Motoko Aoyama: This is my first try at writing short one-shots and Haibane Renmei fics, so please give me some feedback on this story. I love the last episode of Haibane Renmei, so I decided to write about it. Here it goes!

Disclaimer: I do not own Haibane Renmei or any of the characters.

Reki's Halo

I opened my eyes to see Reki's footsteps leading into the Western Woods. Knelling, I touched the dinted snow, tracing the last remnants of Reki's existence. I had wanted to ask her to stay, or to go away with her, but I knew it wasn't possible. As she had said, nothing lasts forever, and that is the way they should be. It is the reason why the present moment is so precious.

I could hear the crows cawing, the winds blowing, the windmills turning in the distance. The skies were gray, the ground white with snow, and the trees naked in the winter cold. All seemed like an old painting, lifeless and morbid, until a shaft of light rose into the sky. The light aroused everything. Clouds drifted away to reveal the blue ceiling as crows flew off into the distance, across the dark walls confining the residents of our town. The shaft of light ascended and radiated into the distance, giving off luminosity and warmth.

"She's gone, right?" I heard a voice from behind. It was Nemu.

I nodded as I continued to watch the glow of the light, Reki's light.

"I'm glad," Nemu said, and I nodded once more. More steps echoed behind me, and I knew everyone from Old Home was here. Everyone was here to remember the last of our beloved feather.

"We'll miss her, but that's a good thing right?" I said.

"Yes. She finally received the blessing."

The light shimmered for a long time as if it wanted to last for eternity so that we could all be guided by its brilliance. Clouds continue to part, the skies clearer and clearer by each passing minute. When the glow finally vanished, the sky was a completely blue expanse.

"Can we stay here for a while?" Kana said to my surprise. I merely nodded as we stood there in silence with our hands clasped together and eyes closed in prayer. Would Reki hear our prayer from over the walls? I knew she would. She certainly would.

That evening we all went to the Western Woods. Once again, Kana had set off the bell, its rings guiding us through the thick canopies. I hope Reki could hear the bell too. I hope it would guide her as well.

Once again the stone monuments appeared in front of us. I stepped towards the ancient staircase, reminiscing the moments I had with Reki. I would always remember her raven dark hair touching my forehead as I lay in her warm arms, her kind eyes calming my troubled soul. I would always remember her hands on mine; taking away the scissors I had used to cut my feathers with. I could never forget, I will never forget.

I stood on the highest step of the monument where a heap of feathers lay. The feathers were a beautiful gray, a beautiful charcoal gray us haibane were named after. My fingers touched the soft feathers, sweeping them to the side to reveal a burnt out halo. My vision blurred at the sight, and drops of tears fell from my eyes. Hugging it close to me I recalled Reki's last words.

"Reki, we'll see each other again, right?" I had asked.

"Yes, I believe so..."

I opened my eyes and smiled. The moon was bright and round, bright and round as the first halo I had seen when I first came to this world, Reki's halo.

Motoko Aoyama: I'm sorry if it sucked, but I tried my best. I hope you liked it! Please give some feedback and thank you for reading!