Title: In which an obsessive man meets an obsessive woman and then some.

Chapter: 1

Chapter Length: 4 pages

Date: July 11, 2005
Fandom: Howl no Ugoku Shiro / Howl's Moving Castle (movie)
Pairing: HowlxSophie, KabuxSophie, KabuxLettie
Rated: PG-13 just to be safe
Standard disclaimer applies.

Chapter 1: In which Lettie discovers a truth.

Sophie looked at herself in the mirror one last time. Had it really been that long since she had last seen herself in a mirror? It should be. At least six months, she told herself, since that morning. All the night before she had wanted it to be a dream. But in the morning she was more calm and rational enough to run away from her home. Being transformed into an old lady didn't really bother her when she thought about it, but she was badly shaken from the surprise. It would have been far worse if she had been transformed into a chicken, or a cow. Probably eaten by now, she often thought.

But instead, she was now living her happy ending with the man of her life. The curse had really turned out to be a blessing, and she was so eternally grateful to the Witch of the Waste (who was now just called The Witch because she didn't live in the Waste anymore) she didn't mind any sort of trickery she used on her. She thought of Markl as her own child, the sweet boy. He was so smart for his age, and so responsible! Sophie often thought of giving her husband-to-be a beating for exploiting children under age 10. Heen was also very cuddly and fun to play with, despite his asthmatic remarks. And Calcifer was still a moody and sarcastic fire demon, but his occasional tantrums had disappeared. He came and went often, but always remembered to land the flying castle before going away. Which was a relief to Sophie.

"Sophie, really. You look as if you were meeting the undertaker," Howl said disapprovingly.

It was true. Sophie had been pretty apprehensive about the audience with the King of Ingary for a week now. Howl thought she'd be excited about visiting Prince Justin –also known to Sophie as Kabu– again, so he had informed the King that he'd be bringing his wife along. Only that Sophie wasn't prepared to meet not only Prince Justin and the King of Ingary, but also Madame Suliman (Howl's scary magic teacher), and many other important political figures. She was pale and stressed, and somewhat with a temper. After all, Howl had decided to bring her sister Lettie along "so she could feel more comfortable". But that could prove to be a problem.

"I wish I was taken by the undertaker. It'd save me from this meeting," she said and turned away rather hastily from Howl's approaching embrace.

"You know it's not that bad," Howl said. "You have met already Prince Justin, and the King, and Madame Suliman."

"Yes, yes. I could deal with all of those, even your psychotic teacher. But you just had to invite Lettie, huh? Oh, the fit she must have had when she found out I married you."

"I thought it would relax you," Howl justified himself.

"Ha-ha. Sure thing. I am dead scared of Lettie when she gets angry, and I don't want to think how she reacted when you told her I'm engaged with the evilest skirt-chasing wizard of the country," Sophie paced to her room fetching her blue bonet. Howl followed.

"Don't worry, Madame Fussball," Howl said, taking a look at himself in every surface that would reflect him.

"Don't worry, don't worry. I was never particularly worried about anything until you showed up, Howl Jenkins," she accused him, pointing a shaking finger at Howl.

He took the finger in his hand and kissed it. Sophie melted.

"If you keep making a scene, we'll not make it on time," he pointed out, and led her to the main room. "And we still have to pick your sister up."

"I guess you are right," she admitted.

"Markl, are you ready yet?" Howl called.

"I'm right here, Howl-san," the little boy called.

He was already sitting in the doorsteps, his hair combed for the first time in years (Sophie insisted so much Markl couldn't say no), and wearing a bright green suit. Heen was sprawled on the floor, expecting someone to scratch his belly.

"Not now Heen. We'll go with Lettie and she hates dogs. Plus, we wouldn't want that evil Suliman keeping you back with her," Sophie said.

"Heen!" coughed Heen.

"We will bring gifts back," Markl promised patting Heen's head, then standing on his toes turned the circling knob blue-down to Market Chipping.

"Let's go," said Howl, offering Sophie an arm.

She accepted it, and took Markl's hand with her free hand. Anyone who didn't know them would think they were a normal family. Unfortunately for Sophie, no one recognized them and they were far from being normal. Starting with her grey hair.

"Where have you seen such a young face with white hair?" "Probably made a deal with the devil." "Doubtlessly seduced the handsome lad with black magic." "I've heard she's the girl whose heart was eaten by the Evil Wizard Howl."

Sophie was incredibly cross at everyone. They really did seem to enjoy talking about others. What a stupid thing to do. Everyone was grateful that they arrived to the bakery in the blink of an eye. Markl suspected Howl's magic had been the cause.

"She lives in there, you know?" Sophie informed Howl, who looked puzzled when no one was outside. "It's not proper that a girl waits outside. She looks indecent, and only indecent women who sell their bodies do that."

"Then shall I knock the door?" Howl asked.

"If you want to," Sophie said. "Or you can wait all day for her to come out."

"My, what a temper you have," Howl said, raising his hand to ring a small bell.

Markl pushed his face against the shop window. The bakery was filled with shelves and shelves of pastries and tarts, and tables full cakes, and in the counter there were piles of steaming buns. On a normal business day, it would have been packed with people buying the delicious pastries and visiting Lettie. Everyone knew that there was hardly a young man who wouldn't stop by every day to buy something from the beautiful Lettie Hatter. She was a jewel to the Cesari's, and the fact that she was still unmarried was even better.

Lettie appeared from the other side of the counter and waved with a huge smile. She looked gorgeous, as always, even when she was wearing a rather plain red dress not very unlike her uniform. She took a purse and a parasol with her, grabbed a paper bag, and headed toward the door.

"Goodness! Sophie, what happened to your hair?" Lettie asked horrified.

"Oh, it's a long story," Sophie smiled. "But it's not bad, actually. I think it's rather nicer than the plain brown I used to have."

Lettie hmmmed disapprovingly. She had been raised to think a woman's hair was one of her most charming features. Not that Sophie's had been very beautiful previously, but at least it was long. And she often wondered why Mother had never wanted to raise Sophie like her. Perhaps because Sophie had taken after Father? The brown hair and thick eyebrows and brown eyes… Mother didn't appreciate her enough, she decided. Lettie, on the other hand, loved Sophie a lot.

"I think that is the way woman in High Norland use it," Lettie cheered. "Maybe I will cut mine when I marry, you know?"

"Oh, do you have a fine proposal yet?" Sophie asked pretending to be excited.

The day a man didn't ask Lettie to marry him would be the end of the world. So far she had rejected 2649 men, and more than half had proposed at least two more times.

"No. Not yet," she said without giving a second thought. "But putting that beside, where are you living? Where have you been all this time? Mother hasn't been here since half a year now! All I knew was that you had run away from home!"

"Well, like I told you it is a long story. But I will tell you later. Now we have to hurry or the King will be fretful!"

"Oh, that's right!" Lettie agreed and turned around to face a white shirt.

Lettie lifted her head to see the man she had failed to greet. He was tall and with a very handsome face, his dark hair smartly pulled back in a ponytail. He was wearing the usual black trousers and shirt that everyone wore, but with a blue-and-silver jacket. Most shocking of all were the bright green earrings that sparkled between strands of his black hair. Perhaps they were the magic implements of a wizard.

"I believe you are Wizard Pendragon," she said smiling warmly.

Sophie's eyes widened. She had been wondering why Lettie hadn't been uproarious. She wasn't the kind of lass that would shut her mouth about something that she didn't regard as appropriate.

"You could say I am," Howl said cheerfully and kissed her hand.

What a nice man Sophie found for herself, Lettie thought. A true gentleman, and on top of that a respectable wizard. His name was familiar in the whole country. Wizard Pendragon, the King's favourite magic user. Lettie had first been worried when Sophie had come to her telling her incredible tale of strolling in the sky with a handsome blond man. She was sure it was Wizard Howl, but Sophie had been so love struck she wouldn't have thought it twice to go and her heart to him. Lettie's eyes wandered until they found a little person right next to the Wizard.

"And who might this be?"

She continued her inspection by bending down so that she was in level with Markl's head. She thought he was cute as a button, and with his red hair and green suit he resembled an elf. She remembered her brown bag of pastries and decided she would give it to him.

"My name is Markl. I am the wizard's apprentice, Miss. I manage his affairs and do minor business such as selling spells and charms," he said importantly.

Lettie was shocked by the child's tone and confidence. Her thoughts on him would have gone deeper if Sophie hadn't broken in.

"Look, Lettie. His name is not Pendragon. He is Wizard Howl, the one with the moving castle."

Notes

This is not remotely related with my last fic.

Kabu in Japanese means turnip.

I have no idea what Kabu's real name is, but we'll call him Justin because in the book he is the only Prince.

About the colours of the doors: They changed the colour of the doors often, so I don't remember exactly which was which, but this is the way I use them:

Red: The flower garden, aka Howl & Sophie's secret spot.

Green: The castle door (which apparently is in the sky so no one opens it too often anymore).

Blue: Market Chipping

Black: Kingsbury (Supposing that since Howl is not fighting in the war anymore, he didn't need to go to the place where that door led to, and changed it to Kingsbury).

Being addicted to Diana Wynne Jones's books, I have included a few references in my story in some of the chapters. Do you think you can find them ;D?

I need you to help me improve my writing! Please tell me what you think! If you comment, I'll give you a turnip :9 yum!