Hello again everyone! This is yet another plot hole that I feel needs filled, and an introduction to my new character, Kamuro. For the record, Trianii are like Cathar, except that they retain more of their cat-like qualities, like the ears, tail, and fur.
I own Ayame and Kamuro, and everything else belongs to whomever it belongs to.
10 years, Ayame thought as she bathed. When she finished, she dried off and started dressing. While she dressed, her hazel eyes drifted to a hologram of their wedding day. On a 5 second repeat, a younger version of her and Obi-Wan looked at each other, shared a kiss, and looked forward, beaming. Ayame grinned at the memory. After brushing and braiding her hair, she strapped on her belt and lightsaber and went downstairs for breakfast. Upon entering the hall, she caught sight of her Padawan, Kamuro Dayspirit, a young male Trianii. His fur was a light beige color with black stripes and white markings around his eyes and muzzle. His short ears were moving around at the various sounds in the hall and his long tail was gently swinging back and forth. He was eating with two of his friends from the academy, a young Human girl and an Iridonian boy. As Ayame approached, Kamuro's ears turned in her direction. He turned his head to look at her, his bright yellow eyes meeting hers. As though startled, he jumped up and bowed.
"Good morning, Master," he said. His friends slowly rose and bowed as well.
"Good morning, Master Ayame," they said.
"Good morning, everyone," Ayame said, bowing back to them. "Kamuro, when you are finished, please meet me in the entrance hall."
"Yes, Master Ayame," he said, and sat down to finish his breakfast. Ayame smiled at her apprentice's formality, and got herself her own breakfast. As she ate, Ayame watched her apprentice. He had really opened up in the 5 years that he had been her apprentice. Her mind went back fondly to the day she chose him as her Padawan.
Ayame and Obi-Wan had just returned from their honeymoon. Anakin had been sending them regular updates on his studies at the Temple, and Ayame had made the first contact with her family on Corellia in years. Her mother had been thrilled that she had been allowed to marry, and though she was not happy that Ayame still was not allowed to have children, Ayame had two brothers and a sister to give her parents grandchildren, several of whom she met. Upon their return to Courescant, Ayame started considering taking on a Padawan of her own. Obi-Wan did point out that both of them would be training Anakin, but Ayame knew that two Knights to a Padawan would be strange. She decided to talk to Master Yoda and start looking at some of the younglings for her own apprentice.
The day after they returned home, Ayame paid a visit to one of Master Yoda's advanced classes. A group of younglings around 7 years old were practicing with remotes, blast shield helmets, and training sabers. Ayame stood at the door for a few minutes, watching the young ones leap about. She grinned, remembering this class when she was a Padawan. One young one caught her eye, a young Trianii boy with beige fur. His skill was a bit above the rest, probably owing the reflexes that were characteristic of his race. She watched him for several minutes more before Master Yoda noticed her and stopped the class.
"A visitor, we have, young ones," he called out, tapping his cane on the floor. The remotes deactivated, jumping up to several more feet above the ground. The class returned to their starting positions and raised their helmets while deactivating their sabers.
"Good morning, Master Ayame," they said, bowing to her.
"Good morning, everyone. I'm sorry to have disturbed your class, Master," Ayame said, giving a small bow in return to the class before addressing her master.
"Something I can do for you, Ayame?" Yoda asked her.
"I was hoping to speak to you in private for a few moments, if I may," Ayame asked.
"Of course. That is all, for today," Yoda answered, addressing his class.
"Thank you, Master Yoda," the class said in unison, bowing. As they filed out, returning their helmets to a shelf by the door, each one said goodbye to both Ayame and Yoda. When the Trianii boy said goodbye, Ayame's gaze lingered on him, and she focused her senses on him. The Force was strong with this boy, and there was a strong sense of right and wrong that went along with it. When the class was gone, Ayame turned back to her master.
"Thinking of taking a Padawan, are you?" Yoda asked. Ayame, who would have been shocked at her master's clairvoyance, grinned.
"Was I that obvious?" she replied. Yoda laughed. If there was anything, aside from his wisdom, that Ayame loved about her master, it was his laugh. The gravelly laugh never failed to warm her heart.
"I suppose it is time for you to choose one," Yoda said, moving to his little hover chair. He settled in and activated hit. It raised up so that he was eye level with Ayame, and the two began walking.
"Master, who was that Trianii boy?" Ayame asked as they walked.
"Kamuro Dayspirit," Yoda answered. "Promising Jedi he is. The Force is strong with him. However, very rigid and too concerned with his emotions."
"Concerned? What do you mean concerned?" Ayame said, confused. Just then, Kamuro walked by. He stopped and bowed to the two of them before walking away. Studying him again, Ayame could feel the sense of propriety and respect that he had for his elders, but it overshadowed everything else. She could also sense him forcibly repressing his emotions. The realization of Yoda's meaning must have been apparent, because Yoda noticed.
"Ah, now you see," he said. "That young one, serene he may seem. But in reality, emotionless he is becoming."
"He needs someone to help him," Ayame said, still contemplating what she had seen in the boy.
"Perhaps that someone is you, Ayame," Yoda commented. Ayame looked at her master, who had a knowing smile on his face. Ayame smiled and nodded.
"Perhaps you're right, Master. When shall we do this?" she asked.
"Bring him before the Council in one hour," he replied. She bowed her compliance and left, heading after Kamuro.
She found him eating lunch in the dining hall. He was sitting by himself, eating alone. Ayame decided to take the more casual approach. She grabbed a glass of blue milk and an Uj cake, and went over to Kamuro's table.
"Good afternoon, Kamuro. May I join you?" she asked with a kind smile on her face. Kamuro started, surprised to see the Jedi Knight addressing him.
"Master Ayame! Please, sit down," he said, starting to get up.
"Kamuro, please. We're not in class," Ayame chuckled, sitting down across from him and taking a bite of the Uj cake. The dried fruit was sweet on her tongue and pleasantly chewy, with the occasional crunch of a nut or two. Once Kamuro had calmed down, Ayame started in.
"I was watching you in class earlier, Kamuro. You're skills are very impressive," she said, taking a sip of her milk.
"Thank you, Master Ayame," he said. "Master Yoda says I still have much to learn, but I feel that he is proud of me nonetheless."
"He says that to all of us, Kamuro. Compared to him, we're all younglings," Ayame chuckled. "He did mention that you were a promising student."
"If a Master ever picks me," Kamuro said quietly, sounding defeated. It was at that moment that Ayame knew that he was the Padawan for her. Checking the time, she rose.
"Kamuro, come with me," she said. Confused, Kamuro rose and followed Ayame upstairs to the Council chambers,
"Master Ayame? What are we doing here?" he asked when they arrived. Ayame merely smiled. The doors slid open and the two entered the chambers. Stopping at the center, the two bowed before Master Yoda.
"Ayame, what brings you before us today?" Master Windu asked.
"I come before you to announce that I wish to take a Padawan," Ayame began. "I have spoken with Master Yoda about this, and he feels I am ready for a student of my own."
"You have come a long way, Ayame. I can see you being an excellent teacher," Master Ki Adi Mundi said from Yoda's right side.
"Thank you, Master," Ayame replied.
"We can arrange for you to see some candidates immediately," Master Windu began, but Ayame shook her head.
"That won't be necessary, Master. I have already made my decision," she said, looking at Kamuro. The whole room was vibrating with his excitement. The look on his face was one of wonder and excitement.
"Master Ayame?" Kamuro whispered.
"I take Kamuro Dayspirit as my Padawan Learner," Ayame said, clearly and decisively. She watched with amusement as Kamuro fought the clear urge to jump up and down and celebrate. Shaking slightly, he bowed to Ayame.
"Thank you, Master," he said. "I am most appreciative. I promise to make you proud." Ayame smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I know you won't, Kamuro. I can see you becoming a great Jedi someday," she said gently. The small ceremony was completed and the two left the Council chambers as Master and Padawan. The following morning, Ayame brought Kamuro a gift, as was tradition. Some Masters presented their Padawans with a special lightsaber holster, or a special crystal to put in it. For Kamuro, Ayame had given him a Force-Sensitive crystal. While it was not appropriate for use in a lightsaber, it lit up whenever the Force was channeled in to it. As years passed, Kamuro had made use of the crystal both practically and in his meditation. He almost never had it away from him. Even though his attitude was still somewhat rigid, Ayame knew that by giving him that crystal, there was some connection between them. It was a start.
