AN: I own neither Inuyasha or Howl's Moving Castle. Original characters and plot, are, however mine. Please enjoy.

Kagome sighed after taking in a breath of the world around her. It was so...refreshing here, a sort of mix between the Feudal Era and her own time. The air was fresh, but there was a tint of burnt coal and wood, although it was much better then her own time that was full of pollution.

She looked towards the town and a soft smile bloomed as she watched the black billowing clouds rise from a train leaving it. She shrugged the small travel bag and violin case into more comfortable positions on her shoulder. The same arm that shouldered said items also held a deep dark blue twin tailed coat while the other held a matching top hat protectively.

A small yip caused her to turn and look towards her traveling companion, non other then her son Shippo. At the moment he was in his true form, only showing one tail for obvious reasons, but still a fox, albeit a slightly larger one than that of an average fox.

"Well, let's hope the message is wrong and we get a wonderful vacation out of this." she smiled when he answered her with a light bark.

With that she chuckled lightly and started forward. She was taking great joy in the greenery around her, the world here was still innocent, but she could tell it was on it's way of becoming great.

As they were making their way towards the town she began to wonder on how to go about things. She tilted her head up and tapped her chin while still gripping her hat.

"Should we first contact them and then go about our way of hunting, or take a, a...hmm break?" glancing down, her kit looked up before turning into his humanoid form to answer her.

"I think it would be best to get a better understanding of this world. We aren't in the Feudal Era or your time." he stated as he dusted off a bit of burnt grass from the front of his jacket. It was a forest green, with black and gold embellishing. She could proudly say he grew into a fine young man. She did enjoy the romantics of the Victorian era, and getting a chance to see him in such a style. She hummed to herself. He would be such a heart breaker. If he wasn't already.

"What?" he took the bag and case from her shoulder and helped her into her jacket. His creativity went into overtime while working on her wardrobe. The front was cut to end at her hips but went longer forming twin tails at the back. It was a nice offset from the deep sapphire of her dress. All accessories were in blues, violets and silvers. She looked classy, and yet a flare that matched her personality, so in other words she looked breath taking.

"Oh nothing, just thinking of all the hearts you're going to break looking like that." she smiled as she turned around and fixed up any imperfections, fussing really, in her sons clothing and hair. Raising a hand she placed it on his cheek. "All I ask is I get to meet the girl who finally takes yours." she raised on her tip-toes and planted a kiss on his forehead.

He sighed and nodded his head. Taking the bag and case and shouldering them and offering her an arm, which she took after placing the hat on. He smirked and leaned down to whisper in her ear as they finally walked into town.

"Who says it's a girl that will steal my heart? I am a kitsune after all, I may swing the other way for all you know." he grinned as he saw her blush, and laughed right out as she slapped him on the chest playfully.

"Shippo! I really don't need to hear the details! Well then, I only ask you introduce me to whomever it is that does the deed." she stopped in her steps for a moment and groaned, fighting the urge to face palm herself.

"What's wrong?" he stopped to walk in front of her and try and get a look at her face, although that proved a little daunting as he was now taller then her and she had her head bowed.

"I sound like my mother!" she lifted her face looking comically horrified at the thought. He laughed, he really didn't see what was so terrifying about such a thing. Mama Higurashi was a wonderful woman, and if he were to point it out to Kagome, she was in a sense older then her mother.

"Well you are, yourself, a mother. It would only make sense to sound like one." he chuckled as she nodded and let out a small whimper and took his arm again as they made their way once again.

The town was a relatively good size, European in style, and the buildings were baring yellow and pink stripped flags, and there were strange cars moving through the streets. They were crossing a long bridge, and the bells of a city trolly caused her to look and watch in glee.

She squeezed Shippo's arm in joy, as they talked about the past and fond times. She was about to say something so she spun about to face Shippo, when a force knocked into her causing not only herself, but the person who ran into her to fall into fountain that they had so conveniently stood near.

She came up sputtering and coughing, pushing wet hair out of her face. She looked down to see a young boy in her lap also sputtering and coughing out water.

A crowd of people rushed forward, offering help came by, but a sneeze from the boy in her lap brought all her attention to him, giving her a better look at him. Wild, unruly ginger hair, puffed cheeks and big brown eyes. He wore a white shirt under a green vest with matching shorts, which he wore over brown pants. She could barely see the red bow tie and blue pouch under his navy blue cloak.

"Are you okay?" she asked ducking her head a bit to get eye to eye level him. She had one arm to hold her weight, while the other to balance him.

He looked at her with narrowed eyes, before they went wide and he gave out a startled cry, and tried to scramble out of the water. This resulted in him slipping and falling back in, which caused Kagome to be doused with a wave of water again.

Shippo tried to hold in his laughter, really he did. But there she was, fallen in a fountain, drenched, her hair looking like a drowned cat and all with one leg propped up on the fountain wall with her right foot being the only part of her dry. The little boy didn't help as he tried to make his way out of the fountain only to slip and drench his mother once again, causing her hair to fall into her face, again. That was the final straw for him, he burst out laughing at the sight she made.

She slowly dragged her only dry foot into the water with her, bending both legs so her feet were behind her, she placed her hands in her lap and gave her son a sharp glare from under her hair. When he shut up, she looked towards the sputtering boy, who looked a little more then upset.

With as much grace as she could, she stood up and smoothed her hands down the front of her skirt as if she weren't wet. And with her head held high, she brushed her hair from her face, and started to pin it up as much as she could back into place. Noticing her top hat floating near her, she picked it up, dumped any water it held and placed it back on her head.

She looked down to the boy, who was once again trying to climb out of the water, but winced when he placed all his weight onto one foot and started to fall once again. She caught him, before could land in a painful heap outside the fountain. She also notice swollen wrist, and a little blood on the knees of his shorts.

She held the boy in one arm and a hand to the offered help from Shippo, thankful for the extra hand in getting out of the water. Once they were on dry land the boy started to struggle in her grasp, she gave him, a somewhat stern look.

"Stop your struggling, you've injured yourself when you bumped into me and tossed us both into the water." he frowned and pouted, but stilled. "Now direct us to where you were going, we're more then happy to help." she gave him a sincere smile, which grew when she saw him blush.

"But Kaa..." she cut him off with a look.

"Now Shippo, I never once denied my help when it was needed, I won't start now." with that she followed the boys instructions to where he lived. The boy himself seemed somewhat suspicious of her, but seemed to calm down a bit after a few minutes.

"I know it's embarrassing being carried like this and I would offer to carry you on my back, but it looks like you did a number on yourself. Seems you sprained your left wrist and ankle, along with scraping both your knees. I'll take a look at you once we get you home, hmm?" she smiled when he merely sneezed. "Perhaps a cup of some hot lemon tea as well." she chuckled as he gave a childish growl.

A few minutes later they came upon a store. It was painted a faded green, and written above the door was 'Wizard: Pendragon'. She raised a brow at the 'wizard', but shrugged it off, there were in a different world after all.

Shippo moved ahead and opened the door, stepping aside so the two wet ones could go inside first. Kagome walked up the short amount of steps and stopped dead in her tracks. Shippo merely fell back down the steps when his mother suddenly stopped in front of him. When he regained his balance and looked to what cause his mother to halt so suddenly, he nearly dropped what he held on his shoulder at the sight before them.

"Never have I...seen such a, a...mess!" Kagome gave a startled cry.

"I guess that means you can no longer complain about my room." Shippo muttered from behind her.

"That's still doesn't mean you can slack off in your chores." she gave a small huff when he smiled sheepishly in return.

Kagome made her way to the fire place, stepping over junk on the floor, and what appeared to be a large puddle of slime. The largest table was covered in mountains of books, papers, scrolls and other oddities. The kitchen area was buried under mountains of dishes, pots and pans. The cupboard and shelves were stuffed and over flowing with either food or what appeared to be potions and herbs.

"Only a man could live in such a state of mess." not noticing the questioning look the boy gave her when she started to mutter in Japanese. She stood before a small fire and dragged the only chair in front of it closer with one of her feet, her sense of balance was much better after her trips to the Feudal Era had ended. It didn't hurt much when she carted around her large book bag when it was full, while also carrying Shippo in one arm and sometimes pushing her bike in the other. Or other such situations.

She placed the boy in the chair, looking him over quickly before she decided what to do. She went and unclasped his cloak, ignoring his protests, and placed it on a hook near the fire. She did a double take when she noticed a face, well eyes blinking up at her. Shaking her head, she grabbed another two logs and placing them on the fire, and used a poker to push them closer and make sure all the wood was together.

Standing up straight and replacing the fire poker she turned to Shippo. "Find a cloth, and get me some warm water. While you're at it, look for a kettle, tea cup, some honey and lemons." when she saw him nod she turned back to the boy. She gave a half smile, shook her head and let out a sigh. There he sat, sniffling and sneezing already, using his sleeve to catch anything that ran from his nose.

"Seems we'll need a blanket or a towel as well." she knelt down before the boy and gingerly picked up his left leg and slowly pull his left shoe and sock off. At his hiss and whimper from the pain she decided to distract him.

"So, what's your name?" all the while trying to keep from making more of a mess by trying not to drip water all over the place. She placed the shoe and sock on the edge of the stone hearth and turned to look at the ankle. She furrowed her brows when she noticed how much it already swelled.

"Markl." he sniffled out, watching her every move.

"Markl, what an interesting name. I've never heard that one before." she hummed as she slowly and lightly rubbed her hand along the swelling, pushing her ki to speed up the healing. She asked for his injured wrist and did the same.

Markl was unsure of the woman and man he brought into the castle, the last person who came in without Master Howl's permission, left them after saying she wouldn't. It was fun for a while and then she broke her promise and left. Now Master Howl was back to the way he was before.

"Got the stuff, what do you want me to do with them?" he eyed the man as he walked towards them.

"Really Shippo. What do you think? Place the kettle over the fire to boil, and the rest on the edge of the hearth. Really...one would think you were losing your common sense in your old age." she chuckled as she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes.

Shippo slightly stiffened at the mock insult and then sighed. "If I'm old, that would make you ancient."

"Thin ice Shippo, you're treading on thin ice." she went back to mending the boys wrist.

Markl gasped when he noticed a slight glow come from the lady's hands and watched in awe as the swelling went down. Not even Master Howl did that, or as far as he knew.

"Are you a witch?" he didn't notice the momentary stiffening in both her and Shippo. She resumed to the wrist till it was done healing.

"Hmm, I guess you could say that. But I'm only the good kind." she offered him, once again, a sincere smile. With that said she went and removed his other shoe and sock, placing them next to the others on the hearth.

She started to roll his pant legs up so she could get to his knees and gave a light tsk at the blood that ran down his shins. Grabbing the, relatively clean cloth, she dipped it into the the water and started to wipe the blood away, slowly working her way up to the scrapped skin. Dipping the cloth back in, she begun to lightly dab at the fresh wounds. She only pushed enough ki in to stop the bleeding, seeing as they were minor and it was best to heal such wounds naturally.

"There, all done." a sneeze caused her to look up and she chuckled. His nose was running and now slightly red, and there was a light flush to his cheeks. She stood up and ruffled his hair, taking note that it was still wet.

"Here, figured you'd want a towel as well." she glanced to the side to see what could be a towel, or an old shirt...perhaps a torn blanket. She shrugged and took it anyways and started to dry Markl's hair in such a way he laughed.

"Now I know you have some extra clothes to change into, so I want you to do that pronto. When you're done come back here." Markl nodded and jumped off the chair, wiggling his left ankle as if to test it before he smile at her and took off up the stairs.

When he finally disappeared up the stairs, Kagome started for the kettle only to be stopped by Shippo.

"Your wet as well, why not go behind that curtain and change. Don't need you getting sick as well." looking down at herself she picked up her skirts a bit, noticing for the first time the slight puddle she stood in.

Nodding and excepting the bag from him she made her way behind the curtains, closing them behind her, and tossed her bag onto the bed she was surprised to find there. Not only that, she was shocked to find that this corner looked like it once belonged to a woman. An older woman, but a woman non the less.

Quickly she stripped of her dress and coat, boots and stockings. She changed into a mint green dress with bronze and pale rose embellishing. When done she carried her wet clothes and placed them next to Markl's cloak, and shoes to hurry the drying process. She sat on the only free space on the edge to warm herself by the fire.

She looked around the main room they were in. She wondered when the last time the floor actually saw sunlight, seeing as the windows were in the beginnings of dust and grime. The corners and the space between the ceiling beams also showed the tiniest amounts of dust and spider webs.

"I'm really starting to appreciate all the times you told me to clean up after all the times I finished playing." Shippo commented coming up to stand near his mother.

"You should have appreciated it from the very beginning. I know Souta was bad, thank the Kami' he wasn't this bad." Kagome sniffed and tilted her chin up and away, as if insulted. She giggled at his look of mock insult. Just then Markl came back down, wearing clothes that were similar to what he was wearing before, just in a different coloring.

She got up and grabbed the blanket and patted the only free couch, happy no clouds of dust floated on up from the action. He came to her, climbed up onto the couch where he sat looking at her expectantly. She wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and asked Shippo to bring the tea. She gave it to him and laughed when he grumbled under his breath.

"I hate tea."

"Trust me, it's the good kind. I always drink this when I get sick, not only does it taste good, but it's good for you." she offered it to him, smiling when he took it, but sighed when he merely stared at it. "Go on, at least try it. If you don't like it, I'll have it."

She watched as he took a tentative sip. She watched as his eyes widened before he tried and drink it whole as it. She chuckled and placed her hand over the glass. "Easy now, it's still hot. I can always make more when your done." he nodded and started to sip at it slowly, and gave a pleased hum. She sat next to him and started a light conversation with him.

While waiting for her clothes to dry, Shippo and Kagome learned that he was an apprentice to a wizard, and lived with his teacher and Calcifer, a fire demon that kept the whole castle together as well as make it move and stationed to other buildings across the country.

Kagome looked over to the fire demon with wide eyes, always excited to learn something new when it involved something related to anything that was magic or the such.

"I must say, I am very impressed. I've seen a lot of things in my life, but to meet a being that can do all that and still keep on going. You must be a very powerful demon, you have my respect." she smiled when he glowed a dark fushia red. She leaned down and noticed her clothes were once again dry and stood up straight and gave a nod towards Shippo, who started to pack things back up while she put her stockings and boots back on.

"You're~ not leaving are you?" Markl quietly asked, his voice better then earlier. He enjoyed the time he was around the pretty lady and her strange friend. It was like having Sophie back, but somewhat better, not as pushy or hectic.

Kagome looked up after tying her boot lace nice and tight and sighed at the dejected look he had on his face. It was exactly the same face Shippo would make every time she would go back to do all of her tests and exams. "Sorry Markl, but sadly we do. We were on our way to visit an old friend of ours before we bumped into you." she said as she went and knelt in front of the boy.

"Although it was him who bumped into you." Shippo muttered behind his hand earning a look from Kagome.

"I'm sure we'll come and visit you whenever we get the chance." that only seemed to make him more upset, and tears start to well up in his eyes.

"That's what she said." he grumbled. Kagome furrowed her brows at that, but waved it off and gave a soft sigh. Looking around the room from her spot on the floor, taking in everything. Her eyes stopped on a small bird charm as it gave her an idea. She quickly stood up and searched the mountain on the largest table, ignoring Calcifer as he told her to leave it alone.

"Yatta!" she cried out after pulling a small scrape of paper from the pile without causing the mountain to fall in the process. She made her way back to Markl and crouched before him, dusting off the piece of paper. She started to rip the piece of paper into the generic form of a bird. Then she reached for her head and pulled a single strand of hair. Wrapping the single strand of hair around the 'birds neck' a few times before tying both ends into a knot.

Cupping both hands together she started to push a little of her ki into the paper and strand of hair, a white light peeked out from between her fingers. Calcifer and Markl leaned closer to watch what she was doing. She brought her hands up and pressed a ear closer to them, brows furrowed and eyes off as if she were waiting for something. A muffled chirp caused her to give out a delighted gasp and looked towards her hands excitedly.

Slowly she opened her hands to reveal a small golden bird with a black band around its neck. It chirped again and hopped about in her open palms and ruffling out its feathers. Two long golden feathers uncurled and started to slip over her hand. The bird looked about before flying off and circling the room, the two long tail feathers brushed across the surface of a few objects if it flew to close. It came back and landed on her shoulder, and sang a short soft song.

"Markl, this," she held out her hand and the bird landed on her middle finger. " is Haru. If anything happens, or you just want me to visit, tell him and I'll know."

"I've never seen such magic before. What type of witch are you?" Calcifer asked as he tried to get a closer look at the bird she had created. A living thing, though it had her heart and soul pulse, it was still a living thing.

"In this place, one of a kind." she smirked when Calcifer gave her an unsatisfied grunt from her answer.

"Now I'm giving him to you Markl, so take very good care of him for me. Alright?" Haru flew to land on the boys head and lightly tug on a few stands of his hair. Markl laughed and tried to get a look at the bird and nodded his head, causing Haru to flap his wings to keep balanced.

"Well then, then I guess this is see you soon." she stood up and planted a light kiss on his forehead, which he tried to wipe off, patted Haru's head with her index finger, who gave a light chirp, and lastly she blew a kiss to Calcifer, who once again glowed a fushia red.

Hooking arms with Shippo, they walked out of the chaotic wizards shop and back out into the streets, her hat back on her head and enjoying what was rest of the day as they made their way to an old friends house that offered them a place to stay.

Back at the shop Markl laughed from under his blanket as Haru lightly pecked at the edge of a log that wasn't to near Calcifer's fire.

"Shoo birdy. Go fly away or something you birds do." he waved a flaming hand towards the golden bird that looked like it wasn't bothered by being to close to his fire.

"I wonder how she did it. I mean there were no spells or incantations." Markl wondered out loud as he went and poured himself another cup of tea.

"Who knows kid, but I know Howl' be interested in this bird."

"I'll be interested in what?" came a deep voice as a door opened and closed as the Master and owner of the house entered and walked up to the hearth to warm his hands. He stopped short when he caught sight of a golden bird pecking the wood in it. It paused its pecking to look up at him, chirped and flew to land on Markls shoulder.

Ignoring the fire, Howl leaned in closer to get a closer look at the creature. It wasn't a true bird, that much he could tell. But it was alive, and not in the sense of Madame Suliman's goons or peek bugs either. It was strange and foreign to him. Standing up straight, he crossed his arms over his chest, he hummed, hoping it wasn't a spy sent from either the courts or enemies that were still after him.

"Where did that come from Markl?" he asked, blue eyes shining with interest at the prospect of learning something new in magic. Blonde bangs fell into his eyes, though it didn't hinder his sight in the least. The ever present smile of his seemed more true and honest now.

He grew more curious when he spotted the kettle hanging high above Calcifer, and the scent of lemon and honey wafted about in the air around them.

"Ah! Miss. Kagome made him for me Master Howl. Said if I ever needed anything or I wanted her to visit, she would know right away!" Markl explained excitedly. Howl nodded and told him to go to bed. When his apprentice was finally in his room he turned to Calcifer to explain.

"Well Markl came in being carried by this woman, seems they fell into some water, and the kid got hurt in the process. She healed him with her bare hands, and then made the bird with nothing more then a strand of hair and a piece of paper." he grabbed another log that was laying close by. Even after Sophie left, Howl and Markl still kept on laying a few pieces of wood near by in case they were called out for to long. "No spells or incantations were used to create it either. I don't know what else to tell ya. She's powerful what ever she is, but I don't think it's in the sense of your kind."

Howl nodded, excited about the fact that there may be a new type of magic that he could learn. It was all the more better that it was from a woman. All he had to do now was look his best and steal her heart and learn what he could from her during it all. He smiled all the more, deep inside, glad to have something worth while to do.

"Calcifer, move us ten miles north and heat up my bath water."

"WHAT! Are you trying to kill me?"