Natsu
Today is my sixteenth birthday. As I have the past three years, I head to a mirror to look at my neck. I never expect to see a tattoo, that way I'm not utterly depressed when I don't see one. With my heart already heavy, I look in the mirror. But then to my surprise, there is a tattoo on the right side of my neck. It is a dragon in flight. I joyfully tell my parents and show them. They cry tears of joy with me.
I head out to school. I still wear my scarf because it has become part of my image. The first few weeks I had worn my scarf, my best friends Lucy and Levy kept asking why I was wearing a scarf. After about a month, they finally gave up. On my way, I bump into someone else. My scarf gets pulled off as I fall. "I'm so sorry!" The person exclaims. I look up. It is a boy who's probably my age. His hair is the color of cherry blossoms in bloom and he has deep brown eyes. He also wears a scarf. The boy offers his hand. I grab it and he pulls me up off the ground. "It's alright. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." I tell him as I dust myself off.
The boy kneels and grabs my scarf. While he is kneeling, I try to peek inside his scarf. But he stands back up before I can get a good look. "Here's your scarf." The boy says. "Thank you." I say as I take it back and wrap it around my neck once again. "Well, I gotta go or I'll be late to school again!" The boy shouts as he runs off. I check my watch. Shoot! If I don't get to school soon, I'll be late! And that's never happened and I don't intend to start now. I run off to school.
I can't focus on class because the boy keeps popping into my head. At lunch, Lucy and Levy sit down with me. Lucy has her blonde hair in a small side ponytail with the rest flowing downwards, but it doesn't cover her snowflake tattoo. Levy's unusual naturally blue hair is cut pixie-style and she has an orange ribbon pulling back her bangs. Her destiny tattoo is a dragon wrapped around a sword. My two best friends have already found their soulmates and are dating them. Lucy Heartfilia, a cheerleader, is with the school's cool guy, Gray Fullbuster. Levy McGarden, my bookworm of a best friend, her soulmate is Gajeel Redfox, the captain of the wrestling team.
Lucy and Levy have mischievous smiles on their faces as they stare at me. "What?" I ask. "You seem really happy today, (name)." Lucy says. "Really? I don't think I'm happier than usual." I respond, scooting my food around with a spoon. "You were also spacing out in class with this dreamy look in your eyes. You never do that, (name)." Levy tells me, pointing at me with her fork. I can't say anything because that is true.
"We knew it!" Lucy says. "Knew what?" I ask. "You had a special encounter today, didn't you?" Levy asks. I can feel my cheeks burning. "Not really. I bumped into some random guy on the way to school. My scarf came off when I fell. He helped me up, picked up and gave me my scarf, and then ran off." I say. "Was he cute?" Lucy asks. "Yes. He has hair that as pink as cherry blossoms and deep amber eyes."
"So, what's his name?" Levy asks. I think for a moment. "You know what, I didn't get his name." I say. "Well, anyway. It sounds like you met your soulmate finally, (name)." Lucy says. "Did you see his tattoo?" Levy asks. "No, he had a scarf on and he ran off before I could talk to him more." I say. "That's too bad. But if he's your soulmate, then you'll meet him again." Lucy tells me.
I take a different route home. I've taken this route past the park before. Sometimes I'll spend a little time in the park, other times I'll walk right past. As I walk by the entrance, I see a flash of familiar pink. Knowing my parents won't freak if I don't come home right away, I head into the park. I walk around the park trying to find the boy from earlier. After about an hour, I decide to give up and head home.
As I head to the entrance, I feel someone tap my shoulder. I turn around and find the pink-haired boy. "Hey there." The boy says. "Hello again, cherry blossom boy." I respond. "Cherry blossom boy?" He says with a raised eyebrow. "Well, I don't know your name and you have hair the color of cherry blossoms." I explain. "Oh. Well, my name is Natsu." "I'm (name). Pleased to meet you."
"So, what are you doing here, (name)?" Natsu asks. "I was taking a different route home. I happened to see you run by as I was passing the park. So, I came in here to look for you. I was just about to leave when you tapped my shoulder." I tell him. "Oh. I come here every day to play with the local cats, especially one particular cat." Natsu says. "I know about the local cats. Which one?" I ask. "Why don't I introduce you to him?" Natsu says. "Sure." I reply. My cheeks burst into flames when Natsu grabs my hand. He takes me over to where the cats congregate.
"That one." Natsu says as he points to his favorite. The cat has unusual blue fur and a white belly. He wears a green bandana. The cat notices us and plods over to us. "Hello there." I say as I kneel and scratch the blue cat's chin. The cat purrs contently and moves closer to me. "Happy really likes you!" Natsu says. "Happy?" I ask. "That's what I call the cat. He seems to be happy all the time, so I decided that should be his name." Natsu tells me. I look at the little blue cat. He does seem to be quite happy. "I think that's a very good name." I say. Natsu grins.
The sun is beginning to set. "Well, I should get home. My parents are probably wondering where I am at this point." I say. Happy looks at me sadly as I stop scratching him and stand. "I'll walk you home. If you don't mind, that is." Natsu says. "Not at all. It's getting late, so having someone with me would be nice." I respond. The two of us say goodbye to Happy and leave the park. Natsu walks next to me on my right.
A few minutes after we leave, I hear meowing behind us. I turn around and find Happy. "Happy, what are you doing here?" I ask the little cat. The blue cat comes over to me and I pick him up. "I guess he really likes you, (name)." Natsu says. "I guess so. I'm sure my parents will be okay with me bringing home a pet." I say. We resume walking, Happy purring contently as I hold him in my arm.
"So why are you wearing a scarf?" I ask. Natsu rubs the scarf as he replies, "It was my last gift from my parents before they died." "I'm so sorry. That probably brought back sad memories." I tell him. "It's okay. At this point, it brings back both sad and happy memories. The first few weeks after they died, I would lash out at anyone who mentioned them or asked about my scarf. It was three years ago." Natsu says. "It's good that you can remember the good stuff." I say.
"How about you, (name)? Why do you wear a scarf?" Natsu asks. I bite my lip as I think about how to explain. "(name)?" Natsu says worriedly. "You know about destiny tattoos, right?" I ask. "Yeah. Everybody gets theirs when they turn twelve. Why?" Natsu says. "Well, mine hadn't appeared on my twelfth birthday." I tell him. I hear Natsu breathe in sharply. "I was embarrassed and disappointed, so I started wearing a scarf. I didn't want anyone to see that I didn't have a destiny tattoo." I tell him.
"You're the first person other than my parents to know." I say. "I feel honored that you would tell me. So I'm guessing it still hasn't appeared?" Natsu says. "Actually, it finally appeared today." I respond. "Is today your birthday, (name)?" Natsu asks. "Yep. My sixteenth." I reply. "Cool. I also turned sixteen recently." Natsu says. "Really?" I ask. Natsu nods.
"So, what does your tattoo look like?" Natsu asks. "I'll just show you." I say. I remove my scarf and move my hair so he can see. Natsu gasps. "What?" I ask. "It's the same as mine." He says. "The same as yours?" I say. Natsu removes his scarf and shows me his neck. There is a dragon in flight on the left side of his neck. "Then that means…" I trail off. "We're soulmates." Natsu finishes as he wraps his scarf around his neck. We walk in silence.
"So, um… Would you… like to be… my girlfriend?" Natsu asks. A blush burns my cheeks. "Yes." I reply. Natsu reaches over and entwines his hand with mine. "I guess I'll introduce you to my parents when we get to my house." I say. "I would love that. And I'll introduce you to my older brother sometime." Natsu says. "And your father and mother. I want to meet them too." I tell him. "Sure, (name)." Natsu says, a gentle smile on his face.
-Six years later-
Natsu and I have been married for a couple years now. Happy still lives with us. I recently found out we'll be having a baby. Natsu is excited and has been constantly worrying over me. While it is slightly annoying, I wouldn't change it at all because I love Natsu just the way he is.
