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

[utauhoshina]

Utau jumped back, and glared for a moment and then dropped the mic and screamed, dropping to her knees. "HELP! I'M BEING ATTACKED BY A CRAZY FAN!"

Security rushed the stage, trying to get at Ladybug. Yaya peaked her head out from back stage, and her eyes went huge then she rushed back to the others hidden by the curtain. At least Ladybug knew where they were now....

[coccinelled]

"Sorry. I'm more a Jagged fan, actually."

She responds, before trying to shift in avoiding the security team, certain she had heard the others but unsure just where they were quite yet in her trying to focus on Utau. Was it the mic? Was this even an akuma situation? If it wasn't, she's less sure on how to help handle this, but it was still worth a try. She pulls the mic to her with her yoyo and tries to break it to see if anything happens.

Sorry for the lack of html and for typos, posting from my iPad

[amu_chan]

Everything was pure chaos as the security kept trying to get to her. The microphone, when she broken it would just break. No akuma, just a standard cardiod mic. The wings were gone from Utau’s back, and the audience was panicking.

From backstage, she would hear Amu’s frustrated shout. “They’re going to get away!”

No worries.

[coccinelled]

"Who -- or what's getting away?"

She can't help but to ask, frowning and with a slight confused and frustrated pout when the mic doesn't seem to have an akuma inside. She keeps trying to dodge the security people, jumping to leap over them and head backstage where she can hear the others. They probably know more about this and how she can help, she figures, having seen them in action briefly on the tail end of things before. Not that Ladybug might necessarily know that but hopefully she could play this off and find some way to help if possible.

"What's going on? How can I help?"

Re: No worries.

[amu_chan]

Amu was dressed this time like a perky pink cheerleader in a skimpy shirt, jumping around while the others tried to keep a mass of the black eggs from heading out to the stage again.

"Muuuuuri." the eggs seemed to be chanting. "Muuuuuri...."

Tadase was off to one side, dressed as himself, except for the crown on his head and the ceptor in his hand. "HOLY CROWN!" he called, aiming the small staff. A gold bubble like thing appeared between the eggs and the stage, the eggs led back towards Amu.

"Whoa!" Yaya gasped, looking at Ladybug. "Who are you?" she was in her normal clothes except she also had an apron and bonnet, holding a huge rattle.

The eggs took advantage of the distraction as amu turned to look to fly over Amu's head and further into the back halls of the building.

Amu broke and ran after them, the others glancing at Ladybug, hesitating unsure. The security came back after them and the FLED.

[coccinelled]

"Muri? Who -- ah, I'm Ladybug. I'm here to try help."

She is grateful for being behind stage now, though that didn't stop her being worried given her parents probably saw Ladybug and all, and they would have recognized her from the news and all back home, even if none of the others did in Japan. Still, she couldn't afford to worry about that now, not when she heard security approaching and noting the strange eggs.

"Let's go. Sounds like we're about to have company."

Ideally, she would have more room, be better able to climb over the rooftops to fight. To ensure others weren't hurt. Though she isn't sure on the others, and their capabilities yet. Ladybug follows after them, figuring they probably know the place better than she does.

[amu_chan]

Amu wasn't listening, focused on the eggs. So was Tadase and Kukai. Nadeshiko and Yaya were keeping a half eye on her.

"Yeah, don't know why they are after us this time. You look really cool and all but if you're from Easter I'm going to hit you hard over the head!"

Before anyone could say anything to what Yaya said, Amu skidded to a stop. The tall boy that had had been watching the other combat was standing in front of them, holding one of the black eggs. Just like at the end of the last battle when he was on the roof, he had cat ears and a tail. He smirked at them all. "No embryo this time, but... perhaps something interesting." His dark eyes flicked to Ladybug. "Do you always interrupt concerts, or is she just special?"

"Let the egg go," Amu said. "you don't have to destroy it!"

"Don't have to?" he asked, seeming amused, but still keeping an eye on Ladybug.

[coccinelled]

"I'm not even sure what Easter is, aside from a holiday. You know, the bunny and chocolate eggs, I mean. But no, I only interrupt dangerous concerts. Which this one definitely is. How do we take care of those eggs?"

She asks, trying to focus on the situation at hand. Once they figured out how to stop the eggs, this singer, then they could talk. Maybe. She tries not to doubletake too much at the cat ears and tail, given her missing and being used to having Chat Noir around to help in these sort of situations. But he was obviously back in Paris still. It was her that left. It's only now she is feeling doubtful, about if there were another akuma back home while she was here. But she can't do anything about that now. She had to focus!

Whoops used the wrong colour for Amu above.

[amu_chan]

The boy laughed. "Chocolate?" He licked the egg.

Amu shuttered. "Let the egg go!"

"You're going to stop me?" he asked with a laugh, the rest of the eggs hovering behind his head with a small chorus of "Muri...."

"We need to get the eggs away from him so Amu can purify them!" Yaya told her, deciding on a whim to trust her. Because she's Yaya.

"Fight us directly, Ikuto. These children didn't do anything to you, and the Embryo clearly isn't here!"

"True... I guess I don't need this egg at all then...." His tail twitched lazily.

[coccinelled]

"You don't get chocolate easter eggs here? Or make some of your own?"

No. That.....definitely wasn't what was important here. Marinette inwardly shakes her head at herself, biting her lip as she listens to the continuing conversation.

"So all we have to do is get the egg away?"

That sounded easy enough? In theory. She shifts, readying to aim her yoyo at the egg to try catch it and bring it to her.

[amu_chan]

"We need to get HIM away from them," Yaya clarified, "before he..."

Crunch. Ikuto closed his hand over the egg, shattering it into a gasp of black and purple air that soon dissipated. "Whoops," he said, not sounding apologetic at all.

Furious, Amu charged him, unshed tears in her eyes. "HOW COULD YOU?" She charged again as he jumped back.

"Sounds like security's coming, better scatter. None of you have backstage passes..." He laughed and jumped up into the rafters.

amu was too ticked to listen, she bent her knees and sprung up as easily as he did, though with less grace. Small bright wings appeared on her heels and she landed lightly on another rafter, furious. The eggs found a window and escaped outside.

"Not good," Kukai said lunging out the window after them.

Yaya looked torn then followed Kukai.

Nadeshiko glared up at Ikuto, the first unpleasant expression LAdybug or Marinette has seen on her face. She held her ground under the combatants. "Tadase, take whoever that is and go. I'll cover Amu's back."

"You sure, Nadeshiko?"

Nadeshiko glanced back, as did her chara, both had savage scary looks in their eyes. Suddanly Nadeshiko's hair ties changes to small stars and she was holding a glave. "Very sure. GO."

He nodded and followed the others out the window.

[coccinelled]

"Before he -- wait is it supposed to break?"

She is unsure what to make of all this, given how similar but also different this was with her being used to dealing with akuma. With Papillion and his victims. This was different enough from that still that she was almost all the more unsure even if the situation was kind of familiar in some senses. Which is why she glances, watching the others leave and then turning to Tadase before giving a shrug and joining them all in fleeing from the security. These guys seemed to have a better idea on what was going on, at least.

"So....did this happen last time there was that previous incident at the other concert?"

[kiddy_king]

Tadase stumbled at the question and turned to face her. "What previous incident?"

Kukai and Yaya jogged back over to them. "Who are you exactly and why are you wearing a onesie?" he seemed like he was trying not to show his amusement. He was failing.

[coccinelled]

"Isn't this a second concert because something happened at the first one they did?" She won't specifically mention how she knows that from what they had told her -- Marinette. Even if it is probably obvious it is her.

I'm Ladybug. And this...well. It's what I wear when my kwami transforms me. It's easy to move around in at least."

Which is the important thing. Very necessary with all her running and jumping and dodging attacks from akuma victims and all. Though right after she says that, she might debate if that might be too much.

[kiddy_king]

"What's a Kwami?" he asked, the crown vanishing off his head, as his eyes flicked nervously back the way they came;.

"Are you some kind of superhero or something?" Yaya asked, eyes huge and eager. "Do they made action figures of you?"

[coccinelled]

"She's...well, she's this little magic creature that's also my friend. She helps me a lot and also lets me transform into Ladybug so I can help people."

That was very much 'in a nutshell', but. It was the basic gist at least? Tikki seemed similar to their little creatures so she assumes that it wouldn't be so weird to them? Let alone the super hero question. She's still perhaps a little nervous about all the attention even if she is definitely more confident as Ladybug.

"And er, I guess? I'm not sure about the action figures but there is that movie?"

[kiddy_king]

"You have a movie?! COOL! Why don't we have a movie?"

"Yaya," Tadase said softly, shaking his head. Reluctantly the young girl calmed down. "Are you here for the Embryo?" he asked Ladybug, seriously.

[coccinelled]

"It's not like I asked for them to make a movie about Chat Noir and I. But I guess everyone is curious and interested in what we do."

How they help save Paris from Papillon. Still, she gives a shrug at the question about the embryo.

"If the embryo is what is causing all this, if I can help deal with it, I want to. To stop it affecting everyone like that back at the concert."

If there were some way she could help. She is aware this is different to what she is used to.

[kiddy_king]

Now they all exchanged confused looks. "Is... that what Easter told you the Embryo does?"

"You know, lying really shouldn't surprise me any more, given everything else they've done to get the Embryo..."

[coccinelled]

"I have no idea about this Easter or whatever it is. I just want to help stop it. If I can, somehow."

She may well still be rather unsure on all this, considering the differences here in her being used to dealing with the akuma. But she is trying to roll with it and wants to help if she can somehow in all of this. If her abilities might prove useful in some way in dealing with this. She might be well out of her league and just have to let them deal with it, but even so. She was here and may as well at least show up and offer to lend a hand, right?

[amu_chan]

"Then who sen...."

The words were cut off by Amu dropping down next to them. Nadeshiko was moving swiftly but gracefully behind, but she still looked somewhat... feral.

"The eggs have been purified, all but the one that..." her voce caught in a choke and she put her pompoms up to try and hide the tears that threatened.

Tadase's eyes hardened some, but there was also a twitch of longing on his face as he moved closer to Amu. "We'll find a way to stop them. We will."

NAdeshiko gave her glaive a few graceful practice swings. "When I next see that catboy I'm going to cut his tail clean off and gut him!" she snarled, not sounding at all herself. "I will slice him in two for this!"

Amu winced. She dropped her pom poms and looked like she was about to say something, then swallowed and shook her head. "We need to get back and help with crowd control."

Tadase nodded. "There will be a lot of upset kids at school on Monday. We should hold an assembly."

"Maybe a dance?" Yaya suggested, seeming calm now. the bib and rattle vanished.

"Or a sports day, get everyone's blood pumping, create some new dreams."

"Boo," Yaya said. "Who wants to get all sweaty? No way. A dance is way better! And NAdeshiko can make all the treats!"

All at once the glave vanished, and NAdeshiko looked herself again, her hair tie becoming flowers once more as she put up her hands. "I'm not sure I can make that many treats, Yaya," she said with a bit of a sweat bead. "But I can make them for the planning committee."

Yes, they are now just standing around chatting like this was any other day and nothing major had happened, planning some odd event.

[coccinelled]

Who sent....the egg? Wait -- what?"

Weren't they in the middle of dealing with this egg and concert incident? But now they were talking about assembly at school? Marinette isn't sure what to make of it. It's jarring? But then that might just be because when she is with her comrades dealing with the kwami, they can't know each other's identity. They can't have chats to plan things like this while transformed. But this group obviously all know and are fine with it.

She isn't sure if she's more frustrated about it in the moment or jealous. Or just confused.

[nadenagi]

Nadeshiko blinked then looked slightly embarrassed and bowed to Ladybug. "I am so sorry, we did not meant to exclude you. I'm sure this is all confusing." She gave her a deep and perfect bow. "Would you like to come join us tomorrow after school? We will be explaining everything then to our new friend Marinette, we would be happy to explain to you at the same time."

Her small little one flew over in front of Ladybug's face, to examine her. "She saw the Batsu-tamas, right?" She glanced back to the others, then looked to Ladybug. "Does that mean you can see us as well?"

[coccinelled]

"That -- um, I actually already have an engagement then, but I'm sure I'll figure the basics. Just tell me how I can help. I guess to start, I could explain my powers. I have this yoyo I use to restrain people or defend myself by spinning it in front of me. I can also help by using my Lucky Charm which transforms into something that could help depending on the situation, what it turns into can vary. I'm more used to dealing with akuma though."

Not. This. Eggs? Whatever is going on here. She figures that might be enough at least in a basic sense to tell them how she might help. What she is capable of.

"And....yes? I can see you. Is that weird? Everyone can see Tikki."

[kiddy_king]

"It is safer for everyone, yourself included, if you don't get involved until you know more than just the basics," Tadase said, firmly. "This isn't some game. We need to keep these children safe and find the Embryo before easter does."

"Maybe we can find a time soon that you can meet then? And we would love to meet Tikki as well. I presume she is the one you are transformed with?" Nadeshiko asked gently.