AN: Well…that last chapter…wow! Hope you've all recovered because this story is only halfway complete! For now, though, here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter 8: You Against Me

Receiving a Cataclysm to the ribs had not been a part of Ladybug's plan. That would've been a very drastic move if she'd planned for this to happen and the stakes had already been way too high to leave to chance that this move would bring Cat Noir out of his akumatization and back to her. However, this accident, though painful as it was, had proven beneficial because it had, in fact, snapped Cat Noir back to his senses.

Cat Noir stepped back, looking down at his ring in disbelief. Ladybug could see him questioning, probably hoping that this was all just some elaborate nightmare. Honestly, Ladybug wished that too, but the intense pain in her ribs told her otherwise. There was no way that a nightmare could cause this!

"Ladybug, I…" Cat Noir started to say.

Even through the pain, Ladybug tried to manage to give her partner a soft smile. Though he would blame himself forever for this, it wasn't his fault. No one could be held accountable for the things they did or said while akumatized; it wasn't really them but, rather, Hawk Moth acting through them. "Looks like I'm the one making the sacrifices today, Kitten," she told him softly.

"Ladybug, no," Cat Noir muttered, dropping to his knees. "I never meant for this to happen. You know I never want to hurt you."

"I know, Kitty," Ladybug tried to reassure him. "I know."

If she hadn't been so overcome with the pain of her multiple broken ribs, Ladybug would've perceived two things that would clue her in that this was merely just a lull in the storm that was her battle against the akumatized Cat Noir. First, she would've noticed the ring on her partner's gloved finger. Even though he had used his Cataclysm minutes ago, the pawprint on the ring still appeared as it always did before Cat Noir used his signature attack move. All pads were still brightly lit and there was no sign at all to indicate that the five minute countdown had begun. Second, no black and purple butterfly had emerged from anywhere on Cat Noir. The akumatization was broken, but Cat Noir was still mentally connected to Hawk Moth and the supervillain was not about to let his prey forget.

Ladybug watched as Cat Noir went stiff and the mask of Hawk Moth appeared over her partner's face once more. She silently groaned, fearing the fight that was to imminently begin again. Even before she'd taken the Cataclysm to the ribs, Ladybug was having a hard time matching the fighting skill of Cat Noir. If Hawk Moth pulled him back under again, it would probably spell the end for Ladybug. Right now, she could barely move and she didn't want to imagine sliding back up from the position that she was sitting in right now. How the heck did Cat Noir fight this way when they'd taken on Miraculer? In fact, if Ladybug recalled correctly, he'd taken multiple Cataclysm attacks to his ribs that day!

"No," Cat Noir muttered in front of Ladybug. Still on his knees, Cat Noir gripped tight onto his head, as if that would expel the evil voice of Hawk Moth from his mind. "I hurt Ladybug. I don't want to do that again!" Then, as Ladybug watched, Cat Noir fell forward just slightly, clutching at his chest as if he was struggling to breathe. "Y-yes, Hawk Moth." Then, his eyes locked onto Ladybug's for the briefest moment as he spoke to her with that gentle smile that she couldn't help but to love. "Save me, Ladybug. Bring me back again. I know that you will. I have faith in you."

Ladybug closed her eyes shut, probably not the best move with Cat Noir akumatized in front of her, but what more could he do to her, really? He'd already used his Cataclysm on her. Again, her chest twinged in pain, another reminder of what had just happened. Even without the Cataclysm, Ladybug felt like her heart had been broken. It hurt to see Cat Noir this way and it was even more painful to fight him. She felt the tears prick again behind her closed eyes, but she refused to let them fall. The last thing that she needed was for Cat Noir, who was back under the influence of the akuma, to see her cry. Why did he have to say what he just had? How could he put so much trust in her? She'd been unable to save him before the Cataclysm and it was pretty much impossible now!

"I never intended to Cataclysm you, Ladybug," Cat Noir told her and Ladybug could hear that the sinister tone had returned to his voice. "You surprised me and I succumbed to a moment of weakness, but it won't happen again." Ladybug heard Cat Noir pick himself up off of the ground and start to slowly walk over to where she sat helplessly. "I may not have my Cataclysm anymore, but it doesn't matter. I will still take your Miraculous because as long as you still have those earrings, there is still a reason why we can't be together."

Ladybug's eyes snapped open. She had another plan. It might not work, but she had to try. If she could avoid another fight, she would do it! There was no way that she could take another physical battle, not like this! "You and me against the world! That is what we used to say, remember? What happened to that, Cat Noir?" She looked into his eyes, hoping that their familiar mantra would ring some bells and bring him back out of the akumatization, back to her, again.

Cat Noir closed his eyes and turned his head to the side. "It used to be 'you and me against the world, M'lady'," he told her, his voice softening just slightly, but not nearly enough. It hadn't worked. This time, his akumatization held fast. "It always was you and me together. As long as we had each other, we could overcome anything. That was what I wanted to believe, but you never felt the way that I did." He opened his eyes and looked back at Ladybug, his gaze narrowed in anger. "Things have to change. They will change. You don't seem to realize that, so now it is just you against me!"

He reached to grab for Ladybug's earrings and there was nothing she could do to stop him. She was too weak and in pain, effects she'd sustained from the impact of his Cataclysm. Was this how it was all going to end? Would Cat Noir get her earrings to turn over to Hawk Moth and reveal her secret identity in the process?

Oh no…another evil cliffhanger! Things really are not looking so good for poor Ladybug right now! Guess we'll have to wait until the next chapter to see if Cat Noir is able to succeed in his mission or if there's still some Ladybug luck left!

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