Soul Marked

Chapter Two

Proposals and Changes

Hi guys! So I was supposed to upload this yesterday but my husband cut and dyed my hair and that ended up being so late that I just went to sleep as soon as it was done, so sorry it's a day late! Here it is though.

After today I plan on going to a once a week update time. I get to only write at night when my daughter is asleep so that's just two or three hours a day unless I stay up later. It takes me a couple days to finish a chapter so I think I can stick to the time limit if I buckle down while working on this story and the other.

Thanks to all who has reviewed! I can't believe I already got so many in a two day time limit, and two of those were shortly after I update! Wow! I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Next chapter we will be getting into the action and things will start to get interesting. More Katsuki/Izuka interactions. Yay! Review!

Edited: July 16, 2018

This chapter was edited by my amazing beta: Whatisthiswitchery.

Bakugo kicked at a can as he listened to the two behind him, both getting on his nerves. "Haven't you known her since you were kids?" One asked staring at the back of his head.

"Yeah, you two used to be pretty good friends, you went pretty far today." Katsuki glared, his eyes staring ahead as he took a swig from his can.

"It's her fault for getting in my way," he growled out crushing the can in his hand, just thinking about her pissed him off. His eyes fell down to where his mark was hidden his sleeves of his jacket, he kept them covered up at all times, not wanting to even look at the marks that she had messed up. They use to flourish, something his mother even said was beautiful, but then she had to go and ruin it, causing pain to erupt everywhere.

It was her fault that they were this way.

"Hey, it's stupid, don't be worried about it," the long haired one said with a shrug from his shoulders. His body tensed at letting it go, how could he just let it go? He was supposed to have everything, this mark proved he had found happiness, but it was all ruined. Fate had laughed in his face, dousing any dreams of his future with his soul marked.

He couldn't just let that go.

His wrists screamed out in pain as he felt the thorns dig into his skin, announcing their displeasure. His thoughts drifted back to earlier when he had held Izuka up in his anger, pinning her into the air, causing her to shake like a leaf. A grimace crossed over his features before anger flooded his system once again.

Her fault, all hers.

His actions were justified, she had ruined life for him. She continued on as if she didn't even know, though he was sure she didn't, after all he had never told her.

"She's an idiot, dreaming of becoming a hero, Quirkless!" He scoffed at the thought tossing his empty can into a garbage can as he passed, his hands digging into the pockets of his pants as he continued walking. "Stupid. Pisses me off."

Both boys watched the blonde with raised eyebrows, he had always felt such anger for the small girl, but it was widely known around school that no one was allowed to touch the Koneko, she was all his. They only jeered and mocked from a distance, and that was fine to him, as long as they didn't touch.

A growl ripped from his throat as he began to stomp moving faster away, needing something to take his mind off the green-haired girl.

She was always on his mind.

His mind drifting off to places that only angered him, he hadn't noticed the two boys behind him coming to a stop, or the putrid smell that had littered the air, or the noise of something dripping.

"Look!" The boy yells pointing at the green slime that loomed over Katsuki, threatening to overtake him. Bakugo spun around on his heel, coming face to face with the being that had lunged his way. The slime wrapped around his body, tugging at him, pulling him deeper into the depths of his body. Gasps fell from his mouth causing his air to be cut off, blasts sounded close to him, desperate to get this guy off of him.

子猫

"Without power, can one become a hero? No, I should think not."

The words from her favorite hero rang in her ears as her feet continued to move on, dragging her in any direction, barely caring where she ended up. Her eyes stared blankly at the notebook she held in her hand, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

Dreams, crushed by her hero. Reality had settled in, even All Might didn't think she could become a hero. Kacchan had been right, everyone had, the truth of it echoed in her ears, destroying her from the inside out. The hole in her chest dug deeper, clawing its way permanently into her chest. Closing the notebook, she used her free hand to clutch at the fabric of her shirt, over where it was painful.

She had tried so desperately to believe it wasn't true, for ten years she put her all into believing that she would become a hero. That it was possible, it was all she had. Without it she was nothing.

Her feet continued to carry her, a sudden blast pounded through her ears, causing her to drop the hand that gripped her shirt, and for her emerald eyes to open wide, glancing around in confusion. She spotted the police car first, then the smoke surrounding the area that the explosion had come from. Her feet had taken her to where the heroes were, a habit that seemed to have been deeply rooted into her core, she had come without thinking.

A crowd milled outside the alley, people glancing into the scene, watching what was happening, no use to help. Izuka told herself to turn away, what was the point of watching when she would never become a hero? Why obsess over it anymore, all it would cause is pain and uselessness.

A feeling tugged at her stomach keeping her rooted to the spot, refusing to let her take off before finding out what was wrong. Giving into the feeling, knowing she wasn't strong enough to fight the need to watch she inched forward, trying to peer through the crowd, wanting to know what was wrong.

At what she saw her breath caught in her throat, leaving in a gust as her eyes widened at the villain, the same one from before! Panic began to settle in as did guilt, she had done this she was sure. All Might must have dropped the container because she had held onto him. If she had just let him go, this would have never happened, whoever was trapped would have been safe, it could have ended with her.

"Why isn't anyone doing anything?" a person asked from the crowd.

"Can't," responded another. "Apparently the villain caught a junior high school student, it's been a while." Blood drained from her face, it had been horrible, not being able to breath, and that was only for a few seconds, this person had been baring it for longer. Izuka didn't understand how they did it.

Guilt pounded away at her subconscious. They were waiting for All Might, the hero that was suitable for the job, the quirk that could take care of him. Her fault.

He wouldn't be coming, she had taken up too much of his time. The image of a broken and scrawny All Might flashed in her mind. He wouldn't be able to help.

Someone would come. A hero would save this person, she had to believe that. If they didn't she wouldn't be able to live with herself. Not being able to keep her eyes from looking she glanced back up, familiar red eyes locked onto her own, desperation leaked through the connection.

Kacchan!

The villain had Kacchan, was killing him like he had done not so very long ago to her. Her grip on the notebook lessened as her body began to shake. This was someone she knew, no one was here to help. All Might wouldn't be coming. Her feet took off through the crowd, pushing and shoving people out of her way, her eyes locked onto Kacchan.

Her arms flailing as her mind tried to catch up to her actions. She was running, running toward the villain.

The same one that had nearly killed her.

He had Kacchan.

Katsuki's red eyes widened as they centered on the long curly green-haired girl running at them full speed, tears shining her ears, panic clear on her face. Stop. "Koneko." The word was pulled from his lips before he had time to process it, more slime being shoved down his throat at the action.

Izuka kept running, panic was all that she could feel, and desperation. She had run out! Why?! Behind her she could hear the shouts of the heroes telling her to come back. She maneuvered around the flames, her legs not hesitating, not stopping, only pushing her forward.

Her mind had caught up, a plan forming, pulling at her arms, demanding that they shrug off the backpack. The strap in her hands she rocketed it forward letting it release from her grip and fly through the air, hitting the villain in the eyes. Distract!

She had to keep him distracted, she had to grab Kacchan.

"Kacchan!" The scream was ripped from her lips, tears had flooded from her eyes, coating her face in their saltiness. The villain reared back as the bag made contact, Izuka reached out her hands grasping for any limb of Katuski. Her fingers gripped at his flesh but the slime caused them to slip, making it hard to keep a hold of him.

The slime slipped from Bakugo's mouth and nose, allowing for him to breath, gasping heavily as his eyes made contact with hers.

Panic shoved at his chest as he stared at the girl trying to save him. She wasn't supposed to be here, shouldn't be, had to get away. "What are you doing!" He shouted, anger burning in his veins. Izuka's fingers dug through the sludge searching for his hand again, trying to get a grip on anything to pull him out.

"Kacchan," she gasped out. "You looked like you needed saving." The villain glared down in annoyance at the girl who kept digging for her friend, getting in his way.

"Just a little longer, get out of my way girl!"

Katsuki watched as the sludge hand came flying through the air, its path leading to Koneko. Her fingers gripped at his hands, latching on tightly, gaining leverage as she pulled desperately, his skin cold from the slime. His fingers twitched trying to wrap around her wrist, free of bracelets since the day she found out she had no quirk, no longer finding the need to hide from it.

"Get out of here, Koneko!" Bakugo screamed, but as he did his grip on her wrist didn't lessen.

All Might was next to her, his hand latching onto the two junior student's hands, keeping them connected. "All might-," Izuka said in a hushed voice as he glanced down at her.

"The lesson I left you with, I should practice what I preach," All Might said as he pulled the sludge from Katsuki. "A pro should always be ready to risk his life! "

Bringing his free fist back he rushes it forward hitting the villain, yelling, "Detroit smash!" His hand kept the two kids latched onto him, keeping them from being blown away along with the villain, as rain began to fall down around them.

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. As the two slept the heroes swept in to clean the area from the residue the villain left around. All Might dragged the two off to the side out of the way of the clean-up, waiting for them to wake up themselves.

子猫

Izuka readjusted the strap to her bag as she traveled down the alleyway to her home, it was only a couple blocks away now, the day had drained her. She had been caught up in a villain attack, met her hero, was rejected by her hero, and helped save Kacchan from the same villain. It was tiring, she wasn't sure how she was able to keep one foot moving in front of the other.

Today had been emotionally and physically taxing. Gravel crunched behind her announcing the arrival of someone, and all Izuka could think of was that today wasn't over yet, there were still taxing things to have to be dealt with. Her body froze but she was too tired to turn around, she wasn't sure if she even had the strength left. Her shoulder hunched the bag feeling heavier than it was a second ago.

"Koneko," the word was spoken softer than it had been in years, the action only causing her to tense even more, this wasn't normal. He hadn't spoken to her in a friendly way in ten years, why would it change now? Saving him wouldn't have caused this, it would have only caused anger, like normal. She refused to turn around waiting for the boot to drop. "I never asked you to save me, it was stupid of you to do it. You're quirkless, he could have killed you!"

His voice ended on a growl, a small smile lighting up her face, but it didn't reach her eyes. They were still dull and lifeless, reality hadn't grown any better.

She could hear Kacchan turn around nothing else left to say as he took off in the opposite direction heading back toward his house, having traveled the extra distance to hunt down Midoriya.

Sighing the green-haired girl began to move once more her feet sluggishly pushing her forward. "It's time to think of a more realistic future," she said to herself, her voice small and unhappy. Only one good thing had come of today, she may not have been able to make a difference, but Kacchan was going to be alright, and that sparked a tiny bit of happiness inside of her.

Emerald eyes widened as a blur of yellow and white flashed in front of her, the object huge and towering above the smaller girl, leaving her to gaze up, up, and up into the face of-

"I am here!" announced All Might in a booming voice causing Midoriya to stumble back a step-in surprise, her eyes wide with shock. Her grip on her backpack tightens unwillingly as her heartbeat races.

"A-all Might!" She asked her voice sounding louder than normal in her surprise before she could catch herself and calm down. "What are you doing here?" Her eyes were still searching the area to make sure she was seeing something real, disbelief that he had actually tracked her down after earlier. "How did you get free from the reporters?" It wasn't the most pressing issue but the words came flying out before she could stop them, she was still confused.

"Shaking them off is nothing to me!" He responded proudly as his body drew up to appear taller. "After all, I'm All Mi- Koff!" He prepared to flex but as his muscles tensed smoke began to pour from his body, abruptly deflating into his bony smaller version of his body as blood flew from his mouth, causing Izuka to scream out in shock, still haven't gotten use to the knowledge of what had happened to All Might.

She gazed at him in worry as he continued to cough, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he wiped away at it. Drawing himself back up his sunken in eyes stared into her own concerned ones.

"Little girl," All Might began as he recovered his overgrown clothes now hanging lightly off his body, making him appear more tinier. "I've come to thank you, apologize, and correct my words from earlier."

Midoriya furrowed her brow as she tried to figure out what he was trying to say, her worry being taken over by confusion. "W-what do you mean?"

"Without you kid... if I hadn't heard your story..." All Might said sounding hesitant as he tried finding the right words. "I would have been nothing but fake muscles and insecurities! So, I thank you!" He hunched over quickly in a small bowing motion before straightening back up.

"I-I don't understand," Izuka murmured as she picked at the cuticles of her nails. "It was all my fault that any of that happened!" Guilt wracked at her mind as her eyes fell to the ground not able to look her idol in the eyes, not after what she had done. "I got in the way, kept you from doing your job, and I said all of those things, even though I have no quirk. I dared to ask-" The tears were beginning to build in her eyes again, she fiercely began to blink refusing to let them fall.

"Exactly," said All Mights voice causing her to freeze before glancing up widely in confusion. "Out of all the others, heroes, and not, you, timid quirkless you, acted. You motivated me into action." His words were causing her to shake as she slowly came to the realization of what he was saying.

"Most of the top heroes have stories of when they were children, showing greatness even then, and many of them claimed the same thing, their bodies simply moved before they could think!"

His speech caused those tears that had already built in her green eyes to spill over, now for a whole different reason. She had been the one to spur her favorite hero into action. The tears began to leak down her face and once again her gaze fell to the ground, she didn't want her favorite hero to see them.

As she stared down at the ground her fists clenched at her side as the tears rained over her cheeks, her body shaking with the emotions running through her. In that moment Izuka seemed to have remembered those words her mother had uttered all those years ago.

"I'm sorry Izuka! I'm so sorry!"

The voice of her apology echoed through her mind as the present words of All Might still filtered through.

"That was what happened back there was it not?"

"Yes," Izuka cried out through her tears and the emotion of acceptance. The snot built up as it ran down her nose, her word barely eligible through it.

No mom, back then what I needed you to say was-

Izuka was beginning to feel weak in the knees the power of her emotions getting the best of her as she allowed her body to fall to the ground.

"You can be a hero!"

A sob escaped the confines of her lips as relief and happiness rushed through her.

Fantasy had become reality.

As she kneeled there on the ground in front of her idol, bawling her eyes out, all of the negative words that had ever been spoken to her-

"Midoriya? No way!"

"There's no hope for her!"

"I'm sorry. Izuka I'm so sorry."

"You're quirkless and you think you can rub shoulders with me?"

-seemed to give away to happiness and relief, acceptance and someone finally believing in her had appeared. They believed she could do it, All Might believed. It was a lot to take in.

"I believe you're worthy to inherit my power!" All Might exclaimed causing her head to snap up and stare up into his eyes.

"'W-what?" her voice coming out small but an excitement was building up inside of her.

"What's that face for?" he yelled out as he laughed loudly. "It's a proposal! Everything begins here, now listen little girl-" Blood spurted from his mouth but this time Midoriya didn't react to it. "I'm asking, if you want to try accepting my power!"

子猫

In the end she had gladly accepted One For All, the quirk that could be passed down from person to person. He had chosen her, the quirkless, markless, wanna be, and she still couldn't believe it. Soon she would have everything she had ever wanted, it was all within reach now. For the next ten months she would train like never before, sticking to a strict schedule and diet that All Might had listed for her.

If she simply followed those guidelines she would be ready to receive his quirk, but she had to train her body to prepare for it.

Which was why two days later she found herself on the beach, at six in the morning before classes would start. They would spend their mornings clearing off the beach, training her body. During the weekdays she would only spend an hour before having to rush off to get ready for school, but the weekends she spent a portion of the morning there with All Might.

As time passed and it became routine Izuka had talked her mother into making two lunches for her during the weekends. Inko wasn't told what had happened, only that Izuka was determined to get into U.A. and was having some help to train. The woman wasn't overly thrilled at the prospect of her daughter not being able to join the hero course, but she was supportive, allowing and helping in any way she could. On the weekends she would end up taking two lunches with her to her training.

"All Might?" Izuka asked as they settled down to eat their lunch and take a break. The beach was steadily being cleared by the small girl, her body was changing as well. Her stomach was flatter, her arms more tone, but they were still only half way there, five more months were left until U.A. more time to get even better.

"Hm?" he asked as he stuffed his face with the food that her mother had made, he never got homemade meals so it was always a treat when she showed up with these. Proving the fact that he loved it so much he didn't take the time to respond with words.

"Do you think I'm really the one to accept your power?" her voice came out small like usual but there was a hint of confidence that peeked through now that she had grown closer to the older man. It was a question that weighed on her mind every day, always there in the back wiggling its way up front. Was she really someone who could emerge from All Might's shadow and one day take over the weight of the world for him? Had he made a mistake?

Sensing the seriousness of the situation he set aside the delicious food, only glancing at it for a second before turning his attention to the small girl beside him. She had come so far in the last few months but there were still many hardships she would have to pass, doubting herself shouldn't be one.

"You've proven yourself to be a worthy person, your need to protect even before yourself is admirable," he said placing a hand on her shoulder. "I see myself in you." Izuka stared down at the food as she heard him pick up his bento again and begin to eat once more.

"T-thank you," she whispered as she followed his actions. As lunch break ended she stood back up, ready to start clearing debris again.

After training Izuka sighed as she felt her muscles tense from the overexertion of the day's events, she had pushed herself harder than normal, All Might had made her leave an hour early. She could have cursed him for causing this, if she had left like normal she would never have run into him.

"Koneko," came a growl of a voice as he stalked forward to come stand in her light of sight. She hadn't seen him outside of school, had been too busy to pay much attention to him while they were there and he seemed to have no problems keeping away from her. He hadn't even tried to talk to her since the day that villain attacked.

"Kacchan," Izuka's soft voice said as she stared up at him wide eyed. Her body was shaking lightly, it did every time Kacchan was around, she turned into a stuttering mess. His gaze swept over her noticing the changes, it was obvious she had been working out, training for he could only assume U.A. It pissed him off that she was still aiming for it, without a quirk she would never pass, and if she did, she would end up dead.

"What do you think you're doing?" He hissed as he stalked up to her, coming to a stop an inch from her face.

"W-what do you m-mean?" She asked unsure about what was going on and scared.

"You've still got that fantasy of going to U.A. to be a hero. You need to get that out of your fucking head, it's stupid to think that a quirkless little girl like you can make it as one." Izuka stiffened, the shaking in her body changing from being scared to being mad. She was so tired of him saying that she couldn't do it. She was going to!

"That's not true!" she yelled out pushing away from him as her fists clenched tightly at her sides, she was angry. He made her so angry, always doubting her, being rude to her, and none of it made sense why he began to act this way. "I'm going to make it! Just watch me!"

Pushing past him she didn't wait to hear his reply only wanting to leave before she lost her nerve and began to act like the scared little kitten he thought her to be. She couldn't be that anymore, not if she wanted her dream to come true.

Putting one foot in front of the other she kept walking away not daring to turn back to look at him.

Katsuki, surprised, froze in his actions and just watched her walk by. His wrists itched causing him to tug at his sleeves as he listened to her footsteps disappear, getting softer and softer the farther she went. Shoving his hands into his pocket he felt anger lick at his mind again as he stalked off.