Vixen: Part Five
As the days progressed into weeks, Vixen found she had become a proper member of the Castle household. She'd been welcomed into the fold from the moment Howl had found her in the alleyway, but she had only been scraping the surface then. Every day brought new surprises and deeper insights, and Ivy found that she was never bored. Far from it.
If Calcifer wasn't making her laugh or bumming extra food from her, Howl was sharing his magic and warm smiles with her. And then there were times when they did nothing. . . Admittedly, these were the fox's favorite moments. It was usually during the evening after Howl was done traveling and making his charms. They would bask in silence, sitting together in the creaky castle's safety. Sometimes Howl would read aloud, or other times they'd just bask in each other's company. But whatever the case, Vixen could not think of anything more sublime.
These moments of domestic bliss were what she loved and craved above all else. For in those ordinary lapses, Ivy knew that she was home. When Calcifer and Howl had first agreed to help break her curse, they had assured her that she was family. But in the evenings of perpetual companionship, the woman knew that it was true.
They were her family; the unit of care and affection she'd never had, and always wanted. And in the short amount of time Vixen had lived in the Castle, she had never felt more alive or at home.
Every night, before she laid down to sleep in the makeshift bed Howl had made her, the fox prayed that it would last. . . Past the curse and all the past darkness. She prayed that her place was permanent, and that her happiness would stay, past the gentle winds of summer and the pleasant sway of the Moving Castle . . .
It was a hot day- unbearably so, and Ivy thought she was going to die from overheating. The little fox was currently laying on the tiled floor of the Castle's kitchen, whining pitifully as she fought to cool down. It had been hours since Howl had left for Market Chipping, to run a personal errand, and there was still no sign of him.
The handsome wizard had promised to take her to Star Lake for a dip in the crystal waters when he returned. But after so long of baking in the stuffy castle, the fox had had enough. With a strenuous grunt, she lifted herself onto her haunches, and then began to stagger towards the staircase that led to the top floor.
From his place in the fireplace, Calcifer stirred, watching her with wide, unblinking eyes.
"Where you going, Vixen?"
"The bathroom," she puffed in reply. "I have to cool down or I'll roast to death."
"But Howl isn't here to help ya, foxy. You won't be able to turn on the taps by yourself."
"I have to try Calcifer. Even if I just lay in the tub for a while, I think it'll help. . . I love you dearly, but the heat of your flames is just making it worse."
Calcifer rolled his eyes before jabbering loudly, "That's right. Take it out on the fire demon. You're just like Howl! Assuming everything bad has something to do with me! I don't control the weather ya know!"
When Vixen stared at him, exuding amusement, he waved one of his fiery limbs at her in defeat. "Fine, V. Do what ya gotta do. . . Just leave me out of it."
"Sure thing, Cal." Vixen shook her little, red muzzle with amusement, before she began to climb the stairs.
It took her several drawn minutes to reach the top, and when she had, she was winded beyond belief. She'd always taken her human legs for granted when she had them. But now, she appreciated just how amazing human limbs and appendages could be.
With hushed paws, Ivy padded down the long hallway, and stopped before the bathroom door. She'd only been here once, when Howl had offered to bathe her. . . but that had been two weeks ago, and this time, she was entering alone.
The red vulpine rose onto her back legs and pushed against the door. To her relief, it opened without trouble, and she was allowed access.
Howl's bathroom was truly a sight to see. It was on the dirtier side and had odd, unnamable smells- but it was the splashes of color that caught the woman's golden gaze. All over, there were patches of rainbow shades, marking each surface in a strange combination. For a time, she merely stared at them, trying to make sense of the hues, before she gave up. She would ask Howl about it later, if she had the mind to remember. But for now, she had a task that demanded her immediate attention.
With unsure steps, Vixen crept deeper into the lavatory, instantly spotting the massive tub. It was larger than most average baths, though was nothing compared to the great Bath House spas that she had dealt with while working under Yubaba. The toilet was luckily, close to the tub, so Ivy would have somewhere to jump from. It was too tall for her to climb over the edge; jumping from the toilet was her only viable option.
The fox halfheartedly scrambled up onto the porcelain bowl, thanking the spirits that Howl had left the lid down, before she leapt. Red fur and flashes of golden eyes could be seen, as she flew forward, before she landed in the bottom of the tub with a soft thud.
Ivy wasted no time in swatting at the faucet handles, hoping to be showered with water. But she couldn't get a firm grip on it. After several frustrating minutes of this, she gave up in a huff. When she found that her attempts were in vain, the fox gently curled into herself at the far end of the empty tub and laid her belly and muzzle on the cool surface. Time crept by slowly, the cold tub slowly putting the tired fox into a deep sleep. . .
It was sometime later that Ivy was awoken by the sound of laughter. At first, it flickered through her drowsy mind, as an unknown noise. But as it grew clearer, the fox found her golden eyes sliding open.
Howl stood in the doorway of the bathroom, his head tipped back in absolute humor. The woman had heard him laugh many times since she'd come to live in the Castle. . . But never had it sounded like this. This time, his chuckles were deep and full bellied, bursting from him in gales as he raised a hand up to his temple and was completely lost to it. What had tickled him so, was anyone's guess.
"Howl," Ivy asked hesitantly, when he had calmed down enough to breathe. "What's going on?"
The wizard slumped against the arch of the door, his light sapphire eyes shining with mirth as he regarded the fox with a grin. His smile disarmed her completely, to the point where she didn't hear him the first time he spoke.
"I'm sorry. What?"
"Look down, Vixen." His words were light, simple, and his grin instantly became a source of worry.
Anxiously, her gaze snapped down to herself and her mouth dropped open in shock. Her fur, once a vibrant, glossy red, was now an otherworldly mixture of light purple and white blonde. She immediately squeaked in despair as she realized her entire body had changed to the odd lilac and cream swirls, making her appear strange and out of place. The familiar fur was gone, replaced by this travesty of sight and sense.
"H-How?"
Howl was chuckling under his breath again. "You slept in my bathtub, sweetheart. Surely you knew there would be a price for doing so."
"W-What? No!"
Howl shook his head with amusement, as he pushed away from the door and came to kneel in front of the tub. "This room is filled with spells, my dear. Dye and fashion magic from every town and fiefdom across Ingary. You're lucky it only dyed your fur."
Ivy dipped her head in shame, trying to hide her nose under her paws. "You and I have different views on luck, Howl." Then she whined, despite herself. "I'm sorry for coming in here. . . I didn't mean to intrude, and I surely didn't mean to dye myself!"
For a second, there was silence, before the fox was being lifted from the tub. The handsome wizard held her firmly in his strong hands, forcing her to meet his eyes, before he smiled at her. Ivy's breath lodged in her throat.
"None of that, V. There was no harm done, and this is your home too. You should be able to go and do as you please."
"I should have waited for you to come back."
Howl hummed noncommittally before winking at her. "Well, perhaps the outcome would have been better. . . But what is life without some adventure, now and again?"
The fox snuffled as Howl laughed and rubbed his nose against hers affectionately. "Would you like me to wash the dye off, sweetheart?"
The golden eyes flittered down bashfully, as he waited for her reply.
"Yes," her voice sounded pitiful even to her own ears, but the wizard didn't comment on it. Instead, he lowered her back into the tub, rolled up his sleeves, and turned on the tap on the far left. Warm water flowed leisurely from the faucet, and Ivy's muscles began to relax. Then, Howl picked up the soap and began to wash her- all the while chanting a spell in his soothing, deep, cadence.
Vixen closed her eyes peacefully as he bathed her, but if she hadn't, she would have seen the tender smile that covered Howl's face all the while.
Ivy sighed happily as Howl dried her off, sometime later. It had been quite the process, getting the dye off, but somehow the wizard had managed it. Now, currently, the handsome man was gently rubbing the petite fox down with a massive towel. He was never rough as he passed the cloth over her little body, and he took absolute care as he placed her down on the edge of his bed.
Howl had said that he needed to cast a spell on her once she was dried, so that the dye wouldn't resurface. So, he'd brought her somewhere comfortable, chuckling softly as her fur fluffed beyond all reckoning. Ivy would have been embarrassed if it all hadn't felt so good.
Sapphire blue eyes twinkled with a wave of emotions, as the little fox glanced up at him and let her tail wag. She was sprawled out across the bed, breathing peacefully as her renewed red fur puffed out around her.
Without a word, the wizard dropped to his knees at the foot of the bed, and buried his face into her side. He let his fingers stroke across her silky side, marveling at her softness. Vixen internally smiled as he leaned forward to place his ear to her side, listening to her heartbeat. For several long seconds, they basked in the contact, both smiling and content, before Howl tensed up. His reaction was immediate and startling to both, making the fox jump despite herself.
Ivy turned her furry head to regard him anxiously. "Howl? What's wrong?"
Howl stared at her with surprised blue eyes, his light hair waving about his face, as he answered her question with one of his own. "Vixen, what happened to your baby, when you were at the bathhouse?"
Ivy felt as though she'd been punched in the gut, and she had to swallow down sadness as she answered him. "Yubaba said she killed it with her magic. . .when I was cursed. . . Why would you ask?"
Howl's face shone with absolute wonder as he shook his head in disbelief. "That can't be true. . . You have two heartbeats, sweetheart."
"W-What? But how?"
Howl's face split into a shocked smile, as he placed a reverent hand to her stomach. "The Witch lied to you, sweetheart. . . Your baby's alive."
"But it's been a full year. How can that be?" Vixen's head was spinning as she tried to process the information, but found that no clarity could be found.
Howl gently kissed the top of her fuzzy head, as he picked her up gently and held her close, before saying simply. "Magic, Vixen. . . It must be magic."
A/N: Wow, it's been forever since I updated. Sorry guys! ^^;
I finally revealed some of what happened to the baby somewhat! Yay! I know a lot of you were wondering about that. I promise more details shall be given in the next chapters! Please drop me a review and let me know how you guys are enjoying the story!
~Lyn