Old Friends Homecoming

Chapter 12 - Memories

"Emi? Is that you?" the woman responded, her voice soft and awestruck gazing at Emi as if she had become an angel.

Emi nodded smiling, "It's me, mom,"

The woman's eyes were brimming with tears, she threw herself forward into her daughter's arms. Kit stood back respectfully, as they embraced.

"You've grown so much, and now you're...?"

"Yes, I'm a Jedi now mom," Emi giggled as they moved apart,

"Oh my, I'm so proud of you dear! I knew you would make it," she turned to see Kit at the bottom of the steps, "and who might this be?"

Kit stood closer to Emi, "How do you do, ma'am. I'm Kit Fisto, I've known your daughter since she was a little Youngling,"

"Sohana Takori, so you were Emi's master?"

"No, no just a good friend of hers. But, Emi learned a lot from her master. It was Emi's idea that we pay a visit, even if it's wartime,"

Sohana smiled, grateful to see her daughter, no matter the state, "That's very thoughtful of you, please come in. Perhaps you would like something to eat?"

Emi nodded and she and Kit followed her mother inside.

The house to Emi had not changed since her departure, a small round mat greeted her feet upon stepping inside with an arched white ceiling, heading towards a small kitchen with everything you needed to cook a gourmet meal and a petite oval window overlooking Theed's nature-rich suberbs. The living room was Emi favourite with its plush red couches, floral carpet, large fireplace and ivy-engraved walls. It was customary for many houses in Naboo to contain many plants.

"Do make yourself at home, your father should be on his way soon," Sohana said cheerfully as Emi walked around the house taking in her familiar surroundings. She traced the surface of the couch and wandered into the little bedroom in the corner. Kit watched her from afar unable to comprehend how quiet she was.

Emi's childhood bedroom was left untouched, she remembered she was only three when she left with Yoda to Couruscant, after he discovered she was Force-sensitive when he visited to give his respect to the new queen at that time. The bed was made with a pretty white lily pattern on the duvet and a feathery pillow to match. Emi had just outgrown the crib a year before and remembered how much she loved that bed. Another oval window was above it and a small shelf with a set of three alien dolls was next to the closet and wooden dresser.

The dolls were aligned exactly the way Emi left them as she gazed at them fondly: they were of a Twi'lek, Togruta, and a Gamorrean. Emi regretted not taking them with her when she left, but she was forbidden to bring anything that day. A rule she never understood. Nothing in the room had changed and that made her smile, it was like her parents were waiting for her to come home someday, even though being a Jedi was a lifetime commitment.

She sat down on the front of the bed hearing the sound of simmering on the kitchen's stove. Sohana was already cooking something for them and Emi longed for a homecooked meal. Eating food at the temple or out in the city could not compete. Emi contemplated the room a little more hoping she could stay a few days, she knew her parents wouldn't mind but for how long would it be? How long did she need to be here to process everything? The answers would hopefully come in time.

"Good to be home isn't it?" Kit asked, entering the bedroom,

Emi shifted a little so that he could sit beside her on the bed,

"Yeah. Kit, I was three the last time I slept in this bed, I never understood why Jedi had to start at such a young age, we don't get to have a normal childhood,"

Kit listened attentively, there wasn't much he could say,

"Did I tell you how Master Yoda found out that I'm Force-sensitive when he was visiting?"

Kit shook his head,

"My parents took me to pay our respects to the new queen of Naboo, I came along with them but couldn't stop running off to explore. We were to just enter the palace, give our gift and leave. I saw Yoda in the crowd when I wandered off again, he was the smallest person there. I had just learned to talk at that time and he was very friendly. He asked my name, and I said it flawlessly, it was my first word after all," she laughed quietly while eying her mother's cooking outside the bedroom,

"What happened next?" Kit inquired,

"He said he could sense a great power inside me, said that unlike everyone else in the crowd, I seemed to move through them like I detect where everyone was so I didn't bump into anyone. Any normal child in a crowded place waiting to see the queen would probably stumble a lot, but I just moved like an acrobat,"

"That makes sense, the Force allows us to sense other people's feelings and their presence, or impending danger, as you know,"

"I didn't understand what he meant, but he did conclude that we would meet again as my mother and father eventually found me and we went into the palace. Once we were in there, that was when the secret was out. The queen's guards would call in one family at a time to offer their gift. My father wanted to give her a special chalice, it was made from Fambaa skin. He wanted me to give it to the queen personally. Oh, Kit, she was so beautiful sitting on her throne, I took that chalice careful not to drop it, but when I reached to give it to her, it suddenly floated out of my hands into hers. I was so astonished, and so was she, and then she called the guards. I was worried that I was in trouble, but when they brought Yoda in who explained I was Force-sensitive, my parents were surprisingly relieved," Emi explained, recalling the event in her head vividly,

"Why were they relieved?"

"There were several times at home where I started moving objects like that when I could first walk, my parents didn't know what to do, but it was only just jiggling. Not like that floating chalice, so they thought it was something like I just made things shake when I ran around,"

Kit laughed, "Well, that's rather unusual for them to be relieved. Most parents get heartbroken when they find out that their child is Force-sensitive because then they got to go to the temple to train. My last Padawan, that's how his family reacted. I just wish he got knighted like you, instead, he was killed by Grievous,"

"Oh I'm sorry Kit," Emi said sympathetically, leaning towards him,

He took her hand, "Don't worry about it, I'm just glad your parents were supportive of you becoming a Jedi, even if it means they wouldn't get to see you grow,"

Emi blushed more, her feelings overwhelming her once again, that was the first time he had held her hand, his skin felt scaly against her skin. They had hugged many times, but this was something that made her shudder, like another forbidden path she was traversing.

"Th-they made that sacrifice because they wanted what was best for me," she stammered, her words were emerging slower than she wanted now.

Kit smiled, "You're very lucky,"

Emi smiled back no longer uncomfortable with their hands joined, then Sohana's voice called from the kitchen.

"Emi, your father is going to be home soon, would like to help me set the table?"

Emi instantly became alert, "Yes I'll be right there!" she rose from her spot, releasing Kit's hand and hurried into the kitchen, her zeal to distract herself from her feelings was strong, but she failed to see Kit watching her with focused eyes and a little disappointment. It was like he wanted her to stay with him longer.