My Heart Gone Missing (Howl's Moving Castle)

Chapter 2

"Y/N, do you know where Howl is?" your teacher asked when Howl didn't show up to class two days later.

"He's sick." You replied numbly without looking up at the teacher.

"You'll hand the notes off to him?" your teacher asked. You nodded silently while still not looking your teacher in the eyes. You were still in shock that Howl had actually left. You didn't actually think he would leave, but he did. Last night he tapped on your door and slid a note under saying that he indeed was leaving. You didn't wake up to it, but in the morning, you did notice the note.

Slowly news of Howl's disappearance spread through the academy, and being Howl's best friend, you were interrogated for it. "Y/N! Y/N!" calls were sent throughout the hallways, calling for you in hopes that you knew where the prodigy had went. Every answer was the same, you thought he was sick because he didn't leave his room, you had no idea he had left.

Of course, you realized that the letter he had gave you was solid proof against you, but there was no way you'd be able to trash the letter. So you hid it. You put it in an unassuming envelope and slid it into one of your textbooks from your first year at the academy. No one would suspect a thing.

As the years at the academy passed, Howl's disappearance became a thing of the past. You were finally left alone. At first it was a nice breath of fresh air, but you quickly realized that being alone was lonely. However, you were still caught up in the turmoil of Howl's disappearance and made no effort to make friends. Not that your classmates tried at all either.

You graduated from the academy and that was that. You found yourself wandering in the Waste with no absolute goal in mind, but that didn't matter. You'd find something to do at some point.

You were taking a break at the edge of a lake. The scenery was beautiful. A crystal clear lake, proud jagged mountains, emerald trees, lush waves of spring green grass, and a crisp cool breeze. It was perfect. You kneeled down next to the water to play with the icy water in the lake. Your fingers quickly retracted from the frigid snow melt before you blew on them to give them some heat. You then noticed something sparkling in the water. No it wasn't the water, it seemed to be struggling and somewhat angry. You quickly dipped your hand under the water to retrieve the angry glitter and free it from whatever was trapping it.

"Hey! What are you doing!" the angry glitter shouted. In surprise you dropped it back into the water where it came floating right back to the top. "What? You save me and then drop me back in?" it demanded as narrowed eyes appeared in the area where the voice was coming from.

"Oh my gosh, you talk." You gasped in awe.

"Let me guess, you've never seen a water demon, have you?" it retorted angrily, "I'll have you know that we are fierce when we want to be. Who do you think creates angry hurricanes that sweep through all of civilization?"

"Huh, I always thought it was the fire demons who were the angriest." You mused.

"Always with the stereotyping!" the water demon screamed angrily, "you know, you're pretty awful. Even though you did save me from that rock." Upon mentioning the rock, the little ball of water screamed at the rock down at the floor of the lake, "take that you jerk!" the water demon shouted as it waved a fist around. "That'll teach you not to mess with other demons!"

Eyes popped out from the rock as it cheekily waved before burying itself into the sand below.

"Honestly, they have no respect." The water demon scowled. "Anyways, I suppose I have to thank you, but I'm going on my way now. See ya." The water demon jumped in the air before diving back under the water.

"Now you wait just a moment." You said as you grabbed the water demon out of the water.

"What? No! Let me go!" it screeched as it flailed around in your hands in an attempt to escape your grip.

"I want to be the greatest witch/wizard out there." You told the quick tempered ball of water.

"Can't help you, now let me go!" it continued to screech and flail around your hands like a slippery fish.

"You demons make deals, don't you?" you insistently asked.

"What? You want to make a deal?" the blob of water stopped splashing around for a moment before breaking out into raucous laughter, "kid you haven't thought this through. Why on earth do you want to be the greatest witch/wizard. The Witch of the Waste and Howl have got that covered. You don't stand a chance against them."

"Not on my own I don't." You answered fiercely, "tell me, what do I need to do to become the greatest witch/wizard."

"I don't know anything about being a witch/wizard. Now let me go!" the water demon resumed it's squirming and screaming.

"What do I need to give you for a deal, don't you want to be powerful as well?" you asked. Once again the blob of water stopped it's squirming for a moment.

"Even with your heart I can't out do a fire demon." It said after a moment, "it'd sure be nice to out do them though."

You groaned in frustration, "listen, I've done my research, and I know that those who make deals get added skills because of the power! Just look at Howl and the Witch of the Waste!" you yelled.

"And have you been keeping up with them?" the water demon demanded, "they're falling to their own greed, they're being consumed by it. You don't want that, do you?"

"You think I haven't thought about that?" you demanded, "it's better than becoming a monster for Suliman." you muttered under your breath.

"So you'd rather become a monster for yourself, isn't that a little greedy?"

"No, I won't turn into a monster." You answered with fierce resolve in your voice.

"And what'll keep you from doing that?" the blob of water resting in your hand asked, genuinely curious.

"I'll give you my soul, when my soul is completely content, you can have it and I won't fall into a monster."

"Kid, that's not how it works-" the water demon protested.

"Then how does it work?" you asked, "all of the research that I've seen revolves around corporeal parts of the body."

The blob of water sighed, "fine, you win kid."

"This deal is better for you, you know." You pointed out.

"No, not really. Once you're gone, then so does your soul." The little ball of water retorted.

"Oh." You fell quiet, you didn't really have anything to say against that. "Nevermind then. I guess you really can't please a demon. And here I thought I could actually rise up to your level, Howl." You sighed dejectedly, "I'm sorry for wasting your time." You dropped the ball of water back into the lake with a splash.

"Okay okay okay." The water demon floated back up to the surface, "you've got yourself a deal. Don't make me regret this, okay?"

A smile wormed its way onto your face. "Awesome, how does this work?"

The ball of water narrowed its eyes at you and steam practically billowed out of its ears. "Why are you making a deal with a demon if you don't even know how!"