This was one of the most popular and controversial stories that I've ever written. I've gotten comments on it from people who had never even heard of Rurouni Kenshin. It was also one of the hardest things I've ever written… I'd never even written anything lemon-ish before and have only written one lemon-ish thing since. (It is also a chapter of this story and I'm debating whether or not to include it in this… I'm just nervous if someone I now were to read it… what do you think?) This story had an interesting premise in my mind… at the time it was written, Soujiro had never been in a lemon story on the internet in the English-speaking fandom (I know… I looked hard… at that point in time, I'd read every RK story in English on the Internet.) He'd been in one or two romance stories but they had all been to cute-ish original characters. I heard this song on the radio while I was driving one day and the thought came to me, "What if Sou-chan had a similar coming-of-age experience? What if it was with someone who wasn't the perfect mate for him and just someone who made him feel a little bit more when he remembered about it?" So I agonized and wrote it out and almost didn't post it, but with some encouragement from my sister, I put it out. Later, it was pondering what might happen to Sou-chan after this that inspired the rest of the story… that's why it's included even though it doesn't have Misao. BTW, I have this figured to be taking place about one year after the Kyoto arc.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

That Summer

[Music starts.]

Soujiro, about twenty, walks along an ill-kept road running along some rice paddies. The sun hangs low in the sky as dusk approaches.

[I went to work for her that summer

A teenage kid so far from home ]

A little ahead of him on the road walks a woman, about thirty, carrying a heavy bundle of rice. She is dressed in rough working clothes with black hair pulled back away from her face and neck. An unexpected bump comes up in the road and she stumbles. He rushes forward to catch her.

[She was a lonely widow woman

Hell-bent to make it on her own ]

He offers to carry the bundle of rice for her. She leads the way down the road to her home. It is a small house with two rooms and an outdoor bath. Opening the door, she gestures for Soujiro to set the bundle down.

[We were a thousand miles from nowhere

Wheat fields as far as I could see ]

He turns to leave, but the woman calls him back. She offers to let him stay the night since she took him out of his way. He opens his mouth to refuse but the look in her eyes stops him and he agrees.

[ Both needing something from each other

Not knowing yet what that might be ]

She offers him the use of the bath while she prepares dinner and cleans up. He heats the water and soaks until she calls him.

['Til she came to me one evening

Hot cup of coffee and a smile ]

He dresses and enters the dimly lit house. A simple fare is set on the low table. The woman has freshened up, letting her hair down and dressing herself in a kimono that accentuated her small dark eyes.

[ In a dress that I was certain

She hadn't worn in quite a while ]

Soujiro seats himself across from her while she serves him rice and tea. When he reaches to take the bowl from her, his hand briefly brushes hers and a slight shiver runs through his body.

[There was a difference in her laughter

There was a softness in her eyes ]

He looks up and their eyes meet.

[ And on the air there was a hunger

Even a boy could recognize ]

Slightly embarrassed for an unknown reason, Soujiro looks back down and begins to eat.

[She had a need to feel the thunder

To chase the lightning from the sky ]

The couple finishes their meal quietly. When they are finished eating, she takes the bowls from him and strokes his hand in the motion. He raises his eyes and looks at her.

[ To watch a storm with all its wonder

Ragin' in her lover's eyes ]

This time he doesn't look away.

[She had to ride the heat of passion

Like a comet burning bright ]

Setting the dishes down, she extends her hand for him to come with her.

[ Rushing headlong in the wind

Now where only dreams have been

Burning both ends of the night ]

With trepidation, he takes her hand as she leads him into her bedroom.

[ That summer wind was all around me

Nothing between us but the night ]

Inside the room, she turns and embraces him. With gentle eagerness, she caresses his arms and back. He nervously wraps his arms around her in return.

[When I told her that I'd never

She softly whispered that's alright ]

Sensing his hesitancy, she looks up at him and whispers a question. He flushes a little and shakes his head. She nods and smiles a little.

[And then I watched her hands of leather

Turn to velvet in a touch ]

Reaching up, she strokes his face and pulls him down for a kiss.

[There's never been a summer

When I have ever learned so much ]

After recovering from his shock, Soujiro returns the kiss.

[ We had a need to feel the thunder

To chase the lightning from the sky ]

Cloth flutters to the floor as clothing is removed.

[To watch a storm with all its wonder

Ragin' in each other's eyes ]

They separate for a moment as she spreads a futon and turns down the blanket.

[We had to ride the heat of passion

Like a comet burning bright ]

Laying down to futon she motions for him to join her.

[ Rushing headlong in the wind

Now where only dreams have been

Burning both ends of the night ]

He sinks to the floor and into her embrace.

[ Musical bridge.]

Soujiro walks around another road. He is a bit older, about twenty-two.

[I often think about that summer

The sweat, the moonlight and the lace ]

The sun hangs low in the sky as dusk approaches.

[And I have rarely held another

When I haven't seen her face ]

He stops to look out over the rice paddies he is walking near.

[ And every time I pass a wheat field

And watch it dancing with the wind ]

A breeze blows through his hair as people pass him on the road.

[ Although I know it isn't real

I just can't help but feel

Her hungry arms again ]

He smiles, just a little, and thinks back to that night.

[She had a need to feel the thunder

To chase the lightning from the sky ]

In the darkness, two figures move together on the floor.

[ To watch a storm with all its wonder

Ragin' in her lover's eyes ]

Sweat mingles and a name is called into the night.

[She had to ride the heat of passion

Like a comet burning bright ]

The two forms of the lovers lay breathing softly together in sleep, their entangled limbs scarcely covered by a blanket capriciously thrown across their bodies.

[Rushing headlong in the wind

Now where only dreams have been

Burning both ends of the night ]

In the morning, he bathes again and dresses. She sees him off at the door and watches as he walks away.

[Rushing in long in the wind

Now where only dreams have been

Burnin' both ends of the night ]

Twenty-two-year-old Soujiro looks over the rice paddies once more and continues walking. A picture of the woman watching him from her door superimposes itself over the image of him walking away.

Owari.

Sung by Garth Brooks on his CD The Chase.

Disclaimer: I don't own the song or Soujiro. The woman is mine. Please don't sue (I have enough bills already...)

Author's Notes: Have you ever had a fic that you _really_ didn't want to write but _really_ wanted to get itself written? I didn't want to write this fic but once I got the idea, it wouldn't go away (I had the song stuck in my head for three days straight!) This is my first time writing anything even vaguely lemon-scented so please let me know how you liked it.('Cause I can't tell how it came out... I'm alternating between hating even the concept of this fic and congratulating myself for finishing it.)

Sou-chan, please forgive me!

(Written April 1999)

Riah-chan

...because everyone needs a little R&R.
"Well, then there'll be just one less person to poke fun at you, right pumpkin."
"Tashika ni kimi wa Queen, kedo dattara ore ga King da na!"