Jinahe was bustling with visitors that were trying to get a glimpse of the last of the season's 340,000 cherry trees which had burst into an ocean of pale pink blossoms. Ember told them Jinache had one of the largest concentrations of cherry blossoms trees in the world.
The grasshopper, magpie, leopard cat , and moon bear waited for them among the blossoming trees. Petals fluttered down around them as they approached.
The wild kwami sat on a hillside covered with flowers, like a living rainbow wild kwami bowed, and Ladybug and Chat Noir bowed in return.
The small black moon bear, with a white crescent on her chest, stepped forward and greeted them formally. Then she declared, "it has not just been these last two days that have proven your honor. It is a lifetime of building character through the choices you make. In this ceremony we ask that each of you choose a single flower."
Sensing their hesitation, the moon bear smiled kindly, "this is not a trick, and you can't really choose wrong," she assured them. "Traditionally in Korea on a child's first Birthday there is a blessing ceremony called the Doljabi. Various items are laid out before them, and the child is encouraged to choose one. Each item is a symbol for a possible future they might have. I guess you could say this is the kwami version of that."
Feeling more at ease Chat Noir and Ladybug waded into the sea of flowers, and tried to pick just one. In the end, the both returned holding a bloom.
The moon bear took Chat Noir's first. It was a dark red rose, just like the ones he had always chosen for Ladybug back in Paris. "Ahh...a romantic at heart...this is true love!" the moon bear smiled warmly, with her deep black eyes shining at Chat Noir.
Chat Noir went about as red as his rose, but inside he was brimming with happiness.
Next Ladybug handed over the flower she had chosen. A delicate pale pink hibiscus, with a bright burst of red at its heart.
There was a gasp among the kwami, and hushed excited whispers among them when they saw what she had picked.
"Is it...um...bad?" Ladybug asked hesitantly.
"No, dear one, it is quite special in fact," the Moon Bear smiled. "We are just surprised because few weilders have picked a mugunghwa on this field before...and it has a particular significance here in South Korea."
The bear looked thoughtfully at the five soft petals before explaining. "Each flower only blooms a single day, but the new growth on the rest of the plant allows prolific flowering all summer. This flower is a symbol of "eternity" or "inexhaustible abundance."
Ladybug held the flower carefully, wondering what the significance could mean for her future. Then she past it to the moon bear.
"You are warriors of the miraculous. Live you lives with honor and remember your training and the oath you took," the grasshopper charged them.
"Remember where true strength comes from," the magpie chirped.
"And show compassion and mercy to both friends and enemies," the leopard cat nodded.
The kwami joined together the polished purple amethyst stones and touched them to the flowers they had each chosen. Then the moon bear brushed the illuminated flowers across the weilders bowed heads. The feeling from the kwami blessing buzzed through them, and strengthened them to their core.
They opened there eyes among the snowy trees and breathed in the sweet freshness of spring. Only they and their guide were left beneath the canopy. Overhead white clouds were building up against each other. Dark shadows among them began to build, and threaten with the storms quickly approaching.
Nearby they could hear the muffled voices of people enjoying the nearby spring festival, and the occasional cars unaware of the magic that had just taken place.
Chat Noir looked at Ladybug, who was smiling back at him. They had just made it through another challenge, but for the next few minutes they could just enjoy the magic of the moment together. He drew a paw through the fringe of her hair where some of the petals blown from the trees had fallen. Then pulled his hand back, when she drew closer to him, with a dreamy look in her wide blue eyes.
Chat leaned over happily, and would his arm around her. "I still can't believe I finally got a kiss out of Ladybug!"
"Well, technically that wasn't our first," Ladybug smiled back. "...but for sure the best yet!"
"Yeah, but The first I was akumatized and trying to like cataclysm you, and the second Olivia stole our memories...not really fair. Chat Noir pulled her in close. "I'll tell you one thing, I'm never going to forget the kiss today!"
"Me neither Kitty," she sighed.
"But now we can make up for lost time!" Chat Noir continued excitedly. "Everything is going to be purrfect!"
Ladybug smiled, but clenched her teeth and looked off to the side, avoiding Chat Noirs eyes.
"Ladybug?" Chat Noir asked, taking her hand tenderly. "What's wrong? You can tell me!"
"I can't," Ladybug stepped back, and tears brimmed in her eyes. "I don't want to ruin everything."
"Ladybug of course you can! Did I mess something up? Tell me! I swear, I'll fix it!" Chat Noir said on the verge of panicking, sensing her closing off from him again.
"You didn't mess up a thing! You're the one who is perfect! I'm the one who made a mess of everything!" she wilted.
"What are you talking about? What ever you think you did we can fix it together!" Chat Noir
"I'm worried about what I'm going to have to do next Kitty. I've been selfish, letting my heart take the lead, but I should have been paying attention to my head. Now someone is going to be more hurt than ever...I should never have let it get this far!" she reprimanded herself.
"No, no, no, don't second guess this! Don't start overthinking us," Chat Noir said apprehensively.
"I'm not letting you go Kitty!" she took his hand, and squeezed it reassuringly. "I cant deny anymore that there is something between us. I want there to be more." Then she looked off to the side again.
"From the very beginning I told you we were made for each other," Chat Noir leaned toward her, but she stiffened at his touch.
"What is holding you back?!" He asked dropping his arm, "If that kiss meant anything to you...if I really mean anything you will be honest with me right now!" he pleaded desperately.
"You know it did, and I care about you more than anything...that's what I'm trying to say...It's just not that simple," Ladybug bit her lip.
"Well I know it shouldn't be this hard if you really love the person," Chat Noir stormed off as the rain hit.
The swaying branches of the cherry trees, made the peddles float down like swirling confetti. Ladybug felt like she was a figure in a snow globe, and her world had just been turned upside down. If she didn't go find Chat right away she knew she would loose more than just her partner and friend.
She ran to where he had disappeared. She scanned the streets, crowded with citizens and tourists alike dashing for cover to get out of the sudden onslaught of rain.
"Lucky charm!" Ladybug desperately summoned, and a red umbrella with black spots fell into her hands.
A light rain created a veil across the streets. The Festival-goers ducked into shops and under overhangs, leaving the arch of trees along the Yeojwacheon stream abandoned...all except one lone dark figure.
Chat Noir stood on the bridge spanning the river which was lined with delicate snowy blooms. Beads of water rolled down Chat Noirs damp hair and rolled down his back. Ladybug came and stood beside him, raising the umbrella above both of them.
As she leaned in that same soft hint of Vanilla and cinnamon wrapped around him.
He glanced over at Ladybug
"Hey!" She said hopefully
Chat Noir looked down with his shoulders slumped over the bridge railing.
"I'm sorry," Ladybug said holding the umbrella with two hands. "I've never had someone feel the way you do about me and express themselves like this. I'm making a mess of this, but I want to try to explain. I don't know which me I'm supposed to be with you. I just know I don't want to loose you!"
"You've told me how you feel before. I guess I was just hoping that maybe once we kissed it had changed. I was stupid for thinking that you would..."
"Chat! Things are different between us. I DO care about you. You've got to know that!" Ladybug pleaded with him. "I...well I..."
"I get it!" Chat Noir turned his face away.
Ladybug leaned toward him, and gently turned his face towards her again. "I don't think you do. I've been so afraid to let you close to me, when I was torn by my feelings for someone else. I didn't want to risk everything we have together. But I haven't been honest with you...or myself...and that's not fair either. In the end I ended up hurting you anyway."
Chat Noir stared back at her, with a perplexed expression.
"What are you saying?" He asked straightening up beside her.
"A part of me feels like we were meant to be together too."
"Milady! That's..."Chat Noir gasped, but was interrupted by Ladybugs sigh.
"But it shouldn't just be part of me that feels like that. Kitty you deserve so much more than that. There is someone I care about and I don't feel right starting down our path together, till I close the chapter with him. I'm feeling torn in half and I need to be sure I figure things out before I hurt you or..."
"Or the other guy." Chat Noir gripped the bridge tightly, and then turned towards her. "You told me years ago there was someone else you had fallen for, but you were never dating this whole time. How can this guy be so blind that you are right in front of him, and he doesn't just sweep you off your feet?" Chat Noir asked frustratedly. "He can't possibly love you like I do!" He declared.
"Haven't you ever been torn?" Ladybug asked toying with the umbrella handle.
"Mi'lady you know you've always loved you," Chat Noir responded.
"What about Marinette?" Ladybug looked up nervously.
"Marinette? Well with Marinette...I...well...Mari is..."Chat Noir suddenly reddened and his hand nervously stretched behind his neck.
"She is what?" Marinette dared to ask.
"Chat Noir drew his hand across his face and through his wet hair, making it stand up haphazardly. "It is complicated...but yes...I love her too...and I don't want to hurt her...I really wanted to have the chance to see if she could love me," Chat Noir replied quietly, unable to look Ladybug in the eye.
"I already know she does," Ladybug smiled with her eyes, "Come on my Kitty, let's get out of this rain and get back home. We will figure everything out together." Ladybug held the vivid red umbrella out to Chat Noir. He reached out and their fingertips just barely grazed each other. Somehow this most brief of connections sent electricity through his whole being. As he took hold of the handle though, a bracing wind swept across them and blew the top of the umbrella inside out. Chat Noir feeling flustered, quickly popped the arch of the umbrella back properly.
Ladybug laughed softly
"What?" he asked quirking an eye brow in her direction
"Oh nothing. It's just that Someone once won my heart by giving me an umbrella in the rain, and it closed on my face."
Ladybug walked away, leaving Chat Noir gripping the smooth curved handle of the umbrella tightly. He stared after Her through the delve. He looked up at the umbrella and back toward where she had gone. Then his heart quickened. Then barely above a whisper he let fall his hearts revelation and at the same time most desperate question...a single name; "Marinette?!"
So readers the secrets are now going to start to unravel now like yarn tossed around by a very lovesick black Chat...but there are many more destinations for it all to get untangled. Follow so you don't miss out! Thank you so much for taking an interest in checking out my story, and giving my fantasy jaunt around the World a chance.
A challenge for my readers: Type some of the locations I mention in this Fanfic into a quick search. Although of course the story is strung from the Miraculous Characters (from the awesome Thomas Astruc) and pieces from my imagination, the actual locations are real! There are some truly amazing places in our world, and if you take a glance at the photos of these places I have no doubt you'll have a few more places to add to your bucket list for the future...I know I have!
Fun fact: The bridge Ladybug finds Chat Noir on, spanning the Yeojwacheon stream is known as the "Romance Bridge." Along this stream during the cherry blossom festival they sometimes string multicolored umbrellas, which are lit up at night. A photo of this is the reason I chose Marinette's reveal right there, and had to tie it into one of my favorite moments from Miraculous Origins with the Coup de foudre betweem Adrien and Marinette.