I made a mistake in the last chapter! In Nagato's piece it was Yahiko grabbing Nagato's hand, not the other way around. It has been edited now, but sorry for the mistake!
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Sakura
It had gotten worse instead of better. Sakura had started seeing a guy, a muscular guy that was a lot taller than her too, to make her feel safe. And it had worked when he was there. He hadn't been the smartest cookie of the bunch, but he was sweet and had been good company. In the morning they said their farewells and with a light kiss she sent the other on his way. Sakura didn't expect they would see each other once more. But it had made her feel safe the entire night and that was the point of it all.
She hadn't expected it would actually set of her stalker. As soon as the guy had left her house and was out of sight, Sakura's phone had ringed. Thinking nothing of it she had answered and immediately came the flood of accusations. Sakura hadn't been prepared for this. She didn't even recognise the number.
'How could you betray me like that? Don't we have something special? I feel so humiliated! Sakura, please. Promise me you won't do something like that again. You can't ruin this. We are meant for each other.'
With trembling hands she had hung up the phone, not letting the other finish his strange speech. How had he gotten her number? And did he really think they had something special? Sakura hadn't even met the guy.
After that he had called her back instantly and when she didn't pick up, he called again and again, desperately trying to get her to answer. But she didn't dare to. She had seen the movies where the girl picked up the phone and then was threatened, finding her demise only one scene later. Sakura didn't want to die yet!
When someone rang the doorbell over and over again while her phone kept ringing as well, she had enough. Stuffing some clothes in a bag she took everything she needed to last a few days and then fled through the back door. She didn't stop running until she reached the bus stop, finding safety among some teens that looked like they were up to no good. Strangely enough she felt like they would stand up for her if something were to happen here.
After that she stayed with Ino for a while, too afraid to even think about going home.
Finding her soulmate was far from her mind.
Nagato
This was not how Nagato wanted his story to go. Soulmates were supposed to be the one for you. That tattoo represented the one that fitted you best and here Nagato was, not sharing his name on his soulmate's wrist.
The worst part about this all was that Yahiko wanted to include Nagato in his life. For him Nagato's tattoo meant that they would be great friends and now Nagato was dragged along to any sort of event. And the more time Nagato spent with Yahiko, the more he saw why Yahiko had been chosen as his soulmate. The energy that bounced off of Yahiko. The confidence. That smile that kicked Nagato's feet from under him. Yahiko was this beautiful person and Nagato couldn't help it. He had fallen head over heels in love.
Every fibre in Nagato's body screamed to let it go, because Yahiko was never going to like him back like that, but it was easier said than done. The more Yahiko invited him over, the longer Nagato stuck around, trying to get as much Yahiko time as he could.
But there was always something lingering in the background, watching him, waiting. Konan was not happy with this turn of events at all and Nagato could understand. They had been together for two years already and in came Nagato, making them question the stability of their relationship too. She hated him and that was okay too.
Because he hated her even more.
Gaara
'I don't believe in the soulmate system. I don't think people can be fated to be with someone and it seems my body has always agreed with me. There is no tattoo on my wrist.'
Gaara held up his wrist for the other to see, keeping up a strong gaze. It was already difficult to explain his way of thinking to people, but this was definitely the hardest time. Never had he prepared himself for this. He always just assumed he was alone in this and that God or whatever being created this system understood his wishes and had left him "broken" like this. But this, this was just some kind of sick joke. Who would do this?
Gentle fingers grabbed Gaara's hand and let a finger slide over the place a tattoo normally would've been. Then motioning for the other the person wanted to make sure both wrists were blank and they were.
Never had Gaara seen anyone look this… shattered. Those pale eyes shimmering slightly in the sunlight, showed tears welling up, but he was too proud to let them fall. The corners of his thin lips were pulled downwards in a grimace. Even his hair looked less lively after Gaara had delivered the news.
It didn't change anything though. This man may wear Gaara's name on his wrist, but that didn't mean Gaara would throw out his beliefs. He didn't want a soulmate and never would want a soulmate. So the expression on the man's face didn't really touch him. It was too bad for him, but what good would it do if Gaara stuck around longer?
'I have to go now.' And without a further word spoken Gaara left the man standing there, in the middle of the street, shattered by what just happened to him.
It hadn't been Gaara's fault that the guy wore Gaara's name on his wrist. And the man was beautiful enough to find someone that would love him properly. Maybe Gaara actually taught the long haired man something.
Maybe he would understand that this soulmate system was simply overrated.
Suigetsu and Karin
'I'm sorry. The booth is only for soulmates, but I can get you two separate chairs to watch the movie from.'
'I'm sorry, you can't use this credit card. It's not in your name or your soulmate's name. Please use a different way to pay for these items.'
'Excuse me, sir. I've noticed you haven't found your soulmate yet. I have a company that could help you out with finding the lucky lady.'
'Ma'am, has this man been harassing you? I can call the police if you want me to. Is your soulmate somewhere around?'
'Sir, you really need to calm down or else I will have you removed from this building. I cannot give you what you want. This information is classified for soulmates only.'
Ino
Quietly they were sitting across from each other at a little coffee shop. Her colleague had understood something was happening and had immediately jumped out of the way, saying soulmates were much more important than some kind of advertising job. Maybe it would've been better if she had stuck around and had gone through with the meeting.
But here they were, Ino having just said she wasn't attracted to girls and didn't really know what to do about it. It had been quiet since. Hinata had been looking down at her cup of tea, watching how it grew darker and darker as the herbs infused with the water. It was an uncomfortable silence and Ino really wanted to leave now. Why couldn't she be one of the people that never met her soulmate? It would've been so much easier then.
Seeing this beautiful girl sitting across from her, utterly confused and heartbroken. She hadn't spoken much yet. Hinata was a quiet girl, Ino instantly noticed, a little shy and bashful. Her smile was sweet and soft. Quite the opposite of Ino, who spoke her mind too soon often and came onto people too strongly when she wanted attention.
'You know somewhere it's kind of funny,' Hinata suddenly spoke up, keeping her gaze down as a slight blush formed on her cheeks. Still shy, but she found the courage to respond. 'My cousin got rejected the other day too. Maybe it's something in the family.' A fake smile tugged at Hinata's lips, trying to make the pain go away and it made Ino only feel guiltier. 'I don't know who had it worse though. The other not wearing your name on their wrist or being rejected because the other is not gay.' A tear slid down Hinata's cheek and she immediately lowered her head more, trying to get her bangs to cover up her face.
Instantly Ino reached for Hinata's hand and gave it a light squeeze, hating the guilt that was tugging at her heart. She had to offer something.
'We can… we can at least be friends?'
Deidara
Questions… All those questions. As if Deidara didn't have enough of those on his own already. But these moments. These he hated the most. It was not fair to be questioned like this. It's not like he had planned this. He was simply born and then it happened. That was all he did.
He could understand their position though and didn't want to come off as some angry kid, but he was feeling attacked and Sasori was in no way sticking up for him. Maybe Sasori was actually happy someone was asking these questions. This way he didn't have to do it. Did Sasori wonder about these things too? Did he feel the same way they did or even worse?
'How did you even get two tattoos?' the first friend asked.
'Did you wish to have two soulmates and then it just happened?' the second pitched in.
'Are you greedy like that?' the third shot at him.
'Or did you simply want to be able to choose? So you could throw Sasori to the side when the other soulmate comes along?' the first one moved back in, glaring at him.
'Is Sasori not enough?'
Kakashi
After that one incident in the park Kakashi had avoided all of them. Walks would be taken over the street now and in areas where little kids should play outside. It had helped him avoid any kid, and one in particular, for years. He finally felt at ease again. Didn't start walking faster every time he heard a kid trying somewhere around the block he was in. Getting back up from that point had been difficult. Seeing Minato still felt the same way as when the little one was born. They had been good friends. Minato had always been there for him. And it all broke down so fast. Kakashi missed him…
But Gai was at least still around and spending time alone was also fine.
Going to the mall to get some new socks was something he did do by himself, because bringing Gai along would only have him go into stores he didn't want to go in. And eat things he didn't want to eat. Safer to do these things alone, so he would only spend money on socks and perhaps underwear.
He hadn't anticipated on some twerp running into him though and then shouting things at him, because it had clearly been Kakashi's fault. Slowly Kakashi looked around to look down at the little kid yelling all kinds of profanities at him and immediately his heart sank. It had been what? Five years again, so the kid must be around ten years now. He looked a lot like his father, but clearly had the temper of his mother.
After Kakashi had stayed quiet for a while Naruto finally cooled down too and looked at Kakashi rather confused. The slight narrow of Naruto's eyes made Kakashi worry. It was as if the kid knew just by looking at Kakashi that this would normally be such an important moment in their lives.
'Go home,' Kakashi instantly said, trying to avoid any kind of question Naruto might shoot his way. 'You're too young to be around here on your own.' And with that said he started walking away, but of course he wouldn't get the last word.
'You're not my mother! I can do whatever I want, jackass!'
Glancing back over his shoulder Kakashi shot the kid an unimpressed look. 'I can call your mother though. I bet Kushina would like to know where her son hangs out in the weekends.'
After the little scared sound leaving Naruto's mouth the obvious question came. One Kakashi would never answer and would ignore as he finally would get his socks. 'How do you know my mom?'
He bought grey socks with a black stripe at the top.
Itachi
High school had finally started for Itachi and it absorbed most of his time now. Which was welcomed, because every chance he had to think of something else, his mind would wonder to Sasuke. The fact that their parents had forbidden for them to spend much time together had caused them to want it more. They just wanted to figure things out. To understand why it was so wrong to want to be together. Still Itachi hadn't disobeyed. He had not sought Sasuke out and had left a room as soon as Sasuke entered it.
Not a way a teen should live his life, but there was no other way. Two brothers together was wrong.
Sasuke didn't have the same idea though. He was still young, free and perhaps a bit more of a rebel in a way. They shared the same curiosities, but Sasuke actually tried to find things out. Sasuke would ask their parents lots of questions and if they didn't want to answer, he would ask someone else.
The concept Sasuke didn't understand and Itachi actually also couldn't wrap his head around, was that if soulmates was this important to their society. It was that what practically made the world spin. Then why weren't they allowed to be together?
There was only one thing that Itachi did which was wrong. Once a week Sasuke would really show his rebellious ways and sneak out of his bed at night, only to crawl into Itachi's.
Itachi never kicked him out and simply held him through the night until Sasuke would sneak back into his bed around dawn.
Obito
Another lonely year had passed. But the idea that it would actually never change struck Obito. Before this he knew he had been waiting on someone, but now there was no one left to wait for.
Still strangely enough life had continued on. Obito had fallen back into his usual rhythm of working and hanging with friends over the weekend. It wasn't the same though. He didn't laugh as hard as he used to. Wasn't as motivated to work as hard as before. He had missed the promotion he had been aiming for, because he hadn't finished his work in time. He struggled still, even if it didn't immediately show on the surface.
The thing Obito did a lot of now was surfing the internet. Seeing if there were others that shared his story or other stories that also prevented them from being with their soulmate. It was probably nuts and Obito had definitely gotten addicted to reading all those sad stories. But it made him feel better, knowing he wasn't alone in this. And many people were enticed by this, finding sharing their stories on the internet exhilarating.
That's how he had made new friends or perhaps just pen pals. Someone to write to when he was feeling down.
And he loved hearing all their stories too.
…
Characters © Masashi Kishimoto
Let me know what you think!
And because this a great way of promoting something... I am seriously obsessed with the soulmate AU idea and therefore have created an RP forum. You can fill out a sheet for a character you like. Can be canon Naruto, canon Attack on Titan, canon Free! or an OC. I will then use that information to give you a soulmate, perhaps with some of the troubles seen above, and then you can live out this life! Almost like a dating app, but not quite XD I would love for you to join, so please check it out ^^ Link below
forum/Soulmate-AU/156194/ - add fanfiction dot net before it
Love, Dana
