The Winter's Banked Fire (第二章 冬の埋み火, Dainishō fuyu no uzumibi) is the second episode of Hakuōki: Sekkaroku that is meant to be an extension of the main plot of Hakuōki: Shinsengumi Kitan. This episode is focused on Hajime Saitou.
Plot
Saitou is telling Chizuru about swords
Kimigiku is dressing up Chizuru
While patrolling the streets, Saitou and Chizuru come across a shop selling swords, and Chizuru notices that Saitou is very interested. He explains that the katana on display was forged by a very gifted smith and gives her an in-depth talk about the topic.
The next scene is a discussion about Chizuru infiltrating Shimabara as a geisha, repeated from Episode 1 with slight additions. Saitou suggests that he and Yamazaki work in Sumi to provide protection and support in case something goes wrong. Hijikata gives permission and instructs them to send a messenger to the headquarters if something goes wrong. Sano and Shinpachi promise to stay in Shimabara as guests and see to her being protected from all sides. Heisuke imagines possible inappropriate actions of other guests that might happen to Chizuru while working.
Next morning Kimigiku and Senhime dress up Chizuru like a geisha giving her appropriate clothes and putting on the necessary makeup. They give her advice on how to act around guests and reassure her that her beauty will ease the situation for her.
Yamazaki protects Chizuru in Shimabara
Yamazaki-Ryu Ninja Arts: Tatami Mat Flip!
Saitou tries to have an important conversation with Chizuru
In the evening, Saitou and Yamazaki are in positions awaiting the action to start. While Chizuru is serving a group of samurai, she overhears them talking about the Shinsengumi and gets a confirmation regarding their plans to attack the headquarters. When one of the men tries to harass her, she runs away but ends up in a dead end. Right before she is assaulted, Yamazaki appears and front of her and claims to be her ninja saving his lady. They run away and hide in an empty room but the chase continues, and, when they are discovered, Yamazaki performs "Yamazaki-Ryu Ninja Arts: Tatami Mat Flip!" and throws one of the tatamis (floor cover) in the samurai's face knocking him off. Other guests hear about a mysterious ninja and join the pursuit, Chizuru runs away and encounters another drunk samurai who attempts to harass her as well. Saitou finds them right in time and protects her calling himself a bouncer. However, when he takes a good look at her looking like a geisha, he seems mesmerized by the sight and starts talking about the situation. He mentions that she looks very different and that she put on such an attire only for the mission, but, even if she was reluctant to do so, he has to tell her something important. However, all his attempts are interrupted by the drunk samurai picking a fight, and eventually he loses the chance.
The commotion attracts more attention, and eventually Chizuru gets out of the building to meet Hijikata.
Saitou and Chizuru misunderstood each other
Hijikata gives Saitou a secret task
On the next patrol with Saitou, Chizuru asks him about the important conversation he was trying to have but she completely misunderstands his intentions and assumes that her outfit was really bad. Not letting Saitou the chance to speak, she mentions a conversation between other members about whether Hijikata would look good with a beard. Being lost in thought, Saitou misses that remark and replies to her previous comment saying that "it looked truly great" meaning Chizuru's outfit, but due to Chizuru's extra thoughts it sounds as if Saitou is complimenting the idea of Hijikata with a beard. Chizuru, being confused, asks if Saitou has seen it, and Saitou, not having heard the beard remark, is surprised by her question, so he answers that he saw it the other day with his own eyes. Chizuru gets more confused and asks if Hijikata put on a fake beard when he went to Shimabara, which prompts Saitou to actually ask what she is talking about. When he realizes what the conversation is about, he gives his opinion on the topic but prefers not to clarify what he meant by his initial comment.
Later, Saitou is seen informing Hijikata about Itou's attempts to leave the Shinsengumi and convince some of the members to join him. Hijikata gives Saitou a secret assignment that nobody should know about, and Saitou promises that his allegiances will never change.
Chizuru gives Saitou a snow bunny
Next morning Saitou is looking at the snow when Chizuru joins him and asks what he is up to. When she learns that he has been training, she tells him to go inside and dry off his sweat because he might catch a cold, but he sends her in instead. When she asks whether he likes snow, he says that when he is surrounded by it he feels like he can become something more than himself, something pure. Chizuru decides to stay and watch the snow with Saitou. She makes a snow bunny for him but he is not sure what to do with it, so he suggests her to go inside and warm her hands. He eventually sees it as a nice gesture and takes the bunny with him.