Our Lost Souls

So, with a show of hands, how many people think Howl has gone loco? And not the cuckoo-clock kind, more like the "I will kill you" loco?

Wow...I think so too! –dies of laughter-

Okay moving on...

Fun Fun Fun In The Sun: Got your updates covered my dear!

Dreamz: If it makes you feel any better, I have an update for you! (I hate hectic weeks, I know how you feel...from a general stress-driven perspective.)

Koimiko: Pillows? –dives onto fluffy pile- I personally think Markl needed the psycho-frantic outburst aimed at him, don't you?

Darknozomi: Updating...updating...Updated!!! –squeals with glee && coughs-

People-stare-I-Glare: Thank you! That was a compliment that made my artistic heart sing! I hope you like this chapter!

VII: Crazy Merry Go Round

Unable to catch any sleep whatsoever, and sick of staring out the window, Sophie got up to grab the remote off her dresser and watch T.V. Walking back to her bed, she caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned and faced her window, chills running down her spine. "Stay calm Sophie..." She murmured to herself as she walked toward it slowly, the moonlight leaking eerily into her dark room through the silky curtains. Sweeping them aside, she cautiously opened the slider and stepped gingerly out onto her small balcony.

"It's nothing...huh...I could have sworn I seen something." No sooner had the words left her mouth, she caught the movement again, and she found herself looking at the silhouette of a man. She froze.

'Calm down Sophie...Just go back inside...' She thought to herself, but her feet were glued to the ground. Her body stiffened even more as the figure leapt towards the balcony, gracefully landing and crouching on the ledge like a cat. "Sophie?" The dark figure questioned.

Her eyes widened, and she scowled as the chill left her body, quickly being replaced with irritation. "Howl you idiot!" she shrieked, swinging her arm up so violently she almost knocked him off the balcony. "You scared the shit out of me!"

"Whoa whoa! Apparently not, you hair is still brown!" He chuckled, bouncing onto the balcony, the dim moonlight finally illuminating his handsome features. Scowling and huffing, she flounced back into her room slamming the window in his face, locking him out.

"Sophie, awe Sophie! Let me in!" He whined pathetically. Sticking her tongue out at him, she closed the curtains and plopped down on her bed, turning on the T.V, ignoring his pleas. "Please Sophie?!"

She shook her head and leaned back into her pillows. "Nope, you're not coming in. I'm mad at you. Go away."

"No! Come on Sophie I just blew off the most important paperwork of my life to come here!"

"I didn't tell you too, now did I? So it sounds to me like a personal problem." She snipped, rolling her eyes. He stomped his foot and paced back and forth on the balcony. Then it hit him. Snapping his fingers, he turned back to the window. "Don't make me start pounding on every window in this house and wake your sister up!" He threatened with a grin on his face.

"You wouldn't dare!" She growled standing in front of the window, arms crossed. He tapped the window. "You think I wouldn't? Alrighty then!"

Her eyes widened in horror as he started banging on her window. Just as he was about to leap off her balcony and attack her sister's window, she swept the curtain aside and opened the window. "Get your ass in here you asshole!"

Grinning at his new found method of persuasions success, he sauntered into her room. Closing the window and pulling the curtains back over it, she turned around sharply to scold him. "Howl you really are a freaking piece of work I mean seriously-"

She was cut off abruptly by him suddenly gathered her up in his arms, hugging her tightly. "H-Howl?"

"I missed you." He whispered hoarsely, nuzzling her neck. She couldn't be mad at him. How could you be mad at that? Seriously? "I missed you too, goofball." She murmured rubbing his back gently. He cupped her face gently, and kissed her softly on the lips. Sophie felt her heart skip a beat as the butterflies welled up in her stomach, his kiss making her giddy. But the warm fuzzy feeling didn't blind her from noticing the concerned, searching look in his eyes. "What's wrong?" She asked, frowning. He shook his head. "N-nothing."

"Tell me?"

"Nothing, I promise." How was he suppose to tell her, "Oh hey, I though something was wrong with you so I went jumping around Japan like a mad man to get to your house?". He growled inwardly at himself.

"I'm waiting..." She pressed, worry getting the best of her.

"I said it's nothing, didn't I?"

She sighed and rolled her eyes. It was a reverse situation. He was being defensive and she was being a nag. Usually it was the other way around, and he would try to flatter her into telling what the problem was when she blocked him out of her mind. A small smile crept upon her lips as she looked at him slyly. "You won't tell me?" She pouted, leaning close to him. He shook his head. "Why not?" She asked softly, placing a hand on his chest. His eyebrow shot up in curiosity. "Are you trying to seduce me, Sophie?"

"Amazing, you are smarter than you look!" She snickered, climbing on top of him and capturing his lips. "Now...are you...going...to tell...me?" She asked in between kisses. "It...depends..." He murmured into her lips. "On what?"

He suddenly flipped them over, reversing the situation. "On you." He said huskily before leaning in and kissing her deeply.

'On me?'

'Yes on you.'

'And what is it you want Howl?'

'You.'

"No, I can't do that!" She said breathlessly, pushing his face away from hers. He looked down on her with a confused expression. "Why not?"

"I can't do it...if I don't love you!" She whimpered, closing her eyes. She didn't want to see the pained look on his face. "You don't...love me?" He repeated, his voice faltering. "It's not as bad as it sounds, it's just that...we still are fresh on this whole relationship thing and I...I don't want to jump the gun. I like you, I really do!" She rambled out frantically as he got up and stalked towards the window.

He turned slightly and gave her a fake grin. "Of course Sophie, take your time. I'm in no rush, I have eternity to wait, and my time doesn't expire as fast as humans." The window blew open and in a whirl of black feathers, he was gone. Sophie ran onto the balcony. "No, Howl come back! Howl!!!" She cried out after him. She waited for 20 minutes, hoping his goofy grin would just flash out at her, but he didn't come back. She sank to the floor, tears running down her cheeks in a torrent for the second time that night.

"I can't believe I did that. I must have scared the shit out of her! But...she didn't have to say...say that!"

Calcifer sighed and massaged his temples. "She was scared, Master, but...You are rushing it. She hasn't lived without companionship as long as you have, and therefore not as eager to jump into things."

Howl ran an agitated hand through his hair. "I understand that but-

"No, you don't understand, Master, forgive me for interrupting you, but just listen for a moment." Calcifer interjected, cutting him off. Obviously having no other choice, Howl crosses his arms and looked back at his General. "Go on, I'm listening."

"Well...we know that she is your soul mate, however, she needs to adjust to this fact. I believe you had this discussion with her before? She asked for you to give things time?"

Howl smacked himself on the forehead. "Shit I forgot! She must really hate me now for acting like that..." Calcifer looked at him in amazement. He was going to just sit there and brood about it his actions! How appalling! "What?" He asked, looking up to find the fire-headed vampire staring at him incredulously.

Before he could answer, the large mahogany doors slammed open, and Markl stalked in staring his brother down. "What...the hell...is your problem!" He hissed darkly, towering over his seated brother. "How could you just leave her there like that?! She's crying for you! For you! You stupid fuck!"

He stared at his brother in shock. "How the hell would you know and what concern is it of yours, you impudent twit?!" He hissed back. "I followed you to make sure you didn't do anything rash, but obviously there was only so much I could do! And you"- he snarled, pointing an accusing finger at Howl,-"I know you felt the waves of distress and anguish coming from her, but you just ignored it! You let her breakdown and cry! You are a self-centered, dick-headed, worthless bastard!"

Howl shot up out of his chair and slammed Markl to the wall with blinding speed. Calcifer bowed himself out of the way, sitting at the end of the room letting the brothers duke it out. "And you think you're any better? You wet-headed whelp?! You fuck a girl's brains out and leave them after you've gotten what you wanted!" He spat out.

"That was only with two women; mind you, just pieces of material of the stupid court trying to be next in line to get our wealth and power in the royal family!" He hissed, prying his brother's hands off his neck and pushing him back. "But you, you are torturing your soul mate! What kind of man are you if you can stoop so low because she can't fall for you as easily as you did her? Then you have the gall to make me sound like any less of a man when I don't force myself on a woman who refuses me!"

"What...do you know...?" Howl said hoarsely, slumping into his chair once more, covering his face in his hands. "You don't know...how it feels. I finally find her, and...She doesn't want me." That was it. Markl snapped and punched him so hard he fell out of the chair. "There you go, being selfish again! She really won't want you if you're gonna be like this! Think of her feelings Howl, her feelings, someone else's, not just yours. Think about somebody besides your self for once."

"Well what the hell am I supposed to do? What the hell do you fucking suggest?!" He snarled, rubbing his head where Markl punched him and wiping the blood from his mouth. "Give her time and respect, come on, who's older here, me or you?" He said, his expression softening. "She's your soul mate brother, your soul mate! You don't get replacements! You have to do things right, even if that means taking things slow. Make her come to love you, and no, not by force- He added, noticing the confused look flit across Howl's face- "Make her world beautiful. Love her enough for the both of you and show it." He finished, kneeling next to him.

Howl looked at him dubiously. "How? How am I supposed to prove to her anything like that now?"

Markl sighed in disgust. "It's the little things women notice and appreciate you know." He said, rapping Howl's skull.

"Ow hey!" The raven haired vampire protested, swatting at his younger brothers hand.

"Last time I checked, roses still make a great make-up present." He continued, ignoring Howl's whining. "So if I were you, I'd get the biggest, gorgeous, reddest roses you can find, and start kissing her ass."

"Guess I will be out in the garden then. I-

He was cut off by a phone ringing. Calcifer grinned sheepishly and pulled a small flip out of his pocket and answered it, turning away from them.

"Since when do you have a cell phone?" Howl asked, eyeing the flame-haired general curiously. "Since your father said to go get one when we ran into Sachi yesterday and she wanted me to call her."

Both brothers raised an eyebrow. "Was that her?" Markl asked coyly. Calcifer only nodded, his features turning redder by the moment. "Speaking of father, where is he? I haven't seen him since you returned from the Darkling scouting."

"He's been taking care of business affairs in the city, since your so tied up here," he commented, motioning towards the paper stacked desk by the fireplace, "And... he was visiting...her."

Howl and Markl bowed their heads. The woman Calcifer spoke of Markl's mother, a kind, beautiful human woman their father fell in love with after Howl's and Reika's mother died. "I almost forgot...today would have been her 130th birthday...if you'll excuse me." Markl murmured, exiting the room. "It must be hard, for the young Master. He loved her very much, your father as well."

"We all did Cal, we all did." Howl remarked quietly.

"One more thing, your Highness."

"Yes?"

"About your language..."

"Sophie? What's wrong?" Sachi asked the melancholy girl sitting beside her. "You haven't even touched your lunch, you love lunch!"

Sophie gave her a weak smile. "Rough night...had a nasty nightmare, I couldn't really get enough sleep..." Her thoughts flew back to what happened with Howl.

-Flashback-

'And what is it you want Howl?'

'You.'

"No, I can't do that!" She said breathlessly, pushing his face away from hers. He looked down on her with a confused expression. "Why not?"

"I can't do it...if I don't love you!" She whimpered, closing her eyes. She didn't want to see the pained look on his face. "You don't...love me?" He repeated, his voice faltering.

"Of course Sophie, take your time. I'm in no rush, I have eternity to wait, and my time doesn't expire as fast as humans." The window blew open and in a whirl of black feathers, he was gone.

-End Flashback-

She sighed heavily and rubbed her eyes, the hot feeling of tears welling up attacking her again. Sachi saw the warning of tears and quickly wrapped her friend up in a hug, rubbing her back gently. "Sophie...you don't have to tell me what is wrong, even though I would like you to, but if you ever just need me, I'm there for you."

Sophie hugged her tighter. "Thank you so much Sachi."

She really didn't want to be home, she wished she had accepted Sachi's offer to spend the night later that afternoon, she wished she could just bring herself to tell her, she wished...that Howl was there after school to take her home...she wished...

"Get yourself together dammit Sophie!" She growled, angrily shaking her head at herself. "No point, no point." She walked slowly up the stairs and begrudgingly opened her bedroom door. And almost just dropped right there. Roses, crimson roses, everywhere! She walked into her room slowly, gasping and looking around. Soft, pink petals strewn like confectioners sugar across her floor, and dozens of bouquets and loose roses decorated her room. "Oh my god..." She breathed.

"Not quite, but you can call me God if you want."

She jumped and turned around, coming face to face with..."H-Howl!" She stuttered dumbly. "You...did this, for me?"

He simply nodded and swept her up in his arms, kissing her face all over. "I'm so sorry for how I acted, Sophie, really I am. I was so stupid; I shouldn't have done that to you!"

Sophie was at a loss for words. Howl was apologizing...he was...crying? She gasped softly as two diamond-like tears made their way out of his now azure eyes. All these roses were for her, no one had ever even given her a single one before in her life, and here, she had large bouquets and roses sprinkled across every corner of her room. But that didn't change the fact... "Howl I...I...have nothing to say...except for...You are an asshole! I cried for your stupid ass, cried! I never in my life cried over a boy!" She hissed, smacking him on the nose.

He jumped back from her, rubbing his nose. "Hey wait just one minute woman I..." He trailed off and stepped towards her again, taking in her flushed features, hair in disarray. This is why he loved her, this is the one thing that would drive him insane...If he could never bicker with her again, kiss her again..."Couldn't live without this, I don't think."

"Have you lost it?" She asked in shock. "I'm yelling, ranting and raving at you, hello!" He shook his head. "That's exactly it Sophie, it's why I love you. You put your foot down and show me I am wrong...you...make me better, make me want to do things right. My soul mate, you make me, and my world, right."

She gawked at him in disbelief. Didn't she tell him she wasn't all in for this... soul mate thing? But...she couldn't deny herself the sincerity in him and his words. Maybe she could give him one more chance, right? Besides him being retarded, which in her mind is a given for all males, he was what she really wanted, right? "Awe fuck." She huffed, and threw herself into his arms and kissed him fiercely. Howl was taken aback for a moment, but wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back with as much passion.

"I can't believe I am going to do this, but you have one more chance buddy." She said dizzily as they pulled apart to breathe. He grinned roguishly at her before taking her into his arms again and settled them onto the bed. "Hey don't go ruining it that quickly!" She chastised. He smiled and linked her fingers with his. "I'm not going to try that again." He said, caressing her face with his other hand, leaning in to kiss her. "I promise you this, I will make your world beautiful Sophie, I promise to give you all my love, and just hope that in turn, you can love me also."

She smiled into his lips. "That shouldn't be...too hard."

The end!!! I'm joking, joking! But seriously, it's the end. For this chapter, lol. I hope you enjoyed! R&R please and thank you!

-FaythlessAngel