To Think That This Day Would Come

The Second Chapter

(A/N: I want to thank you who were kind enough to review this. You really made my day! As some of you guessed, the certain "she" that was mentioned in the last chapter was Yûko Ichihara from xxxHOLiC.Yüko is so cool! fangirl tears Oookay, where was I? Oh yes, I changed the category to romance and mystery, because lately I have been thinking a lot of the story and I realized it will be more like mystery than adventure. But now, back to the story.)

"Dear.

How are you? This is the first time I've written a letter.

I somehow became used to being alone.

On my way back, I saw the sakuras in full bloom at the park.

And I think of you.

I gasp for air as I float above the black sky.

Because a slight fever drapes the world, the scenery becomes unclear.

We breath faintly, for we are unsure how long our love will last.

A bud opens at the last moment."

"...Well, she's a witch, and a very powerful one. She's been called as the Witch of Time-Space and the Dimensonal Witch... She grants wishes, but there's always a price to pay if you're dealing with her. Believe me Sophie, she can be dangerous..." Calcifer explained, and even though he was dead serious, Sophie couldn't pay attention to the fire-demon. She had to contact this mysterious witch, she was her only hope.

"How can I reach her, Calcifer?" Sophie asked looking more confident than she had been in a long time. It was a good thing, of course, but Calcifer was afraid that she would make a grand mistake. When Sophie was in that state of mind, "rational thinking" was an unknow term for her. Especially when it came to Howl.

"Did you just listen to any of what I said? Nobody listens to me anymore! I shouldn't help you, I'm a demon after all, you shouldn't treat demons like that..." Calcifer strated to nag but one pleading look from Sophie made him quiet.

"Okay, I'll help you, just don't give me that damn look! Write a letter, tell that you need her help. Then give it to Markl, he'll know what to do, he's been dealing with Howl's business earlier;" Calcifer explained somewhat reluctantly, but Sophie was already looking for a paper. She furiously scribbled few lines and then asked Markl to come down.

"Markl, this is very important. I need you to send this letter, it's for a person who'll help me to find Howl," Sophie explained quietly and Markl carefully took the letter from Sophie.

"To whom will I send this? Is this person really going to bring master back?" Markl added hopefully. It pained Sophie to see how much Markl too missed Howl.

"Calcifer called her something like the Dimensonal Witch or the Witch Of Time-Space..." Sohpie begun.

"You mean HER?" Markl looked shocked.

"Have you heard of her?" Sophie wasn't sure hwo to react to Markl's reaction.

"Of course! I heard she's a REALLY powerful witch, one of the best!" Markl looked both excited and horrified at the same time.

"Very well, send that letter to her, will you not?" Sophie asked again.

"Sure. I bet she'll help us to find Howl, so don't worry about it, Sophie," Markl gave her a bright smile and stumbled away with the letter.

Sophie sighed, but couldn't help smiling. Markl was such a good boy, he felt liked a real son to her. Such a good boy...

She didn't have time to finish her thought because she heard a serial of knocks on the door.

She hurried to the door but before opening it she gave a look to Calcifer.

"It can't be her, can it?" She looked at the fire-demon suspiciously.

"Of course it is her, what did you expect? A royal parade?" Calcifer snapped.

"Of course not, I just mean that how could she come this soon..." Sophie snapped back.

"She's a real professional, you know! Are you planning to open that door or not? Turn the door knob to the black point," Calcifer replied nonchalantly.

Sophie gave him another glance before opening the door.

A very tall and extremely beautiful woman stood on there. Hair raven hair was flowing around her and her agelessly beautiful face had a solemn look. Her curvy body was covered (well, maybe not exactly covered if you know what I mean...) with magnificient, expensive looking clothes, but it was her eyes that made the greatest impression on Sophie.

It felt like the woman could see to Sophie's very soul with those strange eyes. It seemed as if there was no exact color in them, the color was changing with the light.

They were really strange yet beautiful eyes. Also the owner of those eyes seemed strange yet beautiful.

She gave Sophie a mischievous smile as she said: "I have come here to grant your wish."

"Come inside," Sophie answered and moved away from the door. It was only now that she realized that the woman wasn't alone. There was a young man with her, he was also very tall and had a short, messy black hair. He wore glasses and he was in fact so normal looking young man that it was almost peculiar that he was with a woman like that. They made a very strange couple.

"Come on Watanuki, don't just stand there," the woman laughed as her companion stayed at the door looking somewhat confused.

"Don't 'Come on Watanuki' me! You just dragged me through the weirdest place ever and act like nothing happened! Yûko-san!' The young man yelled at the woman, but she simply laughed.

"Well, NOTHING happened, Watanuki! Quit being such a wimp and come inside, my customer's already waiting!" The woman claimed and turned her focus back on Sophie.

"Don't mind Watanuki, even though he might seem irrataiting, he's a good boy after all," the woman gave a reassuring smile to Sophie. The young man muttered something, but however came inside.

"So, you want me to bring someone back...?" Yûko turned her intensive gaze back to Sophie when all of them were inside and the door was closed.

"Yes, you are the only one who can help me! Please, bring Howl back to me, that is what I wish for!" Sophie pleaded with tears in her eyes. She noticed how the boy Yûko had called Watanuki gave her a curious look.

"I can do that. There is only one thing..." Yûko begun.

"What is it? Please, I'll do anything!" Sophie tried to convince her desperately. Only thinking of the possibility that Yüko wouldn't help her made her terrified.

"I know you would. What I'm talking about is how are you going to pay this for me?" A devious smile was playing on Yüko's lips.

-A/N: Cliffie again! I'm actually still uncertain how Sophie will pay to Yûko, but I guess I have a clue. However, ideas and tips are appreciated! By the way, the song lyrics at the beginning are from Plastic Tree' wonderful Harusaki Sentimental, such a pretty song.