Disclaimer : I don't own Howl's Moving Castle or Gibli blah blah..
A/n: Thanks to helikesitheymikey, I have something planned, and your penname will do perfectly. Tell me if you don't want me to use it. Thanks for reviewing!
"Anne? Anne! Wake up Anne" Sophie knelt beside her and tried to turn her over, Heene got next her and tried to help using his nose.
"Mmammar" Anne groaned, her eyes flickered as she pointed towards the door.
"Markl get a doctor, Howl's magic won't do anything for her now!" Markl boomed from his room.
"What's going on?" He said exasperated.
"Call for a doctor now! We need to get her to a hospital!" Sophie started to tear. "Not today you hear me! Not today!"
"Ahhhah" Markl ran to get a GG from a box by the door. He turned the dial to Kingsbury, he then breathed I hard and threw the GG as far as he could. "Sophie the ambulance will be here very soon", he called as he closed the door.
Thump Thump
"It's the Kingsbury Ambulance" Calcifer called. Markl answered the door. It was raining quite heavily, it was now 9:30 pm and quite dark.
"She's upstairs, I think she's stopped breathing." Two men in uniform promptly marched upstairs. They came down with Anne on a stretcher. Her face was pale and her body had reduced in size, she looked like a drooping sheet. Sophie was running as tears obscured her view.
"Are you a relative?" One of the paramedics asked.
"Yes, I'm her niece" she lied.
"Okay hope on then" they lifted Anne in. Sophie watched as they and strapped all sorts of wires and masked her. She noticed that Anne's face appeared younger. She pondered as she held Anne's hand while they travelled to the "Kingsbury hospital.
Howl felt the globe on his pocket heat up. He took it out and waited. It rested nicely on his palm like a golf ball. Heene finally appeared.
"Hmmph hmphh wheeze" Heene panted running in all directions. In Howl's hand, the globe showed images of what had just happened in Heene's point of view of course. Howl nodded and the transmission died.
"Madame Sulliman, I'm sure you received the message too." Howl said with a smirk. After Heene chose to live with Howl, the transmissions couldn't be cut off between Madam Sulliman, but to compensate, the images sent to her were choppy.
"Yes Howl" she said without a lack of royalty in her tone.
"Shall we continue at our next session then?" he said taking a step back.
"Yes, you'd better be off then" She said at the same time summoning her page boys. Howl bowed as one page boy wheeled Madam Sulliman away and the other walked Howl to a carriage. They were back to back.
"Oh, Howl, you know how I feel about people cheating" Madam Sulliman spoke, both page boys had stopped moving, there was a deafening silence. "About life or death, or in your case, love?" Howl creased his eyebrows, but kept his eyes forward. "You've recovered nicely from liberating yourself from that demon, maybe you won't this time from the burden that now lies within your cage."
"Good evening Madam Sulliman." Howl walked silently with the page boy until they had reached the carriage.
"Here you go sir, the carriage will take you straight to Kingsbury Hospital." The never-aging boy sharply turned and walked away. Howl got into the carriage and settled down for a moment, suddenly he grasped the back of his head as if he had an immense headache.
"Argh what the hell am I doing?" He grasped hard on his again medium blonde hair. He took out a little bottle of brandy and took a swig.
"Kingsbury Hospital sir," the driver said, the door automatically clicked open. Howl stepped out fixing himself. "Wish I was a clone like you, life would be so much simpler."
"Excuse me sir?"
"Nothing."
"Master Howl!" a voice piped, followed by a wheeze.
"Markl, shall we?" Howl gestured. Heene wheezed behind them.
"Sophie told me to come get you" Markl said.
"Good thing she did, I just can't stand hospitals and hospital people", he made a comical face. Markl giggled. Howl took out a handkerchief and covered his nose. "You don't know how many germs are flying around this place," he said in a nasal mocking tone.
"Turn left here." Markl said running into the room.
"Markl you shouldn't run!" a familiar voice was heard. Howl turned into the room, holding flowers and his nose. He stood by the door as Sophie's eyes met him, her eyes lit up, "What happened to your nose?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing it's just a joke" he took his hand away, "Considering the way I live this place should be no problem," he laughed.
"Come on in," she said patting an empty seat next to her. He could see that she was crying. "She's sleeping" she said as Howl sat down, he placed the flowers on the bedside table.
"Hmmm," Sophie sighed softly, "Purple Cordillias, just perfect." She took Anne's hand into hers. "They say, Purple Cordillias sway even when there is no breeze, it means that the atmosphere they are in is pleasant" The flowers began to sway.
"How is she?" As Howl spoke, the flowers stopped swaying.
"Howl is- were you drinking?" Sophie asked looking at him sternly.
"Yes, Madam Sulliman wanted to celebrate my returning to be her apprentice." He replied calmly. Sophie looked at Anne.
"Sophie, Heene and I are going to the cafeteria for a bit, would you like anything?"
"Yeah, could you get me some tea, and Howl?"
"Coffee for me thanks Markl," Markl left with Heene repeating the words 'tea and coffee'.
"The doctors said, they said that she had been consuming something, even they can't identify what it is as yet. They said she'll have to stay in here for sometime. That's why you couldn't cure her, it wasn't a spell per say." She looked at the monitor and its stable rhythm.
"Sophie, I love you" Howl said after a silence. Sophie smiled and let go of Anne. Howl immediately took it. Together they sat in silence as the rain soothed her mind, the flowers swaying with monitor's rhythm.
"That disgraceful man," the royalty accent spoke. "I think we should interfere with this."
"Yes Madam Sulliman" a page boy spoke.
"It's not right to experiment with people's feelings, what goes around comes around." She watched the rain trickled off the trees outside her glass walls. "Send Prince Justin an anonymous letter, inform him about Sophie's situation." The page boy smiled, stepped back and bowed.
"Right away Madam Sulliman."
"And one more thing," her lips flickered into a mischievous smile. "Send Cody Remington here, it'll be a welcome visit."
Sophie held onto her cup to keep her hands warm. Howl was pacing around the room lost in his thoughts. Markl was busy trying to eat the cream before it dissolved while Heene ate carrot cake.
"Visiting hours are now over, please exit through the front entrance." A public announcement boomed. Howl swept out of the room instantaneously, Markl hopped off the seat and followed Heene who had napkin wrapped cake in his mouth.
"Anne, I'll be back tomorrow morning." She leaned over and kissed her forehead. Anne had gained some colour back.
"Mmmamar" She mumbled. The tube helping her breath made it difficult for her to talk.
"Goodnight Anne, I'll see you tomorrow." Sophie said holding back a yawn. She drew the curtain back and walked with Howl.
"Sophie is something on your mind?" He asked as they walked side by side.
"Howl, why did you say you love me?" She made him feel awkward, and she knew it.
"Because I do," he replied too quickly.
"Howl I'm- I'm leaving you," She said walking faster. Ahead Markl and Heene had already exited and were now racing to find the door to the castle.
"Sophie?" Howl caught up to her, "Why?"
"I need a break from all of this magic that's all, I'll be back in a couple of months." Howl looked confused but he smiled.
"That's great," they reached the hospital exit. "We'll all have a holiday together!"
"No Howl, I'm going by myself" She avoided his eyes, she could feel tears forming. "I've already been hired to work elsewhere, if you need me, I'll be staying at Red Brick Hotel."
"Sophie!" Howl cried in rasp desperation. Markl and Heene had already dispeared into the castles hidden entrance.
"Howl let go of my hand," she blubbered, "I'm leaving in a few days," She pulled away from him. The streets were empty. At this time, shops and houses were closed and locked because of the rogues merciless henchmen that wondered the streets.
"Sophie take my hand," Howl peered deeply into the streets. "Sophie it's not safe, take my hand." She heard a rustle and saw a shadow pass through a house. Her heart beat faster as she pulled to Howl and let him hold her. "I'll take care of you."
And so, Howl took her home and they all ate a late supper before sleeping. Howl however couldn't sleep all night and snuck out to see Camilla. The following morning Sophie began to pack.
A/n: Hahahaha, I love leaving narrations now. Please review people who haven't reviewed. I like reviews! Oooh how about… (evil grin) afew more reviews or else I won't post a new chappie… mwhahhaha!
Cheers B.T.