Inheritance

Simple Confusion

"The next few days," Obi-Wan thinks with an inaudible sigh. He cannot think about the next few days, he is incapable of such a feat. It is usually all he can do to make it from one moment to the next; the future just seems too empty a prospect to consider. Obi-Wan stifles quickly what would have been a rueful smile. He was finally living fully in the moment as his master had always admonished him to do, though both he and Qui-Gon would probably agree that what Obi-Wan is doing is not "living," but merely existing in the present moment; neither regretting moments past or awaiting future ones. Well, there is at least one future moment that has his attention...

* * * * *

Obi-Wan's departure from the hanger bay had suffered under a very uncomfortable silence between the two Jedi to the point that he was happy he had an excuse to slip away. Now, he strolled down the quiet halls of the Temple, his hood up, a signal to all that the master desired privacy. All knew of and respected this time honored request for solitude, all save one.

"Hide from us, you cannot. Still see you, we can," comes a familiar and, under the circumstances, mildly irritating voice from behind Obi-Wan. He pauses before turning around using the precious few seconds to erase the pained look of annoyance from his features.

"I was not hiding, Master," he says, then he notices that the Grand Master is not alone. Friend and fellow Councilor, Master Adi Gallia, is accompanying the diminutive Jedi.

"Master Kenobi," she greets with slight bow of her head. Obi-Wan returns the greeting with a bow. "I must say I am pleased to see you out about the Temple. Your presence has been sorely missed and," she pauses with a tiny smile, "Master Piell is not nearly as gracious a sparring partner."

Obi-Wan manages to call up a smile for her, but it does not reach his eyes.

"No, I don't imagine he would be," Obi-Wan answers as the three slowly make their way down the corridor, the clack of Yoda's gimer stick creating a distinctive and echoing tattoo.

"Has she arrived yet?"

"Yes, arrived she has. Awaits you she does."

"Where?"

"You will meet in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. We have closed it off temporarily so that you will not be disturbed," Adi answers, her tone rich and regal. Obi-Wan raises an eyebrow at the choice of location. The Room of a Thousand Fountains was a Jedi favorite. Many would argue that the large garden was the heart of the Temple itself. To close it off seemed unconscionable, almost blasphemous.

"She specifically requested it," Adi says answering his unspoken question. "Her exact words were 'Kenobi must tend his garden else the fire blossoms will suffer in ignominy.'"

"You call that a "specific" request?" he asks.

"A joke it was. Get it most did not," Yoda says with a slight "hrrumph." The Tholothian master shrugs lightly.

"Well, I suppose I should be on my way then," Obi-Wan says to signal his imminent departure. He is about to increase his pace and pull away from the perambulating Councilors when a gimer stick suddenly blocks his path nearly tripping him.

"Stay a moment, you will. Something to say, I have."

"Yes, Master Yoda?" Obi-Wan asks as the three stop in the middle of a junction between several main corridors. He kneels down so he is at eye level with the Grand Master. Yoda leans heavily on his cane, his eyes closed, his ears twitching faintly. The two masters wait patiently until the green lids lift revealing a pair of golden gimlet eyes. The ancient master lets out a heavy sigh as he looks to Obi-Wan with a mildly sorrowful expression, deep worry etched into the folds of his wrinkled skin.