Disclaimer: Haibane Renmei is owned by Pioneer/Geneon. The only thing I get out of this is the satisfaction of creating a literary work.
Author's note (please feel free to skip this if you don't really care what I have to say): First of all I would like to thank all those who are following this story. I know it has been a long time since I posted anything for this story and I will not attempt to make any excuses. However, this story may end up following a different path than the original synopsis states. On the other hand, there are five fingers. ^_^ Sorry, bad joke. Anyway, I tend to make a basic outline of the story and then just go with the flow. Sometimes even I don't know where that flow will take me. One thing I will say is that I don't intend to have any sin-bound characters. There was enough of that in the original series. But enough with my thoughts, on with the show.
Chapter 3
Midori followed Rakka up the stairs to the guestroom. She had never been to this part of the compound. The only places she had been were the courtyard and the building that the young feathers lived in. Even then it had only been a few times.
The girls climbed the stairs in silence. Midori made mental note of the building's basic design and layout as they walked down the hall. Just as Midori was starting to feel uncomfortable about the silence, Rakka stopped at a door not far from the stairs.
"Here we are," Rakka said with a smile as she opened the door. "We call this the guestroom."
She lead Midori into the middle of the room before turning to face her.
"That's a pretty large bed," Midori observed as she looked around.
"Yeah," Rakka agreed, "and it's pretty comfortable as well. This was originally Reki's room when she first arrived here."
"Really," Midori exclaimed. "Was she still in here when you first arrived?"
"Yes, but she decided to move into here art studio and let me have this room until I decided on a room of my own."
"Interesting," Midori said as she sat at the table. "Are you going to be putting both the new feathers in here?"
"No," Rakka replied as she also took a seat. "We decided to put the first to hatch in here and the other in another room we have prepared."
"Is it in this building?"
"Yes it is," came a voice from behind Midori.
"Hello Nemu," Rakka said. "How are the cocoons?"
"No signs of hatching yet," the older girl said as she took a seat as well. "How are you doing Midori?"
"I'm just fine thanks," Midori replied.
"Are the other girls coming as well?"
"Yeah, they said they would come tomorrow."
"Good to hear. I was just double checking the second room when I heard your voices."
"Is everything set to go," Rakka asked.
"Yes, the room is ready," Nemu replied. "I also prepared another room for Midori and the other girls in case they came."
"It sounds like you were expecting us to want to help," Midori said with a smirk.
"Let's just say I have faith in Rakka's ability to get along with others," Nemu said with a smile. "Anyway, the hatching time is probably getting close enough now that we should have someone on watch."
"Do you mind if I go first," Midori asked.
"Not at all. We might as well start now just to be on the safe side."
"Alright then, lead the way."
All three girls left the room. Nemu took the lead while Rakka walked beside Midori.
"Where is the cocoon room anyway," Midori asked.
"It's in the next building over," Rakka replied.
"If that's the case, I hope you have some way to transport these new guys to their rooms."
"We do," Nemu replied over her shoulder. "After what happened with Rakka's unexpected arrival we decided to make a stretcher."
"You only made one," Midori asked, a bit surprised.
"Well we could only find enough materials to make one," Rakka answered. "It should be alright. I don't think the cocoons will hatch at the same time."
"Even if they do," Nemu interjected, "there isn't a big rush to get them to the rooms."
The girls arrived at the entrance to the other building and Nemu opened the door. As Midori entered the building she noticed something odd. There were two rows of sandbags that went from either side of the staircase to the front door.
"What's with the sandbags," she asked.
"Well that was my idea," Rakka replied as they started walking up the stairs. "Reki told me that when I hatched the whole room was flooded from the liquid from my cocoon. It ended up being a big mess that the others had to clean up. Since there are two cocoons this time that means double the water to deal with."
"I see," Midori said as she started to catch what was going on. "You put sandbags in strategic places to channel the water out the front door."
"Right," Rakka said. "Since I discovered the cocoons when they were just little puff balls we have had plenty of time to prepare."
"They start as little puff balls," Midori asked in surprise.
"Yes," Rakka relied with a smile. "Haven't you ever seen a cocoon?"
"Well yeah, but we usually don't find them until they are almost ready to hatch, or half-way developed at the least," Midori said in a bit of a huff.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you," Rakka said in an apologetic tone.
"You didn't," Midori said as she realized Rakka was a bit sensitive.
They reached the second level after a moment and followed the sandbags down the hall. As they walked Midori noticed that the rows of bags were only about three feet apart once they left the stairwell.
'Boy, they really did have time to think this through,' she thought. 'Having the rows this close minimizes the cleaning we'll have to do.'
The path of sandbags curved towards the third door down the hall. Unlike the other doors she notice, this door was already open. As she walked into the room she looked at the two cocoons. They filled most of the space in the small room.
"These things are huge," Midori said.
"Yes they are," Nemu replied. "They are both the same size that Rakka's was, so we expect them to be about the same age as she is."
"Sounds about right," Midori said, as she walked around the cocoons. "As far as I know, Rakka was the oldest haibane when she hatched."
"That's true now that I think about it," Nemu said thoughtfully as she watched Midori circle the cocoons. "Both Reki and I were about Kuu's age when we hatched."
"Same goes for the older haibane at Abandoned Factory," Midori said as she finished her circle. When she came back to where the other two girls were standing she looked at Rakka. "I guess that's something to add to your questions list."
"You may be right," Rakka replied with a giggle.
"What are you two talking about," Nemu asked.
"Oh, it was something I told Midori on the way here," Rakka replied. "I asked her if she knew how long the windmills had been there and she said she didn't know."
"That's when Rakka said she would have to add it to her list of unanswered questions," Midori said, finishing the story.
"Well, you may just have some time to think about it while we wait for the hatching," Nemu said with a smile. "Anyway, I need to go help Hikari get dinner ready for the young feathers. I'll bring something up later."
"Sounds good," Midori said.
"I'll see you two later then," Nemu replied as she waved and left the room.
"Well, since we'll be here for awhile, we might as well sit down," Rakka said as she walked over to a bench against one of the walls.
Midori shrugged as she walked over to the bench as well and sat down. For awhile neither girl spoke as they sat there looking at the cocoons. Both cocoons were the same size and color. They were almost in the exact center of the room. One of them was slightly behind the other. After a moment a question came to her mind.
"Hey Rakka."
"Yes?"
"I was just wondering, do you have anything set up to warn the others in case there is only one of you here when a cocoon hatches?"
"Actually we do," Rakka replied as she stood up. "Let me show you."
Rakka walked around the cocoons and toward the window. Midori followed close behind, wondering what they had set up exactly. As the reached the window, Midori noticed a hand bell on the windowsill.
"Kana scrounged this bell for us to use," Rakka explained. "If you notice any signs that a cocoon is hatching you just run over here and ring the bell as loud as you can."
Rakka picked the bell up by the handle and rang it softly to demonstrate.
"Hey you, you're only supposed to ring that if a cocoon hatches."
Both girls jumped in surprise and Rakka dropped the bell.
"Kana, don't scare us like that," Rakka whined as she bent to retrieve the bell.
"Sorry," Kana said with a slight laugh as she walked around the cocoons. "Nice to see you again Midori."
"Hi Kana. Still up to your little pranks as usual I see."
"Well I need to do something to keep everyone on their toes."
"Maybe," Rakka replied, "but do you have to keep startling me like that all the time?"
"Oh come on, I don't do it that often."
"Do what often," a new voice asked before Hikari poked her head around the cocoons.
"Sneak up on people, that's what," Midori replied.
Hikari laughed into her hand as she came over to the others. "She does have a tendency to do that."
"Not you too," Kana said in exasperation.
"What's the blanket for, Hikari," Rakka asked once she noticed what the girl was carrying.
"A picnic," Nemu said as she joined the group, carrying a tray of sandwiches and tea.
"Great idea," Rakka exclaimed. "Let me help you spread that Hikari."
"Thanks," Hikari said as she handed one side of the blanket to the other girl.
The meal passed pleasantly as the girls ate and chatted. By happenstance, Midori had sat down right next to the cocoon that was closest to the window. After all the sandwiches had been consumed and everyone was still talking, Midori heard a faint gurgling sound behind her. Passing it off as just being her imagination she continued talking. Suddenly there was a louder gurgling noise from the same cocoon. This time everyone heard it as all conversation abruptly halted.
"Hey Midori," Kana said, "either that was your stomach or the first cocoon is about to hatch."
"Very funny," Midori replied sarcastically.
"In any case," Nemu said, "we need to clear all this from the room. That cocoon will crack at any moment."
Everyone helped to pick up the cups and blanket.
"I'll put these away," Hikari volunteered.
"You don't have to take them all the way back," Nemu said. "You can just set them on the stairs leading to the next level up."
"Ok," Hikari replied as she hustled out of the room.
"As for the rest of us," Nemu continued, "I suggest we get on the other side of the sandbags until the initial flow of water passes."
The other girls followed Nemu out of the room and climbed over the sandbags. Midori was the last one to the door. Just as she was about to leave the room she heard a sharp crack behind her. She quickly turned in time to see the crack in the cocoon increase in size.
"Hurry Midori," Rakka shouted.
Midori quickly turned back around and jumped over the sandbags. No sooner had she landed on the other side then the cocoon burst open and a wave of water came gushing out. Though the sandbags kept most of the water contained, some still splashed over the top. Just as the water started to subside, a surprised yell came from the stairwell.
"Who was that," Kana asked.
"Sounded like Hinako and Chikage," Midori replied as she ran to the stairwell.
As Midori reached the stairs she saw Hinako and Chikage just passing the halfway point of the flight they were on. Both girls were a bit wet to say the least.
"What are you two doing here," Midori asked the dripping wet girls.
"Ask her," Chikage said, a bit miffed at being wet.
"How was I supposed to know this would happen," Hinako said angrily back.
"You're the one who decided she couldn't wait until tomorrow to come."
"Well I just didn't want to miss anything."
At this point Midori had covered her eyes with her hand and was shaking her head in exasperation. How these two could argue back and forth like this so often and still be best friends was beyond her sometimes.
"Alright, that's enough you two," Midori said, interrupting what was sure to be a long argument. "The first cocoon just hatched. We could use your help cleaning up a bit before the second one goes."
"Yeah, yeah," Chikage said as she followed Midori down the hall.
A moment later the three girls were in the room assessing the damage, so to speak. Rakka and Nemu were kneeling by a girl with auburn hair in a white gown. Both girls were patting down the newcomer with towels before they tried lifting her onto the stretcher. Meanwhile, Kana and Hikari were picking up pieces of cocoon and putting them into bags. Midori walked over to Nemu.
"What can we do to help," Midori asked.
"Oh, well let's see," Nemu replied as she continued toweling off the new feather. "Let's have you help me and Rakka."
"What about us," Hinako asked.
"Could you two help with the clean-up?"
"Sure thing," Chikage said as she grabbed a mop and bucket that were leaning against the wall.
"Thank you," Nemu said with a smile at the girls. Then turning back to Rakka she said, "That should be good enough. Let's get her back to the room. We can get her changed into something dry there."
"OK," Rakka replied. "How about you and I lift her under her back and Midori can get her legs."
"Works for me," Midori said.
All three girls carefully lifted the new girl up and then on to the stretcher. Once they had carefully arranged her arms and legs, Midori crouched down by the foot end while Rakka took the head. Midori was a bit concerned as Rakka didn't really look like she was strong enough to carry this much weight very far.
"Hey Rakka, are you sure you can handle that end on your own?"
"I should be alright," Rakka replied with a smile.
"If you say so," Midori said, still a little unsure. "Just make sure to let me know if you get tired so we can set her down gently."
"Don't worry," Nemu said. "I'm going with you two. Rakka should be fine until we get to the stairs. Once we're there I'll help with the head end."
"Alright then, let's get moving."
Rakka crouched down at the head end of the stretcher and grabbed the handles.
"Ready to lift Midori?"
"Ready."
"OK, lift."
On that signal they both carefully lifted the stretcher. Nemu led them out the door so she could be ready to help once they reached the stairs. Between the three of them they were able to carry the girl to the guestroom without incident. Once there they quickly changed the girls clothes and put her into the bed.
"That should do it for now," Nemu said once the new girl was safely between the sheets. "I'll stay here in case she wakes up. Why don't you two go back and check on the clean up?"
"OK," Rakka replied. "Let's go Midori."
"Right behind you."
Both girls grabbed the stretcher and headed back to the other building. Back inside the room, most of the cleanup was done. The smaller pieces of cocoon were bagged and the larger pieces had been stacked. Kana was getting ready to haul the trash out when Midori and Rakka arrived.
"Great timing," she said. "We can use the stretcher to move the big pieces out of here."
"That's a great idea," Rakka said. "We can carry a lot more out at one time that way."
"That's the general idea," Kana said with a smirk. "We should be able to get everything in one go with this many people."
"I want to help with the stretcher this time," Hinako said.
"That's fine with me," Midori said as she helped Rakka set the large pieces on the stretcher. "How about you, Chikage?"
"Maybe next round," Chikage replied as she grabbed a couple the bags.
"Suit yourself," Midori said with a shrug.
Kana's hunch was proved correct as all six girls were able to carry everything in one load. Once they got to the garbage incinerator they were able to fit everything but the largest pieces.
"What are we going to do with these things," Hikari asked.
"Well," Kana said as she thought for a moment. "I think we can just leave them out for now. Once they dry out we can brake them into smaller pieces."
"Ok," Hikari replied. "I'm going to head back to building and get the blanket and dinner stuff."
"I'll come with you," Hinako said.
"I guess I'll go too," Chikage said.
"Thank you both," Hikari said with a smile. "Let's go."
"Those two are inseparable," Midori said to Rakka.
Rakka just giggled a little at that.
"Well, I'm heading to the guest room," Kana said after lighting the fire for the garbage.
"I'll go with you," Rakka said. "What about you, Midori?"
"I think I'll head back the cocoon room for now. After all," Midori paused as she smiled, "no one has relieved me from watch duty yet."
