A/N: A collection of drabbles and one-shots for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) based on The Cat Returns.
Prompt 01 – Imagination: Haru spots a familiar face.
The Cat Returns © Studio Ghibli
Imagination
She was always told she had an overactive imagination. Overly overactive, her mother would say. Not that it was a bad thing.
Haru knew she wasn't imagining things when she spotted him through the window.
He was standing proud, one hand behind his back, the other gripping his cane; a reminiscent of when she had first met him. Subtle fairy lights outlined the window frame, their soft glow reflective in his eyes. Stray bulbs dotted the deep red cloth he was standing on, sparingly lit, alongside other ornaments of various animals and several musical displays, each strategically arranged. Haru particularly admired a black and white cat wearing a green striped bow placed close to Baron, its cuteness sadly lost in the Creation's beauty.
Why he was in a toy shop window, she did not know. But knowing him as she did, she could speculate.
"Can I help you, miss?"
Haru pulled her gaze away from the display to the elderly man standing beside her. The owner, no doubt, judging from the name stamped on his apron, declaring the same title boldly encased in gold lettering above the shop.
She smiled. "I was just admiring the cat in your window."
He returned her smile warmly, his chest puffing up with pride. "Ah yes. The black and white moggy."
"Actually, I was referring to the one in the suit," Haru replied. "But the black and white one is adorable."
"Suit?" The owner blinked at her with some confusion, his eyes flicking from the bow-wearing cat to her.
Haru turned back to the glass, her hand raised to point.
The black and white cat was positioned centre stage, its face beaming in the warm spotlight like a king reclaiming his throne. Baron had gone, no indication left that he had ever been there to begin with.
~o~
End
~o~
A/N II: This film is a favourite of mine, however I've never posted anything to the fandom, so this should prove an interesting practice. It's been a long time since I've done any creative writing. Thank you in advance to Catsafari for the inspiring prompt lists.