For readers from the orginal story, you'll like this rewritten chapter better, of that I'm certain. Shout-Outs:
1) ReptiliLord: More information will be revealed as time passes.
Now lets just remove that seal and start...
FLASH!
After yesterdays fiasco, Ben decided it was time for the Newspaper Club to fight back. Against Gin's orders and without his knowledge, the group caught the dark dealings and the misfit actions of the Security Committee on camera... and on video. Ghostfreak managed to... "borrow" some of Gin's cameras', Upgrade and Grey Matter turned them into Blu-Ray video cameras'.
Here's what happened over the last couple of days:
Day 1:
A male student was thrown back by a strong punch. His friends behind him, all members of the track team grabbed him as blood poured down from his shattered nose. "W-We're sorry! W-We just need a little more time!" He pleaded.
Before them stood six members of the Public Safety Commission. The leader of the group wiping off his bloody knuckles with a tissue as he addressed them. "That's what you said last week... your tribute should have been paid" he said coldly.
"We needed new training equipment! We'll definitely pay..."
The track team member was cut off when the leader of the group held up has hand and his men all approached the terrified boys, preparing to send them a message they wouldn't forget.
Suddenly, the PSC members felt pain on the back of their heads. Diamond shards littered the ground behind them. One of the enforcers asked, "Who threw th-?"
KLONG! KLONG! KLONG! KLONG!
A shower of washtubs knocked each member out. The track team scattered, wanting to get away before something else happened. In the bushes, Yukari was holding one of the modified cameras with Diamondhead next to her. They gave each other a high-five... though the tiny witch hurt herself in the process. The crystal gave her an apologetic look.
Day 2:
Three students sat on the roof of the academy. Kicking back when they should have been in class.
"Students who are not taking their studies seriously shall be punished in the name of justice!" Said a female voice. The slackers looked up and paled when they saw a group of PSC enforcers being led by a girl with red hair and a long bo-staff on her shoulders.
They trio stood and made a run for it, but were surrounded before they got too far. The girl stalked forward ready to hand out their punishment...
SWIPE!
Out of nowhere, her staff was cut clean in half! When she turned around to order her men to arrest them, she was shocked to see their pants' were slashed, revealing their underwear... some of which were really embarrassing. Said men covered themselves for 2 reasons:
1) The Bo-staff girl staring at them.
2) Feeling a draft between their thighs as the wind blew.
The 3 slackers gave them the slip, heading back into the building and promising to never skip again. A blue raptor and a succubus high-fived as they snuck away.
Day 3:
At the school's pool, Tamao climbed out of the water and headed for the changing room only to be stopped by a student wearing the PSC uniform. She swallowed the lump in her throat before going back to where her clothes were to retrieve the tribute payment we was here to collect.
On her way back, she was shocked to find the thug unconscious and bound by ice-like restraints. A sticky note on the thugs head read: "You owe me, Ariel. -Ben Tennyson."
The swim club president smiled gratefully, never noticing a purple haired girl and a mothman high-five before leaving the area with a pink haired girl that took pictures.
(AN: Theme Song.)
Chapter 11: Exposure + Vampire
Later in the club room, the team of reporters gathered all the information and discussed the next course of action.
"Well, we got plenty of evidence, but what we really need is direct testimony from the students themselves" said Ben. "That's the thing, no one wants to respond to our questions!" Said Yukari. "Sadly, we can't go with only this, we need more information before we can start an article. Hmm, we need an informant" said Ben, going for his watch. Moka grabbed his hand before he could activate it. "No, Ben! It can't be you!" Ben was about to ask why when Kurumu spoke up. "She's right Ben; even though you can be 1 of 1,000,000 people; your watch might give you away."
Everyone else blinked.
Wow... Kurumu can be perceptive if she wants to, she made a very good point. Regardless of which alien he chose, the emblem is something that didn't change. Ben's also fought plenty of times, so the rumors about his forms most likely became more detailed. "I found some..." answered a voice that peaked from under the table, making everyone shriek. It was Mizore of course, to no ones surprise.
After everyone calmed down, Mizore explained she got 3 informants. Using her stealth/stalker skills, she manged to... "convince" some boys to spy for them. Leading her friends to the meeting place, it was shown to be...
"The Cute Girl Fan Club Jackasses?" Asked Ben, looking up at the sign above a door Mizore lead them to. Still, their perversion could be used to the newspapers advantage. Ben decided to go in first, just in case. With a hand on his Omnitrix, he pushed the door open. "Alright guys, we need your..." Ben couldn't finish due to total shock. Worried, the girls peaked in, only to be just as shocked.
These guys took 'fan club' to the extreme.
Pictures, stand-up portraits and even handmade dolls... there's no word strong enough to describe want the friends felt. Another surprise is the 3 nerdy leaders were replaced by actual nerds, they were cleaning the club room. "We're kinda busy here, what do you want?" Asked 1 of the nerds, not really paying any attention to their guests. "Uh... you wouldn't happen to know where Kouzou, Kubasaki and Bosaburo are, would ya?" Asked Ben, surprising himself that he actually remembered their names. "Oh yeah, the Security Committee just took them in an hour ago" said the same nerd, still not paying any mind. "You doofus, shut up!" Said a second nerd.
Excited, the girls bombarded them with questions, but they just pushed the Newspaper Crew out the door and parted with: "JUST LEAVE US ALONE, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH US!"
-TIME BREAK-
It's the next morning and Ben was walking up to school, he let out a big yawn. He only got 5 hours of sleep last night, being a reporter and a hero took a lot out of the poor kid.
"Good morning, Ben!" Said a cheerful voice. Turning around slowly, Ben noticed Moka standing behind him. "H-hey, what's the matter? You look beat" said Moka, noticing her friends tired state. "Uh, I'm fine, it's just the investigation. Was thinking were we should go from here, and I couldn't sleep" answered the tired American. Moka looked at her American friend, blushing in an admiring way.
"Hey, Ben?" She asked him. "What's up, Moka?" Asked Ben. "Ya know; since seeing your strength, determination, confidence and leadership; I can't help but think your a lot manlier than most people" Moka commented, blushing deeper. "Oh yeah? T-thanks Moka" said Ben, rubbing his neck.
La, la, la, la, laaaaaaa... la, la, la, laaaaaaa...
"It's just that... I think I... you smell lovely..."
"So... the usual order, same side of the neck?"
"Oh, yes please. That sounds wonderful..."
Huston, we have liftoff. Possible lip contact in 5...
4...
3...
2...
"YOU BETTER MOVE BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!" (AN: That's what I think Kurumu said anyway.)
Going by that authors note, Kurumu did a screw-kick into Moka's backside. "Ow, what the hell was that for?" Asked Moka with a frown. "We're gonna be busy as shit all day long, I don't need you sucking him till he's impotent!" Yelled the Succubus. "HEY! Keep it together, let's keep this investigation going!" Said Yukari, appearing from the right and grabbing Ben's left arm. "Good plan, I'll find more people to stalk for you" said Mizore, appearing from the left and grabbing Ben's right arm. 'Here we go again...' groaned the American teen.
-TIME BREAK-
Well getting a wake-up call like that certainly helped, Ben wasn't tired anymore by the time he got to class. Miss Nekonome was teaching about adjectives and proper nouns. While she was explaining, the door suddenly slid open. Several members in black uniforms walked in, not caring they interrupted a lesson. "It's them" whispered Moka. "What are they doing here?" Whispered Kurumu. Ben just looked at them, keeping his guard up. "Meow, were in the middle of class right now..." Miss Nekonome said, but she was silenced by one of the men raising his hand.
One-by-one, the rest of the members walked into the classroom... letting in a man with long blond hair. Looking at the students, his eye caught the one he was looking for, walking up to the only American in the school. Ben feared no one in particular, but the vibe this guy gave off was unsettling itself. "Ben Tennyson, is that right?" The blonde asked.
Geez, even his tone was enough to make nearby monsters pee their pants. "Yes sir?" Ben said, keeping his cool. He didn't know why they were here other than the Newspaper Club, better play it smooth to avoid attention.
"I'm Kuyo, the head of the Public Safety Committee. Sorry to rain on your parade, but as of right now, your suspected of being human" said the blonde. 'So much for not drawing attention... but how did they find out?' Ben thought, now worried as he remembered his grandpa warning him what will happen if anyone figured out he was human. Everyone gasped, some students muttering how it was possible Ben could be human with his rumored powers.
"Since humans enrolling to Yokai Academy is forbidden, you will come with us and go through a Security Committee inquest" said Kuyo. Moka and Kurumu got up from their seats, though Moka was first. "Hold on just a minute, please" Moka begged. "Yeah really, a human can't wander in here anyway!" Kurumu added. Even a few students tried to tell the Committee leader about Ben's powers. "SILENCE!" Yelled Kuyo calmly, his monster energy flaring up, making everyone back off. "Due to certain circumstances, you 3 could be ruled just as guilty. Moka Akashiya, Kurumu Kurono, Mizore Shirayuki; your coming too."
Leading the friends out of the classroom, a muscled officer got out 3 pairs of cuffs to put around the girls' wrists. Ben assumed he'd get a similar pair, but the one he got had an extra attachment. It cuffed around his wrists just like the others, but with a flap-like strap on the left side and was long/big enough to cover his Omnitrix, preventing its use. "Don't fret Mister Tennyson, its not like you need to 'watch your time', eh?" Kuyo stated in a mock tone.
Now Ben was nervous, did the Security Committee somehow figure out what his supposed watch was capable of? With Kuyo and another man leading the way, they all walked down the halls to wherever it was they were going. "And the other Newspaper Club members?" Asked Kuyo to the man walking behind him. "1st year Yukari Sendo and 2nd year Ginei Morioka. Should I have them arrested as well?" Asked the man. "No need, as long as Ginei remembers what we taught him, he won't lay a finger on us" chuckled Kuyo.
Behind a flight of stairs, Yukari saw the whole thing as was determined to help. Her wand glowed and was about to wave it, when a hand covered her mouth and pulled her. "Stay back!" It was revealed to be Gin. "Gin, stop it! I have to go help them!" Yukari said, squirming in his grip. Turning her around to face him, he spoke in a serious tone. "We have to hold back for now, K? I tired to tell you all, I really did" he said. Yukari, overwhelmed by the situation, broke down crying into Gin.
-TIME BREAK-
Opening his eyes... when had he closed them? The last thing he remembered was walking down the halls of Yokai Academy... oh, right. The Security Assholes, they figured him out somehow, but they only suspected him so he was safe for now. He tired to rub his head, for some reason it hurt like a sore thumb after you accidentally smash it with a hammer. He couldn't... they were being held back by something. Panicking, he turned around to see he was held down by 2 officers, their grip was like iron! To add more to his dismay, the cuff with the strap was still on his watch. "Had a nice nap?" Asked a cocky tone.
Looking in its direction, he saw Kuyo, standing with a smug smirk on his face. Taking in his surroundings, he noticed he was in an empty storage house of some sort, with a shrine in the back of the room. It was also kinda dark save for the torches around the room. "The jig is up, Mister Tennyson. We all know that your human" Kuyo spoke again.
Ben was confused, if they knew, then why drag it out? Perhaps they need a confession to be sure, that or this guy got sick pleasure toying with him. Either way, he won't let a bunch of bullies win, not in a million years.
"I don't know what your talking about. Have you heard the stories?" Asked Ben, with a cocky tone of his own. If this guy was gonna play games, 2 can play it. "Oh we've heard, my American friend. It's just that... well, we've gotten some evidence that contradicts your supposed 'monster' forms" said Kuyo. He held up a ball of flame and it operated like a camera in a interrogation room. While the witnesses eyes were blacked out, it was pretty obvious who some of them were.
Saizou: Yeah I thought he was a human and part of me still does. I mean really, what monster would smash a bracelet just to achieve his true form?
BUZZZZZ!
Kotsubo: Ben? Well, he's not a real good athlete... actually the worst I've ever seen. Though for some reason, his monster forms seem a lot stronger than he is.
BUZZZZZ!
Male Student #1: He does have a human-like scent, everyone knows about it.
BUZZZZZ!
Female Student #1: Moka's always kissing his neck, I mean he is pretty ho...
BUZZZZZ!
Male Student #2: That guy reeks...
BUZZZZZ!
Female Student #2: He's very nice, a little too nice for a monster.
BUZZZZZ!
Male Student #3: He is pretty cute...
BUZZZZZ!
Tamao: Now that you mention it, we monsters are strong even in our human forms. Ben doesn't seem to be any stronger than an actual human until after he touches his watch.
BUZZZZZ!
Kagome: Mister Tennyson? Yes, his wristband seems to hold his transformations like a storage of some kind. One of them has a HUGE brain. OH, and his scent... its delicious! He smells exactly like a human being.
"The writings on the wall, no matter whose testimony we listened to, they all lead to the assumption that your human. And the fact that you have to play around with your device before any transformation is obtained only fuels the fire. So tell me, where did you get your filthy human hands on something as powerful as this? Americans' don't have nearly as advanced technology as Japan. In fact, even Japanese humans can't forge something so... interesting" Kuyo said.
Ben answered right away. "1st of all, those 'testimonies' are total bogus. 2nd of all, my watch has nothing to do with my monster forms, I use it for visual reminders. And 3rd of all, I'm NOT a human! Really, how many humans can shift their shape?"
"You make a valid point, Mister Tennyson. But if your not... why were you enrolled by a bunch of human Plumbers?" Asked Kuyo, the smirk never once leaving his face. Ben grimaced, how much did Kuyo know? "The look on your face speaks volumes, those morons claim aliens exist, ridiculous right? There's also this one human who tongue is apparently deformed... Max Tennyson, I believe." Ben shot up and growled upon hearing this monster talk down about his grandfather, his temper flaring up. "YOU MOTHER..." He didn't finish due to being pushed back down into his chair.
"Oh, pinched a nerve, did I?" Asked Kuyo, mockingly. "It doesn't matter what you claim about me, nobody will ever believe you" Ben said, his temper still up. "So sure, are you? Well... see for yourself. Even the ones you call friends are questioning your existence" said Kuyo, making the fireball show more footage.
Male Interrogator #1: Are you really going to sit there and tell me your friend isn't a human?
Kurumu: Of course, there's just no way he is!
Male Interrogator #1: Tell me, what makes you so certain?
Kurumu: Well... for one thing, humans can't get into Yokai Academy.
Male Interrogator #1: Point taken, then surely you know what monster he is?
Kurumu: Yeah, I've seen it with my own eyes! He's a shape-shifter!
Male Interrogator #1: Very well, what kind?
Kurumu: K-Kind?
Male Interrogator #1: There are 2, Onimodoki and Doppelganger, which is it?
Kurumu: ...
Male Interrogator #1: You mean you don't know?
Kurumu: ...
BUZZZZZ!
Mizore: It doesn't matter which one he is, the rules say we can't reveal our monster identities without a good reason.
Female Interrogator: Really, then why hasn't he told you which one?
Mizore: Because he's been really good about obeying the rules, he's a nice guy and a very good friend!
Female Interrogator: (comes on-screen) Well, that's one possibility. But not letting his "little snow bunny" know, even after she's in serious danger? Come on, don't tell me you haven't thought about that!
Mizore: What are you trying to say?
Female Interrogator: That your big, bad snow angel... is a pathetic, lying, cowardly, spineless, lily-livered excuse for a monster... if he was one.
Mizore: He's not... Ben's not...
BUZZZZZ!
Male Interrogator #2: We know everything... how you've been sucking his blood almost nonstop. Vampires... they love human blood, don't they? Therefore, logic dictates Ben Tennyson is a human!
Moka: NO, YOUR WRONG! I drink his blood because... because its delicious! Its not like he's a human... humans can't come here and they can't change into different forms...
"Oh course, they kept denying and denying it. So we had to use more... persuasive measures" said Kuyo. Ben's eyes widened at what the fireball was showing him now.
Male Interrogator #1: Why are you trying so hard to protect him, he doesn't return your feelings.
Kurumu: W-what are you talking about?
Male Interrogator #1: Oh, you didn't know? He and your friends have become quite close.
(He takes out a tape recorder and pushes play. Kurumu then hears Ben's voice; telling Moka, Yukari and Mizore how much he loves them. She then hears kissing noises, clothes moving, and moans.) (AN: Not gonna write anymore on this subject, don't want this fic to get taken down for inappropriate content)
Kurumu: (starts tearing up) Turn it off.
Male Interrogator #1: (has an evil smile) Succubi can't stand their "Destined Ones" with someone else, right? Are you gonna admit he's a human? (turns up recorder, making it louder)
Kurumu: NOOOOOOOOO! TURN IT OFF, TURN IT OFF!
BUZZZZZ!
Female Interrogator: (has an evil smile) Ooh, it's getting kinda cold in here. Let me just turn it up. (goes off-screen for a second, a noise sounding like a dial turning is heard) Much better.
Mizore: (water starts to drip off from her) Can you... turn it down...?
Female Interrogator: Turn it... up you said? OK!
Mizore: (more water drips from her at a faster rate) Please... stop...
Female Interrogator: Where's your snow angel now? Shouldn't he be here to save his snow bunny from melting away?
BUZZZZZ!
Male Interrogator #2: (slams a cup of liquid on the table) So Moka... are you thirsty? (dips a finger into the liquid)
Moka: W-What's that?
Male Interrogator #2: (has an evil smile) Oh nothing, just water. Why... something wrong? (flicks water off his finger)
Moka: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! *Pants*
Male Interrogator #2: Tell us the truth, Ben Tennyson is a human!
Moka: H-He's n-n... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!
"MOKA, KURUMU, MIZORE!" Ben shouted to the fireball, somehow hoping his voice could reach them. Kuyo dispelled the ball of flame.
"If you continue with this farce and keep this unneeded investigation going on, I'm not sure we can grantee their safety much longer" he said. Ben heard enough, breaking free of the 2 thugs holding him, he went after Kuyo. "YOU SON OF A BITCH!" He yelled, only for those 2 thugs to pin him to the floor. "You bastards, your monsters in every sense of the..."
STOMP!
Ben didn't finish because he got a boot to the head. "Go on, Ben... show me one of your incredible forms! Getting free of the 2 men holding you down and throwing me against a wall should be no problem for you. Come on, everyone is DYING to see!" Said Kuyo, his eyes glowing with power. "In fact, you won't even NEED to go that far! Simply transforming into one of them right now without checking the time, all the charges will be dropped!"
Ben found himself floating in a blue fiery void, unable to move, with Kuyo in what he guessed was his monster form. Ben heard the screams of Moka, Mizore and Kurumu all around him, not knowing with way to turn or which was was out! "What's wrong, Mister Tennyson? Why won't you change? All you need to do is transform and you can go free. Oh, that's right... you can't! Because your nothing... you are weak... your a monster wannabe... your... a human..."
Ben eyes widened in fear as the voice of Kuyo growled behind him, not even Zombozo or Ghostfreak put him in a such a corner. Right now... he truly was powerless...
'Mizore... Kurumu... Yukari... Moka... guess this is it...' Ben thought sadly, he then looked straight up at the Security Committee leader. "Fine! I admit it, I AM a human, now let them go!" He shouted. Kuyo just chuckled... then laughed. "Did you hear that, everyone?" He said, snapping his fingers. Everyone? But there's no one else in here...
That's what Ben thought... until he heard a noise that sounded like something breaking...
Moka: B-Ben... why?
Kurumu: It can't be... your not a human... are you?
Mizore: Tell us its not true... you just snapped under pressure, right?
Ben turned slowly around and for reasons that defied all logic, his 3 friends were behind him, sitting in chairs. "Oh yes, this shrine can be deceiving. We can cast illusions, separate people, or bring everyone together if we want" said Kuyo. Ben was shocked... he was tricked by the oldest con in the book. Moka broke the silence. "Ben... whatever they threatened to do to us, never happened... it shouldn't have made a difference. We've come this far... why did you tell them the..."
SLAP!
Kurumu got up and hit Moka hard across the face. "You knew... and you never told us?" Kurumu growled. "Listen Kurumu, don't blame Moka. I was gonna tell you s..." Ben was saying but with tears in her eyes, Kurumu snapped at him. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" That came as a shock to Ben, Kurumu never yelled at him before.
"Family feud? Well you have been lying to them from the start, as humans say: what goes around, comes around" said Kuyo, he then turned to an officer next to him. "Toss the rest of them out, except for Moka, she's an accessory. Benjamin Tennyson, your guilty as charged. Your sentence is death."
An officer grabbed Moka and carried her away, with her crying Ben's name. Kurumu and Mizore just walked out... not looking back...
(AN: Yup, had this moment planned from the very beginning. Also, Ben being in dire situations were stages to unlock... oops, almost spoiled the big surprise! Yes, I am VERY evil, deal with it! Now that I've wasted more of your time, read on!)
-TIME BREAK-
Back in the Newspaper Club, Yukari and Gin were held up in there. Kurumu and Mizore walking in the door with upset looks on their faces. They broke the news to Gin and Yukari. "Heheh, your joking, right titty-pie?" Asked Yukari. "Its true... Ben admitted it" said Mizore. "No way, but his monster forms..." said Gin. "It can't be true, its gotta be a lie!" Said Yukari. "And Moka knew... all along. It all makes sense now, why she loved his blood so much, why Ben had to use a watch to change his form, its cause he's not a monster after all" said Kurumu, sadly looking down at the floor.
Mizore just left the room, Gin did the same after telling everyone to lay low for a while, leaving the young witch and busty succubus alone. "Yukari... what do you think of human beings?" Asked Kurumu, out of the blue. "Not much, I guess. Growing up, I was told humans were scary and I believed them... then I met him" said Yukari. Kurumu lifted her head up, becoming interested. "Him?" She asked. "Ben... the very thing I was taught to be afraid of... saved my life" said Yukari. "Yeah... me too..." Kurumu mumbled.
"ATTENTION STUDENTS OF YOKAI ACADEMY! STARTING RIGHT NOW, WE WILL BE HOLDING THE PUBLIC EXECUTION OF A POPULAR STUDENT... BENJAMIN TENNYSON. NOT ONLY IS HE AN AMERICAN... BUT A HUMAN WHO INFILTRATED OUR SCHOOL! SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN HIS MONSTER IDENTITIES, BUT HE HIMSELF HAS ADMITTED HE'S A PURE HUMAN AND THE MONSTER FORMS HE POSSESSES ARE NOT HIS OWN. HIS WATCH HAS THE UNBELIEVABLE POWER TO ABSORB POOR MONSTERS, WHERE HE CAN STEAL THEIR POWERS AND PLAY DRESS UP WITH THEIR BODIES! AS PUNISHMENT FOR SUCH A HEINOUS CRIME, HE IS SENTENCED TO DEATH, AS IT IS OUR DUTY AS THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION! HIS PITIFUL EXISTENCE WILL BE ENDED IN EXACTLY 5 MINUTES... FELLOW STUDENTS... LET THIS BE A REMINDER THAT NO HUMAN CAN GET AWAY WITH THEIR MISDEEDS!"
The paragraph above was spoken by Kuyo using a loudspeaker. Ben was lead to a crucifix near a giant tree. His teacher was watching from the Teacher's Lounge window. "Oh dear! Isn't this a little extreme? I thought Yokai Academy was to learn how to peacefully coexist with humans!" She said. "Well, that's one thing and this is another. Monsters and humans are mortal enemies, and a human sneaking in here doesn't exactly spell 'peace', does it?" Said Kotsubo.
In a jail cell, Moka is pulling and pulling her Rosario, but it won't come off. "Come on, if I can just break this off, I can save Ben. UGH! Please, just come off! COME OFF!" She screamed, but it was no good. It hurt to try and remove it herself. Holding it close to her, she then cried and screamed one final word...
"BEN!"
And cliffhanger! I'm so evil that I love it! Muhahahahahaha!
So... whats gonna happen next? Will I stay true to the manga/anime and Ben will be saved... or has his days of "Hero Time" finally come to an end? Return here soon and find out...
Kou: Man, I didn't get an appearance in this one either, weeeee. :(