Author's Note: Happy Easter, everyone:) I sorry I took so long to continue. Real life events have been rough for me. But it's no excuse for my long absence. Anyway, here is the next chapter. I originally wanted to throw in Marinette telling the Phantom Thieves about Lila, especially when that little devil will attempt to do something nasty to hurt Marinette's new friends, but that would take a very long time to write, so I decided to do it for the new chapter.

Enjoy:)


Marinette emerged to the water's surface, mermaid style. A happy sigh left her mouth, laughing with delight. A nice swim is very appealing. To have fun with people who understood her troubles and shared her enthusiasm. Explore the undersea life and all the wonders it had to offer. She may have done it yesterday, but she wanted to do it again. Especially when the heather is so hot, it makes you want to dive straight into the ocean and cool down.

While Ren, Ann and Makoto left for the convenience store after forgetting to bring the sunscreen, a certain someone began to complain. And that someone is Ryuji, having hoped this trip would be a blast except for one thing... spend time with a hot girl after flirting with one and make out with said girl. He tried to coax Yusuke, who was riding a pool tube, to go with him on a 'babe hunt' but the artist simply declined saying, "I will pass." The former athlete decided to 'strike while the iron is hot' and left to go find this Mishima guy to accompany him on his quest to 'find some cute chicks.'

Oh, well. Marinette figured most boys would want to do this sort of thing, but she felt a little disappointed that he didn't think to see her as a 'hot girl' even though she's been called cute a number of times in the past.

However, it did occur to her that Yusuke is completely alone with her. She may have gotten used to seeing Ren and Ryuji in their regular swim attire, but Yusuke... Whoa, mama! Granted a perfect view of his masculine body matching his handsome face. Her face grew hot, eventually causing her nose to bleed slightly.

"Is something wrong?" his question caused her to squeak in surprise.

"Eek! Wha... eh, that is..."

"Your face is very red. Are you alright, Marinette?" He looked her, concerned.

"You're fine! I mean, I'm fine! No, we're fine!" There she goes again, stammering like a buffoon. How pathetic she's behaving.

Yusuke didn't seem to believe her, although he didn't quite understand why she was reacting this way. He looked up at the sun, then back at her. "Is the sun too hot for your liking? Or do you need sunscreen?"

"The sun...? Uh, no. I'm fine. It's just..." Marinette didn't know what to say in what's going to suddenly become an awkward moment, until her carelessness got the best of her. "...you look sexy." Facepalming, she mentally berated herself for saying something so stupid.

Momentary surprise flickered across Yusuke's face, until he smiled warmly and chuckled. "Goodness! That's kind of you to say, thank you."

Although her heart was beating rapidly as she feared he might've found it inappropriate, Marinette didn't expect him to actually thank her so casually and treat it like a compliment.

"And I must say, you look absolutely radiant today. Your swimsuit, and its colors, highlight how you look, and it accents to your hair and face, allowing your true beauty to shine through."

The paleness of Marinette's face glows red within seconds. "Oh, come on... you're just saying that to make me happy."

"No, I speak the truth. You really are lovely." He approached her by using his hands to swim his tube toward her. "Shall we go back to the beach? I'd like to take a walk to stimulate my senses and find a good spot to draw you."

"Sure, okay."

The two of swim back to shore, where they dried off and put on their coverups. They started walking a short distance, admiring the sights around them. The sun's rays shone on the golden sand and reflected off the pristine blue sea, sparkling like a field of jewels. Despite how hot the weather is, many people were at the beach as well. Suddenly Yusuke paused instantly, causing Marinette to bump against his back. Wondering why he did that, she would've asked him until he sniffed the air and his eyes fell upon a nearby food stand.

"Oh? That smell...?" He read the name on the sign labeled on the truck. "Garlic shrimp?"

"I've heard it's a famous Hawaiian dish," Marinette recalled what she read online and, honestly, the intoxicating scent made her mouth water a bit.

"I'm quite adventurous when it comes to food. Come, we should try it."

"All right." Nodding, Marinette approached the owner of the stand to take their orders, with Yusuke following close behind her.

Half an hour later, the food was ready. Both of them received two plates each carrying a heaping pile of tasty grilled, garlic sprinkled shrimp, sided with rice and sliced pineapples. Seated on a bench, Yusuke and Marinette took their first bite at the same time. An explosion of deliciousness filled their mouths.

"Wow! It's so good!" Marinette cheered.

"It's amazing!" Yusuke sighed blissfully.

They gazed out over the ocean while they enjoyed the delicate flavors of a foreign country. When they had finished, Marinette suggested going to get some ice cream for dessert. Yusuke happily accepted the idea.

Out of curiosity, the owner of the food stand asked, "You two here on vacation?" And the two teens each responded differently.

"Yes, I'm from Paris."

"Why yes, I come from Japan."

"How's Paris this time of the year, miss? My cousin is planning to go there with her husband on their honeymoon next week. I hope she has a good time down there." When the man grins, he failed to notice the uncomfortable cringe on Marinette's expression.

"Umm... it's lovely this time of year..."

Yusuke knew very well why the poor girl couldn't give an honest answer. Mentioning a city plagued by a supervillain feeding on negative emotions caused by the criminal daughter of an incompetent, corrupt mayor would get her into serious trouble, but the man would most likely dismiss it as nonsense. This isn't right.

"And how about those Phantom Thieves, huh? Those guys that steal hearts!"

Yusuke gasped. "You know about the Phantom Thieves!?"

"Heard about it on the news! They're all the rage in Japan, yeah?" The man laughed jokingly. "Say, if you run into them, tell them I say hello. And ask them to change people's hearts so everyone loves shrimp!"

There's an aura of awkwardness surrounding Yusuke, staring at the man with an odd reaction. "Uhh, I don't believe that's how it works..." he sweatdrops, but Marinette just giggled.


After a sweet ice cream treat, what seemed to be an energetic day turned into a rather restless one for Marinette. That's because she was being dragged around with Yusuke's grip on her hand firmly pulling her close, and she felt her face go warm at how soft his fingers felt. But she doubted that she could be of any help, unsure of how to convince Yusuke what place is as good as the previous ones for him to choose.

It wasn't all bad though, observing the scenery of the tropical island paradise, watching the inhabitants enjoy themselves, or curiously inspecting shells washed up on the shore. Marinette did buy a seashell bracelet from a souvenir stand, along with Yusuke buying something else, which he didn't want her to see yet. Daylight was soon coming to an end when the sky's colors gradually changed to a golden orange shade as the two sat on a bench, taking a break from their long adventure.

Marinette was glad to have spent some time with Yusuke, but she felt guilty when his quest to find the perfect spot had failed. A sad frown made its way to her face, staring at his slightly frustrated expression. Before she could say a word, he spoke first as he looked at her with a pained face.

"I must apologize to you, Marinette. I've been suffering an artist's slump for a while, and I had hoped meeting you would aid it, but alas, I made things worse."

The girl stayed silent for a moment before replying, "But it's my fault, really. I wasn't much help to you at all."

"That's not true. I trust your eye for beauty, but I'm the one who rejected your suggestions... perhaps I should've listened to you." His soft disagreement made her face turn red. "Most people say I'm in need to control what I want to make my art perfect; I suppose they're right."

"It's fine, I'm no better. Whenever I try to create something nice to wear, I draw it in my sketchbook, but realize at the last minute it's no good and discard it." Her attempts to cheer him up worked a tad bit, sensing a warm smile. "But I'm sure you'll figure something out. If not today, how about tomorrow? Just try not to push it, okay."

A slight breeze touches her face, and she brushes a strand of her hair back. Marinette's gaze lingers at the view in front of her, inhaling and exhaling softly. The waves overlap the sandy shore, creating a gentle sound as though mother nature sensed the day was ending and wanted to quiet the evening. In the distance, the sun sank below the horizon, painting the sky a beautiful mixture of pink and orange.

Nothing but silence from her friend, at first alarming Marinette that something was wrong. Except when she turned to look at him, she was surprised to see Yusuke framing her with his index finger and thumbs. "Uh, what are you doing?"

"Don't move!" The sharp tone of command in his baritone voice left her startled. "Hold that pose!" Yusuke's eyes narrowed seriously, not in an angry manner, but one which held focus and study. Marinette wanted to question what it is, but she obeyed. "Your expression, that pose... Yes, that's exactly what I want!" The artist carefully adjusts her position to how she looked before, ignoring the red blush on her cheeks, and took out his sketchbook and pencil.

His strange actions made it obvious what his intentions were, but Marinette was baffled. "Are you really going to draw me now?"

Yusuke nodded. "Exactly! I want you to smile like you did before, whatever it is you were thinking whilst you gazed out at the sunset, I want you to do it again. I'll let you know when I'm finished."

At a loss for words, Marinette complied without complaint. Whatever it is she did, she must've given him a spark of inspiration. She fixated her gaze at the scenery, admiring its beauty as her smile lit up her face.

Other than the constant crashing of smaller waves and the gentle breeze blowing against the palm trees, she could hear a pencil stroking across a sheet of paper. Her nerves totally relaxed, inhaling and exhaling quietly. Her mind wanders to happier thoughts...

The first time she met Tikki.

How she first met Zoe.

Enjoying herself in the midst of creating splendid fashion.

Helping her parents bake a cake.

Sleepover with Alya and the girl squad.

A date with Luka at the movie theater.

Those memories, of spending time with her family and friends and her ex-boyfriend, eventually made her thoughts turn sad. Everything that made her happy had been taken away as a result of her superhero duties getting in the way or Lila poisoning the minds of the loved ones whom she foolishly thought she could trust. Without realizing it, a single tear is shed.

No, she can't cry right now. Not in the midst of posing for Yusuke's sketch. It had been a while since Marinette had modeled for someone's art, plus she feared ruining his work if she cried more. With his attention focused on the drawing, she swiftly wiped the tear off her face and tried to focus on other positive thoughts. Such as her first encounter with Makoto and remembering her kindness, that extended to meeting Ann and the others, and the good times they had shared together.

"I'm done!"

Hearing this, Marinette stood up to stretch her arms and legs. Being forced to sit still for twenty minutes can make the muscles ache. "Can I see?" When he nodded, she sat next to him and got a better look. Her nervousness of ruining his art due to crying was washed away the second she gazed upon his newest piece. The picture gave off a warm vibe, a moment to relax and admire the beauty of the sunset.

"Oh wow..." Marinette gasped in amazement after staring at it. "I like how you drew me. It's really good."

Yusuke smiled, but there is a trace of underlying misery in his tone. "I'm glad you feel that way... but I'm still not out of my slump yet. It used to be so easy for me to draw or paint when I see something or someone that gives me a short burst of inspiration. Despite my desire to create art, my heart is still clouded by this dark force." The warm positivity in his voice returns. "However, drawing you has helped me a great deal. When I go back to Japan, I'm going to recreate this sketch on canvas. And I have no doubt it will be beautiful."

Oh, how her face felt warmer than ever. If Marinette could see herself in the mirror, she would've felt embarrassed at how red she is and rubbed the back of her head. "Well, I-I'm just glad that I was able to help..."

"Oh, my!" He reacted in surprise when his sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the bandage on her wrist, on the hand she used to rub her head bashfully. "What happened to your wrist?"

Marinette's eyes widened, grimacing. "Oh, this? Let's just say I've had a nasty encounter with a super liar last night." She cradled her arm tenderly, but she didn't want him to fret over it. "Don't worry, it's nothing serious."

Before he could question more, Yusuke checked the time on his phone. "I believe our curfew is coming to an end. Shall we go back to the hotel?" His eyes lit up when he almost forgot the special gift he had bought for her and reached into his pocket to fish it out. "Here, I want you to have this."

Curious, Marinette unwrapped the tiny object he had placed in her hands. A silver mermaid charm necklace lay in its place, the tail made entirely of transparent marine-colored stones. She stared, mesmerized. "Oh, Yusuke! It's beautiful! Thank you so much."

"I wanted to show you my appreciation for your patience and help," he explained, a warm smile made his face glow in the sunset. "Now, shall we be off?"

Marinette took the extended hand he held out to her, after he helped put the necklace on her, and the walk back to the hotel ended with them reuniting with their friends at the lobby. Poor Ryuji was lamenting over his failure to secure a hot date with a sexy girl, and Ann wasn't going to let him forget it as she playfully teased him.

When Yusuke displayed his newest sketch of Marinette's pose watching the sunset, the group stared in awe and complimented on the design. Marinette felt her face flush more than ever as her new Japanese friends said she looked very cute as a model.

Everyone had to return to their rooms briefly to change out of their swimwear and prepare for tonight's dinner. To Yusuke's surprise, Marinette practically followed Makoto to her room. Wasn't his new model supposed to share a room with one her classmates? He would've liked to ask why but decided to drop it for now and go change into his regular attire.

Once he was finished, he headed for the restaurant and waited patiently for Marinette and the others. Unfortunately, Yusuke wasn't alone for long. He sensed movement approaching him from the side and noticed a girl, the same height and age as Marinette, step forward. The taste in her fashion and hairstyle both seemed aesthetically distasteful. But he can see the look in her narrow-shaped, olive-green eyes that her intent to speak with him are far from what will be an 'innocent' conversation.

"Hello, there!" It was Lila, who greeted him with her casual, false grin.

Earlier that day, she had been wandering in a gift shop with the girl squad to look for souvenirs when she discovered Alya, who had already finished her shopping, fuming in silence. The liar would've questioned who or what the tabloid girl is staring at, until she spotted Marinette heading off to who knows where with those Japanese freaks from last night.

But what really caught her attention was that her enemy was walking so closely with an incredibly attractive boy with pale skin and blue hair. Oh, wow! That boy was so handsome, more so than Adrien. From what Alya overheard, the boy requested Marinette if she can be his model for an art piece he's working on. He's most likely an art student. Miss Goody-Two-Shoes happily accepted his offer, all the while blushing and reacting like someone just stole her heart.

You can imagine Lila's shock and jealousy when she heard all about it. Oh, no. There is no way she's going to let Marinette have that boy as her new crush. She's much more good-looking than Maribrat, so why didn't pretty boy ask her to be his model? Perhaps she can persuade him. Hopefully, he isn't as smart as those freaks when they publicly humiliated her and her cult of loyalists. Maybe she can convince him to teach those freaks a lesson for being so mean to a precious angel like her.

"Err, hello..." Yusuke replied back, remaining polite.

"My name's Lila Rossi, nice to meet you. What's your name?"

"It's Yusuke Kitagawa."

She scooched closer to him, batting her eyelashes in a way she thought was attractive. "I heard that you're an artist. That's so cool! You must be very talented."

"Uh, thank you." Yusuke simply frowned at her, unimpressed with her simpering.

"My best friend, Alya, has informed me that you asked Marinette to be your model, correct?" As he nodded to confirm it, Lila put on her best pitiful face. "That's very nice of you, but I think I should warn you. Marinette may seem friendly, but it's really a facade to hide her true colors."

That got Yusuke's attention, except what she said left him stunned the instant she began badmouthing his new friend.

"Ever since I first came to school, Marinette has hated me for no good reason and is determined to make my life miserable." False tears built up in Lila's eyes, her bottom lip quivering. "I didn't understand why, until I discovered she's just jealous of all the incredible things I've done, especially of my relationship with a handsome model whom she is obsessed with. Even when I rightfully called her out, she cries crocodile tears to gain sympathy and manipulates people to viciously attack me. I'm glad a lot of people in my class are keeping their distance from her after I showed everyone what a toxic person she is, but I'm worried about those poor friends of yours. They have fallen into her clutches without realizing it and... they said horrible things to me when I tried to warn them..." she sniffled, "one of them even grabbed my wrist in attempt to twist it and shut me up," she was secretly pleased at his shocked face. "But don't be too hard on them, it's not their fault. Toxic manipulators like Marinette are dangerous, and you just need to get them as far away from her as possible."

Now Yusuke had been quiet this whole time, patiently listening to her rant. He might not have known Marinette very long, but during their great moments together, he has come to see her as the most charming girl he has ever met. She had been nothing but kind and patient towards him when he dragged her everywhere on the beach to find a good spot for her to pose for his sketch, even gave him advice on not pushing himself too hard. Even drawing Marinette perfectly on paper, the aura it brought to his art piece sparked a positive vibe about her personality. That girl is too nice to have done the nasty things this Lila person claimed she'd done, instantly remembering what Marinette had told him and his friends about how she suffered because of Chloe's ruthless bullying.

Marinette is obviously a victim.

Not a bully, never was.

And when Lila had the audacity to claim his friends had said bad things to her and twisted her arm, he noticed discreetly that her arm looks just fine, for it would've been bruised if she had been grabbed. And he's going to trust his fellow thieves instead the word of this stranger. They wouldn't do something so horrendous out of the blue. It's obvious there's more to this story than meets the eye.

The memory of Marinette's bandaged wrist... the look in her eyes when he asked about it... her explanation of encountering a super liar left alarm bells ringing in his head. Was this Lila girl responsible for his friend's injured wrist?

Being an artist, Yusuke was trained to closely pay attention to the smaller details, along with remembering the hell he had gone through while living under Madarame's tyranny and deception. Not only did she lie about her injured wrist, but the look in Lila's eyes spoke clear volumes of her true personality - she may have come over to seduce him, but her true goal is to manipulate him to turn against Marinette, along with the attempt of badmouthing his friends as gullible lemmings.

"Are you serious?" was what Yusuke said after a long moment of silence. "Not only is the idea of Marinette being a bully impossible, but a toxic manipulator!? Preposterous!"

Lila's sad face faltered, clearly not expecting this reaction.

Yusuke looked down at her, disgust written on his face. "If she hated someone, then she must have a fairly good reason if that someone is a bad person. I may not know her very long, but I can see what you're saying is baseless nonsense..." he gestured to her wrist, "And your wrist is just fine, because it would've been bruised if one of my friends did get physical with you, not that they would do such a thing. But if you continue to insult my friends, and Marinette, you will rue this day!"

Seriously, who uses the word 'rue' nowadays? To Lila, he talks like a dumb samurai. Perhaps she can try again, this time turning on the waterworks and make him feel guilty. "Whatever Marinette told you about me, it's not true! I swear! She really has been bullying me and-"

To her chagrin, Yusuke angrily refused to let her speak. "Marinette has never said anything about you to me all day. I barely even know you, but I can tell that you are the one who is a toxic manipulator."

At this, Lila's victim facade disappeared and in its place is a predatory smirk. "I should've known that you're just as smart as the rest of those freaks. Doesn't matter, I only tell people what they want to hear."

"What they want to hear!? Do you dare tell me that you seriously thought I wanted to hear lies about Marinette!?"

Lila shrugged, not the least regretful. "Everyone in Paris does..." her voice dripping with venom as she continued, painting a grim picture of the harsh reality Marinette faced almost every day. "Every time the little tramp tries to expose me, everybody jumps at the chance to believe the worst about her. They want to hear that she's a spiteful bully or a jealous brat. But it doesn't stop there; all of her friends abandoned her, her parents never believed her, and Adrien," she chuckled when a cruel smile spread to the corners of her lips, "Adrien refuses to expose me because he's too naive and nice."

Yusuke's stomach churned with disgust as he processed this girl's words. It was incomprehensible to him how anyone could revel in spreading such malicious falsehoods about an innocent girl.

But the final blow came when Lila revealed the ultimate consequence of her actions. "Marinette was also expelled because of me," she confessed, her voice purring with malice. "And yet, no one bats an eye. They'd rather believe the lies than face the truth." Yusuke's mind reeled with disbelief at the sheer magnitude of this wretched girl's cruelty. He couldn't fathom how someone could be so callous and heartless, how they could revel in the suffering of others without a shred of remorse.

The young artist's eyes bore into Lila's, demanding an explanation for her cruel actions. "Why are you doing this to Marinette!? What did she ever do to you!?"

With a smirk, Lila obliged, "Why, you ask? It's because Marinette is a threat to my social life, my popularity, and my claim to Adrien's heart... not that she ever had chance to win him over in the first place." She paused, relishing in the discomfort evident in Yusuke's cold expression. "Unlike the fools in Paris, I see Marinette for what she truly is - a rival." Lila's gaze hardened wickedly as she spoke, her disdain for her perceived adversary evident. "And so, I weave tales of heroism and friendship. People eat it up, treating me like a celebrity, showering me with attention and adoration." She chuckled darkly, reveling in the power her lies afforded her. "But poor, unfortunate, stupid little Marinette," she sneered, her green eyes gleaming with malice. "There's nothing she can do. People can't resist hearing what they like, and I give them exactly that."

Yusuke's fists clenched at his sides, his anger simmering beneath the surface. He couldn't believe the depths of Lila's depravity, her willingness to manipulate and deceive for her own selfish gain. However, what she said at the end left him frustrated and grimacing.

People can't resist what they like to hear, after all. Back when Kamoshida (recalling what Ryuji and Ann had told him) or Madarame were roaming free to do as they please, everyone flocked to them as if those two monsters were fascinating gods whenever they told Shujin Academy or the general public fabrications they wanted to hear, despite the obvious harm it's done to their past victims. Can't say he's too surprised to encounter a new kind of devil who is doing the same thing... except this one is practically a teenager - a young girl with the mind of a monster.

"You are despicable!" The art boy's voice absorbed with anger. His fondness for Marinette, even after learning she has been vilified and ostracized, while Lila Rossi basked in undeserved adoration, filled him with a righteous fury. "To prey on someone's kindness and fabricate lies to further your own selfish desires... It's unforgivable!"

Not the least concerned, Lila merely shrugged as her smirk widened into a malicious grin. "Survival of the fittest, handsome..." she purred, her tone dripping with disdain. "In this world, you either manipulate or be manipulated. And I refuse to be anyone's victim."

"You may think you're so clever, but there will come a day when your web of lies will eventually unravel," he warned, his voice laced with steely resolve. "And when it does, you'll have no one to blame but yourself."

This was so hilarious if he thinks he can scare her like that. Lila's laughter echoed in the lobby, a chilling cackle that sent shivers down Yusuke's spine. "We'll see about that, won't we?" she taunted, her eyes gleaming with malicious intent. Then, she positioned herself in front of him, trying to get closer to his face. She pranced her fingers up his arm in a seductive manner. "However, since I find you incredibly attractive, I'm going to give you one last chance - drop Marinette as a model and choose me instead," her little finger dance goes up to his neck, just so she can caress his skin, "if you don't... I will destroy your social life and reputation. By the end of this trip, everyone in your class will hate you."

Instinctively, Yusuke pushed her back. He shuddered at how she touched him, but he glared hatefully.

Brushing it off, Lila smirked. "But for now, I suggest you make the right choice, Yusuke. Your future depends on it." With that ominous parting shot, she sauntered into the restaurant, leaving Yusuke alone seething with anger and frustration.

"That little bitch..." said a familiar voice, causing the startled young painter to jump back. He looked over and saw Ren positioned round the corner of the lobby. How he had not noticed before, Yusuke doesn't know. Concern flashed behind his glasses when he rushed over to his friend. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just a little angry..." Yusuke assures his trusted confidant not to worry. "I assume you saw what had happened?"

"Yes. And honestly, I find her behavior extremely disturbing." Ren's face turned grim. "The way she spoke to you, her threats, and how she boasted about what she had done... that's the attitude of a sociopath! Except, she's so young." He had dealt with plenty of sociopaths before, but Lila definitely takes the cake. How can someone so young be so evil?

"Well, we cannot judge a book by its cover. But now, I wonder what she will do to try and ruin my life." Yusuke couldn't help but dread what this witch will do, because she sounded so confident that she will carry out her threat.

Ren placed a comforting, supportive hand on his shoulder. "Don't fret over it. We'll keep our eyes and ears open. Besides, since Miss Kawakami and my class aren't stupid enough to believe ridiculous lies, I doubt everyone in your class would believe whatever pathetic nonsense that comes out of her mouth."

Yusuke smiled. "Thank you, my friend."

"I suggest we tell the others when they arrive," Ren's eyes narrowed seriously but a trace of concern lingers, "and I think we should ask Marinette for more details about this brat, Lila."

"We should approach this carefully," Yusuke advised. "Marinette might not feel comfortable telling us, even though we're friends and she opened up to us about Chloe. With Lila though, it sounds more serious than we thought."