When Walls Crumble

Chapter 29: Passing the Torch

Kagami sat on a bench in her school, carefully cleaning her sword.  At this point, it was much too short for her, but this was the one that Ladybug had used while fighting against her as Riposte.  It was also the one Adrian had handed to her.  

As 'over him' as she might be, the sword held a lot of great memories, including her first friendship.  It also seemed like a sort of relic or talisman infused with Ladybug's luck.

She carefully set the red weapon back into it's glass case and sighed.  Never was there a day that she didn't regret her approach when she helped Ladybug and Cat Noir take on her mother.  If she had done it right,  she may have been able to help again.  She would have been a superhero for real.  Ryuko would have been one of Ladybug and Cat Noir's helpers, just like Rena Rouge, Viperion and the others.

She set to work setting up the gym for her class that would be arriving in an hour.

"It's no D'Argentcore, but it'll do," said a voice behind her.

Kagami's instincts took over.  She stepped on the point of an extra sword lying on the ground, causing the handle to flick upwards.  She snatched it and whirled, stopping with the dulled point right between Cat Noir's eyes which had suddenly grown wide.

"Oh," she said, slightly annoyed.  "You startled me."  She lowered the weapon.  "And don't compare my school to D'Argentcore.  Just don't."

Cat Noir grinned, holding his hands in a surrender gesture.  "I probably shouldn't have snuck in.  You're a great fighter, you know."

"Thank you."  She flicked her hair which had grown quite long over her shoulder and sat back down.  "What brings you here, Cat Noir?"

His arrogant facade faded.

"I actually have something really important to ask you.  Is there anyone else in the building?"

She shook her head.  "My first class begins in an hour and the rest of the faculty will only be here fifteen minutes prior.  It's private in here."

He nodded and sat down next to her.

"I need you to swear to keep this secret."

"I swear by my sword."

Cat Noir smiled.  This girl...she was special.  "Ok.  Due to a number of circumstances I can't tell you, Ladybug is out of action."

Kagami gasped.  "She's what?  She can't save the city?"

Cat Noir nodded, trying to hide his emotions, but Kagami noticed the sadness in his eyes.  Yikes.  Whatever had happened...it couldn't be good.

"I talked to her and we came to this conclusion:  someone needs to take her place for about a year.  Maybe more, maybe less.  Still not entirely sure.  But both of us know you and trust you."

Kagami's eyes widened as she realized where this was heading.  "You mean..."

Cat Noir extended his hand to her.  In it was a small box identical to the one in which she had received the dragon choker.

"Kagami Tsurugi," he began.  "These are the earrings of Ladybug.  If you are willing, you shall wear them until their previous wearer is ready to take back her role.  Can I trust you?"

Kagami's breath caught in her throat.  Her?  Ladybug?  Her hand trembled as she accepted the box.  "You can trust me with your life, Cat Noir."

She opened the box, her heart beating wildly as a sphere of bright red light erupted from the earrings and swirled around her head.  It resolved itself into the form of a small red creature with a black dot on the top of it's head.  The kwami sighed sadly but forced a smile.

"Hello, Kagami!" she squeaked.  "My name is Tikki and I assume you already know about kwamis."

Kagami nodded.  "You miss your real girl, don't you?"

Tikki looked down.  "Yeah," she sighed.  "But she'll be alright soon and then I'll be back.  To transform, just say 'Spots On' and I think you know the rest."

"Should I?  Right now?"

Cat Noir shrugged.  "Sure.  You might want to get aquainted with the whole suit thing.  The first time M...M'lady tried out her powers, she crashed into me.  Also, we need to see how you look.  We don't want Hawkmoth to find out that anything happened to Ladybug, so the more like her you look, the better."

"Spots On!" she shouted.  Tikki resignedly sped into the earrings and seconds later, Kagami was Ladybug.  The costume was exactly identical to Marinette's version and her hair had even been tied back into twin pig-tails that were only slightly longer that the former Ladybug.  Unless you caught a good glimpse of her narrow brown eyes, she looked like Ladybug.  

Excited, Kagami turned with a smile to Cat Noir.  He returned it, though the sad undertone in his eyes was still present.  She took his arm.

"Don't worry, I won't try to take her place.  I'm just a stunt double."

Cat Noir laughed without humor.  "That's just the thing.  In order to not raise any suspiscion, We need to act normally."

Kagami smirked.  "So, you're going to call me 'bugaboo' but not actually mean anything flirtatious."

Cat Noir rolled his eyes at her.  "It hasn't been flirting for quite some time.  She is married...or was..."  He stopped himself.  "It's just a nickname.  But...yeah."

She took out her yo-yo and gave it a tentative swing.  It wrapped around Cat Noir's ankle, pulling him off balance.

"Oops.  Sorry.  Guess I need more practice."

He chuckled.  "Yep.  If you want, we can meet up here later and I can show you the ropes."  He jumped to his feet and gave her a little bow.  "For now, my...my lady, I can't stay."

Kagami nodded.  "Spots Off."  The red glow faded, leaving Tikki floating in between them.  Kagami turned to Cat Noir.  "You know who she is, don't you?"

He nodded.  "She's counting on you.  I'm counting on you.  I have to go, but don't forget to feed Tikki.  She likes cookies."

"Cat!"  Tikki scolded.

Kagami smirked.  "I guess I'll be seeing you later, then."

He nodded and jumped out the door.  

Unbeknownst to either of them, Marinette had been watching.  

"It's just so weird, Tikki..." she turned to address her constant companion before realizing.  She didn't have Tikki any more.  

It was all she could do to hold in the tears.  Master Fu had reluctantly agreed to the plan, but she could tell he didn't like it.  

She pulled out her pager to send Cat Noir a quick message.

Hey, kitty!  I'll be at Alya's this afternoon, so don't worry about me.  The cookies are above the fridge.

He didn't respond, so she sighed and knocked on Alya's door.  Her best friend opened it quite promptly and invited her in for ice cream.