JOSHUA BOOK 2: THE TIES THAT BIND

CHAPTER 8: ATTACK OF THE CLONES PART 2

Kai Skywalker looked at the skyline on Coruscant at Senator Amidala's apartment complex, thinking about tons of things as he brushed his black hair away from his face . One, he was thinking about Anakin. How much had his brother changed in the last ten years? He was almost afraid to wonder, but he was also curious. Two, he thought about his mother, still so far away from him and Anakin on Tatooine in the city of Mos Espa. Lately, he had horrible nightmares about her and kept worrying about her. The Ancient One knew of his concern about his mother and kept watch in the mirror dimension for any mystical beings.

He snapped out of his musings when Jar-Jar excitedly greeted two new guests.

"Obi?! OBI!!! Meesa so smilin' to seein' yousa!" Jar-Jar said.

"Good to see you again, Jar-Jar." The familiar voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi sounded.

"Master Kenobi! It's very good to see you." The Ancient One greeted the young Jedi Knight and his apprentice.

Kai turned around and saw Obi-Wan Kenobi as he greeted Senator Amidala. He had changed since he last saw him. His auburn hair had grown to his shoulders. He had a neatly trimmed beard, and had grown into the skin of a Jedi Knight. He eyed the apprentice that stood behind him, blushing as he greeted Senator Amidala. His hair was close cropped and his Padawan braid was longer, almost waist length.

Yep, that's definitely Anakin. Kai chuckled to himself.

Anakin stared at the young man with the Ancient One who was now greeting his Master. His red hair was long and almost to his shoulders, and his grey clothes were similar to a Jedi, but very different. His green eyes surveyed him now and both boys grinned and hugged each other.

"It's so good to see you, dude! I've missed you!" Kai exclaimed.

"Likewise, Kai! Man, it's been so long! We've gotta catch up!" Anakin smiled.

Both the Ancient One and Obi-Wan looked at this reunion smiling.

Now it was time to get down to business. They talked about ways to keep Senator Amidala safe, and throughout the meeting at some point, Kai had his eyes on Anakin, who very much wanted to track down her assassin, and when his brother and his master exchanged furtive words, Kai attempted to break up the uneasiness between the two, since the Ancient One had another mini mission to go to in the astral plane.

"Anakin, I know you want to track the criminal down, but your mandate is important, but please don't push your Master's buttons. And Master Kenobi...in a way, Anakin's right. An investigation must be carried out, but that's where my Master and I come in. We're here to defend her reality from Mystic beings who may think otherwise, and not just her attacker." Kai said.

Anakin nodded. Master Kenobi nodded in surprise and wondered how the Ancient One had trained Kai to be so diplomatic.

"I've studied the art of diplomacy and read all I could on politics, corruption and culture. I'm very much aware that this assassination attempt on Senator Amidala might have been a political move to get rid of her." Kai said simply to his thought.

With the meeting adjourned after Senator Amidala concluded it, Obi-Wan, Anakin and Kai all checked on security.

After that, Anakin and Kai caught up with each other. Anakin told him about all the missions he and Obi-Wan had been to, and how close he was to becoming a Jedi Knight himself. Kai told him of all his accomplishments and adventures in all different dimensions, making new friends and how close he was to becoming a Master of the Mystic Arts. He even showed Anakin some shields he conjured briefly.

"Whoa! That's so cool!" Anakin exclaimed. "I'd want to do that, one day!"

"Maybe I can teach you, but the decision ultimately will be the Ancient One's." Kai said.

The Ancient One came back with another student from Kamar-Taj, named Yuna Wantanabe. 18 year old Yuna was from Japan, and ever since Kai was fifteen, he had an enormous crush on her, but he wasn't able to tell her out of fear and embarrassment. Yuma's black bone straight hair was up in a bun, and her sorceress clothes represented her home country. Kai's cheeks turned red, and Anakin saw. the Ancient One saw as well and smiled. Yuna waved to Kai. Kai's cheeks got redder and he waved back.

"Ohhh, Kai! I think I know what that means! Is she your angel?" Anakin chortled.

"Dude, shut up! You're embarrassing me!" Kai squeaked. "Do I look okay? Is my hair out of place?"

Anakin just tried to keep a straight face and failed miserably.

"I think it looks fine." The Ancient One said. "Yuna will be helping us on this mission to defend Amidala's reality and track the criminal down."

"Sure! That's great! Welcome!" Kai stammered over his words.

"Thank you, Kai-sama." Yuna said. Her English was perfect, and she was fluent in her native Japan, and in Sanskrit, and currently getting fluent in other languages.

"J-just Kai will do." Kai said, blushing.

Anakin just kept snickering.