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-13

Author's Note: THANKS to the people who have reviewed so far! Please keep reviewing! This story is very A/U and will probably contain OOCness. The summary states that in the third life Kaoru is with someone else in the beginning, so don't be alarmed. I DO know where I'm going with this…LOL! >_< Anyway, I have started yet another story, 'The Princess and the Rurouni: A Fairy Tale Romance' (long title, ne?). Check it out if you are interested!

~~ denotes shifts in time/character perspective

** denotes character's thoughts

***This chapter is for Susan…for being there, for listening to my mindless ramblings, for everything she has done for me…Susan, this and the rest of this story is for you…Arigatou!***

Touch Me Deeply

Chapter 2: The First Time I Loved Another

Mars Colony 324: New Tokyo

Year: 2502

"This war has been going on for much longer than any of us had anticipated," the young General Tao said from the front of the enormous lecture hall. "The Hebi people simply refuse to agree to any of our treaties. We suspect that their next target will be Mars Colony 320: Kyoto II." He paused for a moment as a picture of the colony flashed on the screen behind him. "We must prevent that at all costs."

A corresponding murmur resounded through the hall.

"Lieutenant Claire has a brief plan he would like to outline for us all," Tao continued once the noise had quieted. "After his presentation, we will adjourn to the cafeteria, where you will all receive your new assignments."

As the tall Lieutenant took his place behind the podium and started gesturing to the hologram at his side, Kaoru turned to the silent man beside her. "Do you think we will be sent to Kyoto II?"

"Most likely," came his soft reply, brown eyes flicking to her for a brief moment before they returned to the front of the hall.

"I wish this war was over already," Kaoru whispered, shifting in her seat so that their shoulders touched lightly. "I'm so tired of all this fighting."

Her quiet companion didn't respond, merely inclined his body towards her, pressing their shoulders closer together.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Kamiya Kaoru!" a voice called out sharply.

Kaoru immediately stood at attention, saluting the intimidating man that stood before her. "Sir!"

"At ease, Sergeant," Lieutenant Claire said coolly. "Your assignment has been changed, Kamiya. You will no longer be partnered with Yukishiro. You will be partnered with Himura Kenshin. He is transferring to our sector tonight."

Kaoru struggled to hide her surprise, but failed miserably.

"Have a problem with that?" Claire asked, arching a dark eyebrow.

"Sir, no, sir!" Kaoru said quickly.

"Glad to hear it," Claire stated coldly. "Your scheduled time to leave in two days will remain the same. Enjoy these two days of peace."

"Thank you, sir," Kaoru said, executing a rapid salute.

Releasing a sigh of agitation, she turned to see Enishi walking towards her.

"Have you been told?" she inquired when he reached her.

He nodded slightly. "They have partnered me with Sagara Sanosuke. I suppose he is arriving with your new partner."

"Why would they separate us?" Kaoru asked, lowing her voice as a few Privates strolled by. "We have been partners since I graduated from the academy."

"I'm not sure," he replied softly. "Let's not discuss it here. Let's go back to our apartment."

Their "apartment" was nothing more than a rather cramped room with a small kitchen and a tiny bathroom. The queen size bed slid back into the wall after every use, a comfortable sofa folding out in its place.

Enishi sunk onto the couch, slowly removing his black, steel-toed boots. Tossing them to the side, he leaned back onto the couch, shutting his eyes wearily.

"Want some tea?" Kaoru asked, leaning her hip against the narrow stove.

"Sure," he murmured without opening his eyes.

Kaoru pushed a button on the stove and their water was ready in an instant. She poured tea for them both, joining him on the couch and leaning her head on his shoulder.

"I don't want to be apart from you," she whispered after a few minutes.

Enishi reached down, taking her hand in his and lacing their fingers together tightly.

"Everything will be fine," he assured her softly. "This will be a learning experience."

"Hmm," Kaoru murmured. "My brother will be arriving here at seven. He's bringing his fiancée. He wants to go to that club we went to last time."

Enishi frowned slightly. "I didn't like it much."

Sighing, Kaoru stood abruptly. "Neither did I, but you know my brother…"

He inclined his head in a slow nod. "Yeah."

As Kaoru moved around the tiny space, changing her clothes quickly, Enishi watched her intently.

"What is it?" she asked finally, pulling a brush through her thick, raven hair.

"Will you have dinner with me on Sunday?" he questioned, eyes moving over her face.

Kaoru giggled, leaning down to press a tender kiss to his mouth. "Of course."

"Just the two of us," he whispered, curling his fingers around her slender waist and pulling her into his lap.

"I would love that," Kaoru murmured, closing her eyes as he slowly trailed soft kisses down her throat. "Mmmm…"

As his hands began to play with the hem of her shirt, Kaoru pulled away from him slightly, laughing. "We have to go in ten minutes…"

"We can make it quick," he said seriously.

"Not that quick," she replied, pressing one last kiss to his mouth before standing. "I'd prefer to take things nice and slow…and you still have to change…"

~~~~~~~~~

"I don't see why you requested a transfer here, Kenshin," Sano muttered, kicking a small piece of metal on the ground. "We were doing just fine in 322."

"I told you why already," Kenshin replied, glancing sideways at a row of abandoned buildings. "They should redo this area."

"This place is a hellhole," Sano commented, shaking his head. "One military base in the middle of all this garbage."

"You're the one that wanted to go to this club tonight," Kenshin reminded him softly. "I was more than content to stay at the base and relax. We had a long trip."

"I need to release some of this pent up energy," Sano said, pulling his leather jacket closed as a cool breeze wafted through the buildings. "There are only three things that can do that for me right now: dancing, women, and alcohol."

Kenshin nearly rolled his eyes. "Let's hurry up. It's getting colder."

They entered the club five minutes later.

"This is supposed to be how clubs were back on Earth," Sano told him loudly as they pushed through the crowd. "It doesn't look any different from the ones we've been to. I guess a club is a club, no matter what planet."

Kenshin nodded absently, spotting a free table on the edge of the dance floor. "I'm going to go get that table."

"Okay," Sano said, yelling to be heard over the music. "I'll get you a drink!"

Kenshin made his way to the small table, settling on a hard chair with a sigh. The club was dim and smoke-filled, the music so loud he could barely hear himself think. Sano appreciated places like these more than he did, but he supposed getting off the base was a good idea. He had spent an almost obscene amount of time buried in work recently. One night off might be all he needed to release some of the stress that had been building inside him.

His eyes mindlessly wandered to the dance floor. It was packed with scantily clad bodies writhing together to the pulsing beats of the music. His gaze fell on a tall, spiky haired boy that seemed vaguely familiar. The boy was dancing close to a pretty girl with chin-length, dark brown hair. He was smiling down at her, murmuring something. The girl giggled, grabbing his hand and beginning to pull him off the floor.

Kenshin's eyes followed them until they stopped at a table. And then he saw her. The reason he had requested the transfer to New Tokyo. Kamiya Kaoru.

The picture he had seen of her was a few years old. Now her face looked more mature, her body more womanly, her hair longer. She was sitting beside a good-looking man with wild, black hair and a piercing gaze. His skin was tan. From what Kenshin could see of him, he had a lithe, muscular build and probably stood several inches taller than Kenshin's five foot eight.

**Yukishiro Enishi,** Kenshin thought vaguely, eyes narrowing as he surveyed his competition. **They were partners before, but I wonder just how deep the relationship goes…**

~~~~~~~~

"Come and dance with us!" Tsubame shouted cheerfully.

Kaoru smiled up at her, turning to glance at Enishi, who had been eyeing the crowd with a mildly bored expression.

"What do you think, Enishi?" she asked, calling his attention to her. "Want to dance?"

For a moment it appeared like he would refuse. Kaoru jumped to her feet, winking at Tsubame.

"Well, if you don't want to dance with me," Kaoru stated, taking a few steps forward, "I suppose I will have to find some other gorgeous man to keep me entertained."

Enishi was on his feet quickly, grabbing her hand and pulling her back to him. "I don't think so."

Kaoru grinned up at him teasingly, giving in to the urge to lean up and press a kiss to his chin. "Let's dance."

They followed Tsubame and Kaoru's younger brother, Yahiko, onto the dance floor, squeezing past a few couples to a tiny empty spot near the middle.

The song changed almost immediately to a fast-paced, pounding song in another language. Kaoru recognized the song, if not the language. It was a popular song from Venus. She pressed close to Enishi, moving quickly along with the music. His hands closed around her hips as he pulled her tight against him. He danced with the same grace he did everything else. She supposed he could have merely stood there without moving and still managed to look stunning.

They had met three years before, after she had graduated from the academy at eighteen. Her first impression of him was that he was arrogant and cold, but she soon saw past the emotionless mask he wore in front of other people.

They began dating six months after they became military partners. Their relationship proceeded slowly. Enishi had been, and still was, cautious in displaying his emotions and Kaoru had been afraid of having her heart broken. She soon saw that he wouldn't break her heart. His love for her was not something profound that would shatter stars and lift planets, but it was deep and true. She knew that he adored her, even if he didn't always show it. She knew that he would give his life for her. If she was honest, she would have to admit that she would give her life for him as well. She loved him more than she had loved anyone else in her life. He had helped to fill the empty space she often felt in her heart. The space that cried out because something was missing. A deep, inner part of her yearned for the thing that would complete her. She didn't know if Enishi was that part, but he helped to fill the void. He warmed her soul when he was near. In bed he made her burn. Their relationship was something precious, of that she was sure. He had become an intricate part of her life.

Kaoru snapped out of her inner musings, reaching up to stroke his cheek gently.

"What is it?" he asked, leaning forward to say it softly in her ear.

"Just thinking about how much I love you," she replied with a small smile.

He turned his head slightly, pressing a light kiss to her palm. "I love you, too."

After a few more dances, Kaoru began to tug Enishi back to their table. "I'm going to run to the restroom really quick!"

He nodded, sinking into his former chair and taking a slow sip of the drink in front of him.

Kaoru's progress through the swarm of people was achingly slow. She sighed when the couple in front of her refused to budge. Deciding to go around them, she pushed a few chairs in and began to weave her way throughout the tables.

As she was walking, a flash of red caught her eye. A man was seated at a table, idly staring down at the drink in his hands. His hair was a deep, fiery auburn. He wore it pulled back into a high ponytail, his jagged bangs falling over his forehead into his eyes.

He seemed so sad, sitting there lost in thought. Kaoru found that she couldn't tear her eyes away.

He looked up, as if feeling her eyes on him, and their eyes met. And held. His deep violet eyes bore into hers intently. Kaoru felt her heart speed as everything around her seemed to slow and melt away. For a few seconds they were lost in each other's eyes before Kaoru broke the contact, turning her head away abruptly. She pushed her way through the crowd, reaching the bathroom quickly.

Once inside, she stared at her reflection in the mirror, noting the faint blush on her cheeks. In the instant that their eyes had met, his face had been permanently etched in her mind. High cheekbones, golden skin, large, lavender eyes surrounded by dark red lashes. His eyes and his hair made a captivating combination. Enishi had a gorgeous face, but this man…this man had the most stunning face she had ever seen.

For a moment, Kaoru felt her heart race as she remembered.

**I wonder who he is…I have the strangest feeling…that I've met him somewhere before…**

TBC…

~~~~~~~~~

Okay, so Enishi is probably OOC. First, he's not crazy in this. Second, he and Kaoru are dating. I know, I know, don't throw rotten fruit at me. I warned that Kaoru was with someone else in the third life. This is not your traditional romance.

A note about the whole military thing…I was in the Marine Corps JROTC for three years. Made it to Second Lieutenant (woohoo!), but anyway, the ranks will be correct, but the way things are run in my fantasy military might be different from the REAL life military. Just a warning that you might see some discrepancies.

Thanks for reading!! Please review!

~Midori^_^