When Okita is sent on a recruiting trip to Edo, Kamiya must learn to fend for herself in his absence. In her loneliness, she is befriended by the plump Miki, who struggles with insecurity due to his brother's constant criticism. Amidst their bonding, Miki begins to develop feelings for Kamiya, and a drunken night leads to near-disaster!
Hijikata returns from another successful recruiting trip to Edo with 52 new men. One of them, Nakamura Goro, is convinced Sei is a girl the moment he lays eyes on her. Irresistibly attracted to her, he is determined to uncover her so he can have her as a woman. How will Sei handle this new threat from within the ranks?
Hijikata returns from another successful recruiting trip to Edo with 52 new men. One of them, Nakamura Goro, is convinced Sei is a girl the moment he lays eyes on her. Irresistibly attracted to her, he is determined to uncover her so he can have her as a woman. How will Sei handle this new threat from within the ranks?
Doctor Kondo, a respected expert in western medicine, visits the troop. As an act of kindness, the doctor offers to give physical exams to the entire troop, and the men are ordered to strip down to their loincloths. Now Sei seems to be caught in a trap she can't get out of. She's managed to fool everyone else into thinking that she's a boy, but how can she possibly fool a doctor?
Doctor Kondo, a respected expert in western medicine, visits the troop. As an act of kindness, the doctor offers to give physical exams to the entire troop, and the men are ordered to strip down to their loincloths. Now Sei seems to be caught in a trap she can't get out of. She's managed to fool everyone else into thinking that she's a boy, but how can she possibly fool a doctor?
When Sei gets wounded, Soji takes her to Doctor Matsumoto, an old family friend who knows her secret. While in his care, Sei tells him of the resentment she feels toward her father, who neglected his family to pursue his medical practice. Matsumoto reveals the truth about her father and the sacrifice that affected his family's destiny.
When Sei gets wounded, Soji takes her to Doctor Matsumoto, an old family friend who knows her secret. While in his care, Sei tells him of the resentment she feels toward her father, who neglected his family to pursue his medical practice. Matsumoto reveals the truth about her father and the sacrifice that affected his family's destiny.
Headquarters in Kyoto learns that the rogue behavior of their branch troop captain in Osaka is stirring up resentment among the local populace. Kondo takes Okita, Sei and the first troop to Osaka to investigate. They find that Tani Sanjuro, the captain of the seventh troop, is a hard-hearted man who rules with an iron fist. Will Kondo find a way to deal with this ogre, or will he need to take extreme measures to eliminate him?
Headquarters in Kyoto learns that the rogue behavior of their branch troop captain in Osaka is stirring up resentment among the local populace. Kondo takes Okita, Sei and the first troop to Osaka to investigate. They find that Tani Sanjuro, the captain of the seventh troop, is a hard-hearted man who rules with an iron fist. Will Kondo find a way to deal with this ogre, or will he need to take extreme measures to eliminate him?
Japan is approaching a tipping point, with increasing pressure from the West to open its borders. The Shinsengumi are being trained to use firearms, but Okita refuses, insisting on the way of the sword. He represents many in the group who cling to old samurai values. But it is clear that the times are changing and the Shinsengumi embodies the "old guard." Will they survive the coming upheavals?
Japan is approaching a tipping point, with increasing pressure from the West to open its borders. The Shinsengumi are being trained to use firearms, but Okita refuses, insisting on the way of the sword. He represents many in the group who cling to old samurai values. But it is clear that the times are changing and the Shinsengumi embodies the "old guard." Will they survive the coming upheavals?
The leaders of Japan panic when foreign forces deliver an ultimatum: open the borders and allow trade or face invasion. The politicians squabble, and finally the young Shogun Iemochi resigns in exasperation. LordMatsudaira goes to consult with Iemochi, accompanied by Kondo, Soji and Kamiya. Kondo's heartfelt plea convinces Iemochi to return to Kyoto and lead the Bakufu through this time of chaos.
The leaders of Japan panic when foreign forces deliver an ultimatum: open the borders and allow trade or face invasion. The politicians squabble, and finally the young Shogun Iemochi resigns in exasperation. LordMatsudaira goes to consult with Iemochi, accompanied by Kondo, Soji and Kamiya. Kondo's heartfelt plea convinces Iemochi to return to Kyoto and lead the Bakufu through this time of chaos.
Hijikata decides to make use of Kamiya's feminine features and sends "him" out dressed as a woman on a spy mission. Her assignment: to ascertain the whereabouts of the notorious enemy leader Sakamoto Ryoma. Soji, left in the dark about the secret mission, sets off to find Kamiya. The two get more than they bargained for when they come face-to-face with the enemy himself!
Hijikata decides to make use of Kamiya's feminine features and sends "him" out dressed as a woman on a spy mission. Her assignment: to ascertain the whereabouts of the notorious enemy leader Sakamoto Ryoma. Soji, left in the dark about the secret mission, sets off to find Kamiya. The two get more than they bargained for when they come face-to-face with the enemy himself!
After Hijikata grows suspicious of Soji's feelings about Sei, he reassigns Sei to the third troop under Saito's command. Soji, puzzled by his own recent irrational behavior toward Sei, attempts to distance himself from her. Sei, in turn, interprets this as Soji's realization of her feelings for him and decides that she can no longer serve as a bushi alongside him. She goes to visit Suigetsuni, a nun who knew Sei in her former life as a girl, to discuss renouncing the world and entering the convent!
After Hijikata grows suspicious of Soji's feelings about Sei, he reassigns Sei to the third troop under Saito's command. Soji, puzzled by his own recent irrational behavior toward Sei, attempts to distance himself from her. Sei, in turn, interprets this as Soji's realization of her feelings for him and decides that she can no longer serve as a bushi alongside him. She goes to visit Suigetsuni, a nun who knew Sei in her former life as a girl, to discuss renouncing the world and entering the convent!
Now that Sei has been transferred to the third troop under his command, Saito grows increasingly suspicious of Sei’s true identity. He is visited by dreams of his old friend, Sei’s brother, Yuma. The memories of Yuma’s words gradually grow more vivid, and Saito finally realizes Sei’s secret. Feeling he must protect her, Saito confronts Soji with an ultimatum: expose Sei to Hijitaka and have her dismissed from the troop, or allow Saito to take her as his bride.
Now that Sei has been transferred to the third troop under his command, Saito grows increasingly suspicious of Sei’s true identity. He is visited by dreams of his old friend, Sei’s brother, Yuma. The memories of Yuma’s words gradually grow more vivid, and Saito finally realizes Sei’s secret. Feeling he must protect her, Saito confronts Soji with an ultimatum: expose Sei to Hijitaka and have her dismissed from the troop, or allow Saito to take her as his bride.
Sei, who has disguised herself as a man in order to fight with the Shinsengumi, is badly injured in a surprise attack. Her secret love, Soji, is haunted by the incident and Sei’s role in saving his life. As he starts to fall hard for Sei, his behavior becomes so unreasonable that Saito says he is unfit to serve as vice captain! Meanwhile, Captain Kondo returns from a disappointing trip to Hiroshima while some of his closest colleagues conspire against him…
Sei, who has disguised herself as a man in order to fight with the Shinsengumi, is badly injured in a surprise attack. Her secret love, Soji, is haunted by the incident and Sei’s role in saving his life. As he starts to fall hard for Sei, his behavior becomes so unreasonable that Saito says he is unfit to serve as vice captain! Meanwhile, Captain Kondo returns from a disappointing trip to Hiroshima while some of his closest colleagues conspire against him…
When word arrives that the renowned assassin Sakamoto Ryoma is active again, the Shinsengumi must come up with a plan to stop him. Sei, still undercover as the male warrior Kamiya Seizaburo, tries to persuade her superiors that he’s not the threat they believe him to be, but to no avail. Will she take matters into her own hands, despite the risk to herself and her troop?
When word arrives that the renowned assassin Sakamoto Ryoma is active again, the Shinsengumi must come up with a plan to stop him. Sei, still undercover as the male warrior Kamiya Seizaburo, tries to persuade her superiors that he’s not the threat they believe him to be, but to no avail. Will she take matters into her own hands, despite the risk to herself and her troop?
Shinsengumi vice captain Toshizo recounts his youth as an aspiring swordsman and his budding relationship with captain Kondo. Later, Kondo, Toshizo and Tominaga Sei, a female samurai living as a man, confront internal strife when money goes missing from the Shinsengumi’s coffer. Sei must face her fears when Shinsengumi leadership hands down a terrible punishment to a fellow warrior.
Shinsengumi vice captain Toshizo recounts his youth as an aspiring swordsman and his budding relationship with captain Kondo. Later, Kondo, Toshizo and Tominaga Sei, a female samurai living as a man, confront internal strife when money goes missing from the Shinsengumi’s coffer. Sei must face her fears when Shinsengumi leadership hands down a terrible punishment to a fellow warrior.