Hey! Long time no see! Sorry about not updating for a while (*cough* over a YEAR *cough*). This story is just light-hearted fluff not really meant to be taken seriously, so I'm not really writing updates on it unless I get the urge to... or if my reviewers request it enough. :-) Anyway, I've been having a pretty rough time recently (see "notes" on my profile for details on that...) so this may be followed by another update or not... and for those who read my other stories, they probably won't be updated for a while either because of what has happened recently.
Anyway, that stuff aside, I hope you guys are still enjoying this story!
The birds chirped around her as she lay by the river that went through the Room of a Thousand Fountains, her tail swishing around in the water. Younglings screamed and laughed as they ran about the area chasing each other.
A group was playing Force Tag. The younglings in the group were Kita's charges. She had to watch them for the morning since their Minder was returning from a mission.
The member of the group who was It broke away from the younglings and then ran towards Kita. He pushed her as hard as he could… which was the equivalent of being blown on through a straw. "You'rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre it!"
Kita looked at the youngling, giving a mock stunned expression. I'm it? Oh no!
The boy giggled and then yelled out to the younglings. "Kita's It everybody!"
Everyone screamed and laughed some more, running in circles. Kita barked happily and leapt to her feet, running at such a slow pace that the little insect beside her beat her to the younglings. I'll get you guys, just you wait!
"Look out!" a youngling shouted and they all ran in different directions.
Kita singled out a young one and ran towards him. He screamed in response, running as hard as his little legs could carry him. Kita nearly strolled over to the little boy before licking the back of his head. You're it, Obi-Wan!
Obi-Wan fell to the ground as if the lick were a blow to the head.
"No, I don't want to be it!" he laughed.
Kita licked him on the face. You're it, or I'll lick you to death!
Obi-Wan giggled and ran away, the younglings yelling and making a raucous all around the garden.
"Kita, do you mind?"
Kita jumped and turned to see the Jedi Knight Mace Windu raising an eyebrow. "Some people here are trying to meditate."
Right. Kita nodded, her tail wagging feebly as an apology. Sorry about that. I'll settle them down.
Kita ran over to the clan of younglings and gathered them together. Now, little ones, we need to remember that there are Jedi meditating in these gardens…
Their pouting faces and nervous energy made her statement fade away. Kita then wagged her tail. You know what? I have an idea.
Crouching down, Kita motioned Obi-Wan to climb aboard. The four-year-old did so excitedly while the rest of the younglings watched curiously.
Here; I'll take you all for a ride around the gardens on my back, one at a time, but you have to promise to be quiet and stay still while I'm gone, okay? She said to them.
"Okay!" they replied happily.
Kita trotted around with Obi-Wan bouncing cheerfully on her back. "This is fun, Kita! How can they just med-i-tate all day when they can do this?"
The image of Mace Windu riding Kita's back and whooping like a madman appeared in Kita's head before she quickly pushed it out with an amused snort. Well… they like having some quiet. You'll understand when you're older, little puppy.
"Mm-mm!" Obi-Wan protested. "I'm never ever ever turning into that! I'll play all day! I'll have lots of fun and be a good Jedi – I'll be a great Jedi!"
Kita chuckled. I'm sure you will, Obi-Wan. I'm sure you will.
Kita was worried. Obi-Wan had been in a depressed mood since that mission to Cirrus to help that boy Talesan Fry. Something had happened between him and a fellow Padawan named Siri Tachi.
Kita could clearly see what it was. After all, she had seen it before in the Jedi Temple: the two were in love. They told themselves that they would forget each other and never see each other again, and it hurt them both badly. Kita needed to enlighten them on something: loving someone didn't always mean that if they couldn't marry they had to be as far from each other as possible. They could still show their love through being the best of friends and always looking out for each other.
Searching for Obi-Wan, Kita found him sitting alone in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, his forearms on his thighs and his head hanging low. He sensed Kita's presence, but he didn't acknowledge her.
What's bothering you, Padawan? Kita asked, knowing full well what was wrong, but wanting Obi-Wan to admit it.
"It's nothing, Kita," Obi-Wan sighed. "You wouldn't know, anyway."
Kita snorted at that remark.
Her reaction only irritated Obi-Wan. "Do you think it's funny?"
No, Kita shook her head, sitting in front of the boy. But I think you're taking this a little too far.
"How would you know?" Obi-Wan snapped.
Because I've seen it before. I mean, hey, I haven't found any attractive dogs in this sector… they seem to so hard to come by these days… Kita sighed, and she managed to get a chuckle out of Obi-Wan. But honestly, Obi-Wan, I have seen this before. Jedi aren't invulnerable to love, little pup. I've seen many Jedi with your dilemma before, and I've seen them react to it in different ways. The way that I thought suited best was to remain close friends; you need to acknowledge your feelings for each other and then acknowledge that you're both Jedi and will never take it further than a friendship… but there is nothing wrong with loving each other. Every Jedi does in his or her own way.
Obi-Wan sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "But Siri just won't listen. She won't get near me."
Hmm… Kita thumped her tail, conjuring up a plan. Here, I have an idea. You meet me here tonight when everyone has gone to sleep, and I'll make sure Siri arrives too. Then you two can discuss things.
Obi-Wan looked hesitant. "…Are you sure about this?"
You'll be just fine, Padawan. Kita stood and licked his face affectionately, bringing out another giggle. Now stop brooding. Go find your Master and train, meditate, talk, and just have some fun. Live a little, Obi-Wan. It won't kill you.
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "All right, then,"
Kita watched the teenager exit and then immediately bounded out the door. She first found Siri and cornered her in the hall.
"Hi Kita," Siri said dully, not looking much happier with her decision than Obi-Wan.
Siri, I need you to do me a favor. Kita said, giggling internally as her plan began to unfold. You need to go the Room of a Thousand Fountains tonight after dinner.
"For what?"
You'll see when you get there.
"Kita, I'm really not in the mood for silly surprises," Siri mumbled dejectedly.
It's not silly. Kita sounded affronted. And I'm telling you to go.
Siri sighed heavily. "Fine,"
Kita then rushed off again, grabbing the nearest Padawan she could and having her hop onto her back.
"Where are we going, Kita?" Aayla Secura, a little Rutian Twi'lek, asked.
We're going to find a boat, Kita replied.
"We're looking for a boat?" Aayla asked excitedly before getting confused. "Why?"
Kita chuckled. Oh, just for some fun. Hold on, youngling.
Kita ran out of the Temple and to the nearest market. She and Aayla looked everywhere when Aayla pointed to a sleek looking boat. "How about that one?"
No, Kita shook her head. We need a boat that sits on the water, not floats over it… we need… maybe an antique boat… or a wooden one?
Aayla looked around diligently, putting all her effort into it as if someone's life depended on it. The two searched for the rest of the day before Aayla pointed to another boat. "That one!"
Kita looked and saw a plain, sanded, wooden boat that could seat two. It apparently had been sitting around a while since it was on sale for practically nothing. Kita smiled.
Good job, little pup. That'll do perfectly.
After Aayla purchased the boat (with some persuasion on the owner by Kita), the two dragged it into an alley before Kita stared at it long and hard, concentrating. The boat began to float and Aayla squealed in delight.
Hop in! Kita barked excitedly, also happy with her ability.
Aayla leapt from Kita's back to the boat and held on, bouncing in ecstasy. She panted as if she had run a mile the whole trip back to the Temple as the boat floated in front of Kita, who watched it carefully and concentrated on keeping it afloat.
When the two returned, Kita placed the boat in the river that issued forth from the waterfall in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Luckily, it was dinnertime and no one was around.
Kita then released her ward, thanking Aayla and telling her to rejoin her clan in the mess hall. Then Kita stared at the boat happily. She walked to the doorway, dimming the light setting to make it look romantic. Oh, she was going to enjoy this.
Kita jumped up a grassy slope to the top of the waterfall and lied there, anxiously awaiting her charges' arrivals.
The door hissed open an hour later and Obi-Wan nervously entered. His mouth dropped when he saw the light setting.
"Oh, I have a bad feeling about this," Obi-Wan muttered.
Kita shook her head in amusement. That boy had gotten so serious.
Obi-Wan paced around nervously for a short while when the door opened once more, allowing Siri to enter.
The two Padawans froze upon seeing each other.
"What are you doing here?" Siri asked.
"Uh…" Obi-Wan trailed away, trying to find an excuse.
Kita sighed. It looked like they would need some prompting.
Using the Force, she pushed the two closer together and then locked the door.
"What's going on?" Siri nearly yelled. "I thought we agreed not to do this!"
"This wasn't my idea!" Obi-Wan hurriedly defended himself. "It was Kita's!"
"That stupid dog…" Siri muttered.
Stupid dog? Kita would teach them a lesson for that remark.
"So now what? We're locked on!" Siri kicked the door.
"Um, well…" Obi-Wan sighed, not knowing what to say. "Siri… we need to talk…"
"Talk about what? We've discussed everything that we need to." Siri cut him off.
Obi-Wan seemed to be gaining more confidence. "No, we didn't. We just ran from the issue."
"We can't be together, Obi-Wan," Siri said firmly.
"I'm not saying we should be together," Obi-Wan stressed. "I'm just… saying maybe we could just be friends again."
Kita took this as her cue.
Sitting up, she immediately began to howl out a romantic tune which was probably so delightful to listen to even a Sith Lord would want to scream.
Obi-Wan and Siri sure looked like they were ready to.
The two Padawans covered their ears and fled the area, running straight for the river. Kita continued to howl all the more, and then was delighted to sense their shock and embarrassment upon seeing the boat.
She sensed the two enter the boat and let it take them further away from her wretched howls and then she stopped, satisfied that they were alone and talking.
At the end of the night, Siri left laughing and promising to meet Obi-Wan in the sparring arena tomorrow morning.
Obi-Wan smiled and then crossed his arms after Siri left. "Kita, I'm going to get you for this some day."
Kita hopped down to his level and then wagged her tail. I'd like to see you try.
Who can guess who's coming in the next chapter? Heehee...
Please review! :-)