Jin sat quietly with one arm resting on top of the table while it balanced his chin on the top of his palm. He couldn't help his posture, he was just so tired and bored. He counted each minute that ticked passed by on the clock that hanged on the wall as the adults around him kept discussing stuff that he cared little for. "Jin." The blonde failed to hear his name being called. "Jin." No Response, "JIN!" Finally the blonde snapped out from his dazed state as he was brought back into the reality that surrounded him.

"Ah, y-yes?" He turned to look at his father who sat there with a look of concern.

"Are you alright, child? You began spacing out." His father replied as he carefully looked over the young boy to make sure he wasn't coming down with any illnesses.

"Mr Kisaragi, for you son to become the next heir to the Kisaragi family he must start paying utmost attention when it comes to these meetings." The head of the Hazuki family spoke up as he frowned to the small blonde who shifted awkwardly in his seat.

"Oh, calm down, Hoichiro. He's just a child still. Even my Kagura is.. well, he's still got a lot of growing up to do." The leader of the Mutsuki family spoke up with a disappointed sigh as he glanced over to his eldest son who sat beside him, scrolling through his phone at pictures of scantly clad women.

Meanwhile, Jin sat there, dreaded the idea of doing this monthly. Why was he even chosen for this role? He had so many older siblings then him and yet, he was forced to take up the duties to become the next heir to the Kisaragi family.

While the adults in the room continued to discuss their business Jin's eyes led him to the window that showed him how simple his life was 'outside'. Not full of expectations unlike inside the room he was in. He let out a sigh as he continued to gaze aimlessly outside the window's glass. His eyes widen as he spotted a familiar figure outside. 'Tsubaki?' Jin recognize her immediately, despite only meeting her once in his time in the Duodecium. He figured because she was the only little girl with flaming red hair.

He was surprised to see her there in the Uzuki family's garden. It must of been her father who brought her here, Jin figured as he glanced over to the man who sat beside his father. Jin then looked back to the window as he watched her all on her own as she carried that small pink ball.

He watched her playing alone for the rest of the meeting and the moment Jin was allowed to escape that stuffy room he bolted straight for the Uzuki garden. The garden's here weren't as elaborate as the Yayoi's garden, so it made it easier for Jin to navigate where his little friend was. The moment his eyes caught the sight of the bright red head from the other end of the yard Jin began walking towards her.

As he came closer to her he spotted three other children all surrounding the young girl. Without hesitation Jin stood back as he watched one of the girl's snatch Tsubaki's ball from her. "H-Hey, that's mine!" Tsubaki called out as she stood in front of the blonde girl, reaching up for her hands as she tired to get her ball back.

"Here Noburu, why don't you have this." The blonde girl then tossed Tsubaki's ball over to a boy with green hair. His pink eyes locked with hers as he gave the girl a smirk.

"Thanks, Kura." As Tsubaki ran up to him, he turned to their friend and called out. "Hey Jurou, head's up."

He threw the boy with orange hair who in return, instead of catching the ball kicked it straight at Tsubaki, sending the small girl sprawling to the ground below from the impact of the ball hitting her. "AH!" Tsubaki let out a squeak as she head her now aching head, causing the three to laugh at her.

The three children laughed at her as Kura kicked some dirt at the small girl before they continued to laugh some more at the young girl's expense. "Com'on boys, lets go." The three children turned away, heading towards Jin who shuffled back as they came close to him. The three stopped for a moment and stared at the young blonde. "You say anything to the adults... and you'll regret it." Kura growled at Jin before the three bullies continued off, leaving Jin alone in the garden with Tsubaki.

Jin looked over to Tsubaki who was sitting in the dirt, staring to the ground as if she refused to look up at all. He then looked to where the ball had been kicked off to, he sighed as he noticed it was floating in the middle of a small pond. It was weird. But, he didn't feel obliged even the slightest as he found himself walking to the edge of the pond as he dove into the water to retrieve the ball. Once he swam out and retrieved the pink ball he came back to the shore and pulled himself out. He then walked over to Tsubaki who hadn't notice that he was even there and surprised her as he held the small ball in front of her face.

Tsubaki gasped in delight before looking up to find a dripping wet Jin in front of her. "AH! J-Jin?!Oh my, why are you wet?" She gasped out as she reached out for the ball and gently took it from him.

"Heh, don't worry about it." Jin chuckled slightly as he gave his small friend a big grin.

"No, com'on tell me!"

"I-I just fell in the pond over there, that's all."

Tsubaki looked over behind her to the pond and then back at Jin. "Hehe, is Jin just as clumsy as me?" She giggle in delight as she gave him a sweet smile which made Jin chuckle in response.

"Maybe so." He then asked, "So, are you okay? I saw those three kids bullying you."

"What three kids? I've been here in the garden all alone." She replied with a bigger grin.

'What the-' Jin stared at the girl in confusion. He clearly watched her getting bullied and yet, here she was smiling and acting as if nothing had happened. Was this normal for her? Or was she that sheltered to know any difference?

Lost him his thoughts, Tsubaki reached out a hand to grab Jin's sleeve as she gently tugged it. "Hey Jin, let's get you inside and dry you off." She then began to walk towards the house with Jin silently following behind her. Still lost in wonder as to why she was acting so oblivious to what happened to her.

Once inside Tsubaki lead Jin towards the bathroom. "Wait here." She spoke to him in a soft tone as she walked into the next room. While the young red head went to claim some towels to give Jin, he over heard some of the kids from before chatting amongest themselves down the hallway. Curiosity got to the young blonde as he found himself carefully creeping down the hall, stopping outside a open door to the room where the bullies stood ideally.

"That kid with the blonde hair looks weird." Jin peeked around the edge of the door to see Jurou carelessly yawned out loud as he stretched.

"Yeah, but not as weird as the Yayoi girl." Noburu replied causing Kura to let out a burst of laughter as she skipped to the two of them, throwing her arms around each of the boy's necks.

"Weird? Don't you mean queer? You know that girl has pure blood, right?"

"Pure blood? What the hell is that?" Jurou asked, wriggling free from Kura's grip.

As Jin was about to hear what Kura had to say he was interrupted as the sound of fabric dropped to the floor beside him. He turned around to see Tsubaki standing beside him, her head hanged low. "What's wrong?" Jin asked as he noticed how tensed up Tsubaki's body was, with it's subtly shaken state. Her face even though he couldn't see it, her face was bright red as if something had her fuming.

Before he could reach a comforting hand out to her, Tsubaki turned away from Jin before running down the hallway to the bathroom before locking herself inside of it. "Tsubaki?" Jin called out in confusion, only to be met with a complete silence as he found himself all alone. "D-Did I do something wrong?"

Jin carefully stepped over the clump of towels as he walked down to the bathroom door, before knocking gently on the fine wood. "Tsubaki?" He discovered that despite hearing the click of a lock, Tsubaki had never actually locked the door in the first place. He pushed the door open to find Tsubaki leaning against a cupboard as she buried her head into her lap. "You know, I don't like chasing people." Jin lent down to her level and growled, causing her to jolt in response.

Her head lifted immediately to meet with his, her shiny eyes to his dull ones. He noticed a tear track that had stained one of her burning cheeks as it glistened within the light. "I-I'm sorry."

Jin let out a sigh, "Don't cry. There's nothing to apologize or cry over." Jin sat himself down beside her, his voice carrying a more hostile tone then he intended. After all, it was a unintentional habit he had.

"I-I'm sorry!" She cried out.

"Didn't I already tell you that there's no point to apologize over meaningless things?"

"I'm sor-" Tsubaki immediately covered her mouth with her hands as he eyes wore a shocked expression. It was cute to say the least and Jin couldn't help the light chuckle that escaped his lips.

"I'll let you off the hook this one time." He teased as he brought the young girl into a small hug. "Now tell me, what was all that back there?"

Tsubaki hanged her head low. "You heard, didn't you?" She questioned as she felt herself holding back tears from the fear of judgement. "You heard and now like all the other children... You're going to stop being my friend, aren't you?"

"Heard what?" Tsubaki refused to answer. She hunched over to avoid any eye contact with the boy causing him to sigh, "Look if you don't want to tell me then that's fine. But, I made a promise a month ago, didn't I? I'm you're big brother, so I won't turn away from you."

"..."

"If you don't feel comfortable telling me, it's fine. But remember, I'm going to be by your side regardless-"

"I-I.." She hesitated before lowly mumbling, "I'm born with pure blood."

A single eyebrow raised on Jin's face. "What on earth is pure blood?"

"Y-You know..."

"...Which means?"

"It means my mother and father... were related by blood before having me."

It immediately clicked in Jin's head before he gave her a shrug. "So?"

"SO?!" Tsubaki snapped, "My parents are siblings? I'm born from incest!"

"Look Tsubaki, I can understand that you may feel embarrassed by that fact, especially when the other kids bully you. But, quite frankly, I personally don't care about your bloodline. As your big brother, I promise that I'll protect you from the other bullies. So if they come and upset you with that fact, then come to me immediately, alright?"

Jin reassured the young girl, causing Tsubaki's heart to begin pumping powerfully in her chest from his words. She figured this unfamiliar feeling was from adrenaline by the fact that she was finally accepted by someone. However, this WAS an foreign feeling for her.

"Jin... Thank you so much!" She whispered as she lunged forward, planting her soft lips against Jin's rough cheek as she caused him to become a slight red.

"It's all good, Tsubaki." He turned to her once her lips left his cheek and gave her a warm caring smile.