Chapter 1????????????????
It's been three months since Sophie has moved into Howl's moving castle and it seems that everyday, Howl is out on "important business".
"Sophie! Sophie! hellooooooooo? can you help me out here? Soooooopppphhhhiiiiieeee" Markl repeated.
"How can I live with him if I hardly see him?" Sophie thought to herself doubtfully. She sighed at the thought and quickly awoke from her trance.
"Hey Sophie! what's wrong? You've been phasing out alot lately" Markl asked, worried. Sophie has always been like a mother to him and now that she lived with them, everyone has become closer to each other.
"Yeah! Sophie! what's on your mind?" Calcifer asked, as he sprouted two arms of flames and leaned down on the log in front.
"Oh I'm fine guys, really" Sophie replied with a smile on her face. Then realized her true emotion and let out another sigh. "It's just... Howl's been out alot lately...and he never tells me where he goes or what he does there..." "You can never predict what will happen with that guy around" She laughed weakly.
"Ha! That guy, he's always gone then back, gone and back, gone and back. But that's Howl for ya" Calcifer said humorly.
"Yeah, it's just another phase he's going through. Sometimes he's always home and at others, he's practically gone all day" Markl added.
"I guess your right. I just wish he would tell me...I can't help but worry when he's out for too long" Sophie explained, while staring at the floor.
With that, there conversation ended and everyone went back to their usual activities. Sophie cooking dinner now, Markl working on his magic, and Calcifer, once again, moving the castle.
(A couple weeks after Sophie moved in, "The Witch of the Waste" left without notice. Everyone expected that she returned to her home in the wastes but no one is truly sure. A note was recieved the day after she left stating that she was fine and well and was grateful for their kindness.)
The day went on normally once again. At dusk, Howl returned once more. Entering just as swiftly as he left.
"Welcome back Howl" Sophie said with no trace of sadness or doubt.
Returning her smile, he embraced Sophie gently but tightly. Surprised at the sudden action, she melted away in his arms and stared deeply into his eyes. "I missed you" He said playfully.
Still obsorbed in their embrace, she leaned up. As their lips met, a shock of love and excitement passed through them, from head to toe. They lingered there for a few more seconds, then broke free of the dream like trance.
Calcifer warmed up water for Howl's bath and when he returned, they all sat down to a lovely dinner and talked about their day. Howl, like always, never mentions where he went that day or what he did there, while Sophie and Markl would talk about all the plans they have for tomorrow.
"Howl? Did you do anything exciting today?" Sophie asked, hoping for a reply.
"No" Howl replied bluntly.
"Like always" Sophie thought curiously.
After dinner, everyone retreated to their rooms (except for Calcifer).
"Maybe I should talk to him. Find out what's going on. I have a right to know, don't I?...We do love each other, so we should be honest with each other" Sophie thought, pondering. She then realized that she was right in front of his door.
Taking in a breath, she knocked on his door and opened it. He was sitting on his bed, surrounded by all kinds of metallic, beaded, or embroidered furniture and tons of wind chimes hanging from the ceiling.
"Sophie? Is something wrong?" Howl asked as she walked in.
"No nothing's wrong, I just wanted to talk" Sophie answered. She sat down next to him, ready to find the truth. "Howl? Why don't you ever tell me where you're going or what you do when you're not home? We should be honest with each other right? I want you to be able to tell me anything that's on your mind" She said truthfully.
"Sophie... I never knew you felt this way" Was all that Howl could say. Astonished by how he couldn't have realized this before.
"Well? Is there something you don't want me to find out about?" Sophie asked sadly.
"No, of course not. You know I would tell you everything..." Howl answered.
"What? What's going on?" Sophie asked nervously.
"I guess it is time to tell you the truth" Howl responded.
Noticing the sudden change in his voice, from carefree to serious, Sophie braced herself for the what she was going to hear next. Howl began...
"Well, you know how I took an oath to sorcery?"
"Yes" Sophie said, looking up at the document placed on his wall.
"Right, well, the war is over and all...and my curse has been broken, but there's more..." Howl trailed off.
"What is it?" Sophie said once more.
"There is law to sorcery, and one of them states that no wizard or witch can stay with a mortal unless that mortal eventually becomes a witch or wizard as well" Howl explained.
"I have to become a witch?" Sophie gasped.
"Yes, to put it bluntly" Howl replied.
Then something unexpected to Howl happened, Sophie let out a cry of excitement and hugged him happily. "I can do magic like you!" Sophie cheered.
"But Sophie, there's more" Howl said, making her stop in all of her excitement and listen once more.
"Once you agree to becoming a witch, you must go under a series of tests to determine if you will use magic to help the world, not destroy it. A series of physical and magical tests that will be the hardest thing you'll ever do in your lifetime" Howl said.
"So that's the downside to all of this" Sophie said nervously. But cheered up in an instance, "But if it's the only way to be with you then I'll do it, and not only that, I'll pass with flying colours" Sophie remarked with determination shining in her eyes.
"Sophie, it's more then simple tests, it's dangerous to your soul and body" Howl said seriously.
"I don't care! I love you and there's nothing in the world that can stop me from being with you" Sophie cried, now mad from his doubt.
"Well I can see you're very determined" Howl laughed, now cheering up. "All right then, if you'll go through this, I'll be right beside you the whole time" He said, standing up to embrace her once more. Entering that dream like trance again, where nothing could be heard or seen but the beating of their hearts and the gleam of love in each other's eyes.
Author's note: (sorry) I know it doesn't say anything about why Howl was out alot but it explains everything in the next chapter. Actually, I just forgot, but I got so much more ideas because of it, by the way, this is my first fanfic on so i'm still an amateur :D