A/N: I apologize to everyone who has waited patiently and to everyone who may have built a grudge against me for my lack-of updating. However, tonight/this morning, I've decided to upload three chapters. I hope you will forgive me.

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 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 Five

"H-Hey, Ukitake, what's going on," Ichigo asked as he rushed over to the man's side, grabbing his shoulders before he lost his footing. He didn't know why he bothered questioning since he didn't expect an answer. He assisted Ukitake until they met the wooden pathway and Ichigo let him sit back on the platform. "Hold on, I'll call for help."

Ichigo went to find Sorata but a vice grip clasped itself around his wrist and brought him back. Ichigo looked down to Ukitake who was shaking his head in protest.

"Why not?" Ichigo asked softly, knowing he wouldn't get an answer. He bent down on one knee with a hand on one of Ukitake's shoulders. The substitute tried to get a better look but the other hid his face well. Ichigo then shifted his eyes to his surroundings, wary of anyone who might stumble in on the situation. "Maybe it would be best if I took you to your room," Ichigo insisted but the man shook his head again. "Ukitake, you can't possibly think I'll just stand here and-"

"Please," was all Ukitake was able to mutter out.

So, Ichigo stayed there and waited for Ukitake's coughs to decrease but he was quickly losing his patience. He couldn't help but think this was his fault. If he hadn't been incompetent the night before this might not be happening. But there was something within him that was saying this had nothing to do with the Hollow.

Ukitake took a few shaky breaths, letting his coughs die out. "I'm alright," he paused, "I'm okay." His voice was weak and raspy. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before quickly putting it into the chest opening to his shihakushou.

Ichigo's eyes shot immediately to the red right hand before it was hidden. What the hell was that? The hand looked just the same as it did the night before…red. He shook the thoughts right out of his head. "Ukitake, what-?"

"Shush, Kurosaki. It's alright." The lieutenant closed his eyes and lifted his chin up high. "Perhaps I reopened my wound from last night."

"Bull! What do you mean it's alright? This isn't alright!" He could feel the older man's body trembling from the strain. "C'mon, let's go to," Oh, which squad is it, "the hospital." He mentally kicked himself. He couldn't recall the damn squad number and just said the word that first popped into his mind. Do they know that term?

"Please, Kurosaki, I'm fine." Ukitake very carefully cleared his throat and pushed himself up onto shaky feet. Ichigo went to help but Ukitake declined the arm. "Whew, that was rough," he said with a frown. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to concern you like that."

"Ukitake, what was that? Was that from the Hollow?"

Ukitake pulled a small piece of cloth out of his sleeve and dipped it into the water with his clean hand and began to rub at his staining one. "No, Kurosaki, it's not that." he replied while he scrubbed his hand.

When it didn't look like Ukitake would continue, Ichigo pressed, "Well?"

The lieutenant looked up to Ichigo, his eyes stern. "I've been ill as of late and have been so busy I'd forgotten to take my medication this morning." His face lightened. "I was hoping to take it at the restaurant." He finished scrubbing at his hand, it being just barely a shade redder than his other, and disposed the cloth into the dirty clothes at the end of the quad. "Shall we be off?"

Ichigo was stunned for a moment, just staring at the other man. "You're pulling my leg, right?" Ukitake tilted his head and looked down at Ichigo's legs; still and holding the surrogate up. "It's a joke, right," he rephrased but the man still looked confused. "After what I just saw there's no way I can let you go out."

Ukitake's eyes seem to fog over for a moment and Ichigo suddenly regretted his choice of words. The lieutenant walked straight to Ichigo and met eyes with him. "I understand your concern, Kurosaki, I do. But don't step out of your ranks. Watch what you say to your elders and understand that here that will not be tolerated." The fog was cleared from his eyes and was replaced not by anger but unmatched strength.

Ichigo stepped down. He was out of place rank-wise but Ukitake knew what Ichigo was talking about. He shifted his gaze and allowed his shoulders to droop. "I'm sorry, Ukitake," he said dryly.

Ukitake let out a heavy sigh and took a small breath immediately afterward. "Please, don't worry about me, Kurosaki. I will take my medication once we get to the restaurant. Promise," he said as he extended his pinky.

"You can't possibly expect me to give you a pinky promise," Ichigo said irritably, twitching an eyebrow at the unexpected gesture.

***Edge of the Seireitei***

Ichigo stood outside the poor shack of a restaurant and looked at the broken-in sign atop the entrance. "Diamond in the Rough? Really?" His eye twitched at the name. Some diamond.

"Well, shall we go in," Ukitake asked as he led the way inside.

Ichigo pushed past the small curtain of a door and was surprised at the bustle inside the small place. Can't judge a book by it's cover, I suppose. He followed Ukitake to a seat and sat with great discomfort. His chair was uneven, the cushion was missing and his table was horribly chipped but Ukitake looked as proud and elegant as if they were in a 5 star restaurant back home.

They didn't sit there long before a young woman came over to take their order. She was obviously busy but was able to put on a priceless grin. "Hello, Ukitake-fukutaichou. Will you be having the regular today?"

"Why, hello!" Ukitake greeted her with freshness Ichigo was surprised he'd be able to express. "Yes, I'll be having the usual. You should meet my young friend here," he said, gesturing towards Ichigo across from him. "He's a wily one. Very polite, too."

"Oh, hi there. That is some beautiful hair you've got on that head of yours. It's nice to meet you." She bowed in greeting. "And what may I get you?"

Ichigo was stunned by her compliment and smiled in thanks. "Yeah, it's nice to meet you, too. Um...I've never been here before and don't know the menu..."

"Well, we've got teas of all assortments as well as-"

Ukitake interrupted her with a gesture and had her bring her ear to his lips and whispered something Ichigo couldn't catch. "Alright, I won't be gone long, gentlemen." She then hurried on her way to the back room.

"She's such a nice lady," Ukitake complimented as he drew his medical tin from his sleeve. Ichigo began to wonder how many items he might have stashed in those sleeves of his. "Everything here is absolutely divine. Unfortunately, since this place is open non-stop they don't get the chance to better this place up. They are just so busy. Poor things."

Ichigo took this time to take a better look around the place and noticed a lot of higher class people were treating themselves to their drinks. His attention then drifted to the lieutenant sitting across from him. Ukitake, too, was admiring the interior of the little place and smiled to the nearby customers. Ichigo couldn't help but notice the shadows under those eyes and the stiffness in his breathing. "Hey, Ukitake, don't forget to take your medication," he reminded.

"Don't worry, I won't forget. I did pinky-promise, after all." It was at that time the young waitress came back and dropped down three round cups in front of them before hustling away—probably too busy to do much more. "Here we go," Ukitake said as he popped off the top of his tin and poured some into one of his drinks. He took a drink from the now contaminated tea (Ichigo assumed) and gave a sour face. Ichigo observed as he chugged the first glass and placed it back down on the table before picking up the other cup. "I'm not going to come here and just drink medicinal tea," Ukitake said to ichigo's perplexed face.

"Ah," Ichigo said with a nod. He slowly lifted up his own cup and caught a whiff of its contents. It smelt like coffee. "Hm." He rested the cup to the bottom of his lip and took a sip. Mmm! It was delicious. He retracted the cup from his lip to examine it with an impressed smile. And took another drink, closing his eyes in his ecstasy.

He could hear Ukitake in the background calling, "Ah, Kuchiki-taichou, what a pleasure it is to see you." A wave of adrenaline shot Ichigo's eyes open to see Ukitake stand and bow in the presence of an elder man in the Squad 6 haori. Disappointed, Ichigo took another drink from his 'coffee.' He should have known, of course Byakuya wouldn't be captain in this time. "And you have your grandson with you, I see. Hello, Byakuya-san."

"Good evening, Ukitake-fukutaichou," came a young voice that drew Ichigo's attention.

All the drink that was in his mouth was dispensed all across the table as laughter made him near roll out of his chair. The boy had to be under 4 feet with large, yet scrutinizing eyes. The boy was obviously trying to act mature for his age and it only tickled Ichigo more.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Ukitake said to the Kuchiki's. "This is Kurosaki Ichigo, a member of my squad. Ichigo, this is Kuchiki Ginrei-taichou."

"Yo," Ichigo said after gaining his wits but the two gentlemen and boy gave him a funny look. "I mean, it's nice to meet you." He stood and bowed to the elder man.

The captain smiled and bowed slightly. "The pleasure is mine."

"What pleasure is there in meeting someone who hasn't even earned a seat position," the boy said bitterly.

Ichigo's eye twitched and he crouched down immediately to look right in the boy's face. "Careful, little Byakuya. Karma might come back and bite you in the butt."

The boy didn't show any emotion as he stared into ichigo's eyes. "One, karma cannot bite for it is a figure of speech. Two, even as a child I am taller than a dwarf thus I am not little. Three, you and I aren't friends meaning you have no right to call me anything but my last name, Kuchiki, which you shall address me as in respect."

"Byakuya," exclaimed the captain as he nudged his grandson. "You need to behave."

Byakuya looked up at Ginrei before glaring directly to Ichigo. "I'm sorry, grandfather. He just acts worse than even a substitute shinigami."

Ichigo had to grit his teeth. "Is that so, ya little twerp. Well, how about I just take this cup," he said, lifting his now empty cup to Byakuya's point of view, "and shove it right up your-"

"Kurosaki!" Ukitake quickly jumped into the situation and snatched the cup from Ichigo's hands. "You need to have some respect"

Ichigo growled when he saw the brat's smile in the corner of his vision and turned to glare back at the child. "I'm sorry, Ukitake. He just acts worse than an arrogant, pampered, royal brat with a silver spoon shoved so far in his mouth it's lodged in and suffocating his heart."

If one closely speculated the scene, they'd see a strike of lightning between the two.

The Squad 6 captain turned to Ukitake and asked, "Spoon?" The lieutenant only shrugged in his own confusion.

"I'm really sorry about my man, Kuchiki-taichou. The other day on the battlefield he experienced some mental trauma and is going through amnesia right now. I was hoping if I escorted him around some familiar buildings it'd help the healing process. I dearly apologize."

Ginrei just chuckled. "I understand. Would it be imposing of me if we sat and joined you two?"

"No intrusion at all," Ukitake replied. He offered the seat next to him and brought up a seat for the young Byakuya to seat himself in right next to ichigo.

"I distaste you."

"I distaste you more."

"I hate your hair."

"I hate your face."

"Rat."

"Prude."

"Strawberry."

"Pansy."

"What?" The young royal rose a brow as well as the older men at the table. Byakuya turned his head to Ukitake with a blank face. "I believe his head injury is one to be concerned with; he's starting to develop new words."

Beads of sweat were suddenly dripping down Ukitake's brow. "Uh, Kurosaki, maybe it'd be best to rest your voice, we don't want you to overstress yourself." It wasn't hard to catch the 'shut up' underlining his words. "I was rather worried to bring him out today," he said to the captain next to him. "But the boy wouldn't have it any other way."

"Yes, I understand," replied Ginrei. "I am rather curious about his hair, though...I've never seen such a color."

Ukitake chuckled a bit but it roughed into a cough. All the veins that had popped atop ichigo's head dissipated as he watched the lieutenant with a keen eye. It didn't take long for all the veins to pop anew when Ukitake replied with, "That's a funny story actually. When the boy awoke the first thing he saw was the sun." Ukitake chuckled again but light enough to prevent coughing this time. "He called the sun his father! Then, he went out and-I still have yet to know how-he went out and colored his hair to match that of his 'father's.'" The higher chairs laughed broadly and Byakuya smiled.

"What an idiot. You think the sun is your father?"

Ichigo wanted to smack that smile right off the boy in front of him. Instead, Ichigo gave a bitter smile himself. "Not so much. The trick now is how I'm supposed to wash it out. Not exactly easy."

"That's your lesson for coloring it in the first place," Byakuya quipped before taking a small drink from his cup.

The evening carried on in a similar matter. The older men spoke away about regulations and everyday work, conversing about the recent Hollow attack while the younger boys bickered away at each other, never showing mercy. The sun had long set but the restaurant didn't seem to get any rest from the onslaught of customers. Byakuya's energy and patience was beginning to grow thin but he wouldn't admit that to his newly found nemesis as he insulted Ichigo for the hundredth time that night but before the substitute could compose a reply he caught wind of the other men's conversation.

"I couldn't help but notice your hand, Ukitake-fukutaichou. You didn't have another episode, did you?" inquired the captain, motioning towards said hand.

Ichigo's brow quirked with interest. Episode? What's he talking about?

"Oh," Ukitake replied as if he'd forgotten. He looked towards his hand and said, "'Tis nothing to concern yourself with. I had a little encounter with that Hollow last night and got a little scratch in the process." He let Ginrei inspect his injured hand. "It bled some but, as you can see, I didn't do a very good job in cleaning it off. I'll try again when I return to my barracks."

"Ah, I see," Captain Kuchiki said, nodding with understanding. "And this is nothing to worry about, yes?"

"Yes, yes. Please don't fret about it."

Ichigo could just barely catch the desperateness behind Ukitake's eyes. It made Ichigo want to scowl but he took a drink from his cup instead, at least tried to anyway. He found the cup empty which only made him angrier.

"Grandfather, may we head home now?" Byakuya looked up to his elder, letting his weariness show only a little.

"Why, of course, Byakuya. It is about our time for rest." The captain stood and bowed towards Ukitake and then Ichigo. "Thank you for the company. I'll thank you by covering your fare." Ukitake strongly protested but Ginrei raised his hand for silence. "Please, let me thank you. It was a pleasure meeting with you, Ukitake-fukutaichou." He then went towards the back of the restaurant. Paying the bill, ichigo assumed.

Ichigo turned to the kid with a smirk in victory. "Retreating, Byakuya?"

The boy scowled at Ichigo. "Everyone knows that a proper rest is necessary to take on any challenge. I am simply taking the advantage so I can crush you the next time we meet, sun-child." A smirk came and covered his face.

"Don't talk to me like an American hippie," Ichigo said with a growl.

"Like a what? What is a-" Byakuya started to ask but Ukitake quickly jumped in.

"Kurosaki, perhaps it best if I took you back. I believe today's been a great strain on your mind." Ukitake bowed in respect towards Byakuya before leading (pushing, in Ichigo's perspective) the substitute out the door. They walked down the near died streets in silence for a while, enjoying the cool night with the highly lit sky. "My, my, I don't believe I've seen little Byakuya-san get along with someone so well. You really charmed him tonight."

"If that's him getting along with me then I don't want to see him otherwise." Ichigo thought back when he first infiltrated the Seireitei. He had to admit, he didn't like being on the other side of Byakuya's blade but he might have liked more than being on the other side of his tongue. That boy was vicious.

Ukitake chuckled but hesitated in his step as if prepping himself for something. He put a hand to his chest and took one deep breath. "Ukitake?" Ichigo reached out a hand but just barely missed as the other stumbled back and slammed his back into the wall. "Ukitake!" He reached the man's side in seconds. "Are you okay?"

"It's nothing." Ukitake huffed a bit, clenching the cloth over his chest. "I just need to catch my breath," he was able to wheeze out.

"Is there anything I can do?" Ichigo was in a panic. He knew Ukitake wouldn't want him to fetch help but that might not be an option here. He looked around himself before looking back to the pained man and noticed he was suddenly quiet. "Ukitake?"

He took in a deep breath and grimaced. "Go to your room, Kurosaki."

"What?"

"Just go to your room." He wheezed. Ichigo could tell that even breathing was becoming a chore. "He will come."

"Wha-who will come?"

"He will come," Ukitake said again. He reached out with his other hand and gripped Ichigo by the shoulder as he slid down the wall. More for himself, Ukitake said under his breath, "He will come..."

The grip that was so strong on Ichigo's shoulder quickly lost power and drooped to the ground. Ichigo shot a hand out to Ukitake, shaking his shoulder violently. "Ukitake? Ukitake!"

Ichigo was too distracted to hear someone flash-step atop the wall Ukitake was sitting against but sure felt the strong reiatsu pressuring down on him. He looked up to see a glaring Kyouraku as the man leapt down and practically threw Ichigo out of the way. The young shinigami tried to peek over Kyouraku's shoulder as he inspected his dear friend. Kyouraku didn't need to ask what was wrong-he knew. He tenderly brushed his hand through Ukitake's damp hair.

"Kyouraku? Is he...?"

The man didn't even look behind him as he said, "Go to your room, Kurosaki."

"You can't possibly expect me to just-"

"Go. To. Your. Room." A flare of reiatsu nearly suffocated Ichigo. It then quickly died down as Kyouraku said, In the softest of tones, "I'll take care of him."

***Squad 13 Barracks***

Ichigo sat in his room with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands. He wasn't sure how he was able to force himself here but he knew he'd only be in Kyouraku's way if he stayed. His legs were shaking as he thought about what happened. He was able to discover that he had absolutely NO IDEA what happened. The guy just...passed out. Ichigo first started thinking it was from the pod that Hollow spat at him but something drifted his thoughts to another possibility. What did that captain mean by, 'episode'? Ichigo began to think it was a medical reasoning. Ukitake had been feeling ill, or so he claimed. That's when Ichigo realized how great of a liar Ukitake was. He lied to Kyouraku, he lied to Byakuya's grandfather, and Ukitake lied to him as well. Ichigo growled into his hand. "Where's the truth, Ukitake? What are you hiding?"

All his thoughts were scrambled. For some reason he thought back to the blood on Ukitake's hand that afternoon. Red. Just like that ribbon...

Ribbon?

He could see it; a red ribbon blowing in the wind, just out of his reach.

The red looks a lot better than the yellow, don't you think?

"I can't believe she made me pay for that..." Ichigo made a face.

A voice from beyond the paper door made Ichigo jump. "Who made you pay for what?" Sorata hesitantly slid open the door and entered the room. "May I enter," he asked and Ichigo gestured him inside apathetically.

"I have no idea. I can't think straight..." Ichigo rubbed a hand across his face.

"Kurosaki-kun, you're tired. Perhaps it best if you would rest." Sorata was surprisingly quiet and sounded rather sincere. "I understand the stress this situation may cause you but you would be no good to Ukitake-fukutaichou if you don't get any rest."

"And what about you?" Ichigo snapped. "I don't see you laying your head down to sleep."

"Well, with Ukitake-fukutaichou out of commission I have to take his responsibilities of a lieutenant until he can take it upon himself. I have a lot of paperwork to do." He rubbed the back of his neck tiredly.

"That's gotta be tough." He couldn't help but feel sympathy for the kid. "I'm sorry this happened."

"Aw, don't be sorry." Sorata bent his knees beneath him and sat down across from Ichigo. "I'm used to this."

"You're used to this? Why's that? Ukitake doesn't seem the lazy type."

Sorata looked at Ichigo with confused interest. "Well, because of his weak constitution Ukitake-fukutaichou is often sent out of commission."

"Wait, what?" Ichigo's body grew rigid, his eyes skeptical. "What do you mean by that? I thought this was from the Hollow."

"Really?" Sorata quirked his brows and made an odd face towards ichigo. "Did Ukitake-fukutaichou not tell you?" Ichigo shook his head violently, obviously angry. "O-oh..."

Ichigo propped himself up onto one knee. "When can I see him?"

"He's being treated right now so it probably won't be until morning. These sessions can be rather tedious to Ukitake-fukutaichou and Satashi-taichou. And even in the morning he'll probably be unable to gain consciousness yet..."

Ichigo sat back down with a loud groan. "Damn it, Ukitake! Why wouldn't he tell me?"

"The lieutenant doesn't like to burden others," Sorata started. Ichigo nodded in understanding as he thought back. "And he doesn't want to give the impression that his health will make him weak. Perhaps he didn't want sympathy. Or pity..."

Ichigo threw his chin back in his hand and rested his elbow on his propped-up knee. "What does he have?" Sorata gave a confused look. "I mean, what's doing that to his body?"

"None of us know," he said in a sigh. He ran his fingers through his bangs. "Most of us don't even bother asking."

"It reminds me of tuberculosis," Ichigo mumbled in thought. "But that's a physical condition so how would that work in the spiritual world...?"

"Never heard of it." A bird call could be heard outside of the room which drew Sorata's attention. "The larks are calling." He stood and bowed to Ichigo. "Please get some rest, Kurosaki-kun."

"'Everyone knows that a proper rest is necessary to take on any challenge.'" Ichigo gave a dry smirk.

Sorata smiled as he opened the door to leave. "Very wise words, Kurosaki-kun."

"Pfft."

To be continued...

A/N: I had a TON of fun writing young Byakuya.