Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Kubo. I am the recent owner of Uryuu's (but in my mind Uriya's) star-shaped Quincy cross!! LOL! (Ugh…I'm so retarded sometimes…)

Second Glimpse: Awakening

(Uriya – Age five)

Ishida Uryuu stood and watched as his son played not too far away. Then again, perhaps play wasn't the correct term. The boy was…keeping himself occupied. Crouched beside a flowerbed, he was silently picking at the pebbles that lined its edge.

"This past year's been difficult, but…I'm doing well," Uryuu said quietly. "We're both doing well." He paused a moment to collect his thoughts. "He's quiet. But then…he was never a rowdy child to begin with, was he?"

Uryuu focused on the boy again who had just picked a tiny flower with light blue petals from the flowerbed. Twirling it between his thumb and finger, Uriya stared at it as though transfixed.

"I'll take good care of him," Uryuu continued. "Don't worry. Although…sometimes I feel more like he's the one who's taking care of me." He gave a light chuckle and took another reflective pause. "Maybe in a few more decades, if I'm lucky, I'll be able to see you again. But I'll be old and frail then…while you'll probably still be young and beautiful…" He smiled sadly at the gravestone before him. "I wonder if you'll still recognize me."

After lingering a while longer in silence, Uryuu called out to his son. "Come on, Uriya. It's time to go."

The boy turned towards the sound of Uryuu's voice. Picking up the few small pebbles that he had selected, he got to his feet and placed them in his pocket. As he went over to join his father's side, he placed the tiny blue flower he had picked on his mother's grave.

Uryuu smiled at the boy's gesture and held out his hand.

Uriya blinked once at the hand. He really felt he was old enough to walk on his own, but since he sensed that it made his father feel better, he took the proffered hand without protest.

"Do you miss your mother?" Uryuu asked gently as they began to walk.

"…yes," the boy replied, his voice quiet, his eyes glued to the ground. "But I know she's fine, so…it's fine." It was true to some degree. His mother had been sick for so long. He watched her die in the hospital bed, then witnessed her spirit leave her body, looking much healthier than when she was alive. They were even able to bid her farewell before a man in black robes appeared and sent her spirit away. Uriya was at least comforted by the fact that she was…somewhere, and no longer suffering.

Uryuu studied his son for a moment. Perhaps it was the boy's knowledge of life after death that helped to ease the pain. He had been able to see spirits since before he even learned how to speak. Uryuu had often caught his eyes trailing wandering spirits when he was no more than an infant. Still, he sometimes seemed too emotionally strong to be just a five-year-old. "It's fine…even though you can't see her anymore?"

Uriya subconsciously tightened his grasp on his father's hand. "You're here, so…I'll be fine."

Then again…he was still a child with needs. Uryuu took a deep breath and exhaled. "Now then. Why don't we go somewhere fun?"

"It won't be fun for me," the boy said bluntly.

The Quincy arched a brow, giving the boy a sideways glance. "But I haven't even told you where, yet."

Uriya gave a small sigh. "Whenever you start off by saying 'why don't we go somewhere fun', you're thinking about going to the place that sells sewing things."

Uryuu faltered, caught off guard by that observation. Do I really do that? "Uh…well…you don't think it's fun?"

"No." The response was immediate and decisive.

"Don't you like the clothes I make you?"

The boy thought for a moment. "Yes…as long as you leave out the frills."

"Hmm? But that's my special touch," Uryuu said, somewhat disappointed.

"I don't like the special touch."

Uryuu hung his head with a sigh. The boy sure didn't mince his words, did he? Well, at least nobody can say he wasn't honest.

"But…" It was Uryia's turn to huff a sigh. "I guess we can go."

Uryuu smiled to himself. It had been little things like this that got him through their first year without her.

When they pulled up to the driveway of their house after returning from the fun/not-so-fun place, they were greeted by the sight of another car parked outside their home. To see a car there was nothing out of the ordinary. It was the person who was leaning against said car while puffing on a cigarette that caught Uryuu's attention and, subsequently, threatened to ruin his day.

Father and son walked up to the unexpected visitor. "What are you doing here?" Uryuu asked, none too politely.

"Can't a man pay a visit to his grandchild?" Ryuuken asked evenly, unaffected by his son's tone of voice.

Uryuu elected to ignore that question. "How did you even find me?" They had moved shortly after Uriya's mother passed away.

The older Quincy took one last drag on his cigarette before tossing it to the pavement and stepping on the butt. "If you didn't want to be found, you should have picked a profession that wouldn't put your name in all the fashion magazines, Mr. Designer. Either way, you didn't think you'd be able to hide from me, did you?"

Uryuu grumbled. "Who said anything about hiding?" He was merely happily staying away.

Ryuuken took a moment to give his son's home a once over. It was just an average house in a regular neighborhood. "Aren't you supposed to be making billions?" he inquired impassively. "Why do you live in a dump?"

"It's not a dump! It's just not unnecessarily spacious." Uryuu scowled. "Why are you here again?"

Ryuuken spared his son another glance before crouching down to the youngest Ishida's eye-level. "How are you, Uriya? Is your father taking good care of you?" Although his voice could not be described as warm by any means, it definitely did not carry the same icy tone it did just moments ago.

Uriya glanced up at his father before giving a nod in response.

"Is he feeding you properly?"

Uryuu gave his father a death glare. "What are you trying to imply?"

The child nodded once more. "The meat he makes is hard to chew, but you can still eat it."

Uryuu turned his head away, trying to hide a blush. Why does he have to be so honest and straightforward??

Ryuuken smirked at the child. "I have something for you." He reached into the inside pocket of his suit and pulled out a silver chain with a Quincy cross dangling from it, one that looked very similar to the one Uryuu had used when he first met Kurosaki Ichigo. "Do you know what this is?"

Uriya nodded. On rare occasions, he had seen his father use one. Though whenever he tried to ask about it, his father would change the subject.

Uryuu's eyes widened with alarm and disbelief. "You're giving him a Quincy cross?!"

"Is that a problem?" Ryuuken asked, unconcerned.

Yes…yes, it is… "But that one isn't suited for beginners," Uryuu argued as he tried to hide his nervousness. "Sensei didn't give me one like that until I've had at least two years of experience!"

"If it had been me, I wouldn't have given it to you at all," Ryuuken retorted offhandedly. "Don't compare yourself with him. He actually has talent. I can tell."

Uryuu adjusted his glasses with agitation. "I thought you weren't interested in all this Quincy business."

Another small smirk graced the oldest Ishida's lips. "Perhaps. But maybe the potential I see in this child is enough to pique my interest." He returned his attention to Uriya, placing the cross in his hand. "I'll teach you how to use it later."

The boy blinked at the cross in his hand, happy to receive the gift. "Thank you, Jii-san."

Uryuu heaved an inward sigh. Despite his relationship…or more accurately, his lack of a relationship…with his father, Ryuuken had actually been making an effort to show his face every now and then ever since Uriya had been born. After all, they did live rather far from Karakura for Ryuuken's visits to be considered just a casual pass by. And now, for him to even suggest teaching Uriya how to become a Quincy…it was certainly out of character. Uryuu's conclusion? Ryuuken was getting old. "Since you're here, you might as well come in," he said without enthusiasm as he began to head towards the house. "Tea or coffee?"

"I prefer wine," Ryuuken replied as he followed.

"Then go buy your own," Uryuu snapped as he twisted his lips, remembering the other thing his father had also been making an effort to do: agitate him at every possible opportunity.

It was at this point that both men felt the sudden power flux behind them. As they turned around they were greeted by the sight of Uriya, Quincy cross in hand, surrounded by violently lashing tendrils of glowing blue-white light. Startled and wide-eyed, unsure what to do, the boy didn't dare make a move.

Uryuu panicked. His son was collecting reishi. A lot of it. Was he doing all this on instinct?! There were people nearby, so if he can't control it, this could get ugly. "Uriya! Let go of the—"

"Focus!" Ryuuken cut in.

The boy looked to his grandfather, somewhat uncertain. "How?"

"Imagine a bow in your mind," Ryuuken directed. "See it in your hand."

"Are you out of your mind?!" Uryuu protested. "He has no experience! He doesn't know how…"

Sure enough, the lashing waves of energy slowly calmed down, and manifested in the child's hand was a glowing white bow nearly twice as tall as the boy himself.

Ryuuken turned to give his son a condescending 'I told you so' smirk. "Talent."

Uryuu didn't know how to react. Was he surprised? Maybe. Was he proud? Yes. Was he scared? Very much so.

Truth was, he'd been trying to delay, if not all together prevent, Uriya from developing his Quincy powers. Perhaps he was simply being paranoid, but the warning he received from Urahara Kisuke on the day his son was born had done nothing but haunt him over the years. His son was Ulquiorra, the former fourth Espada, and he might someday remember that fact. Both claims were ludicrous, and ninety-nine percent of Uryuu didn't believe it. However, there was that one percent that kept nagging in the back of his mind, making him fear the possibility. What if it was true? What would Uriya do if he remembers? How would it affect their relationship? Uryuu didn't want to find out, so he tried to shield the boy from anything that might trigger his memory. Power and fighting were most definitely among those things.

Uryuu could still remember how his grandfather, Souken, used to tell him that one day he would understand Ryuuken's thinking and what it was that the man wanted to protect. It wasn't until he became a father himself that he felt he was beginning to reach that understanding. How ironic that, now that he had come to this realization, Ryuuken was the one to come and offer Uriya the Quincy powers he had once so detested. Perhaps this was another one of those progression things, and Uryuu will have to wait until he became a grandfather himself to truly understand.

While Uryuu was lost in thought, Uriya had already joined their side, his bow dispersed. Looking up at his grandfather, he asked, "Does this mean that I can be like Tou-san?"

Ryuuken placed a hand on the boy's head and laughed lightly. It was that kind of polite laugh befitting a gentleman, yet, tinged with a subtle sense of mockery. "Of course not, my boy. It means that you can be much better than your father."

Uryuu narrowed his eyes at the older man. "I think you should leave."

…ISHIDA URIYA – AGE FIVE – QUINCY…

(Ginjo – Age seven)

"Kon! Get back here before I beat the stuffing outta you!" Ginjo yelled as he bolted down the hallway and chased the stuffed animal down the stairs.

The sight of a moving, talking, non-battery-powered doll would have freaked out any average person. However, since Ginjo had grown up with Kon around, he never really thought much of it. In fact, with the ability to see spirits, a pair of shinigami parents, a high and mighty uncle who lived in a different dimension, and his mother being the only person in their entire household with naturally normal colored hair, there was quite a bit in Ginjo's life he had never given much thought to that would have been completely unbelievable to an average person.

Either way, Ginjo didn't really care about any of that. All he knew at the moment was that the sneaky little stuffed lion was running off with his handheld video game. And right when he was about to kick the big boss's butt, too! How could he not get mad?! Ok…so, maybe he did play again when it was supposed to be Kon's turn, but that was just a minor detail. "Give it back, Kon, or I'll throw you in the washing machine again!"

Kon gave an involuntary shiver. The washing machine ride was definitely not one of his fondest memories. Sure, he came out smelling much fresher than he had in years, but the dizziness and drowning experience that went with it was something he could certainly do without. "No, you lying twerp! It's my turn!" He picked up speed and disappeared around a corner.

When Ginjo turned the corner, he lost sight of his target. Darn it! The boy scowled. He didn't like to play hide and seek.

As the boy passed by the kitchen, he caught sight of his sister standing on the tip of her toes on a chair that had been pushed up against the counter, trying to reach for something in the upper cabinets. "Oi, Himeko. What're you doing?" he asked as he entered.

"Getting a snack," the girl replied without turning around.

He folded his arms as he stood beside her. "Next time, tell me and I'll get it for you. You fell and hit your head last time."

"But I'm taller now," she said, still reaching to no avail.

"That happened yesterday," he deadpanned.

Himeko didn't respond. When she suddenly felt her brother's arms snake around her midsection, she shrieked. "Gin-chan!!"

Ginjo hoisted the girl off the chair and placed her back on the floor. Then he stepped up onto the chair himself. "What do you want?"

"The animal crackers," she said, pointing to where the box was on the top shelf.

He got the box and held it out to her…holding it just out of her reach. "Call me Ginjo."

Himeko stood on the tip of her toes again with both arms held up over her head, trying to get the box. "Gin-chan."

"Ginjo."

"Gin-chan!"

"Ginjo!"

She was beginning to pout. Her brows were doing that 'trying to scowl' thing that made it seem like she was about to cry.

Ginjo rolled his eyes. "Here." He handed the box over and jumped off the chair. "I swear, you're harder to train than a dog."

"Thanks, Gin-chan!" Himeko said, all smiles again as she turned to open the cabinet door to where all the condiments were kept.

"Don't put anything weird on it," he told her with a frown.

"Oh, it's just honey and soy sauce," she replied, half distracted as she poked her head into the cupboard.

Ginjo's stomach did a flip flop just from hearing it. He couldn't understand why she never got sick from the stuff she ate. But anyway, it was time to get back to his mission. "Hey, have you seen Kon?"

"Hm?" she said as her head reappeared, completely unaware of the situation. "Yeah, he's under the dining table." She pointed.

Ginjo whipped around and, sure enough, there he was. "Found you!"

"AH!" Kon sped out of there as fast as his soft and squishy legs would take him, game console in hand, sniffling as he ran. Sweet Himeko-chan…how could you betray me so?!

Ginjo gave chase and eventually made a lunge and tackled Kon to the living room floor. Since the boy was much bigger and stronger than the stuffed animal, once he caught up, it didn't take long to reclaim his prize.

After getting the game console ripped out of his hands, Kon placed distance between himself and the boy by jumping onto the couch. With one paw on his hip and the other one pointing at Ginjo, he began to rant. "Hn! You ungrateful little devil! I used to babysit you when you were still sucking on your thumbs! You need to call me Kon-sama! Or at least Uncle Kon! I changed your diapers! Do you know how hard it was to wash your poop off my paws?! Where's my respect?! Where's my thanks?! Where's my…" He suddenly lost steam when he saw Ginjo slowly approaching with a practically murderous look on his features.

Kon learned something invaluable that day: saying embarrassing things about Kurosaki Ginjo was bad for his health.

He felt the boy's heel driving into his bright yellow tummy before he saw it. Next thing he knew, he was sandwiched between a foot and the back of the couch. In fact, the attack was so strong that the little green pill in which Kon's soul truly resided was forced out of the lion's mouth. When Ginjo removed his foot, the stuffed lion fell limp and silent.

Ginjo picked up the little pill and frowned at the lion that was now faced down on the couch. "Kon, you jerk! Are you stealing my candy, too?!" He had a personal stash he kept in his room. He looked at the pill again. "This one's my favorite kind!" Without a second thought…never mind that it had just been in someone else's mouth…Ginjo popped the pill into his mouth.

Just like that, his soul was pushed out of his body, fully clad in shinigami robes, complete with a zanpakutou at his waist. He looked at himself with wide eyes. Then he looked at his other self with even wider eyes. "Wh…what just happened?"

Kon, now in Ginjo's body, stared with dropped jaws at the boy's shinigami form. "You idiot! What did you do?!" he screamed, waving his arms dramatically.

"I didn't do anything!" Ginjo hollered back. "I just ate a piece of candy!"

"That wasn't candy, stupid! That was me!" As soon as those words came out of Kon's mouth, he regretted it. He shouldn't have said that… He really shouldn't have said that. Since Ichigo had taken to using the badge Ukitake had given him as a means to get out of his body, Ginjo never knew the true nature of Kon's existence. He never knew that Kon was a mod soul, and it was in everyone's best interest that this fact be kept from the boy.

At that moment, Ichigo barged in. With Kon and Ginjo going at it all the time, he often felt like he had three kids instead of just two. "What's all the ruckus?!"

As soon as Ichigo laid eyes on the pair of twins, his first reaction was to blink…just to make sure he wasn't seeing things. When the double vision didn't go away, his next reaction was to grab his temples and begin the by now familiar one-handed headache-reducing massage technique with his fingers. His third reaction: "RUKIA!! We need the glove! …Now!"

Rushed footsteps could be heard coming from the second floor. Once she got halfway down the stairs, Rukia grabbed onto the railing and locked her shocked eyes with Ichigo's. "Tell me you don't mean what I think you mean."

The orange-haired man sighed tiredly. "He's…out."

She closed her eyes and took a moment to compose herself. Then she immediately bolted back up the stairs.

They both knew that something like this was bound to happen sooner or later. They had just really hoped that it would be later. The boy was already a handful while inside his body. They didn't need him running amok outside of it as well. The only comforting thing about seeing Ginjo's spirit was that it at least came out…normal. No mask. No partial mask. For that, Ichigo was thankful.

By now, Ginjo had already moved from shocked mode to utterly excited mode and was marveling at his very own zanpakutou with awe. He was a shinigami! Forget the video game. This is way better! He was more than ready to go test out his powers. "Time to go find me some hollows!"

The boy was about to jump out the window when Ichigo caught him by the back of his collar. "You're not going anywhere!"

Ginjo struggled as he protested. "Hey, what's the big idea?! Let me go!"

At this point, Rukia returned with the black glove already on her hand. Her eyes zeroed in on Kon.

Kon made a run for her with tears in his eyes, hoping for at least a sympathy embrace. "Neeeeeeee-saaaaaaaaan!!"

However, all Rukia did in return was smack the heel of her palm to his forehead, forcing his soul out of her son's body. After breaking the child's fall and setting him on the floor, she picked up the little green pill and placed it back into the lion's mouth.

Without wasting another moment, Ichigo picked up the kicking, screaming, and zanpakutou waving Ginjo and basically shoved him back into his body.

As soon as Ginjo regained his bearings, he jumped back to his feet and glared at his father with a string of why-can't-I's ready to shoot off, but Ichigo beat him to the punch.

"Listen, Ginjo!" the man said firmly, leaning down so that his face was only inches away from the boy's. "You're not to leave your body again without permission. Do you understand me?" While most parents told their kids to stay in their rooms, he was telling his to stay in his body. Ichigo was sure he would have found it funny if he wasn't the one living it.

"Why not?!" the boy inquired. "You do it all the time!"

"You're too young, and you can't get yourself back into your body on your own," Ichigo argued. "It's too dangerous!"

"But—"

"No buts!"

Father and son entered into a scowling contest.

Eventually, Ginjo folded his arms and plopped his bottom on the floor, scowling twice as hard. It was his way of silently conceding without losing too much face.

Ichigo heaved an inward sigh, resisting the urge to grab his temples again.

Rukia stepped out of the living room and beckoned Ichigo to follow with a wave of her hand. As they walked away together, she placed a comforting arm around his waist. The poor guy looked like he needed it. "I thought that went pretty well."

He gave her a skeptical look. "It could have been worse, I guess," he replied as he draped an arm around her shoulder.

She smirked. "You think he'll listen?"

Ichigo snorted and closed his eyes with a shake of his head. "…not a chance."

Back in the living room, once his parents were out of sight, Ginjo turned his attention to Kon.

The stuffed animal, who had been silently standing off to the side, flinched when the boy grabbed him and brought him to his face.

Ginjo grinned a grin that was almost too sadistic for a child his age. "From now on…you and I are gonna be best friends."

Kon gulped. "…he…help me…"

…KUROSAKI GINJO – AGE SEVEN – SHINIGAMI…

A/N: Thanks for the great response to the first chapter! I was really surprised! And happy! LOL!

Ukita/Uriya doesn't seem to have much luck with mothers. I'm not trying to be purposely mean (especially the 2nd go round), but I just don't see it in my head. I had always envisioned it as just Uryuu and Uriya. Also, I couldn't find a suitable candidate from the existing list of characters, and I didn't want to create a character. Therefore, she will remain nameless and faceless. (Sorry, AllenxWalker'sxEnemy!)

Most of you probably know this, but just in case: Tou-san means father. Jii-san means grandfather. I thought "dad" seemed a bit casual for the Ishidas, but it also sounded awkward for Uriya to address Uryuu as "father". So, in the end I settled for the Japanese terms.

I keep saying I'll be doing other things, but then somehow ended up working on this again. But seriously, I really am going to go work on other things now. LOL!

Thanks for reading! Reviews appreciated!