Story of a first kiss.

Part 20: The messages.

Marinette and Kagami were returning from a little party at Kagami's grandmother's house. They had been celebrating that the Tsurugi family had finally accepted their relationship.

"We return to Paris early tomorrow. Is there anything you want to do on our last afternoon in Tokyo?" Kagami asked, kissing Marinette's hand.

Marinette smiled, running a hand through Kagami's hair.

"Just let me first check the messages Chat Noir sent me. Then we'll see where we can go." Marinette said.

"Messages? More than one? Do you think there are problems in Paris?" Kagami asked a little concerned.

"I checked the news from Paris when I heard the alert for the first message an hour ago and there were no reports of attacks from any akuma. And the second message I got about fifteen minutes ago. Chat must be letting me know that he already has a boyfriend or something like that." Marinette said.

"Mmm... Maybe Plagg wants you to bring him some special cheese." Tikki said.

After transforming into Ladybug, she opened her yo-yo and held it to her ear to listen.

"LADYBUG! Ladybu- Please come back!! I need your help!" Chat Noir said sobbing uncontrollably. "I do not know what to do! She took him and I can't cross! I CAN'T!"
Ladybug heard Chat Noir groan in pain at the same time a thump on the ground was heard. "The portal has closed and I don't know how... I-I don't know... I..."

Silence was heard and Ladybug looked inside her yo-yo to see if the message had ended. "Aglaonem...? You are so small..." Chat said in a distant and eerily calm voice. A couple of seconds later she heard him desperate again. "Can you help me cross?! We can't leave him with that witch! Plea-"

Scared, Ladybug turned to see Kagami when she heard the message ending.

"What's the matter?" Kagami asked.

"I don't know. I didn't understand a thing. I just know that something happened. He said something about a witch and a portal. Someone was taken."

"Witch?" Kagami gasped. "An akuma!"

"Being discreet is not Hawk Moth's thing. Either way I need to go there immediately." Ladybug said, closing and reopening her yo-yo.

Kagami saw her moving her hand inside it again and again.

"It isn't here! The horse miraculous is missing!" Ladybug said, closing the yo-yo once more.

"Chat Noir must have used it to go rescue that person he was talking about. You said he left you a second message. Listen to it. Maybe it will clarify what is happening." Kagami said.

Worried, Ladybug opened her yo-yo and began to listen to the second message.

"Ladybug... my friend. I'm calling you because... Well, I... It's just... Good heavens, this is difficult." Ladybug heard Chat Noir struggling to keep his voice calm. "It has been a privilege to have been able to fight alongside you all this time. I apologize for leaving you before we could defeat Hawk Moth, but, I know you will be able to do it. You will need to find someone to take my place as Chat Noir..."

"He's telling me that he's giving up on being Chat Noir!" Ladybug said alarmed.

"Ummm... Please don't be mad. I know we shouldn't tell anyone about our identities, but... could you do me a favor and say goodbye to Simon from me? Tell him to forgive me and that more than a friend, I really considered him as a father." Ladybug heard him crying.

Kagami ran to her side to help her stay upright when she saw her staggering.

"Maybe we'll meet again in the future-" Ladybug heard Chat's voice breaking up as he cried. "Well,... I have to go. It's time."

"Marinette? MARINETTE!? WHAT IS IT!? What did he say?!" Kagami asked her over and over, but Ladybug didn't seem to hear anything. She couldn't believe that she had just heard her friend saying goodbye to her. Tears were running down her cheeks.

"He's leaving. He is going to run away." Ladybug said in a voice that was little more than a whisper.