Marinette and Kagami

For the rest of the week, their classes went smoothly, aside from the odd jealous fangirl angry of the attention he gave Marinette. He could only imagine how bad it will get when they figure out that they are dating.

Kagami, Aurore and Mirielle helped them stay on track while everyday after school, Marinette and Adrien would go to her house to do more homework. By Friday they were all caught up, but before the couple could relax, Adrien was given a photoshoot. While her boyfriend was busy, Marinette spent the afternoon walking with Kagami.

They were not far from the bay when Kagami lowered her voice, as if about to share a secret, "Marinette, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"How did you feel when you first fell for Adrien?"

Marinette looked at her surprised, "Well at first I started to stutter, then when ever I see a picture of him or hear his voice, my heart beats twice as fast. In person, I was a complete mess, no self control." She went into a daze, remembering that day in the rain, when Adrien was open with her and handed her his umbrella.

"What caused you to fall for him?" Kagami asked in a tone Marinette never heard from her.

"He opened up, letting me see the real him, admitting his flaws and fears. Then he handed me his umbrella and it all kinda shocked me, I wasn't even able to speak. I froze up and the umbrella closed up on me. He seemed to hesitate, then once he realized I was OK he started laughing. It wasn't demeaning, it was innocent. I couldn't even say goodbye, stammering all over the place." She sighed at the memory, so long ago, yet it felt just like yesterday.

"So it was his openness and honesty."

"Yeah, why are you asking me all this?"

Kagami looked down, a flush gathering at her cheeks, the memory of a blue haired guitarist once again on her mind. She hadn't stopped thinking about that evening with Luka, listening to his music. Him opening up, her opening up to offer comfort. It was similar to Marinette's experience, but in his and hers unique way. "Uh, no reason."

'About Viperion?' Marinette thought to herself. She hoped that it wouldn't result in another love square. "Is there a guy?Or a girl?" she asked.

"I never said there was anyone, just forget I said anything." Kagami seemed a bit too defensive all the sudden. Marinette didn't pry anymore, but when they got closer to the Couffine boathouse, she saw an emotion she never seen from Kagami. Was she nervous?

Alya

All week, Alya has been tested every bit of information Lila has ever told them. Jagged Stone's kitten she rescued? Never existed. Friends with Prince Ali? Nope, Rose helped her with that one. All those medical issues? False, she never even went to the school nurse for her check ups. Friends with a manga publisher in Japan? Nathaniel said she never mentioned it again, or even tried to set up a meeting.

All of it was not true. She just needed to meet up with Ladybug some how to ask for her side of everything. But Ladybug wasn't going to talk to her. And the last time she got an interview it was because of something Marinette pulled off, getting both heroes to show up at her house for an interview. That girl wasn't going to do her any favours, not after her sketchbook.

Which left her with Lila, suspect number one. Alya sighed picking up her phone again. Time for a final test. As the phone dialed, her email popped up a notification on her computer. It was Lila's mother, the subject reading 'Traveling?'.

Nino

Nino was in his home with his brother Chris, playing freestyle rap. The bros loved to complete using the app. Once they were done, Nino thought about going out with Alya the next day. As he pulled out his phone he looked at Chris, "Do you mind if Lila watches you again tomorrow?"

Chris lit up like a christmas tree, "Lila is the best! She is the most awesome sitter ever!"

Nino was surprised, "How so? I thought Marinette was the best?"

"She is fun, but Lila invented freestyle rap."

This new bit of info startled Nino. "Dude, freestyle battles were a thing since the 1982, freestyle was a thing long before that."

"But Lila said she invented it." Chris' face was downcast.

Nino was pissed, he now had proof that Lila had lied about something. And not just anyone, but his little brother. He called up Alya, he didn't know what she uncovered this week, but she needed to hear this.

Lila

She had spent every night dodging patrols of Ladybug and Chat Noir, heading to the secret meeting place. Once there she would do the exercise Hawkmoth instructed her. She would cast an illusion, a different one each time to keep herself sharp. Then she would wait for the last beep, and force herself to stay transformed. It was a difficult process. Trixx tried to force herself out but Lila now was able to stay transformed for ten seconds longer.

Every time, the fox kwami would come out exhausted. The technique was abusive on her, forcing her to stay in the necklace longer, until it got to the point where the kwami would start forcing itself to keep Lila transformed. Hawkmoth had explained over time kwami would bond with their users, extending transformation time limits and even granting new abilities. But they couldn't afford to wait, as the heroes neared this point of their training. Hawkmoth needed her stronger then them soon as possible if they were to take advantage of the fox. So he gave her the technique he had used since he got the butterfly miraculous, the results showing on Heroes Day when he kept his transformation even after the regular time limit.

Feeding the kwami, she repeated the process, not caring how Trixx felt. Hawkmoth showed her power, she wanted it.

Gabriel and Natilee

While Natilee was resting, trying to recover from the use of the damaged Peacock Miraculous, Gabriel spent time trying to decipher the Miraculous spellbook. He found pages that hinted of power ups for miraculous holders. The power ups would give his, how should he phrase it, alliance the an additional edge. Ladybug and Chat Noir may have the Miracle Box, but he had a secret allie as well as the spellbook. He only needed to translate it.

He heard Natilee cough as she stirred. The other reason for his fixation on translating the spellbook, to find a way to fix the Peacock miraculous and heal Natilee of her sickness. She was a very good assistant after all.

"Gabriel, you need to take a break."

He looked over at her softly, "You need to rest, the miraculous took to much of your strength already."

"I can help."

"Not now. I will need your help again, but first we must wait." He looked back at the book, "If we can not translate the book then we must find another allie and miraculous that they will use with ease. Fortune favoured us with Lila as the Fox, but I doubt we will get that again. We need to build up our strength and hopefully our numbers, before we make another move."

"Who can we possibly draw over to our side?"

He put his hand to his chin, "Choe is our best bet, she may have seemed to accept Ladybug's decision not to use her again, but after Princess Justice she may feel different. Angry even that after helping she gets told no. That night I felt anger from her, stronger than all other emotions that night."

"Ladybug must have told her never again, if we play our cards right, we may get her on our side. The Bee miraculous might be troublesome." She tilted her head thoughtfully, "Unless we put her in a situation where the Bee is needed, like with Style Queen. Ladybug brought it out, but lost it. That's how Chloe got her hands on it."

Gabriel nodded, "All we need is to cause an akuma with similar abilities." As Natillee headed back to the couch, he went back to the book, intent on translating it.

Marinette and Kagami

The girls got close to the bay, Marinette remembered Luka, "Hey let's visit Luka."

Kagami froze. She was not ready to face Luka again. "Why?"

"Because he is sweet and a friend. One of the few I have left."

Kagami figgited, "Well maybe we can visit him some other time."

"But we are already here." Kagami then realized they were at the boathouse. "Seriously are you Ok? What's up?"

"I'm fine, nothing is wrong, I get seasick that's all."

"Kagami, you been on the boat before and you were fine."

Kagami panicked, concerned Marinette knew about her visit to Luka. "What? No, I was never on a boat."

"Yes, remember Desparata? When Jagged Stone was looking for a guitarist ? We were all on the boat."

"Oh yeah, I forgot." Kagami cringed at how suspicious she was gave her a concerned look before going onto the boat, Kagami reluctantly following her. Luka was on the deck, music sheets in front of him on a table. He looked up, smiling at the two girls.

"Hi Marinette." His voice seemed to get caught in his throat for a moment, "Hi Kagami." His smile seemed to grow, though his eyes seemed nervous. "What are you two doing here?"

"We were just in the neighborhood we figured we just stop in and say hi." Marinette gave him a cheerful smile, Kagami looked down, looking uneased.

"How have you been doing? Sorry I haven't reached out to you at all. Juleka told me what happened." The look in his eyes seemed angry, "That's terrible what they did to you."

"I'm better now. Turns out it wasn't my sketchbook they had, but a fake planted by Adrien."

Luka's eyes seemed to open wide with shock, but Marinette knew he already knew this from Chat. He didn't want to give away his identity and she was grateful for that. "I didn't hear that from Juleka, does anyone else know?"

"Aside from the three of us, Adrien, his dad and my parents, no. I prefer to keep it that way for now." She shuffled her feet awkwardly, "They might try to steal it again and I want them to feel guilty. I don't think they deserve forgiveness."

Kagami hadn't said a word at all yet. Luka looked at her in concern, "Hey Belle Fleur, you ok?"

She choked, not believing what she just heard, while Marinette's eyes went wide. "I'm, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah yeah, uh Marinette, we gotta go do all that homework still, n time to waste. Bye!"

Marinette and Luka watched her rush off, both confused. "Was it something I said?"

Marinette gave him a 'I am done with your shit' look, "What was with the nickname all the sudden."

Luka rubbed the back of his head, "I don't know it just felt right."

"Because?"

"Uh, I don't know, it was an impulse decision." Luka's face was flushing, "I didn't mean anything bad."

"I'll go see what's up with her." As she headed over to the small bridge she looked over her shoulder, "We don't have any homework by the way." With that she left, leaving the boy to ponder over what that was supposed to mean. Did that mean Kagami didn't like being around him?

Marinette ran to catch up to the speed walking Kagami, "Hey, wait up. What was with that back there with Luka? We don't have any homework."

"I'm not ready to face him. I'm not sure how I feel about him yet."

"Wait, so that's why you were asking those questions earlier? Is Luka the guy?"

"Yes." Kagami sighed in defeat, "Monday evening, I was walking by the bay and I heard him playing. It sounded sad so I went to see if was ok. We talked and opened up to each other. Then we just sat there while he played this beautiful piece he liked, I lost track of time with him. Ever since I can't get him out of my head, the moment playing over and over."

"So you like him?"

"Yes, no, I don't know." She looked down at her feet, "I don't want to rush in and ruin our friendship. And then he goes and calls me that I just panicked." Marinette laughed, earning a questioning look from Kagami, "What is it?"

"This is almost exactly what happened to me." As the two set off to Marinette's house, she texted Adrien, 'Hey Kitty, hoe's the shoot going? You won't believe what I just witnessed! Call me tonight.'

Alya and Nino

Alya barely finished reading the email when Nino called. "Hey babe."

"Hey." Something in Nino's tone made her worry. "I was hanging out with my little bro and he told me that Lila claimed to have invented freestyle rap, which I know for a fact she didn't."

"I been looking into some of her other claims. All of them are lies. I even reached out to her mother and get this, she never went on trips out of country ever since she joined our school. Apparently her mother thinks the school closes down due to akuma attacks for weeks at a time."

"That never happens, Ladybug always fixes damage with that status quo yo of hers."

"Which adds another big lie to all the others. Now to expose her."

"That could be tricky, remember how she turned all of us against Marinette? The damage she caused with her words. And how she played us when Rose and Juleka tried to tell us about her claiming to make that blue scarf Marinette made for Adrien?"

"Right, we need to catch her off guard and make her slip up. She is cunning but we should be able to pull something off. We need the rest of the class."

"I'll ring them up, secret meeting time."