Sorry this took so long! I wanted it out a few days ago but I had like... zero amount of time to even do this. I did mention before that updates would be much slower and so that is why it's late. I've been having to revise and study for my Languages class all weekend, Monday and Tuesday. Some part of last week too.

*Previously on Sleeping Angels *

"Renji, are you alright?" A concerned voice asked from above the man. He had fallen unconscious and comatose for a week after a fatal wound from a deadly hollow...

He tried to sit up, to gain back the focus in his eyes. However, he was pushed back down by a strong set of hands. Hands which made him flinch slightly as he remembered the texture of whose they belonged to...

As his eyes regained back their shine, he realised who the figure in front of him was. Renji opened his mouth ajar as he let a short gasp out before asking, "I-Ichigo?"

"Yeah," Ichigo answered as gave a concerned look into the sixth squad Lieutenant's confused and pained eyes. "It's me; we were all worried about you, Renji," he continued...

"You're at Urahara's. You've been gone for a week and I wondered what happened to you." Ichigo looked up at the window...

"Well, I left without telling them. Knowing the Soul Society they really will execute me – I heard about the story, so don't fret over it..."

"Idiot," Renji said as he looked over at Ichigo. The new Captain hooking Renji's arm around his neck whilst putting his own arm around the other man's waist...

"Hey, Toshiro," Ichigo greeted as he tried to wave with his free hand. The boy in front of him has silver, spiky hair with turquoise eyes which seemed to pierce the souls of many. However, the intimidating look he gave was usually drowned out with the Captain's child-like appearance.

"I don't even want to know why Renji has been seriously injured. Nor do I want to know the reason for your disappearance from the Soul Society. Both of you are coming back now..."

"Toshiro, you should know that I can't go back," Ichigo reasoned. "Did the Head-Captain send you?"

Captain Hitsugaya sighed. He mentally slapped himself as he said, "obviously. That's why I'm here; on his orders. Now you're coming back and I won't force you, but I won't say it again."

"I'm not going back there!"

"I wasn't requesting you, I was telling you!" The younger Captain yelled as he stood in place, facing the orange-haired boy with an irritated expression. Turquoise eyes glaring at him. Despite his expression, he just couldn't be angry at him. How he felt just blocked out the emotion of hatred.

Ichigo just grinned. He looked to Renji who he supported in standing up and looked back towards the ice-Captain. "So you're saying that you'd betray me?"

"W-What? No," Toshiro said as he backed up slightly. "I'm not betraying you... I told the Head-Captain that I would only retrieve you if no punishment is placed upon you or Renji."

"What did he say?"

"That he will consider it."

"That doesn't always mean yes! Have you seen the condition Renji is in?"

Toshiro looked over towards Renji, the red head whom had almost died. As a matter off fact, it was lucky he had survived. An attack like that would have killed any normal Soul Reaper – but then again, he isn't just a normal Soul Reaper as he is a Lieutenant. "Yes, I can see him. He doesn't look too bad–"

"He is in no condition to go anywhere!" Ichigo yelled as he tightened his grip around the other boy's waist. "If he can't go, then I'm not leaving him."

The icy Captain arched a concerned, yet perplexed brow as he commented, "it almost sounds as if he were your boyfriend; not mine."

The orange-haired boy's face reddened. It seemed to just blow up with the colour of crimson of embarrassment. Embarrassment, even though he felt guilty. Beads of sweat dribbled down his forehead as he was anxious. Anxious and speechless due to the current situation. Ichigo had no idea how to handle this circumstance. This cataclysmic circumstance. He then looked towards the Lieutenant and noticed that he was almost screaming in pain. Ichigo realised something – he was hurting the boy due to his iron grip. Abarai's amber eyes were begging him to just stop and put him down – even though he looked as if he wanted to kill the Kurosaki Captain. Shaking his head and shocked, he released his grip, but he still held onto him. He then looked over towards the younger Captain whose eyes had sharpened, grown more suspicious. "No, no, no! It's not like that! You see–"

"What do I see, then, Ichigo?"

"We're more like brothers! There's no way I'd fall in love with someone like him! I-I..."

"What?" Toshiro asked as he took a step forward. Eager to know his boyfriend's next words as he chose them with extra caution. Silver hair flowing slightly in the breeze along with his turquoise eyes that were locked onto the newest Captain.

"I love you... only you. No-one else!"

Hitsugaya smiled malevolently. He tilted his head downwards and closed his eyes. He knew he had won ever since the other boy had gotten confused. Confused and anxious. Speechless to put on top. "I love you too," he said as he raised his head. His once before turquoise eyes lightened and glistening with the emotion of being glad; joyful and glad.

"Then let us stay...?" Renji asked, interrupting the moment between the two lovers.

The smaller Captain sighed. He knew that he shouldn't do it, but he looked back over to where the Senkaimon was when he appeared in the world, noticing that the mentioned portal had vanished. "Fine, we can stay for a while," Toshiro said as he mentally gave up trying to take them back... for now. He looked up at the sky to notice that it was very dark in the outside world they were in. "Once the sun comes up, we are going back, though. Okay?" He reasoned, hoping to get a positive response.

Both pairs of eyes glared into each others. Hitsugaya was winning their eye-contact war until finally a response came out. The orange-haired Death God had come up with an answer, facing down and breaking the contact; it wasn't like him at all just to give up. But then again, it wasn't like him to disappoint his friends and irritate them to the point of pulling out a razor-sharp blade on him. Although, it's not like that has ever happened before... has it?

"...Fine..."

"Thank you."