Soul Marked

Chapter One

Not Equal

Hi guys! So I know I need to update my Naruto "Twisted Fates," story but with my hard drive troubles with my computer and in the process of once again rewriting that chapter I've just been feeling too frustrated with the whole thing, so I decided to borrow a computer and write this story that's been stuck in my mind for a really long time. This is the first chapter and there will be a lot of similarities from the manga but I will be adding my own things into the story.

I want this to be my story, but following the events of My Hero Academia. You'll notice a lot of differences as the story goes on.

I wrote this because there is way to little Fem/Midoriya and defiantly too little Fem/Midoriya/Katsuki stories. Also I love the soulmate concept so It's a big part of it, yay soulmate AU!

Edited: July 16, 2018

This chapter was edited by my amazing beta: Whatisthiswitchery.

People are not born equal, that was her first time learning the cruel ways of the world, it was her last and first set back. It all started with a child being born that glowed, following those events more and more babies were born with special abilities, naming them 'exceptional', and soon those 'exceptional' people became normal, everyday life.

After that first birth and those children grew up, it became apparent that there were those that were dubbed Soul Bound. A set of people were bonded, or soulmates, with the other. Once your eyes laid upon that special person the whole universe shifted and revolved around them, they became the reason you lived on this earth, their names appeared on your wrist before fading away and leaving a special mark where the name once was.

Soul Bound people were quickly linked with those who had quirks, the twenty percent that were quirkless didn't seem to make that kind of connection.

Midoriya Izuka was born without a mark on her wrist, since the day she realized it she fought over the idea of never gaining a quirk, it just wasn't in her mind set. Ever since she had first seen All Might for the first time on TV she knew what she wanted to do with her life, to become the greatest Hero there was, and nothing would get in the way of that dream.

Izuka ran up to a blonde spiky haired kid as soon as her mother led her through the doors of kindergarten, her excitement at seeing him always overpowering her when she arrived. They had met only a few weeks ago but the two were becoming fast friends. He glanced up in her direction as she settled down in the free seat he always made sure was unoccupied for her. Across from them sat two of his friends, neither understanding why he wanted to hang out with the girl, especially since at their age they didn't even like girls, but never bringing it up.

"Kacchan!" Izuka exclaimed as she spun in her seat to look at him. She glanced to see the display of glowing zigzagging lines that formed an intricate knot around his wrists, the lines almost looked to be flowers and leaves. It marked that he had found his soulmate, as it was no longer just a dark line surrounding his wrists. The thought caused her sadness, especially as she gazed down at where her own wrists held bracelets, hiding the fact that she had never had a mark.

She did it trying to hide from herself that it was true, and from everyone else in her class who had marks and would make fun of her.

"Koneko," he said in greeting a smile lighting up his face as well.

子猫

Izuka stared at the children around her, it was her first day of kindergarten and she had no friends like a lot of the kids here seemed too. They all rushed up to greet one another and take seats together, her timid nature gaining the better of her she grabbed at her mother's skirt and hid. Peaking around the side of her leg she watched the children again wishing she had the courage to go up and greet someone.

"Go on, Izuka," her mother said lightly prying her hands from her skirt and pushing her forward, toward a boy with blonde hair. His face was determined and sharp but her mother refused to let her turn around. Her legs shook as she gripped tightly at the bracelets she wore around her wrists, a nervous habit even at four she had.

"H-h-hello," Izuka finally squeaked out as she found herself in front of the boy. He, however, hadn't seemed to have heard her. His red eyes were wide and staring at her causing her to feel even more unsure and scared, the stutter in her voice getting worse. "M-m-my name i-is, I-I-Izuka."

The other boy hadn't seemed to hear her even then, too focused on staring at her in an amazed way, before finally his gaze slipped from her eyes down to his wrists quickly, before focusing back on her face.

"Bakugo Katsuki," he said reaching out to take her hand into his own. The action caused a blush to take a deep root onto her cheeks as she stared down at their hands. "You'll come sit with me, Koneko." Her eyes widened at the nickname.

"K-koneko?" she asked hesitantly as she began to follow him toward his seat he had claimed earlier. His red eyes only shined brighter as they sat down and he nodded.

"You're cute and timid like a kitten," he said with a nod. "That's what I'll call you from now on. My Koneko." The blush only deepened but she nodded, allowing the nickname and their friendship the boy had deemed was going to happen. Both mothers watched from the doorway, smiles lighting up their faces as they watched their kids.

子猫

The day flew by not deterring from a normal one for the two, and after school they both took off for the playground where they would play together until one of their moms came and got them. Mitsuki and Inko had taken to taking turns to pick the two up after work, whichever one was off first would pick them up and take the children to their respective home.

Until then they had an hour to play every day before one of them came, the children mostly keeping to themselves and occasionally one of Kacchan's friends would come and join but when the two were together they tended to avoid the area.

"Kacchan, when I get my quirk I hope it's as powerful and cool as yours," she said with a smile, though inside she could feel the doubt creep up. She didn't even have a mark how could she have a quirk? Shaking her head, she didn't allow to smile to waver, knowing beyond a doubt she would get a quirk, she had too, how else would she become a great hero like All Might, or stay by Kacchan's side.

"I'm sure it will be," he said, his eyes sparkling like they always did when she was around. They continued to do whatever Izuka wanted, usually swinging, and sometimes they would join the other kids and play Hero, whenever she felt like playing her favorite game.

Eventually Inko was the first mother to arrive calling out for the kids, "Izuka, Katsuki, time to go!" Both children would leave the group yelling their goodbyes as they raced toward where her mother was, before settling in by her side for the walk home. Katsuki's house was the first for them to arrive at, several blocks before their own, and they walked him up to the door, making sure his father was there so he wasn't alone in the home.

"Thank you for picking him up," Masaru says in a kind voice. "I've been so busy with my designs, what with the showcase coming up, I've been too busy." Inko only smiled and waved away his concern.

"I don't mind, Mitsuki and I have a deal, I'm just happy on the days she gets to them first you guys keep Izuka for me until I get off."

"Whenever you need us to," he said as he moved aside for Kacchan to go into the house. "The kids are close, and Katsuki would throw a fit if we didn't." Said boy in question frowned at his father at what he was saying.

"I would not!" he blew up before taking off further into the house. Izuka who wasn't used to this behavior, as he tended to act completely calm and happy around her, was bewildered, but his father only waved the two away, saying one final thank you, and goodbye, before closing the door. Inko gave her daughter an amused smile, they had only known the Bakugo family for six weeks, but it had already been interesting having them in their lives, and easier.

Inko worried and fretted that Izuka wouldn't make friends, she was just too shy, and after her father left to work overseas things had only grown harder. With two incomes they were able to keep the house, but Inko had to gain a job to help with the bills that her husband couldn't afford. He had his own things to buy and deal with where he lived. At first Inko had no idea how she was going to be able to be home in time for Izuka and paying for a place for her to stay for an extra hour or two was just not possible, and then she met Katsuki.

Mitsuki had offered up the idea as soon as both mothers realized what had happened, and it was a great relief for Inko, she no longer worried about her daughter so much. Only one thing seemed to stick in her mind, as her fifth birthday grew ever nearer, a quirk had yet to appear, and a soul mark was never to be seen. It was a well-known fact that soul marks went hand in hand with quirks and Inko grew wearier as the quirk never manifested.

It broke her heart to think of the realistic situation, something she could never say out loud, it would break her daughter's heart.

"I've made that doctor's appointment for you Izuka," Inko said as they began to walk toward the trains station instead of home. "We will be going there first." Izuka nodded having wanted to go to the doctor and figure out her quirk, it should be manifesting any time now. They both traveled silently on the train, both thinking about the doctor's appointment, every now and then Inko's hand would tighten on her daughter's.

They arrived ten minutes before the appointment, after checking in they were ushered in to wait for the doctor. He went through several tests and X-rayed her foot, they were now just waiting for the news. Izuka could feel the anxiety ripple through her and not for the first time she wished Kacchan and come with her. He had always had a calming ability on her, making her feel comfortable and happy, she could use some happy right now.

It seemed like forever before the doctor walked back through the door, placing the X-ray in front of them, his face looking grim as he took a seat. He tried to muster up a smile that would put them at ease, but this was his least favorite part of his job, telling those few children they would never have a quirk. It was becoming unheard of, but it still happened.

"I'm afraid to tell you that Izuka will never have a quirk," he announced finally, admitting to the sad truth her mother had been slowly coming to.

Izuka could feel something inside of her freeze up, the pain spread throughout her chest, and her heart shattered, leaving her a shell of herself. Her green eyes were wide in shock, the usual shiny color, dull and lifeless. Her mother covered her mouth as she glanced over at her daughter, raising a hand and placing it on her arm for comfort. Inko was unsure of what to say to comfort her, to make it all better.

"There must be a mistake," her voice said sounding tiny and unsure, as she frowned. Her daughter was looking worse for ware, her whole world having been shattered with those simple words. "All the other kindergarteners seemed to have already manifested their quirks but-" Her eyes turned back to her daughter.

The doctor only glanced at the young girl before turning back to the mother. "You're fourth generation, as far as quirk?"

"Yes," Inko said with a nod as she caused her daughters favorite toy, an All Might action figure, to float to her. "I can float small objects toward me, and my husband can breathe fire." The doctor nodded before turning to the X-ray pointing at the pinky toe, more specifically the double joint.

"By the age of four a child's quirk should have already manifested, as one or a combination of the parents'. Early research of quirks came up with one important finding, that being the absence or presence of an extra joint in the pinky toe. Humans have no use for parts they can't use, and with that joint represents the stage of evolution, Izuka has two joints. It's quite rare these days, but she possesses no quirk at all."

The words being spoken again only caused another crack in Izuka's armor, her eyes becoming even more lifeless as she continued to stare at the doctor. His words were literally killing her from the inside out, no quirk. It couldn't be. She was to become a hero, the number one hero like All Might. This wasn't supposed to happen.

Fate was cruel.

子猫

Once home Izuka slowly made her way to the computer not even caring that it wasn't computer time yet, that hardly mattered to her. In the back of her mind she still wished she had asked her mother to go by Kacchan's house, but it was pushed to the back of her mind, she only wanted to be alone, alone with her failed dream.

She climbed up onto the seat and silently her mother pulled up her favorite footage of All Might, tears building in her eyes as she watched her daughter just stare lifelessly at the screen. Izuka's green eyes stared at All Might, at the smile on his face, telling her that as long as he was there everything would be alright.

His smile always shown that everything would be alright.

Where was that feeling now?

Was it lost along with her dream to become a hero?

Quirkless.

"Mom," she said quietly capturing her attention. "No matter what kind of trouble you're in, he'll save you with a smile." She silently wished he would come and save her with that smile. Wanting it all to be just a dream. She would wake up and a quirk would have appeared out of thin air, just to make it all better. "A super-cool hero like that, t-that's what I w-wanna be."

Tears had begun to spill from her eyes, coating her face in salty wetness, as she turned around to look at her mom. She watched her mother hoping, wishing, that she would tell her she didn't need a quirk to become a hero. That her dream wasn't unreachable. That she could do it, she needed that from her, needed it to keep going.

Her mother not being able to keep the tears in anymore flung herself across the room, her arms wrapping around her daughters tiny, shaking frame, as the tears streamed down on her own face. She wasn't able to put her child's fears at ease, wasn't able to find it in herself to say that she could still become a hero.

Inko couldn't lie.

"Oh!" She cried out as her embrace tightened. "I'm sorry!" I'm so sorry, Izuka!" Izuka just sat there her eyes continuing to watch the footage of All Might, while her mother cried, over and over saying that she was sorry.

It wasn't the words she wanted to hear, the words she needed to hear.

子猫

Izuka found herself sitting in class, her last year of third-year, the year before she could try for UA, her dream school. Even after that devastating day at the doctors, Izuka, decided to not let it define her future. She would find a way to become a hero, whether she had a quirk, or not. Scribbling down facts from today's earlier villain roadblock, she was focusing mainly on the new hero, Mt. Lady.

Around her she could hear her teacher talking but it wasn't something she was interested in, she knew what she wanted, and wouldn't settle for less. Around her she could hear her classmates yell out in excitement, their quirks sounding off all around. Izuka rolled her eyes, they always got rowdy and forgot the no quirk rule. Their teacher wasn't much better, riling them up, and then telling them to calm down.

She could hear Kacchan yell out about how he was better than all of them, she was sure. He had grown different over the years, that angry side had become a side of him she knew well. No longer was he her nice, calming, and happy, Kacchan, now he was loud, rude, and hating. His favorite pastime was to make fun of her, cause her pain. He wasn't the same. Even his nickname, Koneko, was no longer said with adoration, but hatred.

After finding out she had no quirk something inside of him just changed, a switch inside of him turning on, he was no longer her best friend.

It had happened so suddenly that at first, she wasn't sure how to deal with it, and eventually she spent the hour or so after school by herself at the park, Mitsuki no longer coming to pick her up. She was sure that was Kacchan's doing, as his mother always gave her this sad look from across the park. She had noticed the woman would force Kacchan to stay until Inko came to pick her up, Mitsuki would never let her be by herself.

"Ah, Bakugo, you must be aiming for U.A, High school," the teacher said gaining Izuka's attention. She couldn't help but be interested when U.A. and Kacchan was brought up, she still cared for him after all.

"I aced the mock exam!" he yelled out confidently. "I'm the only one here that's got the stuff for U.A. Unlike you extras! I'm going to become an even greater Hero than All Might himself! Not to mention one of the richest people in the world!"

Izuka's eyes refused to peel away from him as he looked determined and fearless, a quality she didn't seem to have, the last ten years not having been helpful toward feeling fearless.

"You've applied for U.A. as well, haven't you Midoriya?" the teacher asked bringing everyone's attention to Izuka. Her eyes widened, fear filling the green depths as she buried her head into her desk, her arms coming around to block her from sight. She couldn't believe he had spoken up in front of everyone! Izuka could practically feel Kacchan's anger burning into the side of her, he would not like this. Couldn't their teacher ever shut up?

Around her all of her classmates began to laugh at once, several throwing out jeers, telling her she would never make it without a quirk. She could feel her stomach drop, pain resounding throughout her chest, a pain she had begun to grow familiar with these last ten years. A deep ache that she felt resound throughout her chest cavity, ripping and shredding its way through her heart.

"They actually changed the rule," Izuka said in a tiny voice causing Kacchan to spin around in his seat to glare at her once more. The anger was rolling off in threatening waves, his body shook with his anger. Her eyes that were already wide only grew bigger in shock, why had he turned this way toward her? "You don't have to have a quirk to get into U.A."

Izuka wasn't sure why she had continued to speak, the rest of the class still looked unimpressed, and Kacchan was only getting angrier. Anything to do with her pissed him off anymore. Bakugo hadn't hesitated as he slipped from his chair and charged at her causing her emerald green eyes to become fearful as his hands rose in the air, his red eyes deadly.

His hand slapped against her table, his quirk activating, causing a loud explosion to rip through the air, the force of it connected with her body causing her to fly backwards across the room, landing with a painful thump against the wall.

"Koneko," he said with a snarl, the warmth that once was uttered with the name replaced with hate and disgust. His voice caused her to flinch, the furious look on his face caused her to cower, her reaction only angered him more. "Forget about quirks, you're quirkless, and you think you can rub shoulders with me?" His hand twitched as it reached out to grab the front of her shirt, pulling her up to his height, her shoes barely skimming the floor.

Her body shook as he forced her emerald eyes to gaze into crimson ones. Sweat fell across her brow as his breath blew against her face. Without meaning to her gaze fell to where his sleeves rode up his arms leaving his wrists bare. The once beautiful mark had lost its glamour, the image having warped into thorns instead of the once pretty floral.

"No-wait- Kacchan!" She said her arms waving desperately as she tried to peel his hands from her shirt, all she wanted was to cower against the wall, to be invisible again. His grip tightened as her fingers wrapped around his own, an odd emotion flashing across his face before it hardened. "I would never try to challenge you or go against you. Please."

Her mind tried to reach out and get him to calm down, to understand she wasn't trying to do harm. Her green curly hair falls into her face as she tries to break the eye contact he was forcing on her. She was uncomfortable, incredibly so. There was no warmth in his actions, just frost, so different from his actual quirk. "Believe me, Kacchan."

She tried her best to curl into herself as his grip is still keeping her suspended into the air. "It's just," she said in a shaky voice, it wavered as she tried to find the strength to continue. "It's been my goal ever since we were little." A younger Bakugo flashes across her mind's eye, a nicer one. "And well- I've got to try."

Black smoke begins to rise from his hands, fear startled her body to begin to thrash again, shoving against his old, and finally she dropped to the ground with him towering over her. Her feet scrambled backwards until her back hit the wall, where she once again felt trapped. Her body curled into itself as yells of outrage sounded around her.

"Try!" they yelled. "The entrance exams!"

"What are you going to do, you're quirkless, Koneko," Bakugo said his voice stinging. Shortly after he spoke the teacher called order to the classroom, causing Bakugo to go sit back down at his desk for the rest of class. Izuka picked herself off the ground, her body shaking with the leftover adrenaline and fear as she too walked to her seat, her head bowed and not daring to look up from it.

People are not born equal.

Ever since she was a little girl in daycare, Izuka, had loved heroes, her love stemming from one main video, of the man that began her dream.

It was an old video. One of disaster that happened a long time ago, the debut of the greatest hero of all time. She had watched it so many times she could recite it word for word.

"Can you see that?"

"He's already saved a hundred people!"

"It's crazy. It hasn't even been ten minutes yet!"

From the fire came a silhouette of a muscular man, carrying as many people as he could in one go. He stepped from the smoke showing a smile lighting up his face, as his laugh resounded throughout the desolation.

"He's smiling!"

Her favorite sound was his laugh, it echoed around her carrying with it courage and happiness, telling you everything would be alright now, because he was there. It wrapped you up in warmth and made you believe that yes, everything would be just fine. Izuka would recite along with him the words that caused hope to swell up in her whole being.

"Fear not!"

"Why?"

Izuka's smile grew wider, her eyes would sparkle, and her heart would swell at the sound of his words, and she would recite the line with him.

"Because I am here."

Izuka's hands trembled at her side as she began to walk down the empty road, her shortcut home. Even her memory of her favorite superhero couldn't cause her any happiness today. As she walked she came to the familiar tunnel, her spirits still pretty dampened as she thought back to class.

"Dobe, Kacchan," she uttered softly her heart just not into being angry. There was something she felt for him, a deeper connection, he was her friend, and more important he had been one of her precious people until he changed. "Stupid, stupid, Kacchan."

She ducked into the tunnel a funny feeling moving over her body, but she ignored it, she hardly cared, she would be home soon. A thick silence fell over her before a sound of wetness, SLOP, sounded in the tunnel.

"Look at what kind of body I found to hide in," a slimy voice spoke from behind her. Spinning around she came face to face with a monster of a quirk slipping through the grate. Fear ripped through her body as the slime like substance flashed across the short distance between the two, wrapping around her, enveloping her into its body. The substance began to slide down her throat, through her nose, it was hard to breathe, panic set in.

"You'd look pretty cute in a couple of years," the slime said as it continued to assault her. "Shame I've got to do this, but well, I hadn't expected him to be in a small town like this. Could have worse bodies, you're a true hero kid, it only hurts for a bit."

She tried to struggle, truly, she tried.

Around her she could see her soaking wet, burnt, notebook laying on the ground, scattered with the rest of her backpack objects. Her breathing became more labored. It was hard while slime continued to attack her throat, tears built in her eyes.

She would have said goodbye to her mother for the last time today.

Her last interaction with Kacchan hadn't been the best. He would forever hate her.

This was it.

Her eyes had begun to grow heavier, her struggling ceased to exist, as her flailing arms came to a halt at her sides, hanging limp.

Could this truly be how she went?

The edge around her vision began to fade to black.

Crash!

The grate that the slime monster had slipped from skyrocketed into the air, a figure bounding out from it, landing in front of them in a crouch. Familiar blonde hair flashed across her vision, hope swimming in her heart at the sight. Could it be?

"Fear not Kid! For I am here!"

So how did you like it?! I'll have the next chapter out probably tomorrow, it's almost finished. After that updating will become hopefully once a week. It'll be written around Twisted Fates, so I'm hoping to be able to update both stories once a week but my new ideas have a terrible habit of taking over so this one will be my main concern for a little while. Especially until I get out of my rut for the other one.

Sneak Peak:

Both teens fall to the ground, All Might allowing them to drop now that they were safe. Both had fallen unconscious during the shock wave, however, their hands were still latched onto one another, locked into a tight embrace.

Review!