Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN BEN 10 OR AKAME GA KILL. THEY BELONG TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS. BEN 10 IS OWNED BY MAN OF ACTION AND AKAME GA KILL IS OWNED BY SQUARE ENIX.

Hey guys, sorry it took me so long for me to update this story for you all. College is back in season and my job is straining me. And boy this is going to be some year right? Hello 2017. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this story as much as I have writing it. Please always leave reviews, they are always appreciated. Wish me well. :)

湖を殺す

X: Kill the Pride

Ben and Akame walked in the woods that sunny afternoon. The couple had been quiet for most of their stroll. Ben was trying to look for a conversation for them to share but still couldn't find any. He also wanted know why this trip was so important. Was this training? A sparring match? Ben had to know. He stopped at his tracks and finally asked.

"Okay, mind you tell me why are we walking in the middle of the forest? Are we hunting for something?" he asked.

"Something like that," Akame said turning around unsheathing her sword again.

Ben sighed, "Again?"

"This time the Boss wants wants to see how you really fight. Plus Lubbock wants in on it."

"What? Wait, that mean's you're not gonna fight me?" Ben asked.

"No, but for insurance," Akame said sliding her sword back in the holster.

"Insurance for what?" Ben asked before he hurled himself to the ground after missing myriads of fatal thread strikes. Akame got herself some notebook paper and pen.

"Are you serious Akame?" Ben yelled. Akame nodded.

"Yep," Lubbock emerged from the shadows, "Like before, I won't kill you sadly, but..." Lubbock played with his wired threads into wrapped it back into his metallic fingertips.

"Yeah, yeah you'll maim me," Ben said getting annoyed, "Seriously, what is up with you guys trying to fight me?"

"Not fight. Test. No one has the power you have," Akame said, "We're trying to make sure."

"About what?"

"Look out Ben!" Lubbock yelled striking at Ben; Ben was stabbed through his shoulders and legs but nothing too serious then he was swapped against a tree.

"Oh come on! That was just a love tap," Lubbock said, "Unless you don't want to bleed to death I suggest you yield."

"Question," Ben asked.

Lubbock furrowed.

"What are those threads made of? Metal?" Ben asked.

"Well yeah. Why?" Lubbock asked.

"Just asking," Ben asked activating his Ultimatrix and slamming the dial down blinding Lubbock and Akame in a bright green light. When the light died down, standing at his place was a magnetically floating metal head which levitates in an arch between its shoulders; however, it is still bonded to its body as wherever its head goes. It had crab-like claws for hands and its body was mainly black with yellow feet, hands, shoulders, and chest.

"LODESTAR!" Lodestar yelled breaching out from the trees.

Akame backed up; Lubbock did not back down.

"I don't know what that is, but I can tell you right now, that was a wrong pick!" Lubbock said charging his wired threads at Lodestar. Lodestar simply rose his hands and twisted the wires shocking Lubbock and then finally wrapping him around with his own Imperial Arms. He fell to the ground. Akame walked over to her fallen comrade and helped him up.

"I guess that you don't like my metallic personality," Lodestar said before he transformed back into Ben. Akame stood frozen and so did Lubbock.

"H-How many of those things do you have?" Lubbock asked.

"If I told you, you won't believe me; now tell me, why am I a target?" Ben asked.

"Should we tell him?" Lubbock asked.

Akame nodded then turned her head to Ben who asked, "Lemme guess. I cannot be trusted right?"

Akame nodded, "Actually, we are testing the strength of your monsters one by one to see how strong you are so we can know how to work with you. If you transform into any other creature we aren't sure of, it would be difficult."

"And like I said before?" Lubbock asked, struggling to break free from his own Imperial Arms, "How many of those things do you have?"

"Enough," Ben teased.

~Ben must be playing us. He is hiding something, and I won't stop until I know what it is. This man has the ability to control time, transform into an animal, turn someone into an ice cube, and manipulate metal. How many of these forms does he have?~ Akame thought.

"Lubbock," Akame got Lubbock's and Ben's attention, "Go back to the boss and report her on this matter," she said.

"I wish I can but I AM TIED TOGETHER BY METAL MAN!" Lubbock ranted.

"Hold on angry pants," Lodestar rose his hands and untangled the wires loose before a flash of green light blinded the two assassins. When the light died down, Ben, with his hands still raised, lowered them. Lubbock stared at Ben in fear. He couldn't lay his hands on him.

~What is he?~ Lubbock asked.

"Lubbock?"

"Alright, I'm going," Lubbock said, "Oh and Akame, watch your back." Lubbock ran back to the Hideout.

"That was weird," Ben said.

"It's a natural response," Akame said. Ben turned around to look at a cautious Akame.

"What you want your turn?"

"No," Akame said, "If I pull up my sword, you would instantly transform into a creature that would be immune to my blade. So I yield."

Ben furrowed knowing the kinds of tricks Akame might pull. His arm still rested on the Ultimatrix plate on his wrist thinking of an alien for self-defense in case Akame pulled anything, but she knew about the Ultimatrix and what it could do, well a little bit based on observation. Ben had to keep its properties a secret as long as he could because this group was ready to decipher the watch. He knew that the Hideout was more terrified of him than ever. Placing him under a Mandatory Kill List in case he went rouge. Before Akame even thought about taking Ben out for a walk, there was a discussion about Ben and his powers. They listed every alien in alphabetical order and on what they could do. Akame kept the "He Could Manipulate Time" bit a secret as well as everyone from Tatsumi. Had he known that Ben can turn back time, Tatsumi could use Ben to bring back his friends back to life - however unlikely as that seemed.

~Ben is better as an ally than an enemy. It gives us a tremendous advantage over the Empire~ Najenda said.

~But he is also a risk factor~ Mine said, ~If Ben is killed in battle, the Empire would have their hands on Ben's Ultimatrix-thingy~.

~You're right, We can't force him to join Night Raid, but whenever he wants to help, I will allow him. It's a risk...~

~But wait, would that mean that the Empire would have a hard time catching him? He can just transform into...~

~But he has a time limiter on his thing. He can't be like that forever~ Leone said.

Akame had to think about how to treat Ben. She couldn't treat him as an enemy nor as a potential threat. He did not show any signs of betrayal or anything. In fact he seemed clueless. He would be asking questions about Night Raid and the Empire equally listing him as a guy from a place unlisted on the map.

Who was Ben?

"Akame?" Akame turned around to a confused Ben, "Are you okay?"

"Yes, yes I'm okay. Just thinking that's all."

"Thinking about what?" Ben asked.

Akame took a deep breath and gazed into Ben's emerald green eyes. What she caught was that he did not have the eyes of a killer, but of that of something else. This confused her. Did she mistake him for a killer or a spy or something? She approached him slowly, "I have something to ask you." She slowly pulled out her sword. Ben got defensive and activated his Ultimatrix.

"Don't worry, I won't attack you," she claimed, pulling out her sword, holding the blade with both her hands, holding it flatly and then dropping it. Walking over it to Ben who was still defensive.

Akame stopped and rose her hands, "You see, I am unarmed."

"Really? Prove it," Ben said. Akame giggled.

"Are you sure?" Akame asked flatly about to undo her red tie. Ben's cheeks became red fast.

"Actually no. I'm good," Ben said. His heart slowed down.

"I have something to ask," she asked, "Have you ever killed anyone before...like in your life?"

"Killed anyone?" Ben asked, "No. Why?" Ben asked. "I mean you guys do since well you guys are assassins and all."

"True," she said, "It's incredible."

"Incredible?"

"Here you have a power everyone dreams of and you don't use it to achieve any sort of power. Anyone with that kind of power...your Ultimatrix, would immediately seized power for their own. And here you are with us. I am curious though," she continued, "If you would, would you join us to be with Night Raid. You would be a great help in furthering the rebellion!"

"I don't know," Ben said, "I want to help, but I don't want to kill anyone."

"Ben, in this world it's a kill or be killed world. The elites won't give their enemies mercy. You have the advantage, you carry a trump card that no one knows about. If an elite of the Empire is about ready to do battle with you, even if they have Imperial Arms you have to get ready for the worse," she said paling Ben more and more. Ben was not new when it comes to murder cases. There was a time where he almost killed Kevin, or attempted to kill him. But he had a reason for why and Kevin had a long history from his past criminal career overall. And also he was very close to his cousin Gwen, so he had to do what he can to protect her and everyone he cared for.

In this world, not so. This may not be his world, but he didn't want to take a life. It would swing his moral pendulum off balance. He had never spilt blood before, nor did he wanted too. He was aware on how powerful his Ultimatrix was. If he had gone alien against any normal person in this universe, he would be seen as a monster and the Empire would do everything it could to hunt him down. Though tricky it could be. Plus, it could send an unwanted chain of events.

He couldn't do that; Akame understood that Ben's moral compass would not allow him to do such an act. However, she managed to convince Tatsumi; thing was that with him, he had nothing to lose. His village was starving and everything. Ben not so.

He had no one to save. He saw Night Raid as a group that could take care of themselves. He would often question on why was he here in the first place? Ben looked at Akame in the eye and said, "I can't kill. But I will help by anyway I can."

"Just remember that..."

Suddenly, they heard a roar. Ben and Akame turned their attention away from each other and out to the deep forest. The trees swayed in juxtaposition; Akame bent down and grabbed her sword following the second roar. She got in her kata.

"What is that?" Ben asked.

"A Danger Beast," Akame said, "Ben, these creatures are really dangerous. Just let me handle these guys okay?"

"Okay," Ben said backing away, not wanting to get in her way.

BAM!

Suddenly a giant ape charged through the forest heading towards the couple.

"Leave it to me," Akame said guarding him. She dashed over towards the Danger Beast dodging its attacks. Ben stood by watching. The Ultimatrix recharged giving it a shiny glow from the faceplate. He turned around and saw how hard Akame was fighting it. A similar opponent Ben faced before. He had faced much more stronger opponents than it. But he stood there watching to see how Akame fought. And to his shock, pretty fast. Akame was in the air spinning in mid air and finally slicing the creature in half.

She stuck a perfect landing as the creature collapsed.

"Damn," Ben said.

"Now, we should..." Suddenly, Akame was attacked from the side, was grabbed by another Apeman and was slammed to a tree. Akame screamed as she was being toyed around. Her sword fell to the ground rendering herself helpless against the beast. The Apeman squeezed her in anger. Ben could hear her bones being crushed.

"Akame!" Ben screamed immediately activating his Ultimatrix, quickly rotating the roster until it spat up an image of a dinosaur-like creature. Ben smashed the dial down blinding both Akame and the Apeman in flash of green light. When the light died down standing before the Danger Beast was a hulking, broad-shouldered monster covered in natural, yellow armor plating on its back, shoulders, and the backs of its arms. It was mostly white, with black on its upper half. It had four claws on both of its hands.

"CANNONBOLT!" Cannonbolt yelled.

"Cannonbolt? I wanted Humungasaur! Stupid watch!" Cannonbolt ranted, "Okay fine, I'll work with this." Cannonbolt ran and transformed into a ball, bouncing up to the air slamming the Apeman's face forcing it to let go of Akame; Akame was released but she flew in the air. Cannonbolt bounced tree to tree gaining momentum for him to bounce into the air grab Akame, slam the Danger Beast down, bounce off and pull a full stop. He uncurled himself,panted and the Ultimatrix enveloped him in a flash of green light. When the light died down lied Ben panting. Akame coughed, got up and saw the destruction Cannonbolt had caused to the Danger Beast. The Apeman was down but was not out. Akame grabbed her sword, slid down the small crater and stabbed its neck.

~Ben...Ben had saved me. I didn't even see that thing coming and he saved me. Did he do it because I was in the same team?~ Akame thought. She crawled out of the crater seeing Ben down. She rushed over towards him to see if he was okay.

~That Ultimatrix might have taken a toll on him. He has been using it a little bit too much. He does deserve a break; however, I can't let my guard down. At least not yet. Ben is still a threat to us. So I have to still keep an eye on him.~ Akame thought.

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Back in the hideout, Tatsumi and the gang were meeting with Najenda about Zanku's Imperial Arms. Tatsumi was excited and everything about getting it until Akame broke in with an exhausted Ben. Everyone was shocked to see Akame and Ben all dirtied up from their walk.

"What the hell?" Tatsumi began, "What happened to you Akame?"

"I was attacked by a Danger Beast," Akame said, "But then Ben here...saved me."

"Wait, Green Boy saved you?" Leone asked.

Akame nodded. "It came from out of nowhere and grabbed me. I dropped my sword and its strength overwhelmed me. Ben tried to transform into what he called Humungasaur but the watch turned him into Cannonbolt. Smashed it and caught me in midair before I could fall to the ground," she stated.

"That's incredible," Bulat said, "Just how powerful is this guy?"

"This guy is just...ugh," Lubbock said.

"You're just mad because he beaten you!" Leone teased.

"Ah yeah, at least I lost once. You lost TWICE do you remember that?" Lubbock shouted.

"Oh look at you puffing your chest huh? At least I lasted a minute! And the second round doesn't count because we were both knocked out idiot!" Leone snapped.

"Enough you two!" Najenda intervened, "Be it if we like to admit it or not, Ben is stronger than us. I can say that with liberty because he is knocked out and its a forgone fact. Any type of attack you tend to use he has a monster that can counter it. We do not know how many of those forms he has - or how powerful. Ben's Imperial Arms as we all know gives him the ability to transform into anything he wants at will. And because of that, if left in the hands of the Empire, we could say that the Revolution is lost."

"But we have Ben here," Sheele said.

"Yes, we can say that we are grateful he is. Now our victory for the capital have become closer and closer each day. By each new form we learn from him, the better equipped we can be."

"So how strong is he? And can he compare it to one of the Empire's powerful fighters?" Lubbock asked.

"I don't know, but if I can make a guess: one has the power to manipulate ice. It's owner is quite strong. Fortunately for us though she's not in the Capital right now. She's trying to subdue the people in the north," Najenda said.

"Why the people in the north?" Tatsumi asked.

"The Prince of the Northern Tribe is known as Numa Seika. He's a legendary hero who fights with a spear and has never lost. Not only he's a master strategist but the people trusts him very dearly which made him a threat to the Empire. He took over the Northern Fortress Capital and turned it into a base with his tremendous army. Since then his forces began to invade more and more aggressively so the Empire formed a special unit to fight them off."

"I don't think we need to worry about that," Lubbock said, "It would take a whole year to take out those forces, even for her."

"Besides, we got Ben! He has Big Chill! He can outfreeze the Ice Queen!" Mine said.

"Yeah, go kiss his ass and lick his boots while you at it,"Tatsumi mumbled.

"What was that? I am just stating facts you jerk!" Mine snapped. Tatsumi laughed.

"Enough," Najenda said, "Even with Ben this is the Empire we're talking about. Ben might be strong, but he's not invincible. He has a heart, his heart pumps blood, meaning he can still bleed."

Tatsumi giggled, "Well I say bring it on! Let's train Ben and record as many of his monsters as we can! So that way we would know how to work with him when the time comes for the revolution!"

"You're awfully in a good mood, what's gotten into you?" Leone asked.

"I mean, Ben can transform into anything right? Well...what if...what if there's a monster in that thing of his that can bring the dead back to life! I mean he did say he can transform into a lot of monsters! Right?" Tatsumi said excitedly. Everyone - excluding Ben who was knocked out, looked at Tatsumi with gravely eyes, "If there is a monster in Ben's Ultimatrix, I can use that monster to bring back Sayo and Iesou back! All we have to do is train him and record!"

"Oh honey," Bulat said, "Not even with Ben's monsters can bring the dead back to life. We only have one shot at life."

Tatsumi got angry, "That's not true! We just have to keep looking! Imperial Arms or the monsters in Ben's Imperial Arms! We just have to keep looking that's all!"

"Boss," Akame intercepted, "Do you have it?"

"I do. I was afraid this might happen," Najenda said pulling out Tatsumi's sword from the back of her chair. Tatsumi was shocked as well as everyone else. Mine's eyes widened.

"Is that?" Mine said.

"My sword?" Tatsumi finished.

Akame held Tatsumi's sword by her hands with the blade laying flat. She gave it to Tatsumi to examine it. "It's like new? But what does..."?

"Ben fixed it," Akame intercepted.

"How?" Tatsumi asked, "He couldn't have fixed it. This has to be new."

"It's because its not," Najenda said, "I was told the other night that Ben has the ability to control time and space at will. How he fixed it was through his monster called Clockwork."

"Wait, he can time travel too?!" Leone and Mine asked in shock. Tatsumi's jaw hit down to the ground.

"Hah! I knew it!" Tatsumi yelled at Bulat's face, "All we have to do is wake him up!"

"Not so fast," Najenda said, "When Ben transforms into it, it takes a toll of his life force. Akame even felt it. We don't know how far he could push it. I don't even think he knows how powerful that form is."

"He probably thought it was impossible and that's why he kept the thing a secret in the first place," Bulat said. Tatsumi felt broken once more.

"Just forget it. If you don't let go of that weakness, the enemy would truly see it. And if they do, it'll get you killed," Akame said.

Tatsumi got angry, however this was not lost on Sheele; Tatsumi ran out the door in tears. Sheele followed while the others stayed.

"What are we gonna do with Ben?" Mine asked.

"Simple, we use him for the most egregious of tasks. Missions that are too impossible, he would be a great asset," Najenda said.

Akame stared at Ben, she jumped when he began to wake up. He yawned, stretched his arms and scanned the area.

"Why am I doing back here? What happened to the walk?"

"You passed out when you...saved me," Akame said.

"So, you can time travel huh?" Leone asked trying to hold her anger.

"Uhhh..."

"Don't worry they know. Tatsumi was about to ask whether or not if you can bring the dead back to life. We weren't sure if you could do that. I observed that since you fixed Tatsumi's sword..."

"So Tatsumi thinks that I can bring what from the dead? Wait he lost someone?"

"We all did," Najenda said, "We all lost the people we knew. Hence one of the reasons of why we're here."

"So you can time travel huh?" Leone asked again.

"Yeah. But only for a short time. Clockwork can only replay past events and turn back time of things that were once broken for a few seconds or days. But after that, my body just feels weak."

"It's your life force. It dims whenever you use it. And Tatsumi was about to ask you whether or not if you could resurrect his friends," Akame said.

"Well I'm sorry for what happened to his friends. But I don't know if I can be of any help. If I use Clockwork again, I won't be awake for a long time," he said.

"It's okay. As for now, try and get yourself some sleep. You have a big day tomorrow," she said.

"A big day for what?" Ben asked.

"Ah you know," Mine said draping her arms over Ben's shoulders showing him the way out. Akame just stared at Ben as the others began to hug around him.

Akame just saw them walk away with him; this was not lost on her Boss; "Something bothering you, Akame?"

"No ma'am, it's just that Ben..."

"Ben would be okay. I am confident that he may survive the revolution; however, if you are thinking about loyalty to the rebellion, I think his heart is in the..."

"No, that's not what I am addressing," Akame said, getting her Boss's attention, "It's about Ben inability to finish the job. Today I asked him if he would join Night Raid - like for real. I saw that in his heart, he really doesn't have it in him to kill. He'll maim but he won't kill."

"So he's like Tatsumi?"

"Unlike us, his past is a mystery. Everything about him is mysterious," Akame said.

"Then try to find out more about him; I want to know every detail. For now, you are tasked in being his shadow. Follow him everywhere he goes, I don't care where. Is that clear?"

"Yes Boss," Akame said.

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Ben was in his room just looking at the stars; he started to think on what others told him about Tatsumi. He really felt bad, so he wanted to go and check. "Poor guy," he said, "He really missed his friends. Boy he and I can relate. Let me see how he's doing."

Ben activated his Ultimatrix and smashed the dial down.

...

Outside, Big Chill (now intangible) flew above Tatsumi and Sheele who were near a cliff. Tatsumi sat across from two stones, graves Ben noticed. He levitated down and listened in on their conversation.

"Tatsumi, should you be going to bed soon?" Sheele asked in a concerned tone in her voice.

"I was so happy when I thought that Ben's monsters would bring them back to life. I knew it was crazy, but I knew it would be some small chance," Tatsumi said, clutching his hands together tightly, trying to hold back his tears, "I'm not gonna see them ever again am I?" Tatsumi sobbed, "I thought I had accepted that!"

"Oh man, I know the feeling. But this is...whoever did this would pay for this. Crimes like this makes me sick," Big Chill muttered to himself trying to hold back his own anger from a certain someone back in his own universe.

Suddenly, Big Chill saw Sheele holding Tatsumi calming him down as he cried.

"Aww ain't that sweet," Big Chill said aloud.

"What was that?" Tatsumi and Sheele said.

"Oh crap," Big Chill said about to make a run for it until his Ultimatrix snitched on him and transformed him back into Ben.

"Stupid watch!" Ben yelled.

"Ben?" Sheele asked, "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in bed?"

"Yeah," Ben said.

Tatsumi dared not to look at Ben.

"Tatsumi right?" Tastumi turned to Ben.

"Yeah?"

"Those might be your two fallen comrades right?" Ben asked.

Tatsumi nodded.

"You really want to..."

"You don't have to," Tatsumi said, "Akame told me everything. I thought..."

"So people who never operated the thing and have no idea how this thing works are advising you how this thing works?" Ben asked.

Tatsumi and Sheele furrowed, "Look, I can't bring your friends back from the dead. I wish I did but I can't, but that doesn't mean that you can't see them," Ben said operating his Ultimtrix only to see it red.

"Damn," Ben said.

"What's wrong?" Sheele asked unaware of a smiling Tatsumi.

"This thing is on red. It needs to recharge. Too much transformations can strain this thing," Ben said.

"So, you can let me see them one more time?" Tatsumi said.

Ben nodded, "Yep, just as soon as this thing turns green. Look, watch or no watch, your friends are up there watching you," he put his hands over Tatsumi's shoulders, "Because they are gone, they're not forgotten okay."

Ben was soon hugged by a grieving Tatsumi, only for his body to be squeezed.

"Choking not breathing!" Ben said.

"Woops," Tatsumi said wiping his tears. Sheele smiled.

"You are full of surprises, Ben," Sheele said, "First you saved Akame and now you're comforting Tatsumi. You're something else."

"Hey, I'm a one man army you know," Ben said blushing. The three had a good laugh as they headed back to the Hideout - unaware of a certain someone watching them.

However unknown to them, a young man with tan skin, golden eyes and pale lilac hair was on top of the tallest tree of the valley watching them. He had a noticeable X-shaped scar on his face and a crown-like headgear. He wore a white skintight shirt that revealed his stomach and white pants. He watched half of the show but luckily he missed the Blue Mothman.

"So this must be little Base my father was struggling to look for. This is Night Raid huh? They don't look that tough. Oh this is going to be so much!" he giggled.

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Ben finally got back into his bedroom had after giving Tatsumi a wonderful smile. However, on his way to bed was a young girl with long black hair that reaches down to her knees and red eyes. Akame sat down in Bed's bed as if waiting for him.

"Um...hello?"

"Ben, I was tasked to be your shadow. So I must be that shadow," she said.

"Weird," Ben said in his mind. Akame got up and pulled up a chair across from him. Ben got into bed.

"This is weird," Ben commented.

"Don't be freaked out. Just think of me studying you."

"There's an easy way to do that right?"

"Yes, by watching you."

Ben's eyes widened. "Okay then..."

AN: Hey there guys, just here to say sorry for the long update. Had a lot of stuff going on and more stuff to follow. I hope I can give you all chapter 11 soon though. I hope it won't take too long to bring it out. I have been working on this for weeks now trying to find that perfect pitch to land and voila! Yay new chapter. Ugh, gotta head back to school this week. I hope I give you all the 11th chapter. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this fic as much as I enjoyed writing it! Please always leave reviews, they are always appreciated. Thanks!

PEACE and HAPPY HOT JANUARY!