Soulmates

Chapter one

"Really, doctor..?" She had whispered in disbelief, her words a little breathy and her hazel eyes tearing up.

Izumo Arisu was a premature baby, heart not yet fully developed when she was born to a mother who'd died while giving birth, a smile on her face during her final moments while holding the baby.

Said baby withstood constant surgery, teetering between life and death constantly until she finally stabilized..

It took years after that, years of continuous treatment, taking medication for her heart until she reached the age of eighteen and was informed that she had finally gotten well enough to stop relying on the medication..

The doctor looked back at her with a proud smile, nodding and placing the files down on the desk. "You should be able to get along with life well now- just don't push yourself and make sure you come back if anything is wrong, alright?" He smiled, pulling out a lollipop out of his desk drawer before stopping himself- "You're eighteen already aren't you? I'm sure you don't need-"

"I'll take it!" she beamed, brightly, grabbing a hold of the sweet and thanking her doctor before leaving the hospital for hopefully the final time.

Everyone had a soulmate at the age of eighteen.

Arisu was the exception..

Izumo Arisu, despite already reaching adulthood, the initials of her soulmate didn't appear anywhere on her skin. Some speculated that it was because she had had too many near death experiences.

Arisu was someone who spent most of her time in intensive care, being homeschooled and living with her grandmother, she was never one with friends. A lonely childhood coupled with the absence of her parents, it was a miracle that she turned out to be such a good girl- adored by her grandmother and her neighbours. It was probably the will power she inherited from her mother.

"Nan, I'm gonna head out to grab some things for dinner, okay?" After hearing her grandmother's approval, the young lady skipped downtown. She lived in a rather secluded area in Kawagoe, Saitama. Surrounded by nature, her hair would flow with every gust of wind, the hem of her dress dancing around her shins.

"Arisu!"

The brown haired female turned to the side, raising a brow before her puzzled expression was replaced by a happy one.

"Ken!" A huge grin grew on the young girl's lips at the sight of her neighbour, running up to him before pausing and catching her breath, her dainty body still weak when it came to running.

"Hey, don't run!" Ken yelled, bolting towards Arisu that was doubled over, worry flashing through his features.

"Heh.. I'm okay!" She giggled, albeit breathlessly, endeavouring to pick up the trolley she had dropped, but Ken beat her to it, grabbing onto her arm to steady her while he held onto the trolley with the other hand.

"Here, I'll help you."

The afternoon dragged on for a bit longer, Ken and Arisu walking up the hill towards her home with the shopping finally completed. It was almost dinner time, the sun setting and illuminating the both of them in the soft, golden shine.

"Here is fine, Ken.. You can go home, I'll bring these inside," Arisu said once they reached a fork in the road, quickly grabbing the bags the other had in his grasp.

Ken hesitated as he stared at the young girl, chewing on his bottom lip.

"Did.. did you get a soulmate imprint?" He asked carefully, heat rushing to his cheeks as his blonde locks covered his eyes. It was no lie that he liked the older girl, and he was only a year away from getting his own imprint- he spent countless nights hoping it would be her.

Arisu paused for a moment, thoughtful but a bit ashamed as she shook her head.

"It's okay though! I'm sure I'll get it soon.. It's just a little late!" The brunette feigned a smile before turning and beginning to walk home. "See ya."

Saying she was disappointed for not getting her soulmate's mark was an understatement. Through the constant operations she had from young, she only continued fighting for her life because she was sure her soulmate would be waiting for her. 

Her mother died at so young and her father followed suit after allowing himself to succumb to depression. When someone loses their soulmate, their bodies react by keeping a constant high temperature for the next three months.. Her father never made it through that and that was when she swore that she wouldn't die.

Arisu never thought she wouldn't even have a soulmate.

"This must be some cruel joke.." She muttered to herself while chopping the carrots she bought.

It was during times like these that Arisu was at her most vulnerable, overthinking and unable to hear anything but the constant chop, chop, chop...

Stab!

"Huh..?"

The knife she was using to cut the vegetables was now buried in her hand, somehow, her eyes losing focus.

 She was staring at the blood as it continued to escape the wound, her eyes widening when she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, electricity coursing through her tensed body-

 And then it was dark.