AN: Whew, it's been quite awhile since the last time I updated. Sorry about that, but with school starting (senior year and all), I really didn't have much time to update as much as I would've wanted to. That, and I was dealing with a bit of writers block. But, now I'm back! I've updated and hopefully I won't deal with that again. Hopefully, I make no promise but I will try my best. Until we find out how things turn out, enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 3: Getting to Know Number 10

The party lasted until past midnight (much to both Ulquiorra and Halibel's chagrin). When Halibel returned, she was surprised to see her sister sitting in a chair with her arms folded. "You took your sweet time didn't you, Sister?" She asked.

"Aren't I the big sister?" Halibel asked.

"Yes, and I wouldn't be as mad at you if Apacci, Mila Rose and Sun-Sun had stopped arguing about you going off alone like that."

"Where are they?" Halibel asked.

Palmira gestured to the three unconscious girls. Halibel's eyes widened in surprise. "They just kept bitching and bitching, so I knocked them out." Said Palmira.

Halibel shook her head at her adopted sister. "Palmira..." she scolded.

"What?" Palmira whined. "What did you want me to do? If I had let those three continue arguing neither of us will get any sleep. I had to knock them out, Sister."

Halibel shook her head again. "I told you a million times to never use your abilities on the other girls. I gave you part of my power to protect yourself, not to harm your friends."

Palmira pouted. "I didn't hurt them." She said, annoyed. "I just knocked them out. You know that I'm strong enough to do just that."

Halibel thought it over and nodded in agreement. Palmira and Halibel weren't related by blood. What had happened was that a few days after accepting Aizen's offer to follow him, Halibel and the girls discovered a mermaid-like Adhuchas wandering Hueco Mundo. The girl was nameless and alone. Feeling sympathy for the girl, Halibel gave her some of her spirit energy, giving her some of Halibel's features when Aizen made her an Arrancar. Since then, she's been Palmira Halibel, Tia Halibel's beloved adopted sister.

"So," said Palmira. "Did you enjoy the celebration?"

Halibel nodded. "They're good company," she admitted. "That other new member, Ulquiorra Cifer is a little...dark, but he's respectful. Mosqueda, the 7th Espada, is a little eccentric but always means well. Lady Neliel is definitely good company to keep. She seems like the kind and protective type."

"What about that hunk, Benito?" Asked Palmira.

Halibel raised an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?" She retorted.

Palmira shrugged and gave her older sister a sly grin. "I'm just curious about him, handsome men like him don't come around often. And he's definitely handsome when you compare him to guys like that tall freak with the overbite."

Halibel gave a small grin underneath her jacket. "It appears my little sister has a crush on one of my comrades."

Palmira pouted. "Do not," she said, sticking her tongue out. "I'm just curious about him. I mean, a guy like that should be snatched up by a girl worthy of his attention before some bimbo slut gets him."

Halibel thought about her conversation with Benito on the outskirts of Las Noches. Then she thought about his behavior at the celebration. "He's good company as well." Halibel asked. "He seems to be a well-spoken, polite, intellect with some very good ideas."

"Ideas?" Palmira inquired.

"Peace," Halibel replied. "Ideas of peace. He's convinced that we Espada have an opportunity to work towards peace due to being the ten strongest of our kind."

"Do you agree?" Asked Palmira.

Halibel thought her answer over. "I honestly don't know." Halibel admitted. "There was once a time when I thought peace was possible in Hueco Mundo. But the years have...well, when you meet hundreds of males who see you as an object to play with and then consume, your ideals are bound to change."

"He didn't seem to look at you as an object though." Palmira pointed out.

Halibel realized she was right. "No..." she replied. "No he didn't."

The next morning, Halibel said goodbye to her subordinates and went into the hallway for the Espada's daily meeting, wether Aizen would be there or not, she didn't know. She was soon, surprisingly, greeted by Benito, who was smiling kindly and politely to her. "Good morning, Halibel." He said politely.

Halibel was, indeed, surprised by his friendly greeting, but returned it just the same. "Good morning Benito." She replied, just as politely.

"Thought you might want a friend with you when you walk into that meeting?" Benito asked.

"A friend?" Halibel inquired. "Why would I need one of those in a simple meeting."

Benito gave her a more serious look. "Listen, Halibel, I don't like to act like I know everything, but take it from me, you're a target now after what you did to Gaspar yesterday. You need an ally, a friend."

Halibel looked at Benito. "With all due respect, Benito, what help could you give me? You are simply Number 10."

Benito's smile returned. "You'd be surprised." He said cryptically.

Halibel sighed. "Well, you probably won't leave me alone if I say no anyway. So, I suppose you can...be my ally in the meeting."

Benito and Halibel walked towards the meeting room. "Is there anything I should know about in these meetings?" Halibel asked. "Namely, what is discussed."

"Well," Benito began. "What is often discussed is what course of action we should take after Sōsuke achieves his goal."

"Course of action?"

"Yes," Benito continued. "You see, while most of us don't fully understand what Sōsuke's goals are, some of the more...intelligent members of the Espada have deduced that his plans involve conquest. Once his plans are complete, the future of Hueco Mundo is going to be left up to the ten of us...wether he likes it or not might I add."

"The point?"

"My point, is that ever since that became a topic of discussion, we've practically become divided into two groups. One group wants to leave Hueco Mundo as it is and instate either Adolfo or reinstate Baraggan as king. However, others, like myself and Neliel, want to take it a bit further by pushing for a different Hueco Mundo. One of law and order. One of peace and prosperity. A place that is safe for our kind." Benito explained.

Halibel nodded. "It's a debate between moving forward, or staying where we are."

"But...why wouldn't they wish to 'move forward' as you call it?" Halibel asked.

Benito thought about it. "The two most influential members, Baraggan and Adolfo, they're only interested in power. I'm sure you're well aware of what Hueco Mundo was like under Baraggan's control."

Halibel nodded grimly, she had several run-ins with the former God-King, she hated the man with a fiery passion. "Then there's Adolfo," Benito actually sounded disgusted at the mere sound of his name. "When he was rebelling against Baraggan just for his own personal gain, he wasn't some man of justice who was rebelling for a good cause. All he did was create more chaos, more needless violence, more needless bloodshed."

Benito's fists clenched. "And for what?" He said, his voice becoming more passionate by the second. "A seat of power? What's the point in ruling when you've killed your own kind to become ruler?"

Halibel placed a gentle hand on Benito's shoulder. "Benito, please, you don't have to continue."

Benito took a deep breath. "Thank you, Halibel." He said softly. "Anyway, my point is, those two care for nobody but themselves. If they weren't as influential as they are, someone would've moved to have them killed a long time ago. Those two men are unbearable."

His words are genuine. It seems that his talk of peace last night wasn't just hot air. Halibel thought.

"Ah, we're here." Benito said, arriving at the doors to the meeting room. "One last piece of advice, don't be afraid to speak your mind. We're the ten most powerful Arrancar here. No matter how new or old we are, we deserve a say in things. Don't let those two bastards and Nnoitra tell you otherwise."

The doors opened and Benito was instantly tackled by a happy Neliel. "Beni'!" She shouted affectionately. "How are you? Why don't you look hungover?"

"Good day sir," Ulquiorra stepped forward. "I hope you'll forgive Lady Neliel, it's just her nature."

"Yeah...her nature." Benito wheezed, cursing the seal on his powers once again.

The young Espada could hear his hated rivals laughing at him, he heard Nnoitra's high-pitch cackle the most, another thing he hated about the walking spoon. Neliel got up and her eyes widened when she saw the state her friend was in. "Ah!" She screamed, grabbing him and shaking him. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Benito patted her shoulder. "Off, please, before you actually hurt me." He said breathlessly.

Benito quickly got to his feet after Neliel got off of him. "Good morning, Halibel, it's good to see you." Neliel said. "I didn't get to say this before, welcome to the Espada."

Halibel gave a slight bow. "Thank you, Lady Neliel. It is an honor to serve with you."

Neliel giggled. "Don't be so formal." She replied. "You're only one rank below me, you don't have to worry about formalities."

"Can we get on with this meeting already?" Adolfo asked, getting irritated.

"What, you have something better to do, Adolfo?" Nnoitra snidely asked.

"Why you..."

"You'd let a beast provoke you? Shame on you Adolfo." Said Neliel.

"Shut up!" Both men said.

"Anyway," Halibel interrupted sharply. "We should probably begin our meeting."

Nnoitra chuckled a bit. "Now that's a sight. New girl's got some backbone."

"She's right you know." Benito said. "I'd like to get this started as well."

Neliel nodded in agreement and the Espada each took their seats. "Okay," said Benito. "What's on the agenda today?"

"Lord Aizen returned to the Soul Society." Adolfo began. "But before he left, he told me that he wanted two Espada, one in the top 5 and one in the bottom 5, to go out and search for new comrades."

"I'll take that job." Halibel said instantly.

Adolfo chuckled. "You seem eager to prove yourself Halibel. You know, if you get in with the right friends, you won't have to do so. I can help you with that."

Halibel glared at Adolfo. "I think I can decide who my friends are."

Adolfo glared back at Halibel. "I'll go with her." Benito quickly volunteered, hoping to defuse the situation. "I've been an Espada since the beginning, she could use a veteran's help with this."

Halibel smiled lightly underneath her jacket. "Well, that was easy. Okay lets move on then." Said Adolfo.

The meeting was uneventful to say the least. Most of the subjects concerned imprisoned Arrancar and their sentences. With the meeting finished, Halibel soon found herself with Benito on the outside of the great palace known as Las Noches. "How are we supposed to find comrades in this place?" Halibel asked. "Hueco Mundo is a large place you know."

Benito grinned. "Don't worry so much." He said. "I travelled around quite a bit with Hermana before we joined up with Sōsuke. I know this area quite well. That am I quite good at sensing spiritual pressures. Trust me, we'll find new comrades in no time."

Benito then frowned at Halibel. "I would've thought that you would know this area quite well too. Didn't you roam the deserts quite a bit as well?"

Halibel nodded. "I was more focused on...other things."

"Protecting your friends, right?"

Halibel paused, then nodded once again. "Yes." She simply replied.

"Well that's fine." Said Benito. "Just let me do the searching and you do the talking. We do that, and we'll be unstoppable."

As the two searched for new recruits, both found themselves opening up to the other a lot more. Benito spoke of his life with his sister, and how the two had been inseparable for years. Meanwhile, Halibel had talked about her life with her three Fracciónes and later how she and met her adopted sister, Palmira.

Eventually, when the two reached an area filled with large rocks Benito froze, his eyes closed as he cleared his mind to get a better feel for the nearby spiritual pressures. "Halibel," he said. "Get ready for a fight."

Halibel was confused. "A fight?"

Benito nodded. "We're surrounded."

Halibel hadn't sensed this. "Are you sure?" She asked.

"I can sense all five of you!" Benito shouted. "Reveal yourselves!"

Four Adhuchas revealed themselves to the two Espada. One with two gigantic fists stepped forward. "Very impressive," he said. "I'm surprised you sensed us. We're usually very good at concealing our spiritual pressure."

Benito glared at them. "I have no interest in fighting any of you." He said, ignoring the one with the large fists. "Leave us, or perhaps listen to what we have to say."

A cheetah-like Adhuchas laughed at them. "If we surrounded you what makes you think we have any intention of listening to anything you have to say?"

The cheetah licked his lips. "We're going to kill you, and divide you spirit energy amongst ourselves."

Benito and Halibel stood back to back. "Halibel," Benito began. "Do you intend to kill or incapacitate?"

"Incapacitate." Halible replied. "Killing them serves no purpose."

Benito nodded. "I couldn't agree more."

Benito charged the giant-fist Adhuchas and the cheetah Adhuchas while Halibel took on the other two. Cheetah quickly leapt towards Benito, his fangs bared and ready to bite down on him. Benito drew his blade and blocked the bite. "Taste good?" Benito teased.

Giant-Fists than appeared behind Benito with one of his fist's raised. Benito quickly vanished with Sonido, which left Cheetah to take the blow in his place. Benito reappeared behind the two as they started to argue. "Dammit, Fielhombre!" Cheetah shouted. "Don't you know what the word restraint means?"

Fielhombre glared at the Cheetah. "You should've gotten out of the way, Pastor, you're fast enough."

"If you two are done, I'd like to get this over with." Said Benito.

Fielhombre and Pastor looked at Benito. "We'll continue this later," Pastor said. "I can feel my head throbbing."

"I have no problem waiting to explain to you, again might I add, that you're careless." Said Fielhombre.

Benito couldn't help but feel amused at their arguments, but at the same time, he was also frustrated with himself. Damn this seal. He thought. If it was off I could handle all four of these guys with no problem. But I can't afford to give away my real rank to anyone.

Benito looked at Halibel. Then again, perhaps I could trust her. I could maybe even reveal my true rank to Neliel and Ulquiorra if I could trust her.

"Hey, pay attention to us you bastard!" Pastor shouted.

Benito looked at his two opponents again. "Right, sorry about that. I just got a little sidetracked."

Benito then sensed a new spiritual pressure. It was behind him. He looked behind and his eyes widened, a snake's head was being launched towards Halibel, and she was too focused on the Adhuchas to do anything. Dammit. He thought.

As Benito's opponents leapt at him, preparing to strike, he quickly vanished via Sonido and appeared in front of the snake head. He blocked the snake, but immediately found himself straining. Just as I suspected, he thought. It's a Vasto Lorde.

Halibel looked behind her shoulder and her eyes widened. "Benito..."

"It's alright Halibel." Benito said as he started to grow weak from the strain of blocking a Vasto Lorde and the seal's interference. "I'm fine."

"You're not fine!" Halibel insisted. "I recognize that level of power, that's a Vasto Lorde!"

"I know," said Benito. "But if I hadn't gotten in the way you'd be seriously hurt, maybe even killed."

Halibel instantly knew that he was right. "I refuse to let someone die if I can do something about it," Benito said. "Especially when it's a friend."

Halibel didn't know how to respond to Benito's words. The snake Vasto Lorde's head retracted. "I really don't like that ugly mug of yours." Said Benito.

The only feature on the snake's body that was...well, a snake, was actually its head. It stood on two legs and had two muscular arms. The snake head hissed at Benito's words. "I should kill you for interrupting my meal, Arrancar."

The Vasto Lorde then looked at the four Adhuchas. "And you four...I should kill one of you for failing to kill these two and forcing me to step in."

Fielhombre's eyes widened. "That won't be necessary Lord Basajaun!"

Basajaun shook his head. "No," he hissed. "Failure must be punished."

Fielhombre stepped forward. "Than take my life! Leave the others out of this!"

Basajaun glared at Fielhombre. "You are the strongest of the four. The three behind you are easily replaceable."

Benito then raised his blade. "I won't let you do that." He said angrily.

Basajaun looked at Benito and laughed. "Fool, look at you, you're barely able to stand. What do you think you can do against me?"

Benito, indeed, was straining to stand. This damn seal, he thought. It took so much of my energy just to block that strike successfully. I could kill him easily by just removing this seal and releasing Segador, but I can't afford to reveal my secret too early.

Halibel then stepped in front of Benito. "Stand down, dear comrade." She said. "Allow me to handle this monster."

"Halibel..."

"I too refuse to let a friend die. So let me do this and then consider us even." She said, giving him a small smile beneath her jacket.

Halibel turned back to Basajaun. "As for you, monster, I was only going to beat you within an inch of your life...but after seeing you threaten your own, I've changed my mind."

Basajaun just laughed at Halibel. "You won't win against me! Unlike you trash, I've kept my honor as a Hollow. I've evolved to the real highest level, the Vasto Lorde, not the Arrancar."

Halibel glared at Basajaun. "We're trash? Let me show you who the real trash is, snake."

Basajaun lunged at Halibel. "Hunt, Tiburon!" Halibel shouted.

Basajaun's eyes widened briefly when he saw Halibel disappear within the water. She reappeared in her release form. Once again, Benito found his nose bleeding from how beautiful she looked. Halibel calmly blocked Basajaun's lunging maw with her blade. Basajaun quickly recoiled. "My venom should be dissolving that blade, what's going on?" He shouted angrily.

Halibel narrowed her gaze at him. "Consider that the difference in our power, bastard." She said.

"Difference?" Basajaun hissed. "The only difference is the difference between my strength and your weakness!"

Basajaun opened his mouth and a violet mist came out. That has to be poison. Halibel thought.

Halibel's sword started glowing. Fine then, I'll just have to clear it. She thought.

"Cero!" She shouted.

The golden Cero shot through the mist, causing it to disperse. Basajaun's eyes widened as he dodged the Cero. Halibel followed his movements and sped towards him with Sonido. "We were here to recruit Vasto Lordes, but I doubt you will be missed when the day of reckoning arrives."

With one swift, fluid motion, Halibel decapitated Basajaun. Benito grinned at his friend's victory. The Adhuchas looked at her in amazement. Halibel resealed her blade and turned to the five individuals. "That was annoying." She simply said.

Benito grinned. Halibel looked at him. She then realized something: How did the lowest ranked Espada block a Vasto Lorde? "There's something you're not telling me." Halibel said bluntly.

Benito's eyes widened slightly. "You shouldn't have been able to block his attack. You're hiding something, what is it?"

Benito thought it over. She's my friend, he decided. I can trust her.

"Halibel," he said. "If I tell you something unbelievable, will you promise to hear me out?"

With that question, Benito revealed everything. His true rank, how he could go one on one with Aizen and that he was the strongest Arrancar is Las Noches, not Adolfo and not Baraggan. Halibel didn't believe it at first, until Benito released Segador and revealed his true level of power. "So all this time..." Halibel couldn't finish, she was still panting from the power Benito had released.

Benito nodded. "I am Benito Muerta, Espada Zero."

The Adhuchas were all lying on the ground. "You four okay?" He asked.

Fielhombre nodded weakly. Benito walked over to him and placed his blade on his forehead. "Stay calm," he said. "I'm about to give you more power."

With that, spirit energy started to flow from Benito's blade into into Fielhombre. In mere minutes Fielhombre's mask cracked and he took on a more human form. Benito did the same to Pastor and the other two Adhuchas, and soon, they were all Arrancar. "Amazing." Halibel said breathlessly.

"You don't need to worry about following someone else now. You are powerful enough to follow yourselves."

No sooner had Benito said that and turned away, the new Arrancar disappeared and reappeared around him, bowing. "Please, Lord Muerta, what you say may be true, but let us serve you." Fielhombre almost pleaded.

Benito was surprised. "Nothing would please us more than repaying you for this power." Pastor said in agreement.

Benito found that he couldn't refuse them, so he nodded. "Very well, I suppose I could use some new subordinates."

When the six arrived at Las Noches, Benito sent his new Fracciónes off to his quarters. The reason for this was because Halibel had wanted to speak to him privately. "So, what do you want to talk about?" He asked.

"Why do you keep your power secret?" Halibel asked. "Why do you allow yourself to be treated the way you are?"

Benito didn't respond. "Someone like you deserves better! They don't respect you!"

"I do it for the future."

Halibel was surprised. "This world is not prepared to accept my power yet, Halibel. They are too focused on the previous and the current regime."

Benito then gave her a small smile. "But once everything is over, then I can start moving towards my goal."

"After the war ends," Benito continued. "And once Sōsuke's plan is complete, people will want leadership. Once that happens, I can start to gain my own allies. Ones that will bring me towards the throne."

"But you could take the throne now."

"And what would that accomplish?" Benito asked. "Nothing but more hate and bloodshed. I love my kind too much to plunge them into more hatred."

Benito looked at Las Noches. "I will achieve the throne with the support of my people. Once that happens, I will create a new Hueco Mundo."

"No matter how long it takes," Benito continued. "I will not give up. Peace is my dream, it's everything I've worked for."

"Consider me your ally!"

Halibel was just as surprised by her outburst as Benito was. "You...you've been...just consider me your ally...I will help you find peace."

Benito then gave her a warm, loving smile. He then did something that caught Halibel off guard, he kissed her forehead. "Thank you, Tia."

Halibel was just as surprised that he used her first name. With that, Benito went into Las Noches, leaving Halibel alone. She then smiled underneath her jacket, it was a big smile, a smile full of happiness. "Your welcome, Benito."

A.N: Long chapter, especially by my standards. But, it was worth getting this chapter out. I especially enjoyed writing about the origin of Benito's Fracciónes and the growth of Halibel and Benito's relationship. Now that that's done, time to get started on the next chapter. See you next time! ND2014, signing off.