Title: Walk In The Sky
Summary: With Howl and Calcifer seemingly in the clear a new darkness rises on the horizon, this time it seems to be focused on Michael. HowlSophie MichaelOC
Shalan's Say: This just sort of came to me earlier this morning… it should be fun. This could be post movie or book but Michael isn't paired with Marta. It's kind of an… amalgamation XD
Disclaimer: I do not own Howl's Moving Castle (movie or book) or anything affiliated.
Chapter: Sunlight
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Feet pounding on the stairs jolted her awake, she shot up in bed as the ruckus that was now pounding against her ear drums dissipated. She looked over at her bedmate, still sound asleep, and frowned. The man could sleep through anything. She swung her legs over and pulled on her boots, brushing her silver hair back from her face as she walked towards the door.
"I have a feeling it's just Michael going to the shops…" a deep, sleep thickened voice said from the bed.
"Well even if it is, it is about time to get up and start the day." She turned to eye him. He poked his head out from under the blankets looking like he'd swallowed something very sour. "Don't give me--" she sighed exasperatedly as a hand was extended from the blankets, beckoning her closer.
"Come here, please…" she fought the urge to run out of the room just to spite him and walked closer, scuttling suspiciously. "Closer, closer—THERE!" He wrapped his arms around her and yanked her right out of her shoes and back into bed.
"HOWL!" She laughed as he immediately curled around her, pulling the blankets over them. "The sun's already up—we have to get up!" She protested as he happily buried his face in the crook of her neck.
"We don't have to do anything!" He hooted cheerfully and closed his eyes as she warmed in his arms. "You were so cold! Just by getting out of bed!"
"It is cold outside of the covers! You just have to get used to it…" she gave up struggling and went limp, somewhat disgruntled. "I have to go to the bathroom Howl." She looked at him over her shoulder. Those bright blue eyes looked back pleadingly. It was a stare down for a moment until his eyes watered and he had to close them. "HA! I win!" She launched herself out of bed and pulled on her slippers… much more acceptable to him as it seemed she was going to come back.
"Come back won't you?" He called after her as she disappeared down the hallway. He pouted when she didn't reply. He supposed he'd have to get up then if she wasn't coming back… he begrudgingly shuffled out of bed, picked up his clothes and walked down the hallway to the bathroom.
"HOWL!" Sophie screamed as he opened the door as she started the bathwater. He beamed happily at her as steam filled the room. "It's a good thing it's steamy in--" she muttered, breaking off when she saw those electric blue eyes watching her. "Go away! You're like a monster hiding in the steam!"
"I am," he snickered, stepping closer.
"Howl!" She protested.
"Oh… fine…" he grumbled, his smile fading as he disappeared out the bathroom door and shut it behind him. She was going to take hours just to spite him now. He frowned. "Why didn't I think about that before I did it?" He rubbed the back of his head, eyeing the bathroom door.
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Michael panted lightly as he carried the bags full of groceries up the steep hill to where Calcifer had moved the castle this time. He was grumbling lightly to himself as he kicked open the door and walked in. Sophie was making breakfast over a complaining fire, her medium length silver hair pulled back in a ponytail.
"Morning Sophie." He panted as he set the bags down.
"Michael you need to get into shape." Howl said as he trotted down the stairs. A subtle scent followed him and Michael smiled, Sophie had made him get rid of the ridiculous perfumes he had in his arsenal.
"How long was his bath today?" Michael ignored his master and looked over at the woman in the room.
"Only 45 minutes this time, it's getting shorter all the time…" she smiled, setting breakfast on the table.
"We're not going to eat all this Sophie." Howl eyed her. "Is there something you're not telling me?"
"Michael will." Sophie answered simply. "He's hit another growth spurt and he's eating more and more… don't you remember being a teen?" She eyed him right back.
"It's been a while… then again my parents never fed me much--" he said mournfully and she scoffed, doling out pancakes.
"You hush and quit with your sob stories," Sophie sat down and began to eat.
"I can't believe it. After all we've been through, even though I'm not bound I'm still HERE! And I'm STILL doing all the WORK and you all are STILL EEEAAATTTIIINNNG!!!" Calcifer bellowed from the hearth.
"You're free to go Cal." Sophie looked over at him. "But it's supposed to rain today, mind you." He glared at her for a moment then hunkered down in the logs grumbling insults at them.
"I'm going to visit my niece and nephew today." Howl said through his bacon and eggs, there's a carnival in town and their mother won't take them." He worked his way through his second helping.
"A carnival?" Michael's eyes lit up. "Are you serious?" He blinked at Howl.
"Is it anything like the ones here?" Sophie blinked between them.
"It's a little different, they have these big mechanical things that take you up into the sky and cars that whirl around until you puke!" Michael beamed. "Can I come Howl?"
"Yeah, sure… Sophie are you going to come with us?" She looked up from her plate, brown eyes meeting piercing blue. Suddenly she felt like she was under the Witch's spell again. Her lips wouldn't move, her tongue felt like it was stuck to the top of her mouth. She looked between Michael and Howl, their pleading eyes sparkling with sincerity.
"Oh, alright then." She sighed. "The clothes in your world are silly looking." She frowned at Howl.
"I won't make you do anything silly I promise." Howl snickered.
"Why do I get the feeling that this is going to be utterly a disaster?" Sophie asked Calcifer. The fire demon blinked back, squinting as a beam of sunlight shone in through the window.
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I know it was short, the first chapter always is for me for some reason.
Read and review please!
Shalan
