Intrigue in the Bakumatsu
On the land with the frozen moonlight
It's rolling and drawing the line
The era of destruction and rebirth now begins
Heavily holding the freedom
Choosing the invisible path
Passing the sunset that's brighter than the daylight
The vessel of time moves on as if telling the dream
There's a new dawn beyond the dark path
We may have been born from the arm of darkness
Just like being in an impossible love
We wander into the light
The path stretches indefinitely
And there's no way to go back
Leader!
Hey!
Akizuki... sama...
Leader!
In order to rescue the provinces of Aizu and Shonai, now targeted by the New Government,
the Ouechigo province forges the 31 neighboring northeastern provinces into the Ouetsu Alliance.
However, the alliance begins to crumble as the war intensifies.
The New Government force, with increasing momentum, advances as they try to pacify Oushu.
In July they shell Shirakawaguchi, the place known as the Entrance of Oushu.
They finally close in on the border of Aizu.
Charge!
It's over!
The third battery will fall, too!
Ai
Do not leave your post!
You may be an ally, but if you leave your post, I, Hijikata, will kill you!
Toshizo Hijikata
The end of August, Keio 4. This man fights at Bonaritouge.
The attack by the New Government Army is fierce.
The Shogunate Remnants Army collapses before its overwhelming firepower and flees Bonaritouge.
As a result, the head of Aizu Province, Katamori Matsudaira
Aizu Wakamatsu Castle
resolves to withdraw to his castle and fight the battle from there.
That is...
Hijikata-sensei!
Which unit are you from?
B-Byakkotai Second Platoon, sir!
How old are you?
I've just turned 16, sir!
So that's Hijikata-sensei, huh?
His extraordinary presence almost stopped my heart!
Supposedly he nearly killed his comrades who tried to escape the battlefield.
What a scary man.
That goes to show we're not going to win this war
unless we too have that level of determination.
TAJIMIYA
Hitotsu, higure ni gan kakete One, make a wish on the setting sun
Futatsu, fudasho no tsukimiso Two, the primrose at the temple
Mittsu, misora ga akeru koro Three, around the time...
Mittsu, misora ga akeru koro ...when the beautiful sky opens up
Yottsu, yonaki no ko wo oute Four, holding a child who cries the night away
Where did you learn the song from?
I don't know. All handball songs are the same.
Do you think so?
You seem okay now.
I can't afford to fall any further behind the Head.
You should rest here a little longer.
I'm coming, too.
No.
There are so many things that I don't know.
I can't help thinking that I'll never find the answers if I am separated from you right now!
The New Government Army is at Yonezawa, too... This is a problem.
We'll take a secret pass.
Okay.
Leader!
Are you okay?
Yes, this sword saved me...
Wait!
This kid is from Aizu!
Kill him! Kill him!
Y-You! Who are you?
Are you trying to fight us?
Wait!
After them!
Don't let them get away!
I'll show no mercy even for a woman!
Get out of here.
But!
Just go!
What?
Amazing...
You're Akizuki, correct?
Hijikata-san...
I haven't seen you since Kyoto.
It has been too long.
It was the last day of the fifth month in Edo...
I happened to be there to see the final moments of Okita-san.
I see...
Hijikata?
The one from Shinsengumi?
This must be yours.
Y-yes, sir!
Fight if you're a warrior!
You must never let go of your sword!
Yes, sir!
If I remember correctly you're from the Byakkotai Second Platoon.
I'm Sonosuke Goto, sir!
Why are you here?
I was... I was just...
Don't tell me you were going to...
I-I'm going to Yonezawa!
For what reason?
I can't tell you that, sir!
Yonezawa Province is close to falling to Satsuma-Choshu forces.
I've come this far to request reinforcements for the siege at the castle
but I'm unable to cross the border as yet.
But still!
Still what?
I!
Hijikata-sama! My name is Kakunojo, and I've been traveling with Akizuki-sama, heading north.
Although we knew it was going to be difficult, we were hoping to cross Yonezawa.
Something obviously brought us all here for a reason, so I'd like to travel with Sonosuke.
It is encouraging to have more people with me, too...
Then I'm coming with you, too.
I couldn't ask for a better travel companion!
I'm glad to hear that.
Where in Yonezawa are you headed, Sonosuke?
To the castle town.
You should sleep for a little while.
You won't last long unless you relax for a bit.
Take him up on his offer and get some rest. You can lean on me.
No, I'm fine.
Hitotsu higure ni One, make a wish on...
Actually this is a handball song, not a lullaby.
Kakunojo!
Don't worry. We've got two strong allies on our side.
Yonezawa
It's completely surrounded.
But I'm still going! Alone.
I can take care of this business very quickly.
"Business"? Is someone expecting you?
My sister... My sister is married to a man in Yonezawa. At the very least I wanted to...
See you later!
Sonosuke-dono!
Hijikata-san...
I want to settle the score with you here over what happened in Kyoto!
Let's see... You have a score you want to settle a score with me?
Oh, yes. Now I think I remember.
Fight if you're a warrior!
Over there!
Kyoto, on the fifth day of the fifth month, Genji 1!
This is for my brother, Yoichiro Akizuki, who was killed by the Shinsengumi!
Toshizo Hijikata, I'll teach you a lesson!
What? Toshizo Hijikata of Shinsengumi?!
I don't need any help!
This is my revenge!
Please don't get yourself hurt unnecessarily!
The opponent is Hijikata the Demon!
Akizuki-kun... Is this some kind of play?
Think about the young man in front of the gate.
This is Sonosuke Goto!
Please! Open the gate!
Please open the gate...
Sonosuke, why are you doing this?
You're the son of a warrior. You're the head of the Goto family!
I'm aware of that, but I just wanted to see your face for one last time...
Now I have no regret.
Very well.
Yes.
Wh-what's going on?
They're getting away!
I wonder if Sonosuke got to see his sister...
I remember Soji loved his sister very much, too.
Hijikata-san?
I always admired my sister as if she was my mother.
Hijikata-sensei! I'm going now. My comrades are waiting for me.
No! You can't go! Why someone so young like yourself is...
I'm not going back to Aizu.
Hijikata-sensei!
Aizu will fall.
Remember you told me not to turn my back on the enemy! You fought along with us!
No.
I've always fought my enemies face to face. I don't care about the enemies behind my back.
Aizu is no longer a battlefield.
Won't you come with me?
I just swore to my sister that I would die for Aizu... I would die for my hometown!
Sonosuke-dono...
Do as you please. You're already man enough!
Yes, sir!
Kakunojo, please see me off just like my sister did.
I won't forgive you if you die!
Yes!
I'm off now!
Sonosuke-dono!
Where are you going, Hijikata-san?
Considering the state of the Ou region, Sendai is about the only place we could go.
I've heard that Enomoto's fleet has left Shinagawa.
I'm hoping that we could meet up with them somehow.
In the first battle during the siege at Aizu Castle, the Tragedy of the Byakkotai occurred.
Note: In which the Byakkotai 2nd Platoon witnessed what they mistakenly thought was the fall of Aizu Wakamatsu Castle, and committed seppuku en masse
No one knows for sure if Sonosuke Goto was there or not.
Matsushima
This is disturbing, Akizuki.
I can see a negative aura emanating from your body.
My sword, Izumi no Kami Kanesada, is telling me so.
ACCOMPANIMENT OF THE FOUR
The hand is the sword of love
It proves the beginning of all
Beyond the sparkling sky
The dream is still an illusion
Running on the path
Just like chasing the shadow of the moonlight
The torn sword of love
At the end of it thousands of teardrops become one
And brighten tomorrow
This hand is the sword of love
It proves the beginning of all
EPISODE 17 UNNECESSARY DELIBERATION
Hijikata-san, you once fought for Commander Kondo and the Shinsengumi.
After the Commander died, you fought for the Tokugawa.
But... the Tokugawa are going to perish.
What?
UNNECESSARY DELIBERATION
A samurai can continue to fight as long as he has a master to serve.
You are definitely not meant to die in this war.
I was right. You're no ordinary playwright.