A/N: Casually flipping through a book of fairy tales one day, I came across one that practically screamed 'The Cat Returns.' I currently have about half the story written up, so updates will be steady for a while and then may become sporadic. We shall see. I'll give a cookie to those who can guess which fairy tale it's based on (not really; I'd break my computer if I tried to shove a cookie through the screen :D). This chapter is basically to 'set the scene,' as the saying goes. Trust me, chapter 2 gets better. Enjoy!

Ryoko held up another slipper and frowned. Like all the rest it was tattered and torn, and he was surprised it was still stitched together. Really, it was rather pathetic; he'd thought the royal shoemaker had learned by now.

Sighing, he tossed it over his shoulder to join the growing pile of worn-out slippers and reached for another. It, like all the rest, was shredded almost beyond recognition, and it too joined the others.

He sighed again and rested his stubbly chin in his hand, his elaborate headpiece sliding forward onto his forehead. After a moment of reflection, he summoned his assistant.

"Yes Your Majesty?" the older gentleman with the thinning silver hair asked politely as he bowed low to his emperor.

Ryoko bit his lip and shifted his head to the other hand. "Kenji-san, what am I doing wrong as a parent?"

The older gentleman shook his head vehemently. "N-nothing Your Majesty! You're a wonderful father!"

Ryoko sighed. "My daughters are sneaking out, Kenji-san. I even have proof." He dug a ragged pink shoe out of the pile and waved it for his assistant to see. "What on earth could those girls be doing so that their shoes end up like this?"

"I don't know, Your Majesty…"

"I mean, what am I doing wrong?" He shook his head, the headpiece rocking precariously with the motion. "They sneak out at night, then they lie about it. You've seen them in the morning. They're all exhausted, yet they say they got a full night's sleep. I don't get it." Flopping back into his throne, he exhaled deeply and rubbed his temples. "Even Harumi-chan's turned against me. And Harumi-chan can't lie worth anything."

"Perhaps a punishment Your Majesty?" Kenji suggested timidly.

Ryoko shook his head again. "I can't do that," he replied sadly. "I don't have enough evidence to prove anything." He paused as an idea began to form in his head. "But, if I did have evidence, then…" The emperor fell into silence as he pondered the thought. It could work, if executed properly. At the very least it might frighten his daughters into confessing.

"Kenji-san, get out your pad!" Ryoko commanded, sitting up straighter and looking more regal than he had in days. "I would like to arrange a… contest, if you will."

Kenji clicked a pen and positioned it above his clipboard. "What kind of contest?" he asked.

"A peculiar one, to be certain. I want word sent out that any man who can figure out what my daughters are doing to put their slippers," he held up the pink one as an example, "in such a state will be awarded a princess of his choosing for a bride."

Kenji's pen faltered. "You can't possibly be thinking of selling your daughters, Your Majesty," Kenji said, horrified as visions of pretty girls in shackles and last season's dresses trudged through his imagination. "There are easier ways of discovering—"

"I'm not selling my daughters!" Ryoko snapped. Several people strolling through the hall glanced up, looking disturbed, and he lowered his voice. "I'm not really going to allow them to marry some schmuck off the street," he hissed. "I'm hoping the possibility of marrying some schmuck off the street will convince them to tell me the truth." He frowned. "I'm not running a dating service here, Kenji-san," he said darkly. "I just want the truth."

"Yes Your Majesty," Kenji said quietly, scribbling on his clipboard.

Ryoko leaned back. "The men will have five days to solve the mystery. Further details will be released to contestants only. How soon can you get word out?"

"As soon as you like, Your Majesty."

He rubbed his chin. "I was thinking tomorrow. I want those girls to be very afraid. After all," he smiled wickedly, "there's a chance they could be marrying a pig farmer in a week."

"Are you sure about this Your Majesty?" Kenji asked quietly, tucking his clipboard beneath his arm. "The princesses won't approve of you offering their hands without their consent."

Ryoko arched a dark eyebrow. "Perhaps they should've considered that before lying to their father." Tilting his headpiece back, shoving up the long sleeves of his robe, and cocking his head, he eyed his assistant. "Now go announce the plan to the kingdom. Dismissed."

And so, it was declared that any man who could figure out where the four lovely daughters of the emperor Ryoko were doing to result in their dancing slippers reverting to bits of colorful fabric in five days would be allowed to pick a princess of his choosing and marry her.

A crow perched in a tree near the drawbridge of the castle cocked his head as he listened intently to the announcement. Several hours later, four shrill screams rang out from within the palace walls, and the crow sighed.

"And so, it has begun."

=^^=) - cat.