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
Matsumae Coast
Shogunate Remnants Ship of the Line Kaiten
Matsumae Province Fukuyama Castle
We'll storm in once the castle gate is destroyed by the naval bombardment.
Got it?
Yes, sir!
Not yet...
Don't fire just yet.
Not yet...
A half month prior to the Matsumae Invasion
Iwaiso Village in Mutsunokuni
Mom!
That's your meal. Eat.
If you don't eat you'll die!
Do whatever you want!
Riku, hurry up and eat!
We found dead and dying victims of the war everywhere.
You're the first to actually get better.
Where in the world did you come from?
Hitotsu, higure ni gan kakete One, make a wish on a sunset
Futatsu... Two...
Goodness...
You know, her father went off to fight in the war and hasn't come back since...
He's just a fisherman,
but you know what nonsense he told me? "I've got things that I must do as a man!"
I'm sure he's already dead...
Damned fool...
It's impossible to launch accurate attacks in this blizzard.
That's a problem. At this rate our plan will be...
All depends on whether the gods are on Enomoto's side or not.
Prepare to fire!
Yes, sir!
Prepare to fire! Prepare to fire!
Prepare to fire!
Put your trust in me! Put your trust in Enomoto!
Fire!
I can't believe he did it! In this weather!
Everyone, prepare to move!
Meanwhile, in Hakodate, the Yuguntai, the remnants of the Hakodate Government Army,
waged a battle against the vanguard of the New Government Army.
That hurts!
Of course it does. You should be grateful that you can still feel pain.
Now you're done.
Thank you for your help.
Sure.
Tetsu's okay, if that's what you're worried about.
He's Hijikata's page, you know.
Please stop it!
Traitor!
Enemy of the court!
I'll cut you down you right here!
What are you doing?
You two need to lower your swords! This is a hospital!
Shut up! They killed my comrades just the other day!
It'll be a disgrace to all samurai if I let him go right now!
You need to shut up, you dog! I'll send you to your comrades now!
If you want to kill so badly, kill me.
Do it if that's what it takes to make you feel better.
Go ahead.
Hey...
I know it's pointless to ask, but why do you fight in the war?
Why do humans kill each other?
I'm not fighting in the war.
You are fighting!
Why?
O Pitiable Eternal Assassin.
Because you don't know your own destiny, you let destiny kill you.
Maybe you samurai get it, but I just can't.
Daddy...
No matter how much I hate it or curse it, war will never go away.
That's why I decided to hate my husband, who chose the war over us and left.
But now...
I'll go check on the trap.
You should follow your own path, Yo.
I'm sure that's what he... what Ryoma Sakamoto would want for you, too.
Ryoma...
So you came to kill me?
I like the ocean! There's a whole world beyond this ocean!
Why don't you be my bodyguard, Akizuki? What do you say?
It's gotten to my brain... This is not good...
What's the matter?
What happened?
Your daughter is in the water!
What are you doing?
It'll be too late if we don't hurry and save her!
What can you do in your condition? It'll kill you for sure this time!
But!
Stop that nonsense! Don't you underestimate the sea!
What do you... What do you think your life is?!
Fire!
Now! Charge!
If we break through the next area we'll be inside!
Fukuyama Rear Gate
Fire!
Rifle squad!
Next! Reload!
Destroy them no matter what!
Mitsu... Riku...
Hijikata! We can't pass here. Let's go to the other gate!
No, I believe in Enomoto!
If Heaven is on Enomoto's side, then we will...
Target: Rear Gate! Fire!
We can win this!
Charge!
Why you!
Hijikata-sama! Hijikata...
Tetsunosuke, get the flag!
Y-Yes, sir!
SHIN
Gakuheitai
Enomoto-sama, I see our army's flags!
Now I control Ezo! Victory is ours!
It is the 5th day of the eleventh month, Meiji 1. Fukuyama Castle falls.
With momentum on the Enomoto Army's side,
it proceeds to sack Ezashi Castle and Tate Castle, and finally gains complete control of Ezo.
It looks like she's got a little fever, but she's okay now.
If you hadn't noticed... the sea would've taken her...
It happened one stormy night.
The ocean took my father and brother when they were out fishing.
Big Brother!
Dad!
I never want to go through that again...
Wait.
Why?
Why did you even stay near the sea after what happened?
I guess it's just like war.
No matter how much you hate it or curse it, the ocean will never go away.
That's why I chose to hate my father and brother instead.
But... But now I've decided to learn about the sea myself because it's never going to go away,
and this is where I make my living...
To learn about it yourself...
Right. That's why I knew right away...
Why I knew the place the sea wanted to carry her away to...
We still haven't heard from Lady Okoma.
But this is Yojiro we're talking about. I'm certain he's alive somewhere out there.
Right.
Just like you said, Yojiro won't die.
No, I'm sure it won't let him.
His destiny as the Eternal Assassin won't let him.
I've never once cursed my own destiny. I've never hated or despised it... Not even once.
It was always in front of me like it was supposed to be... Just like this katana.
I don't know if I can be like you...
But I think I can start by learning more about my own destiny.
Right.
Thank you for everything.
Musashi, be quiet!
You...
Dad... Dad!
Riku!
It is the 15th day of the twelfth month.
Officers of the army's high command make notations on certain documents,
in other words, they vote for and elect officials.
With recognition of countries such as England and France, the Ezo Republic is born.
The curtain is not going to fall any time soon.
Ezo isn't the only republic that's mine.
This is...
Both of you must find out the truth of your destiny while you're alive.
The time will surely come.
And I know that your katana is aware of that as well.
Akizuki-sama...
THERE WERE WAVES
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 21 CROSSING OVER THE STRAIT
So you're Akizuki. Do you know me?
You're Ryosuke Kuroda, commander of the punitive forces against Ezo.
Board the Stonewall with me.
I'll surrender to the Republic and offer Stonewall as a souvenir.
CROSSING OVER THE STRAIT
I was asked to bring you aboard.
I wonder if Yojiro can manage to reach Ezo...
Either way, Yojiro is about to face his moment of truth.