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graglithans-library · 4 years ago

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Welcome to Paris, Fur-ance Ch 4: Language Barriers, Friendship, and... Akumas!?

Firstly, I would like to apologize for the late upload on this chapter. Thanksgiving distracted me. So this chapter, and the next will be up sometime today! Please enjoy.

Ladybug swung overhead as she scanned the streets, growling in frustration as she still couldn’t find the tanuki from earlier. “Where did she go? She couldn’t have gotten that far, right?” Sighing, she landed on a roof and pulled up her communicator. She immediately called Chat and tapped her foot as it rang.

‘Cat got your tongue? Leave a message!’ Ladybug let out a frustrated groan until her communicator went off, showing a call from Chat. With a sigh of relief, she flipped open the bug-phone and saw Chat smiling at her. “Evening, My Lady. Sorry for not answering right away. Baton was stuck.”

“That’s alright, Chat” Sighing, she rubbed her head and frowned. “I haven’t been able to find the girl from earlier or see the Akuma running around. We may need to head home and wait until they show themselves again.”

“That... might cause some problems. I did find someone over here, but they were not a tanuki.” Wincing, Chat grimaced as the background shifted.

The change wasn’t unnoticed by his partner. ‘Looks like he was lying down for a moment. I wonder why?’ Ladybug furrowed her brow, concern flashing in her eyes. “What do you mean?”

Chat popped his back and rolled his neck. “There was a werewolf just standing on top of the Eiffel Tower. I did try to confront him, but he knocked me down without even trying!” He got a pop out of his shoulder and sighed before glancing at his ring. “What’s weird is that even though he could have easily done it, he didn’t even ask for the Miraculous.”

“He didn’t?” Ladybug blinked in surprise, a hand subconsciously moving towards her earrings before she stopped herself. Putting a hand on her chin in thought, she let out a small hum. “Then again, the tanuki didn’t either. Though she also couldn’t speak French, which could be part of it as well.”

Chat shook his head with a small frown. “Well, this guy could. The moment I even mentioned the tanuki, he got really aggressive, demanding to know where she was.”

Ladybug nodded a bit as she looked back to Chat. “It’s likely they know each other then. I can’t say what kind of relationship they have, though. Either way, there’s no way a werewolf or a tanuki girl could stay hidden in Paris for long. We’ll just have to be patient and wait to see if they show up anywhere.”

Chat gave a quick nod along with his two-finger salute. “If that’s the case, I’m going to go and see if I can’t find a way to explain away the sprain. Take care, My Lady!”

“You too, and good luck, Chat.” Closing the communicator, Ladybug looked around to make sure she was still alone before dropping her transformation with a long, drawn-out sigh. As Marinette slumped against the brick wall of the building, Tikki flew up to her face. “Today just keeps getting better and better.”

The kwami gave her a worried smile as she nuzzled into Marinette’s cheek. “It’s alright, Marinette. Whatever is going on, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

Looking up at the sky overhead, Marinette felt her worries start to build. “I hope so, Tikki.” Closing her eyes in thought, Marinette walked out of the alley and turned to head back to school, knowing they would be freaking out over her sudden disappearance.

Only to walk straight into someone running down the street. The two fell backward from the impact, and Marinette winced as her tailbone hit the concrete. Marinette groaned as she sat back up, rubbing her backside. She gasped for a moment and looked inside her purse, checking to find Tikki hiding and giving her a small nod. She sighed as whoever she’d run into scrambled back to their feet and offered a hand. “G-Gomen’nasai! Anata ni aimasendeshita.”

Marinette’s eyes widened as she froze for a moment. ‘Wait a second! That’ s-!’ Looking up in surprise, she found herself staring at a girl with an asymmetrical bob cut. Moreover, she had the exact outfit the tanuki from earlier was wearing. The two just stared at each other before Marinette’s brain finally sent something to her mouth. “Uh...”

Not the most elegant response, but it was very Marinette.

The girl blinked a bit before she facepalmed and grumbled under her breath. “Ā matte, Anata wa osoraku nihongo ga hanasemasen.”

Still, sitting on her butt, Marinette’s mind was racing. ‘This girl has to be the tanuki from earlier, I’m sure of it!’ Her face contorted a bit in thought as she eyed the lack of brown fur on the girl’s limbs. ‘So why does she look like an average person now? Were the amok’s effects temporary?’

If any more things went and threw a wrench in Marinette’s train of thought, she was sure the whole thing would derail and combust.

“Kagemori Michiru!”

Jumping a bit and looking back to the girl’s face, Marinette realized she was acting like a weirdo again. “Huh?”

The girl just smiled as she pulled Marinette to her feet before putting a hand on her chest. “Kagemori Michiru!”

Marinette just stared at her in confusion before realization struck her. “Oh!” Offering a hand, she couldn’t help but blush in embarrassment. “Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”

After a quick handshake, Michiru rubbed her chin in thought. “Mari, netto?” Michiru mulled over the name for a moment, before her eyes snapped open and she gasped. “Ā! Wasureta!” Quickly darting around Marinette, she ran off down the street while waving behind her. “Sayōnara, Mari netto! Hajimemashite!”

“Wait! I-!” Marinette cried out, but the girl was gone from sight before she could take a step. Sighing, she put a hand to her head and started back towards the school. ‘Maybe I should ask Kagami for help on this one.’ Marinette immediately shook her head at the thought and frowned. ‘No, bad Marinette! Don’t assume your Japanese friend speaks Japanese. That’s rude.’ Still, she looked over her shoulder at where the girl had run off and hummed. “Kagemori Michiru, huh? At least I have a name for her now.” ‘The language barrier here is starting to get in the way, though. I should figure out a way around that for the next time we meet.'

________________________________________________________________

“Nazuna!” Michiru jogged down the road looking around as she put her hands to her mouth. “Nazuna!” Going around a corner, Michiru grumbled. 'Where is she? Paris can’t be that big... Can it?’

Before she could ponder that thought any farther, however, someone stepped out of an alley, and Michiru ended up running into them. She fell back with a squawk and rubbed her backside before looking up and seeing a girl with pigtails doing the same. The girl let out a small gasp as she checked her purse, and Michiru hastily stood up, offering a hand. “Sorry! I didn’t see you.”

The girl seemed to freeze before she turned to look at Michiru. They both stared at each other before she finally said something. “Euh?”

Michiru just blinked a few times before she facepalmed. “Oh wait, you probably can’t speak Japanese.” ‘Seriously Michiru, good going. You forgot the French speak French.’

Looking back down at whoever this girl was, Michiru could see that they seemed lost in their thoughts, and were looking at her in surprise. ‘Is my fashion sense that bad? No. they’re probably supposed to be in school or something... wow, how long has it been since I’ve taken any classes? I should probably do that once we’re back in Anima City.'

Clearing her throat, Michiru put a thumb to her chest and smirked. “Kagemori Michiru!”

The girl jolted and looked at her in surprise. “Hein?”

Going to assume that was a huh and move from there. Fighting back a chuckle, Michiru pulled her to her feet and put a hand on her chest. “Kagemori, Michiru!”

There was a moment of staring before the message registered with the girl. “Oh!” A blush rushed across the girl’s face as she offered a hand. “Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”

The handshake wasn’t very long, and Michiru found herself mulling over the name. “Mari, nette?” ‘Kinda like Marie, but I don’t see this girl hustling me any time soon.’ Closing her eyes, Michiru let her thoughts wander. ‘Maybe I should ask Nazuna about it?’

Nazuna...

...

‘OH CRAP I FORGOT ABOUT NAZUNA!’

Her eyes snapped open, and Michiru gasped. “AH! I forgot!” Bolting past Marinette, Michiru waved behind her. “Goodbye, Marinette! Nice to meet you!”

The girl said something, but Michiru had already turned the corner and was charging down another street. She stopped next to a light pole and hummed, looking around. “Now, where the heck is Nazun-” An explosion ripped through the city, it’s shockwave sending Michiru flying through the air and flailing her non-flying human arms. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!?”

The poor girl landed straight into a garbage can, with only her legs sticking out. With a minute of struggling, she pulled herself out and looked around with a twitching eye. “What is wrong with this place? First crazy people in spandex, now random explosions? I thought this was the city of love!”

Another boom behind her sent a wave of dust past her, and she hesitantly turned around.

She wished she hadn’t.

This... wasn’t like the other guy in the Nirvasyl Syndrome suit. This person couldn’t be more than sixteen years old, but their skin had turned a strange shade of blue. They were wearing a billowing cloak only a few shades lighter than their skin, and it covered their whole body except for their arms. On their eyes, were a pair of goggles that kept dilating randomly as they looked around.

‘I have so many questions.’

“Où es-tu Marinette? Ce n'est pas très agréable de se cacher de ses amis!” the person shouted, twisting around to look down the streets. “Votre pauvre mère est si inquiète. Alors laissez-moi au moins l'aider à savoir où était sa fille pendant tout ce temps!”

‘Wait a second.’ Michiru paused as she hid behind the garbage can she’d been stuck in. ‘Isn’t Marinette the girl I just met? Could this guy be after her!? Peeking around the can to see if the weird person was looking at her, she quickly bolted for an alleyway. I gotta find her and warn her!’

Before Michiru could get to the alley, a blue ball shot past her and landed on the wall of one of the buildings, before blowing up and filling the gap with... safety foam!? “Wah!” Michiru ran smack into the blue foam, bouncing off and onto her back. “WHAT IS WRONG WITH PARIS!?”

The person was stalking towards her and was waving a finger at her. “Vous ... vous ressemblez à ce truc qui s'est présenté à l'école.”

Michiru sat up as she turned around, scooting back as much as she could, and raised both hands with an uneasy smile. “Um...I don’t speak French?”

Whipping their arm to the side, Michiru got a good look at the attire that the person was hiding under their cloak. A skin-tight suit was lined with several more of the blue spheres, and on their hip was what looked like a launcher for them. “Vous êtes donc cette chose d’avant!”

Fear paralyzed Michiru as she stared down the end of the launcher now pointed at her face. This was it. This was how she was going to die. Not in some lovely, peaceful cottage in the countryside. Not on some crazy mission with Shirou. No, she was going to be suffocated by safety foam in Paris, France, by a crazy person.

Until she heard someone shouting. “MICHIRU!”

Before the person, whoever they were, could look to see who had shouted, a large, pink, and fuzzy Gorilla-fist slammed into them, sending the assailant flying into a building down the road.

Panting heavily, Nazuna shifted her arms back down to normal before rushing over to Michiru and grabbing her by the head. “Are you alright?”

Michiru stared at her for a moment before tearing up and latching onto her friend with a bone-crushing hug. “Nazuna! I’m so happy you’re okay!”

Nazuna returned the hug with a laugh. “I’m glad you’re okay too.”

That’s when another girl ran up to the duo and looked apprehensive at the rubble in the distance. “We need to go.” She pulled Michiru up to her feet and flinched when the building she sent the person flying into exploded.

The blue person stepped free from the rubble, goggles broken and a red eye glaring at the trio. “Vous êtes plus nombreux!?” The person growled before raising their launcher again. “Peu importe. Il faudra plus que quelques gamins pour m'empêcher de retrouver Marinette!”

The new girl’s eyes widened as the three of them started running. A few quick turns down some alleyways, and the three were panting as they hid in the shadows. All the while, the screaming of the person could be heard from a ways off.

Michiru took a moment as one to sigh as she slumped against the building. “That was close.”

Nazuna nodded as she rested her hands on her knees. “Yeah.” Getting up, she let out a long breath before smiling. “But I’m just glad we found you.”

The new girl nodded as she had a small smile, though it looked a bit strained. “I’m happy to have been of assistance in finding your friend.”

“Speaking of!” Michiru stood up and narrowed her eyes, circling the new girl. “Who are you? Last time Nazuna tried to make friends on her own, she started a cult.”

The girl raised an eyebrow at Nazuna, tilting her head. “A cult?”

“H-HEY!” Nazuna blushed straight through her fur and punched Michiru in the arm. “I was desperate, and Boris tricked me!”

Laughing a bit, the girl drew their attention, and her smile was a little more genuine. “I see.” Turning to Michiru, the girl bowed slightly. “I am Tsurugi Kagami. It is a pleasure to meet you, Kagemori-san. Nazuna told me some stories about you as we looked for your whereabouts.” Kagami looked at her with a raised eyebrow before smirking a bit. “Though, she also said you would likely be furrier when we found you.”

“Wha-?” Michiru let out an offended gasp and put a hand to her chest. “You thought I would be so irresponsible as to run around with my tail out?” With a turn of her head, she pointedly stared at the edge of the roof and away from Nazuna. “This isn’t Anima City. I’m reasonable enough not to do anything silly.”

Nazuna just raised an eyebrow as she shifted back to human form. “Really?”

Blushing, Michiru pouted. “It was one time, and it was to keep Nina from drowning!”

“Not to change the subject,” Kagami interrupted with a frown, “but what the Akuma said earlier has me worried.” Michiru tilted her head in confusion, and Kagami pointed over her shoulder. “The person from earlier. I’ll explain in more detail later, but it sounded like they were after Marinette.”

Michiru paused before raising both hands to the side of her head and mimicking a grabbing motion. “Black hair, pigtails, and really blue eyes?”

Kagami looked surprised before nodding. “How did you know?”

Michiru smiled as she dropped her arms and grinned. “I ran into her accidentally earlier.” Rubbing the back of her head, she let out an embarrassed chuckle. “Though uh... I’m pretty sure she couldn’t understand a word I said.”

Nazuna rolled her eyes and sighed. “We’re in Paris, Michiru. Does it really surprise you that she didn’t?”

Kagami had worry and fear dancing in her eyes. “Was she alright?”

“I mean, I did accidentally run into her, but other than that, she seemed okay.” Michiru shrugged before frowning in thought. “Though, shouldn’t both of you be in school or something? There’s no way she was older than me.”

“I was given the day off, at the request of my mother,” Kagami stated before looking thoughtful. “However, Marinette most definitely should be in classes. If you ran into her here, that is unusual for her.”

Michiru blushed a bit and twiddled her fingers. “If uh, hypothetically, someone unusual were to show up in the middle of the courtyard, would that make her run and hide?”

Kagami frowned. “I take it that is where you first arrived?”

At Michiru’s nod, Nazuna sighed. “Michiru, what did you do?”

“All I did was wake up!” Michiru threw her arms up and pouted. “It’s not my fault that weird guy in a catsuit called me a demon!”

“Catsuit?” Kagami grimaced and shook her head. “If Chat Noir was there, then it is likely that they all think you were an Akuma. That, and when an Akuma shows up, Marinette is usually the first to run and hide, and she likely fled the school entirely.”

Nazuna hummed a bit as she looked up in thought. “If that’s the case, then could the Akuma be someone who was concerned for her?”

Michiru winced a bit as another shout came from the distance. “I don’t think that concern is the right word.”

________________________________________________________________

Marinette had been running down the streets back towards the school when her phone went off. She didn’t stop running as she pulled it out, but soon stopped and stared in shock at the Akuma Alert on her phone. “But... but we haven’t even caught the last Akuma yet! Is Hawkmoth really strong enough to send out a second already?”

Tikki nudged her chosen one from her place in Marinette’s purse and shook her head. “I think it’s more likely that he recalled the last one to throw us off, but either way, we should hurry! The longer we wait, the more damage the Akuma will cause.”

“Right.” Taking a turn into an alley, Marinette made sure nobody was watching before she sighed. “Tikki? Spots on!”

Ladybug opened the Akuma App again on her communicator and hummed. “Let’s see what we’re dealing with.” A surprising amount of information was already being shared regarding the Akuma. The information which Ladybug took as a blessing in disguise. “Looks like there were enough people around when the Akuma took control to know why they were targeted.”

“Akuma Name: Friend Finder. Wow Hawkmoth, so original. Goal: Searching for-” She paled and did a double-take, “Marinette Dupain-Cheng!?” ‘Why would they be looking for me!?’ Scrolling down, she frowned. “Alright... concerned in regards to where she keeps disappearing during attacks. Understandable, I’ll admit.” ‘It doesn’t help that I can’t tell anyone about this.’ She closed the communicator and sighed. ‘Kinda wishing I hadn’t convinced Alya and Max to remove the name of the person afflicted. I’d have an idea of who I’m saving, but even that’s not worth exposing someone’s private problems like that.’

Zipping to the roofs and over Paris, Ladybug searched for signs of the Akuma. However, she had that niggling feeling of dread poking at the back of her mind again. “Something just isn’t right here. But what?”

A moment later, she was almost knocked out of the air by a tan blur. A quick toss of her yo-yo helped her flip to a landing on the street, rolling for a moment before launching herself back into the air. Looking to where the blur had been headed, she was met face to face with a blue wolf.

Who was about to tackle her back out of the air.

Seeing no way to dodge, she braced herself for the impact, and the two landed on the rooftop of a nearby building. Ladybug herself was surprised to find that she wasn’t being pinned to the roof, and instead held like a sack of potatoes under the wolf’s arm.

Wait... arm? Wolf?

Ladybug’s surprise was cut short when she was unceremoniously dropped onto the roof with a small ‘oomph’ as a result. The wolf then waited for her to stand up before crossing his arms. “I have some questions for you, and I’m not leaving without answers.”

Ladybug groaned internally as she straightened up. ‘At least this one speaks French.’

#Chapter 4 #Welcome to Paris Fur-ance #fanfiction #miraculous ladybug #BNA

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