The next morning, I force my bleary eyes open as I can hear my phone's ringtone trilling away on the desk. Thinking it's Felix, I reach for it eagerly. But its not, its Marinette.
"Hey, girl!" I cry, settling back on the pillows. "Hey, yourself. How's jolly old London?" I laugh, looking out the window were at the moment, its rainy lightly. "Um, a bit soggy but the boys are really cute. Particularly one boy." "Oh?" "I think," I lower my voice. "I think I may have a crush on Felix, but don't get to excited." "Hey, if it works out, I'm happy for you. Will you come to the interview I have tonight?" "Wait, your getting your fashion line and you didn't tell me! I call first dibs!" Marinette laughs, then sighs. "As much as I'd love that, Cat and I are getting a award for working at the Children's Hospital." "what kind of work do you do there?" "Oh, Kagami, its so much fun!" Marinette's face lights up. "I do art project with the kids, and Cat reads to them at story time. One of the kids even sat by Cat last week and sucked on his tail. I think he was maybe about two years old. It was adorable!" "I'd love to come, but I don't think I'll get back to Paris in time." "Silly, I have the Miraculous! And bring a date!" "Okay, I'll come. How is Cat by the way?" The happy look sinks off Marinette's face, and she bites her lip. "I'm actually quite worried about them. He seems himself when we work, but he's so quiet during the week, and I think he's losing weight. I-I'm…." Marinette has to take a deep breath before continuing. "I'm a little scared." "Hey, it will be okay. We're here for you." I hear the familiar sound of Felix knocking at my window. "Speaking of dates, mine just showed up. See you tonight."
"Who was that?" Felix asks. "Marinette. She and Cat are receiving a reward tonight and she invited us." I reach up, stroking his cheek gently. "Did you sleep at all? There dark circles under your eyes." "Not much, but its nothing a cup of a tea won't cure. Say, how would you feel about going to the zoo today?" Already the rain seems to be tapering off, and I nod my head. "I'll make us breakfast and we can head out."
Felix follows me into the kitchen, sitting down at the island. "I wish we could have gotten a better look at that document yesterday." He sighs. "Hey, at least we know Gabriel and Jupiter worked together somehow. So, the trail's not completely cold."
I crack eggs into a bowl and add milk so they will be extra fluffy. I'm whisking when I freeze, seeing some sort of shadow casting on the balcony. Instantly, Felix is behind me, whispering in my ear. "What did you see?" "A shadow," I whisper. "Is someone spying on us?" "You stay here."
To keep calm, I make the omelets and am sliding them onto the table when Felix comes back in. "Nothing, but I have an uneasy feeling."
We eat quickly, wanting to get away. Its a relief to get to Starbucks, and Felix pulls me into a hug, kissing me lightly. "Sorry I didn't say good morning properly." "You have other things on your mind," I tell him as our order is called and we head out the door.
As expected with the rain, the zoo is quiet, but there are a few people who have braved the rain. "Oh," I stop suddenly in front of the panda's enclosure, and I'm back in Japan, saying hello to Bamboo, the panda back home. I take out my sketchpad, turning to Felix. "I'm going to sketch the panda," I say and we sit down on a bench.
The panda could care less about the rain, as long as it has a steady pile of bamboo to eat, and I've seen few things cuter then a round tummy, black ears and a happy face. For a second, the bear holds the shoot in its mouth, and I collapse into giggles and Felix joins me.
After we settle down, Felix rests his head on my shoulder as I sketch, and I notice he soon dozes off. Good, he needs the sleep if we are expected to be out late tonight.
"Papa, Papa!" I pause, pencil posed as a little girl skids to a stop in front of the cage. It seems this may be her first time going to the zoo, and is so excited as she tugs on his hand. A lump grows in my throat. I don't remember my father, or even foggy memories. What happened to him? Felix lifts his head from my shoulder, watching the scene. The father smiles at his daughter. "Come on, wave bye-bye now," he says. "Bye-bye," the girl laughs as her father settles her on his shoulders.
We don't have to say it aloud, but we're both wishing that we would have had a father as caring as the one we've just seen.
Felix drops me off at home, saying he'll be back shortly, and I head upstairs to dress. I slip on one of my nicer dresses, a soft blue thing and pile my hair on top of my head, curling the ends. As a finishing touch, I hang my Miraculous around my neck.
I feel nervous as I wait for Felix, but isn't the same kind of nervousness I felt this morning. Will he like my outfit? I don't have to wait long to find out, and Felix bows, taking one of my hands and kissing it. "You look beautiful, My Queen," he says. "You too. Ladybug should-" "No, she's right here," we're interrupted as my best friends suddenly steps out of the portal, and I rush to give her a hug. "Oh, its so good to see you!" she holds me tight.
"Wait, don't go yet!" We all look up in surprises as Amelie comes through the open doorway. "Sorry, the door was open." "We best be going," Ladybug says. "Don't want to be late."
We settle in our chairs, Ladybug helping us find our seats before scurrying away. The lights dim and a single spotlight shines on stage.
When Ladybug and Cat Noir emerge, it isn't them holding hands that shocks me. Its the amount of weight Cat has lost, and his eyes are dull and lifeless. But Ladybug would have told us if something had happened, right?
The pair step forward to receive the award, and applause ripples through the auditorium. "Thank you for this award," Ladybug says into mic. She tugs on Cat's hand to lead him off, but Cat for some reason is rooted to the spot, staring out into the crowd. "Mother?" he whispers, staring as if he isn't believing what he is seeing. "Mother!" Cat rushes down the steps and up to Amelie. "Oh, Mother I knew you would come back one day!"
Ladybug runs up. "Cat…." her voice trails off. "All these years I'm been waiting," he says, tears gathering in his eyes. "Oh, my dear," Amelie takes Cat's hands squeezing them tight. "I'm sorry to disappoint-" Amelie is cut off as the double doors burst open and my mother and Jupiter stride in, Jupiter waving papers and eyes locked on Ladybug.
"Ladybug of Paris, order you team members to surrender their Miraculous, or suffer the consequences!" Ladybug's face is puzzled for a split second, then whips out her yo-yo. "They have every right to their Miraculous! Who are you?"
"A powerful friend of Gabriel Agreste's. And I have a secret, a very powerful one. Maybe I'll have to use the butterfly brooch after all." Despite Cat's sadness, he rushes forward, pushing Ladybug behind him.
"You touch one hair on her head or my family and you'll learn what its like to suffer!" Jupiter smiles an evil smile. "Careful, you don't want to mess with me."
Ladybug unifies two Miraculous so fast, it seems to be a blur. "Voyage!" she yells, motioning us to run into the portal. We stumble out at Amelie's house, and I get a alert on my phone, crying out in horror. If there was a break-in, my phone would buzz and send out a alert.
On the little screen, I see my balcony door smashed and glass lays scattered on the floor. Carefully, I survey the room. "Felix?" I say in my most soft voice. I point to the screen, As Jupiter breaks the glass stalking into my room, followed by mother.
We watch in silence as they tear through my apartment. "What are they searching for?" I ask, my eyes lifting, meeting his. "You already know, Kagami, love." "The Miraculous." I slide down to the floor, shaking.
Mother has chosen power over me. Cat is sitting on the ground, watching. I lace my fingers through his and squeeze hard, and I feel a small measure of comfort.
"What do we do now, Ladybug?" We all look to one of the heroes of Paris. "We'll regroup in the morning. Is there a hotel we can get rooms at nearby?" Amelie nods. "I'll make arrangements," she says, quietly. "Its the least I can do." "Kagami, you go ahead. Amelie, may I have a word please?"
Felix follows me out into the hallway. "You okay?" I give him a blank stare, and he holds out his arms. I feel like I am falling, waiting to grasp at something solid, but finding nothing. "Still processing," I say, when I am able to speak. "Whatever happens," my eyes are locked on his, "I love you, Kagami."
I stop breathing as my world halts and starts again. "I love you too, Felix Graham De Vanilly." The spell is broken as Ladybug steps out into the hallway, and we straighten up, Felix still holding my hand. "Where's Cat Noir?" "I gave him permission to tell Amelie his identity."
"Don't you know who he is?" Felix asks. "No," Ladybug is fighting tears. "Let's just go." Felix and I look at each other and follow her silently. Any question we have will have to wait for another time.