As a Jedi, he wasn't really taught that much about soul mates, so he was quite startled when his world went from black and white to all of these different shades and colors. Yes, he had seen holonet movies about it, and he got the basic concept, but actually experiencing it was a totally different thing. He looked around the hangar that he and his master had just landed in, only seeing the newly appointed Duchess of Mandalore and some other politicians and security approaching them.

Apparently, his master sensed his sudden unease and he turned his head slightly to study his apprentice. "Is everything all right, Obi-Wan?"

"Y-Yes, Master," he lied, glancing briefly at Qui-Gon. "I just…" He swallowed hard and shook his head. "I just got dizzy for a moment. I'm fine."

Jedi weren't supposed to have soul mates, were they? If the Code forbid it, and the Code was supposedly made from guidance from the Force, it wouldn't make sense for the Force to have someone for him. His hands were shaking, and he felt lightheaded. What would Qui-Gon think if he knew that he had a… soul mate?

"Ah, Master Jedi, it's so good to see you," said a man that looked about sixty, his eyes lighting up. He didn't know what color they were, and his mind almost spontaneously combusted trying to think about it. The man looked at Obi-Wan and smiled a bit. "Your apprentice, correct?"

"Yes, Prime Minister, this is Obi-Wan Kenobi," Qui-Gon explained, sweeping his arm towards his Padawan.

Obi-Wan bowed his head respectfully. The duchess stepped next to the man, and the young Jedi couldn't take his eyes off her. It was everything he could do to keep his mouth from hanging open. Her eyes were the same color as the Prime Minister's, except brighter and more intense. His heart threatened to pound out of his chest when she looked at him, and all he could do was offer the dumbest smile he'd ever had.

"Thank you for coming, Master Jinn," she said, turning her attention quickly to Qui-Gon. "Even though I'm quite against non-pacifists helping to restore Mandalore."

"We're only here to protect you, my lady," Obi-Wan blurted, feeling his face flush.

The duchess raised an eyebrow at him. "Call me Satine. I don't think I could survive a year of never being called by my real name." She smiled, and he felt as if he would melt on the spot.

"As you wish, Satine," he replied, his voice shaking a bit.

It had been several months since they had arrived, and despite their frequent banter, the Padawan and the duchess had bonded quite well, which Qui-Gon seemed to take note of. He still hadn't told his master about him "meeting his soul mate." He wasn't even sure that it actually was Satine. She didn't seem to have much of an interest in him. Romantically, at least.

"Obi-Wan," called a soft voice, "has Qui-Gon contacted you yet?"

He turned to face her and sat down near the fire they had going. "I'm afraid not."

They sat in silence for a while, both of them awkwardly shifting and glancing up at one another and then hastily back at the fire when they made eye contact. He wanted to ask if her world had suddenly turned color the day they met, but he'd never worked up the courage.

"Ben?"

"Yes, milady?"

He couldn't tell if it was just the lighting of the fire, but he saw her face grow warm. "Since the Jedi aren't allowed to form attachments, does that mean you'll never see color?"

Embarrassed, he looked down and started to pull a few strands of grass. "Well, I suppose that would make sense, but I believe that it's possible for Jedi to have a soul mate, we just aren't allowed to form a bond with them."

"Do you think you have one?" she asked softly. "A soul mate, I mean."

At that moment, Obi-Wan wished he had the supernatural ability to fade into the shadows of the night and the chirping, howling, and singing of the various creatures around them. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't do it.

"Do you?" he asked, resorting to the childish answer.

Satine tried to conceal her amusement, but didn't quite succeed. "Well, I believe so considering the fact that I can see that your face is red."

Subconsciously, he touched his cheek, feeling it's warmth. "So is yours," he told her, his voice barely audible.

The duchess' eyes widened. "So you do have one!" she exclaimed, grinning. "How long have you known?"

It's you, Satine, he wanted to say. Rubbing the back of his neck, he pretended to be deep in thought. "Oh, maybe only a few months, perhaps. How long have you known?"

"A few months."

He tore his eyes from hers, unable to bear the burden of knowing that it was her, but they could never be together. At least, the way she would probably want. Because of his duties, Obi-Wan wouldn't be able to see her very often at all, if any. The thought of them possibly sharing a future together made his head spin.

Her soothing voice penetrated his brooding. "Do you know who it is?"

The Padawan inwardly grimaced. "I have an idea," he muttered. Boldly, he looked back at her, his eyes focused on her, willing her to get the message that was so painfully obvious. The tension between them was so thick he could cut it with his lightsaber. Her expression conveyed nothing, and he so badly wanted to ask if she thought that he was hers. He wanted to be hers, and he wanted her to be his.

"It's me, isn't it?" she asked after a long period of silence. "We both saw in color the day we met."

Obi-Wan nodded, letting out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. "Yes."

More silence. "What are we going to do?" For the first time, Satine sounded… scared. She had been worried before, but never like this. Her vulnerability nearly broke his heart.

In an attempt to comfort her, he made his way over to her on the other side of the fire and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I am going to keep serving as your protector, and you are going to be the leader that Mandalore needs. All you need do is ask, and I'll be right there to help you in any way I can."

She smiled, a genuine smile. "Thank you, Ben," she said, nuzzling her face into his shoulder.

After a while, the both of them fell asleep blissfully in the comfort of each other. A few yards off stood a tall, robed figure. He smiled a bit, glad that his apprentice was happy.

Obi-Wan, I… need your help.

Already, the colors in his world had started becoming duller and duller. He knew that Satine was in some sort of danger even before the transmission she sent.

Remember, my dear Obi-Wan…

Almost every color was gone, except for her blue eyes. That shade of blue was his favorite color. Those piercing, ice blue eyes could make his heart melt when they looked at him with gentleness and love, or make his heart constrict when they narrowed at him angrily. Right now, they looked at him with love. Despite having not been able to save her. Despite the fact that this wouldn't be happening if he'd stayed with her all those years ago.

I've loved you always

The blue started to fade.

I always will