Chapter 2

The abuse continued, usually I was beaten at completely random times, or so I thought they were. However, in the whole process I managed to make a friend, Hatsuharu. He asked me to take a walk with him one day after my parents sent me to my room. Our friendship just blossomed from a simple walk.

He would come and ask if I wanted to play outside with him. I finally had friend, and it was the most amazing thing in the whole world! Haru helped me escape the pain. As long as I was with him all my problems faded with ever drawing, or ever game.

I was never truthful about my bruises or scrapes however.

"What happened to Rin's eye?" he asked me one day.

"I hit it on a desk," I replied touching it lightly, but still enough pressure to cause it to sting immensely all through my face.

As my battered body became more frequently beaten, I would be exhausted easily everyday.

"Why won't Rin play jump rope anymore?" Haru held a plastic jump rope in his tiny and pale hands.

"I'm tired," I simply said.

"No you're not!" Haru playfully pulled at my hands and tried to pull me up.

"No Haru-san! I'm tired!" I refused to get up.

Haru just pulled me up as if I were nothing more than a feather.

"See? It's not so bad!" he smiled and began to turn the rope.

I jumped, although my legs were severely bruised and it hurt to walk, much less jump. My now 12 year old body couldn't stand all the physical stress. Haru sang a little rhyme; it had something to do with lovers and names.

"You've got a boy friend and his name is A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-" I fell to the ground hitting my head hard on the concrete.

"HATORI!" Haru yelled freaking out, "HATORI!" even though I couldn't see my only friend, I could tell he was becoming frantic for help.

I felt his small arms attempt to pick me up. Haru carried me for a few feet, but he soon grew weak. He sat me down under some shade.

"Stay here, I'll go get Ha-san," he sounds desperate to help me.

It felt like an eternity until Haru returned.

"Rin's over there!"

"Calm down Haru," Hatori's meaningless efforts only enraged Hatsuharu.

"NO! SHE'S HURT! HELP HER!" Haru finally yelled punching something. J

I'm not quiet sure what it was, all I know is that it was broken into a hundred pieces. I heard footsteps getting closer, closer still; Then, Hatori's arms lifting me up from the shady area.

I don't know what happened from there, but my next recollection was waking up in a hospital bed in a gown. I hear Haru talking to the nurse, asking kid like questions.

"Can you fix her?"

"We'll try our best," the nurse answered opening up the door without another word.

"Are you up Rin?" he questioned heading towards me. "Ha-san called your parents; they haven't gotten here yet…"

"NO!"

"What?"

"I mean I'm tired, I need to get some sleep. I shouldn't have any visitors," I looked around nervously.

Haru looked at me as if he was drowning and I was letting him.

"What's going on Rin? Everyday I see you there are more bruises and scratches. You get tired so easily, even if we just draw. And now you don't want to see your parents?"

"It's nothing Haru."

"I may be a year younger than you, but I'm not stupid."

"Seriously, it's nothing."

He headed to the door, "So then you won't mind if your mom comes in, right?"

I was hoping against all hope that he was bluffing, "You're bluffing."

"Oh, am I?" He turned the door knob and opened it ever so slightly-

"NO!"

"So there is something?" Haru pulled one of the uncomfortable chairs up to my bed and sat down.

He took my hand and put it close to his face, "Please tell me. I can't help you if I have no idea what's going on," his plea hit me right in my heart, but I couldn't put him in any type of danger.

The next few days were long and frightening. Doctors upon doctors had to look at my bruises, make sure that they could heal, evaluate my scratches and stick IV's into my arm. Then, as if that wasn't enough, a woman came in and asked me questions.

"Are your parents doing this to you? Do you do it to yourself?"

The same questions over and over again. No matter how hard she tried, I kept saying no to every question she fired my way. When she was finally hearing the word "No" she left and Haru came in.

"Are you going to tell me what happened yet?" he asked.

There was something different about his eyes, something more serious, a little less naïve. It was almost as if he had grown up in the last few days.

"Why should it matter?" I returned coldly.

Maybe if I'm mean to him I can drive him away; therefore putting him out of dangers way. It was worth a shot.

"You're my best friend! When you're beaten by your parents, then it becomes a problem to me too!" he yelled.

I was in complete shock, how did he know? I think if my jaw hadn't been hinged on me right it would have fallen off. Haru took the chair again and sat next to me. He stood up for a moment; his long fingers ran through my raven hair. He held some stray strands and then kissed my forehead. This was a surprise too. Did he like me? Or was it more of familiarity kiss?

"Rin, please don't put distance in between me and you. We're best friends." Haru begged sitting down again.

I looked at him, how did he know? Was I really his best friend? A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.

"It's me, Hatori-san," he introduced as Haru opened the door for him. "Isuzu, I have good news." He started, "You don't have to live with your parents anymore, and Kagura's family is taking you in. After Haru went to see them, they confessed to abusing you."

"What? Haru? Did you really do that?" I looked over at him completely stunned.

He just nodded his head and held my hand.

"When can I leave?" I asked, I was getting very annoyed with the whole place.

"Right now, but he has to give you daily check ups" Haru answered for Hatori-san.

Before I knew it I was at Kagura's house unpacking all my belongings into a little room that was now mine.