The Cat Returns (Japanese: 猫の恩返し, lit. The Cat's Repayment) is a 2002 Japanese animated drama film directed by Hiroyuki Morita of Studio Ghibli. A spin-off of Whisper of the Heart, it was theatrically released in Japan on July 19, 2002 through the Toho Company and in 2005 in the United States through Buena Vista Home Video.

It received an Excellence Prize at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival.

The story is of a girl named Haru, a quiet, shy and ditsy high school student who has a suppressed ability to talk with cats. One day, she saves a darkly-colored, odd-eyed cat from being hit by a truck on a busy road. The cat is Lune, Prince of the Cat Kingdom. As thanks, the cats give Haru gifts of catnip and mice, and she is offered the Prince's hand in marriage. Her mixed reply is taken as a yes.

I won't go too deeply into the story. If you are familiar with it, then you will know the point at which I am picking this up - and diverting.

I'll say this much: The Baron and Muta had almost succeeded in getting Haru out of the kingdom, which would stop her permanent transformation into a cat. But the King blew up the bottom of the escape tower, sending them back down to ground level. Prince Lune arrives and puts a stop to the King's mad plans, and announces (to the shock of all) his own desire, to wed a common cat named Yuki, who works in the palace. Haru is overjoyed! She's happy for the couple (as well as the fact that she doesn't have to be forced into an arranged marriage)!

The King, not someone used to listening to anyone, is deeply moved by this turn of events, and makes a crazy decision on behalf of Haru (so far, this is exactly how the story in the movie goes). We pick things up from here...

Disclaimer: I have no association whatsoever with "The Cat Returns", its publishers or owners. That being said, I do encourage you to get the movie; it's wonderful!

"This is all very moving," the King cried. "I had no idea you had a bride in mind already, Lune; you should have told me!"

He turned to the half-transformed girl. "Poor Haru! You must feel like such a loser."

"Not really," she replied.

"No I'm sure you do! So look, I have a great idea! You should marry me instead!"

Everyone was shocked! Natori, the King's advisor gasped.

"I'll get you some fish too - as a symbol of my undying love and all that," he winked. "So?"

"That's very generous of you, but I just want to be myself again."

"I'll change you back if you marry me," he grinned devilishly.

Haru had had it with this King! First being showered with "cat" gifts which meant nothing to a human but trouble; then getting abducted and forced into an arranged marriage by this half-insane despotic ruler; and, also against her will, being slowly transformed into a cat with pointed ears, a tail, paws and whiskers! Does he ever listen to anyone, or is everyone here afraid to tell him off?!

Furious, she rose from the floor and got in his face. "I've had just about enough of you! Is that how you think marriage proposals are accepted? By bribery?!"

Shocked, the king fell back and turned to Natori. "Was that a no?"

She groaned in frustration. "In my world, people marry for love! Apparently in yours as well; look at Prince Lune and Yuki - were you even paying attention? He went to great lengths, even risking his life, to get her a gift, something precious from her kitten hood, as a sign of his love. That's the way to a girl's heart - human or cat!"

"Haru, perhaps I can explain," said Prince Lune. "When my mother died, we were both devastated, father and I, but he took it terribly. I went on my military campaigns, but he was left to run the kingdom alone. My mother had always been...a balancing force for his behavior, and without her, well, I'm afraid he started acting more and more...erratic."

"Heh! You can say THAT again!" chuckled Muta.

"Hush!" said the Baron.

"Deep down, he's a good cat, Haru," continued Lune, "just terribly lonely."

"It's true!" the King bawled, "I am lonely!"

Haru looked at the King with compassion. "Even so, I'm not going to marry someone on the spur of the moment," she replied. "And besides, nobody decides who I am, but me."

"Haru," said the Baron, "what is your wish?"

She sighed. "Truthfully?"

"That's all that matters Haru."

"I am torn," she replied. "I love your kingdom Your Highness. The moment I arrived, I felt so at home here!"

"Then it's settled, babe! You stay! Natori, prepare the..."

"No!" she cut him off.

"Father! Please, listen," said the Prince. Continue, Haru."

"As I said, I am torn. While I want to stay, I know that my mother would miss me terribly! And my friend Hiromi - what would she think when I don't show up at school? How would she react to the news that I've turned into a cat?"

"If I decide to stay, I'd have to somehow let my mother know where I am and what happened to me. And I would want to let Hiromi know as well."

"Haru, your Highness, if I may," said the Baron, "Miss Haru is someone of two worlds, with a foot - or paw - in both. Clearly, her reaction upon first arriving suggests that although born human, she may somehow possess some feline characteristics."

"She cannot be ripped away from one so abruptly. There must be a transition of sorts."

"Then I would propose a transition," said the Prince. "Let Haru return to her world to make whatever arrangements are necessary."

"There is one problem, your Highness," said Natori. "Miss Haru's transformation to cathood is not complete. In order for her to be able to transition back and forth from cat to human, she must first allow the cat transition to run its course. Then, we can enable her to go back and forth from one to the other."

"I see," he replied, and turned to Haru. "Are you willing to stay here until after sundown to complete the transformation?"

Haru glanced at the King, who had a devilish grin, then looked to Natori. "Are you telling me the truth? You're not just making this up so you can keep me beyond the point of no return, are you? Are you?!"

Natori harrumphed. "Miss Haru! I would never…!"

Prince Lune unsheathed his sword and chimed in. "Haru, if he is not telling the truth, I swear to you, he will not make it to his next life!"

Muta stood his full height and pounded his fists. "If she ain't able to change back to human, I'll get to him first!"

Natori gulped. "No! No! It's the truth! Please, believe me!"

The Baron put a gloved hand on her shoulder. "Haru?"

She looked around at everyone. The King betrayed a blank stare, unsure of what would happen. Natori stood mouth agape, warily glancing back and forth behind his glasses between Muta and Lune's sword. Natoru, with his perennial toady smile, nodded.

Muta, arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. Baron looked into her eyes and said, "Whatever decision you make Haru, as long as it's yours and yours alone, that's what's important." Yuki and the Prince smiled reassuringly.

Haru put her paws together and announced: "I'll stay!"

"Hooray!" yelled Natoru.

"Please find Miss Haru a room in the palace," said Prince Lune.

"And the Cat Bureau will help you get word to your mother," said the Baron.

"The Kingdom will do whatever we can to assist," said Lune.

"I thank you," the Baron replied. "Muta and I had best get back to the human realm to deliver that message. I assume the tower is no longer the best way back?"

"Not any more, babe," grinned the King. "The tower is hundreds of feet shorter now. I wouldn't be surprised if the exit had moved as well."

"Then it's no longer safe," said the Prince. "We'll arrange another way."

"The same way we got here?" groaned Muta.

"It's the only other way!" smiled Natoru.

"Terrific," the big white cat complained.

"Let us be on our way then," said the Baron, and turned to Haru. "Prepare a letter for us to deliver. I will be back," he told her.

"I hope you'll recognize me," she smiled.

"I never forget a face."

"I'll take you to your room, Haru," said Yuki.

"Thanks!" she replied. Now being the Prince's fiancée, Yuki was no longer a servant cat. She had the run of the palace, and had volunteered to be Haru's guide.

The sun in her world had set and it was now the point of no return. Haru's transition was complete. Soft, medium-length fur covered her entire body, and she found it difficult to keep her human clothes on. The palace staff had folded them for her and she carried it in a small bag. "I still feel weird not wearing clothes," she confided to Yuki.

"It's a human thing," her white-furred friend purred reassuringly. "We wear some items, but just for decoration, like I do this red bow. I can help you find something you may like tomorrow. Of course, if a cat goes into battle like Lune, they wear a uniform. And Natori's gown is merely ceremonial."

Haru's neck, chest and stomach were fluffy white, while the rest of the fur on her body was smooth, medium brown. Her feline eyes were a beautiful golden yellow.

On the way to her room they passed by the kitchen. The aroma of various types of raw fish wafted out the door.

"Mmm! That salmon!" said Haru. "And lobster! Oh! The sunfish - he's cutting it right now! I can smell each one individually! But...how…?"

Yuki chuckled. "You're a cat now, Haru! A cat's sense of smell is fourteen times more sensitive than a human's. And of course, we naturally go for fish, eh?"

"The kitchen is open. Shall we go in?"

"Oh! Yes! I'm famished!" And the two entered. There at the royal table sat the King. He greeted them. "Well! There's my future daughter-in-law! And...Maybe future bride?" he chuckled.

Haru rolled her eyes. "Courtship first, your Highness," she chided.

"Right, right," he waved his paw. "Come, sit down." And they joined him at table. He looked at Haru and commented, "Hey! Looking good there, babe!"

She laughed. "Getting used to it."

The servant came in. "Oh! Princess Yuki! Miss Haru! Welcome! What can I bring you?"

"They'll have what I'm having!" said the King.

"Your Highness…" Haru frowned and gave him a glance.

Remembering her words from earlier in the day, he relented. "Oh! Uh, of course! What would you ladies like?" And they looked at the menu and ordered their own dishes.

The waiter brought Haru a delicious raw fish - uncut, of course - and set it before her. "Oh, that looks wonderful!" she exclaimed. "Thank you!"

"My pleasure, Miss Haru!" he replied.

She tried to pick it up, but was unable to. "Oh, I forgot," she said. "I tried picking up that big raw fish at the party earlier, but I couldn't.

"You don't have hands any more, Haru," said Yuki, "you have paws. But you do have something better."

"Oh? What's that?"

"Claws, babe," said the King, and to demonstrate, he dug his into the fish before him, and picked it up. "See?"

She stared at the pads on her right paw. Flexing the muscles, she caused the claws to extend. "Oh!"

"Give it a try," said Yuki. And keeping the claws extended, she placed her paw on the fish and picked it up. "How about that!" she chuckled, and took a bite. "Delicious!"

"We'll go over other things tomorrow," Yuki smiled. "It's part of your orientation training that Prince Lune asked of me. Before you know it, you'll be fully knowledgeable in the ways of cathood."

"Thanks! I appreciate all you're doing for me."

"It's the least we can do!"

The King watched this interaction and sighed to himself. He was reminded of the past, when his beautiful wife was still with him, and Lune was a young cat. "She was thoughtful too," he pondered sadly. "Always thinking of others - a beautiful Queen! I miss you, babe," he sniffed.

"Where is she?" Mrs. Yoshioka said to herself worriedly. "Haru's late! Everything's been topsy-turvy since this morning. First all the cattails in the garden and front yard, then a call from the Principal about Haru bringing in a dozen cats to school! What is going on?!" She got on the phone to Hiromi. "Have you heard from Haru?"

"No, Mrs. Yoshioka," she replied, "Not since school ended. "I asked her to take my turn for cleanup duty, so I could go to Tsuge's big game."

"OK, thank...you…" she suddenly looked up to see a large black crow at the window, with an envelope in his mouth. "What…?"

"I'll talk later, Hiromi," and hung up. She went over to shoo the crow away, but he dropped the envelope on the countertop and left. She picked up the envelope; it was simply addressed "Mom". Fearing the worst, she picked it up. Inside was a note written and signed by Haru:

"Mom. I'm writing this first to tell you I'm fine. I'm visiting a place that is incredible! I have decided to stay for a while, and I want you to come see it. Please trust me on what I am about to say to you: to journey to where I am, there are a group of cats who will come to our house to get you. Be ready for them at 7:30. They will escort you to this place.

Love,

Haru

P.S. When you arrive, you will first meet a very well-dressed individual named Baron Humbert von Gikkingen. He will explain everything that is going on."

Naoko screwed up her face. "This is insane! What is Haru up to? Cats coming to get me?!" Still, the letter had her daughter's signature (she'd written it as best she could with her paws), so she got herself ready and sat by the doorway, waiting to see what would happen at 7:30.

"Do you think she'll go along with the note, Baron?" Haru asked him.

"If your mother is anything like you, she'll be more curious than anything, and will want to know what's going on," he replied. "And if not, I will try some other way of contacting her. Rest assured, the Cat Bureau will not give up on our assignment."

Toto returned and landed on the windowsill. "I dropped off the note," he told them. "I had to take off before she swatted me with something."

"Good job, Toto," said the Baron. "Now, we see how Natoru makes out."

Naoko looked at her watch. "7:30. Let's see what happens."

"Good evening, Mrs. Yoshioka," came a voice from below. She looked down to see a dark and light-brown Scottish Fold cat with a curious smile.

"Excuse me? Did you just talk?"

"Indeed I did, Mrs. Yoshioka! We are here to bring you to your daughter! She's waiting to see you in the Cat Kingdom!" And instantly, she was surrounded by dozens of cats, who picked her up and took her away from the house!

"Aaah! What's going on?" she yelled.

"It's alright, Mrs. Yoshioka," smiled Natoru as they sped down the road, "we'll try to keep you as comfortable as possible. Just sit back and relax." Minutes later, a white circle opened up, and the escort dove in. Naoko looked around and saw only white. Except, it wasn't white she was seeing, she had passed out.

"Mrs. Yoshioka?" a voice called to her. She opened her eyes. It was very foggy. The outline of a nattily-dressed gentlemen stood before her. She blinked and rubbed her eyes. "Yes?" It was difficult to see in the thick fog.

"Good evening. I am Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, at your service," he told her, taking off his Top Hat and bowing.

"Oh, yes. Haru's letter said as much." He held out a gloved hand to help her up. "Forgive the journey, but it's the best way to arrive in this realm."

The fog began to lift, and she gasped! What she at first thought was a gentleman standing before her was actually a cat holding his hat in his right hand and wearing a matching morning coat and trousers, black waistcoat and formal starched shirt and blue bow tie. He held a cane in his left hand.

"You're a...cat?"

"To be precise, I am a creation. Whenever someone creates something with all of their heart, then that creation is given a soul, you see. Like me and the black bird that delivered Haru's note."

"A...creation?"

"Yes, and I was given the title 'Baron Humbert von Gikkingen'. I am in charge of the Cat Bureau, and I have been tasked with helping you and your daughter."

"Where is Haru? And where are we?"

"I will bring you to her. She is a guest of the Cat King, and staying in his castle."

"Cat King?"

In case you haven't noticed, you're in a world quite different from your own. We are in the Cat Kingdom."

The fog lifted, and Naoko looked around. They were in a wide green and golden valley, with lush grass and cattails everywhere. Round earthen huts dotted the landscape with stone doorways. Cats were coming in and out.

"Those cats are huge!" she observed.

"Well, actually, they are normal sized, Mrs. Yoshioka," said the Baron. "It is you who have gotten smaller."

She gave him a sideways glance. "I beg your pardon?"

"You see, once a human enters the realm of the Cat Kingdom, they become cat-sized. Haru did as well."

"So, in my realm, you are cat-sized?"

"Indeed."

She looked further down the valley. In the center was a circular moat, with a series of towers and buildings. "Is that the King's palace?"

"That is it. Our destination."

"It seems a long way. Do we walk?"

"No, Natoru is coming with a transport. Here he is now." And the King's lackey arrived. Naoko gasped slightly, seeing the brown Scottish Fold cat again, only this time, he was the same height as her!

"Hello again, Mrs. Yoshioka!" He smiled, "Haru is waiting for you!"

"And I can't wait to see her!" She replied, getting on the cat-transport. The Baron rolled his eyes at Natoru's silly tactlessness and sighed. "I'm afraid she's not what you are expecting." he thought, "I shall do my best to prepare you."

"Mrs. Yoshioka, there are some things you must know," the Baron began.

"Yes?"

"First, Haru has a strong sense of belonging here. She will tell you herself, but I have a sense she may want to make this a home."

"Here? But how can a human live in a kingdom of cats?"

"That is the other thing. Transformations...can and do occur."

"What do you mean?"

"If a human lingers for a certain amount of time in the cat kingdom, they begin to…transition."

"Transition? Has something happened to Haru?"

"Yes, but please be assured, this was of her own choosing. You see..."

"Mom!" The transport drew near the palace gate. Standing there were the King, Prince Lune, Princess Yuki, and Haru, waving!

"Oh dear," Thought the Baron, "I wish I'd had more time; I hope this goes well."

Seeing her daughter waving, Naoko gasped! "Haru?!"

Well, that's the first chapter, what do you think? I kind of like the idea of Haru staying. I have some ideas as to where this can go, but if you're familiar with my other stories, you know I'm always open to ideas!

What will Haru's mother think about her transformation? How about Hiromi? Perhaps Haru can help the Kingdom understand the human world better; perhaps she can help the Kingdom be a better place! (If you've seen the movie you know what I mean - cats outside the palace run away from the royal carriage).

Thanks for reading. Please review.