Ben 10 Alien +Vampire
Chapter 7: The Peeping Howler; Wolf vs. Wolf
The Next Day
Youkai Game Field
After school, the girls went to the field to watch Ben play soccer…with himself. It wasn't so hard once he changed into another cute looking alien form known as Ditto. They all looked identical and there were 10 of them, 5 on each side. Luckily, colored arm bands made sure that the Dittos could tell which was on which side.
"Block him!" one of the Dittos shouted as another one of them got the ball closer to the net.
"I got him!" the goalie called as he prepared himself.
"Try to catch this!" the Ditto with the ball grinned as he kicked the ball as hard as he could. The Ditto goalie couldn't get to it in time and the goal was made.
"GOOOOAAALLLL!" the kicker Ditto and his team cheered as they crowded together in celebration.
"Yahoohoo! Go Ben! All of you!" Kurumu smiled as she waved her arms.
"Um…which one are we cheering for?" asked Moka in confusion. All the Dittos looked alike to her so she wasn't sure who to cheer for. The colored armbands, which were blue and red, didn't help matters much either.
After the small game was done, Moka had met up with Ben once he had changed back. She acted rather shy around him, as she asked, "Um, Ben? Can I... suck your blood?" But before he could answer her, she had run up to him and locked him in a gentle embrace.
"Um, Moka, could you…? Ack!" he started to protest, but it was too late. She sank her fangs into his neck, drawing out a little blood from it.
After she was done, she pulled away, cupping her face, as she blushed crimson, "Wow, Ben. As always, your blood so so yummy. I think I'm hooked on it."
Ben groaned, feeling a bit drained than normal, "Yeah, maybe the story to write once we join the Newspaper Club is American Exchange student dies of Anemia."
"Ben!" Kurumu called out, as she pounced at him, getting him in another face/chest press, as she clung to him, "Todays the first day we all join in the Newspaper Club. And I'm so happy that I get to be in it with you!" she cradled his head to her bosom, like a loving mother. Though in her case, this was more of a smothering than a sigh of affection.
As Ben proved it when his muffling pleas kept going unheard of, 'Mmmm… AAAHH! NEED AIR!'
"That's unfair, Kurumu! Stop it," Yukari appeared and pleaded, "I joined the club, too. So give me a chance with Ben!"
She ran up, attempting to glomp Ben, "Sorry, but no." But Kurumu pulled him away before either Yukari or Moka could pull him back.
As she did so, Ben continued to be smothered by the marshmallows he was placed in, as he clawed out the air and muffled out, "Sherioushly… need.. air…"
Kurumu smirked at the two, but more at Moka, as she silently declared, 'I'm not giving up. Ben's my Destined Partner, and the bond between us will grow stronger by being in this club together.' She glared daggers at Moka, who seemed to return the glare with sparks, 'I'm not about to share him with you, Moka. He'll fall in love with me, and you'll just be an afterthought.'
As the two older girls were glaring down one another, Yukari was the first to notice. Ben's body was struggling to break free, until a gasp was made, and it suddenly went limp. Yukari panicked, getting the girls' attention, "OH NO, KURUMU! YOU'RE SMOTHERING BEN! HE'S DEAD!"
The girls stopped their staring, as Kurumu released Ben from her hold. His face was all blue and his eyes swirling around; the only audible sound he made was a small moan. The girls panicked in thinking they killed the boy, or rather they panicked as they attempted to bring him back, ad Moka pleaded, "No, Ben! Stay away from the light!"
"You've got to pull yourself together, Ben," Kurumu shook him to awaken.
"He was so young!" was all Yukari could do to make sure he was alright.
Yep, for Ben it was the first morning of their club time together. And already, he was wishing he had stayed in bed, or at least found the soccer team.
Afterwards
Newspaper Club Room (Classroom 3-1)
They day had gone and soon Moka, Yukari, Kurumu, and Ben were all waiting in the classroom that Miss Nekonome had designated as the Newspaper Club Room. At the moment, the advisor herself was standing at the front of the room. And sadly, no one else was there, save for the five of them.
"Uhhh," Ben began in confusion, looking to the cat teacher for answers. "Is… isn't there anyone else in this club?"
"Of course there is, silly!" Miss Nekonome smiled. "He seems to be running a little late though. He's the club president so he'll be here to help answer any questions you have!"
Almost as if on cue, the door to the room slid open, as Miss Nekonome smirked, "Ah, here he is now."
Stepping inside was a young man who seemed to be at least a year older than them. He appeared to have a light build on him, but due to his size, it almost looked medium. He was wearing the school uniform, but without the tie and the first few buttons undone, exposing his collar bone. He was also wearing a silver wolf head male choker necklace. He had black hair which seemed to be untamed and held back by a red headband. He also had some good looks with him too. And in his arms were two bouquets of flowers.
"Oh man. The first day and I'm already late," the boy sighed as he walked to the head of the classroom. "Hey. My name's Ginei Morioka. Just call me Gin for short. Let's try to get along shall we?"
Grinning, Gin walked forward to meet the group of friends. Smiling charmingly, he handed the two bundles of flowers to Moka and Kurumu, "I gotta say this club lucked out to have girls as pretty as you two joining up."
Moka flushed slightly while Kurumu took it in stride. She was used to getting such flattering compliments, though hoped to hear some from Ben one day; those comments she would be flattered by. But Moka never considered herself that pretty so getting compliments was still new to her, as she flushed from the compliment and the flowers. Ben rolled his eyes as he waited for Gin to stop trying to flirt with his friends.
"And you must be the child genius Yukari Sendo," Gin smiled as he produced a rose for the youngest of the group. "I guess it's true what they say: Big things come in Small Packages. Welcome aboard."
Leaving the giggling Yukari, Gin turned to face Ben, "And you have to be Ben Tennyson, the American shape shifter. The American who's got so many forms, he has to wear a limiter to keep them from overloading and killing him." He then extended in a handshake, as Ben took the invitation as they shook. "You know, people have been talking about you so much, I might have to do an article about you."
"I think I'll pass," Ben chuckled. "I'm trying to avoid the attention, seeing as how it just brings trouble." Well, at least Gin seemed to be an okay guy.
"That's a shame. I never give up on a story though," Gin smiled.
"Well, it looks like things are under control," Miss Nekonome smiled. "I have to attend a faculty meeting, so I'll leave things in Gin's hands then. See you later!" With a wave, Miss Nekonome left the classroom.
Gin saw this as his cue and sauntered up to the front of the classroom and stood at the podium. He leaned on the wooden stand and looked out at his new club members. "Okay, for all you newbies, the School Newspaper is the source of all information and news all things Youkai Academy," Gin explained. "As such, we search out news everywhere to report to the students."
"Yeah!" Ben and the girls cheered. It was a very inspirational speech for a simple club. Seeing that he had his club member's enthusiasm, he decided to continue.
"Okay, first order of business then. I've already found a scoop for you newbies to be your first Front Pager," Gin nodded, turning serious. "There have been numerous reports of someone peeking in on the girls changing rooms, and even in the girls' dorms. All these happened over night, with only a few girls only catching a silhouette and nothing else. No one has been able to get a good look at him and he's been gone so fast no one else has managed to catch him in the act."
"Geez. What a creep," Ben grimaced. Sure, he had a healthy appreciation for female bodies, but this was taking things a little too far.
"I know," Gin nodded. "Our first assignment is to interview people who claim they saw this guy. After all, a journalist's strongest resource is the people: lesson Number One. We're also going to be putting up posters for the Newspaper club while we're at it."
Everyone sweat dropped at the notion. Apparently he was still looking for more members for his club. Still, with only five members, it was understandable that Gin would want to bring in more members. Most of the other clubs did have dozens of members and even though Gin had the hottest girls in the school in his club, he still had a small club.
"Still, don't let this halt your investigation," Gin continued. "Let's catch this guy!"
"Yeah!" the girls cried.
Later That Day
Main Hallway
The day was spent putting posters all around the academy for the girls. Ben and Gin started out by asking several girls about what they saw and whatever information they could offer. Of course, they could have gotten a lot more interviewing done if Gin hadn't spent half of their time flirting with the girls they talked to. Eventually, they stopped to put up more posters.
"Did you find anything?" asked Moka curiously.
"Not much," Ben sighed as he looked over his notes. "So far no one has gotten a good look at this guy. All they managed to see was some messed up shadow peeking at them. The second they saw him, he bolted."
"He's a slippery one," Gin muttered.
"So you have nothing?" asked Kurumu disappointedly. She was looking forward to seeing Ben kick the pervert's butt.
"Well, I think this guy's using his true form to peek," Ben replied as he began eating his lunch. "From what some of the witnesses said, once they saw the silhouette, it disappeared once they turned around to get a good look at the guy. I don't see how he can be so fast otherwise."
"You think so?" wondered Yukari. "That might be a hint! I don't think many monsters can go that fast!"
"It's something," Ben shrugged. "Still, if we really want to get this guy, we might have to catch him in the act."
"And that would be the hard part," Gin nodded. He then looked over to Ben, and handed him some posters. "Say, Ben. Could you post these over on the main doorway. I've gotta make sure the girls don't hurt themselves."
"Got it," Ben nodded, as he ran over to the other side of the hallway.
Yukari popped up, and hiped up, "Anything I can do?"
"Nothing yet," Gin reassured her, but pointed out, "If you want, you can go get snacks. I gotta feeling we'll be pulling an all luncher." Yukari looked confused by that comment, as he explained, "That means we'll probably be skipping lunch."
"Oh, okay, go it," the little witch understood, and took off.
After Ben was done, he started back to where the others were, but stopped for a moment. Once he was in eyesight of the others, he noticed Gin kneeling down, and smirking at something. He arched an eyebrow in confusion as he cautiously walked over, 'What is he doing?' He slowly walked over, making sure not to make a sound, and looked at Gin, who didn't seem to pay much notice to him. He then turned to where Gin was looking, and saw he was looking at the girls. Though he wasn't sure that it was the girl's he was looking at, due to the flush on Gin's face. He knelt down, just to get at his eyelevel, and looked up…
… only to get a first front row seat of Moka's and Kurumu's panties. The American paled at this as he went bug-eyed, 'WHAT THE HELL?! HE'S CHECKING OUT THEIR UDNERWEAR!' He sharply turned to Gin as he stood, up and shouted, "Gin! What the hell are you doing?!"
Gin immediately got up, and looked away, acting innocent, as Moka and Kurumu turned around to see what all the shouting was about. As did Yukari, who had just come back from the school's store with a bag of snacks. But Gin shrugged, "I don't know what you're talking about, Ben."
"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Ben persisted.
"Um, what's going on," Moka asked, oblivious as to what happened a while ago.
Gin shrugged, "Oh, it's nothing much. Ben's getting all frustrated that I caught him spying up your skirts."
"WHAAAT?!" both the girls and Ben shouted in surprise, Moka and Kurumu shocked at this turn of events, and Ben of being accused as the pervert.
The two girls ganged up on him, as they glared daggers of disgust at him, "BEN!"
Ben shrunk back, as he tried to defend himself, "Girls, I swear. I didn't look!" Ben scratched his cheek with a bit of shame, "Although, I only peeked for a second, but that's not the point! Gin saw them first; I was only looking just to see what he was looking at!"
DOUBLE SLAP!
The girls didn't care much about the explanation, as they were too miffed at Ben's perverted actions. So, for once in their quarreling battle for Ben's affections, they double-slapped him in the face. The poor boy was disoriented with two red handmarks on his face, as the attack was pretty powerful due to their monster strength, and him secretly being a mere mortal human.
Kurumu came to her senses, as she apologized, "Oh, I'm sorry, Ben! My hand just slipped." She then shyly walked away, dragging an equally miffed Yukari, "But seriously, Ben. If you wanted to see my panties, you ahd to do was ask."
Ben regained a bit of his senses, as he shook it off, and then saw a much fuming but calm Moka. She walked past him, as he tried to reason with her, "Moka, I would never do that to anyone. Not even you; especially you!"
She stopped in her tracks, but kept her back turned to him. Her face was hidden by her bangs, until she finally spoke up, sounding rather upset and hurt, "Ben… I hate perverts." And stormed off, leaving Ben shattered and defeated by those three words.
Gin shrugged, "Thanks, Ben. Our first club meeting's over a lot faster than I thought." And just walked away, without a care in the world.
Ben's defeated sorrow disappeared, as his fists clenched up, seemingly angry that he just took the fall and made the scapegoat. Until he finally shouted out ot the ceiling, "What the hell?!"
Girl's Restroom
After washing her hands, Moka looked to the mirror, a look of flustered frustration written upon it. She sighed, not believing that Ben had done such a thing. But the evidence was written on Ben's face when Gin made mention of what he had done. She just couldn't believe it. She looked at the mirror, fuming in her mind, 'That's so gross; I feel so dirty.'
She sighed, as she grabbed her skirt, in fear of someone else peeping, 'Was Ben really peeping?' But then, another thought popped in her head, as she blushed, 'But still… which one's did I wear?' Slightly fearful and curious, she slowly lifted the skirt, just enough to try and see the reflection of them…
'What are you doing?' Inner Moka spoke up through the Rosario, startling Moka as she screamed in fright. 'Calm down. I don't know of what's going on around here, but I'd keep an eye out for that Morioka.'
"Gin?" Moka asked.
'I can't say for certain,' Inner Moka advised, 'But I sense something dangerous about him; so be extra careful around him.'
Moka blinked in confusion on that, just as the Rosario went silent again.
Later That Night
At the dorm roofs, Gin stood there, gazing at the moon as if the maiden of the Moon was calling out to him. He smirked at the glowing orb, "Another beautiful full moon." He then gazed down near the Girls' dorm, and spotted Moka's room window. There, he saw the pinkette vampire, sleeping peacefully in her bed and covers. The boy let out a small wolfish grin spread across his face, "But… it can't compare to you, Moka Akashiya. My little Moka."
And suddenly, a large howl pierced the quiet night air, and then went silent as it died out.
The Next Day
Ben walked behind Moka, not really sure if she wanted to talk to him. This was kind of a first in the morning, seeing as how he knew the routine. Moka would run up to him, catch him in a hugged embrace, then have her morning quota of his blood. And usually Kurumu would run up and glomp on him, usually pressing his face into her boobs, and unknowingly suffocated. Then Yukari would show, wand waving and pan-smashing Kurumu away, trying to get him and Moka together, all for the sake of her threesome plan. Though today, it didn't probably due to him being framed of being a peeper.
He wanted to talk to Moka, but the look on her face, and what she said yesterday, it wasn't gonna happen. He sighed, as he knew the truth, 'She's never gonna talk to me again.'
Moka stuck out her tongue playfully, as she kept her distance from Ben, 'I know it seems like I'm not going to talk to him again, but a healthy dose of the silent treatment should be enough for a hard lesson learned. He's got to know there are consequences for looking up my skirt.' But she slightly turned to face him, and saw the depressed look on his face, though he didn't notice her looking at him. She turned forward again, and her smile just faded, 'But still… he could at least try to talk to me.'
Later That Day
Elsewhere
Girl's Locker Room
Some of the girls were changing or getting a shower as the P.T. session they had gone through was over. And as fate would have it, Gin was walking past that area outside, as he stopped to hear the girls conversing. He scooted over, hoping to get a 'juicy' lead. One of the cheerleaders, smirking with glee, gossiped with a few of her friends. The first girl asked her friends, "So is it true with all the rumors going on? Are Tennsyon and Moka really dating?"
That caused Gin's ears to perk up suddenly, listening in on the conversation. The second girl shrugged, "You know, I'm not really sure, but they have been seen going everywhere together."
Gin scowled and his eyes bulged at this piece of information as the third girl started, "I've heard that some of the other students see them together… and that she kisses him on the neck,"
One of the girls sighed for a moment, envious of such an experience, "I wish my boyfriend would do something like that. To have your neck kissed… that's so old-fashioned but it's sooooooooooo dreamy!"
The girls sighed, envious of Moka's supposed romantic experience. However, Gin was growling or teething as a vein popped on his forehead and his upper face was covered in shadows. Until finally, he shot up from his seat, holding his head with his hands, and wept out loud hysterically, "Going out together? KISSING ON THE NECK?" he now just imagined them all alone, in a bedroom, all over each other under the covers; his beloved Moka giving herself to that loser Gaijin, Ben, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAH! THIS IS NO JOKE! YOU GOTTA BE FREAKIN' KIDDING ME! BEN! BEN IS BAD! BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!"
The girls just stepped back for a moment, after hearing that uproar, they opened the window… just to see no one. They shrugged and closed the window, shrugging as they went back to getting dressed.
Gin, who was now on the roof above the changing room, finally took a breather as he finally calmed down. He glared at the floor and thought to himself, 'I need to take precautions. I've got to split those two apart.' But then, eh thought about it, 'And I think I know how to do it.' He suddenly remembered what Moka said the other day,
Ben… I hate perverts.
Gin smirked, a scheme already percolating in his mind.
Newspaper Club (Classroom 3-1)
The girls all sat in one corner, while Ben sat in another. They were slightly avoiding him like a plague victim, all simply because they had spotted him peeping up their skirts. Although, the girls were in the club room first, just chatting about the leads they had found, and then Ben walked in the room. Once he was in there, they were giving him the silent treatment, and turned away not even looking at him. Sighing in defeat, he walked away from them, still keeping his distance from them, as he sat at an empty chair. It wasn't the best time for the club at this moment.
He sighed, as he pulled out a folder, containing some info on the peeper, and looked at the evidence… alone. Although he had been slightly caught peeping, Yukari whispered to the girls, "You know, I know Ben's a guy and all. But I never once saw him try to do what Gin said he'd do."
The other girls looked at each other, a bit unsure of their accusation. They were going to walk over to him and talk to him, until Gin popped up in the room, with info, "Heads up, guys. I think I just found a lead." He then pointed out, "One of the girls I interviewed mentioned she saw someone suspicious over at one corner of campus. I think it sounds like a solid lead."
"You think so?" wondered Ben, forgetting that the girls were ignoring him. "Where is it?"
"Near the edge of campus," Gin answered. "You know, one of those back lot places like where the incinerator is kept. No one goes there, but lots of people can see it. It actually makes for a good place for privacy."
"I'll bet that pervert has been creeping around there!" Kurumu growled as she clenched her hands. "I can't wait to give him what for!"
"You'll get your chance," Gin nodded. "Anyway, Ben, I want you to help me investigate this lead. I want the girls to keep putting up posters while we investigate. It shouldn't take too long."
"You got it!" Yukari smiled with a thumb's up.
"Great," Gin grinned. "Okay, Ben, let's get a move on. The sooner we investigate, the sooner we can catch this guy."
"I'm on it!" Ben nodded as he got up.
As he past Moka, she slowly got up, and tried to call him out, "Ah, Ben. Wait, I…" But he and Gin were already gone; she slumped back in her chair, and sighed sadly, "There goes my chance to apologize."
Later On
Outside
The two young men headed around to the back of the school. It looked pretty bare save for the wall of a building with a small window and a nearby barrel. Ben looked around, finding that it didn't look too much like a secret hideout. In fact, it looked like no one would go there period.
"Are you this is the place?" Ben asked uncertainly.
"From what my sources tell me," Gin nodded. "I think he must be inside. Think you can take a look?"
"Um…" Ben mumbled as he looked around for something to stand on. For some reason, he was beginning to get a bad feeling about all this. It was instinct. After fighting evil for so long he developed pretty good instincts, with help from Grandpa Max and his cousin Gwen.
"You can get on this barrel over here," Gin announced as he pushed the metal barrel from before over. "It feels pretty solid, but you'd better get on top of it. You look lighter so you had better do the lookout. I'll keep it from falling."
"Okay," Ben nodded. Ben stepped onto the barrel in question and stood up. He kept himself steady and gripped the windowsill for balance. After making sure he wasn't going to fall, he dared to take a look inside.
"So, Ben, what do you think of Moka?" Gin asked, stopping Ben from looking into the room. "I mean, do ya think she's cute?"
That question got Ben blushing a bit, as he gulped, looking rather bashful, "Well, she's um… I mean. Well, she's the first girl to actually talk to me, and kind of put up with me." But he smirked, "Actually… I think she's pretty."
"Really?" Gin smirked, as he turned away, hiding a glint in his teeth, "Because honestly, I thought she was smokin' hot when I saw her. And I thought to myself, I want her in my pack."
Ben arched an eyebrow at that, but returned to the task at hand as he looked inside. What he saw threatened to make him break out in a sudden nosebleed…or make him grin like an idiot. What he saw was a bunch of girls who attended Youkai Academy. They were all in various forms of undress, revealing their underwear and a lot of their bodies. Apparently the girls of Youkai Academy liked to wear frilly underwear too.
"Wagh!" Ben cried as he fell backwards and onto the dirt. He gasped for a moment to catch his breath. "Wait a minute! That…that was…"
"The girls' changing room, I know," Gin chuckled. Ben looked over and saw that he was holding a camera up to Ben and not holding the barrel like he said he was. "Enjoy the view?"
"Huh? Wha-?" Ben gaped. "What the heck is going on?!"
"I'm catching the Peeping Tom, of course," Gin chuckled as he turned the digital camera around and revealed a picture of Ben looking into the locker room. "Bet Moka won't be too happy with you when she sees this shot."
"What!?" shouted out Ben. He then realized it. "You set me up!"
Of course, the girls had heard him.
"What was that?!"
"Is it the Peeping Tom?"
"Sounded like a guy!"
"Now that was a dumb move. Those girls are gonna come out here in force," Gin chuckled.
"Why are you doing this?" asked Ben in anger as he reached for his Omnitrix.
Gin answered, glaring darkly at Ben, "I'm willing to do anything to get my hands on a pretty girl like Moka. You're an obstacle that in my way. Sorry, but all's fair in love and war. Later, Ben." With a wave, Gin vanished in a blur.
Ben gaped as his club president vanished. Still, he had something else to worry about as he heard shouting.
"It's him!"
"The Peeping Tom!"
"Get him!"
"Oh, man!" Ben gulped, as he saw the angry mob of girls with various make-shift weapons, mainly brooms, baseball bats and mops. He made a break for it and activated the Omnitrix. "Come on, give me something so I can hide!" He slammed his palm onto it and vanished in a flash of green light.
The girls ran past a bush, threatening to pummel the peeper into a pulp. Once they were gone, Grey Matter snuck out from behind the barrel drum, and let out a breath of relief. Of course, he was also angry at Gin. "That Gin. I'm gonna kick his butt for this. But first, I gotta get away." The small alien then scurried away to safety.
Back Inside the School
It didn't take Ben long to get away, much less be spotted by anyone else. Grey Matter was good at squeezing into small and tight places so he could get away. He was also lucky that none of the girls had managed to get a good look at him. Then again, being an American in a Japanese school might make it pretty easy for him to be identified. Soon enough, Ben had returned to his human form and was heading to find his friends before Gin tried to trick them.
Unfortunately, Gin had a better plan than that.
Walking past a bulletin board, Ben froze in horror when he saw that the front pages of the next school newspaper were posted in plain view. The big picture on the front was him looking inside the girl's locker room. "Oh, he is so dead," Ben growled. Whispering started up behind him and he saw several students staring at him. Many of the girls looked on in distaste. Things were starting to look bad for him.
Newspaper Club
The door to the club room was thrown wide open as Ben stormed inside. He was ready to go Fourams or Humongosaur on Gin, but right now he wanted to pound Gin into the dirt with his bare hands. "Gin!" Ben snapped as he eyed the club president.
"Hey, Ben," Gin smirked, reclining in his chair and acted as if nothing happened an hour ago. "See anything good in the paper recently?"
"Save it. You set me up!" Ben growled, slamming his hands on the desk in front of Gin. "For what?! Just so you can actually get a date with Moka or something? Are you incapable of asking her?"
"Oh please, she's stuck to you like glue," Gin snorted. "The only way I'd get her attention if I get you out of the way."
"By making me look like the pervert?!" Ben shouted for an answer.
Gin nodded dumbfounded, as he explained, "Pretty much. Because I found out what Moka doesn't like."
Ben looked pretty clueless as to what he was talking about. Until it hit him as he remembered the panty incident from yesterday.
"Ben… I hate perverts!"
Gin then shrugged, "And the most heart-wrenching part was, as soon as we left, she was gonna apologize and hear your side of the story. What a scumbag you are."
Ben growled, raising a balled up fist, "I oughta-!"
"Ah, ah, ah! Lay a hand on me, and it will only prove what I said in the paper," Gin interrupted, waving his finger at Ben, and with a confident smirk on his face. "Just give up, Ben. Let me have my fun with Moka. Maybe in a couple of months or so the students will forgive you."
Ben was feeling to temptation to go Fourarms on Gin grow that much. Still, it wouldn't help his situation. Gin was holding all the cards and he knew it. If Ben wanted to prove his innocence, he would have to prove that Gin had set him up in the first place. Otherwise everyone would believe Gin and get Ben branded a pervert for the rest of his life in Youkai Academy.
'It just gets better and better,' thought Ben sarcastically.
Later That Day
Kurumu and Yukari were all alone in the club room, conversing with one another on the events that had happened. Rumors had been going around that Ben was the Peeping Tom, and it wasn't going good for him. Considering all the peeping victims were going after him now, attempting to beat him up. However, Yukari had her suspicions of this. "This just doesn't make any sense," Yukari thought aloud. "Ben wouldn't do that."
"I know, it's downright absurd! Ben leering at other girls, instead of me," Kurumu fumed out. Howver, that last comment caused Yukari to question Kurumu's motive and serious-mindedness of the situation. Sensing the glare from Yukari, she nervously chuckled as she covered it up, "Though you are right about Ben."
Yukari shot up from her desk, "Either way, we've got to get to the bottom of this."
Later that Night
Dorm Roofs
After school ended Ben decided to get some time to himself. He had quickly gotten tired of people throwing him suspicious looks. Gin's stupid article had spread like wildfire and the girls were probably out for his blood by now. If he didn't watch his back, someone would be after him for what that jerk did. To that end, he placed himself on the roof of the school since no one went up there after lunch. He had been there all afternoon and now night had fallen with the full moon rising above the horizon.
"Ben!" a familiar voice cried out.
"Huh?" Ben blinked. He looked up to see a rather upset Moka. "Moka?"
"Ben, is it true?" she asked bluntly. "Is it like what Gin said? Are you really the one who was peeping?"
"No it isn't!" Ben cried, standing up. "Honestly Moka, Kurumu throws herself at me all the time! If I don't react like a pervert when she presses herself against me and stuff, do you really think I'd go around peeping at girls? You know me better than that!"
"Well…," Moka mumbled, still looking upset but also a little guilty. "I saw the front page picture."
"I didn't even know that it was a girls' locker room!" Ben insisted. "Gin just took me back their on a lead and told me to look inside! Next thing I know, he's taking a picture of me saying he's caught the peeper!"
"But, why would he lie? He seemed so nice," said Moka.
"Moka, people aren't what they seem and in this school that rule applies to EVERYONE," pointed out Ben. "Believe me, I know: I've had experience in this. And, for WHY he would lie, let's just say he has the hots for you. Claiming he wants you as part of his pack. Whatever that means." For some reason Ben felt a little jealous when he thought about Gin and Moka getting together. Sure there was Kurumu, but he felt something special for the vampire.
"So, you didn't do it?" asked Moka.
"No," Ben replied. "How can you doubt me?"
"Well, pictures do speak a thousand words," said Gin as he appeared out of nowhere.
Ben glared at the sophomore, asking, "Have you been following me all day? Or is it Moka you've been doing all the spying on?"
Ignoring Ben, he pulled something out of his pocket. And in his hand and spread out like a fan were the pictures of Ben being the Peeping Tom. "Who are you gonna believe, Moka? This Gaijin pervert or me?"
Ben clenched his fists. All he had to do was to use the Omnitrix and Gin would be walking in crutches before long. It was just so tempting. Plus, it was making it worse that Gin was sorely asking for a butt-kicking. But, he knew that Moka would trust in the picture; he may not have known that the room he looked in was the Girls' Changing Room, but the photo was against him.
Moka looked terribly indecisive at the moment. On one hand, Ben was telling her that he was innocent and that he was set up. Meanwhile, Gin was saying he had caught Ben in the act and had the photos to prove it. Still, Moka knew that doing something like peeping was completely out of Ben's character. He just didn't seem to be the type who would be interested in doing that sort of thing. Gin seemed like a good person too, but what kind of person would frame another for peeping?
It was then that she clenched her fists tightly to her side, and looked to Gin determined to believe. "I… I want to believe Ben, Gin," Moka answered.
Ben smiled, knowing that Moka didn't think of him as a depraved sex fiend. However, Gin's plans were going down the tubes, as he berated out disbelieving, "Oh, come on, Moka! The photo caught him red handed! It's clear evidence that he's the Peeping Tom!"
"That only shows where Ben was, not what he was doing," Moka defended, "And even if he was peeping, I know Ben's not dishonest or irresponsible with his forms or powers." She looked to Ben, and smiled at him warmly, showing her trust in him, "I may not have known him long enough, but I can see he's a good person. And I won't abandon him."
Gin was getting fed up as he continued to wave the picture around, "Be realistic, Moka! Photos don't lie! Who are you gonna believe? Him or me?"
"Who we shouldn't believe is you!"
All three students turned to where the voice was coming from. It turned out to be Kurumu and Yukari. Both were dressed up like detectives. Kurumu was in a Sherlock Holmes getup while Yukari was in something like a Japanese detective getup. Both of them looked pretty serious despite the situation and what they were wearing. Ben was just wondering where they had gotten their outfits.
"Kurumu? Yukari?" Moka asked in surprise.
"What are you two girls doing up here?" asked Gin.
"And what's with the detective costumes?" added Ben, equally confused.
"The outfits seemed like a good idea at the time," Yukari smirked. "They helped set the mood we had to be in for this."
"You see, Ben," began Kurumu. "After the news got out, me and Yukari did some investigating to clear your name."
"Of course Ben would never do such a thing as peep," added Yukari, "So we looked for clues."
"Take a look at these photos!" Kurumu cried as she brought out several shots of Ben's 'peeping' that they had gotten for themselves. "We can only see the top half of Ben! Gin's article said that he used a barrel to look! How did he know that?"
"That's a good point," Moka agreed. She then turned to Gin. "How did you know?"
"T-that's," Gin gulped. "That's because I went to the scene after all the excitement. Since the barrel was there I assumed he used it. I've never been there so I had to guess."
"So you also know that Ben had moved the barrel originally?" asked Yukari skeptically.
"He had to," Gin answered. "I mean, there was nothing else there originally."
"Oh?" Kurumu smirked, seeing her opportunity. "Didn't you just say that you had never been there before? How would you know that nothing was there originally?"
"Uh?" Gin gulped.
"Obviously you knew that there was a good peeping spot there," Yukari answered while folding her arms.
Gin grimaced, realizing that he had been caught in a lie. He broke out in a cold sweat for a moment before he managed to put on a cool smile. "Okay, okay. I have been there before. I also know that the barrels could be used for support, but c'mon. There's no proof that I was there."
"Sure we can, Sempai," Kurumu smirked.
"Huh?" Gin blinked in shock.
"You see, the female students had taken those barrels away since they didn't want anyone else using those barrels to peep inside."
"In other words," Kurumu added. "Those barrels were there for the crime and immediately afterwards. Besides those at the scene, it was impossible for anyone else to know those barrels were there! We even have a witness who said you had moved those barrels there before the crime happened!"
"The witness being Miss Nekonome," Yukari replied.
"Then that means…" Moka gasped as realization came to her.
"The real criminal…is YOU!" both Kurumu and Yukari cried as they pointed at Gin accusingly.
"Busted!" Ben shouted, as he snapped his fingers and pointed to Gin, "In your face, Mr. Peeper!"
"Uh…uh…," Gin gulped as he backed away. As he stepped, several photos fell out of his jacket. All of them depicted girls in obvious forms of undress and completely unaware that anyone was watching them.
Ben knelt down and picked one of the photos up, waving it tauntingly at Gin, "What have we here? What an odd hobby you have here, boss."
With this undeniable proof, Gin knew that he was busted. "Enough of this!" Gin frowned angrily. "I really didn't want to do this, but I've got no choice in the matter!"
Gin leaped up into the air with blinding speed before he landed at the other end behind Ben and the girls. Growling, Gin's body began to swell with raw and wild power. His face sprouted gray fur before turning into a canine snout while his ears relocated to the top of his head. His forearms elongated and grew out black curvy sharp claws, with dark and gray fur growing on them. The same thing happened to his feet as they became more canine, and sprouted fur and claws as well. And shooting out from his butt, a great bushy gray tail was present. With his transformation completed, Gin howled at the moon, a fully transformed werewolf.
"A werewolf!" Yukari gasped.
"They're supposed to be on par with vampires in power!" Kurumu cried. "Where Vampires are the most powerful, werewolves are the fastest."
"Because of you, I'm ruined!" roared Gin, as his transformation was completed, "Now, if I can't have Moka by trickery, I'll just use force!" He then charged right after Moka, who was completely unaware to do anytying, but cringe and scream.
"Fat chance of that happening!" announced Ben.
If Gin was gonna use a beast form, then so was he. He activated the Omnitrix and slammed it down and in a flash of light the orange furred Wildmutt now took his place. Wildmutt roared and lunged at Gin before he got to Moka, only for Gin to blur out of the way and strike Wildmutt from behind. Gin then started to strike at Wildmutt with his claws, causing the Vulpimancer to howl in pain. Wildmutt tried to take a bite out of Gin but missed and Gin sent Wildmutt flying with a kick. The alien went skidding against the floor, and in a flash of green light, was once again Ben.
"Ben!" the girls cried.
"He's fast," groaned Ben as he got back to his feet.
"Of course I am!" laughed Gin. "Look up at the sky!" There was a full moon there. "Because of its light I can use my full power and speed! Face it, Tennyson, you can't beat me. None of your forms are fast enough!"
Ben began to chuckle and the girls stared as Ben once again went for his Omnitrix.
"Face it, Ben," laughed Gin, as he stepped onto Ben, pinning him on the ground, standing triumphantly on the Bearer of the Omnitrix. "You've lost. Now, just hand Moka over and nobody gets hurt." He grinned with his wolfish teeth. "I don't see what's so hard about that."
"Right," Ben frowned. He held up the Omnitrix and began scrolling through the alien forms he had. "You think you're pretty fast do ya? Let me show you some real speed!"
Ben pressed down on the face of the Omnitrix and allowed the change to overtake him. When the green flash went off, Gin hopped back just to take witness of Tennyson's transformation. His body thinned down while his skin turned blue and almost reptilian. His hands turned to three black talons while his body was covered with a black bodysuit with an angular head and helmet. A long blue tail jutted from his back while his feet turned reptilian with spheres in them. The Omnitrix symbol was centered in his chest.
"XLR8!" the new form of Ben Tennyson hissed, glaring at Gin with his green reptilian eyes.
Omnitrix Encyclopedia
XLR8 A.K.A. Kineceleran
This species comes from the accelerated planet of Kinec. These are probably some of the fastest people in the universe. They can easily go up to speeds of 500 km per hour. Fast enough to run up walls or across water if they so desire. Ben has actually created tornadoes with his XLR8 form. It is rumored that magnets give Kinecelerans problems to the point where they can't balance. This rumor hasn't been proven yet.
"Doesn't look too impressive," Gin snorted.
"Oh, you'll see," XLR8 smirked before a black visor with an blue X on the front covered his face.
Gin snorted again before he lunged, expecting XLR8 to be an easy target. To his shock, XLR8 moved so fast, that all that was seen was a blue blurred streak. XLR8 managed not only to avoid the strike, but return a counterblow with his tail, smashing it into his snout.
"Ow!" Gin cried as he stumbled backwards. Looking forward, his eyes widened as he saw the blue alien charging at him with a speed that exceeded a werewolf!
POW!
Gin was slugged across the face with a rapid punch from XLR8. The stunned werewolf skidded across the roof and came to a stop. Suddenly, XLR8 appeared behind him, and unleashed a devastating combo of rapid punches that looked like the werewolf was getting pummeled by a jackhammer. Once he was backed up enough, XLR8 hopped up, delivering a rapid chest kick barrage, and finally flipped over delivering an uppercut tail smash, followed by a tail swip from across, sending Gin skidding to the other side of the roof. Groaning, he got back to his feet with a snarl.
"You want to make this a test of speed? Fine!" he snapped. Using every bit of power his body allowed, Gin charged at the black opponent. Gin threw out a speedy all assault that was difficult for any normal person to even see with the naked eye. However, XLR8 was the only one to catch up, as he dodged effortlessly at ridiculous speeds; the two looking like blurs and not solid lifeforms.
"Not bad," XLR8 nodded at the oncoming werewolf. "Could be better though, with a little more practice."
With that, XLR8 sped out of Gin's sight. The angry werewolf skidded to a stop on the ground, trying to find where he had gone. He never looked up, so it was understandable that it was a surprise when XLR8 came crashing down on his head, putting it into the stone.
"When you're fast enough to go up walls," XLR8 smirked. "Nowhere is impossible to get to."
Gin growled as he got up and lunged at XLR8. The Kineceleran just dodged all of Gin's attacks like they were nothing. It was then that XLR8 noticed that Gin was getting…slower. He looked and smirked and then ducked under a swing before tackling into Gin.
"Getting slow, Lobo?" mocked XLR8. "Can't blame you on that. The conditions of your powers waning on you."
"What are you babbling about?" Gin asked, confused.
"Look up in the sky," XLR8 pointed. Gin did and his eyes widened as he saw the moon had been covered by clouds.
"My power-!" Gin began.
"Is going to go to the dogs!" said XLR8. "Now, it's time to finish this! But considering your condition, I'm gonna go with something on equal footing." He then tapped the Omnitrix emblem on his chest and in a flash of green light XLR8 changed into a new alien.
"Benwolf!" the lupine alien howled.
Omnitrix Encyclopedia
Benwolf A.K.A. Loboan
These canine people hail from the moon Luna Lobo, an Anur Transyl moon, which is the home of the Ecorunites. They are fast, strong, and agile. They also have the ability to unleash a powerful ultrasonic howl from the quadric-hinged mouth that they possess. Ben first encountered one in a Navahoe Reserve when it attacked the people so to get technology. It was also the same time that Ben discovered that the Omnitrix could absorb alien DNA from contact. The only known weakness this species has is the fact that they are colorblind. One other known fact is that it is possible the Loboans are the servants to the Ecorunites, seeing as a Loboan was in service to Zs'Skayr, the Ecorunite that was Ghostfreak.
Benwolf stood several heads taller than a regular adult, probably standing at about 8 ft in height. He was covered with dark blue fur that was lighter on his muzzle and chest. His hands had three sharp black claw digits, as did he have on his canine feet. His eyes were bright green and he was wearing a white bodysuit which had black highlights on it that covered his thighs and stomach. The Omnitrix symbol was situated on his narrow. A canine tail swished from his back and his legs were more canine than humanoid.
"What the-?!" Gin gaped.
"He can transform into a werewolf too?!" Yukari gasped in shock.
"Wow," Kurumu admired. A sultry look then entered her eyes. "He's better looking that Gin, actually."
"Grrr!" Gin growled angrily. His sharp hearing had caught Kurumu's comment. It wasn't enough that Ben was getting their attention through his foreign looks and weird forms, but he also has to be a better werewolf? The kid was dead!
He charged at Benwolf, with his claws at the ready to slash him. However, Benwolf easily swatted the advances away, as well as block a roundhouse kick from Gin as well. Despite him not being fast enough, Benwolf was powerful and swift enough to keep up with Gin's half-strength. He then blocked another attack from Gin, and kicked him in the chest, sending him to strike the railing, bending it slightly. Gin growled as he charged at Ben, growling, "THAT'S IT! I HAVE HAD ENOUGH FROM YOU, YOU POSER!"
As Gin began his charge, Benwolf warned, "Girls, get behind me, and cover your ears." Moka, Kurumi and Yukari did as told and pressed their hands over their ears. "Here we go." Benwolf then opened his mouth, which opened up in four sections and then he unleashed his howl.
"AWWWWRRRRRRRRROOOOOO-OOOOOOOOOOOO-OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-OOOOOOOOOOOOO-OOOOOOOOO-OOOOOOOO!"
It came out in the form of green sonic energy that slammed into Gin at full force. Not only was Gin caught by surprise by the impact, he was also sent flying high into the air. They all watched as Gin came crashing down, unconscious and injured by Benwolf's sonic howl.
"Hmph!" Benwolf snorted. "Lightweight."
Benwolf reached to the Omnitrix symbol and his entire body flashed before he returned to his human form. Gin was definitely down for the count and wouldn't be peeping on anyone for a while. Heck, walking might be problematic for a while.
"Boy did that feel good," Ben grinned. "I mean, I know it shouldn't, but after what he put me through…"
"He deserved it," Kurumu shrugged. "So what do we do about this perv?" asked Kurumu, pointing at the downed Gin. "I say we should just leave him."
"As much as I want to, we'd better get him to the infirmary," Ben sighed. "A perv and liar he might be, but we just can't leave him. So, who wants to help me take this perv back to the infirmary?"
Later that Night
Both Ben and Moka had slipped off, to try and get some alone time together. It was perhaps a way to mend the bond they had nearly severed due to Gin's photographic framing of Ben into the Peeping Tom. As they walked along the hallway, making their way to the dorms, Moka's mind was buzzing with questions from before. She knew that Ben could transform into aliens, but she didn't count on monsters, especially versions that looked alien. Moka leaned over, and whispered to him, "Still, you didn't tell me you could turn into a werewolf too! I thought you could only become aliens, Ben."
"Well, believe it or not that was an alien," Ben explained, stunning his vampiric friend. "My Grandpa said the species I transformed into comes from a raced called Loboans. They come from the same galaxy as Ghostfreak."
"Wow! How'd you know that?" she asked.
"My grandpa has an Alien Lifeform Database program that I keep on my laptop, which has most of the information of all known alien species. I've got it in case I ever unlocked other aliens that I didn't know about, and learn from about old and new, helping me understand more about their strengths and weaknesses. And as for back then, I met a Loboan, back when I was ten and was still fresh behind the ears about the whole alien thing," Ben answered. "It was hiding out in the Western part of America, somewhere in Arizona, snatching tech from people to build a satellite transceiver. Nasty guy too, even though he wasn't much of a talker. I fought him and the Omnitrix absorbed his DNA, letting me change into Benwolf. The change was so slow though I thought I was turning into a werewolf."
"Wow, alien werewolves," Moka breathed out an awe. But her awe disappeared for a moment, and she looked to him, as she spoke to him nervously, "Um…Ben?"
"What is it, Moka?" he asked.
"I'm sorry for doubting you!" she apologized, bowing profusely. "I shouldn't have doubted you at all. I knew you wouldn't do such a thing as peep!"
"Hey, I forgive you," said Ben with a smile. "I'm just glad that you're talking to me again."
The Next Day
With the Newspaper Club's resources, Ben's name was cleared and the true culprit was exposed, which pretty much ruined Gin's reputation. Still, the werewolf, after much thinking in the infirmary, had to admit that Ben was tough and he should be careful. It didn't mean he was going to give up on Moka, though. It just meant he would try less sneaky means.
Of course, the girls chasing him, while he was on all fours and his wolf tail hanging out, wouldn't let him go easy. As soon as word got out, all the victims he had peeped were going after him, at full force. The Club couldn't do a think about it, as for the moment, they were passing out copies of the newspaper.
Ben smirked as he turned around, "Hey, Moka. How are the posters…?" But then nosebleed… as he caught a glimpse of Moka's panties by mistake.
"Hey, don't look while I'm up here," Moka cried out, as she kicked him, but forgot the strength difference between one another. She glupled as he passed out on the ground, with a nosebleed. She hopped off and knelt down next to him, as she held him in her arms, "I'm sorry about that, Ben." But she stopped, as she got a whiff, and dazed with a blush on her face, "You smell good, Ben…"
Ben came two again, just to go bug-eyed at Moka, as she leaned in, and… "CHU!"
Next Chapter: Test of Friendships; Kurumu's Slimy Stalker