Author's Notes: Wow, could ya'll kick any more ass, do you think? I know that the chapters seem pretty short right now, but they get substantially longer as the story progresses.

Warnings: Language, violence, and darkness abound. I mean, it is categorized under Horror, right?

Noir Fait Varier Le Pas : Feathered Black
Part One - Epiphany
Session Two
Kaoru

"How about vegetable?" called Enishi from the kitchen. He had actually done it – skipped class so that he could take care of me.

"Yuck!" I managed to bark out, my throat throbbing afterwards.

"No need to exert yourself, Kaoru," he teased. "Just pick up your sick, lazy butt and come in here with me to talk while I make you soup."

I scowled and thumped lazily into the kitchen, but in reality I was happy. It felt nice to be alone with Enishi, though I'd never admit it.

He glanced up as I walked into the kitchen, and then said, "Chicken noodle?" He held up a can of Campbell's microwavable soup.

I couldn't answer - it was just too funny...Enishi was wearing an APRON; a full blown, tied-around-the-waist deal. I laughed silently and fell down, rolling on the floor. My shoulders shook, and even though it caused my throat to hurt, I couldn't stop.

"Don't you laugh at me, Kamiya Kaoru. Here I am, all dressed up and ready to cook you soup and all the gratitude you give me is laughing?"

I peeked up over the counter to see if he was serious.

His head came down right in front of mine and he made a funny face.

I couldn't help it. It just made me laugh even more and I fell down again.

He sighed and pulled a pot down from one of the kitchen cupboards.

"Are you really my friend?" he asked, placing it on the stove.

"What kind of question is that?" I desperately protested, my voice scratchy and rough. "Of course I'm your friend. How can you ask such a thing?"

He gave me a warm smile. "Sometimes I wonder."

It was then I realized he was joking again.

"Ha ha, very funny," I rasped.

Enishi slowly turned the can upside down and poured the gross-looking concoction into the pot.

"Now we wait twenty minutes and stir," he announced, lying down on the couch, throwing his feet into my lap.

I gave him a dirty look, but didn't force his feet off. At least he had remembered to take off his shoes and put on the customary blue slippers.

He still, however, had on the apron.

"What are you thinking?" he asked after a few minutes.

I had been biting my lip without realizing it.

"What? Oh, I was…actually I was wondering why you didn't go toclass today."

For a few seconds, Enishi was silent.

"Well?" I asked.

He sighed heavily, and swung his feet down.

"The truth is…"

I arched an eyebrow, confused by the way he was acting.

"...truth is, Madame Chante is giving a lecture in English today and there was no way I was gonna listen to that crap."

I deadpanned.

----
Battousai
----

She's sad.

I don't know how I can feel it, but I know. She's disappointed in someone or something, but I don't know who.

I close my eyes and zero in on where she is.

She's at home, and she's sick.

Well, I already knew that much at least. If she got worse, then I would have to find her sooner.

But now I realize that someone's there with her.

That boy who lives next door, Yukishiro Enishi.

I grimace. He is the greatest obstacle in our path to leading Tomoe away from the humans into battle with us.

"This won't sway me," I whisper antagonistically into the wind, my hair whipping forward into my face. "I will convince you to help me rid myself of Himura, Tomoe. I swear it."

----
Kaoru
----

I glanced sorrowfully at the floor, and opened my mouth to say something, but Enishi stopped me.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Oh…nothing, don't worry. I just don't feel well. My head hurts. If you want you can go home, now, Enishi. Thanks for all your help."

He shook his head. "Twenty minutes and stir," he reminded me and I rolled my eyes.

"What are we going to do for the twenty minutes it'll take?"

He shrugged, but then his eyes lit up.

"Let's play Playstation!"

After twenty minutes of kicking Enishi's butt on Playstation, it was time to stir.

Unfortunately, the soup looked awful, and smelled even worse.

"Well that was a complete waste of time and soup," Enishi sighed and locked his hands behind his head.

I nodded. "I guess," I said, my voice slightly less raspy.

We were silent for a moment.

"Hey, do you think you're well enough to go for fast food?"

He smiled and laid his hand on the top of my head. "I know you're sick, but you can't stay cooped up inside forever. Maybe some fresh air'll do you some good."

I nodded.

"I guess."

"Besides,"he went on, "we're playing hooky! If that isn't something to celebrate, I don't know what is!"

Enishi, even though he was like, a genius, hated going to class...or at least waking up to go to it. Although he was almost always happy-go-lucky, cheerful, and perky, he had been suffering from depression since he was a kid. It had made him tired a lot, and I still thought that maybe, even though he tried to cover it up with unconditional cheerfulness, he was still suffering from the disorder in his own time.

"Hey, class isn't so bad, 'Nishi," I said, flicking him in the ear.

"Are you serious? It's so boring. It gets worse every freakin' year. Sitting in a cold classroom, listening to things we already know."

"Speak for yourself, Einstein," I told him, flicking his ear again and then grabbing it. "Not all of us are as super intelligent as you are, Mr. EC-squared."

He grinned.

"Oh I'm so sorry, did that hurt your feelings?"

"Errr," I growled. "I'm perfectly healthy enough to go out for fast food, as long as you let me get dressed first. Oh, and I'll need to take my medicine too."

He nodded. "I'll wait here."

I nodded too, and turned tail and ran into my room, flopping myself on the bed and slapping my hands to my forehead.

(Is this a date?)

Final Note: Damnit, I hated this chapter even more. I made Enishi such a pansy in this fanfic. I apologize to all the E-fans out there, I hate it too. -.-() I'm thinking about killing him off or something sooner or later. He's such a waste of words when he's in OOC. I should have made him the bad guy or something. Ooh, that gives me ideas...

Shout2danorth91: God, I hope I spelled your name right. XD Anyway, that's the basic translation, yes. :D

Sims are awesome: I know it's totally sadistic to say so, but I amextremely glad everyone's so completely confused. MWUAHAHAHA! It will all be revealed in time. X3

Battousai-chan: Yeah, I kinda hate the idea of it too, but I'm a total hater of original characters in fanfictions, so I had to make her best friend a canon charrie. Oh, and it was kinda hard to choose since I already had parts for the characters I would usually give that spot over to; I also really needed for her best friend to be a boy, for reasons I shall not disclose at this time. -cackles madly-

royal blueKitsune: Well, I suppose we all hold our opinions of people, ne? Let's just agree to disagree on the Megumi thing. Oh, andby the way- I'm sorry, I can't really talk about what direction the story's going in, because I HATE GIVING STUFF AWAY. Sorry!

Musashibf: Interesting name ya got there, Musashibf. -grins stupidly- I just love typing it out. Musashibf. XDXDXD Yeah, I know, I'm an idiot.

Monkeystarz: In Part One it varies from one person's point of view to another's, though the story does revolve mainly around Kaoru. The Second and Third Parts will be about her and only her, just so ya know. :D

Aya45: Aw, I'm sorry it's confusing, but it's totally meant to be that way. Hey, I'm sure you've seen Ayashi no Ceres I'm taking this from your name. Remember how in the beginning everything was one big confusing mess but things eventually work themselves out? That's how this is.

deb: Tanky!

Reignashii: Yo Rei! LOL! Beat time? I like that, I may have to use that sometime. Mind if I make it, like, the title of Part Two of this story or something?

Itsa Mia: Coolio! My name just kinda appeared outta nowhere, nothin' special 'bout it. XD Am I really? Totally awesome. -cackles ecstatically- I love it when people like my stories enough to put them on any kinda list.

rain angst: Yeah, I've never read a story with Kenshin as two seperate personas, but I figured I owed it to the fanfiction world to give it an attempt! -stands proudly, hair whipping in wind caused by electric fan being held by her muse, Larcenciel-

Mad-4-Manga: XD -glomps back- Wow, thanks! Lots of love! Wheee! Oh, and if you do want to read this over at then the title over there is When the Wings are Black. X3

- Midi Tenshi.