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Birthday Bash 2025

Prompt 6 - Mistaken Identity

Yuki cautiously pulled aside the velvet curtain and poked her head into the room hoping to find it empty. She breathed a sigh of relief when it turned out to be the case. She stepped into the room clutching her precious bundle to her chest. Her eyes roved around the office which was reserved for the king's advisors looking for a comfortable place to settle and hopefully not be disturbed.

A quiet mewl caught her ear and she looked down before placing an affectionate lick across her son's forehead. Yuki would have never dreamed that she would be spending her days trying to avoid the royal wet nurses and nanny. They were so adamant on taking care of her son on her behalf even when she had insisted on multiple occasions that she was quite capable of doing it herself. Perhaps it was her commoner background that made her like this. She idly wondered whether Lune had been brought up away from his parents. No matter what Casper would know his mother.

They settled down near the window enjoying the breeze that came through as Casper slumbered peacefully on her chest. Yuki nuzzled his grey ears taking in the new kitten smell that still clung to his fur. Unfortunately their peaceful sanctuary was broken as the curtain was pulled aside and Natori wandered in heading for one of the desks. He stopped dead in his tracks having spotted the mother and kitten.

'Your Highness, what are you doing here?' he asked.

Yuki was still adjusting to the fact she was the crown princess even though she had been married to Lune for a year now and had produced the next heir.

'I'm sorry for interrupting your space but I needed somewhere to hide.' she replied meekly.

Natori sighed before giving her a knowing look.

'The royal nursing staff are a bit of a force to be reckoned with aren't they?' he mused.

Yuki nodded.

The elderly advisor had greyed a little more over the previous year. Keen to retire he was currently assisting Lune with all his duties that he had taken on from his father. The preparation was going well prior to his official coronation which was due to take place shortly. Yuki appraised the older cat realising that she really didn't know much about him. He was clearly smart and somehow had the ability to keep the unruly king in check.

'Did you always want to be an advisor Natori?' she asked curiously.

Natori who had been rummaging through some parchment on the desk stopped suddenly. A strange stiffness appearing in his posture as if Yuki had asked a question that made him feel uncomfortable. She couldn't help tilt her head in confusion. He finally looked up but the expression on his face was unreadable.

'No.' he finally said 'Becoming a royal advisor was never something I had ever considered.'

Yuki was even more curious now. She wanted to know more.

'Then how did you become one?' she enquired as she rubbed soothing circles into her son's back.

Natori looked torn but there also seemed to be something to suggest that he had something to get off his chest. He placed the parchments back down on the desk and walked across the room before taking a seat opposite Yuki.

'It was an accident.' he finally confessed.

'An accident?' repeated Yuki dumbfounded.

'I came to the palace that day to become a bookkeeper's apprentice.' explained Natori 'There was some sort of mix up and I ended up in front of his Majesty being introduced as the trainee advisor.'

Yuki blinked.

'So you're saying it was a case of mistaken identity? What happened to the cat who was supposed to take the role?' she replied.

'I believe he never showed up. He possibly ran away. Even at that age his Majesty's personality was well known across the kingdom and not known to be very agreeable.' sighed Natori.

'Are you even from a noble family?' wondered Yuki out loud.

Natori shook his head.

Yuki felt indignant. She had, had to put up with the snide comments from her father-in-law calling her 'that thing' and the whole time his closest advisor was a commoner just like her.

'Just how?!' she exclaimed in disbelief.

'It was a long time ago.' sighed Natori running a paw over his tired eyes 'I insisted that there had been an error made. I never hid this fact but he wouldn't listen. Perhaps the way I dressed fitted his ideal of what an advisor should look like. Despite not having any prior training I feel that I have undertaken the role placed upon me well.'

Yuki nodded. She couldn't deny that. Natori brimmed with patience like no other and had endless tact as well to deal with the king's most outlandish demands. He was also articulate and well read.

'I still can't believe that you aren't a noble.' murmured Yuki.

'His name isn't actually Natori either.' came a voice from the doorway causing both Yuki and Natori to jump out of their seats swinging around to face the intruder.

The little prince squawked in protest at having been unexpectantly jostled.

'Oops.' squeaked Natoru bringing a paw up to his mouth 'Was that supposed to remain a secret?'

Natori felt Yuki's gaze back on him.

'Like I said, mistaken identity.' he shrugged 'Now if you will excuse me I really need to take those papers to Prince Lune.'

Yuki nodded dumbly, too shocked to speak. She wondered if her husband had any idea about this. She was lost in her own thoughts as the elder advisor headed towards the velvet curtain pushing Natoru out.

'Oh your Highness.' he said turning slightly back towards her 'Please feel free to use this office whenever you need to escape. It will be our little secret.'

Yuki smiled. No matter his background or his real name Natori was a really nice cat.

#tcr birthday bash 2025 #the cat returns #fanfic writing #yuki #Natori #Natoru #mistaken identity

This is a drawing idea I've had for a while but haven't gotten around to drawing it until now because I needed to be in the mood to draw so many characters together lol.

Anyway, here's Catbus carrying other cat characters from Studio Ghibli films.

There's Jiji, Lily and their kittens from Kiki's Delivery Service, Baron, Baroness, Muta, the Cat King, the prince, Yuki and Natoru from The Cat Returns, Moon from Whisper of the Heart, Niya from The Secret World of Arriety and Kittenbus from the short Mei and the Kittenbus.

TCR Birthday Bash 2023 Prompts!

The votes are in, here is the official TCR Birthday Bash prompt list!

The Cat Returns Birthday Bash will be running from July 16th to July 22nd (7/16-7/22), to celebrate the anniversary of The Cat Returns. The prompts for this year’s bash are:

Sun 16th - Musical/Music

Mon 17th - Masquerade

Tues 18th - Revenge

Wed 19th - Secret Heritage

Thurs 20th - Happy Birthday/Free Day

Fri 21st - Beach Episode

Sat 22nd - Sci-Fi

Thank you to everyone who voted, and I cannot wait to see all of the awesome prompts we have this year!

#tcr birthday bash #tcr birthday bash 2023 #the cat returns #studio ghibli #Baron Humbert von Gikkingen #Haru Yoshioka #Muta #Renaldo Moon #toto #prince lune #yuki #the cat king #natori #natoru