DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN BLEACH OR ITS CHARACTERS! I DO OWN TAKESHI HIKARI THOUGH(:

~/\/\/\~

"Please be careful in future, ya?" Ukitake-taicho said.

"Hai, Ukitake-taicho," Rukia said.

"On the whole, I think this mission was quite ok. So you are dismissed," Ukitake-taicho said.

"Hai, Ukitake-taicho," Renji & Rukia said.

"But there is something I need to clarify," Ichigo suddenly said.

"Yes Ichigo?" Ukitake-taicho asked.

"Actually, there was someone with a high spiritual reiatsu attracting the huge number of hollows. Her name is Takeshi Hikari. Since she was targeted once, the hollows will most likely attack her again," Ichigo said.

After seeing Ukitake-taicho nod for him to continue, he went on, "I was thinking of sending her to the Academy to become a shinigami. Is that ok?"

"Does she know about shinigami? When you say she has a high spiritual reiatsu, how high is it? Higher than yours?" Ukitake-taicho asked.

"I told her about it before coming here. Yeah, hers is higher than mine," Ichigo replied.

"Higher than Toushiro's too," he added in, while Rukia elbowed him, whispering "It's Hitsugaya-taicho."

Ukitake-taicho seemed to be thinking about it, before he replied, "Hmmm, okay. Since there is a possibility that she will be attacked again, I guess the only option is for her to become a shinigami. Have you discussed this matter with her? She has to agree first. Only then we can see about the rest."

"No, I haven't. I'm not sure how to ask her as she has sad memories about her past, just like Toushiro."

Ukitake-taicho sighed as he replied, "Ichigo, you seem the closest to her. I think you're the only one who can do this."

"Hai, I understand. I'll do it tomorrow," Ichigo said.

"Okay you are dismissed," Ukitake-taicho said.

~/\/\/\~

The next day, Ichigo went to the Urahara's Shop to tell Urahara about Ukitake-taicho's decision & also, to talk to Hikari about becoming a shinigami. However since Hikari was still asleep, he decided to talk to Urahara first.

"Aww, someone is here so early. I wonder who he is looking for," Urahara joked, as he saw Ichigo enter early that morning.

"Shut up, Urahara!" Ichigo shouted, annoyed.

"Hush, she is still sleeping," Urahara said.

"What did Ukitake say when you told him about Hikari?" Urahara continued, this time serious.

"Ukitake-taicho thought that since she has a high spiritual reiatsu, he would advise her to consider becoming a shinigami. But he told me to talk to Hikari about it first, to find out her reaction. Do you think she will do it?" Ichigo asked.

"Well, she might. She might not. You will know when you ask her later on."

"Urahara you know something, don't you?" Ichigo asked suspiciously, as he eyed Urahara.

"I do?" Urahara replied with a knowing wink & his signature goofy smile.

After chatting a while with Urahara, Ichigo saw that Hikari had woken up.

"Morning Hikari!" both Urahara & Ichigo chorused together, causing Ichigo to glare at Urahara.

"Good morning, Urahara-san, Ichigo-kun," replied Hikari, in a cheerful tone.

Urahara & Ichigo exchanged glances, after hearing her tone & seeing her bubbly appearance.

Urahara mouthed to Ichigo, "She seems to be in high spirits. You better not upset her."

This caused Urahara another glare from Ichigo.

"Hey you two! What's with the glaring contest? What's going on?" Hikari demanded, annoyed that she didn't understand anything.

Urahara & Ichigo finally stopped glaring at each other, when they heard Hikari's annoyed voice.

"Oh nothing much," Ichigo said.

At the same time, Urahara replied, "Actually Ichigo wanted to tell you something."

"I think I'll just leave you two alone, ya?" Urahara continued, while grinning cheekily at Ichigo.

As soon as Urahara was gone, Hikari asked, "So what did you want to tell me?"

Clearing his throat, Ichigo said seriously, "Erm, you see…"

"Actually, no I don't see," Hikari tried an attempt at humour, before Ichigo could finish.

"Hey, what's with you? Lighten up, will you?" Hikari continued, as she felt the atmosphere tense.

"Argh, I'm trying to! Ok, here goes…" Ichigo said.

"," Ichigo said quickly.

Raising her eyes at Ichigo, Hikari said, "Sorry, Ichigo-kun. I didn't hear that. Could you please repeat it?"

"I just said that I was wondering if you would want to be a shinigami," Ichigo said loudly, this time with more confidence.

When Hikari heard that, her face lit up. Ever since Ichigo had told her about shinigami the day before, Hikari had been pondering about it. Seeing this, Ichigo felt pleased, hopeful that she would say yes.

"Hmmm…Actually, I've been thinking about it since yesterday. I would like to, I'll admit that. But I'm not really sure. I just want to know what will change in my life."

"First, you will not have peaceful life. Whatever it is, even if you remain as you are, you will not have a peaceful life. I'm not saying this to scare you. Fact is that since the hollows have attacked you once, they will come at you again," Ichigo said.

"Hai, I understand. Ichigo-kun, is this your own decision?" Hikari asked.

"Not really. Ukitake-taicho & Urahara think so too," Ichigo replied sheepishly.

"So do Renji & Rukia, the other two shinigami you met yesterday," he continued.

"Ichigo-kun, you know that this is kind of sudden for me. Yes, I've been thinking about it. But I didn't expect to be approached about it so soon. I'll need a little more time to think it over," Hikari said, after much thought.

"Ok, there's no rush. We just hope you will seriously consider our offer. Oh & another thing, we are friends. So you can just cut off all the formalities & call me Ichigo."

"Hai, Ichigo-kun," Hikari said.

"Haiz, there you go again," Ichigo said as he sighed.

"Hehe, sorry…"

"Ichigo?" Hikari said quietly, unsure of herself.

"Now now, isn't that much better?" Ichigo asked.

"I guess so. Sorry, I'm so used to all the formalities. We were taught to be formal to whoever we were addressing," Hikari said with a dreamy look on her face.

"We?" Ichigo asked, surprised.

Still with the dreamy look, Hikari replied, "Hai, Megumi-chan & I. Otou-san & Okaa-san always taught us to be polite & respectful to each other & to others also."

"Megumi-chan?" she continued.

~/\/\/\~

i'm sorry if this chap is not satisfying. i feel kinda disappointed in myself cos i didn't get even 1 review in my previous chap

mehhs, i'm not sure if i'll continue this story. or i might put it on hold first [shrugs]