Just a warning I am Dyslexic so my stories will not be perfect but I now have one Beta reader to help me along the way :D

Thank you so much to Roshelle Diall for offering to work with me :D

Hello my sweeties,

Wow! What can I say I'm amazed this story got such a good response :D

thank you all so much for your Follows, Likes and Reviews

I hope not to let you all down as our story continues...

Enjoy.

Neh xxx

I do not own Love so Life.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

"Hello, I'm here looking for Nakamura Shiharu. She was brought in here by ambulance." Seiji asked the front desk. His heart was still pounding as the receptionist looked down at the computer screen.

"Can I ask your relationship please?" she asked looking at Seiji.

"She was looking after the children when she collapsed." was all he could think of as the receptionist called for a nurse to take him through to the waiting room, where she told him his friends and children were waiting. As Seiji walked away following the nurse he registered the nurse's words.

"Why are all the good looking guys taken?" she asked the second receptionist who giggled and made a sound of agreement.

Seiji wondered if he should have turned around and corrected them, but in that moment in time Shiharu was his main priority. The nurse strode resolutely before him down the maze of corridors. With each room they passed Seiji's heart skipped wondering what condition Shiharu was in. Was she conscious yet? What had caused her sudden collapse? As the rounded the next corner Seiji forgot about his nurse guide entirely as standing in the hallway was Rio.

"Yoshii-san!" Seiji called as he raced past the nurse who simply smiled and turned away back to her duties. Rio turned to Seiji and he noticed the two cling-ons which had attached themselves to her.

"Sei-tan!" Aoi and Akane squealed in unison. It was lucky Rio had swift reflexes as she managed to place the suddenly flailing Akane on the floor before both ran full pelt towards Seiji. He didn't think as he tossed his briefcase down and enveloped both sobbing children in his arms. The relief he felt from just seeing them was something he could not have expected as he held them both tightly taking in their tears as he whispered encouraging words to the two children he loved so dearly.

"You are both such good children, so so brave and clever..." He meant every single word and he decided as soon as they could all go together, he would take them both and Shiharu and buy them whatever their hearts desired. They would go out for the day and he would treat them all to ice cream sundaes and anything else they could ever wish for, just as long as Shiharu got better.

"Shiharu-tan sick..." Aoi sobbed into Seiji's shoulder as he rubbed both of their backs in a calming manner.

"I know, but the doctors are going to make her better now, you'll see." he felt Aoi nod against his shoulder as he picked both of the twins up without effort and tried to smile as Rio approached him.

"We had just gone to get some juice." she offered as explanation as she held up the bag of drinks in her hand.

"Thank you." Seiji needed to tell her this first, it was so important that she understood just how grateful he was. "How's Nakamura-San?" he watched as the fake smile Rio had been holding for the children's sakes fell from her face slightly.

"They're still running tests. When we left there had been no change, but maybe there will be something now." she said as she picked up his discarded briefcase and gestured towards the waiting room doorway.

"Really Yoshii-san. Thank you." Rio looked up at the man who looked so afraid, she knew Shiharu had feelings for this man and if his behaviour was anything to go by, it wasn't a one sided crush. She would have to ask Takeru she decided as she led the way with Seiji following her carrying the twins. Shiharu I promise when you get better, I'm going to make sure that you get exactly what you deserve...just please get better Rio begged in her head as she pushed open the door. The room was occupied by two people who had been sitting there talking quietly. As soon as the door opened both heads shot up to see who was entering.

"Any news?" Rio asked as she and Seiji entered.

Seiji noticed that Takeru was sitting with Shiharu's caretaker from the institution. He had met the woman on occasion and liked her, but seeing her now she looked almost 3 times older than usual. Her back sagged as she realised it was not information on her charge, but she still managed a small smile at Seiji.

"No nothing yet." she answered as Takeru stood to greet Seiji.

"They're running a couple of tests now to rule out possible causes. They just said to wait here until we are called." Seiji nodded to Takeru.

"Thank you." His words were sincere, but it was his eyes which Takeru noticed most. The true feelings behind them for the girl he cared about shone there like a beacon. It was such an intense look that Takeru could only nod, but still felt the need to break the spell it seemed to have cast over the room. Those two simple words spoke multitudes.

"But it's really this little man you should be thanking!" Takeru said as he tickled Aoi's sides. He had his head resting on Seiji's shoulder yet giggled at the touch. "And this little lady." Takeru added offering the same treatment to Akane who also giggled.

"Yes! They were both so clever and so brave." Rio chipped in as the caretaker whom Seiji remembered as Yoshizawa Haruko nodded and smiled at the two children.

"It's so nice to know even when I'm not around she has two such fine people to look after her." Seiji felt the twins both straighten more in his arms, proud of the praise they were receiving. Seiji really was impressed as Takeru informed him with lots of praise and embellishments on how clever both twins had been to contact Rio and look after Shiharu so well until help arrived. It wasn't long after Takeru had told Seiji how Aoi had seen the back door was unlocked when the doctor opened the door and stepped into the room. He smiled as all eyes turned to him including the two children resting on the tall man's shoulders. He recognised Seiji from the TV, remembering his teenage daughter had quite a thing for the young man. He wondered if she knew he had children?

"Hello I'm Doctor Hakase. Can I ask who would be a relative of Nakamura Shiharu?" He looked around at the group of people in the room as the older looking woman stood.

"I'm afraid Shiharu-chan is actually an orphan. I'm Yoshizawa Haruko and I run the orphanage Shiharu-chan currently resides at." the doctor nodded as he looked down at the notes he had on a clipboard before him.

"Are you happy to speak here? Or would you prefer we speak in private?" he asked knowing the answer but as a policy for patient confidentiality he needed to ask as he watched the other people in the room stiffen at the thought they would have to wait for news on there friend Haruko smiled.

"These people are whom Shiharu would call her chosen family, so they have a right to know her condition as much as anyone." Haruko's words touched the three adults in the room. She had been working in the care system long enough to know children like Shiharu built there own types of families around them in their day to day lives and she was correct. This was Shiharu's chosen family. She snuck a glance at the man holding the twins and smiled to herself. You never know maybe one day you will both make a real family... she thought and the thought cheered her. They would have to get up earlier in the day to pull the wool over her eyes at the growing relationship blossoming between her longest staying resident and the man she worked for.

"Shiharu-tan better?" Aoi asked lifting his head from Seiji's shoulder. The look he gave the doctor almost melted his heart as he smiled at the small child.

"Not yet, but she will be better soon as long as we look after her well." Aoi puffed out his chest bravely.

"Me look after Shiharu-tan!" He said proudly as the doctor chuckled, "Well with you looking after her I'm sure she will be right as rain very soon!" Aoi nodded as Akane added that she too would look after Shiharu-tan. The doctor smiled at the twins as Seiji shushed them so the doctor could talk to them about why Shiharu was sick.

"It seems Nakamura-San has a case of viral meningitis." Rio let out an audible gasp as the room all looked stunned.

"She's going to be OK though?" Rio almost begged as she looked at the doctor with haunted eyes.

He smiled knowing what they were all concerned about, but it was Haruko that beat him to the explanation. "Don't worry Yoshii-san. Viral meningitis is not the life threatening kind. There are many types of meningitis, but it is bacterial meningitis that is known for the high mortality rate." the doctor nodded agreeing with her as he continued.

"That's correct viral meningitis is actually a lot safer and more common though there is no cure for it at this time. Most cases run their course within 5 to 14 days without any aftereffects. He watched as most of the room let out a large sigh of relief though he noticed the orphanage worker did not look to be so relieved and her reason was soon explained.

"We have recently taken charge of a young child. He is only 5 months of age. What would your suggestions be?" The doctor looked thoughtful as he looked at the orphanage matron.

"Normally it is recommend those with the virus stay away from children under the age of 1 year." Haruko nodded, knowing this was the case.

"Toru has poor health as well." she offered as the doctor rubbed his chin in thought.

"Is there no other institute she could stay in during the recovery period?" he asked looking at the woman who shook her head sadly. "We are the only ones that take in older children. As Shiharu is close to her 18th birthday she is not going to be staying with us much longer. There are no other institutes we could send her to." the doctor nodded as Aoi spoke up again.

"I look after Shiharu-tan!" Haruko smiled at the child looking very annoyed in Seiji's arms.

"Oh I wish you could sweetie." she said smiling at the child who did not fully understand the situation but wanted to help so badly.

The words were out of his mouth before he had even thought about what he was saying. "Well why can't we?" Seiji asked looking at Haruko. "You said yourself we are like Shiharu's family." he turned to the doctor "Would me or the twins be at risk if we cared for Nakamura-San?" he asked before Haruko could add anything to his comment.

"No. The risk of contracting this is very low. Viral meningitis does not normally require public health measures to be taken because although some of the viruses that cause it are contagious, most people infected have no symptoms, or only very mild ones. A person with viral meningitis may pass on the virus, but this would be very unlikely to cause another person to develop viral meningitis as well." Seiji nodded as he turned back to Haruko.

"Allow us to care for Nakamura-San. She knows my home and this way she will not be around young Toru." Haruko looked at the man before her. She could see the almost pleading look in his eyes. She wondered if he perhaps felt guilty. She had seen it before in new careers. Not noticing their charges had been ill before they became really sick they had blamed themselves.

"Are you sure you could handle this Matsunaga-san? Do not forget you would have the two children plus Shiharu in your care. I would also need you to sign paperwork to say that you are formally accepting all responsibility for Shiharu-chan's care. And what about your work?" she needed him to understand what a big thing this was. As Seiji thought about her questions he looked between Aoi and Akane who both looked at him with the same determined expressions.

"We would not have it any other way." he stated firmly as both twins nodded in agreement. "And as for my work, I will take leave and care for Shiharu and the twins myself plus cover all costs and responsibilities for Nakamura-San...She does so much for us, this is the least I can do." Haruko nodded satisfied by what she saw in Seiji's eyes.

"We look after Shiharu-tan good!" Aoi added as Akane nodded.

"We make Shiharu-tan better." Everyone in the room couldn't help but smile at the determined expressions on the toddlers faces.

"Well then how could I refuse?" Haruko asked as she smiled at the charges Shiharu loved so much.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Well yet again thank you all for the amazing response to this story :)

Soda, Namescat, Kaito-neechan and Ayla thank you for your reviews they made me so happy

its an amazing feeling to get reviews for story that has such a small fandom and to get 4 made me really really happy :)

Namescat, Bugsy123 and Kawiikoneko thanks so much for adding this story to your faves list!

Bugsy123, Kawiikoneko, Amity33, Arashi80, Kaito-neechan, lataa-kure, Outback526,

Yesu-Desu, Akiradreham and Jnfr0330 thank you so much for following I hope the nw chapter doesn't disappoint!

Also thank you Kaito-neechan for giving the name of the Care taker of the orphanage and for clearing up Shiharu's age.

Thank you for reading :)

Neh xxx

Comments and reviews please, I will happily reply to PM's and questions.