Chapter 10 Help?
Marinette's P.O.V
'I'm sorry' echoes in my head, that moment repeating over and over again, her emotionless expression haunts me.
She can't be serious, right?! I ran towards the door and yelled "Wait! Yuuki!".
When I faced towards the entrance, no one was there. She's gone. I saw our teacher rushing upstairs, "Where is Yuuki going?" she questioned. We walked into the room, I could feel the gloomy atmosphere caving in. The teacher marched her way to the front, "Can someone explain what exactly happened here?"
We all sat down, the room was dead silent. I immediately explained "We were asking her a couple questions like she said, but Yuuki started getting emotional after Nino asked her to translate a song. It wasn't the song that upset her but she mentioned someone named Asuna when she sang along. We were curious about her and she told us, even though I knew it was a very painful subject for her. The more she spoke about her past, we questioned how everything she did was possible. I think when she realized what she told us, she just decided to run away after the bell rang, just like what happened before. When her friend Asuna found out her secret, she runs away, hoping that all is forgotten and everything is fine when it's not. I don't know where she's going or how long she'll be gone, but I hope she doesn't get akumatized." Fighting my own sister, just because we started it. It hurts just thinking about it.
"Well let's hope she calms down and returns soon. We wouldn't want another akuma attack to happen here again." She opened the door, "Lunch hour has started now, if possible, I would recommend trying to find her and help her. I'm sure she needs it, your questions started this, now you need to fix this. However she would probably want some time alone for a bit."
We all left the classroom, "If any of you spot Yuuki, please tell me. And don't tell anyone else about her past, it might make things worse." Everyone else left the building, leaving me with Alya, Nino, and Adrien. Nino walked up to me rubbing his nape, "I'm sorry Marinette. I was the one who started all of this."
I put my hand on his shoulder and reassured him. "It's ok Nino. None of us knew about Yuuki's real past so, we never considered how she felt during her lesson."
Alya walked up and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me to a hug, "I'm sure she'll come back soon and not as an akuma hopefully. We're all here to help you and her too. Now come on, I'll walk you home."
I nodded and turned to the boys, waving "Thanks Alya. Bye Nino, bye Adrien."
Adrien's P.O.V
The girls walked away, "If she came back akumatized, Hawkmoth could almost win." Nino laughed, "Because she owned you in fencing, but honestly I kinda believe that. We don't know what else she's capable of. See ya later dude."
"Is he gone yet? I need my cheese again soon." Plagg flew out of my bag. "I'll give you cheese later. I need to transform and find Yuuki before she gets akumatized. Also Plagg, please don't come out of hiding right in front of the school. You know that someone could see you." Instantly he flew into my pocket as my ride showed up.
As always, the ride home was silent. I kept looking out the window, hoping to even catch a glimpse of her running by. When we got home, I greeted Natalie and went straight to the dining room. I didn't bother to look around, Father never has lunch with me anyways. I walked over to my seat and placed down my bag beside me as I began eating while Natalie reminds me of my schedule after school. I mute her out till she finished, my schedule is easy to follow. If only I didn't have to follow one everyday, "Ok, thanks for the reminder." I stood up and left the room, heading up the stairs to my room. As the door closed behind me, Plagg sped over to his camembert supply, "Plagg I told you cheese later."
He came to me with cheese in his hands, "Now it's later and we can go find her after school or maybe later tonight. She's not the kind of person to get akumatized easily, luckily we have to thank her personality for that and she might just need time alone, like I need with my delicious cheese."
"For once you make sense." I fell onto my bed and grabbed my phone out of my bag. Trying to see if anyone has seen her yet, "Nothing..." I mumble. I sat up and turned to Plagg, "If she doesn't come back tomorrow, then we'll go look for her, got it?"
"Right, got it." as he threw the piece of cheese into his mouth. Someone knocked on my door, "Adrien, Lunch hour is almost over. It's time to go back to school again." I sighed, walking towards the door. Plagg hid in my bag, resting next to his camembert container. I opened the door, "Alright, I'm coming."
We arrived at school, "Thanks Gorilla. See you after school." I sulked inside, into the classroom. I think everyone is here, I turned to Alya, apparently Marinette wasn't here. Alya spotted me, walking towards me, "Alya-" "Adrien-", I gestured her to go first. "Have you seen Marinette anytime after break?" I shrugged, "Sorry I haven't, I was going to ask the same actually." Her face changed to distraught, "When I went by her house earlier, her parents said she already left, but when I arrived, she's not here." I tried to cheer her up, "She's probably just at home instead or trying to find Yuuki. Honestly I might have done the same." She tried to smile, "Yeah, that sounds like Mari. Thanks Adrien." she retreated to her seat, everyone did the same as class started. I stared at my ring, waiting for the day to end.
Marinette's P.O.V
I hid behind the school, luckily 4th period already started. No one should be able to see me, "Tikki, Spots on!" The red spotted kwami was pulled out of my bag and entered my earrings, a pink light surrounded me from head to toe. My ladybug suit appears as the light fades. I swung my yo-yo around and threw it at the top of the school, yanking it as I rise up. I looked around, "Nothing..." I swung myself into the air, landing onto nearby buildings, running around the rooftops. Observing the premises, inside every alley, subway, and around the Eiffel Tower, searching all of Paris for Yuuki. I stood on the top of the tower, in defeat. I checked the time on my yo-yo, "School should be over in 10 minutes." I sighed, retreating back home. I landed and hid inside one of the subway stations, "Spots off..." Tikki zipped out of my earrings but sat on my shoulder, "We could try again later, let's just go home and rest." I checked my phone, school ended already, I should hurry home so mom and dad won't worry. I ran out towards home and decided to go through the back.
Before I turned the corner, the door opened and someone ran out, going the opposite direction of me. They were dressed in purple, carrying a bag on their back and a sword hanging on their side. I froze, "Yuuki..." I mumbled, I started pursuing her, shouting "YUUKI!" as I ran. She turned her head around, she looked scared and teary, didn't bother to stop,but she entered a nearby alley. Luckily this alley has a dead end.
Yuuki's P.O.V
Just gotta run and hide, she can't know more. I saw no way out, just surrounded by brick walls. I quickly cast hollow body on myself again and instead of running, I placed myself up against the wall. Trying to stay completely silent.
Marinette stopped at the entrance, looking shocked, defeated. "How is she not here?" I was relieved that she couldn't see me, but I couldn't bare see her like this. I tried sneaking around her back to the sidewalk. "She couldn't have climbed up the walls, right Tikki?" I stopped behind her, who's Tikki? A high voice responded, "Although she's strong, her body isn't capable off climbing a wall that fast. Unless if Hawkmoth akumatized her." She wasn't using her phone but she was clearly talking to someone. I got a bit closer until some kind of red ladybug entity flew up. It was some kind of spirit. She clenched her fists, "Should I transform into Ladybug and find out?" My eyes widened, she was Ladybug, I knew it! How did no one else noticed this...
I turned back at the spirit until I realized that it was staring at me. I hit my head, "Dang it, why didn't I consider that..." I mouthed. I started panicking, making various gestures. Shushing with my finger on my lips and mouthing 'Please don't tell Mari. I'll come back, just don't worry'. Hopefully it understood what I'm trying to say.
"Maybe we shouldn't bother her, she needs time alone." I punch up at the air, thank you so much little spirit. "Don't worry Marinette, we'll find her when see wants to be found" I remained in the alley after she left.
Shortly afterwards the spell wore off. I sighed and looked at myself, I was still wearing my armor. If I'm gonna keep hiding, I need new clothes. I sat down and searched through my bag for some clothes. I didn't have time or space to shove in a lot, but I hope I got at least a whole set. I ended up with a lavender shirt with white stripes, a maroon skirt, black leggings, some socks, and a bluish gray jacket. Instead I swiped down to open my menu, into my inventory and insert the items there. I unequipped my armor and equipped my other clothes. Luckily I had a hair tie, so I tied my hair together into a simple ponytail. I put my hood up to prevent anyone from seeing my ears and face. I exited the alley, trying to get far away from this area. Let's see how long I can keep up this facade.
? P.O.V
"LoOkS liKe She rAn AwaY...ThaT waS exPeCteD...
HawKmOth miGhT tArgEt heR...I sHouLd Go sEe wHaT hE's plAnNing"
In Hawkmoth's Lair
Hawkmoth opens up the window as the butterflies spread across the room. "A young swordswomen struggling with her dark past, such a worthy player for my little akuma." A pure white butterfly rested on his palm and turned into an akuma, "Fly away akuma, and evilize her!" He proceeded with his evil laugh until suddenly he lost control, the akuma glitched and flies out of sight. "What!" he grabbed his head, frustated and confused. "Her negative emotions are fading away as well."
"Dark wings fall." Nooroo was released from the brooch. "Nooroo, what happened. Why did I lose control?!" Nooroo was speechless, "I don't know master, some kind of unknown presence is tampering with your powers." He growls with anger as Nooroo whimpers, "Find out then! I need to get to the bottom of this!"
6 hours later
"YuUki..."
Yuuki stopped running and looked around, she realized how dark it was and that she's in an alley, "Who's there?"
"IT loOks liKe thE NeXt AkUma wiLL bE CoMinG tO YoU..."
Yuuki unsheathed her sword, "I can beat an akuma. It's just a purplish butterfly and harmless if I don't touch it."
"MaYbe tHiS uNivErse wAs A baD IdeA..."
"I don't mind this world at all. It's better than being dead." She looked at her sword and sat down, "Though I kinda miss being in VR and flying in ALO. My old friends, my old family..."
"I MigHt tRy tO cHaNge thiNgs..."
A purple butterfly flew into the alley, it was different compared to the usual akumas. This one seemed a bit transparent and for some reason, pixelated occasionally back to its natural white wings. Yuuki stood up and pointed her sword towards it.
"DoN't avOiD iT...LEt iT toUcH yOur SwoRd..."
Yuuki stared at the butterfly as it descends onto her sword, until it disintegrated into her sword. A neon purple mask appeared on her face, no one spoke to her. Then a message appeared,
'Say Link Start to Enter Akuma and Press Log Out in the Menu to Exit Akuma'
Yuuki's face lit up with excitement, she shouted, "LINK START!"
Blue and white pixels surround Yuuki and quickly disappear again. Yuuki examines herself, she's wearing her signature Nightly Cloak, her red headband, and her new upgraded sword.
Her eyes sparkled, "Wow! When did this happen to my sword!". She swung it around, "This is so cool, but why do I feel lighter like in ALO?"
"I hoPe ThiS hElpS..."
Yuuki looked behind her and saw dark purple wings materialize on her back. She was speechless, instantly she soared into the sky to the clouds.
"ShE leFt...I woNdeR iF heR aKuMa StoPs otHer AkuMas..."
Yuuki's P.O.V
The wind surrounds me as I fly higher and higher, above the clouds. The moon's light illuminates the night sky.
I missed being up here again, it's not ALO skies but it'll do. It was fun exploring Paris at night, but I wonder if magic works properly now...
I stopped to retract my wings and began rapidly skydiving down. I brought out my wings again last minute and zoomed towards the river.
"Ok I hope Siune's and Asuna's lessons pay off." I tried to cast a water breathing spell, glowing symbols surrounded my avatar and I plunged into the water. The water flowed around me as I breathe it in, I swam to the surface and sat down near the water, "ALO spells actually work properly here..."
I swiped my hand down and opened my menu and I heard my stomach growl for some reason, "I'm logged in but still hungry...unless..." I scrolled through my inventory and eventually found a couple food items that's still ediable for a couple years. I clicked on it, pixelated light appeared, I cupped my hands underneath and a sandwich landed. My eyes widened, it was one of Asuna's homemade food, my mouth watering. I couldn't resist so immediately, I munched on it, savoring each bite I took. "Although it's not real food, it's still delicious." I sighed, feeling quite satisfied and exit out my items, 'Wait...Didn't that message say that I could log out.." I was curious but hesitated.
"What happens when I log out then...
Am I human that's close to death...
Or forever a mythical Imp fairy..."
I pressed the button, a bright blue and white light flashed around me. The light faded and my eyesight became very blurry, I felt weak and sleepy. I wanted to say 'Link Start' once more but I could hardly move my lips or my body and slowly collapsed down on the stone pavement. My eyelids became heavy...
Slowly...
Falling...
Into the darkness...
Worst but great place for a cliffhanger right? Yeah I can be mean, but hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'll try to post the next one on Yuuki's birthday, great timing right?