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 twenty-two chapter of 'Healing's One Heart'. This chapter involves the last continuation of the football match and an approaching danger.

Replying To Reviews In Progress:

Mari: You are just too clever, Mari. XD You seem to know everything. XD May I ask for you to guess how Rukia found Kaien? Let's see whether you know this answer or not. XD Kaien itself is ccomplicated, that is. :D

kyurikochan: LOL Chappy the bunny? Kyuriko-chan, I may be obsessed with Chappy though. :D

Aizawa: I sure hope so, Aizawa. :D

The ground shook with such intense force that Rukia thought there was going to be an earthquake. "Rukia-nee, what's going on!"

Rukia saw Karin running towards her as she shouted. "I don't know, Karin. It may be an earthquake for all-" Rukia was interrupted by her phone as she took it out. A red dot was appearing on the location where they were now and Rukia widened her eyes. "Hollow..."

"Rukia-nee, what is it?"

Glancing towards Karin, Rukia regretted not bringing her Soul Candy with her. Glancing at the audiences' stage, Rukia saw that they were all screaming and running to safety, especially the girls. Only Ichigo stood there, narrowing his eyes. Rukia returned the same gesture and looked at Karin. "Karin, go be with your brother and escape."

"What about you, Rukia-nee?"

"I can't escape. This is my job." Rukia stated before running to the Hollow's direction when Karin grabbed her arms. "Karin...?"

"Don't go that way!" Karin shouted before softening. "I mean... I just have a feeling... There's something there..."

Rukia glanced at Karin. "Can you see those too, Karin...?"

"From young, I have always noticed those presence... Don't go, Rukia-nee..."

Closing her eyes, she faced Ichigo, knowing this was something only Ichigo could do. Mouthing the words to Ichigo, she saw Ichigo leap out of his seat and rushed towards the football field.

As the ground shook, Ichigo seemed to be frozen as he stood up and looked at both Rukia and Karin. A black crack began appearing from the sky and Ichigo glanced at it, narrowing his eyes. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Rukia glancing at him and narrowing her eyes at him too before turning back to Karin with a worried expression. Yet, as much as Ichigo wanted to run, he was frozen in place and could only stare at the sky.

Should I run...? What is that monster...? Will Karin be in any danger...? What about Rukia-sensei...?

But, as Ichigo glanced back at Rukia and Karin, he found Rukia looking at him, mouthing some words which made him widen his eyes and run to Karin, run as if... His life depended on it. And, truthfully, maybe his life depended on it, from Rukia's words.

Protect Karin Kurosaki, your sister, and drag her away from me, before she dies here.

Although her words were harsh, Rukia knew Ichigo had the idea now. Narrowing her eyes, she turned back to the direction of the Hollow, with Karin still tugging her hands. "Karin, you need to let go of me now."

"But, Rukia-nee..."

"Karin, do you want to die...?" Karin's eyes widened. "If you don't want to, let go of me now." Out of shock, Karin let go of Rukia which made Rukia sigh in relief mentally. "I may have scared you, Karin. But, that's the truth." As Karin stared at Rukia, she continued speaking. "You brother should be here anytime. Karin, if you want to live, don't move from this spot."

With that, Rukia took off, leaving Karin staring at her with shock etched on her face. If I want to live, don't move from this spot...? What... What the hell...

"Karin!"

"Ichi-nii..."

"Where's Rukia-sensei?" Ichigo questioned worriedly.

With a shaking hand, Karin pointed to the direction Rukia ran off to. When Ichigo was about to go that way, Karin grabbed Ichigo's hand. "Ichi-nii..."

"Karin...?"

"Rukia-nee said... If we want to live... We can't move from this spot."

That made Ichigo all the more worried. "I'm still going, Karin."

The hold never loosened. "Then... Bring me with you..."

Ichigo nodded and both him and Karin... Ran off... In search of Rukia.

Rukia knew the school was a dangerous place and she knew that she had to direct the Hollow... To another place... That was not the school. If she can get her Soul Dispenser, that is. Running out of the school, a shouted greeted her. "Rukia!"

Turning to the direction of the voice, wondering who the hell would be calling her at this time, she was relieved to find her Soul Dispenser Chappy container. Catching it in her hands and immediately swallowing one, she scolded Urahara and Youruichi as she popped out of her gigai. "Kisuke, Youruichi, you are slow!"

Urahara scoffed. "Just be glad I brought your Chappy dispenser, will you?"

Rukia narrowed her eyes. "You missed it again, didn't you? The beeping..."

Youruichi smirked and Urahara pouted. "What? Was I wrong to watch your match?"

If Rukia wasn't in such a situation, she would have thrown her dispenser at Urahara. Instead, she sighed and closed his eyes. "Let's just get ready for any attacks possible."

Urahara and Youruichi nodded in agreement as they fingered their swords. But, at that moment, Rukia's phone beeped. As she reached out her phone and flipped it open, she widened her eyes. "Rukia, what's wrong?"

"A second hollow..."

Youruichi had a stern look on her face. "It shouldn't be a problem to you, Rukia."

As Rukia glanced up at Youruichi and Urahara, both of them were shocked that fear was transmitted from Rukia's violet eyes. "The Hollow's location..." Both Urahara and Youruichi held their breath. "... Is heading towards Kurosaki and Karin's location."

"What...?"

As Karin runs behind Ichigo, both of them widened their eyes at an eerie sound. "Ah, I see two tasty souls. Are you waiting for me to devour you, my dinner...?"

Karin widened her eyes. "Ichi-nii..."

Ichigo squeezed his sister's hand reassuringly. "Once we get to Rukia-sensei, everything will be fine."

As Ichigo dragged his sister, they resumed running. But, as every second goes past, Ichigo was fearing for both his and Karin's life. What is that monster...? "I'm getting so very close to you, my dinner!"

"Ichii-nii!"

Ichigo closed his eyes, willing somebody to save him. He was powerless... And therefore, couldn't do anything. As if Kami-sama answered Ichigo's call, a person appeared behind ichigo. Ichigo turned back. "Ishida...? Is that you...?"

Said person didn't answer Ichigo, but, he spoke. "Run away, Kurosaki... This isn't a fight you normally find in high schools."

Ichigo turned to face Ishida. "Then, shouldn't you go too? Whatever that monster was, it plans to devour us!"

Ishida faced Ichigo. "I'm different from you, Kurosaki. You could say... This is my job."

"Ichi-nii..." Ichigo turned to face Karin. "Rukia-nee... Said the exact same thing too."

"You are right, Karin Kurosaki." Ishida turned to face Karin. "This is her job too..."

A beeping resounded once again as Rukia flipped open her phone once more. "A third Hollow... And, seems that the second Hollow has someone fighting it... The third Hollow is aimed at Kurosaki too..." Narrowing her eyes she started running to her gigai.

"If you want to save your own live, run away now, Kurosaki." Ishida said.

"But, Ishida..."

"Do you have any choice in this, Kurosaki...?"

Clenching his fist, he grabbed Karin's hand... And ran.

Rukia glanced at her phone. A dot was appearing near the hollow, signalling to her somebody was fighting the Hollow. Rukia sighed in relief, knowing that Ichigo must have escaped. As she continued to run in the direction of ichigo, she noticed Chappy. "Chappy! Have you seen Kurosaki Ichigo and Karin Kurosaki at all?"

"No, Rukia-sama, but, I sense a Quincy's presence."

Rukia was confused. "A Quincy?"

"Ishida Ryuken's son."

Rukia widened her eyes. Ishida Ryuken... That name... Sounded too familiar. Deciding to take her mind off this for the moment, she was distracted by a beeping sound yet again. Flipping her cellphone, there was a third red dot. Rukia widened her eyes in disbelief. Impossible... This is too much... Who could have so much spiritual pressure and is leaking out carelessly...? Kurosaki wouldn't do that... Realization dawned on her. Kaien...! It must be Kaien...!

"Ichi-nii, we can't run far... They are catching up...!"

Ichigo squeezed Karin's hand even tighter. "Even though we can't, we have to, Karin! Mom and Dad are still waiting for us!"

"Ichi-nii!"

A screamed echoed and Ichigo looked behind to see that the monster striked Karin on the leg and her leg was bleeding. "Karin!"

"Ichi-nii, I'm fine. You better run for your life more than me..." Karin stated in a weak voice.

"There's no way I'm leaving you behind!" Ichigo scolded Karin. "Come on, let's get home. Dad is a doctor after all, he can cure your injuries."

"But, Ichi-nii..."

"Don't screw with me, Karin!" Karin looked up at her brother to look at his eyes and Karin widened her eyes. There was an intense amount of fear which Karin had never noticed before. Fear for both of their lives.

"Ichi-nii..."

Closing her eyes and making an effort to stand up, Karin continues to run with Ichigo, but, no longer than 5 seconds, she felt herself slipping away and falling to the ground with her eyes closed. Ichigo, immediately noticing it, turned around. "Karin!" Upon seeing Karin making no movement to move, Ichigo panicked, taking Karin in his arms and lowered his head so his hair hid his expression. "Karin!"

Neither Ichigo nor Karin noticed the monster who was getting to ichigo and preparing to slash him... Except one.

"Hinagiku, Baigon, Lily! Santen Kesshun! I reject!"

A/N: I think it should be obvious who the last sentence belonged to, actually. Although I kept it at AU, I kept the characters' powers. XD Now, who's Kaien...? Late in the night, not gonna spend any more time than this.

IchiRuki01, signing off.