Disclaimer: All characters depicted in this fan fiction are the property of their respective creators, Rumiko Takahashi, the creator of Ranma 1/2, and Yoshitoshi ABe, of the crew for Haibane Renmei. The lyrics are graciously borrowed from the popular song by Evanesence. These are used without permission and the story written here is for the enjoyment of all, and not to be used for obtaining monetary gain or other illegal uses. I hope it is enjoyed, and please do not try to sue me. I have to write this at a public computer anyway.
"..." speech
"…" voices from past conversations echoing in your head
Thoughts
Haibane Ranma
The still, dead silence was the kind you would only expect in the deepest of winters when it felt as if even the earth itself seemed to hold its breath. It was the kind of silence that unnerves most people like the way a great ice storm does; everything around so completely silent that even your own voice shouted out seems to die within a few feet of your mouth. The only sound to be heard at all was the slow and steady rhythm of crunching snow as Ranma trudged on through the thickening forest. So lost in his mind, Ranma was only able to avoid natural obstructions like branches and small dips in the land because of his many years of martial training.
Why? Why did something like this have to happen? His life had always been hard, but this was becoming too much for the young man to take. He numbly plodded on, only vaguely aware of his destination.
"No! This cannot be! How in this world could something like this have happened to my baby girl?!"
Memories of the last few days flickered across his mind and vanished just as suddenly, forced down by the will of a young man still in great shock and denial.
"Imoutochan, please don't leave us!"
A twinkling image of a girl with long brown hair in a loose ponytail hanging over one shoulder, her once angelic face a twisted travesty of sorrow and deep grief.
"I am so sorry, everyone. I did everything I could, but she will not make it through the night. I wish I could tell you better news, but the best I can offer you at this point is that she might be able to hear you. I'll leave you all to say your goodbyes."
A young man in a long white coat. Tears stained his cheeks and it was known to all that he did his absolute best.
Ranma continued to walk as images continued to torture his heart and mind. It was not much longer, as he had been walking for hours, before he reached his destination. There, in a small clearing, was a tall sycamore tree. One of its branches had broken during a hard winter many years ago and had been hollowed out by some of the local fauna. His heart as cold as the ice and snow around him, Ranma reached into the small hollow and pulled out a tiny locket. The locket's design was a bit of an irony when it had been given. The silver snowflake pendant that dangled in the middle had reminded them both of the one who would wear it. The greatest thing about being incased in ice is you'll never go bad. The inscription on the back of the flake was just as tiny, but produced such a great smile from the girl when she had received it from him.
Looking down, Ranma pulled out and fingered his own locket. He had kept it under his shirt at all times and only ever took it out when he was certain he would not be seen. It was a small golden flame. The best thing about your flame is how it melts my frozen heart. A tear dropped from his face as he fell to his knees in the still silence of the snow-covered forest.
Ranma bolted upright in his bed in Old Home. It had been nearly a month now since Kuu left them now. Rakka had become reclusive, and the other Feathers had been worried about her for quite a while know. After talking with them Ranma had learned that Rakka still hadn't gotten over Kuu leaving them all behind. Hikari called it 'finding closure'. Ranma wasn't the best with words, but he more or less understood what that meant. As for himself, Ranma had come to terms with the event and remembered that if they were all destined to go over the wall one day then he'd see her again. She was just… scouting the new place or something. He was sure that just like when he came here to Old Home that Kuu would be waiting there to show him the ropes when he went… wherever Kuu was.
For now though, this strange dream had completely unnerved him. It had been such a long time since he had any flashes of his past life that he had nearly forgotten them all. He had even come to the conclusion that his past didn't really matter and that he should look forward to the future and the life he had now. So why was he suddenly having memories come to him again? This wasn't fair, he was trying so hard to live for the here and now, and now this happens? Why on earth is this happening again?! I don't want this; not now that things are getting to become so much better… Well, I might as well organize it and shove it in the back of my head, like usual. Let's see…
Ranma deepened his breathing and began his meditation.
The walk in the woods… I think I've done that before, probably many times, but so sad? The locket in the tree was a present to someone - someone I was very close to. A girlfriend, maybe? I had a locket too that seemed like it was part of the pair. So she gave me one too then. Someone who also felt close to me. Hmm… the memories that came and went… I think I was in a hospital, and there was someone dying. The girl who gave me the locket? That would figure, I don't think there was much happiness for me back then. My life is so much better now. I can't put much more together. Does it matter though? Should I ignore this like the Communicator said to?
Ranma opened his eyes and stretched luxuriously on his bed. It was getting colder every day and he was very glad of his blankets at night. Winter it seemed had taken to making a sudden appearance instead of slowly peeking out onto the stage and making its presence known in a shyer manner as Ranma was used to. His window was slightly frosted at the bottoms and corners of the window panes and he could see his breath in the air. There was a small heater nearby him, but it was broken and did him no good. The blankets however were very warm, thick wool, if a bit frayed from many years of use. With the first winter snows about to hit, the Haibane had each gone into town to obtain some winter coats. Ranma had insisted that Reki and he take the Young Feathers there early so they wouldn't catch cold. Reki hadn't figured on going so soon, but when Nabiki piped in with her own bit of logic, she finally relented to Ranma's wishes.
Nabiki seemed to have taken Kuu's departure harder than everyone else save Rakka, but she recovered within a few days. Still, she seemed different now than she usually was. Where the old Nabiki was a quick wit and kept a sharp tongue in making light of Ranma's mistakes and oddities, now she was more reserved, and that bothered Ranma quite a bit. It wasn't a bad thing for him to be on the receiving end of Nabiki's smart comments, but it felt as if Nabiki had lost a part of herself or something. That or perhaps she had just, like Ranma, come to realize that their time in within the walls of Glie was limited. He would have to ask her sometime.
Thoughts of Nabiki brought back to the last thing she had said to him before breakfast the day Kuu left. "If this is your idea of professing your love to me…" Ranma considered this again. Sure he liked her, but love? Couldn't be, could it? As he was about to push that thought away it was as if the thought itself latched on to thoughts of his dream and made a connection. Could that girl have been Nabiki? Could I have loved her before? NO! I was going to put all this behind me! I barely remember anything about her now! Why would I have loved her if it WAS her? Possible, I guess, but likely? With the way she teases me now you'd never know. …but then, she doesn't really remember her past either. She barely remembers anything about me. Even if we did have that kind of relationship in the past, we don't have that kind now, and I'm not willing to accept that we DID have that kind of relationship. I don't know if I want that kind with her. A growling from his stomach brought him out of his reverie and though alone he gave a slight blush of embarrassment. Thoughts for later.
"Time to see what's cookin'."
Breakfast was a rowdy affair. The "Troublesome Trio" had been coming everyday now for almost two months. Ranma could barely remember a morning in Old Home without them there, and their little antics sometimes brought smiles to his face, and other times it caused his eyes to roll. He'd grown up a bit and while he still loved playing games with the Young Feathers (and did every day) Ranma had taken to try acting more like an adult when he wasn't actively playing with them. Today the antics fell to the eye-rolling as Daiku had 'accidentally' bumped his glass and doused Ranma's lap. The physical change that occurred had long since become so unremarkable and 'boring' to her, that Ranma barely noticed it other than the clothes she usually wore became uncomfortable with the extra weight pressing on the tops of her wings. As it was breakfast in the cold of early winter, however, Ranma simply poured a little of her warm tea on a hand and proceeded to wipe his now less delicate looking appendage off with a table napkin.
"Big sister-brother, what are we going to do today?" Hana asked in her little sing-song voice.
Wincing at the nickname the TT had taken to calling him, Ranma answered. "If we told ya that, it wouldn't be much of a surprise, huh? You'll just hafta wait and see."
A bit of whining on the part of the three Young Feathers went unremarked by the rest as the topic turned to Rakka's absence from the breakfast table.
"She still hasn't come around yet. I'm getting really worried," Nemuu said in her soft alto.
"You know what we need? We need to do something together!" Hikari's smile was a little too optimistic; as though she wasn't really sure it would work out that way.
"So what do you suggest," Nabiki asked. Hikari smiled. Nabiki didn't usually ask for opinions, she usually gave them. To have her ask for one made Hikari happy, though Ranma believed it was a little too… fatalistic a question coming from her. Almost as if Nabiki didn't care to come up with her own idea. He didn't have long to think about this, however.
"Hey, it's getting colder, so we should make some wing covers," Hikari said as she walked into the little storage room to look for needle and thread.
"Do you even know how to sew, Hikari?" Kana sat on the bed now, having finished her meal. Reki had gathered up the dishes and was washing them with Nemuu.
"Well, I know a little. It's not like it's that hard you know."
Nabiki piped up at this. "If you only know a little I might be able to teach you a bit more. I've never done it, but I've been reading about it, and I think something as simple as a covering for our wings should be no problem." She sighed a little. Probably wishes she could charge for it, but we don't use money. Might still ask for a favor in return though. Ranma chuckled a little despite himself.
"What's so funny, Ranma? Think me sewing something is too girly for me? I know you must prefer a macho chick or something, but I AM a girl you know." Nabiki reached for the buttons of her shirt. "Need me to prove it?"
Ranma paled and started to stammer out refusals. Shorta and Daiku sat staring at Nabiki, or would have been if not for Hana's hands over each face. All mouths were open though. The moment however was both short-lived and quickly moved on from. During his momentary shock at Nabiki's brass behavior, the raven-winged Haibane had grabbed a cup from the sink and flung cold water from it at him.
"There. Now YOU can help sew too, if you think it's so girly."
Ranma muttered under his breath and there was some laughter from all present. About this time Rakka entered the room.
"Oh good! I'm glad you made it," Reki said as she wiped her hands. She walked over and joined the group now gathered near the bed. Rakka looked as shy as ever, but at least she was out and about now. Ranma gave a sigh of relief for that.
The girls were talking about making the wing covers and about the idea of having them all go with the same design when Ranma noticed one small problem with this. All of the Haibane's wings were no longer than their forearms, and while they were fully articulated, they didn't move around all that much, so the design Hikari had come up with was just fine with one exception. Ranma's wings were much bigger than the rest of theirs. Sharp as ever, he wasn't the only one to pick up on this.
"Hikari, I don't think Ranma's wings will fit that design," Nabiki stated almost flatly. "If you want to go with that design for the rest of us, that's fine. But I think Ranma is going to need something different. Something that can move a bit more so he won't tear it up."
Silence reigned for a moment as the girls all took in Ranma's wingspan. It was true. Most Haibane's wings could be folded in a bit, but the Haibane typically kept them straight as it was neither a bother nor a problem to do so. Ranma's wings, however, were usually kept folded indoors. Since he had gotten used to using them over the last two months, Ranma had taken to using them for lots of things, from parachuting from the top floor windows, to causing little gusts of wind to knock down Young Feathers in their games, and even going as far as to smack Daiku for not paying attention when the House Mother was speaking to them. No, Ranma's wing cover would need some other design and material.
"Well, I think I can sew these wing covers, but I'm not sure I know enough about sewing to make something more complicated than this," Hikari said a little sadly.
"I bet I know someone who could. I'll go see her today and ask about it." Nabiki then turned to Ranma. "You'll owe me one for this if it works, 'little sister-brother'."
Ranma scowled at her.
"Well, either way, we know Ranma's wings are much bigger, but I'll still need everyone else's measurements. Rakka, can I get yours first?"
Rakka nodded quietly and turned to allow Hikari access to her wings.
"Rakka! What happened to your wings?" Hikari took hold of one of them and fingered the fringe. "They're frayed! Have you been taking care of them?"
"Um… I guess I haven't," Rakka said dejected.
"You should take better care of them; you are a girl after all."
Nabiki grinned at Ranma, who was still female. Don't you dare say it, Ranma thought, still scowling at her.
"Rakka!" The exclamation snapped the two out of their eye-lock to look at Reki. She had lunged a little toward Rakka who looked suddenly scared. Before anything else could be either said or done though, Rakka ran from the room. "Ranma, I might be late today. They're all yours," and with that, Reki took off in pursuit.
After a moment more, Kana broke the silence. "What was that all about?"
"Dunno. I wouldn't worry about it much though. If its important Reki would let us know, right," Ranma asked the room.
"I guess," Hikari said cautiously. "I guess I'll make her wing covers myself then. But I don't know her size."
"Same size as Nabs here," Ranma said grinning retribution at Nabiki. "I'd just make one that size for her." Nabiki glared at the busty girl. Ranma's feminine features held a look of smug satisfaction.
"So, what ARE we doing today, big sister-brother?" Ranma's face fell at Hana's recurring question and Nabiki howled with laughter.
"Reki said that, did she? Well then it's all up to you, young man. What I had planned for today was going to need her help with, but it can't be helped now." The House Mother sighed and sat down in a chair in the corner of the room they had converted into a pseudo-classroom so many years ago. Like much of Old Home it was a little dingy and obviously very old, but it had been spruced up a bit and cleaned, and while cracks and chips riddled the paint on the walls it had been kept in good repair.
Ranma thought to himself. In the five or so weeks he had been working with the Young Feathers he had seen many things in their teaching. They had covered most of what he supposed were the basics for every Haibane, and because Reki was so knowledgeable about all things Haibane, there was very little he felt he could still teach them. Thankfully the Young Feathers were not yet in class, so Ranma still had about 20 minutes to come up with something. It wasn't going well for the long-haired young man, and it wasn't until the 20 minutes were nearly up that he finally had a brainstorm. The children are going to need wing covers too. I can ask Hikari for help to teach them how and we can all make a big project over it! "I'll be right back. I have an idea, but I'll need some help from Hikari."
The older woman simply waved him on as he left the room to look for Hikari. With luck, she'll still be in the guest room finishing up everyone else's wing covers. Sure enough, as he burst into the room he found Nemuu, Kana, and Hikari all busy sewing wing covers. Hikari looked particularly focused.
"Hey, Hikari, you busy?"
Kana looked up at him incredulously. "Of course she is, can't you tell?" Ranma ignored her.
"Can you help me out today? I thought we could make a project with the kids and teach them how to make wing covers too."
Hikari stopped what she was doing and looked up at him. "It's not that I don't want to help, Ranma, but I have to hurry and finish this now because I have to get to the bakery soon. Kana could show you how though. She doesn't have to work today." Ranma looked at the wing cover Kana was working on and wondered if he shouldn't just take his chances 'winging' this. The pun in his mind made him laugh under his breath a little. Too bad for him, this laugh didn't go unnoticed by Kana, nor was it correctly interpreted.
"Oh shut it, Ranma. Like you could do better. I don't see why I should be doing this at all, since I suck at it so bad. I should just trade a favor to your girlfriend for something I can do well."
"She isn't my girlfriend! I barely know anything about her anymore."
"Sure, play innocent if you want, but I think you've thought about asking her out anyway. It wouldn't be the first time something strange happened to you, would it?" It was more a statement than a question. "Anyway, I may not be good, but at least I know how. Nemuu has work today as well, so if you are looking for help, I'm your best bet. You can repay the favor by taking the trash out while I get stuff for it."
Ranma grimaced. Kana sounded a lot like someone he thought he once knew, though he wasn't sure if he was right, as faded as his memories had become. Taking out the trash wasn't really much to ask for though, so he agreed. Only thing he hated about doing it was how the crows would stare at him with a look of betrayal in their eyes as he lit the fire to burn the refuse. It's not like I'm a crow too, hoarding all of this stuff for myself. Go find your own food. When he returned to the classroom he was surprised to see that the Young Feathers were all there and, for the first time he'd ever seen, all sitting quietly in a circle waiting for him. They were usually rowdy and hard to control in any sense of the word when there wasn't something actively being done in class, especially Daiku and Zu.
"Good morning Feather Ranma," the class called out in unison. Okay, that's just weird. Ranma leaned over to the House Mother. "Who are these kids?" The woman thumped him on the head. "Just because you've never seen it before doesn't mean they can't be well behaved. If you were here early every day instead of just a few minutes late you would know that they are like this every morning at the start of classes." Ranma wasn't sure he believed that. Not when all evidence he knew pointed to the contrary.
"Isn't this cute? Looks like 'big sister-brother' is finally getting the respect he thinks he deserves," Kana said overly sweetly as she stepped into the room, a large box in her hands. Ranma growled inwardly. If the House Mother starts calling me that too, I'm leaving.
"At least I AM getting some," he said quietly so only Kana would hear. She scowled at him then forced a smile has he began to speak. "Alright, class, today we're gonna have a special project! I've asked Kana here to help us out today and she decided to do just that. As you know, winter is coming and even though we got ya some nice coats to help you stay warm we need to keep our wings warm too. So, Kana is going to help ya all to learn how to make wing covers!" Ranma started clapping his hands in childish excitement to elicit a similar response from the Young Feathers. I feel stupid acting like this, but they seem to like it. While the rest of the class cheered happily at the thought of not having to listen to some boring bit of Haibane lore or the like Ranma glanced to his side to see Kana staring at him as if he were some strange animal she had never seen before. "What?"
Kana shook her head as if to clear it and then addressed the Young Feathers, rolling up her sleeves in the process. "Alright, everyone ready?" A chorus of excited 'yeah's came from the boys and girls in the class and they began.
Kana it turned out was a great teacher, even if her own attempts at creating wing covers were less than attractive. The House Mother, however, had a steady hand, and was a great help in placing the marks for the holes that they would be sewing through. It was a very enjoyable time for all of them as they worked. Kana's biggest chore of the whole event was taking all those measurements. With twelve of them in the class it was a process that took a good two hours to complete, especially considering some of the wing covers had to be made twice for mistakes made. The biggest surprise for the event, at least to Ranma and Kana, was how well they were working together to accomplish the project with the kids. Both realized that they had never really worked much together before this, and although their attitudes towards each other were at best civilly abrasive, they could easily get along well when working together. It was as they were finishing up that Reki came in, carrying a tray of snacks.
"Snack time," she said with a smile. Their crafting heroes forgotten, the Young Feathers dashed over to Reki and the tray of sweetened delights. Reki gave a small sigh as she made her way to the table. Although she acted like she only barely tolerated her job helping the Young Feathers Ranma knew that she really did love it. The snack today turned out to be brownies that Reki had made herself. Everyone in Old Home loved Reki's brownies. They had a unique taste to them that only Ranma had been privy to learn of exactly what the ingredient was when Reki had asked for his help making them one day. A short distance north of Old Home was a tiny herb garden that Reki had been keeping since the Haibane whom had started it had left on her Day of Flight. Among the herbs were a few healthy sprigs of mint that Reki would pick fresh and shred into tiny pieces to add to the mix. It made for some very good brownies. Seeing Reki walk in with a tray of these masterpieces of desserts almost made her seem like a perfect homemaker. If not for the cigarette in her mouth, it would have been so. Taking matters into his own hands (and a pair of the scissors they'd been using moments ago) Ranma snuck up behind her and put his plan into motion.
"It looks much better like this," he whispered softly in her ear, and utilizing her stiff shock, snipped the tobacco filled part off at the butt, catching the smoking end in a small water-filled cup from the sink. Ranma grinned to himself. If there is one thing I've loved about playing with these kids, it's learning how to pull a good prank. Kana started howling with laughter. Reki herself looked absolutely mortified.
"You should see your face! Hahahaha!" Kana fell to her knees and doubled over herself, so hard was her laughter. Reki blushed deeply from embarrassment and was only spared further humiliation by noticing that the Young Feathers at least were too preoccupied with the brownies to have noticed. Whipping her fist up into Ranma's face, she composed herself enough to fight the blush down and toss the useless butt into the trash. Kana laughed herself out of the room, finishing her time with them by telling them through laughs that it was the best morning off she'd had ever if only to see that last play between the two older Feathers.
"Honestly, I don't know why we put up with her sometimes. She can be as bad as these brats when she feels like it," Reki said.
"She's not that bad. She did help me out this morning and we all had a fun time. So, what was up with Rakka this morning?"
"Girl stuff. I wouldn't worry you with something like that."
Ranma shuddered. "Thanks for that." Just because Ranma could be a girl didn't mean he wanted to hear about that kind of stuff.
Reki looked over to one of the small tables they had been working at. "Wing covers," she asked nonchalantly.
"Yeah. I figured they should have some of their own. Turned into a great project, and they all had fun."
Reki looked at him quietly for a moment before saying, "You know... your language has gotten better than when you were first here. Cleaned up a bit, huh? It suits you better."
"Well, I'll keep working on it if you do something too, okay?"
Reki lifted an eyebrow. "And what do you want from me?"
Ranma pointed silently to the tobacco'ed paper-water cup in his hand. Reki got the hint. "Fine, I'll try. We'll both be trying to be better examples for the brats then." Ranma held out his hand and Reki reluctantly put in it the pack that held the last of her cigarettes. "Don't think I can't get more if I want to," Reki whispered to him.
"I won't stop you, but you did just give me your word," Ranma whispered back.
"Ass."
"And my language needs work?"
"Hey, big sister-brother?" Oh Kami, now the other Young Feathers are starting to call me that. Kill me now. It was Chidori, a girl whose name meant 'little bird' according to Hana.
"What is it, Chidori?"
"We all got to make wing covers, but what about you?" This caught the attention of the rest of the Young Feathers who were also curious as to how the large-winged boy was going to manage keeping his own wings warm.
"Your big sister Nabiki is going to look into that. She says she knows someone who might be able to help."
Losing interest after that, the Young Feathers finished their snacks and then sat down in a semi-circle as instructed by Reki, she herself sitting on a stool in the front. Ranma, at the request of little Chidori, sat at the bottom of the circle where Chidori and Hana started playing with his hair as they listened. Reki had decided to teach the Young Feathers about the Day of Flight this afternoon.
"All Haibane that are born into this world must one day leave it. We call this day the 'Day of Flight'. No one knows when their Day of Flight will come until the day it happens. Everyone will eventually have a Day of Flight and leave the Haibane Nests to go over the wall." Ranma felt Hana's hand jerk slightly but dismissed it out of hand. "There is not much else that is known about the Day of Flight, however. Those who know best are the Haibane who have already left us. As you all know, the only other creatures allowed over the walls are the birds, and it is said that they carry messages to and from the outside world. Whether you believe that or not, I don't know how to talk to the birds, so I don't know what message they carry for us. What we do know, though, is that when your Day of Flight comes, the Haibane goes into the Western Woods, and a light will shine from there to signify a Haibane's departure. We should all be happy when someone's Day of Flight comes, because they are allowed to go over the wall and see what is beyond it. No one really knows where it is that they go, just that they never return here. It is widely believed that we will see them again when our own Day of Flight comes, so there is no reason not to be happy for them. Any questions?"
Zu was first to raise his hand. "How long is it before your Day of Flight comes?"
Reki obliged. "The actual amount of time any Haibane has is different for each one. Kuu as you know left us recently, and she was only with us for a few short years. Nemuu on the other hand has been here for more than seven years, and I not much less time than that."
"Did Kuu leave early because she was better than us," asked a boy a few places to Ranma's left.
"No, and don't any of you ever think that. We all knew Kuu, and she had faults of her own. Her time just came quickly."
A sudden *flump* on his right shoulder caught Ranma's attention. He looked down to see that Chidori and Hana had tied his hair into a pigtail. Ranma sighed.
A few more questions were asked before classes were dismissed for the day and the Young Feathers went out to play - all of them except for Hana, who stayed behind.
"Reki? Can I ask you something?" Hana looked down at her shoes and seemed very nervous. Ranma continued to clean up but was listening. He too was supposed to be there to help the Young Feathers after all. Reki nodded for her to continue. "What is going to happen to Nabiki?" Ranma froze. Images flashed in his mind from his dreams that morning.
"What do you mean, Hana?"
"Well, you were telling us about the Day of Flight, and how all Haibane will have one. But that isn't what you told Nabiki when she first came here."
Ranma's head turned slowly to look at them both.
"You were listening in on that conversation? I told you it's not good to eavesdrop on people, Hana! You should have let us know you were there. Private conversations are supposed to be private."
"Wait, Reki. I want to hear this," Ranma said coolly. "What about Nabiki's Day of Flight?"
"Reki said that Nabiki was a bad Haibane and that she was going to go to hell or something like that."
If Ranma's gaze could burn, Reki would have felt like she was in hell.
"Explain."
Reki sighed and sat on a stool. "This shouldn't take too long, but stay here, Hana. I want to make sure you understand this too." Reki reached for the pocket she kept her cigarettes in only to remember that Ranma had them. Although she really wanted a drag right now, especially in light of what she was about to talk about, she figured she owed Ranma this one. Shame I can't make Hana pay for this, but she's just a brat and doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut.
"I didn't say Nabiki was going to hell, she did. That day you and the others went to town to get clothes for the two of you and Nabiki stayed behind we had a talk. It was about her wings. Understandable, since we've never seen a Haibane born with purely black wings. I myself had black spotted wings, but they weren't completely black. I wanted to talk her through it a bit so she would know what to expect. Few of the Haibane here know what black wings mean, or at least, few of them fully appreciate what it means." Ranma nodded for her to go on. "It is said that the haibane who are born with black in their wings are Sinbound Haibane. The Sinbound are those haibane who will never find peace. Their dreams are nightmares, and their Day of Flight never comes. What happens to them after that, no one knows. No one knows what happens to any haibane after the time for their Day of Flight, but it is certain it isn't pleasant for the Sinbound. They say that the Sinbound are born that way because of something from their past, but no one really knows. It could be just that luck was not on our side and that someone had to be born this way. There is too much that we don't know about the Sinbound. I offered to give Nabiki a dye for her wings that would make them grey, but she refused my offer. In the same way we know very little of why the Haibane exist, we know little of why some Haibane are born Sinbound and others not."
Ranma thought hard on this. If this is true, then Nabiki is going through her own hell right now, let alone where she is going to go after this. Reki says she is Sinbound too, but she seems so happy here. Maybe both of them are just showing a good face to all of us. But wait, if it DOES have something to do with our pasts, maybe I can help her? There must be some way a Sinbound Haibane can be redeemed, right? If so maybe knowing more about the past can help our futures. No! I was told not to think about these things! I want to move one! Why does it feel like Kami-sama doesn't want me to let go and move on?! Why must Fate toy with me like this?! It's maddening!
"Reki, can a Sinbound Haibane become unbound by sin? You know, be forgiven or something?"
"I believe so, Ranma. I do not know how though. The Haibane Renmei say call it the Circle of Sin. I don't really understand what it means myself. The Haibane Renmei say a lot of things, and rarely in a way that we don't have to try to decipher it. It's very annoying really. Before you get it into your head though, Ranma, if there IS a way for a Sinbound Haibane to become a Blessed Haibane, it has to be done by themselves. I can't say there is anything you can do if you are concerned about Nabiki. I can only say that I believe it is possible though because I also believe in the reverse; that a Blessed Haibane can become Sinbound."
Nabiki walked towards her room in Old Home. She was in a better mood than she had been in weeks. Haruka had listened to her problem and while not as sympathetic to it as she'd hoped her to be, had given her advice on a light, flexible material that could be used for Ranma's wing covers and was even able to supply enough scraps to make a pair. Nabiki was carrying the pile of cloth to her room when she turned the corner and bumped into someone.
"Sorry about that," a voice said. It was Ranma.
"Meh. I don't think either of us were watching where we were headed, little sister-brother," Nabiki quipped at him. Not even a reaction out of him. What's got him so upset? "Hey, you okay Ranma? What's with the hair?"
"Why didn't you tell me," Ranma asked quietly, still on the floor.
"Tell you what?"
"Why didn't you tell me what your black wings meant?"
Where did this come from? "I don't see how my wings are your business, Ranma. I can clean them and take care of them like the rest of the Haibane here, except maybe Rakka. And Hikari said this morning that she'd make my wing covers while I was out so I could go to town to get information on how to make ones big enough for your sorry butt." I suppose I could have handled that better, but what is up with him?
"You know what I meant, Nabiki."
Nabiki's anger started to boil inside and she fought hard to keep her composure. "What did you want me to say, Saotome? 'Oh woe is me, I'm a sinner and I'm going to go to hell because my feathers are as black as pitch! Kami have mercy on me! Oh wait, my wings are black, so He won't. Boo hoo hoo.' Think about it. Why should I have to tell you about my problems? They are mine, not yours!" Nabiki started to make her way past him, the discussion over in her mind.
"They ARE my problems too, Nabiki!" She stopped at this, bristling inside. "I told the Communicator that I would help the Haibane of Old Home, and I am doing my best to do just that! How can I help people though if they won't tell me what is wrong?"
Nabiki whipped around sharply and glared at him.
"I did not ask for your help nor do I want it. You aren't a Samurai of old, Ranma, and it is not your duty to solve everyone's problems. If you believe that your goal in life is to do that, then consider me your first failure. And remember, Ranma, you can't expect to solve other people's problems if you can't solve your own. If you believe you don't have problems to solve and are ready to solve mine then you DO have a problem, a BIG one." And with that, Nabiki left him in the hallways to go to her room.
Nabiki flopped onto her bed, the adrenaline from the confrontation she had with Ranma draining from her, taking her energy with it. It had been such a good morning too. Then that jerk Ranma had to ruin it by bringing this up. After all her efforts to get over Kuu's Day of Flight and how painfully it reminded her that she may never get to have one before her time was up, Ranma had to bring it all crashing down around her again. It wasn't fair that he could so easily tear down the walls she placed to guard her heart, which had been cut so deeply from the start. There, laying on her bed, covered with the materials for Ranma's wing covers, Nabiki cried herself to sleep.
Author's Notes: Again, wow. It's amazing how the story takes off on its own once you are really into typing it. It's like I stop writing the story and it starts writing it's self, dictating to me as I write someone else's story. I will take just a moment to address two reviews I got from the last chapter. XStylus, thank you very much for sticking with this story. Rejoice in knowing that you WILL get to see Nabiki and Ranma's Day of Flight. I already have that part written out. To Sovetskycapitalist (long name, bud) I know I sent you an e-mail about it but I'm going to address it here too. No, martial arts are not going to play a role in my story. For what I have planned for Haibane Ranma it would just detract from it. You are more than welcome to send me an Omake if you'd like however and I will post it in the next chapter. I'd love to read your idea on it. Thank you all, my loyal readers! I look forward to hearing from you as much as you look forward to chapter 7. I hope to get that one out before Christmas too. Oh, and before you flame me on this, Lightspire, I haven't forgotten. All is going according to plan. ^_~ b