Hakuoki (薄桜鬼)

Thinking back,

the encounter that night was the moment my destiny changed dramatically.

Wait, you little brat!

Dammit! Where'd he go?!

He's a fast one, all right.

He can't have gotten far. Find him!

Yoichi!

Wh-Who the hell are...?!

What?

What the?!

What is this thing?!

Huh. Too bad.

I'd planned on taking them out alone.

Saito-kun, it's only in moments like these...

You work fast, don't you?

I simply acted to carry out my duty.

Listen here: Do NOT escape.

Show your back and I'll cut you down.

That flowing, jet-black hair took my breath away.

The snow, fluttering, was illuminated by the moon's light as it fell...

Like cherry blossoms flowering out of season.

O heavenly wind, let the wings of time

Carry this sentiment to the 16-day-old moon

Hakuoki Demon of the Fleeting Blossom

Dignified, just like you

The scent of those unpicked flowers remains

Even words stayed unattainable

As they disappeared from gloomy branches

If I can't become a butterfly that soars in your sky

I wouldn't mind being a devil that could devour that sadness, that bitterness

O heavenly wind, if only the wings of time

Could send this sentiment scattering

O dreams, let this bittersweet heart stay as a chrysalis beyond the cycle of life

A misty sky, tears of the 16-day-old moon

Oh, dear.

Hijikata-san, you were so scary, you made the young one here pass out, huh?

Vice Commander, what shall we do with the bodies?

Just remove their coats.

We'll have the inspector take care of the rest.

What about this one?

Take the youngster back to headquarters.

Huh? No death sentence?

That means we have a witness.

We'll decide what to do when we get back.

Episode 1 Capital of Snowflakes

Where am I?

You're awake?

I'm sorry, okay? Treating you this way.

I'll untie you. Just give me a minute.

Jeez, that Souji.

It hurt being bound so tightly, yes?

Could you sit up for me?

Take out what's in your mouth.

U-Um...

Where are we? Who are you?

Oh, sorry.

I'm Genzaburo Inoue.

This is the headquarters of the Shinsengumi.

The Shinsengumi?!

Don't be so surprised.

Would you come with me?

Okay, go in.

Good morning.

Did you sleep well?

Looks like it. You have marks from the TATAMI mats on your face.

Huh?!

Stop it, Souji. This is serious.

There are no TATAMI marks.

How cruel, Hajime-kun.

You didn't have to say so.

You two!

This is no time for foolish prattle!

Yes, sir.

And? That's the witness?

He's all tiny and thin...

Dude's still just a kid, right?

You're in no position to call someone a kid, Heisuke!

Got that right. To the world at large, you're pretty much in the same boat.

Oh, be quiet! You two old guys can shut it!

What was that, young man?

I don't recall you ever havin' called me an "old guy."

Shinpachi's a different story, though.

Bastard! You sellin' me out, Sano?!

Stop it, the three of you!

My apologies for all the chatter.

Please do not be afraid.

Come, close that and have a seat.

All right.

I am Isami Kondou, commander of the Shinsengumi.

Sannan-kun here is the deputy commander.

And Toshi is...

Rather, Toshizo Hijikata is vice commander.

Kondou-san! Why are you telling her all this?!

I-Is that bad?

You don't go introducing yourself to someone you're about to interrogate, right?

Well, bein' earnest to a fault is just like you, Kondou-san.

Well, let's get down to it.

First, will you tell me again about last night's events, Saito-kun?

Last night, in town, two Failed Warriors encountered some rogue samurai.

A swordfight ensued, so we settled things.

This person witnessed the encounter.

I didn't see anything!

Really?

I didn't see!

Hm. If so, then good.

Huh? Souji said you were aiding the Warriors.

No! I was fleeing the rogue samurai.

That's when the Shinsengumi members appeared...

So, I was the one that was helped.

So then, you got a good look as the Soldiers were killing those rogue samurai.

You're honest at heart.

That's not necessarily a bad thing.

C'mon, go get a blade.

That's the best way to keep a mouth shut, right?

You can't!

Don't say such things!

What do you mean by recklessly killing a civilian?!

Please don't make that face.

I was just making a joke.

Try telling a joke that actually SOUNDS like one.

Please! I won't breathe a word of this to anyone!

That's enough. Leave us.

Please! Help me!

I won't say anything! Please believe me!

Please, I really won't...

For your own sake, you should imagine the worst.

Things are unlikely to go well.

What? Let him live?!

Is that all right, Hijikata-san? He saw them.

The failed ones.

Note: Shinsengumi regulations that were to be strictly obeyed, as the penalty for disobedience was honorable suicide.

Last night, we eliminated warriors who turned their back on the code.

The youngster happened to be there.

Going just by that...

Do you wish to say it?

That is the extent of the child's grasp on things.

Well, if you say so, Toshi.

This was your plan from the start, yes?

Otherwise, you wouldn't have brought him back to headquarters alive.

That being said, the secret will have to be protected.

We can't simply let him go scot-free.

I know. There are still things I have to confirm.

If I wait around like this, I'm sure to be killed.

They even took my short sword.

They're bound to place the needs of the Shinsengumi above my own circumstances.

I have to escape.

You idiot. Did you think you could escape?

P-Please let me go!

If you escape, I'll cut you down.

I believe I told you that last night.

You'll do that even if I DON'T escape, right?

But, I mustn't die!

There's still something I have to do!

If there's a reason that you'd risk your life, I want to hear the whole story.

My name is Chizuru Yukimura.

It was about six months ago...

Chizuru.

Yes?

The truth is, I must go to the capital of Kyoto for a time.

For work again?

How long is "for a time"?

That I do not know.

It could be one month, it could be two months.

Oh...

Please take care, Father.

The capital isn't exactly safe.

Rest easy.

While I'm in Kyoto, I'll send word as often as I can, so that you won't worry.

Okay. It's a promise.

Also, should something trouble you, please call on Matsumoto-sensei.

He's sure to be of assistance.

My father sent word, as promised.

I received letters almost every day, faster than I could reply.

And yet, suddenly word from my father ceased, and a month passed.

Matsumoto-sensei, my only hope, is currently absent.

I could stand it no longer, and so I traveled to the capital.

However, I could find no clue of my father's whereabouts.

I was already at my wits' end when I encountered those rogue samurai...

I see. You came from faraway Edo in search of your father.

That must've been tough.

That's why a young girl like you would dress up, pretending to be a man, eh?

What? "Young girl"?!

Dude, you're a girl?

It can't be!

I, Isami Kondou, committed a grave blunder!

I never dreamed you were a girl!

She's OBVIOUSLY a girl, wouldn't you say?

Yeah, but still... You got no proof, right?

What do you mean, "proof"?