Chapter 1:

Catnip

I blinked and stared at the gray-wash ceiling of my bedroom when I had woken, feeling the silken sheets beneath me. I sighed before sitting up and rubbing the sleep from my eyes, wondering why my alarm clock hadn't rung yet or if it was ever going to ring.

There are times I turn it off when I come home from evening patrols; sometimes even Plagg turns them off. I sighed. Thanks to these late night Akumas, I haven't been sleeping as well as I should be. I yawned, my body sore from last night's attack.

Hawkmoth was the one who sends out the purple-black butterflies out to Akumatize people who feel negative emotions. Ladybug and I try to stay positive so it won't happen to us. We also don't know who Hawkmoth was but that doesn't stop us from doing our job. I'm usually the one to remain behind to search while Ladybug is always in a rush to get home after a fight. Which frustrates me, but I never tell her that. I linger behind, not too eager to return to my life.

I followed the butterfly one time to see where it would go. I just ended up following it all around Paris. I even started playing with it when the sun started to rise. I was glad Ladybug wasn't there to see me do it. She would've made fun of me.

I glanced at my clock on the nightstand beside my bed. I froze, staring at it before feeling my eyes widen. It was close to noon. Is that really the time?! I sat up with a start, never looking away.

With a cry, I darted out of bed, my soft blanket easily tangling about my legs and causing me to land face flat on the floor. I groaned and rubbed my nose as I looked up in time to see a cat-like Kwami smack into the floor. The Kwami exclaimed in surprise from the impact. He propped himself up, blinking in surprise before he growled and glowered at me. His large green eyes narrowing while the whisker on his cheeks twitched irritably.

I ignored him as I freed myself from my bedding. I must've turned my alarm off when I came home from the attack this morning. I growled softly under my breath as I tugged my clothes onto my body when freed. Dad is going to yell at me when he finds out. Plagg floated upward while I struggled to pull my shoes on. I gave a strangled cry when I lost my balance and tumbled to the shale floor.

"One would think you would have better balance since you are now pretty much a cat." Plagg laughed.

"Shut up." I growled and glared at him once I sat up. It has come to a point where I believed I was a cat trapped in a humanoid body . . . depending on what mood I'm in. There are times I enjoyed the feeling of being part cat . . . Any way; It was hard for me to resist the cat urges as myself but even harder as Cat Noir. There has been a few times where I had almost, almost pounced on my own tail. Ladybug has caught me more than once watching it with interest when catching our breaths during patrol.

Cats are not supposed to chase their tails. I did once. Ladybug started laughing at me. I felt so humiliated. When I had returned home, I looked up to see if cats chase their tails. Yep, some of them do. Wonderful, isn't it?

I also have to deal with my fingernails. Yes, my fingernails. No matter how many times I trim them. They grow back to being half an inch long— from cuticle to claw tip —so quickly I've given up trimming them; and, they don't break either. There have been a few times where I thought I broke a nail only to have my hopes drop. I have already gotten in trouble a few times for my long nails. There's nothing I can do about it. At least I have weapon that can't be taken away. Hehe . . .

Plagg says it's from being Cat Noir. Of course my nails are longer when I am my alter ego but that's ok.

Then there are my canines. They are sharper than normal and just a tad longer. Another benefit from being Cat Noir. Yay . . . I have been called out on it before; but, luckily they believed the excuse I made. Nino didn't believe me and neither does Ayla but they haven't brought it up again, thankfully.

Cloé claims that she has never seen me with 'vampire' fangs. I cringed when she first brought it up. They're not that long. Luckily people immediately dismiss it whenever she mentions them.

Sorry for dumping all this info about the side effects on you guys. I just want sympathy. Plagg just makes fun of me and Ladybug doesn't know about. Makes me wonder if she even has side effects from being Ladybug. I shook my head, pulling myself back to reality.

"Do you still intend to go to your father's meeting?" Plagg asked as I groaned softly at the returning memory. Plagg grinned at my response. "Does that mean you are not going?" I frowned at his question and glared at him.

"As boring as those meetings are. I love my father enough to actually respect his wishes and go." I responded with a soft sigh as Plagg's smile turned into a frown as he released an exaggerated groan. I felt a smile quirk the corner of my mouth. "But I do hope an Akuma attacks today." Plagg perked at my comment with a frown. Father's meetings could take all day and an Akuma attack means an excuse to escape without seeming like a disobedient son . . . Being Cat Noir meant freedom for me.

I just need to come up with a good enough excuse to escape or he won't let me go. Hopefully if an Akuma attacks, it'll be close to home so the meeting will end. Good thing I have asked Alya to send me a message whenever an attack happens so that way I won't be out of the loop and force Ladybug to work with the Akumas alone.

I flinched at the thought. That would not be good at all.

"So, are we going?" Plagg asked as he released a large yawn all the while watching me. I stiffened before releasing a small groan. I rose to my feet and grabbed the edge of my blazer before pulling it away from my torso. Plagg released complaints as he floated lazily over to the inner pocket before nestling inside. I raised an eyebrow at him as he returned my stare unblinking.

"At least you get to sleep more." I frowned as he winked at me with a widening smile before curling into a ball. I smiled at him as I released the fabric and stared at my door. I took a deep breath and grabbed the handle.

Surprise flashed through me when it didn't turn. It wasn't locked yet it refused to turn. I blinked and stared at the door as the corners of my mouth tilted down. I scanned the edges of the door for any signs of why it was sticking.

I froze when my gaze landed on greenish shadows at the bottom of the door. Green leaves uncurled and stretched into my room. Alarm raced through me as I whirled around and dove for my phone on the bed. Plagg squeaked from the impact while I quickly scrolled through my recent messages, wondering if Ayla had sent me a messaged. I groaned and dropped the phone upon seeing nothing. So she has either forgotten about me or doesn't know about the Akuma attack or she is stuck somewhere separate from her phone, which is unlikely.

In case those of you who are wondering why my phone was on my bed; Father doesn't like cell phones in his meetings. I don't know why he wants me in one of these boring meetings in the first place. Probably just to show off how 'perfect' I can be.

Anyway, getting back on track.

Plagg zoomed out of my pocket after I let myself slide off the bed. I looked up at the window to see thick vines crawling across. I frowned at the sight. That was rather quick. Weren't they just at the door? I looked at the doors to see it no longer on its hinges. I continued looking around my room to see everything was green but the floors. Even my white spiral staircase was covered in green plants with budding flowers.

Ladybug isn't going to be pleased when she finds out I'm holed up . . . or she might not even care. I shook the last thought free. I refused to think that she would dismiss Cat Noir so quickly.

"Plagg-"

"I know, I know," he whined and flew into the ring. I blinked and stared at it surprised while the ring turned black. He didn't even let me finish saying the command. Does that mean he can transform me any time he wants? I stiffened at the thought. I shouldn't give him any ideas for payback. As much as I love Plagg, he was like a mischievous little brother to me. I can't count the many times I had to clean my room because he decided to mess it up for the fun of it.

I returned my attention to the vines on the window as my staff rang. I jumped at the loud sound and freed it from its clip, my ears ringing with the shrill noise. I growled softly and folded them flat against my skull as I glared at the silver cylinder. I needed to talk to Plagg about the possibility of lowering the volume.

To shut it up, I answered. "Where are you?" Ladybug demanded as she glared at me through the screen. I frowned before showing her the now green room I was trapped in. I groaned inwardly at the sight, you couldn't see my loft anymore nor my skating ramp. Oh, lovely. At least it's not feathers. "Oh. Where are you? Do you want me to help you out?"

"Not unless you want to figure out who I am." I replied with a sigh before leaping for the thick vines that covered my window. They were thick enough that I could wrap my hand around it, almost reminding me of my climbing rock-wall.

"Are you trapped in your house?" She groaned as I gripped the vine and leaned forward to sniff it. Smells like Morning Glories. I glared at the plant as if I could make it move by staring. Pretty thick vine for a Morning Glory.

"My room to be more specific."

"That's just lovely. How bad is it?" Ladybug sighed almost dejectedly. She hadn't notice the vast space of my room? Which is slowly shrinking.

"I won't be there for a while." I pouted before a playful smile curled my lips. "But I will join you soon My Lady." I purred as she rolled her eyes at the flirtatious nickname before she blinked at me.

"Wait, did you just purr? Can you really purr like a cat?" She asked curiously as I shrugged.

"Well, I am a cat aren't I?" I responded as she grunted before hanging up. I chuckled to myself and climbed all over the vines searching for a way through after I had clipped my baton back in place. She would bring the subject up again sooner or later. . . Maybe.

I didn't want to use cataclysm. I would only have five minutes left after I do. I frowned and looked at my claws, remembering InuYasha's could go through much thicker. I hesitated, knowing that he was just a cartoon. My claws are magical so I should be able to do something. I exhaled sharply, staring at them in doubt. It would probably be quicker and safer to just use cataclysm.

I ground my teeth as black mist shrouded my right hand. I took a deep breath before resting it on the ever thickening vine. I released my grip while pushing off with my feet. I did a back flip before landing on the balls of my feet, balancing myself on the back of my sofa. I watched as the vines withered and curled in on themselves, turning brown and brittle enough to snap easily.

A grin curled my mouth as I snatched my baton from its resting place and leapt forward, smacking the vines hard enough that they crumbled off the window and onto the floor. I grabbed the opened window frame and looked back at the plant dust on the ground. I flinched at the sight on the clean carpet. That's one mess I am thankful I won't have to clean.

I turned toward the outside as I slipped my baton in its clip above my belt/tail. My gaze landed on a large vine at the base of the house; another snaked towards my window, the thick tip gently curling into my room. I grinned as I leaned out; judging the distance before pushing myself forward and performing a summersault. I landed on the vine as I slid down it like Tarzan.

I sprang off before I could slam into the packed earth. I flipped forward then landed on my hands and feet. I closed my eyes and tilted my head back, inhaling the scents around me. Mostly plant. I frowned as and rose to my feet. Again with the attack? This is the third time an Akuma has shown up at my home.

I backed up before running on all fours toward the stone fence surrounding my home. I sprang forward and dug my claws into the stones. A grin curled my mouth as I began to climb, thinking of Spiderman.

I perched myself at the top and looked around, searching for a close building. I froze as my gaze landed on a dark shadow that seemed to quickly disappear with a shimmer of blonde hair. I slightly tilted my head, thinking hard of what it could be. I turned around when I heard a loud crack. I flinched at the sight of the thick vines smashing in my bedroom windows and invading the massive room. Yikes. Glad I got out when I did.

I yelped when I felt something wind around my waist and yank me off the fence. I hissed as I struggled to free myself, digging my claws into the green plant. "So that's where the kitty cat was hiding." A voice sang as I looked up with a start. I blinked as a girl with curly yet wild brown hair approached me. I frowned as I studied her. She had leaves weaving in and out of her hair. She wore a green blouse, dark blue jeans and red heels with a green mask similar to Hawkmoth's purple glow when he communes with his victims.

I smirked and bowed the best I could hanging horizontally in the air. "I am at a disadvantage my dear lady. You know me but I don't know you." I purred lightly as I returned my gaze to her to see amusement dancing in her brown eyes. I tilted my head playfully, feeling my tail curl tightly around my baton.

"My, aren't you the charmer," she snorted with laughter as I frowned at her. What's that supposed to mean? I scanned the horizon of buildings, searching for Ladybug. I blinked when I felt my baton brush against my fingertips. I gasped when I felt the vines wind around my legs. I quickly grasped for my baton only to see it pull free. I growled softly as I looked up to see the woman hold out her hand as a sweet pea vine placed my staff in her waiting hand.

"A charmer you might be, but you're not very smart are you?" I spat at her words followed by a hiss as I wiggled about, pressing my hands against the vines around my waist. She pouted at my reaction. "No need for a hissy fit." I blinked at her words, going still. I couldn't tell if she was making a pun or not. I shrugged with a smile. She scowled as a purple glow of a butterfly floated over her mask. She snorted when it faded seconds later.

I squealed as the vines wrapped around my wrists, pinning them together. I gasped as the lady reached for my miraculous. I flexed my fingers and hissed at her while I tried to use all my strength to jerk my arms free. I groaned when I managed to cover my ring with the vines. Well at least she didn't take my ring; but, where is My Lady?

"All right Kitty Cat." The woman chuckled as she waved her hand. I growled quietly as I felt the vines envelop me. "You can call me Poison Ivy." I stared at her confused.

"Poison Ivy? As in the villain from Batman?" I asked quizzically as an amused smile curled her pink lips. I froze at the confirmation. Does that mean she can control people like Ivy does with a simple kiss? I wiggled before groaning in despair. Wiggling was all I could do. I blinked as the light vanished in a cocoon of green. I groaned. "This is just purrrfect."

"What mess have you gotten yourself into now?" A whiny voice asked as I blinked and saw a pair of green eyes staring at me.

"Plagg, I need you to transform me," he blinked at my words. He hesitated before I scowled at his hesitance. "Please Plagg." I whined as he frowned and folded his little arms, glaring at me from the corner of his eye. He wanted me to feed him first. I growled softly. There are times I believe he was pretending to be out of energy just to eat cheese. I stiffened when I heard another voice through the thick vines.

"Release that person." A familiar muffled voice growled followed by tinkling laughter. I frowned. Are the plants laughing with this 'Poison Ivy'? I gasped when I felt the vines shift around my body. I glanced at Plagg in a panic as he rolled his eyes and vanished.

I glowered at my Kwami. "Plagg, transform me."

"Just make sure you feed me." He squealed as he disappeared into the ring. I blinked as I felt the familiar tingling of the transformation. I sighed in relief as the vines pulled away in time. I yelped as I dropped but then was wrenched back up by my wrists. I looked up to see the vines were still wrapped around them. I hissed with irritation and pain as I kicked my legs, trying to swing myself up around. I growled after more yanks on my already sore wrists.

Ladybug blinked as she stared at me. I could tell she wasn't expecting me to drop from the greenyness. I smiled. "Well hello, Milady." I winked at her as she rolled her eyes. Ivy, all the while, observed our interactions. "I have seem to gotten myself a bit tied up." Ladybug flashed me a glare that said 'now's not the time'. I just grinned.

I stiffened when I felt someone's hand ran down my spine and stop at the top of my tail. A chill scurried down my back as I tried to lean away from the offensive touch. I wound my tail around the hand to stop it. Ladybug narrowed her eyes as I felt the finger leave my belt, somehow slipping free from my tail.

I folded my ears to the side when I felt the finger trace my jawline. I growled softly as I jerked away. Tinkling laughter followed as Ivy gripped my jaw and forced me to look at her. My ears perked up as my heart hammered. I frowned at her, nothing coming to mind other than to hiss. She was making me uncomfortable.

I growled at her as my nostrils flared. There was a tantalizing aroma coming from all around me that wasn't there before. I blinked, feeling the vines flow over my wrists but never releasing me.

"Someone seems to be jealous." Ivy purred as she leaned in close and raised an elegant eyebrow. "Shall we make it worse?" She crooned and leaned in as I struggled to pull free, flailing my legs and trying to make contact with the plant she was standing on. I didn't want to be taken control of like Catwoman was in Batman: Hush. Everything always happened to me; and, I did not want her stealing my first kiss. A kiss meant only for Milady.

My eyes flew wide when Ivy caressed her lips against mine. Instinctively, I curled my legs up against my chest and pushed against her while she pried my mouth open.

She fell with a yelp as I gagged and spat before chewing on the closest plant to get rid of the feeling. I could hear a yo-yo zip past my ear, missing the stem of the plant holding me. I pulled away with a smirk as I thought about how Ladybug was usually a great aim. Something had her distracted today . . .

I blinked as I looked at Ladybug to see her glowering at the brown haired woman. I grinned at the raw jealousy burning in her sky-blue eyes. Her jaw was clenched as she tossed her yo-yo at Poison Ivy.

I turned my attention to the plant stem beside me, leading up to my wrists. I grit my teeth as I swung my body towards the stalk, quickly wrapping my legs and tail tightly around it. I ground my teeth as I used my strength to pull my arms towards me. I hissed under my breath before I bit into the plant around my wrists. I flinched when the plants minty juices flowed over my tongue; my nostrils flared at its spicy scent, both stirring my inner cat.

I groaned as I released it and spat out the plant chunks that were in my mouth. My body tingled with new energy as I tried to ignore it. I growled as I bit into again, this time the juices traveled down my throat and caused my head to spin as I tore off a large chunk, freeing my trapped hands.

I let myself hang upside down as I stared at the spinning building in front of me, willing to do anything to make the new rush of energy to disappear. It was distracting. I wanted to drop and roll among the plants. Maybe standing right side up will help me control it. I sighed as I dug my claws into the stem above my head, holding on tight as I opened my legs and flipped around before pulling my claws out of the plant and landing on my hands and feet. My head spun as I dropped to my behind.

I could feel my inner cat purring and playfully telling me to let it out. The energy still buzzed through me as my senses flared with the tempting scent all around me. I sighed, I needed to get away from here, I won't be able to help Ladybug.

I rose to my feet just to get smacked in the head with my baton. I growled and rubbed the sore spot as I glared at the direction it came from. Ladybug shrugged while I grumbled to myself and bent down to pick it up.

I froze, my hand hovering over it as the minty scent wafted towards me, making my inner kitty much, much louder and harder to ignore. My head spun with buzzing energy as my mouth watered, remembering the taste. I stared at the patch of plants all around me as I stood up straight, never looking away.

"Cat, you ok?" Ladybug asked as she smacked a vine away with her yo-yo while watching me.

"Um," was all I managed to say as I stared at the greenery. The plants were calling my name; like how your bed calls you. She furrowed her brows together as I shook my head, trying to silence my inner kitty and drown out the delicious scent.

I blinked as I looked all around me only to realize I was surrounded by this tantalizing plant. I swallowed as I pinched my nose, desperate to get the scent out of my system. "So this kitty is affected by Catnip." Ivy cooed as I stiffened. Ladybug stood straight and looked at me as I darted in a random direction. "No, I don't think so." Ivy purred as Ladybug released a yelp.

I skid to a stop and whirled around to see Milady tangled in thorny branches in the middle of the catnip patch. I sighed. "You can't go anywhere with that ring of yours." Ivy chuckled as she reached for Ladybug's earrings. So Ladybug is the bait. I grit my teeth and darted toward her, grabbing my staff along the way.

Ladybug's eyes widened as I slammed my lengthened staff into Poison Ivy's arm. She cried out and glared at me before launching her arm in my direction. I gasped sharply as a large leaf shot towards me and wrapped me up inside. "Cat!" I heard Ladybug call my name.

I gripped the leaf and tried to force it open, afraid of breaking the skin of the plant as my claws sank into it like tissue paper. I jumped back as a black n' red yo-yo plunged through and barely missed my left thigh, splattering my face with the minty liquid after I had fallen back. I hesitated before licking my lips.

My head swam as pure delight coursed through my veins. My nostrils flared as the minty aroma tickled the air. I tilted my head back and inhaled the scent deeply as my head buzzed with energy. My inner kitty purred as I dropped to the ground, plunging my nose into the leaves before biting into one and chewing it. I rolled onto my back and releasing a 'mreow'.

I could feel my chest vibrating as I purred and rolled amongst the large leaves, covering myself in its scent. "Cat!" I heard Ladybug call while a goofy smile curled my lips. I searched for her. She was standing on the fence, spinning her yo-yo as Ivy pointed at her, directing a vine towards her. Ladybug leapt over it as I meowed again.

"Well, there is one way to distract a cat." She laughed as Ladybug glared at her. I rolled onto my back and curled my arms against my chest as I looked at her again to see her glowering at me.

"Meow." I flipped over onto my belly, tucking my arms and legs beneath me. I hunkered low in the dense patch of catnip as I closely watched a twisting plant. A smirk curled my lips as I used my legs to launch myself forward, crashing into the thick stem.

Ivy yelped as she toppled off and got trapped by the large stem as I pinned it down and began munching on it. I could hear Ladybug sigh as she sifted through the Akuma's pockets just to bring something out and break it. She swung her yo-yo to catch the black butterfly as I perked up, watching the spotted weapon closely.

She yelped when I snatched it from the air, yanking it from her grasp. I batted it around like a ball of yarn after she had released the white butterfly. She scowled and reached for it as I meowed again and grabbed the string with my mouth before springing away from her. "Cat!" She exclaimed and grabbed the round end of the yo-yo.

"Mreow." I rolled onto my back again, purring as I nuzzled the plant before eating the leaf. A few seconds later they were gone. I let out a disappointed meow while I flipped over onto my hands and feet. I closed my eyes when I felt fingers scratch behind my ears. I pushed my head against them as I started purring and arched my back before crawling into their lap.

A soft laugh tinkled the air as the effects of the plant began to fade. I blinked before feeling someone's legs shift beneath my arms. I stilled as I slightly adjusted myself to gauge where I was. My legs were on the ground while my arms were tucked beneath my chest in someone's lap.

"Are you ok Kitty?" I froze at the sound of Ladybug's voice. I could feel a blush heat my cheeks and crawl down my neck before I felt her fingers running through my hair, gently stroking it. I closed my eyes as I felt a rumble deep within my chest. I was growing sleepy. "Have you always been able to purr?" She asked. I bobbed my head before freezing.

I shot up straight and stared at Ladybug once my situation sank in. She stared at me before raising an eyebrow. I swallowed as I sat pretzel style and scratched the back of my head while releasing a nervous laugh. "I'm sorry." I mumbled and bowed my head as I watched her through my lashes, more curious to her reaction than sorry.

She chuckled. "At least you are back to yourself." I blinked and looked up at her before I smirked and leaned towards her, looking at her through my golden lashes. She frowned while leaning away from me.

"But you enjoyed it all the same." I purred sexily as I wiggled my eyebrows at her while my smirk turned into a seductive smile. She glowered at me before rising to her feet. I blinked as I looked up at her. "Leaving so soon?" My smile turned into a grin as she said 'humph'.

"Good night Kitty." She growled as I stilled. She spun her yo-yo, preparing to take off when she noticed how silent I became. "Kitty?" she looked at me as I swallowed and looked at the setting sun.

"How long was I with the catnip?" I whispered, staring at the sun in disbelief. She frowned, her yo-yo no longer spinning. She watched me curiously as I sprang to my feet and began pushing her down the street, away from my home. "You must leave. I will see you tomorrow." I said franticly as I whirled around ready to take off when a yo-yo wrapped around my wrist. I jumped and looked at my partner to see concern crossing her face.

"Kitty what's wrong?"

"No time to explain." I shook my head. "My father is going to ground me." I murmured before pulling free from her. "You wouldn't understand."

"Kitty?" she called again as I flashed her a quick glare. She took a step back in surprise as I ran towards the fence, using my legs to leap into the air as I grabbed the top with my hands, using my momentum to fling my legs over me before landing on the green grass on the other side. I glanced back to in time to see Ladybug disappearing into the sinking sun before I released a sigh of relief. I returned my gaze to the spotless whites and grays of my bedroom before climbing into my window, my heart pounding at the very thought of what my father could punish me for.