Months had passed since Vader had broken his leg, and he was FINALLY able to walk again. He had decided to skip the combat training, and instead tried to teach her to use different powers of the Dark Side he had learned from the Emperor himself.

"What are we learning today, Lord Vader?" Tsubaki asked eagerly, fully ready to learn these new skills.

"Today it will be a lightning attack."

"Chidori?"

"What?" He asked, giving her a confused look under his mask.

"Its a technique in a cartoon I watched recently. Its a hand full of lightning. One of the good guys uses it as his signature move." She explained.

"Oh. Well, yes. You can call it that i suppose." he said, a bit of confusion evident in his voice. He secretly wondered what kind of show would have a power of the Dark Side used as if it were something a Jedi could do. "You ready?" He asked, returning his focus to the task at hand.

"Yes sir!"

"Alright. Focus your energy into your hand, as if you were doing a Force Push. Keep it in your hand, and don't let it go anywhere. Let it build up for a few seconds more." She obeys, looking very into it. Her tongue was sticking out to the left as she concentrated, making Vader smile lovingly. He immediately frowned, knowing she was only 13, about to turn 14. This was wrong. If i still feel this way once she's 21... hmm... wait, does this make me a cougar?! He thought, losing focus and sending electricity everywhere.

"Whoa!" She said, losing her focus and sending her electricity all over the place as well. He pushes the lightning away and grabs her, making a barrier around them. She clung to him tightly, terriefied. Within thirty seconds, the lightning dissapated and the air crackled around them for a few seconds more. When Vader was sure the energy was gone, he brought the barrier down, looking down at his terrified student.

"Are you ok?" He asked, sounding more worried than he would like.

"Uh huh. J-just a little sh-sh-shaken up. I'll be f-fine." She said shaking and clinging to his side. She half expected him to push her away, but he didn't, instead holding her closer to him. She listened to his heavy, mechanical breathing, and his quickened heartbeat. It seemed to sooth her, knowing that he was just as scared as she was.

"Better now?" He said as softly as his helmet's vocalizer would allow. She nodded, refusing to let go. He rubs her back, understanding her fear. For a moment, he was terrified he would lose her. He knew the thought was selfish, but he couldn't bear to lose another that he loved. He didn't want another Padme. "How does a trip to J'douine sound?"

"Judedween? What's that?" She asked curiously.

"J'douine." He chuckled. "I'ts one of the planets controlled by the Empire. We could take a little break from your training there." Her eyes lit up and her shaking died down a bit.

"O-ok...! I like vacations!" she said, her smile returning somewhat.

"I'll have to check with the Empeor though. You wait in my quarters until i come back with his answer. "

"Um... ok..." she said, nervousness spilling from her tone. He ruffled her hair playfully and got to a standing position, making his way to the communications room. Along the way, he told a trooper to escort Tsubaki to his quarters, just in case she didn't know where it was, and to make sure she stayed safe in there, remembering the broken gun he was repairing and upgrading in his spare time.

Entering the comm room, he made a link to the Emperor's staff and requested a meeting with him as soon as possible. They told him they would make the request for him and hung up. Vader waited, passing the time by thinking of what he would tell The Emperor.

An incoming call came in and Vader answered it hastily, his nerves getting the better of him. The Emperor sat in his seat, having answered the call. It wasn't often that his precious student made a call to him as urgent as this one.

"What is the matter Anakin? You seem... on edge."

"Master. I'm fine at the moment. It is my student, Tsubaki that I'm worried about."

"Ah. The Middleground user. I sense she has a strong influence on you."

"Master?"

"The Dark Side isnt as strong with you as it was before she came. Nor Is the Light Side." He said thoughtfully. "Perhaps you're a Middleground User as well?"

"I... Don't know."

"I doubt this is what you wanted to speak with me about."

"Yes, of course. I was hoping to request some free time for myself and Tsubaki. She-"

"Of course you can. You don't need an excuse. You overwork yourself all the time. I've been meaning to give you some time to relax anyways." He said with a hint of amusement in his tone. "Oh, and once your vacation is over, if you happen to be a Middleground user, i want you to learn from your student and the Colrez man for a while."

"Yes, Master." He said, just before the Emperor ended the transmission. Vader let out a deep sigh and he continued to his quarters.