That's a book on Western studies. Is he really reading it?
Yes, he even studied the core Confucian classics on his own.
Perhaps that child will one day become a hero who moves this Mito...
No, this very country.
SERIZAWA KAMO
So boring.
OKITA SOJI
Hey, stop it!
Stop!
Why you...
Is that all you've got?
How boring.
Stop!
Come on!
The boy was born the strongest.
- Stop that! - Stop!
Stay away!
No! Help me!
Kill... Kill!
People called the boy a demon child.
SONG OF THE SAMURAI
Hey, come on. Don't go falling like that on me, Okita.
I've been waiting forever, you know.
What's the matter?
It has already started, so come on.
Just as I thought.
You talk too much.
I despise you.
I love it.
You're going to give me one hell of a show, aren't you?
Hey, what's going on, Okita?
You're not chickening out, are you?
You think you can beat me like that?
Uh oh.
They say the weak always circle their opponent.
Your mind may reject it, but your body knows what's what, doesn't it?
It knows who is the better man, doesn't it?
You're wrong!
Oh.
Dammit. Man, what a letdown, Okita.
I waited all this time for this?
Whatever. I'm over it.
If you won't bloom, then fall. Fall!
Oh?
Kill.
So you've gone over to the other side.
Kill.
Kill... Kill.
Kill.
Soji.
Toshi!
Boss, what... Why are you here?
Hey, what do you think you're doing here?
You were told not to move, weren't you?
They're not all dead, are they?
No, it's not like that.
Hajime and Sanosuke went to back up Yamanami and the others.
Then I couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
That's a nasty wound.
Never mind me. You shouldn't have come, Boss.
Where is Soji?
Boss...
Where is Soji?
He went off on his own.
- Toshi, you stay here. - I'm going with you.
- Not with those injuries. - I said stop.
I will stop Soji.
I have to stop him!
Why, you! Hey, come on!
- Okita, no doubt you're strong. - Kill... Kill.
But there's only darkness in your eyes. Those are the eyes of a manslayer.
What utterly boring violence.
Okita?
I'll kill you...
No good. He can't hear me anymore. Well, I guess it's about time.
Shall we get on with this demon hunt, then?
Kill... Kill!
I'll go even if it kills me.
I will!
You are a handful.
That's rich, coming from you.
Hey!
Kill... Kill!
Kill... Kill.
Is this really all it comes down to?
Kill!
Hey, having reflexes that are too quick is also a problem, you know?
Toshi.
Soji!
Are you all right?
He's burning up.
Man, I am so fed up with his damn boring violence.
For real.
Serizawa!
So, do you guys want to play?
I don't mind taking you both on at once. Come on, give me a good show.
Toshi, take care of Soji.
Serizawa is mine!
Toshi, you can barely even stand.
Above all, I can't let Soji fight any longer.
Boss.
Boss, wait!
I came here to fight this guy.
Let me be the cool one for a change.
What's this, Kondo? You really think you can take me on alone?
I see.
Fine, then. Entertain me more than that brat did. Give it your all.
Don't let me down.
The Shinsengumi's...
Kondo Isami!
Here I come!
High guard, fire stance. Nice. I like it.
Just as I'd expect from you, Kondo.
No mercy, no compassion. And yet, there's love in it.
Boss!
Yes, nice. You are awesome, Kondo. This is more like it.
Even when you know you're outmatched, the fire in your eyes hasn't gone out.
That's the kind of guy I want to fight. Come on!
Nice.
What, Kondo? Is that all you've got?
I see.
It's over, huh?
Sorry, Soji!
I couldn't stop you from falling into darkness.
But...
But at least...
Nice!
But I'll show you...
myself!
Kill...
Kill... Kill!
That's enough.
Are you okay, Sis?
No!
Sis?
Stay away!
Isami, you've taken in a demon child. What do you intend to do with him?
I will raise him.
What?
Even if his opponent was just some ghoul
but to take a life in such a brutal fashion...
That's nothing short of madness.
You are absolutely right.
However, if you look at it another way
you could also say he lost his mind in order to protect his sister.
At the very root of that act
is kindness.
Father.
This boy...
Soji is
strong
and kind.
Soji, do you know what a samurai is?
Well, is it the strength to kill your enemies?
I'm sorry!
Listen, Soji. This is what I've always believed.
You stake your life on your convictions, and in the end, you can die with a smile.
That's what a true samurai is.
It's okay.
All right. Up we go.
Wow, it's so big! So big! Amazing!
It's all right, Soji.
You'll understand someday.
I promise.
Boss.
Boss!
It's fine. I'll fight him now.
We had some fun, right, Kondo?
But I'm getting tired of this already.
Fall.
I see.
So you finally devoured the demon, huh?
Okita Soji of the Shinsengumi.
Here I come.
Took you long enough.
I have you to thank for this.
Huh?
You're the one who made me open my eyes.
To what I'm truly fighting for.
And for whom I draw my sword.
Soji.
I finally understand.
So, thank you.
Forget about it. Don't get all formal on me.
I'm only in this for me.
Just looking for an opponent I can really cut loose on.
A place to die with honor.
Let's bloom to the very end.
Soji!
I'm glad I met you...
Okita Soji.
Same here, Serizawa Kamo.
He got him.
He really got Serizawa Kamo.
I thought they would be stronger
but they were pretty fragile.
So what now?
Planning to take over the world or something?
Hey, Hirayama.
The era of fighting with this is coming to an end.
What?
If you're not living on the razor's edge between life and death
you can't tell if you're alive. That's what being a samurai means.
I can't wait to meet...
the kind of absolute violence that will devour me completely.
To die by it would be the highest honor, right?
Well done.
Thank you.
Soji!
This is nice.
So this is what a mortal wound feels like.
I thought it was something...
that would never have any part in my life.
I still want to experience it more.
But heaven is pretty stingy, dammit.
Kamo!
Sorry.
I don't have another round in me.
Hey, Kamo! Wait!
Kamo! What the hell are you doing?
You won't bloom just yet.
Hey, stop it.
From here on out
the world is going to be damn boring
for fools like us.
Hey, stop!
But...
there's bound to be a place
where you can bloom in full
and fall the way you're meant to.
Hey, Kamo? Kamo! Not yet! Hey!
Hey.
A parting gift, is it?
She's a hell of a woman, isn't she?
Hey, wait!
Hijikata Toshizo!
Follow your instincts.
Bloom to the very end
and fall
just as thoroughly.
See you later, Toshi.
Hey, Kamo.
Hey.
Hey, Kamo.
Don't go.
We still have a score to settle, don't we? Hey!
Hey, Kamo!
The place where I'm meant to fall...
The place where I'll fall...
Hey, not yet!
Not yet, Kamo!
Hey, not yet!
Hey, don't go!
You're supposed to fight me, dammit! Kamo!
What the hell are you doing going on ahead like that?
Get up! Get the hell up, you bastard!
So that's how Serizawa Kamo died?
Yes.
That's different from the story I heard.
They say he was assassinated at the Yagi estate, right?
That was no assassination.
It was a true, honest-to-god battle against a demon.
Sure, to history, he was the Shinsengumi's most infamous tyrant.
But the man I knew as Serizawa Kamo never showed a hint of that grim cruelty.
But that battle changed Toshi.
What?
MARCH 1864
Six months after the death of Head Commander Serizawa Kamo
the Shinsengumi was reorganized under the command of Kondo Isami.
- There it is. - Yes.
Here you go. Next!
Wow, quite a crowd we've got here.
You can say that again.
- Dammit, you bastard... - They seem capable enough, but...
they all look like real pieces of work.
Yes, sir. They're all hand-picked for their skill.
By the vice-commander's orders
all that matters here is sword skill.
You want a fight, dammit?
Let's just hope we can keep this motley crew under control.
Around this time, over 100 new members joined the corps.
They were organized into ten squads, from the First to the Tenth.
Hey... Hey!
What are you doing?
That's not the spot.
To really hurt your opponent...
You hit them here. Here!
See? You can't even figure that out?
As expected of the captain! Absolutely ruthless.
- Do it. - Yes, sir!
- The family jewels! Go for the jewels! - Yes, sir!
Come on, put more into it!
Come on, strike it!
THIRD CORPS CAPTAIN, SAITO HAJIME
- 82! - 82!
- 83! - 83!
Listen up! Don't you forget it!
No talent is greater than raw strength and hard work.
Relentless training will overcome any and all natural talent!
- Yes, sir! - All right! Let's go!
Yeah!
SECOND CORPS CAPTAIN, NAGAKURA SHINPACHI
- 84! - 84!
Hey! Put your backs into it!
The key to close-quarters combat is a hard head.
No matter who you're up against, lock blades with them
and smash their damn head open!
Get fired up!
EIGHTH CORPS CAPTAIN, TODO HEISUKE
Hey!
Haven't we been marching forever? Whoa!
Well, I can't say anything.
This silent pressure is too scary. Whoa!
What? What is it?
SIXTH CORPS CAPTAIN, INOUE GENZABURO
How come we always get stuck on meal duty?
"Laugh at food now, and you'll regret it," or so they say.
TENTH CORPS CAPTAIN, HARADA SANOSUKE
The first corps is full of a bunch of ugly mugs.
- Hey, Soji. - Good morning.
FIRST CORPS CAPTAIN, OKITA SOJI
Good morning, everyone.
- Good morning! - Good morning!
How are you today?
Let me give you a massage!
- Someone! Bring some tea! - Hey... Hey.
Oh, sorry.
Huh?
I heard they choked out Okita on day one and were all taken out in a split second.
Ouch. Sucks to be them.
What did you just say, you son of a bitch?
I'm only going to say this once!
Our Captain Harada is the strongest, you hear me?
As if that bottomless pit can beat Captain Saito!
Are you really that stupid?
- Hey, say that again! - Bring it on!
- Fighting over such pointless crap. - The third corps is the strongest!
Bring it on!
Hey. Shouldn't we break this up soon?
- Kai. - I dare you! Let's settle this!
Yeah, you piece of shit! Let's settle it!
- Hey! Vice-commander is coming! - It's the vice-commander!
You're fired up, huh?
Keep it up.
He would've knocked sense into them, yelling that he's the strongest.
Yes.
What has gotten into you, Toshi?
Yes, this is good.
Then I'm taking this one too!
Hajime and Heisuke, calm down.
Man, it has been a while
since it has been just us.
It's great that we've got more men,
but I'm drowning in useless rookies, and it's a real headache.
- Really? - Yeah.
The men in my unit are all reliable.
You can't be serious.
We've got a former yakuza boss, a guy who used to be a pirate
and a guy called "the Cannibal."
"The Cannibal"? What's that about?
Who knows.
That's enough about the new recruits.
So, Yamanami.
You gathered us all for a reason, right?
Yes.
The Choshu clan
is making a move again.
The Choshu.
Is it Kusaka Genzui?
Yes.
According to Yamazaki, it's not just Kusaka pulling the Choshu's strings.
He says there's someone else involved as well.
Someone else? Who is it?
Hijikata, I wasn't finished speaking.
I'm going on patrol to sober up.
Carry on without me.
Hijikata!
What on earth is he thinking?
When is he going to start acting like a vice-commander?
Come on, don't be so hard on him.
It's because you're always too easy on him, Commander.
Toshi has his own burdens to bear.
Ever since Serizawa's death, he has been searching constantly
as a samurai
for an opponent worthy of risking his life.
With Commander Kondo at its center, the Shinsengumi grows more united each day.
At present, there are no signs of unrest from any dissident factions.
However, there are rumors that the Choshu is stirring up trouble again.
And Satsuma too.
- Kanbei. - My lord.
This country is only going to fall deeper into chaos.
But...
no matter what happens, we will fight until the last man standing.
That's all there is to it.
My lord!
I'm looking forward to seeing...
how this all unfolds.
You're very cute.
Hey! Please, stop this!
Such a brazen woman.
Who do you think protects you people from all the riffraff out there?
You should be thanking us!
Shogun's retainers.
- Let me go! Please let go! - Exactly! Show your appreciation!
Fucking ridiculous.
Hey, come over here.
I understand!
I understand all too well.
How you ugly, half-witted simpletons
who, to top it all off, are plebeians reeking from both mouth and foot
only know one way to woo a woman, which is with brute force.
It's something I understand all too well.
Who the hell is that guy?
But listen, you fools!
You can rest easy now that I am here.
I shall swiftly crush the Tokugawa shogunate
and bring forth a new, more interesting age!
I will.
Perhaps even worthless slobs like you can have a little more fun.
Is that...
You know who that is?
He's a key figure in the Choshu clan, right up there with Kusaka Genzui.
If we take him down, it'll be a huge score.
All right.
Sorry.
He's all mine.
What do you think you're doing?
I am Hijikata Toshizo, vice-commander of the Shinsengumi.
Hijikata!
The Shinsengumi?
What business does one of the shogunate's dogs have with me?
Is it true you're the one pulling Choshu's strings?
And what if I am?
I've got a score to settle with Choshu.
They slaughtered my men...
like insects.
Draw your blade.
You think you can cut me with that toy? Me?
How amusing.
Come on, then! Strike me down!
Don't hold back.
Come at me from any angle you wish!
The one who can bend this world to his will
is I, and I alone.
The English have a word for a man like me, god.
A god! Yes, a god!
God?
The shogunate's world is utterly boring.
And pathetic worms like you samurai...
I will...
I, this god
will smash them to smithereens with my bare hands.
Bring it on.
I'd like to see you try.
I'll never forget the look in his eyes.
Innocent as that of a child, yet filled with utter madness.
They were eyes that burned with a bloodthirsty fire.
For Toshi, that encounter more than filled
the gaping void he had been left with.
Who was that?
As far as I'm concerned, he was the most vile man in the world.
What?
But he was, without a doubt, a true hero.
If he had lived just ten years longer
this country might've been a more interesting place.
His name was...
You. What's your name?
Takasugi Shinsaku.