Scattering Cherry Blossoms (散ずる桜花 Chizuru ōka) is the eighth episode of the anime Hakuōki: Hekketsuroku (Demon of the Fleeting Blossom: Record of the Jade Blood) and the twentieth episode of the season 1 & 2 combined version. It aired on November 22, 2010.
Plot
Sannan is seen killing rogue samurai during the night.
September 1868
The Shinsengumi has arrived in Sendai. Sannan was supposed to lead the Rasetsu Corps to Sendai in advance, however, no news has been received about them ever since. Hijikata is frustrated about the situation when he makes an acquaintance with Takeaki Enomoto, the second in command of the former Bakufu navy.
Enomoto meets with Hijikata
During the conversation, Hijikata mentions that Enomoto has stolen 8 flagships from the Imperial Army which astonished him upon learning about it, and Enomoto acknowledges Hijikata's merits and apologizes for lacking power to save Kondou. Hijikata moves on to a topic related to Sendai, and Enomoto informs him that his attempts tp meet the Sendai daimyo have been fruitless so far. When Chizuru enters the room bringing tea, the conversation switches to a mysterious unit working with the Sendai Domain and frequent murders in the castle town. Hijikata volunteers to handle the murder cases by himself. When Enomoto leaves, Chizuru asks what Hijikata thinks about the murders, and he expresses a resolve to kill Sannan if he is the ringleader of it all.
Heisuke comes to talk to Hijikata about Sannan
Koudou takes Chizuru away by force
Next morning Heisuke runs to the headquarters where he meets Chizuru who is doing chores. He requests to speak with Hijikata who happens to be absent, and then explains to Chizuru that he could not escape from Sannan before to meet with the others. According to Heisuke, Sannan has joined the Imperial Army and has been secretly meeting with Koudou in Sendai Castle. Heisuke is barely done talking when a Rasetsu unit walks towards the headquarters. Heisuke is prepared to fight and tells Chizuru to run, but Koudou appears among the Rasetsu and explains that running will not be necessary. He invites Chizuru to join him in restoring the Yukimura clan, and when she refuses, he presses a cloth with chloroform to her airways, and she loses consciousness when he drags her away to Sendai Castle. Heisuke is left alone to fight all the Rasetsu in sunlight.
Sannan appears in Sendai Castle
When Chizuru wakes up in the Castle, she enquires about Heisuke, but her father does not say anything except for an apology for being rough with her and a wish to speak in a calm manner. He explains that he would like her to lead the demons in a new world for Oni and Rasetsu. He also plays on her feelings by bringing up Kaoru's miserable fate trying to convince her to inherit his ideals. Chizuru refuses and asks him to stop seeking vengeance for her family's tragic history. She adds that Koudou has always been her pride and joy as a doctor who has saved countless lives, and he has to know that humans' lives are as valuable as demons'. She also assures him that humans and demons can coexist peacefully, referring to her friends from the Shinsengumi. At this moment Sannan enters the room sitting down next to Koudou. Chizuru jumps out of the bed and starts asking questions, and Sannan confirms that he has formed an alliance with Koudou to keep researching Rasetsu. When Chizuru yells at him that he has betrayed the Shinsengumi and Hijikata, Heisuke appears in the room after having killed the Rasetsu guarding the doors, and Hijikata walks in right after him.
Hijikata demands an explanation
Koudou confirms his dissatiscation with the Imperial Army
Rasetsu rush into the room
Koudou runs away, and Hijikata points his sword at Sannan demanding explanation. Sannan denies killing innocent people and claims to only have eliminated the Rasetsu that went berserk. Hijikata proceeds with asking questions, but Sannan vaguely replies that Hijikata will not find what he is looking for in this Castle as the Northern Alliance[Historical note 1] plans to avoid entering the war. Sannan also reveals that Koudou is dissatisfied with the Imperial Army, which Koudou confirms by saying that they ordered him to come to Sendai Castle but he is tired of human conflicts. Sannan then proceeds to admit that he joined Koudou to create a devil kingdom that will also harbor Rasetsu, that is why Sannan infiltrated the castle and took control over it.
All the doors suddenly open, and a large number of Rasetsu comes running in. Sannan explains that all the Rasetsu that exist in Japan have now been gathered in the castle to use as a weapon against the Imperial Army. Koudou offers Chizuru his hand once again asking her to lead them, but she says that if he refuses to change his mind, he is no longer her father. Sannan appeals to Hijikata, who is also adamant to refuse. Sannan takes out his sword claiming that he has no other choice left.
Sannan decides to fight
Sannan joins Hijikata and Heisuke
However, much to everyone's astonishment, Sannan slays a Rasetsu next to him claiming that the only reason for their existence is fighting, so if there is no place for them on the battlefield, then they might as well be put out of their misery as an act of mercy. When Koudou asks him "Why?", Sannan replies that the Shinsengumi Commander's orders are absolute and joins to stand with Hijikata and Heisuke. The fact that even the commander did not know is explained with the quote: "To fool the enemy, first deceive your allies." The three Shinsengumi members turn into Rasetsu to fight Koudou's creations, and Chizuru tries to keep her father out of harm's way when Sannan adds to his speech that he was planning to give the Rasetsu to the Shinsengumi all along, and now, since they are not needed, he has to eliminate them because he has no time left. He keeps trying to convince Koudou that this is the right decision because no matter how many times the Ochimizu has been improved, the Rasetsu still use up their lifespan very quickly and their bloodlust does not disappear, therefore there is no future for them.
Koudou protects Chizuru with his life
Koudou's last words
The last three remaining Rasetsu attempt to attack Chizuru but Koudou protects her with his body. Hijikata slays them all but he is too late as Koudou has already collapsed after having been pierced through his heart. His last words reveal that he has never believed in Rasetsu's future but he tried his best to restore the Yukimura family for Chizuru's sake. He apologizes for not being a father figure to her and encourages her to follow the path she believes in. The last thing he hears before life leaves his body is that Chizuru has always loved him as her real father and has always been proud of him.
Chizuru and Hijikata take their comrades' hands
Looking at the massacre, Sannan wonders if the Shinsengumi can win future battles after having lost a great deal of its military strength. Hijikata replies that nobody fights intending to lose. Heisuke jokes that Hijikata is a sore loser, and Sannan confesses that they should have never made Rasetsu in the first place. After that both Sannan and Heisuke collapse. When Chizuru runs towards them, they both confirm that their lives have reached their limit, and they knew about it before since it is their bodies after all. Hijikata takes each of his comrades hands, and Chizuru puts her hands onto his. While the commander tries to hold back, Chizuru's tears flood from her eyes blurring the vision.
Hijikata-kun, there were times we did not see eye-to-eye, but I have always acknowledged you. I am proud that I could fight alongside you in the Shinsengumi.—Keisuke Sannan, last words to Hijikata
Yukimura-kun, I have hurt you so many times... Please forgive me. I'm leaving Hijikata-kun to you.—Keisuke Sannan, last words to Chizuru
Hijikata-san, I am grateful. Even after I left the corps, you still welcomed me back. In the end... was I of any help? Live a long life, Hijikata-san. You are such a hothead, Hijikata-san.—Heisuke Toudou, last words to Hijikata
Chizuru, keep a close eye on him. Do not let him rush through life. Do not make such a face. Please smile... like you always do. That is the one. Stay like that...—Heisuke Toudou, last words to Chizuru
Sannan and Heisuke die
Both Sannan and Heisuke turn into ash and flame up with blue light which signifies their death.
Enomoto announces going to Ezo
However, even though the castle has been freed from Rasetsu, the Sendai Domain's alliance with the Imperial Army remains unchanged. The only people who join the Shinsengumi are Juntaro Hoshi and his western-style soldiers. After the former Bakufu army has met up with the Shinsengumi, Enomoto announces that the plan is to head towards Ezo to build a new country there. Hijikata gathers the remaining Shinsengumi members separately and informs them that the battles will be fiercer from the moment on, therefore if anyone wishes out, it is understandable. However, Shimada speaks for everyone and claims that they will live and die with the Shinsengumi.
Chizuru finishes preparing onigiri for the troops when Hijikata walks in and officially orders her, as a member of the Shinsengumi, to stay in Sendai and live her life instead of following others to Ezo.
Chizuru stays in Sendai while everyone else sails away
October 1868
Hijikata and the others sail for Ezo. Chizuru is standing on the shore seeing them off accompanied by the falling snow.
Historical notes
- ↑ The Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei, or the Northern Alliance, was a military coalition formed during the Boshin War in Japan in 1868. The alliance was composed of a group of former samurai, mainly from the Aizu and Shōnai domains, who joined forces to resist the Meiji government's efforts to abolish the samurai class and centralize power.
The purpose of the Northern Alliance was to defend their respective domains from the encroaching Meiji government and to preserve their traditional way of life. The alliance was able to gather a large number of troops and managed to hold their ground against the Meiji government for several months.
However, the Northern Alliance was ultimately defeated by the superior military technology and tactics of the Meiji government's forces. After the fall of the alliance's stronghold in Aizu, the remaining members of the alliance scattered and their resistance to the Meiji government ended.
The Northern Alliance played a significant role in the Boshin War, as it was one of the last major military forces to resist the Meiji government's efforts to modernize and centralize Japan. Despite their defeat, the alliance's members remained revered in their respective domains for their bravery and loyalty to their traditional way of life.