#japanese fencer (kagami tsurugi)

[muses-of-the-memory]

Happy 9th Anniversary to Miraculous!

Today is the 9th anniversary of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir!

As an open RP to anyone, I will be roleplaying as my Miraculous muses on my list in both verses: Canon and Rise of the Dark Moth verse

Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Ladybug

Adrien Agreste/Cat Noir

Alya Césaire/Rena Rouge

Nino Lahiffe/Carapace

Gabriel Agreste/Hawk Moth/Betterfly (willing to do canon Hawk Moth/Shadow Moth/Monarch) (Remorseful Hawk Moth is in the Rise of the Dark Moth verse)

Nathalie Sancouer/Mayura

Felix Fathom/Argos

Kagami Tsurugi/Ryuko

Zoe Lee/Vesperia

Paint le Panda (Miraculous Hero of Imagination)

Tagged by: @hoshi-neko-hikari, @spirits-of-nature16, @bluemajingirl, @x-whiskeylullaby-x, @themultiverseheroines, @forsakenwasp, @keysofthekingdom, @keywcilder, @the-world-hopper, @thepersonaking56

[princess-of-the-corner]

My problem with the idea of some characters being unknowingly Sentimonsters isn't in the idea itself, but in how it's been used, both the choice and how we're supposed to think about their parents:

Adrien: this guy makes NO SENSE, as him being a Sentimonster contradicts "Chat Blanc". The events of that episode hinge on Gabriel not having the means to easily brainwash his son and thus resorting to other means to Akumatize him. We're also supposed to sympathize with Emilie reacting to her infertility problems by using black magic to make a reverse sex clone of herself rather than adopting (she could afford IVF, but we don't know if she tried before using magic)

Kagami: she makes barely more sense than Adrien, as in Japanese culture the long standing reaction to fertility issues is adoption BEFORE IVF. Japan's most famous fairy tale, The Tale of Princess Kaguya, is basically the story of a girl being adopted and everything going well until others butted in... So Tomoe's normal reaction to having fertility problems would have been to adopt a few children and see which one was worthy of her legacy.

Felix: now, this guy mostly makes sense, with Colt Phatom being apparently as bad as S5 Gabriel... Except we have the fact Gabriel would let THIS GUY touch a Miraculous.

In my opinion, the best character to have been a Sentimonster is Zoè. She's got the egotistic parent, and it would be perfectly in character for Emilie to hear her complain of Chloè being a difficult child (that is a normal child) and magically create her one as a favor, also explaining why Audrey left the country (how do you explain THAT to your husband?) and the rivalry, also adding angst when her true nature inevitably comes out and we find out Zoè is LITERALLY Chloè's replacement in waiting.

Yeah no none of them made sense!

Adrien doesn't make sense because too much of his early-season character was him being rebellious, and there's several episodes where Gabe having his Amok would've negated the whole thing. Not to mention I still fight on the Peacock originally sensing Sentis but it being retconned to just the Amoks.

Kagami doesn't make sense because before Season 5, everything about the Tsurugi family indicated that the business deals with Gabriel was something new, not a 20-year established partnership. Hell all the way back when Kagami was first introduced, the Tsurugi family wasn't even a tech company. They were just Olympic-level fencers. The tech stuff was added later.

Felix is the closest we come to having his Senti nature make since as he was written in with this plot. But he kinda hinges on Adrien being a Senti as well.

Zoé would make sense but less as 'Gabe let Audrey have a sentikid ages ago' and more as 'Gabe wants to further fuck with Chloé and keep her as an asset, so he created Zoé to worm into her life and keep Chloé from ever having a chance at redemption again.

[chiefatticcreator]

Hey Chief! I'm the same anon that requested this: https://www.tumblr.com/chiefatticcreator/766261616589291520/my-prompt-is-based-on-this-post-of-yours?source=share

Well here's part 2 of the Miraculous girls becoming Adrien's bimbo harem & this ask features our favorite Japanese fencer, Kagami.

Adrien had been having fun breaking Marinette for the past few days. Thanks to having her under his control, he now has access to the Grimoire, which means he's learned to send out multiple akumas without either him or Nooroo losing energy & how to control them outside of being transformed. So, he decides to go for his next target: Kagami.

Much like Marinette, the akuma does the same thing to Kagami but he has a special plan for her. He invites her over to his place for tea but after a while, she can't take it anymore. Adrien decides that Kagami must earn his cock. So he gets to wear a slutty & skimpy version of her uniform & skirt that would fit her new bimbo form & makes her act like girls from hentai; moaning in a high pitched voice, ahegao faces, lewd French kisses & constant begging. After a while, Adrien decides that she's had enough & rewards her with his cock. Kagami can't help but suck it & take it in her pussy like a good bimbo should.

Atfer he broke Marinette, Adrien had lots of fun with her, especially punishing her for keeping him in the dark for so long about everything and enjoying his new bimbo, but one wasn't enough for him. With his better control over the akuma he created now, he had asked Kagami to come visit him at his mansion to talk. Kagami was all too happy to accept, to spend time with him and talk and see her crush, so she immediately accepted when he asked, calling her mother as soo nas the conversation was over to warn her she'd spend a few hours at Adrien's place.

The akuma was ready and waiting for kagami to enter, and as soon as she stepped inside the mansion, it went to her and she felt the change. She was normally just a little horny when she saw Adrien, but it instantly shot up to inimaginable levels of need and want and desire to do something with him. She was so full of lust and need that she barely noticed they were going to Adrien's bedroom instead, only actually percieving it when she saw his bed, and lewd thoughts flooded her mind. But Adrien enjoyed watching her squirm and try to keep her composure, so rather that immediately start to break her or turn to lewdness, he toyed with her, pretending to have a normal conversation about school and fencing, all while watching her absent-midnedly answer and try to not show how horny she was.

But even then, he wasn't done completely toying with her. Of course, she was too crazy lust to really question anything, so she didn't react when she noticed that her body had changed, that her tits and ass had dramatically grown, tearing through her old clothes as well as well as her lips had plumped-up until they were only cockpillows good for servicing her master.

But she did reeact to his smirk (that made her shiver with excitement and wetness gush down her legs), and when he outwardly asked her to "act slutty". There was still enough left of Kagami to protest and think this was all very strange and odd and not normal, but she was too maddened with lust to really care.

Blushing, a bit hesitant, her gaze fixated on the bulge she could see in his pants, the previously proud and cold Kagami Tsurugi began acting like a slut, like a bitch in heat from a hentai. She had hearts in her eyes when she looked at him, when she moaned and mewled and made lewd faces for him (lewd faces that adrien amde sure to take pictures of, to contrast how different and wild this new Kagami was). She was so horny and desperate and dripping for his cock that begs and mewls actually made their way out very fast, alongside lewd, sloppy, wet french kisses that left her saliva dripping from her chin. His cock wasn't even out yet and she was already completely his, body and soul, and both were his to do as he wished.

He changed her outfits to even lewder ones, barely scraps of cloth that didn't even cover anything, and when she'd cum herself stupid making faces and kissing him, Adrien decided it was finally time to actually fuck her.

By the time Adrien began to tire out, it was the next day. Kagami had been bulged beyond belief, covered in thick, virile and potent cum from head to toe, and her body had become even lewder, even sluttier, looking liek a blown-up sex doll that had been fucked to unconsciousness after havign her mind utterly shattered until she could only think of ways to pelasure her master... exactly like Adrien wanted his sluts.

[anakinmousestalker]

Kagami Tsurugi

One of the prime characters in Miraculous is Kagami Tsurugi. I was looking at an article about Japanese aircraft at the end of WWII and discovered that they had Nakajima developing a simple cheap suicide plane called the Tsurugi, which prompted me to check out what Tsurugi means. It turns out that a tsurugi is an ancient straight bladed two edged Japanese sword. I'd say that this is a fitting name for a Japanese fencer!

[disneydarlin]

Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, Kagami Tsurugi —Aesthetic

Kagami Tsurugi's Character & Personality

Kagami is a fierce and thoughtful Japanese girl who's dedicated to accomplishing any commitment she makes. Likewise, she's somewhat reluctant and quite stubborn. Kagami is willing to go out and take risks regardless of what's at stake. However, she learns from her mistakes, knowing there are times she isn't a winner. Despite her wits, Kagami has a small habit of jumping to conclusions. She's an aggressive fencer who'll taunt her opponent during a fight. While Kagami doesn't like to lose with her competitive nature, she downplays her feelings and respects her rivals. Yet, she can be quite emotive and rage-prone in spite of her composed exterior. Kagami is also blunt and is willing to speak her mind. Despite this, she's a bit lonely. This is because Kagami has never had friends due to her mother's influence. As a result, she doesn't know how to bond with others. Thus, Kagami's attempts are awkward and come across as forced. However, she's very hospitable and understanding. Kagami can form friendships with people after they both approach each other and solve their conflicts. Although she desires her freedom, she wants it in her own way and time. Upon which, Kagami wants to share it with those she loves. Overtime, she starts becoming more playful and fun-loving. Kagami enjoys being disobedient at times too. After making friends, she doesn't want to hurt or lose them as she truly treasures her friendships. As such, Kagami is quite brave and protective of those she cares about if they're in danger. However, she's realistic too. Kagami still has a lot to learn about friendships as she needs to accept her friend's flaws and what she likes about them. Because of the pressure her mother places on her to be perfect, she has a hard time understanding and controlling her emotions. Being unable to deal with her feelings, Kagami represses them. This leads her to become quite vulnerable to manipulation. After finally opening up and allowing herself to feel, Kagami is finally able to find an emotional stability.

[ryukogami]

BASICS ⸺ KAGAMI TSURUGI.

Name: Tsurugi // First Name: Kagami // Date of Birth: December 5th // Location of Birth: Tokyo, Japan // Current Residence: Paris, France // Mother’s Name: Tomoe Tsurugi // Father’s Name: Unknown // Occupation: Student; Fencer // Heritage: Japanese

BACKGROUND ⸺ TRADITION AND DISCIPLINE.

Kagami Tsurugi was born into a prestigious family of Japanese heritage, with a legacy defined by discipline, excellence, and tradition. Her mother, Tomoe Tsurugi, is a formidable woman who embodies these values. As a celebrated swordmaster and businesswoman, Tomoe has always expected the highest level of achievement from Kagami, raising her with rigorous structure and unyielding discipline. Kagami’s upbringing was deeply influenced by her mother’s philosophies. From an early age, she was trained in the ancient art of fencing, both as a sport and a way of life. Through this practice, Kagami developed sharp reflexes, unparalleled focus, and an appreciation for honor and integrity. However, her training also brought immense pressure to succeed, leaving little room for spontaneity or emotional expression. She longs to forge her own path and make meaningful connections, yet her upbringing has taught her to keep her emotions tightly controlled. Kagami’s relationship with her mother is a central aspect of her life. While she respects and admires Tomoe’s strength and wisdom, she often feels constrained by her mother's exacting standards. Tomoe’s love is expressed through her insistence on discipline and achievement, which can sometimes feel distant and transactional to Kagami. This complex dynamic has shaped Kagami into a person who strives for perfection but also craves understanding and freedom.

PERSONALITY ⸺ HERITAGE AND ASPIRATION.

Despite her strict upbringing, Kagami possesses a quiet depth of character. She is confident, poised, and fiercely independent, carrying herself with the grace of someone who has been taught to master every aspect of her being. However, beneath her polished exterior lies a sensitive and introspective soul. Kagami often wrestles with the tension between her personal desires and the high expectations set by her mother. At her core, Kagami is a loyal and determined individual. She values honesty and holds herself—and others—to high standards of integrity. Her directness and strong sense of self can make her seem aloof or intimidating to those who don’t know her well, but those who earn her trust find a deeply caring and courageous friend. While her path has been shaped by tradition and obligation, Kagami continues to explore what it means to live authentically, balancing the expectations of her heritage with her own aspirations and dreams.

[muses-of-the-memory]

Paint le Panda and Ladybug enter inside of the train back to Paris as the communicator goes off, but the allies of the Miraculous Resistance don’t know that Marinette is Ladybug as she de-transforms.  "Ladybug, finding you alive is the best news that we've ever had in months." Kim spoke to Ladybug via the communicator even though Marinette had de-transformed. 

"May I ask why you're with Alya and the others?" Marinette asked as P.J. gives Inky, his handmade Panda Bear kwami a bamboo snack to recharge. "Ever since you were beaten, the people of Paris were rallying against Dark Moth and the one who... well, I hesitate to say "looks like you"." Max Kante explained. "Yeah, and some of us had named this Resistance after the Miraculous heroes as P.J. was able to find this 'Miracle Box' and gave us our Miraculouses to give us a fighting chance." Alya explained. "P.J., how did you?!" Marinette shouts. "Calm down. He wants to bring Paris to how it was, and so are you and us." Ivan spoke in P.J.'s defense. "I see." Marinette spoke. "Yeah, but we got bad news to tell, dudette. Our intel tells us Dark Moth's got a weapons factory at the school, pumping out munitions for his war effort." Kim spoke. "What?! They're turning the school into a factory? That's even lower for him. He's even got some of the other students as slaves there." Alix said. "Exactly. We can't take out Dark Moth's home base at the Champs-Élysées if he's got a factory supplying him." Kagami said. "Yeah. Look Ladybug, I know you just got back but we're kinda spread thin. Can you take care of this?" Nino asked.

"Zizzi, there you are. Tokitoki hatched another universal egg and we got new Time Scrolls." Chronoa spoke to Zizzi. (@muses-of-the-memory)

"Another egg?" She had soon turned back to her as she looked excited. "What are the new Time Scrolls like?" She asked as she got up on her feet.

@muses-of-the-memory

[chronicallylatetotheparty]

Grand Premier

Summary: Barely in Paris and Kagami is already expected to rub elbows with the local elites. Specifically, one Adrien Agreste. At least he dresses better than his father.

---------------------

Kagami didn't want to be here.

"This is an important deal for our company's expansion into France, Kagami," Tomoe Tsurugi reminded her in Japanese. "Be polite with Adrien Agreste."

"Yes, Mother." Kagami would play her role to perfection. Even if it was at the premier of a mediocre movie.

"And if the young Agreste isn't polite I hear he fences at the same school we're enrolling you in."

Kagami didn't smile. No, not at all. And if she did there were no witnesses. "Yes, Mother."

Keeping her usual stoic expression as the parasites, pardon, the paparazzi used flash photography in her face Kagami walked down the red carpet. Arm extended for her Mother.

Gabriel was just as tedious as she imagined him and wearing the ugliest suit Kagami had ever seen. And she'd seen ugly yakuza suits in person. At least Adrien's all black suit was suitable for a family in the fashion industry.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Tsurugi Kagami," the blond boy greeted in heavily accented Japanese. A polite smile on his face as he bowed slightly. "Welcome to Paris. My name is Adorian Aguresuto."

Kagami raised an eyebrow. That didn't sound right.

Eyes widening as he realized his slip up and- Wow, those were expressive eyebrows. -hand going to rub the back of his head as a faint blush painted his cheeks. "I mean Aguresuto Adorian! I, yup..." Suddenly self-conscious Adrien jerked his hand down. Smile nervous but more honest.

Kagami decided to have mercy on him. "Your inflection needs work but the pronunciation is adequate."

His lips twitched. "Adequate?"

"Yes. That is the most accurate description," Kagami stated matter-of-factly.

"Well, then I guess I better ade-quit while I'm ahead," Adrien joked, switching to French.

She could pinpoint the second Adrien noticed what his mouth had said (seemingly without permission) by the way his rosy cheeks went into full bloom. Kagami was fairly certain she was interpreting that expression correctly. "I see why you learned, Japanese."

Apparently deciding her impression of him was already ruined, Adrien forged ahead. "Anime has some impressive puns. I couldn't resist."

Kagami's perfect posture straightened ever so slightly. "Oh? What kind of anime are you interested in?"

Adrien began listing several shonen. Which, honestly, Kagami should have seen coming. At least it included One Piece. Kagami resisted the urge to proclaim the merits of the completely arbitrary power ranking system unprompted. It just fit the story so well and- No! Focus! What was he saying?

"...but right now I'm reading Fruits Basket."

Ooh! Kagami's self control slipped just a little bit. Her eyes might've lit up even. "Yuki is my favorite character."

Adrien beamed at her. "He's amazing! Torhu's my favorite!"

Kagami glanced at a large poster of the movie. Chat Noir displayed prominently with Ladybug. Oh, right. That was a thing. "I would've thought it'd be Kyo"

"Not all catboys are created equal, Kagami," Adrien stated solemnly before breaking into a grin. "He's my second favorite. I just really like Torhu 'cause she's so kind and selfless and..." Adrien paused. Looking down as he fiddled with a silver ring on his finger. "And she's so brave. After losing her mom like that. I really admire her."

Kagami felt she was missing something. She usually felt that with strangers but it was on the tip of her tongue.

Before Kagami could pinpoint why Adrien's appreciation for Honda Tohru felt the way it did Adrien snapped out of whatever he was in. "Anyway, what about you?"

"I relate a lot to Saiki Kusuo. He has trouble understanding people despite being telepathic." Was that too much? It felt like too much.

Apparently not 'cause Adrien's smile was back. The honest one, not the polite one. "Yeah, it's hard to understand people when they don't say what they mean."

Oh, thank you! "What's worse is when they say things they don't mean. It's very confusing."

"Right!? It'd be so much simpler!"

"..." Kagami was supposed to respond here. She was positive that it was expected. But she didn't have anything she felt like adding at the moment. "... So have you read Fullmetal Alchemist?"

Kagami was positive Adrien was restraining himself from vibrating in excitement. She could tell because his eyes were huge and his grin unrestrained. His enthusiasm making her lips form their own smile. Kagami had never met someone her own age she could tolerate, let alone geek out about the differences between anime and manga adaptations.

Most of the other rich kids Kagami knew acted like that ponytailed girl who thought Kagami couldn't see her glaring from across the room. But she wasn't important.

... Actually, there was something Kagami wanted to know. "I hear you fence."

Suddenly shy again Adrien's hand went back to rubbing his neck. "Uh, yeah. Not to brag but I'm the best fencer on the team."

"Not for long."

"Huh?"

"I'll be coming for that top spot, Adrien," Kagami promised.

Adrien's eyes widened, then a competitive gleam sparked in his eyes. "Looking forward to it," he smirked.

In the end the movie was just as mediocre as Kagami thought it would be. Enjoyable sure, if you ignored all the cliches.

"It's even worse on screen!" Adrien proclaimed cheerfully.

Kagami eyed him as they filed out of the theater. "Aren't you the male lead?"

"Against my protests!" He grinned.

"A pleasure doing business with you Madame Tsurugi," Gabriel Agreste's grating voice said from his assistant's tablet. Kagami amused herself by imagining Gabriel was actually that small in person. "Come along now, Adrien."

"Yes, Father." The open expression was gone. Adrien's demeanor immediately subduing at Gabriel's call. Turning towards her, Adrien gave her a small smile- "I look forward to seeing you at school." -and winked with his whole head.

Kagami's cheeks heated up slightly as she returned his smile. "I won't go easy on you."

Adrien frowned. "Well, of course not. That would defeat the entire purpose of dueling."

Kagami's smile grew wider. "Yes. Yes, it would."

She stared at the passing city through the window as they made their way to their new home. Committing the unfamiliar skyline to memory.

"And how was the young Agreste, Kagami?" Tomoe asked. "Was your interaction fruitful?"

Kagami thought about Adrien's predilection for certain manga tropes, how he'd blundered effortlessly past her walls, the clear eagerness Adrien felt at talking to someone else who gets it. He was... endearing. And Kagami wouldn't mind his company again.

"Yes, Mother." Yes, it was.

----------------------

Notes: Written for the Alternate First Meeting promt of Adrigami Week 2021.

[algernoninwonderland]

Kagami Tsurugi, Character Integrity and the mess that was ‘Lie‘

This is Kagami Tsurugi.

She is Japanese, comes from a lineage of Samurai, industrialists and Olympic sabre fencers, and her mother wants her to follow in the footsteps of her family. Tomoe Tsurugi's parenting style has made Kagami into a perfectionist when it comes to competitive sabre fencing and most things involving anything resembling competitions in general. Kagami is an assertive girl who has been taught not to tolerate mediocrity and failure. She resents that in everyone, including herself.

She does well in formal situations, say, a prince's birthday or a premiere at a cinema, because all of these have their sets of rules and protocols to follow which can ultimately be taught, learned and mastered. She knows her place as her mother’s daughter and a star fencer.

Kagami is also a very lonely. She hasn't been shown to have had friends back in Japan, or any attachments back there, really. Underneath her cool (or rather, icy cold) facade is a lonely socially awkward kid, she has this whole idea of what friendship should be like and of how to make friends and it includes following a long protocol, because she has little faith in her social skills, and is actually quite insecure about how likeable she is. She’s blunt, and it may come off as harshness even though it’s not the way she intended it.

Kagami has no spontaneity at all when it comes to non-normative situations, and friendship, for instance, isn't nearly as normative and codified as, say, heteronormative romance.

But here's the thing: she doesn't want to be lonely, and her mother's parenting style makes her miserable. She'd even be ready to break a few rules if it meant she could have a better, happier life. If she has to lie by omission (she isn't good at improv at all) or to sneak out, then so be it, she's willing to take her chance and willing to face whatever punishment her mother has in store for her if she gets caught, because not trying to make new friends and to try new things is worse than being punished. She wants to have a life, and as it turns out, breaking the rules actually amuses her.

See what this is right here? Outside of the whole kind of stereotypically racist nonsense about family honour and ancestral traditions, it's damn fine character writing. Kagami Tsurugi has been one of the better-written characters in Miraculous, with the most consistency and coherency.

[this is the moment when the record scratch sound effect kicks in]

Wow, would you look at this, season 4 of Miraculous is starting to air and Kagami was replaced with a character that looks like her and has the same voice actress but isn't Kagami Tsurugi, outside of a half-minute window during which the original character reappears to tell us that she likes drawing things now. Admittedly, it’s a neat thirty seconds, but outside of that...

In 'Lie', the character that looks and sounds like Kagami Tsurugi is suddenly good at improv and lies to the face of two adults by spinning stories out of nowhere, unblinkingly, without being nervous about facing the consequences at all.

In ‘Lie’, the character named Kagami Tsurugi suddenly takes sabre fencing lightly enough to try and kiss her boyfriend in the middle of a bout.

In ‘Lie’, the character the show has decided is Kagami Tsurugi acts smart with her mother, almost cocky.

In ‘Lie’, this ‘Kagami Tsurugi’ acts violently against her now ex-boyfriend and former friend in the presence of one of the best-regarded fencing masters in Paris, during the middle of one of his lessons.

I know that being in love supposedly changes people, and that's the in-universe reason for Kagami's behaviour but you'll have to admit, these are rather radical changes, aren’t they? And rather sudden ones, too, sure there were hints of Kagami's playfulness before, hints of her insecurities, but this is something else entirely.

But, I hear you say, it’s good that characters change, you always complain that our main two characters are stagnant. To which I’ll answer that character development is good but it doesn’t happen overnight, and if a character is so altered in the span of exactly two episodes with only a very fishy in-universe explanation, then it’s not exactly great, now, is it?

Kagami’s integrity as a character is thrown away for the sake of ship drama, ‘Lie’ leaves the audience with a weirdly warped image of what the character from seasons 2 and 3 was because the character needed to be more extreme and simple to fit the narrative and themes of the episode.

I would have been fine with about any changes to the character had the show taken the time to introduce them progressively. It hasn’t.

What the show does with its characters, rewriting them so that they can play a thematically-relevant role in whatever episode they appear in... It’s cheap, and it insults its audience’s intelligence.

[soulmate-game]

Part1 ... Part2 ... Part3...

Marinette blinked, tilting her head a bit. The streets around them were loud and bustling with bodies and vehicles despite the sun being right at the horizon. Gotham would slow down soon, people being wary of the darkness in the crime-ridden city,but for now it was busy as usual. Marinette and Jon stood outside the stadium that would be hosting the World Fencing Finals, but a familiar face had stopped them right before they entered.

“I didn’t know you liked fencing,” Marinette mused out loud, making Damian tsk and look away. The boy got along with Marinette alright, but that didn’t immediately cancel out his natural standoffish nature.

“Of course you didn’t, I never told you,” he retorted smoothly, the youngest Wayne moving forward to reluctantly open the door for his two friends.

“You hardly talk about yourself at all, actually,” Marinette continued, humming to herself. “Are you keeping secrets?”

Damian scoffed again, even as Jon snickered behind them. “Everyone has secrets. Even a naive child like you should know that.”

Jon couldn’t quite wipe the smile off his face. He had long since gotten used to the strange way the two communicated over the past month since they first met. Marinette always seemed to know when one of Damian’s jabs were or weren’t meant as serious insults, just as Damian was somehow able to always pick up the exact second that Marinette’s caring nature switched from being rooted in kindness to coming from a place of fear.

Yet Jon was the only one of the trio of friends who could hear their heartbeats change pace when they spotted one another, or when their hands accidentally brushed. Neither Damian nor Marinette seemed to realize their own feelings yet, but Jon would be there when they did.

He just hoped their relationship didn’t develop too quickly. Both his best friend and his new sister were dangerously fragile, just in different ways. He didn’t want them accidentally breaking each other.

“Come to think of it,” Jon heard Damian say, pulling the young kryptonian from his thoughts. “You do not talk about yourself quite as much as it seems like you do. You’ve certainly never mentioned liking swordplay.”

“Ah,” Marinette gave Damian a lopsided smile, rubbing the back of her neck. “I like watching it sometimes, but I’m mainly here to see my friend. She’s one of the competitors today, she and I managed to convince her mom to let her sleepover at our place for two nights.”

“But only if she wins,” Jon added sourly. He and his dad had both heard that condition of the deal that Kagami’s mother had made loud and clear. “I’m sorry Mari, but your friend’s mom sounds way too strict and demanding. If she wins this competition, she can spend two days hanging out with you, but if she even gets as low as second place they have to go back to Japan for remedial training immediately?” Jon shook his head. It wasn’t right.

Damian raised both eyebrows at that, but seemed more intrigued than surprised. “I’ve seen stricter,” he commented casually, only succeeding in making Jon glare at him for the veiled reference to his own dark childhood. “But you are right, Kent. That is concerning treatment. Who is this friend of yours, Marinette? Perhaps I have heard of them if they are good enough to qualify for the World Finals.”

By then, the trio had already handed in their tickets and reached the stands. Jon and Marinette glared at Damian when they realized all of their seats were in the front row, right next to each other even, knowing without a doubt that the rich boy was somehow behind it. The two Kents had had much worse seats when they had first purchased their tickets online.

Marinette waited until they all sat down before answering. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you know her. Her name’s Kagami Tsurugi—“

“World class fencer from a long family line of Japanese fencers,” Damian interrupted, nodding knowingly as one of his hands raised to gently grip his chin. “Before Fencing was introduced to Japan, they were famous for their practice of kendo and katana technique. Especially considering their typically untraditional way of insisting that the females in their family take up combat. That, of course, traces all the way back to the ancient female samurai, or Onna-Bugeisha, Tomoe Gozen, one of the ancestors of the Tsurugi family before they split from the Gozen family.”

Marinette and Jon just blinked at the young heir, before Jon’s mouth slowly started to curve up in a mischievous smile. Damian’s eyes narrowed in warning.

“Kent—“

“You’re a fan,” Jon ignored the warning, gleefully grinning ear to ear. “You did your research on her and her family, that’s some hardcore biggest-fan behavior right there. Do you want us to see if she can give you an autographkfgdjgdgj—“ Jon was cut off as Damian lunged over Marinette, the only person separating the two boys, and muffled Jon’s mouth with one hand as his other tried to slam Jon’s head on the chair’s arm. Of course super strength was no joke, and Jon’s head didn’t move even an inch as he laughed through Damian’s hands.

Marinette was somehow able to separate them, and Damian sat back in his chair with a huff and straightened his button-down shirt imperiously.

“I am not a ‘fan’,” he denied primly, but not even Marinette missed the slight pink to his cheeks even through his denial. “I simply acknowledge her skill. As a practitioner of swordplay myself, it is only me being proactive to research her family history. If she is so inclined, I intend to invite her to the manor sometime before she leaves for a casual spar.”

“Oh, she’ll love that,” Marinette agreed, nodding even as the first duel started. “Kagami is always looking for new sparring partners who can keep up with her, but so far only our other friend Adrien and her mom are capable enough. But…” her voice had dropped to a whisper out of respect for the current combatants, but both boys noticed her pause and the way she worried her lip.

“What?” Jon whispered back, worried. Marinette’s nose wrinkled.

“But I don’t know if it’s a good idea to introduce Kagami to Damian. They might end up taking over the world.”

Jon slapped a hand over his mouth to stifle a snort. Damian just smirked.

“Now you must introduce us. Perhaps I can finally meet someone who can conspire with me to get rid of my brothers.”

With that, the three quieted and actually watched the fights. Jon didn’t really understand the rules or what was happening, but he liked watching the footwork and the different styles that each competitor used when they dueled. Then, about the third or fourth match, a fencer in a bright red uniform walked out.

“That’s her!” Marinette squealed, leaning forward in her seat. She and Damian had occasionally whispered to one another about what they thought were good or bad calls on points, and critiquing different competitor’s techniques. It was a bit of an eye opener to Jon, who realized that he didn’t know much about what Marinette’s life was like back in Paris despite living with the girl for almost five months. In fact, he didn’t know much about her beyond what she actively showed at home.

Maybe Damian had a point earlier. Marinette had a weird way of making it feel like she spoke about herself a lot but in reality didn’t share much about herself at all. Most of what Jon knew about her came from experience. He knew her tells for whenever she started getting nervous, excited, worried, or was close to an attack. He knew how to tell when she was feeling overwhelmed or started retreating into herself because she didn’t want to intrude. But this?

Jon watched as Marinette stood up and cheered for Kagami when the red-clad fencer scored swift points.

He didn’t know the things that she liked to do besides designing. She mentioned listening to Jagged Stone, maybe that was her favorite kind of music.

Whatever. Jon wouldn’t let himself dwell on how Marinette didn’t open up as much as he would like—it was his job as the older brother for once to put some effort in too. Besides, with everything else Marinette had been through over the months it made sense for her to be a little closed off.

Jon moved his eyes back to the floor. Kagami lunged forward right then, ruthless as she slashed and didn’t allow her opponent a moment to do anything but scramble to deflect. But the red-uniformed woman was too fast, almost violent in her strikes, and she landed three hits on her opponent within one second.

Yeah. Now that he knew what was going on, he knew how to gently, slowly, learn more about his sister. Sorry Kon, but Jon had his eyes on the Best Brother prize.

Kagami won, without her opponent winning a single point against her.

“You know, Kagami’s fighting reminds me of someone,” Jon spoke up, ignoring the venomous glare Damian sent him. His sister looked over curiously as the fighters swapped out and Kagami was led to the back, where a locker room of sorts was set up for the competitors.

“Really? Who? I’ve only ever seen Kagami fight like that. Maybe her mom, but that’s different.”

Jon smiled, knowing he’d get some shit for this stunt later when he went on patrol with Damien but decidedly not caring.

“Robin. The newest one anyway, you can find videos online from different sightings of him around Gotham. He uses a sword.”

Marinette raised an eyebrow, obviously knowing that he partnered with Robin a lot as Superboy but not knowing that Damien was also intimately aware of that fact.

“Huh, that’s weird. Ryuuko, one of the Paris heroes, also uses a sword. But it’s a Miraculous weapon, so it’s a bit different than a normal sword.”

Jon winced. That backfired, he and his dad weren’t quite ready for the rest of the JL to know about the Paris situation. So much for the plan to bring it up later, when Marinette was better settled into life in America.

“Paris has heroes?” Damian asked, eyes sharp. All it took was one glance from the green-eyed boy for Jon to know that this would definitely be brought up to Batman. Great.

At least the next match started, distracting both of the fencing fans from continuing the conversation. For the moment.

—*—*—*—*—*

Marinette was the loudest voice in the stadium, standing on her chair without shame as she cheered for her friend, Kagami’s lips twitching in the slightest hint of a smile before she bowed her head to accept her medal.

Marinette was not surprised at all to see her friend win first place in the whole competition. Damian was pleased, and suitably impressed. Jon was just happy that this meant Kagami’s mother couldn’t keep Marinette from spending time with her friend.

Hopping down from the chair, Marinette turned to her friend and brother with a large smile. “Come on! Kagami and her mom are going to meet us in front of the building once everything is done, but I don’t want to fight the crowds.”

Jon cringed, nodding and standing up immediately. Marinette didn’t do well in crowds nowadays, though it could certainly be worse. Inside buildings like the school wasn’t so bad, it was mainly outdoors. Jon and his parents never missed how Marinette would constantly hold Lois’s hand or stick religiously to the woman’s side whenever they walked outside around tall buildings or through thick crowds. None of them mentioned it.

Damien picked up on it, having observed Marinette’s behavior firsthand during the only time he had went outside with her somewhere other than school. They had merely gone to buy Damian a new tie that Marinette approved of, but the girl had scarcely gone further than a foot away from him the whole time they were outside in the city. Only the stern glances from Jon had kept him from commenting on it.

Moments later, the two had found themselves waiting outside the stadium at almost ten at night, though none of them seemed particularly uncomfortable. Marinette seemed downright at home, besides her occasional glances up at the building next to them and her refusal to leave Damian’s side. They waited a good half hour in the slight chill of the night air before Kagami Tsurugi, completely changed out of her uniform, walked up beside her mother Tomoe Tsurugi.

The older woman was, to Jon’s slight shock (Damian’s research was VERY thorough), blind. She tilted her head when she and her daughter stopped in front of the trio.

“Miss Marinette?” She asked in flawless English. “How have you been?”

Marinette smiled, the expression oddly soft compared to her usual beaming grin. “As well as I can be, Madame Tsurugi. With me are my adoptive brother, Jon Kent, and one of my new friends, Damian Wayne. If it is alright with you, we would like to go to Damian’s house for the night. My guardians and his father already approved.”

Jon and Damian blinked, never having heard Marinette speak so properly before. It truly said a lot about the kind of woman Tomoe Tsurugi was. The woman gave an icy smile, pleased but distant. She raised one delicate eyebrow.

“I am getting old, but not dumb Miss Dupain-Cheng. I know very well who the Waynes are, and referring to his home as a mere house is a gross understatement that you couldn’t hope to fool me with in a hundred years,” the woman remarked with subtle humor. Marinette chuckled.

“It was worth a shot,” she defended herself with a shrug. Tomoe shook her head in amusement before settling both hands on her cane and straightening her posture.

“If you vouch for your… friend…” Tomoe said with deliberate slowness. Marinette was quick to nod.

“I do. Damian is trustworthy, and I won’t leave Kagami alone, Madame Tsurugi.”

Tomoe’s mouth flattened, and she was silent for a moment. “You know that you are one of the few people I trust with my daughter, Marinette. I will trust your judgement this time as well. However, Kagami must still call me in the morning and when she does reach your new home as well. And you remember her vacation training schedule?”

Both boys looked at each other, wondering why Kagami did not even try to speak up even though they had their own suspicions. The Japanese teen found that to be the moment she was done being silent however, and sighed.

“Mother,” Kagami spoke, back straight and tone level and proper. “I am perfectly capable of sticking to my training on my own. I do not need Mari-hime to remind me.”

Tomoe pursed her lips, but nodded nonetheless. “Alright. Mister Wayne? I trust your father is alright with Kagami bringing her fencing equipment?”

Damian nodded, despite knowing that Tomoe would not see it. For some reason he got the feeling that she was fully aware of the gesture regardless of her lack of sight.

“Of course. I am actually a fencer as well, though not competitively. I was hopeful that Kagami would humor me with a spar, our manor has a rather nice gym that would provide a more than sufficient space for such an activity.”

At that, Tomoe seemed rather pleased. “That is, of course, up to Kagami since she has not seen Marinette in quite some time and likely has plans for her time already. But I encourage any opportunity that my daughter finds to hone her skills.”

“The competitors today were skilled, but lack knowledge of real battle,” Kagami added, locking gazes with Damian. “My mother trains me as if I were actually fighting, so I seldom find fencers able to match my reactions. If you believe yourself capable, I would be honored to cross swords with you.”

“Oh no,” Marinette stage-whispered to Jon even as her eyes stayed on Damian and Kagami. “This is where the world domination starts.”

Even Tomoe couldn’t resist a small grin at that, and it wasn’t much longer before the trio were picked up by Damian’s butler, who introduced himself as Alfred Pennyworth. Inside the limousine, Kagami visibly relaxed. Her back was still straight, though not overly so, and her face was no longer stringently stoic. Once they pulled away from the stadium, she wasted no time pulling Marinette into a tight hug.

“I am sorry I could not be there for you, Mari-hime.”

Marinette laughed, returning the hug enthusiastically. “Don’t be silly! You were at the funeral, and you video chat with me at least twice a week. That’s plenty.”

Kagami shook her head, tightening her hold. “My mother would have been more than happy to take you in. Sometimes I believe she likes you more than me,” Kagami finally pulled away, turning to level a hard stare at Jon. “But that obviously did not happen, so you and your parents better take good care of Mari-hime, or nobody will find your bodies.”

“Kagami!” Marinette immediately reprimanded, aghast. “The Kents are wonderful! And what did I say about the death threats?”

Kagami rolled her eyes. “My cousin’s family still makes traditional katanas. I have plenty of available arms to carry out my promises.”

“Kagamiiiiiii.”

“If they treat you well, then they have nothing to worry about.”

Marinette groaned in despair, dramatically flopping over until she was draped over the side of Kagami like a limp towel. “I’m gonna get you a spray bottle, and every time you threaten somebody with violence I’m going to spritz you.”

Kagami’s eyes narrowed in playful challenge. “You will have to catch me first.”

Damian was smirking, enjoying this interaction a bit too much. “I believe the two of us will get along just fine, Tsurugi. Do you have a favorite katana craftsman, by any chance?”

—*—*—*—*—*

“They’re so tiny!” The man did not seem to realize the danger he was in with that statement. He was apparently one of Damian’s older brothers, Jason Todd. Both Kagami and Marinette, the “tiny” people in question, glared daggers at the man. “Okay, you,” he said to Kagami, “You’re at least intimidating. Don’t unsheathe that sword please. Bruce already told us that you won the World Finals, and I would rather not die today.” He held his hands up in surrender. Kagami just smirked smugly, and crossed her arms.

Marinette narrowed her eyes. “And me?”

Jason blinked. “What about you? You’re tiny and adorable, even when you’re glaring at me!” He boldly came forward to rustle her hair. “Like a little pixie.”

Kagami covered her smile with a hand, eyes dancing with amusement. Bruce, who had been the first to welcome them all in and introduce himself to Kagami, was pinching his nose next to Alfred in the background. Damian’s other brothers were also gathered. Apparently they all had wanted to meet his new friend and Jon’s new sister.

“Be careful, I’m not the one you should be worried about. At least without my sword I am not as dangerous,” Kagami warned. Everyone blinked at her, and her expression quickly turned confused. Her eyes darted to Marinette, who was too busy glaring at Jason with puffed-out cheeks to notice. “Mari-hime… you didn’t tell anyone?”

Marinette finally looked over, shrugging. “I mentioned it to Jon, Clark, and Lois.”

“What are you talking about, Miss Tsurugi?” Bruce asked, curious after the warning from the fencer. Kagami looked up, and slowly a devious smile spread over her face. It was small, but sent shivers over Jason’s spine.

“Jason and Marinette should spar. Mari-hime is quite the combatant when she desires to be.”

Jason crossed his arms, raising his brow and looking Marinette up and down. “I don’t mean to sound rude, but I’m about double her size—“

“Hey Jon, why don’t you call Lois?” Marinette interrupted, turning to look at her brother with a small smirk. “We’ve got her a huge story— burly biker is too scared to spar a girl half his size.”

Cackles arose, the other two of Damian’s brothers leaning on each other as they guffawed. Bruce and Alfred even stifled chuckles of their own, and Damian’s smirk was infuriatingly prominent. Jon was much like the other two Wayne boys, nearly bowled over in laughter. Jason, after a brief moment of shock and offense, straightened up and grinned. He shrugged off his leather jacket with a small huff of laughter of his own.

“Alright, that was pretty good. You want a spar that badly, you got one. But you’re gonna have to really impress me if you want me to take back what I said about you being adorable and nonthreatening.”

“I’m putting fifty dollars on Marinette,” Kagami bet loudly, raising her hand. “Who wants to bet against me?”

Jason and Marinette both shook their heads in amusement, the big man leading Marinette to the family fitness room (the public one anyway, outside of the Batcave) as everyone besides Bruce and Alfred energetically placed their bets on who would win the spar.

Dick and Tim were betting on Jason, for obvious reasons. Damian withheld from betting, but it was clear he was hoping Marinette would somehow win. Jon just stayed quiet, refusing to share any opinion on the matter. But once Jason and Marinette started heading to the sparring mat that was already laid out, he stopped her.

“You sure about this?” He asked, pulling her away so that nobody else could eavesdrop. “I know I laughed and everything, but you don’t have to spar. Jason won’t hold back if you tell him not to, but he’s not a pushover in any respect.”

Marinette frowned. She had gotten a little caught up in the moment, but at the same time… she wanted this. “You guys are great,” she replied to her brother, voice equally soft. “But you and Clark don’t focus on combat technique. I haven’t had a real fight, at least not one where I don’t have powers to fall back on, in a long time. I need this.”

Jon sighed, but nodded. He squeezed her shoulder for a moment, before smiling at the shorter girl. “Then show everyone what you can do. And I suggest telling Jason not to hold back, or you won’t be able to show off as much as you want.”

Marinette bounced on her heels happily, leaning up to kiss Jon on the cheek. “I’m winning Kagami some money today!” She yelled with a fist-bump before jogging over to join a very amused Jason.

“Was your bro giving you some tips?” He asked, stretching out his arms as Marinette giggled.

“Kind of! Jon suggested that I ask you to not hold back!”

Jason froze, gaze sliding over to the young kryptonian, who only smiled back enigmatically. He might not have spent much time around the youngest Super, but he hung out with Kon often enough and he knew that Jon was fully aware of what he was capable of as Red Hood. He wouldn’t suggest that Jason not hold back unless he was actually confident in Marinette’s skill.

The rest of his family seemed to pick up on that as well, also frozen in shock. Jason was one of the most ruthless fighters of all of them, fearless and brutal.

“Kent better know what he’s doing,” Damian hissed under his breath, to which his father and brothers could only nod to silently.

“So the pixie wants me to not hold back? Alright,” Jason agreed to after a moment of stunned silence. Immediately most of his jovial manner drained away, replaced with focus as he spread his legs and sunk into a stance that came naturally to him at that point. If Jon and Marinette both wanted him to treat her like a real threat (without forgetting that this was just a spar, anyway) then he would. Maybe the girl had super strength or invulnerability like the other Supers. That would explain why Clark was so quick to take her in.

“Oh I hope we don’t regret this later,” Bruce groaned before stepping into the center mat and raising one hand. “Alright. Winner is whoever can pin or otherwise subdue the other first. Please, don’t break any bones or skin. I do not need an angry Lois Lane on my doorstep tomorrow morning. You can use the whole room as long as you don’t risk hitting or involving any of us innocent bystanders. Ready?” Bruce backed up off the mat. “Start!” He wasted no time backing away to a wall.

There was no moment of stillness. There was no waiting with baited breath or looking for an opening. As soon as Bruce called Start, Jason attacked.

He jumped over the distance separating him and Marinette, bringing his knee up to try and end this in one strike like he would have in the field.

Only Marinette wasn’t there to take the hit. Just as quickly as Jason had lunged, she had jumped. Instead of Jason kicking her in the stomach, the small Asian girl had leapt up, and landed on the upraised knee balanced on only one nimble foot.

Suddenly, they were face to face. They grinned at each other, and then they were nothing but movement again.

—*—*—*—*—*

@fantasiame @thestressmademedoit @amayakans @resignedcatservant @too0bsessedformyowngood @chocolatecatstheron @mooshoon @jeminiikrystal @bigpicklebananatree @thezestywalru @bugaboosandbees @ironspiderstark @mikantsume @marinettepotterandplagg @more-or-less-human-i-guess @myazael @ladybug-182 @buticaaba @dast218 @maribat-is-lifeblood @elspethshadow @fandomsaremylifeline @moonlightstar64 @whats-she-gonna-post-next @toodaloo-kangaroo @maybemanymuffins @worlds-tiniest-spook-pastry @legendaryneckjudgestudent @goblinwhoships @yin-390

Part 5

This got long, so the majority of the spar will be in the next part so that I don’t get cut off. :D OMG, StOrY DeVelOPmeNT?! Who am I?!

More good stuff next chap.

[muses-of-the-memory]

"Alright. Just show let Dark Moth get to you with your negative emotions out there." Kim spoke to Jenny. "It’s best for us to stay strong." Kagami spoke.

The Miraculous Resistance then arrive at the Champ-Elysees area of Paris while Ladybug jumps above to find Dark Moth. "Okay! We're fighting to get back the city we love now! So don't stop, don't look back! Just focus on the task at hand!" King Monkey shouted. "Let's go!" Alix shouted. As Ladybug goes through the area, she witnesses everyone fighting, even the Bunnyx from the future. "Everyone's giving it their all! Even the Future Bunnyx?" Ladybug asked.

"Don't worry about it, Minibug! I heard you were captured from my burrow so I came in to help out, just in time." Future Bunnyx spoke. "But it's a good thing you're here, Future Me." Alix. the younger Bunnyx stated. "I see Mini-Me has her Miraculous active too." Bunnyx said. "We got things from here, Ladybug. Just keep moving!" Rena Rouge shouted as Ladybug uses her yo-yo to swing around the place and finds Dark Moth up ahead with Phantombug, Lady Wifi and Bubbler.

Jordan the mutant soldier version, teleports into dark ladybug's universe, right in the middle of a fight. Jenny follows him and falls on her face

Jordan: where are we?

Jenny: my wing.

Phantombug, the Dark Ladybug clone made of her counterpart’s DNA and an evilised akuma had another battle with the real Ladybug at the Pont de Arts Bridge, and leaves.

She then felt someone enter her universe and sees Jordan and Jenny. The evil clone hovers are glares at them. “You two… Who are you?”

@thepersonaking56

[magicalgirlagency]

You know who deserves a WBMR? Kagami Tsurugi. She's nothing but a stereotype of japanese people and just some romantic rival to Marinette. I'd love to see how you'd rework her!

To be fair though, I always liked her more than Marinette. She's assertive and has her shit together... unlike the main character of the series.

Tsurugi Kagami/Ryuko is now Dragon Fencer Kagami, Assigned Gemstone is Red Jade, Essence is Chaos (Creative);

She maintains a healthy relationship with Adrien, and tries her best to help him deal with his past trauma;

Her relationship with Chloé is still a bit rocky, but she can see that she's making an effort to change her ways;

Due to not having many friends in the past, she sets a personal goal of making new connections;

Is very popular with other Magis due to her experience, focus and respect;

Her newfound hobby is cooking (specially pastries). She believes it's the influence of her "friend" rubbing off on her;

Kagami is a bit scared at all the freedom Wondaria is giving her, but she's willing to do her best to adapt to this new environment;

Her new goals as a Magi are to let herself go and be free without any pressure of perfection.

[justanotherpersonsuniverse]

Chase the tail! Chase the tail!

Juleka froze at the sight that greeted her first thing in the morning. Kagami Tsurugi, nekomata, expert fencer, and founding member of the ‘crushing on Marinette’ club, was chasing her own tail with a single minded obsession that few could match.

“Gotta chase the tail! Gotta chase the tail!” The cat girl muttered as she frantically ran in tight circles, completely focused on the flickering flame at the end of her butt.

“What…in the world are you doing?!” The goth sputtered as she fought the urge to break down in hysterical laughter.

“I can’t help it! I went for a run last night and stopped by your houseboat to rest. When I looked at my tail, I couldn’t fight the urge to catch that damn flame! It’s like my brain is locked onto my butt!” The Japanese girl wailed as she continued to spin.

Shaking her head, Juleka grabbed the young two tailed cat around the waist and hauled her into the air.

“Thank you! If I had to spend one more minute obsessed with my own posterior, I would have set this place on fire to end my own misery.” Kagami groaned as she went limp.

“You’re welcome. And next time, how about you keep your eyes forward, so that you don’t have an excuse to commit ass related arson.” The vampire deadpanned.

“I’ll keep that in mind…” Kagami slurred as she fell into a much needed sleep.

———

Adorable

[ao3bronte]

Mamma Mia AU [Part 4]

READ PART 3 HERE!

Does Your Mother Know

Luka sits back and enjoys the view of the rehearsal dinner from the polished oak counter at the open bar, sipping his second Hennessy of the evening. Things had gone off without a hitch and now the wedding party is socialising amongst themselves, enjoying the ambiance and the splendour of the space since they have it rented out for another few hours. Alya’s Buzzfeed friends come and go from the bar but Luka only has eyes for one particular woman…

...until an old ghost from his past catches his eye.

“Couffaine,” Kagami Tsurugi divides the crowd as she stalks her way up to the bar, her empty crystal tumbler grasped between her fingers. She sets it down onto the gleaming wood and wordlessly beckons the bartender to fill her glass with the bottle of Japanese whisky hiding behind the Grey Goose, “It seems Los Angeles is treating you well.”

Luka sizes her up, his heart rate increasing as he soaks in the silhouette of her navy pencil dress, accented by a peekaboo cut out at the hollow of her spine, “It’s nice, I’ll admit, but not as nice as Paris.”

Kagami hums, bringing her tumbler up to her lacquered lips, “I’ve only been a few times. I find the whole country pretentious, really. I prefer the unconceited simplicity of home.”

“And is home here? Or back in Japan?”

“I split my time evenly between the two,” she replies, savouring the eighteen year old Hakushu whisky on her tongue, “Between business and competition, I find the dichotomy of the two quite...pleasant.”

“But you prefer Paris.”

Kagami nods, “Naturally.”

“Let me guess,” Luka’s lips quirk, seeing right through her prose for the melody lying within, “Your mother is back in Japan.”

“She certainly isn’t here,” Kagami raises a brow, “And she certainly doesn’t know I’m taking part in a wedding instead of the European Fencing Tournament in London this weekend.”

“I’m sorry,” Luka can’t help but laugh a little, “I only met your mother once. She was scary.”

“I’ll probably never hear the end of it for ‘betraying the family name for nuptial frivolities’,” Kagami shrugs, “But some things are worth toeing the line for.”

“Don’t I know it,” Luka nods, “Are you here for long?”

“I’m flying back to Tokyo Monday morning,” she takes a long swig of the amber liquid and hisses, “I don’t expect to see the light of day for a while once the press catches wind of my presence here.”

“What’s the worst that could happen?” Luka soaks her in and frowns as the delicate harmonies of her heart song begin to clash discordant.

“My mother has no qualms in reminding me of the mandatory respect I owe to the family name. To rebel, as I’m doing now, is practically unforgivable.”

It’s Luka’s turn to hum, leaning forwards, “So run away.”

“Pardon me?”

“You heard me,” Luka’s wolfish grin takes her aback, “I’ve read about you on the internet, I know you’re wealthy. What’s stopping you from stretching your wings?”

“My mother,” Kagami’s mask of calm finally cracks, revealing the cacophonous melody of her mind, “She would kill me.”

“A little distance makes the heart grow fonder,” Luka turns away for a moment, watching Marinette blush furiously in front of the blond man she’d been successfully avoiding all dinner, “And I doubt Tomoe would slice your head off if you took a little extended vacation, considering you’re the only heir to the family business.”

“It’s not a risk I’m willing to take,” Kagami replies, downing the rest of her whisky in one go. She turns to the bartender and orders another, “Besides, where would I go? My mother will send her guards to find me if I stay in Paris.”

“Come stay with me,” Luka smiles at her over the rim of his glass, enjoying the crescendo of her chorus, “Trade in your épée for the sun and the sand.”

“I couldn’t possibly,” Kagami mutters into her whisky, her brows furrowed once again, “She’d disown me.”

“Good thing you’ve already cashed that trust fund then,” Luka swirls the rest of his Hennesey within its crystal confines, “That’s the first rule of show business, right? Get your money somewhere where no one can touch it.”

“I can’t risk it.”

“Your heart song tells me otherwise.”

Kagami’s stare is unrepentant, “I’ve always wondered how you did that.”

“We all have our superpowers,” Luka shrugs, “You’re the greatest fencer on the planet and I can hear the melody of a person’s thoughts.”

“Yours seems to be more useful than mine.”

He smirks, “Yours is sexier.”

The tension between them thickens, “When do you leave for Los Angeles?”

“I have a red eye booked for midnight on Sunday,” Luka responds, “I wanted a day to sleep off the hangover before hitting the clubs stateside.”

“Hmm.”

“You’re considering it, aren’t you?”

“Hardly,” Kagami lies blatantly, barely even bothering to pretend the possibility isn’t teasing her thoughts, “That would be very irresponsible of me.”

“It would certainly be rebellious, something you’re clearly not.”

“I am a perfect daughter. I’ve never rebelled in my life.”

“Of course,” Luka nods, “You never used to sneak out with Adrien and party the night away on my houseboat back in lycée.”

“You’re mistaking me for someone else entirely,” Kagami counters, a smirk playing on her lips, “A Tsurugi would never.”

“And you certainly never beat all the boys in your grade at keg stands and beer pong,” Luka shakes his head, “That must have been someone else too.”

“Exactly,” she nods resolutely, stretching one of her long, slender legs in his direction to nudge him in the knee.

“Except there’s no one quite like you,” Luka wraps his fingers gently around her ankle, his calluses rough against her skin, “Devoted. Composed, yet fiercely independent. I can hear every little bit of it, the spiking percussion that segues into understated meditations, the energetic, multi layered melodies that transition into sweeping musical tapestries. I’ve only ever heard a heart song as compelling as this one once before, but I lost the opportunity to be with her long ago.”

Kagami looks stricken, her façade finally crumbling as she soaks in the weight of his words, “You never told me.”

“You were dating Adrien then,” Luka explains, his fingers tracing soft patterns up her calf, “And then I moved away to Los Angeles. I never lost track of you though. I was even there when you won the North American Championships in San Diego last year. I came just to watch you kick ass.”

“I didn’t know you were there,” she blinks, her pupils blown wide.

“That’s because you left right after,” Luka’s ministrations caress the sensitive hollow at the back of her knee, “You’re always at the beck and call of your family, a fearless soul locked in a gilded cage. I know you’ve tried to let go—”

“—and it hasn’t worked out so well in the past,” she breathes, her lips parting as he runs his fingertips along the outline of her kneecap, “But I guess you already knew that if you’ve been keeping tabs on me.”

“I keep tabs on all my friends,” he smiles, his lashes casting shadows on his cheeks as he glances downwards, “I’m not just a dumb rock star, you know. I value my friendships with the people who liked me before I hit platinum.”

“And I value the men who don’t kiss my ass just because I’m rich,” she laughs through her nose, goose pimples prickling along her skin.

“Sounds like we might just get along after all.”

They finish the rest of their drinks together in comfortable silence.

[flamelordytheking]

Meet the Parents

Prompt 4: Meet the Parents

“It is alright, Mari-hime. Mother does not wish to harm you.”

“That’s what you think! I might knock something into her or trip and fall and spill something and then she’ll-”

“Breathe, Mari.” Adrien said, squeezing his girlfriend’s hand comfortingly. “You’re catastrophizing again. We’re going to have a nice dinner with our girlfriend’s mother, in which nothing bad is going to happen.” Despite his efforts to calm Marinette down, Adrien himself was noticeably anxious, fidgeting with his cuffs and collar with his unoccupied hand.

“Calm down, please,” Kagami said as she opened the door to her house, “I will escort you outside if mother starts saying anything threatening.”

“Not helping,” Marinette said through clenched teeth.

“Welcome. We have prepared a selection of appetizers for your consumption while you wait for dinner.” A butler waited behind the door, standing mid-bow. “Do you require any help with your coats or bags?” He said as he straightened.

“We will be fine, Jaques.” Kagami said, ignoring Marinette’s wide-eyed gaze, in favor of shrugging off her white jacket, and folding it into the Butler’s hands.

“As you wish,” Jaques said, bowing again, before taking Kagami’s Jacket through a door to the left and vanishing.

“You have a butler?”

“Jaques is mother’s butler, not mine. He merely does a few things around the house that are not required of him from time to time.” Kagami sat on the bench next to the door, and started to unlace her shoes.

Adrien made a little “oh” of realization, and sat on the bench next to the fencer, starting to remove his own Converse shoes.

“Should I remove my shoes?”

“Yes.”

“You should.”

“Okay” Marinette sat down on the bench with her significant others, and began to take off her own shoes.

The house was quiet as they walked through the halls, lacking even the distinct sound of shoes on hardwood, with their slippers making no noticeable sound. The walls were bare of decoration, and each room had several raised bumps next to the doorframe on the right side. None of the doors had handles. Eventually, the party of three came to a pair of double-doors with significantly more ornamentation around the frame than any of the others. It was this set of doors that Kagami pushed open.

Through the door sat a long table, set with a variety of dishes, from french pastries and breads to several japanese foods, including several varieties of sushi, a few soups and a cheese platter with several different artisanal breads arranged on it next to several different varieties of cheese.

Marinette’s head spun as she tried to calculate the expenses of the food set before them, only coming up with a figure of “Too much”

“Welcome.” Tomoe Tsurugi rose from her seat across the table, her sunglasses gleaming in the light of the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. She bowed lightly, and Kagami responded with a deeper bow. Adrien followed suit, and Marinette joined them with only a slight delay.

“Please, take a seat,” The Tsurugi Matriarch said, gesturing towards the chairs across the table from her, “We have much to discuss.”

[sparklesofinventive]

Apple Heartbeat

On a Friday training session…

Someone: Adrien! Kagami! We are already finished, Do you want to join us to the pizzeria?

While Kagami thrusts Adrien making him fell to the ground.

Adrien: Thank you guys!, We will practice a little bit more.

Someone: Ok!, see you next week guys.

Both fencers: See you, have a nice weekend!.

Kagami helped Adrien to get up.

Adrien: Shall we go change clothes?.

Kagami:(Agreed with a gentle smile) Yeah.

After a while, both teenagers gathered on the rest benches.

Kagami:(Checking her phone) I'm ready Adrien.

Adrien:(Stared at her and started tearing a little)

Kagami throws her bag, lowering on her knees.

Kagami: Adrien, What is it? Are you hurt?.

While she hugs him tightly pressing her chest into Adrien's head.

Kagami: Everything will be fine, ok?, Let me call the academy's doctor.

Standing softly to bring the doctor, when suddenly something stopped her by the hand.

Kagami got down in her knees and stared at him worried while holding his hand.

Kagami: Yes?.

Adrien:(With a sweet and sobbing tone of voice) Am…It's just …I'm…I'm hungry.

Kagami:(Sighing with relief) It's ok sweetie, when I'm hungry I tend to eat a little snack.

For example an apple or cereal bars, do you want give it a try?

Adrien:(Smiled at her while sobbing a little) The apple, Thanks Kagami.

Kagami:(Smiling at him tenderly) You are welcome.

(While she dried off Adrien's eyes with her hands)

So, Where do you want to go?, I've seen a cafeteria near here or the pizzeria the other guys talked about earlier.

Adrien:(With a soft blushing on his face)

I want to eat a double cheese burger, a cranberry cheesecake and coke soda.

Kagami: Ok! let me check (Sitting next to him).

Adrien stared at her a little bit embarrassed.

Adrien's thoughts: What did I do?!, Oh God! Maybe she is thinking that I'm a big mess, And not to blamed it, Haaa…(Sighing in worry).

Kagami:(Speaking in Japanese) Hello, Mother, Mr. Agreste has invited me to meal with their family, and also he'll take me home when we're done.

Adrien gazed at her without noticed, she has already notice it.

Kagami:Mother, Would you give me permission to go?.

Tomoe: You can go but don't forget to be respectful at his home.

Kagami:(Smirking at him) I will, Mother, Thank you for your permission.

Tomoe: And Remember that, you are a member of the honorable Tsurugi family and wherever you go you represent all of us.

Kagami:(Lowering her face seriously) I know, Mother, I got it.

Adrien worried about her, and noticed Kagami squeezed his hand tightly.

Tomoe: I'm glad to know it, Well I'll wait for you to come back home, see you.

Kagami: See you later, Mother.

Adrien:(Searching for her face) Kagami? What's wrong?

Kagami: (Smiling at him gently) It's nothing, let's go for that delicious cheese burger.

When Kagami tried to got up, Adrien pulled her hand and embraced her tightly pressing her back.

Adrien: Kagami, You can rely on me, no matter what happens.

The brown sugar eyed girl was a little bit disappointed.

Adrien:(Separating a little from Kagami, staring at her seriously)

I want to be there for you whenever you need me, ok?.

The dark hair girl stared at him in silence.

Adrien:(Turning a little bit red) I know I'm not as strong as you are, but my love for you is serious, and I want to be by your side and help you no matter how hard it could be.

Kagami kisses the blonde boy's hand and slowly kisses his cheek.

Kagami:(With a soft voice) You're so sweet, Adrien, I will always be thankful for having you by my side, my love.

Ending with a smooth and sweet kiss.

Adrien:(Taking Kagami up with him) Let's go, Kagami.

Kagami:(Kissing his cheek) Ok, and by the way, you made me found a new meaning in apples.

Adrien:(While walking in the streets) Did I? And what is it?.

Kagami:(Whispering at his ear)

Every time I eat an apple I will think I'm kissing your lips.

Adrien frozen just by thinking about it, turning his face into a bright red.

Adrien: Kagami please, be gentle with me.

Kagami just show him a smirking smile.

Adrien:(Shows her a flirtatious smile) I love you so much…

(And whispered close to Kagami's face)

Baby…

Ending with a deep kiss, making Kagami blushes.

Kagami: Ok, I got it dear, Let's get that burgers.

Adrien:(Laughing a little) Haha! Ok, we are tied, I'm savoring that soft cheesecake.