Me and You - Adrienette/Ladynoir/Ladrien/Marichat

Chapter twelve: You Don't Have to be Sorry (Timebreaker)

Today is Mr. and Mrs. Dupain-Cheng's anniversary and they are supposed to be going out for dinner but due to Marinette's disappearance they feel like they should stay at home until she comes back. For Tom and Sabine they can only hope and pray that their daughter is safe and will come home again one day.

On the other hand, everyone at school (with the exception of Adrien and Nino) has stopped talking about Marinette and speculating why she is gone. They have gone on with their lives and are right now laughing and cheering for Alix as her and Kim starts their race.

While everyone is at Trocadero, Adrien is still at home talking to Plagg. Even though him and Plagg had a big talk about how Marinette's disappearance is not his fault a month ago it seems as though blaming himself for Marinette's disappearance has become a ritual for Adrien along with sometimes talking about why Ladybug hasn't been around. Although it would seem likely that Plagg would start complaining about Adrien going on and on about one topic, Plagg seems to have stopped his negative words and has started being more caring towards Adrien. Then again, Plagg too has had some thoughts of his own yet his include more of the worry of where Ladybug and Tikki are. But there is only one place they would be and Plagg knows that they both would be safe there, yet there is still that glimmer of uncertainty and the voice inside his head screaming at him to at least check to see if they are alright. But the question is: how is he supposed to get there without Adrien noticing?

"...if I just got changed faster and walked her home then she would be safe, Plagg! It's my fault, Plagg, she's my best friend and now she's gone forever!" Adrien exclaims. He is still lying in his bed with the pillow covering his face. Plagg flies down to sit next to the boy and strokes his arm. Adrien's phone beeps and a message from Nino appears on the screen but Adrien doesn't bother to pick it up. Plagg sighs at his broken friend – yes, after these years of being together Plagg realises that he does count Adrien as a friend, but after the time the have spent together friend would be more of an understatement – and flies over to his phone to open the message.

"Hey, Adrien, all your friends are over at the Trocadero to watch Kim and Alix race. You should go, it'll be fun." Plagg tells Adrien, hoping that he can get him going somewhere. Although his father did cheer Adrien up a month ago and his father seems to being more caring towards Adrien by staying home doing stuff with him and having dinner with him every evening, the fact that it has been a month since Marinette's disappearance has made Adrien more depressed than ever. He has been to school every day but after school he would go straight back home and to his room.

"Will Marinette be there?"

"Well no...but that doesn't mean-"

"No, Plagg! I just don't want to go! Why are you always making me go out and have fun? My best friend is missing and you want me to have fun? You're not even doing anything to find her! You're meant to be saving people!" Adrien exclaims, now standing up, "Tell me what to do, Plagg! My best friend's missing, what do I do? Can Chat Noir find her? Can I find her? Why won't you tell me what to do?" Adrien falls to his knees as he weeps. Plagg seems taken aback, it has never come to his mind that he has ever told Adrien to try looking for Marinette but why would she be missing? Maybe Adrien should just let her come back to him?

Plagg stays quiet. For once he doesn't know what to say. He can't make a sarcastic remark yet he can't say anything nice because, well, he doesn't know what to say. He can only feel sympathy for the blonde and hope that Marinette will come back safe and sound. However there is still that lingering feeling left in Plagg asking him: what will happen if she never comes back? Plagg's only option is to start getting Adrien to feel joy in his life so when Marinette never comes back he will still be able to, somehow, move on. Some part of Plagg wonders if there is a link between Ladybug going AWOL and Marinette going missing. He feels as though he should check whether Ladybug is okay and maybe he will be able to solve Marinette's disappearance. But, how? Plagg wonders, it's not like Marinette is Ladybug. Or is she?

Plagg ponders on the bizarre idea he has brought into his mind. Marinette could not be Ladybug; this must be just a coincidence. Yet, the idea of Marinette being Ladybug would be quite amusing since the two in their civilian life are both best friends. This would also be the reason as to why the both of them often run off and make confusing reasons as to why they were gone. Maybe there is a possibility of Marinette being Ladybug. However, the only way Plagg can truly find out is by visiting Master Fu without Adrien knowing that he is gone. Although it would be amazing if Adrien would find out about Marinette being Ladybug (if she is), Plagg knows for certain that he must not reveal the secret and must therefore go without Adrien.

An idea springs into Plagg's mind but it is shot down until Adrien speaks up, breaking him from his thoughts, "Plagg, I'm sorry...I shouldn't have shouted at you. I-I know that if Marinette ran away she wouldn't want anyone trying to find her, it's just that there is a part of me thinking that maybe...maybe she was kidnapped and if I – or Chat Noir – do anything then she'll be gone forever." Plagg nods and gives Adrien a pat on the shoulder.

"Its okay, Adrien, I understand. You don't have to be sorry. But you shouldn't let this bring you down, just have fun with your friends." Adrien nods and texts Nino that he will be ready soon. Adrien gets changed and walk out of his house with Plagg in his pocket.

Plagg glances out of Adrien's pocket, ready to fly off any minute now. This may be a risky idea but Plagg will get back soon without Adrien noticing. As Adrien is about to cross the street Plagg flies out of his pocket and rushes off to Master Fu's house, without Adrien noticing. Plagg finally gets to Master Fu's house and stops by the window. He can hear the faint sounds of talking coming from inside, "Let us just hope that there are no akuma attacks soon." an old Chinese voice is heard.

"Yes, but we must have her ready if there is any, Master." a high pitched voice is heard which reminds Plagg of Wyazz, who is Master Fu's miraculous.

"I know, Wyazz...this process...it may take a long time." Master Fu speaks again in a forlorn voice. Plagg's eyes widen at the mention of a process that is happening, what is it?

"How long exactly?" a higher voice speaks which Plagg knows is most definitely Tikki.

"Maybe a year...maybe a month..." Plagg can hear Master Fu sigh before carrying on, "Or maybe for life." Plagg can't take it anymore. So many questions are bubbling inside of him and he needs to know the answers. He just wants to know if Ladybug is alright.

"What are we going to do?" Tikki asks, sounding as if she is on the brink of crying. Plagg can sense that she is hurt and all he wants to do is wrap his arms around her and tell her that whatever is happening to Ladybug will be fixed.

Plagg is about to fly into the room when Master Fu speaks again and this leaves Plagg frozen in his place, "We may need to find a new Ladybug."