[fic] part three

[star_chase]

title: The Fifth Trial
rating: PG
fandom: Super Junior
pairing: Zhou Mi/Kyuhyun
summary: The life of a Jedi is never a simple one and Zhou Mi, alongside his unruly, new apprentice, must learn how to handle all the situations this life can throw at them. Even the unexpected ones.



As they stumbled together from the mouth of the base, there was a sharp tingling down Kui Xian's spine, and there was no time to explain, only to shout out a hurried, "Duck!" and send both himself and Zhou Mi crashing to the ground. Above them, flying low over the tops of the trees, was The Eastern Sea, laser bolts firing at the topside entrance to the hidden base. Just seconds after their escape, all evidence of the entrance vanished in an explosion of light and dirt, the sound of it flooding the otherwise peaceful clearing. Smoke plumed from the destroyed entrance, the only thing now that signalled where it had been.

Zhou Mi didn't realise that his ears were ringing from the sound of the explosion, until he heard voices talking through the incessant buzz.

"We're fine, Donghae." Kui Xian was speaking into his comlink. "Thanks for that."

"No problem," returned the voice, not one Zhou Mi knew. "We'll meet you back in the clearing we landed in."

"We'll be there soon," said Kui Xian, before closing the comlink. He turned to Zhou Mi then, concern filling his face. "Are you okay, Zhou Mi?"

With the ringing in his ears slowly beginning to fade, and the rest of his head no longer feeling like a suddenly out of orbit planet, Zhou Mi decided it was safe to try and get to his feet again. He was a little unsteady, and Kui Xian reached out to take hold of his arm, helping him up.

"I'm fine," Zhou Mi assured, offering a weak smile. Kui Xian still had hold of his arm. "Kui Xian, I'm okay," he said again. The steady pressure of Kui Xian's hands left, and Zhou Mi almost felt regret.

Kui Xian looked him over, as if trying to judge Zhou Mi's state for himself, and he gave his former Padawan another smile, trying to assuage the concern he could feel radiating from him.

He didn't know if it worked or not, but Kui Xian seemed to let it go for now. With a nod he said, "That blast won't have destroyed the entire base, and they'll have more exits than just the one if they're any kind of decent pirate. Let's not wait to find out where those exits are." His voice was tight, grim, and Zhou Mi felt his own flash of concern for him.

Kui Xian was right though, and Zhou Mi nodded in agreement. "Let's go meet up with your new friends, then."

They started to make their way from the remains of the demolished pirate base, Kui Xian leading the way across the clearing and through the forest. It was a little trickier once they were though, the terrain more uneven now, as opposed to the smoothed ground of the clearing. Whilst the trees weren't packed thick and close together, making their way through the brush wasn't quite as simple as it should have been. It was a messy forest, and Zhou Mi's ankle was beginning to ache with the effort.

"Really, Master, you're lucky that I had the time to come and save your behind, yet again." Kui Xian's tone was dry, and the familiar sound of it felt good to Zhou Mi, after weeks of not hearing it. "What would you have done if I'd happened to be busy?"

Zhou Mi managed a laugh. He'd missed this easy, dry, humour of Kui Xian's. Even if it was a little boastful most of the time. "I actually had a plan in the making," he assured.

Kui Xian turned and shot him a smile of his own. "Right, I'm sure."

"Shut up. It's true. I had everything under control. Kind of."

Zhou Mi glared at Kui Xian when he snorted in disbelief.

"Shut up," he said again.

Their walking continued, Kui Xian steadily leading them further through the forest. Zhou Mi hoped that this Donghae and his ship wasn't too much further away though, he just wanted to get off of this Kessel-cursed moon and get back home.

Eventually, after spending enough time thinking on it, Zhou Mi voiced the questions he'd been meaning to ask. "What made you come looking for me?" He glanced over at Kui Xian, watching him step easily over a protruding tree root without even looking. "That ship isn't one of the Temple starfighters. The Council didn't send you, did they?"

There was a tightness in Kui Xian's jaw. "They don't know that I came," he admitted. He looked over, meeting Zhou Mi's gaze, just for a moment. "Well, they'll know by now that I left, and they'll have guessed that it was to find you."

A feeling of weary dejection washed over Zhou Mi, and he groaned. "I guess it'll be my turn to save your behind then. From the Council, when we get back to Coruscant." It felt like years ago all over again, Kui Xian having done something reckless, and Zhou Mi having to deal with the consequences, and then try and explain to Kui Xian just why whatever he had done was not a good thing to do.

"Well, you were in trouble. So they can't get too angry."

"Save the defence for the Council," Zhou Mi advised. In a lighter tone, he added, "Right now, I'm just glad to be out of there." Kui Xian didn't turn, but Zhou Mi did see the tension leave his face. That was good enough.

Eventually, the trees began to thin, but the ground remained uneven, and it was enough to send Zhou Mi's ankle into a throbbing mass of pain when his foot caught on a dip in the dirt. He hissed a curse between grit teeth, and tried to summon enough focus to use a Jedi trick to ease the pain. Kui Xian's hand on his shoulder was enough to break the focus.

"You're hurt," he said simply, kneeling in front of Zhou Mi to take a look at his ankle. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"It's just a twisted ankle. It's not too bad, I managed to heal it a little while I was locked up."

"Not very well," Kui Xian commented dryly.

"I'm not a healer."

He glanced up at Zhou Mi. "Obviously not." Fingers moved, pressing through the dark leather of Zhou Mi's boot, at the ankle beneath. Zhou Mi sucked in another sharp breath. "Sit down," Kui Xian ordered. "I'll see if I can do any better."

"Being the professional healer that you are." It was as dry as Kui Xian's previous comment, but even as he said it Zhou Mi began lowering himself to the ground, knowing that it was best just to let Kui Xian try whatever he thought he could do.

With an almost surprising amount of care, Kui Xian slowly pulled Zhou Mi's boot off, working it gently over his ankle. It looked swollen, but not too badly. It definitely wasn't more than twisted. Kui Xian's fingers probed with the same level of care, and there was a look of concern etched onto his face that Zhou Mi couldn't ignore.

Zhou Mi cleared his throat. "It really doesn't hurt very much," he said. "It's certainly not going to leave me incapacitated and unable to make it back to your new friends."

"Be quiet." Kui Xian laid his hand over the swollen ankle, his eyes falling shut. "I'm trying to concentrate."

He could feel Kui Xian reaching out to the Force, and Zhou Mi frowned, wondering what the other was doing, until he began to feel a slight tingling around the ache. Light and energy, concern and care, all focused into that one touch, and slowly, most of the ache began to ease away under the wash of energy.

"It's not much," Kui Xian spoke up after a few moments, "I was never very good at healing tricks."

Good enough to have surprised Zhou Mi. "It feels much better now. Thanks."

The press of Kui Xian's hand hadn't moved. His eyes opened again, and Zhou Mi was left feeling suddenly, terribly, aware of how close they were sitting. How close those dark, intense eyes were, staring straight back into his own.

"You're welcome." Kui Xian's voice came, quiet, low. Something about it sounded a little different.

Something about all of it felt a little different. The breath caught in Zhou Mi's throat. In that single, simple touch, in the space between heartbeats, and with that one look, something seemed to have shifted, changed. Something important. Something that had Zhou Mi's heart start to pick up speed. Kui Xian's hand was still firm and warm against his ankle, his face still close. Seeming to come closer. There was a sudden, almost crazy, thought that Kui Xian was going to kiss him. His heart thumped harder inside his chest. Was the feeling coming from him, or from Kui Xian? Was it coming from the both of them?

Abruptly, afraid of what was happening, Zhou Mi dropped his gaze, pulling his foot away from Kui Xian's hand. He tugged his boot back on, and stood up. Ignoring the silly pounding of his heart, and the almost wild thoughts trying to fly through his head, Zhou Mi instead focused on his ankle, standing on it to test how well it would hold up. Resolutely, he avoided looking at Kui Xian.

What had he been thinking? It had been a stupid, crazy, thought. It was days of being holed up in that pokey prison, lack of proper food and sleep, and the ache from his ankle all converging together. There was no accounting for what his tired mind might make up. At least, this was what Zhou Mi insisted to himself, because it couldn't be anything else. It couldn't.

"Alright, now if you're done playing healer, we should probably be on our way." He glanced over at Kui Xian, but didn't meet his eyes. Couldn't. Even so, Zhou Mi could feel a similar whirl of emotions coming from his former apprentice. That frightened him even more, and he tried to clamp down on his senses. "We've got a Council waiting for our return."

He followed alongside as Kui Xian began to pick out their way towards the clearing once again. And all the while, in the back of his mind, Zhou Mi was left with a faintly disturbing thought; he had wanted Kui Xian to kiss him.

The flight home was thankfully uneventful. Kui Xian had had time to, somewhat reluctantly, fill Zhou Mi in on what he'd actually done to get him out of there, and Zhou Mi had in turn time to share everything he had found out, and what had actually happened to him. After hearing it, Kui Xian was just quietly relieved that he'd gotten Zhou Mi out of that situation; the Red Sun pirates, as they were called, appeared to have been a lot more trouble than even the Council had expected. He was thankful to be able to take Zhou Mi home uninjured. If he'd gotten there any later...

They were settled in the main lounge, sitting comfortably next to each other around a hologame table. They'd been playing dejarik for sometime, but Kui Xian was beginning to tire of the game; Zhou Mi had consistently won every single game.

There was a nudge against his side, and Kui Xian turned to see Zhou Mi smiling at him.

"Don't sulk. You can't be good at everything," he teased.

Kui Xian gave his former Master a look. "I'm not sulking."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Zhou Mi said, unabashed, "what would you prefer to call it? Brooding?"

A rather sharp elbow connected quite solidly with Zhou Mi's side, eliciting a small yelp from the Jedi Master. Kui Xian allowed himself a slight smile.

"Where's the respect?" Zhou Mi sounded as woeful as he looked, rubbing a hand over his side.

Kui Xian, looking equally unabashed as the other had moments ago said, with no sincerity whatsoever, "I'm sorry, Master."

"Years of patience and devotion, and this is what I get?"

"A daring rescue from a dangerous group of pirates, and this is what I get?" Kui Xian retorted, dryly. He was finding it a little difficult not to smile though, and when he looked over at Zhou Mi he saw that his former Master had already lost that very same battle.

Donghae strode into the room in that moment, unknowingly breaking the moment between them. "We'll be landing on Coruscant in just under twenty-four hours," he informed them cheerfully, taking a seat himself across from them both.

"I can't thank you enough for your help," Zhou Mi said, offering Donghae a grateful smile. "I don't want to think what Kui Xian might have done without it." He shot Kui Xian a look, a look that seemed to know just what kind of ridiculous trouble and lengths he might have gone to.

Donghae waved a hand dismissively at Zhou Mi. "It wasn't much. As crazy as it was, I had a feeling Kui Xian was going to pull it all off." He turned his attention to Kui Xian then, the expression on the pilot's face turning unusually serious for him. "You're a Jedi too, aren't you?"

Whilst he'd been more than helpful to Kui Xian, and Zhou Mi once they'd rescued him, Kui Xian didn't have Donghae pegged as being particularly perceptive. Especially not when he overheard conversations between Donghae and Eunhyuk that seemed to consist of the best places to keep a pet bantha, or the weirdest concotions of intergalactic drinks that they could think up.

And here he was, seeming to know that Kui Xian was a Jedi, even after he'd been very careful to keep that information hidden.

Despite himself, the surprise showed on his face. He covered it quickly with a dismissive sounding, "What makes you think that?"

Spreading his hands, Donghae grinned at him. "Besides all the obvious clues?" He asked. Leaning forward in his seat he continued, "I've been around a few Jedi to notice the signs. You know things without any logical explanation for it. You went into that pirate base without even a blaster on you, and you actually managed to get your friend out of there. Only a Jedi could manage all that." Donghae sat back with a grin, having now surprised both Kui Xian and Zhou Mi. "Oh, and I also saw that little Jedi trick you did back on Coruscant, to make you win the bet."

That really did surprise Kui Xian, and he didn't even bother to attempt to hide it. He frowned, "If you knew I did that, then why did you still go along with it?"

Donghae shrugged his shoulders, running one hand back through his unruly hair. "I guess you could say I wanted a bit of an adventure."

The captain of The Eastern Sea was turning out to be a different person than Kui Xian had first assumed him to be, that was for sure. And probably exactly the person he'd needed on his side to successfully get Zhou Mi back. Kui Xian suspected that this was one of the many subtle ways in which the Force worked, carefully nudging people into a certain position, influencing events. If he'd found another pilot and another ship, this might not have happened. Zhou Mi might not be here beside him. Kui Xian might not have been here, either. There were so many small things that could have been only a little different, and none of this would have been what it was.

It left Kui Xian feeling incredibly grateful, that he could understand the Force and use it. That he was a Jedi Knight.

Still smiling, Donghae pushed himself up, making a slight noise as he stretched his arms above his head; he'd spent a long time in the cockpit with Eunhyuk, making sure that everything was going smoothly. Kui Xian felt another surge of gratitude, for both of them.

"Your friend's tired. You should probably both get some rest, there's plenty of time before we arrive."

At Donghae's words, Kui Xian looked over at Zhou Mi, surprised to see that he had slumped down in his seat, his eyes having fallen shut, strands of black hair fallen across his face as he dozed peacefully. There was another surge of warmth within him, something entirely different than the gratitude he'd been feeling a moment ago. Something deeper.

"Ah, your Ghhhk can take his Ng'ok, right there." Donghae pointed at the holomonsters on the dejarik board, and when he looked, Kui Xian could see the move; it was almost painfully obvious, why hadn't he seen it himself?

"Get some rest," Donghae said again, shooting Kui Xian another smile, before leaving.

With one hand, Kui Xian reached over and switched the abandoned dejarik game off, not caring anymore if he won or lost. And then he turned his attention back to Zhou Mi, looking over the peacefully sleeping form of his Master. That feeling was there again, welling up inside of him, swelling within his throat. He'd felt it back on the moon, in that forest with Zhou Mi. Had felt it, when Zhou Mi had looked at him in a way he'd never looked at Kui Xian before. Something had clearly shifted inside of him, shifted into a place he'd never imagined even existed. Shifted in a way that it shouldn't have, not for a Jedi.

And he'd felt that shift within Zhou Mi too, he was sure of it. It had been a long time since he'd seen Zhou Mi as simply his Master; over time, during missions and training and free time, he'd become a close friend, too. And then having Zhou Mi leave on his own, sensing his need for help, disobeying orders to go and find him for himself, Kui Xian realised had made something else change in the way he viewed Zhou Mi, too.

It was frightening to consider. Worrying. But looking over at Zhou Mi, Kui Xian tried to push the fear away, and fill himself only with warmth and peace. A Jedi was not supposed to feel fear.

Carefully, almost as if he was too afraid to do it, Kui Xian reached out, taking one of Zhou Mi's hands between his own. He held it carefully, cautiously, between them, and settled himself for the remainder of the flight, and for whatever was to come after.

Zhou Mi and Kui Xian stood together in the center of the Jedi Council room, the members of the Council seated in a circle around them. Beyond the windows the sun was just beginning its slow descent from the sky, staining the view with the first blushes of pink. Zhou Mi always thought that Coruscant looked most beautiful during this time, the colours of the dying sun spread across the sky, behind the cityscape. But now was not really the time to enjoy the view, and with an effort he pulled his gaze away, letting it settle instead on the Council members seated in front of him.

They had both already explained in depth to the Council exactly what had happened, Zhou Mi telling about his plan to get captured, his intended message back to the Temple, how his ship, and droid, had been in the end destroyed, and about the depth of the Red Sun gang's plan. And Kui Xian had - a little less diplomatically than Zhou Mi would have liked, but that was one lesson his former apprentice had never really learnt well - told about his sense that Zhou Mi was in trouble, how he had managed to make it out to the system, and helped get Zhou Mi from the pirate's base.

And now the Council was thinking everything over, before coming to some kind of conclusion.

Directly in front of him was Master Geng, and Zhou Mi could feel the weight of his considering case fall upon himself. It made him feel like he was the one at fault here. Or like a mischievous youngling about to be reprimanded. And then Master Geng's focus shifted to Kui Xian, and Zhou Mi could sense a similar feeling coming from him, mingled with that familiar stubborn determination that, reprimand or not, Kui Xian thought he had done right. He was sure that Master Geng especially sensed this feeling, too.

"And this brings us to a difficult decision," Master Geng said eventually, pausing to look around at the rest of the Council members, before bringing his attention back to the two standing in the middle. "Do we congratulate, for the successful attempt at a brave, and dangerous, rescue mission? Or do we punish, for the breaking of every rule possible whilst carrying out this attempt?" His questioning gaze fell heavily on Kui Xian, and Zhou Mi was silently thankful that it wasn't focused on himself.

Seated on Geng's right-hand side, Master Shin spoke up, "The question here is, do the ends justify the means? And should they justify the means? Jedi are supposed to be above such things."

The other members of the Council nodded their agreement with this. Perhaps it was a part of being a member of the Council, or perhaps they had already discussed this before Zhou Mi and Kui Xian's arrival, but when Master Geng next spoke, it seemed to Zhou Mi to carry the weight of a point they had all agreed on.

"We will admit, in this particular case, that the Council should have put more stock in your case when you came to tell us, Jedi Kui Xian. We were not aware that you were truly sensing your former Master's need for aid. But," Geng paused, still holding Kui Xian's gaze, and despite his naturally softspoken voice, his words were firm and sure, "we are Jedi, first and foremost, and as Master Shin has reminded us, for a Jedi the means are equally as important as the ends they bring us to. And although what you did was brave, and we are grateful to have Master Zhou Mi back with us, it does not void your running off without permission to do so."

Zhou Mi glanced at Kui Xian from the corner of his eye, but as usual, nothing on Kui Xian's face gave away his feelings. Those, Zhou Mi could sense. Confliction. Confusion. And a quiet indignation.

"Because of this, the Council will not officially recognise what it is you did. We will not congratulate you, and it will not be noted. And, because of this, neither will the Council reprimand or punish you, Jedi Kui Xian." The weight of both his words and his gaze seemed to drop then, and it was a softer look in his eyes as he looked at Kui Xian now. "Privately though, I want to tell you that you are a rather impressive Jedi Knight, one the Council are glad to have. With a little more patience, and a few more years behind you, I'm sure we will have several chances to congratulate you for your deeds."

His attention shifted to Zhou Mi then, "Thank you for the information you brought us, Zhou Mi. The Council will discuss how next to handle the situation. And let me just say," here, Master Geng actually did offer a slight smile, "we're glad to have you safely back with us."

It was obviously the end to the meeting, and Zhou Mi and Kui Xian bowed to the Council members, and left the room. It was quiet as they made their way from the spire where the Council took place, and it wasn't until they were some way away, turning the corner into the meditative walkway, a cavernous hall spanning the perimeter of the Temple, when Kui Xian finally spoke up.

"What was that all about?" He asked, pulling to a stop. "What is that even supposed to mean? They won't congratulate me, but they won't punish me? I saved your life! Who knows what those pirates might have done to you if you'd been kept there any longer?"

Feeling the surge of emotions within Kui Xian, Zhou Mi took hold of his arm, quickly directing him over towards one of the large, arching windows, alcoved between the giant pillars that held up the vaulted ceiling, far above them.

"That was a good result," Zhou Mi told him, voice quiet. "A better one than I'd hoped or expected. You're reckless, Kui Xian, and you don't always take well to orders. The Council is just trying to tell you this. So that you learn, and next time you enter into a daring mission to save another Jedi, you won't sneak out behind their back and fix a bet with smugglers to do so."

"They weren't smugglers."

Zhou Mi gave him a doubtful look.

Kui Xian looked away. "Well, they weren't at the time."

With a quiet laugh, Zhou Mi dropped a hand to Kui Xian's shoulder. "The point is, they see the potential in you, and they want to be able to recognise it. Just don't give them any reason not to, next time."

"Next time?" Kui Xian raised an eyebrow at him, his usual humour returning to him now. "Are you planning on getting captured by pirates again?"

"Not any time soon," Zhou Mi assured him with a laugh. He could feel that the emotions had eased within Kui Xian, that he'd reassured him of his place. It seemed that even now, when Kui Xian was a Jedi Knight in his own right, there were still things Zhou Mi could help him with, teach him.

His hand left Kui Xian's shoulder and, slowly, the smile faded from Zhou Mi's face. That wasn't all he could sense, of Kui Xian's feelings right now. And it brought back to mind that moment in the forest. That single wild, insane, thought that had flickered through his mind. Zhou Mi turned, facing the window, his back to Kui Xian as he stared beyond the transparisteel. Fingers of red were splashed across the slowly darkening sky now, as the sun began to die behind the city of Coruscant. Lights were already blinked on in the windows of all the buildings Zhou Mi could see, little stars of light and life, all over the planet.

And even then, as hard as he tried to focus his attention on the stunning view, all he could think about was Kui Xian behind him. Zhou Mi could feel him, sense his approaching closeness. He swallowed thickly, between the quickening beats of his heart. This wasn't happening. It couldn't happen. It was against the Jedi Code. Against their very way of life. He shouldn't even be able to feel like this. Not Zhou Mi, not the man who had given everything of himself to the Jedi Order since infancy.

He felt the touch of a hand against his arm. He pulled in a breath, tensing. But he didn't turn.

"About what happened, out in Javin," Kui Xian began.

Zhou Mi cut him off, "Beyond getting me off of that rock?" He tried to joke, attempted to inject that usual light-hearted, playful humour that was so often in his voice when he spoke to Kui Xian. It sounded horribly weak even to Zhou Mi's own ears. "What other incredible feat did the amazing Kui Xian pull, then?"

And for once there was no answering playfulness in Kui Xian's voice. All the humour, the dry sarcasm, was gone. "Don't joke, Zhou Mi. Not when I'm not."

Zhou Mi turned, glanced at Kui Xian over his shoulder. He saw the tension in Kui Xian's jaw, the seriousness in his eyes. He looked away.

"You feel it too," Kui Xian continued, his voice quiet. "I know you do. You can't fool me, Zhou Mi. I know you, remember?"

Pulling his arm away, Zhou Mi turned from the window to face Kui Xian. "We can't. We cannot. It's against the code. Against everything we've been taught. I will not go against it, Kui Xian."

Kui Xian reached out, taking firm hold of Zhou Mi's arms, and tugged him closer into the shadow cast off from the pillar behind them. Little real concealment, in a temple full of Jedi.

"Zhou Mi..."

He couldn't quite tear his eyes from Kui Xian's, and the look in that gaze, heavy and heated and full of things that frightened Zhou Mi, had the beats of his heart quickening, his face flushing with the additional heat of his racing blood. He wanted to say something, anything, wanted to look away and pull free from Kui Xian's grip and turn away. Wanted to leave this behind, and forget it had ever happened. Wanted to forget the way his heart almost leapt into his throat, when one of Kui Xian's hands slid down his arm, his fingers slipping easily between Zhou Mi's.

"I can't," Kui Xian shook his head, and Zhou Mi could sense every feeling that was within himself, echoed in Kui Xian. The words faded from his lips, and then, to the surprise of both of them, Kui Xian was leaning forward and pressing his mouth to Zhou Mi's, pulling him closer into the shadows and kissing him.

It was nothing like Zhou Mi would have thought. If he'd thought about such things. Kui Xian's mouth was warm, his lips a little wet, and it was a little awkward, and entirely weird, but all the same, it sent a burning rush throughout his entire body. He didn't even realise as he leaned in, didn't realise as he kissed back, didn't realise as he gripped one of Kui Xian's forearms tightly.

It was too much. There was an almost painful constriction within Zhou Mi's chest, and with a gasp he pulled away, dropping Kui Xian's arm. He took a step back, and it wasn't far enough. He took two more. His heart was still racing, and his face felt flushed and too hot. And Zhou Mi didn't know what he was supposed to do, or how he was supposed to feel. This was not a lesson his own Master had ever taught him. Attachment was forbidden, love was forbidden, it was in the Jedi Code and that was that.

Zhou Mi didn't know what to do.

And so all he could do was turn and walk away. As far away as he could get. And yet it wasn't far enough, when everything he wanted to walk away from was all right inside of himself.

Geng was in his quarters, the blinds closed to block the bright light of day so that he could truly immerse himself in thought and the Force. He'd been able to sense the difference in Kui Xian. He was still so young, so new a full Jedi Knight, and sometimes he was still terribly easy to sense. Geng didn't think that it was so obvious to anyone else, however. It was because he was looking for it. Because he had foreseen it. And because he had tried to stop it from happening.

And yet his efforts hadn't worked. He'd sent Zhou Mi specifically on that mission because it had required only one Jedi to carry it out. To keep him and Kui Xian apart, and to send Kui Xian on some assignment himself in the meantime. It had all gone in the opposite direction. Something that Geng had not been able to foresee. Kui Xian and Zhou Mi's sense of each other had been closer than he'd perhaps realised. Of course, the connection between any Jedi who were close would be the same, it had been like that between himself and his own Master, and between Geng and his own Padawans. It was between him and those other Master's he counted as his close friends. It wasn't unusual.

It was this, this unremarkable closeness between master and apprentice, which had been his plans undoing. Kui Xian had sensed something gone wrong, and gone immediately to Zhou Mi's aid, and in turn, brought the both of them closer, in a way that they shouldn't have been.

Perhaps it was because Kui Xian hadn't been brought up in the Temple from infancy. Though he may not have had any lasting attachments of his own to stop him from joining the Jedi Order, still he knew what it was. Were Jedi who had been trained unconventially more inclined to falling through this forbidden hole? Geng pondered the question, but he could give no answer. Kui Xian wouldn't be the first, and nor would he, Geng knew, be the last. It wasn't unheard of, even among the Jedi raised in the right way, to stumble into this particular mistake. Even certain members of the Council had gone through this same difficulty. It wasn't a new problem.

But it was a problem that Geng didn't like to see happening, and not to those Jedi he looked on in particular. Zhou Mi was a strong, capable, and wise Jedi, who fully deserved the rank of Master that he'd received, and there was such potential for the same in Kui Xian. He didn't want them to go through this. He didn't want to lose either of them.

And now there was nothing he could do. His efforts had been in vain. Often, the Force worked in mysterious ways, and Geng had to believe that this was one of them. There was nothing else for it. All he could do was watch. And hope that the Force showed them both the right way.

And hope that the right way for them was to end this before it could truly begin.

In the space between heartbeats everything had changed. Before, it had been a difference unvoiced, an un-uttered secret. Now, the secret had been whispered, and there was no undoing it. That kiss they had shared had been the words they couldn't - didn't want to - say. There was no turning back from it.

Kui Xian didn't want to turn back.

Until that moment, he hadn't been fully aware, but looking back on it all afterwards he could see that yes, there'd always been something there. At least for him. It had sat there for so long inside of himself, quiet and secret and dormant, that it had felt like just a natural part of himself. Until that difference had begun to echo inside Zhou Mi also, and then, by then, it was too difficult to ignore. Kui Xian had felt it growing, quietly but steadily, even as he'd been flying with Donghae and Eunhyuk out to Javin to rescue Zhou Mi. Helping his former Master escape, seeing him safe, had had it shift within him, shift into plain sight.

Everything had changed. It had only been a single standard month since their return to the Temple, since that first kiss. More had happened since.

They were careful, of course, especially to conceal their feelings. And if there was one thing a Jedi learnt through all the years of constant training, it was how to control emotions. And whilst neither of them had any offworld assignments, they were taking the time that they could. Stealing it whenever and however they could, always mindful of just how easy it could be to get caught out.

It hadn't happened right away. Zhou Mi had walked away from him, from what Kui Xian had tried to show him. He'd had to show Zhou Mi, more than once, before he'd given in. It wasn't something they could outrun, and Zhou Mi had finally seemed to realise this, in the dark determination of Kui Xian's eyes, between warm searching lips and racing heartbeats and fingers threaded together. It would be like trying to run away from the rising sun, and it only took the revolution of a planet for the sun to catch up again.

They couldn't run forever. So they gave in, and stole their moments between the constant training a Jedi always went through, in whatever time they had available.

This time they were stealing it together in one of the Temple's gardens. The Temple contained many of these gardens, almost one on every other level of the building. Still, they were one of Kui Xian's favourite places to be. Peaceful and serene, with only the sound of steadily flowing water, the quiet whisper of beating butterflies wings, and the splash from fish of all different kinds within the pools of water. Every garden was a little different, and the one Kui Xian had led Zhou Mi too specialised in colours. The wings of the butterfies were like wild splashes of paint, in an uncountable number of patterns. The flowers and the plants were blossoming explosions of colour, vivid and vibrant, oranges and blues and purples, and all mixes inbetween. It was alive, with colour and life and with the Force. Kui Xian could feel the flow of it, with every whisper of wings, with every pulse of flowing water. He could feel it humming within the very air, between every living thing within the garden.

And he could feel it flowing between Zhou Mi and himself, moving between them, around them. The Force just as much surrounded them as it did every other living thing. It filled them with its light and its life and its energy.

Yet nothing filled him quite as much now as the feelings that flooded through him, when Zhou Mi took his hand and pulled him close.

Zhou Mi's fingers were warm between his own, the smile soft on his face, and Kui Xian couldn't understand why this was so forbidden. Attachment. Passion. Love. If one was careful - and Jedi were trained to be careful, in control of their feelings - then why was it so wrong? Attachment did not always have to lead to jealousy and greed, fear and hatred. It was not a direct path to the dark side of the Force, but only a possible one. And there were many possible routes to that dark place. But this, this feeling that filled him, it was warm and bright and vibrant, like the splash of an exotic purple flower behind Zhou Mi.

"Kui Xian," Zhou Mi whispered, pulling Kui Xian close, the warmth of his breath rushing against the bare skin of Kui Xian's neck. He shivered, and wound an arm around Zhou Mi. Felt their hearts racing in synchronicity between them. Lips were hot against Kui Xian's skin. He let out a quiet exhale of air, and felt the familiar constriction in his chest.

How Zhou Mi had fallen. He had felt it, every inching step he'd been afraid to take towards this happening. Had seen him stumble, just in front of Kui Xian, unsure in a way that he had never seen his former Master be before. Zhou Mi always knew what to do, how to feel. But in this, Kui Xian had had to catch him, catch him and pull him close. And Zhou Mi had let him. It seemed useless to do anything but give in to it.

Kui Xian slid a hand behind Zhou Mi's neck, fingers sliding smoothly against too warm skin. He could feel the shiver that prickled along Zhou Mi's skin, beneath the press of his fingertips, and the breath caught in Kui Xian's throat. Threading his fingers through dark strands of hair, he tugged Zhou Mi's face up to his own, and leaned in for a kiss. It was easier than the first time. Their mouths slid together with as much ease as anything else they did together. It was like sparring together, or teasing each other, or knowing when Zhou Mi was in trouble. It just was.

His very heart seemed to beat for this man, thumping out the syllables of Zhou Mi's name with every beat. Now that it had happened, Kui Xian couldn't imagine anything else. Couldn't imagine not having Zhou Mi's mouth hot and open against his own, his fingers in Zhou Mi's hair, the arms around his waist and the hands splayed against his back.

"Kui Xian," Zhou Mi spoke again, his voice a whisper, and Kui Xian could see the flush of heat flooding his cheeks. "Kui Xian, I--"

He interrupted, his own voice quiet as he looked up into Zhou Mi's face. "Let me teach you something, Master," and there was a hint of mischief in his voice, as there almost always was, "now is not the time for talking. Be quiet."

And there, hidden between the brilliant colours and life of the flora around them, pulling Zhou Mi's face back down to his own, they stole their moment together.

All too soon their time together was stolen away again. Zhou Mi seemed to sense it first, Kui Xian felt him stiffen in his hold, tense against him. Zhou Mi pulled away, his eyes widening in panic, and then Kui Xian felt it, too. Someone approaching them.

Zhou Mi disentangled himself from Kui Xian, pushing himself up from the soft grass, and made to stride off through the garden. He turned back a moment later though, when Kui Xian reached out for him, taking hold of Zhou Mi's hand.

"I have to go," he whispered urgently, "whoever it is, they're looking for me. Go somewhere else. I'll see you later." Kui Xian's fingers remained tight around Zhou Mi's, and he added a strained, "I have to go."

Zhou Mi pulled away in the same moment that Kui Xian let go, and without another look at him, rushed off through the garden to meet whoever it was that was searching him out. Kui Xian could sense Zhou Mi putting his feelings back together, literally pushing all thoughts of Kui Xian aside and attempting to resume his usual nature.

Standing there, alone, Kui Xian felt as if he was being pushed aside. Pushed aside and hidden deep, deep down.

There was a constricting tightness within his chest, making it difficult to breathe.

Then Kui Xian turned, exiting the garden at the opposite end, away from Zhou Mi. He didn't want it to be too difficult to breathe.

It was Shiwon who was looking for him. Shiwon, waiting for Zhou Mi just beyond the entrance into the garden. Shiwon, his closest friend.

With some effort - more effort than he should have needed for such a simple thing - Zhou Mi pushed his feelings aside, trying to fall back into the usual calm that a Jedi should feel. He'd always been good at that, slipping back into peaceful serenity, letting the flow of the Force calm his mind. Now, it was suddenly difficult.

"Shiwon!" he exclaimed, and the sound of surprise was genuine. "I thought you were still on Alderaan?"

The question went ignored. And upon a closer look at Shiwon's face, Zhou Mi was suddenly awashed with a feeling of unease.

"What do you think you're doing?" Shiwon spoke low, hushed, clearly not wanting to be overheard, but his words were firm.

Zhou Mi stiffened, but tried to appear as if he had no idea what Shiwon was talking about. He couldn't, he couldn't know. "Taking a walk through the gardens. Why, is that not allowed anymore?" He attempted to sound light, airy, but it went right past Shiwon.

A hand wound around Zhou Mi's arm, and Shiwon pulled him away, stopping just a little further up the hallway. There was no one else around, and for that at least Zhou Mi was grateful. As grateful as he could be, when the blood had begun to echo in his ears.

"Don't think that you can fool me, Zhou Mi. I know you, remember? I've known you since we were infants. So again: what do you think you're doing?"

Shiwon's hand was still around Zhou Mi's arm, and he pulled himself free from the hold. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes, you do!" The sudden loudness of Shiwon's voice seemed to surprise them both, and he lowered it quickly, but his words didn't lose any of their heat. "Yes, you do. You're going to see him, aren't you? Kui Xian?"

"Actually, I was on my way to the archives."

Zhou Mi had never been a particularly gifted liar, and even now the ability didn't suddenly want to come to him. He knew the words sounded false to Shiwon's ears, as well as his own. But he kept his face firm, willing himself to believe the words.

He convinced neither of them.

"Zhou Mi, what are you doing?" Shiwon's hands came up to rest on his shoulders, and all the fire and heat of a moment ago seemed to have fizzled out. "I know there's something going on. You might think you're good at it, but I know you, I know there's something going on." He couldn't meet Shiwon's gaze, but it didn't seem to matter, Shiwon continued all the same. "Are you crazy? You could get turned out of the Order! Both of you could. Is that what you want?"

He was only echoing the thoughts that had already circled Zhou Mi's mind several thousand times. It was difficult enough hearing it from himself, he didn't want to hear it from Shiwon, either. Couldn't.

He couldn't listen to this either, couldn't stand here and hear Shiwon say these things, ask him the questions he would inevitably want to ask. Zhou Mi pulled away, side-stepping out from under Shiwon's hands. "You don't know what you're talking about." Zhou Mi slipped into the protective ease of formality, his voice stiff and without warmth as he spoke again, as if he wasn't talking to a friend at all. "I'm glad you're back, Shiwon, it's nice to see you again. Now if you excuse me, I'm supposed to be going to the archives."

It wasn't quite that simple, though, and it never had been with Shiwon, his peer, his rival, his friend. "Zhou Mi," he said, and the sound of his voice was enough to stop Zhou Mi mid turn. It wasn't anger, and it wasn't hostility. There was a worn edge of concern in Shiwon's voice, something Zhou Mi heard from him very, very rarely. "If you don't put an end to this, you know I'll have to inform Master Geng."

It wasn't a threat. And Zhou Mi couldn't be angry at Shiwon. A Jedi did not feel anger. A Jedi was supposed to feel only calm, calm and the constant flow of the Force. There was no emotion.

He looked at Shiwon, silent for the space of a few heartbeats, before turning and walking away. There was no emotion, and yet it was all Zhou Mi could feel, as he strode quickly through the Temple hallways.

Kui Xian found Zhou Mi in his quarters not long after. A Jedi Master's quarters were larger than the rooms Knights and Padawans occupied, but still just as spartan. A Jedi's room contained only what was essential, a place to sleep, a place to meditate, and a place to sit and do whatever else needed, or wanted, to be done. Zhou Mi was seated, legs crossed lotus style, on one of the tuffet chairs, eyes closed in silent contemplation. He was trying to relax, to calm himself after his encounter with Shiwon.

It was an impossible task the moment Kui Xian stepped into the room.

"What happened?" Were the first words from Kui Xian's lips. Zhou Mi opened his eyes to see Kui Xian sit down on the chair opposite him. "You're upset, what happened?"

Zhou Mi looked at him, his jaw tight, his throat thick with the feelings swirling through him. Every time he looked at Kui Xian he felt torn inside. Torn between what he wanted, what he wanted and what he'd given in to, and what he knew was right. Whenever Kui Xian was near him, it was difficult to think of anything but what he wanted.

"Shiwon knows," he said eventually, holding Kui Xian's gaze. "He knows, and he's going to tell Master Geng."

Abruptly, Kui Xian stood, and in a moment he was kneeling in front of Zhou Mi, a hand reaching out to take hold of his. "No, he won't. Shiwon's your friend."

Shaking his head, Zhou Mi said, "He will, and he should. He's a Jedi, first and foremost. And this," his gaze fell to his lap, their hands resting there, fingers intertwined, "this is wrong." His eyes met Kui Xian's again. "He should tell Geng."

Kui Xian moved, and suddenly his hands were warm, pressed either side of Zhou Mi's face, and for a beat all he wanted to do was sigh and let himself fall into that moment. "I've saved you before, I can save you again." There was just the slightest curve to Kui Xian's mouth, as he looked up into Zhou Mi's face.

With a sigh of surrender, Zhou Mi murmured a quiet, "Why are you so full of yourself?" Despite his words, a hand came to rest atop one of Kui Xian's.

The slight curve began to spread into an almost real smile. "Because I'm incredible Kui Xian, remember?"

There really was something incredible about him, Zhou Mi thought, if Kui Xian could lead him so easily astray.

It took a few days for a plan to formulate, and then it took a further few more days for Kui Xian to decide to go through with it. The moment the decision had actually been made had only been a day ago, locked together in Zhou Mi's quarters, Kui Xian slowly pulling Zhou Mi's clothes off; over tunic, under tunic, working the loose-fitting pants down over his hips, only to discard them all aside, Zhou Mi's light brown clothes mixing with the darker browns of Kui Xian's own discarded clothing in a pile of disregard. And there hadn't been nearly as much time to savour every inch of Zhou Mi, every touch of skin, every racing heartbeat, as Kui Xian would have liked.

Quick, hurried, and with too much thought spent on whoever might be passing nearby. And Kui Xian couldn't stand that, didn't want that. And afterwards, with only a barely-there kiss to end the encounter, he'd made his mind up.

He'd thought to himself before, almost bitterly, that this was the only way. It couldn't be anyway else, because it wasn't supposed to be in the first place. That there was nothing else for them to do, not whilst they were at the Temple.

But with Zhou Mi's thin fingers clutching almost anxiously at Kui Xian's shoulder, seeing the strain in his smile as he'd left his former Master's room, it was obvious what they would have to do. It didn't have to be like this. Kui Xian didn't want it to be like this.

He found Zhou Mi in the training chambers, in one of the small rooms designated for practising lightsaber combat alone, equipped with both a training remote and a hologram projector. Zhou Mi was fighting against the hologram when Kui Xian entered. The figure - opaque as holograms usually were - appeared to be of an ancient Zabrak Sith, defeated centuries ago most likely.

Standing close to the wall, and out of the way of distraction, Kui Xian allowed himself to watch. Despite all the times he, and Shiwon, teased Zhou Mi about his combat skills, Kui Xian could see for himself that this wasn't the case at all. Although his former Master might have leaned towards Force-based skills more than combat skills, he still created a formidable opponent. The glowing green of his blade moved almost faster than the eye could see, the light of it streaking through the room, and Kui Xian watched, entranced, as Zhou Mi moved with ease through at least two of the forms of combat against his hologram opponent. They met, blade for blade, green clashing against red, and yet no matter what move the hologram attempted, Zhou Mi was ready to counter it, with the crash of his lightsaber, or the use of the Force.

Kui Xian lost track of time, watching the motion of Zhou Mi's body and blade, and it wasn't until Zhou Mi Force pushed the hologrammed figure against the opposite wall, and somersaulted through the air, the green blade of his lightsaber coming to rest against the Sith's neck, that it was over. The hologram flickered away, leaving Zhou Mi kneeling above empty space. He turned then, disengaging his lightsaber, and stood up. Kui Xian noticed that he was breathing heavily, and could see the light sheen of sweat on Zhou Mi's face from the exertion.

"You're not so bad," he said lightly, the usual hint of humour underlying his words. And for all that, Kui Xian actually had enormous respect for Zhou Mi. It was he, after all, who had managed to show Kui Xian that the life of a Jedi wasn't all bad.

"Can't you tell, Master, I've been practising?" Zhou Mi joked, walking over towards Kui Xian with an easy smile. There was a towel in one corner, and Zhou Mi bent to pick it up, wiping it over his face. "Did you come to practice too?" He asked after, a little more serious then. He hooked the lightsaber back to its usual place on his belt, the towel still held in his other hand. "That programme I was just running through is good for a challenge, you should give it a try."

Kui Xian shook his head. "No, I was looking for you, actually," he answered. He took a step closer, enjoying the way that just simply being closer to Zhou Mi always made his heart leap inside his chest. He thought, by the look on Zhou Mi's face, that the same happened to him, too. "Are you free for a bit? I want to take you somewhere."

A bemused smile spread across Zhou Mi's face. He had no sense whatsoever of the plan Kui Xian had in mind. "Mm, I guess I could rearrange my busy schedule, just for you."

He gave Zhou Mi a smile, brilliant and wide, the kind of smile Kui Xian gave seldom, and to only those closest to him. "Good. Come on then, get cleaned up, and we'll be on our way."

After changing into a fresh tunic and robe, Kui Xian led Zhou Mi to the Temple's hangar bay where he procured a small airspeeder for them. With little preamble, and little argument from Zhou Mi about Kui Xian driving, they were off, speeding out into the sky and falling easily between other airspeeders in one of the many skylanes. The skies were full of airspeeders, the planet itself holding a huge population of people, and due to Coruscant's rocky surface and the entire planet being one giant city of sprawling skyscrapers kilometers high, all inter-planetary travel took place in the skies.

The skies were teeming, as always, but Kui Xian was good at flying, weaving in between and around other airspeeders, and soon enough they had reached their destination. With a perfect landing that would make most non-Jedi envious, Kui Xian and Zhou Mi climbed out of the speeder. Zhou Mi looked around at their surroundings, gauging where they were, before turning to look back at Kui Xian.

"What are we doing here?"

Kui Xian only smiled at him, gesturing for Zhou Mi to follow him. It was busy here, too, being the middle of the day, but it was easy enough to thread their way through the human traffic, and soon Kui Xian, his fingers wrapped loosely around one of Zhou Mi's wrists, was pulling him into a hangar-bay, and there in front of them was a Corellian class light freighter.

Seeing it, Zhou Mi stopped dead, pulling Kui Xian to a halt beside him. "Kui Xian, what is this?" he asked quietly, as if he wasn't quite sure that this was real. He turned to look at him.

The whole time Kui Xian had been entirely calm, not letting even a tell-tale splash of emotion slip past him, not letting even a thought of his idea escape. But now that they were here, now that freedom and forever was right in front of their eyes, he was overcome with a feverish excitement. He took both of Zhou Mi's hands, gripping them tightly between his own as he turned to face him. There was a light in his eyes and excitement to his voice as he spoke.

"This is us! This is our freedom, Zhou Mi. Our freedom to be whatever we want, whenever we want," he said in a rush of fervour. "A ship that will take us offworld. Anywhere we want, and no one will be able to track us. Or stop us. We'll be on our own, just you and me."

Zhou Mi said nothing. He looked from the waiting ship, back to Kui Xian, and he said nothing. The look on his face didn't match the excitement coursing through Kui Xian's veins, and already he could feel his heart beginning to sink.

He tugged on one of Zhou Mi's hands, eyebrows creasing together into a frown. "What is it? I've taken care of everything, if you're worried about that. Everything, Zhou Mi. It doesn't matter now, if Shiwon goes to the Council about us, or if anyone else knows. Because we'll be gone, where no one can reach us." There were still no words forthcoming, and it diffused the frenzied buzz within him into something closer to anxiety. Releasing Zhou Mi's hands, Kui Xian's came up to cup the other's face in his palm, drawing him close. "Why won't you say something? Isn't this what you want?"

Emotion seemed to pour back into Zhou Mi and finally he moved, like a statue awakened. His fingers curled around Kui Xian's wrists, pulling the hands from his face. "Is this what you want?" He asked, and his voice was steady, the opposite of Kui Xian's.

"Of course it is! I want to be with you."

Letting go of Kui Xian's wrists, Zhou Mi shook his head. There was an expression of trouble on his face, trouble and strain. His gaze never wavered from Kui Xian's, however. "Is it really? You want to run away together? Where would we go, Kui Xian? What would we do?"

He didn't like this. Didn't like the stiff practical reality of Zhou Mi's words. Not when he'd had this all worked out. "Wherever we want! Where do you want to go? Naboo? Corellia? Alderaan? Or we could go to the Outer Rim. Anywhere, Zhou Mi, we can go anywhere." His hands spread out in front of him, gesturing that the galaxy was at their choosing.

"And what? Kui Xian, this is crazy! We can't just run off into the stars together. It's not that simple."

"Yes!" said Kui Xian emphatically. "Yes, it is. We get on the ship, tell the pilot where to go, and we go. It is that simple."

Zhou Mi shook his head. "We can't," he said simply.

Kui Xian stared. He wasn't sure how to feel about this, about Zhou Mi. "I thought you wanted this. I thought you wanted--" me? he wanted to say, but cut himself off before the word could come out. He fell silent instead, jaw clenched.

But Zhou Mi seemed to understand, all the same. Of course he did. He took a step closer, reaching for Kui Xian, and to his credit, Kui Xian didn't pull away. Zhou Mi's hand was firm against his shoulder, and his voice softened as he leaned in. "I do. Force knows how I feel about you. But Kui Xian, I can't do this, I can't make this decision. And neither can you, not really."

Kui Xian had already averted his gaze. He couldn't bear to look into Zhou Mi's face as well as hear those words just then. How could he speak so steadily, so calmly, about this, about them? "But if we don't go..." and the fervour slowly died within him, replaced with dawning realisation, and Kui Xian looked up at Zhou Mi. "If we don't go, then we can't be together."

Biting down on his lower lip, Zhou Mi shook his head. "No, we can't," he said simply, devastatingly.

He sounded calm, collected, steady, the words never wavered and Zhou Mi's voice never shook, but looking up into his eyes, Kui Xian could see the very same thing breaking apart within them, that was breaking apart inside himself. His heart dropped to his knees, as he realised what this meant.

"I know your intentions were good," Zhou Mi continued, and Kui Xian realised with a sudden jolt that his former Master was speaking so softly not because this was difficult for Kui Xian to hear, but because it was difficult for Zhou Mi to say. "But this is a crazy, half-thought out plan, and you're smarter than that. You know we can't just go chasing into space happily ever after. You know."

And deep inside, between everything that was breaking within him, Kui Xian knew that, once again, Zhou Mi was right. It was a plan formulated from frustration and an excited frenzy. And as much as he'd wanted to believe in it, he'd known that really, it wasn't going to work. But he'd had to try.

After a pause, Zhou Mi spoke again, and this time his voice did betray his feelings, thick with everything he wasn't letting himself show. "It hurts, just to be around you. To want you so much. To want to touch you, and kiss you, and laugh with you. It hurts to have to hide it. But in the end, hiding it all the time, or running away, will only hurt more."

His hand cupped the side of Kui Xian's neck, fingers cool against his skin, and he felt Zhou Mi's other arm wind around him and pull him close. Without thought, without a word, Kui Xian wrapped his arms around Zhou Mi, holding that tall, lean frame against himself one last time. Burying his face against Zhou Mi's neck, he squeezed his eyes tightly shut and simply breathed in. Breathed in Zhou Mi, his scent, his light, his very essence.

There was so much feeling here, between them. So much, and they were going to have to bury it all deep within themselves until perhaps, one day, it was truly forgotten. And maybe, eventually, the warmth of Zhou Mi's mouth against his own would be but a distant and hazy dream-like memory.

But before that time, Kui Xian leaned up and let himself indulge in one last, lingering kiss. This time, Zhou Mi tasted like goodbye.

Shiwon had gone to Master Geng with his concerns. Not out of malice, but truly with concern for his friend. And Master Geng had listened quietly, letting Shiwon pour out all of his worries and fears. Patiently, he reminded Shiwon that a Jedi did not feel fear, fear was a path to the dark side. A Jedi was to remain calm, focused, and clear. He told Shiwon not to worry, that too was not for a Jedi.

"You were right to come to me," Geng informed the young Jedi Knight. "But I'm already aware of the situation. You don't need to trouble yourself over it anymore. I'll take care of it."

Rising from his seat, Geng stepped over towards Shiwon, a hand dropping comfortingly to his shoulder. "Each of us has a different path to travel, Shiwon, and this must be theirs. Do you think that the Jedi Trials are the only trials we must face in our lifetime?" A tiny smile crinkled at the edges of his eyes, and Geng could feel some of the tension leak from Shiwon as his shoulders relaxed. It was always so reassuring when a Master sounded like they knew what they were talking about. "The Force moves in ways even we cannot fathom. It guides and moves the very essence of the galaxy around us. Who am I to say that its motions are wrong or right? I can't see the future for everyone."

There were several beats of silence as Geng fell into contemplation, and he roused himself out of it with a shake of his head, directing a smile down at Shiwon. "Trust in the Force, and trust in your friend. Don't think anymore on this, Shiwon."

"Thank you, Master. You're right, of course." Shiwon stood up, offering a slight smile of his own. He bowed in thanks again, and left the room.

Geng wandered slowly back to his seat, dropping himself carefully onto it with a quiet sigh. He hadn't mentioned it to Shiwon, but Geng already knew the outcome of this particular trial. He'd heard when Zhou Mi and Kui Xian had left the Temple in an airspeeder, nothing wrong of itself, as they had no obligations to be anywhere else. He'd immersed himself in meditation then, trying to see the outcome, to find out what was happening. He had felt something like relief, when he'd been told about their return later that evening.

Yes, no one Jedi could fully understand the way in which the Force truly worked, not even he. All they could do was their best to follow it through.

The sun had set hours ago, and Zhou Mi stood still, transfixed, in front of one of the large, arching windows along the meditative walkway, gazing beyond the transparisteel at the cityscape below. It was still one of the most beautiful sights Zhou Mi had ever seen, and he never tired of it. Of the skyhigh skyscrapers that sprawled across the entire planet, lit up with lights of all different colours. Across the entire planet, at this one moment, there could be thousands of others staring out of their own windows too, at the city around them. Zhou Mi didn't know any of those thousands that could be, but every single one of them deserved a chance to enjoy this view for as long as possible. As a Jedi, he could help make sure that that happened. They were keepers of the peace, upholders of justice, defenders of the Republic. Above all else, this was what the Jedi were for. And in the end, this was what Zhou Mi lived for.

He sensed the presence even before a word was uttered, but didn't turn away from the window. He knew who it was, even before he heard that familiar voice, slipping like dark velvet against his senses. Still, it hurt, but Zhou Mi gazed at the lights of the buildings, and kept firmly in mind why he was still here.

"I've been given a new assignment from the Council," came Kui Xian's voice, quietly from behind him. He was close enough to sense, but not close enough to touch. As he always would be. "Henry and I are to go to the Outer Rim. Apparently there are some pirates lurking near Toprawa, trying to cut off the hyperlane trade routes to the rest of the systems beyond. Master Shin is even coming along, so it should be exciting."

"I wonder if those pirates are related to the Red Sun group. They were attempting to take over hyperlanes, too."

"Might be. I'll find out when we get there."

Silence fell between them, not as easy or as comfortable as it once used to be. Kui Xian stepped up closer beside him, and his gaze too fell to the view beyond. Despite the dark fall of night, the bright lights of Coruscant's city obliterated the stars from view. Even so, Zhou Mi could feel them, sense their light and their presence, and those teeming with all the varied vibrancies of life.

"I guess the job of a Jedi is never over, is it?" Kui Xian asked, voice quiet and contemplative.

Zhou Mi turned to glance across at him, and against his will, found the breath catching in his throat. He was reminded how, once again, in the space between heartbeats, everything had managed to change. That was behind them, though, or one day would be. He gave Kui Xian a smile, turning his gaze back to the sprawling cityscape below them.

"There's an entire galaxy out there, Kui Xian. There's always someone who needs our help."

- end -