Hey guys, Murayama Tsuru here. I come bearing the gift of the tenth chapter of this story. It's very silly, so I hope you guys enjoy ^_^ Well, I don't really have anything of import to say at the moment, so on with the chapter! I hope you guys enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Gintama; it's the property of Sorachi Hideaki-Sensei.

While Gin Kagura and Abuto were enjoying a lazy breakfast at home Shinpachi was trying to convince his sister not to cook him breakfast. He had woken up around the time Abuto was returning from the Harusame ship. Shinpachi usually woke up early so he could cook breakfast for himself and his sister. Sometimes, though, he woke up and his sister was already up cooking. At those times, Shinpachi usually made a quick escape to the Yorozuya office before his sister knew he was awake.

But today was not his lucky day. As he was about to duck out the front door, his sister came up to him almost silently and said, "Shin-chan, won't you have breakfast with me? Kyu-chan will be here to pick me up soon, so why don't we spend some time together before then?"

Shinpachi froze; he hadn't been expecting her so he didn't have an excuse prepared. After an awkward few seconds, Shinpachi said nervously, "Ah, Aneue, I didn't know you were up. I was just going to head out to the Yorozuya. I'm sure Gin-san and Kagura-chan are waiting for me. And did I tell you we have a new customer staying with us at the moment? It would be rude of me not to go."

Shimura Tae smiled then, the kind of smile that could make hell freeze or pigs fly, "Oh yes, that's right, you told me about her. She's the one who's the good cook right? I'm sure, though, that you'd much rather eat with you sister than some stranger, right Shin-chan?"

Well certainly said the thing that would make her sister the maddest at him. He almost forgot that she didn't believe in people who were better cooks than her. Swallowing hard, Shinpachi murmured, "Yes, Aneue, I'd much rather eat breakfast with you." and he followed her into the dining area.

After breakfast, Shinpachi decided to just stay at the Dojo until Kyube came to pick his sister up. Those three could probably fend for themselves, and he didn't really want to run the risk of angering his sister anymore. So, he put on his headphones, started an Otsu CD, and began reading the Edo Times.

Since Shinpachi didn't usually have time to read the newspaper, he actually enjoyed reading up on what was happening in Edo. There were what was probably the usual, notice for Katsura's arrest by the Shinsengumi and other extras that were made by people Shinpachi actually knew.

Shinpachi was slightly disappointed with the gossip column of today's newspaper, though. Instead of the headline being something about Otsu-chan, it was an article about how some popular psychic named Mikazuki Tsumi was going on vacation for a few days. Shinpachi had heard of this Tsumi person before, but if he ever brought her up in the Yorozuya Gin would yell at him and tell him that Ketsuno Ana was so much better than that half-rate psychic.

So Shinpachi eventually forgot about her completely, until just now. And he didn't really care about the article now, since it was taking space from Otsu-chan. Shinpachi began flipping through the rest of the newspaper, growing bored because there was no news about his favorite idol.

But then his eyes landed on a very short announcement at a corner on the last page of the Newspaper. It said was announcement about a gathering in Yoshiwara. But it wasn't just any gathering; it was about a gathering of a group of witches in Yoshiwara. It was going to take place the day after tomorrow.

At first, Shinpachi just chuckled at the announcement, thinking it was just at stupid joke the people making the newspaper decided to play on the people reading the newspaper. But as he was laughing, he remembered something Gin had said to him a day or two ago that the person who had cursed Akari (Abuto, Shinpachi corrected himself. He hadn't really gotten used to the fact that Akari was Abuto yet) was part of a witch organization that was headquartered in Yoshiwara.

Shinpachi stood up quickly, a thought striking him like lightning. But before he could give words to the thought, he heard his sister call out, "Shin-chan, Kyu-chan's here so I'm off. See you later tonight." And the door closed.

Now that the house was silent, Shinpachi could continue his thought; maybe the announcement in the newspaper wasn't a joke after all. Maybe the witch that cursed Abuto's organization was weird enough that they would put an announcement in the paper. Putting in his shoes, Shinpachi raced out the door, Abuto would want to hear about this if his thought was correct.

But when Shinpachi arrived at the Yorozuya, there was no one there. Shinpachi, confused, started looking around for everyone. He eventually found a note addressed to Shinpachi saying that Gin, Abuto and Kagura had gone to the store and that they had left some breakfast for Shinpachi if he was hungry.

Shinpachi went to the fridge and got out the food that was apparently leftover for him. He put it in the microwave and then turned on the TV; he may as well eat it, it would get the taste of his sister's idea of an omelet out of his mouth. After all, there was nothing better do while he waited for the three to return.

Meanwhile, Gin, Abuto, and Kagura were just coming out of the store. They had actually gone only to get more strawberry milk because Gin had run out after breakfast. Abuto didn't really see the appeal of the stuff, he had tried it because Gin offered him some, but it had been way too sweet for his liking. But he didn't really complain about going out without Shinpachi; Abuto wanted to avoid Shinpachi at the moment lest he reveal to Gin and Kagura that he wasn't Akari.

As the three came out of the store, they ran into Shinpachi's sister and her friend, both of who Abuto did not know. Casually observing the two of them, Abuto's first opinion of the two was not very complimentary. Though Shinpachi's sister may wear a Kimono and look female on the outside; on the inside, Abuto saw a fierce gorilla just waiting to be unleashed. It seemed that whenever the sister looked Abuto's way, the gorilla grew more agitated than it already was.

And the other one, Abuto observed, seemed to be struggling with her identity. She wore male clothes, but according to his crotch sensor (which he apparently still had even though he was female at the moment) she was definitely female. The Yorozuya trio had some weird friends.

Abuto looked up and saw that everyone was looking expectantly at him. 'Crap,' Abuto thought, 'they must have asked me something as I was thinking. What now?'

Something in his expression must have clued everyone in to Abuto's, well cluelessness because the gorilla woman asked, clearly looking annoyed that Abuto hadn't been paying attention to her, "Akari-san, was it? We were wondering if you'd like to go shopping with us. Gin-san and Kagura-chan have already said yes, but they wanted to know if you wanted to go as well."

Oh, was that all they had asked?' Abuto thought well it sounded harmless, nothing bad could come out of shopping could it? So Abuto said yes, and for some reason he saw Gin's face fall.

'What's with that reaction?' Abuto wondered to himself, but he didn't give it much thought. And then they arrived at the place and Abuto stopped, unable to walk a step further; it turns out the girls had decided to go shopping in a lingerie store.

Abuto turned to see Gin leaning against on the wall outside the store, eyes growing innocently wide Abuto asked, "Gin-san, what exactly did I miss?"

Gin chuckled, "As I thought, you weren't paying attention; you were eying Kyube like she was a piece of meat, y'know. If you thought she was a man, you were wrong. She may not act like it, but she's all female. Well anyway, what you missed was Otae commenting that you…um…well…" Gin trailed off, flushing.

After, he cleared his throat, he continued, "That you don't wear a bra. Then Kagura told Otae that you didn't because you ran away from home after you cursed and didn't have time to buy any new ones. So then, Otae asked if you wanted to go into this shop here to buy a new one."

Abuto nodded, then said, "Ah, I see. Well that certainly is probably something I should have paid attention to now is it. And I knew Kyube was a girl. I don't mean to brag, but I do have a pretty god crotch sensor."

Gin coughed then managed to splutter, "Wha? What do you mean you have a crotch sensor?"

Oops, Abuto almost forgot that he was not a man right now and probably shouldn't have a crotch sensor if he was female. Awkwardly Abuto tried to explain what he meant, "Um…well, what I mean is that I've been around enough crossdressers to know what someone's gender really is…" well, that was lame. Abuto almost hoped that Gin didn't believe that excuse.

But, to Abuto's immense relief (and disappointment) Gin looked like he believed Abuto's 'explanation'. But then he said, "You know you still have to go in there, right?"

Abuto hunched his shoulders, "Do I really? Can't they just go shopping without me? This kind of shop really isn't my thing."

"They could go shopping out you," Gin sighed, "But, Otae has a thing about things going her way. So I doubt she'll let you stay out here with me."

Abuto groaned and took another step toward the hell that was awaiting him. To no one in particular he said, "Why do guys like stuff like this anyway? It's not like it's going to stay on if they're buying it for the purpose I think they're buying it for…"

Gin's embarrassed cough interrupted the rest of Abuto's sentence. He then looked over to see Gin blushing and looking straight at him, as if he couldn't believe what Abuto was saying. Prompted by Abuto's raised eyebrow, Gin said, "Akari-chan, you…I swear sometimes you say the manliest things."

"Oh, thanks Gin-san, that's what every girl wants to hear." Abuto said sardonically

Gin raised his hands in surrender, "I didn't mean it as in insult. It's just that you're so unlike any other woman I've met. It's kinda refreshing that you say what's on your mind."

'Yeah,' Abuto thought, 'I say what's on mind. But if I do it too much, you'll find out that your 'Akari-chan' doesn't exist. What will you do then, Sakata Gintoki?' Abuto then rolled his eyes and took the last few steps to the store.

But when he got to the entrance, he couldn't actually bring himself to go it. It was like there was an invisible barrier that knew he was male and did not want to let him in. But then, Kagura saw him outside and came over a smile on her face, "Akari, c'mon in. It can't be fun just talking with Gin-chan while us girls are having fun, uh-huh!" and she dragged Abuto inside the store before he could say anything. 'So much for an invisible barrier,' Abuto thought.

When Abuto, Gin, and Kagura finally made it back to Gin's house, Abuto was now carrying a bag with new underwear that he really didn't want. He hadn't meant to buy anything, he really hadn't. For one, everything in the store was way too expensive to Abuto's uncaring mind. For two, it wasn't like he was going to use the underwear. If he wore it, that'd just be weird. And if he gave to someone once he was male again, that would just be creepy.

But unfortunately, Kagura had kept finding damned undergarments that apparently 'suited his figure' (he didn't really know how she knew that, she didn't seem to have much of a figure herself). He wanted to put them all back as soon as Kagura had given them to him, but the look on her face left Abuto unable to do anything but comply with her wishes. And now his wallet was a lot lighter for his inability to say no to anyone that looked like the admiral.

When the three entered the house, they found Shinpachi being uncharacteristically (well, it was uncharacteristic to Kagura and Gin, anyway) lazy. He was just sitting in front of the TV, doing absolutely nothing, not even cleaning.

Kagura gasped dramatically and Gin went over and laid a hand on Shinpachi's forehead. Abuto couldn't see Shinpachi's reaction, but he could hear the slight annoyance in his voice as he said, "Gin-san, what are you doing?"

Gin's voice took on an air of fake concern as he said, "I was just making sure you didn't have a fever, Pattsuan. I mean, you're not even cleaning so you must be sick!"

Shinpachi slapped away Gin's hand and stood up, "Gin-san I'm not your maid. I'm allowed to be lazy if I want. Besides, where have you guys been? You've been out way too long to just be getting stuff from the store."

"Well," Gin said, remembering his strawberry milk and going over to the refrigerator to put it away, "We ran into your sister and Kyube. And you know, women, they see an underwear store and they have to go in. But you should have seen the two Yato girls; they were as stiff as boards. Kagura being nervous I can understand, it's probably her first time. But, Akari-chan, it's like you've never done that kind of shopping before."

'Yeah,' Abuto thought, annoyed, 'because I've never shopped for underwear before. I'm a guy; we don't normally do that kind of shopping. If we did, you probably would have been in that store with me.'

At the same time, Kagura protested loudly, "Gin-chan, don't talk badly about Akari, uh-huh. Of course she was embarrassed about going into a lingerie shop with you right outside. I mean what girl wouldn't be, with a pervy natural-perm like you thinking your pervy natural-perm thoughts, uh-huh?"

Gin stopped mid-way from closing the refrigerator, and predictably awkward silence ensued. Abuto guessed that the silver-haired Samurai was now thinking those 'pervy natural-perm thoughts' Kagura just mentioned. Unfortunately, since those thoughts were about Abuto's current female body in nothing but underwear, Abuto felt thoroughly nauseated.

During this awkward silence, Shinpachi looked like he remembered something. Suddenly he turned to Abuto and said excitedly, "A…kari-san, in today's newspaper there was an announcement of a witch organization meeting in Yoshiwara the day after tomorrow. Maybe the person who cursed you is attending that meeting."

Abuto's eyes widened, this could finally be his chance to be rid of this female form and its annoyances. Even though it had only been a few days, it felt like an eternity to Abuto. Abuto then said to Shinpachi, "Thanks Shinpachi-kun for finding that out for me. It will be really nice to have the curse lifted."

Shinpachi then started laughing uncontrollably. Once all three other human occupants of the house were looking at Shinpachi like he was off his rocker did attempt to explain why he was laughing. Eventually Shinpachi's explanation went like this, "I-I'm sorry your guys. I just realized how funny it must have been to see Abuto-san in an underwear store. I mean, since he's a gu—"

And that was when Abuto rushed over and clamped his hand over Shinpachi's mouth before any more damage could be done. Abuto's glare said something along the lines of, 'That's quite enough out of you, glasses brat. You try and say any more and you will regret it deeply.'

All three of the Yorozuya trio seemed to realize what Shinpachi had just said at the same time. Shinpachi looked only a little but sorry for having let Abuto's real name slip out, Gin looked like he'd just been punched in the gut, and Kagura, amazingly, didn't look all that surprised about this revelation.

Abuto knew he had no escape when Gin asked both Shinpachi and him in a somewhat strained voice, "What the hell are you talking about Shinpachi?"

And that's the end of this chapter! Horay! The cliff-hangers are back! I felt like being evil in multiple ways for this chapter! I forced Abuto into a lingerie store and I'm forcing you guys to wait until next week to see what happens next! As always, reviews are lovely since I love to know what you guys think. So until next week then, guys.

-Murayama Tsuru