"HOWL; GET ME OUT OF HERE THIS INSTANT!" Calcifer exclaimed furiously. Howl couldn't hear him very well, but he just chuckled as he flew back to the city. He managed to get Calcifer to calm down before he got him inside a small locket that he now wore around his neck. Clearly he wasn't too happy.

"Now Calcifer, remember what I told you; this is important. Besides, you've been complaining that I never let you out of that damned house. And here we are! Out of the house! It's a win-win situation," Howl explained.

"The goddamned house fell down! Why? Because I wasn't keeping it up! I swear, Howl…" Calcifer sighed, and he peeked out of the little blue jewel. It was like looking into a kaleidoscope; he took in the sight of everything from different angles. He was looking at a tall tower that cast a narrow shadow on the small buildings around it, when all of a sudden it exploded before his eyes.

"BLOODY HELL!" he yelled, and the both of them felt shocked. Howl looked up, and saw giant aircrafts floating above the town. He squinted, and he could see her minions slithering closer and closer to the city. The corners of his mouth went down, and he flew closer to the ground so the Witch couldn't see him. He wondered why she was going through all this trouble just to track him down. He had a feeling it wasn't just to get revenge on him for pursuing her… there was something else. She was intelligent and devious, he had to give her that, but he wasn't sure what her motives could be. Howl flew above the rooftops of the townhouses in the village, and saw that some people had come out of their homes to see the fire rising higher and higher into the sky. None of them could see him, because he used his magic to disguise himself from other people and the Witch. But he knew there wasn't much time. Not much time left at all.

He searched for the small hat shop, where he knew Sophie would be. He closed his eyes, and he saw the way she looked tonight. Her long brown hair was a waterfall of curls, and her warm brown eyes were staring at him with curiosity. He almost smiled, but knew that his feelings were just a fabrication of what he could really feel.

Calcifer sighed, and looked up at Howl through the locket. "You know Howl; your time is running out. There's a way to make things better." Howl pretended not to hear him, and continued to search for Sophie's place, but Calcifer's words sort of hit him in a soft spot. He was right about everything, but it's not like he could do it on his own.

"Is this why you chose Sophie? Do you think she's the one?" Calcifer asked quietly, and he was so taken back by the question Howl nearly flew into a flagpole.

"What do you mean?" Howl asked, dodging it before he could hurt himself.

"I mean," he asked more clearly, "do you think Sophie is the one who will free you?" He blinked, and was about to answer him, when he saw a black horse trying to free itself. His neck was tied with a rope to the railing of some stairs, and then he realized it was Sophie's hat shop. He dipped down, and stepped on the stony ground. He noticed the door was slightly ajar, and there were no lights on in the house. The horse whinnied at the sight of him, and he petted him, trying to calm him down. He heard footsteps coming closer to them, and there was Sophie, standing in the foyer. He knew she couldn't see him, but he could feel his invisibility wearing off. When he was most vulnerable his magic started to fade, which was one of the reasons he took his heart out. But he never realized how much he wished he had one.

She stepped out of the house, and she had changed out of her dress into a plain blue one, and she tied her hair back into a ponytail. She smiled at the horse, but there was sadness in her eyes. He noticed she shivered as the cool breeze embraced her bare arms and legs.

"It's okay, I'm clearing up the shop so you can come inside," she murmured to him, and stroked his face once before walking back into the house. Howl then let the invisibility spell wear off, and Calcifer made the jewel on the necklace glow lightly.

"Boy, you've got it bad, Howl. But she's a keeper," Calcifer teased him. Howl almost smirked. He tiptoed up the stairs and knocked on the door lightly. Sophie was in the middle of moving a desk when she turned and saw him. She was alarmed, and then she smiled when she realized it was him.

"Howl… what are you doing here?" she asked, crossing her arms to keep warm. He just smiled.

"Do you need a hand?" he asked, nodding towards the desk, and she blushed, realizing she probably looks like an idiot moving a desk. With a flick of his wrist, he moved the desk against the wall, and a few of the mannequins aside to make room for the horse. She watched with wide eyes at how effortlessly he moved the furniture. He then made a temporary stable where the horse could stay comfortably.

"So you are a wizard…" Sophie murmured to herself, but reddened when she realized he probably heard her. He chuckled and fetched the horse, and crossed the room and leaned against the wall.

"Yes, I am. The famous wizard Howl, who uses his magic to prey on young women," he mused, then saw that Sophie took that a bit too seriously. He laughed quietly, and looked at her. Sophie sighed and sulked down into a chair, hunching over to put her face in her palms.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her. She just remained quiet, and Howl became concerned.

"Sophie?" he asked again, and he took a few steps closer to her. He bent down so that he was level with her, and she just took deep, shaky breaths.

"Howl, I'm scared," she whispered.

"What of? The Witch of the Waste? Don't even worry about-"

"It's not her…" she said, cutting him off. "Well… not entirely." He frowned, waiting for her to finish. She kept her head down, and turned red.

"I'm scared of my feelings for you."

Howl was at a loss for words. Probably because he felt the same way, and he felt a light flush creep onto his face.

"Is that so…" he said to himself, a hint of unintentional sarcasm in his voice, and Sophie glanced up at him. A few loose strands of hair fell onto her face, and he reached out to brush them away, but she flinched away at his touch.

"Howl, please stop…" she insisted with a pout on her face, and stood up. Howl was caught off guard again and he gripped the edge of the wooden desk for support. Sophie scurried up past the stable and up the stairs to her room and he trailed after her. She tried to take the stairs two at a time, but of course being Sophie, tripped on the last step. She let out a yelp as she almost hit the floor, but Howl caught her by the waist before she could hurt herself. He let her go, and she straightened her torso.

"You're welcome?" he offered, but she just sighed and sat at the top step.

"Sophie, what's the matter?" Howl asked, and she suppressed a sigh.

"I don't understand…" she said. She looked at her feet and she clasped her hands tightly. "Why did you come here, Howl… what reason do you have to visit the shop?" Sophie asked.

He scoffed as if the answer was obvious, and it was to him. "To see you of course… I needed to be sure you were safe. I mean, you almost fell there…"

"Howl, did you come here to mock me," she asked flatly. His shoulder drooped down as he laughed once.

"No, I didn't. I'm sorry…" he said. They both looked at their feet before Howl spoke again.

"I don't have much time," he began, and Sophie gave him a puzzled looked. "There's going to be a war tonight… you heard the first bomb. I came here to give you something."

Howl grabbed the chain from around his neck and placed it in Sophie's hand. The chain was cool against her warm skin, and her eyes landed on the heart shaped locket. The blue in the center sparkled from the light that entered from the window. She was touched by the gift. Sophie clutched it in her hand.

"Do you have a fire place here?" he asked, and Sophie raised an eyebrow at him.

"It's important," he added, and she led him downstairs and into the living room where a small, dusty fireplace was. Howl placed a few fresh pieces of wood in the hearth, and held his hand out.

"Could I have the locket for a moment?" he asked, and when Sophie handed it to him he smiled.

"Sophie, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine," he said, mischief colour his tone, and he undid the clasp. Sophie gasped as an orange flame spiralled like a firework out of the locket and into the fireplace. A big grin was on Howl's face, and instantly the fire cast a warm glow in the room. The fire coughed and wheezed like a human could, and Sophie thought she was merely imaging things.

"Damn it, Howl," the fire said hoarsely, "you couldn't have kept me inside something bigger than that puny-" suddenly Howl tossed a piece of wood at him to shut him up.

"Sophie, this is Calcifer; Calcifer, meet Sophie."

She was baffled that such a thing could even happen. She stared at Calcifer with curiosity, and hesitantly walked towards him. Calcifer squirmed as she watched him.

"Geez, she's creeping me out…"Calcifer murmured, and she blushed as she stepped back. Howl shot him a warning look, and then he turned to Sophie.

He cleared his throat. "I, uh, brought him here to… protect you," Howl explained.

"Protect me?" she echoed, looking back at him. Howl looked away from her, and shifted his gaze towards the window. He frowned, knowing that he had to do what he had to do.

"Calcifer will take care of you, and you won't be alone. Please trust him, as I do, he really is very kind," he said, and Calcifer rolled his eyes, but beamed at the compliment. Howl then grabbed Sophie's hand and led her back into the shop. She grimaced, realizing that he was going to leave… again. When Howl knew that Calcifer couldn't see them, he pulled her into a tight embraced. Sophie almost pulled away, but instead just laid her cheek against his chest, giving into the loneliness that ate both of them from the inside out. Sophie could feel tears welling up inside of her, but she held them in. She let out a few sniffles thought.

"Hey, don't worry… and please don't cry," he pleaded, and lifted her chin so she was looking up at him. She closed her eyes and felt that familiar flush tint her cheeks. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and saw some of the makeup Lettie had caked onto her face. Howl chuckled and pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. She took it willingly, and dabbed at her face gingerly.

"Thank you," she said quietly, and she sniffled again. "Why do you need to go?" she asked with genuine concern, "why can't the King deal with this?"

"I think Solomon has something to do with this uprising…" he said. He looked down at her and cupped her face with his hand. He bent his head so he was eye to eye with her, and she held her breath.

"Sophie, you're beautiful…" he murmured, and she was about to deny his words until he leaned in and pressed his lips to her softly. Her eyes widened with surprise, but she didn't move a muscle. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer, and her lips trembled a bit. A tidal wave of emotions was crashing around inside both of them, but at that moment nothing really mattered. Then Sophie broke away, burying her face in his chest. She closed her eyes, and tried to catch her breath. She was warm all over. He was warm all over.

Sophie glanced up at him and he had a crooked grin on his face.

"I'll be back, I promise. But whatever you do, don't go after me."

Howl kissed her forehead, and he was off again, leaving a red faced Sophie alone in her hat shop. He has really stolen my heart, she thought, like a thief in the nigt. But she was unaware that she in turn had Howl's heart as well.