We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over. – Ray Bradbury
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"Hey, Howl?"
"Hm?" Howl leans back in my chair. I probably shouldn't get so worked up over it, in actuality it is his. And it is just a chair. I swing my legs back and forth and stare at the back of his head. Should I ask him for clothes? I don't feel right asking him for anything. I don't like to ask for anything."Sen?"
I take a deep breath and force myself to ask."D-Do you have any other clothes? For girls? While I was walking, the rain seeped into my clothes and the mud mussed it up."
"I'm afraid not. Why were you walking in the rain dressed inappropriately for the weather, anyway?"I grab a chair from the dining table and set it next to Howl's, I like to watch people's expressions when they talk.
I laugh nervously and rub the nape of my neck. "I was caught unawares, sir. I'm not from this region, you see?" I bring my hands close to Calcifer's face and warm them.
"Ah. So you're a foreigner, huh? That's interesting, why don't you tell me about your travels?" But he's so distant, I can't tell if he's consciously speaking to me or not. Howl's just staring straight ahead at the wall, twiddling his thumbs.
I rub my rough, blistered feet and sigh."It wasn't all that interesting, really. I got lost and injured myself—I'd rather not talk about it, I'm still pretty spooked." He'll have me committed if I tell him the truth. We stay quiet like that for a while, mostly because I don't really know what else to say.
"I love spooky stories, they're the best ones of all. And you know what they say—what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." He states, coming out of his reverie. I nod my head in solemn agreement and feed Calcifer's fire. I miss my parents and it aches to know that I might never see them again. I miss my mother's heartwarming smile that could easily light up a room and dad's hilariously unique sense of humor. That's enough thinking for one day, Chihiro. Of course you'll never find them if you yourself can't even believe that you will!
I pick my teacup up from the floor and delight in it's spicy taste. Howl doesn't finish his tea, though. He just throws it into Calcifer's eager mouth and adjusts his lovely turquoise coat. A knock is heard at the door and a young woman's high pitched voice echoes through the heavy door. Howl takes my hand and hides me inside of the tiny closet."I'll let you out as soon as my friend leaves. Until then don't make a sound."
He quickly closes the door and I am entrapped in a suffocating case of inky darkness. There's barely any legroom for me so I have to silently prop my feet up on the wall. I strain my ears to listen to the strange young woman who has entered the castle. I can only hear small segments of their conversation but it sounds like they're having a good time. She sounds breathtaking. Howl and his "friend" spend a lot of time chatting in the living room, my neck even forms a wicked kink from lying in an awkward position for so long. I shift into to a more comfortable position that takes the pressure off my back. My shoulder accidentally slams against the thin door of the closet and silence
Suddenly, the slide door slides open and I'm staring up at a woman with piercing green eyes that glare deep into mine. Long, strawberry blonde locks frame her fair face. "What a lovely little lady you've got cooped up in here."She hisses, crossing her arms across her generous chest. The woman gracefully turns to face Howl and the tension in the air thickens. I prop myself up and pop my neck. I tap on the lady's broad shoulder so I can try to explain the situation. She spins around angrily and I swear if looks could kill... I'd be six feet under.
"I'll be the first to testify to that fact. She makes for some solid company, too."
"Hmph, if you say so. She'd be even prettier if she took a shower once in a while." I grimace and cover my red hot cheeks with my dirty hands. That was...mean. If I could take a hot shower and change clothes, I would have done so as soon as I got here! But that doesn't matter, does it?
The woman mocks remorse when she sees my distraught state and pats my discolored cheek. "We'd best be leaving—I'm hurting the poor girl's feelings. Don't worry, little girl. There are worse smells, I'm sure." The woman giggles, adjusting the shiny brass buttons of her burgundy coat. Howl laughs and wraps an arm around her slender body. They leave, not even giving me a second glance.
I stomp over to the door and turn the knob onto the blue piece. Markl runs down from upstairs, buttoning up the navy blue buttons of his jacket. "Can I go with you? Nobody's ordered anything today and I'm so bored!" I don't object because it's probably for the best that I go with someone else anyway. I stuff my hands into my roomy pockets and shiver as we step out into the chilly afternoon. I bet the fish in the sea don't care what I smell like.
The sky is a cloudy gray just like the day I arrived in this silly place. I wonder what the sea'll look like today. "The ocean is really pretty here. I...haven't been in awhile, you wanna go to the harbor?"
"The ocean's always like that, can't we go some other time? It looks like it's going to start raining soon, we should head back anyway." Markl complains.
I cough nervously and clear my throat."Um, Markl? Do I smell bad or, uh, look weird to you?" We turn, walking back the way we came.
"Sort of both, yeah. But you don't look like the bad weird or anything. You could go for a bath or three..." I laugh and ruffle his messy hair. He's right though, now that I'm paying attention I can definitely notice the smell. We wonder away from "home" and venture into an alley. The stones clack under our feet as we race through the narrow breezeway between two busy shops. They smell positively divine—like actually cooked food, yum! Haven't had that in a while.
Markl and I play tag for a few minutes but we stop when I accidentally bump into a soldier. I bow my head as an apology and as usual, it starts to rain. What a nice surprise. I can't go back yet, I hate being in the castle. It's so dark and dirty, and, and, boring! I close my eyes and lean back against a cracked stone wall. Instead of running around like an idiot, I think about Haku. I do that a lot these days, ha. Who would've thought? My best guess would be to look around where I left him and search for clues. The rain has probably washed away any trace of his tracks from the hills so...what am I supposed to do, then?
Just go with it. How will you know what to do if you don't try? I slowly open my eyes and sigh. That's the only thing I can come up with? Wing it and hope for the best? It's as good a plan as any, I suppose. "C'mon, Markl. That's enough goofing around for one day...let's head home. I'm freezing."
"That's what I've been suggesting we do the whole time!" He groans. He takes my hand and leads me back through the windy alleys.
I remove a mat from the closet and throw it down onto the floor. It's much more comfortable than sleeping upright in that stupid chair. "Calcifer? Do you ever get tired of...being cooped up in here all the time?" I ask, staring up at the low, dark ceiling.
"Is that a legitimate question? Of course, I do! All I do day in and day out, is move this stupid castle and keep it at a lukewarm temperature." He sighs and devours half a log. "Howl doesn't even give me vacation days, can you believe that? I'm practically his slave."
"Ha, I know that feeling. Why don't you just, I don't know, leave?" I mutter, covering my eyes. "I think it'd be easy for such a powerful fire demon such as yourself. But, then again, what do I know about demons and their owners?"
"He doesn't own me! We have an explicitly consensual agreement—I do this because it's what I agreed to do. Nothing more, nothing less."
I sit up and raise an eyebrow. "You chose to be a slave? What else did you agree to, Cal?"
"My lips are sealed. But... I'll tell you if you help me break our contract."
"I'm not that desperate, thank you."
"I'm desperate, Sen. I want to be free to come and go as I please, just like you can!" Calcifer begs, clasping his little hands together. "Please? At least give it some thought..."
"Sure, I'll be more than happy to." A yawn escapes my lips and I briefly wonder if my breath smells too. "How can I help you if you can't tell me what I'm going up against?"
"I wish I could, Sen. You understand."
"I don't think I do, sorry."
I sneeze and wrap a thin blanket around my shoulders. I wish I had an actual bed with a blanket thick enough to keep me warm. New pajamas and a freshly cooked meal wouldn't be so bad either. Shrimp dipped in cocktail sauce, brown rice fresh from mom's rice cooker and freshly baked tilapia. This is pure torture, all I can think about is food, food and warmth, food and home. I stand up and remove two rocks from the little "wall" surrounding Calcifer's ash filled hearth. I tuck a few logs under each arm."Markl, carry those slabs of bacon and those eggs with you. I'm sick and tired of starving. I've never gone hungry a day in my life, why should I start now?"I say, reaching for a cooking pan.
I turn the dial onto the green piece and step outside. It's the rolling hills from before, I can even see that same little town I arrived in! I walk a little ways up the hill and set the logs down. The rocks do a good job of getting the fire sparked quickly. I just hope this wind doesn't blow it out or else I'll have to go another day without something to eat. I place the pan on top of the warm fire and fan the smoke out of my face. Markl huffs up the hill handing me tonight's dinner. I crack the eggs inside of the pan and toss the shells over my shoulder. Eggshells must be good for the environment, right? Right.
The loud sizzle of the eggs is music for the ears and stomach. After a few minutes I flip the yellowing eggs over with a stick and sprinkle a pinch of salt on them."Go get us some plates, Markl. These'll be finished pretty soon." The eggs are finished scrambling by the time Markl runs back with three large dinner plates. Markl and I are the only ones having dinner. Unless the castle's got another visitor...
"A romantic sunset dinner for two? Oh, Sen, you shouldn't have." Howl grins, placing his hands on his hips.
"Good, because I didn't. Wouldn't want you to lose your appetite because of my smell." I growl, stabbing an egg onto my plate. "There's not enough for you, anyway. Sorry."
Howl's smirk softens as he hikes up the steep hill and he crouches down so we're eye level. "Really? You could feed an entire army with all of this food." He laughs and etches a design into the ground with his finger. I stab the rest of the eggs onto my plate to further the solidification of my point. "Oh. I get it, you're still mad."
I dump the slabs of bacon into the red hot pan. "If you want to eat, eat."
"You're forgetting about me!"Markl groans, holding out his plate impatiently. I dump a third of the eggs onto Markl's plate and give Howl mine. Markl runs down the hill and stumbles back into the dark castle. Maybe he went to go look for something clean to eat with.
Howl stuffs an egg into my mouth and flips the oily sticks of bacon over with a stick. Mmm, I know I should be angry but this tastes...really good. I toss another egg into my mouth and avert my attention over to the beautiful sunset. "I'll get over it. I always do. Shut up and eat your dinner."
Howl presses his lips together and suppresses a laugh."You're not being cooperative, Sen. I had a whole apology worked out and you ruined it. Let me start over.." I stare into the oily pot and poke the bacon with the stick. It's almost done. Maybe he's waiting for the bacon to finish cooking...
He pinches my cheek and sighs."Sorry for laughing at you, sweetheart. I'll be a gentleman from now onwards."
"Yeah, well, I don't accept." I smack his hand away."I just want to eat this food and take a nice nap on the matts in the closet. So if you'll excuse me..."
"I only laughed earlier because your reaction was hysterical! Your smell actually isn't as bad as she made it out to be, I thought you'd realize that." Howl's smile widens and he stares out at the sinking sun. "My point is, she only tried to degrade you because she believes in you more than she does herself. And believe me she's as vain and arrogant as they come."
"You're so stupid." I blurt, burying my face in my hands. "She was mad because I was hiding in her boyfriend's closet, that's all there is to it. It's like you want me to feel worse."
"I'm not her boyfriend, Sen. Please listen to what I have to say, okay? There's no logical reason as to why she'd talk to you like that "because she's mean" isn't one either. Nobody's mean just "because". It's because she could tell how incredible you are without even knowing you. I'm truly sorry."Howl eats one of the eggs on the plate."Maybe while we're playing hide and seek with Haiku, I'll get to experience what she saw in you."
"Maybe. But my top priority right now is finding him and every now and then we can talk over a hot cup of tea."
"I'm looking forward to it."" He slides the bacon out of the pan onto the his unused plate and we quietly eat dinner together. "I can see you're still feeling down. How can I make it up to you?" The sky's normal pinkish orange fades into a dark sky. I put out the fire and carry the logs back in the house—Howl will carry the plates and the pan.
"I'm okay, really. Now, about making it up to me..."
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A/N: I'm a bit iffy about this chapter. What do you all think about it? Please leave a review!
