One Fine Day
Chapter 6: 'Complications'.
Disclaimer- I don't own, all rights to the movie go to Studio Ghilbi and Hayao Miyazaki.
By Miss. Bra
The sunshine crept through the window, filtered somewhat by the heavy curtains draped over the window. The castle plodded along through haze, coming out into a grassy green plain, in the distance a small town bustling in life.
The lounge room was warm where Calcifer was already busy creating energy and burning logs. He had woken up early, he hardly ever slept anyways. The little flame had told Howl to take Sophie to bed after they had had their little chat. But after that he had been left to think. Alright so maybe Howl's plan was crazy, absolutely crazy but the glint in his eye and the way he talked with such confidence made Calcifer almost believe he could pull it off…
What was it exactly? Well Calcifer hadn't heard of it much. In his three thousand years of living, he'd only heard of it around three times. It was a marriage, a marriage in which two souls would be combined for eternity. A lovely thing yes; but if one didn't want the other, then the wizard or witch that 'proposed' died. In this case, if Sophie didn't agree to Howl than Howl would die. The consequences were high, but Howl seemed surer of this than anything Calcifer had ever seen him. He had changed.
Calcifer's friend had changed; he had changed quite a lot since meeting Sophie. No longer did he spend ages in the bathroom; no longer did Calcifer have to put up with his whinging, oh no that was Sophie's job now. However, Calcifer hadn't heard whining much nowadays which was certainly an improvement.
So things had changed in the castle. This had changed quite a lot actually. Markl was almost eleven; the witch of the waste switched between senile and sane a lot and well, Calcifer wouldn't be surprised if one day soon Sophie would run down the stairs and tell them all she was expecting.
But of course with soft, shy, curious little Howl Jenkins that probably wouldn't happen soon. He had to fix something about that. Slowly the little flame thought, he thought probably harder than he was used to these days. He thought exactly how he could get Howl and Sophie together… forever…
It was well past ten before Howl rose with Sophie still asleep on his chest. Her silver hair sprawled out underneath her like a pillow of starlight, as Howl liked to call it. Her eyes closed, soft eyelashes against flushed skin and her lips parted softly, Howl couldn't look away. She really was beautiful even if she didn't think it herself. He smiled softly to himself. He was going to meet his friend today, the one to pick out something for Sophie's eighteenth. It had to be special, because she was special. Slowly, he raised a hand, running it softly through Sophie's hair, tucking it gently behind her ears. Sophie let out a sigh of content before snuggling unconsciously into Howl's cotton tunic.
Howl inwardly groaned. This would make it unseeingly difficult for him to get up out of bed with out waking her, their legs were hopelessly entangled.
Everything was in full swing in the lower parts of Howl's Castle, Calcifer was busy burning wood and instructing Markl on a new spell he wanted to try out. One wrong move and all of Sophie's flowers went up in smoke.
"Now, right hand under the left," He said, Mark done the same, focusing his attention of a bunch of dead Daffodils. "Finally say the magic words."
Markl let out a chant that to any normal person would sound like jargon but to Howl and any other wizard; they knew exactly what Markl was doing. It was the fact that if anything happened afterwards that mattered.
In this case nothing; the daffodils stayed dead.
"Calcifer… Why can't I get this spell right?" Markl whined, folding his arms.
"Don't worry, you'll get it. Howl always had trouble with some spells. He never quite got that cloning one until around seventeen, five years after he was taught it," Calcifer said bringing himself up out of the hearth once enough energy had been made.
"Really?" Markl said in disbelief.
"Really," Came the deeper reply from the top of the stairs.
Howl looked around lazily, his coat pulled over his slender shoulders.
"My, what a nice looking man," The witch exclaimed, her old eyes scanning over Howl. Howl simply smiled warmly.
"Markl, could you tell Sophie that I should be back at lunchtime and that I'm sorry I have to go out all the time," Howl said, making his way over to where Markl and the dead Daffodils where. In a simple swing of his wrist the golden flowers sprung back to life, magic slowly trickling off them. Howl grasped one through slender fingers and handed it to Markl. "Give her this for me would you?"
Markl nodded, in awe of what he had just seen. He took the flower from his master's hands and headed upstairs.
"Calcifer, you're coming with me," Howl said.
"Oh like I get a choice," The fire demon spat back in reply. "Seriously Howl you have to stop thinking I will go places with you because the time will come when I won't!"
Howl chucked, "You've been coming places with me for the last ten years. If I didn't think you would come I wouldn't have told you to."
The little flame pouted. "Oh be quiet you love sick wizard and tell me where we are going."
'We're meeting a friend," Howl chimed.
Suddenly Calcifer got a stab of worry. "Oh god Howl I hate it when we have to meet your friends."
Howl laughed.
Okay so maybe this wasn't exactly what Curzaro expected. When Howl had said friend, the Italian didn't think that he had meant a small little possessed flame. No, not at all.
"Curzaro, this is Calcifer," Howl said introducing the small flame, "He's been my friend for many years. Calcifer, this is Curzaro I met him last night."
"Hi," Calcifer said.
"Hello," Curzaro replied cautiously… It talked!
The little fire demons attention didn't last long on Curzaro though, he rolled his little unamused eyes back to Howl. "So, exactly what are we doing here Howl?"
"Well," The wizard started cautiously. His friend would not be pleased if he was told that he was being taken shopping, "You know Sophie's birthday is coming up…"
"Oh no Howl!" Calcifer cried, "You did not just bring me shopping! Howl!"
"Calcifer, Calcifer, calm down. We won't be here for long, don't worry," Howl said.
"Ci, we are getting the lovely Sophie a birthday present and I'm leaving it all up to Howl after that," Curzaro chuckled. Howl chuckled also, though nervously.
"Good luck with that…" Calcifer said under his breath. There was no way. He turned his attention back to the raven headed man, "Look Howl, I've already got Sophie a present."
Howl turned his head in interest as did Curzaro. "Really?" He said, his voice going up a few octaves. "What exactly did you get her Calcifer?"
"Why should I tell you," He drawled in reply.
"Merely a pre-emptive measure you understand," Curzaro said, coming in closer. "We have to know what you buy her so we don't…err... Buy her the same. Or close to the same."
Calcifer sighed; he wasn't going to win here. Besides, he would have needed help wrapping it or otherwise he would have set the paper on fire. Who know what would have happened then.
"I bought her a perfume she has been wanting," Calcifer said.
"She's wanted perfume?" Howl said, clearly surprised, "She's never said anything to me about perfume."
"Sophie doesn't like to use some of it much, she gets head aches and she's allergic to the Hannsebury range," Calcifer said, 'She tells me sometimes when you're out teaching Markl.
Suddenly Curzaro stepped in, laughing a little. 'Wait, you tell me you went out and bough Miss Hatter perfume when you don't like shopping."
Calcifer snorted, "Don't be ridiculous, I got Markl to."
"Was it the right perfume?" Howl asked, knowing Markl's forgetfulness.
"Yes, after the fourth time he got it."
Howl hummed, "But she's never told me about perfume… I didn't think she liked it much."
"She doesn't really," Calcifer said, "It's just like dresses, she doesn't really like them but there's a few that catch her eye. Like that lemon one."
"Alright," Curzaro said, "So Calcifer's got her perfume and I think we should get her some jewellery. There are some nice places in town, some pieces I think she'll like."
So that was the start of it, Curzaro, Howl and Calcifer set off on that early Tuesday afternoon, shopping for Sophie's fast approaching birthday whilst Sophie was at the Castle.
But that was another matter altogether.
Slowly Sophie rose out of bed, pulling down the nightgown that had rode up during sleep. It was the coldness of the large bed that had woken Sophie up. Now it was about midday and Sophie slipped on a pair of back warm track pants that she had hid away. In her society it was taboo for girls and women to wear pants, but oh they were so comfortable. Howl thought it was amusing that she had stolen his pants, he never minded anyways.
"Calcifer?" Sophie called, "Calcifer are you here?"
"No Sophie, Calcifer went out with Howl. He was told to," Markl replied entering the lounge room.
"Oh alright," Sophie said.
Suddenly a rush of nausea swept over her and she collapsed into the lounge, head in her hands.
"Sophie?!" Markl cried, running to her side, "Sophie are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine Markl don't worry," Sophie replied, "Could you just get me a glass of water."
Markl seemed unusually pleased with the request. He raised a small hand and twisted his fingers slightly. From the kitchen, Sophie could see a glass take itself out of the cupboard and fill up to the brim with icy water. Slowly it made its way over to her.
"Mater Howl taught me that last month I've finally got it down," the boy said proudly.
Sophie smiled, "Thanks Markl, I'll be sure to tell him that. Where are Heen and the Witch of the Waste to?"
"Their in the garden, Grandma is picking her flowers now."
Sophie nodded and Markl ran off, most likely to the garden. It was a little cold now in the castle now that Calcifer was out. Slowly though, Sophie got up, a little wonky but still she walked over to the door. Her hand turned the knob three times before it switched to red and she walked into the field of flowers.
It was absolutely beautiful; everywhere she looked it was an ocean of colours, pinks blues yellows and purples. It was hard to believe that Howl had done all of it himself, even if he said he didn't use much magic. Only a little, just to help the flowers grow…
Slowly she made her way through the garden, her bare feet sinking into the ground. The small cottage where Howl spent most of his time appeared, its wheel rotating the lake water around gently. As Sophie got closer, she was the distinct shadows and reflections of Koi swimming in the water.
Entering the small cottage, Sophie collapsed on a nearby lounge, letting her aching back and head relax against the plush foam. The sun shone through the window, warming Sophie as she curled into a ball and shut her eyes.
She had no idea where Howl was but somehow she was missing him terribly. Of course, she saw him last night, and well the day before that. Practically everyday for the last month they had lived together she had seen him, but right now she missed him. She wondered exactly what he was doing; probably something to do with magic seeing as he took Calcifer. Now Sophie really had no one to pour her heart out too. Well, the witch and Markl but they would certainly blab. Heen maybe, he was a possibility.
"Well my child, what are you doing?"
Sophie shot up so fast she almost collapsed down. In front of her stood, or sat, in her wheel chair, Madame Suleiman.
"W-What are you doing here?" Sophie spluttered, pressing herself against the lounge.
The old woman's face softened and she smiled warmly. "Don't worry; I have no use for either you or Howl. The war is over and Prince Justin is happily engaged."
"Then what do you want?" Sophie asked, still on her guard.
"I came to see Howl, I have some urgent news to tell him," Madame Suleiman said. Suddenly she picked up on something, something emitting from Sophie, strong magic. "And it seems that he has things to tell me also."
"He's not here at the moment, he's gone out with Calcifer, I don't know when he'll be back," Sophie said, running her hand through her silver hair.
"Alright, don't tell him to come see me because I know he won't. How is Heen doing, he seemed to want to stay with you. I expected to get visits but he's getting an old dog and I think he's been forgetting," The old lady asked, looking down at her walking stick.
"He's doing fine, along with the Witch of the Waste," Sophie said getting up, but sitting back down again after a wave of nausea.
Madame Suleiman nodded, "I hope he gets back from his errands soon. You're missing him."
Sophie stared back shocked, "What? I- err… How did you know?"
The woman chuckled softly. "My dear," she started her voice warm, "Howl isn't as advanced in this department yet, given him a few months in my teaching and he would have taught himself it. The power to tap into anyone's subconscious, though he'll only be taught for a loved one. Howl probably would have learnt everything; he was the one to surpass me. He was my best student…" Madame Suleiman trailed off, her eyes looking away. "I'll come see him later today, I expect him to be home. Goodbye Sophie, I wish you well."
With a quick poof the witch was no where to be seen, all that was left was the empty, dusty cottage. Sophie exhaled, her breath shuddering against her lips. Slowly she turned around, her back facing the room and curled up into a ball. Her eye lids slowly closed, sending her into slumber. A small tear trickled down her cheek… She missed him terribly.
"Mistress Sophie deserves the best no?" Curzaro hummed as he scanned another window loaded with jewellery.
"Howl… Can we please go home, we've been out for ages," Calcifer moaned, dodging stray pieces of hair that the wizard had forgotten to cut.
"We've only been out for an hour Calcifer!" Howl exclaimed as he looked through another window. There seemed nothing right for Sophie.
"Howl, what about these?" Curzaro called, ushering the wizard over.
Alright, so maybe it wasn't the most spectacular or most ornamented piece of jewellery in the shop, but it was just right for Sophie. Simple, elegant and would suit her personality perfectly. It was a simple silver chain, trailing down to the centre piece of the necklace; a small heart locket lined with small diamonds.
"That looks really good Howl," Calcifer said, egging his friend on.
"You're just saying that so we can go home," Howl replied half-heartedly, thinking more than speaking. His brows furrowed in contemplation.
"Yes… And that that it would look really good on Sophie," He said.
"I agree, it is a lovely piece of jewellery," Curzaro mused, his arms crossed, also in deep thought.
"Mmm, well that settles it," Howl said, "Looks like I've found her birthday present."
Both Curzaro and Calcifer nodded, Calcifer a little harder than Curzaro. "Yes, that's good; I have another idea as well. But knowing you Howl, you've probably already thought of it."
Howl cocked an eyebrow, "If it has something to do with a gemstone then I have."
"You have," Calcifer sighed, the wind taken out of his sails.
That was the end of that matter however. Howl had found Sophie a birthday present, one drama over. It wouldn't take much to get her gemstone, a Sapphire, and cast a few protection spells over it. That then would be her birthday present, one of the best gifts he could give her at the moment.
The door shut quietly, the heavy wood barely making a noise. Calcifer jumped back into his hearth and started the castle up again.
Howl looked around the room eyeing it for any signs of Sophie before sitting on the crimson velvet lounge. She was no where to be seen. She couldn't still be asleep could she?
He made his way up to their bedroom, where he had left Sophie to sleep. The covers were thrown back indicating that she was awake and somewhere in the castle but exactly where he had no idea. At that very second, his apprentice ran past.
"Oh Master Howl," Markl exclaimed as he ran pas the man, "You're back."
"Yes, where's Sophie?" Howl asked, looking down the empty hallway.
"Last time I saw her she was out in the field, sitting in the garden, I think she's still there," Markl said, "Anyways, Bye Master Howl." The boy went almost as fast as he had come.
Three clicks of the castle door and it revealed Howl's Secret Garden. You can come here anytime you want Sophie… His own voice rang through his head. She went there anytime she wanted, though it usually meant that she was thinking hard. And when Sophie thought hard it usually wasn't good news for Howl.
"Sophie?" He called over the thousands of flowers. The flowers replied, swaying in the direction of the small cottage. Howl smiled softly and made his way over to his secret study.
"Sophie?" He said gently, pushing the door open and stepping inside. It was terribly dusty inside the building, Howl couldn't remember the last time he'd cleaned it. No reply came.
Passing over his desk, his eyes wandered to an early design of his castle, back when he was a teenager. It was probably more elaborate now that he had rebuilt it, but he always did look back to those first designs, it's what he based his castle on, what suited him.
Moving on from the desk, Howl moved over to the small velvet lounge. "Sophie?"
A sudden head shot up. "Howl?!"
He smiled gently. "Yes Sophie…" He said.
"Oh Howl!" Sophie cried leaping up and wrapped her arms around the young wizard. "I-I missed you…" She said faintly, the warmth of her breath tickling his ear.
"I missed you too Soph…" He replied softly, running his hands up and down her back. It was at that point that something deep inside Howl just… Snapped…
In an instant she was flung onto the lounge, hands pinned beside her head and Howl leaning over her, smiling wickedly.
"Howl…" She breathed, the breath knocked out of her for an instant. "Howl, what are you doing?"
He smiled softly, though his eyes looked down at her and burned with desire. "Sophie, Sophie," He tutted softly, the words caressing his lips like the softest feather. He leant in closer. "My dear Sophie… I love you so much…"
Sophie nodded meekly. There was something wrong with Howl; he wasn't usually this frontal... Sophie wasn't at all sure if she liked it. It made her feel wanted needed that he was crazy with desire only for her. But it also made her scared, made her worry. Howl frightened her like this, so demanding and wanting her. She didn't like being pinned down; it made her scared, venerable. She knew Howl wouldn't dare hurt her, but she couldn't shake the feeling of uneasiness.
He leant in a little closer, so there were only millimetres between her lips and his. He released one of her hands and gently ran his finger tips down the inside of her arm. It felt mind numbingly good.
He had no idea exactly how soft Sophie's skin felt, how unbelievably fragile she was when he got right down to it. Everything about Sophie was graceful and delicate. The way she walked, as if she had been taught by the god himself. The way she talked, so politely but with venom if needed, as if the child of royalty. Everything she done was gracefully, artistic. Cleaning, cooking, domestic chores, attending her flower shop. Howl sometimes watched her, loosing his sense of time until Sophie spotted him. She always smiled softly and told him to get back to work; it was at that time that Howl noticed the dish cloth was burning behind him, or that the water was over flowing onto the floor. She always laughed gently.
She was watching him now, like an owl. It surprised him, as if she was almost jumpy.
Why was she jumpy with him? Her eyes were open wide, instead of being closed gently. It almost frightened him how tense she was; it wasn't like his Sophie to be scared. There was never anything to be scared of, he would never dream of hurting her.
"Sophie?" He said gently, upon her lips. "Are you alright?"
She didn't answer, Sophie just watched him curiously.
He didn't ask about her apparent quietness, although it seemed a little out of the odd. He released her other hand, bringing his own to brush down the side of her face. Sophie was still unresponsive.
Howl smiled warmly. "Sophie," He said again, titling his head to the side a little. He searched in her chocolate eyes for an answer, yet he couldn't fathom one.
His eyes travelled down to her lips, which where parted slightly. Slowly he kissed her, though she was unresponsive. His hand travelled down to her hip, grasping it gently. Slowly, Sophie kissed back, toying with his raven locks that fell onto her face.
It wasn't the most passionate kiss he could have given her, not if he really tried. But he didn't need to impress Sophie, Sophie didn't like being impressed.
Though the kiss was sweet, Sophie though the second one was better. That was until Howl crept his hand up his dress, deepening the kiss. Sophie felt him smile in the kiss. Her mind screamed at her, it felt so good... She felt his hand travel up her thigh.
She broke it abruptly, pulling away from Howl and falling off the side of the lounge. She stared at him wide eyed, panting and catching her breath. "Howl…" She breathed, distressed.
The look he gave her made her want to die. He stared at her, over the edge of the lounge. His face was paled and his blue eyes were soft and sorrowful. Howl's raven locks pressed up against the side of his face. Slowly, out of dry lips he whispered. "I'm so sorry Sophie… I've offended you, it will never happen again."
There was nothing she could have said at that moment that could describe her apologies. He slunk away, just disappeared into the dusty, sunlit air. His deep, tearful blue eyes bore holes into her. Sophie tried to talk, but her mouth merely opened up and closed like a fish. No words were spoken as he disappeared into thin air.
She knew it, she had rejected him. Her heart lurched and she whimpered with pain. Was this what it felt like to have a broken heart? She didn't mean it, oh god, she didn't mean it. At that point, there was nothing she wouldn't do to get him to come back. She would hug and cry her eyes out; all she wanted was to hear his soft voice cooing to her telling her everything would be alright.
Though she could tell, everything wouldn't be alright.
There was nothing left now. Howl was a wreck. No consoling could help him. He felt the green ooze slip out of his body. His mind cried for Sophie, she had rejected him. His chest stabbed his heart, like the blade of a roughly serrated machete. He loved her; he could have spent the rest of her life with her, all eternity in fact. He just had to mess it up. It was typical.
What was the purpose of living if he couldn't have her?
"Oh come on now Howl! I'm sure it's not as bad as you think…" He heard Calcifer's voice, but it seemed too distant, as if he was being whispered to.
His green slimy hand rose to his face and his worn and red eyes fixed on the object in grasp.
I love you forever, my dear Sophie…
The words seemed so long ago. They had lost the passion that they were engraved in the silver with. Everything about Sophie seemed to make his heart ache. She was the only thing he ever wanted in this life, and she wouldn't have him. She had rejected him.
"Master Howl, where is Sophie?" He heard his young apprentice cry. Sophie, her name made him yearn for her more, though he knew he never could again. She was frightened; he had made a huge mistake. She had been frightened and yet he acted the way he did.
He didn't want to hurt her, he could never hurt Sophie.
He looked at the small silver locket sadly, his eyes brimming with tears before he dropped it. It landed in the burning flames, Howl landed on the floor unconscious.
And yet another chapter has been uploaded, sorry for such a wait. I hope this fulfilled your needs.
This chapter kept biting at me, it was quite annoying.
So, anyways, please review.
To answer other reviewers questions:
swimchick1614: Thanks! I'm glad you think that, well, Sophie will have to find out about the marriage sooner or later.
Saikagas: Honey didn't think it was such a good idea because of the fact that they were close with the dead princess and that they would hold it against Howl and create havoc in her party.
avidlydreaming: No, Jack doesn't hold Howl responsible. No, Michael isn't a dark wizard, he isn't even a wizard and, Sophie was weird just fort the alcohol indulgence. Lol, 'alcohol "Indulgence"' Haha, I like that. Thanks for the review.
To the other reviewers: Emmzy, cherryblossom64, Princesscupcakes (I'm glad the Swartz is with me…), Poison Jack, Animelover621, Sapphire Rose E., missysillivan
You're all loved! Thank you!
