Bant managed to keep her fury down enough so that Anakin only received a mild scolding. "Anakin, you should have brought him back here as soon as he lost his sense of taste!" But she did add an apology after subjecting Obi-Wan to another set of tests and finding out that he was still physically fine. The only change was the levels of midichlorians in his blood had decreased far below that of a Force-sensitive. His number had plummeted, hovering around 2,300. Begrudgingly, Bant admitted that there was nothing she could do. That apology was changed again when Obi-Wan asked Bant if she had treated Anakin for his back injury.
"Anakin Skywalker! You've been hanging around here for hours waiting for Obi-Wan and you didn't have the common sense to tell me you were injured?!"
"It isn't a big deal," Anakin muttered, stripping off his shirt to let Bant examine the wound. That was mostly true. It had stopped paining him midway through their journey back to Courscant. He might end up with a light scar running down his back, but there were no sign of infections. In a few more days he would be completely healed. It had looked far worse than it was now. All the same, Bant examined it thoroughly before announcing that both Anakin and Obi-Wan were cleared from the Healer's Ward.
That meant they were free to present themselves to the Council. Anakin gave a more detailed briefing about their luck tracking the trail of Jenna Zan Arbor.
"We have traced the newest shipment of Twi'leks to Dantooine."
"Plan on hunting her alone, do you?"
"I – Yes, Master Yoda. Ob – Master Kenobi and I decided that would be for the best."
"Agree with your choice, I do. If need assistance, you do, afraid to ask for it, you should not be."
Anakin nodded. "Yes, Master."
"Wish to speak to Master Kenobi alone, we do."
Anakin bowed and left their chambers, deciding to talk again with Chancellor Palpatine. Anakin was still unsure if leaving Obi-Wan was the wise thing to do. Palpatine would have advice and would be understanding about Anakin and Obi-Wan's newfound relationship. He had an openness to emotions and Anakin's problems that none of the other Jedi possessed.
"Hmm. A void I sense in you, Obi-Wan."
"Yes, Master. I- I appear to have lost my Force connection. My midichlorian level has dropped greatly."
"Below 7,000?" Mace questioned.
"Yes."
There was a very slight, almost incomprehensible murmur from the other Jedi. Jedi needed to have a midichlorian count of at least 7,000 to be considered for training. Even then, it was rare for a Jedi to have counts so low, because children with lower counts were less likely to be noticed by recruiting Jedi Masters. Most Jedi had counts hovering above 9,000. The entire principle of being a Jedi was entrenched in the Force. Someone with all the knowledge of a Jedi and the physically skills without the Force was nothing more than a rouge fighter or politician.
"Stay in the Temple, you will, until returns, Skywalker does." Yoda did not need to mention that Obi-Wan would not continue any training. Katas, meditation, even sparring would be almost impossible for him now.
"Is it wise to send Skywalker on his own, knowing the Sith Lord has an interest in him."
"I trust Anakin. He will not be so easily swayed to the Dark Side."
Mace Windu was not convinced. "His loyalties to the Jedi are not that strong. He still has too much anger in him."
Obi-Wan could not disagree with that. Anakin had never been loyal to the Jedi. He was loyal to people, not to ideals. He is loyal to me at least.
"So sure of that are you, Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan had not nearly appreciated his shields enough when he still had them. "Yes. Anakin would not betray me or the Jedi."
"What about his friendship with the Chancellor? I fear he is using Skywalker to spy on the Jedi."
"Anakin sees the Chancellor as a friend. He was there for him since the invasion of Naboo. Growing up outside the Temple has give him a different perspective – one that I nor his fellow Knights can not fully understand. It is beneficial for him to have a friend outside of the Order."
But why? Why did he need a friend that was not in the Order? Why couldn't he confide in Obi-Wan? Where was the nine year old Padawan bursting into tears in his arms because the other members of his crèche were always isolating him? Wasn't Obi-Wan's advice enough for him? A twinge of jealousy shot through him. Did Anakin tell the Chancellor things he felt Obi-Wan would not understand or help with? Obi-Wan told Anakin everything – but that wasn't true, Obi-Wan realized. I rarely share things with him. And how many times have I told him to calm his mind and look to the Force for an answer, rather than giving him advice? How often had I gave a lecture and a reprimand rather than showing compassion and understanding?
An eleven year old Anakin came hurtling into their quarters, short Padawan braid swinging wildly.
"I hate them!"
"Anakin! Hate is not an emotion a Jedi possess."
"You don't understand! They're afraid of me! They think I'm different. Master Veld has us pick partners for sparring. I beat Tren-yi fairly! He let his 'saber fly out of his hands, how is that my fault? And then everyone backs away from me and thinks I'm dangerous. So I let him win the second time and then they all laughed that 'the Chosen One can't even win a duel.' Nothing I do is good enough! I'm either a failure or a Sith!"
Anakin was sobbing.
"Release your emotions into the Force, Anakin. Others need to do the same and they will realize you are no different. I certainly don't think you are a failure or a Sith. You just need to give it time."
"You've been telling me that for three years, Master. How much time do I need? They're jealous I knew my mother and have lived outside of the Temple. They're scared of my power. They hate me because I have a Master and they are waiting to be picked."
"Anakin, that isn't true. A Jedi is not jealous or afraid or angry."
"It is true," Anakin had sobbed angrily, "and I feel sorry for them. I'm sorry they don't know their parents. But at least they get an honor. A Master will pick them as their Apprentice. Everyone in the Temple knows you didn't want me."
He stormed to his room and stayed in their for the rest of the night. Obi-Wan had not known what to do and just left him there. He would work through it eventually.
He should have told Anakin that he understood perfectly. He was rejected by Qui-Gon and it took years to understand Qui-Gon never regretted taking Obi-Wan as a Padawan. It took him years to find Bant, Garen, and Reeft. He was one of the oldest left without a Master, which isolated him from his fellow Padawans. He knew what Anakin was going through – he sympathize, he wanted to make it better – but he said nothing. He only corrected him.
He had an emotional Padawan. Anakin had always be so filled with emotions and Obi-Wan had tried to repress them. Rather than helping him to deal with them in the Jedi way, Obi-Wan had told him to rid himself of the distraction, to put away all emotion and focus. Anakin still couldn't do that. Anakin Skywalker was made by his emotions, his warmth and open heart. Obi-Wan had tried to take that and destroy it. It was a miracle Anakin didn't hate him.
"Blind you, your thoughts will. Monitor Skywalker, we will. Focus on yourself, you should."
"Yes, Master Yoda."
Obi-Wan left the Council chambers, already forming the decade late apology he owed Anakin.
A/N: "Guest", thank you for your reviews! If you make an account, you can follow the story to get email updates rather than checking back. (Although I'm glad you keep checking back!)