Author's Note: Yes, yes, I know, it's late. I've had writers block, and this chapter decided to torture me. Since it gave me such trouble, it's also a bit short. Chapter 5 will be much longer, I promise! Thanks to everyone who review, favorited, and everyone else who read!!

This chapter is dedicated to celestial dragons guardians and SemperVenice. Thank you for reviewing to my story! I also thank SemperVenice for adding Creating A Cure to his alerts! xD Arigato!

Bleach © Tito Kubo. Not Toasty's.

Iratsuku Sai © ToastWeasl. The Plot is also © ToastWeasl, meaning I own the plot and Sai.

Enjoy Chapter 4! Please review as well!!

Chapter 4

For the next week, Sai didn't get much research done. She moved boxes to her new room in the Thirteenth Company Barracks and researched a little bit in the evening before collapsing onto her bed. She got moved in a few days before the deadline move date, and she went up to Unohana-taichou and handed her room key to her.

"We're going to miss you around here," Unohana said, taking the key.

"Hey, don't say it like I'm dying Unohana-taichou," Sai exclaimed. "I'm still going to work here."

"Yes, but it won't be the same without you after the disease is cured," Unohana said quietly. "You'll submit weekly reports on your findings and Ukitake-taichou's health?"

"Of course," Sai bowed. "You're wish is my command Unohana-taichou."

"Go," she said quietly. "You should be researching."

"Yes ma'am!" Sai saluted her prior captain then marched out of the room.

Sai didn't get much research done. She was to busy helping run the Thirteenth Company for Ukitake, but managed to get a little bit done when she had time off. She had even gotten Kiyone and Sentaro to behave. She had taught them a few rules when they had busted into her office where she was working on a complex transmutation circle.

The door to her office had burst open to reveal Sentaro and Kiyone.

"Yes?" she had asked.

"Fukutaichou!" Sentaro yelled, "I have papers I need you to-UMPH!" Sentaro let out a strangled yell as a paperweight flew into his face, knocking him unconscious.

"Rule Number 1," Sai growled getting up, "keep volume levels at a minimum, least I adjust them for you." She dusted herself off and turned to Kiyone. "Kotetsu-san, please resume your report."

"Yes Sai-ARGH!" Another paperweight collided with a skull, and Kiyone fell back. "Rule Number 2, respect your commanding officers. You will call me Iratsuku-san, fukutaichou, or Iratsuku-fukutaichou at all times, unless I specify otherwise. Understood?"

"Y-yes Iratsuku-fukutaichou," the two said, nodding furiously.

"You give your report now. Kotetsu-san, why have you come to call on me?"

"Iratsuku-taichou, we need you to sign these papers, as the captain is not in the best health. "

"Alright," Sai nodded and accepted the papers. "Thank you. Also, one more thing: don't ever barge into my office ever again!" Two paperweights to the forehead marked Kiyone and Sentaro's exit of her office. The two were remarkable well mannered after that incident.

Just when Sai had finally gotten into a pattern when her captain fell ill.

So that was why Sai sat in her room, chalk transmutation circle on the floor, muttering to herself and adding pinches of herbs and a few liquids and chemicals to the bubbling cauldron in the center of the circle. There was a knock on the door, and Sai called, "Enter!"

Kiyone entered. "Iratsuku-fukutaichou, Ukitake-taichou is asking for you." She paused then asked, "Um, what are you doing?"

"Making a healing potion for Ukitake-taichou," Sai said, not taking her eyes off the glowing circle. She made a seal and the glow from the chalk circle slowly dimmed. "I'll be right there."

Kiyone nodded once then slid the door shut.

Sai picked up the steaming cauldron and poured it into a glass. She got up, stretched then left for her Captain's room. She got there as quickly as she could and slid the door to the room open.

She set the glass on the table next to Ukitake's futon, then she touched his should lightly. "Taichou," she murmured, "I have a potion for you. It'll help."

The sick captain opened his eyes and sat up blearily as Sai gave him the cup. He drank it, making a face at some of the tastes then he leaned back. "Sleep now taichou," Sai whispered, putting a reiatsu covered hand over her captain's brow. His eyes drooped and he fell asleep. Sai transferred her hand to his chest and let her reiatsu sooth her captain's inflamed lungs.

She stood and carefully picked up the glass she had brought the potion, and slipped out, leaving her captain to sleep.

XXX

The next day, Ukitake was feeling better, and was well enough to sit up and was talking normally. Sai visited him with another potion saying, "Don't push yourself taichou. Let your body heal." She ran a hand across his chest, soothing his lungs with reiatsu then listened to his breathing.

"Thank you Sai," Ukitake croaked after she had finished healing what she could. "I don't know what I could do without you and your research."

Sai smiled and said, "Taichou, you'll only inflame your lungs by talking. Thank you though." She smiled again and left the room.

Two days later, Sai removed her captain from bed rest. "The way I see it," she said explained, "I don't think you can get any better or any worse."

The good luck did not last. Three days later, the Thirteenth Company captain fell ill again. Isane found Sai in her room, glowing runes scratched on the floor and her arms in chalk and charcoal.

"Sai, what are you doing?" the fukutaichou asked.

"Shh," Sai hushed her friend, intent on the cauldron in front of her. "Hold on." Sai dropped her hands and the glow from the marks faded. She got up and washed the floor and her arms of chalk and charcoal. "Sorry, getting the most recent potion for Ukitake-taichou finished."

"Is this the method your going to use to heal him?" Isane asked, amazed. The reiatsu coming from the runes had been immense.

"Yeah," Sai said, taking a swing of water from a cup. "I've pretty much mastered the technique."

"How's your taichou?" Isane asked, sitting next to Sai. Sai grimaced. "That bad huh?"

"He's not doing so well," Sai informed her fellow fukutaichou gravely. "I'm afraid we're going to have to perform the ritual sooner than I expected."

"Are you prepared?" Isane asked.

Sai shrugged. "As much as I can be I guess. I'm not a fool to say I know the whole technique, but I know enough to heal him for the time being." Sai got up, groaning as she did. Stretching she said, "Isane. I need you to get Unohana-taichou. I want her to examine my taichou."

"Right," Isane nodded then flashed stepped away. Sai sighed; flash stepping used to be her special move in the two woman's rivalry, but Isane was catching up to her.

Sai walked the last few feet to Ukitake's room then entered it quietly. "Ukitake-taichou," she said quietly. "Taichou." She pressed a hand to her captain's head. He was hot. She grimaced and just as she was about to get up, the door slide open and Unohana came in.

Sai moved out of the way and let her old captain check Ukitake. Isane was sitting outside, and Sai joined her. Unohana came out, looking grim. She motioned for them to follow her and they complied silently.

Once they were out of earshot of Ukitake's room, the 4th Company Captain stopped. "He's in a bad way," she said gravely, "we'll need to perform your cure soon."

"How long do I have to prepare?" Sai whispered.

"We're going to perform the cure tonight." Unohana said, turning to Sai. "You will be in charge of the operation. Can you handle it Iratsuku-fukutaichou?"

Sai nodded and grimaced. "Yes Unohana-taichou. I'm going to need a room at the hospital; a big one." She cracked her neck and smiled. "Let's rock and roll."

Isane and Unohana nodded once. Sai left them for a second to go back to her captain.

"Ukitake-taichou," she whispered, touching him lightly on the shoulder. "Just hang on a bit longer. Don't you dare die on me, alright?" She got up and left the room, trying to suppress the fear that was billowing in her chest.

XXX

Jūshirō Ukitake felt the soft touch of his fukutaichou's hand on his shoulder. "Ukitake-taichou. Taichou." He felt a cool hand press to him forehead, then it withdrew. He heard the door slide open, and the presence of his vice-captain was replaced with another presence.

"Jūshirō," a soft voice said. It was Retsu. "Jūshirō, can you hear me?"

"R-Retsu," he croaked.

"Shush Jūshirō," she said softly. Cool hands felt his forehead then traveled onto his chest, where they rested. Ukitake could feel the reiatsu flow into his body, healing him.

"T-Thank you Retsu," Ukitake rasped.

"You're welcome. Now rest." Ukitake felt her hands leave his body, and the door to him room slide shut.

He could hear a conversation, then footsteps. The door slide open, and once again the spiritual energy of his vice-captain entered the room. He felt her kneel down on the floor and touch his shoulder lightly.

"Ukitake-taichou," he heard her whisper, "just hold on a bit longer. Don't you dare die on me, alright?" He would have answered, but her pressure grew lighter as she stood, and walked away. The last thing he felt in her reiatsu was fear. Deep, dark, and red; it suppressed all other emotions, and he could feel her repressing it.

"Sai," he whispered, but the door closed on his words. "I believe in you."

A/N: So, did you like it? I hope you did! Oh no, Sai has to preform the procedure sooner then she thinks! What do you think will happen? Review and tell me!!

Remeber, I really dislike the people who fav. but don't review, or who Story Alert but don't review. So if you fav/story alert this, please review telling me why, or you comments!! You do and I'll give you a cookie-no a CAKE! Or a piece anyways.

Please review so I can kill my Writers Block!!

Ja ne!

-Toasty and her Myriad of Magical Muses (included the Philip and Jian Muses, who are doing much better recovering in the 4th Company Hospital)