Disclaimer: Ben 10 and Bleach do not belong to me. If they did, Vilgax would still be the cool villain he was in the original Ben 10, Ulquiorra and Starrk would still be alive, etc.

Sorry about the wait guys. I really don't have an excuse. I started slacking off plus, a lot of people quit their jobs at Taco Bell, so we've been working loads more hours. However, it was mostly laziness that did it.

Also, there's one more thing...I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING ROMANTIC FOR THIS STORY! It's true, I don't know any romantic, intimate, etc for Ben's little harem. (Though I really wish it was just the HarribelxBenxNelliel pairing) Guys, if you have any suggestions (Non-M rated) for romance, I'm more than happy to hear them. I'm really desperate here.

By the way, you know how the time differences vary? You see, Ben has spent days in Hueco Mund already...but's only around an hour or so in the present. Ain't time travel great?

I was originally going to make this chapter longer and conclude the mini-arc but since you guys have been waiting long enough, I decided to go ahead and post this chapter. The next one will conclude this mini-arc and finally (hopefully) answer all the questions of this time travel experience. I would personally like to thank Kamen Rider Chrome and Sallem Cortez 004 for their help in this chapter and Sallem's idea for what will happen in the next chapter.

Have Time will Travel part 4

The others watched as Ulquiorra and Kevin left Los Soledad. Since Ulquiorra still didn't have a proper means of transportation, Kevin was offering him a ride there. As they drove off, Gwen walked over to the one person who had been extremely quite during all this time. In fact…he was napping!

"Gin!" She barked at him. "Wake up!"

Gin gave a snort as he started sitting up. He pouted at Gwen as he stuck his pinkie in his ear

"Something wrong?"

"You bet there's something wrong! Did you know that Ben would wind up in the past if he used Clockwork?"

"Uh, Gwen…" Lilynette butted in. "Gin said he had no idea what Paradox was up to."

Gin gave that infuriating smirk of his. "Oh, you finally figured it out! You're so smart, Gwen!"

Gwen snorted at his compliment. "Actually it was Ulquiorra who figured it out."

"Heh. Wouldn't surprise me. He was always the sharpest of the Espada. No offense to present company of course."

Starrk shrugged. "More in depth thinking was always his specialty. I'm just good at analyzing what's in front of me."

"But…you told us earlier that you didn't know what Paradox was planning!" Apacci rounded on Gin. "So you were lying to us?!"

"Well I couldn't spoil the surprise now could I?" Gin replied playfully. "Course, if you hadn't figured it out by now, I would have gotten bored and would have told you anyway."

Starrk groaned. "You still lie to us?"

"Ah, that's so mean. It's not like I was lying to hurt Ben. After all that boy did for me? That'd be just ungrateful. Besides…I've gotten kinda fond of the kid."

"So…are you saying that Ben is supposed to be in the past?" Charlotte wondered.

"Bingo! Ben's supposed to be in the past right now. It's important."

Gwen didn't look convinced. "But why? Why does he have to be in the past?"

"Now that would be spoiling it. I'll tell you all when Ben gets backed."

"Back?" Nelliel looked at Gin hopefully. "So Ben is coming back?"

"Yep. But I won't tell you when he'll come back. That's just too much spoiling. And you all know how I hate giving away spoilers."

The others looked at each other, not really pleased with that kind of answer. Gin sighed dramatically.

"Look. Bottom line is, Ben's gonna be alright. That should calm you all down until he gets back. Whatever happens will happen."

In the past Hueco Mundo, Ben saw that being Ghostfreak was actually a helpful form. The thing that worried him was that some smarter Hollow would notice his odd reiatsu. But so far, none of the Hollows they ran into had noticed this. They all just saw him as someone else to add to their menu. Course, they couldn't really do anything with Ghostfreak's powers allowing to dodge them all with ease. That and the fact that he was traveling with a Vasto Lorde of all Hollows tended to help. Another perk was that Ghostfreak's ability to absorb spirit particles kept Ben running at 100 percent without needing any food or water. Occasionally Ben would get himself a drink through using Big Chill or Water Hazard, but he didn't really need any sustenance as long as he was Ghostfreak. He naturally offered water to the girls in case they were thirsty but they rejected it. One reason was the fact that their bodies didn't require liquids. The second was that there still far from trusting him. One day, as the group was doing a simple stroll through the desert...

"Why do you do that?"

Ghostfreak looked over at questioner, Apacci. "Why do I do what?"

"Spare them. Every Hollow we've come up against, you've never let us kill any of them. I mean, even if we don't eat them, we'd be better off killing them."

"Why?" Ghostfreak asked her. He knew the answer already but...

Taken aback by this question, Apacci thought about her words. "That's the way it is in Hueco Mundo. Kill or be killed. We need to in order to survive."

That was the answer he knew she was gonna say. He wasn't comfortable with simply killing someone else even it was to survive, but he also thought that maybe the Hollows in Hueco Mundo really had no choice. Or at least they thought they had no choice. Most killed each other so that they could feed and become stronger. Some, like Harribel, simply killed to protect themselves. And that got him thinking. Would changing the Hollows into Arrancar help them change their way of life? Prevent them from having to kill each other?

I kinda doubt it. I mean, look at most of the Espada. I guess I've got a lot more to do than just simply turning Hollows into Arrancar.

That reminded him. He looked at Harribel, who was walking ahead.

"Harribel? Have you ever heard of this guy named Baraggan?"

Harribel came to a stop immediately after Ben asked that.

"Yes. I know him. The "God" of Hueco Mundo."

Ghostfreak involuntarily flinched at the bitterness in her voice. Apparently the two hated each other even when they were both Hollows. Though, Ben shouldn't have been that surprised.

"Because of his ridiculous belief that he is a god, he thinks that I should be part of his servants and army. I will never submit myself to someone like him."

Ghostfreak floated next to her. "Has…he ever hurt you?"

Harribel looked at Ben now rather surprised by the…tenderness, for lack of a better word, in his voice.

"No. Baraggan has not laid a hand on me. Not that I would let him."

Ghostfreak let out a sigh of relief.

"Why do you ask? Why do you care?"

Because you're important to me and I don't want to see you hurt. Ben found himself wishing to say. Instead he replied. "That Baraggan's a stupid jerk. I'd like to knock him off his high horse."

Harribel gave out a small hmph at that. "While it nice to know that you have no liking for him, do not be a fool. Baraggan is powerful. To challenge him would be foolish."

Heh. I bet if I was Clockwork, I'd knock him all the way across the desert. Ben thought to himself.

"So…are we gonna run into him?"

"I am not sure. Baraggan usually stays within his "palace" of Los Noches. But he has been known to travel Hueco Mundo with his army from time to time. While I hope we avoid him, an encounter would not be impossible."

Ben said nothing as he took this information in. A fight with Baraggan. Well, as long as Ben didn't destroy him, which he doubted he would, then the timeline should be fine. He just had to make sure no one else around here found out he was a human.

Just then, Ben realized something that he surprisingly didn't notice until just now.

I'm in the past...meeting Tier and the others. Then...when we met back at Los Noches in the future...why didn't they recognize me?

Why in the world did he just now realize this? Surely if he met them in the past...they would have known who he was in the future. But Harribel and the girls obviously didn't know him. When they were introduced to each other when Ben first set foot in Hueco Mundo, they had met each other for the first time...right? Ben would have put some more thought into it but he noticed that Harribel had become tense.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"We're not alone," Harribel replied. Ghostfreak tensed up.

"Where?"

"Right in front of us."

Ghostfreak turned before coming to a halt in mid-air.

Before the five was a cliff face...filled with Hollows all staring down at them.

Ghostfreak growled to himself as he studied their predicament. How in the world did this happen and he hadn't noticed. He must have been so caught up in his musing that...

But then Ghostfreak saw the last thing he wanted to see in this place. At the top of the cliff face, sitting on a throne and gazing down at the five with as close to a bored expression as was possible, was a skeleton wrapped in a purplish robe with a crown on his head. It didn't take a genius to know who this joker was.

"Baraggan," Ben muttered under his breath.

Harribel looked up at Baraggan. "You again. What do you want?"

Despite the skeleton lacking eyeballs, Ghostfreak could tell that Baraggan was focusing on Harribel. "Don't make me repeat myself, Harribel. It is annoying to see you play around in my sight. However, it would be a waste to kill someone of your power. Therefore, I have come to you today with two choices. The first one, as I have asked you before, is to join my army."

"And the other one?" Harribel asked.

"Vanish to a place where I cannot see you. Of course, there is no place in Las Noches that I cannot see." Baraggan let out a bellowing laugh after he said this, which was immediately followed by his many followers. Harribel and her girls remained impassive but Ben's single eye glared at the "king" of Hueco Mundo. He knew it was wrong but he couldn't help feeling a bit of satisfaction knowing Baraggan would eventually be killed by Starrk in the future. Just then a strange Hollow that looked some large and squat Hammerhead shark waddled over to Harribel.

"Harribel! Do you understand? You have no choice but to become subservient to Baraggan-sama!" He put his fin on her.

Ghostfreak hissed angrily. He was about to do something when Harribel beat him do it.

"Don't touch me," Harribel told the shark Hollow before quickly slashing him at the top of his head. The shark fell onto his back, hollowing in pain. The other Hollows had ceased their laughing when this happened. Ghostfreak gulped when he saw this. He was sure glad he never done anything stupid like that or else he might have wound up with a worse fate.

Just then his mind wondered to that time shortly after Aizen was killed. When Vega had tried to attack Harribel but was easily fought off. He remembered Harribel's words.

Ben is the only one who may touch me.

But then Ben was rudely shaken from his thoughts when Baraggan had ordered Harribel to stop.

"Striking one of my subordinates before my eyes," Baraggan said as he looked down at Harribel. But his rested his skull on his hand the way one did when they were bored. "How bold of you. You will regret your decision."

Harribel did not reply but instead turned around.

"Let us leave this place," She told Ben and the girls. They started to run away from Baraggan's place. As they did, Ghostfreak started thinking. As much as he knew not to mess with the past, he was afraid of Baraggan doing something to Harribel and the girls that they hadn't told him in the present. He was gonna make sure that nothing did happen to them. He flew over to Harribel.

"I'll be back," he told her.

"Where are you going?"

"Taking care of some business," he responded before turning invisible. Harribel wasn't sure what he was planning.

"What is that idiot doing now?" Apacci asked.

"Why? Are you afraid of something happening to him?" Mila Rose teased.

"NO! You can have that human brat all to yourself!"

"WHAT?! You accuse me of liking a human?! That's it you little..."

And so their fighting went on. Not that Ghostfreak knew. Using his invisibility and intangibility, he had hidden among some boulders. After looking to see that there was no one around who could spot him, Ghostfreak made himself visible again.

"Now," Ghostfreak said as he raised his hand to strike the Ultimatrix dial. "Time to show Baraggan he's not the only master of time."

Once again, a familiar flash of green light shined. But fortunately, no one had seen it. Especially not three men wearing white robes with swords hanging at their hips. One in particular with brown hair wearing a pair of square rimmed glasses.

As Baraggan and his forces prepared to move, the hammerhead shark Hollow was wailing. "Baraggan-sama! Why did you not strike Harribel down?" He pointed with a fin towards the nasty gash at the side of his head. "Look at what she did to me!"

Baraggan snorted in contempt. "If you were stronger, such a thing wouldn't have happened. Allowing a female to strike you down like that. Such a disgrace."

"I wouldn't be talking disgraces if I were you, Baraggan!"

All the Hollows looked everywhere for the sudden voice. Although no one could see Baraggan's expression due to him lacking any skin, one could just slightly make out the light shaking in his bones. Shakes from anger.

"Who dares address the god of Hueco Mundo that way?!"

"God? Ha! Some god you are!"

Baraggan clenched his bone fists. "Who dares speak to me with such blasphemy?!"

"Who am I?"

The Hollows all turned their heads toward the sound of the voice. It was coming from right in front them. Clockwork marched right in front of them.

"Who am I?" He pointed at Baraggan. "I'm the guy who's gonna knock you off that piece of rock you're using as a throne!"

At first nobody said or did anything. Baraggan simply looked at Clockwork and vice versa. After a few agonizing minutes, Baraggan threw back his head and laughed. Shortly his fellow Hollows began to laugh as well.

"I don't know who you are, as you are certainly not a Hollow, but you are utterly stupid to have come here and challenge me."

If he could sneer, Clockwork would have. "Get over yourself, Baraggan."

Baraggan chuckled, then addressed his gathered troops. "Destroy him!"

All the Hollows leaped at Clockwork at once, ready to tear him limb from limb. Now Clockwork could feel that this body of his wasn't very fast. His body must have been made of some heavy material. He wasn't sure if even his enchanced speed could move him fast enough. So instead Clockwork tried a different tactic. Raising his hands at the oncoming swarm of Hollows, Clockwork shot beams of green light. As the beams washed over the Hollows, they froze. Not froze like encased in ice, but froze as in frozen in time.

"That is so cool," Clockwork was pleased at his handiwork. Baraggan was beyond surprised.

"What?! What did you do to my men?!"

Clockwork looked past the frozen Hollows up to Baraggan. "You're not the only one who can control time, Baraggan."

That really struck a chord as Baraggan froze at Clockwork's reply. "What did you say?"

"I can control time too, Baraggan. Let's see how good you are against someone who can all the stuff you can."

Raising his arm up at the Hollow's "God" Clockwork shot another blast of green energy. Baraggan quickly used Sonido to get from his makeshift throne. And it was a good thing too as the rocks he had been previously sitting in aged to dust when the beam hit.

"It can't be..." Baraggan muttered when he saw what had taken place. "He...he aged those rocks into nothing." He looked back at Clockwork now. "He does have power over time."

Clockwork folded his arms smugly. "What's the matter, Baraggan? Scared that someone else can do all your tricks?"

"How dare you..."

If Clockwork was able to show facial expressions, as he noticed Baraggan shaking.

"How dare you..."

Baraggan glared at Clockwork...or at least that's what latter thought the former was doing. It was hard to tell when all the guy had was empty sockets.

"How dare a worthless ant like you boast that you posses the same power as me!" Baraggan roared angrily as he pulled a large, black axe from the folds of his robe.

"Uh oh. Now I've done it."

Baraggan flew towards Clockwork, who quickly raised his hands at the oncoming Hollow. Green beams shot at the Hollow king, and he could feel his skeletal body slowing down to incredibly low speeds as he got closer towards his blasphemous adversary. Clockwork was thrilled at all the different things he could do with time. So far, he was capable of time travel and, possibly, teleportation, freezing time, speeding it up, and now slowing it down. As Baraggan, slowly but surely, got closer, Clockwork lazily sidestepped him and sent a copper coated fist smashing into the "God" of Hueco Mundo's jaw. The blow snapped Baraggan back into regular time but also into the ground. Baraggan looked up at the Chronosapien with his jaw hanging open in comical shock. Clockwork could make out a slight crack on the left side of Baraggan's chin. It reminded him a little of the scar Baraggan had in his human form. Then Clockwork realized. Was he responsible for those scars?

"Not so tough without your little time advantage are ya?" Clockwork taunted.

Angrily, Baraggan picked himself up from the ground. "Respira!"

Oh great. It was that time accelerating mist stuff. As the mist erupted from Baraggan's robes, Clockwork fired his "time-beams" at the mist. The two attacks collided, effectively canceling each other out. Baraggan took a step back in shock. Clockwork was rather pleased to see the arrogant bag of bones simply scared out of his wits.

I think I have more time powers than he does but he's still way stronger than I am. Clockwork thought. I'll be in trouble if he starts using his other Hollow powers. Better wrap this up quickly.

"Who are you? Who are you?!" Baraggan demanded. The shock of seeing someone with time powers that rivaled him left him unable to properly move. Which was just fine for Clockwork as he walked over to a nearby rock and heaved it from the ground. Surrounding the rock with chrono energy to block it from Baraggan's own powers, he replied.

"I'm the guy who kicked your butt."

Heaving the stone over his head, Clockwork flung it at the "God". Baraggan immediately activated respira to crumble it to dust but it was once again negated by Clockwork's own time powers. Baraggan didn't have time to defend or counter as the boulder smashed into his face, a nasty crack forming across his right eye socket. matched the scar over Baraggan's eye in his sealed state. So he was the one responsible for Baraggan's scars. Knowing this left him with a hint of satisfaction. Before Baraggan could make any sort of counter, Clockwork fired another time beam at Baraggan, freezing him in time. Walking over to the frozen Hollow, Clockwork yanked him up and brought him to eye level.

"Stay away from Harribel and her girls. If I ever catch you near them...I will make you pay."

Having said his peace, Clockwork dropped the frozen Baraggan to the ground and began walking away. Only when he was a good distance away did he free Baraggan and his men from being frozen in time. They all fell to the ground in a massive heap. Clockwork chuckled as he heard the sound of confusion from them. Looking around to make sure he wouldn't be spotted, Clockwork slammed the dial on his chest, transforming back into his normal self. He was about to use his super speed to return back when...

"That was impressive."

The unexpected voice caused Ben to lose his balance and fall head first into the desert sand. Sputtering, spitting sand out of his mouth, and scrubbing it off his tongue, Ben turned to see who had startled him. He froze when he saw it was Harribel.

"That form," Harribel walked closer to him. "It allowed you to beat Baraggan like he was nothing."

"Well, I wouldn't say beat. More like shook him up. I just showed him that he's not allpowerful like he thought he was."

Harribel continued looking at him. "You...you could easily take over this place couldn't you?"

That reminded Ben a little too much of those Hollows back in the future that wanted him to become their king.

"Heh-heh. Well, not really. Sure some of the guys I turn into give me some big advangtages but I really doubt I could take over this place."

"And if you could...would you?"

Ben shook his head. "I think it's been said in a comic book or something that with great power comes great responsibility. I use these powers to help people and that's all I'm gonna do."

"I...also heard the threat you gave Baraggan."

"...oh."

"I...thank you. You stood up to Baraggan of all Hollows for us. Just to make sure he left us alone."

Ben smiled softly at her. "I said I would protect all of you and I meant it."

Harribel didn't reply. She didn't understand it. This human was so strange. Such power and yet he simply cared about using it to protect others. Even monsters, like her.

Ben started heading in the direction towards their cave before stopping to look over his shoulder. "Ready to head back?"

Harribel simply nodded her head and the two started heading back.

In the future, Ulquiorra had been brought to Harangue's office. He looked around, trying to figure out more about the man's personality. He was an organized man as everything in the office was in proper order. But Harangue also appeared to be narcisstic. There was countless posters of Harangue with the words Harangue Nation on them. There was also several anti-Ben propaganda as well. Why did this man hate Ben so much? What was he hoping to gain by trying to turn the populace against the boy? Ulquiorra snapped out of his musing and turned around when he heard the door open. Will Harangue himself walked into the office, a million-watt smile on his face.

"Ulquiorra Cifer!" he beamed. "Thank you for coming to see me. Have a seat."

Ulquiorra complied as he sat down in the seat in front of Harangue's desk. Harangue himself sat down.

"I'm honored that a man of your status would take his time to see someone like me," Ulquiorra said, deciding to feed the man's ego to prevent any suspicion. Deception may not have been his speciailty but he was no novice in it either. "What is it you have called me here for?"

Harangue gave a smile that reminded Ulquiorra all too well of his fellow Espada. "I can see you are man who's straight to the point. I like that. You see, Mr. Cifer. Ben Tennyson is a threat to not only the people of Bellwood but the whole world. But the people refuse to see him for what he really is. I would like for you to investigate the boy and dig up some dirt. That will prove to the world what their so called hero is really like."

Predictable. Ulquiorra thought. However we should count our blessings that he chose me for this. Even if it would not show Ben as a menace or threat, the fact that he has five women living with him, one of which is his own teacher, can be used to ruin his reputation. More so if the girls' feelings for Ben were to be found out. Harribel would suffer most as relationships between students and teachers are frowned upon in this area.

"How can you be so sure that this Ben Tennyson has any secrets to hide?" Ulquiorra played along. "Yes, one cannot deny that he has been rather destructive in some of his past battles but it seems he has the best interest of others at heart."

Harangue frowned. "Don't tell me you're one of his little fans?"

"I'm simply willing to give the boy the benefit of a doubt," Ulquiorra replied coolly. "However, if the boy is not the hero everyone believes him to be, then the public has the right to know him for what he really is."

I have to accpet. If I don't, he'll simply hire someone else in my place. It would be much easier this way.

Harangue was all smiles again. "I'm glad you see reason, Mr. Cifer. And I will make sure you are paid handsomely for your services."

Ben and his friends have given me more than you could ever hope to imagine. And I will make sure you will do nothing more to him.

Outside, Kevin leaned against his car. He spotted Ulquiorra approaching him. Seeing the look on his face, Kevin decided to wait until they were in the car before discussion anything. He opened his door and got inside. Ulquiorra joined him a few seconds after.

"So what Harangue want?"

"Exactly what we thought he did. He wants me to investigate Ben and dig up any information that can be used against him. Harangue has made a mistake hiring me."

Kevin grinned."You plan on leading this guy in circles, huh? I think I can help you with that."

Ulquiorra turned his head towards the teen. "You're the expert in more...unlawful tactics. I have a feeling those skills will be necessary here."

Kevin started up the engine. "Let's head back to Los Soledad and see if anything new came up there. Besides, it'd be better if everyone was in on this."

"Agreed," Was all Ulquiorra said as they drove off to where the others were waiting. As they were leaving Bellwood, Kevin tried to think of something to pass the time by. Usually he either listened to music or chatted with whoever else was in the car. But that was usually Ben, unless he was driving his own car, and Gwen. He had a feeling that Ulquiorra wasn't exactly a music fan and he didn't know what to talk to this guy about. As he racked his bring for anything that would work as conversation material, he was struck by a sudden epiphany. Grinning mischieviously but keeping his eyes on the road...

"So...you and that Orihime girl, huh?"

The former Espada slowly turned his head towards the delinquent. "Excuse me?"

"Can't say I blame you, though. She is a pretty cute girl. Sweet too but a little bit naive."

"What does she have to do with anything?"

"Come on," Kevin smirked. "It's not exactly a secret."

Ulquiorra closed his eyes. "Are you insinuating that I may harbor feelings for that woman?"

"Buddy, I've seen it enough times to know by now. Sure you're more subtle than the others but still..."

"She is the first human I had truly interacted with. She intrigues me, nothing more."

Kevin nodded. "Sure, buddy. Keep telling yourself that."

Ulquiorra scoffed. "How Ben tolerates you is beyond my understanding."

Kevin actually laughed at that. "Probably just puts up with me for his cousin."

Ulquiorra didn't respond to that. Instead he looked out the window, taking in the scenery..or lack thereof.

"Look, Ulquiorra. It's okay if you like her. It's not like we're gonna hold it against you. Sure we might tease you like we do Ben, but we wouldn't hold it against you. Actually, I think some of the gang would be glad."

Ulquiorra remained silent but Kevin had learned by now that he had former's attention.

"Besides...I think Ben would like that too."

Ulquiorra turned his head towards Kevin now. "Are you attempting to guilt me into spending time with her?"

"Is it working?"

Apacci, Sung-Sun, and Mila Rose all turned their heads as they heard footsteps approaching them. They tensed up at first but relaxed when they saw it was Harribel...with Ben.

"So...where did you run off to?" Apacci asked.

Ben grinned. "Putting Baraggan in his place."

"WHAT?!" All three girls's attention were on him. They looked at their mistress for confirmation.

"It's true," She acknowledged. "He transformed into some sort of golem that was able to counter Baraggan's powers with his own."

The girls looked at him, their eyes wide and with a slight hint of fear.

"You guys don't need to be afraid of me," Ben told them gently. "I would never hurt any of you."

"How do we know that?" Apacci retorted.

"If I wanted to hurt you, don't you think I would have tried already?"

Apacci was about to reply but any response she had fell short as she realized that he was right. If he wanted to hurt them, he would have done it before. Yet he hadn't.

"Why?"

Ben tilted his head. "Hmm?"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you so nice to us?!" Apacci spilled. "We're Hollows. We eat humans like you! We eat souls! We even eat each other! Why are you so nice to us?! Why don't you fear us?! Why don't you hate us?!"

Ben was saddened at hearing those words. He slowly walked towards Apacci, who flinched when she saw him approaching. He raised his arm. Apacci's eyes were wide with fear again as she expected him to suddenly attack her. She was too paralyzed with to even move. But as Ben was right in front of her, he didn't attack. Instead he gently cupped her cheek. Her face was now red...a mixture of both anger and embarrasment.

"W-what do you think you're doing?!"

Ben would never have done this to Apacci when she was an arrancar. But since Apacci was just a Hollow and an animal one at that, Ben approached her like one did a spooked animal. Though, he did get a slight red when he remembered that in the future, she would be humanoid and in love with him. But he fought down the blush as he tried to calm her down.

"Apacci. I know Hollows do all those bad things. And while I don't agree with it, I know that you don't have a choice. I know that there's more to all of you than meets the eye if someone's willing to get to know you. All four of you are important to me...and like I told Baraggan, if anyone goes after you, they'll have to go through me first."

The girls were really shocked when he said this.

"You...you actually said that to Baraggan?" Sung-Sun asked.

Ben grinned as he removed his hand from Apacci's face.

"Pretty much. I really told him that I'll make him pay if he ever goes near you guys again. I said I'd protect you guys and I will. Nobody's gonna hurt you while I'm around."

The girls were unable to talk, as they were still registering Ben's words. This human. He knew what Hollows were like and he had power unlike anything they had ever seen before...and here he was, using it to protect monsters like them.

End of Chapter

Next chapter will be the final part of this little mini-arc and it's going to be very touching. Once again, thanks Sallem for your awesome idea for it.

P.S. I'm gonna be taking the harem pairing in this slowly, when Ben learns that having a harem is okay since the girls all want it. He'll start with Harribel first but I haven't decided who to go with after that. See you all next chapter.