My Miraculous, UNLOCK! A PSL for a Ladybug in Japan.

[amu_chan]

After settling in, Tom and Sabine would have given Marinette a surprise gift, since they could tell that she hadn't fully wanted to come overseas on this trip. So once they were settled in they gave her an envelope. Inside was a concert ticket for the next night and some spending money to buy herself either something to wear for the concert, or cloth if she wanted to make something herself, since the air B&B they were staying at had a sewing machine. They would be at the concert too, since it was a strange city in a foreign country and all, but they assured her they would be sitting several rows back.

They totally weren't going so Tom could spy on if she was flirting with any Japanese boys, NOPE! Not at all. She can't prove it.

Anyway.

So she would be given an afternoon with some money and a map to wander if she wanted to, so long as she was home in time for dinner. There might have been threats that if she was late coming back for dinner they would spend the whole concert glued to her side, but that was probably a joke. Right?

It was cold outside, late December snows keeping some people indoors, so the streets weren't too crowded, but that made it that much easier to catch hints of conversations from the people who were out. Teenagers and kids were talking about school, and sports, and the upcoming concert which seemed to be a big deal. The two main acts were a boy band called Darts and a singer named Utau. There were subtle advertisements here and there, but at least one shop window had a pair of posters for them. Darts was all cookie cutter boy band, and on the young side. Nothing like the energy someone would get from a Jagged Stone poster. It looked like SAFE had been the key word for the design team.

The poster for Utau however....

The girl in the poster couldn't have been older than sixteen or seventeen, and the babydoll black dress and the blond pigtails should have made her look soft and safe as well. Should have made her look young, even with the tall heels she was wearing. But there was nothing comforting or cookie cutter about the poster of her. Everything from the look in her eyes to her stance seemed to act as a warning. Or maybe that was just because Mari knew Chloé. Just from the image she seemed to have all the attitude Chloé tried to have. But what held people going by was the expression on her face. The eyes. Where all the boys of Darts were smiling brightly at the camera, and thus the passer bye, her violet eyes held a challenge, her lips a slight down turn that might remind one of Gabriel Agreste at his more irritated. As though the photo shoot, or perhaps the audience, was a waste of her time.

In fact, some of the people passing by would comment, and Mari could hear them, about how she was so pretty, why wouldn't she smile, or about how her music was so good you almost didn't care that her poster looked like it hated you. A few guys starred dreamily at the poster, though.

One boy, maybe 19 or so, stopped near Mari, eyeing the poster for a moment, his eyes cool, his face blank, hands in his pockets. Unlike everyone else, he hadn't bothered with a winter coat, wearing an all black outfit with small silver crosses here and there. He had short dark blue hair and for some reason might aaaaaalmost remind her of Chat, though there was no logical reason for it. Tikki, however, would sense something from him. The boy didn't seem to notice Mari at all, however, and would turn and walk off again after only a moment, seeming bored.

And he wouldn't be the only one Tikki would sense something odd about. Not five minutes later, three girls would be passing, huddled in their jackets. Two of them looked about a year or two younger than Marinette, the third looked a year or two younger than that. The youngest looking one had brownish hair in pigtails that DID make her look younger, but the barrettes might have something to do with that. Big red bows. She was also bouncing a bit as she walked, and all her mannerisms made her seem young. Of the other two, one had shockingly pink hair with a red X hair barrette over one small lock that was pulled up over the rest, and bored seeming gold eyes. She was hunched into her black and red jacket against the cold. The third had long purple hair Juleka would have loved and kind eyes, along with small kind expressions. She moved with a gentle grace, small fluid motions, and her jacket was well tailored to her and looked very feminine in style and cut. Very well made. The other two were clearly wearing off the rack coats, hers looked custom designed for her.

The youngest was talking animatedly. "Are we going to Utau's concert this time too, do you think? Should we ask Kukai and Tadase at school tomorrow?"

"Do we have a choice, after last time?" The pink haired one grumbled.

"Hmmm," the purple haired one said. "We probably should go. Let's bring it up at the meeting, alright?"

She looked like she was about to say something then looked around, scowling. She stared at Marinette for a moment then looked past her, before turning to the purple haired girl. "Where are Ran and the others?"

"I think Kiseki said something about training, they'll be along." And with that the three kept walking.

But not only would Tikki sense something odd from those three, the pink haired one the most, but.... something the pink haired one was wearing or carrying under that coat and scarf, hidden from sight, was something that Tikki would feel like a wave of power. As if she had just eaten one of the macarons with an enhancement potion in it. Something that girl had with her would make Tikki feel strong and amped up... but it wasn't any feeling she'd recognize.

Comments

[coccinelled]

Marinette wasn't thinking about meeting and ending up dating any boys while here, of course. Not that it necessarily stopped her well-meaning protective dad, of course. Still, she does appreciate the money and the ticket to the concert, so she takes them up on the money, the offer to go find something to wear. She gives a shrug at the boy band, unsure if they seem like her kind of thing, but then she hasn't heard their music, and she knew appearances could be deceiving, given Rose and her music she enjoyed, for example.

She doesn't sense anything the same way Tikki does, but she does get alerted to it when Tikki waits till they are alone to speak up, telling Marinette to follow the girls. So she does, while trying not to seem too suspicious about doing so. Sure, she was supposed to find an outfit but it isn't like she didn't also bring clothes anyway. And besides, if Tikki felt something, then this must be important.

Except. This is Marinette so of course she is a klutz and trips on something. And falls. Making a lot of noise. So much for stealth in finding out about this 'training' they mentioned?

[nadenagi]

The three heard the fall, the youngest one jumping in shock and twisting to see what happened, the pink haired one turning, starting to skid, and catching herself on the wall, leaning against it to face Marinette as if that was what she meant to do all along. The purple haired one pivoted smoothly and made her way over, dropping to a crouched position, all her weight balanced neatly on her toes in really impressive brown knee high boots as she offered a hand.

"Are you alright?" she asked gently, concern on her face and in her voice.

[coccinelled]

"Huh? I -- I'm alright. It happens all the time, really!"

Marinette isn't lying there. And the sheepish response she has in straightening herself, running a hand at the back of her head and neck is typical of her. She only knows perhaps a few basic words or phrases in Japanese though. So of course she naturally responds in her native French, as if her clothes and appearance didn't already out her as a tourist. This was awkward though. They look...worried? They obviously had no idea she was trying to follow them and is now busted in doing so.

She bites her lip, one hand at her other elbow in her arm crossing against her stomach as she gets to her feet, trying not to trip again in the process. Or lose her bag which Tikki is hiding in like always. How was she supposed to keep following them now?

using italics for French.

[nadenagi]

Hearing French, she gave a small smile, and replied in kind. "Have you ever considered dance classes, then?" she asked kindly.

"Whoa! You speak German, Nadeshiko?" the young one asked.

She chuckled and shook her head. "French, Yaya-chan."

"Anyone else cold?" Amu asked, seeming bored again. "Could we maybe do this inside somewhere?"

"A good idea, Amu-chan." She turned to Marinette. "There is a cafe not far from here, would you join us for hot cocoa?"

[coccinelled]

"Dance class? I'm not sure if that would help or make me feel even clumsier....."

She was so much better at keeping her balance and all as Ladybug. So much more confident in general. Though over time Marinette herself was slowly improving. Just not enough to have ever entirely left the clumsiness behind her. At least not yet. She glances between them as they talk, barely able to quite follow beyond maybe picking up the odd word, and guessing names? She thinks. That's usually where the honorifics come in, right?

But then the one that seems to know French turns to her again. "A cafe? Um, I do have some money? I was supposed to get an outfit for the concert tonight with it though. Or at least, material to make something myself."

[nadenagi]

She seemed to freeze for just a minute, then gave her a warm smile. "My treat. Would the concert be the one at Easter Stadium? Utau Hoshina and Darts?"

"Okay, even I understood some of that," Amu said, pushing away from the wall to walk over, hands shoved deep in her pockets. "She's not going to the concert, is she?"

"I wish we could find a way to get it canceled. Maybe the lighting rig will fall again, this time during rehearsal...."

[coccinelled]

"Yes. My parents managed to get tickets to it, while we're here for a while. Why, are you going too? But ah, are you sure? I mean, I'm not sure how much cafe food is here, but."

She still feels like she should repay them somehow? She just isn't sure how to, exactly. Still, she's not quite able to follow what the other two talk about. Given her limited knowledge of Japanese. Marinette tilts her head, pursing her lips, biting her lower one in thought.

"I'd like to at least do something to help repay you."

[nadenagi]

"I do not mind treating for a new friend. But if you really want to pay me back..." she smiled again and turned to lead the way towards the cafe, "stay close to your parents if you go to the concert tomorrow. There was an accident at the last show, and this concert is to make up for that. Some kids were badly injured, and I wouldn't want you to get hurt."

The other two fell into walking with them.

"Amu-chan, Tadase speaks French, doesn't he? Do you want to call him and see if he'd join us to translate?"

Amu turned bright red for a moment, then crossed her arms and looked away, chin in the air. "It's not like I'd know, but if he wants to come I suppose that's up to him."

A small chuckle. "I suppose so."

[coccinelled]

"Oh. They're coming too, my parents. Just they won't be sitting right with me? I don't think. But if there was an accident before, they probably fixed things so it wouldn't happen again, right?"

At least. Marinette would sure hope so. That and, well. She wouldn't want her parents to get hurt or in the middle of something. Accident or something else. She simply follows along as the others make their way to the cafe, letting them lead as she holds to her bag with the money, and Tikki, tightly at her side. Was this concert something she should be worried about? Evidently, she had missed the news about this being to make up for a previous incident like that. Of course, she isn't as sure what they are talking about other than the French, that and the random words she picks up on that isn't quite enough to understand fully. So she tunes out then, checking her watch on the time.

[nadenagi]

"Yaya-chan, can you order some cocoas for us all, and maybe some pastries?"

She made a face like a spoiled child, puffing out her cheeks. "Boo. Nadeashiko's desserts are better than any stupid cafe's."

"Please Yaya-chan? My treat."

She huffed a bit. "Okay, but I'm getting ice cream too." She bounded over to the counter.

Nadeshiko let Marinette and Amu to a booth in the back, then she turned to the newcomer. "I doubt it. Easter doesn't seem to care much about safety these days. I'm afraid someone might get hurt again at the next concert." she kept her voice low, as she spoke to her about it, though the odds of anyone overhearing understanding them was fairly low.

[coccinelled]

"What makes you think that? I mean, the first time could have just been an accident, right? I'm sure they wouldn't ignore the safety of their performers or customers. Sure, they might get money from the initial tickets but if this kept happening they wouldn't sell any because nobody would trust them."

Which, while Marinette's thinking might be logical, it's also possibly naive? Optimistic? In that she isn't considering that people might also just be thinking of the initial short term gain of money from a second concert. Still, she follows and sits down with the others, also taking their lead on talking quietly, even if most here probably wouldn't understand a word she is saying.

[nadenagi]

"Because that wasn't the first time Easter has been tangled up in children getting hurt," she said very softly, looking down at the table.

"You two ever going to speak Japanese? I could be going home, you know."

"I'm sorry, Amu-chan. You're right. I'll call Tadase-san and see if he is free to come help out with translation." When amu started to protest, she added with a small smile. "I mean, it will be a tight fit all of us in the booth, but that should be okay, right?" Amu's mouth snapped closed and she busied herself with removing her coat. Under it she wore what might have been a modified school uniform. A black blazer open over a white shirt and a half undone red tie. Her skirt was red plaid and there was a band of red silk pinned to one sleeve of her coat. Around her neck was a seemingly delicate chain and from it hung what looked like a decorative lock with a clover made of crystals. NAdeshiko opened her coat to show a variation of the same uniform, though hers was as neat as if it had just been pressed. Her blazer was closed, and there was no silk band. She did, however, wear what looked like a small cape around her shoulders that was even in length all around and closed over her tie. She pulled her phone out of a pocket.

"One moment, if that is alright?"

[coccinelled]

"Not the first time? O-oh, of course. If you need to message or call someone, feel free."

Not that Marinette might have clued in on them having a friend that could possibly translate for them. But she was just relieved she wasn't called out in following them or anything. And if it seemed like they were going to the concert as well, that could be an easy way to keep an eye on them, since Tikki seemed to think something was going on with these girls, or at least one of them.

And well. It's hard not to note the styles of the girls, given Marinette's penchant for fashion. The way it seemed like the outfit was a school uniform she had seen many girls wearing when she had been wandering earlier.

[nadenagi]

Nadeshiko gave her a bit of a smile then hit speed dial on her phone. After one ring there was a muffled voice on the other end, and also muffled, a yell from another voice. "S...Souma-kun? Where is... What?" she paled slightly, and nodded. "We're on our way but Temari and... okay. Alright. Yes. I understand." She hung up quickly. "I'm sorry, something came up," she started, but Amu grabbed her arm.

"What happened? Is Tadase okay? Are they okay?"

She pressed her lips together as she stood. "Batsu-chara."

"The Charas..."

"Are there."

Yaya skipped back to the table then. "Ordered us all desert and cocoas!" she said happily. Then blinked. "What's wrong?" her jacket was open now too, showing off the same uniform as the others, with the small cape, though hers looked more lived in and a bit wrinkled and messy. Just a bit.

"We have to go."

"But... desert..."

"Batsu-charas."

"Not Batsu-tamas....? Wait... MULTIPLE?"

She nodded, then turned to Marinette, pulling out a lot of money from her wallet and setting it down without looking. "Something came up, we have to go. Feel free to have them box up whatever you can't finish. This should cover the cost and tip. We're sorry,. hopefully we can meet again." With that, the three rushed out of there, not even bothering to close their coats. Yaya did look back longingly as the waiter brought over four huge deserts including an ice cream sundae. But she did go with them.

[coccinelled]

Marinette doesn't want to seem rude in not eating the food, so she sits for a moment still and thanks the server, passing them the money.

"Huh? Oh....Well, I might see you at the concert tonight then!" Marinette said, giving a wave. It's only once the girls were gone that she quickly tried a bite of the sundae, not wanting to waste it, before asking for the rest to go. She whispers to Tikki to follow them to check the direction the others were heading in while she waits for the portable take away to carry off with her.

It's a few minutes later before she's able to run out after the girls, carrying the rest in take away options for travel.

[amu_chan]

The scene they would come upon was the end of pure chaos. Nadeshiko was standing beside Yaya, both were panting. Yaya was holding what looked like a giant baby rattle, bigger than she was. Nearby was a tall boy closer to her age with wild brown hair and a grin, holding a baseball bat over one shoulder. Beside him was a short boy who looked like he could have been related to Adrien. A little young for her perhaps but that same exact flavour of pretty, save that his eyes were a pinkish brown rather than green. Both boys were wearing the blue version of the school uniform the girls wore, complete with capes. The brown haired boy looked exhilarated, the blond was also panting.

And then Amu dropped from... somewhere... right in front of Marinette, though her back was to the French girl, and she didn't seem to have noticed her. She was wearing a really pretty and unique pale blue top with a ruffled front, detached sleeves that went from tight to loose that ended in rufles. The bottom of the shirt hard two sharp points in front, one over either leg, and four longer scalloped tails around the sides and back. But as interesting as the shirt was... the rest was just... odd. She wore blue shorts that flared out slightly at the hems, with straps from the inside of the shorts to the tops of her tall blue on blue striped socks. The outfit was finished with brown boots that went to midcalf and an oversized blue beret that hid most of her hair and sported a huge blue spade. She landed with her feet apart a bit, skidding slightly, thrusting her hands out. All her attention was on the four shapes in the sky before her.

Each was a black egg with a large white X over the front.

Amu made a heart with her hands and thrust it out towards the eggs. "NEGATIVE HEART! LOCK ON!" she shouted. Oddly enough...that was English. Accented English, yes, but English. Light radiated out from the lock around her neck, because that she was still wearing, flowed through her hands, and bathed the four eggs in scintillating multi coloured light.

Up on a rooftop just past the eggs stood the tall boy who had been looking at the poster. He now had cat ears nestled in his hair and a tail. But his clothes were the same, and there was no mask. He watched for a moment, then turned and left. No one seemed to notice.

The eggs slowly turned from black to white, each with a pale pair of wings and a heart between in gold. The eggs came together once, then flew off in seperate directions.

"No Embryo," the blond boy said, standing up and wiping his forehead. Even sweaty he almost seemed to sparkle.

Amu nodded once and then turned to her side. There, floating at about shoulder height were two kwami sized people. One was in a pink dress with a pink bandana around her neck and a pink sun visor with a huge heart nestled in her pink hair. The other was wearing a very frilly green dress with a pale green frilly apron over it. She had ballet slippers in green that wound up her legs and a huge white hat over her blond hair, sporting a green clover.

"And where were you three when I needed you? We could have gotten here faster if I could have transformed into Amulet Heart!"

The pink one winced and twisted in the air. "We just wanted to do some training with Kiseki and Daisuki, then we got distracted when Yoru tried to steal Pepe's pacifier..."

Amu sighed and shook her head, then stopped, as that let her notice Marinette. She turned as pink as her hair and tried to cover herself with her arms, embarrassed. She... also was not wearing a mask.

The other kids came over, and then stopped as they each spotted Marinette.

The tall boy was the first one one to make a sound, to have a reaction. HE burst out laughing, bracing his hands on his legs. Floating beside him was another Kwami sized person, this one in a yellow shirt, white shorts, sneakers, and a white hairband with a star over his green spikey hair.

In fact, all of them had at least one of the little Kwami sized people floating with them. Yaya's looked like a baby, the blond boy's looked like a prince or a king complete with cape, crown, and scepter. Nadeshiko's looked like a small purple haired girl in an elegant kimono.

[coccinelled]

Marinette pauses behind them, her blue eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. Were those Kwami? Was that what had made Tikki so curious? But of course, asking might give her away? Not to mention if she herself were to transform while here, it probably would be all the more obvious. Given that there probably weren't so many French girls around Japan and all.

So she....is not quite sure how to respond in this situation. She blinks, her cheeks and nose slightly tinged pink as she tries to think of what to say exactly.

"I....huh? I thought you might like some of the rest.....?"

Which was true. But she had also been curious because of Tikki's noted interest in the girls. Not that she intends to blab about the kwami of course.

[amu_chan]

She frowned, trying to translate that.

The blond boy blinked, and came closer. "Oh. French? he asked. "You know the Guardians?"

Nadeshiko gave her a deep and perfect Japanese bow. "Thank you for that, though I do wish you had stayed back. You could have been hurt." Her voice was full of concern.

Still flushing she nodded to an alleyway. "Going to go get my jacket back, it's FREEZING. You keep talking whatever weird language you're talking..." she said, though as she passed she gave a bit of a longing look to the blond boy. Who utterly failed to notice. She sighed and slipped off.

[coccinelled]

"It's okay. I mean, I'm okay. I'm fine! But uh, Guardians of what?"

Because, well. She can't just straight up come out and talk about the kwami. Tikki has been clear about that, and unless Tikki says it's okay, Marinette doesn't want to just assume. Even if she thinks what she saw seems to possibly be more of them. Or some close equivalent, perhaps. Marinette doesn't want to potentially say too much. She glances to Tikki in her bag, biting her lip. Though probably it shouldn't surprise her if people elsewhere were hearing about the Miraculous, about Ladybug and Chat Noir. Especially what seem to be holders of their own Miraculous.

[chicklet]

"Not of anything, we're just the guardians. We protect the children of Seiyo academy, though recently that has come to include other children as well. I am Tadase Hotori, King's chair. This is Kukau Souma, JAck's chair." The brown haired boy stopped laughing to give her a thumbs up. "Yaya Yuiki, Ace chair." Yaya gave her a bright thumbs up. "Hinomori-san is the Joker," he said nodding to where Amu had been.

"I am Nadeshiko Fujisaki, Queen's chair," Nadeshiko cut in, introducing herself.

[coccinelled]

"Oh. So you protect them from those.....eggs....? And those little creatures help you fight?"

She's trying to guess, based on her own experience with dealing with the akuma victims back home in Paris. And in the knowledge about kwami. Not that she wants to give herself away as Ladybug. Not yet anyway. Though she might if Tikki reassures her. Or maybe if she has to. If they also have their own kwami and might need help while she is here? But she does make note of them. As potential allies.

Totally did not just make a journal for them. Nope. >.>

[kiddy_king]

The small king thing floating beside him turned as Amu arrived back in her coat and uniform with another one of the little creatures, this one was dressed in blue, in a tomboyish shirt, vest, and pants with a messenger bag, an oversized blue hat with a blue spade. This one was hugging a sketch pad nearly as big as it was. "Miki, follow this one there is an odd energy abo....." he stopped dead as though he just heard her words. he flew in front of her face, right up close enough that he could have kicked her nose. "You there! Peasant! You can see me?"

At the same time he was talking, Amu started speaking. "What little creatures?" she asked, sounding bored, and irritated.

The pink one floating beside her giggled. "Amu's freaking out."

"She is!" the green one by Amu's head said, her voice was almost irritatingly high. "She should be more cute and show it!"

Amu flicked her scarf back, which looked like a casual motion, except it hit both little creatures. They tumbled back in the air. giggling. clearly unhurt.

All the rp journals.

[coccinelled]

Marinette can't help but to blink, tilting her head at the small creatures. "Yes? Am I not supposed to....?"

Because they were right there. She's not sure if others usually can't see them? But even Chloe had seen Tikki before, and assumed her to be some sort of toy at the time, given Tikki playing as one. So she's probably safe in admitting that much, right? Though if they also sense something the same way Tikki did, they probably suspect her already as another with a kwami of her own.

Re: All the rp journals.

[amu_chan]

"She can see us!" the little pink one cheered happily. "NEW FRIEND NEW FRIEND NEW FRIEND!"

Oddly, Marinette would discover... what the small floating ones said, she could understand perfectly, even though they didn't seem to be speaking French.

Nadeshiko gave her a warm smile. "That is wonderful. Would you care to join us tomorrow afternoon for tea, after school then? We can explain everything there."

"Nadeshiko's tea!!! YAY!!!!!" She jumped up and down pumping her fists in the air, happy.

Amu shook her head, tossing her hair back.

"Amu is excited too! YAY!"

Amu flushed slightly and looked at none of them.

[coccinelled]

"Eh? Um.....Okay. Where should I meet you?"

She asks as she hands over some of the leftovers from the cafe that could be salvaged as take aways. If she could figure this quickly, she might still have time to find a dress for the concert in time to be back for dinner with her parents. Marinette is getting more conscious of the time, at least. But she is curious about this group, given Tikki's curiosity being piqued and all. So of course if there was a chance to find out more, and best still, to talk to Tikki beforehand, she wants to try.