1. Chapter 1 (1/2)
chapter 1 : rebirth
today is a special day indeed! many years have passed since a new life made its way to old home, i'm quite surprised myself for it to come all of a sudden in a day like this; new year, perhaps this is a sign of fortune
ought to us haibane. my hands are damped with dirt as well as my clothes, proof of tedious work from cleaning the renmei's underground sanctuary alone, but i cared less for my little feet are now racing with time, to see the newbie. 'fortune', that's what the elders in the renmei could label this coincidence. but i believe this newbie would make a great haibane, someday.
when i reached the dining room, reki's still paintings greeted me there, each neatly lined on the wall according from images that derived from bitter nightmares to sweet memories. "reki," i say almost out of
eath from all that running, "we finally have a new member again!" tears threaten to escape but i swallowed them in with a surging excitement of the news about the newbie. "i will be a good senpai, like you did."
"ya sure will be!" it's kana with her teasing voice. another figure forms near the door, hikari is with her too. "rakka, you're finally here!" she smiled.
"i'm so sorry for being late!" i say, a little embarrassed of my tardiness. "it's alright, i'm just glad to know that everyone could be here to see her." her smile is still on as she clasped my mud-stained hands.
"well, what are we waiting for?" kana takes us on a familiar route around old home's puzzling labyrinths of corridors. it was dark, only having kana's lantern to fight the creeping darkness. hikari held tight on my hand giving me an excited yet weary sensation. until kana stopped in front of a wooden door, it was the same door that had left me a dark story but in the end relieved with a happy ending, one that ended with tears and fears that were exiled inside its very corners.
"reki's room?" i mutter out. kana opened the door as if i had not said a thing. she didn't want me thinking of such things now."everyone's waiting," hikari manages to form a soft smile to
eak to mood.
upon my entering in the room, i immediately spy everyone else; the twins: karen and nigai, nemu, the kids and obaa-san who was trying to silence the frantic children. "everyone, let's give rakka a chance to see her!" obaa-san commands and the children obediently step aside. "rakka nee-chan," one tugs my skirt. "i found her cocoon inside that room," he points out to the room covered darkness; it was once where reki wouldn't let even me inside. "all by yourself?" i ask and he nods proudly. "now that's a
ave boy!" i pat his head as he puts up a modest look.
darkness ruled over the room; even the wall's colors dare not to take anyone's attention, only that one window on the room's very corner gave permission to some outside streaks of light to loiter on the floor. and there it was, in the middle of the small room, a cocoon laid; cracked, just as that little haibane mentioned it to be. right in front of me was the new born. her eyes are as blue as the sky; i see her one of her wings already grown out too, her hair is shoulder-lengthen and more of white, but what surprised me the most was that she looked just the same age as the children obaa-san had taken care of ever since their mother, kuramori left them years ago.
"w-who are you?" she regards me wearily. her innocent eyes stare intently at mine. it took a few seconds before words formed on my tongue. "i'm rakka, don't worry, i'm your friend" i try to sound as motherly as reki did when she found me. her unwavering blue eyes dropped their cold stare and quickly shifted her face into a knowing one; one that smiles like an angel. she hugged me gently on my knees, like any helpless child would do. my face turned red, knowing that she accepts me and that i will be her senpai soon. everyone in the outer part of the room watches me; some kids push their way to have a clearer view on what's happening while kana and hikari try hold them down.
"rakka," she repeats my name softly as if it might lull her to a blissful sleep. i carry her on my arms, her face changes expression; it is a border between being surprised and giddy to be carried for the first time. "aww, isn't she just adorable?" karen interrupts bending towards the newbie. "does she have a name yet?" i ask hoping that they have already given her one. "eeerrr, obaa-san told us to wait for your decision,"