When Ashoka came running towards Anakin, he knew that something was wrong. His padawan's face was full of worry and sadness. She was pale, as if she just witnessed something horrible. That's why, when she tried to catch her breath, stuttering on her words, Anakin pulled her into a hug. Ashoka was surprised at the action, but she liked it. "Ashoka, what's wrong?" Anakin asked in all seriousness. He could feel the Force tapping on his shields, as if it was trying to tell him something. Ashoka gently pulled away from the hug and bit her lip nervously.
"I think something's wrong with Master Kenobi?" Ashoka's voice wavered. Anakin instantly searched for Obi-wan through their bond. He could feel him, but he had put his shields up, which was a bad sign. He looked back down at his worried padawan.
"Why? What happened?" the young Jedi Knight asked frantically. Ashoka just shook her head, a silent gesture that it wasn't her place to say.
"The last I saw him he was heading towards the Jedi Temple," Ashoka frowned, "he didn't look good master." At first, Anakin thought that she meant he was badly injured. In that case, he would have to drag Obi-wan to the healers. He always hated going there, but Anakin dragged him nonetheless. Without another word, he practically ran into the Temple. Anakin kept trying to reach his old master through the bond, but each time he was blocked. If Obi-wan of all people was shutting him out, it was bad. Anakin sped walked through the Temple, asking everyone he passed if they've seen Obi-wan.
"Sorry master," a padawan bowed politely to Anakin, "I haven't seen him." Anakin nodded and kept asking around. If he wasn't in the main room, he must've been in the gardens or his quarters. Anakin remembered, when Obi-wan first became his master, that he would always go to the gardens after Qui-gon's death. It had been a hard blow to the young Jedi Master. Sometimes, he would forget a training session or two with Anakin because of his grief. However, Anakin had never seen Obi-wan cry. One time or two, he saw Obi-wan with red, puffy eyes, but besides that, Anakin hadn't ever seen him cry. He always thought that never seeing him sob was strange. He couldn't have been that emotionless, could he?
Anakin broke out of his thoughts when he reached the gardens. He checked the fountain, which was where Obi-wan would always go for meditation, but his master wasn't there. He checked under Obi-wan's favorite tree, but he wasn't there either. Anakin checked in all the possible places Obi-wan could be, but his master wasn't present in any of them. Anakin closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "come on master," he whispered, "I need to know where you are. I can't help if I don't know where you are." Then, Anakin felt a light tapping on his shields, a presence that he knew all too well. Suddenly, he knew that he needed to go into Obi-wan's quarters. "I'm coming master," Anakin said aloud. He ignored the strange, and slightly annoyed, looks coming from other masters as he raced to his former master's quarters. Obi-wan only ever secluded himself in his room if something really horrible happened. During one quarrel of theirs, Anakin had said some things that probably shouldn't have been said and Obi-wan had politely stormed off. He didn't come out for a day, but they eventually worked it out.
Finally, Anakin reached Obi-wan's room and was immediately met with a wave of utter sadness. It hit him so hard that he had to choke back a sob. Yeah, Obi-wan was definitely in here, and he was hurting bad. Anakin composed himself and softly knocked on the door. "Obi-wan, are you in there? We need to talk," Anakin said with a slight firm tone. The door opened, which surprised Anakin, and he slowly stepped inside. Anakin squinted in the darkness, waiting for his blue eyes to adjust to the blackness of the room. The shades were pulled down, making it even harder to see. In the room, Anakin saw Obi-wan sitting on the edge of his small bed, his shoulders slumped tiredly. His head dropped sadly against his chest, not even bothering to look up at his best friend. Even if it was dark, Anakin could make out that Obi-wan was wearing Mandolorian armor. "Obi-wan?" Anakin asked, almost as a whisper. He suddenly felt that he shouldn't disturb the silence hanging in the air.
Obi-wan seemed to realize that Anakin was in the room, because he lifted his head ever so slightly, enough that Anakin could make out the outline of his eyes. Anakin crouched in front of Obi-wan, almost as if he was a child. He tried to chase down his master's blue-grey eyes, but it was no use. Obi-wan still wouldn't fully look at him, but it seemed as if he was silently asking for help. "Obi-wan," Anakin whispered, "tell me what happened." He was met with silence. "Obi-wan please, I want to help you!" Anakin pleaded, almost setting his hands on his friend's shoulders. Obi-wan seemed to frown more deeply and mumbled something under his breath. Anakin furrowed his brows, "what did you say?" Obi-wan didn't reply to his question, instead letting out a deep sigh that radiated sorrow. Anakin wanted to say something, but he figured he should let Obi-wan do the talking. They sat across from each other, neither one speaking until the time was right. Whatever was going on with Obi-wan could wait a little longer. He needed some time to compose himself. Finally, after what seemed like hours to Anakin, Obi-wan lifted his head.
Anakin almost gasped at the sight of Obi-wan's red rimmed eyes, tears threatening to fall. "Satine is...dead," Obi-wan said so quietly Anakin almost didn't hear him. Anakin uncrossed his arms, understanding why his best friend was acting this way. Anakin crouched in front of Obi-wan once again, his expression apologetic. "Obi-wan I-" he stopped himself, not knowing how to go on, but Obi-wan beat him to it.
"It was my fault," Obi-wan said a little louder.
"What? Don't say that Obi-wan," Anakin firmly pronounced.
"Darth Maul killed her right in front of me," with each word, Obi-wan's voice grew louder, "while all I could do was watch! I didn't do a thing to help her." Obi-wan held his head in his hands, his body trembling with unshed tears. Anakin had no idea what to say, he had never seen his master like this, not even when Master Qui-gon died. Obi-wan clenched his fists, angry at himself and Maul.
"Obi-wan," Anakin reached out hesitantly to place a hand on his shoulder, "Obi-wan listen to me. It wasn't your fault. I don't know what happened on Mandalore, but I know that Satine's death wasn't your fault." Obi-wan kept shaking his head vigorously, desperately trying to hold back tears. Anakin knew that words weren't going to cut it with Obi-wan, so he set his jaw and pulled Obi-wan in a fierce hug. That's when the tears came. Obi-wan clung onto Anakin like a lost child, sobbing quietly with a few audible sniffles here and there. Anakin sent wave after wave of calm and reassurance through their brotherly bond. Anakin could feel his friend's trembles against his body, which made him even more saddened by his master's appearance. They stayed like that, clinging on to each other, for a very long time. If Obi-wan's sobs got louder, Anakin would either shush him softly, or send calming waves through their Force bond.
Obi-wan finally pulled away when his sobs died down and dried his eyes with a cloth he kept handy. "Anakin," Obi-wan started, "thank you," he said, his voice wavering a little. Anakin firmly nodded his head.
"That's what best friends are for," Anakin smiled slightly, "and Obi-wan, I am really sorry. I know that you loved Satine." At first, Anakin was afraid that he had said the wrong thing, but Obi-wan smiled tiredly.
"Thank you Anakin," he set a hand on Anakin's shoulder, "for everything." Anakin smiled, glad that he had cheered his friend up some. So far, Anakin had learned five things about Obi-wan that he hadn't ever truly known. Of course, he knew that Obi-wan could cry because everyone was capable of it, but seeing him actually cry was new. It meant that he was more human than even himself. Anakin would always make sure to stay by his best friend's side when he needed it most. Besides, that's what best friends were for.