Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars nor anything affiliated with George Lucas. I do not own Ikea, though I love their furniture. Plot line is mine. The Gakkou is mine. Mom (i.e. Lydia Williams-Ishida) is mine. Kassie/Cassona Elemental Ishida is mine. Take her and I will hunt you down and hurt you.

AN/…/ indicates thoughts/ bond speech.

Exchange Student

Chapter 2: In Which Learning Begins

The group of four sat in the common room of Qui-gon and Obi-wan's quarters. Tea was provided for the guests and the hosts. All in all, the room had the feel of the Tea Time that Kassie sometimes had to attend with her mom.

The atmosphere had been quiet. Too quiet by Kassie's standards.

She looked at her sensei and at her sensei's friend, Qui-gon Jinn. They were definitely hiding something from her. And with her sensei's tense expression, it was probably something she wasn't going to like.

"So, Sensei, what are you trying not to tell me?"

Obi-wan looked at the girl with a wrinkled brow. Qui-gon looked at the girl and then at Gennai. Kassie took a sip of tea and pinned her sensei with her gaze.

"Qui-gon has graciously decided to be your guardian while you are at the Temple," Gennai said quickly not missing a beat. While her 'out of the blue' questions used to faze him, but not after hearing them for a year.

"Oh, really now? Does he know what he's getting into?" Kassie looked over to the Jedi Master.

Qui-gon raised an eyebrow.

"Probably not, this is why I will ask you not to be yourself completely until he is used to your ways."

"Do you actually think I will do that?"

"No, but it is worth a try."

Obi-wan was amazed at the relationship between master and student. /Master, they are crazy./

Qui-gon smiled at his Padawan's observation. /Have patience Padawan, she will seem normal soon enough. Master Gigano leaves in a few days time./

/So we'll have only one crazy person/

/If you would like to think that way, yes./

"What do you mean he'll be in charge of my classes?"

The Jedi pair were brought back to the conversation at hand as a ruffled Kassie became aggravated at her Sensei's words. "I'm perfectly able to decide on my classes, Gigano."

Gennai mentally winced. She only called him Gigano when she was irritated with him.

"Master Jinn has much political knowledge. He has been invaluable in several negotiations, and is one of the best swordsmen the Order has seen in a while. I would think you would be honored to have him as your guardian."

"Don't put me in a cage, Gigano. I get enough of that from my mother."

"I will be more than willing to work with you on what you wish to study, Cassona." Kassie's green eyes met Qui-gon's. "You will have leeway."

"That I have no doubt of, Master Jinn." She turned her attention back to her Sensei. "I just want to know why I can't choose my classes."

Her eyes were piercing. "Do not give me your 'glare' Cassona. It may work on your siblings and friends, but it will not work on me." Master Gigano met the glare with a steady gaze.

Obi-wan could almost see the sparks flying between their glares.

The doorbell chimed and Obi-wan stood to answer it, grateful to not look at the feuding master and student. The small green creature, head of the Jedi Council, was at the door.

"Come in, may I?"

"Yes, Master Yoda, please do."

Kassie relinquished her glare to observe this new being. Short in stature, but powerful in mind...she could feel it.

"Your student, hmmm, Master Gigano?"

"Yes, this is Cassona Ishida." The brown haired head bobbed before she turned back to glare at her Sensei.

"I still don't have an answer."

"And I am not going to give you one."

The three Jedi watched as she filed the argument to use at a latter date. Why it would be useful, they had not the slightest idea. Master Yoda spoke to Qui-gon.

"Her quarters ready, they are. She, perhaps, would like to see?" The last question directed at Kassie received an affirmative, and the group once again walked down the hall.

It was spacious with high ceilings and simply white. There was no furniture in the living area or either of the bedrooms. The fresher was stocked and in between the two bedrooms. The kitchen was stocked with only the major Gaen appliances in a stainless steel finish. Natural light with a view of Courasant on the east side and a small window over looking the Hall of a Thousand Fountains was on the west.

"The floor plan is the same of your rooms at the Gakkou." Gennai watched his student look around the empty space. "Kassie?"

"It's wonderful. Why can't I choose any of my classes?"

"Not talking about that right now. Nothing has been moved in yet—"

"And I thank you for that. I will need something relaxing to do." She smiled at the Jedi. "I'm sure y'all will keep me plenty busy, but I need something normal to do." She looked back at her Sensei. "Now, about my classes..."

"If you continue on this vein you won't have any say in anything."

She smirked. "When does my stuff get here?"

"Tomorrow."

"Everything?"

"Everything. Nothing was left behind that you asked for."

"And all the ordered furniture?"

"Everything will be here tomorrow."

"Mom said she was sending paint."

"Yes, that's right."

"Does Mom, have a say in what classes I have?"

Qui-gon allowed a small smile to escape. She was stubborn, very stubborn. Master Yoda tapped his cane on the ground twice.

"Enough about classes, that is. Decided later, everything will be."

Kassie nodded. "Yes sir."

Qui-gon could see the surprise in Gennai's face, and felt the surprise coming from Master Yoda, even though his face did not show it.

"Don't look so surprised Sensei. I can be polite when the situation calls for it," she looked at the small Jedi Master, "and if they don't fully know me yet."

"Know you soon, Cassona, we will."

"Maybe."

Master Yoda gave a small nod to her. "Master Jinn and Master Gigano, speak with you, I will." And he turned to leave with the two men following him out the door.

Kassie sighed as the door closed and looked at Obi-wan. "So, am I still crazy?"

Obi-wan allowed his eyes to go wide. "What—How—why—?"

"Your expression was evidence enough. Most people think I'm crazy when they first meet me. It was a safe guess." She smiled at the disbelieving Padawan. "Honest."

"Your words sounded too close to what I was thinking."

"So once again, am I still crazy?"

"Yes."

Moving Day was just that: Moving Day. With a bang. Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi did not know that there existed that much music in the universe let alone on one computer. Of course, none of it was in any language that he could understand, but it was amusing watching Kassie hum and sing along with the words. The furniture was minimal, but placed in the center of the main room with sheets of material over it.

"Did you need help?"

Kassie stopped singing and spun around. Her look of shock was replaced with a smile as she noticed Obi-wan and the group of friends behind him.

"Not yet. Just painting first. Nothing will be completely set up for at least a week, and classes will start in two." She moved around the table she was standing at to reveal a canister and proceeded to pry open a lid with a slim metal bar.

"Who are your friends?"

Obi-wan introduced Bant, Siri, and Garen. "You speak Basic well for someone from outside the Republic." Siri's comment was received with a smile from the foreigner.

"Thank you...Siri, right?"

Siri nodded.

Kassie pried the lid off and placed it on top of more material spread over the table she was standing near. Obi-wan could see a deep purple color inside the canister. Bant however beat him to the next question. "What is that?"

Kassie smiled as she pulled over a large square pan and a smaller one. "It's paint. An excellent color don't you think?"

She looked up at the group. "So, do you guys have anything to do today?"

Master Qui-gon Jinn could not find his Padawan anywhere, and his communicator was also useless seeing as Obi-wan was not picking it up. He was not in any of the labs or sparring rooms. He was not speaking with any teachers. And while this was not usual, it was not a surprising development. He was, after all, soon to be twenty-one...with a mischievous streak a mile wide. Qui-gon allowed himself a small smile and closed his eyes so as to find his Padawan through their bond.

"Sleeping in the hallways, Jinn? That's very unusual." Qui-gon remembered the location of his apprentice and opened his eyes to see Master Adi Gallia.

"I just located Obi-wan."

The Master smiled. "I bet Siri is with him."

Qui-gon smiled and both Masters began the walk towards Cassona's new quarters.

The door opened onto a cheery painting party. Music blasted from a screen and speakers, and Qui-gon remembered Master Gigano speaking of the personal computers of earth that did more than store data. There were five young adults laughing and painting. Robes were discarded well away from the painting areas as the Siri and Bant finished a deep purple wall in the living area. Cassona was standing on counters painting the gold yellow of the kitchen area and Garen and Obi-wan painted the green and white walls on opposite sides of the room, and raced each other. Cassona was the first to see the Masters as she finished touching up the gold paint and jumped off the counter landing nimbly on the tile floor.

"Good Afternoon Masters. I borrowed them for the day. I do hope you don't mind."

"Not at all, Cassona." Adi Gallia responded and proceeded to look around. The Padawans stopped for a break, as a new song began.

"You've made this place your own." Kassie smiled at the Council member. "It was a lot of work, but worth it. All my actual stuff still needs to be unpacked and placed."

"Will you do that tonight?" Qui-gon asked.

Kassie looked at the tall Master. "After I put together the new stuff. Not everything comes put together, but Ikea is the best." When she received puzzled looks. "Ikea is the best furniture store on Earth, oh sorry, Gaea. Inexpensive and great quality."

She turned down the decibel level of the new song. And then she paused the song as a musical tone played from a silver contraption. Obi-wan recognized it as her cell phone from two days ago.

Kassie pressed a button. "Hello?"

The Padawans looked at each other and the Masters.

"Hi mom. What can I do for you?"

Qui-gon narrowed his eyes. This was the elusive mother that Gennai had mentioned, the businesswoman.

"Yes I am painting the room. The colors do actually work well. I'll send a picture when we're all done...Yes, I have friends here that are helping...right...yes...okay. Bye."

She pressed another button and placed the contraption back on the counter. And turned up the music again.

"She doesn't seem to have a good relationship with her mother, Master. But she loves her little sister. Hope, she called her."

Qui-gon nodded and his apprentice sat down at the table bringing their dinner with him.

"She loves music, as I'm sure you can figure out from looking at her computer and listening to her sing along."

Obi-wan looked at his Master after he finished speaking. He was still staring into space.

"Master?"

"Yes Obi-wan?"

"What do you think of her?"

"I'm not entirely sure yet, but I think she will teach us as much as we will teach her."