Authors note- yay! People liked Paper Flowers! I guess I'll write more with it. This chapter is in Haru's POV, and the pairing is still RinxHaru. And why Ritsu? Cause I like Ritsu, and he needs more to do in the series. Short chappy, I know, but oh well. Its gonna get longer later.

I don't think that I've ever felt so relieved when my Lovely Girl spoke to me that simple word. 'Tadaima.' I can't ever say that I've been so happy to hear that. But, she went limp in my arms after I said okaeri. Its now that I realised just how frail that she felt. She was painfully thin, almost as though she was made of toothpicks or something. She needs help. But there aren't many people that I can turn to that won't give her away to Akito. I guess its either Hatori-nii, or Shihan.

I almost forgot about Kureno. He had sat there, the whole time. "Kureno, please. Help her. I'm begging you. Akito can't hurt her like this anymore. If he's willing to do this to Rin, there's no telling what he'll do to any of us. Please." A sad smile crossed his face. "Hatsuharu-kun, there's not much that I can do without Akito noticing. But, I will help Isuzu out of here."

I gently laid her down on the lone futon in the room, and made my way back to the main house. I was on my way to Hatori-nii, when I ran into someone. "Oh! Sumimasen, sumimasen! Sumimasen, Hatsuharu-san!" This might work..."Ritsu-nee, please come with me, and hurry!" I grabbed his hand and ran back to Rin, ignoring Ritsu-nee's apologies.

When Ritsu-nee saw Rin, he was speechless. "Who did this to Isuzu-san?" It was all he could say. I said one word. "Akito." "Hatsuharu-san, I will help you and Isuzu-san. She can stay with my mother and myself as long as she needs. Akito-san won't think to look there." Kureno nodded his head in agreement. "Ritsu-san, Hatsuharu-kun, tonight, after Akito has gone to bed, I'll sneak Isuzu out of here. I'll tell Hatori of the situation, and we'll drive Isuzu to your place, Ritsu-san. However, you cannot see her for a while Hatsuharu-kun. It would be too suspicious if right after her disappearance, you left the main house as well."

Ritsu-nee and Kureno left the room, leaving me with Rin. My Lovely Girl. She's gone through so much. She protected me, at the cost of her own health. How can I look at her the same way? I'm not worthy of her love. She'd probably smack me for saying that.

As much as I want to, I can't stay with her until tonight. I wrote her a note on the back of a receipt I had in my pocket, reassuring her that she is loved. Even in sleep, she looks heavenly. A fallen angel that gave her love to a simple mortal. As I turned to leave, she murmured my name. A small smile came across her face.