Fleeting Dreams (あさきゆめみし Asaki Yumemishi) is the eight episode of the anime Hakuōki: Shinsengumi Kitan (Demon of the Fleeting Blossom: The Tale of the Shinsengumi). It aired on May 23, 2010.
Plot
Summer 1865
Senhime appears while Shinpachi is complaining
The episode begins with Shinpachi, Sano and Saitou eating out and socializing. Shinpachi is complaining that Hijikata has become incredibly harsh on the captains, questioning and scolding them all the time. Sano reassures him that it is just because Hijikata has something on his mind, but Shinpachi insists that Hijikata treats only the Shinsengumi captains this way, not Itou and his men. Senhime appears behind Shinpachi and thanks Saitou for his help the previous time. Shinpachi teases Saitou that it is someone he knows but Saitou denies that, and Senhime clarifies by reminding about the situation on the street when Chizuru interfered and Saitou defeated aggressive samurai. Senhime asks if Chizuru is alright, and Shinpachi notices that she has not been her usual self for a while.
Dango
Senhime talks to Chizuru
Upon returning to the headquarters, Sano invites Chizuru out in the city saying that Sen has something to tell her. In reality, Sen feeds Chizuru dango and tries to cheer her up. She also notes that is must be hard for Chizuru to be the only woman in the male troop. Chizuru admits to herself that it has been a while since the last time she talked to another girl. Sen starts asking her questions about where she is from and whether she has any siblings, and then she notices Chizuru's kodachi (short sword) which clearly means something but she keeps quiet about it changing the topic back to the Shinsengumi. She tells Chizuru that Sano actually asked her to spend some girl time with Chizuru and brighten her mood. Chizuru thanks her, and they part ways. On the way home, Chizuru thanks Harada for being considerate, and he gets annoyed that Senhime revealed the secret, however, he is also happy that Chizuru is feeling better. He also reminds her about an idiom "Good fortune visits happy households".
Sleeping Heisuke
Next morning Chizuru is in the room with Saitou, Hijikata and Inoue pouring them tea. Sano and Shinpachi enter the room and get instantly surprised by Chizuru's cheerful demeanor. Hijikata enquires about Heisuke, and Inoue asks Chizuru to go and wake him up. He reluctantly wakes up and notes Chizuru being in good spirits.
Okita with wet hair
After Chizuru finishes washing the floors, Okita startles her with his presence, and she instantly gets angry at him for sitting outside with wet hair. She forcefully dries it off for him, and Souji says that she is similar to Hijikata - "unexpectedly nagging with a weird sense of worry". He asks her what she thinks of his hair and then explains that he tries to look like Kondou. Chizuru replies that this hairstyle suits him and does resemble Kondou's. In response Okita asks her to keep this a secret.
The trio being scolded by Hijikata
At night Chizuru witnesses the scene with Hijikata scolding the trio (Sano, Shinpachi and Heisuke) for coming back late. He reminds them that breaking the curfew may result in seppuku (a type of execution when one cuts one's stomach open). Shinpachi is annoyed at Hijikata (and drunk) and claims that he was the one responsible for the group's actions but Hijikata dismisses that by saying that everyone, who was out at night, is at fault. Heisuke and Sano try to take the blame but Hijikata interrupts them and sends them away to their rooms ordering Shinpachi to follow him. Sano and Heisuke tell Chizuru to go with them, and they all run after Hijikata to eavesdrop.
Shinpachi is shocked that Hijikata apologized
Surprisingly, Hijikata does not try to argue with Shinpachi any more. On the contrary, he tries to find out why Shinpachi is acting this way, because he knows that the 2nd Division Commander always changes his behavior when he disagrees with something. Shinpachi expresses his disagreement with Hijikata's way of treating the captains while being kind to newcomers, and Hijikata apologizes explaining that it started because people kept blaming him for favoring the Shinsengumi veterans more than everyone else, appointing only them to high positions and giving them special payment. Hijikata admits being too harsh, which startles Shinpachi and pushes him to apologize, too, and invite Hijikata to have a drink, joking that he can find a weak sake. Hjikata responds by saying that the problem is not with him not being able to drink but with the fact that he just does not do it. Shinpachi grins, and so do the eavesdropping Sano, Heisuke and Chizuru.
July 1866
Shinpachi runs into the headquarters to notify everyone that the Shogun is dead. Chizuru narrates on the background that the conquest of Chōshū, which had begun with the Kinmon Rebellion [Historical note 1], brought about the shocking conclusion that was the Bakufu Army's great defeat.
September 1866
Chizuru narrates that a notice board at the Sanjo Bridge proclaiming "The Chōshū domain is the enemy" was pulled up, and the Shinsengumi were ordered to protect this board.
Itou gives his opinion on the Shinsengumi's new duties
One day, Shinpachi is back from his duty to protect the notice board, complaining to Sano and Chizuru that he would not mind crossing blades with Chōshū while protecting the board is very tiring and boring. Itou joins the discussion by saying that now that the Bakufu army has lost to the Chōshū Domain, having killed a few rogue samurai would change nothing. Sano asks whether Itou has a problem with the duties of the Shinsengumi, and Itou sarcastically responds that protecting a noticeboard is extremely important. He leaves, and Shinpachi comments that Itou is very unpleasant as always. Sano adds that he often sees Itou conspiring with his followers.
A mysterious woman appears
Later that day, when Harada is on duty protecting the board, his group gets ambushed by unknown samurai. A fight begins, and the Shinsengumi are winning when one of the members gets attacked from behind by a mysterious woman in a hood. She cuts the rope on her allies' wrists, and they shout to retreat. Harada tries to stop them and throws his spear towards the woman removing her hood and revealing a face that looks exactly like Chizuru's. Astonished, Harada does not chase them.
Everyone on their way to drink
Harada gets paid a big sum of money for successfully protecting the board, so he takes all the captains (except Kondou) and Chizuru out for a drink. They all have a chit-chat on their way to a restaurant - Shinpachi and Okita tease Sano, then Shinpachi claims that everyone can eat as much as they want, and Sano protests that it is his money, Heisuke joyfully yells that he will drink his fair share, Okita makes a comment (meant to tease Hijikata) that not everyone can drink, and Hijikata says that everyone shall eat as much as they want. Saitou calmly informs Chizuru that she is one of them now so she does not have to hold back either.
When everyone is sat down, a geisha appears, bows and introduces herself as Kimigiku. Her speech is incredibly formal, and Chizuru also notes to herself that she is very beautiful.
Kimigiku and Hijikata
Everyone starts drinking, and Shinpachi teases Heisuke about only drinking and not eating. He then asks Chizuru if she is going to drink, but she admits that she cannot take alcohol. Kimigiku talks to Hijikata in a flirting way saying that he is known as a demon-commander but "it is probably an act" as he is "such a good man", and Hijikata, already slightly drunk, gives her a serious response that he hears that often which makes everyone else laugh uncontrollably. Chizuru looks at Hijikata and Kimigiku and asks herself whether that is an example of a perfect pair - a handsome man and a beautiful woman. She feels jealous because of Kimigiku's beauty compared to her own.
Shinpachi jokingly mentions that if even just protecting the board got paid that much, catching all the culprits would cost a fortune. He then asks Sano why he let the attackers escape, and Heisuke supports the question by adding that Sano could have thought about something even if he was outnumbered. Sano sighs and asks if Chizuru was out that night. She replies negatively and adds that she never goes out at night. Sano explains the situation about a mysterious woman who interfered when the Shinsengumi had almost won and mentions that she looked exactly like Chizuru. Okita reminds Chizuru about the person they met some time ago who was very similar to her (Episode 6), but Heisuke protests that Kaoru did not look like Chizuru, even though it is hard to compare since Chizuru does not dress like a girl. Saitou then suggests to dress Chizuru up and see. Shinpachi and Heisuke get excited and ask Kimigiku to change Chizuru into a female kimono, Hijikata tries to calm them down, but Kimigiku agrees, and she and Chizuru leave.
Chizuru in a female kimono
When they come back, everyone looks astonished seeing Chizuru in female clothing and with make-up. Heisuke asks Chizuru if it is actually her to make sure, and Okita mentions a big change. Saitou asks Sano if she looks like the mysterious woman, but Sano admits that it is hard to tell because Chizuru is too pretty. Heisuke and Shinpachi join in by praising Chizuru's appearance, she gets embarrassed and runs away to the balcony. There she finds Hijikata thoughtfully looking at the sky. He smiles at her and says that she does not have to worry about the woman Harada saw because those who oppose the Shinsengumi always get what they deserve.
Hijikata looking at the sky
Hearing screams of Sano, Shinpachi and Heisuke joking with each other behind the door, Hijikata gets nostalgic and tells Chizuru about his past. He says he used to run a hall-in-the-wall dojo (fencing school) in Edo and they would go out drinking every night. They used to have little money and few pupils but it was enjoyable regardless. Chizuru expresses her surprise that even Hijikata had such a past, and he confesses that he himself sometimes forgets about it and thinks he has always focused solely on hunting down rogue samurai. He admits that he occasionally wonders whether it is all just a long and happy dream.
Sano's stomach show
Okita interrupts them by opening the door, and Shinpachi and Heisuke invite them to Sano's stomach show. Everyone has fun and laughs. Later Kimigiku leaves the room and notices Kazama and Amagiri entering the same restaurant. Kimigiku later reports to Senhime about it, and Sen states that the storm shall soon begin.