Haibane Renmei 4

A darker dream. A second name. Assurance.

âYouâre gonna fit in great here!â Kana reassured eagerly. Thereâs so much to do. We could go to town and shop, go to the Hill of Winds, go treasure hunting in the bottom of the east wing, you could even come visit me and watch me work at the clock tower, and I could teach you all I knowâââ

âSettled down, Kana, weâre not quite there yet. We still need another name,â Hikari reminded her, and Kana sat down, but kept the excitement burning in her eyes.

Iâm beginning to act like Kuu, too, she realized, and fell silent.

âWhat do you say?â Rakka smiled at the girl. âWould you try telling us about your dream again?â The girl still looked insecure, and Rakka felt bad for pressuring her. âIâm sorry. Was it a bad dream?â

The girl opened her mouth, but all that came out was a thin whistling sound.

Hikari got up from the chair and disappeared into the kitchen, and a second later came out with a glass of water. âHere, drink this. Youâll feel better.â

Nemu had also given Kin a glass, which he gulped down in very few turns.

âI ⦠donât remember muchâ¦â the girl started. âThere was a very dark room⦠I was in it⦠And a snake â itâ¦â Her voice cracked as she hid in Rakkaâs embrace again while Rakka stroked her gently down the back.

âItâs ok, take your time,â she hushed, and her eyes widened in horror as the girl whispered through tear-wet eyes the rest of the dream. She slowly pulled the crying Haibane an armâs length away and started into her glazed eyes. âAre you sure?â

The girl sobbed and nodded several times, then went back to crying in Rakkaâs lap. Rakka looked concernedly at the rest, even Kin, who had gotten halfway out of bed and was now sitting in fetal position. Half his face was hid behind his knees and he was staring at something Rakka couldnât quite grasp. Maybe it was just an insomniacâs stare, she figured.

âIâll tell you later. It was certainly nothing important regarding her name.â

She could see that even though curiosity sparkled in their eyes they had enough respect for both her decision and the girlâs fragile condition to leave the matter be for now.

âYour name will be Kira, which means dark,â Rakka stated, as her fingers slowly plowed through thick, long hair as black as the midnight sky. She helped the girl up again, and looked into her eyes once more. âWelcome to Old Home, Kira.â She hugged her, and added in a whisper she knew only the two of them could make out: âDonât worry, Kira, I will be by your side. I will always be by your side.â