Michael slid down, leaning his head back against the rim of the bathtub as the warm water washed over and absorbed some of the tension in his body. No amount of calm could still the noise pounding in his head. He closed his eyes, urging his mind; focus, relax, focus, relax, repeating it like a mantra until he felt its cadence surround him, envelop him.

The water around him stirred as he felt silky limbs brush against his chest, then the gentle, almost weightless pressure of a body leaning back against him. The blonde hair tickled his chin, clung in strands to his chest, floated in the water around him.

"You came" he sighed gratefully.

"Of course Michael, why would you think I'd leave you now." The husky voice echoed in his ears, stilling the noise in his head as only she could.

"Because of all that I have done, because of what I am about to do."

He moaned at the touch of fingers stroking his chest, tracing circles on stomach. A soapy sponge left slick trails on his skin that were gently washed away with the caress of warm water.

"Then why do you do these things? Why would you risk this fragile peace we share?" she asked.

He kissed her hair, running his fingers down and along the contours of her jaw. She seemed to surround him like the water that lapped against his skin.

"I don't know" he whispered. His mind started racing again as he thought of an answer that might satisfy her. How could he make her understand when he barely understood it himself.

"They are depending on me, I just have to do it, then it will be over."

"Until the next time?" she looked at him, almost through him, blue eyes piercing his soul.

"Until the next time" he sighed. She understood.

He traced his fingers along the curves of her body, thinking this is what his mind would conjure if it were creating perfection.

"We should make the most of this moment, I don't know how much longer I can do this. Each time brings us closer to the end."

"You are my conscience," he said, not sure if it was a question or a simple statement of fact.

She smiled, running her fingers around his face as she brushed her lips against his.

"Is that what you want me to be?" she breathed, running her tongue along his lower lip.

"Yes" he urged "please." He opened his lips as her tongue explored his mouth, her fingers gently moving through his hair. All rational thought left him; her touch was mesmerising. Her legs wound around him, her arms circled him protectively. He sought his salvation in her embrace as he entered her, feeling her strength spread through his body as she gripped him tightly. The water circled and swirled around them, lapping against his skin in time to the ever-increasing movement of their bodies.

He moaned softly as he looked into her eyes, electric charges still pulsing through his body. He heard her sigh as she smiled down at him.

"I am your conscience" she whispered.

"You are my soul" he whispered in response.

She traced a finger around his face and then placed it under his chin, blue eyes blazing down at him.

"Then I tell you this. Each man is his own absolute lawgiver, dispenser of glory or gloom to himself, decreer of his life, his reward, his punishment."

He stared into her face, her words echoing in his head.

"Will you come back?" he whispered softly, reaching out to touch her golden hair.

"That depends on you Michael, how long can you exist without your soul?"

Her face vanished as a hand shook him roughly.

"Wake up Michel, we must go. Hurry now, we don't have much time. The others are waiting."

He sat up quickly, the cold water chilling his skin. He rubbed his eyes and looked around frantically, searching.

"What is it Michel? Were you dreaming? You look like you have lost something."

He sighed as he stood and reached for a towel, quickly drying himself and dressing.

"It is nothing Rene, let's go."

The END.

(I borrowed from some Buddhist teachings for this story.)

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