DISCLAIMER: *evil cackle* Hee hee hee! At last, my One Ring of Unlimited Copyright Privileges, which lets me own the copyrights to Star Wars! Mwahahaha! *Obi-Wan Kenobi tackles me and runs off with the Ring* HEY! ... Damn Jedi!

I don't own Star Wars. I don't even own the inspiration for this story. That goes to the lovely Nanashi-Angel, who asked me to write this for her. (And I'm still completely floored that she asked me to write it! *grins*)

So, without further ado, I present unto thee a Brand! New! Angst-Fic! Woo-hoo! (Side note: This fic is NOT connected to "Inner Death" or "Missing". Just thought I should let you guys know that. Cin Drallig and Zara Taerich might make appearances later, but I haven't decided that yet.)

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"I will take Anakin as my Padawan learner."

No. He must have heard that incorrectly. Jedi Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi glanced in shock at his Master, hoping that he had misheard Qui-Gon Jinn's words. What? But he has me! I am his Padawan!

Master Yoda seemed to agree with him. "An apprentice you have, Qui-Gon. Impossible, to take on a second."

Master Windu spoke up. "The Code forbids it."

"Obi-Wan is ready..." said Qui-Gon, barely glancing at the shocked apprentice behind him.

He didn't want to be thrown away like this, but he would back up his Master. It was engrained into him as deeply as the Code. "I am ready to face the Trials." Besides, he didn't feel he could live with his Master any longer after hearing this.

"Our own council we will keep, on who is ready." Yoda stared hard at Obi-Wan.

Qui-Gon finally glanced at Obi-Wan, but only briefly. Dismissively. "He is headstrong, and has much to learn in the ways of the Living Force, but he is capable. There is little more he can learn from me."

Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon, still stinging from this abrupt, unexpected rejection. He never really wanted me, did he? What happened after Bandomeer, then? Did he just keep me because he couldn't pass me off to someone else? As if on cue, Qui-Gon turned to Obi-Wan, giving him a cool stare. His mind was shielded strongly enough that the younger man couldn't sense his thoughts, although he could guess what they were. He really didn't want me. This just gives him an excuse to get rid of me.

The staring contest between the now-estranged team was only ended when Yoda said, "Young Skywalker's fate will be decided later."

"Now is not the time for this," agreed Master Windu. "The Senate is voting for a new Supreme Chancellor..."

Obi-Wan didn't hear any more of what was said. His mind was still reeling from this blow. He felt like he had been punched in the stomach, which was now churning and threatening to bring up the remnants of his meal. It was all he could do to not betray his emotions to the Council. He suddenly felt like a twelve-year-old boy again, being told that his last hope of becoming a Jedi was gone.

And it was this little boy's fault. The small child who stood in front of Qui-Gon had already garnered more attention and love from the tall Master in a few days than Obi-Wan had earned in several years of training. Obi-Wan tried hard to quell the feelings of hatred growing in his heart, but wasn't entirely successful.

He only came to when Master Yoda said, "May the Force be with you." Recognizing the dismissal, he bowed and stalked out of the chamber. He could hear Qui-Gon following him with... that brat... in tow.

I will not hate Anakin Skywalker. I will not hate Anakin Skywalker. Obi-Wan repeated the mantra to himself as he strode away. It almost worked.

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With an effort, Obi-Wan jumped back onto the walkway that Qui-Gon was fighting the Sith on. The duo was moving closer and closer to a corridor. To Obi-Wan's alarm, he could see red laser walls beginning to close at the far end of the corridor.

He had to get to Qui-Gon's side. He started running, watching the walls appear. His legs wouldn't move fast enough, until he called upon the Force to speed his movement.

He was just behind Qui-Gon when a laser wall snapped shut in front of him, cutting him off from his Master. The Sith paced back and forth beyond another laser, in a room at the end of the corridor.

Breathlessly, Qui-Gon turned back to look at Obi-Wan, before he sank to his knees, meditating. Obi-Wan lowered his own head, breathing hard as he drew upon the Force. He could sense the Sith summoning the dark side to himself, readying himself for the upcoming fight.

Minutes later, the laser walls began to move apart. As soon as there was space to move, Qui-Gon leaped out, attacking the Sith with a fury. Obi-Wan followed as soon as he could, joining his Master in the battle.

The battle continued for several minutes. Obi-Wan was tiring, and his blows were becoming slightly weaker. Beside him, he could sense Qui-Gon lagging. The Sith was weary as well, but still seemed more than capable of winning against the two Jedi.

Then it happened. The Sith kicked Obi-Wan in the chest, making him fall down a reactor shaft. He managed to cling to the lip of the shaft, watching his lightsabre fall out of the corner of his eye. Glancing over his shoulder, he watched his weapon disappear into the darkness of the shaft before looking back up to the battle.

He nearly let go in shock when he heard Qui-Gon scream. There was a clatter and a thud, followed by the sound of the older Jedi moaning in pain. Straining his neck to see, Obi-Wan could just see Qui-Gon on his knees, cradling his right arm to his chest. His lightsabre lay on the ground beside him, next to... No... Obi-Wan nearly threw up when he realized his Master's arm had been sliced off by the Sith.

The Zabrak raised his lightsabre, preparing to kill Qui-Gon. Horrified, Obi-Wan temporarily forgot his anger at his Master. He summoned the Force to himself, gathering it around him and touching Qui-Gon's dropped lightsabre. Then he leaped up and out of the shaft.

The Sith hesitated as he felt the shifts in the Force, saw the discarded lightsabre suddenly fly from the ground to a waiting hand. He brought his own red blade up to block the attack, but was half a beat to late. The green laser sliced through his abdomen, cutting him in half and ending his life.

Obi-Wan shoved the Sith's two halves down the reactor shaft with the Force, watching the pieces fall apart before he turned to Qui-Gon, dropping to his knees before his wounded mentor. "Qui-Gon, your arm..."

Through gritted teeth, Qui-Gon hissed, "I'll be fine. I just need to get to a healer. Leave my arm, let's just get out of here."

Trying not to look at the severed limb, Obi-Wan lifted Qui-Gon by his good arm and pulled him to the laser-barricaded corridor. Given Qui-Gon's injury, it was slow moving, with the pair having to stop three times for the laser walls. The wounded Jedi was in too much pain to speak while walking, not that Obi-Wan was complaining. Now that he knew that the older man was going to live, his frustration was returning in full force.

Eventually, the pair made it to the end of the chute. Several of the Queen's guards were roaming the palace, looking for more active droids. As soon as they saw the injured Jedi, they immediately ran to help, calling for aid from their comrades. One called for a healing team to be prepared for the hurt Master. Obi-Wan was more than willing to hand over Qui-Gon to the guards, reliving himself of the responsibility. Despite Qui-Gon's near brush with death, Obi-Wan didn't want to be near him at the moment. As soon as he was sure his mentor was in good hands, he started to walk away.

"Obi-Wan, where are you going?" Qui-Gon's voice stopped him in his tracks.

Taking a deep, calming breath, Obi-Wan turned around. "I need to make sure the Queen is safe."

Qui-Gon nodded. "Obi-Wan... I'm very proud of you, Padawan."

That word. Padawan. Obi-Wan could have snorted. "Am I your Padawan, Master? Are you really that proud of me?" Without waiting for Qui-Gon's response, he turned and marched away, a bit faster than before.

"Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon whispered his apprentice's name. "Obi-Wan!"

The younger Jedi didn't heed his mentor's call. If anything, he walked faster, to get away from the source of his pain. He didn't want the Nubian guards to see the tears brimming in his eyes. How can he call me that, after what he said to the Council?

"Obi-Wan..." Qui-Gon stared after his apprentice as he was taken away by the guards and newly-arrived healers. What did I say?

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Xaja and Nanashi