Nature's Mess

Chapter 1

Her eyes fell on patch on her arm, hiding the blank skin of her arms, where the soulmark supposed to be. The sadness she was feeling turned into the fury, as she glared at her arms.

Sakura had always wanted a soulmate. Hell, she'd even settle for a soulmark, just to feel normal.

Well. Not that she was ever truly normal.

No, her father had ingrained that in her from the moment she was born, and going decades without a rendezvous writing itself across her skin had only reinforced that, over and over again. It seemed like every other person who'd reached twenty had had at least one soulmark appear, even if they'd let the opportunity pass them by to meet their soulmate.

But.

Sakura was a null.

And null didn't have soulmarks. Her father and mother hadn't had soulmarks, and even if they'd had them at one point, duty and clan was more important than mystical or divine meddling.

So no, it had been expected of her to never succumb to any soulmarks she might gain—but they weren't around anymore, were they? She could give in to the mystical if she so chose.

If a soulmark ever appeared.

And she'd checked.

Oh, yes, she'd checked every day. But there was always the chance the mark had appeared for a brief window of opportunity, and she'd missed it, not making it to the correct place on the right date or time simply because she'd been busy.

Hell, the mark could have appeared while she was in Kumo, as there had been no easy way of looking herself over every day.

Plus, well, she'd been a tad bit preoccupied.

A new soulmark, a new chance, a new rendezvous could still appear, but she was well past her Teens now, and her chances were looking slimmer and slimmer as the days went by that she'd be able to enjoy herself with a soulmate.

"Soulmates, huh?" She spat the word like it's poison, "I don't need them. I'm enough." And like every other night, she cried herself to sleep.

Next morning, Sakura got ready for her shift at the hospital. She dropped by Yamanaka flower shop to pick some flowers. Due to early time, the shop was empty except for Ino, who was arranging some pre-ordered bouquets. As soon as the blonde spot her, She beamed at the pink haired girl.

"Hey, On the way to the hospital?"

"Yes. Did my order arrived?"

Ino nodded, before standing up and disappearing inside the room. She came back holding a bouquet. "Here you go. These flowers of yours cost me a lot. The security was so tight in the Land of lightening. And the delivery guy was dick. Good thing you paid in advance.. " She grumbled, handling in to Sakura.

Sakura flashed her a quick smile, taking the bouquet from Ino, "Thanks Ino. I knew I could count on you to get me these. I'm almost done with the research. These flowers can be used as the antidote for the various poisons."

Ino flipped her ponytail and winked, "Aren't you lucky I'm your friend?"

Sakura rolled her eyes and nodded.

Ino opened mouth to say something when suddenly she frowned, "Forehead, Why are your eyes red? Did you cry again?" She asked, tone softening.

Sakura blinked, "Why would I cry? I just slept late. I'm telling you, once I'm done with this project, I'm gonna take a long vacation and just sleep!" She lied, smoothly.

Ino rolled her eyes, "Pfft we both know that's a lie. You are workaholic after all. Vacations  are literally the opposite of what you'll do. Knowing you, you'll probably accept another research project or something..."

Sakura laughed quietly, nodding, "I can't argue with that." Before making her way to the hospital.