We currently see Ben standing outside a mall wearing his usual sleeveless jacket, black shirt with green highlights, green pants and black boots. As to why he had been waiting here, Mai had suggested that the team goes on an outing to de stress, relax and have fun.

Majority of the team had voted yes on it as they wanted one day without getting stressed out. Ben included, though he didn't understand why Minase said to arrive early. "Why would she want me to get here early?" He asked yawning.

"Hey Ben" he heard said girl's voice say, looking to his right Ben saw her in a black polo shirt with a set of jeans. "Oh hey Koito... what's up?" He asked rubbing his eye, "as they say, early birds get their worms. And mine is right over there" she explained pointing to the music store inside the mall.

Ben looked in an saw an employee put something up inside, "What's that" he asked. Minase replied with "that happens to be a new album coming out by one of my favorite artists" she said. "I want you to help me get it as quick as possible when the doors open", Ben looked at her before rubbing his eyes and yawned again. "Well... sure, I don't mind" he said, she nodded "t-thanks", he then noticed another employee begin to open the doors, "looks like they're opening up now" he said. "Oh you're right" Koito said as they began to walk up "better hang on to me" he said before putting her hand over his shoulders.

Which had made her blush, once the doors were unlocked Ben sped in holding the red head. With several people following dangerously behind, "woah hey?! Is all this fuss really necessary?" He asked shocked. "This band is really popular, and there are only a handful of places to get this CD" Minase said.

Thankfully they were able to reach the store in time and Koito got her CD, "now that that's out of the way, we better find the others" she said looking around for the rest of their team. "Knowing them Haruhiko probably did something to them by accident and Mai's kicking his butt for it, while Reina and Kurumi try to stop them without getting into the conflict" Ben said making her giggle a bit.

"All the while Iwa and Supuarito are talking on their way here and he was probably so distracted he knocked into a streetlight and fell into her shirt. Causing Iwa to blush hard while Supuraito slips and slides trying to get out without touching a few certain places of her's" He added making Koito giggle some more.

"Yeah" She said, Ben Smiles while blushing a bit. "Say before they arrive, want to..." Then was saying while visiting his feet. "Want to look around for a while?" He asked, she looked at him then nodded "yeah sure" she replied. With a small tint of pink on her face, ever since their little mission a few weeks ago with the man making cryptid copies, Ben and Koito have been hanging out more often. Whether it'd be at the school or on their days off, most of the time Ben would go over to her place so Haruhiko or the others wouldn't butt in. Koito has also been helping Ben to find a new place to live and helps him determine whether the place is good or not.

As to why he did so, Ben didn't want to be a burden on Haruhiko longer than he already was, plus he also couldn't take anymore of the phantom hunter's late night mumbling and annoying explanations of slightly abnormal common day events. At one point Ben nearly strangled him for being too mouthy, back to their house search, One time a landlord of one apartment building had mistook them for a young couple finally moving out of their parent's house.

They were very embarrassed when that happened, though neither can explain it, they felt an odd pull towards each other. Though they couldn't explain it, Both Ben and Minase had knew of the attraction they felt, problem was they didn't know if they should or shouldn't express or show it. The rest of the morning, the two phantom hunters had been walking around looking at what they can do before their team arrives. At one point they entered a prank store, Koito had commented all of the merchandise been very old and retro. Like around 1990's type jokes and gags. Ben Agreed, only it was after putting on a gag arrow like the one he wore during that magic convention with the return of lucky girl.

After that they saw that an escape artist had planned to do a show in the mall, Ben said that might be fun to watch and Minase Agreed. Then both remembered how Haruhiko would ramble on about how the illusion works with a person's brain and they decided to see it without their friends. Just so he won't ruin the magic of it, so far their day went fine by any standard and they had gotten to know each other more. Ben found out that Koito had a soft spot for animals when she told him how she had unlocked her ability when a three headed chimera phantom attacked her school's rabbit hutch.

Which lead to her shut in phase, not letting anyone get close to her. And after the day when Haruhiko and the others helped her defeat a similar Phantom like the one who attacked her four years ago. Afterwards she opened up more, Ben had felt a bit bad for her, just having something special about yourself turned into a reason to be ignored. Then he shared some of his life with her, the full story of his encounter with the original Omnitrix, along with the time Max had been sent to the hospital.

How he saw that as a reason to stay away from the people he cared about to not get them mixed up in his battles. She felt sorry that it happened, Then when the two weren't looking someone or something had handcuffed them. "Huh?! What the!" They exclaimed seeing a kid skate away from them. "Rotten brat" Ben said trying to chase him only to trip and with Minase following falling on top of him.

"Ow..." she groaned getting up looking at the handcuffs, "oh man, Ben think you can phase through this?" Minase asked getting up. "I should be" he said before turning his hand into Ghost Freak's, however he found that the cuffs didn't pass through. "The heck?!" He said trying to get them off, "what is up with these?!" He growled trying to use Heat Blast's finger as a blow torch to melt the cuffs. Had they actually paid attention to them, they'd realize the cuffs were read and shaped like hearts.

"Darn, what are these things ma-" Koito was cut off and Ben stopped when they heard Supuraito and Ruru calling out their names. "Ben-San!" The thread phantom yelled "Minase-Chan!" The genie added, the two peeked out from the wall they were behind with shocked faces as they saw the rest of their team standing in the entry way. "Crap! what are we gonna do?!" Ben exclaimed as he and Koito hid back to avoid being spotted when Reina looked in their direction.

"Well for one thing" Koito said "we are definitely not gonna let them see us", Ben peeked once more and Saw Ruru floating over in their direction his eyes widened before she floated up reading a sign. "Wow! Ice cream! Haru! This way!" She called pulling his cheeks in her desired direction "Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ruru!" He complained as the others giggled walking behind.

"Whew" Minase sighed, Ben mimicked her when he noticed Supuraito look back and he pulled her into the hallway where they were hiding. The phantom shrugged before moving forward, "okay that was too close" The Alien shapeshifter said as he and Koito peeked at them. "Yeah, they'll probably misunderstand if they see the handcuffs. We need to find out how to remove these things and fast" She replied as they ran off in a different direction. First was mall security to see if they had a key for the handcuffs.

Sadly they didn't, but when they were about to leave they heard Haruhiko being manhandled by Mai outside the door and had exited through the air vents. Next up was the escape artist, they suspected someone stole one of the handcuffs in his act and his staff may have the key for it. Unfortunately not...

They then saw Iwa and Supuraito heading their way to see the show, to which Ben and Koito hopped inside a nearby pot and Ben stuck out WildVine's vines to appear as a potted plant. After that was the joke store, and it wasn't their's, had it been the cuffs would've been plastic and easy to break. The two once again walked out in defeat as Ben saw Reina and Kurumi exit a toy store, Minase thought quick and they jumped onto a wall and acted as street art. Ben had turned the top left of his body into Blitzwolfer's and Koito styles her hair and faced away from him making a terrified pose.

"That's a nice painting" Reina said as she and Kurumi passed by with the younger girl nodding in agreement. Ben then reverted and looked surprised "I can't believe they fell for that" he commented jumping down with Minase. "Yes it surprised me as well" Minase commented as they took off, "I think our best bet is to find that kid who put these on us in the first place" Ben said.

"Agreed, adding to the fact that these cuffs hadn't been able to be broken off. It's likely they were either made by a person with powers or they're a phantom" she replied. As they were about to round a corner Ben stopped in his tracks effectively stopping his friend as well "hey what's..." he covered her mouth and pointed around the corner to reveal Haruhiko and Mai walking in their direction. The former Having several bruises, "jeez Mai... was it necessary to hit me that hard?" He whined rubbing his sore cheek.

"Absolutely you perv! I mean no one just falls into someone's chest by accident twice in a row! That was definitely on purpose" she said harshly "ha ha that was funny" Ruru said floating above them. The two gasped and backed up before seeing Reina and Kurumi coming back talking animatedly not actually seeing the two. They doubled back and after saw Iwa and Supuraito go down the escalator, "aww crud" The shapeshifter said as they backed into a depression in the wall, "they're bound to see us" Minase whispered.

"What're we gonna do?" Ben asked, they looked around to find a solution as to how to get out of this conundrum. Minase spotted a couple on the far edge of the mall and they had gave each other a kiss, she blushed from seeing it. But it gave her an idea, she was about to debate whether or not to consider it but had not time as their friends drew closer. "Uh... Ben... I have an idea" she said as he turned his head "I'm all ears" he said, "remember those wigs we got from the joke store?" Koito asked.

They got them after exiting to figure out something for later, "yeah, why?" He asked, "quick give me the black one and you take the blue one, also take of your jacket" she said as they put on the wigs. "Okay what for... Hey?!" He yelped as she pulled him towards her into the depression. "Just keep quiet, act like your pinning me to the wall" she said. Ben blushes, "Wait what are you?!" "Shh here they come!" She whispered as the team met up a few meters behind them.

"Hey Haruhiko, did you Mai and Ruru find Ben or Minase yet?" Reina asked, "no, we can't find them. Though I did remember from the security officer they were reporting something about a handcuff" the green hair replied dizzily. "That's all you remember?" Mai asked "mainly because you kept man handling me" he replied "I've got it on video" Ruru said holding a phone showing the best down. "We couldn't find the. Either, but we did go see a cool escape artist show" Supuraito said, "yeah, Supuraito even got into the act" Iwa said giggling as he blushed. "What's with the face?" Ruru asked "he volunteered for the straight jacket act but he got both the jacket and his clothes along with the performer's clothes ripped off" Iwa giggled making the phantom blush more.

"Me and Kurumi haven't seen them either" Reina said, "though we did see a lot of nice toys" the girl chirped. "They're gonna see us" Ben whispered, "not if they hear something they don't want to hear and see or don't want Kurumi to hear of see" Koito said. Then pulled Ben's face close to her's (A/N: just for the record from this point I have passed this story onto Aphromatrix-C-37 so she can write this part. I have given her a limit to write and when she's done I'll be taking over)

"Hey what are you do-" Ben stammered "it's just pretend, just stick your tongue out and moan" Minase said blushing. Then did so "mmm:.. mmm!!!" She moaned, Ben blushed out of embarrassment, then decided to man up and copied her. Form a side view it just looks like their just sticking their tongues out at one another but from the back as they were hiding in a depression they couldn't be seen very accurately so it looked like they were kissing.

"Huh... eep?!" Mai blushed seeing them, "er... come on guys... lets uh... let's move" she said trying to avoid the scene. "Wait maybe they've seen Ben or Minase" Supuraito said flying over to them "Haruhiko no! Get back you moron!" Mai said before receiving a slap from Iwa "don't insult my boyfriend!" She said "he shouldn't be asking strangers random stuff!" Mai argues. When Supuraito was about to get closer Ben flinched "were screwed" he cursed, "not yet, quick act menacing and repeat this" she said whispering to him, "excuse me, have you two seen a brown haired boy or a pink haired girl around this fine day?" Supuraito asked cheerfully.

Ben then turned his head with one of the wig's bangs covering his eye "the hell, you interrupted my quality time with my gal? Just to ask a stinkin question?!" Ben said irritably while Minase panted acting like she was out of breath. Making Supuraito flinch in fear, "w-well... as much as I understand how important it is to show your girl some love... I really want to find my friends... if you would give me only a few minutes of your ti..." he didn't have time to finish when Ben hit him really hard and knocked him back to the other "Buzz off insect!!" He yelled.

"I'M GONNA KILL HIM!!" Iwa screamed trying to run over to Ben and Minase while being held back by the team with Kurumi's teddy bear holding her by the arms. "No Iwa stop!" Reina said as they tried to pull her away "Iwa don't it's not worth it!" Mai added pushing her back. Though Iwa did get one hit in by throwing a rock at Ben, which made him lurch forward.

The team left but didn't know that their actions caused Ben and Koito's lips to actually make contact and go for an open mouth kiss. Surprising both of them, 't-this... wasn't supposed to happen?!' Koito thought as Ben inwardly panicked. As they tried to separate their mouths Ben's tongue had accidentally entered into Minase's causing her to gasp and try to push it back. Unfortunately with her own tongue which surprised both of them, then something in their heads turned off and they're tongues went at it... (Aphro Sees Humatrix's hand in the form of a hammer hovering above head) but after a while they stopped while looking into each other's eyes while panting.

In a minute the two stopped and backed away from one another blushing, "Uh... accident right?" Ben asked avoiding eye contact. "Y-Yeah! Purely accidental" she said, thankful that the rest of the team was gone, "w-we should probably find out what's with these handcuffs..." Ben said as Minase nodded. (And I have custody back for this story) Then the two noticed that the handcuffs had changed and was now instead a read string of sorts. "Well... this is interesting" Minase said, "I'm thinking phantom" he commented, she nodded in agreement.

The two had walked off and saw a few more people with the same handcuffs they had. "Well that isn't suspicious at all" he said walking up to one pair "Uh excuse me, but can you tell us what these things are about?" Ben asked them showing her and Koito's thread. "You were selected for this contest eh?" One of the two said, "contest?" They inquired before hearing Haruhiko speak up "Ben? Koito? What are you doing?" He asked making the two jump.

They turned to see the team behind them, "seriously what is up with you two?" Mai asked them. Ruru then floated next to them with a sly look "ooh, we're you avoiding us to get a bit of alone time?" She asked. "N-no! Ruru!" They yelled, the genie like phantom then noticed the red string around their wrists. "Hey what's this?" She asked, "to be honest, we're not sure" Koito admitted. "It's a red thread" Mai said, "that pair over there said it was for a competition" Ben said pointing to the large crowd of people with the same cuffs they had.

"Let's check it out" Supuraito said as they went over, and we're surprised to see a phantom on a stage with wings and heart shaped pupils. "Hello all patrons, my name is Cupid, a long existent phantom and I'm passionate about... Well passion!" She said, "Cupid? Why does that sound familiar?" Haruhiko "does valentine's day ring a bell?" Ben asked.

Mai then spoke "oh yeah, Cupid is supposed to be the mascot for Valentine's Day" she said, "but what's the phantom of Valentine's doing here?" supuraito asked. "If you're wondering why I have selected you for my little contest here, I just want to spread some love is all, so each of my little angels here" she then gestures to the same kid who put the handcuffs on Ben and Minase along with more who turned out to be Cupid's like her.

"Has selected various pairs of people from the mall to help express or ignite the love between you" she explained. Then spotted Ben and Koito's thread, "oh and it looks like one pair had moved from the cuffs of love to the red thread of fate" she added making the two blush. "Ahh! The red thread of fate!" Haruhiko said, "what is it?" Reina asked, "a legend of sorts that started in Japan, human relations are predestined by a red string that the gods tie to the pinky fingers of those who find each other in life. Legend has it that the two people connected by this thread will have their lives intertwined regardless of the time, place or circumstances. The red string might get tangled, contracted or stretched, as surely often happens, but it can never break." The boy explained.

"Oh yeah, I remember hearing about something like that, sometimes the people who have this little red string are destined to be lovers..." Iwa said before looking at the two. And smirked "oh now that's where you two were off to" she smirked before getting hit in the face by a pillow Minase had conveniently found on a nearby chair before throwing it at her. "They must have mistook any action you were doing as a sign of love" Ruru guessed, the two muttered in irritation.

"Anyway here's how the contest works, each of you will get two chances to sing a full spirited love song as a duet. Whoever wins shall have these cuffs removed and gets a full love filled fun time with their pair" Cupid explained. "Singing? That should be easy for you right Mina?" Ben asked making her a bit flustered, "we'd be singing to each other than just to an audience you know..." she reminded him.

"Oh:.. right... well I do want to get this string off... mainly because it'll affect anything we do until it comes off by itself" Ben explained. "Right" She said, the contest then started, a lot of good pairs gave their best. A few songs were classics like come and get your love by redbone, I want you back by the Jackson 5, and hooked on a feeling by Blue Swede. And more recent ones like Love Song by Sara Bareilles, you belong with me by Taylor Swift and very recent like I'm gonna lose you by Meghan Trainor.

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As the second pair to Ben and Minase was about to end their song Ruru spoke to the two "So what song are you love birds doin?" She asked. "Stop assuming we're dating" Minase growled, "seriously please stop" Ben complained, the two were then called up.

"So we're doing that song?" He asked "yup" she replied as they climbed up on stage. "Okay please tell the audience your name's" Cupid said before flying above them, "I am Ben Tennyson" Ben introduced, "And I am Koito Minase" she added. Then Cupid got in their faces "come on! Add some spunk! Some pizazz!" She said, Ruru then smirked before nodding at Supuraito. He smiled and created threads and connected them to Koito and Ben "Hi Hi!" The pink hair exclaimed, "this is Ben 10xpassion!" The green eye said, "and Koito kisser" Minase cheered blowing a kiss to the crowd.

"And this is the song we have chosen!" They said together before covering their mouths blushing. They looked to Supuraito who were trying to act innocent and whistled, then looked at them with murderous intent.

"So... here it is" Minase as the music started.

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(Stop at 1:40)
Ben
"Fly me to the moon, let me play among the stars, let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars. Oh in other ones, hold my hand, oh in other words, darling kiss me" (makes several planets and stars appear with Alien ax's powers).

Koito
"Fill my heart with song let me sing forever more, you are all I long for, all I worship and adore. In other words, please be true, oh in other words, I love you" (makes golden sound waves appear).

Ben
"Can you hear me? I'm talking to you, across the water across the deep blue ocean, under the open sky oh my, oh baby I'm trying". (Splashes water under neath himself).

Koito
"Boy I hear you, in my dreams, I feel you whisper, across the sea, take you with me, in my heart. You make it easier when life gets hard" (kneels down, then Ben helps her up).

Both
"Ooh lucky I'm in love with my best friend, lucky to have been where we have been, lucky to be coming home again.." (Stop and look into each other's eyes as the music begins to change to a different song).
(Start top song)

Ben
"You're a Falling star, (creates a shooting star above them) you're the getaway car, you're the line in the sand when I can go to far".

Koito
"You're a swimming pool on an August day, you're the perfect thing to say" (bats eyes)

Ben
"And you play it cool, (snaps fingers at her) but it's kind of cute, (she blushes but smiles) oh when you smile at me you know exactly what you do".

Koito
"Baby don't pretend, that you don't know it's true, because you can see when I look at you (looks into his eyes)"

Ben and slight Koito
"And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times, it's you it's you, you make me sing you every line, you're every word you're everything (Both wall in clockwise direction)"

Ben
"You're a carousel, you're a wishing well,(tosses a coin up) And you light me up, when you ring my bell."

Koito
"You're a mystery, you're from outer space (he chuckles knowing she is right),
You're every minute of my every day."

Ben
"And I can't believe, uh, that I'm your man,
And I get to kiss you, baby, just because I can(Both blush).
Whatever comes our way, ah, we'll see it through,
And you know that's what our love can do."

Both
"And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you"

Ben
you make me sing.
You're every line"

Koito
"you're every word"

Ben
you're everything."

Ben
"And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times"

Ben and Koito
"It's you, it's you, you make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything."

Ben
"You're every line,

Koito
"You're every word"

Both
"You're everything"

"La la la"

Once they were done the crowd cheered them on, realizing what they did both teens blushed before turning away for each other. "EEEEP!!! I don't know about you audience but I give this pair a 10/10!! I shall now remove the red thread" Cupid exclaimed as the thread disappeared. And that's when Ruru hovered next to them "he he... what was that about not being in love?" She asked smugly.

"Knock it off" Minase groaned walking off stage, "hey, it's only teasing, at least it can't get any worse" Cupid said making Ben Stop. "Ben? What is it?" Kurumi asked walking up to him, "you had to say it didn't you?" He asked confusing her, right when a roar was heard.

Looking towards the source everyone saw a giant half man half goat humanoid roaring out in fury and hunger. "A Satyr?!" Haruhiko exclaimed, "a what now?" Mai asked backing away "a Satyr, a Greek monster that personified the male facets of the world such as the desire to procreate and hunger for lust" he explained. "Then why did you scream while we're the ones he's gonna be after?!" Mai asked. "I'm still not over the fact that you guys get flaked out of me with that monkey phantom!" He retorted. "AAAHH!! Save me!" Cupid screamed hiding behind the team, "that thing has been following me around for months!" She said.

"Ahh it makes sense, satyrs as I said are the personification of male lust and hunger, he must've confused your true love mission with the love affinity of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. And has been tracking you to satisfy his desires" Haruhiko added, "of goat boy here even lays a finger on Ko-THE GIRLS!! I'm gonna snap his neck!" Ben said turning into Omni. "Okay ram man, let's see how you like this!" Ben yelped before jumping up and started beating down on the phantom.

As everyone gazed at true spectacle of an angry alien lizard beating up a Greek monster, Supuraito spoke up "is it just me, or was Ben about to say someone's name before when he shouted the girls?" He asked. "NO! Definitely not!" Minase said making Ruru smirk.

After Ben finished beating up the goat phantom Haruhiko sealed it, on their way home Ben decided to walk his pink haired friend back to her apartment. "You didn't have to walk me back you know" she said, "considering the embarrassing day we've had, I think I should at least do something nice to make up for it" he replied. "Well it's appreciated" she said as they arrived, "So Ben..." Minase spoke, "Yeah Mina?" He asked, "we, we agreed to the mashup of fly me to the moon and lucky for the song right?" Koito asked. Ben nodded.

"Well... where did the Everything song come from?" She asked, he looked down "not sure" he replied. Minase then spoke up once more, "also how did we even stay in syncs during the whole song?" She asked. "It... it is a mystery" Ben said feeling his heart beat faster, and Koito felt the same thing in her chest. As she looked back at him, she felt her face flush, "h-hey Ben" she said as he approached her. "I know Ruru was just teasing us... but... if I did want to go out with you, would you say yes?" She asked him.

Ben was taken aback, "I'm just asking because... as you can see, I'm not technically the cutest girl in the school. And Because I can't express my feminine side very well some of the guys at the school call me a tomboy." She explained, "w-well... I think that's way off" Ben said surprising her. "W-what?" She said, "well... I think your cute..." he said with a tint of pink on his cheeks making her blush, "and besides, just because you seem a little tomboyish doesn't mean it's bad, it just shows you're a girl who can take care of herself" he said.

"And plus you have some major points, you can hanfle yourself in a fight, you're smart too, and you've got great taste in music. So you're cute in your own way, something's way more interesting than standard cute" he said. At this point the poor girl was too stunned to comprehend this, but she managed to get out something "w-wow... thanks Ben..." she said.

"But to answer your question... if you ddI ask me to date you... I'd actually say yes" he said shocking her once more. After a few seconds of awkward silence Ben heard a drop, looking at Minase he saw several tears fall off her face "woah! Koito, are you okay? What's wro-?!"

He didn't have to to ask when she grabbed him by the jacket and pulled him to her, "thank you" she uttered before Ben felt a pair of lips connect with his own. He was shocked to see a teary eyed Minase kissing him, as much as Ben had wanted to get out of this awkward situation, some other part of him had urged him to let it go. So in response Ben closed his eyes and kissed her back, making her moan a little as he hugged her. Once they separated after a minute or two, the pair looked into each other's eyes, "huh... the red thread of fate may have been removed by Cupid, but the bond it made" Ben said hugging her again. "It's never left since" she finished as the screen went black.