Milly: well well well here is a cute lil' story of gintoki and shinpachi ^.^ enjoy my lovelies.

Smidge: *Big wave* HI!

Milly: everyone say hi to my editor smidge-chan ^.^

Gin: your lovelies? don't you think that'll creep em out a bit?

Milly: *cracks whip* You don't get to talk until I say so!

Gin: *tear*

Milly: Now go to your corner! Please enjoy.

Smidge: Erm…read on!?

(Disclaimer: WE OWN NOTING!)

Beautiful Release.

Shinpachi stared out at the cherry blossom trees covering his garden. He let a sigh escape his lips, and ran a hand through his hair. Today was the day his mother and father would be trying to force him on another Noble's daughter. It was bad enough that he was forbidden to leave the palace grounds, now they were trying to force him into marriage. A frown sneaked it's way on his face. Another solemn sigh found it's way out his mouth.

"Shinpachi-sama, if you keep frowning so much your face will get stuck like that. Also your mother may be mad at you for not appreciating her efforts in finding you a bride."

"I know Otae, but I just can't help but feel as if they're being a bit hurried and kinda over bearing. I mean leaving the palace grounds once in a while won`t be bad for me. It'll help me to get to know my people." He scoffed lightly

"I mean, It's not like I'm going to fall in love with a random stranger and neglect my duties as prince. Also she doesn't need to force me on someone so soon after Yamazaki got married."

He turned to his care taker and didn't try hiding his dislike about the situation.

Otae simply chuckled, "Shinpachi-sama you're sixteen, you should expect to be forced into a marriage."

Shinpachi's frown worsened, "You didn't have to deal with this when you were sixteen."

"Of course not dear, I was busy taking care of you." She smiled and placed a hand on Shinpachi's shoulder comfortably.

"Well I still don't want to marry some stranger. I mean look at Yamazaki and Kagura, there's so much tension between the two. They don't even sleep in the same room. There's no love between the two at all. I don't want to end up like that. I want to actually fall in love with the person I am to marry."

"I'm sorry Shinpachi-sama but you do not get that choice because of your status. You must bare with it and just go with the flow." Otae voice grew serious and dropped a level.

"I know I know… I'm still allowed to dream about it though." With that he turned around and looked back out at his garden singling the conversation was over.

Otae let out a soft sigh and simply picked up the book beside her and went back to reading the tale of a troubled prince and his guardian.

-_-_-_-_

later on in the day:

-_-_-_-_-_

Kagura rose from her spot on the mat that was placed next to her husband. "I am going to go fetch Shinpachi so he doesn't miss out on dinner again."

Yamazaki simply nodded and allowed her to leave.

Kagura made her way down the many palace corridors before arriving at her brother in-laws room. She knocked on the door and heard a muffled come in. She slid the door open and stepped into the darkening room. The only light visible was that of the fading sun peaking through the windows.

Otae bowed to her charge's in-law, "May I be of assistance milady?"

"Yes you may. Wake Shinpachi and tell him to get his ass downstairs before mother gets angry." With that simple statement Kagura turned and headed for the door.

"You know you could always ask me nicely to join you guys at the table." Shinpachi sat up in bed with a bored look on his face and simply stared at his sister in-law.

"I could but then you wouldn't listen. You only listen to Yamazaki if I'm correct, and I am correct." Kagura answered in a 'matter of fact' tone of voice. "Also make sure you put your good Kimono, mother wants you to look your best for the noble and his sons."

Shinpachi's eyes widened at the last word out of Kagura's mouth, "Sons?!?!"

Kagura smirked, "Yes, Sons. Mother gave up on trying to find you a wife, seeing as you seem so miserable with the idea, she decided to get you a husband. The noble happens to have four sons. I think their names were Okita, Hijikata, Katsura, and something along the line of Gintoki. All of them around your age. I think it's a good idea. This is what you get for refusing mothers earlier attempts, father laughed and told her he liked the idea too of course."

Shinpachi sat there in disbelief, unable to move freely of his own will. Otae took this as a chance to get him dressed. She stood and went to Shinpachi's closet. She pulled out his glorious black kimono, that happened to have pink cherry blossom prints all over it. She pulled Shinpachi off the bed and handed him his kimono. She then pulled the screen out in front of her charge. "Shinpachi-sama if you would please come back into reality and change so you may join your family at the table."

Shinpachi, still in shock, started to get changed. "I can't believe this is happening to me!" His voice was close to a wine.

Kagura chuckled, "well I'll take my leave. Make sure he doesn't try to run away Otae-chan."

"As you wish m'lady." She walked over and opened the door so Kagura could exit.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

At Dinner:

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Shinpachi entered the dining hall and looked around. Most of his family was seated at the table. Of course his mother and father were at the head with Kagura and Yamazaki on either side of them. Next to Kagura was the noble and his family. The Noble was a short man with a chubby build, he had white hair, a rounded nose, his eyes told of greed and never shown with any experience of having to lift a finger and do something himself. His wife was the polar opposite of her husband. The only thing they had in common was the look in their eyes of big fat slobs.

Their sons, however, were different. Hijikata had messy black hair, a gruff yet handsome face, and his eyes were like pools of nothingness that you could just lose yourself in. However he didn't look very happy and always wore a scowl on his face.

Katsura, like Hijikata, had fine black hair only his went well down his back. His face looked much smoother and simply had a look of loss. He smiled at Shinpachi as the younger boy entered.

Okita looked younger than the rest of the brothers. He had a neat trim of golden brown hair on his head. He had a look of boredom written all over his face and apparently could sleep with his eyes open.

Gintoki was the one that stood out among the rest. He had a natural perm and his hair was a platinum silver. He wore a bored expression on his face but his eyes betrayed him showing exactly how interested he was with the situation. He looked Shinpachi over several times.

Shinpachi in return studied all of his choices as he sat down next to Yamazaki, who was trying to hide his glare towards the four brothers.

Shinpachi couldn't deny it, the men before him looked a hell lot better than the girls his mother had chosen before. he muttered quiet hellos to the visitors. They simply all nodded to him.

Sakuno (shinpachi's mom) smiled at her son's reaction. "Looks like your boys have made an impact on my little Shinpachi, Hiroshi-dono(1)."

Hiroshi grinned, "So it seems Your Royal Empress."

Sakuno turned her attention to her unwed-ed son. "Shinpachi would you like to take your visitors to the garden after we eat?" it was more a command then question.

Shinpachi nodded in response and no one said anything else(A/N: well not anything important) the rest of the dinner.

As soon as the food was cleared off Shinpachi stood up, "If you four would please follow me I'll show you to m-the garden."

The Four brothers stood up and followed Shinpachi out the door.

(A/N: And thus we stop it thar. If i were to go farther i might not stop. anyway REVIEW AND TELL ME WHAT PAIRING YOU WANT TO SEE I NEED IT TO CONTINUE THE STORY!)

(1) supposed to be spelled tono i know. for those who have no idea what it is it's called a japanese honorific. Tono (殿?), pronounced dono when attached to a name, roughly means "lord" or "master." sadly it doesn't define a noble status but i don't think a queen would address someone with sama you know what i mean?

Smidge: Yay! *claps*

Milly: Muwahahaha chapter one done! so you people review tell me how it was and tell me what pairing you want. i will hint at everything! if you don't tell me i shall decide on my own.

Shinpachi: Please do review. And save us from bad pairing T.T

Milly: What did you say about my pairings?!

Shinpachi : Nothing! Please forgive me!

Milly: So I will, this time....