Yes I added a new chapter! You're welcome!

But i'm also apologizing for this in advance.

Chapter 2: Just a Boy

~ONE WEEK PREVIOUSLY~

Chat Noir grunted in surprise as Ladybug tackled him to the ground.

"Stupid cat! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

Chat could only grin sheepishly up at his partner as several throwing stars wizzed over their heads, decorating the wall. Several of his classmates screamed and dove for cover.

"Only if you purromise you'd miss me M'Lady." Chat winked, grabbing her by the waist and rolling them out of the way to avoid more projectiles.

Ladybug groaned, pushing him off her. "Now's not the time for your puns Chat Noir."

"Oh! So there is a time for it later then, right?" Chat grinned and pulled out his baton, extending and spinning it to deflect another shuriken.

"Careful where you're sending those!" Ladybug scolded as the throwing star hit one of the overhead lights, causing sparks to rain down on civilians. "You're going to break something!"

"Oops." Chat cringed, his ears twitching in embarrassment.

The akuma scowled and nimbly dropped down to the bleachers, causing more bystanders to scatter. Her red-tipped dark ponytail swirled behind her as she stood up, the two ends of her red sash settling beside her.

She pointed one of her black-gloved fingers at them. "You will surrender and give me your miraculous!" Her vibrant green eyes glared out from above the mask covering the lower half of her face, the shiny shuriken symbol on her chest catching the light.

"Not a chance Ninja Star!" Ladybug shouted back, pulling out her yo-yo in preparation to block any incoming blades.

"Then I'll show the world just how much chaos I can create!" After a complicated weaving of her hands, she gestured towards the exits and they slammed tightly shut. "Nobody will ever laugh at me again!"

Chat watched as several of his classmates attempted to break one of the doors down. A quick glance around the gym confirmed that the other exits had the same problem.

He hissed in irritation. Just one day out with his friends. That's all he asked for, just one day away from the photoshoots, the lessons, the endless clothes fittings. He finally got some time off to spend with his classmates, and of course that's when Hawkmoth decided to send out an akuma.

"Chat!" Ladybug's warning brought him out if his mental tangent. He jerked in surprise as Ninja Star was suddenly right in front of him.

'How did she-?'

His thoughts were cut off as the akuma kicked him away, knocking the breath out of him as he crashed into a set of tables near the exit. The small crowd consisted mostly of his classmates, and they eyed the black clad superhero worriedly.

"Whoa... you okay dude?"

'Nino.' His best friend had an arm wrapped protectively around Alya as they both stared at him. Dang, why did they all have to accept Rose's invitation to her cousin's martial arts tournament?

"Yeah..." Chat Noir groaned, getting to his feet. "I'll live." He looked back over to Ladybug who was currently jumping around the akuma, nimbly avoiding any attack thrown at her.

"Chat! You need to get everyone out!" His partner called out to him as she exchanged blows with the Akuma. She risked a quick glance at him. "I'll keep her occupied!"

As much as he wanted to go help her, he knew she could handle herself. Besides, she had a point; everyone was in danger.

Rose's cousin had gotten akumatized after she lost her final duel, she had felt humiliated. And before he had transformed and Ladybug showed up (rather quickly to his surprise), the Akuma would attack whoever was closest to her. There were already several people injured, but nothing too severe. Luckily nobody had been injured by falling debris from the damage Ninja Star had dealt to the gym.

To be honest, the only reason anyone was relatively safe at the moment was because she was too preoccupied trying to take the two heroes' miraculous.

But that could change at any moment.

"Everyone stand back!" Chat clipped his baton to his belt as everyone backed away from the doors.

"Cataclysm!"

With a swipe of his claws the doors and part of the wall crumbled away, leaving an easy to use exit.

"Last stop everybody out!" He grinned, nodding his head to the few who gave him quick thank-yous before racing out of the gym.

"All in a day's work." He replied with a slight bow. "Just get the injured to saf-"

He was interrupted as an explosion rang through the air, followed by a loud crash and a shriek of pain. Chat jerked his attention back towards the fight, trying to place the scream. It wasn't Ladybug's or the Akuma's. He barely noticed his ring give it's first beep. Didn't he just evacuate everyone?

He was even more concerned when he was met by a thick pale smoke that quickly filled the gym. This wasn't darkness that he could see through with his night vision. And it wasn't exactly smoke either, this was a palpable mist that he could feel clinging to his face.

Chat pulled out his baton and extended it into a staff, holding it ready as he moved cautiously through the mist. His ears twitched, catching faint shuffling several meters ahead. He closed his eyes, relying entirely on his enhanced hearing and general feel of the area. His ears twitched forward, catching his attention. He could hear some hushed conversation between two people. One was... Ladybug. The other was speaking rather shakily, obviously in pain.

'But where's Ninja Star?'

His answer came a moment later when he sensed movement to his right.

Chat's eyes snapped open as he ducked, just avoiding the sharp blade that sliced above him. The air had cleared enough that he could make out her form with ease.

"Nice reflexes." Ninja Star's haughty voice cooed.

"Thanks!" Chat replied cheekily. "I got them on sale!" He took a swing at her. "Limited time offer." He continued, sidestepping another of her attacks. "Buy one get a baton free!"

He blocked her next swipe with his baton, sliding down the blade to the hilt and grabbing a hold of her wrist.

"I think it was a pretty good deal don't you?"

Ninja Star scowled. With her free hand she pulled a small blade out of her hip pouch and sliced at his wrist. Chat let go of her in surprise, narrowly avoid getting cut.

Ninja Star dropped the small blade and came at him again before he could recover, knocking his baton from his grip. With a curse Chat jumped away, feeling the faint rush of air as the sword nearly grazed him.

"Here kitty kitty~" The Akuma taunted, kicking away Chat's baton. She held her blade with trained ease, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

"Making cat calls?" The cat hero grinned, trying to hide his annoyance at losing his baton. "At least buy me dinner first."

Beep-beep.

Four minutes left.

"Chat Noir!" Ladybug's warning came just as she dropped in front of him, spinning her yo-yo to protect him from more projectiles.

"Thanks M'lady." He grinned. "So, what's the plan?"

"You distract her. Her Akuma's in her belt." She replied. "I'll use my Lucky Charm and-"

Before she had even finished Chat lept into action, sliding across the floor to avoid another spinning blade.

As he slid past her, Chat dug his claws into the floor and swung his leg around to trip her. Ninja Star saw it coming and flipped away.

"Too slow Chat Noir!" She shouted, throwing a small blade at him. Only unlike the other times, this one hit it's mark.

Chat yelped in surprise.

"Chat!"

The black cat's hand instantly went to his side and he sighed in relief. The knife had hit him hilt-first causing nothing more than a nasty bruise.

Ninja Star landed nimbly next to him, Hawkmoth's bright mask appearing as she cackled. Before Chat could react, he felt the cold steel of a blade under his chin.

"It's about time I declawed you kitty cat." Ninja Star laughed as she reached for his miraculous.

Only to get hit in the face with a kickball.

The akuma fell backwards with a cry of surprise, hitting the ground with a comical thump. Chat, in his surprise, even temporarily forgot the close call he'd nearly had. "What just-?"

"Wow. I can't believe that actually worked..." Nathaniel breathed, staring wide-eyed as he held another ball at the ready. He looked just as likely to bolt as throw another kickball.

"-just some stupid kid." Ninja Star sneered, getting to her feet as she spoke with Hawkmoth. She fixed her glare on Nathaniel, forgetting about Chat.

"I'm going to tear you apart roux!" She nearly screeched at the redhead, taking a step towards him. Nathaniel stumbled back, making a sound of pain as he shifted weight to his obviously injured leg.

"Not if I have anything to say about it!"

Chat watched in awe as his Lady swung over, knocking Ninja Star away from them both. She immediately knelt down beside him, grabbing his shoulders. "Chat Noir are you alright?" The obvious worry in her bluebell eyes made him want to melt into a puddle of happiness.

Dang she was so beautiful.

Chat wanted to say something cool and suave, but another beep from his miraculous interrupted him.

"You're about to change back." She noted, "Go." She pulled him to his feet, offering him his baton. "I'll get Na- the civilian to safety. Get back as soon as you can. We'll regroup on the roof."

"Got it." Chat nodded, taking the baton from her and headed off towards an exit. But he paused and cast a quick glance at Nathaniel. "Hey, roux, redhead."

The young artists blue eyes widened, realizing the cat hero was speaking to him. "Yes?" he practically squeaked.

"Thanks for earlier." Chat tilted his head in respectful gratitude.

Nathaniel nodded back. "Anytime Chat N-"

"Look out!"

Chat was too far away to react to Ladybug's warning as she suddenly pushed Nathaniel out of the path of a falling light fixture. The crash was emphasized by her cry of pain. The heavy debris had her leg pinned underneath it.

"Ladybug!" Chat cried out,

"Thought you could get away from me?!" Ninja Star shrieked, brandishing her short sword as she stalked towards the trapped heroine. "This deadly dance between the two of us is over Ladybug!"

Chat forgot about everything as he moved, that is... everything except for his most primal instinct. An instinct that had been in the heart of every previous black cat.

Protect Ladybug.

He didn't even register the final beep of his miraculous until Ninja Star's blade cut clean through his white jacket.

"Chat...?" Ladybug's voice came out in quivering whisper.

"...sorry M'lady." A quirky smile twitched against Adrien's pain-riddled expression. "Mind if I... cut in?"

Then he collapsed.

"Chat!?"

x=X=x

For anyone asking. Timeline-wise this story takes place before Rena Rouge, Carapace, and Queen Bee join the team.

So...yeah! I decided to do another part. I honestly have no idea if I will have any motivation to continue this story, but I don't know.

There's a chance I might but don't hold your breath.

If I plan on doing anything more it won't be for a long while now!

You can find a picture of Ninja Star on my Miraculous Amino under Username: Awkward-Monoma