Ukitake limped over to the fully-blossomed sakura tree and leant on the trunk. He slowly slid down until the pain in his right leg got too much, and he landed with a stiff bump.
"I'm so careless," he muttered to himself, rolling up the leg on his hakama and wiping away the blood on the graze on his knee. He gave a small, sad sigh and placed his elbow on his left knee. He rested his chin on his palm and let his finger curl up over his mouth slightly.
Footsteps sounded nearby. Ukitake glanced up and saw the petite 10th Division Captain walking past him on the pavement.
"Shiro-chan!" called Ukitake gleefully, gesturing with his bloodied hand for him to come over. Hitsugaya scowled, but then blinked as he noticed the crimson streaks on the older man's palm and chin (although for such an intelligent boy, he didn't see the blood on the other Captain's knee).
He stopped in his tracks and stared at the red patch on Ukitake's chin.
"What? Do I have something on my face?" asked Ukitake confusedly. Hitsugaya nodded and started heading towards the 13th Division Captain.
Ukitake blinked. "Where is it?"
Hitsugaya cleared his throat, before asking. "Do you need medical assistance? Because I can call the 4th Squad over if you wish."
"Uh, no, I'm feeling quite well today, thank you," replied Ukitake. He blinked some more as Hitsugaya stared incredulously at him. "What?!"
"But you have blood on your chin!"
There was an awkward silence, in which both Captains looked at each other with bewildered expressions. Then all of sudden, Ukitake filled the silence with a loud laugh.
"Oh, no! It's not what you're thinking, Shiro-chan! I'm perfectly fine; I just tripped earlier and made my knee bleed, and then I wiped it away with my hand and must've accidently smeared some on my face," Ukitake said, chuckling. He grinned. "Sorry to worry you, Hitsugaya-kun."
But Toshiro Hitsugaya had already fled, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Ukitake smiled and gazed up at the cherry blossoms floating down, making his hair look like soapy bubbles with flower soap scattered upon it. So the kid DID care.
He was going to have to reward him with more sweets.