Howling from the Darkness (闇よりの咆哮 Yami Yori no Hōkō) is the sixth episode of the anime Hakuouki: Reimeiroku (Demon of the Fleeting Blossom: Dawn of the Shinsengumi). It aired on August 13, 2012.
Plot
Niimi introduces Koudou Yukimura
Kondou, Hijikata and Sannan enter Serizawa's room where they see the commander accompanied by Niimi, Ryuunosuke and another mysterious man. Niimi speaks up claiming they have found a way to reduce the need to recruit more men in the Rōshigumi. Answering Kondou's request to elaborate, Niimi introduces the stranger to be Yukimura Koudou, a practitioner of Western medicine sent by the Bakufu. Reacting to Niimi's revelation that the preparations to work with Koudou started some time ago, Hijikata is about to lose his cool but Kondou stops him and asks for more clarification on the matter from Serizawa. Serizawa hits Ryuunosuke to stop him from using the fan and sends him away to prevent the kid from overhearing secret information.
Everyone hearing screams
The first Rasetsu
Meanwhile, the captains are gathered in the common room wondering what is going on among the commanders. The trio are skeptical about the situation but Inoue and Saitou suggest trusting Kondou and Hijikata. They hear painful screams from outside and run to check out the situation, however, the door leading to the mansion is locked. Shinpachi kicks the door open, and they rush to witness the first Rasetsu created. He jumps at Heisuke, and Shinpachi attempts to attack him but fails as the Rasetsu escapes. He runs into Souji who pierces through his stomach but it does not seem to be enough to kill the monster, so the Rasetsu tries to strike back when Saitou cuts off his hand. Unfazed, the monster pushes Souji away, grabs his bleeding hand and continues to run. Met by Harada, the Rasetsu demonstrates his strength and healing abilities leaving everyone in awe. As he is about to kill Ryuunosuke, Hijikata pierces through his heart, and Sannan explains that this plus beheading are the ways to permanently kill a Rasetsu. After everything is done, Hijikata announces a meeting for everyone present to attend.
The gathering to discuss ochimizu and rasetsu
Koudou introduces Ochimizu - the Water of Life, which can increase one's power in battle along with granting remarkable healing abilities. The downside of the potion is losing the power of thought along with one's grasp on sanity, and the power can only be used during night time. As Harada remembers the man who was turned into a Rasetsu was Iesato, one of their comrades from Edo, Niimi explains that he was supposed to commit a suicide for breaking the code hence no difference in the way he dies. This claim is backed by Serizawa, and Hijikata states firmly that he is against further experiments, which is also supported by Kondou. Niimi pressures for the fact that it is an order that came from above, and, despite Hijikata's protest against an unreasonable order, Serizawa insists that samurai do not have a choice and turns it into an insult by adding that he "does not expect one not born into a warrior family to understand". Hijikata is about to yell when he is stopped by Kondou, and Sannan admits that in the current state the Rōshigumi indeed do not have a choice, however, he uses Niimi's words against him and suggests that he stepped down from the commander position in order to focus on the further research of the serum. Much to Niimi's surprise, Serizawa supports the decision.
Later, Hijikata reads a letter from his sister and shares with Inoue that she keeps asking him to take care of himself, not lose his cool and not pick fights with other soldiers. He painfully admits that Serizawa has been doing all the job so far while Hijikata himself has not done anything useful. Additionally, the squad now has to rely on unknown medicine that makes them feel uneasy. Inoue reassures him that he does not have to carry all the burden alone. Meanwhile, Heisuke throws a tantrum at Sannan about the current position of the Rōshigumi but meets no sympathy, and Ryuunosuke drowns in self-pity due to having no resolve to stand for himself even in times of danger.
New recruits joining the squad
Hirama volunteers to accompany Serizawa
Hijikata asks Heisuke to spy on Niimi and Koudou
Next morning, everyone is gathered to meet new recruits. Among the noticeable ones are Susumu Yamazaki and Kai Shimada, the latter greeting Shinpachi personally as they used to attend the same dojo back in Edo, and the former claiming to have medical knowledge.
In the evening, Serizawa announces to Kondou, Hijikata and Sannan that the rogue samurai's main base has moved from Kyoto to Osaka, therefore instead of patrolling the streets of Kyoto he suggests arresting some rogue samurai in Osaka. Despite Hijikata's attempt to protest, Kondou agrees, and Serizawa tells them to choose who is coming to Osaka adding that it should be someone who can kill. He orders Ryuunosuke to follow him and carry his luggage, but the kid refuses, and just as Serizawa is about to hit him Hirama interferes and volunteers to accompany Serizawa.
As the selected warriors leave, Niimi is happy to work with Koudou without Sannan, and Hijikata assigns Heisuke with spying on them. Later that evening, Heisuke intends to walk Koudou home in case anyone decides to attack him but Koudou refuses. He also voices his concerns that Heisuke thinks poorly of the way they conduct experiments with Ochimizu and claims that countless lives can be saved due to that. In response to Koudou's explanation of the purpose of Ochimizu, Heisuke threatens to kill him but also explains his point of view which is to avoid any unnecessary murders.
When the squad returns from Osaka a few days later, Kondou is aggravated with Serizawa, and everyone else is in a sour mood except Souji. When Hijikata questions them, they share what happened: Serizawa provoked sumo wrestlers and killed them with Souji's help even though the wrestlers were unarmed.
