It was evening meal time the next day. Everyone had had at least some sleep and were present for a meal. Hikari and Rakka were in the kitchen preparing and cooking, while Kasai and Jika served the food. Jika reported that Sam has turned up and he was hungry. So think of Sam's appetite as being like an elephant running. First it started slow, with a few bowls of soup and aperitifs. Then the elephant got up to a walk, and the twins were delivering medium sized platefuls. The ground started to tremble as the elephant worked its way up to a trot and the twins ran a relay of full platters in one direction and empty platters in the other. Finally the elephant was in full gallop, Sam's appetite was devouring everything in its path and leaving nothing but destruction and breadcrumbs and soup stained table clothes in its wake.
At least that is what the twins reported.
Hikari looked at Rakka and raised her eyebrows.
"Twins, are you sure that this is only Sam doing the eating? Maybe there are others too?"
"No, it's Sam only, true." said Jika, giggle.
"Sam is the only one eating." said Kasai, more giggles.
"Hmm, perhaps I will have a look." said Hikari.
She took a full platter out and had a look. Sure enough, there was Sam, finishing off a large plate of food. But there was also most of the Stone Mill haibane, and two watchmen, who were also eating a little bit more that a little.
"Here's some more." she said, "I've been informed that it was Sam alone eating the food."
"Well, miss, Sam is certainly a stellar performer in the food department, but us watchmen have been doing our bit also." said the watch captain.
"And the Stone Mill gang are certainly no slackers either." said Tsuchi.
Hikari gave a big smile. She walked down the end of the table, and looked towards the table and its occupants on the far side of the guest room. As she did, her smile slipped and faded and fizzled away.

Under a small black cloud sat the remaining three factory haibane, staring at the small plates of food in front of them. Teenage faces shouldn't have crease lines and worry lines, but nonetheless these teenagers managed. Their shoulders drooped, their wings drooped, and even their halos appeared dimmer than usual. Sitting with them were Yasaka and Kana. The idea had been that Yasaka and Kana would try to lift the spirits of the factory haibane, but it seemed the spirits were so depressed that the opposite was happening, Yasaka and Kana looked almost as bad as the factory haibane.
Hikari tapped Yasaka's shoulder.
"How about you have your meal now with the others." she said.
Hikari sat down next to Kana, momentarily patting her back.
"Would you like anything special for your meal?" asked Hikari, trying to project an upbeat hopeful image.
"No, not hungry." said Ame.
"Why not leave us alone for a while." said Machi.
"Yeah, let us go back to the factory." said Yuki.
"Because we can't stand the idea of you lot rattling around in an empty factory in your state." said Hikari.
"And besides which, even the Communicator agrees, which is why he ordered you to stay here for a couple of nights." she finished.
Even in their current state, the factory haibane were not willing to disobey a direct order from the Communicator.

Rakka had arranged to put three mattresses and bedding into one of the larger bedrooms which was upstairs in the same wing as the guest room. Kana and Hikari escorted their charges there and left them to their grief. On the way back, Kana and Hikari sat on the top step of the stairway, arms around each other:
"I didn't realise how bad things were going to be for them" said Hikari.
"Well, as Sam said, their numbers are down to a mere shadow of what they used to be, and they lost their popular leader. And he was murdered by one of their own." said Kana.
They got up and went back to the kitchen to help clean up.
The watchmen had at last finished taking down statements from all concerned.
"Sorry about this", said the watch captain to Rakka,
"But unfortunately, while emergencies come to an end, paper work is forever. We won't bother taking statements from the three remaining factory haibane, they weren't here when the action occurred. Besides which, the Communicator requested us not to. So we have finished here now, miss, and we will make our departure."
The watchmen left.
"I shall arrange a work party to come here tomorrow morning to help clean up any remaining mess and put everything back into its usual place" said Tsuchi, as the Stone Mill haibane also made their departure.

The Old Home haibane sat at the table in silence.
"We will have to cater for the Stone Mill workers tomorrow, and look after the factory haibane, and get our routine back to normal." said Rakka after a while.
"What happened to you-know-whose body?" asked Kana.
"The Communicator took care of all of that." said Sam. "Personally I hope that bury him an unmarked grave in some isolated place and forget its location."
Silence.
"Time for bed." said Rakka.

Three days later the abandoned factory now had its haibane back. But only three. The first day they returned, Hikari had prepared lunch for them in their kitchen and Kana had cleaned up the mess afterwards.
"Mawa's room is as he left it, do you want me to clean it out?" said Sam.
The factory haibane shuddered at the thought of entering it themselves. So Sam spent an hour deconstructing Mawa's remaining presence at the factory. He approached it as if he was doing a forensic examination back on Earth. But the only thing he could note was that Mawa had left a complete lack of any trace of his personality. It was just a room to store clothes in and to sleep. Sam sat down on the chair and tried to reason this out.
"I've got plenty of personality in my room. Drawings by the children, Suna's diary, Naoki's wine glasses, a stuffed rabbit. Plus my notes for my project, and old plans for the doughnut maker. But most, if not all, come as a result of my connections to others, like Suna, Midori, Kana, Hana and more. They are part of my life, and a part of my heart. Mawa obviously had no connections with anyone, or at least no positive connections. So nothing in his room to indicate such connections. He didn't even seem to have had any hobbies."
Sam thought about something else: "With no connections to others, then he would have never been disturbed by grief, never had feelings of loneliness or desolation. So never had the prerequisites to push him into any sort of Tsumitsuki, so nothing like any black spots on his wings to indicate his true nature."
Sam had shrugged his shoulders, and set to sorting out stuff. Underwear and worn clothing and rubbish went into the bin. Good clothing he would take back and put into the spare clothes bin at Old Home. Blankets and sheets he laundered and hung up to dry. By the time he was finished, the room was bare except for an empty wardrobe, a cleaned window and a bed. Ready to be claimed, in a haibane generation's time, by some new haibane who would be ignorant about its history.
After telling them that tomorrow evening someone from Stone Mill will be helping out, Sam and co walked back to Old Home.

On the notice board at the entrance to Old Home, was a message from the Communicator requesting Sam's presence sometime tomorrow. Sam took it down and looked at it.
"This is where I get told off, and given a token punishment." he said.
"I still think this is ridiculous." said Kana.
"I'll survive." said Sam

The next day, the Communicator was firm.
"A guiding principle for the haibane of Guri is to never interfere in the affairs of humans. However you took it upon yourself to direct the emergency, giving orders to humans. How do you justify this?"
Sam felt he was facing a judge and giving his evidence in some criminal case. He had to make a conscious effort to suppress the reflex to say 'your honour' once per sentence.
"My major concern was to prevent any more accidents or deaths of both haibane and humans, your - err - Mr Communicator." he said.
"Very well. I request that you call upon the town watch and offer a formal apology. I will set up a date and time with them." said the Communicator.
"Thank you"
The Communicator got up and walked with Sam to the entrance.
"Also, congratulations on the good work, Sam."
"Thank you!"

A few days later. Winter had set in.

A notice appeared on the notice board, requesting Sam's presence tomorrow lunch time at the watch house, and that he give a formal apology to the watch for overriding the watch's authority.
That night, it was Old Home's turn to go over to the factory. It was cold and snow was threatening. Sam and Hikari and Kana met at the clock tower after work and walked over. It was a dismal night outside. And inside?
"I've made scrambled eggs on toast with tomatoes" said Hikari.
"Thanks" said Yuki.
Silence.
"Anybody like some pepper and salt" asked Kana.
"No thanks" said Machi.
Silence.
"Sorry, I can't eat any more" said Ame, leaving half of her single slice of toast and egg behind.
"Never mind" said Hikari.
Silence.
"I bought some cakes from the bakery for us" said Sam.
"Thanks"
Even with Sam and co, the atmosphere in the room felt hollow, desolate. A permanent black cloud seemed to be firmly attached above the factory haibane's heads.
"I'll wash up" volunteered Sam.
"Thanks"
A little later.
"Bye bye, we'll see you in two days time"
"Bye"
But then nobody expected it to be anything else but a dismal night inside as well.

The next day Sam was back in the watch house main meeting room. He was standing on the podium at one end, facing all of the watchmen, the two active judges, half a dozen emergency workers including Hibana, and a dozen or so citizens who had played a major part in the emergency.
"I would like to formally apologise for usurping your chain of command in the recent emergency. I could have done better. I should have placed myself at your command and offered my expertise. I am sorry."
The humans clapped politely. The watch captain then got up and:
"I accept your apology." more polite clapping.
"I would also like to offer the watch's formal apology for letting the prisoner escape."
"Finally I would like to thank Sam and your crew at Old Home and Stone Mill, for your prompt actions and help in the emergency. I appreciate it was not an easy time for you." more clapping.
"Now that the formalities are over, I would like to invite you to join us for lunch!" said the captain, to the sound a lot more enthusiastic clapping.
The captain shook hands with Sam, food was brought in and event turned into an extended lunch.

The next day Sam and Hikari and Kana were at the factory once again.
"I've decided to start going back to work tomorrow." announced Ame.
"Good, sounds good. Machi and Yuki?" said Sam.
"I'm going to wait a few days before starting." said Machi.
"Not yet" said Yuki.

The next day Ame was at work, counting second hand bricks.
108, 109, 110, 111,
She thought about Michibi. Were they any longer the factory haibane? After Hyouko had gone, Michibi had provided a stable centre. He had the knack of bringing a collection of individuals together and making them feel like a group. Now? They were three loose gears rattling around in the back of a defunct clock.
She had forgotten what her count was.
1, 2, 3,
At this point she poked at a brick too hard and it fell onto her shoes.
"******!" she shouted.
The salvage yard owner came over.
"Ame, I think you are not yet ready for work yet, perhaps you should take a longer break off?"
"Yeah, sorry." said Ame.

A few days later.

By common consent, Machi had moved into the bedroom next to Yuki's and Ame's. Ame was still sleeping in a spare bed in Yuki's room. This morning, Machi had looked out the window, and seeing it was clear, he said.
"I think we should go for a walk to the river and back. The exercise will be good for us. And none of us are working anyway."
"It's cold today, it's not a good idea" said Yuki.
"Well, I still think we should go" said Machi in a louder voice.
"No" said Ame.
"Michibi was able to suggest outings and we went, so why can't I?" said Machi.
"Look, you're not Michibi, so stop trying to act as if you are!" shouted Ame.
"Stupid girls! What are you going to do, then?" screamed Machi at them. He stormed off to his room, lay flat on his bed and howled in anguish.
Ame and Yuki looked at each other, then slowly got up, followed Machi, and sat either side of him. What else did they have to do?

On yet another day they were having lunch. Machi and sliced the remaining bread into eight slices, and they each took two slices for their sandwiches.
"I don't want any more" said Machi.
"Then I'll take the remaining" said Yuki.
"Hey wait a minute, I want some more too!" said Ame.
They knew it was totally pointless, but nevertheless the two girls had a screaming match at each other.
"Shut up" shouted Machi.
They sat in a row on the sofa, Machi in the middle, and the girls had a very polite conversation expressing their feelings to the other, but every statement had to be relayed through Machi first.

The following day Sam had brought some bakery goodies and taken them to the factory. He was by himself for a change. This night he had decided to be proactive, and to try to engage them in some dialog.
"Here, I believe these are your favourites, Ame." Sam had opened the bag and taken out various delectables.
They cheered up slightly as they ate one each.
"You're not going to well, are you?" he asked.
"No." said Yuki.
"What is happening?" he asked.
"We keep arguing. We get on each other's nerves. We're not compatible. When we were in a bigger group that didn't matter as there were others to relate to. When Michibi was here we were able overcome our differences. But by ourselves ..." said Ame.
"It feels like there is no longer anything in common from which we can form a group." said Yuki.
"Also, can you divide up the remaining cakes? Otherwise we will have another screaming match about who gets what." said Machi to Sam.
Sigh. "Certainly, who wants what?" said Sam.

By a week later, Sam was getting grumpy and irritable. And also frightened. As he explained to Rakka
"If this situation isn't resolved, we are going to have three simultaneous attacks of the black spots, and they will reinforce each other and it will be three haibane who miss their Day of Flight. Just like Michibi was cheated out of his."

Sam was standing before the Communicator, who, as usual, was sitting at his table under the pagoda in the temple. Sam had explained the situation.
"So, what can be done?" said Sam.
"The Renmei can think of no better course of action than what we are doing now. It is not a very good course, but it's the only one we have at the moment." said the Communicator.
"Well, how about consulting with us, we're not children you know." said Sam, his voice raising.
"Compared to us, the others, apart from you, are children." said the Communicator.
"Yeah, you got me there." said Sam. "And the only idea I have is to keep on trying and talking with them."

Another few days and it was the turn for Old Home to visit the factory. It was snowing, so Sam had begged a lift from Mado. So Mado, Sam, Hikari and Kana were all present in the exceeding uncheery presence of the factory haibane. As Mado was driving them over in the Stone Mill's truck, Sam had explained:
"I am going to do my best to draw them out of their shells. Hopefully I won't crack them in the process. If they get, shall we say, robust towards me, then let them be. After all, I'm big enough and ugly enough to take it."
Hikari had cooked a nice but basic meal, which had been silently eaten. Kana and Mado had cleaned up afterwards. Then Mado, Hikari and Kana had sat in a line on the sofa in their dining room, out of the way but able to see whatever Sam managed to get going with the factory haibane.
"One thing we have avoided discussing is the unfortunate fact that if I had been five minutes earlier I could have stopped all of this from happening. " said Sam.
"Yeah, except that you were outside admiring the flowers so Michibi got killed!' said Ame.
"Ame, you know that he isn't to blame for being late." said Machi.
"Course I know it! Just the same, he was too damn late! Why couldn't you have been earlier?" said Ame.
"Sorry" said Sam.
"And then" continued Ame, "the elegant refined Old Home girls were the ones to fight of the crazy piece of ****, and you still weren't there!".
"Ame, please, you are getting crazy yourself" said Yuki, as she tried to hold onto Ame's arm.
Ame flung Yuki's hand away. "I will get as crazy as I want! The stupid ******* incompetent **** heads at the watch allowed that ******* to escape and Sam didn't do a thing.
"And now we have to put up with his ugly face every night!" screamed Ame. She swung her arm wide and slapped Sam on the face.
Sam, because of his martial arts training, saw the blow coming a mile away, of course. He waited to the last possible moment, and then jerked his face sideways away from the blow. So Ame didn't damage her hand. And also it didn't hurt Sam as much, but he didn't give that much thought.
Ame stopped, looked at her hand in horror, and collapsed into foetal position on the floor.
"I'm going mad, I'm going mad."
Machi and Yuki knelt either side of Ame. Sam carefully lowered himself down and patted Ame's back between her wings.
"No, you, and the others, are suffering from grief. And you don't see any good way out of it." he said.
Kana and Hikari noted tears going down Sam's face.
"Does everyone act like this when grieving?" asked Machi.
"Everyone is different, I've seen a lot in my job." said Sam, "And I suffered from it myself, as you know."
Ame straightened out and looked up at Sam.
"Tell me, did the same thing happen to your girlfriend as happened to Yasaka?"
Sam froze, his face tightened.
"Why should I answer that?" he said to himself.
"Because it makes no difference to you any more, stupid. And maybe it will give them some perspective in their own grief" he answered to himself.
"Yes" said Sam. He looked as if he was in pain.
"Did you ever recover?" asked Yuki, momentarily diverted from her own troubles.

Silence

He was going to answer "Yes, of course" when he stopped.
Had he? Of course he had, that is what he always said.
Really? When Yasaka had buttonholed him, why was he so defensive?
Because he hadn't ever shed a tear for Tatiana.
Why not? Even tough macho men should be allowed to in such circumstances.
So does that indicate he had recovered?
Does it?
Tears for Naoki, but none for Tatiana?
Where were they?

"Well."
"Maybe not."
"Probably no." said Sam.

"Great" said Machi, "So we're all in pain."

During this exchange Mado, Hirkari and Kana had moved together on the sofa, seeking each other's comfort. Hikari in the centre had her arms around both Kana's and Mado's. It was as if Sam, Machi, Yuki and Ame were statues, and Mado and co were powerless observers, who could only watch as they slowly disintegrating into chunks of rubble, hammered by circumstances too powerful to be resisted.

It was at this point that a crow flew into the doorway of the kitchen, stood on the floor and gave a large "Caw!".
Kana looked at this abomination with disbelief. She sprung up, grabbed a broom that had been fortuitously leaning against the wall (it hadn't been used for a month) and screamed.
"You damn crow! How dare you interrupt us!" she said as she charged after the crow.
The three factory haibane and Sam looked up in slight interest.
"Kana, Stop!" screamed Hikari, "It's a crow!"
"Of a course it's a crow, and I'm going to kill it!" screamed back Kana.
"I mean it's a Sam crow!" said Hikari.
"What do you mean? Oh" said Kana, as she stopped.
"Do you mean it's like the crow that led you to me." said Sam, he was no longer looking totally dispirited.
Kana stopped.
"Perhaps we should follow it, just to be sure." said Hikari.

The factory haibane stood up.
"I suppose so." said Yuki.
"Can't be any worse than staying here." said Ame.
The crow hopped and flew in front of them, up the stairs, along the corridor, out into the open, up some more stairs, across an empty floor, then stopped at one of those portable hut offices.
"Caw!" and with this sign of its opinion of the haibane, it flew off.
This particular office was in an open section of the factory. It wasn't on the top floor, so it was sheltered from above. However the sides looked out over an empty floor and the girders and the surrounding factory area. The air was cold, small eddies of wind blew bits of sand and dust around, the moon lit up the floor barely enough for the haibane to see each other as shadows.
They stood there in silence. Sam realised that the factory haibane didn't want to do anything because of fear - fear that all this would be for nothing.
"Ame, you might as well find out now what is, or isn't, behind that door." said Sam.
Ame slowly and reluctantly pushed the door inwards to open. To reveal
A fully grown cocoon. Of course.
Which was making burbling sounds.
The cocoon cracked and sent a wave of water past their feet and out on to the floor of the factory.
The factory haibane rushed in, the others stayed outside.
"Yes! It's Michibi" screamed Ame.
"Michibi!" screamed Yuki.
"Let's get him to his room." yelled Machi.

The three of them carried the newly hatched Michibi back down and to his room. The other haibane followed at a respectful distance. The factory haibane were almost hysterical in their excitement, however they knew the job they had to do. Sam and co faded out of the scene and walked back down the corridor.
Sam stopped just before the staircase, and looked at one of the bedroom doors. There were more tears in his eyes.
Suna's room.
Kana took one of Sam's hands. Hikari took the other.
"Sam, Suna went on her Day of Flight. There is no expectation that she will come back." said Hikari.
"Come, Sam, we need to go home." said Kana.
Sam sighed and let them lead him away.

Mado drove the three other haibane back to Old Home. There was absolutely no talking whatsoever. Mado left them at the entrance, the sound of his truck slowly faded into the night. From inside the court yard three silhouettes could be seen, outlined by the entrance light. One big one with two small ones, one on either side. The two small ones were holding the big one's hands. There was a long pause, and then they all moved together to Sam's room.
Sam sat on the edge of his bed. Hikari and Kana sat either side, with his arms around them. Sam stared at his book case, the one that contained two bottles of wine, and a stuffed rabbit and a diary. Back on Earth his bedroom wall had a single, faded, picture of Tatiana.
When a tsunami hits a coast line, often the water is sucked out seaward first, exposing the sea floor. Then it all comes back again. The Sam's grief tsunami was sucking away all of the comfortable lies and images he had constructed of his life, baring his emotional sea floor.
Too busy to form another relationship? No, it was plain to see now, he had avoided the possibility. There were a number of friendly offers, but he had always politely manoeuvred away from them. He made his life busy. He had been too afraid to make another commitment.
Fully recovered from his grief? No, he had frozen it and never let it thaw out.
Why did he switch careers to police work? To keep himself busy, to help others in their troubles so that he didn't have to face his own.
Was all of this hidden from others? No, he now realised that those close enough to him at work would have a good idea of what was going on.
Remember when he told the Communicator that he was sure he didn't have any issues? Hah.
The tide reached it lowest point. The water came back and swept him away in a swirling confusion of tears and memories of all of those years alone, of what might have been, of what he had lost, of what pain Tatiana had suffered.

A few hours later. Sam was emotionally drained flat. He had used every hanky in the room, including Hikari's and Kana's.
"Thank you my friends. You have got me to here safety, I'm all right for the time being."
"I'll put the hankies into this bin and wash them for you." said Hikari.
They said goodnight.

Kana and Hikari walked down the corridor arm in arm and stopped at the staircase. Their faces were streaked with sympathy tears.
"I think he is, at last, all right." said Kana.
"It's still not too late, shall we tell Rakka?" said Hikari.
They went via the laundry, where they rapidly rinsed the hankies and hung them outside under the veranda.

"Hello Rakka, are you still awake?"
"Yes, come in."
They sat on Rakka's bed; Rakka was sitting at her desk reading a book. It had taken her a long time to get around to setting up her bedroom, but she had finally got there.
"Sam has finally shed tears over his girlfriend's death." said Hikari.
"Like, an ocean's worth, not just a few measly litres." added Kana.
"Well, that's good news, although I suppose it must have been traumatic for Sam." said Rakka.
"How did you manage to get him across the line?" she added.
"Eeek!" said Hikari, "We've totally forgotten. Michibi is back!"
"What!"

Ten minutes of explanation later.
"That is so nice" said Rakka, wiping her face with her own handkerchief.

* * *
A week after Michibi's hatching; the Factory mob had invited the Old Home mob and the Stone Mill mob over for dinner. Since the weather had turned nasty, the Stone Mill haibane had arranged a lift for the Old Home ones.

This time the atmosphere was different.
"Hello everyone! Please come in and have a seat!" this was from Michibi, looking fit and well and definitely in a much better state than the last time Sam had seen him.

The twins were determined to ask a few questions:
"Can you remember getting stabbed to death?" asked Jika
"Jika!" said Rakka, "mind what you say!"
"No, that's all right." said Michibi, "Actually I don't. I don't remember anything at all of my last meeting with - that fellow - and I'm quite happy not to."
"Did your wings hurt the second time?" said Kasai.
"You bet they did. Hopefully I'll get extra haibane-hood points for suffering through that twice"

"No Hikari, you are not allowed in the kitchen this time" said Ame.

"I've bought a nice bottle of wine" said Sam, showing one of the bottles Naoki and given him. "Not the usual cheap stuff us haibane have to put up with."
"Ooh, nice" said Yuki.

"Everyone, we have, for once, a positive announcement to make!" said Michibi.
"Ame has found a cocoon!"
Cheers from the crowd.
"And that's not all, Yuki has also found another cocoon! Neither will hatch anytime soon, but we are looking forward to our new companions!"
More cheers.

Within a week everybody had settled back into their routine. They had gone back to work, and the conversations across the tables during meal times in the three nests were about mundane topics like whose turn was it to do the dishes, what food were they going to buy tomorrow, which chores needed doing the most, and normal gossip about each other and when might the two new cocoons hatch.

On this night, after the Old Home evening meal, the twins had opened the last of the jigsaw puzzles given to them by Naoki, and were filling it out on the floor, Sam was helping. Kana had just finished demonstrating to her companions her last modification to the clock, a remote switch. A box with a switch and a long long extension cord. The cord reached back to the clock tower, turning the switch on made the clock tower bell ring continuously.

"But of what use is it?" said Hikari.
"Emergencies, of course. Like the time we searched for Kuu. It could have been used in our most recent crisis. And it can be used for future hatchings, the person on duty monitoring the cocoon just switches on the bell for a few rings to summon everyone when the cocoon starts to crack" explained Kana.
"I suppose it makes sense." said Hikari.

Hikari had settled down to idly reading yet another cooking book, Yasaka was sewing a patch onto one of her dresses and Rakka was sitting on the sofa, conscious of the activity around her but mainly thinking her own thoughts.

She was thinking how wonderful it was to live with such a wonderful group of people, how they supported each other and got along so well. How fabulous it was to be the guide to such people, and how they in turn guided her. How pleasant to be connected to each other and be a part of each other's future.

Sigh. Poor Rakka. We know what's going to happen very soon, don't we?

Kana visited Hikari in the bakery at the end of the work day.
"Hello Kana. Hikari, feel free to take away a bag of the remaining cakes and breads" said the baker.
Hikari was draining the oil from the doughnut machine, prior to cleaning it. She was always meticulous about allowing the oil to cool off before doing this.
Watching here, Kana had an idea.
"You know, we should make some spares of the high wearing moving parts. We wouldn't want the whole machine to be useless just because some small part breaks, would we?"
"Sounds like a good idea" said Hikari.
"Also, I should draw up proper plans of the machine, and make some operating instructions" said Kana.

Meanwhile, Sam was playing with the children when he had an idea.
"Wouldn't it be good to be able to give them a gift each? Something that might last for a while. Hmm, would the Communicator allow be to make something from second hand materials, even though technically speaking the resulting toy would be new?"

Kana and Hikari start visiting the Stone Mill machinery room for the next week or so, making replacements.

Sam had visited the Communicator, and posed his question.
After some thinking, the Communicator had agreed that, in this case and just for once, he would allow the 'new' toys as gifts for the children.

So Sam also began visiting the Stone Mill machinery room also, bringing in all sorts of second hand materials, and started to make ten items for gifts.

Tsuchi and Mado and Kabe observed all of this activity, consulted with each other, and came to certain conclusions.

Soon after, on a Sunday afternoon, Rakka was sitting in the guest room, sipping a cup of tea and reading one of Naoki's daughter's books. It was an enjoyable bit of escapism that she allowed herself every so often. Outside on the veranda Sam and Hikari and Kana were sitting, finishing off some doughnuts. Being winter, they were rugged up, but the sun was shining for once.
Rakka glanced up from her book, to see Sam, Hikari and Kana were all silent, all looking slightly up into the sky, all with thoughtful expressions on the faces.
Oh
She looked down, but the letters on the page were now too blurry to read. She made a mental note to herself to accumulate some more handkerchiefs; she was going to need them.

Four days later, Kana, Sam and Hikari stood in front of the rest of the Old Home haibane at tea time. They bowed and Sam said.
"Sorry, but it appears it is time for us to go."
Their halos flicked, all at the same time.

Influenced by Sam's beliefs, Kana and Hikari were just as determined as Sam to say goodbye properly. Let's view some of them:

Oyakata had been repairing a watch. He looked up from the magnifying glass as Kana softly knocked on the door and came in.
"Hello master. I, along with Sam and Hikari, are going soon. You're invited to the send off. I wish to thank you deeply. As a parting gift I'm giving you my watch piece."
They held hands for a moment, and then Kana turned and walked out of the door.
Oyakata held the watch piece in his hand. Slowly he put it on his work bench, and then he opened his filing cabinet. From the back of the bottom draw he took out a small red box. He unlocked it. Inside was an item wrapped up in paper. Oyakata unwrapped it to reveal another watch piece, smaller than Kana's.
He looked at the two watch pieces on his bench for long minutes, then carefully wrapped both up in tissue paper, locked them back into the box and replaced them in his filing cabinet.
No need to put any labels on them, he would remember who they were from, even if nobody else did.
He tried to go back to fixing the watch, but he could no longer see the fine detail, so he gave up for the day.

At the end of the day Hikari waited until the baker and his assistants were all present, and then announced:
"I'm sorry to say this, but this is my last day of work."
She extended an invitation just as Kana had. And then she was gone.
One of the assistants looked at the baker and said
"Now that's a bummer, isn't it boss." They all agreed.

Sam fixed is last radio. He took it to Hibana's desk and carefully put it down.
"Hibana, I'm afraid this is the last radio that I'm repairing."
"Oh. Well, I am grateful for your blessings."

Hana was trying to reach up and get her dress from the washing line, when she saw Sam walking up, carrying a bag of something.
"Sam! Sam! Lift me up so I can get my dress from the line!"
Sam lifted her up and she unpegged her dried clothes.
"Now Hana, I have some really sad news. Kana and Hikari and I are going to be leaving on our Day of Flight soon, just like Nemu and Reki and Kuu did."
"No! I want to play with you more!" wailed Hana, hugging Sam's neck.
"I'm really sorry, but we have no choice. Don't cry, I love you. "
Sam reached for the bag.
"I made you all a gift, here's yours." Sam handed Hana a pretty hairbrush.
"See, it has you name on it, and a picture of a flower."
Hana was gripping the hairbrush and still sniffling as Sam carried her, and the bag of gifts, to the children's quarters.

"Goodbye Sayaka." said Sam, "I hope I have provided you with some entertainment?"
"Oh Sam, you are by far and away the most entertaining haibane I have ever had the pleasure to meet. I shall treasure the memories."

"Mado, I would like to give to you this figurine of a haibane doing their stretching exercises to you. It was given to me by Kage, she got it from her senpai." said Kana.
"I am", Mado had to pause to regain control over is voice, "honoured."
He examined it.
"It's made of bronze, which is long lasting. And it is indeed very old."
"By the way, he or she isn't doing their stretching exercises; they are reaching up to commence a Day of Flight."
"Oh" said Kana.

"Rakka, I wish to give my appreciation for you care and leadership while I have been here. I'm sorry to go, but you know how it is"
She did.
"Midori gave me her stuffed rabbit, so I am giving it to you. It's the one she was holding when Hyouko rode off with Reki on the scooter that time."
"Thank you" said Rakka, with a sniff.
"Also, put these remaining bottles of wine from Naoki with your other bottles."

"Yasaka, I admire how much you have progressed in the short time you have been here. I would wish to know you for longer, but..." said Sam.
Yasaka wrapped her arms around Sam and hugged him.
"Also you might like to trying to cultivate a friendship with Ame; she admires your progress also."

"Hello Ame" said Sam.
"So, you are leaving us just like Midori and Hyouko." said Ame.
"Well, if Midori could, I will too", and with that she gave Sam a brief hug.
"I'm going to miss your ugly face!" she said.
"Suna gave me her diary from her early years here. I would like to give it to you" said Sam, as he handed over a wrapped parcel.
"Thank you" said Ame, taking the diary and holding it carefully in both hands.

Sam had by now written out in final form his haibane stories. He packed then into a bag, and he and Hikari and Kana walked out to the temple to pay the Communicator one last visit. At the temple entrance, the Renmei standing there didn't bother with any bells; he (or she?) just waved them in. They walked around the, by now familiar, path to the Communicator's pagoda. Only to find a stranger sitting there, dressed in the normal Renmei gardening overalls, with nothing covering his face. Sam instantly knew who this must be, but it was not until this man spoke that Kana and Hikari finally worked it out.

"Greetings, I am pleased to see you." said the Communicator.
"Oh! It's the Communicator!" said Hikari.
"Yes indeed. I am so pleased to greet you at such a time." said the Communicator.
"Do you show your face to all the departing haibane?" asked Kana.
"Not always. For example when Kuramori came before me just before her Day, I did not deem it appropriate, since after all she was in some distress and preoccupied with other matters. And, of course, Reki never had any time to visit me, nor would she have wanted to. Just as Midori and Hyouko did not choose to either. But that is all right, us Renmei want you to take your Day of Flight, anything else is optional. But Kuu and Nemu and Suna and Kage all visited and we had a chat, face to face."

They talked some more. Eventually Sam gave the Communicator his haibane stories write up.
"If you can check this for whatever you want to check it for, then perhaps get some copies printed for each nest and maybe for the library." asked Sam.
"Hmm, how much good do you think this will do for the other haibane?" asked the Communicator.
"Realistically, I now believe not too much. Initially I had high hopes that a lot of the problems I experienced myself and which I heard about could be avoided with more knowledge, but now? I think that the setup here is intrinsically difficult. There is no way around to avoid the fact that the haibane are here to build up relationships with each other as part of their trails, but their companions will disappear at seemingly random times. The system is flawed but that is what it is." said Sam.
"And also, I don't see why the humans can't have a source of reliable information about the haibane they can refer to if needed. Most won't bother, but the occasional human, say Hibana, could benefit from knowing a bit more than they do about us."

"I shall read this and I will have to consult with the Renmei. That is all I can promise at this point.", said the Communicator.

They waved goodbye and went back to Old Home.

At dusk on the last day, all of the visitors gathered on the hill overlooking the Western Woods. It was cold, so everyone was well rugged up. It wasn't snowing, so the skyline was visible.
The factory haibane stood in one compact group, standing as close as possible to each other.
The Stone Mill haibane stood in a row, almost but not quite standing at attention.
The children sat on a thick waterproof rug, huddling up to each other, each one holding their gift from Sam. The house mother stood just behind them, keeping her eyes on them.
The rest of the Old Home haibane stood in a row, holding hands. The twins in the middle and Yasaka and Rakka at the ends.
The humans stood off to one side, clumping together in no particular order.
Unbeknownst to the haibane as of yet, most of the humans in Guri were also watching. Sam had been a very high profile haibane, and seeing three light shows in one go was not something to be missed.

Sam and Hikari and Kana came out of Old Home. They bowed to the gathering and, without a word, turned and walked in single file and disappeared into the edge of the forest.

Once they got to the edge, Kana and Hikari just knew where to go. Sam, however, found himself in a different state. He was standing on the red ground, with a horizon line and blue sky above him. Kana and Hikari were beside him, but nothing else was visible.
"Ah, ladies, all I can see is my horizon dream. It looks like I am going to have to ask you one last time for your help."
"No problems sir!" said Kana, taking one hand.
Laughter from Hikari, who took the other hand.

At last Sam was on his way. He had someone to guide him. This time the way was easy.

This time they were going to make it.

The crowd on the hill waited. The wind was just a gentle breeze; the moon was beginning to light up the hill side. The Western Woods was a darkened silhouette. At last:

A flash of light. A light beam climbed up into the sky, with small threads splitting off from it. It died out.
Then another one climbed up.
Then the last one gave its display.

The house mother led away her charges.
The humans softly and quietly left.
The haibane stood a long time in silence before they too slowly drifted away.

The hillside was left alone.