Gin was sitting at a table with Tosen. They were discussing the biggest topic ever in Hueco Mundo. That was, of course, Ben Tennyson.
"Got to say," Gin said to his comrade. "That kid's going places."
Tosen did not say anything, merely nodding in agreement.
"I can tell you," Gin went on. "I was absolutely shocked to learn that Ben was going to be offered the position of Espada."
Tosen scoffed at this. He had a feeling that Gin knew that Ben would eventually be offered to be in the Espada. If Gin noticed this, he didn't show it.
"But you know what really surprised me?" he asked. "The fact that he killed Luppi, even Aizen told him to leave it."
"It was Benj's decision," Tosen finally said. "He is content with it."
"Deep down, though," Gin pointed out. "The fact that he beat Nnoitra to a pulp makes the position of 6th Espada a little insulting. Maybe that's why he turned it down."
"Or perhaps Ben is a selfless being," Tosen replied. "He cares nothing for personal power and puts others before himself."
"Seems you've gotten fond of Ben," Gin said with that smile of his. "And I've noticed that Harribel's Fraccion has given Ben quite the eye. Hey, I wouldn't be surprised if Harribel herself got a little crush on Ben. I told you he's going places."
---
When Harribel's Fraccion found out about all that had taken place, they were left utterly speechless.
"What are you thinking?" Apache finally screamed. "Turning down an offer to be an Espada?"
"Apache," Sun-Sun said calmly. "Aizen-sama left the decision to Ben and he turned it down. Personally, I don't think needs the Espada rank to show everyone how powerful he is."
"Yeah," Mila-Rose laughed.
Personally, they too believed that Ben deserved the rank of Espada. But like Harribel, they preferred that Ben had been given Nnoitra's spot instead of Grimmjow's.
"This should get everyone to respect Ben now," Mila-Rose stated. "The fact that he was offered a position in the Espada."
"Not necessarily," Sun-Sun corrected. "Despite all Ben has done, Baraggan and Yammy still hate him."
"It does not matter," Harribel said. Unlike her Fraccion, she was standing with her arms folded as usual. "Some will always be ignorant and refuse to acknowledge others despite circumstances. Regardless, Ben should not let an issue such as that bother him."
Ben smiled. "Don't worry," he said. "I never really liked them anyway."
Apache, Mila-Rose, and Sun-sun all laughed while Harribel allowed herself a small smile. That's when something dawned on Ben.
"Oh, man!" he cried, leaping to his feet.
"Something wrong, Ben?" Sun-Sun asked.
"I forgot," he replied. "I have some friends outside that Harribel said I could bring here."
"Outside?" the three girls asked in shock.
"Yeah," Ben said, not understanding their shock. "This Arrancar named Nel and her brothers Pesche and Dondochakka."
"An Arrancar?" Apache asked. "Outside of Las Noches?"
"She's a little kid Arrancar," Ben explained. "Like Lilynette."
"But why would an Arrancar be outside of Las Noches?" Mila-Rose asked while scratching her chin in thought. "It makes no sense."
"Maybe they just wanted to live outside," Ben suggested.
"I don't see why," Sun-Sun told him. "Las Noches is much safer than out there."
Her words reminded Ben of when he had saved Nel from that mole Hollow using Armodrillo. But other than that, it seemed that Nel and her brothers enjoyed being out there in the desert. But personally Ben couldn't see how.
"Are you about to go get them?" Apache asked.
"Yep," Ben told them. "See you soon."
With that, Ben activated the Ultimatrix, turned into Big Chill and used his intangibility to fly out of Las Noches without needing to walk in its Labyrinth hallways.
---
Outside Las Noches, Nel was sitting on a sand hill while waiting for Ben. Pesche and Dondochakka looked at her as she stared at Las Noches so intently that she looked like she was trying to bore a hole in it by staring.
"Man," Pesche whispered to Dondochakka. "Nel's really found of that Ben guy.
"He is pretty nice," Dondochakka agreed. "And he cares about Nel a lot."
"But I don't get it," Pesche said. "Why would Aizen-sama allow a human to stay in Las Noches?"
"I don't know," Dondochakka admitted. "But it's got to have something to do with Ben's forms."
But the two jumped when Nel started squealing in delight.
"It's Ben! It's Ben!" she cried, jumping up and down while pointing.
Pesche and Dondochakka looked. Flying towards them was Big Chill. They had never seen Ben use that form, but they had been around Ben long enough to be familiar with his reiatsu. While his reiatsu did change slightly whenever he turned into a different form, it didn't change completely. So they were able to pick up his reiatsu mixed with that of the moth-man that was flying towards them. Sure enough, Ben turned back to normal when he was near them.
"Hey gu…oof!" he cried when Nel head butted him in the stomach, knocking him off his feet and landing on his back in the sand. He groaned in pain before looking to see what hit him. "Hello, Nel." He said weakly.
"Ben!" she cried happily. Tears of joy coming out her eyes. Ben cringed when he saw traces of snot starting to leak out her nose. But then Nel's face changed from sadness to joy.
"Nel's so happy to see Ben again." She squealed. Ben smiled at her and patted her on the back.
"Like I'd forget about you," he said fondly as he gave her a hug, something Nel instantly returned with blissful giggles.
"So, Ben," Pesche said, finding himself pleased to see little Nel so happy. "How are things in Las Noches?"
Ben shrugged. "Okay, I guess," he said. "I was offered the position of the 6th Espada."
"HUH?" Nel, Pesche, and Dondochakka all shouted in surprise.
"You were offered to be an Espada?" Pesche cried out.
"Yeah," Ben replied. "Grimmjow got demoted and Aizen offered it to me. I turned it down though."
"WHAT?" the three Arrancar shouted.
"That's one of the biggest offers in Hueco Mundo, don't cha know?" Dondochakka asked.
Ben shrugged. "It's not that big a deal."
Maybe to Ben it wasn't, but for anyone who knew about Las Noches it was the exact opposite. To have the rank of Espada was one of the highest honors. Not to mention the many privileges that came with it.
"I had other things on my mind anyway," Ben continued. "Like how that jerk Nnoitra hurt my friend Apache."
"Nnoitra?" Pesche and Dondochakka yelled. "As in Nnoitra Jiruga the 5th Espada?"
"The same," Ben grumbled. "The jerk picked a fight with me and Apache protected me. He wouldn't even let me take her to get help. Then he tried to hurt my other two pals Mila-Rose and Sun-Sun."
"How did you manage to escape?" Pesche asked.
"I didn't need to," Ben answered. "I beat him."
Now there was nothing but complete silence as the three Arrancar looked at Ben with utter disbelief.
"You…beat…Nnoitra?" Dondochakka asked slowly.
"Yeah," Ben said. "He didn't stand a chance against Way Big."
"Way Big?" Pesche and Dondochakka asked curiously. "What does he look like?"
Ben looked at them. "Would you like to see?" he asked.
"Yay!" Nel chirped. "Ben's gonna show us a new form!"
Grinning, Ben activated the Ultimatrix, selected Way Big, and slammed the dial down. Nel, Pesche, and Dondochakka all fell on their butts when they saw just how big Way Big was. Once Ben was sure that they had seen enough, he turned about to normal.
"What do you think?" he asked, finding himself grinning at their shocked silence.
"Ben got big," Nel said breathlessly.
"He's even bigger than a Gillian!" Pesche shouted.
"And that's pretty big don't cha know?" Dondochakka asked.
"Actually, I don't know," Ben answered. "I've never seen a Gillian before."
"Well they're pretty big," Pesche said. "And your Way Big was bigger than them."
"Ben is so cool!" Nel chirped, jumping onto Ben's waist and hugging him tightly. "He can do anything!"
Ben smiled in embarrassment. He never expected little kids to start praising him. But it actually felt kind of nice to hear Nel say that.
"I just remembered," He said. "Harribel said that I could bring you guys to Las Noches with me."
"Harribel?" Nel asked, worry in her voice. "Who's dat?'
"She's the third Espada," Ben said, momentarily pausing when he heard Pesche and Dondochakka gasping. "I'm part of her Fraccion."
Nel frowned. "What's her rewationswip with you?"
Ben's eyes widened in surprise. Relationship? Where did that come from? And why would Nel want to know something like that? Was Nel…jealous?
"Uh," was all he said when Pesche interrupted him.
"And she said that we were allowed to come into Las Noches?" he asked Ben.
Ben nodded, thankful for the interruption. "She knew about me coming to see you guys and said it was alright if you came to Las Noches."
"We won't get in trouble?" Nel asked, amazed that they would allowed in Las Noches.
"Nope," Ben reassured her. Pesche and Dondochakka looked at each other, then they looked at Ben.
"Ben," Pesche finally said. "We've decided on something."