view, if he was going to try and talk her into willingly accepting this punishment, he had another thing coming. That's what she told herself anyway.

"There is something you must understand Ahsoka. While it might seem as though I am content with spending my day studying with you and staying up half the night to catch up on my own work, it is quite the opposite. The reason as to why you aren't back aboard your ship doing this with him is because he isn't available-"

"Well duh" she murmured, intentionally cutting him off.

"Do not interrupt me." Obi-Wan said sharply.

Ahsoka flinched at his rebuke, but had the courtesy of appearing sheepish. Looking down at the ground, she remained silent, allowing Obi-Wan to continue speaking.

"Furthermore, I have not had the inclination to speak because simply put, I am tired. As much as you may believe it to be otherwise, I am not ignoring you because I do not wish to speak to you. It is quite taxing to focus on your studies and keep up with my duties as General of the fleet. Currently, I am balancing overseeing day to day operations, a transfer of personnel between the station to this vessel, and monitoring for Separatist movements in the area. As for my report to your master, we have already covered this topic. I am under no obligation to inform you of what I tell him. Is that understood?"

She begrudgingly nodded her head. Though her stance still screamed defiance. Kenobi almost felt himself smile at how alike padawan and master were. Both stubborn to a fault and both unwilling to accept defeat when they knew it was inevitable. Still, he did not wish to prolong this any more than was necessary. He still had a fleet to monitor and various other duties that required his attention.

"Very well. Now, for your punishment." He spoke determinedly

Ahsoka looked back up at the Jedi Master. It was no secret that the way he had said 'punishment' had her vexed. Skyguy was nothing like him when it came to discipline. Though in all honesty there was no means for her to compare them since her master had only ever used one sentence reprimands on her up until her...oversight. But back to the point. Was he really going to do it again?

"What do you mean punishment? You already punished me!"

"I told you I would be back to finish it. Did you really believe you would get off so easily considering your actions?"

"But why?" Ahsoka half asked, half pleaded.

"I assume you did not fully understand what I meant when I told you to 'contemplate the reason I sent you here'."

She carefully shook her head 'no'. Her eyes were still narrowed and her arms remained glued to her chest. On the outside, for the moment, she wouldn't allow him to see her anxiety show.

"Allow me to elaborate then" Obi-Wan said as he stepped over to her desk and sat in the metal chair.

Ahsoka felt her heart rate speed up and her breathing pick up. He motioned for her to stand in front of him. Cautiously she slowly moved toward him, not taking her eyes off his form. Her legs felt incredibly jelly-like and her stomach was doing back flips. Trying to maintain her outer façade of irritation was becoming more difficult with each step. Upon reaching the indicated spot, Obi-Wan leaned back and folded his hands in his lap. He could see through the fake exterior she was barely maintaining, Anakin did the same thing as well. But as he had already known then, once his padawan had everything broken down and explained to him, there was little he could say to defend his actions. Schooling his expression into a serious one, the elder Jedi began.

"When I said I contemplate, I meant consider what you had done. I also meant for you to consider what you would deserve with regards to your actions. You lied to me. You intentionally broke into my desk and somehow hacked my datapad. You went through my files and opened up the one you were searching for. The very one I explicitly stated you had no right to view or know the contents of. You betrayed my trust and disrespected me all on the premise that you believed you were wronged. Am I wrong on any of these counts?"

Closing her eyes and looking down, Ahsoka felt the shame from earlier return. He was right about her actions. She didn't want to let go of the notion that he had somehow wronged her. But as the events in question played through her mind, that thought became rather moot quickly. As inconceivable and painful as it was to admit it, she was wrong. Talk about a blow to one's ego. Shaking her head softly, she kept her eyes closed. Obi-Wan continued speaking.

"Now, knowing full well what you did was wrong, do you believe the punishment fits the crimes? Do you believe you earned this as a result of you actions?"

She wanted to say 'no', more than anything since it would mean skipping such an embarrassing position. Yet part of her knew that in the end, she had made her bed, now she'd have to lie in it. Taking a moment to lower her arms to her sides, Ahsoka breathed deeply before she responded to him.

"Yes"

"Now that you understand, I will pronounce your punishment." He stated firmly.

Opening her eyes up, she met his gaze. His face wasn't as hard as it had been earlier. If anything, an almost soft expression had replaced it. Kenobi's eyes held no sympathy, rather a fleeting sense of empathy. For Ahsoka though, everything was almost an open book for the bearded Jedi. Looking closely, he saw her eyes betrayed the sheer amount of anxiety and fear she held within her. Her outward demeanor only now beginning to morph into one of sorrow.

Just like Anakin. He contemplated.

"You will write out an apology to your Master. In it you will inform him of your actions today and the consequences of your actions. You will deliver it to him upon his return. When you are finished with the letter, you will write out for me 'I will not invade others' privacy' one hundred times. After which you will write 'I will not lie to others' fifty times. And finally, 'I will not disrespect Master Kenobi' twenty times. Before you begin, we will finish up our previous conversation."

She had to tell Anakin that she got in trouble. How she did and why she did would be pouring fuel on the fire. But to tell him that she got in trouble after her specifically told her to clean her act up? That would most likely result in them making an unscheduled visit to the Temple and a certain Jedi Knight whooping some tail as well. Did she really have to do it though? All of that on top of the spanking that was on its way at the moment.

But maybe Master Kenobi would be merciful? She thought to herself.

It was in her best interest to ask. After all, her ability to sit in the future hung in the balance.

"But Master, do I really have to tell-" she began.

"Yes, you do and that is final, Ahsoka." Obi-Wan interrupted sternly.

Ahsoka bristled at his disruption. No chance for mercy and now he was cutting her off in the middle of a sentence too?

Not fair and very hypocritical. She thought, aggravated.

Her eye markings furrowed and for a moment, her teenage obstinacy peaked.

"Now who's interrupting who?" she sassed back.

Obi-Wan gave her a pointed look before he responded.

"I'm warning you Ahsoka. Curb your attitude now or you will not like what will happen." He spoke matter-of-factly.

While that statement did give her butterflies, she felt the urge to test his resolve surface again.

"Oh yeah? Like what?" she fired back.

So much for self-preservation. At least Anakin would've figured it out. Obi-Wan thought bitterly.

"You really wish to find out?"

"I dunno, do I?" she retorted sarcastically.

"It means that when I put you over my knee, your pants will be coming down. If that isn't enough, then your underpants will come down as well. Now does that satisfy your curiosity? Or would you prefer I demonstrate?" Obi-Wan said bluntly.

The teen's lekku darkened instantly. The witty comeback to what she thought he would've said died on her lips. Her face dropped and she immediately clamped her mouth shut to stop herself from giving him a reason to go through on his threat. The avarice she had for challenging him that had flared up only seconds ago had completely fizzled out. Concluding that his words had the intended effect of silencing her sarcasm, Obi-Wan sat up straight in the chair.

"I see, so to reiterate: You will write that letter to your Master and just to be sure you do, I will save a copy and attach it to my report. If you choose not to, then I will contact Anakin and recall him back to the fleet and you will explain it to him then. Have I made myself clear?" Obi-Wan stated in his no nonsense tone.

"Yes Master Kenobi." She said solemnly.

"Good. Now there is one thing left for me to ask."

She nodded her head and held his gaze.

"Do you trust me to deal out your punishment?" he asked softly.

While it did catch her off guard, Ahsoka couldn't help but feel she knew what is was he was asking. Did she trust him to carry it out? Well…yes. Right now, beside the indignation and vexing nature of the subject, guilt was what weighed so heavily on her conscience. If she was right, and she'd like to think that in this instance she was, Obi-Wan was asking her if she trusted him to help her get rid of the guilt she had. Was she upset about the whole thing to begin with? Hell yeah. But was she willing to keep carrying it around with her for the rest of their time together? Or even beyond it into the foreseeable future? No way. With that decision made, Ahsoka closed her eyes and gave her answer.

"Yes" she said, barely above a whisper.

Nodding his head, Obi-Wan gently guided her across his knee, angling her to his left side so that he could wrap his arm around her middle and keep her in place. She held her breath and fought back against the tears that were threatening to spill. The threat he had leveled against her only moments earlier left the teen wondering whether or not her pants would still be up. Her lekku once again darkened at the thought. Bad enough to get in trouble and earn herself a spanking, but to get one with only her underwear up to offer modesty and a meager amount of protection was another thing entirely.

"Are you ready?" Obi-Wan asked as he looked over his shoulder to her.

She shook her head 'yes', the words would not escape as a sob she caught in her throat. That along with the guilt resting upon her shoulders and her heart. Doing her best to hold onto her composure, Ahsoka willed any and all tears that were welling up in her eyes away. Though a soft sniffle did manage to escape. Without warning, Obi-Wan began rain down swats on her backside. This caused her to gasp as she felt the sting from earlier return in full force. Obi-Wan alternated his swats making sure to cover every inch of her bottom. As he had done with his padawan before, the next area would be to focus on sit spots. Those alone had the effect of reminding the recipient each time they sat to not revisit this position any time soon. After around twenty smacks, Obi-Wan began to speak, not slowing down in the least as he did so.

"How did you earn this spanking?"

Ahsoka, still fighting the urge to cry, remained silent. Kenobi began to focus on her sit spots.

"I asked you a question padawan." He said, still not letting up.

She closed her eyes, the discomfort from the pain in her rear was beginning to annoy her. Being that she had never received this type of punishment before, Ahsoka figured she would have a strong tolerance. But in reality it was getting under her skin fast. The position, the fact her bottom was starting to feel as if it were burning, and now the question was rapidly making her become angry. After another ten or so, she finally answered.

"I can't – ow! – answer – ow! – cause you – ow! – won't stop – ow! – spanking me!" she yelled.

Obi-Wan's response was to simply increase his tempo once again and focus on covering her entire bottom. Ahsoka squeezed her eyes shut tighter and mentally cursed at the fact her rear end was on fire. In a small and twisted manner, her only saving grace was the area that was on fire was for the most part, relatively small. Perks of having a low cross section butt apparently. However, even that small grace was easily snuffed out after another minute of swats being applied.

"Alright! Ow! Alright!" she said exasperatedly.

"Well?" Obi-Wan said as he slowed

"I'm sorry I lied, sorry I broke into your desk, and I'm sorry I hacked your datapad! Please stop!" she said through hitched breaths.

"What else?" the elder Jedi said, still swatting her, though not as fast as before.

Ahsoka's response was to kick. As far the teen knew, the best way to deal with the fire was to try and 'kick' it out. Obi-Wan, having already anticipated this, paused his swats and used his right leg to pin both of hers in place. This served to not only prod at the livid teen, but oddly enough, bring her to the brink of tears.

"No kicking, now what else?" he said as he once again started.

"Ow! Please stop!" she answered.

"Ahsoka" he said firmly.

Silence. Kenobi looked over his shoulder and even on his angle, knew the togruta's eyes were sealed shut. She was fighting it, fighting the urge to come clean and admit the whole truth. He just had to get her there. If focusing on her sit spots wouldn't do it, then he would have no choice but to go through with his threat.

"I'll give you one more chance. Why else have you gotten this spanking for?" he spoke in a warning tone.

"I said – ow! – I was – ow! – sorry! What more – ow! – do you – ow! – want from – ow! – me!" she screamed angrily.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. But since you are unwilling to answer, here is your motivation." Obi-Wan said as he stopped raining swats. In an instant, Ahsoka knew what he was implying.

"NO! I'm sorry! Please don't!" she frantically yelled.

Too late. With a quickness she had not anticipated, Ahsoka felt her skirt being flipped up and her leggings slide down her legs to the top of her boots. The stripes on her lekku were almost black. From Obi-Wan's perspective, the embarrassment coming off the togruta was near blinding. It helped that as with Anakin all he had to do was focus on seeing this through. As far as Ahsoka's bottom went, despite the solid white underwear, the red shade contrasted horribly against her orange skin, causing it to show throw the cotton material. Kenobi recommenced swatting her.

"I'm sorry I disrespected you! I'm sorry I betrayed you! I'm sorry for everything Master! Please!" Ahsoka wailed, finally opening eyes and let her tears flow.

The second she finished speaking, Obi-Wan stopped. The only sound that could be heard in the cabin were the cries of a very well punished teen. Tears streamed down her face, making their way to the floor. Ahsoka tried to push up and stand, believing that it was over. But when she felt no give from Kenobi, she immediately questioned him.

"I'm sorry for what I did! I swear I'm not lying!" she cried.

Shaking his head, the bearded Jedi began to speak.

"I believe you Ahsoka. Though I hope you understand the lesson I have been trying to teach you this whole time. Honesty, respect, trust, honor, and obedience all have their places as cornerstones of the Jedi. As you have learned today, violating these is a serious offense, in your case, your punishment fits the crime as you are only a padawan. While I understand you may find it fits the discipline of a youngling. Except for looking through my files, your actions this week have mirrored the exploits of children. As per the lesson I want you to glean from this, it is quite simple: Follow my instructions the first time I tell you. No arguing, no defiance, and no attitude."

"Yes. I learned my lesson Master! I promise. So you don't have to keep spanking me" Ahsoka said hopefully.

"Oh, of course." Obi-Wan replied dryly before landing two more swats to her bottom.

"Ow! But–" she wailed before once again Kenobi started back up in earnest.

The teen tried her best to kick and squirm. But with each attempt came another stinging swat to her sit spots. The elder Jedi figured another fifteen would suffice to wrap up the punishment. Ahsoka begged and pleaded as best as she could before she finally began sobbing. Though the sound of the togruta crying did pull at his heart strings, Obi-Wan would see this through to the end. Ahsoka covered her face as her mouth hung open and her nose leaked. Her breathing was uneven and her eyes blurry. Never before had she ever cried like this. The closest thing to this had been when she had been scratched her arm while playing in the Temple when she was six years old. Even then, only a single tear fell at the pain. But this hurt on so many different levels. So much to the point that when the spanking had in fact stopped, she was totally unaware.

"It's over Ahsoka. We're done. Deep breaths." Kenobi said softly as he began to rub circles on her back. This had been effective with Anakin so he figured it would also be so with her.

"Shhhh, it's alright. Breathe." He continued, as he took note of her hiccups.

Ahsoka continued to cry silently as her sobs had almost immediately faded after realizing what was occurring. The hiccups were damnable by themselves, since they made it harder for her to regain her composure. By this time Obi-Wan had unpinned her legs and let up on her holding her in place. She remained perched on his leg for a few more minutes before finally pushing up and standing. With great care, Ahsoka gently pulled her leggings back up. She winced at the protest her bottom gave at the material coming up. Flipping her skirt back down, she finally faced the Jedi Master seated before her.

"I'm sorry for everything." She said, still sniffling. While there was more she wanted to say, Ahsoka couldn't bring herself to speak.

All the guilt that was there previously was gone. But there was still a large amount of shame still left. Mostly at having to be spanked, but also in herself for her treatment of Obi-Wan. Her eyes were still puffy, her shoulders shook with each hiccup and sniffle. Though she had wiped her nose once, it still leaked. To say she looked pitiful was an understatement. This time, a certain Jedi Master's heart strings were tugged just enough to make him amenable to her disposition. Standing up from the chair, Obi-Wan stood in front of her and kindly spoke to her.

"Would you like a hug, Ahsoka?"

The teen's shoulders were still shaking a bit and though she was hesitant to do so, she looked up at him. In his eyes were the warmth she had remembered seeing the first time they had met on Christophsis. She could see the corners of his mouth turning upward into a gentle smile. Shaking her head, she felt the tears return as she crashed into Obi-Wan's chest. The sudden impact had left the Jedi Master almost breathless, especially now that she was squeezing his frame rather tightly. Carefully, he returned the hug, making sure not to pinch her with the armor on his forearms. As for Ahsoka, the earlier thoughts she had on whether or not he hated her were instantly quashed in that moment. She felt happy, safe, and secure in the knowledge that Obi-Wan Kenobi didn't hate her.

"Thank You Master Obi-Wan…for everything." She said into his chest.

"No worries, padawan. I will always be here should you need me, my wisdom, or my guidance." He said with a twinge of humor.

The stripes on her lekku darkened again, but this time she looked up and cocked an eye marking at him.

"I'll take the wisdom please. I think I'm quite good with the guidance you've already dispensed." She said cheekily.

With a slight roll of his eyes, Obi-Wan disengaged himself from the hug and turned to exit her quarters.

"Remember to finish your writings and your letter Ahsoka. Once you're done, we'll have dinner. Fair enough?" he said as he stopped in front of her door.

"Yes Master." She replied with a bow.

Kenobi returned the gesture and wordlessly departed back to his quarters. Still standing in the now empty room, Ahsoka looked at her desk and picked up her datapad. It would take her awhile to finish writing out all her words. But she what she figured was most important, would be her letter to Anakin. She was nervous and still held anxiety for it, but at the same time knew fessing up would only serve to clear her conscience and allow her to move on. Since sitting was not an option, she would be lying down while she did all this work. Sighing to herself, she walked to her room and lay down on her bed. Opening up to a blank page in her digital notebook, Ahsoka put the stylus to the screen and began writing. It wasn't easy, but after almost an hour, she finished. All that was left to do now was her words and then go to dinner. Which would involve sitting…

Yeah…definitely not sitting on a hard metal chair…not without padding at least.

"I'm bringing my pillow over".

Is this the last chapter? Yeah…no. One more coming!