CHAPTER 5: Marinette's RESPONSIBLE owner

As Ladybug was flying in the air with her yo-yo, cat ears suddenly appear but luckily, she arrived at her destination and landed on the bed near the window that she swooped in. She then returned back to normal.

"You're very welcome." Tikki said as she flew towards Marinette's vision. The girl stood up and faced the mirror, checking her feline features. "Oh great, they're back." she said sheepishly, poking her ears above her head.

"You know, if you wear a white mask, you could be Chat Blanc." Tikki suggested.

"A normal person who's cosplaying as Chat Noir white version nya." Marinette said in a smart yet teaseful way. "No way, I'll just be considered a fan nya."

Tikki didn't say anything.

"Anyway, I should thank Ms. Lopez for helping me like this, nya." Marinette said and went towards the door but Tikki blocked her way.

"Wait, does she know you're Ladybug?" Tikki shouted, a little freaked out. "You've been away and who knows if she tried check your condition recently and-"

"Tikki, don't worry. I locked the door and had a chair here before going out nya." Marinette pointed at the chair before removing it, turn the doorknob and came out. Tikki hide in her jacket as usual.

"Good evening Marinette. How're you feeling?" Ms. Lopez said as she looked at Marinette. She was working with her papers.

"A little bit better nya." she said cheerfully. "Merci, madame." she said with a bow.

"I'm really sorry about Bianca biting you." Ms. Lopez said worriedly. "Causing you to be like this."

"Bianca?"

"My cat, speaking of, Chat Noir is taking his time saving the day." Ms. Lopez said checking the clock at her desk.

Marinette awkwardly chuckle, reminding her that she just left Chat with the lie of her miraculous running out of time. She then sat in a cat-like manner once she heard the doorbell rang. Her ears perked up and her eyes turned sharp as she stares at the door.

Ms. Lopez answered the door revealing Adrien Agreste wearing a maid outfit, his left hand holding a basket with a cat sleeping peacefully on it and clothes on his right.

"G-good E-evening." Adrien greeted. "Chat Noir asked me to bring your cat." he then offer the basket and the owner happily accept it.

Marinette crept closer towards Ms. Lopez. Her eyes widened seeing the young Agreste in a female attire. She couldn't control her laughter. She noticed that Adrien is glaring at her making her look away and frowned.

"Also, I'm here to pick up Marinette." Adrien said with a smile as he was still glaring at the human feline.

"Really, is this Chat Noir's friend?" Ms. Lopez asked.

Adrien nodded then looked at the woman and smiled brightly totally forgetting that he's still a maid. "I asked Chat to help me look for her."

"So, you're the one responsible for her. Your sister?" Ms. Lopez asked smiling.

"A friend."Adrien corrected.

"Well, is there any adult that knew this?" she asked.

Adrien nervously shook his head.

"Well, I have to talk to you for something, will you come in, maid boy?" Ms. Lopez said in a teasing tone as she smile. She made her way to her desk to place the basket and stab the syringe to her cat with an antidote.

The two teens stayed at their place. Marinette looked at Adrien with an innocent face as she smiles a little mischievous. However, Adrien ignored her and said: "Not one word about this."

Adrien was now wearing the male clothes he brought along with the cat recently and the maid outfit is at placed at his lap. He sat at one of the chairs opposite to the scientist, Ms. Lopez. Marinette on the other hand, was sitting at the clean desk in front of them.

"The collar that Marinette is wearing is one of my invention. It will help her get back to normal." The scientist began. "But it will take time, a lot of time."

Adrien smiled. "So, we're just gonna wait. How long?"

"I don't know, whatever it takes." Ms. Lopez replied. "But take note that you have to observe these changes carefully."

"If a characteristic wears off, either ears, tail, or any kitty matters, give her a dose of vaccine." Ms. Lopez then showed a small case filled with syringes. "These syringes already have the vaccine so you just have to insert in within her veins. I already gave her recently when her cat language and the way of thinking returns to normal."

"The vaccine hurts a lot nya." Marinette said as she pouted.

Adrien nodded. "But what if we forgot to put the dosage?" he asked.

"Well, I don't know exactly, Marinette's the first person who experienced this kind but in my hypothesis, the characteristic will return and I'm pretty sure you have to wait until something's gone again-YOU MUST PUT THE DOSAGE EVERY TIME A CHARACTERISTIC DISAPPEAR. "

"Alright, thank you for your help."

It was already dark when Adrien and Marinette went outside to go home. Adrien decided to not bother Nathalie or anyone at his household despite that it's so late. Marinette on the meanwhile, was forced by Adrien to let him walk her home just in case some bad things will get her way when she's alone especially with the situation she's currently in.

"Here," Adrien said offering the outfit to Marinette. "Wear that whenever you go out."

"Why?"

"So it will be natural for you go to public with those ears and tail." Adrien said a little pink in his cheeks.

Marinette also blushed as she stares at the outfit and nodded nervously.

"Wait a minute nya," Marinette began looking at Adrien. "Where and how do you get a maid outfit nya?"

Adrien groaned irritably as an answer. "It's complicated."

"Okay…" Marinette muttered, a little confused. "Why are you making me wear it nya?"

Adrien turned red all of the sudden. "Well, it's the only disguise I can think of." he said in an awkward manner.

Marinette's eyes widened then smiled sheepishly as a hint of pink rushes through her face. "Why you're a sly little pervert nya." she murmured but Adrien heard it too well and tried not to look at her as he still blushed incredibly. He peeked and saw something different in her eyes.

"Your eyes seems a little different." he began as he curiously stare at Marinette.

"What do you mean nya?" the bluenette asked as she tilted her head.

"It's like your pupils looks like what cats have." Adrien said still gazing at her blue eyes."It must be one of the added traits."

"Is it obvious nya?"

"Not really, seems normal." Adrien shrugged and they continue to walk.

"You do know you're still wearing those black laced shoes right?" Marinette suddenly asked.

"I'll give it to you tomorrow." Adrien said with a sheepish smile.

The next day arrives and it was Sunday and Marinette woke up because her parents called her for breakfast. She was still a little hesitant on going down to meet her parents.

"Marinette, look at your head, the ears are gone!" Tikki said happily.

"Coming mom!" Marinette said.

It's basically Marinette's happiest day today. Not only is her ears are gone but the way she talks. She is no longer nya-ing. She quickly prepares herself up, wearing that maid outfit Adrien lent to her last night in case people grew suspicious of her tail which didn't disappear. After she prepare, Tikki hid herself in one of her pockets. She quickly went to the Agreste's running in two legs but ran with four after a couple of blocks away. Indeed, Adrien's house is far.

Marinette arrived safely and rang the doorbell. She touched her head to see if the ears are still gone and luckily, it is.

A security camera appeared and a female voice was heard. This is Nathalie's voice.

"How can I help you?" she asked coldly.

"I'm here to see Adrien."

"Why?"

"I've got something to discuss with him, I wanted to see him, if you please."

"And who is this I'm talking to?"

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng."

"What is your connection with the young Agreste?"

"A friend-I'm sure this will not take longer." Marinette added, aware of the time that the ears will pop up any seconds.

There was a moment of silence.

"If I may ask, where do you get the clothes you're wearing?" Nathalie asked.

Marinette then flinched and looked at what she's wearing. "Adrien gave it to me yesterday."

"I see…" Nathalie said. There was another moment of silence. "Okay, you may enter and a couple of minutes Mr. Adrien will meet you shorty at the living room."

The gates burst wide open and Marinette entered. She made her way inside the house greeted by Adrien's driver who opened the door for her.

"Please sit Ms. Dupain-Cheng, Mr. Adrien is having some problems." Nathalie said calmly and she went inside a room assuming it's Adrien's

Marinette waited as she tap her lap with her fingers. She's getting a bit frustrated at how long Adrien is taking. She then touched her head again and to her surprise she felt the something pointy. There it is, cat ears. Her cat ears are back.

"Ms. Dupain-Cheng?" Nathalie called making the girl perked her ears up and curiously looked at her. "Adrien wishes to talk to you in his room instead for he doesn't feel well."

Marinette nodded and climbed the staircase. Nathalie guided her to the room and she can see well Adrien is sleeping at his bed. Once Nathalie closed the door, Marinette quickly went to him and start to poke him.

"A-Adrien?" she called as she start to poke him more but it's no use. She thought of a different way. She pressed his nose and waited for a couple of minutes until he have difficult to breathe.

The young Agreste suddenly woke up. "What?"

"What do you want?" Adrien asked as he went back to lie down.

"Nothing, nya."

"Then what's the point of going here in the first place?"
"My ears came back so…."

"Oh. I'm sorry about that." Adrien said lazily.

"My owner sure is a responsible, nya." Marinette sarcastically said as she looked at Adrien purring and nuzzling his pillow as he sleep.

"Just go and play some ball of yarn if you want." Adrien said sheepishly after he yawned.