This is another chapter in which I heavily make use of spacing (which can't be used on ). Again, I think it works better on ao3 for that reason, but other than that, there were no changes made.

oOoOo

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Forget me not (because I will)
(A day to forget)

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oOoOo

Kagami was ready.

Kagami had been ready for at least a week already, in fact – long before she had argued with Chat and talked with Adrien and maybe Kagami being ready had been what had made her all the more desperate. She didn't – she didn't want to lose her memories – she cherished every single one of them.

She didn't want to forget Chat. Or Alya or – she'd forget Nino, wouldn't she? He had been the turtle, she'd forget even him and-and most of her classmates!

She texted Kagami instead of calling her, unable to let herself say it – one last training tonight and she'd-she'd give it up and – anyway!

If she forgot, she wouldn't remember the pain of forgetting anymore either and everything would be fine!

It'd be a cold plunge into a feather soft cushion – all she had to do was take it.

What came after didn't matter. She'd be a different person anyway.

Marinette put it off for another four days. Kagami was a great student and talented and downright amazing, but no one was perfect and Marinette always found something to critique.

Kagami didn't complain about her broken promises either. Dutifully, she showed up every night in that abandoned warehouse, dressed in athletic wear, ready to take on the mantle of Ladybug, just to be disappointed by Marinette once again. Marinette had told her repeatedly she didn't have to – it didn't matter what one wore under the suits – but Kagami claimed it made her feel safer and any comfort Marinette could afford her, she would happily give. After all, Marinette had never been asked if she wanted to be Ladybug – if she wanted to carry the fate of an entire city on her shoulders with no one but her partner to ease the burden. She had never been able to feel truly at peace with her role, the way Chat Noir had felt – albeit she hadn't minded it either.

Yet she wished she had been asked first anyway.

Hence why Kagami would get all the comfort she wanted – as an accommodation Marinette had never gotten and anyway – Marinette owed her for her patience. Not once did she complain – not about the late nights or the tiresome exercises or Marinette's consistent nagging.

Tikki did, though.

"It's – Marinette, you don't have to follow through, you know that, right? Kagami won't be mad – I know she won't be."

"I know. But I want to."

The Kwami had kept silent for a while as Marinette sat crouched over her needlework. She had trained Kagami until two am that night and then there had been yet another late Akuma.

(Chat hadn't been there. Ch-Chat hadn't been there and Ladybug was mad, but Marinette glad and she hated how confused her mind had been lately.)

(He had called her later that morning to tell her he hadn't been woken up by the alarm and that he was terribly sorry. For once, both sides in the duality of her mind were happy.)

Madame Bustier had taken one look at Marinette that morning and then had decided to grant her a day off and Alya and Adrien had forced her to take it.

Marinette didn't sleep though. She was barely able to these past weeks and she didn't want to take pills either, because she hated the worried looks her parents would give her whenever she did.

She didn't want to worry anyone.

She didn't want to sleep.

She didn't want to be awake either.

"Marinette – you aren't sleeping enough. And neither is Kagami. If – you know she's ready. Take however much time you need – but she's ready. And you can't spend another night wide awake."

Tikki was right, of course. Perhaps less so about her needing sleep, but Kagami most certainly did. Marinette knew the moment she spotted the concealer Kagami wore to their meetings, barely hiding her eye bags.

She deserved her own peace – Marinette was being selfish. And hadn't she renounced being selfish when she had first taken on the mantle of Ladybug?

Today, she brought cookies with her. Cookies and blanket and pillows – just in case.

"You will pass out, Marinette – and you'll feel tired, for days maybe."

"Are there any other side effects?"

"No. Just that – and the confusion that will set in. You won't remember most of the last two years – there-there will be gaps that you may never be able to fill again."

They had brought pillows in case Kagami didn't manage to catch her. She was about to have her memories erased already – she didn't have to lose even more of them because she got a concussion.

(Deep down, it was of course because Marinette wanted to bring her blankets and pillows, because if she were to do this, she wanted to pretend to fall asleep like she would do on any other day – whatever it took to uphold that illusion for that last hour she had left.)

(She'd forget Alya – and Kagami, and Luka and Adrien and – and so much of her life. Her teenager years – nothing would be left from it anymore.)

Marinette didn't bother to stay transformed or to use another Miraculous as she sat down in her small pillow ford. She didn't feel like it. Putting on her spots now it – it'd be so pretentious. She hadn't been Ladybug anymore ever since her identity had been revealed – she didn't have to play pretend any longer, so why should she want to?

The longer she did the harder it'd get.

Neatly, she wrapped herself up in the blankets. Disappeared into their softness – almost she could imagine falling asleep.

If it weren't for the crushing lump in her throat that made it feel as if she was choking.

Kagami was taking longer than usual today.

It must have been hours already – how many drops had she counted already. How many imaginary steps had she heard – making her flinch, making her utter the first word of her transformation phase? She shadows were playing tricks on her mind.

But Kagami was late.

She shouldn't have arrived this early – she had severely overestimated the time she would need to set up her little pillow fort.

At least she had given the Dragon Miraculous to Kagami to get her used to the feeling of power that could weigh one down on a bad day.

Tikki was curled up next to Marinette, other than that, she was alone. The world had gone silent. The wait was killing her as the silence grew thicker and thicker with tension by the minute. There were the water droplets still and the shadows dancing in front of Marinette's eyes and the breeze that made the flowers rustle like skeletons.

But no matter how long you wait, every eternity has to come to an end and Marinette perked up a bit when she heard footsteps.

Kagami understood the situation the moment she touched down onto the floor.

"No more tests today?", she asked – Marinette shook her head.

"No more tests."

Kagami nodded – but made no further push for Marinette to say anything else, embracing the dreadful silence the way Marinette did. She came closer eventually, of course, inspecting the countless pillows Marinette had brought with that cold stare of hers that Marinette had come to understand as mild curiosity.

Her steps refused to break the silence though – silence that Marinette was currently strategically blanketing around them.

Until she heard Tikki squeak.

Until another fifty droplets had passed – she had made promise after promise and she – she had to keep it eventually.

Drop.

She would keep it today.

Drop, drop.

If it just wasn't that – that hard to start.

Drop, drop.

Where should she begin? What to say? How did one ever breach this topic?

"I-"

The drops interrupted her – it was definitely the water and-

"...if-"

Drop. Drop. Drop. Drop.

Marinette allowed herself to breathe – drop, drop – allowed herself to breathe another time before pushing herself deeper into her mountain of pillows – would Kagami still be able to hear like this?

"I'll fall asleep after I for – give up the guardianship. Tikki says it's the toll the...the forgetting takes on my body."

Touko swallowed hard. That – that wasn't too bad of a start, right? She glanced through the tiny hole that she had left in her cocoon.

It wasn't big enough so she cautiously stuck her head out, her neck still stuck in suffocating layers of fabric.

Kagami wasn't looking at her as she responded.

"Of course. I will make sure no harm comes to you while you are unconscious."

Kagami's words shouldn't have been as reassuring as they were. Of course Kagami would make sure nothing happened. They were friends.

She asked again anyway.

"I – can you drop me off? At home?"

"I will. Do you wish for me to wake your parents?"

Marinette shook her head.

"The trap door is unlocked. I wrote them a letter-"

Tear stained and most of it had been written by Tikki, and really, it had been addressed at her more than her parents, regardless of how terribly selfish that may be.

"-and I've prepped my room. You – all you have to do is drop me off."

"Do you need me to stay until you wake up?"

Marinette hesitated – again, like she always did – if Kagami had been in Paris at the time the Miraculous had been given away, she would have been chosen instead of Marinette anyway! – unsure of herself.

Did she want Kagami to stay? Maybe having a friend would-

She wouldn't remember Kagami, would she?

She wouldn't.

"...No. No, I – I've made sure my room is prepared, that everything is over you can – you need to sleep. Now more than ever."

Marinette looked up, stuck out more of her body, trying her best no to look too affected.

"Just drop me off in my room and I'll be fine. And – hopefully see you tomorrow then?"

"I will make sure we meet again."

Kagami was smiling.

Marinette had seen Kagami smile plenty of times – not that she smiled often. Usually, her lips were drawn into a thin line and more often than not she was downright scowling.

Marinette hadn't understood at first, but Kagami trying to smile at her during their mission on friendship day should have meant the world and eventually she realized that all of these smiles – as forced as they may be – were worth a thousand broken hearts.

This wasn't one of Kagami's usual smiles though. It wasn't one that she forced herself to do just to show that she truly was happy – because Kagami's tell for that was a barely noticeable bobbing of her legs.

Marinette appreciated that even now, Kagami was willing to share this much of herself with her.

"We can get juice again?"

"I would recommend doing the same. We can meet at our usual meeting time. I do not believe mother will forbid this. You have quite impressed her."

Another smile – it still hardly felt forced – Though perhaps – the way the corners of her lips were slightly down-turned – it was hard to call it a smile at all.

"Can I hug you?"

Marinette could barely see through the welled up tears, but she didn't need to to realize that Kagami was hesitating. Kagami of all people! Hesitated!

Ha!

All the bigger the surprise when a shy, whispered "Of course" was the response and then she tentatively pulled Marinette in.

The hug was awkward – Kagami's hand didn't quite now were to rest and Marinette was too surprised at first to properly hug her, but eventually they...settled in.

It felt nice. Warm and soft and protected.

The hug lasted entirely too long, of course. Much longer than Marinette would have held even – she was stalling – but maybe, if she just waited a tad bit longer, took another breath, tried to convince her yet another time it was for the best she'd – maybe it'd get easier?

It had to.

Eventually, Kagami started tapping her nails ever so slightly – she was getting impatient. Perhaps she was sick of Marinette's hesitation – but she didn't say anything, didn't comment – simply patiently waited for Marinette to do what she had to do.

But Marinette didn't want to.

"I-I..."

Her voice faltered. She averted her eyes again and gulped, trying to swallow the lump in her throat and then, suddenly, she felt a comforting hand on her arms. Her eyes snapped back and she stared into Kagami's that were visibly uncomfortable.

"Marinette. You do not have to give up the Miraculous Box. I fully understand your hesitation. It is a sentimental moment and we can postpone the handover to a later date that is more fitting."

Kagami moved back again, waiting, impatiently tapping her feet.

Marinette's shoulders slumped and she felt horrible – this was Kagami. Kagami who was going out of her way to comfort her. Kagami had gone out of her way to train for this – all just for her to choke last minute?

No.

She was better than that. Kagami had taught her not to hesitate and Marinette was nothing but a good student.

"I..."

She opened her mouth to speak, but the worlds wouldn't come and in the end, instead of simply renouncing this goddamn box, Marinette found herself whispering:"Will-Will you bring me home? As Ladybug? And explain everything? My parents will be almost awake already."

This time, Marinette didn't have to ask for Kagami to hug her – she wordlessly pulled her in. And Marinette started sobbing uncontrollably.

"Marinette, you are my best friend. I am honored you trusted me with this."

She had to stop this. The longer she waited the more likely she was to chicken out again. And-and after all the trouble she had gone through to make this as easy as possible!

Lightly pushing Kagami away, Marinette sat back upright, wiping away her tears – it was pointless, because already there were new ones took their old place like valiant soldiers – but it was the thought that mattered.

It was always the thought that mattered.

She stared at the earrings in her hands – closed her fist around them to feel the pure life that pulsated in them, before handing them to Kagami, refusing to look her into the eyes.

"I renounce you, Tikki."

She had said her goodbyes already.
Surely Tikki wouldn't be mad at her.

Kagami's hands were warm as she took the earrings and Marinette had watched her put them on often enough to know what it looked like. Proud. Splendid. Excellent. The jewelry went exceedingly well with...everything about Kagami.

It had always looked better on her anyways.

It was time.

"You'll be the best Ladybug there ever was."

"Marinette, if you need more time-"

"I, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, hereby relinquish the Miracle Box. And name Tsurugi Kagami the new guardian."

.o.O.o.

No one noticed Kagami as she swung from roof to roof, carrying Marinette and the Miraculous Box at once. Tikki had told her to leave the box and pick it up later, yet Kagami would not dare to risk it.

Marinette had entrusted her with this duty and she would not disappoint her. Though Tikki had convinced her to drop of the pillows at a later point.

It did not take Kagami long to get to the rooftop patio. The trapdoor was unlocked just the way Marinette had claimed and while Kagami had some trouble landing whilst carrying so much at once, Marinette wasn't harmed and the suit prevented any scrapped knees.

It took almost too long to maneuver Marinette into her bed, but it was worth every second. Marinette did not wake up and eventually, Kagami could tug her into her covers, stepping back soon after.

She looked peaceful.

Marinette deserved to be peaceful.

"Spots off."

The red light bathed the room in an eerie light. It felt like Marinette more than it felt like herself, which according to Tikki was due to the Miraculous not having attuned itself with her yet. Her suit and the light would change in a month or so, in order to give their plan time to work. Kagami would have to keep up with the illusions to make sure Hawkmoth was lured onto a wrong path. While wearing the spots she had to pretend to be Marinette still and she would have to pretend to be a completely changed person in a few months while wearing the suit.

It was no easy task by any means, but Kagami felt read to face it head on.

Yet she would never truly believe the suit would ever truly fit her.

"You can bid your farewell, Tikki. My apologies she did not do that herself."

Tikki did not answer. Kagami did not expect her to. The small god tended to be bubbly and enthusiastic, but she couldn't blame her for lacking her usual bravado. She wanted to cry herself, after all.

Two minutes and 34 seconds passed before Tikki spoke up from the spot next to Marinette she had occupied, to snuggle one last time with her previous charge.

"Marinette told me she left a gift for you somewhere – on her desk, I think."

Kagami nodded silently. Indeed, there was a gift on Marinette's desk, but Kagami had not wanted to "go snooping". She would have already felt comfortable doing that a week ago or so, but now – technically speaking, Marinette didn't even know her.

But it would be strange for Marinette if she woke up the next morning finding that gift and maybe, it included a hint to Kagami's identity.

The gift was unwrapped quickly, the wrapping paper carefully folded and pushed into the pockets of her skirt, unveiling a box with a letter. The box contained an assortment of macrons, clearly meant for Tikki and the letter contained an invitation to juice Saturday in a week.

"I've already made sure to prepare everything – I hope your mother will let you come. And don't forget – it's my treat! I'll tell myself that I owed you from "that time I forgot to bring my wallet" – make sure to order as much as you want!"

Kagami would most definitely not do that.

She wandered away from the desk again, watching Tikki mourn the memories lost and it was only when she heard shuffling below that she told Tikki they had to go.

She had to explain the situation to Mr.. and Mrs. Dupain-Cheng. She had promised.

.o.O.o.

Marinette didn't understand why she woke up in the middle of the night and neither did she know why she felt so...terrible. The last thing she remembered was…

School?

It had been school. No – she had – had she stayed home?

She was about to call out to someone to ask when she realized there was nor reason for her to do that, because her parents definitely wouldn't hear her and she knew for a fact that she didn't have a sleepover with…

with whom?

Marinette frowned, groggily sitting up, rubbing her eyes sleepily. What was wrong with her? Why did she feel so – confused? Her head hurt, too, though she didn't quite know how to describe it. It wasn't pounding like it would usually do, threatening to explode but rather...it felt like hunger. Like emptiness begging to be filled.

It scared her.

All of this scared her. She felt lonely for some reason and at the same time – shouldn't she be – just tired?

She felt tired, but in a different way than usual.

Maybe she was getting sick – surely that had to be it.

Deciding to simply sleep it off – maybe she was having first-day-jitters still – she climbed back up the ladder, groggily crawling under her covers.

She ended up tossing and turning for hours – eventually even realized there were sleeping pills next to her bed.

She wondered why.

And here we have it – Marinette losing her memories. The next chapters will deal with everyone else's reaction to it (there will be two shorter chapters that I might end up fusing into one and then a much longer one, featuring everybody's favorite cat boy). I hope you enjoyed!

I'd also like to point out that in this story, you will forget any person that was ever connected to the Miraculous – Marinette doesn't forget any classmates that never received a Miraculous and neither did she forget any classes etc. I'm not sure if that is perfectly canonically correct, but for this story, I'm rolling with it.