Author's Notes: I've always wanted to write this pairing in their original historical setting. Although for this story, the setting isn't particularly set during the Edo period but loosely based on Japan's earliest periods - the Kofun period. However, several customs, traditions and even dresses were taken during other time periods instead coz I didn't like the dresses during the Kofun Period. HAHAHAHA.. So any mistakes related to it would solely be mine. Still, I hope you guys enjoy reading! ^^

Disclaimer: I don't own Gintama nor its characters.

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The sounds of crickets echoed softly into a melody which blended with the warm gentle breeze of the normally humid summer nights. Soft glows of floating fireflies near a small lake provided enough illumination across the small garden, despite the darkness that tried to envelope the whole are, and made the scenery quite serene. And within the tranquility of the moment, Soyo Tokugawa basked herself under the radiance of the night's moonlight passing through the open shoji doors. Her long ebony hair cascaded down her back carelessly, and her night dress slightly parted down her shoulders which displayed soft porcelain skin.

To the eyes of an outsider, her current appearance would raise an uproar to the whole sleeping household for it was improper for the ojou-sama of a powerful political clan to be in such a state of disarray. But Soyo didn't care not one bit about the opinions of others. Right now, within the comforts of her room, she listened silently to the song playing around her with her eyes closed; temporarily freeing herself from the shackles of her status in society.

A small smile played at the corner of her soft pink lips as she tried to hum along to the unknown melody. Releasing a contented sigh from her lips, Soyo opened her eyes once more to gaze at the peaceful scenery in front of her - a scenery, with a pang of sadness, she would be unable to see come sunrise. Her hands balled tightly into fists at the fate that would greet her in the morning. But, of course, it was the only fate given to her as a woman born from nobility. She was but a mere pawn to the men of her family. A pawn who would be sold out to other equally powerful families in an attempt to gain alliance, and hence, achieve more power in their ranks.

How was she able to convince herself of the fact that a day would come where she would be able to free herself from this miserable life? Oh, how wrong she was. The chains continued to bind her tightly as she remembered painfully how her fate was handed to her in only but a few choice words.

"A year of mourning has already passed," her uncle, Sada-Sada Tokugawa - current head of the Tokugawa family - mentioned one morning while they were silently eating their breakfast. "It's time we move forward, Soyo."

Soyo stared at man she considered family from across the table and wondered grimly how he could be easily say that a year of mourning was enough to grieve for the loss of the most important person in her life - her Aniue-sama. Her beloved brother who was the only person who mattered most to her within this power-hungry family.

"What do you mean by move forward, Oji-ue?" She asked while trying to sound calm and composed but deep within she quivered with suppressed anger. Soyo had learned early on that, to display weakness in front of others, especially to the man in front of her, was unacceptable and would be criticized as a disgrace to the clan's name.

A Tokugawa should never show weakness in front of their adversaries. So displaying an air of impassiveness was a weapon she had crafted perfectly throughout the past years.

Sada-Sada Tokugawa continued to eat silently while Soyo waited patiently for the man to broach whatever was on his mind. And after a moment, he stared at her with a ruthless coldness in his eyes which she also matched with her own.

"It's time we arrange for your marriage which will benefit the status of our family," the Tokugawa head answered.

And as if the ground below her had disappeared, Soyo felt herself falling to a never ending black hole of despair. She was stunned into silence as her uncle continue to mention several promising male heirs of other prominent clans. But she didn't care whoever those men were. Everything fell on deaf ears as she lamented the freedom she would completely lose.

But who was she deceiving? She never even had complete freedom to begin with. After her brother had slowly succumbed to the clutches of an untreatable sickness, she felt the tightening of the invisible chains wrapped around her body which slowly suffocated her - killing her.

"Within a month's time, I will be inviting the heirs of each clan for a small gathering here," her uncle continued. "You will be acting as host for that event and you will also choose your future bridegroom then. After you have chosen, the wedding ceremony will be held the following month. I believe a month's preparation would be sufficient enough, isn't it?"

The Tokugawa heiress wanted to laugh at the hypocrisy of it all. Was her uncle really even giving her the chance to choose the man she was going to marry? A man she was more likely to hate her entire lifetime? It was laughable.

"What do you think?" he asked.

Soyo smiled at him coldly. "I don't think you need my opinion about it, Oji-ue," she replied. "You have everything already planned out, correct? I'll act as your host for the gathering and choose my future bridegroom from the flock you would prepare. Now. if you will excuse me, I have things that I must attend to."

Setting her chopsticks aside, she slowly raised from her seat and gracefully bowed towards the stricken Tokugawa Clan head. As she walked out of the lavish dining room with her head held high, she could feel several pairs of eyes silently following her retreating form. And only when she heard the closing of the sliding doors did she release a breath she didn't notice she was holding. Trying unsuccessfully to stop the tears flowing down her cheeks, she walked hastily towards the comforts of her room.

A week after Soyo and her uncle had their discussion, several sealed invitation letters were sent out to all the powerful clans throughout the whole country of Nihon. And tomorrow, she would be facing the men her uncle had gathered like puppets in a string, easily manipulated by his hands. Tomorrow, when the sun rises, she would be treading down a fated path she liked the least. How she'd be able to escape it, she had no inkling of an idea. But she would, even if it was the last thing she did.

Unbeknownst to her, one of these letters was also sent to the most northern part of the country, the province which was secluded and separated from rest of the provinces from the mainland but housed the fiercest clan of all. A clan who was known for their skills, overwhelming strength, and ruthlessness in the battlefield.

A lone rider finally reached the boundary of the province of [1]Ezo-chi after riding for days on end just to deliver the message to its designated recipient. Unaware of the dangers lurking around within the woods that surrounded him after, he continued his travel deeper and deeper, not heading the warnings of the people living in the settlements on the outskirts of the woods which symbolized the borders of the infamous Yato Clan of the North. He was unable to see death facing in front of him until it was too late. Only an undistinguished cry of anguish echoed throughout the chilly summer night with the full moon shining brightly above the dark cloaked sky.

Opening a slightly lighted room filled with lavish four-poster bed, with gold and red tapestries made from the finest silk in the whole country hanging from its posts, a burly man with brownish hair scanned the area. His eyes landed on a lone figure sitting silently on the balcony of the room, whose piercing cerulean eyes stared intensely at the bright full moon above the dark night sky. His well-toned chest was bare and his normally braided long vermillion hair flowed casually down his broad back.

"Boss, a rider coming from the south had been sighted entering our clan's borders without permission just recently," a gravelly voice reported at the open doorway. "It seems the rider was a messenger carrying an invitation which is addressed to you."

"Did you kill him?" He asked without looking at the burly subordinate standing at the open doorway.

"He was taken cared of by the guards stationed at our borders," his subordinate answered.

Smiling, the head of the Yato Clan faced his most loyal subordinate and raised a questioning brow. "And what does the invitation say?"

"It says you're invited to a small gathering from one of the southern clans."

"And which clan would that be?"

"The crest shows a triple hollyhock," the gravelly voice responded. "It belongs to the Tokugawa Clan of the South."

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Notes: [1] Ezo-chi - the previous name of Hokkaido.