A Heart in Flames #2 (Howl's Moving Castle fanfiction)

Chapter 10: Headstrong Sisters

As sisters, they had their fair share of fights. Both held the same stubborn qualities when an argument commenced, and neither backed down lightly. It seemed as though the older they got, the longer the fights lasted and the more painful they became. While most arguments ended with a hug and an apology, Gwenda feared this one had gone too far.

"Why does it have to be him?" She said, her arm outstretched to the man leaning against the wall. Lona stood between Kenta and her sister, protecting him from whatever Gwenda might throw at him. Luckily, the plates were all put away, but their bookcase wasn't too far from where she stood. And it wouldn't have been the first time she threw something at him.

Kenta crossed his arms. "You know I'm in the room."

Gwenda smirked. "Yes, I can see."

"Gwenda, we've been dating for nearly eight months." Lona said, her fiery red eyes pleading with her. They used to get along so well, but since Kenta had entered her life they now disagreed on just about everything. "Is it that hard to accept that I love him?"

Gwenda scoffed. "It's hard to accept that you've let a wizard take advantage of you."

Kenta pushed off the wall, stomping with his finger pointed at her. Lona stopped him from moving any farther, but his eyes glared at Gwenda with rage. "I have never taken advantage of Lona. I would never do that to her or anyone else for that matter."

Gwenda rolled her eyes. "Like I would believe you anyway."

Lona dropped her jaw. "Gwenda! How can you say that?"

"Oh come on, Lona!" Gwenda raised her voice. "Magical creatures are all the same. They abuse humans to get what they want and when they're done, they throw us away."

"I refuse to believe that."

Gwenda narrowed her eyes. "You really need a refresher?"

Lona frowned, her lips trembling. "This is not like that."

"How do you know?"

"Because Kenta isn't splitting up our family, you are!" Lona said, her own volume shocking her core. Kenta held her shoulders as she took in calming breaths. He rubbed her shoulders to relax her, but couldn't relax his own anger toward Gwenda. He knew she had a disdain for magicians, though her insults had become more hostile and ignorant. She judged the entire race of magicians by the acts of a few terrorizers.

Lona inhaled deeply. "If you don't want him around, then you don't want me around."

Gwenda's face dropped. "Lona, that's not what I said. You're my sister."

"And I love Kenta." Lona took a step forward. "If you loved someone other than yourself, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Gwenda slumped her shoulders. That was it; that was what Lona chose to believe. In her mind, she envisioned the two hugging and apologizing for saying the things they did. She envisioned them sitting on the couch next to a fire, talking and laughing through the night. She envisioned her sister far away from the magical world.

It was a nice thought, but Gwenda knew there was no coming back from this one.

Lona held shaking fists by her side, shutting her eyes tightly. "I'm leaving. I'm moving in with Kenta and that's final."

The small apartment fell silent. Lona held back the oncoming tears as best as she could while Kenta stood right behind her, holding her arms in comfort.

Gwenda glared at him. It was his fault. Kenta was separating her from the only family she had left. She hated him; she would always hate him for this.