Three Hours Later:
It was intended, but Howl fell asleep, holding Kari close to him.
"Should we check up on them?" Connor asked, looking toward the stairs.
"As much as I'd love to, I'm afraid of what Howl will do to me if I sneak into his room. Did you see how angry he got with me when I trapped you in the bathroom to get information? I'm not going to go up. Uh-uh. No way, no how. I do not have a death wish. I don't hear screaming, so I doubt they're having sex; he probably fell asleep with her." Calcifer stated, sitting in his hearth.
"Right." Connor agreed, going to practice his magic.
Despite what Calcifer told Connor, he just couldn't help himself; he went to see what Howl and Kari were up to. He never went into Howl's room; he just found a window and peeked in.
Despite how Calcifer may act or what he may say to be somewhat of a pervert, he genuinely cared about everyone in that castle. He smiled at the sight before him:
Howl was laying on his back with his arms around Kari—between cats.
Kari was pressed against Howl with one arm around his waist; her other arm was under her.
Sammy was lying across Kari's shoulder.
Sparky was lying across Kari's waist.
Pumpkin was lying, curled up on Kari's hip.
"What did you find?" Connor asked when Calcifer came back to his hearth.
"As I told you: they're asleep—with the kittens all over them." Calcifer replied, sinking into his logs.
"You really are a big softy." Connor teased Calcifer with a smile.
"Sometimes. I'm just glad he's happy and in love again." Calcifer replied.
"Amen to that." Connor agreed.
Meanwhile:
Kari woke up—and couldn't move. It took her a few minutes to realize she had three cats on her, an arm around her waist, and an arm under her shoulders.
'That's right. We landed in a safe place and Howl told me I was safe. Then everything went black—but not before I… I told him I loved him. I finally said it. And—I think I heard him say it back. He looks so peaceful. I don't think I've ever seen him sleeping before. Howl…' Kari thought to herself, watching Howl.
"So, my princess has awoken." Howl spoke with a smile, looking from the ceiling to Kari, causing her to blush.
'Princess?' Kari asked herself, staring at Howl. She wasn't a princess and certainly never considered herself as such.
"Hahaha. Hmm… Ok, you three; get and move off her so she can move." Howl chuckled a little before shooing the cats off Kari. They went above them on the pillows as Howl removed his arm from under her shoulder.
"I know that look all too well. To me, you are a princess; you're my princess. I don't want you to take offense when I say this, but you're my new love—my new start. You truly are my second chance at love and life. I apologize if I've been upsetting you by comparing you to Sophie so much. You are so much like her, but at the same time, so different. You're by far, far different than her. And yes, while I loved her so very much; I don't feel that same deep love I feel toward you. I don't feel that deep bond with her like I do with you. I don't understand it, but I do know I don't want to lose you. Kari, I love you." Howl sincerely told Kari, keeping eye contact with her.
"Howl—I'm not offended; I understand. I really do." Kari replied, trying to wipe her tears away.
"Then why are you crying?" Howl asked, rubbing more tears away.
"Because I'm stupid—and selfish." Kari answered, confusing Howl.
"You're not stupid or selfish…" "Yes, I am." Howl started only to have her interrupt him.
"Please explain why you think that." Howl insisted.
"Because I know how much you loved and cherished Sophie. And I keep thinking about what if she were still alive. What if she were immortal, still alive, and still with you? I wouldn't be here—with you today. It makes me sad to think that because I like being here with you. But if she were still alive, where would I be? You were so kind to bring me into your home and let me stay. Nobody else would've—nobody else did. I'm selfish because I don't want that; I'm happy it's how it is. And it hurts and I feel like I've never felt before thinking about you being with Sophie. I'm stupid because I know she's not still here; she's gone—and I know it's how it is now. But I still can't stop thinking how I think. I don't wanna have those thoughts. I don't wanna be happy that someone's dead so that I can have what's theirs. But I can't stop thinking like that—and I don't like it." Kari babbled, explaining things to Howl.
"Kari—you're not stupid or selfish; you're jealous. If that makes you stupid and selfish; that makes me king of stupidness and selfishness because I know exactly how you feel. I loathe the thought of you with another man—or another man touching you in any way, shape, or form. I doubt I will ever forget Sophie or the time we had together, but I will move on. I will move on to be with the girl I love for the rest of eternity. She was not immortal and is no longer here. Kari—Sophie and I talked after you arrived; she told me to move on and be happy with you. Do you know why she told me that? She told me that because she was a good person. She told me that because she didn't want me to wallow or mourn anymore. She told me that because she saw what I didn't see—or want to see. She knew I loved you before I knew myself. I know you don't mean what you think; you've admitted to hating thinking like that. That usually means you don't mean it. You're just hurt, jealous, and maybe don't understand what you're feeling." Howl explained, wiping tears away.
"But I do know how I feel. I love you; I really do! I love you more than I've loved anything before except my cats. I love you, Howl." Kari cried, not taking her eyes off him.
"I know you do." Howl firmly told Kari, flipping her, so she was on her back, and he was hovering over her, pinning her down.
"I know you do." Howl repeated, tucking some hair behind her ears before leaning his face down closer to hers.
"Howl." Kari whispered, looking up.
Howl wanted to kiss her—and Kari knew it; she was anticipating his lips on hers.
However, that never happened:
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Is there any form of life in there? Somebody better speak before I come in there!" Calcifer called through Howl's door, causing Kari to turn bright red before covering her face.
"Go away, Calcifer—before I dump a bucket of cold water over you!" Howl yelled at Calcifer, sending a sprinkle of three-second rain over Calcifer.
"You're an ass! I was just checking up on you!" Calcifer yelled, flying away from the room.
"Mmmm…" Kari moaned, both embarrassed and frustrated.
"Hahaha." Howl lightly laughed at Kari; he didn't know who was more frustrated at that moment: him or her.
"Kari—you're too adorable." Howl told her, removing her hands from her face.
Kari just stared at Howl, holding her hands in front of her chest.
"Do you want to?" Howl asked, watching Kari.
"I-I've never done it before. I don't think I'll be very good." Kari softly replied, looking up.
"There you go again. If you've never been kissed before, you don't know how you'll do. And I'm sure you'll do just fine—especially with me leading." Howl proudly told Kari.
"I want to." Kari told Howl.
"Good." Howl replied before leaning down.
However, just before his lips even got an inch away:
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but there are people at the door—and they won't go away! They're looking for the owner!" Connor called through the door.
"Damnit. Ok, I'm coming!" Howl called while Kari moaned in annoyance.
"To be continued, my love." Howl told Kari, getting up; he then helped her out of bed.
"Get some clean clothes and take a shower." Howl told Kari once they got downstairs.
"Ok." Kari softly replied, going to her room.
"I know. Trust me; I know. Calcifer, when Kari gets in the bathroom, give her hot water—please." Howl sighed before instructing Calcifer.
'At least she's finally smiling—and seems happy now.' Howl thought to himself, watching Kari scurry to the bathroom with an outfit.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"I'm coming!" Howl called, walking over to the door.
"Are you the owner of this castle?" A man and woman politely asked.
"Yes. I'm Howl Jenkins Pendragon. How may I help you?" Howl greeted and then asked.
"See. I told you that this was Howl's home." The girl hissed at the guy.
"Fine. You were right and I was wrong." The guy grumbled.
"Sorry. We heard there was a girl here as well. We saw the boy and the fire demon as well." The girl apologized and then explained, watching Howl with a smile.
"Yes. It's me, Kari, Connor, Calcifer, and Kari's kittens." Howl replied.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Grace and this is my boyfriend, Gavin. We wanted to come say hi and welcome you to safety." The girl, Grace, calmly told Howl.
"She wanted to come say hi." The guy, Gavin, mumbled.
Grace had shoulder-length curly light brown hair and hazel eyes.
Gave had messy nape-length dark brown hair and brown eyes.
"Thank you." Howl replied, watching the two.
"Do you have any questions for us?" Grace politely asked.
'Please, God: don't have any questions.' Gavin thought to himself.
"Not that I can think of… Oh, wait. Before we crash landed here, we were being fired at from below by someone. Do you know who or why?" Howl started before remembering their arrival.
"Oh, yeah—them. I'm going home." Gavin grumbled.
"Those people are people (both magical and non-magical) who once lived here but were ejected after failing to follow the rules. Since they were kicked out and can't get back in because they're not pure or good people, they try to keep other pure or good people from getting in. They set up post all around the outside of the barrier in hopes that they can keep the rest of us in—or kill us if we leave. However, what they don't realize is that we don't ever need to leave if we don't want. We have everything here, inside that they have outside. Stores of all sorts, food of all sorts, music, movies, etc. Whatever you can think of, we probably have it. On the second Friday of each month, we have a fireworks celebration on the east side; we are on the west side. Gavin and I live fifteen minutes up the road from you. We don't know what you're used to, but you only have two acres of land. You got lucky. You're surrounded by woods. Sorry. When I say that's lucky, I mean you won't be disrupted by all the noise of the city or anything like that. Gavin and I finally got to move when someone willingly moved out; they said they missed their family. We're still five minutes away from the city, but it's better than it was before. Well, that's Gavin and me; we like the quiet country life. There are a lot of fun hiking trails in the woods, but don't go if you're well-coordinated; there are a lot of branches, rocks, vines, and other things you can trip and fall on. But you have two acres you can do with as you please. You'll know when your land ends because there's a fence surrounding all of your land." Grace spaztically explained.
"What's his issue with those people?" Calcifer asked, peeking out.
"You came from the west; you were knocked down by large metal balls?" Grace asked, watching Howl.
"I believe so." Howl replied.
"Those people beat and raped Gavin's younger sister and nearly killed her boyfriend. His sister has tried committing suicide a few times because of it all. Her boyfriend is still in the infirmary, recovering. It's been over two years, but he finally woke up a few weeks ago; he'll be able to be released in a week or two. She's finally starting to feel better as well—now that her boyfriend is out of the woods. Gavin—he didn't take it well—especially since the men who did it, were friends of his. Or—he thought they were. As it would turn out, they were just using him to get to his younger sisters. Gavin has an older brother and sister, three younger sisters, and two younger brothers. He's insanely protective of them all. They moved here twelve years ago after their father was killed. Everything here is free—except cable, internet, electronics, and other non-necessities. It's better financially and other for their, now, single mother. So—yeah." Grace explained.
"Oh. I'm sorry." Howl apologized.
"Howl—is everything ok?" Kari asked, concerned, walking over.
"Yeah; everything's fine. This is one of our neighbors, Grace. Her boyfriend, Gavin is further away; he had some errands to run." Howl told Kari only to stop and stare at her when he saw her.
Kari was wearing a teal-colored sundress with straps covering her shoulders, dark blue legging shorts, and a pair of simple blue and white sandals. Her hair was up in a long ponytail, tied up with a plain blue hair tie.
"Is it too much? I can change if you want me to." Kari told Howl, becoming apprehensive and flustered.
"No—it's not too much; you look great." Howl stopped Kari, honestly telling her.
"What are you talking about? She's absolutely adorable! Your outfit could use some work for this kind of lifestyle. But just look at her!" Grace excitedly yelled, mumbling at Howl before charging Kari and hugged her to death, it seemed.
"Thank you?" Kari asked, confused.
"I'm going to change, I guess." Howl spoke, heading upstairs.
"I am soo sorry! But you just look so adorable! How old are you?" Grace questioned Kari.
"Sixteen." Kari softly answered.
"Ahhh! I knew it! You're about my sister's age! You also Gavin's second younger sister's age! You are just so adorable!" Grace excitedly exclaimed.
"Grace—are you done bothering these people?" Gavin asked, annoyed.
"I thought you were leaving." Grace grumbled, looking at Gavin.
"I didn't think you'd be this long. Come on; let them be. Let's go home. They may want to get to know their new surroundings." Gavin stated, watching Grace and Kari.
"Fine. See you around. Bye." Grace bid farewell before leaving with Grace.
"Did they leave?" Howl asked, walking down in a simple pair of blue jeans with a dark blue, comfy-looking, baggy shirt and a simple pair of brown shoes.
"Yes." Calcifer answered, watching the door in disbelief.
"You look nice." Kari absentmindedly told Kari.
"Thank you." Howl told Kari with a smile, making her blush.
"Ok… I'm ready now." Kari stated, taking a deep breath.
"Not yet, you're not." Howl replied, confusing Kari.
"Hold still for a second." Howl instructed, stepping right in front of her.
"Ok." Kari did what Howl asked her, blushing. She blushed even more when she felt him move her hair a little and stick something in her hair.
"Ok, now you're ready. What do you think?" Howl stated and then asked, conjuring up a mirror so she could see what he put in her hair; it was a blue rose she loved so much.
"Howl—I love it. Thank you." Kari responded with tears in her eyes before hugging him again.
"You're welcome, Love." Howl lovingly told Kari with a smile, placing his chin on the top of her head.
"Well, are you ready?" Calcifer asked, breaking the two apart, causing Kari to blush even more.
"Yeah, we're ready; let's go." Howl insisted, giving Calcifer a dirty look.
"To a new start." Kari announced with a smile.
"To a new start." Howl agreed, opening the door to be greeted by sunshine and a lovely breeze…