PLEASE ENJOY!
Warning: Definitely has some OOC character!
Disclaimer: I do not own Howl's Moving Castle! Nu-uh! But I own my OC!
Memories/Flashback
'...' Thought
"..." Normal Talks
Chapter 2:
Calcifer hesitated for a moment but he sighed as Rika put the frying pan on top of him. This wasn't the first time he follow her order, he just can't resist those eyes of hers. While she was cooking, she glanced at the woman who's curiously played with the door as she laughed at her.
"Obaa-san" She called out as the woman and Markl turned towards "Come over here, I'll show you how to use the fire"
"What?! Rika! Seriously?!" Calcifer yelled as his head poked out form under the pan "It's enough for me to take orders form you and Howl! I don't need more people bossing me around!"
"Be nice Cal" Rika said as she waved the woman come over
"He's a persistent one, but he is really nice" She said as she handed her the pan "Go and try it"
"It's impossible, he only listen to you and Howl-san" Markl said to Rika who just smiled at him "Markl, would you be so kind to make us some tea?"
Markl stood there, dumbfounded by the girl before nodding "Okay" he said as he run off and grabbed a kettle
"That's right I din't listen to anyone but them! I won't cook for you!" Calcifer said as he exploded as he stick out his tongue "I'm a powerful fire demon!"
"You'll do as I say or I'll pour water on you!" The woman threatened before leaning in to whisper "Or I should tell Howl about our bargain?"
"Che! Che!" The fire whined "I never should've let this baa-chan in"
"So what'll it be?" The woman forced the pan onto him, successfully calming him down
"See? Be a good fire, okay, Calcifer?" Rika smiled as she patted on the woman's shoulder "You're doing great"
"Hey! Hey! I'll burn the bacon" The fire complained
"I'll get the bread and cheese" Rika said as she walked off to the counter and pulled out a bread and cheese. Suddenly, the dial spun to black color and the door opened, revealing a tired looking blonde man.
"Howl-san, welcome home" Markl greeted as he walked over to him "You have letters form the king. To Jenkins and Pendragon"
Without looking at his apprentice, he climb up the small stair and head straight towards the old woman
"Calcifer, you're so obedient" Howl stated, and they could hear an amusement in his voice
Calcifer poked his head out and whined out "She bullied me! and Rika made me to!"
"Of course she did. That's not an easy thing to do" He said as he glanced at Rika who's setting down the cheese and bread on the table. He turned his eyes toward the old woman "Who exactly are you?"
"Ah-"
"She is Sophie-san" Rika answered in her place "She is our new cleaning lady. She just started work today"
"I'm not even going to ask where'd you get her name" Calcifer said as she laughed lightly
Howl stared at Sophie before he forced Sophie aside "Give me that" he said as he took over the pan "Pass me three more bacon slices and eight more eggs"
Sophie stood in surprise before she did as she was told "And who hired you to clean?" The wizard asked as he cracked another egg shell
"Why, I hired myself. I've never seen such a filthy house" she said
"Well, we do need someone to help me" Rika smiled "Since you didn't let me to clean up this mess"
"Hmm" he hummed in respond "Rika, have you set the plates?"
"Yes" she beamed "It's all set"
"Okay" he nodded as he bought the sizzling pan over and put the bacon and eggs onto them
"Sophie-san come and join us" Rika called out as she sat beside Markl
"You're all ganging up on me" Calcifer whined
"Sorry cal" Rika smiled as Calcifer just whined as Markl poured the tea
"Markl" Howl asked as he handed him a bread
"Yes" Markl replied as he took the bred
"Sophie-san?" he questioned again
"Ah? Thank you" Sophie nodded and took the slices
"Rika?" he turned towards the blonde who sat next to him. He frowned when he saw her looking at her plate with a blank stare as he repeated himself "Rika?"
"H-Huh?" Rika looked up to see his cerulean orbs filled with pure concern
"Are you okay?" he asked
"Yes, of course!" Rika nodded as she took the bread from him "Thank you"
Howl stared at her for a moment before letting it go "So friends" he started "Please enjoy our meal"
"Yeah!" Markl exclaimed "Haven't had a real breakfast in a long while"
Markl excitedly ate his meal in haste "So many manners to teach..." Sophie muttered as she watch Rika giggled at Markl and wiped the mess on his face
"Markl, slow down" Rika smiled as she patted the boy before she moved towards her food
"So, What's that in your pocket?" Howl asked with a pair of curious eyes
"Eh?" Sophie asked in surprise, dropping the egg that was on her spoon before she started to rummage through her pocket. She pulled out a neatly folded red paper and stared at it in confusion "I wonder What it is..."
"Let me" Howl slightly demanded to the old woman and just as Sophie reached her hand out to give the wizard the note, the red paper burst into flames and fall down to the table while printing the message onto it.
"Ah! It's scorched into the table. Howl-san, this is...?" Markl asked in excitement
"Ancient sorcery" Rika answered in his stead "A powerful one, from the witch of the waste" She explained without taking a glance at the message. Howl looked up to her and gazed at her before turning around to the message
"Eh? Can you read them?" Markl asked as Rika opened her mouth, but Howl beat her into it.
"You who swallowed a falling star, oh heartless man, your heart shall be mine..." he read them "Well, that's too much for the table"
He put his hand on the burn marks, he slid his palm across them as the message began to disappear. They all stared at him in awe as he slid it like it was nothing than a dirt "Wow, it's gone" Markl exclaimed as he leaned into the table to look at the spot where the scorches once resided.
"The scorch mark may be gone, but not the spell" Howl explained as he held his hand before standing up while taking his plate "Friends, continue your meal"
He walked towards the fire place and dumped his breakfast to Calcifer who seems to enjoy them "Calcifer, move the castle 100 kilometers..."
They all watched as Howl walked up to the stairs, then poking his head over the railing and added "And send hot water to the bath"
"Eh? Not that too!" he whined as he turned towards Rika who stared at the stairs in a worried face "He'll be okay"
Rika who seems to snap out form her thought turned towards him and smiled "You're right" she nodded "Thanks Calcifer"
"You're welcome" he replied "It's my work to keep you comfortable around here"
Markl looked at Sophie "Speaking of work..." he started "Do you for the Witch of the waste?"
Sophie, who seemed to be offended by such a question, frowned at him and glared "Don't be stupid! The witch-" she was struggling to open her mouth when they was glued together and she was trying to get the words out from her mouth
"That's the curse's side effect" Rika informed when Markl looked at her questioningly as they watched her trying to unclasp her lips "And you might want to get your plate, Markl"
He hurriedly grabbed his plate as Rika took hers just before the old woman slammed her fists on top of the table, causing a few thing to fall over from the table "Damn that Witch of the Waste. Wait till I get my hand on her!" she growled out "Let me finish eating this"
Sitting back down, the old woman began spooning her food into her mouth angrily. Rika and Markl put their table down as well as they continued their meal silently. This old woman was clearly interesting in their eyes, but they didn't want to piss her off.
Better to stay out form her.