A/N: Thank you all so very much for reading and reviewing! I got so much more than I expected and I was brought near to tears. T-T Thank you ever so much! I've gotten many reviews saying the timeline's a bit funky and I apologize for that but this was definitely a story I wanted to take on and knew the consequences. I started to regret it until I got all the reviews. I will try my hardest not to broaden this beyond my grasp since the only person who knows anything of this selected time is Kubo Tite-kun. I will remind those that this is set immediately after the first movie, Memories of Nobody and I will try my HARDEST not to have any spoilers. Thank you all again for reading chapter one and giving chapter two a try. I hope I can keep up to any expectations. Thanks again!

Rated T for insurance.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own most of these characters; they strictly belong to Kubo Tite-kun. Kishu Sorata is my O.C. but I borrowed his name from another anime. I'd like to see if it rings anyone's bells. A character mentioned later in the chapter, Satashi-taichou is a borrowed character from dragonwriter24cmf's First Time (very AWESOME one-shot!) and I hope it's okay I borrow her and if it's not please let me know immediately! I'm sorry for not asking you but I didn't have the time to if I wanted to publish this in time! I am not selling this product so I will not at any time make any profit for this story. The only time anyone will be paying is for the ink if that person decides to print this piece of work. I will also declare that I borrowed some favorable lines from other televised programs and literature.

Time Warp

Chapter Two

With a groggy groan, Ichigo rubbed at his eyes as his dream slowly dissipated. It was a very peculiar dream compared to most and it left Ichigo rather curious as to why he'd have such an imagination. He slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position and gave a hefty yawn. He smacked his lips a couple times and tried to recall what would leave such a bad taste in the back of his mouth.

He turned to see the time on his alarm clock when he realized he was sleeping on a futon on the floor. "Wha…?" He looked around to see the paper doors with the sunlight shining in brightly and the wooden floor beneath him. "What the hell?" He shot to his feet and looked down at his shihakushou. "It wasn't a dream? Aw, son of a—"

"Kurosaki-kun?"

"Huh?" Ichigo turned on his heel and looked over to the shaded paper door. He reached for Zangetsu and slung the strap over his shoulder. "Who's there?"

"It's me," said a shaky voice as the paper door slid open. A small figure, about Ichigo's height or perhaps a bit shorter, came sliding inward with the right foot first. Bright green eyes shown through thick brunette bangs and a welcoming smile covered his face as he said, "It's Kishu Sorata, remember?"

Ichigo relaxed some and rubbed a hand down his face. "What are you doing here," he muttered behind his hand.

"Ukitake-fukutaichou has assigned you under my authority." Sorata finally slid the door completely open to allow all the sunlight to shine through when he continued, "It's my responsibility to supervise you and educate you on how things work around here."

"What?" Before the shorter boy had a chance to react he was already off the ground in Ichigo's grasp by his collar. "I'm going to be stuck with you all day?" Ichigo lowered his head with a low growl as a vain popped on his brow. "Where's Uki-take?" he asked, slowing the name down to get through this guy's thick head.

Dark lines were drawn down Sorata's face as he hesitantly answered, "H-he's at the Squad 4 infirmaries. He'd gone to visit the wounded men and women from yesterday's battle. The lieutenant had come earlier but you were still sleeping and he didn't want to wake you—" the sentence ended with a small scream as Ichigo threw him back to the ground and charged out the door. "Wait," Sorata pleaded as he reached forward but was too slow, "you don't know where you're going!"

Ichigo didn't care for the man he abandoned in his room, nor his words. He just charged forward with a heavy force in his step. "How could that blasted Ukitake leave me with him? Of all people!" He stomped through the Seireitei, not sure of where he was going and just taking every which way his instincts told him to go but he had a feeling his instincts were leading him in the wrong direction. Heh, wouldn't be the first time.

Just as he was passing the nth turn in the roads something crossed his vision and made him backtrack to pop his head around the corner and take a peak-a-boo. The smallest figure with short black hair that hovered just above the shoulder and a pack with the Squad 4 symbol sewn on the back around the curved shoulders caught Ichigo's attention. Before he could stop himself he had grabbed the young man by the shoulders and spun him around.

"Hanataro! It's been a while," he said as he looked at the younger boy but he quickly turned stone gray. "Oh, I'm sorry," he tried to stay but it all came out a muttering mess of indistinctive gibberish.

The young girl looked up to him with enlarged eyes as she crossed her arms over her flat chest. She seemed near verge of tears which only punched Ichigo hard in the gut and he'd tried once more for apologies but before he could get very far, a brawny arm draped itself on top of Ichigo's shoulders and pulled him back.

"I'm sorry, little lady," soothed a deep voice as the man stepped in front of Ichigo and leaned forward to give the woman a small flower. "The boy's still recovering from a mental injury and you could say he's not right in the head to begin with."

Ichigo's face grew shrouded with a dark shadow until the man turned around to greet him after sending the girl on her merry way.

"Now, was that really called for; scaring the girl senseless like that?" he asked with a brilliant grin on his scruffy face.

"Captain—I mean, Lieutenant Kyouraku? What are you doing down here?"

"You really shouldn't be going around here with your head cut off like that. You may ruin us one day." Kyouraku crossed his arms and shook his head joyfully. "It seems Ukitake had too much trust in you to believe you'd obey a simple order to behave."

"Wait a minute," Ichigo said rather viciously. "You've come to spy on me, haven't you?"

Kyouraku bellowed out in laughter. "You're a quick one, aren't you?" He patted Ichigo firmly on the back before leading him down through the streets. "But did you ever think that I might just want your company?"

Ichigo didn't believe him for a minute. He may not have known the two 'lieutenants' very well but he could tell without a doubt the connection between the two was supernaturally strong. It was highly possible Kyouraku would pass his time up to save trouble for Ukitake.

They went along the day with Kyouraku telling rather interesting stories about him and Ukitake back in the Academy (some of them were a bit too personal for Ichigo's likes) which eventually moved on to some of Kyouraku's favorite haikus after the older man snatched a bottle of sake. An hour or so passed and Ichigo, after already passing up many offers to drink, had finally learned to just let the man ramble on and keep his mouth shut.

"So, what happened to that 3rd seat, Kishu?" Kyouraku asked, looking over at Ichigo with a carefree smile.

Ichigo held his chin in his hand as he thought. "Oh, that Sorata guy? I totally forgot about him. I didn't know he was a third seat…"

Kyouraku broke out into laughter and patted the younger boy on the back in sport. "Yeah, he's quite the stumblebum when it comes to his work." Kyouraku recollected himself and leaned forward towards Ichigo some, "So, who was this Hanataro person you were talking about? That's a pretty name."

"His name was Yamada Hanataro," Ichigo said with a bright grin. He could see the lieutenant's sudden unease at the mention of it being a male. "He was a member of the 4th Squad and helped me when—"

He was silenced with a small nudge from the taller man with his sake bottle. "You've failed the test," was all he said with a tight grin. He walked on even when the confused Ichigo stopped. Before the high school student had a chance to ask, "Did nothing I say get to you yesterday? I said even the slightest-"Kyouraku made a small gap between his index and thumb-"hint of what may come can change time and space," Kyouraku explained after he turned around to face Ichigo. "I hope today was a lesson well learned: No matter who asks you, never speak of your present. Whether it be me, Ukitake, or even a captain you must not utter a word of it."

One vain after another popped on Ichigo's brow as Kyouraku lectured him and finally yelled out in aggravation when he was through. "Alright, I get it! Will you get off my back?"

Kyouraku couldn't help but smile. "C'mon," he said as he gestured Ichigo to follow him, "let's go save Ukitake from the Squad 4 holding cells."

"Holding cells," Ichigo asked rather amused. "Don't like the place?"

"Does anyone?" They both chuckled as they continued on their way but Kyouraku suddenly disappeared to a window shop before Ichigo could even collect the lieutenant stopping.

"What are you doing?" Ichigo poked his head around Kyouraku's arm to see the sack of candy tied neatly and sitting patiently on the window sill. "What's that for?"

"Though it doesn't look it, Ukitake has quite the sweet tooth," Kyouraku stated with a smile as he slipped the candy in his sleeve. "He's always giving out free candy to the younger shinigami. I'm sure he'll probably want to share some with you so I hope you like sweets." He pulled from the window and started down the streets with Ichigo at his side. "I'm sure after a hard day's work he'll want a sugar rush to get him through the night later on."

Ichigo looked up at the older man with an inspired grin. "You really care for Ukitake, don't you?"

"Why yes," Kyouraku said with a broad grin. "He's very dear to me."

Ichigo tried to look into the man's eyes from his view but he could tell the lieutenant's gaze was long gone in the distance, probably thinking back some while. The substitute couldn't help but think back home to Chad and his other classmates. To think two friends could be so close…could he and Chad perchance get that close in time? The idea made him simper.

They finally reached Squad 4 and they wandered through the halls, passing many rooms filled with wounded men, surrounded by shinigami both assisting with nurturing and just visiting. Kyouraku went in and gave a visit to some men from either his or Ukitake's squad, Ichigo didn't know.

"Oi, Ukitake-kun," Kyouraku exclaimed once they saw the white-haired lieutenant conversing with a young lady.

"Kyouraku," Ukitake blinked in surprise after turning around to face the two boys. "And Kurosaki? Aren't you supposed to be with Kishu?"

"Eh," Ichigo's eye twitched slightly to Ukitake's face. He couldn't quite tell what feeling was portrayed but it seemed like slight betrayal in those eyes. "About that…" he started but Kyouraku cut him off.

"I thought I'd escort him around. He seems to know us so I figured he'd feel more comfortable with me teaching him the ways around here," Kyouraku smirked, winking to Ichigo. "And it's insurance so Kishu doesn't get too curious and ask dangerous questions. The kid was quite gracious when I took little Kurosaki off his hands today." Ukitake blinked a couple more times but he seemed to fall for it. "Oh, by the way," Kyouraku snapped his fingers in remembrance as he reached into his sleeve and grabbed the small pouch from his pocket. "Kurosaki and I decided to bring you a snack." He handed Ukitake the sweets and the younger man seemed to take it gratefully.

"Why, thank you," he said with a small smile. "You know you didn't have to." Ukitake slipped it in his own sleeve. He gave a deep sigh and looked at Kyouraku with the slightest disgruntlement but it quickly formed into enthusiasm. "Shouldn't you be working, Kyouraku-kun?"

"I've been working," Kyouraku defended as he patted a hand atop Ichigo's head. "This guy's a lot of work. You know, he was antagonizing this poor girl not too long ago. She was a real cutie but little Kurosaki was so cruel to her," he said with a dramatic frown as he put his free hand to his heart.

Through Ichigo's shadowed face his eyes shone like daggers aimed for Kyouraku's beating heart but he kept his tongue still.

"So," Kyouraku started, quickly changing subject, "did you have a checkup while you were here?"

"Oh, Satashi-taichou was busy and I didn't want to bother her. I did speak to Unohana-fukutaichou and she was able to take time out of her busy schedule to fill up my medical tin," Ukitake said with a gleeful smile. Ichigo must have given a confused look because the lieutenant just shook it off. "Anyway, what are you two doing here? Have you come to look in on our comrades? I can proudly say they're healing nicely and most of them will be out before next month."

"Well, good," Kyouraku slowly eased behind Ukitake and started shoving him down the halls. "Now it's time for a little down time," he encouraged.

"Wha-Kyouraku! I have work to do," Ukitake fussed as he was shoved along. "Kurosaki?" he asked, turning to the younger man for assistance.

The substitute could only shake his head, unknowing of what to do.

"Yes, Kurosaki!" Then with one hand on both Ukitake's and Ichigo's backs he urged them down the halls. "You should join us in the springs."

Ukitake scowled and shook his head. "Kyouraku, I have things I need to attend to."

"If you can't get a proper check up then I'll treat you to a soothing day at the hot springs," Kyouraku said, beaming.

Next thing Ichigo knew, they were all far away from Squad 4 and at the nearest spa wearing nothing but thin towels wrapped around their waists.

"How the hell did I get here," Ichigo asked himself in a growl. He stood there in the middle of the dressing room while Kyouraku was toying with Ukitake's hair before they all sunk into the hot springs.

"C'mon, Juu-kun! If you tie your hair up it won't be all silky smooth through the water," he teased as he gently pulled at Ukitake's ivory locks.

"Shunsui-kun, cut it out," Ukitake warned as he retreated to the best of his ability.

Ichigo slapped his hand to his face, completely knocked off guard on how childish these grown men could be. "Of all the people to act like this…" He could hear the two continue to ramble on as he glared between his fingers but when he looked forward he could only see Ukitake adjusting his towel with his hair tie defeated and on the floor, leaving his hair just barely brushing his shoulders. "Oh, God," he slowly turned, his hand dropping to his side. "Where's Kyouraku?"

"Let's go, Kurosaki-kun!" the flamboyant lieutenant exclaimed as he pushed Ichigo ahead, pulling Ukitake as they passed towards the hot springs. "Time for us all to take a nice hot relaxation after a hard day's work."

"'Cause I'm sure you've had a 'hard day's work,'" Ukitake said with a smirk as they stepped into the warm waters.

Ichigo warily stepped in with them, very unsure of why he was there at all. Just yesterday he was walking home from school and now he's sitting in the hot springs with two of the oldest captains in the whole Gotei 13—both of which acting like children which blew Ichigo completely out of proportion.

Kyouraku untied his towel and threw it over his shoulder as he sank himself waist below the water. Ukitake on the other hand calmly took off his towel and folded it before placing it upon his head, submerging himself up to his chest below the water. Both of them giving a nice relaxed sigh as the water warmed them up and smoothed out their muscles.

"Kurosaki, please join us in the water," Kyouraku invited as he gestured downward to him and Ukitake.

With slight reluctance, Ichigo slowly dipped into the water and, following Ukitake's example, placed his towel over his head. He was extremely careful not to look down through the water.

"I should really be working," Ukitake said rather distantly. "We both have a lot of papers to fill out about yesterday's battle."

"Yeah, well, when I become captain I'll do all the paperwork so my poor lieutenant won't have the trouble. Besides, we both need a day's rest. Especially after the stress we've been through," Kyouraku said calmly as he peeked over to Ukitake with a careful eye.

Ichigo could barely get the feeling of a hidden meaning in the words and followed Kyouraku's gaze to Ukitake, taking a mental note of how much paler the older man was than yesterday. And before he had time to notice, Ukitake had somehow drifted to sleep in those couple of minutes with them being in there.

"He's pretty exhausted," Ichigo said lightly as he looked over to Kyouraku. "Must have been working hard."

Kyouraku gave a tired groan as he pinched an itch on his nose. "He cares more for his men than his own well being is all." He gave a heavy sigh. "And he's going to be worrying non-stop with you here. He'll work until he's dead as long as you get home in the end." The older man ripped his gaze from his friend and looked directly into Ichigo. "So, any ideas on how you got here? Or how you can get home?"

Ichigo slowly shook his head and raised his gaze upward. "No idea. I remember I was walking home from school-a regular day of school-when I suddenly woke up here. I don't remember anything of falling asleep or passing out or anything—just a..." Ichigo paused to find the proper term but found none, "thing." He cupped his chin in his hand as he gazed deep in thought at the moon hiding in the setting sun's rays. He was fixated on how it seemed a little bigger than he remembered it.

"Did anything in particular happen on the way from your school?" Kyouraku asked, being hesitant at the term 'school.'

Again, Ichigo slowly shook his head. "Not that I remember. It was a normal walk from one district to the other, over the bridge…I do remember there was a carnival but when I walked by the grounds they were already taking down the Ferris wheel…" Ichigo's voice trailed off when something sharp ran across his memory.

I like it when I'm way up high.

A feminine voice rang through his skull and for a moment he thought he saw big amber eyes brightly shining at him. Ichigo focused on those eyes and tried to remember past them to the face. It was a very hazy image of a brilliant smile with flowing hair, oh what color was that hair? With something holding it up-something that flowed in sync with the hair. The substitute shinigami began to sit up right as the image cleared and gears started moving in his head.

"What was her name," Ichigo asked himself as he continued to think. "It was something like….it was…her name was-!"

Ichigo's line of thought dissipated as a shrill voice rang through the air.

"Ukitake-fukutaichou! Kyouraku-fukutaichou!"

Ichigo shook his head and all memory was completely washed from his mind like a fading dream. What was he just thinking about? Why'd she say that, was the last thing that popped into his mind before even that evaporated into thin air. He looked up to see that Kyouraku's attention was now off him and onto the waking lieutenant.

Ukitake wiped at his heavy lids before fluttering open his eyes and looking at both Kyouraku and Ichigo with confusion. "Oh…" he mumbled, realizing he'd fallen asleep in their company in the hot springs. His attention was then drawn to the shinigami standing outside of the hot springs behind him.

"I've been looking all over for you," Kishu Sorata said between huffs. He had jumped down from the roof to stand behind the two lieutenants. "Bad news! First, the surrogate shinigami is missing…" he trailed off when his attention flowed to Ichigo across from him.

"Is he now?" Ukitake asked as he peered towards Kyouraku who had an innocent smile on his face. "Don't worry, he's in good hands."

After shaking his head, Sorata continued, "There's more! Yamamoto-soutaichou wishes to see you both. It's urgent! I was informed it has something to do with what was found at the battlefield yesterday."

"Holy crap, is it my body?" Ichigo asked, standing up on instinct. He was confused by all the shocked faces and the red shade of Sorata's face. Immediately, he dropped back under the water.

"I-I-I," Sorata stammered before gaining back his wits. "I wasn't informed of what it was but you two are to attend council with Yamamoto-soutaichou immediately. Be there before dusk, is what I was commanded!"

To be continued…

A/N: Dun, dun, dun! And it's the dreaded cliffy. I really hate doing that to you guys but this chapter was really disappointing and with all the Favorite and Alert lists this story was added to (thank you very, very much for the add, by the way! ), I had to leave it with something to keep everyone reading. I was really hoping for some ideas tossed my way which was why I posted the first chapter without much of a storyline coming after it but alas it was in vain so this basically was a filler to toss some information of where this may be going your way. My rule is to post a new chapter every week so no one's left hanging and it gives me time to get more readers before continuing but this may be a bigger challenge than I bargained for, haha. Please walk with me through this daring feat and I will try and give you all you deserve. Thank you all again, and again, and again! I bow to you all! T-T Please, don't be shy to share ideas of where any of you might want this to go. I like to be very connected to my audience. If there are any questions, comments or concerns please just ring the doorbell and I will come to your every beckon and call!

Ta-ma ai-ma-sho!