Specialshipping - Just for tonight

Red.

You're princess, I'm your loyal servant.

My father has told me for several times that I was born to protect her. It's my job to die for her sake, to be by her side whenever she needs. I'm her bodyguard.

Nothing more… nothing less. Not that I need to change our status.

A mere bodyguard has no right to ask for a princess's love. Not that I need her love. I know she cares for me.

For me… just being by her side is enough for me. I don't feel that I need more.

She is a princess. She must be strong and determined in front of the King (I refuse to call him her Father… for personal reasons.), her citizens.

But I know better than that. I know what is under her cover. She is still a little girl, too young, too fragile. She only cries and shows her sorrow in front of me. She has a bright smile… I must protect her smile, her happiness…

If only she could understand my heart…

No.

I have told myself. I may be her childhood friend, but I'm her bodyguard too. I must fulfill my duty.

Besides, no one else but me can understand her heart. It is my secret. And that is enough for me.

For her sake, I'm willing to do anything… even if I have been tainted, even if which means I have to cost my life.

However, I have never thought of a certain event. Someday, she will no longer be by my side again. Someday, she has to stand on her own will. Someday, I shan't be able to see her blonde hair lightening in the dawn, her chocolate brown eyes and her gentle smile… The day when my life seems to be stopped completely.

Princess, what is your dream? Living in the palace, I know you always want to travel… How many times I imagine that scene… when I see you off. It might be the last time I saw you smiling… And it might be the end of my first and only love…

….

"Captain Red!" One of my subordinates, Gold, called out to me during the training. I turned my head, looking at him surprisedly upon seeing his serious face

"What's up Gold? Do you want…"

He cut in rather rudely:

"What's up?" He asked, half yelling at me. "How can you be so calm, Captain?"

"Hey… what's going on?"

"Jeez…" He sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "I guess you haven't heard of the news yet." Yes, I haven't. Thank you very much, Gold. I thought to myself while smiling sheepishly. That guy is sometimes short-tempered…"It's about Princess Yellow's engagement with Baron Lance of neighboring country."

It was like my world stopped spinning at the moment he said that. Unconsciously, I tightened my grasped on my sword.

The engagement was the last thing I wanted to happen. Two countries have been fighting each other for three years now…

And finally, they found a way to solve the problem. The one she will get married with isn't the Prince… but the King accepts that. For the sake of this country.

How laughable. Princess now is a sacrifice for the sake of peace… But who will protect her peace?

"Captain?" Gold's uncertain voice snapped me out of my trance. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine." I smiled at him. "We'd better prepare for her safety." Why did I become so good at faking my emotion?

At least… that is what I can do… protect her as long as I live…

I don't want to see her crying… I don't want to see her sad face.

I have to hold back my feelings. Because I don't think loving her is a crime.

But I fear… What will happen if I can't hold my feelings back?

I'll protect you until the day I die… Because I love you, from the bottom of my heart.

Yellow.

Why do you show me such a face? I haven't realized the reason… But please, I want to see your true smile….

When I was a little girl, my mother always told me a fairy tail before going to bed. They always talked about princesses, and someday, princes would be by her side forever. I always believed…

How foolish I was and still am. Because happy endings don't exist in this world.

And because my life is just like a fairy tale, too… when the princess falls in love with her bodyguard, her closest friend. I'm princess, but I'm a girl too. How can a girl not fall for the guy who has saved her life for several times? I don't even know how many times he has saved me.

But…

I was born as a princess. I was born to protect my country at any cost. I love my country. Yet… my love for him is different.

No matter where I am, he will never leave my side.

Then I realized… I have depended on him more than I expect. I always bother him, don't I? However… I let myself be selfish… to rely on him. It is my secret happiness.

War is a terrible thing. I hate the idea of war and seeing my country being destroyed. All it is senseless fighting for conquest. Innocent people will be caught up in the destruction and nobody will end up the winner.

So if marriage can solve the war, I'll do it. Not that I have any choices. But it's for the sake of my citizen.

However, I don't know how to face him… Until that night.

I could see the half-moon in the sky, feel the night wind against my face, and smell the faint scent of flowers in the air. Normally, it would be a beautiful night when I could enjoy myself and would slowly fall asleep as if nothing could disturb me. And he would be by my side, watching me wordlessly.

"Your Highness, what are you doing here?"

I startled, turning back, only to find a pair of red eyes looking at me.

"Red…" I spluttered. "Sorry, I..."

"I see." He said, smiling gently. "But Princess, it's pretty late. You should rest for tomorrow, you know."

Each word like a blade stabbed my heart. And seeing his smile hurt me the most.

Why do you always smile at me? Why do you never get angry?

But, I should have known that.

"Tomorrow… and I'm getting married." I said.

"I think you should be happy." Something in his voice sounded painful. No… I must be paranoid.

I turned my back to him, speaking in slow voice:

"I guess so." My tears were falling down out of control. I brought a hand up to cover my mouth. And although my mind told me not to cry in front of him anymore… my heart didn't obey.

I know he doesn't lo… Before I could finish my thoughts, strong arms tightened around my shaking shoulder, hugging me from behind. I know this feeling…

"Don't cry, please…" His voice was nothing more than a whisper. "You're supposed to be happy, Princess."

I hate when he calls me Princess. He once called my name, didn't he? But I couldn't understand why everything turned different.

Finally, I said:

"I don't want to get married, I don't want to lea…"

"I love you." He cut in.

My eyes widened, my heart pounding, my tears seemed to be frozen. Slowly, I came face-to-face him as he withdrew his hand, turning his back into another direction.

I could feel my cheek reddening as I asked:

"Can… you repeat?"

I had to try my best to stand on my own. But I wanted to make sure.

Awkward silence… His voice appeared again:

"I… love…you."

My ears must be lying to me. But thanks to the moon, I could see his cheek reaching the color of his name.

Then he turned to look at me, fists clenching:

"Sorry, your Highness, I should not…"

"So, our love is a forbidden one, huh?" Those words escaped from my lips before I could realize. Then when I noticed it, I was blushing deeply.

And he was looking at me with wide eyes in disbelief.

"Your Highness…"

Both of us were speechless. Suddenly, he turned his head into another direction again, his expression now unseen.

"Sometimes…" He spoke in a low voice. "I really want to run away… But I can't. You love your country… I love our country." He turned his head, smiling again. However, his voice was so sad, so painful, so bitter.

I reached out my right hand to touch his left cheek tenderly:

"Don't…" I pleaded. "Don't show me such face, Red. Please smile for me, let me see your true smile…" He didn't respond, lowering his head. "I can't keep on living without your smile…you love. Please, Red."

Slowly, his left hand went on top of mind, pressing it against his cheek, whispered:

"Your Highness… Yellow…"

"Please, Red. Just for tonight… let me see your true smile."

"Then I'll simply grant you wishes, my Highness."

A genuine smiled appeared on his face as he leant down, giving me the sweetest kiss ever.

It was our first kiss, my first kiss, in the garden of the palace.

He said, again:

"Just for tonight, right?"

I giggled.

Yes, just for tonight… I am not Princess, he is not my bodyguard.

We're simly Red and Yellow.