Disclaimer: If I ever own Bleach or Naruto, Rukia and Ichigo will be together and Orihime wouldn't even exist LOL :D And, Aizen would be the matchmaker of Rukia and Ichigo and Naruto would have been together with Sasuke. *Shrugs*

Warning: OOC-ness, angst, mystery, slight romance

A/N: This is the nineteenth chapter of 'Healing's One Heart'. This chapter involves the football match and the feelings inside Ichigo and Rukia after the 'almost kiss'.

Replying To Reviews In Progress:

Mari: Well, because I have a lot of chapters piled up, my main regards are to get rid of them. LOL XD Well, I hope Rukia joins Tatsuki's footbal team too. But, looking at this, I think it's quite impossible. XD

kyurikochan: Kyuriko-chan, I have a feeling you comment because I love that sentence. LOL XD

Aizawa Ayumu Oz Vessalius: Well, whether it's a siblings' love or overs' love, we just have to see, don't we? XD It's hard fr Rukia to get out of the past regarding such a past, but, I do hope so too! XD

"Looks like the match is starting." Ishida glanced over at Rukia to see her glancing at Ichigo with a sad expression on her face. Sighing, Ishida nudged Rukia causing Rukia to glance back at Ishida. Sighing once again, Ishida spoke. "I don't get you, Rukia-sensei."

Rukia lowered her head. "What do you mean?"

"You act like you hate Kurosaki these past few days. Yet, almost everyone in our class knows you have feelings for Kurosaki. Aren't you contradicting yourself, in that sense?"

Closing her eyes, Rukia spoke. "No, I don't."

"You don't?"

"Rukia-chan, have you fallen... For Kurosaki Ichigo?" "No, I don't. The feeling would be absurd in itself, wouldn't it be, Uryuu?" "Everytime you had been with Ichigo, have you thought of Kaien... Even once?" "Kurosaki and I... Are a teacher-student relationship. There's no other relationship."

"But, who's to say the relationship won't grow?"

Rukia seemed to consider Ishida's question. "Sometimes, there's no right answer to that, Uryuu. It's just forbidden... "I..." I don't harbour any feelings for him..." "You hadn't, have you...?" Yet, Rukia's last sentence made ishida widen his eyes. "Moreover, I don't deserve it."

"Rukia-sensei..."

"Alright, brats, ready for the football match all of us have been waiting for the past few days?" Renji's voice echoed.

At that question, it earned a smack from Tatsuki. "Idiot! Don't call your own team members 'Brats'!"

Renji rubbed his head painfully. "Owie, Tatsuki..."

And, it was as if that was the breaking point, every Karakura High's football team members laughed. I can't decrease the tension of what this match will cause to Karin and others. But, I can at least... Try to break the tension. That's all I can do... Until our savior comes. Tatsuki glanced out at the football field. "Tatsuki, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Karin. Come on, let's go out there and play a good match, kicking the opponent's ass!" Tatsuki declared.

The other seemed hyped up too as they cheered with Tatsuki, Renji and Karin.

"Both football teams, please take your place in the football field."

"Alright, this is the moment. Is the Karakura High's football team ready to kick some footbller's ass?" Tatsuki shouted.

"Sure is!" Karin and the others shouted.

"Then, let's go!"

Ichigo fidgeted her fingers uncomfortably, seemingly still shocked by past events where he and Rukia almost... Kissed. "Kurosaki-kun...?"

"Inoue, what is it?"

Sliding her hand next to Ichigo's arms which Ichigo didn't notice. "The match is going to start soon, let's just focus on the match, shall we?"

"Ah, sure."

Inoue tilted his head. "Before I called you, Kurosaki-kun, what were you and Rukia-sensei doing...?"

Due to this question, Ichigo had a light shade of red on his which went unnoticed by Inoue. "Talking, that's all."

Rukia saw the exchange between Inoue and Ichigo, how Inoue tried to hold Ichigo's hand and how Ichigo had a blush on his face while talking to Inoue. Ishida, looking at Rukia all this while, sighed deeply. Why were both of them this stubborn? If you like someone, wouldn't it be better to say it out? "Rukia-sensei, do you want to go sit with Kurosaki?"

Rukia turned her gaze at him. "Sorry, Uryuu, it's not that. Well..."

Ishida, making his decision, stood up. "Come on, let's go."

"Wait, Uryuu!"

Just like that, Rukia was dragged over to ichigo... By Ishida.

Facing the football field, Karin's eyes showed determination. Determination of winning the match, determination of winning the match for her Ichi-nii, determination of proving she can win the match for her Rukia-nee and perhaps... Move her to join the match too. She hadn't given up on Rukia, she knew that the football team needed Rukia. If that is so, she will be more than willing to respect Rukia's decision and leave the situation to Tatsuki and herself. "Rukia-Nee, watch me, I will win this."

As each of the members of the football team walked out, Ichigo widened his eyes to see Karin. "How...?"

"Karin Kurosaki, your sister, trained with me for this particular match of hers, the Karakura High football match."

Ichigo glanced over to see Rukia walking to him and mentally sighed in relief. "She never told me..."

"Perhaps, she was afraid you would get worried. And, that's true, isn't it...?"

"No, of course not!" Ichigo defended himself. "I wouldn't worry for Karin..."

"I would be truly surprised if you didn't. Big brothers worry about their sisters, that's a fact." Rukia stated simply.

"But, I only stated it as a suggestion for Tatsuki..." Ichigo trailed off.

"You are Arisawa's best friend, aren't you? Did you think that Arisawa wlouldn't go according to your suggestion?" Ichigo stared at Rukia but Rukia refused to meet his gaze this time no mater what. "By the way, it was Urahara Kisuke who let your little sister train with me."

"Urahara-san...?"

"Yeah, him." Pausing for a while before speaking, Rukia closed her eyes. "And, while we are on the topic of brothers, I guess I owe Yuzu Kurosaki an apology."

Ichigo widened his eyes. "What...?"

"If you didn't hear what I said, then, forget it."

Ichigo was about to speak once more when the clapping began. Narrowing his eyes, he turned to face the football field and felt Inoue's hand against him, a reassuring squeeze. Rukia, noticing it, faced away and glanced at the football field. "If I were to say, both of you are like kids, Rukia-sensei."

Rukia glared at Ishida and smacked him. "Watch what you say."

Ishida rubbed his head painfully. "Fine, fine."

Rukia smiled at Ishida and Ishida returned the same gesture, which didn't go unnoticed by Ichigo.

"Karin."

"Tatsuki?"

"This match depends on us now, are you ready?"

"More ready than I will ever be."

And so, both teams took their places. As the first 45 minutes came around, Tatsuki and Karin was on a roll. Both of them took turns to control the ball and handled the match just as well as what Rukia would have handled alone. Yet, the other team members' were taller and bigger than them and everytime Karin or Tatsuki tried to score, the other goalkeepers would be there to catch the ball. It offered a much disadvantage to Tatsuki and Karin.

About approximately 43 minutes later, the opponents had started to play foul. As the first kickoff in 43 minutes started, Karin had perfect control of the ball and was aiming for the goalpost. Yet, as one of the opposite team members kept in pace with her, she managed to outrun him and aimed for the goalpost. Just when she was so close to the goalpost, a leg came sliding over hers hardly, and Karin, lost control of the ball and movements, stumbled to the ground, her back colliding to the ground and leg having a red bruise.

Tatsuki looked wide-eyed at the situation and came running. "Karin!"

"Tatsuki..."

The referee blew the whistle. "Are you all right, Karin? Do you need a rest?"

Holding her leg in place, Karin stood up. "Don't worry, Tatsuki, this is nothing."

Tatsuki let go of her and Karin started walking. But, every step she took, there's an immense amount of pain as she winced and closed her eyes tightly. "Karin, I think it's better if I..."

"Don't speak of such nonsense, Tatsuki." Tatsuki widened her eyes. "We are the only eligible members for this. If I get off this match, then, there would be no hope." Tatsuki was silent. "Moreover, look at the score, we have to keep going."

Although Tatsuki really wanted Karin off the match, she couldn't deny what Karin said was correct. "All right, be careful, alright? I don't want you to get any hurt more than this."

Karin nodded while letting Tatsuki help her up and they got back to the match which has only 2 minutes left.

"Karin!"

"Don't be so haste, Kurosaki. You will only bring harm to Karin."

Ichigo clenched his fists. "What do you mean by that?"

"You have never opposed to Karin kicking soccer before. Yet, you knew the circumstances, don't you? And, yet, you approved it." Ichigo was silent. "I guess... What Karin's trying to do... Is to prove to both you and me... That she can win this match... For both of us."

Ichigo's eyes considerably softened. "I don't need her to do that... I only need her to be safe."

"You have a soft spot for your sister, Kurosaki." Ichigo glared at Rukia. Even though that was true, he didn't need anybody seeing his weakness. "But, I'm sure, Karin's trying to prove herself to us... She's strong."

"She's always strong."

"Despite having a wound, your sister never cried. What I believe is... This will have an affect on the match and score."

Ichigo stared at Rukia. "It will...?"

Although your sister insisted she should play for the sake of the football team, she can't charge now and will only stay on the sidelines. And, this match will depend on Tatsuki alone. That's what I meant."

As Rukia predicted, due to the injury Karin had, she can't run very well and was forced to stay on the sideline. And, soon the score became 4-0.

"What will happen if they lost this match?"

Rukia glanced at ichigo. "Then, the football team will cease to exist."

"You mean...?"

"Disbanded."

Ichigo widened his eyes. "Isn't there a way... That can help them win...?"

Rukia narrowed her eyes and appeared deep in thoughts. There is... If I join the match now, they can win... But... Why am I hesitating...? I know I have the skills to win this... I know that...

"You know, sometimes, when I don't know what to eat for dinner and I see two stalls both having the food I like, it's hard to make a decision between both of them."

"Then, what do you do then?"

"The answer is simple, I go for both of them."

"Go... For... Both of them...?"

"It's better than staying in Square 1 and doing nothing, isn't it...?"

"If there was a way, Kurosaki, wouldn't you think Arisawa would have tried it already?"

A/N: YOSHA! NOW, WE ARE TALKING! *Coughs* Or, updating, really... But... FINALLY, THE ACTION COMES~~~! WOOHOO! Why am I so excited anyway? -.- Alright, will Rukia join Tatsuki's team? It seems that Karin's injured? Will Rukia let it go just like this? Will Rukia act according to her instincts of Renji's advice or will she still refuse to play the last half of the football match and gain victory for her own school?

IchiRuki01, signing off.