Hi again, it's Sekky back with the next chapter at last! I wanted to tell you guys before I start this one that this fic will start to get a more connected storyline from here on out, which I feel is important because I see it having only about four more chapters after this. I don't know though, what do you guys think?

Also, once more, big big biiiiig hugs to everyone who has been commenting, favoriting, or following this story! Writing for me is a difficult process due to the amount of time it requires, and I cannot stress enough how much it means to see people enjoying this as much as I do. Thank you all so much.

I don't own HMC, nor anything referenced here.

The library of the Market Chipping house was, at long last, mopped and dusted, with Howl's books from Wales in a (semi)-organized formation on the tall, tall selves. It would seem he had quite a few more things than expected, though, as his collection stretched all around the library, nearly floor to ceiling books and trinkets.

Not that Sophie was complaining. She had always loved books, and with a very squishy armchair by the window, she found she was in seventh heaven. Howl? Not so much.

"Sophie!" cried the aforementioned wizard for the zillionth time in an hour. "What have I told you about leaving the ladder around? Why do you even need the ladder? There's nothing on the top shelf for you."

Knowing Sophie, one can imagine how things went on. For those who find they cannot, in fact, picture this, it went something like this:

"First off, Howl Jenkins Pendragon, you've had your things in this room for all of two days. You can't expect me to have read all the books in here by then. Also, you said I could read anything I wanted in here or mess about with any potions or powders so long as I didn't blow things up. And, you seem to forget that I have magic as well. Might you tell me, then, what dangerous things would be on the top shelf you don't think I can handle? I know I'm just a weak, helpless, fair, precious little maiden who serves the sole purpose of being rescued by you, but I think I'd like to at least explore."

"Uh... I'm going to ignore all that and just tell you, uh, you don't need to see what's on the top shelf."

"Yes I do." Climbing the ladder, Sophie stretched out and grabbed about four books from the top shelf, stacking them on the top step. "Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them. Kaze Ni Naru: A Collection of Songs from the Ghibli Classics. The Hobbit: There and Back Again. Twenty And Two Essential Tinctures For Any Magical Being, Wizard or Otherwise. Oh my, I'm simply terrified. Two wizard handbooks, a songbook, and a memoir, all in strangely ill-fitting dust jackets. Wonderful hardcovers, though."

Howl laughed nervously. "Y-yeah, see, I just didn't want you to-"

"Look inside, clearly, based on your reaction."

"Sophie, no, please! I'm begging you!" But it was too late. Sophie had opened the top book and stared and gasped and shouted, all at once. "Howl Jenkins Pendragon! What i-"

"WHAT'S HAPPENING?!" roared Calcifer, appearing in midair besides Sophie.

Sophie was still balancing on the ladder. With her shout turning into a shriek, she fell down, down, down, all skirts and fabrics and scarlet and scream.

Howl, cowering below, was not the same slipper-outer he had been the previous year, but he was an opportunist still. He straightened up and sprinted.

There were several distinct, sharp sounds, yet thankfully, none had been the crack of bone against wood. Sophie suddenly found herself wrapped in a warm embrace, under several heavy, bookish objects, the chest beneath her ear emitting a quick ker-thump, ker-thump. She dully noted hers was beating out the same rythm: ker-thump, ker-thump.

Howl found himself crushed under a bundle of cloth and hair and apparently all the books and the ladder too. His cheek was mashed into a silky head, his arms around a petite torso, his entire upper body curled as if to protect the treasure within. Ker-thump, said his pesky, silly heart. Ker-thump, he heard hers return.

"Are you-"

"I'm fine, are you..."

"Shhhhhh."

So many outsiders would tell you Howl, the great wizard Howl, the terror, the maiden-eater, so many would say he hadn't changed. In fact, several of those close to him would agree.

But not even the stoniest, most cynical heart would be able to deny Howl's change had they seen the spectacle in the library: ignoring the chair, the rug, the fireplace, the blue flame demon flickering grumpily above, even the dirty books and ladder piled high on top of the couple, swaying gently on the floor, so close they might have been mistaken for one.

Ker-thump, ker-thump.

I hope you all enjoyed my three little references in there! The songbook isn't real, or at least not to my knowledge, but I do so love Ghibli. I also hope you don't mind the short chapter, but I think I managed to tell a good story here. As also, review! Please?

Ja ne!

Sekky