Soul Marked

Chapter Sixteen

Horrifying Maze

This did take me longer to write but not because of not knowing how but because I finally got rid of all the hardships that was plaguing my family. Its finally gone thank god! Then for the last two weeks I took a vacation to go visit family and just got back a couple days ago. So unfortunately it has been almost another month before updating but I believe with everything going right again and a little happy family fun everything will once again start getting on track for this story.

Thanks for whoever has been sticking with me throughout everything! You guys are awesome.

I hope you enjoy this chapter and if you do please review!

This chapter was edited by my amazing beta: Whatisthiswitchery.

Izuka took off running the excitement of having won that round coursing through her veins. She had done as promised, took the stage and showed everyone that 'she was here!' The last two events was won by her or her team, they had been able to shine all in their own way. There was two more events left as long as she passed. Her brain caught up to her realizing where her feet was taking her.

She had raced over to the entrance, the same one that not too long ago the whole class had exited onto the field, and ran through it trying to find the one person she wanted to see in that moment. Her excitement into happily showing him that she had done it was worth taking up her free time.

It didn't take her very long to find him, it seemed he had figured out where she was going when running off, though part of her hoped that he wanted to see her as well, to state how proud he was of her.

Lately she had begun to notice the shift of feelings she had for All Might. She had always looked up and admired him. He had been her favorite hero most of her life, but recently she had begun to notice a subtle change in her feelings. Izuka had begun to run to him for appraisal over the things she had accomplished, looked to him to be proud of her, and even now he was the first person on her mind other than her mother to announce how far she had gotten.

This was a role her own father should have taken up, she should have been excited about sharing this moment with him, but her father wasn't someone she had contact with more than a few times a year, if at all.

Unconsciously she had begun to designate this role onto All Might.

It was only recently she had begun to understand her own feelings that had been building up over the last year, but she was hesitant to allow All Might to know this. It was obvious he cared for her on some level, more than likely as he would any of his students, so she was unsure how he would see her declaration but would probably feel awkward. So she was happy with the realization and kept it to herself. He had been more of a father to herself than her own ever had.

With a shake of her head she spotted him at the end of the hallway, his back to her, seemingly looking for someone his self. A smile widened across her face as she darted across the space that separates them and threw her arms around his chest in a hug.

Patting her hand he removes her from himself before turning around, a proud smile spread across his lips, as his eyes twinkled down at her. "Ah, Izu-chan," he said his smiling showing even in his voice. "You have been doing exceptionally well!"

"Thank you," she said happily as she rolled back on her heels.

"Are you ready for the maze?" he asked quietly as his eyes glanced around the hallway.

"I'm a little nervous since we don't really know the rules at this moment but I'm going to make it all the way!" she said excitedly saying her words a little louder than last time.

"You have come far young Midoriya, you have kept your word and announced in a great voice that you are here!" All Might said with a fond smile on his face. "Even if you do not pass this round you have made an impression upon the other heroes. I believe you will catch many eyes."

"Thank you Toshi," she said quietly. "It means a lot that you believe in me."

"I put my faith in you all those months ago and not once have I regretted that decision. Now go young Izu, it is time to go wait for Midnight to start the next event."

Rushing forward the few steps between them she wrapped her arms around him once more, a feeling of utter happiness, and parental love spilled over. She wasn't able to contain it anymore and it leaked out in that hug, an action pushed by her own emotions. His arms barely grazed over her own back before she was pushing away and rushing back where she had come from, that smile never leaving her face.

She knew she could win this. Izuka had something to prove and a person to show that he hadn't put his faith in the wrong person. She would good enough to become number one, a symbol for those that needed it.

Izuka burst out of the entrance only a few minutes before the preliminaries would be starting. Her feet quickly led her off in a random direction, her mind not even thinking about finding anyone particular, but she wasn't surprised when she glanced up and found herself coming to a stop beside Kacchan.

The smile on her face only grew wider as her eyes connected with his own, causing a confused glint to shine in Bakugo's ruby depths. A frown tugged at the corner of his lips, the action never really leaving his features but she ignored it and raised her hand up toward him, her thumb up in the air.

"I know you'll do great, Kacchan!" her words full of warmth and strong emotions, her good mood causing her unable to hold back. She believed this festival was going to be great, she was hyped, everything was fantastic, and she was proving herself, all together it caused elation and strong emotions, refusing to be ignored. Even her pull toward Kacchan seemed to be stronger than before making her want to go out of her way to speak to him, wanting to hear his voice, or even see his familiar scowl.

"Don't be stupid," he said his usual scowl gone from his face, and instead in its place a confused frown. "I'll be the best."

"Uh huh," she said with a nod her smile weaker but her eyes shone brightly with admiration and belief. Katsuki's eyes twitched as he felt his hand give a small unconscious muscle spasm toward her hand. His frown tugged deeper in frustration at the feelings she seemed to arouse within him. She was always confusing, always doing something unexpected that caused him to want to reach out and hold her, or keep her near him at all times. It nudged at the anger that was always just below the surface but he shoved it back knowing her actions didn't warrant his assholeness.

Both of them turned back forward as Midnight's voice rang out, gathering everyone's attention on her.

"It's time to announce the teams!" she hollered out as her whip swished through the air. "You will enter the maze in teams of two! You must work together to find the exit of the maze, you must go all the way through, and no using your quirks to fly over walls. You must follow the paths, but beware because you can keep your opponents from exiting the maze, all you have to do is knock them unconscious. Both you and your teammate must make it out of the maze to count as a win, however you can drag an unconscious teammate with you and it will count. Now let's find out who is teamed with who!"

Names began to flash across the screen announcing what lucky people got paired with each other. The first pairing was announced as Todoroki and Momo, Izuka wondered how they would work together. She had her theories about the two but none the less they didn't seem to get along, not even having a relationship at all unlike Kacchan and herself.

The names began to fly by, Kaminari and Kirishima, Shinso and Tokoyami, Hatsume and Mina, Ochaco and Iida, Ibara and Tetsutetsu, Aoyama and Sero, Hagakure and Koda, Sato and Mineta, Shoji and Asui, and Ojirou and Jiro. Finally after what seemed like forever Izuka saw her name flash across the screen beside Kacchans. It had been obvious especially once the last pair of names was shown, they would be together, but she hadn't believed it until actually seeing it.

She knew that Kacchan would work with her solely to move on, even if their relationship had changed since she Marked on him. Something between them had changed, he was still rude and angry, but there was an emotion underneath. An unknown entity that caused him to act odd around her, making him do things he never normally did, not since they were five.

Even if he had to drag her through the whole maze they would make it through.

His eyes darted over to where she stood a little too close to him. The warmth coming off in waves from her body was a little too overbearing and he found himself taking a step away from her, causing her to turn to him with a frown on her face.

"You each have unique starting places!" Midnight hollered out. "The maze completely fills inside the arena and the area outside where the obstacle course was placed! You must find your way from on the outskirts back inside the arena to the middle! The first eight teams win!" They were quickly ushered in the next moment toward the entrances to the field. Surrounding them were huge walls of cement and Izuka knew they would have to once again find this place, they were currently in the middle of the maze but were being ushered out by teachers who would show them where they would start.

The teachers grabbed groups of students and one by one the teams were dropped off in front of openings to the maze. Izuka noticed how far apart each opening to the maze was telling her that there was just enough space where it would be a few minutes before they ran into anyone but it would be unavoidable.

They were much closer than she was expecting. "Good luck," Ectoplasm said with the wave of his hand before leaving, they had been the last team to be dropped off, and in their group the farthest away from the entrance. Though realistically she knew everyone had been placed equal distance but they had to walk around making it seem farther.

"Stay behind me," Kacchan said in a gruff voice. "Don't lag behind. I'll be pissed if I have to carry you out of here." Her nose wrinkled at him as her eyes narrowed. She wasn't happy with his words but kept her mouth closed, they didn't need to start fighting right now.

"Don't just brush me off," she huffed before turning her attention back to the opening. There was a loud shrill that vibrated through the air, the bell had rang, announcing that the race had started.

They both shot from the opening jogging at a steady pace as they turned to the left knowing it would be more likely to lead them in the right direction, though truthfully they were just trying to follow the path that they took to get here.

Izuka followed behind Kacchan allowing him to lead them down different paths always hoping they were going the right way. At least they hadn't run into a dead end yet, she was sure he would blow a fuse if that were to happen. She needed him to stay calm and collected not pissed off. Though that was a hopeless wish as she knew eventually Katsuki would get pissed off at something, more than likely at another team, or herself.

Her breathing was coming out in short gusts as her eyes took in the never ending cement walls as they once again cut down a path that led to the right. They had lost track of which direction they were going and only hoped it was still in the right way.

"How far in do you think we are?" she asked not able to take the silence anymore. Her euphoric feeling from earlier was disappearing for the adrenaline of battle, causing her to tense up and become restless, wishing someone would appear already. Where were the others? She knew that Jiro and Shoji would easily be able to place everyone's positions and either avoid them or take them out quickly. Izuka wondered silently what the others plans would even be.

"Don't know," he mumbled as his pace grew quicker wanting to break free or show someone he was allowed to pummel. His wrist had begun to itch the closer she was to himself and he forced a space between them never allowing her to stay too close. His fingers opened and closed in agitation as they picked yet another bend in the maze. It wasn't until they heard voices around another turn that Kacchan skidded to a stop and held out his hand gripping onto Izuka's wrist yanking her to a stop.

The Mark on his wrist began to warm up the electricity crawling across his skin from before intensified at the touch causing him to drop her hand instantly. Izuka stared down at his hand confusion marring her face before he waved his hand motioning toward the front of them, and then lifting his finger up to his lips in an action to stay silent.

Izuka nodded her understanding as Katsuki flushed against the wall and peered around it noticing Sato and Mineta moving slowly forward as they took cautious glances around them. Katsuki motioned for Izuka to follow him and they both ran around the corner coming up quickly and quietly behind the two.

It was just luck that Mineta happened to turn around and successfully dodge the punch that Izuka sent his way. He reached up and pulled at one of the grape colored balls that formed on top of his head. Throwing it at Izuka she remembered how horrible those things could be if it touched her at all.

Off to the side of her Kacchan used his quirk to go flying after Sato, immediately leading with a right uppercut as soon as he was within distance. Bakugo continued to barrage him with hits, not allowing him any chance to go for the sugar the other boy always held with him.

Izuka frowned as she dodged yet another ball as Mineta began to bounce toward her throwing even more, and in the tiny corridor it was beginning to become hard to avoid the sticky things. Mineta began to smile brightly as he closed in on the green haired girl and dived for her. Not being able to move due to the possibility of stepping on one of the balls she wasn't able to avoid his attack as he launched and landed on her, wrapping his arms around her waist and gripping her tight.

A scowl covered her face at the action as a perverted smile began to spread across his lips. Izuka could feel her mouth open in horror and her face pale as a disgusted frown tugged at her own lips. Taking her hands she tried to pry him off but his grip was tight as drool began to fall from his mouth.

Horrified, Izuka let out a little undignified screech as she began to tug harder. Kacchan upon hearing it glanced over, his vision turning red at what he saw, as his face heated up with anger. The fight with Sato was forgotten as he zoned in on the purple creep. Throwing back his hands he was blasted forward clearing the short distance between them and avoiding the small balls laid throughout the narrow space.

His teeth clenched as he landed in front of them, his crimson eyes only zoning in on Mineta as he thought about teaching the pervert a lesson about never touching Koneko.

"Fucking creep," he snarled as his fist balled up, his fingernails causing crescent shapes to appear in his palm. Izuka sent Kacchan a desperate glance as she tugged at him once more but Mineta wasn't paying any attention to his surroundings too enraptured by where his head was laying on her chest.

Loosening his grip on his own hands, Kacchans fingers curled around the back of Mineta's gym apparel before roughly tugging on the material yanking him clean from Izuka. Letting out a sigh of relief she watched as Kacchan sent off a blast right in Mineta's face causing the boy to be knocked out. Scoffing, pissed at the fact he wasn't allowed to do more to the grape, he allowed his body to drop to the floor before turning around to face Sato again.

Izuka however not wanting to stick close to Mineta had already darted forward her fist raised as she attacked Sato. He jumped back and reached for his sugar but Midoriya swung her foot up and sliced it through the air knocking the treat from his hand as it fell to the ground.

Jumping she kicked out her foot connecting with his jaw before Sato slumped to the ground, out cold.

She smiled slightly at her work but bent down to check and more sure she hadn't done too much damage with her actions. Sato wasn't someone who she talked to often, if at all, but he was a classmate and she didn't want to bring harm to him. Feeling better by the fact that he was just knocked out and would only have a light bruise she dusted off her pant bottoms and glanced up at Kacchan.

He scoffed at her, grumbled under his breath before his eyes narrowed and he reached down to yank her to her feet. "Come on," he said with a roll of his eyes. "I want to get there first. Quit wasting time."

"Kacchan," she said wanting to thank him for the Mineta thing but he only scowled at her harder and yanked at her arm causing her to stumble to gain her balance. Sighing she let her statement drop as she followed quickly after him. Several turns later she sighed as they came to a dead end, the first one they had run across, and Izuka was actually surprised. Usually when she did mazes for fun she usually ran into several dead ends before finding her way out.

Bakugo growled in frustration as he spun around and stalked past her lightly brushing against her arm. "We came through the left, right?" he asked as they came to a stop around the bend where they had come from.

"Yes," she said confidently having been keeping track of the directions as they stumbled around. He nodded and set off toward the right but was stopped as familiar purple hair and Tokoyami rounded the corner coming to a stop in front of them.

"We've either gone in the wrong direction or you're lost," Tokoyami stated calmly.

"You're the one lost here," Bakugo hissed out, moving into a defensive stance. Tokoyami and Shinso took in his body language, the both of them sharing a look before turning their attention back onto the duo.

"Would it be too much to ask that we all pass calmly with no violence," Tokoyami asked his voice betraying the fact that he already knew the answer. Bakugo laughed as he shook his head his hands flexing as he eyed Shinso.

"Probably, you fucking nerd."

Izuka rolled her eyes and sighed before sending Tokoyami a tight smile trying to convey that she was sorry for what was about to happen.

"Your girlfriend doesn't seem too happy about fighting," Shinso stated with a smirk. "Planning on dragging her into a losing fight?" Izuka had figured out by now that Shinso's words were meant to drag out a reaction from people, to make them speak up, so he could catch them with his quirk. He wanted to piss you off, you were easier to catch off guard that way, and he seemed to know just how to push Bakugo's buttons.

Bakugo opened his mouth to speak, more than likely something snarky, but Izuka stepped forward and placed her hand over his mouth causing him to balk and try to rear back away from her touch. She held on tighter and shook her head at him placing her own free hand over her lips silently saying don't speak.

For once he didn't question her actions curious as to why she would do such a thing. He did however forcefully and harshly yank her hand from his mouth like she had burned him.

"What a way to treat her," Shinso said his eyes calculating and following their every movement. He knew they both out matched him in brute strength but if he could get them to speak he would have the upper hand and they would be done for. If that ended up not possible he at least had Tokoyami to back him up. "Why does she put up with that kind of treatment?" His eyes darted toward her but she just stared at him blankly.

From the corner of her eyes she could see Kacchan shaking, she was sure it was in anger, but why exactly would those words piss him off she wasn't sure. They had once been good friends but their relationship was rocky at best and she still had trouble figuring out how he felt about her now days.

The annoyance was obviously still there but he was odd at times. It was frustrating, like right now.

"Got nothing to say?" Shinso said with a sneer. "I'm surprised she's stuck around this long." His eyes darkened as he became frustrated with the lack of response. He knew his best bet was pissing off Bakugo, the guy was just too easy, except perhaps when it came to the girl protecting him. She'd shut him up every time he opened his mouth to angrily reply out. His eyes narrowed onto her and he wondered if maybe she would be his in.

"Though I guess girls do stick around with the jerks, right?" he said continuing to talk. "You know he'd never treat you like you deserve." Izuka was becoming tired of listening to him trash talk Kacchan. That was her Soulmate regardless of the way he treated her, she couldn't just let him continue to talk, and since speaking wasn't possible she planned to just use her fists.

Jumping forward she used her quirk to move farther and faster. Tokoyami was just as fast however as Dark Shadow blocked her path, darting out to smack her away causing her to dodge his counter attack.

Shinso frowned coming to the realization that she was good at keeping her mouth shut. When angry she was able to direct it into a physical attack instead of verbal. He would have to up his game while she was away from him and piss Bakugo off. It certainly wasn't hard but he would have to do it fast enough she couldn't make it back to her teammate to shut him up.

"She'd be much better off with someone like me, don't you think?" Shinso said with a lazy smirk as he winked at Izuka, but his eyes stayed locked onto Bakugo. The mere sentence caused a sick feeling to enter his stomach, as soon as he had seen Ochaco there wasn't another for him, but the tactic would work, even if his words were lies and were painful to mutter.

"You fucking-" Bakugo's words were cut short not allowing him to finish his threat and outrage. There was a click and it was like his brain just shut off before this annoying urge began to tickle at the back of his mind telling him to follow whatever Shinso told him. He could no longer remember the fiery rage that had took him over at the thought of someone else wanting Izuka. Nor could he feel the fact that at times he thought the same thing.

That Koneko would be better off without him.

It wasn't like he had treated her well these past several years, he only ever caused her pain with brief moments of confusion at the way he acted around her. It was truly a painful process for the both of them but it had been carried on for so long, and there was still so many things between the two left unfinished and unsaid that he wasn't sure how they could move on.

However, all of these feelings were no longer something that plagued his mind and caused his anger to always linger, for once in ten years they were non existent.

His mind was deliciously blank except for that damn voice.

"Now knock her out, Bakugo," Shinso said hoping to still piss off Izuka enough to answer him so he could trap them together and end this quickly. "Become the villain you would be better off as." He didn't entirely believe that sentence but he had a feeling it would cause Izuka to become ticked off.

Bakugo could feel the order wash over him, his body falling into compliance easily as he shot off toward the green-haired girl but there was a thought nagging at the back of his mind. Something was wrong, his actions weren't right.

He felt his body strike out more than actually realized he was doing it. His punch connected with her cheek as she stumbled back with the force of the hit.

'Shinso you fucking asshole!' Izuka yelled out inside of her mind. She wanted nothing more than to pummel him into the ground at saying such a thing about Kacchan. Katsuki was no villain, he could never be, but she couldn't defend him, not if she wanted to get Kacchan out of here, to do what he would want. He would not want them to be beat by this guy. She was sure he would be pissed once he came back to his senses, and she didn't want to be one of the people he was mad at, so she had to win.

Which meant not opening her mouth, but that was okay, she would just answer in her mind until she could yell at him later.

Her face exploded with pain at the hit, there had been more force than necessary and she realized it probably was because Kacchan wasn't in control of his actions. His orders were to knock her out, not to be gentle about it. Bakugo swung his arm around, a blast perfectly aimed for her face. He really wanted to go for the direct approach.

She stumbled back once more this time avoiding being hit. Her balance was still off from the last hit but she just barely managed it. Reaching out she grabbed his wrist and spun him around pulling his arm with her so his back was toward her and his arm was pinned behind him.

"Kacchan," she hissed lowly into his ear. "Snap out of it. I swear to god if you knock me out I'll be so pissed."

Instead of answering back like he might once have he yanked his arm not caring about the pain that shot through his body at the action, and dislodged her grip on him. His elbow came out and gutted her as she bent over and dry heaved.

She felt like she would be sick as she tried to catch her breath and clutch at her stomach. Bakugo spun around grabbing her hair with his hand and yanked her forward keeping her off balance as he swung her around slamming her into one of the walls of the maze.

Izuka crumbled to the floor in front of him gasping and groaning in pain.

Katsuki watched this in a haze, two voices inside of him dominating to be heard, to be followed. One saying to continue and the other pissed at his actions.

'This is your Bonded!' roared the second voice, tearing his mind apart in it's rage. "How dare you touch her in such a way.' It was a familiar voice, a familiar argument that he has had several times with himself. The Mark was never happy when he hurt her, mentally or physically but this time it was more than just pissed, it was furious at the fact they were being forced to hurt Izuka completely against their will.

His foot raised in the air hovering over her form as she tried to move into a sitting position or to just roll away, but she couldn't. Her body hurt and she was still trying to catch her breath, to force air into her lungs.

Bakugo shook as a war was raged inside of himself.

A growl left his throat as the haze inside his mind was shoved aside, lifted, before completely disappearing all together. Control over his body and mind came rushing back causing him to stumble and stare down where Izuka was finally gaining her breath back.

His foot slowly lowered to the ground as he began to shake for an entirely new reason. That rage was building inside of himself as he spun around and came face to face with Shinso and Tokoyami. He darted forward his intent clearly to wipe the face off Shinso, he wanted to blast off anything resembling the purple haired guy. He was pissed, frustrated, and sick to his stomach at what he had done. The fact that this guy was the reason was good enough to make it to where he wouldn't exist anymore.

The blasts coming from his hands were loud and chaotic as he rushed toward his target only to veer off course as Tokoyami sent Dark Shadow to keep him from making contact with Shinso. A growl of frustration left his mouth as he darted off to the side and stopped, taking in his opponents.

By this point Izuka had pulled herself up to her feet, her legs feeling like jello as she stumbled forward but griped the wall of the maze for support. Using the wall she walked over to where Kacchan was a few feet away. Her free hand reached out to snatch at his elbow her breathing still coming out ragged as the walk over had taken more energy than originally thought it would. There was something definitely messed up which she figured was a cracked rib from the throw.

Bakugo stiffened at the touch his stomach rolling at the sight of her, Izuka's face was bruised where he punched her, and she was still hunched over slightly from the beating she had taken.

"Attack after me," she said but his eyes widened not liking the idea of her trying anything in her state, it hardly looked like she could stand on her own let alone try to use her quirk. Half the time it seemed like she was getting hurt from her own quirk let alone doing it in her condition.

"Ko-," he tried to speak up but her hand on his arm left as she raised it into the air before crouching as she punched the ground. Katsuki felt the ripple in the ground before the cement under them began to shake and crack before it erupted around them. From Izuka was a crater that quickly traveled over to Shinso and Tokoyami. Neither student could gain their balance from the tremors and weren't able to move before they fell into the hole giving Bakugo his opening.

He ignored the fact that Izuka crumbled to the ground after she had used her quirk, her body quivering with the action and her breathing coming out in short gasps. Defiantly a cracked rib.

He shot forward ready to take his revenge out on the tired looking guy. His first action was to take out Tokoyami as he would be the one to put up a fight. Traveling faster than he had pushed himself before he appeared in front of his opponent and used a blast to spin him around as his hand gripped onto the gym uniform. Mid spin he released his hold watching as Tokoyami flew into the wall, his head rolling to the side unconscious. Turning his attention onto Shinso, Bakugo let out a cold smirk wanting his revenge on the guy that pissed him off.

No one touched Koneko, and especially no one forced him to hurt her. His rage was at an all time high but he held it back not wanting to cause any long term harm, he was sure that would get him kicked out of the festival and he still had a lot to prove. Instead he swallowed the instinct to use his quirk to blast into his face repeatedly and only grabbed the guy by the front of his shirt and raised him up off the ground.

Shinso's eyes were wide, he was surprised that he was able to break free from his quirk. No one before ever had, except once when he had been practicing his quirk on his family, the times they allowed him too. He couldn't quite remember the task he had set his father to do, but from what his father stated he had been able to break free because of his bond with his mother.

Purple eyes widened as they darted over to the crumpled form of Izuka and then back to Bakugo, were they-?

"You fucker, this is for her," he said angrily as he pulled back his fist and let it fly. Hearing the sickening crack of making contact he dropped the still conscious form and turned around to look where Izuka was curled up. He completely ignored the guy behind him knowing that Izuka wouldn't have wanted him to beat the guy to an inch of his life, she was too compassionate. Let him drag Tokoyami out of here, it would be hell to move his form in his condition.

Crimson eyes dulled as he stared at her before he began to carefully making his way back over to her, making sure to avoid the cement that was split apart. Kneeling down in front of her he started to reach out only to pull his hand back at the last second.

"What hurts?" he asked his tone neutral refusing to show concern. He didn't believe he held the right to do such a thing.

"Eto, I believe I've got a cracked rib," she hissed out. It wasn't the smartest move to split apart the cement in her condition but it got the job done, only now she was afraid that she couldn't move at all like before.

Bakugo grunted before hestiantly reaching over toward her.

"Come on," he sighed as he hoisted her up carefully. He was highly aware of the gasp and whimper leaving her lips at the action but they had to get moving. "We've got to make it out of here, I'll help you." She dealt with the pain, not noticing every noise she made caused him to wince and for guilt to flood throughout his body, along with burning anger.

Neither one spoke, both aware that, even if they wanted to, it would only cause her pain. They moved forward going toward the direction Shinso and Tokoyami had come from, hoping that they had taken a wrong turn and missed the way to the middle of the maze. It was slow as they walked but turn after turn they felt they were getting closer. Eventually they were no longer walking on cement and had found grass from where they had been standing before in the last event.

It caused a sense of relief for both of them.

Making the final turn and not running into anyone caused Izuka to smile brightly through the pain and even Bakugo was glad. He wasn't sure if he could have handled having to protect her and keep them from being knocked out especially from someone like Todoroki.

With a sigh Bakugo laid her down on the ground as they waited for anyone else who had made it through. Though as luck had it as soon as she was placed on the ground Momo, who had gotten there only moments before, came running up with wide eyes.

Katsuki pulled back taking several steps away from the pair as his eyes flickered up and came to rest on Todoroki who followed at a more leisure pace.

"What'd you do? Beat the poor girl up?" he asked in sarcasm as he came to stand over the two girls. Bakugo winced and grew angry as his fists clenched at his side.

"Shut the fuck up," he growled out causing two-toned eyes to dart over to him a question in their depths.

"L-leave Kacchan alone," Izuka said with a sigh.

"What happened," Momo asked with concern her hands floating helplessly over Izuka. Worry was firmly set over her features but there wasn't much she could do.

"We ran into Shinso and Tokoyami," Izuka said not wanting to get into it. The grimace on Bakugo's face only caused Todoroki to want to ask questions but an idea of what happened was forming. He had seen what that guy could do though only barely and from far away but he was smart. He had a good idea.

"We'll get you to see Recovery Girl as soon as this event is over," Momo said still frowning at the pained look on Midoriya.

"That's fine I don't plan on moving anytime soon," she said as she closed her eyes hoping that it would help ease the pain if she laid very still. In the end it took another ten minutes before the last couple groups came running through, each of them eyeing Izuka, as she was the most hurt out of the groups. Some had scratches and bruises but she was the worst.

Immediately after the buzzer went off announcing the last groups appearance the walls of cement around them fell away, revealing the empty area the arena once was.

"Let's get you to Recovery Girl," Momo said as she leant down to try to help pick the girl up off the ground. A hand reached out and lightly smacked her hands away. Momo widened her eyes and glanced up to where Bakugo was already leaning down as well.

"Get out of here extra," he said gruffly. "I've got her. You'll just hurt her some more."

"I just need to stay here," Izuka said already not wanting to move knowing it would cause more pain. The position she was in now allowed the least amount to happen.

"You can't," Katsuki said plainly as he gripped under her arms and knees. "Let's go." Izuka gasped at the action of being picked up but that noise caused her chest to move and pain made her go silent. Internally she was freaking out about being this close to Kacchan. They had never been this close, even when fighting.

Her side was pressed into his chest, his hands firmly placed under her knees and cradling her head and back with his arms. She was wrapped safely into him, as he walked he did in such a way that she wasn't jostled at all.

She couldn't help but take a deep breath, the smell of cinnamon, gunpowder, and mint taking over her senses causing her head to spin. It was like a drug to her. Nuzzling into his chest she focused solely on him and became relieved when the pain seemed to dull to the back of her mind. Izuka wondered if this was something that the Bond did. It didn't matter in the end because she relished in the moment. It would be easy to just stay here wrapped up in his arms forever.

Katsuki stiffened as he felt her nose rub into his chest before he heard a soft sigh come from her. His whole body tensed as he walked but was still careful not to cause her any pain. This whole situation was confusing to him. He felt a sense of wholeness holding her, like this was just right in every sense.

He could feel the warmth rolling off her in waves and like before he could feel himself growing agitated, all he wanted to do was figdit but another side of him was content. It was like a softer side had opened up and was threatening to engulf him.

His whole body was at war with itself, confusion only grew and he found himself walking faster to get to Recovery Girl. At this point he wasn't sure if it was for the need to fix Izuka or to just get away from her, either way he quickened his pace.

One thing was for sure. That talk needed to happen soon.

By the way guys don't hate Shinso! His quirk was the only one that worked here, and this event causes something big between our characters to happen next chapter so it was needed! I love Shinso and hate making him the bad guy but for the better it was needed and trust me you guys will be so happy or frustrated that it did!

Bonus: Chapter Three

Momo narrowed her eyes as she walked briskly up to Todoroki. It had been a week and she was growing impatient with being recognized. He had very clearly gained his Mark when she had, Momo remembered the look of surprise and horror wash over his features before they melted away into nothing. She had only thought at first he was the type that was scared of the Bond. There were those out there, and she couldn't help but slightly feel the same. Knowing nothing about this person but knowing without a doubt they were the one for you could be a little overbearing at first but she figured giving him so space would eventually have him realize that they needed one another.

She didn't even need a relationship with him, she knew that having a friendship would be more than enough for her, romance wasn't something she was looking for. Her goal of becoming a hero was quite important to her and the knowledge that a relationship right now would only hinder her dreams was enough for her to put it off.

But this ignorance of her whole being was a little too much, it wasn't something she could just leave alone, the fact that every time she saw him she felt this unnerving need to just say hello, to hear his voice, was a problem. It had gone on for far too long and she was going to give him a peace of her mind. You didn't do this to someone you were Marked with. She had heard of stories of rejected Bonds and they never ended pretty.

He was just going to have to get over whatever was wrong with him. She wasn't going to allow it to affect her life. A simple hello and wave every morning couldn't be too much to ask for, right?

Reaching out she tapped his shoulder. She watched as he stiffened before slowly his body began to turn around. His two colored eyes fell onto her shorter form a flicker of agitation forming over his face before disappearing completely.

She watched as he only showed his normal blank face never showing anything else even to her. Annoyance began to rise up inside of her.

"Todoroki," she had begun but his eyes narrowed before a hand raised up in a silent quiet motion.

"Go away," he stated simply before turning back around, showing his back to her, before walking away.

A crippling sense of rejection shot throughout her whole body and she could feel herself begin to shake. She wasn't sure how much longer she could hold herself up but she darted away anyway. Anger and confusion rushing throughout her veins.

Todoroki could hear the sharp sounds of her shoes disappearing as she walked away from him. He could feel the pain of his words resounding throughout himself. Determination to ignore it, no matter how crippling, was his goal as he continued to walk.

He couldn't accept their bond. Not with how he still was. He couldn't because of him.

Damn Todoroki :,D I'm just so mean to my characters