Disclaimer: I own the characters I create. Haibane Renmei is owned by Pioneer/Geneon. The only thing I get out of this is the satisfaction of creating a literary work.

Chapter 1

It was the end of another long day working in the wall. Almost a month had pasted since Rakka had found the two new cocoon sprouts. With the coming of two new haibane she wanted to make sure there were enough light leaves to make the necessary halos; as such she had been working very hard these past few weeks. Though the communicator had told her that they had enough, she still wanted to make sure. Better to be safe than sorry, as the saying went.

Rakka entered the central garden area of the building, making her way to where the communicator usually hung out. She often wondered if he ever left that spot as he was always there when she was. At the moment he was facing away from her. As she stopped in back of him she shook both hands in front of herself to shake the bells, signifying that she was done for the day. The old man turned and looked at her for a moment before saying anything.

"You are finished for the day," he stated.

Rakka moved her right wing to shake the bell there, giving her affirmative response. The old man stood silent for a moment before speaking again.

"How large are the cocoons now? I permit you to speak."

"Nemu says they are almost as large as mine was when they found it," Rakka replied. Since she had been talking to the communicator on an almost daily basis, she had become comfortable around him and was no longer afraid to answer his questions and ask questions of her own.

"I see," the old man replied thoughtfully. "I would estimate that they will hatch within a week."

"That soon," Rakka asked in surprise.

"Yes. Though I cannot give an exact day, the time is drawing close for the young ones to emerge. I would like for you to continue working in the wall for the next three days. After that time you are to stay at Old Home and help with the new arrivals."

"I understand," Rakka said, excitement starting to creep into her voice. "I will tell the others the news."

"Good. I expect you to be a guide for the newborns, just as Reki was for you."

"I will be," Rakka replied with conviction. "I will see you tomorrow," she said, bowing slightly.

"Until then," the old man said as Rakka continued on her way through the garden area.

As Rakka walked back to Old Home in light of the setting sun, she thought back to when she had come to this new world. She was glad she had Reki there to help and guide her in the new experience. There had been hard times along the way, and also happy times.

A crow cawed at her from a power line pole as she passed. As she was already deep in thought about her past experiences, the sound trigged thoughts of the time she discovered black spots on her feathers. It was a scary and depressing experience. She only hoped that the new haibane would not have to go through anything like she did, or Reki for that matter. A shiver went up her spine at the memory of some of the things Reki had to go through as a sin-bound haibane.

Rakka stopped for a moment as she tried to push the thoughts from her. After taking a few deep breaths she was able to clear her mind and continued walking.

"I shouldn't worry about such things right now," she thought. "However, if one of them should end up being sin-bound, I will do everything I can to help them receive forgiveness."

It was close to dinner time when Rakka finally made it to the Old Home entrance. As she flipped her tag over to indicate she was there, she noticed that everyone else was home as well. In the courtyard the young haibane were playing around as Hikari watched over them. Rakka sometimes wished she could be one of the young ones and not have to worry about big responsibilities.

One of the young girls tripped as she was running and stated crying. Hikari ran over to her.

"Are you alright," Hikari asked as she helped the girl to her feet.

The girl was still too upset to speak, but started to settle down as Hikari hugged her. Rakka had walked over to the two girls to make sure everything was alright. As she approached she noticed that the young girl had skinned her knee and was bleeding slightly.

"Hikari," Rakka called out.

"Oh, hello Rakka," Hikari replied. "How was work?"

"It was fine. I have something I need to tell everyone later though."

"I see," Hikari said as she released the girl that was clinging to her and knelt down to dust her off.

"It looks like she skinned her knee," Rakka said when she saw that Hikari hadn't noticed yet.

Hikari looked down and noticed the blood. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a handkerchief to clean the area and see if it would require a doctor. After a moment she saw that it was only slightly skinned and wasn't really bleeding much.

"I'll take her inside and finish cleaning her up," Hikari said as she lifted the injured girl. "Can you gather up the others and herd them to their dining room?"

"No problem," Rakka replied. "Alright all you young feathers, it's time for dinner. Let's go inside and get cleaned up."

This garnered various sounds of protest, but the children still complied.

---

After the young feathers had been fed and settled, the older haibane gathered in the guest room for dinner. The room felt a bit empty with only the four of them left now. It would be better once the two cocoons hatched, increasing their number to six.

Since the cocoons had been discovered as they were just sprouting, the four of them had everything just about ready for the new arrivals. As they sat down to eat Rakka relayed the information from the communicator.

"Hey everyone," she started to get their attention. "The communicator told me today that the cocoons should be hatching in about a week."

"That soon," Kana said incredulously. "It's a good thing we've had plenty of time to prepare."

"I agree," Hikari said. "When we found Rakka's cocoon we had just enough time to clean the room before it hatched."

"Yeah," Kana agreed. "I still remember thinking I was going to drown. Whose idea was it to keep the window and door closed anyway?"

"It was Reki," Nemu answered. "Between being excited about the cocoon and trying to keep the kids out she forgot about the fact that the cocoon was full of liquid."

"That may be true," Hikari replied, "however, the cocoon did hatch quite unexpectedly."

"True," Kana interjected. "I guess Rakka here was just itching to get out of there." Kana gave Rakka a side-long glance after saying this.

"Why do you always pick on me Kana," Rakka huffed. "It's not like I knew what was going on outside my cocoon."

"We know," Nemu said calmly. "Kana is just being a tease. Pay her no mind."

Kana just smiled mischievously at that comment.

"Well anyway," Rakka continued, "the communicator also told me to work for the next three days and then stay here for awhile to help with the new feathers."

"I was thinking of telling the library the same thing for myself," Nemu said. "Since there will be two new feathers to take care of we will need at least three of us here to help."

"Considering how it was when Rakka came we may need all four of us," Kana said.

"You weren't much better when you first came," Nemu said evenly. "It took both Reki and me to keep an eye on you until you were settled."

"Yeah, yeah," Kana said with a dismissive wave. "You don't have to bore us with the details."

"Well we have everything just about ready now," Hikari said. "The cocoon room has been cleaned and we have this room and Kuu's old room ready to go."

"We'll probably need to get some pain medicine just in case," Nemu said.

"I'll talk to the communicator about getting the necessary herbs on my last day," Rakka said.

"Have we decided on who is going to be put in which room," Kana asked.

"That's a good question," Nemu said thoughtfully. "Let's put the first to hatch in here and the other in the other room."

"That sounds good to me," Rakka replied. "I want to be in here to help."

"Ok Rakka, you can be in here," Nemu said. "I'll be in the other room. Hikari can be a helper for both of us."

"I'll do my best," Hikari replied, "but I don't know how much help I can be. Taking care of the young feathers occupies most of my day."

"True," Nemu said. "What about you Kana?"

"I doubt that master will let me take time off," Kana replied. "I'll try talking to him and let you know."

"Good. I'm sure he won't mind you taking a few days off to help with the new haibane."

"Now that we have that settled let's eat," Kana said.

With that they all started eating and talking about what the new haibane might be like.

---

Three days had passed since the communicator had told Rakka about the impending arrival of the new haibane. Though she had been grateful for the assignment to clean the markers inside the wall and collect light leaves, Rakka was ready for a chance to do something different for awhile. She was looking forward to being a guide for the new arrivals.

As Rakka entered the garden she reflected on how familiar everything felt now. The first time she came here she was scared and nervous, even though Hikari had come with her. Now she enjoyed the sights and smells around her; especially after the cool and humid air of the walls interior.

"Good work today feather Rakka," the communicator said as she approached him. "Today will be your last for a time. I will let you know when to return so that you may continue your duties here. You are permitted to speak."

"Thank you, sir. I am looking forward to helping the new haibane adjust to their new lives here."

"That is good. I am counting on you to help them as much as you are able. Like Reki you have much experience the others do not. Make sure to report to me if there are any problems."

"I will sir."

"Good. It is time for you to be on your way."

"Before I leave I have a quick question."

"Oh? What is it?"

"I was wondering if you have any herbs here to help relieve pain. I want to make sure we have everything we might need."

"Yes, we do, however I would say that you should only come here to get them if one of the new feathers experience problems outside the normal pain and fever that accompany the coming of their wings. It is better for them to feel the pain so that they might more quickly realize that the wings are part of them now."

"I think I understand," Rakka replied. "Thank you, sir."

Rakka gave the usual thank you gesture and left the temple.

As Rakka walked back home she started thinking about the problem that had arisen. Kana had asked the clock master about taking time off and had been told that she could only take a couple of days off. That meant she would have to wait until the new haibane came to take the few days she could. That would be helpful once the hatching had occurred but didn't help with the before and during parts. All four of them had tried to think of what to do but hadn't come to any conclusions as yet.

Rakka decided to go over everyone that she new again to see if anyone stuck out as someone who could help. She thought of the townspeople but quickly dismissed them as this was something that should be kept between haibane.

"Just between haibane," she thought out loud. "I wonder…"

An idea came to mind and Rakka decided to discus it with the others at dinner.

---

Rakka decided to spring her idea after everyone had started eating dinner. She was a little apprehensive because she didn't know how everyone would react. Regardless she needed to bring it up.

"I've been thinking," Rakka said when there was a pause in the conversation.

"What have you been thinking," Nemu asked.

"Well, since we are going to need help with the new haibane and we can't really ask anyone in town, I was thinking we could ask one or two of the girls from abandoned factory to come and help until Kana can take time off."

"I don't know about that," Kana said. "Those girls aren't really the helping type."

"And how would you know," Nemu asked. "I doubt you have ever really talked to any of them."

"True, but they hang around with boys," Kana replied.

"And what does that have to do with anything?"

"I don't know," Kana answered a bit flustered.

"I think it's a good idea," Hikari said. "They did make up with Reki before she left after all."

"Yes they did," Rakka said. "I'm the one that helped them. They are all really nice once you get to know them. I think that they will help us. After all, we are looking after their young feathers."

"I agree," Nemu said. "It can't hurt to try at least."

"Whatever," Kana said.

"Great," Rakka said. "I'll go over there first thing in the morning."

"I'll go with you," Nemu said.

"That's ok," Rakka replied. "We need someone to keep an eye on the cocoons at all times now."

"True," Nemu conceded. "We'll leave this matter to you then."

"You can count on me," Rakka cheerfully replied.