Character: Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars)
Slash or Het: Neither
Rating: I'm going for PG
A/N: If anyone hasn't seen TPM and doesn't know the story I wouldn't read this.
Early morning.
Obi-Wan thought to himself.
His eyes closed tight shut. A few seconds later they opened again, warm tears burning.
His mind screamed. But he couldn�t. He�d been trying for hours after all. He knew he�d regret it the next day but it wasn�t like he could help it. He couldn�t get to sleep. It just seemed like a physical impossibility. But he had to. There were things to do tomorrow. He had to see Master Yoda. Master Windu would want a report of the state of affairs on Naboo.
There was the funeral�
And Obi-Wan knew that his sleeping problem had nothing to do with anything but the funeral. It was so hard to comprehend it.
Was this really the last goodbye?
The whole thing was unclear. He had been taught from an early age that when a Jedi dies they become one with the Force. That was good. When you died it was alright. You had a perfect sense of well being, they had said. Obi-Wan believed this. No, his problem� It was too selfish! Wasn�t it enough for him to know that Qui-Gon was in a good place? Obi-Wan clung to the thought that Qui-Gon was happy, it was true, he was so glad that he could believe this. He didn�t think he could have coped with all this if he didn�t. But there was a part of him that still cried out for Qui-Gon to be with him. Just because he wouldn�t be able to talk to him. Ever. Again.
Obi-Wan�s eyes closed again, just for a brief second, as he felt the tears sting. All his mind seemed to want to show him was that same moment over and over again. Qui-Gon�s death. It felt ironic that he could have the nightmares without all the trouble of actually sleeping.
And he missed Qui-Gon even more. But he tried to sleep once again.
***
Morning sunlight was scattered across the temple. It was still quite early but a few Jedi were up and about. Two knights were walking calmly down a corridor near the cr�che when�
A jedi initiate, no older than 7, dashed down the corridor, ricocheted off a pillar, and rocketed past them towards the saber training rooms�
Not far behind him a Mon Calamarian of about the same age smiled apologetically and walked casually after him.
The jedi initiate was young Obi-Wan Kenobi and he was, as chance would have it, 7 years old. He was supposed to be in the archives for a class in just less than five minutes but he had woken up that morning and realised that he had misplaced his data pad. He had checked just about every room this side of the temple in an effort to retrieve it and now the only place left to look was the saber training rooms. He knew there were no classes in there until the afternoon so he could just walk in, pick up the pad and� The boy�s train of thought went off the tracks as he walked into the room and realised that it was actually in use.
In use by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn.
Obi-Wan started a little and glanced around. Qui-Gon was so involved with his training that he didn�t even notice the initiate�s presence. Obi-Wan could see the pad on a chair in the corner. If he could just quickly walk over, pick it up and then leave straight away Qui-Gon might not even know he had ever been there.
He retrieved the pad and was just about to leave again when he noticed a halt in the shadow that had previously been dancing gracefully across the wall. Obi-Wan suddenly noticed that Qui-Gon was moving towards him.
�You found what you were looking for then?� The man asked, to Obi-Wan�s relief, not unkindly.
�Er, yes.� Obi-Wan said. After a bit of thought he added, �Thank you.� Just to be safe. He had heard a lot of amazing things about Qui-Gon Jinn.
Qui-Gon smiled at him before turning around and igniting his lightsaber again. Then he turned back to Obi-Wan who hadn�t moved yet.
�Do you do lightsaber practice here?� He asked.
�Mostly only watch,� Obi-Wan admitted, �Master Yoda says we can start practice next year. When we�re older.�
�Ah. Well, why don�t you get a little practice in beforehand?�
Qui-Gon laughed slightly as the boy gaped at him. He adjusted the setting on his saber and handed it to Obi-Wan who took it hesitantly.
�Master Yoda will teach you this well, I know, but always remember that this is a weapon for defence.�
Obi-Wan nodded, mouth and eyes still wide. He swung the lightsaber around a bit but his movements looked extremely clumsy compared to others he had seen. Bant had come in shortly after that to tell him to hurry to the archives. He had left the room without a second thought that perhaps the memory of that meeting would be so important.
***
Obi-Wan woke again. He had managed to give himself just more than 10 minutes sleep.
That was the first time he had been allowed to use his master�s lightsaber, indeed any lightsaber. It had seemed so inconsequential at the time.
The last time he had used that lightsaber� all that he could feel from the memory was pain.
He rolled over and stared into his pillow.
He had said goodbye that day so easily.
All he wanted now was to say hello.