United in Battle

Chapter 14

All over Naboo people were celebrating. The exception was a small group of people that had become close in the few days that they had known one another. Tori buried her tear-streaked face into Sessho-Maru's shoulder as he held her close. Inu-Yasha's head was hung, making his hair fall over his face. Koga was punching a tree while trying to keep from hurting anyone else. Miroku held Sango close as Kirara wound her way around their ankles. Remus was helping Lily heal Sirius's broken arm and several scratches on Obi-Wan. James kept running his hands through his hair as he thought back to the battle he had fought in. Padme and Boss Nass were discussing the results of the battle. Anakin was cowering in a corner away from the group. Tori managed to pull herself away from Sessho-Maru and hurried over to Anakin.

"Annie, are you okay?" Tori knelt next to the boy who had saved them all by blowing up the control ship.

"What's going to happen to me now? The Jedi won't train me and I can't go home." Anakin looked up at Tori with tears running down his face.

Tori let out a soft sigh as she gathered the boy into her arms. She pulled him into her lap as she settled her back against the wall. "If we have to, Annie, you can always come home with me and Sessho-Maru. We'd be your family."

Anakin looked over at the demon lord. "He wouldn't want me either. I'm a human, remember?"

"So am I but he's my mate." Tori rubbed small circles on Anakin's back, trying to calm him down. "You'd have a little sister in Rin, who is also human."

Anakin shook his head. "No. I'll just wander the galaxy until I find where I belong." He tried to climb from Tori's lap as Sessho-Maru approached them.

Oh Anakin. I wish I knew what to tell you. Tori looked up at her mate, who was starting to kneel next to her and Anakin.

"Anakin, we may find your way in life complicated but never forget the ones that love you." Sessho-Maru laid a clawed hand on Anakin's golden hair.

Anakin sniffed as he nodded. Suddenly he looked up as two ships landed on the platform. "I wonder who's in those."

"Most likely the Jedi Council and the Supreme Chancellor." Tori accepted Sessho-Maru's hand after Anakin climbed from her lap.

The ramps of the ships lowered to the ground. The twelve Jedi Masters that made up the Jedi Council stepped from their ship along with two very rambunctious children. Rin and Shippo immediately found their 'parents' and hurried over to Tori, Sessho-Maru, and Inu-Yasha. Rin hugged Sessho-Maru's legs before wrapping her arms around Tori's waist and squeezing her tight.

"Rin, I believe Reidou would like to breathe." Sessho-Maru watched Rin let Tori go as Mace Windu and Yoda came toward them.

"Speak to you we will." Yoda bowed to small family.

Tori curtsied quickly as Sessho-Maru bowed. "We're glad to see the Jedi Council but you didn't have to come all this way. We would have returned with..." Tori felt the tears starting to well up in her eyes.

Sessho-Maru pulled Tori into his arms again and let her cry against his chest. "We would have brought him home to Coruscant."

"That wasn't why we came. Obi-Wan is to become a Jedi Knight this very afternoon. In order to do that we needed the entire Council." Mace Windu watched as Sessho-Maru ran his clawed fingers through Tori's hair.

"Of course." Sessho-Maru knew that wasn't why they had come. He turned quickly as the Supreme Chancellor stepped from his ship. "Palpatine? They voted him Chancellor?"

Tori had looked up at Palpatine's name. "Those idiots. Can't they sense the danger that emanates from that man?"

"Apparently not, my mate." Sessho-Maru was the only one who heard her exclamation about Palpatine.

Tori looked up at the members of the Jedi Council. "How is the research going to get us home?"

"Saesee Tiin has figured out what he must do to return you to your times." Mace Windu led them over to the group talking with Palpatine. "After we return to Coruscant, Saesee Tiin will return you to your home."

"Of course." Sessho-Maru kept his arm wrapped around Tori as they bowed to Palpatine.

Chancellor Palpatine noticed them and bowed. "I cannot tell you how grateful the Senate is for your help in this matter."

"We are glad that we were able to help." Sessho-Maru's face didn't betray any emotion though his eyes flashed slightly with anger.

Anakin walked behind Obi-Wan as Palpatine turned to face them. "You have fought bravely, Jedi Kenobi. And you, young Skywalker, we shall be watching your career with great interest." Palpatine moved toward Padme and her handmaidens.

Inu-Yasha, with Shippo perched on his shoulder, came over to his brother and his mate. "Still don't like him, Tori?"

"Not a chance in hell." Tori crossed her arms as Palpatine whispered to Padme and her handmaidens.

"Come. The Council is going to promote Obi-Wan and I am sure he will want us there." Sessho-Maru led Tori away from the landing pad.

Tori followed obediently but not before she saw the glint of anger in Palpatine's eyes.

-----

Obi-wan was kneeling before the Jedi Council awaiting the verdict of his actions. Yoda noticed Sessho-Maru and Tori coming through the door. He motioned them to the two chairs beside Saesee Tiin, who inclined his head to the two of them. Tori gave him a soft smile before pulling her legs up under her and turning her attention back to Anakin.

"We hereby promote Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi to the status of Jedi Knight." Mace Windu stood before Obi-Wan and laid a hand on his shoulder. "May the Force be with him as he take Anakin Skywalker as his Padawan learner."

"May the Force be with him." The other Jedi Council Members each rose and took their leave. Obi-Wan remained kneeling as Yoda approached him.

"Confer on you the position of Jedi Knight the Council does but agree to taking the boy as Padawan I do not." Yoda thumped his staff once on the ground.

"Then I will train him without your blessings, Master." Obi-Wan seemed very defiant about his promise to Qui-Gon.

"Take him you will but be warned. His path will be dangerous." Yoda made his way out of the room.

"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan bowed his head as he climbed to his feet.

Tori squealed and jumped on Obi-Wan's back. "Congratulations, Obi!"

"Thanks." Obi-Wan pulled Tori from his back and hugged her.

Sessho-Maru gave Obi-Wan a deep bow. "Jedi Knight."

Obi-Wan returned the bow. "It's not the highest rank but at least I'll get to train Anakin."

"And that's a good thing. He asked me what he was going to do now." Tori wove her arm through Sessho-Maru's as they walked beside Obi-Wan.

"I'll tell him later." Obi-Wan smiled as they stepped out into the bright sunshine. "It's great that the battle is over."

"I don't want to go through another one for a long time." Tori pretended to swoon but Sessho-Maru held her tight to his side.

-----

Padme sat on her throne and listened to the complaints of her advisors. She wished fervently that someone, anyone would rescue her from the advisors that had been in the concentration camps of the Trade Federation. Inu-Yasha leaned against the back of her throne and glared at the ones making her upset.

Sio Bibble stood up from his seat. "How could you just let the Trade Federation go? We know that they'll be back."

Inu-Yasha growled slightly. "Don't you get it, baka? She had no choice. The plan was to capture the Viceroy, take out the droids, and get her treaty signed." He huffed once more. "Personally I would have left you in the camp."

"How dare..." Sio Bibble stood there shaking with repressed rage.

"Enough!" Padme slammed her fist on the arm of her throne. Silence reigned in the throne room. "Inu-Yasha is right, Sio. We were to get the Viceroy to sign the treaty that I made and that is what we did. You should be thanking our new allies for their help instead of criticizing them."

"I was just..." Sio Bibble looked at his feet.

"I don't care. I have had enough war and arguments to last three lifetimes."

"Not that you'd see it." Inu-Yasha toyed with the hilt of his sword.

"Inu-Yasha..." Padme glared at him slightly while trying to hide the smile that was starting to grace her lips.

"Sorry, Pad." Inu-Yasha gave her quick bow.

Padme turned back to her advisors. "We must plan a celebration and welcome the Gungans back into the society of the Naboo."

"Let's not forget about the funeral pyre for the Master Jedi." Sio Bibble was nodding his head while trying to keep out of Inu-Yasha's sight.

"The Jedi Council is planning that." Koga stepped into the throne room. "I figured this is where you would be."

Padme laughed at their antics and completely ignored her duties as Queen for the rest of the afternoon.

-----

Tori stood on the balcony of her and Sessho-Maru's room and watched the sun sink slowly in the West. "Are the sunsets this beautiful in Japan?"

"They are." Sessho-Maru finished tying his obi. "You must get ready, my love."

"Lily and Sango promised to come and help me with the kimono." Tori wrapped her arms around herself as a knock sounded on the door.

Sessho-Maru smiled as he let the two women that would help his mate dress and slipped out of the room.

"We're here." Lily waved her hands dramatically. "Where's the bubbly?"

"Lily, this is a somber occasion." Sango laid out the masses of silks out on Tori's bed. "Lily made this with her magic."

Tori moved to the bed and fingered the black silk. "It's beautiful, Lily."

"Thank you." Lily lifted the first piece as Tori let her robe slip from her shoulders.

-----

The funeral pyre was seemed bright against the darkness of the night. Tears were free flowing as Lily and Sango seemed to hold onto each other. Tori's fingers were buried in the sleeve of Sessho-Maru's kimono while Shippo and Rin stood silent before them. Inu-Yasha and Koga stood with their heads bowed. Miroku softly whispered prayers for a safe passage to the afterlife. James, Sirius, and Remus stood tall as they watched one of their own pass onto the next life.

Anakin looked up at Obi-Wan. "What's going to happen to me now?"

"I've been given permission to train you, Anakin. Tomorrow you will become a Padawan learner." Obi-Wan laid a hand on Anakin's shoulder before turning back to the pyre.

The rest of the night passed somberly as those assembled sifted back to their homes and their beds.

-----

Tori was again standing on her balcony but this time she was excited. Today was the parade that was going to honor those that fell during the battle and the welcome the Gungans back into the society of the Naboo. Lily had transfigured one of the gowns into a Muggle gown that made Sessho-Maru growl hungrily when he saw how low the bodice was cut. She didn't need any help with this gown so she had donned it as soon as she had gotten out of the shower. Of course, she did have to have some help with the zipper, which meant that the gown had come off when she presented her back to Sessho-Maru to zip it for her. Now she was standing on the balcony after a second shower and the back of the gown was zipped closed. Sessho-Maru looked very handsome in the kimono that James had transfigured for him. They were to walk with the Gungans while James, Shippo, Rin, and Sirius were to stand with the Jedi Council. Lily and Sango were going to ride on Kirara and Miroku and Inu-Yasha were going to be standing guard next to Padme and her handmaidens. Koga was going to ride on one of the Kaadu that the Gungans had brought for him.

They marched through Theed waving to the crowds. Slowly they approached Padme and the rest of their groups. Jar Jar and Koga dismounted from their mounts and walked a step behind Boss Nass. Sessho-Maru lifted Tori onto Kirara's back so that their group could join their friends and allies. Padme took a glowing sphere from Sio Bibble and handed it to Boss Nass. He in turn bowed to Padme before facing the crowds and raising the sphere over his head. Everyone cheered and James and Sirius shot sparks from the ends of their wands. The Gungans were now a part of the society that had shunned them for so many centuries.

-----

Tori cried as she gave Padme one last hug. "I wish we could stay here forever."

"I wish you could too. There's so much that I want to learn about you and your world." Padme turned to Lily and Sango and gave each of them a hug as well.

"Maybe we'll see each other again." Lily swiped at the tears forming in her eyes.

"You never know what the Force will bring." Obi-Wan stood on the ramp to the Jedi Council's ship. "Come we must go. Saesee Tiin will be taking you back in a week's time."

Tori nodded as she gave Padme one last hug. She ran up the ramp and into Sessho-Maru's arms. He held her as the ramp closed behind them. "We will see them again, my love. I promise."

Tori buried her face into his chest as the tears flowed freely down her face. He scooped her up into his arms and carried her to their quarters and lay with her on their bed until they landed on Coruscant.