Led By Destiny (導かれし運命 Michibikareshi sadame), also translated as Guided Destiny, is the second episode of the anime Hakuouki: Reimeiroku (Demon of the Fleeting Blossom: Dawn of the Shinsengumi). It aired on July 16, 2012.
Plot
The episode begins with Saitou asking Ryuunosuke where to find either Kondou or Hijikata as he intends to join the Rōshigumi.
The Rōshigumi welcoming Saitou
The trio protecting Ryuunosuke
Hijikata is sincerely happy to see Saitou and talks to him warmly and casually, welcoming him to in the headquarters. Ryuunosuke is surprised to see Hijikata smile.
Hijikata explains to Saitou that the Rōshigumi is led by Serizawa and not Kondou, and the current financial situation of the troops is poor. However, Saitou agrees to join his former dojo friends regardless as he feels the need to repay Kondou and Hijikata for the kindness they showed him back in Edo. Hijikata tells Saitou that others from the Shieikan are also part of the troops, and they join the scene hearing the conversation. Hijikata sends the trio on patrol where they encounter Ryuunosuke who is protecting a citizen with a child from rogue samurai claiming to be imperial nationalists collecting money for the saké of the country. Ryuunosuke gets paralyzed with fear when the rogue samurai require him to draw his sword, but the trio interferes just in time to protect Ryuunosuke and defeat the attackers.
Having bought more saké for Serizawa that he spilled during the attack, Ryuunosuke comes back to the headquarters stumbling upon Okita and Saitou sparring with wooden swords demonstrating high level of swordsmanship with Saitou coming victorious.
In the evening, all the Shinsengumi captains are gathered for a meal happy to see Saitou join them. Shinpachi informs Kondou that the situation in the city is not safe as there are a lot of rogue samurai and the locals do not want to engage, which Kondou finds upsetting but Hijikata is thrilled as the Shinsengumi have a chance to make a name for themselves. Kondou apologizes for the poor financial situation, but others joke that life in Shieikan used to be even worse than now.
Serizawa comes to Ryuunosuke to take his saké
Kondou, Hijikata and Sannan come to inform Serizawa about protecting the shogun
Ryuunosuke does not join the others for a meal as he has locked himself in a room re-living the memory of the afternoon events when the thugs made him draw his sword claiming that it was only a decoration. Serizawa wakes him up in the middle of the night by kicking him in the stomach, demanding his saké and ordering him not to go to bed before his master (Serizawa).
Next morning Kondou, Hijikata and Sannan face Serizawa to announce their intention to protect shōgun Iemochi. Serizawa protests that the inept man does not need protection (referring to the shōgun) which shocks the others and ignites annoyance and disdain. Niimi enters the room informing Serizawa of a guest waiting for him, and Serizawa hits Ryuunosuke who has been massaging his shoulders indicating the end of the conversation. He stands up and leaves calling Ryuunosuke worthless.
When Ryuunosuke tells others about Serizawa's words, they seem surprised, and Heisuke mentions that apparently Serizawa "still bears a grudge over the Honjou Inn incident":
Serizawa burning a building
When we were travelling to Kyoto together with Serizawa-san, Kondou-san was given the job of "advanced accommodations requisition". It was his duty to travel ahead and find rooms for the Rōshigumi. But he made a booking error at the Honjou Inn and didn't get a room for Serizawa-san. Serizawa-san said that it gets extremely cold at night, so he trashed a nearby building and set it afire. In the end, Kondou-san got on his hands and knees and apologized to Serizawa-san.—Heisuke, to Ryuunosuke
Meanwhile, Hijikata confronts Kondou and tells him to stop acting nicely in front of Serizawa calling him "Serizawa-dono" and trying to stay in his good favor, reminding the Commander that he is equal to Serizawa and should not feel inferior.
While Kondou and other captains attempt to get close to the shōgun to protect him, Serizawa has a meeting with Koudou Yukimura who presents him with a vial of Ochimizu. Niimi looks excited by the idea of studying the medicine and asks Serizawa to leave it to him.
Hijikata scolding Ryuunosuke
Back at the Mibu Temple, Sano notices Ryuunosuke spying on him and others training with swords and encourages him to join. Okita makes fun of him for being Serizawa's slave, and Ryuunosuke leaves but stumbles upon Hijikata who calls him out for being unable to use his sword, not training to be better at it and putting on a tough act while picking fights with rogue samurai. Ryuunosuke tries to respond but Hijikata quickly stops him, claiming that the Rōshigumi do not strive to get killed unlike Ryuunosuke who does not fight for his life. He also advises to throw sand or mud in the enemies' eyes and run since Ryuunosuke is not capable of fighting. Sano explains that this is how Hijikata shows that he is worried.
At the end of the episode, Ryuunosuke and Okita see Shinpachi and Saitou covered in blood.