Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE!! And Edward Elric or Fullmetal Alchemist either!! Nor the songs that pop up randomly; artists: Frou Frou, Cyndi Lauper, and probably more...


"What are you saying?" Edward looked at me with curved eyebrows.

"Don't worry, m'lady. You're just confused." Howl removed his cloak hood and smiled at me; "Don't worry; you're good."

"...What a relief..." I sighed, "I was worried for a minute..."

"So--"

"Okay, this forest is boring!" I smiled, "Let's leave!"

"But! Don't you think that we'd be a little--"

"No. They'll just think you're cosplayers, like myself." I smiled, "C'mon! You have no where else to stay!"

"But, your family..." Howl started.

I ignored him as I walked through the forest, "How far in'd we get?"

"Quite a ways." Howl agreed, "It took me some time to catch up with you from the library."

"Howl," I turned to him, "How did you know my name?"

He shook his head, "I'm not sure. Strange things have happened these past few days--" I lifted my hand to stop him; I heard footsteps behind me.

"Nikki!" It was my dad. "I saw you run back here! Where are you?!"

"Dad? I have a question."

He hadn't reached the clearing yet but still responded, "What you need?"

"Is it okay if I had some friends stay with us for a while?" He stopped moving and the forest became silent.

Then Edward sneezed. "Gesundheit." Howl, dad, and I said together.

"Do I... know these friends of yours?" He asked me.

I froze unable to reply, Have you looked at the posters on my walls lately? Have you seen the books I've been reading lately? Or stayed up late and watched my favorite show on [adult swim]?"...yes..."

Howl and Edward twitched. Edward mouthed the words, 'You're telling him?!'

My father reached the clearing, "Sure thing! C'mon." He smiled at us. He froze, "Wha...?"

"Oh, I just let him borrow my cosplay, dad." I said in reply to his staring at Edward.

"He looks better in it than you do; c'mon." He turned and left the forest.

I slowly followed, noticing Edward and Howl weren't moving, "C'mon!"

Neither of them replied, or moved; Howl blinked in a weird way though.

I kicked Edwards stomach, "MOVE IT!!!!"

"BAAAAGH!!!?" Edward fell to the ground, when he stood he tackled me, "Never do that again!"

Howl smiled, "C'mon, you two."