AN: hello again! I'm here with another one. This one isn't that good (at least I think so). It's not the idea that I had, but I thought that it would be pretty good. I do think that the beginning is good, so just read it and tell me what you think.

Raindrops On Roses

Amrita

It was a warm summer evening. Sophie was rocking in a rocking chair as she knitted. Calcifer was resting in the hearth in front of her. He sang a little song in a different language, which Sophie thought that she heard the word "sauce pan" a couple times, so she nicknamed it the "sauce pan" song. Howl had not been seen all day and that made Sophie worry. Markel was up in his room, asleep by now, Sophie hoped.

Sophie looked over at the door, then back at her knitting. "Just where on earth is that man?" She grumbled.

"Really, you think that now that he has a wife, he would spend more time at home." Calcifer told her.

"I know. He's always running off with something for the king or for himself." Sophie agreed.

"It burns me up that he's still selfish."

"Well, he has gotten better at that." Sophie told him as she continued to knit.

"Yeah, maybe to you and Markel, but he's still asking for hot water and he makes me fly the castle everywhere. It's really annoying." He explained.

"Calcifer, he does give you days off." She reminded him.

"Well, he hasn't given me one since May Day."

"That's because he's been so busy!" She told him as she stopped knitting.

"Yeah, and on his free days he spends it with you."

"You should be grateful that Howl and I let you live here and not outside where it rains." She told him as she set her knitting in the basket next to the rocking chair. She stood up and picked up a log. She placed it on top of Calcifer. She looked out the window longingly. The sun was just beginning to hide in the horizon. A midnight blue began to set it over the sky, but at the horizon there was still a ray of yellow light. It was now twilight. She sighed. "I'm going to bed. If Howl does ever come home and ask, that's where I'll be."

"All right." Calcifer said as he watched her climb up the steps. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Calcifer." She said and disappeared up the stairs. She walked into her and Howl's room. She rushed over to their bed and plopped on it. "Confound that man!" She bitterly mumbled. "He's always doing this to me! Just where on earth is he?" She lay back and looked at the ceiling for a while, before she had to get dressed for bed. She stared at the beams and white ceiling. She draped her left arm over her forehead. A sparkling object on her finger caught her attention. She looked at her finger. It was the rock on her engagement ring. It was a pure sapphire and the metal holding it was silver just like her wedding band.

She closed her eyes as she sighed once again. She was almost fast asleep when her door was forcefully opened. She sat up quickly and could have sworn that her heart had stopped.

Howl was standing in the doorway with a happy smile on his face. "Sophie!" He called as he rushed over to her.

"Shh. Be quiet! Markel is asleep. At least I hope. Now what is it?" She asked as he picked up her and swung her around. "Howl!" She gasped.

"I have something to show you." He told her as he looked into her eyes. His eyes sparkled with such joy and wonder.

"Before that, just where were you all day!" She asked him, but he didn't answer. He only replied,

"Hurry. It'll start soon." He brought her out the door and down the stairs.

"Howl!" She told him. "You put me down this minute! I won't go anywhere with you until you tell me where you were all day." He still wouldn't answer her. "Howl Jenkins!" She was mad now.

"I'll tell you later." He told her as he turned the knob on the wheel and it turned to the pinkish red blob. He opened the door and brought her outside. It was completely dark here. "Looks like we still made it."

"Made it for what?" Sophie asked as he put her down gently.

"Look up into the sky and make a wish." He told her as he looked up into the sky.

She looked up and saw it. Millions of shooting stars were flying across the sky, leaving trails of white stardust. None of the stars were hitting the ground. "They're not dying, right, Howl?" She asked.

"No. Calcifer just told me that they are traveling and in the trails of dust they leave behind magic. So make a wish, Sophie." Howl explained.

"What should I wish for?" She asked.

"Anything."

"Anything? Uh…I wish that Howl will tell me where he was all day and cream cake!" Sophie childishly blurted out.

Howl tried to hold in his laughter, but it was a failure. He broke out into a fit of laughter. Sophie looked at him. "What?" She asked.

Suddenly, a magical dust sparkled at her feet and glowed a bright silver color. When it stopped glowing, a box appeared at her feet. She bent down and pick up the box. She opened it. "It's really cream cake!" She told him, surprised.

"Yes. It is." He told her as his laughter began to settle down.

"Now, tell me. Where were you today?"

"I was running some errands for the king. He wants me to so much stuff for the… Opps. I'm not supposed to say anything."

"For the what?" Sophie asked.

"Nothing. You'll find out later. Don't worry. It's nothing bad, I promise." He told her. He looked back up into the sky. Suddenly, the silver dust appeared again and glowed. When it stopped, Howl bent over and picked something up off the ground. He held it out to her. "For you." It was a bouquet of white lilies, but on the edges they were pinkish and in the center they were yellow. She took them.

"Thank you, Howl. They're beautiful." She gave him a sly look. "Now, tell me, what's going on."

"I can't tell you, by order of the king." He told her.

"So the king can now order a husband to keep secrets from his wife?" She asked, annoyed.

"In a way, yes." He told her.

"Howl Jenkins, you better tell me right now or I'll get a divorce."

"You're not serious." He told her.

"I am."

He gave her a serious look. He approached her. "No, you're not." He told her and kissed her. He hadn't given her a kiss like that one in so long. The kiss was filled with love and passion. He broke it and slowly opened his eyes and stared into hers.

"All right. I was only kidding. I don't think that I could divorce you." She told him.

"I thought so." He said with a smile. "Because if you did divorce me, I think I would die. I love you so much."

She smiled. "I love you too, Howl." She told him and he kissed her again.

oOo

Your heart can feel the nights,

when the earth itself is crying.

If your wounds are hurting you,

shoot your wish as an arrow up to the sky.

Translation from Yui Makino, Amrita

AN: well there you have it, the next oneshot completed. I'm not sure if I could write the next one today or not, but it's a possiblity. Can't make any promises though. Enjoy your 4th of July! Happy Birthday America! Bye.

Sapphire Rose E.