8 Searching

"Hey, do you think we will pass the test and become Shinigami?" asked Fujimaru while walking together with the others.

"I am pretty sure we will. But first, we need to find the headquarter of the 12th Division. Instead of picking us up Urahara sent us a messenger.", grumbled Jin with a frowned face.

This morning the trio prepared themselves to be examined on their potential to become Shinigami, but a messenger from the 12th division arrived and told them that Urahara is busy at the moment and wants them to come on their own later.

Since Lord Seigen was out in the morning to his division, it was up to them to find the 12th division HQ. Lady Konoka gave them a map of Seireitei to find their way and some lunch boxes as if this was some picnic.

"You are still angry about that?" Fujimaru was keeping his hands behind his head now and leisurely looked upwards. "I find it relaxing."

"I am not angry but more annoyed. And we have been walking for about an hour now. We even found out that your sister can't read maps at all..."

"What!? Now it's my fault? Just wait, I am sure we are nearly there.", interjected Matsuri after hearing the truth being told by Jin.

"Then tell me. Why is it that we are walking past this tree here for like the fifth time?"

Jin pointed at a tree at their right side that already showed some marks on it. Those marks were the ones he made with a rock previously. And it was done every time they passed that tree.

That means about four times.

Matsuri immediately got a shade of red on her face and started walking faster, not answering his question.

Turning back the clock a little, it was Matsuri that was eager to take the map and lead them. Jin didn't know why, but since he was mature, he didn't bother about her taking the lead.

But who would have known that it would end up like this? If he knew sooner, he would have stopped her back then.

Now it would just look petty if e took the map. And something inside him wanted her to realize the shortcomings she had.

"Let's just ask some people, Matsuri." Fujimaru saw a few Shinigami coming closer. And because he wanted to help his sister end also this farse soon, he suggested that action.

"Urgh, alright I give up.", Said Matsuri designated. Now that her brother even betrayed her, she couldn't just go on and be willful about this matter.

"Was it that hard?" Jin asked with a smile.

In the end, the trio ended up asking the Shinigami for directions, and with Jin's way better sense of direction, they arrived there in no time at all.

But they soon were tackled with the next task. Where exactly was that lazy now? The Shinigami working here actually had no clue where their Captain was at the moment. As if he was some ghost.

„Oy, you brats!!", Shouted someone to them. It was a small woman with blonde hair tied up in twin piggy tails. She had tiny freckles on her cheeks and a sharp canine tooth that protruded out on the left side of her lips.

"Yes?" asked Jin back after noticing the woman meant them.

"What are you doing here? This is no place for kids.", She said again after coming closer. Her voice naturally being as loud as from afar.

„We are here to meet Captain Urahara. He was the one who invited us.", Calmly replied Jin, but he was already annoyed by this woman. First, he had already walked without a goal for quite some time and was slightly annoyed. And now some woman wanted him to piss off immediately after he arrived? He wanted to shout back but stayed calm - for now.

"Urahara? Is that bastard inviting kids now? Let this elder sister tell you something. You brats better go back where you came from."

Now Jin had enough. A clear angry tick appeared on his mouth. „Hey, you! How about you start behaving like an adult if you want to be called an elder sister. Look, you ain't even that much taller than us!" He shouted back and seemed to have hit the woman with those words on a soft spot.

"What!? You little." She shouted with a clear tick on her own face. Then she grabbed his head in a vice lock from both sides and started rubbing with her fists.

"Argh!" There was nothing else to do but to cry out in pain. Jin was definitely not fast enough to do anything against her actions like at all.

"Jin! Hey, stop doing that!" Said Matsuri in protest and frowned. How could a Shinigami behave like that against them?

"No, this brat needs to learn how to behave. Show respect to your elders!"

"I told you. You need to earn it!" Jin still denied her and remained true to his words.

"Sis, I think it is pointless to stop them.", said Fujimaru while putting his hand on her shoulder.

"That is enough, Hiyori. Don't treat our guests like that." a male voice was heard at this moment. It was Urahara that was curious about the noise.

The woman that had Jin locked in a vice grip was the lieutenant of the 12th division, Hiyori Sarugaki.

"Tsk. So you did invite them? What are you up to now?" She said back to him and stopped tormenting Jin.

Jin just rubbed his head at the spots she hurt him and frowned deeply.

"It is just a little check up on them."

"Really now? And you are not just lazing around again?"

"Come on. Do you still think I am not a suitable captain? Anyway, keep quite now."

Hiyori remained silent and didn't want to rebuke any more but was still angry about this.

"And let me introduce you. These are the Kudō twins - Matsuri and Fujimaru. The one you made such a precious bond with a minute ago is Jin Narukami."

When he introduced the trio, Hiyori looked back at them.

Urahara continued. „And this here is my current lieutenant, Hiyori Sarugaki."

When Jin heard the name, he kept a laugher back.

Hiyori got immediately triggered. She was very conscious of her name, and she knew why he laughed.

"So, who is the real gaki(brat) here, you monkey(Saru)?", asked Jin with a chuckling smirk.

"You little bastard! Now you are dead!" shouted Hiyori and started grabbing his cheeks and pulling them apart really hard.

„Gaah! Lert maa ghooo!" Jin tried to struggle and the only thing he could do is copy her. So he did the same thing to her. Now it was a fight at who would surrender first. Their cheeks expanding already into hideous faces and glowing brightly red.

Urahara only sighed but there was also a little smile hidden beneath that.

"What is a lieutenant?" asked Fujimaru now while looking confused.

"Hmm? Oh, a lieutenant is the right hand of a Captain. You can distinguish them from normal Shinigami because they wear those armbands with the equal division on it. They are also strong Shinigami themselves. But mostly they are great people to do all the paperwork that piles up, hehe." He smirked sheepishly after saying his last words.

"Don't teach them useless things, you idiot!" Hiyori heard his words and nearly thought he praised her. But shortly after that, she just kicked Urahara for his comment about pushing all his paperwork on her.

"I win.", Said Jin with a grin and completely red cheeks. He also made a V sign to the twins.

That got him a fist on his head that would leave a bump later.

"You better don't get cocky, brat. Now, let's get the things done that you are here for."

Matsuri was smiling wryly. "Now I am not so sure about getting tested...Urahara-san seems somewhat...airheaded? How come he lets Hiyori hit him?" She was genuinely confused. Fujimaru also only nodded to that in agreement.

"And Jin. Are you alright? Getting on the bad side with a lieutenant like that...", asked Fujimaru.

Jin looked at the departing duo of lieutenant and captain. "It´s alright. I kinda like these two. Let's go an follow them. Or else we are going to be left behind."

With that said he sprinted after them with the twins following him.