I limped into homeroom, clutching my bag close to my side, trying to quell the anxiety bubbling in my chest.

Of course I hadn't been able to find any sign of Dollmaker. Not that it was that surprising after yesterday.

He'd had plenty of time to find himself a place to hide.

And probably make dolls or whatever other obscure thing he might do.

I figured, though, that he'd make an appearance in or around the school at some point today, since it had the highest concentration of former akumas.

Which was why, even though I was in pain, and sore, I went to school.

I wasn't really surprised to see Adrien and Marinette's seats empty, though I was a little disappointed. It just meant that they were still too hurt to help but…

I ducked my head and walked up towards my seat.

"Nathanael!" Juleka's voice called suddenly and she hugged me from behind. "You're okay!"

"Ow!" I said suddenly, clutching my chest. "Juleka-"

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry! Are you hurt somewhere?"

I smirked and turned around, playfully shoving her shoulder. "Just kidding. I'm fine. I promise. My leg's a little hurt, but it wasn't nearly as bad as Marinette and Adrien."

"I can't believe that guy kidnapped you! From school too!" she said, her eyes narrowing. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah," I said, putting my bag down on the table.

"What happened?" Ivan asked, coming up suddenly.

I nearly jumped out of my skin with how abrupt his appearance was.

"Guy was crazy," I said in response. "Kept on about how every one of us that's been an akuma are still akumas."

Ivan stared at me, his grey eyes unblinking. "So then how did he become an akuma?"

"Long story," I said.

"Tell me after class then," Ivan said and slid into his seat.

"Y-Yeah. Okay."

Ms. Bustier came into the room then. She looked up at me and gave me a wide smile.

"Everyone settle down," she said, turning her attention towards the rest of the class.

I sat down in my seat, instant relief sweeping through me as the shooting pain in my leg stopped.

"Now," she said, walking to her desk and leaning back against it as everyone took their seats. "I'm sure all of you heard about the kidnappings that took place yesterday. I'm glad to say that no one is going to die, although Adrien is still in the hospital and Marinette is currently unable to attend class. They received the worst injuries. I imagine though it would have been even worse if the Police didn't arrive when they did." She cleared her throat. "That aside, I would ask everyone not to bother their classmates about this unfortunate event. You'll get your stories from the media soon enough." She glanced up at me again and then focused her gaze on the rest of the class. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Ms. Bustier," the class said in unison.

I took out my sketchbook from my bag and put it on the desk in front of me, getting ready to draw like usual as Ms. Bustier began the lecture, but, for some reason, I didn't really feel like it.

I sat there, my pencil on the paper, and all I could think about was what happened yesterday.

Marinette knew Adrien was Chat Noir.

She'd rejected me.

I closed my eyes.

I couldn't dwell on that. She'd rejected me, but I wasn't giving up on her. Not yet.

It was too soon for that. Maybe if she got to know me better…

Who was I kidding? She was already in love with Adrien.

"Hey, Nath," Ivan's voice suddenly cut into my reprieve. "Are you okay?"

"Mm," I answered.

"Want to tell me about it?" he asked.

"Marinette rejected me," I mumbled.

He paused. "Wasn't what I was looking for, but now I get why you're being so mopey. I'm sorry, Nathanael. I don't know what to say about that."

"Nothing," I muttered and looked down at his face.

His grey eyes were giving me an almost puppy-like stare. "It'll be okay," he said.

"I know," I responded.

He turned forward then, leaving me to my thoughts again. I tried doodling and I tried listening to the lecture. Neither of which worked out well. Around noon, my stomach began to growl and Ms. Bustier wrapped up the lecture.

"After lunch, you'll be with Ms. Mendeleive in her science class. So I want everyone to eat up and pay close attention," Ms. Bustier said.

"Yes, Ms. Bustier," the class said.

I gathered up my sketchbook and put it away then got up as the bell rang.

"Nathanael," Ms. Bustier said suddenly. "A word."

"I'll wait for you outside," Ivan said.

I gave him a nod and then went towards the teacher.

The rest of the class filed out and she sighed, stepping forward to put her hand on my shoulder.

"Are you okay?" she asked. "I didn't expect you back at school after what happened yesterday."

"It's… okay," I said in response to that. "I'm fine."

She pursed her lips. "Okay," she said. "But be careful, alright Nath? I don't know exactly what happened, but whatever it was, it sounds dangerous. And that man is still on the loose."

"He's an akuma now," I pointed out. "It'll be fine. Ladybug and Chat Noir will take care of him."

I gave her a soft smile and then went to the door. I walked outside to find Ivan waiting like he had said he would.

"Let's go somewhere private to talk," he said.

"I want to check on Marinette," I said. "We could go by her bakery and talk on the way."

Ivan hesitated, then gave a nod. "Alright."

We started walking, leaving the school grounds.

"First off, tell me," he said. "Were you there? As the fox guy not you…"

"Yeah," I said. "I forced him to become an akuma. He was going to kill us if I didn't do anything."

"Marinette and Adrien. They didn't go missing like you and Mirielle. He didn't actually kidnap them… they're…"

"Don't," I said sharply. "Don't go there."

"They are," he said, my answer affirming it in his head. He gave a laugh. "That's why you were drawing Marinette as Ladybug. Cause she is-"

"Ivan," I said, my voice turning a little bit more towards a whimper. "This isn't something just anyone could know. If she found out-"

"Don't worry. The secret is safe with me," he said in an assuring tone. "But that means that Adrien-" he frowned. "You really have no chance, man."

"Yeah, I know," I said dryly. I examined him. "You're a lot smarter than people give you credit for, you know?"

He scratched the back of his neck. "Maybe. I don't know. I don't think I'm that smart."

"Most people can't put that together like you just did."

"No idea why," he said. "But then again, I didn't even suspect them until I knew about you."

"Sure," I said in response.

"So then. How did you end up as the fox guy?" Ivan asked.

"Long story," I said. "A couple days ago, I went home and found this fox goddess waiting for me…" I explained everything that happened, leaving nothing out. There wasn't a point in hiding it. I… sort of trusted Ivan, as weird as that sounded. I would never have told him on my own but…

As I finished, he gave a nod. "So can I meet Vall?" he asked.

Vall lifted her head out of my pocket at that. "I'm here," she said.

He jumped in surprise, looking down at her. "My god. She does look like a fox."

"That's right," Vall said, shifting in my pocket to get a clearer view of Ivan. "Well, now you know everything. Think you can help Nath?"

"I don't know what you expect me to do," Ivan said. "It's not like I have the power to fight Hawk Moth. I don't have a kwami or a miraculous or anything."

"You're still my friend," I said at that. "And… I need you."

"For what?" he asked.

I shook my head. "I'm not sure yet. But I know I can't do this by myself."

"You got Marinette and Adrien."

"They don't know I'm Ren," I reminded him.

"Why don't you just tell them?" he asked.

I thought about it. "Something feels… off. Like maybe they aren't supposed to know yet? I don't have the same bond with them that they do with each other. And I'm not meaning the romantic part. I mean… they work so well together. Impossibly well."

"You'll figure it out," Ivan said.

"Yeah, but I think part of that is you," I said. "There must be a reason why you found out…"

"Like God or something?" Ivan asked.

"I don't know," I said, letting some of my frustration slip out. "I have no idea."

"Well… I'll help if I can, but I don't know exactly what you want my help with."

"Maybe… help me keep my identity a secret?" I suggested. "And… it feels actually kinda good to be able to talk to someone about all this."

He smiled at that. "I can do both."

We turned onto the street with Marinette's bakery, but right before we were about to enter, I heard a voice behind me.

"Found you, foxy!"

I was grabbed from behind and yanked back, away from the door.

I felt a sinking sensation in my gut as I turned to find the Dollmaker.

Or should I say, he found me.