~Enji's POV~

Shiori was sound asleep. She'd been running herself ragged all this time. Despite being injured and exhausted she still showed up to help me handle Fuyumi in the middle of the night. I looked down at her sleeping face and felt something stir within me. She was the most giving and selfless person I'd ever met. All the staff had already turned in for the night which meant I'd have to figure out how to set up a guest room for her all on my own.

I stopped at my room and slid the door open with my foot. Shiori didn't stir as I gently laid her on my bed. A stray strand of her ashen hair fell in her face. Before I could stop myself, I tenderly swept it out of her face, smoothing my hand through her soft silken hair. She nuzzled closer to my hand in her sleep and let out a soft sigh of contentment. A small smile splayed across my lips as I sat on the bed beside her and continued tenderly stroking her hair.

Once I realized I'd been sitting there for too long and felt I was acting inappropriately, I quickly got up from my bed and headed across the hall to an empty guest room. I pulled open the closet doors of the guest room and found a mountain of linens and things to make up a futon. How hard could it be?

Ten minutes later there was still no futon set up and I was ready to set all the linens ablaze. How the hell was one supposed to set all this up? I was ready to give up when things started to fall into place. I spent another five minutes tidying up and making sure there were ample blankets and the futon was comfortable enough before returning to my room.

Shiori was right where I left her, sleeping soundly. I smiled and lifted her into my arms. She didn't stir in the slightest, completely lost to the world. My heart skipped a beat as she suddenly snuggled into my arms, seeking warmth. She made me feel things I'd never thought I'd feel before and it stirred me up inside.

I carried her to the room across the hall and set her on the futon before removing her shoes, I hadn't even realized she hadn't taken them off in my earlier panic and haste to get help for Fuyumi. I set her shoes aside before pulling the blankets around her. She snuggled into them in her sleep with a languid smile. My gaze was drawn to her lips and for a fleeting moment I felt the urge to lean forward and steal a kiss. I hurriedly pulled away from her and mentally kicked myself for the thought.

"Goodnight, Shiori." I breathed softly and forced myself to leave her room before I could think of trying to steal a kiss or anything else untoward.

As more feelings began to stir within me, I hurriedly marched to my room and took a cold shower before retiring for the evening. My dreams were plagued with the beautiful siren across the hall, filled with her music and her maddening smiles twisting me up inside.

I woke to my alarm surprised I'd gotten such a deep and restful sleep to have actually needed my alarm clock, it was unusual for me not to wake up before it. Hurriedly, I got dressed and exited my room. The guest room door across the hall was wide open. I peered inside; it was empty. The futon was hastily folded back up. There was no sign of Shiori anywhere. Where the hell did she go? I found the housekeeper starting on her morning cleaning. She bowed politely in greeting.

"Good morning, Si-."

"Did you see a young woman leave?" I interrupted her.

The housekeeper paused a moment, "yes sir, a young woman by the name of Shiori left about half an hour ago."

I was a little surprised she knew her name but knowing how polite Shiori was she probably introduced herself. Hell, she probably offered to help her with her work. She was constantly doing things for others. For a brief moment I worried about the possibility that someone might have seen her sneaking out of my home and what that might look like but shrugged it off.

It irritated me that she felt it better to sneak off without a word. There were people threatening her and she was constantly running off on her own with zero regard for her well-being. I retrieved my phone, there wasn't a single call or text. I frowned at the blank screen and called her.

"Is this a good morning call or a lecture call?" Shiori answered, it sounded like she was running.

"Both." I glowered at nothing in particular, "are you running?"

"Depends, is there an answer that doesn't involve getting lectured after?" She panted, it sounded like she'd been running for quite some time.

I sighed, "why are you running?"

"They wanted to do another bone marrow draw, for Hikaru." She slowed her pace a little.

After I'd found her at the hospital after the last bone marrow donation, I'd done a little research. They weren't supposed to be done more frequently than once every 6 months. "You donated some last month." I pointed.

"Yes, and they need more."

"That's not safe and need I remind you, you were attacked at the hospital just yesterday, why didn't you wake me?" I growled.

"It didn't seem necessary." She replied softly it sounded like she was slowing to a stop, "I'm here, I have to go."

"Shiori! It's not safe-."

"I don't care. If it helps Hikaru, I'm doing it." She snapped on the other end, it sounded like she was crying. "I have to go, thanks for taking care of me last night." The line dropped.

"Shiori!" I snapped to dead air before stuffing my phone in my pocket with a growl.

I heard something move behind me and turned to see Fuyumi looking worried, "is Shiori still here?"

"No, she went to the hospital to help Hikaru." I answered before remembering that Fuyumi was also dealing with some things, "...how are you feeling?"

Her grey eyes grew wide surprised by my concern and she offered me a small ghost of a smile, "much better, those ginger candies Shiori gave me really help."

I awkwardly cleared my throat not comfortable with the topic of conversation but willing to bear with it for Fuyumi's sake, "that's good. I'm glad she was able to help."

Fuyumi smiled, "I think she likes to help people. I hope she'll be able to help Hikaru."

I nodded, "she does like to help people."

Fuyumi seemed to pick up on my worry, "is she going to be okay?"

I let out a soft sigh, "I don't know, it's a risky procedure especially since she hasn't waited the recommended time before trying it again. She'll probably need some looking after for a few days."

Fuyumi looked thoughtful for a moment before smiling, "we can look after her! Shoto, Natsuo and I." She volunteered.

I smiled at the thought of bringing Shiori home to recover here. "Would that really be alright?" I pondered aloud more to myself.

Fuyumi nodded, "of course, we all like Shiori."

I felt relieved at this, "good...I do too..." I said softly before giving her a pat on the head, "I'm going to head to the hospital then."

Fuyumi straightened up and wore a serious expression, "I'll get the boys together and we'll prepare a room for Shiori to rest in."

I couldn't help but smile, I had no idea my daughter was so capable. She'd grown up too fast. "Thank you, Fuyumi."

She smiled and scampered away to find her brothers as I called my driver and told him we were heading to the hospital before calling my secretary and asking her to move some things around on my schedule. My driver said nothing as we drove to the hospital.

The car came to a halt outside the guest entrance to the hospital and I exited without a word. I hurried inside. The woman behind the desk recognized me right away and offered me a small smile, "Shiori's mid procedure, but you're welcome to wait in the waiting room or with Hikaru."

I nodded and headed to Hikaru's room not wanting to wait in the main lobby and get ogled or approached by fans. I didn't have the patience to deal with anyone right now. Hikaru was lying in bed watching cartoons as I stepped into his room. He looked paler than before and there were dark circles beneath his eyes. He was propped up on pillows as if he didn't have the strength to even sit upright on his own. I knew why Shiori was putting her life at risk, she loved her son more than anything in this world and would do anything in her power to help him, consequences be damned.

"...Hey...kid..." I greeted him somewhat awkwardly as I had no idea what to call him and thought a term of endearment would work but kiddo seemed too personal, though now that I'd said my greeting kid just sounded cold and awkward.

Hikaru smiled. "You're Mommy's friend."

I nodded. "I am. Have you seen her today?"

Hikaru nodded though it looked like it took some effort, "she stopped by a little bit ago to sing some songs with me but left with the doctor." He frowned, "is Mommy sick too?"

I shook my head, "no, she's just doing everything she can to help you."

Hikaru smiled, "she always has."

I sat with Shiori's son for a while, watching whatever silly pirate cartoon he was watching. I was worried about Shiori but trying my best not to let Hikaru catch on for fear he'd worry and make himself worse somehow. After a while his doctor stepped into the room and seemed surprised to see me. He offered me a smile recovering quickly.

"Endeavor, I'm glad you're here, might we have a word?" He offered me a strained smile.

Hikaru seemed to pick up on it but didn't say anything just kept his attention forcibly focused on the pirates. I followed the doctor into the hall and frowned as he shut the door so Hikaru wouldn't hear our conversation.

"Is Shiori alright?" I asked.

He hesitated, "she will be, she's very weak at the moment, I cautioned her that it would be risky but she's the only perfect match donor for the boy..." He trailed off. "this is a children's hospital, she can't stay here and I can't rightly send her to another hospital she'd be a sitting duck...you two seem close, I was hoping you could help me..."

"Where is she now?" I asked warily, the doctor was doing this all under the table at great risk to his license, all to help keep Shiori safe from Hikaru's father.

"In one of the break rooms we use for powernaps on overnight shifts and doctors on call." He supplied and started heading off down the hall.

I followed after him. He led me to a small room that had some vending machines and some break tables then through a small door off to the side that led to a tiny room with a single hospital bed. My heart fell, Shiori was lying in the bed looking paler than the sheets pulled up around her. There were a few IV's hooked up to her delivering her fluids and other nutrients. She was heavily unconscious and if it weren't for the faint beep of a small heart monitor, I'd have thought she were dead.

"She's very vulnerable right now, I know she lives alone and if I can find her on the internet with a single search, I'm sure others can too... she doesn't really need a hospital for constant monitoring or anything she'll be alright if she can get as much rest as possible... I might want to do another IV for fluids later just to make sure she stays hydrated while she sleeps but it's not necessary if she wakes up and can drink on her own and she doesn't need any medication or anything." The doctor kept rambling nervously.

"Calm down, old timer, I'll help her." I sighed; I would have anyway even if he hadn't tried to plead for her. "She can stay with me."

The doctor breathed a sigh of relief, "good, I don't think anyone would be dumb enough to try anything if she were under your care." He handed me a business card with his contact information, "if you'd like me to stop by and check on her or give her more fluids after my shift, I can stop by."

I accepted the card and tucked it into my pocket, "I appreciate it."

"She should be on bed rest for a bare minimum of four days... that might be difficult as she'll probably feel okay in two, but the girl doesn't understand the concept of taking it easy and breaks seem to be completely foreign to her." He sighed.

"I can handle it." I assured him.

He relaxed again. "Thank you, Endeavor."

I nodded and waited for him to remove the monitoring devices and the IV's once they were finished before lifting her into my arms. She felt so small and fragile. Her body didn't react in the slightest to me picking her up which worried me. Sighing, I carried her outside. My driver brought the car around the moment he saw me exit the building.

"Is the young lady alright, Sir?" He asked, sounding almost concerned, seemed she'd even grown on him too.

"She will be."

"Where to, Sir?"

"Home."