A/N: Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who is reading this, especially those of you who have left reviews. It means a lot to me.

Obi-Wan headed back toward the residential building to drop off the training equipment from the day's session and have a bit of time to himself before dinner. He'd almost felt for the past week that he was back at the Temple again giving lessons, not on a farm. Declan had all but cleared Eraan's schedule and hadn't asked for Obi-Wan or Anakin's help with much since Eraan had started his training.

It was probably for the best. Teaching both Anakin and Eraan was proving to be more than he'd bargained for, though he couldn't exactly say he regretted it. Eraan was an enthusiastic student, and Obi-Wan could already see the boy's confidence increasing.

But what would happen to him when they left, Obi-Wan wondered. How would the Eraan apply those rediscovered skills? Patience he told himself. The Force would work these things out. He was planning on staying here with Anakin at least six more weeks, maybe more if the Council could spare him.

Deep in thought, he still managed to give Kenji a smile and greeting as he passed him coming up the road to the residential building. The boy smiled shyly back at him, ducking his head a little. Obi-Wan thought briefly about what Coral had told him about the former padawan. Too bad the boy hadn;t stayed at the Temple, where he belonged. As painful as his ordeal had no doubt been, the Jedi were equipped to deal with such tragedies and help their own move past them. He didn't like the idea of the Order losing another valuable member; these days, they were already losing Knights and padawans at an alarming rate as it was.

"Master Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan turned around to see that Kenji had stopped and was looking at him, though still a bit shyly, and his smile was a bit stiff, as though it had been a long time since he'd tried it out. He was a tall boy, and strong, though he stood a bit stooped over as if somehow afraid to stand at his full height. His dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail, though strands were falling out and hanging down in various places.

"Master Obi-Wan, I saw you the other day practicing Form Three sequences, and I just...well, I study Form Three as well, and I was just wondering if maybe you could give my technique some pointers. Sometime. If it's not an imposition."

Obi-Wan smiled. "It wouldn't be at all. Where do you practice?"

"Just outside the building, if it's good weather. Sometimes I use the gym in the old school."

"Have you seen what Eraan and my apprentice did to the school's training courtyard? They cleaned it up quite well. We could have some practice there, if you'd like. I have some time now. Are you headed somewhere?"

Kenji said that he wasn't, so they went back to the courtyard.

"Are you up for sparring?" Obi-Wan asked him, laying down the remote droid at the edge of the courtyard. "I haven't sparred with anyone except Anakin in about a month, and having a new opponent is always enjoyable."

"I haven't sparred with anyone in years," Kenji shrugged. He frowned a bit, as if recalling a painful memory.

"I'm sure Eraan would have a go sometime, if you asked him," Obi-Wan said.

"Hmm," Kenji said, frowning more deeply. He seemed upset by this idea, but Obi-Wan decided it wasn't his place to pry.

They went through a brief warmup before facing off. Kenji regarded him seriously, taking his opening stance. Obi-Wan did the same and waited for Kenji to make the first move. The boy came suddenly with a strong thrust which Obi-Wan had to move quickly to block. This was followed by many more, and soon they were lost in the flow of the duel.

The concept of fun was not really something Obi-Wan allowed himself to pursue often. Not these days. He never really thought about it. There were so many things in his life that needed his attention; that he might pursue something that he wanted to do but didn't need to do seldom occurred to him as an option. But there were times when fun seemed to find him regardless, and he embraced those moments when he could.

Now it was time to make things more interesting and really put Kenji's Soresu skills to the test. He switched to the Ataru style and came at Kenji with a spinning attack, forcing the boy to switch the defensive, which he did gracefully, unphased by the sudden change.

He wasn't sure how long they were fighting before Kenji bent forward, throwing up his hand to stop the duel. He looked suddenly pale and exhausted. Obi-Wan extinguished his lightsaber and moved toward the boy, concerned. Just a moment before, Kenji had been performing excellently, with no indication of illness or weariness. Now he was resting his palms on his knees as if trying not to be sick.

"Are you all right?" Obi-Wan asked, placing his hand on the boy's back.

Kenji let out a long exhale before answering. "I think so."

"Shall we go sit down?" Obi-Wan asked. Without waiting for Kenji to respond, he led him to the bench by the school's entrance. Or tried to. Before they reached it, Kenji darted suddenly toward the edge of the stone platform and emptied the contents of his stomach into the bushes below. He sank to his knees, heaving a bit before he was finished. Obi-Wan strode over to him, placing a hand on the young man's back. Kenji at last rose shakily, and together they walked toward the bench again.

Kenji sat onto the bench heavily, taking in a few deep breaths.

"Have you not been feeling well?" Obi-Wan asked, sitting beside him.

"No...I've been fine," Kenji replied. He didn't meet Obi-Wan's gaze. "Just a little overexerted I guess. Some food should help. Water."

Obi-Wan nodded, though something about this didn't feel right. "Have you seen the healers? Perhaps you should."

"You mean the healer," Kenji said, emphasizing the lack of plural. "No, I haven't. I've felt fine. I'll be all right, I think. Thank you."

The dinner bell began to sound then, chiming insistently across the fields. "All right," Obi-Wan said. "If you're feeling up to it, let's go get something to eat."

They walked together down the path, Kenji still a little slow and shaky.

"I haven't sparred in so long," the boy said after a bit of a silence. "I guess I wasn't used to it."

Obi-Wan made no reply. As far as he knew, Kenji's response to their duel wasn't a typical one, even if it had been a while. Especially as he'd gone from being in good form one moment to barely able to stand the next.

"Your Ataru was fantastic," Kenji went on, obviously wanting to change the subject.

"I studied it for a long time," Obi-Wan said. "It was my master's preferred form as well, and he taught me a great deal. I've only been studying Soresu for a few years."

"Since..." Kenji didn't finish his question.

"Yes."

"You saw it happen, didn't you," said Kenji quietly. "When he killed your master. At least you got to say goodbye. You got to hold him."

A chill went through Obi-Wan. He'd not told many people at the Temple many details about Qui-Gon's death, and even less to the AgriCorps Jedi. And though it was not altogether rare that a Force-sensitive person might be able to pick up on details not revealed to them through normal means, it still made him uneasy. Kenji seemed to sense this.

"Sorry."

"It's all right."

They spent the rest of the walk to the dining hall in silence.

After dinner, Obi-Wan found himself quite tired. More tired than he should have been, considering the fairly normal day he'd had. Perhaps there was something going around. Fortunately, Kenji had started to perk up a bit during the course of the meal. Though he didn't exactly seem cheerful, the color had returned to his cheeks and his appetite seemed good. Still, Obi-Wan thought he might check in with the boy later. Something about the events of the afternoon still didn't sit well with him.

Anakin and Eraan hadn't been at dinner. Tika said he'd seen them down by the river fashioning some kind of ropes course in the large trees there. Obi-Wan didn't like the idea of his padawan skipping communal meals if it could be helped, but at least the boys had not gone running far afield this time.

He returned to their quarters right after dinner was finished and laid down on his bed. He only meant to rest a few moments and then go and find Anakin, but when he opened his eyes again the room was quite dark and he felt groggy. At least he did feel a bit more awake, even if he had a slight headache now. He was about to start a light healing meditation when he heard the front door of their quarters open, and his padawan's footsteps in the living area. Obi-Wan glanced at the chrono and sighed before opening his bedroom door and peering out.

"Anakin. Do you know what time it is?"

"No, not really," Anakin answered, coming closer to Obi-Wan's door. He was dirty and holding what looked like a replica of a Mandalorian helmet, for some reason. With Anakin, sometimes it was best not to ask 'why.' "You didn't give me a curfew, Master," he pointed out, somewhat defensively.

"I know, but that's because I'd like to trust you to make sensible decisions for yourself. But if you make a habit of coming back at this hour, I may change my mind."

"Yes, Master," Anakin said by rote, wanting to move on to the next topic. "But we had so much to do. We made an amazing ropes course, Master, you should see it." He held up the helmet for Obi-Wan to inspect. "And look what I found in the school. Master Qui-Gon made it. I guess a long time ago."

Obi-Wan looked at it, but did not take it from his padawan. "Interesting."

"I'm going to keep it," Anakin told him.

"Why? You don't need another thing in your room, Anakin." That came out a bit more harshly than he meant it to. But Anakin only frowned at the statement, turning the helmet over in his hands and studying it.

"I'd like you to go to bed now," Obi-Wan said. "And please do not miss dinner again. It makes you look unappreciative of the hospitality here."

"I won't," Anakin said quietly, moving past his master toward his own bedroom door.

Obi-Wan watched the door to his bedroom close, a little amazed Anakin had not put up any argument. Perhaps he was finally moving out of whatever difficult phase he had been going through these past few months. Or maybe, Obi-Wan thought, the boy was coming down with something as well. He'd have to keep an eye on him, just in case.