A/N: So, it's not really a sequel type thing, but I had written this shortly after the first chapter and I figured, "Hey, why the hell not?" Basically it's just drabble, but hopefully you guys will like it :)

Disclaimer: The wonderful world of Bleach nor its equally awesome characters belong to me.

Something breakable, something mendable...

Ever since that one night when Renji had so intently watched Ichigo sleeping, he couldn't pass a night without observing the smaller male, drinking in the wonderful sight of the other shinigami so completely defenseless and open to anything the world could possibly throw at him. He noticed that Ichigo usually slept with his mouth slightly open, a little line of drool trailing from the corner of his lips and down his chin. It was adorable. It was perfect.

Renji smirked and tried a new little trick. He picked up a strand of his long red hair and bent down, tickling Ichigo's nose with the tip of it. Ichigo's small nose scrunched up, his brows furrowing. A noise escaped from him as a hand unconsciously swatted at the hair. Renji had to try his best to suppress his laughter. He had thought the boy couldn't have possibly become cuter, but he had just proved that theory wrong.

Ichigo tried to escape the obtrusive hair by burying his face into the pillow with a muffled noise of protestation. Renji carefully brushed the hair down Ichigo's still exposed cheek. The boy's hand reached up and blindly grasped at the hair, bringing down Renji's face towards his. Renji laughed a little, thinking that Ichigo had lost his temper already, but he then realized that the boy was still asleep. He grinned at the picture they made, wondering how Ichigo could pose off as such a tough guy when he was really a lost child at heart.

That made the smile disappear from his face. When he thought about it, he knew that Ichigo was lost, and most likely scared, though he would never admit it. Renji leaned down and planted a light kiss on the soft skin of Ichigo's neck, the longing to protect him so great that he wrapped a strong arm around his tiny frame, drawing him closer to his larger, sheltering body. Ichigo murmured something in his sleep, loosening the hold he had on Renji's hair.

The shinigami smiled down at him, wanting to stay this way as long as they could. He put his lips against Ichigo's ear and said softly,

"I will always protect you."

Ichigo drew in a deep breath. Renji kissed his cheek and then the top of his head, his lips reveling in the feeling of his soft hair. He put his head back down and rested his cheek on those orange locks, sighing in contentment. This was how it should always be.

A/N: So that should be your daily dose of fluff for the day. Haha.