It was their 3rd day on the ship headed to Ryloth when Anakin noticed something was amiss. He and Obi-Wan were still maintaining a rather large distance from each other. The ship was running on autopilot; Rt-D2 would alert Anakin if he made a change in the route or if something needed his attention. Anakin was spending most his time tinkering with improvements on his durasteel arm. He had been trying to minimize the wires and mechanisms to possible store a spare lightsaber (it would cut down on the nagging he always got when he misplaced his). Hungry. The thought suddenly appeared in Anakin's mind accompanied by a sudden urge to eat. That didn't make sense. He had eaten only thirty minutes ago. Was Obi-Wan projecting? It had to be, they were in the middle of space, there was no one else Anakin could be sensing. Why the Sith was he hungry enough to be projecting it? The food on board wasn't amazing, Anakin had to admit, but it was a fair bit better than protein cubes. Come to think of it though, Anakin hadn't seen Obi-Wan ever in the ship's galley.

He knocked on Obi-Wan's door and was immediately let in. Anakin stood there awkwardly for a few seconds, before asking, "Have you eaten anything lately, Obi-Wan?"

"Yes." He said simply. "Is this all you came down to ask? Seems a poor conversation starter, even for you, Anakin."

"Your shields are slipping. You've been projecting. Why haven't you eaten anything?"

"I've been eating, Anakin, for Force's sake! I just haven't eaten anything today. I've been busy meditating – something you ought to try."

"Master, you know you wouldn't be projecting over simply skipping one meal."

Obi-Wan sighed and Anakin could tell he was preparing some more excuses. Even the fact he hadn't corrected Anakin on his use of the word "master" said volumes. There would be no good reason for him not to eat – he most certainly wasn't sick because Anakin could sense that easily – so….oh.

"Can – can you taste anything anymore?"

Obi-Wan went silent for a minute and then tiredly sat down on the corner of his bed. "No. I can't. Not – not since we left the Temple. I can smell it and I feel it in my hands, but once I put it in my mouth it turns into something else. I tried to ignore it…but without a flavor – without even tasting bland – everything seems mush – and I can't do it. I could be eating bugs and it would taste the same!"

"So you haven't been eating at all?"

"I take protein cubes instead."

Anakin frowned. Obi-Wan knew as well as he did those were meant for emergency nutrition if there was absolutely nothing else. They weren't meant to replace actual sustenance.

"Bant and the Council would want to know. Have you at least told them?"

"No, Anakin, I haven't. My ability to enjoy eating is hardly important or vital to our mission."

"You know it's one of the side effects of the poison."

"Yes, Anakin! I am fully aware. And if you don't mind, I would like to try and do as much as I can before I am of no value to the Jedi If I return to the Temple, I will be doing nothing but be confided to my quarters like some invalid!"

"Master, you won't be worthless."

"I am not your Master anymore, Anakin. I expect the Council will eventually want you to take your own Padawan soon. You need no longer concern yourself with me."

"You will always be my Master. " Anakin sat down on the bed next to Obi-Wan. "I will always be concerned about you. Besides, I'm sure I, and the poor Padawan who has me for a Master, could learn more from you."

"I may not be there for you. You will make a fine Master on your own."

"Don't talk like that, Master. We'll find the antidote. You'll be there to nag me about letting my Padawan run wild."

Obi-Wan shook his head. "It isn't just that. Anakin, I have been thinking these past few days of resigning from the Jedi Order."

Anakin jumped to his feet. "Why? Because of this? Obi-Wan, we are going to find a cure! You can't leave just because of this! Where will you go? You're too important to everyone – to me! You can't just leave!"

"I do not want to, but soon I will not be much of a Jedi, so it will be best in the long run to remove myself. I was not going to tell you, but, while I am still in control of my facilities, perhaps it is best you know. I fear that this recent condition of mine will aggravate certain…issues I have been having."

"What issues?" Anakin demanded. "The Jedi are your life, Obi-Wan. They – I – can help you."

"I have been finding myself acting and thinking improperly around a fellow Jedi. An attachment like this is strictly forbidden by the Jedi. It could cause complications. I have tried unsuccessfully to mediate and rid myself of these thoughts but…I am afraid it has become too strong to deny. It is better that I remove myself from the situation before I cause a fellow Jedi to fall down the same misguided path."

"Obi-Wan, you would never misguide someone, or act inappropriately around them. I know you, Master. Besides, I've never seen you show the slightest interest in anyone."

"I do pride myself on having some control. However, I have still betrayed the trust of someone close to me. They look to me as a mentor and leader and I feel inappropriately about them. It is a great disservice to them and a shame upon the Jedi ways."

"There is nothing wrong with attachments, Master. Would you tell me that my love for my mother was out of place?"

"How would you feel, Anakin, if Master Windu confessed he felt…romantically towards you? Or if he went up to you suddenly and kissed you?"

"Thanks. I needed those mental images."

"The age difference, the seniority….you would perhaps feel obligated to return his advances? You would feel disgusted, betrayed, coerced."

"I would trust that, as a Jedi, Master Windu would accept my refusal, ask for forgiveness, and then go mediate. Although," Anakin joked, "I do have a thing for that bald head of his." Obi-Wan did not smile. "I would be uncomfortable, I agree. But I would rather know than not know."

"Perhaps. Or perhaps things are better left unsaid."

"Why this sudden confession anyway? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I had hoped it wouldn't be necessary, but I am afraid of what this poison will do. I do not know if it will affect my control. If – if it does, I – I apologize, Anakin. I would never do something against your wishes and should my mental capacities start to weaken, do not feel like you must be burdened with me. I do not wish to take advantage of you."

"You – you're afraid that if your control slips you'll act inappropriately with me?"

Obi-Wan turned a violent shade of red and turned away from Anakin, facing the wall, his head in his hands. "I have been fighting against an attraction to you since you became a Knight. I have always been able to monitor my actions and thoughts up until now, but I fear what may happen if I lose that ability. I have already been losing control of my shielding and…should I project anything about you… I – I failed you Anakin. I'm so sorry. I lectured you on not having attachments with Padme as I stood there admiring what a brave, talented young man you had become. I am a hypocrite and a depraved man, fantasizing about a young man in his charge. You have always deserved far more than me, and I apologize that you were not give to a more capable Master. I want you to promise me that if this poison takes over, you will disregard any stray thoughts or words as ramblings of a sick man."

A/N: Sorry if this made Obi-Wan seem a bit OOC! I've just always picture Obi-Wan - if he was in love with Anakin - to be very insecure and self-hating about it, because not only is he a Jedi (duh), but he older than Anakin, the same sex as Anakin, and his former Master. I promise, 8th chapter will go back to a bit more plot!