A/N: I don't own these characters. Trust me, if I owned Howl than I wouldn't be writing Fanfiction about him :P

Anyways, it's important to let you as a reader know that every story is set in a different time. Example; this first story is when Kiki's getting ready to leave. The next story will be about an adventure she has a few years prior to being thirteen. No specific times, but generally they'll all be from before Kiki leaves.

I have to thank the wonderful *Kadeart0 on deviantart for providing the lovely picture which inspired me to write these in the first place! :)

So, I hope you enjoy my attempts at this! Thanks for reading! :)

Rule Number One- A best friend is there for you, even when you're messy and look like crap

As Kiki frantically threw things around her room, her short hair frizzy and wild, she called to Jiji, "Do I have enough money?"

With a laugh, the little black cat flicked his tail and licked his paw casually as he said, "If you want to live on the streets, yes, we have just enough money to survive a few days."

Frowning, Kiki stomped her foot and complained, "Jiji! This involves you too you know, so seriously, do we have enough to get by until I can find a nice town to settle in and start training?"

Her cat rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to reply when he found it zipped shut. As Jiji frantically scratched at his mouth and fell off the bed, raucous laughter came from Kiki's bedroom door. The witch turned to see her best friend, Howl Jenkins laughing hard and holding his sides as he watched Jiji's panicked movements at having his mouth sewn shut.

"Howl!" Kiki cried, "What are you doing to Jiji?"

With another laugh, Howl waved at her saying, "Calm down, calm down! It doesn't hurt him or anything, it just shuts the sarcastic little twit up." When Kiki made a face and put her hands on her hips as a warning sign, Howl sighed before flicking his index finger at Jiji, giving the cat back his voice.

Jiji hissed before leaping up and out the window, causing Howl to smirk as he carefully picked his way through Kiki's messy room before settling on a free spot near her bed.

"So are you planning on packing your whole room or something?" he complained, leaning back against the railing of her bed as he eyed the heap of clothes on the floor that she was picking through. With a frown, Kiki pouted.

"I'm not packing my whole room. Just…most of it."

At that Howl laughed even louder before saying, "I don't think you're doing a very good job of it. After all…underwear goes there," and he flicked his finger at a pile of clothes, shifting them into her suitcase. Kiki, mortified at his actions, grabbed at the clothing as it sailed past her and clutched it to her chest.

"Howl, stop messing with my packing!"

"What packing? This is just a big mess!"

The two glared at each other before Kiki sighed in defeat and said, "Alright, I might need a LITTLE help getting everything together…"

With a satisfied smirk at having won, Howl sat back and began to order random items to pack themselves in Kiki's suitcase, while she leapt up on her window sill and watched as things flew around her room.

As everything magically packed itself, Kiki crossed her arms and asked, "Do you EVER do things the normal way? I mean honestly Howl, you can't go around using magic for everything…"

Her friend just laughed as he kicked some more clothes off her bed to make room for his long legs, smirking even more widely at her as he did so.

"I can use magic for anything and everything I want. It's easier that way. And you'd be able to do it too…but you can't even fly properly..."

"Oh, shut up!"

Howl fell silent, but winked at his friend nonetheless which finally got a smile out of her. He was about to say something else when Kiki's mother opened the bedroom door, gasping in surprise as she nearly was hit by flying objects.

"Wha-? Kiki!" Her mother said in a stern voice, putting her hands on her hips as her daughter jumped to her feet and gave her mom a winning smile.

"Uh…hey Mom," Kiki greeted her with a half-hearted wave, shrinking back when her mother just gave a sigh and shook her head.

"Do you two mind explaining to me what…all this," she gestured around the room with her hands, "is?"

Howl rose from the bed and gave Kiki's mom a charming smile, bowing slightly as he said, "Good afternoon, ma'am. Just came by to help Kiki with her packing."

Kiki's mom just sighed again and gave Howl a knowing look. "Howell Jenkins, I know that you are a good friend to Kiki but you really shouldn't be doing all of HER work!"

Howl shrugged a bit before walking over to Kiki and slinging his arm around her shoulder, his playboy grin spread across his face. As he ruffled Kiki's hair fondly, he said, "It's no problem at all…I have too much fun helping her sometimes."

Kiki just rolled her eyes before pushing him off with a laugh, turning to her mom and saying, "He's not staying for dinner."

"Um, yes I am!" Howl said, pouting as he crossed his arms and gave Kiki puppy dog eyes. "I'm helping you with your packing remember?"

"Wait…the packing! Howl!"

The three turned to see that Kiki's suitcase was nearly about to explode as the last of her room was shoved magically into her tiny suitcase. As the case trembled and the locks began to snap and pop Kiki's mom took a step back through the doorway, using the door as a barrier while Howl grabbed Kiki and turned his back to the suitcase, shielding his friend. With a loud snap, Kiki's suitcase burst open and everything from her room came pouring out, falling all over the place back into the mess that it had been before Howl had entered. When the last of the items had fallen to the ground (an alarm clock nearly landing on Jiji, who had just re-entered the room) Howl let go of Kiki and the two turned to survey the mess.

Kiki's mom peeked out from behind the door, groaning when she saw the mess before shaking her head and walking off, muttering to herself about rest. As her mom disappeared down the hallway, Kiki gaped at her room before crying, "It's even messier than it was before you started all that magic…stuff! Howl!"

Sheepishly, Howl gave her a grin as he said, "Well…now you can do the work yourself like your mom asked?"

With a growl, Kiki shook her finger at her best friend, scolding him as she lamented, "Now I'm NEVER going to get it done in time!"

At her expression, Howl tried hard not to laugh but as she continued to berate him and complain he couldn't help it, and finally he burst out laughing. While she stared at him, he gasped out, "You're…ridiculous! Lecturing me…for making a mess…of what was already a mess to begin with!"

The more Howl laughed, the more Kiki smiled, until she too was laughing as loudly as he was. After a good bout of laughter, the two settled down and flopped on the floor, kicking things aside as they gasped for air. Kiki was the first to recover, holding out her hand to Howl as she smiled and said, "Want to stay for dinner?"

He grinned back, taking her hand and saying, "You know I wouldn't miss a chance to get some good food."