Emperor\'s Bride

Disclaimer: Gravitation and his
characters belings to someone else
Warning: not for this chapter
AN: This is my first fanfic, so
please don\'t be too harsh!!

Emperor’s bride:


The raindrops were pressed
against the window by a very strong
wind, making soft little noises at the
contact with the glass. The sky was
lit up by a few lightnings, making it
seem like it was glowing. The little,
wooden house in the mountains lay
still, hardly becoming aware of the storm
that raged in the valley . Candles were
lit up in one of the rooms of the house,
making it seem alive.

Shuichi placed one of the red candles
in front of the big window, watching a
new arising lightning as it drove into
the woods at the foot of the mountains, l
etting flames rise up.

The sixteen – year old boy wasn’t
afraid of the storm. There had been
worse, and this one would probably
not even destroy something. Not that
he wished it would. At least the storms
made the area around the mountains
seem alive, not so dreary.

Shuichi sighed and knelt at the ittle
table in the middle of the scanty lit
up room, looking over his books
that laid there. It was quiet, nearly
everyone had already gotten to
bed. Only a few servants were still awake,
prepareing everything for the upcoming
day. Tomorrow his father would welcome
an old friend of his that worked for the
emperor now. Shuichi didn’t really
understand the circumstances that
were made because of the meeting.
It wasn’t as if the emperor himself was visiting.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

“Young master, young master.
Wake up for Heaven’s sake!”

A soft little voice shook Shuichi out
of his dreams. When he opened his
deep blue eys he was dazzled by glaring sunbeams.

“Young master. Your father already
looks for you. He’s very annoyed this
morning. You should hurry up and dress
for the reception before your father catches
you here. Ukai – san will be here soon you know”

Shuichi startled at this. He looked up at
his educator Ryuichi, who knelt by his side and looked very amused.

Ryuichi always was amused when Shuichi
got in trouble. Yet it was his job to watch Shuichi.

“When will he be here?” Shuichi asked
and hoped that there was enough time
to take a little nap and maybe a nice bath too.

“Oh, in about …..15 minutes” Ryuichi
said with a big grin and stood up.

Shuichi’s eys widened, he looked in shock
and horror at his educator, who was also
one of his best friends.

“15 minutes! Why didn’t you wake me
earlier. It’s your job to look after me
and make sure that I do my stuff, like
being on time for a reception, after all!”
the boy cried, tears already welling in his
eys. He didn’t want his father to be angry
with him again.

“Don’t worry Shu. I’ve already put your
clothes on your bed. You just have to
hurry up a bit. And don’t make you father
catch you. He’s already very angry
because you didn’t show up at breakfast.
It’s a wonder I even found you here.
Why are you here anyway and why didn’t
you sleep in you bed, Shu?”

Shuichi stood up quickly. Ryuichi was
really nice bu sometimes he just asked
too much questions. Truth to be told,
he had spend the night to learn for the
test his private teacher wanted him to
make today. But it seemed like he had
fallen asleep at the table last night.

“I don’t have time for this now. See you!”
Shuichi said to Ryuichi and ran out of the
room, leaving a surprised Ryuichi behind,
who began to play with his little stuff rabbit.

Shuichi ran through a few corridors, knocked
over a servant and finally made it to his room.

After dressing himself in fine, green silk
he looked into the mirror, facing his sleepy
looking reflection. He just wanted to
leave the room when loud drum roll was heard,
followed by hoof trampling.

Shuichi went over to the widow and looked
outside. What he saw left him speechless.
A huge carriage, made out of gold with
emerald diamonds decorated, followed by
many riders, who’s horses were also
very valuable decorated, on each side
of the carriage made it’s way up to the
estate Shuichi called his home. The rider
on the front held up the emperor’s seal
and Shuichi could see that nearly everyone,
from the valley and from the estate, stood
in front of the house, waiting.

As the boy took a closer look he could
clearly make out his father, standing in
front of the huge crowd of people, who
looked around as if he was searching for
something.

Shuichi bit his tongue. Within a second
he was out of the door. The corridors
were like completely deserted. So really
everyone was waiting for Ukai – san’s arrival.

When he reached the front door he
had to force his way through the crowd.
Luckily the carriage hadn’t arrived yet.
Nobody really took notice of him because
they all looked out for his father’s friend.
When he got to his father’s side he tried
to smile his biggest smile as to calm his
father, who looked at him like he could easily
lock him into a chamber for two months,
down. But it didn’t really work. The carriage
stopped now in front of the crowd and the
riders got off from his horses. They lined
themselves up and one of them went to the
carriage and opened the door.

At this Shuichi’s father moved closer to
him and whispered in his ear: “Later you
will explane to me just why you didn’t show
up earlier”.

Shuichi swallowed. The tune in his fathr’s
voice was everything but calming and
promised nothing good to come.

Ukai – san leaved the carriage now and
everyone made a bow, the servats and
people from the valley a big one,
Shuichi and his family a small one.
Ukai – san was a short man dressed
in a rally expensive looking, gold kimono.
He seemed very wise and intelligent.

Shuichi watched as his father went
up to Ukai and welcomed him. They
really must have been good friends
because they immediately began to
talk to each other, laughing all the way.

“Psst, Shu”. Suddenly a familiar voice
was heard near Shuichi’s ear, making
him turn around a little just to face Ryuichi,
who smiled at him.

“It’s nice to see bottom, but do you really
think it’s suitable?” Ryuichi asked, making
the other boy very confused. What was his
friend talking about?

“What do you mean: see my bottom?”
Shuichi asked, moving closer too Ryuichi,
who stood behind him.

“Your kimono. It’s a litle bit tangled at
the back, you know.”

“What!?” Shuichi cried so loud that
everyone was staring at him now, as he
turned around quickly to face Ryuichi.
His face was like a tomato and he nervously
fiddled around at his kimono.

Shuichi!”

Suddenly Shuichi stood there like an
ice statue as the loud voice of his father
was heard. He managed to un – tangle
his kimono so that his bottom was covered
by silk again and turned around, facing
his furious father and an very amsued
looking Ukai.

“Welcome Ukai – sama” Shuichi said,
the embarrassment still in his face,
making a bow again. The boy didn’t
really want to look up, afraid of his father’s
angry face, when he heard an suppressed
laugher from Ukai.

“What are you doing again Shuichi?
Do you really want to embarrasse me
that much? Why am I sentenced with
you?” his father said, making Shuichi
feel like shit.

“I’m assumeing that’s Shuichi?” interrupted
Ukai. Shuichi straightened up again
and looked at Ukai – san, avoiding his
father’s gaze.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

“I’m really terrible sorry for that incident
this morning. I just don’t know what
to do with that boy” Shuichi’s father said,
sitting across from Ukai in the comfortable
library where they wanted to speak
about the times when the used to be chidren
and were the best friends.

Outside it was already dark, the moon
lit up the black sky.

Ukai, who suppressed a laugher, looked
at his old friend instead.

“Why are you upset with Shuichi? He
acted really well – mannered all day
long. He’s amusing. He told me a joke.
Did you know the one with the apple and
the worm?”

“I don’t think this is funny” Shindou – san
grunted. “You don’t have him as a son.
He only makes trouble because he knows
people find it amusing. If he was somewhere
else he wouldn’t be like this. And he’s
irreverent too. Last week he said he wants to
beome a singer. A singer for Heaven’s sake.
Against all traditions.”


“I am still thinking he’s a good boy. He’s
grown very well too. The last time I saw
him he was about three.” Ukai remembered,
taking a bottle of sake that had been
placed on the table and poured it into two mugs
made out of gold.

“But you don’t have to find someone
who would spend a lifetime with Shuichi.
You see he’s growing older and it’s time
that he gets engaged.” Shindou – san said
with pity in his voice. “But he just acts as if
he were still twelve, sings and dances around.
He can’t be serious for just second and
doesn’t train. Sometimes I thinks I have a
daughter instead of a son”

Ukai laughedat that and drank from his sake.

“Yeah, you’re probably right. I guessed he
was a girl too, at the first sight. But let
me tell you something: You aren’t the
only one who has to find someone to
get engaged with. And believe me, my
case is more difficult than yours”

Shuichi’s father listened carefully at
what his old friend said. Then his eys
widened in shock.

“What, you want to marry again?” he
asked, not wanting to believe what Ukai
had said.

The man in front of him laughed out
loud.

“No, dear God no. You know I’m very
happy with my wife. No, listen and
promise me that you won’t tell it somene
else” Ukai said, his voice barely louder
than a whisper.

This made Shindou – san curious and
he moved a little bit closer to Ukai – san.

“The emperor is planing to get his oldest
son, prince Eiri, married and I have find the
bride.”

Shindou – san’s eys widened in shock at
this. He quickly took gulp of his sake and
turned to Ukai again.

“But why now? Who’s the bride?”

Ukai – san’s voice was filled with pity.

“That’s the problem. I’ve tried
everything, Princesses, daughter’s of
counts, of barons. But he scared everyone
off. Every fine young lady ran out of the palast
because of his cold behaviour. It’s a shame,
really.”

“Who scared the off? The emperor?”
Shuichi’s father asked interested.

Ukai drank another gulp of his sake, looking
up to his friend.

“No, no. Te prince. Prince Eiri refused to take
just one of the many ladies I’ve shown
him. He just said a few cold words to
them and they ran away. He didn’t even
try it. It’s such a pity. Now the emperor
is pushing me. You see, the prince’s
nineteenth birthday is coming up soon
an till this the emperor wants me to
have a bride. He don’t cares who it is, he
just wants someone. The problem is
that nearly everyone has already heard
about the prince’s cold behaviour and
nobody wants to meet him anymore.
Nobody hat the patience to spend time
with him anymore. If I could just find
someone that would make the prince a
little happier, make him laugh a little.
Someone that’ has the energy to put up
with prince Eiri”

Ukai hung his head, taking another gulp.

Shindou - san began suddenly to laugh
and sat back.

“What’s so funny about that? If I don’t
find a bride the emperor will have behead
me. I really can’t laugh about this” Ukai said,
angry at his friend.

“But it’s really ironically don’t you think? I
have someone that nobody wants to marry
because he’s so full of energy and annoyingas
hell sometimes, and you hace someone that
nobody wants to marry because he’s so cold
and pushes everyone away.”

When these words wrere said Shuichi’s father
suddelny stopped laughing and stared at Ukai,
who in turn stared at him too. The same idea
crossed both man’s heads.

“That’s a great idea old friend” Ukai shouted.

Shindou - san looked at him confused.

“I don’t really know ….”

“Arg, but you said it yourself. Shuichi has to
get married, prince Eiri has to get married.
Both won’t find anybody else. Shuichi is from
a good and rich house and the emperor has
said himself that he don’t cares who it is.
That means it ould easily be a male too,
doesn’t it?”

Ukai seemed more than just happy about
the idea and poured more sake into their mugs.

Shindou - san was a little bit sceptical.

“Yeah, maybe you’re right. But I’m sure
the emperor won’t accept Shuichi as a bride,
so will prince Eiri. And Shuichi can’t give birth.
This marriage would be without childrend.”

Ukai seemed lost in thoughts for a while
until he said: “Hm, that’s true. But there
were same – sex marriages between the
aristocracy before. The couples usually
adopted children or took a surrogate mother.
That wouldn’t bee tht much of a problem.
Sure, Shuichi had to act like a woman, like
a empress, but you said that he already does
that, act like a girl I mean. No, the real
problem will be that prince Eiri will try to
push Shuichi away. But if Shuichi can stand
this the prince will get used to him. Shuichi
is very easy to get along with. And when
everything goes well Shuichi will be the future
…ähm, empress of Japan”

Shindou – san wasn’t really cinvinced.

“But it will be very difficult for Shuichi.
He will be far away from home, with
nobody who’s familiar to him. It will be hard”
he said with worry in his voice.

“Yeah, it will be hard in the beginning. And
Shuichi could bring someone with him of
course, he’s still, after all, nearly a child.
And if it really doesn’t work he can go home
when he wants it. So, do you agree?” Ukai said,
holding his mug up to take a gulp again.

Shuichi’s father thought about it for a while.
Then he smiled.

“Okay, you’ve won. I will give Shuichi into
your care and sent Ryuichi with him.”

“Deal?”

“Deal?”

AN: Please no flames!!! Reviews would be
nice cause I wans to know how it is. So
ppppppplllllllleeeeaaaassssseeeeeee review