I was listening to Saturn by Sleeping At Last while writing this, because that song is beautiful and I think it fits for this story. I was also thinking about a science teacher I had in the past, who happens to be a very dear friend of mine. Without intending to, I found myself re-calling a few times I've had with him, and...this chapter sort of came about. Enjoy!

Orange

To Ahsoka Tano, orange was a color that spoke thousands of languages. It could be bright and fiery and unexpected, like the last of the explosions that faded into the sky. It could be dangerous and wild, like the way a fox stalked its prey before attacking. Or it could be something else. But before anything happened, Ahsoka Tano only thought one thing about orange –

It was just a color.

xXx

Ahsoka was used to being awake before her master, or even waking up to find that her master wasn't even in the Temple. She had grown accustomed to the fact that Anakin Skywalker was a very free and inconsistent person when it came to schedule. (Really, it wasn't that surprising.) Ahsoka was not, however, used to waking up before the sun on a free day.

And at first, Ahsoka simply wanted to sneak in a few more minutes of sleep – at least wake up after dawn. But as any person would find, tossing and turning in one's bed wasn't the best way to get some deserved rest. After what seemed like a few hours (when in reality, it had only passed a few minutes), Ahsoka groaned in exasperation and threw back the covers. "I'm up, I'm up," she said crossly to no one in particular. "I hope the galaxy's happy now!"

Shoving on her boots and neatening her braid, Ahsoka walked out of her quarters and wandered down the halls. Not too many people were walking around, either – Ahsoka saw a few old Jedi masters crossing rooms, and managed to nod greetings to them. Still, there was something somewhat unnerving that she was the only youth awake. Oh, well. What can you do?

Ahsoka considered going to the Archives, but quickly remembered that she wasn't one to be surrounded by studies. Or studious Jedi. (Ugh. She once had the unfortunate incident in meeting with one particular master, who seemed most interested in telling Ahsoka about all of the plant species living in different worlds underwater. Ahsoka was never sure how she managed to get out of that one.) Then, she wondered if she could go into the mess hall, but quickly cancelled out that option when she realized that she wasn't too hungry, either.

Ahsoka almost decided to turn back to her quarters when a door beside her slid open.

"Master Kenobi!" Ahsoka found herself saying, bowing her head to the older man. "Good morning."

"Good morning, young one," Master Kenobi replied with his usual warmth. "A bit early, isn't it?"

"I woke up early – it was one of those days," Ahsoka said with a shrug. "I apologize if I was…er – causing a disturbance. I was just about to head back." To her surprise, Master Kenobi only smiled. "There was no disturbance caused, Ahsoka," he replied. Gesturing into his own quarters, he asked, "Would you like to join me, then? I understand that going back to your quarters might not –"

"Really?" Ahsoka asked, brightening up visibly. "Thanks."

As Ahsoka gratefully bounded into Master Kenobi's quarters, she heard him chuckle, "You are most welcome, Ahsoka."

xXx

Ahsoka had been in Master Kenobi's quarters a few times – mostly with Anakin, but there were only a handful of times in which she was with the mentor by herself. There were a few houseplants neatly arranged by the windows (which Anakin always got a huge kick out of), and everything was always set to create a perfectly tranquil atmosphere. Ahsoka personally liked a bit of clutter here and there, but she always found Master Kenobi's quarters interesting and nice.

She watched the man pull back the blindfolds to reveal a sun rising from behind the many skyscrapers of Coruscant. "If there's one good thing that comes out of waking up early, it's the sunrise," Master Kenobi shared aloud. Ahsoka managed a smile. "Really," she replied. "I've seen a few, but…"

"The view here is nice," Master Kenobi said with a glimmer in his eyes. He turned to Ahsoka from the side of the room, asking, "Would you like some tea?" Ahsoka shrugged her shoulders. "I don't mind," she replied honestly. Master Kenobi nodded and turned back around. Ahsoka leaned against the wall and watched as Coruscant woke up. (Well, it was always awake.) She could see more speeders joining the already-long line of vehicles in the air – she saw some lights from inside buildings flicker off as natural light filled the planet.

After a few minute of contented silence, Master Kenobi turned to hand Ahsoka a steaming cup. With a grateful grin, Ahsoka took it with both hands and stared back out the windows. "You're right," she said after a while. "It's a good view from here." The man bobbed his head in agreement besides her. "The strangest thing," he intoned, "is that there is only one sunrise and sunset on a planet. It never once changes."

"But it always looks different," Ahsoka added. "Someone told me about that once, during lessons." She watched as rays of orange peeked out from behind the skyscrapers, bathing the metal in an odd, shining light. "I always found it strange," she murmured. "Because on some days, the sun doesn't make the same colors in the sky as it did yesterday – or the day before that – or a week before that – or even a year before that."

"There's something calming about it, though," Master Kenobi pointed out. "It may look like it's always changing, but it's the same." Ahsoka wrinkled her nose. "I suppose so," she replied, looking down at her cup of tea. It was a deep, pleasant shade of orange. Ahsoka took a slow sip from it, avoiding looking at Master Kenobi.

The master laughed. "Anakin used to be lost in these conversations as well," he replied, though not unkindly. "So you need not to feel guilty for not deciding to continue the conversation, young one." Ahsoka smiled. "Okay, then, Master Kenobi," she said after some time. She sat down on the floor and keeping her eyes on the sun, added, "Then, just because I don't want the conversation to end – can you tell me what else you think about this?"

xXx

"Though our spirits wander into the Force, our physical bodies are made of matter. And there's a law that states that matter is never created or destroyed, only reused and recycled in its own way," Master Kenobi said quietly. Ahsoka listened attentively, holding her cup of tea close to her chest. She had realized that the master had a great interest in many different branches of science – which shouldn't have come off as a surprise, but it was very different to hear him talking about his interests rather than listen about it from Anakin.

"So imagine – when we die, our minds will join the Force, but our bodies might become a part of something else." Master Kenobi smiled. "You could end up being in a part of a supernova billions and billions of years old – or it might go into another child…or perhaps a plant." Ahsoka's eyes widened. "I think I'd like to be a part of a supernova," she grinned. She hopped up to her feet. "Or no – even better," she added, "I think being a sun just like this one would be…special." Ahsoka gestured out the window. "It's like what you said – being something different and the same at the same time. I would like to be something like that."

Master Kenobi stood back up. "That, Ahsoka," he said quietly, "I believe is a very wise thing to say, indeed."

xXx

Ahsoka liked that conversation she had with Master Kenobi, and found herself going to his quarters to hear more – and he never seemed to shoo her away, either.

xXx

Orange, Ahsoka decided, was the color of friendship. Not the kind of friendship she shared with Anakin or Rex – but something a bit different from that. (Different, but still the same.) It was quieter – subtler – and filled with encouraging smiles and little moments in between.

Ahsoka wanted to see that color more often in her life.

A/N - And I just think Saturn fits Obi-Wan very well. "With shortness of breath, you explained the infinite...how rare and beautiful it is to even exist." (I just cry a lot when I listen to that song - don't judge me.) As for my science teacher - he's a really, really special person in my life. You know - I think there will always be a few teachers who'll have that impact on you. I think I'm lucky to have someone like him who I can call a good friend.

Reviews are nice! Constructive criticism is tolerable, but flames are not.