5 New Family

It was a little bit later that Jin woke up. To be precise, he woke up pretty much on the next day. His tired eyes still were somewhat filled with morning tears, and a big yawn was the only thing he did when finally woken up.

in that drowsy state, he started to look around. He noticed being inside an old traditional room with Tatami and Shōji on all four sides. Besides that, he also saw a still sleeping Matsuri a few meters away from him on another futon.

He didn't have much time to think about anything else, and a door from one of the Shōji opened up.

A man and woman entered the room. The man was the same red-head from that last time, and the woman was actually a new person. Not that Jin actually should know either of them.

The woman also had red hair like the man, but it was a lot brighter in color and of course also a lot longer. Her hair seemed to be parted in a way so that the bangs she had only fell to the right side of her face.

It was probably intentional because on that side of her face was a bundle of hair she had clipped in a white flower-shaped hairclip. This hair now rested on her right shoulder.

Her green eyes vibrated with warmth, and the smile she had on her face made her look kind and gentle. The attire she wore was a bright cherry blossom colored kimono with a red cloth around her waist. That alone strengthened her image that she already put up with her gentle demeanor.

"Look, Seigen. It seems one of them is already up. Good morning, Jin.", Said a warm female voice. It was the woman that Jin was also now looking at.

"Do I know you?" he asked very straightforwardly. After all, he was not supposed to know these two. And in a sense, he really didn't.

Both of them came closer and sat down before answering him his question. "Oh my. I am sorry. You don't know yet. So to clear up any misunderstandings we should introduce ourselves first. My name is Konoka Suzunami. And this here is my brother."

"The name is Seigen Suzunami. I am the one that brought you here." He introduced himself after his sister started first.

"So you are the one who saved us from that Hollow? Why?"

Both of them raised their eyebrows.

"Why? Is it not normal to help people out? Besides, it was in my duty as a captain to help you."

"Is it? I did not see many Shinigami uphold such a code of honor. Would that not overcrowd the population here in Seireitei if you took care of everyone?" Jin stayed skeptical but pretty much figured out why he helped them.

"Hm? You are a pretty skeptical one. Why the hate towards us Shinigami? Well, it doesn't matter. You should thank Fujimaru for asking me to help you."

"I see. So it was his pleading in the end...", commented Jin on the answer.

"It is nice to meet you nonetheless, Jin Narukami.", said Konoka with a smile again after seeing the somewhat awkward conversation these two had.

Jin looked at her again and somehow had to smile back. "Likewise."

"Where am I?" asked another female voice now from the other futon.

"Good morning, Matsuri.", said Jin to her after seeing her regain consciousness.

"Huh? Who are you?" she asked once more.

"...You don't remember my name anymore? That really hurts.", smiled Jin wryly against her answer.

"How come she asked you that?" frowned Seigen a little bit as well.

"Well, we only met right at that time when those Hollows attacked us. We don't really know each other.", answered Jin the truth.

"And yet you still helped her. That is a good trait.", smiled Seigen after finding something good and honorable in this boy. He was happy about what he did for the twins.

Matsuri was still confused. "Right, the Hollow. I remember now. Was I not attacked by him? Why don't I see any wounds?"

"I couldn't let a beautiful little girl have those ugly scars now, could I? Seeing how it healed very nicely it is a good thing, no?", answered Konoka now.

"You healed me? Um...?"

"Konoka Suzunami." Konoka started her introductions again. Just for Matsuri this time. Seigen did the same as well and came around to be pretty spot on. telling her that he was a captain and saved them out of duty. Even if it really was a lie.

"Captain?" Asked Matsuri once more and asked what that meant. Unlike Jin, she did not seem to know how things did work.

"Right, I should mention this as well. I am Seigen Suzunami, Captain of the 5th Division of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads(Gotei 13). And right now you are in my home.", answered Seigen somewhat proudly.

"So you are nobility?", Jin intermixed in this conversation as well. He knew that when one becomes a captain, one would be elevated into that status.

"You could say so. But we still live a pretty modest life with just the two of us here.", said Konoka now.

"Thank you very much!" thanked Matsuri them now. Jin only looked over to her and then looked back at the pair of red-headed siblings.

Right, with all this happening he still hasn't thanked them. And he even behaved somewhat cold. Without them, he would be dead. So he also lowered his head in gratitude. "Thank you."

Konoka leaned her head sideways and smiled at them. "You are welcome. No need to thank us."

"Morning, Lady Konoka! Morning, Lord Seigen!" shouted a young male voice now from the direction of the still open door.

"Good morning, Fujimaru.", answered Konoka immediately.

"Well, look who woke up. The two sleepyheads are finally up!" he said to Jin and Matsuri with a bright smile.

"Sleepyhead? How long did we sleep?" asked Jin and lifted one brow in a questioning manner.

"About a days worth.", said Seigen.

"That much?" Jin wanted to reconfirm.

"Yes.", he nodded in confirmation once more.

"Fujimaru?" asked Matsuri now. "Don't you have anything else to say now?"

"Well, you still remember the attack? When Lord Seigan appeared, the Hollow ran away."

"Thank goodness. So you remained unharmed.", she answered back.

"What? Do you know how scared I was to lose you? We may be twins, but you are still my little sister. The one who should have protected you is me! I thought you would die! Good thing Jin helped out and shot that Hollow."

"He did?" Matsuri was now looking at Jin again. To be truthful, she had nearly no memories of the attack at the point where she rushed in front of Fujimaru to save him.

"Yeah, tell her, Jin," grinned Fujimaru and encouraged Jin to tell what he did.

Seigen also squinted his eyes a little bit since this was valuable information that he was also curious to know. But just at that moment, Jin his stomach started growling madly, and he looked down at it.

"Can we maybe eat something first? I am starving.", asked Jin in response.

Then Matsuri and Fujimaru as well got reminded of their empty stomachs. "Me too.", Mentioned Fujimaru. Matsuri did not say anything but Konoka saw that she wanted to say the same.

It was somewhat of a surprise since only souls with Reiryoku could get hungry. And here all three of them had hunger.

"Of course. Let's get something to eat. But first, you three have to get a bath.", said Konoka.

"Is that necessary? We don't want to be any more of an inconvenience than we already are.", said Jin.

"Shh," said Fujimaru hastily and came over to him. "You better don't argue with Lady Konoka about that, mate. Just accept."

Jin heard him out and then looked to Konoko again. Now her smile became somewhat eerie.

"Of course. A hot, warm bath is what you need. You sweat so much. Don't you agree; you would feel much better?"

The sound of her voice was not a question any longer but a command. Say what you want, but it let some sweat trickle down his forehead just out of fear at that moment. And Matsuri felt the same. It looked like Fujimaru already had a meeting with this side of Lady Konoka.

"Yes, ma´am."