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.

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

***Once again, this chapter and all chapters are for Susan. Thank you for reading over my stuff and for just being there! I don't know if you realize it, but every day you help me move away from the self-destructive path I was on. For that I will always be grateful.***

Touch Me Deeply

Chapter 3: The Calm Before the Storm

Mars Colony 324: New Tokyo

Year: 2502

Kaoru sighed, stopping in front of the door to her small apartment to stomp caked on red mud from her boots. Once most of the dirt had come loose, she quickly typed in the code on the number pad next to the door. The door slid aside rapidly, revealing her dimly lit apartment.

"Enishi?" she questioned, moving forward into the room as the door slid shut behind her.

The light flicked on immediately. Enishi was leaning against the stove, dressed in a gorgeously tailored, black tuxedo, a long-stemmed red rose held loosely in his right hand. "Hello, lovely," he murmured, stepping forward to hand her the rose.

Kaoru accepted it from him in numb shock. "I thought we were going to dinner tonight? You didn't tell me it was going to be a formal occasion…I don't have anything to wear…"

Enishi smiled slightly, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her mouth. "I have something else for you…"

Kaoru's eyes followed him as he moved to their closet. She gasped as he withdrew a long, deep ruby dress.

"This is for you," he said quietly. "I want you to wear it tonight."

"Oh, Enishi," Kaoru whispered, fingers reaching out to stroke the silky fabric of the dress. "Thank you so much! What's the occasion?"

"There is no occasion," he murmured, wrapping strong arms around her slim waist and pulling her against him. "Just that I love you. I want to treat you to a special night before we're separated."

"I love you, too." Kaoru slid her arms up his chest to curl around his neck loosely. "You didn't have to, Enishi. Roses are so expensive…and the dress—"

"Shh," Enishi interrupted softly. "I wanted to…"

Kaoru giggled, leaning back a few inches to peer up at his face. "I need a shower. I can't get into that dress all sweaty."

"I would join you, but I don't feel like having to get back into this tuxedo afterwards," Enishi commented, smiling down at her. "But tonight…"

Kaoru shivered slightly, savoring the huskiness that had come into his tone.

"Our reservation is at seven," he informed her after a moment. "You'll have to dress quickly, I'm afraid."

"It's no problem. I'll be right out."

Thirty minutes later, Kaoru leaned close to her small mirror, carefully applying deep ruby lipstick to her generous mouth. Shimmery, white eye shadow made her eyes appear large and captivating, while pale blush gave her cheeks a flushed, rosy appearance.

Enishi curved his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder as he inhaled her scent. "You look stunning…"

Kaoru smiled, hand reaching up to caress the side of his face. "So do you."

"Marry me…"

Kaoru gasped, spinning around to face him in shock. "What?"

"I was going to wait until tonight," he responded sheepishly. "But I can't wait…I'd rather do it here in private…"

Kaoru gaped at him in silence, watching as he quickly got to his knees before her.

"Kaoru," he murmured, reaching into his pocket and withdrawing a small, velvet box slowly. "I love you so much. I…I can't imagine my life without you…when we leave for this mission tomorrow, I want to go with the knowledge that you feel the same way…will you marry me? Spend your life with me? Be my wife?"

Bringing a trembling hand to her mouth, Kaoru stared down at him, feeling the warmth of tears fill her eyes. "Oh, God…"

"Kaoru?" he asked, face uncertain. "Are you all right?"

"Y-Yes."

"Yes, you're all right or yes, you will marry me?" he asked, grinning up at her.

"Yes, I will marry you!" Kaoru cried happily, flinging her arms around his neck.

He gave a low chuckle, pulling her tight against him. "I'm glad."

Kaoru continued to weep softly as he slipped a simple, elegantly cut, diamond solitaire onto her finger.

"No more crying," he whispered, thumbs gently brushing over the tears on her cheeks. "You're supposed to be happy…"

"These are tears of happiness," Kaoru informed him, leaning up to press a kiss to his mouth. "I love you."

"Hmm," he murmured, hugging her close as he deepened the kiss slowly.

Kaoru moaned into his mouth, fingers coming up to burrow in the baby soft hair at the nape of his neck.

"How about I just have you for dinner?" he suggested in a low, sexy tone.

Grinning at him wickedly, Kaoru reached up to push the tuxedo jacket from his broad shoulders. Allowing it to fall to the floor behind him, Enishi waited calmly as her nimble fingers quickly unbuttoned the silk shirt beneath. Leaning forward, she pressed a soft kiss to the smooth, tan skin she had bared. "How about I have you?"

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Hours later, Kaoru lay beside Enishi in bed, fingers idly running over the muscles of his chest. He was toying with the long strands of her hair, massaging her scalp gently.

"I'm starving," Kaoru said with a giggle. "Want to order out?"

"I'll run out and get something," he replied, starting to sit up.

Kaoru pounced onto him quickly, hands urging his shoulders back down to the bed as she straddled his waist. "You're not going anywhere…"

Enishi grinned up at her, hands coming up to run up the ivory skin of her back. "It will be faster if I run out," he murmured, burying his fingers in her hair and pulling her head back gently, exposing the white skin of her neck. Moments later, his mouth was running hotly over the skin there, causing her to shudder slightly.

"Mmm…" Kaoru moaned softly.

"I'll be right back," he whispered, lifting her from his lap and placing her on the bed next to him.

Kaoru groaned her disappointment, pulling the sheet up to cover her nakedness. "Where are you going to go?"

"That Chinese restaurant in Section C."

"Hurry back," Kaoru commanded, pouting prettily.

Enishi paused in dressing long enough to kiss her hard. "I will."

Kaoru sank back onto the pillows, stretching languidly as she gazed at the ring on her finger. **Oh, Enishi…I never thought you would ask me to marry you…but I'm glad…I love you so much…**

A knock on the door jarred her from her thoughts, causing her to sit up abruptly.

"Why didn't you just use the code?" she asked laughingly, wrapping the sheet tightly around herself as she approached the door, quickly pressing the button to open it.

Blue eyes clashed with lavender as she beheld the man in the doorway. Kaoru gasped, cheeks flaming in embarrassment. "Oh, my God, I thought you were someone else," she muttered, stepping back rapidly. "Give me a moment, please."

Kaoru slammed her hand down on the button, causing the door to slide shut between them. **Oh, Lord…what is HE doing here? How did he find me? Who is he?**

Kaoru donned her thick, blue robe, swiftly pulling her hair back in a loose ponytail before she opened the door once more. "Sorry. I wasn't expecting any visitors this late at night."

The auburn haired man before her nodded slightly. "I apologize. It's just that we are leaving tomorrow and this is the first time I have had to come introduce myself."

"We?" Kaoru repeated curiously.

"I am Major Kenshin Himura," he replied, extending his hand. "Your new partner."

TBC…

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Thanks for reading! Please review!!

~Midori^_^