"I wonder who that akuma is. Especially, when it was after you, Adrien."

"After me? Who could pawssibly hate me, Bugaboo?"

"We could!" cried Tikki and Plagg at the same time. The superheroes blushed. The kwamis had almost gotten crushed in their last hug. They didn't want to ruin the moment but Tikki let out a squeak eventually, when she felt her tiny self being squished by the two huge hormonal teens. Plagg had made it out just in time but he still hated their holders for almost killing his true love. Well, true love after Camembert, that is.

Adrien nervously scratched the back of his head. "Sorry about that, hehe." Tikki gave a death glare which only made things worse. Adrien let out an inhuman voice saying how cute the kwami looked when she was angry, causing Tikki to go all savage on the poor, innocent blonde.

"Hey, I said I'm sorry!" He managed to say in between his stifles as the red kwami tickled him from all directions. Marinette wanted to join in the fun too but a certain akuma kept distracting her thoughts. "Kitty, Tikki, that's enough. We have an akuma on the loose."

Both of them turned back to the bluenette. " So what's your plan?" Adrien asked, noticing the worry written across her face.

"Well, if she's really after you, you're not safe anymore. You can hide from her when you're Chat but you're Adrien now. And she'll find you soon." Marinette frowned. " Who could it be though? You didn't mess up with anyone lately, did you Kitty?"

"That..." he paused, " is a difficult question. I may or may not have run away from my home. After what happened last night, I felt so desperate that I wanted to get away from everything."

"That's why you never showed up in class today! Because you never returned back home after what I said!" The bluenette raised her voice but lowered immediately when she remembered that her parents were just downstairs. " You shouldn't have done that. Think of the different people who could've gotten akumatized when they know you went missing."

" I bet you'd be the first on that list, Purrincess."

"That's not what I meant!" She shook her head. " Think of your father, Adrien."

"I doubt if he ever noticed I'm missing. He'd be the last person to worry about me." Adrien knew by now, that his father didn't even notice his frequent escapades. But he also knew someone else who'd actually get hurt by his absence. "Natalie! It's her! Oh no! What have I done, Marinette?"

Marinette facepalmed. " That's what I've been trying to tell you."

"We need a plan." Adrien looked determined. "Or..." the bluenette looked at the boy and let out a small giggle. "We need a bait."

—————

"I'm going to find you, Hawkmoth!" She focused on the voice commanding her. "Oh, seems like I already have." She muttered under her breath as she froze some Parisians on her way.

"You're going to need more strength than that, my friend. I granted you these powers and you decide to use them against me!" He felt his anger rise within him. Hawkmoth tried his best not to let it take over his mind. He composed himself. "Predicta, I was the only friend who helped you out when you were in need. I could've easily destroyed you but I didn't. Think straight, Predicta, because you're making a big mistake right now. It's never too late to change your mind." His voice was calm now.

The akuma fell to her knees. He knew that she had surrendered to his control by now. "Think about it. I was never the one who hurt you in the first place. I brought you up, gave you strength to fight those who weakened you. Don't you think that after all I've done for you, I deserve a simple reward from you as well?"

"Y-Yes, Hawkmoth. I was wrong. You weren't the one who hurt me.  I know who it is and I'm not stopping until I find him."

"It's not what I want from you", he muttered, "however, the risk is worth taking if you can find Adrien though."

Then, he said to himself the same line he always says whenever he motivates an akuma. "It won't be long before Ladybug and Chat Noir show up to meet their doom."

He had learnt it by heart now.

—————

"Uh, you sure about this?" Adrien whispered to Marinette.

"Pawsitive, kitty." She couldn't help but giggle seeing his face when he got a taste of his own medicine. He seemed annoyed but in a cute way. The bluenette laughed aloud. "Let's just focus on Predicta for now." He said, immediately hiding his blushed cheeks although they were in a dark alley. She turned to leave but ceased in her steps when she felt someone tug her hand.

"You sure about this, M'lady?" He asked again. "We're not having our powers this time."

"That's the thing, Adrien. Who would want to locate good ol' Marinette when Ladybug's around? I doubt if she even knows me."

"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself! I think we went through this talk already."

Marinette smiled but it soon faded off when she sensed the worry in his eyes. She put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I won't let her hurt you, Adrien. I'm sure this will work out. Besides," she whispered softly in his ear, " I can't afford to lose you again, kitty."

Adrien crashed his lips onto hers. They shared a brief, intimate moment before he saw his princess fade away into the shadows.

—————

The street was eerily quiet now. Just when Marinette thought her plan was failing, she saw a dark figure passing by. She rolled her eyes. "Of course, she wouldn't even notice me."

Marinette watched as the akuma stopped to scan around the street. Predicta met with a familiar face. A boy was standing, not too far from her, with his blonde hair shining in the dark lane.

He smiled at her. "Ugh! He has the nerve to do that, after everything he put me through!"

Predicta charged towards the boy. What she didn't notice was an ordinary yoyo stretched in her way. The akuma tripped over it falling head first into the ground. Her mask fell off from her face, over to Adrien's feet. Plagg and Tikki released the yoyo and did a quick high five.

Adrien examined the fallen akuma. "I don't particularly find any weapon with her. Where do you think the akuma is?"

Marinette's eyes searched around for a clue. "Adrien, look down! The mask, that must be it!"

Adrien grabbed the possessed item just in time to see Predicta rise. Marinette didn't waste any time. "Now, Tikki! Spots on!"

Adrien was beginning to feel a jabbing pain in his stomach. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Moving was a piece of cake when he was Chat. He could easily pull out his baton anytime and extend it to go places but that wasn't the case now. He knew he had to buy enough time for his princess to transform. Adrien got a quick glimpse of the dark-haired woman chasing him before tripping over to the floor.

Meanwhile, Ladybug had already used up her lucky charm to produce a blanket this time.

"Well well, look who's playing hide and seek. Adrien, it's about time you stop running away from me!"

Hawkmoth frowned, although it wasn't visible from the mask he wore. "She must not hurt him. I should diverge her attention to Ladybug and Chat Noir. Where are they anyway? Why aren't they here yet?"

Predicta prepared to shoot a ray at the innocent blonde.

"NO! Predicta, forget him! That boy is nothing compared to Ladybug and Chat Noir. You gain ultimate power over Paris when you destroy them. Remember, you don't want people to rule over you now, do you?" Hawkmoth was desperate.

Adrien gave a small signal to his Lady when he saw the purple outline of another mask showing up on the akuma's face. Ladybug took this chance to tackle down Predicta from behind.

"Time to wrap this up!" She wrapped her in the polka dotted blanket. The akuma struggled in it, unable to see anything around her. She shot several rays which only stiffened the soft blanket. The cloth became harder with every shot and both Predicta and her rays were trapped inside it. Adrien tore the mask apart and his Lady purified the dark butterfly that arose from it.

"Miraculous Ladybug!" Everything changed back to normal as she threw the hardened blanket into the air. Adrien threw his arms around the superheroine. She bumped fists with him. "Pound it!" Both of them whispered so Natalie wouldn't hear.

He looked back to see a very confused Natalie. "Huh? What happened to...Adrien? Where were you? I was so worried about you!" She ran over to him and embraced the young blonde. Adrien felt a tiny teardrop trickling down his hair. That was the first time he saw Natalie cry. She ran her fingers through his hair. "A-Adrien, I can never be your mom", she paused to catch her breath, " b-but I'll try, okay?" Natalie sighed. "I'm sorry, I should've known how you felt."

"You were worried about me?" He held onto her. "Natalie, I'm sorry too."

Natalie smiled. "Natalie smiled!?" Adrien thought. This was too much to take in for him. Everything changed in just one day. He found the true meaning of love again. Something he thought his mother had taken away with her. He found that people adored him for who he really was.

Ladybug gave him a small pat on the back. "Everything has been healed, hasn't it?" She pointed to the wound on his head. Well, there was no wound now. Not even a scar. "Time to bug out!" She winked as she swung her yoyo.

"Well, time to go home!" Adrien smiled at Natalie and by 'home' he had meant it.

•••

Omg! I'm so so so sorry I left this story for a while. I was extremely busy with life. This book will most purrobably be finished with one more chapter.

I'm working on new songs right now and I have already written my own lyrics to the "In The Rain" soundtrack in this show. I just frickin love the Umbrella scene! 😍
I'd be posting it later on YouTube once I am done with editing the video.

And thanks, guys, for actually reading the crap I write! Love ya!

Claws in!🐾