Days earlier...
Fei, pushed her black hair behind her ear, and dialed the number she knew by heart on her phone. She bit her lip, wondering if she was doing the right thing, but sighed in relief when she heard the voice on the other end.
"Master Wu!" a cheerful voice on the receiver greeted. "It has been weeks since we heard from you! Are you okay?"
" Azami! Is that you?" Fei asked brightening, just hearing her student's voice.
"Yes, of course! We've been wondering if you're coming back soon," the girls voice replied.
"Well, I'm not really sure," Fei confessed, "why? Is everything okay?"
"Well...I don't want to worry you when you can't be here but..." the girl paused.
"but what? What is going on at the school?" Fei's voice rose.
"Things here are not the same as you left, let's just say that. Plus there is the mystery of the box that was left for you by your father. We just don't know what to do with it, and there are the words ' for Fei's eyes only' written on it and everything. We were not sure what to make of it," the girl spilled.
"Something left for me by my father?!" Fei's eyes widened. "What does it look like? Where did you find it?"
"Maybe I should just bring it to you," the voice suggested. "It wouldn't be any trouble! Are you nearby?"
"Not really," Fei replied. "It would be too far for you to come all the way, and I don't want you to take the risk of being followed."
"You have taught me well all these years! You know that I would do anything for you!" the girl said passionately. Then she added, "this could be really important. I don't think your father would put something away for you like this unless he thought you might need it."
"That is true," Fei closed her eyes, imagining the last time she had seen her fathers face. He always had purpose in everything he did. "I know! I will send you the address, but you've got to swear that you will not tell anyone...I mean anyone that you spoke with me...and you must promise me you will not come here yourself. It would be just too dangerous if anyone found out."
"I swear no one else will know, and I promise I will not come myself," the voice confirmed solemnly.
Fei quickly sent the address to Kagami's home. "Make sure you delete this as soon as you send the package," Fei urged. "I appreciate you help! I have been thinking about you all so much and will find a way to get back to you as soon as possible. Stay strong!"
"I hope to see you soon," the girl's voice responded, and then the line went dead.
The movement of the sliding door behind her, made Fei turn around with a start. It was Kagami. He lips were set firmly together, and her eyes bored into Fei.
"You told someone where you are," Kagami stated bluntly. "That was both illogical and foolish. I did not expect an emotional slip-up like that from you."
Fei stood up rigidly, squaring off in front of Kagami. "I appreciate your generosity in allowing me to stay with you during this time, but you know nothing of the responsibility I have to my students and the legacy my father left me. I left everything. Abandoned them without warning. They are not just my students, they are my family!"
Kagami crossed her arms, stiffening, "It has been an honor to host you at the request of Ladybug, but it is harder to protect you if you trust the secret of your whereabouts carelessly. Ladybug made it clear that this was supposed to be a secret...and the best secrets are those that you never share with anyone."
"Despite what you might think of me, I can take care of myself! I've been taking care of myself since my Dad was killed when I was barely a teenager. Those at my school have been trained by me. Believe me when I say I would trust them with my life. Azami has been with me when the school first re-opened. My secret is safer with her than anyone else," Fei bristled.
Kagami nodded, still clamping her teeth together, "What is done is done, and maybe you are more capable than others give you credit for. It takes me time to trust people and let them in...but maybe that is where we differ."
Fei dropped her arms, and slumped into a nearby ornately decorated armchair. "I'm sorry to be a burden to you and your family," she said quietly. "You opened up your home to me, and I should have told you before I called my school. I tried to keep it from you because I knew you'd think less of me...but I just needed to make sure they were okay."
"I...I don't really think less of you," Kagami glanced at her, " not for wanting to be there for those you care about."
"But you still think I was foolish," Fei looked up.
"I think everyone makes choices that change their path...for better or worse," Kagami shrugged.
Fei smiled finally, "I can see why Ladybug chose you as my guardian."
Kagami smiled slightly at that, but shook her head, "can you just promise me that you will be patient, and wait for Ladybug to handle things. I'm sure it must be hard feeling trapped here, but there must be a reason Ladybug urged secrecy."
"I will make sure to tell you next time I feel the need to reach out to the outside world...and I will be careful not to let this secret out. I care about you and your family too, and I don't want you to regret taking me in," Fei said sincerely.
"We would never regret helping you out," Kagami said seriously. "Actually, you being here...it has made me remember how nice it was back in Paris to have...friends."
"As a friend then, I will strive to do better then, and prove to you that I am worth the trouble!" Fei smiled.
Both Fei and Kagami, put the tense moment behind them, and resolved to do another sparing match in the manicured courtyard, before sitting down with a cool glass of orange juice.
Little did they know that the lapse in Fei's judgement had cause irreparable damage...
On the other end of the phone, back in Fei's school the figure of the devoted student, Azami dissolved into the face of a tanned, blonde man with steely eyes. It was of course Komar after all, and not Azami that Fei had confided in. Komar smiled smugly, and looked back with a wink at Lila, who was disguised in one of the school robes. "This is way too easy," Komar boasted.
"Don't be too sure! That "Justice-woman' has taken over the school in Fei Wu's stead, and I feel like she is much too observant for an old blind lady! She's been asking questions," Lila, glanced down the hallway.
"Not like that maters to us! Maat's weilder is too late. We now know the location of the Lady Dragon, and in a couple days we'll have the prodigious," Komar brushed off her concern.
"I want to be the one to wear the prodigious! It is even more powerful that this butterfly miraculous," Lila stomped her foot obstinately.
"Silence!" Komar rebuked her harshly. "That prodigious is one of the few powers that can stop what I have put into motion! I will not allow it to come between me and victory again. As soon as I get my hands on it I will burry it in Hell itself, not flaunt around with it for the Ladybug and Cat to snatch."
"What about those two pests anyway?" Lila asked. "They've come to Lady Dragon's aide before...won't they interfere?"
"Don't worry your pretty little head Butterfly-Keeper," Komar patted her head condescendingly, making Lila flinch away in disgust. "The Ladybug's most powerful 'lucky charm' is her Chat Noir. Divide them, and she will falter."
"Her fleabag of a side-kick?!" Lila dared to scoffed. "Ladybug has beaten akumas without him countless times."
"You are a fool if you have underestimated her reliance on the dark cat. He has the power to unmake all..even her," Komar said darkly, then dismissed her with a wave.
"You have your location," he turned and walked through the doorway.
"You're not coming?" Lila asked surprised.
"You collect the prodigious and bring it to me," Komar said without a backward glance. "I'm headed back to Paris to do what I do best...stir up a little chaos!"
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Thank you for reading my story so far! The next chapter will be focused in Japan and I am really excited for it;) Please favorite or follow or leave me a review if you've been enjoying this journey around the World with our two favorite heroes!
