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

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

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.

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Sounds good to me then. Let's play on the other court.

[Adrien isn't even considering the numbers. If they really have enough to properly play. He just wants everyone to have fun, he has the rare time at the moment to join in and he figures this way everyone can get to play. So he grins, giving a nod and taking one of the balls, bouncing it as he heads to the court.]

Nino and the other boy followed Adrien. "So, like, what's your name?"

"Fujisaki Nagihiko," he said softly. "You can call me Nagihiko or Nagi, if you want."

Nagi? Alright. Well, it's nice to meet you. I'm Adrien. And this is my best bud, Nino.

[As if anyone around Paris could not know about Adrien. What with the posters with his whole modeling thing and all. But Adrien would never want to assume. And it isn't like Nino has that same fame to just figure someone knew about his friend and all, so he figures introductions in order before they start to play at least, as he idly bounces the ball between his hands.]

Nagihiko bowed to each of them in turn. "A pleasure to meet you both. And thank you."

Nino gave Adrien a look of surprise when the other boy didn't react to Adrien's name. That was just odd. Of course with his hair.... "Are you related to Juleka?" he guessed.

"Ah... sorry," he said, sweating a bit. "I don't know anyone with that name."

[Adrien doesn't seem bothered in the least that someone doesn't recognize him for once. It's...refreshing almost. To be anonymous. To just be another guy, not known for his modeling or who his father is. Just getting to know someone as Adrien. He grins, bouncing the ball.]

Ah, Nino's just asking cause one of our friends has the same hair. Another girl in our class, is all. It's okay if you don't know her. But maybe sometime we can arrange for you to meet our other friends.

"That would be nice. I am not in France very long, I would like to meet more friends, if they want to meet me," he said with a small shy smile. His eyes went to the bouncing ball though and his fingers twitched a bit. He wanted to play.

Well, schedules depending. It'd be neat if you did get to meet at least some of them while you are here.

[For now though. They seem to be ready. Or more or less ready. So Adrien gives a grin, bouncing the ball and proceeding to step forward to try progress some towards the hoop at the other end of the court.]

Nagi might have been about to say more, but then Adrien started to bounce the ball. His shy smile got a little more confidant as he shifted into a pose for basketball. And then without warning he broke, racing forward to try and steal the ball. He didn't look it, but the kid was actually pretty dern good.

[Adrien grins, enjoying seeing the other that had seemed more timid seeming to come out of his shell a bit. As they start to play proper. He plays, occasionally either throwing the ball at the hoop or to Nino. The game itself doesn't necessarily take all that long, really. But it's fun to do something different from his usual schedule of having to fill every minute of the day. So he tries to enjoy it while they play. Encouraging and teasing Nino and Nagi alternatively but not in such a malicious way.]

Nino of course would play along. After a bit Nagi rises to the occasion as well. But all too soon it is time for Adrien to leave, as signaled by the Gorilla.

Nagi blinked when he realized that they were stopping. "Ah.... thank you both," he said, ball under one arm as he bowed, sweating a bit. "That... that was fun. Thank you."

[Adrien gives a nod, giving a wave and saying he enjoyed it too, that he hopes they could play again and he could meet their other friends before he leaves. He has to hurry to get going then himself, grabbing his bag and making his way to the car where the bodyguard waits, giving a wave and farewell to both Nagi and Nino. Saying he'd see Nino again another time.]

See you guys, I gotta go!

And so they went their own ways, Nino splitting when Adrien left.

After they left Nagihiko went to return the ball and hesitated, wanting to join the others. playing basketball again had felt wonderful. For so long basketball was the only time he could ever feel... like himself. And he did. And he had been having fun. He liked Nino and Adrien. But now it was the other kids and they were not giving him the time of day. He stood and watched, trying to gather the courage to ask to join them, after what had happened before, until they were packing up to leave.

Before long it was dusk, and Nagihiko was alone on the court. The kids had taken all the balls, since they were theirs, so he couldn't even play alone.

Closing his eyes, he reached into his pockets. Two familiar shapes met his fingers. He opened his eyes and headed for the fence. Sitting against it, he drew out two eggs, one from either pocket. He wrapped them in a pale blue silk cloth, and looked at them in the nest of that cloth.

"Why won't you hatch?" he whispered at the two small eggs. "Who... Who am I supposed to even be?" he whispered. "What do you want of me?"

Across town in a secret lair a portal opened over a window. A man in purple with a silver mask smiled at his butterflies. "So. Not knowing who to be because an egg wouldn't hatch. Waiting for others to invite you to play. Loneliness..... All the perfect mix of ingredients for my newest Akuma....."

He lifted a hand and a single white butterfly landed upon it. Somehow, perhaps... miraculously... he staff vanished and his other hand closed over it, imbuing the butterfly with darkness. When he lifted the top hand away the once white butterfly was a beauty of black and purple.

"Now, my little Akuma, fly away and darken his heart!"

The small butterfly did as it was bade, slipping out through the window and into the world. It didn't take long to find the boy, who had been wrapping the eggs neatly. One was wrapped and back in his pocket. But he was still wrapping the other when the Akuma landed on it. His head shot up as he heard...a voice. A voice in his head? What? What was going on?

"Ah," the voice said, "Éclosion. I am Papillon."

Wait. He knew that name, didn't he? Something... no wait... Nadeshiko had.... why couldn't he think?

"You don't know who to be," the voice continued, a low croon. He found himself listening intently, no longer trying to recall something so elusive. "But I can help. And not only that, I can help you to help everyone else figure out who they want to be as well. All I ask in return is one small favor... a favor between friends."

"Friends..." Nagihiko whispered, feeling something pulling at his heart. Nadeshiko had friends, lots of friends. But he wasn't his sister. He didn't have her friends, even if he knew a lot about them. They didn't know him.

"Yes, friends. Everyone will know you, Éclosion. Do we have a deal?"

He stood, carefully holding the blue cloth that cradled the second egg. "Yes, Papillon," he said softly. Darkness flowed over him and then absorbed into his new form, eight feet tall, looking like someone dressed one of those air waving dolls in a basketball uniform. On one arm he held a basket lined with a blue cloth, full of eggs. He threw an egg at a person and it cracked over them, devouring them, then spitting them out as a smaller version of the same sort of air waving figure, but dressed as their fondest dream. The minimized person followed him.

He smiled at the wonder of it. It worked. "Time to make some new friends. Time to count my eggs before they've cracked!!!!"

Meanwhile, wherever Mari was, one of the local Chsras had been hanging out with her and Tiki, letting them know that she had sensed someone that might be born soon... meaning a Chara Bearer like her child, like Amu and the others. But then she suddenly sat up, alert. "Something's wrong. The Egg I sensed is... gone but something....." she gave a small scream then... vanished.

[Marinette has no idea what has happened. Not initially. Not understanding what the Chara means when she says the egg is gone. At first, she panics, holding out her hands before the chara disappears. Her blue eyes widen as she blinks in surprise and confusion, upset.

Then she orders Tikki to transform her, ready to go and investigate what was happening.

Adrien at least, for his part, is probably closer but getting further away every second as he sits in the back of the car with his bodyguard driving.]

Éclosion is fairly easy to find, transforming people with oversized colorful eggs as he goes. "Friends..." he said happily in a sing-song Ladybug would recognize as similar to how the Batsu-charas sound. More, with each person he transforms, his color overall is darkening and something that could be either an X... or a butterfly... is slowly forming in purple over his forehead. "Freiiiiends....."

[Ladybug is quick to go investigate, and it isn't exactly easy to miss the chaos, so it doesn't take her long to find the culprit. The victim, given she assumes the butterfly means there's an akuma. She's just less experienced in dealing with this in combination of dealing with the Chara as well. She hopes the person's chara is alright in this. She's quick to swing over, using her yoyo to try and restrain the akuma, before glancing expectantly for Chat Noir.]

He danced nimbly back as the yoyo came towards him, eyes wide. "You. She knew you."

Paps blinked, "Wait, what? Who knows her?" he demanded of his Akuma.

"Friend, Éclosion said, looking at Ladybug. "You're her friend, will you be my friend too?" the Akuma asked.

"ANSWER ME!" Papillon demanded.

Who knows me? What?

[Marinette isn't sure if he means someone knows her as Ladybug or as her actual civilian identity as Marinette. She's had friends be akumatized before that knew her as Marinette so this wouldn't be the first time. She's just not sure what to make of this. Them asking if she would be their friend. It makes her think this akuma is...just a kid?]

If you want to be my friend, you have to stop. I don't want my friends hurting anyone or causing trouble. Okay?

"I'm not hurting anyone, just helping them find the who they want to be. Don't you want to find your who you want to be?"

Who...who I want to be?

[It is true that he doesn't seem to be actively actually physically hurting anyone? But even so. She can't help but to want to try and figure dealing with this anyway. She had to set things back to normal. She can't really allow herself to get involved like that. Can't let herself be a target, then who would deal with the akuma?]

N-no thanks. But I can help you. I can set things right, and we can talk? About helping you be who you want.

The akuma shook his head. "She's waiting to be born, everything will be better when she's born!" He threw one of his transformation eggs at her while Papillon screamed and demanded answers.

Waiting to be born? A chara is?

[Who? Who was it? Hers? Her chara? She already had Tikki as it is. Let alone adding a chara to deal with on top of this. Still, Marinette isn't given a lot of time to try and think too much on it. She yelps, moving to try and dodge out of the way of the incoming egg, naturally distracted and oblivious to Papillon's rage and confusion over the situation with her identity.]

The Akuma frowned when the egg missed. "Why are you avoiding the who you want to be!? Don't you want to be our friend?" And in true akuma-brains don't work fashion, he pointed at her and commanded those ha had already transformed "Bring her to me so we can help her!"

The mass of people surged towards her, clowns and bakers and painters and every other dream somone might have, each with projectiles that tied to that dream...

I'm not saying I don't want to be your friend. I'm saying this isn't the way to go about making friends!

[But, well. Considering the situation. At the moment she just has to try hold them off and figure where the akumatized item might be. If she can figure what it was, she could then figure a plan to get it and break it, releasing the akuma and saving them. She uses her yoyo to climb back up to a nearby roof as she considers the situation. Hoping for one of the others to come help.]

The minions searched, trying to climb over each other to get to Ladybug. Éclosion made a frustrated sound. "Not a one of you wanted to be someone who can fly? Fine! I'll take care of this myself." He readied another egg. "Hop. Skip. JUMP!" the huge akuma leapt up from the ground, aiming to land on the roof in font of Ladybug.

Paps, raged. "NO! Get her Miraculous, then you can be her friend!"

He landed neatly despite his size. "Stealing is not the way to make friends," he said simply. She could hear that too, of course, even though she couldn't hear Paps.

"YOU OWE ME A FAVOR! I WANT THE HEROES' MIRACULOUS!"

The Akuma jerked back and dropped back to the ground. Rage and pain twisted the odd Akuma's weird face.

No. That's right. Stealing is not a good way to make friends.

[Marinette agrees, though of course she is unaware of Papillon's rage. Though she can probably guess he's confused and furious if he's come this close in akumatizing someone that seems to know her like this. She frowns, biting her lip when they jerk back and fall. Instinctively, she approaches, hovering over him with a hand to his shoulder.]

I can help.

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I just realized that in the akuma weird brain state, Nagihiko is going to react badly to chat.

Chat and his Life

heh yep. It'll be fun!

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