Author's note: Haibane Renmei is the creation of ABe Yoshitoshi. I'm not sure who owns the copyright, but it certainly ain't me. This story is a fan-fiction work. Anyone can read it, free of charge. Any part of what I write can be used by other fan-fiction authors. However if you want to use this story in any other way, and in particular if you want to use this story for any commercial purposes, don't ask me, ask ABe Yoshitoshi and/or the copyright holders.

All characters in this story are either derived from Haibane Renmei or related fan fiction, or are a product of my imagination. They do not represent any real persons in any way.

Story starts below the line.

I'm getting old. And weary. But not too weary, yet. I've decided I had better finish off my stories. So many years, much more than I thought when I first came here. So many people. So many incidents. I have already written up about the events of Rakka's arrival and Reki's departure. And then there was Big Ugly Sam. Amazingly big and ugly, he was. So different from any other haibane. And, of course, Kaori. Started off as that annoying fan girl, progressed to nest mother of Leyton House, and then... This is the story I'm going to tell now. What happens after Ukimi returns to Kaori's house. Both amazing and incredible, how it all turned out.

However I just can't resist opening my accounts by repeating the story of how Kaori and Rakka first met. Right at the very start of Kaori's and Rakka's combination. I was there. I got to see it firsthand.

Reki was in the change room, trying to adjust the hems of ten raincoats. This task was just a little bit difficult, due to the fact that the raincoats were currently occupied by ten very active and squirmy children. After having his beard pulled the thrift shop guy had beaten a hasty retreat, and went back to the counter.
"Have you picked out a nice winter coat yet?" he asked Rakka, otherwise known as the messy haired chick. She was standing in front of a row of coats looking hesitant, her hair sticking up in places.
"Yes, this one."
"Good, good, I'll wrap it up for you. Also it must be cold in those sandals. It's going to snow soon."
"Thanks, huh, I've run out of pages in my booklet..."
"Ha, no problems, it'll be a new year's gift, just a little early."
"Ooh, thanks."
The thrift shop guy disappeared underneath his counter, hunting for a box to put the boots in.
"You shouldn't look so miserable. I don't know what happened, but I'm sure it will be all right" he said, as he surfaced with a suitable box.
"I, I, no it won't, I'm a failure as a haibane."
"Huh?"

At this point the street door opened and in walked a man and a woman, both in their mid twenties. The man was holding a coat and asked if it came in different sizes. The woman idly looked around and-
"A little haibane!" she said, sighting Rakka as she stood at the counter, staring in space. "She's so cute!"
And as Rakka stood there, she rushed over, reached up and dinged her halo.
"She's for real! Look, a real haibane! Something good will happen today!"
"Hey, knock it off, you're bothering her." said the thrift shop guy, starting to get annoyed.
"Oh no I'm not. Right?" said the annoying fan girl. She reached out to touch the wing covers of Rakka's wings.
Rakka had a flash back: A pair of scissors. Cut off ends of feathers, with black splotches, lying on the ground.
"Don't touch me!" said Rakka. She turned and ran out of the shop.
The shop keeper rushed over and looked out of the door, but Rakka was already down the street and still running. He turned back inside.
"You shouldn't have done that!" he said to the lady. He controlled his temper and continued his business with the man.
The man turned to the lady and complained.
"Kaori! Why must you act like that! There is no call for it!"
"But she was a good luck haibane!"
"You upset her!" The man was beginning to shout.
"That's not my fault! How was I to know she was the only grumpy haibane in Guri!"
At this point the man paid for his purchase and stormed out of the shop. The lady followed. The door slammed shut.

The thrift shop guy moved back to his counter and looked at the coat and shoes that Rakka had selected. He wasn't pleased. He was going to make a note of this.

Reki came back out of the change room with ten raincoats in her arms, followed by ten small children.
"Ok, we're done. At last. Phew. And" she looked around the shop, "Where's Rakka?"