*Author's note: This is an AU where Chat Noir is no hero. He is not even a cat. He dressed up as one to cheer up a certain girl when he discovered he loved her and was afraid she did not return his feelings. Will his plan succeed or backfire on him?  Plagg is a human in this story.  

    Chat drank a few sips of cocoa as well.  He bought two cups of it from the cafe. He felt bad that he made his princess upset with him. What was he to do about it? 

     "Chat, it is not your fault."

     "Huh?"

    "My sister's death.  You had nothing to do with it."

    Chat recalled something from months ago that his cousin, Plagg confessed to him.  His conscious felt a tug on it at the moment. He knew he felt guilty about it all.  What was he to do?  How could he turn in a relative for a hit and run?   

      Marinette sensed Chat struggled with his inner thoughts.  She was sure by his refusal to show what he looked like without a disguise. Then, she could tell due to his constant glance towards her and the expression he had when he had seen the fabric earlier.  It was not a natural response.

     Why should he be so sensitive to the colors it held?   What secrets did he hold that he refused to tell her?

      "Chat, we both know that I can not be more than friends with you."

      "I see."

       "It is just that you do not completely trust me."

         Chat raised an eyebrow at her words.  He felt as if daggers pierced his very soul.

         "Meow ouch, you wound me."

         Marinette grimaced. She knew it to be true.  As much as she longed to trust him fully, she could not.  How could she if he kept things back from her?

         Chat watched Marinette cringe. He felt awful about it. His cousin was to blame for her pain, and he could not do a thing to fix it.  

          Marinette walked over to the sketchbook and looked at the last page. She heard a sigh escape her lips.  It was so lovely yet full of sorrow mixed with guilt. Why?  Why could not she have forgiven her sister before her death?

           "Marinette, what is it?  Why do your eyes and face hold so much sadness in them?"

           "My sister."

         "She and I had this huge fight over a boy before she died.  I felt bad after her death. I never did make peace with her. It was too late. "

           Chat heard her voice shake and saw her hands as they trembled. He knew this situation was worse than he could have imagined. Way worse.    How could he confess now?   How, when so much was against them?  How, when she felt she was to blame for what happened?

           Plagg burst in the door unannounced just then. He glared at Marinette. He worried Chat would ruin everything by telling her the truth. He did not like this one bit, but he had to keep his cousin from spilling out all the things that took place in the past.  His life depended on it.

             "Marinette, Chat, fancy seeing you both here."

              "Plagg, what are you doing here?"

             "Hey, you, get out!"

             "I will go. Chat, you do not want to keep her waiting. Now, come on, boy ."

            Plagg slammed the door as he left.

            "Her, who did he mean?"

            "No one."

         Chat kissed her forehead again.  He sighed as he left.

            Marinette watched him go. She wished he could have stayed longer.  She went back to work on her latest sewing project.  The whole time a certain cat boy remained in her thoughts.

                 Find out more in What is all this?  part 4 (Marichat)

               bye, bye little owlets!

           -Summer out!