DISCLAIMER: ALL CHARACTERS BELOW TO DIANA WYNNE JONES, AUTHOR OF HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE. The fanfic is based upon the BOOK, NOT the movie.
Howl's Moving Castle: The Aftermath
Chapter 2: In Which Sophie is Slightly Snubbed
Slightly bleary eyed, Sophie sorted through her clothes for something to wear. All the clothing that Howl had bought her was unfortunately to short and wide. With a sigh, she donned her old grey dress, which hadn't stretched too much from her old fat body, although the bottom hems were ragged from trailing on the ground. It was clean at least, and it fit a lot better than it had in her dream. Her walking stick lay lonely and slightly scorched in the corner, and its handle caught her eye.
"Hello old friend. Sorry, but I'm suddenly quite able to support myself. I'm young now, with solid bones. Perhaps we shall clean you up and give you a proper case? You beat that old demon quite hard."
It seemed to glint smugly. Sophie smiled, and went into the main room. Michael was busy puzzling over a spell on the bench, and Calcifer was nowhere to be seen. The shop wouldn't be open for another hour or so, and Sophie wanted to make breakfast.
"Good morning, Michael. Do you know where Calcifer went?"
"Hello Sophie! I don't know, this spell has kind of taken all of my attention. Maybe he felt like going out?"
"Maybe. Darn. Do we have any kindling? We'll have to make a fire now…"
"Oh, I'll do it! I've just learned a fire spell."
Michael went up to the hearth, and placed a few logs on, with Sophie watching warily by the table. Michael wasn't known to successfully execute newly learned spells, and so Sophie stayed a good distance back…just in case. He leaned in close to the logs, and passed his palm over them, while muttering under his breath. Then, he moved back just in time when a cheery fire sparked and grew nicely in the fireplace. Michael looked pleasantly surprised, and smugly went back to his bench.
"There you are, Sophie."
"Good job, Michael! It didn't blow up!"
"I know!" he exclaimed. Sophie went up to the fireplace, pan in hand.
"Wonderful."
And then the fire spoke.
"HAHAHA! GOT YOU MICHAEL!"
Sophie started, and then let out a giggle. Michael's spell hadn't worked; Calcifer had just come back.
"Oh lily-livers. I knew the fire came too quickly. I didn't even say the final spell-word." Gloom filled Michael's face, and he slowly went back to his spell.
"Oh cheer up Michael. I'll make you some breakfast." He nodded glumly, while Calcifer chortled to himself.
"Lower your head Calcifer." He did so without complaint, still cackling. Sophie cracked four eggs in the pan, and watched them sizzle pleasantly. As they slid around in the pan, she realized how quiet it was.
"Where's Howl?" The morning lacked his usual attention-seeking antics. In fact, it was eerily quiet.
"He's bathing. Supposed to see the king today, apparently," said Michael, barely lifting up his face from his suddenly intense studying of the spell. Sophie nodded, and could smell something distinctly flowery wafting from the closed bathroom door.
"Wait. He's not taking me?" Sophie didn't think Howl was capable of handling...well anything on his own. There was no reply from fire or boy. She huffed, and flipped the eggs haphazardly, one of them hanging slightly over the edge of the pan. How could he not take her? He practically made her go deface him in front of the king, making a fool of herself, while he hid nearby in that blasted stable or whatever it was. Albeit, that was when he was literally heartless, but still. It wasn't like he changed much. He was just more emotionally open and aware, technically. And he also wasn't going to be eaten up by Calcifer. Sophie didn't remember seeing a messenger from the king. I must've though…it was in my dream…
"Well what's he going for?" Sophie glared at Michael, till he looked up, and blanched. Shrugging Michael pointed to Calcifer, and went over to the sink to mix a concoction. "Calcifer…" She banged the pan on his head.
"Ow ow ow Sophie! Something to do with just reporting on what happened with the Witch of the Waste." Sophie huffed, and slipped the eggs, which were slightly burnt, onto two waiting plates. She clattered Michael's on his bench, and was about to go into one of the mansion's rooms via an outer window, when the bathroom door banged open. Howl emerged, brushing a fluff of bubble soap from his shoulder. He was wearing a new suit, one Sophie had never seen before, the color of emerald green with golden thread detailing. He looked gorgeous. She felt herself swallow hard, before making for the door.
"Sophie…? Where're you running off to so quickly?" He popped in front of her, blocking her escape. She scowled, annoyed at being thwarted. He hadn't changed his hair, a shade lighter and blonder than her own, and remembered how nice it was black.
"Don't make me throw my eggs at you…" She attempted to sidestep him, but he followed her as she moved from side to side. Stamping her foot she yelled, "Move Howl, darn it!" He only smiled and put his hands on her shoulders, keeping her from moving anymore.
"Sophie dear, such a temper. Was it your dream?" He smiled lightly, and then curiously as blush flooded her cheeks.
"I'd like to know why I'm not coming with you to the King." She glared up, trying her best not to be distracted by his eyes. After he regained his heart, his eyes seem to hold endless, probing depths, in contrast to the marble-like stare they used to hold.
He made a slight moue of distaste, tapping his bottom lip. Sophie bit hers. "I didn't think you'd be interested. In any case, I'm a big boy, I can take care of myself. And besides…don't you have to look after the shop?"
Sophie huffed again. It was very hard to argue with Howl.
"And also, I wouldn't want you to feel awkward in front of the King again. And besides, it'll just be some boring meeting about the Witch, nothing of import. Anyway, I need you here, at the shop, okay? That's my girl. Stay here."
He patted her shoulder, and swept out of the door. Sophie stood where she was, slightly dazed, when Howl came back in the door, striding towards the hearth.
"Damn. I forgot we changed the…oh well. No matter. Calcifer, would you mind?"
"Not at all," said the crackling fire, and he reached out to Howl, who placed his finger on the outstretched flame.
"Lovely. Thank you." Howl banged out of the door, into the flower patch. Sophie ran over and yanked the door open again, but he was nowhere in sight. She frowned.
"Mind the shop will I? To hell with that Wizard!" Sophie couldn't help but bemoan the fact that he had not kissed her, not even a little bit.