With this chapter Cats Closet is officially on break! I appreciate all the love, reviews and questions I have received but I need a vacation. These next two months are going to be really busy and I know I won't have time to craft quality stories for everyone to enjoy. I may post during my break but if I do they will be one-shots and may have nothing to do with this newest story arc that I somehow managed to create. Yes I said story arc. This marichat story will probably have a sequel. In any case enjoy this final chapter and the bonus excerpt from another story at the very bottom! See you on the other side!

I own nothing... Except my imagination.

The Cats Shield (Part 8)

(Friday)

Ladybug swung from building to building on the lookout for Chat or Doppelganger. Of course they had both vanished even though she had been only seconds behind.

"Tiki I really hate these mimic akumas." She grumbled

"It will be ok Marinette. I'm sure you will run into Chat soon." Tiki replied

"Ladybug!" Chats voice called out and Ladybug skidded to a stop turning to face Chat as he landed on the other side roof.

"There you are Chat! Are you ok?" Ladybug asked then froze as she took him in.

He wasn't injured in the slightest. No blood or cuts or anything and she really didn't need Tiki's voice whispering "It's the akuma!" to see that something was up.

Doppelganger grinned at her. "I'm fine! Any idea as to what we are dealing with?"

Ladybug nodded as she walked forwards to the akuma. "Apparently the akuma hit the school again but its got to be close so we can split up an search that way."

Doppelganger nodded missing how Ladybug clenched her fist. "How should we….oomph."

Ladybug swung her fist colliding with his chest knocking the air out of him and darkness instantly shimmered around him as he lost control over his shape shifting powers. Swinging a second time she yelped dodging back as black needle like lines shot out from around him. Her feet slid on the sloping roof and she jumped up the slope pausing at the top in time to see the darkness coming for her. Ladybug brought up her yoyo spinning it rapidly as the dark attack crashed into it pushing her off the roofs spine. The attack broke off and Ladybug ran down the slope leaping to a flatter rooftop realizing the darkness was still in pursuit. She twisted midair bringing her yoyo up for protection once more and was slammed down into the rooftop as the darkness struck the yoyos shield. For a second time the attack broke off and Ladybug flipped off her back her yoyo never quite stopping its spinning motion. A third attack struck home and instead of it all dissolving into the yoyos shield some of the Darkness seemed to crawl to the edge before spiking down at her body again. Ladybug yelped as they scored shallow wounds before she could leap away. Rolling and leaving a smear of blood in her wake Ladybug popped over the edge of a wall breathing hard. She needed to call Chat and she needed a plan so without a second thought she tossed her yoyo into the air crying "Lucky Charm!"

Light coalesced forming into a odd shape that dropped into her palms. It was a miniature paintball gun and Ladybug eyed the thing feeling distinctly confused. With a shrug and her yoyo in hand she leaped to the top of the wall ready for round two. The odd thing was as she looked around that there was absolutely no one there. Doppelganger had fled.

Chat sprinted across the rooftops eyes open for any kind of danger. His shoulder and head hurt a little but the pain was acceptable over the fearful panic he had felt when Marinette had thrown herself in front of him. Somewhere in the universe a scoreboard read Marinette 3 Akuma 0 and Chat was on the fence as to how he felt about the whole thing.

"Adrien pay attention!" Plagg snapped in the back of his mind and Chat paused at the edge of a building to take a deep breath.

Plagg had come for him once the akuma had left but it had taken the kwami a while to awaken Adrien. Then Plagg had stared ripping through the black bonds since they hadn't faded even though Doppelganger was nowhere near them. Adrien had been infuriated that he had been taken down so easily and realizing how upset his chosen was Plagg had stopped trying to free him threatening to leave him there while he went to Ladybug for help. Honestly Plagg could understand his kittens fury especially since it had taken all of his self-control to not attack the akuma when it had pinned Adrien. However Chat Noir needed a clear head when fighting otherwise he could get hurt or get Ladybug hurt.

"I can't believe Marinette did that." Chat muttered head in his hands finally voicing his scrambled thoughts.

"I can. She cares about you and she wanted to make sure you survived." Plagg answered

Chat ran a clawed hand through his hair wincing as one of his fingers brushed the cut on his skull. "Ok fine but… I just… I don't know why… I mean she has protected me as both Adrien and Chat. Do you think she knows?"

Plagg snorted. "No she definitely does not know. However as Doppelganger pointed out she has a crush on you so it made her want to protect your civilian form no matter what."

Chat groaned his cheeks flushing as he thought about Marinette. Shy sweet Marinette was far more than what she seemed and Chat wasn't sure how to react to the information that she had a crush on him.

"If you didn't have a crush on Ladybug you would date her in a heartbeat." Plagg snarked feeling his kittens mixed up emotions.

"ARG shut up Plagg!" Chat snarled pushing himself to his feet and starting to move again.

He hated to admit it but Plagg was right. He had noticed Marinette the very first day he had gone to school and had instantly loved the fire that seemed to burn within her making everything around her bright. However he had met Ladybug that day too and Ladybug was brave, kind, beautiful, her laugh infectious, her bluebell eyes so bright…

Chats limbs seemed to freeze on their own and he tripped nearly sending himself head first off the roof as his brain made a connection that simply couldn't be undone. They both had blue eyes. They both had the same hair style and while that could be Marinette copying Ladybug, Adrien distinctly remembered her having that hairstyle on the first day of school which was long before Ladybug became popular. It wasn't just those two things either. Every word Adrien had used to describe Ladybug easily described Marinette as well and just a few days ago hadn't he mistaken Marinettes voice for Ladybugs?

"Oh hell Plagg how blind am I?" Chat muttered and Plagg cackled in the back of his brain.

"Do you really want me to answer that?" Plagg asked and Chat shook his head forcing himself back to his now unsteady feet.

"Chat Noir!" Ladybugs voice rang out and Chat turned to see her leaping to his rooftop. "Are you alright? You almost went head first off the roof for a second there."

Chat blinked at her his instincts suddenly screaming that something wasn't right. "I'm ok I just got hit a little hard when I was at the school." He answered as Ladybug took a step closer to him. The wind kicked up around them briefly bringing with it the scents of the city and a strange metallic smell that oozed from the Ladybug before him. Chat grimaced understanding at once that this figure before him was Doppelganger.

"Akuma Adrien." Plagg whispered unhelpfully and Chat wanted to roll his eyes and exclaim Ya Think?!

"We need to find the akuma." Chat managed instead somehow keeping the snarl out of his tone.

Doppelganger nodded looking away and Chat attacked slamming his baton into the back of Doppelgangers head. At least he would have if Doppelganger hadn't ducked leaping back as Chat tried to land a second blow. The Ladybug façade faded as black spikes jutted out at Chat forcing him to leap to the next building since he was at the edge. Darkness gripped his ankle before he managed to land and Doppelganger used him like a wrecking ball crashing him through a chimney then an antenna before finally smashing him into the roof hard enough to leave a crater.

"Adrien get up!" Plagg cried and Chat desperately tried.

Chats head spun as he lay there attempting to roll over and he managed to take a gasping breath in even as darkness bound his arms to the shingles leaving him unable to move.

"And here I thought you would be more trouble. Ladybug certainly is a handful." Doppelganger said moving into Chats line of sight as he snarled weakly at him.

"Don't worry I'll give you more trouble than you bargained for!" A voice cried and Doppelganger turned yelping as several somethings struck his back. Before he could complete his turn however a red blur slammed feet first into him sending him crashing into the roof. Ladybug slid to a halt and as Doppelganger started to stand she tossed her yoyo out catching him about his waist. Twisting hard Ladybug wrenched Doppelganger off his feet and chucked him over the side of the building where he crashed into the wall before falling out of sight. Knowing she had bought them several seconds Ladybug darted to Chats side and slashed through his dark bonds with her yoyo. Instantly Chat tried to leap to his feet and nearly toppled making Ladybug catch him supporting is weight.

"Chat are you ok? I'm so sorry I was late." Ladybug murmured as she held him close.

Chat breathed in smelling lavender, vanilla, and that strange spicy extra that made up Ladybugs unique scent. "I'm much better now that you are here My Lady. Thanks for getting me free."

Ladybug nodded slowly and Chat managed to get his legs underneath him as she asked "How did you know that was Doppelganger?"

Chat opened his mouth to reveal how his scent gave him away when he realized that was the answer he needed. If Marinette was Ladybug she would share the same scent as her. "I… just… knew." Chat answered instead his words not really being a lie. He had kind of realized it was Doppelganger before the scent had confirmed it.

Ladybug nodded once accepting his nonexistent explanation. "I understand completely. He tried that with me and I don't know how I knew I just did. In any case this akuma is becoming really irritating. Shall we go stop him permanently?"

"Never though you'd ask My Lady." Chat answered and together they ran to the edge finding all too late that Doppelganger had once more given them the slip.

"This guy is becoming in-fur-iatingly annoying." Chat grumbled and Ladybug rolled her eyes even as she ruffled his hair.

"It's ok Chat I tagged him with this." She said as she raised a ladybug spotted miniature paintball gun.

"Your lucky charm?" Chat cried eyeing her earrings. They weren't missing a dot yet but Chat knew it was now a race against time.

"We have dealt with worse. Lets go." Ladybug answered with a shrug and leapt to the next building.

Chat followed her and together they watched the streets coming to a small festival going on in one of the squares.

"Crap." Chat growled and pointed out a small figure that was moving to some of the booths.

"Is that?!" Ladybug started as she picked out the pigtailed figure that had red polka dotted paint splashed across her back.

Chats belt tail actually lashed the air showing his fury and he gritted his teeth "He is disguising himself as Marinette."

"I'll get him. We don't want him to hurt any civilians so try and get them to move away." Ladybug snapped even as her earrings beeped at her.

She didn't give Chat a chance to answer swinging down into the square calling "Marinette!"

Doppelganger froze and turned slowly an odd smile twisting her lips. "Um… uh… hi! H-how are you L-Ladybug?"

Ladybug wanted to groan impressed despite herself. Doppelganger had her down to that stupid stutter that plagued her. Instead of groaning Ladybug forced a smile to her lips and reached out to grab her hand. Watching as Chat hit the ground and extended his staff so it blocked people from moving past him to get to Ladybug. People were surprised but he swiftly pressed a finger to his lips mouthing akuma to them and people did what they do best in Paris these days. They started to run.

"Chat told me what you did at school and I just wanted to say thank you. Might I take you home since the akuma is still hanging around?" Ladybug said keeping Doppelgangers eyes on her so he didn't notice the people fleeing the scene of the soon to be battle.

Doppelganger shook there disguised head "No I-I'll be ok. T-though it's really nice of you to offer."

The siren went off for their area instantly making Ladybug jump and causing Doppelgangers form to flicker.

Ladybug smirked pulling her yoyo out. "Gotcha."

Doppelganger gave a wordless snarl his disguise dropping as he fired off an attack at Ladybug. She dodged throwing her yoyo out so it wrapped around his legs keeping him from running and pulled. Darkness shot from him some spikes sinking into the ground to help him keep his balance as the rest pursued Ladybugs lithe form. He bent slightly trying to reach the yoyos string when he saw the boots rushing towards him.

Doppelganger twisted in the yoyos string but was unable to dodge Chats fist. It slammed hard right into his jaw and Doppelganger went airborne for a brief second before Chats staff swatted him from the air to slam him hard to the ground.

The darkness vanished instantly Doppelgangers concentration completely broken. Chat arrived at his side and reached down yanking the masquerade style mask from his face and tossing it to Ladybug. She caught it and recalled her yoyo spinning Doppelganger a bit as it untangled from his legs. Chat however reached down and gripped the front of Doppelgangers suit lifting the stunned akuma up.

"One of these days Hawkmoth you are going to regret ever sending out that first purple butterfly." Chat hissed and the purple mask surrounded Doppelgangers face.

"Do not make empty threats child. I will have what I desire even if I have to kill to get it." Hawkmoths voice hissed from Doppelgangers mouth. Darkness swarmed the space between them stabbing into Chat as he released Doppelganger a little too late.

Chat cried out falling back as Ladybug snapped up the fleeing butterfly. "Chat!" Ladybug cried running to his side. Blood welled from deep puncture marks as Doppelgangers powers were nullified and he returned to being Wes.

"You idiot! What in the hell were you doing?!" Ladybug shrieked at him even as she released the purified butterfly from her yoyo.

"Bye bye pretty butterfly." Chat murmured in her stead since she was still yelling even as she threw up the paintball gun calling "Miraculous Cleanse!"

Light swirled around them both healing them and Ladybug grabbed Chats suit hauling him into a sitting position looking furious.

"I am going to ask it One. More. Time." Ladybug started then gasped as Chat pulled her down into his lap in a hug.

"I was threatening Hawkmoth. Sorry My Lady. I won't do it again." Chat whispered

Ladybug muttered something about stupid kittens even as she squeezed him tight.

They stayed like that even as Wes asked "Um what happened?" Beeping however broke them apart.

Ladybugs hand flew to her ears as she slid off Chats lap so she was kneeling at his side. "I've got to go. Will you be ok Chat?"

Chat nodded watching as people began to file back into the square. "I'll be fine My Lady. I'll even get Wes here where ever he needs to go."

Ladybug nodded climbing to her feet. "Thank you Chat." She whispered then took off throwing ut her yoyo and swinging away out of sight.

Wes watched her looking a bit awestruck and he turned to Chat his eyes dreamy. "She is amazing."

Chat growled "She is mine."

Wes blinked and his hands flew up in surrender. "Agreed! All yours and I think I will be fine getting home on my own."

Chat huffed under his breath as Wes scrambled away from him letting him go since he was going to follow from the rooftops anyways. Slowly he stood and with a quick wave at the incoming crowd he launched himself to the rooftops with his baton.

It was almost 10pm when Chat managed to sneak out to find meet princess and he was surprised to find her out on her rooftop. Two mugs sat on a small table next to where she lay curled up and fast asleep in her lounger. He grinned at her cute sleeping face and dropped to his knees next to her reaching out to slide his arms under her. She wiggled as he lifted her sighing and snuggling in close to his chest. Chat took a deep breath and froze as her scent flooded his nose. Lavender, vanilla, and that spice he still couldn't quite identify filled his lungs and he breathed "Ladybug…"

"What kitty?" Marinette mumbled her eyes fluttering open to stare into his green ones.

"Chat?" Marinette asked confused and Chat blinked realizing she had woken up.

"S-Sorry!" Chat yelped swiftly releasing her back into her lounger and jerked upright.

Marinette blinked rapidly feeling confused but she swung her legs over the edge and reached for the cup of hot chocolate that was now cold.

"Are you ok Chat?" She asked slowly standing to gather both cups.

Chat nodded "I just wanted to stop by and thank you for today. I also wanted to apologize if I was a little short. This akuma Doppelganger managed to really get under my fur."

Marinette sighed placing the cups back down on the table and reached out to take both of Chats hands "Its ok Chat I didn't really like this akuma either. He kept pretending to be the boy I have a crush on and kept giving me the willies."

"C-Crush?!" Chat squeaked feeling his face burn and Marinette smiled at him.

"Yeah he even asked me out today. At least I'm pretty sure he did." Marinettes face went beet red and she all but squealed until she looked up and saw the stunned look on Chats face. "Don't worry you will always be my favorite kitten." She said mistakeing the stunned look on his face and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek.

Chat felt like he was about to either pass out or explode and Marinette giggled at the suddenly dopey look that came over his features.

"Well then do you want to come in and I'll heat up the hot chocolate?" Marinette asked releasing his hands.

Chat pressed a hand to his cheek the grin on his face growing bigger by the second. "You know princess that sounds paw-sitively fur-tastic."

Marinette groaned as she turned to her hatch and to Chat it was music to his ears.

Since I was late posting I decided to add this. It's an excerpt from a Miraculous Ladybug story I'm working on that I have decided to call Detecting Ladybugs.

(First Encounter)

The air was silent and filled with tension as the man in cat ears flipped the badge open. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Detective five years. Huh… they got tired of sending cops after me?"

"Give it back." Marinette snarled even as she wondered how he could read in this dim lighting. Glancing up he folded the leather badge back into place then tossed it to her. She caught it expecting him to follow up with an attack but he leaned against the wall with a wide yawn.

"So you're a detective with ninja moves." He said as one of the ears on his head seemed to swivel slightly. Figuring the headband must have simply moved as he scratched his back against the wall in such a way that once again it reminded her of a cat, Marinette shook her head.

"Ninjas are Japanese I'm half Chinese." Marinette corrected sliding her badge back where it belonged and he grinned at her.

"I stand corrected." He answered and Marinette just stared at him in total confusion. If this man was indeed her quarry he was a criminal who had killed 15 people and he could have easily killed her, instead he teased her, stole her badge, and then returned it a moment later. Nothing he had done made any sort of sense.

"Who are you?" she asked

"I'm just a stray cat looking for a comfy place to call home My Lady." Chat answered and Marinette bristled.

"Your name." She spat and he stood fully upright cocking his head his ears coming to an alert position.

"Somebody is annoyed with life. My name if you must know is Chat Noir." He said giving an extravagant bow that seemed just the slightest bit familiar.

A bolt of energy spiked through her and Marinette let the weight in her hand dangle and swing free on the chain. She had been fairly certain it was him but she had wanted to confirm it before attacking. "You're under arrest."

Chat grinned Cheshire cat style and lifted his hands. "I will be happy to dance with My Lady, only…" he ducked as she let the weight fly and it crashed into the wall with a loud crack. Darting forward ears plastered back he came right at her clawed gloves outstretched. She twisted sideways yanking the weight up and back as he flew past her. The weight smacked into his shoulder causing him to hiss and trip before rolling to a stop on the floor. He sat up as she advanced his wide green eyes piercing into hers and she paused something almost feral in his gaze making the hair go up on the back of her neck. In the next instant he grinned once more and twisting his body around he slipped through the open doorway next to him into the darkness.