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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"Mm....that does sound nice. I mean, I'd still be worried about getting distracted doing homework and forgetting the cookies in the oven, but that is pretty good time management."

In that Nadeshiko still gets some stuff done while waiting around a bit with the food at least. Marinette tries too, but she is far more prone to getting distracted, to forgetting things and such. But she has to admire that. It sounds like she is all ready for their little get together, so now they were just waiting on the others, who hopefully would be out of class soon!

The small little chara that stayed with Nadeshiko floated down. "I help with that. Watching the cookies and cakes bake is fun, and with the oven closed I don't have to worry about getting my kimono dirty!" she said with a cheerful smile.

"Oh, I get it. I suppose I'm just used to....er....never mind. But that definitely would help, having a friend to keep an eye on things too!"

She just can't quite make the same use of Tikki, at least in public where others might see. Not if she wants to keep up her secret of her being Ladybug and about the kwami and all, at least. So it is a little different for her in that sense in needing to keep in mind that people could actually see Tikki.

Nadeshiko smiled and nodded. "Well yes, but if you can see the charas, surely that means you will have one of your own soon. And we can help you learn what you need to know while you're here."

"So you don't almost stop believing in her like Amu did," Miki said softly.

NAdeshiko nodded. "But she believes now. In you, and in herself."

"Who believes in who?" Yaya asked, racing up the walk to snag her usual seat, launching herself into it and throwing her fists up when she nails the landing. "YEAH!" she cheered. Her little baby chara cheered with her.

Nadeshiko gave her a loving smile and chuckled. "We were talking about Amu."

"Why are we talking about Amu?" Kukai asked, walking up with Tadase, their charas floating over head.

"Is hinomori-san alright?" Tadase asked, concerned.

Amu, bringing up the rear, apparently unnoticed by the boys who had stopped to ask their questions, asked one of her own "Why wouldn't I be, exactly?"

Where Yaya's uniform matched Nadeshiko, though less neat and with Mary Janes, the boys wore the blue plaid version, still with the capelets. Amu however.... everything about how she wore her uniform said "attitude issues". Unlike the others, she had no capes, HEr skirt was pulled down lower on one side than the other, her blazer was more open than closed, her shirt untucked, her tie half undone, which showed off the lock she wore on a chain around her neck. Instead of the cape she had a single blood red solid armband safety pinned to her jacket. Even how she stood, now that she wasn't in the weird transformation outfit or party clothes or a bulky jacket made her stand out. Then again, how each of them stood said a lot. Nadeshiko stood with perfect posture, but her hands behind her back when she wasn't serving, head canted slightly. Tadease stood straight, but like he was forcing himself to. Kukai had the look of someone who was lounged on a sofa, even when he was standing, hands behind his head and now that he wasn't walking, one foot propped up behind the other. Yaya was the only one sitting and she was bouncing like a kid. Amu on the other hand hand her bag held in one hand over her shoulder, hip cocked, with her other hand on it, head tilted.

"Oh, Amu-chan, Sorry, Sohma-kun was just talking about you."

Amu's eyes narrowed a bit and she flipped some hair off her shoulder. "Why, exactly?" she asked, voice cool.

Ran bounced out of Amu's bag, giggling a bit as she waved Miki over, but he stayed with Marinette to keep translating.

Nadeshiko smiled at all of them. "We have a lot to get through today, so I made the tea a little extra sweet. Because our guest is from France I tried my hand at some french desserts today, but we also have some sandwiches. We may have to double up to fit everything in today, but I'm sure that after our new friend leaves, the charas can help Amu train so that Kukai can help with the paperwork."

Everyone made their way to their seats, except NAdeshiko who busied herself pouring tea.

"Ah, there the rest of you are! Nadeshiko was just saying how she uses her last period to get things ready. But er, I'm really not sure about me having my own chara...."

For now though, she was just glad the others had made it and at least initially, seems happy enough to sit back and listen to them interpret the conversations for her. Content enough to snack as she listens, picking up the odd word here and there that she recognizes and knows, at least. Somewhat. She's still unsure about revealing Tikki to them, so for now the kwami stays in her bag. At least unless Tikki was okay with coming out and revealing them as Ladybug.

"Nadeshiko is the best! and her sweets are always super yummy!" Yaya said, cheering happily.

Nadeshiko smiled warmly. "Thank you, Yaya-chan. Tea, Marinette-san?"

"I'm used to baking, since my parents run a bakery and all. Though I suppose some of your sweets might be a little different." At least from what she has found so far in stores, and having tried some Pocky while here for example. Still, she gives a nod at the offer for some tea, appreciating the drink and conversation, the snacks provided. It was almost a little nostalgic, not that she has been gone for long yet in being away from her friends, but still.

Nadeshiko happily poured them all tea and served some food for each of them.

He steepled his fingers and leaned forward slightly. "I am certain that you have questions for us, please feel free."

"Where to start.....well, I guess. The chara? They're helping you become these Guardians, right? And you think because I see them that I have one? Or will get one?"

She already has Tikki as it is. But perhaps that is how and why she can see these chara creatures? Or, Marinette figures. She is curious though. Given that she only knows of the Miraculous that Fu has shown her and granted her access to give to her friends to help in their fights against Papillon.

"Not exactly," Tadase said, sipping his tea. "We are Guardians because that is our role in the school, like other schools might have a student council. We were all chosen by the chairman, because of our Charas, yes. But we have jobs within the school as Guardians independent of them. As far as we know none of the parents or teachers know about Shugo Charas, and few if any students other than ourselves have ever seen one that they can recall. Our main job, public or otherwise, is to protect the students. That can be from unfair faculty policies, or Batsu-tamas and batus-charas."

Nadeshiko put a plate in front of her and picked up the explanation. "Very few kids can see the Shugo Charas, and almost no adults. Generally it seems as though children under the age of three of four, like Amu-chan's sister Ami can see them, and oddly a few selected adults. But other from that?" Her head tilted and she smiled. "Only kids with charas of their own, or some that have a dream so close to the surface that a new one is about to be born."

Kukai nodded. "Course Amu didn't even want to be a Guardian. But she's got three charas, and that makes her the Joker."

Yaya made a small frustrated noise. "She never has to help with the paperwork or anything."

"No," she said dryly, picking at a sandwich, "I just get tortured by Kukai."

"That's training," he said with a huge grin.

Nadeshiko gave a soft chuckle as she set down a plate of treats in the middle of the table. All the charas floated down to it so they could eat too, except Miki who stayed close to Marinette to translate for her.

"It sounds like I'd much prefer dealing with the policies than the fighting like at the concerts....but you're saying I am probably going to get one? And she has three of them?!"

How was that even possible? Probably this worked differently to the kwami? Because as far as she knew, everyone only had one Miraculous, one kwami. And even then, only she and Chat Noir had theirs on them at all times. The others she had given out to others to help were only given for a brief period of a fight when necessary when Fu let her lend them. Marinette is thus unsure what to make of this as she joins them in sipping at her drink, at snacking.

"The fighting is because of Easter. Most children with Charas never have to fight. And Only two people we know can fully Chara-nari. Amu-chan and Utau," she said softly, finally sitting herself now that everyone else was served.

"But a Chara is born when a child has a dream for who they want to be when they grow up that is too large to remain inside, or that they need extra help with. Sometimes the egg of our hearts comes out to aid us."

"And Amu has lotsa dreams," Yaya said, mouth full. "So she has three different charas. Because she has lots of things she desperately wants to be. Me I've got Pepe and that's perfect! Cause Pepe is just what I wanna be! The baby forever!" she said happily, helping herself to more cake.

"Yaya has some issues being a big sister," Kukai said with a chuckle, taking a pastry and tossing it in the air. He tried to catch the edge in his mouth and failed. He grinned and collected it off from the table, ripping off a piece to eat, not at all bothered by having missed. "But yeah, Amu's got three. We've spotted two eggs off Utau, but anyone's guess what the second is. We've only ever seen the one."

"Oh....so that's how it works then. I don't usually really remember my dreams after my alarm wakes me up to get ready for school. Or my parents calling up at me for sleeping in if I don't want to be late for class....."

Though she knows they obviously means dreams as in ambitions, what one wants to do with their life. Which is not necessarily only something children have and do, but still. The only thing she can think of is continuing her interest in fashion in pursuing that, or perhaps taking over at the bakery eventually.

"But you think Utau has more? Shouldn't someone keep an eye on her then?"

"Not that kind of dream," she said gently. "Utau is part of Easter, I am not sure how exactly you think that we should keep an eye on her, but we are open to ideas, of course."

Amu looked more intently disinterested than ever. Except the fact that she was leaned closer to Marinette than she had been a moment ago.

"I figured. But uh. I don't know. The best I can come up with is like, figuring her schedule and using that to try keep tabs on her? At least you know to suspect her. I -- er, Ladybug and Chat Noir can never be sure who might get akumatized next by Papillon."

Marinette sighs, rubbing a hand at the back of her neck as she pauses in talking, from having her drink and snacks. Had any of them caught that? Her potential slip up there? She's tried so hard and it has been so frustrating hiding this from Alya especially.

Nadeshiko made small soothing noises, giving no clue that yes, she totally caught that. But she was counting on someone else to speak up. Which Yaya did,

"Oh! We saw that Ladybug person, I think. At the concert! Did you see her too?"

"She -- er, well. I know her because she and Chat Noir help defend Paris."

Or, usually. Most of the time. She isn't sure saying this stuff might give her away. Given she is also here from Paris and all. But that could surely just be a coincidence? Right? At the same time, as much as she knows it is supposed to be a secret, somehow knowing they were doing the same thing, or close to it, here in Japan, made her more comfortable with the idea if it had to come out, if they did figure it. At least they were allies.

Well now you have someone's full attention. "Defend Paris from what?" he asked, focused on her. Kiseki left the snacks to come float at his shoulder.

"From the akuma. Or -- I mean, I should say, from the people that Papillon akumatizes. His Miraculous has the power to take control of people's negative emotions to get them to fight for him, giving them powers in exchange for trying to get Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miraculous. Their items that help them transform, I mean."

That was okay to say, right? Not too much. Alya had probably mentioned that much in her blog entries somewhere or other.

All aloofness was gone. "WAIT WHAT?!" Amu said, staring at her.

Actually, she had everyone's complete attention now, Charas included.

"It's...complicated? I'm not really sure how to explain. But I guess it's kind of like you guys in a way? I mean, with Ladybug and Chat Noir protecting everyone."

She's still not sure she wants to give herself away. So she's trying to be sort of vague ish about it. Trying to, anyway. That might not quite be working though, given how she has them all listening at this point. She's not sure how detailed she should be with any questions from here.

<font color="pink>"They.... are trying to steal already hatched charas?" Amu asked, horrified. Her three floated closer to her, even Miki. "Why?" <font color="gold>"Worse question," Tadase said grimly. "If this Ladybug is here, what of that Papillon? If whoever that is teams with Easter..." The other kids all shuddered. Even Kukai no longer looked casual.

"Well, just because she is here....that doesn't mean he knows? I mean, so far here I haven't noticed any commotion or news about anyone in Japan being akumatized. So we're probably safe? I think. But....yes, essentially. That is what he is trying to do. To take their Miraculous, their kwami that give them their abilities and transform them into Ladybug and Chat Noir."

Even the general public knew that much. Probably from the news and Alya's blog, or some combination of the two at least. So she isn't too worried there in saying too much yet, as she tries to explain and reassure them, between a sip of her drink.

"Easter always seems to show up, even when we're on school trips..." Amu said, worried.

"Chat Noir..." Nadeshiko said thoughtfully. "Doesn't that mean something like... black cat?"

"Ikuto has nothing to do with this!" Amu snapped, defensively.

"I'm sure Ladybug and Chat Noir know the feeling....but yes, that's right. His superhero name does mean 'black cat'."

Marinette answers, giving a nod and smile that they were able to pick up on that much at least. She understands how difficult languages could be, given her being French and having a Chinese background through her mother's side and all.

"I'm not really sure how much more I can tell you, but I'm sure it'll be alright. Probably."

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