Okay...sorry that this has taken so long to come out. I have had semester tests, school dance, camping, clean-up, and limited computer access to top it off. Also, I went to a friend's graduation party. I hope I can continue to write and update, it basically depends when I have time.
Disclaimer: ALL apply here, minus for the characters I have made up.
As Luminara walked on in, she noticed Ani fighting nine probe droids all at once, slowly but gradually disarming them and returning them to their racks. After that, barely breathing, she did some stretches that Luminara even winced at. Well, Barriss did say that she had a hard master, she thought, continuing to watch Ani work out, but I didn't even realize the measures, stretches, moves, and levels she was being put to! Suddenly, she noticed that Ani was staring at her, all while stretching her legs and doing her homework.
"What is Luminara Unduli, one of the Order's famed Masters, doing in here, watching an already-chosen Padawan?" she asked sarcastically.
"Tonight I have a meeting with your Master," Luminara said formally. "She also asked me to watch your practice…um, why aren't you done yet?"
"It was the agreement," Ani said, running up the walls and falling back down on the floor. "If I did five-and-a-half hours of practice I could go with my history class to visit Coruscant."
"Why?"
"I had to."
"You could have cut down the time."
"All it would've done would be giving me twice as many hours."
"What hour are you on, currently?"
"Hour number 4 and-a-half."
"So…you have one more hour, huh?"
"Yep, I'm used to it so don't worry. Besides," here she glanced sideways at Luminara, "you shouldn't. You're not my Master."
"Fine," Luminara replied stiffly. She watched silently as Ani continued her practice, letting herself get hit or 'accidentally' hitting herself on something or falling hard. Soon, she was done.
"Come on, please hurry up," she pleaded, though her face was emotionless, to Luminara. "If I'm late at all, Master'll kill me!"
"What will happen, Padawan?" Kalla asked with a false pleasantness, meeting her at the door. Luminara thought she saw Ani swallowed hard before answering, "Nothing, Master. Nothing at all."
"Exactly, Padawan," Kalla continued, opening the door wider so they could go on through. "Now, go prepare dinner while Master Unduli and I talk." Ani bowed.
"Yes Master," she murmured, and quickly strode into the kitchen. Luminara stared after her in amazement.
"Shall we begin, Master Unduli?" Kalla asked.
"Yes, Master Pollo," Luminara replied, as a pair of doors cut the living room off from the rest of the apartment.
The conversation lasted for little over an hour. After Kalla had politely inquired to whether or not Luminara would take another Padawan, and while Luminara was thinking up an answer, a timid beep sounded over the intercom.
"Yes, Padawan, what the heck is it?" Kalla snarled slightly. Luminara raised an eyebrow at the harsh-sounding question.
"Dinner's ready, Master," Ani's quiet voice barely filled the room, yet Luminara could hear it.
"About time," Master Pollo grumbled, opening the doors and motioning for Luminara to follow her. She just had to follow her nose (and an irate Master) to the dining room. There, on the table, were two glasses, with a not-so-strong wine and some noodles with cheese on them. "One of my favorite dishes," Kalla smiled, sitting down in a chair and motioning Luminara to do the same. She noticed that Ani had not set a third place.
"Why – "
"It's something strange she does, don't worry," Kalla said, grinning forcibly. All the same, Luminara gently reached out with the Force to probe Ani. All she felt were shields and…extreme fear and pain. Pushing it aside, she concentrated on eating the food set before her, which was surprising delicious. Staring ahead, she wondered why Master Kalla was acting tense, and why her Padawan, who was usually brimming with brightness and energy, was being timid and afraid.
The answers would come soon enough, she decided, and kept on eating.
"Well, Master Luminara, it's been fun talking with you and everything," Kalla said, after desert had been served and dishes had been done. Luminara was standing at the doorway, smiling slightly.
"It was a great visit I had, Master Pollo," she bowed. She noticed Ani standing hesitantly behind her Master, and gave the girl a little smile. "Thanks for the dinner. It was most delicious."
"You're welcome," Ani said, braving the, however slight, evil eye her Master gave her. She disappeared after saying that, probably hiding from her Master, Luminara surmised. She and Kalla bowed to each other.
"See you later, Master Unduli," Kalla said formally.
"Goodbye, Master Pollo," Luminara returned formally. She went down the hall, wondering why she felt so uneasy. She dismissed the feeling, thinking that it would go away.
It didn't.
Once again, I am so sorry that I have not updated for quite a while. It would sort of help if you guys would REVIEW (hint, hint)! Okay, if you didn't get that, PLEASE REVIEW! It would help me to know that at least a FEW are reading and enjoying my stories. Okay, I know you guys are, i'm just in a bad mood. Forgive me?