Chapter 41:Rising Water(Keith's POV)

Keith twirls his pencil absently. Adrien has been going off to Chloes for two days now. Which in his mind doesn't make sense, but what does he know about friendship, other than the ones portrayed in cartoons, anime and movies.

So he doesn't know what to feel, other than the fact he knows they are hiding something from him.

But what?

It can't be about superhero business, because Chat Noir is way different from Adrien.

So it can't be about that. So what could it be? What are they hiding?

If he really wanted to know he could just say to Chat Noir that he's ready to reveal his identity even though he's not. Because it would really mess him up, since it took him a while to distance Honeybee from Chloe.

And he's still getting used to the idea that his superhero self is different from his civilian self. Which was never the case in Voltron.

But here the rules were different. As the identity of the superhero must be kept secret so that none of their enemies find out. Which is a good reason. But still hard to grasp. As Earth was far away from the war with the Galra. But the Galra could come here at any time.

Which won't help one bit with the war going against Hawkmoth.

Keith pushes away from his desk in his room. Technically his and Adrien's. As they share.

"Where are you going?" Roaar asks, making Keith jump a little.

"I'm taking a break from doing my science homework as I can't seem to focus on it right now." Keith replies. "You're welcome to tag along."

"Sure! It's boring here. Watching you do your homework or practice piano. Much more entertaining to watch you fence and practice fighting."

He rolls his eyes, "Of course. Cause then I'm doing something that doesn't involve sitting around and doing nothing of interest."

"Yeah!"

"Well I do have to keep my fist to fist combat skills in shape for when I face an akuma or some other threat. As transforming myself into Marmora doesn't give me a sword to fight with."

"But at least you're doing something. Unleashing your inner tiger! I could watch you fight all day if I could."

"Why?" he asks. It's only keeping him in physical shape so he's prepared to face an akuma. His reason for practicing whenever someone asked though was for self defense. Which coincides with fighting akumas because you have to defend yourself against their blows.

"Because it's like the one thing where you're actually having fun and being you, beside being with Adrien and Chloe. Also it's where you roar the loudest."

Keith asks, confused, "Come again?" What does she mean by that?

"I mean it's where your inner voice sounds the loudest. So protecting your friends is important to you. Isn't that also why you train in paw to paw combat?"

Keith nods, despite Chloe learning how to defend herself through being a superhero, he has more experience with being in dangerous situations. So he'd rather defend them, then see Chloe or Chat get hurt.

As Chat's fighting style mainly relies on his staff as his main weapon, not his fists or legs. And Chloe relies on her swinging top yo-yo thing more too, instead of fighting with the akuma up close.

Which wouldn't help them when the akuma fights with their fists and not their powers that they gain from Hawkmoth.

Speaking of which, why was Hawkmoth doing all of this for some kwamis who are tied to magical jewels. There must be something else about the kwamis granting powers to teens to warrant someone like Hawkmoth wanting them. But why?

At least Zarkon's motive kind of made sense. The conquering planets part and wanting the only thing that could stand up against him.

"Umm, why is there water on the streets?" Roaar asks.

Keith looks at his kwami who is hiding in his sweater's inside pocket. "There isn't any water on the stree…."

And then he notices it. Water piling up and close to him. It shouldn't be possible. Unless an akuma is making it happen. But why is the water rising? Why would the akuma want to do that?

"Shouldn't you go transform before the whole city sinks in this weird water rising thing that is going on?" Roaar remind him.

"Sorry, just thinking. After all, all akumas are caused by people's negative emotions. And I was just wondering why this one in particular was wanting to flood the city, is all."

"You think too much."

Keith scoffs, "I have to, otherwise…"

"Yeah yeah, speaking your mind at Mister Agreste will get you kicked out. I know that!" Roaar scowls.

"Oh really?"

Roaar simply turns her head in the other direction, looking displeased at him.

Keith ducks into an alleyway. Making sure that no one can see him and won't be able to see him transform. He says the words, "Roaar paints my stirpes!" Roaar's protests fade as purple light engulfs him and gives him his superhero outfit.

Time to see what the rising water is all about.

Adrien's POV

He walks behind Master Fu. "Where are we going? And why isn't Plagg allowed to come with us?"

Master Fu responds, "The Grimoire contains the secrets of recipes that give your kwamis a power boost for certain situations. Which is why you have been studying the language taught to me by the Order of Guardians. I have copied down the Grimoires writings from when Ladybug gave it to me when she found it in a trash can."

"Wait Ladybug found the Grimoire in a trash can?"

Master Fu nods, "She said she saw you with it and in turn it inspired her to think Gabriel Agreste, your father, to be Hawkmoth. As I have thought that the Grimoire would be in the hands of whoever holds the peacock and butterfly miraculouses."

"But then he was akumatized into the Collector…."

"That did not erase all my doubts, as Hawkmoth could have akumatized himself to throw you off the scent that you were following by finding out that your father has the Grimoire."

Adrien nods, "Well yes, but that can't be….."

"Possible. I assure you it can. It had happened in the past. But that is not the point. I need you to learn the ingredients so you know in case I can not refill your stock. Is that Marmora still against the idea of letting you know his identity?"

"Yes," He reluantaly says. He was hoping by now Marmora would have changed his mind, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

"Then I shall have to give him double the potions in case his mind set stays this way."

Adrien continues to follow Master Fu and is shocked to see a room with a cauldron and various ingredients needed for the potions he talked about. It also has a single light in the room, giving it a creepy aura.

Master Fu stands in a way from the doorway in the room.

Adrien stands behind him, unsure of what to do. "Adrien do you have any idea what Tear of Joy could possibly mean? I have been trying to figure it out. But with teaching you and making sure the kwamis needs are taken care of, well it slipped my mind."

"No I don't."

Master Fu sighs, "Then I shall have to try a drop of honeydew and see if that works. In the meantime you familiarize yourself with the markings I've written in a notebook and see if all that training has paid off."

He huffs, but doesn't complain. Training to be a Guardian sure is hard work. But at least Master Fu doesn't expect him to master it all in one day, despite the demanding nature of the training.

So he focuses on the strange symbols that he only learned about recently. Some of the symbols he recognizes instantly, like the symbol for kwami, the symbols for the miraculous jewels and the symbol for power. He doesn't get far when he notices that the floors seem oddly wet. "Master Fu, do you have a plumbing issue?"

"No I don't." Master Fu says as he walks up to Adrien.

"Then what is it?"

"It must be an akuma. It is a good thing I started to make the recipes. Here this potion is for an underwater power up. Give it to Plagg and see if you can find Chloe and Marmora and give it to them as well."

Master Fu hands him an vival of blue liquid. "When you come back from facing that akuma, I'll have the potions ready for you to take home so you don't need to come to my place every time you need a power boost."

"Thank you!" Adrien says and he runs quickly to where Plagg is. He is little concerned about using a potion that will give his kwami a power boost. As he doesn't know what it'll do. But whatever, if it'll help him with the akuma then he'll use it. And hopefully nothing will go wrong. Hopefully.