Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Don't sue me! I'm poor! This story is for entertainment only and is no way meant to be offensive!

Warning: The story is PG-13, but chapter ratings will vary.

Rating: PG

Author's Note: Sorry about the delay in updating. I have been being lazy and lost my inspiration for this for a little while.

~~ denotes shifts in time/character perspective, ** denotes character's thoughts, @@ denotes flashback

***For Susan-Always.***

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Touch Me Deeply

Chapter 12: The Memory of Our Song

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Mars Colony 320: Kyoto II

Year: 2502

The following four weeks passed by quickly. The war raged on around the lonely red planet of Mars. Other places were captured completely, the people enslaved, forced to work the planet, to create new homes for the Hebi. Some were placed into breeding farms, like unwitting cattle, their flesh providing the snake-like people with the sustenance they needed.

The people on the red desert planet grew more tense as the days progressed. Slowly, the colonies around them were being overrun. Soon their planet would be one of the few that remained virtually untouched. At first they wondered the reasoning behind this. Shishio had been extremely adamant about capturing the colony of Kyoto II, but now he had seemingly lost interest. Or so they thought. Some of the smarter people, though, realized his actual plan, the greater scheme of things. To capture the surrounding areas would leave the planet of Mars alone and friendless. They would have no allies, no backup support to come to their aid. It was all a means to an end.

But what was it that drew Shishio specifically to Mars? A select few people knew the answer to that question. Most protectors of the planet were left clueless, oblivious to the significance of what lingered underground, buried beneath their feet.

Kaoru's relationship with her partner grew more strained by the day. On the surface, all appeared to be fine. They smiled in public, they were civil to each other, but once they were behind closed doors, the tension would mount to nearly unbearable levels. It was slowly becoming evident that they could not return to their previous place, their former friendship. What had happened could not so easily be cast aside or forgotten. Sure, they could pretend, but when all was said and done, they were all too aware that it was an impossibility.

She grew to know him, learning his quirks and odd habits, the special tone that entered his voice when he was pleased. He was attempting to maintain the friendship, to ignore his own feelings for her, to do what he had promised. But he loved her. Regardless of the fact that she claimed to be in love with someone else, that she planned to marry another, he could not change the feelings in his heart, in his soul. He had loved her for an eternity; he had vowed to find her. To be so near, but not be able to possess her was a constant ache in his heart. It left him bereft, it left him torn. It drove him to make a decision, a decision that caused him pain in itself, but that he was sure to be the right one.

In another two weeks, Yukishiro and Sanosuke would be coming to visit the Kyoto II base on their leave. Upon their arrival, he would announce that he had managed to have their partners switched once again. He would relinquish her back to his rival. He had spoken to Lieutenant Claire and gained the approval days before. It was done. He would get as far from her as possible and hope to flee his emotions as well. It was the only way he could move on, the only way he could continue to live his life. He had thought it would be enough to be close to her, but it only added to his torment. In the end, he had made the situation unendurable for them both.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As if to spite him, the fortnight flew by in a blur of lost moments. The morning of Yukishiro's long-awaited arrival had come and he was left unprepared for the turmoil it would bring with. After this week, they would be parted forever. He would take the taste of her lips with him to his grave and the last whisper of breath that escaped him would be her name.

They waited near the airlift pad, Kaoru bouncing with impatient happiness. She could sense that something was wrong. He had been growing more and more quiet as the days passed. He seemed edgy, out of sorts. His smile had vanished and his lovely violet eyes continued to darken with some unnamed emotion.

If Kaoru was honest with herself, she could admit that she was looking forward to Enishi's visit as much for reassurance as her longing for him. She needed to confirm that her decision was the right one, that her fiancé was the correct choice. She loved him dearly, that she knew, but as strenuously as she had fought against it, confusing feelings for her partner had also sprung into her chest.

Her dreams of him, her thoughts of him, continued.

Kenshin stiffened as the airlift appeared and began to dock.

In moments, the wild brown hair of his former partner and best friend was in view. Steps behind him was the man who was the unintentional cause of Kenshin's internal suffering. He felt piercing brown eyes pass him briefly before settling on the young woman beside him.

In an instant, Kaoru was running, flinging herself against the tall, dark- haired lieutenant and kissing him fiercely. Kenshin turned away, fists clenched.

Sanosuke sidled up next to the major, a toothpick hanging idly from the corner of his mouth. He glanced at the couple quickly before turning his gaze to his older friend. Kenshin had bowed his head, his shoulders going rigid.

Sano patted his back awkwardly, offering the only comfort he could.

As the pair finally stopped embracing, Kenshin forced a frigid smile to his lips. Yukishiro observed him coolly as they approached.

"We should all go out together tonight," Kenshin murmured, surprising everyone present.

It wasn't that he truly wanted to be in the presence of the tall second lieutenant, but it would be easier to announce his decision to them if they were all together. Besides that, it would be the last night he would have to see Kaoru. He wanted to keep her as close as possible until those final moments.

"We can go to that new club on the north side of the base," Sano put in, thinking that the loud music and crowd would distract his friend from his current situation.

"Sure," Kaoru responded slowly, peering up at her fiancé. "You don't mind, do you, Enishi?"

He shook his head slowly.

"Let's meet there at seven," the raven-haired sergeant suggested, linking her arm through Enishi's and leaning against his side. "I'm sure Enishi and Sanosuke want to get settled into their rooms."

"Of course," Kenshin said tightly. "Seven o'clock then."

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"I love you," Kaoru whispered softly, feeling Enishi's muscled arms tighten around her.

They were lying in the large bed of his hotel room, buried under the thick blankets as they snuggled against each other.

His lips brushed over the bare skin of her shoulders and she sighed drowsily.

"I love you, too," he said finally as her eyes fluttered closed.

The clock read five o'clock. They had about an hour to rest before they would have to get up and dress for the club. He would rather stay in the room and make love to her all night. They only had one week to be together before he had to return to Nova Hokkaido with his partner, after all, but he knew that she would not wish to break her word.

Hugging her closer to his body, he buried his face in her fragrant hair and gave into the call of sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you okay, Kenshin?" Sano asked, eyeing his best friend over the cafeteria table as he trimmed fat off his steak.

Kenshin shrugged slightly, amethyst eyes trained out the window beside them.

"Don't be a jerk, Ken, tell me what's going on."

"I can't stand the thought of that bastard touching her," the major hissed, eyes narrowed. "The prospect of her being with him makes me feel physically ill."

Sano shook his head slowly, chocolate eyes wide in his tanned face. "Ok, I know that he is with the woman you consider to be the love of your life, but your hatred of him seems to stem from more than just normal jealousy. I mean, you barely know the guy. He's really not that bad."

"That's not the point."

"So, you hate him just on principle?"

The sigh that escaped the major's lips was melancholy. "I've told you about my past lives, right?"

Sanosuke nodded, chewing slowly.

"Well, the first one was by far the most traumatic," Kenshin went on softly. "You see, I've known Enishi before. In my first live with Kaoru, he craved revenge on me so badly that he kidnapped her and held her captive on an island, allowing all of us to believe she was dead."

"Why did he want revenge against you?"

The major paled partially at this. "I murdered his sister with my own two hands. It was an accident, of course, but she died just the same. He was justified in wanting revenge, but he used the wrong means. Instead of approaching me directly, he tried to steal the most important thing to me and he nearly drove me insane."

Sanosuke stared at him, open-mouthed.

"He was maniacal and obsessive," Kenshin continued. "His only desire for years was to kill me." He snorted softly, remembering. "After all of that, do you think I would want that psychotic bastard with Kaoru? I would rather see her with anyone else. He was my greatest enemy."

"Wow," Sano muttered, lifting his glass to his mouth. "That's pretty messed up. Life certainly does have a sense of humor, doesn't it?"

"I am not laughing."

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Kenshin settled into a chair around a small table, eyes trained on the dance floor. Kaoru was pressed against her fiancé, swaying slightly. Sano was at the bar, flirting outrageously with a girl in a tiny skirt.

As the song ended, he stood, intending to gather them and inform them of his decision. He gestured at Sanosuke as he made his way towards the dancing couple. By the time he had reached where they had been previously standing, though, Enishi had vanished and Kaoru was alone.

"I need to talk to you both," he informed her as she stared at him in question.

"Of course," she replied, peering at him intently. "Enishi will be right back. Is there something wrong?"

"No, no, I-" Kenshin broke off, swallowing thickly. "It's just that I-well, I have requested that our partners be switched again."

Kaoru blinked at him. "What? Why?"

He smiled slightly. "You know why"

"But-"

"Let's not make it any ha-" He paused suddenly as the vaguely familiar tune of a sad song drifted over the crowd. He had never heard it before, at least not in this lifetime, but he knew it as well as he knew himself.

Almost instantaneously, his mind was in another time and place, trapped in a memory.

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"This romeo is bleeding

But you can't see his blood

It's nothing but some feelings

That this old dog kicked up."

He was at a party, sitting in a circle of his co-workers, chatting amiably over beers and chips. The women were in the kitchen, snacking on tiny sandwiches and drinking wine as a song blared over the speakers. Suddenly slender, white arms snaked around his neck and a soft cheek pressed against his.

"And I will love you, baby - Always

And I'll be there forever and a day - Always

I'll be there till the stars don't shine

Till the heavens burst and the words don't rhyme

I know when I die, you'll be on my mind

And I'll love you - Always."

"You know what just occurred to me, Kenshin?" a delicate voice said in his ear. "We don't have a song, you know, like most couples do."

He smiled, reaching up to touch the hand on his chest. "What made you think of that?"

"This song," she answered, tugging on his auburn ponytail. "I think it's beautiful, don't you? We should make it ours. We could play it at our wedding. What do you say?"

"I say that I love you."

"And the song?"

"And the song," he replied with a chuckle. "It is beautiful."

"And will you be there always?" she whispered teasingly, kissing his temple. "Even till the words don't rhyme?"

"Even longer than that."

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"Now your pictures that you left behind

Are just memories of a different life

Some that made us laugh, some that made us cry

One that made you have to say goodbye

What I'd give to run my fingers through your hair

To touch your lips, to hold you near

When you say your prayers, try to understand

I've made mistakes, I'm just a man

"When he holds you close, when he pulls you near

When he says the words you've been needing to hear

I'll wish I was him 'cause those words are mine

To say to you till the end of time

Yeah, I will love you, baby - Always

And I'll be there forever and a day - Always."

Kaoru stared at Kenshin, stupefied, as the words washed over her. She knew this song. She had always known it. She remembered. It was their song.

"Kenshin," she murmured, noticing the glazed look that had overcome his features. "I told you--I told you to remember our song."

He nodded slowly. "Yes."

"If you told me to cry for you--I could

If you told me to die for you--I would

Take a look at my face

There's no price I won't pay

To say these words to you

"Well, there ain't no luck

In these loaded dice

But, baby, if you give me just one more try

We can pack up our old dreams

And our old lives

We'll find a place where the sun still shines

"Yeah, I will love you, baby-Always

And I'll be there forever and a day-Always

I'll be there till the stars don't shine

Till the heavens burst and the words don't rhyme

I know when I die, you'll be on my mind

And I'll love you-Always."

"I remember," Kaoru whispered in wonder. "I remember it all, I remember your touch-I remember you."

Kenshin stared at her, trembling fiercely. "Kaoru-"

"I remember," she said again, stepping forward and reaching up to trail her fingers down the side of his face. "I remember I loved you and I--"

"Don't say that," he interrupted harshly, shaking his head. "Don't say it. If you say it, I can never let you go."

"I still do," she finished, her voice tinged with certainty mixed with mild surprise. "I love you, Kenshin. I've loved you forever."

And without further thought, she leaned forward and kissed him.

After a moment's hesitation, his arms encircled her slim waist and he pulled her against him. He closed his eyes tightly, casting aside all of his thoughts, all worries about the possible consequences.

And he kissed her back.

TBC..

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Hey, y'all! Thanks for reading! Sorry about the eternity it took me to update! Hope you liked the chapter. Tell me what you think! Is it sappy? If it is, what the hell! A little mush is good for the soul!

REVIEWS = HAPPY MIDORI = FASTER CHAPTERS!

~Midori^_~