A/N: yoh! this is the 9th chapter (clapclapclap) yey! Even with mary-sue comments i still pull it through! thanks so much for my readers i do appreciate the mary-sue thingy, at least i can veer her away from it right (no-beta readers so pls. forgive any mistakes? tnx)

disclaimer: hikaru is mine...tsubasa is mine...bleach is kubo tite's...

On The Wings of an Angel

Chapter 9: Fated Failure

The day has come for Hikaru to formally start her education at the Shinigami Academy. She's nervous and excited all at the same time. After all, the only shinigami she had talked with are those she consider as family, and those considerably much older than her. Rukia and Ichigo are excited too. They know that their daughter is exceptional but no one can tell where she'll be placed.

"Hikaru, are you ready? You don't want to be late for your examination now, do you?" Ichigo called to his daughter. They have decided to drop her off at the Shinigami Academy, who knows where she'd run off to if they don't accompany her. She could end up back in the human world, or worse, in Hueco Mundo!

"One moment! Dad, my clothes! They keep turning black! What do I do with them?!" Hikaru cried as she run out of the house, her plain navy blue yukata is now pitch black.

"Hikaru, are you a witch? What have you been doing with your yukata? All of it had been turned into black shinigami uniforms!" Rukia exclaimed.

"But Mom...I haven't done anything...really...I don't know why it keeps turning black!" Hikaru said in near tears.

"Come on, just leave it. Time is running out. Old-man Yamamoto should be there by now."

"Okay...I'm set. Let's go!" Hikaru beamed at her parents. This is it. Finally, a world where I can truly belong! I'm going to do my best here to become the best shinigami that my grandpa and parents will be proud of!

"Good morning Hikaru-kun, I expect you had a good rest last night?" Yamamoto-taichou greeted her.

"Yes, taichou." Hikaru tensed. She has not felt exposed and vulnerable before as she feels now. Yamamoto-taichou is about to start her examination. She will be tested first in her demon arts skills. Hikaru took a deep breath. She focused her reiatsu so that it will be easy for her to draw from it when she needs to. She passed all the known demon arts test, slightly exhausted but satisfied. It took almost half of the morning for all the demon art skills to be tested, the next half focused on her skills in wielding her zanpakuoto. Ukitake-taichou have told Yamamoto-taichou that he will personally supervise Hikaru in her bankai training so she was not tested on that area, however, she was required to show mastery of her shikai, which she did with graceful execution. By that time she had awed her audience, namely Yamamoto-taichou, his vice captain, Kuchiki Byakuya, Abarai Renji, and Ukitake-taichou. For some reasons, Shunsui-taichou did not make it (he was probably drunk somewhere...), and of course, her proud parents. Ichigo couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. Hikaru is, after all, his daughter.

"Very good, Hikaru-kun. You have passed all th necessary exams except for one, you may take a break before taking the Shinigami Academy written examination. It is the last step that you need to take in order to determine in which class you should be placed. Be back after exactly one candlemark." Yamamoto-taichou concluded.

Hikaru's jaw dropped. Written examinations? She absolutely have no idea what it will be about!

"Wri-written examinations? Mom! You haven't told me anything about it!!! How come you didn't inform me?!" she almost screamed in frustration.

"You'll be fine Hikaru, its all about slaying hollows and stuff. You'll pass it. Besides, Ichigo passed." Rukia shrugged.

"Rukia! What did you mean by I passed? Huh?! It was a friggin' hard exam! Come on Hikaru, I'll give you some pointers about my batch's examination." Ichigo smirked.

"Try not to listen too much of your father's ranting if you want to pass, Hikaru! And eat up! You'll need a full stomach when you take the exam." Rukia called after her husband and daughter.

Hikaru tried to listen to her father, he was blabbing about zanpakuoto's and soul burial ceremonies and all stuff she couldn't piece together. She opened the lunch her mother had prepared and groaned. She should have known, only Yuzu-obachan is capable of cooking edible things. Her mother had packed her a juice box and lots of assorted gums and candies-apparently, her idea of nutritious food. Hikaru sighed as she munched on a chocolate bar. Better than an empty stomach, she mused. One whole candlemark had passed and her written examinations will begin any moment.

"Hikaru-kun, please read the items carefully and put your answers inside this blue book. After another candlemark I shall come back to rate your paper." Yamamoto-taichou gave her the exam questionnaires and the blue book. Hikaru was surprised, even shinigamis use blue books for the their exams. She smiled weakly, knowing fully well how bad the examination will go for her. Hikaru chewed on her pen, shifted in her chair, tugged at her hair, played with the hem of her yukata, even considered summoning Tsubasa, but she still could not answer half of the questions in her exam. And so another candlemark had passed. She had answered a total of 25 questions out of the 100 given to her. Yamamoto-taichou took her paper for grading. She sorely failed. She flunked the written exam, getting only 1 answer correct out of the 25 she managed to squeeze out of her brain.

"Ah, Hikaru-kun, it seems that your abilities as a shinigami is at par with that of a captain's abilities, however...your knowledge regarding battle tactics and shinigami rules are close to nil. Well, I do congratulate you for I will grant you an important post, but there is a consequence with you failing this exam..." Yamamoto-taichou announced infront of her family.

"I will not prolong the suspense anymore Hikaru-kun, I am assigning you as the new fuku-taichou of the tenth division. You will serve well as Hitsugaya Toushiro's Vice captain, your skills deserve that. However, you still need to attend special classes regarding battle tactics and shinigami rules and code of honor. I have talked about it with the Tenth Division's captain and he had agreed with the proposition that you would study in the mornings and do your vice captain duties after lunch onwards, until you have finish whatever task he gives you. Do you have any objections or questions? " Yamamoto-taichou asked the group.

"Taichou! Couldn't she serve under my division?" Ukitake asked, envy could be seen in his face.

" Jushiro, I am sure you know this child's capabilities. Besides, it will be good for the young Toushiro to have someone close to his age as a vice captain, right?" Yamamoto concluded. Ukitake heaved a sigh. He suppose that Hikaru could acquire the much needed experience of being a shinigami if she is with the tenth division. Byakuya wanted to ask why can't Hikaru be in his division, but he won't stoop down on that level, although Renji tensed visibly at the thought of his precious godchild with the company of the "iceman" prodigy. Ichigo was more blatant with his reaction. He snorted so loud the whole group turned to look at him with disgust.

"I WON'T..." he stopped as Rukia gave him a violent elbow jab in his stomach.

"Don't mind him Taichou. Of course we are honored with the position you have granted our daughter. We could not ask for more. Imagine, taking the exam and being granted a vice captain position! She must truly be gifted! Be assured that I will supervise her 'academic' learning." Rukia bowed deeply before Yamamoto.

"It is settled then? Hikaru-kun, please report to Hitsugaya-taichou at the tenth division headquarters tomorrow afternoon after your classes. Thank you all for your time." And Yamamoto-taichou left them.

Hikaru was still as a statue staring off after Yamamoto-taichou. She couldn't believe it. She flunked and yet she was made a vice captain? Not just any vice captain, but the vice captain of the guy with the beautiful dragon! She couldn't believe her luck!

"Rukia! How can you let our daughter be with that little brat?! What were you thinking?! He is the coldest, most selfish, arrogant little bastard that I know!?" Ichigo raged as soon as Yamaoto-taichou left the room.

"You are not talking about yourself now, are you? Give it up Ichigo. Can't you see Hikaru is thrilled with her assignment?" Rukia coldly remarked.

"Rukia, Ichigo has a point..." Renji stopped at mid sentence when Rukia threw him a 'death-glare'.

"Renji, let's go. There is no point in arguing this. What was done cannot be undone. Yelling like an uncivilized barbarian won't change a thing." Byakuya haughtily said as he went for the door, Renji trailing close behind him.

Ichigo fumed behind them, he was being restrained by the murderous look in Rukia's eyes.

"Congratulations, nevertheless kid." Renji whispered to Hikaru as he passed her by, giving her a playful wink.

"Welcome to Soul Society, Hikaru. I expect no less from you." Byakuya said as he went out of the room.

Hikaru was still overwhelmed but she bowed deeply in gratitude to her godfather and uncle. They had stayed to make sure she won't be given anything she couldn't handle, she knew it.

"Ukitake-taichou, Hikaru, let's go. There's no point talking to a fuming gorilla." Rukia remarked as she led the way outside the examination room.

"Come on Dad, the tenth division captain can't be that bad...can he? There's got to be something good in him too, well, he has a dragon..." Hikaru started about her dragon rants again.

Ichigo refused to be mad at his daughter. He breathed deeply before exhaling, then proceeded to walk with her, "I hope there is Hikaru, 'cause if he hurts you in any way..."

"I know, you'll shove every inch of Zangetsu in his gut. But Dad, he has a dragon..."

That's the last straw. Kurosaki Ichigo flashed step the rest of the way home for his own daughter's sake.

A/N: well, i had fun writing this one now there will be more shiro-hikaru moments ...hehehe, what do you think? Yes, sadly, hikaru is not too keen when it comes to battle tactics and everything requiring deep thinking but she's not too dumb though-i guess...review please so that i could post another chapter! Thanks!