The Winds of Fate (第五章 天明の風, Daigoshō tenmei no kaze) is the fifth episode of Hakuōki: Sekkaroku that is meant to be an extension of the main plot of Hakuōki: Shinsengumi Kitan. This episode is focused on Toshizou Hijikata.
Plot
The Shinsengumi playing in the snow
Hijikata walks out of the room and sees that the yard is covered with freshly fallen snow. Shortly after him, Kondou, Inoue and Shimada also notice the snow and walk outside to have a look. Seeing them childishly play in the snow and enjoy themselves inspires Hijikata to create a haiku, and only after saying the lines out loud he notices Souji and Chizuru sitting behind and watching him. Chizuru praises the poem but Hijikata feels embarrassed and chases off both of the guests as he hurries up to write down the haiku.
Chizuru stumbles and falls
Hijikata reveals his identity to take away Chizuru
A few days later, when the plan with Chizuru infiltrating the Shimabara Inn in a geisha outfit is in action, Hijikata discusses Itou's suspicious actions with Kondou and informs him that he will send Saitou to spy on Itou. As they speak, Heisuke comes running in panic asking Hijikata to terminate the infiltration plan and save Chizuru from all the drunk men around. Kondou agrees and sends Hijikata with Heisuke, but Heisuke runs off first and they split up. By the time Hijikata reaches Shimabara, he meets Chizuru who walks out of the building, so he takes her away. On their way back Chizuru stumbles and twists her ankle, so Hijikata checks her foot and tells her that the pain should subside soon. He also points out that this is due to the shoes she is not accustomed to, and notices how different she speaks pretending to be a geisha. He grabs her hand and takes her away but they are quickly stopped by a concerned Shimabara employee who thinks that Hijikata is trying to steal a geisha due to their romantic connection so he explains that there are certain steps before one may purchase a geisha. People around them see the situation and start whispering about a "pretty boy who wants to run away with a geisha". Hijikata decides to reveal his identity and use his status to resolve the situation which he does but this decision backfires as it provokes more rumors about the Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi afterwards.
As Hijikata and Chizuru come back, Souji notices them and makes a joke. When he leaves, some more Shinsengumi members come back to the headquarters, so Hijikata hides Chizuru in a room until they pass by.
Next day, Hijikata and Chizuru visit Kimigiku and thank her for her assistance. She jokingly notifies them about the rumors around Hijikata's elopement with a geisha. On the way back Hijikata jokes that the situation is not too bad since the rumors say the geisha was very beautiful.
Hijikata watches Harada
Hijikata fights Kazama
Some time later Hijikata talks to Saitou in secret and sends him off on a mission. After that he spies on Harada, assumingly being worried about his behavior after the incident with lost papers (Episode 3). Souji notices him and Hijikata leaves. When Harada comes running to Souji, the latter jokes about Hijikata just spying on everyone from the shadows.
Itou invites Saitou and Nagakura out for a drink and starts asking questions about their opinion on the Shinsengumi. Nagakura openly expresses his discontent with Itou's company. Hijikata is shown to watch them from a dark alley but people see him and starts gossiping, so he is forced to leave. On the way back he comes up with another haiku looking at the moon, but suddenly glowing red eyes of Chikage Kazama appear from the shadows. Hijikata attempts to take out his sword but Kazama explains that without Chizuru there is no reason for their confrontation. Having exchanged a few more phrases, they are about to engage in a fight regardless, but Sannan stops them fearing that this might stir trouble with the Satsuma Clan. However, Kazama insults Sannan calling him a fake oni and an abomination, which provokes Hijikata, and the fight begins only to be terminated by Amagiri after a few clashes of the blades.
On the way back, Sannan expresses his concern about Hijikata wandering around alone despite him being "the Devil Vice-Commander" and Hijikata replies that becoming the Devil was not his decision. When they reach the headquarters, Hijikata says that no matter what awaits the Shinsengumi, their hearts are united as one, Sannan agrees and leaves disappearing in the darkness. Chizuru meets Hijikata and they bot walk inside.
Everyone eating dango while Hijikata tries to catch Souji with his diary
Next morning, Hijikata writes another haiku in his dairy. As he finishes, Kondou and Inoue come bringing dango and everyone else joins them for the feast. Souji takes Hijikata's dairy and starts reading his haiku out loud, provoking the Vice-Commander to chase after him, and everyone starts laughing.
