Before a choice could be contemplated, Bella's stomach began to gurgle from out of hunger. Chuckling slightly, she took to rubbing her stomach a little.

"I think my stomach has just decided for the both of us. I don't know about you, but I could use a little bit of something to eat before heading off."

She was sure they were bound to find something good to eat in Theed.

"Food is on me, any particular place you'd like to have a meal?"

While Bella remembered Naboo well enough, some of the sights had changed, making it just a tad difficult for her to distinguish some places from others.

"I've got to confess.. I'm not very familiar with some of the newer areas within the city."

"The city it is." He said with a laugh at the sound of her stomach's call. "Come. I know a nice cozy place that serves up real good Dewback ribs and mashed tubers." Just the mere thought of food caused his belly to twinge. It would be good to have a warm and familiar meal before leaving to take on the unknown that was the rest of the galaxy.

Slipping out one of lesser known the side entrances, they were soon out of the Jedi Academy complex's boundaries and on the streets of Theed, keeping with the steady pace of pedestrian traffic. For a good while they trudged through the onslaught of sights, smells, and sounds of a metropolis at its peak level of activity. But the bustle around them gradually lessened to but a trickle when he took to leading her through a number of alleys.

They were soon in one of the older parts of the city, where the white stone architecture took on a golden hue from the dust they collected over time and where the cobblestones that paved the ground were not so smooth. It was at one of the shop like structures that lined the narrow street that he stopped. "Here it is." He said simply as he pointed at the sign that hung over a door. The Lone Swirl Prong.

One of the older Padawans had shown him the place in exchange for a lightsaber demonstration when he had first returned. He had needed a good place to grab a bite now and then and he had gotten lucky that day. Ever since, he had been pretty much a regular when he managed to get away from the younglings and sometimes even brought a handful of his older students to hang out.

The pub was pretty empty when they entered but that was to be expected. It was the start of the afternoon and most patrons had already finished their midday meal, leaving the place pretty quiet. When the bartender, and owner of the establishment, noticed him he was greeted warmly.

"Ah, it's Katarn!" Dillon boomed good naturedly from behind the bar counter. "Come back for the ribs again haven't you?" The older man said with a bright grin. "And what's this? Brought a lady friend with you this time as well eh?" He chuckled teasingly as he motioned for them to take a seat at one of the tables before him.

"Of course I'm back for the ribs." Kenshin said with an affirming nod as he pulled up a pair of chairs and took a seat. "And the tubers too."

"I'll have the same, please."

Bella could not resist the temptation to try the meal that Kenshin had spoken so highly of.

"Your friend seemed somewhat surprised that you brought a lady friend with you." Bella's brow rose with her response, representing both surprise and curiousness.

"Care to add any insight on that?"

In her time away, Bella had learned how to be bold also.

At the topic at hand, Bella suddenly felt a twinge of sadness.

"Haven't you ever been in love before, Kenshin?" She asked softly while inclining her head partly to one side in wonder, the tinest hint of sadness in her voice.

She could never imagine the idea of love not existing in another human being's life. Even more so, she could not imagine her own life without it.

"Alrighty. Two orders of Dewback ribs and mashed tubers coming your way in a moment." Dillion reiterated in that half sing-song manner waiters spoke in to remember something before disappearing into the kitchen and leaving them be.

"There is no emotion, there is peace." Kenshin said instinctively with the ease of someone that recited the Jedi Code daily. But they both knew that the Code was so dated that it never did strictly apply anymore. Even some of the younglings understood that the 'Jedi are not supposed to love' explanation had nothing but bantha poodoo to back it up. Nothing these days was truly barred per se, just extremely discouraged.

"I've been careful not to fall in love." He answered finally with a weak shrug. "Where would a Jedi find the time to maintain such a special relationship anyway? I'm all over the place everyday. I suppose it takes someone truly of strong character to love a Jedi, someone with all the traits of a Jedi but perhaps not so much of the responsibility..."

It wasn't to say that he was deaf to love's whisper, he had heard its call before during his wanderings, but he had always forced himself to ignore it. He had other obligations, like the training of his students and the occasional mission that was thrown his way, and he could feel it in his gut that his place was here at the Academy. That he had always felt. And he had invested so much of himself in it that he wasn't sure he could just leave.

An ache full of sorrow and anguish filled Bella's heart while she listened to Kenshin speak his mind.

Once upon a time, the former teacher would have understood. She would have told him that he was just.

Now she felt.. she felt.. something she could not describe, but it hurt her.

"No one should be denied love. It brings a new meaning to one's life that could never be put into words. Love changes everything... It.."

She stopped herself suddenly, her emotions connecting with realization.

He doesn't understand what he doesn't have because he has chosen this, and I can't fault him. Yet I do feel an overwhelming abundance of sadness for him, because I know what he is missing.

"I'm sorry, I have no right to judge you, even if your words do sting. You've made a choice to honor your vows to The Jedi Code and I am proud of you for that."

Still, she would have been equally as proud if he'd found love.

"I don't know where I would be without the love that I have in my life now, I suppose that is why it is so hard for me to hear you say those things. I need to share with you this one thing, Kenshin. If there is anything in life that I could wish for you, at least one thing, I'd wish you love. Love is beautiful, and special as you've said. It is an aura of peace unlike any other kind of peace you have ever experienced before."

As their meals were set before them, Bella thought of Dannen and how she had never been the same since he had come into her life.

"Even if you don't find love, I hope someone can show it to you."

Love, it came in all shapes and sizes, from anywhere.

Bella had seen it with Layla, that youngling loved Kenshin, it was easy to see.

".. and if they do, I hope you'll hold onto that experience and never let it go."

No, no one should be denied love. He had experienced enough of the world outside the Academy to at least know that. He also understood that it was part of the Jedi sacrifice to forgo emotion. The idea was that one could better protect others with a calmer frame of mind. The Jedi didn't feel so that others could have the luxury to do so if they so chose. And yet, despite the fact that he seemed to accept that burden willingly, something within him wanted to protest.

She wished him love and in turn, he silently wished for the courage to embrace it and the strength to nurture it. He didn't really mind the idea of falling in love but he was a bit wary of the control it might have over him. While a part of him wanted to know the experience, another part of him was afraid of love and what it could do. He had been a Padawan once, he had heard the stories. It just just so much safer to blindly dedicate oneself to the Jedi path. Unfortunately he wasn't that simple minded and he found himself, on more than one occasion, questioning.

He, quite frankly, didn't want to think about the topic at the moment. It was one of the few that he tried to ignore, hiding behind the mentality that he would deal with it as it came. It wasn't the best attitude but that was how he dealt with the unknown, especially an unknown he had problems gathering research on. Being one who liked to hypothesize, he found it disconcerting that he really had no idea how he would react when confronted with love.

The smell of food suddenly filled his senses and Dillon appeared bearing their orders. Setting it down on the table between them, the stocky man quickly slipped into his spot behind the bar and poured two glasses of ale. "You can't take these ribs down with just water. It wouldn't do them justice." He said with a grin as he brought them the foaming mugs. "These drinks are on me. Now eat up."

Kenshin took the glass with an appreciative smile and nodded his thanks before taking a sip of the brew and digging into his hot meal. He would savor the taste of this food. He didn't know when he would be able to have it again.

Bella wasn't shy when it came to eating. The force wielder dug right into her food, tasting the meal as if she had not ate in days. She did not bother to apologize nor excuse herself at the unlady like gesture, but laughed for a moment instead while she enjoyed her meal. She ate eagerly, fast and healthy, and managed not to let one piece of the delightful food get anywhere near her other than her mouth.

She'd managed to finish before Kenshin and because she had ate so fast, a healthy burp protruded from her afterwards. To this, Bella could only flush with embarrassment and laugh, giggle was more like it.

"Forgive me, but I haven't had anything so good in a very long time, and I was starving."

What an impression she was making after not seeing Kenshin for a good while.

".. Besides that, it'll most likely be food rations until we get back. I suppose I should hae savored my meal.."

Kenshin looked up occasionally from his plate and watched with an amused grin as she dug into her food with the appetite and manner of a youngling half starved. Indeed she had changed.

Without the responsibility of being a Jedi Master to burden her mind, she had become more at ease with the world. She was able to live life as a chain of moments while he, still caught up in the role of Jedi, was forced to constantly look ahead.

It would seem that she had been right in rescuing him from the Academy. It had been so long since he had been able to enjoy something for its simple existence or to be awed simply by volume or color. He had always needed a change in setting or something else unknown or out of the ordinary to refresh his mind and rejuvinate his need to be home again.

The sound of her embarrassed giggle pulled him from his thoughts and he couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her empty plate. It would seem that she had finished before him. He still had a third to go. "I would think Dillion would take the burp as a compliment." He said with a grin. He then handed her a rib from his own plate.

"I was expecting lots of food rations." He added. "Savor this one and remember what it tastes like. When we get back, I'll treat you and you'll have to tell me if it tastes the same."

Putting both hands up in halt, Bella shook her head no, laughing lightly as she tried to be polite in appreciation of the kind gesture.

"No, no.. thank you.. I'm much too full. I probably should not have finished off my meal as it is, but it was so wonderful."

She'd been full on half a plate, but her taste buds had kept her eating.

Bella gave some thought to Kenshin's offer, tilting her head up slightly and to her right while she placed her lips tightly together.

"Hmm.. do you know how to cook, Kenshin?"

Thinking of the question made more questions arise in the carefree woman's mind. Her brow tightened in a curious but serious manner.

".. What is it that you do in your spare time.. when you're not.. taking care of your duties?"

While awaiting answers, Bella dug through her large travel bag, eventually pulling out a rather heavy sized bag, full of credits, too many for one person to have. She practically had to toss the bag onto the table just to remove it from the larger bag.

"Um... I've been a little busy?!" She answered as if she were trying to answer some unspoken question, a minor lack of confidence in her response. She had spoke as if she had something to hide. When in reality, she felt guilty over how she had obtained so much money.

Smiling nervously, she avoided Kenshin's gaze while she dug through the newest bag, removing the needed credits to pay for their meal. She hoped out of all hopes, that he would not ask her how or why..

..because she knew that without much doubt, he wouldn't like what he was hearing.

Kenshin chuckled at the thought of spare time. He hardly had enough of it to pursue a serious hobby. Most of his left over time he used to squeeze in some lightsaber practice or a session of mediation. Occasionally he visited a few friends in the Exploration Corps to check up on what new gadgets they found or the Agriculture Corps for tips on how to maintain the small garden Ky-Vin had left behind.

"I cook some..." He said with a slight shrug. He really wouldn't call it cooking with the time he usually had to work with, more like throwing together something edible. "Sometimes I help Dex and Cary with their tinkerings. It usually ends up as some lesson in mechanics or electronics though." Of the two brothers, Carson had more patience but Dexter was more willing to impart, or rather beat the knowledge into your brain.

He paused when she pulled out the bag of credits, his brow raising in surprise. The expression only lasted for a split second however before dropping. Why couldn't she encounter good fortune during her travels? Her shaky answer didn't help to ease his doubts though. Her need to justify herself disturbed him. It meant that there was a sense of guilt involved.

He was tempted to ask for a better explanation, but her avoidance of his gaze caused him to fall silent. Despite the fact that she had offered him answers, he still wasn't sure if it was his place to pry. He did notice though that she exhibited the same pattern of nervous behavior as little Layla when she was hiding something and at that Kenshin coudln't help but crack a grin. It would seem that his time spent around little kids had sharpened his people reading skills.