This is Week 5: Challege 1 ~ part 13: I'm working with each flower for each Gotei Thirteen division as well as the meaning. (23/178+)

Summary: Ukitake watches over a younger captain as he sleeps.
Notes: Another fic that relates to Toshiro's injuries during the second major battle of the thousand year war.

Snowdrop
~hope~

Ukitake wished that a soft rain would fall outside, thus making both the exterior and interior cooler then what it actually was. The small figure lay there breathing carefully, every so often coughing as he slept. The man leaned forward to wipe the spittle away from the boy's mouth. Leaning back again he closed his eyes.

"It's a pain seeing someone so young lying there like that, isn't it?"

The white haired man's mouth twisted up into a frown and his eyes opened to look at Kyoraku who was standing in the doorway. "He shouldn't be lying here?"

"What would you want from me? To tell him he is banned from battle and to pack him off home?" The other man let out a sigh. "You know as well that it isn't as simple as that. They would have targeted him whether we removed him from duty or not. He is a captain after all and we can't ignore that."

Ukitake frowned before standing up. He waved his hand in a manner that told Kyoraku that he wished to speak with him outside. The two captains slipped out of the room. "You aren't incorrect in saying that the boy wouldn't be targeted. He's a prime target to be taken out, as he does represent our future. To take him out would strike a major blow. Actually... doing this much is a major moral blow, don't you think?"

"Yes... it is a good thing you found him and began to treat him when you did. I've never myself seen him this injured." Kyoraku folded his arms before turning his head to another room. "Nanao... she asked how he was doing as did Matsumoto Rangiku. I don't have the heart to tell them how badly off he is."

"How badly off he is?" Ukitake shook his head. "Yes... his injuries are bad, but he actually fought with them and beat that person."

"It was luck you know Jushiro."

"Luck... may..." The man paused, raising his hand upon hearing a noise from Toshiro's room. Going back into the room he saw that the boy had opened his mind. "Hitsugaya Taicho."

"Matsumoto..."

"She's fine. She came too a lot sooner then you did. Her injuries are nowhere near as bad as yours are." The man went and sat next to the boy. The child tried to sit up, only to find himself pushed down by the man. "No... rest now. You have a lot of recovery to do."

"What about the other captains who were fighting."

"Soifon... she's in a bad state. Komamura... we haven't seen sight of him since his battle, nor of his fukutaicho. Momo-chan is attending to her taicho's needs. He's also awake. The only one with worse injuries then you is Soifon." Ukitake reached into his sleeve and pulled out a bag of candy. "As usual, I have something for you."

The boy's eye's brightened at first and a smile spread across his face. He then frowned. "I can't eat it."

Ukitake frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I don't think I can eat anything right now, because..." The boy began to cough, causing the older white haired taicho to frown.

"I forgot. You have the injury to your lung."

"I know how you feel I guess." Toshiro tried sitting up again, his body shaking only to be pushed down again.

"Don't push yourself."

"I want to see Matsumoto. I have to see her."

"Now, now..." Kyoraku let out a deep sigh.

"Why can't I see her? I have to know she's all right."

Ukitake frowned. "Hitsugyaya Taicho... no... Shiro-chan... what is with this need to see her?"

The boy frowned, his hands suddenly gripping the sheets tightly. "I was lying there when he bought her in front of me. I have to see that she's all right."

The thirteenth division taicho looked at this old friend and Kyoraku let out a deep sigh. "I'll go and get her. Though I don't like this."

There came a short silence and Toshiro spoke, frowning at Ukitake and trying to sit up again. "Why doesn't he like this?"

"You're pretty stubborn. You're also pretty badly injured and we didn't wish for Matsumoto or Ise to see you like this."

"It's that bad?"

"Don't you feel that much in pain?"

"I hadn't thought about it, but I do feel in pain. It's a burning sensation through my lung as well as from my hip to shoulder. My leg feels burned as well."

Ukitake reached a hand out to ruffle the boy's head. "I wish you would care more about your own health then you do."

"I'm fine."

"You're not fine. You saying that you're fine is like me saying I'm fine when I have one of my attacks. You're not fine."

A sound from the doorway caused both white haired males to turn their head to the doorway. A woman stood there. Normally she would have been the first person to have rushed forward but the child started to push the sheets away, a smile spreading across his face. "Matsumoto!'

"Taicho... what..."

The boy's feet swung to the ground despite the fact one of them being heavily bandaged. The child made to set them on the ground only to have Rangiku rush forward, wrapping her arms around him. His small arms wrapped around her in a hug. "You're all right. You're all right. I'm so glad that you're all right."

"Taicho..." The woman swung the child back around and proceeded to tuck him into bed. "You need to be resting."

Toshiro looked at her with bright teal eyes. "Matsumoto... what ever is the matter? You look fine despite the fact when I last saw you..."

There came then a pause between the two. Rangiku quickly brushed some hair out of the boy's face. "I'm fine. I'm very fine thank you. You however... you're obviously not fine at all."

"No, I am fine. I feel..." The boy paused. "I don't look fine, do I?"

"Taicho... you never look fine after a battle. You're always injured. Look, why don't I go..."

"Don't go!" A small hand reached out to grab the woman's sleeve.

Ukitake sighed. "I think they said something to your small taicho, or did something in relation to you that has made him agitated. Stay with him. Any one of us can get what either one of you need. Just... don't move."

The man then stepped out with Kyoraku. "They've broken him mentally, haven't they?"

"I think so... though I am not sure how they managed to do it considering he is as stubborn as he is."

"Something to do with Ran-chan I guess.