AFTER Watching Miraculous

Chapter 21: A Challenge and A Bicycle

Marinette and Adrien walked towards Master Fu's place.

"I really hope he's able to help," Marinette commented.

"Me too," Adrien replied.

A red car then pulled up abruptly to the sidewalk they were walking on. The back door opened and out jumped a person in a red fencing uniform. The person aimed the end of their sword at Adrien.

"Adrien Agreste. I challenge you to a duel. Fight me in order to see who is better and whether or not I shall be on your poor excuse of a fencing team."

"Adrien, do you know this person?" Marinette whispered to Adrien with concern.

"No I don't," Adrien replied. He then turned to the challenger. "I'm sorry. Who are you? Where did you come from by the way?" Adrien asked his questions politely no matter how rude the other person was being to him. This seemed to make the person even more mad though.

"If you aren't going to take this seriously, then I might as well go ahead and claim my victory. It shall be swift for you. I am surprised though. A superhero won't even fight back when he is challenged."

"Well I would like to know who I am fighting in the first place."

"That shouldn't matter!"

The figure lunged at Adrien. Adrien moved Marinette and himself out of the way before either could be touched.

"That's it. No one goes after m'lady and I like that and doesn't pay for it. Claws Out!" Adrien became Cat Noir and used his staff as a sword to fence the stranger.

Marinette looked down at Tikki, who was resting in her purse. "You ready to help Adrien out?"

Tikki shook her head. "I haven't had anything to restore my energy since the last time you transformed."

Marinette stomped her foot in frustration as she looked around for anywhere or anyone that could have food. She turned to look behind her when she saw a boy around her age riding a bike with a guitar in the front basket. He was staring at her and the situation next to her it seemed.

Marinette ran up to the boy as quick as she could. "Hi! So sorry to bother you. I was wondering if you had any food on hand. Cookies would be preferred."

The boy was so surprised that he at first didn't know what to say. "Hi. I-uh-don't have any food. I was on my way to get some. Would you like a lift?"

Marinette looked behind her at Cat Noir and the red stranger still fencing. She could go get something for Tikki and be right back. Couldn't she?

"I would like a lift. That sounds amazing. Afterwards, could I be dropped back off here? If it's not too much trouble I mean."

The boy smiled. "No. Not at all." He grabbed a helmet out of his basket and handed it to Marinette. She put it on and hopped on the back.

"I just realized. I never got your name."

"Luka."

"Thank you, Luka."

They then peddled off to the nearest bakery as Cat Noir ended up tripping the red figure to the ground.

"I told you. Don't ever mess with me and m'la-" Cat Noir noticed that Marinette wasn't around anymore.

The red stranger stood up and took off her helmet. "Looks like your lady isn't here anymore."

He turned and looked at what the stranger looked like. "You're a girl."

"My. How observant of you. What next? My eyes are brown?"

"No. That's not what I meant. Not many girls are interested in fencing, let alone that skilled."

"Why thank you, but no matter how skilled I am, you still won. I failed. You are the best fencer." She started to walk away but Cat Noir stopped her.

"No. The only way I won was by tripping you. That wasn't very sportsmanlike nor gentleman of me. If we played by the actual rules then we would have a fight on our hands that could last for days."

The girl smiled slightly. "I should apologize about bombarding you with a challenge for a duel. I heard you were going through personal business and yet I still pursued finding you. I even saw that you were spending time with someone. You really like her don't you? You were fighting to protect her as if I had a katana."

"Marinette? Yeah. She's a very good-" Cat Noir stopped himself. He was about to say "friend" until he realized that that wasn't the case anymore. "Actually, she's the love of my life. I'd do anything for her."

"I can respect that. I hope to find that kind of love someday."

"I'm sure you will, Ms.-"

"Kagami." She reached out her hand.

Cat Noir shook her hand and smiled. "Kagami."

"Maybe we should find the love of your life before something happens to her."

Cat Noir got antsy and nervous. "Don't even joke about that."

"Need a ride?" Kagami asked, referring to her car.

"No, that's alright. You can help though. If you'd like."

Kagami smiled. "Of course."

Kagami got in the car as Cat Noir jumped on the nearest roof top and they each went in the same direction looking for Marinette.