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 thirty-five chapter of 'Healing One's Heart'. Lazy to write the description. LOL XD

Replying To Reviews In Progress:

gadez: IfI think about it logically, yes, I would really admit, none of it makes sense. Every now and often, I would find myself wondering: Wait, does this goes with this? Sometimes, I would find myself occassionally giving up on the story because it makes no sense at all. Ah, especially about Rukia being a Shinigami and a high-school teacher. In fact, my inspirations come at the spur of the moment, it's weird. But... If I can't think, I will just have to continue to think until it makes sense. That's my way of thinking. Oh, and, I added Ichigo's thinking, actually. XD In the next chapters. :Diption. L

lovelose05: I'm thinking of a crossover category. LOL Seeing that main characters of Naruto and Bleach are in it. XD Oh, and, I'm Singaporean.

LeyCoo: Hm... Keep you in suspense, right...? But, this chapter will be more of a cliffhanger than anything, though. :D

Mari: Well, what do you think of this chapter? Hope you enjoyed it! XD

kyurikochan: There you go, hope you like it! XD

Special Thanks To:

-Xx: Adding 'Healing One's Heart' to Favourite Stories' List

gaia08: Adding 'Healing One's Heart' to Story Alert Subscrription

"Rukia!"

Ishida's voice was so loud that, even distanced by a few metres, Ichigo could hear Ishida shouting for Rukia. Is Rukia-sensei in trouble? Grabbing Inoue's hand out of instincts, he began running. Inoue, too shocked to comprehend what was happening, only gasped. "K-Kurosaki-kun...! Where...?"

Not letting Inoue finish her question, Ichigo shouted. "To Rukia-sensei's location!"

Inoiue felt bewildered. "What...? Why...?" Hearing Ichigo's answer, she started to feel the presence of her homeroom teacher's, but realized it was faint, almost close to nothing. With that, she gasped. Rukia-sensei, what's going on...?

A bright yellow light engulfed Rukia, her face twisted as if enduring some pain. Seeing Rukia like this broke ishida's heart to pieces. "Rukia..." Crading Rukia like a little baby, Ishida felt tears swelling up and couldn't help but let his mind drift back to the one time when he first found Rukia. It was so horrifying, so scarring... Why had it happened to Rukia out of all people...?

"Ishida!" Ichigo shouted.

Wiping the tears off his face, Ishida looked at Ichigo. "What do you want, Kurosaki...?"

Ichigo widened his eyes. "How... What... Why...?" Rukia was lying on Ishida's lap as both Ichigo and Inoue both widened their eyes.

Ishida didn't bother to hide his irritation from Ichigo as he gritted his teeth. "Don't come near Rukia, Kurosaki."

Ichigo felt angered. "What do you mean, Ishida!"

Ishida raised his voice. "I meant what I said, Kurosaki!"

Inoue glanced helplessly at the two guys, wondering what the hell was she to do so she could solve the tension between them, but, she couldn't help but feel depressed at the fact that Ishida told Ichigo not to go near their homeroom teacher. "Uryuu-kun, can I try to heal her...?"

Ishida didn't look at Inoue but at Rukia when he answered Inoue's question. "You won't be able to, Orihime, forget it."

Ichigo felt angered once more. How dare Ishida refuse Inoue's help when she's trying to help at all? "Inoue's tryin to help, Ishida!"

"And, I told her, she won't be able to... She won't be able to!" Ishida\s tone of voice was getting more emotional as each second passed by.

"What do you mean by that, Ishida!" Ichigo shouted in a harsher tone and that scared Inoue.

Suddenly very tired of explaining and hiding things, Ishida closed his eyes and slumped on the wall. "Nothing, Kurosaki, nothing at all..."

Hearing Ishida's answer, Ichigo softened his eyes. "Ishida..."

Inoue sighed in relief mentally at the mutual understanding going on between with Ishida and Ichigo, but, couldn't help but frown at her homeroom teacher. Just when we thought we are a step closer to knowing Rukia-sensei... We are suddenly three steps backwards. How many mysteries do you have, Rukia-sensei...?

Bounded with chains and with a tray of needles on the ground, 5-year-old Rukia had tears pouring down her face. Too many times had she endured this kind of torture, and, to those who think she hadn't defended, she has. But, the more she defended, the worst her punishments became. Her Mom and Byakuya-nii had suffered because of her. To put a stop to this, she decided she wouldn't anymore. She would let him do whatever the hell he wanted... To her. Even at the cost of her life. She gave up simply, she couldn't go on anymore. As the chains loosened themselves, Rukia fell to the ground and never bothered to get up, until she heard a voice. "Is anybody there?"

Rukia kept silent, not wishing to speak, or rather, the hurt on her back made her not speak. But, wanting to get out nevertheless, she reached a hand to the ground, attempting to get up. "I..." She choked out.

The voice came louder this time. "Is anybody here...?"

Willing herself to get out, she put her hand on the ground once more, but, simply having no energy left, her body fell to the ground and she winced a little. And, she couldn't mutter other words except.. "It hurts..."

Nevertheless, the falling of a body alerted the person searching for Rukia, apparently. "Where are you...?"

It hurts simply too much for Rukia to pinpoint where she was, therefore, she kept silent. Panting heavily, she attempted to get up once more but was halted by a screeching pain on her leg. With more tears pouring out, she screamed, the pain too heavy to bear and blood dripped at the corner of her lips. "Where do you think you are going, Rukia Kuchiki?"

Turning back, Rukia faced the horrors of herself as she stared wide-eyed at the assault that was at her legs and stared at her kidnapper which was her supposed 'Uncle'. Facing away, Rukia bit her lip, not wanting to let out anymore screams. She didn't want to... Suddenly, she felt herself being pulled up to the chains that she was bound to and just like that, she was being tied up by chains once again. She looked away and looked at the tray of needles he had in his hands. With that in mind, she mentally prepared herself for the next round of assault in 5 days in a row. But, not before hearing the voice again. "Where are you!"

Rukia couldn't find it in her voice to respond, so, instead, she whimpered softly, feeling helpless all of a sudden. As her consciousness faded, the last she heard was the cruel sentence of her Uncle's. "Don't worry, Rukia Kuchiki, the person who is supposedly looking for you won't even get a step in here and I won't allow anybody to snatch you away from me."

Suddenly, a black butterfly appeared and the boy looked at the butterfly. "You are...?" He could as well have been talking to the air at all as the butterfly didn't respond. How can a butterfly respond and how stupid am I? Before he could scold himself any further, the butterfly flew away and the boy looked curiously at the butterfly. "Wait, where are you going?"

All the same, the butterfly didn't grace the boy with an answer but instead flew towards his fingers. The boy, looking in curiosity, lifted a finger up, and let the butterfly land on his fingers. When the butterfly safely landed on his fingers, it only flapped its wings, without speaking a single word. "You want me to follow your directions?" The butterfly flapped its wings once more and the boy took it as a 'Yes' as he ran and followed the butterfly's direction.

Slowly waking up, Rukia found herself on the ground, blood dripping on her corner of her lips and she looked around, hearing the snores. Deducing that her Uncle was asleep, she tried getting up and crawling over to the door althoiugh every step it took hurts like hell. She knew that, yet, she continued, wanting to get out of this place and return to her Mom and Byakuya's embrace. With this thought in mind, she continued crawling. Her back hurts too much, and it was then the last strength of her energy left her and she collapsed. and, that particular moment was when somebody slammed the door open. "Rukia!"

As a weak stirring of her eyes, Rukia weakly called out the name before going out of consciousness. "I... Ishida..."

As the bright yellow glow disappeared and Rukia was left laying on Ishida's lap, her eyes suddenly began to move and Inoue took notice of it immediately. "Kurosaki-kun, Uryuu-kun!" Ishida and Ichigo broke free of their staring contest and glanced at Inoue. "Rukia-sensei's waking up!"

Ishida looked down at Rukia as Rukia opened her eyes. A soft smile appeared on Rukia's lips and she spoke, although she just regained her strength. "I remember..."

"What do you remember...?" Ishida asked, his tone considerably soft.

Placing her hands on the ground, Rukia tried her best to sit up. "You..." Coughs interrupted her words. "You were the boy..."

Ishida smiled this time round and closed his eyes, feeling happiness overwhelming him at the thought of Rukia finally recognizing him. "Yeah..." Rukia smiled as Ishida pulled her up. "Come on, let's get you somewhere to rest."

As Rukia allowed herself to be pulled up once again, her gaze came to rest on Ichigo as they locked gaze on each other, neither speaking a word. Longingness and sadness mixed together, both of them wanted so badly to reach for each other, but, Rukia was interrupted by Inoue's calling. "Rukia-sensei...?"

Snapping out of her little trance, Rukia blinked and glanced at Ichigo and looked away once more and allowed herself to be led away by Ishida again. Before she could disappear out of sight, she let out a soft tone. "I'm sorry, Kurosaki..."

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

As Ishida carried Rukia bridal-style, Rukia smiled weakly at him. "Aren't you worried that Inoue-san would get the wrong impression of us?"

Ishida pushed up his glasses. "Who cares?" Rukia stared at him. "The most important point is to get you back to your office and let you rest." Rukia smiled at Ishida's sentence and responded by snuggling closer to ishida. "Rukia-sensei." Rukia glanced at Ishida. "Why did you apologize to Kurosaki...?"

Rukia seemed to smile a little before looking down and closing her eyes. "I just felt... As if... I owe him an apology or something like that..." It was ishida's turn to glance at Rukia. "Since I was the one who dragged him to our world."

Ishida's hands seemed to tighten around Rukia for a little bit. "But, Rukia, would Kurosaki ever have it any other way?"

Rukia glanced at Ishida, and, having no response to his question, stayed silent. Soon, a comfortable silence enveloped them, both of them not daring to say anything more, Rukia found her mind travelling to that particular incident and nightmare of hers where Ishida saved her and Ishida found himself realizing just how fragile his homeroom teacher is.

As a figure stood outside Rukia's house, his hands began forming signs. Glancing at Kaien who was just beside the window, glancing at the scenary before him, the figure smirked. Keshite musubi houka." As the command came, the figure had his finger point towards the curtain where Kaien was currently at. And, with a fire, it slowly burned the curtains.

Kaien, in a panicking state, shouted. "Urahara! Youruichi! Help me!"

Urahara and Youruichi, having no idea what's going on, rushed out with Youruichi shouting. "What the hell's going on?"

Kaien said nothing but wailed and pointed at the fire. Urahara and Youruichi exchanged knowing looks and knew that their time is up. But, although knowing that, Kaien doesn't know. And, for the time being, they decided... That they would take the path. And, this time, Urahara shouted. "Don't just stand there, Kaien! Go to your bedroom!"

Protesting, Kaien stared wide-eyed at Youruichi and Urahara, not believing their words to be true, and, instead, shouted. "What are you saying, Uncle Urahara, Aunt Youruichi?"

But, in all honestly, neither Urahara nor Youruichi could have the strength left to deal with Kaien because they knew how Rukia loved him, they kenw how Rukia treated Kaien just like her own kid, and, they knew he can't die. "Do as your Uncle says, Kaien!"

Shocked by Youruichi's words, Kaien made a dash for his bedroom and you could hear the wailing from Kaien's bedroom. Exchanging a look, they both knew what they had to do to soothe Kaien down. Nodding at each other, Youruichi made her way to Kaien's bedroom and Urahara rushed to the kitchen and grabbed a water hose, trying to change their fates... Somehow. A voice spoke up then. "You disappoint me, Urahara Kisuke." Urahara clenched his fists. "After learning a lesson last time, as seen from Rukia Kuchiki, I thought you would have learned your lesson by not getting close to her."

"You know it's not my place to say that I'm not close to her." Urahara replied, although not knowing what he, himself, meant.

"And, this is the punishment you must face by getting close to her."

Urahara gritted his teeth. "I don't think you should be saying that at all seeing that you are close with her as you tried to take her happiness once."

"You should know she doesn't deserve any happiness, depending on where's she born from."

Urahara stood with a water hose in his hand. "You should know very well, that doesn't set one's fate at all."

"Then, what should we set one's fate as? Seeing Dad suffering and Rukia's enjoying her time being happy?"

"Your words are hypocritical." Urahara had prepared a retort seeing that Youruichi and him are the only ones who knows about Rukia's past. "Seeing that you killed your Dad yourself."

"You know I had no choice at all."

Urahara smiled. "That's why I say your words are hypocritical." The figure smiled a very creepy smile as he took out his Zanpakutou. Urahara, sensing the danger, knowing that if he released his sword, things would turn out ugly... And fast. Within a second, both swords clashed together, water hose left on the ground, forgotten. "I won't ever let you release your Zanpakutou and bring harm to the ones Rukia love most."

"Oh? The figure smirked. "How rare of Urahara Kisuke, saying he wants to protect those in the bedroom for Kuchiki Rukia's sake." As Urahara forced the figure to stumble a few steps backwards by applying force on his sword, the vocie spoke once more. "But, have you ever thought... That... The place that's blazing is not only... The living room...?"

As Urahaaa widened his eyes and was about to ask what did he mean, Kaien's scream came from the bedroom. Realization dawned on him and he rushed to the bedroom, grabbing the water hose on the way, and slamming the door open. As he saw Kaien and Youruichi snuggled in one corner, he felt more at ease, but, his ease was short-lived, because, by now, the house was blazing red, even to the extent to the sky, even... The bedroom when Youruichi and Kaien are snuggled together. Grabbing the water hose to spray water all over the bedroom, Urahara knew it was useless. And, as he got to work, the thought that lingered on his mind was... When you come back, you probably won't see us anymore... But, at the very least, we saved Kaien. That should bring a sense of comfort to you, shouldn't it, Rukia...?

In the living room, as the figure slowly vanished, there was one lingering thought in his mind. Shiba Kaien... Will die...

A/N: More interesting... Who wants to make a guess? XD Ah, I almost forgot.

Translations: Keshite Musubi Houka - Never Ending Fire (Although the translations might be wrong, that is)