Hey everyone! It's Runa :)

This is my first "How'ls Moving Castle" story and i thought i might give it a go! If you haven't read my other stories definitely check them out!

Disclaimer: I don't own HMC, if i did then i would be able to die happy.

Now without further a do, i present you with "A Heart's a Heavy Burden: Chapter 1"

'I should've been here. Damn it!' A male yelled as he kneeled down near a woman with hair soaked in crimson as well as her shirt. Tears were threatening to fall as he stared at the lifeless body.

'Howl, don't blame yourself. No on could've known this was going to happen.' Another voice said, trying to console the other. Howl looked up at his companion with red eyes.

'Calcifer, she didn't deserve it. She didn't deserve any of this. And she definitely didn't deserve to die like this.'

…

A man with raven coloured hair hung his head between his knees as he sat in front of the hearth where a fire was watching him. It was just after midnight and he hadn't moved from his spot since midday. Finally, after another few minutes the fire gave up watching his friend sit there in mourning. It had been 20 years; it was time to move on.

'Howl, look at me.' The fire demanded. His friend lifted his head slightly, but his sky blue eyes were still staring intently down at the floor boards. 'It's been 20 years, you should think about moving on and being happy. I know Sophie would have wanted that.' At the mention of the name that Howl held dearly for so many years he looked up with sad eyes.

'It just… happened.' He spoke, voice hoarse from not being used.

'It was her time.' Calcifer stated, picking up a piece of wood and eating it. 'It happens to everyone-.'

'Then why not me,' Howl interrupted. 'When will it be my time? She would still be with me now if I had just figured out how to make her live long like me.'

'But she was done with her life. She had done all she had to do.' Howl stood up finally and paced around the room; his lean figure hunched over slightly from slouching most of the day.

'But she didn't even get the chance to have children, what about that?' Calcifer's eyes looked down sadly and so did Howl's. They both knew why there weren't children. But none of them wanted to mention it. Howl's eyes started to water. No. Not now, he thought. But he knew it wouldn't be long until he was crying like a baby again, mourning over his lost love, his heart aching in his chest. At that thought his hand subconsciously felt the place where her hands had given back to him a vital piece of who he was.

'A heart's a heavy burden.' Those words rang like bells in his ears. Even after 20 years his mind would never stray from her. Her hair that shone like starlight, her warm brown eyes looking up at him with love, and that beautiful smile he always loved when she was happy. Oh how he missed her.

'Howl, you should get some sleep. Do you want me to make hot water for your bath?' Calcifer asked as he saw his friend's eyes fall deep into sadness. Howl shook his head.

'Not tonight, old friend.' Then he slowly made his way to the stairs and up to his room.

'Good night, Howl.' He heard Calcifer say just before he shut his door. Tonight, like every other night, his mind would remind him of when he lost his love forever and how he couldn't do anything to stop it.

Sorry that it was short guys, but just setting the mood first, it will definitely be longer in the next one!

Hope you enjoyed, please leave a review and favorite this story, it helps a lot and gives me motivation to write the next chapter!

- Runa