A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry for the long wait! But I'm back!

Wow, I can't believe we're at Chapter 10 already! 10! The big 1-0! Fine, I'll stop now.

Lots of thanks to pinoychick143, BlackSoulStar, a wonderful Guest reviewer, cam.98, catrachiita, CVCDX and valierlie for your awesome reviews!

An added thanks to pinoychich143 and BlackSoulStar for your wishes for my finals. Thanks, guys!

Thanks also to everyone who followed and faved!

Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo.

Moving on to

Chapter – 10

Karin POV

The woman next to her was talking her ear off. She wondered how people could give so much personal information to someone they didn't even know, for the woman hadn't even asked her for her name and had no clue of who she was.

'Jeez, doesn't she come with a pause button?' thought Karin, only mildly interested in the story. Truth be told, she was looking out for a white-haired someone who'd had a devious glint in his eye when she'd walked past him earlier.

An arm curled itself around her waist as someone stepped up behind her.

'Excuse me.' A familiar deep voice addressed the woman in front of her, who was staring with her eyes wide, 'I'll be borrowing her.'

Her initial shock having worn off, she turned around to look into his turquoise eyes.

'What are you doing?' she asked bluntly.

'Trying to talk to you.' He replied.

He had effectively steered them onto the dance floor. She tried not to shiver at his warm breath against her ear as he pulled her close. She had no choice but to sway with him to the music playing overhead. At least not if she didn't want to attract any attention to them. Since they were wearing masks, no one would know who she was but with his looks, it was impossible not to recognize him. If word got out that President Hitsugaya Toshiro and an unknown woman were getting friendly, the press would be on her faster than bees on honey.

He was clever, she had to give him that. In fact, maybe too clever for her liking. Tch.

'I don't want to talk to you.' She said through gritted teeth.

'I noticed.'

'Did you? Then what's up with this?'

'Look Karin, I just want to say I'm sor – '

'I don't want to hear it.' She cut across him.

The song ended. She pulled her hands from his broad shoulders and removed his arms from their position around her slim waist.

Realizing what she was doing, he caught her wrist and bent his head to whisper in her ear.

'Tonight. The soccer field one block away from home. One on one. Winner's decision is final. I'll be waiting.'

She watched as he walked away. Game on.

Toshiro POV

He wasn't sure if he'd actually managed to find a way to make her listen or signed his own death warrant. He knew that her skills must have grown but as a Captain of Soul Society, he did have an advantage, especially reflexes-wise. It had been a spur of the moment thing when he'd challenged her. The problem was the outcome.

3rd Person POV

About two hours later . . .

She pulled at the edge of her white tank top, dragging it over the waistband of the short black shorts she wore. Sweat beaded on her forehead and trailed down face, which was flushed from exertion. Her breath came out in pants as she braced her hands on her knees for support. Damn, he was good. But she was by no means a weak opponent. Right now, the score was tied. She knew he was still holding back. And that made her pissed. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, but he was insulting her pride.

'Stop fooling around!' she yelled at him and his eyes narrowed.

'This is not – '

'Oh shut up! Play for real or get lost!'

He moved them, swerving around her in a move so quick that she almost didn't see it. He wasn't using shunpo or anything, his speed and agility were a testament to his skill as a fighter and in this case, a soccer player. If she wasn't so furious, she would have been proud of him.

She had to admit just how disturbingly good he looked in those loose, dark gray jeans. The white T-shirt that he'd had on before had been thrown off, giving her quite the view of his hard chest and toned abs. The moonlight as well as the light of the streetlamps shone on his skin which was glistening with perspiration and her eyes roved over his built form.

She focused on the game. There was no way she was letting him off that easily. She caught up to him soon enough, her body skidding on the ground as she side-tackled the ball away from him and shot up, tearing down to the opposite end of the field, straight to the unguarded goalpost. Once again, he appeared just in time to regain possession of the ball before she scored. She began to chase after him again when she stopped in her tracks. She watched as he brought his foot back and in a graceful move, shot the ball straight into the goal just as the stopwatch they'd set up signaled that time was up.

She gave out a frustrated cry.

'Dammit!'

Karin POV

'So, what do you want?' she asked as she gulped down half a bottle of water and wiped her hand on the back of her hand.

'Just listen to me.'

'Fine.'

'I'm honestly very sorry for not telling you. I just didn't know how to bring it up.'

She snorted disdainfully.

'You think I'm bugged because of that?'

'Then what?'

'You tell me! I trust you. But I don't know if I should.'

He looked like she'd hit him.

'Karin . . . '

'You disappeared, Toshiro. Without any warning. I know it wasn't your fault but now you're keeping things from me.'

He opened his mouth to argue and she spoke before he could.

'I know you didn't mean to.'

Her face scrunched up into a frown and she ran her hand through her hair. Her anger had melted and she seemed . . . sad. As if something was troubling her.

'You know what? It's not even about trust. I trust you with my life. But,' her voice suddenly lowered and she turned away from him, 'I'm scared, Toshiro. I'm scared that there will be a day when I'll come home and you'll be gone. I'll be here and you won't. I'll be here, waiting for you, just like I always am and maybe you won't even come.'

A hand on her shoulder turned her around and she was crushed against his strong chest.

'I will. I can't promise that I'll always be there. But if I can, if there is the slightest chance, then I'll come.' his voice was husky, filled with raw emotion.

They usually didn't have such serious conversations but this was something that had been weighing down on them both.

He pulled back to look at her, stone-gray eyes meeting turquoise ones.

'I'm sorry.'

She saw his seriousness reflected in his eyes. A tentative smile graced her lips.

'So, I believe I won.'

'What do you want?'

Toshiro POV

At that moment there was only one thing that he desired.

'Kiss me.' He breathed and tried to keep his smirk in check as her eyes grew wide and she blushed brightly.

Never one to hesitate, she stood on her tiptoes and her hands framed his face as she pressed her lips to his. Immediately, his arms curled around her waist and she found herself pressed up against his very hard, very barechest. He tilted his head, deepening the kiss as her hands moved from his face to rest on his shoulders, her delicate touch almost making him shudder. He clutched her tighter as if he didn't want to let go and she gasped, pulling away slightly, her lovely gray eyes looking at him.

'It's alright, Toshiro.' She murmured softly in response to his apology as she smiled shyly at him, her gaze never shifting from his face.

3rd Person POV

They walked back together while holding hands in an uncharacteristically mundane but peaceful gesture. There was a new understanding between them. Fights were unpleasant and hurtful, but sometimes, just sometimes, maybe fights could be a good thing.

A/N: First of all, I know nothing about football, so don't hate me! Also, just to avoid confusion, to me football is soccer so I might use the two terms interchangeably. Unfortunately, Hitsukarin can't be written without soccer so you'll have to bear with my ignorance ^_^"

This chapter got quite serious, didn't it? I'll try to make the next one lighter . . .

All that aside, I hope you liked it!

Lemme know your thoughts!