Original subtitles

He guarded a noble in the palace?

Yes. Although I had it secondhand, so I don't know all the details.

Head!

I bet you're bored of Gramps's long stories, too!

We knew the river of time was flowing fiercer.

For the Miburo...

those days may have been a turning point.

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

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Blue Miburo

I hear the Miburo are a band of swordsmen.

So what if we are?

Do you keep guns or cannons in reserve?

Huh? Of course not.

I see.

You may wish to consider doing so.

My life is under threat because I have had a change of heart.

A naval commissioner, Katsu Kaishu, convinced me of the value of sea power.

I no longer favor expulsion at any cost.

The hardliners of the anti-foreign movement must view that as a betrayal.

Politics demands ceaseless vigilance.

One always finds oneself in an awkward position.

He who defends me today may come for my life tomorrow.

Why did you agree to guard me so readily?

None of that crap matters.

I did it because you really did seem scared.

If samurai don't protect the weak, who will?

I see Iroha was right to turn to you.

Still...

Hold on to notions like that, and the tide will leave you behind.

What tide?

The tide of time.

Or will you rebel against the age we live in?

If so, men like that fellow, who strive to push us forward,

may one day become your greatest foes.

What "fellow"? Who do you mean?

The ronin Sakamoto Ryoma, formerly of Tosa.

Never heard of him.

Anegakoji!

Prepare to die!

We're under attack!

What?

After him! Don't let him escape!

Halt!

You're formidable! Formidable indeed!

You think I'd let that loser beat me?

And confident! Hajime, you intrigue me.

How's Nio doing?

Not good. He won't leave his room.

But I thought his fever went down. Is something still affecting him?

A matter of the heart, no doubt.

I don't get it.

I mean, what's done is done, right?

Sometimes, Sanosuke-san, you cut right to the heart of things.

Huh? How do you mean?

Nio...

Nio might be out of commission for a while.

And Serizawa?

He's given over the room to Nio.

Let him use it until he's feeling better.

Even he has his good points.

Hajime's out, Gen-san's working the fields, and Yamanami-san's writing something.

You served well, Hajime.

Farewell!

See you, Hajime-chan!

I don't need you to see me off.

Damn it.

And so, Hajime completed his guard duty in safety.

However...

That night, three assassins claimed Anegakoji's life.

It would come to be known as the "Incident Outside Sakuhei Gate."

A court noble got killed?

The killer dropped his scabbard.

Rumor has it the deed was done by Tanaka Shinbei, an assassin from Satsuma.

Aizu seems frantic to track him down.

What a shame.

A crying shame.

Iroha sent this. It's a letter for you.

"Hiya, Hajime-chan!"

"It's your favorite girl, Iroha! How have you been?"

"I bet you're down in the dumps, and I thought maybe I could cheer you up."

"Oh, about Anegakoji-sama..."

"He adopted a son the other day."

"A little boy. Just four years old."

"The day after you drove off those ruffians,"

"they played kemari together for the first time."

"Anegakoji-sama was over the moon."

I'd like to think helping him live even one extra day counted for something.

Tanaka Shinbei.

Nio-kun, Nagi-san was worried about you.

She thought you'd be even more hurt if she died without saying anything.

That's why she lashed out at you so fiercely.

She was treating you as an adult.

You want to catch Tanaka Shinbei?

Forget it, kid. Shinbei the Killer is no joke.

He's a Jigen School swordsman.

You can tell him.

Fujita-san.

Saito-san, I would like your assistance.

Try to keep up, Fujita.

Yes, sir!

You know, I don't think you did anything wrong.

Maybe you weren't quite tough enough to see it through, but still.

Before I joined the Miburo, I'd given up. I figured that was just life.

But you told me we have souls, remember?

It sucks how things turned out this time,

and I don't know what to say to you about it,

but what can any of us do except keep chasing our... "ideals," I guess?

Even if it goes wrong, no matter how many times we fail,

what else can we do?

Damn it. What the hell is your problem?

Well said, Taro.

I agree.

That's Shinbei's hideout.

We'll go in from the front.

The rest of you cover the back door.

Don't let him see you.

Yes, sir.

We'll wait until he settles down for the evening.

Excuse me.

Yamanami-san.

You could use a haircut.

I got it all wrong.

I ran in blindly, just waving my ideals around and stirring up trouble.

Things only worked out by chance, because I got help from the people around me.

Tanaka Shinbei, you're under arrest.

Says who?

What's so wrong with having ideals?

But even my ideals turned out to be nebulous.

They weren't worth preaching about.

Human beings progress through ideals and philosophy.

Isn't that what makes us beautiful and noble?

Results and outcomes are no more than that.

We are not animals.

We have a dream we call "hope."

Your attitude and actions in pursuit of it shape your individual humanity.

Never forget: You did it.

You should be proud.

Don't stop in your tracks.

That's what it means to have an exalted soul.

Nagi-san.

Yotaro-san. Naozumi-san.

Thanks for everything.

Tanaka Shinbei was captured and accused of Anegakoji's murder.

Confronted with the evidence of the scabbard, he took his own life on the spot.

Blame extended to Satsuma, and the domain lost influence at court.

The truth remains a mystery to this day.

P-Please forgive me, sir!

I dozed off and—

I'll get stronger. So strong, no one can argue with me.

So strong, no one can complain.

N-Nio.

Sorry for worrying you.

Thank you. I'm fine now.

Nio!

Thank goodness!

I was worried sick about you, jackass!

I'll start with one tatami's worth.

Man, you must be so relieved.

I... I was never worried!

Aren't you glad?

Damn, that hurts.

"P.S. Hajime-chan..."

"I know my brother will be fine."

Hey!

"I'm not worried about him."

Hajime-kun!

Where the hell have you been?

They say our coats are finally ready! The Miburo uniforms we ordered!

"After all..."

Hey, how come you're walking funny?

"...he has people like you by his side."

And you look beat to hell.

Shove it.

Now, let's go get those coats.

Not that way, Hajime-kun. It's this way.

I know that!

In May of 1863, the Choshu domain convinced Shogun Iemochi

to swear to "expel the barbarians" in the Emperor's presence.

Hearing his promise, Choshu bombarded foreign ships in the Bakan Straits.

They dealt a devastating blow.

And those chaotic times moved ever faster.

So you would have me return to Edo?

Yes, my lord. War with foreign powers is now inevitable.

What could be more vital than returning to Edo to oversee defense of the bay?

Very well. Let us do that.

Yes, my lord.

Whew. Good thing he didn't make a fuss.

He sure has matured.

Kagemaru.

Here, my lord.

So, what, they're done with me now?!

Damn Choshu!

The jackasses actually went and did it!

My lord, calm yourself.

Brainless nobles! Stupid emperor!

It's the money.

Money, my lord?

Choshu will obviously lose!

And the victors will demand reparations!

But Choshu won't be able to pay!

The Shogunate will be forced to shoulder their debts!

Well, that's part of what I'm here for.

But my one regret is for this city of Kyoto.

Anegakoji has been murdered.

More and more factions will use violence to press their claims now.

Tragedies will become ever more common.

On that point, I think you need have no fear.

What?

Hey, Nio!

We have those manju to snack on. Let's eat 'em already.

What? You're still going at it?

I told him to take a breather, but look at him go.

I'll just keep swinging and swinging.

There's nothing else to do.

I know I'm soft.

And I know I've gotten away with things because I'm a kid.

For who? For what?

For me? For my own self-satisfaction?

That's good enough.

I'll take it all the way.

His swing changed.

Nio-kun—

Hey!

Lord Iemochi's going home to Edo.

What'll happen to us?

Why should we care?

Because the Roshigumi originally came to Kyoto to guard the Shogun.

Huh? S-So you're gonna leave?

Wh-What'll happen to me?

What about Serizawa's bunch? Can we talk them round?

I suppose it would make sense for us to return to Edo as well.

No.

Guarding the Shogun is a pretext.

We follow our own path.

Make way for His Lordship, the Shogun!

It's Lord Iemochi.

That's him?

He holds himself with all the dignity you'd expect.

He's got some shady guy with him, though.

His Lordship certainly looks impressive.

Indeed.

His Lordship's leaving already?

Why did he even come here?

Such insolence! Who said that?

No mind. Leave him be.

Ow, ow, ow!

You got a bit too carried away, don't you think?

Serizawa-san, we shouldn't spoil the Shogun's procession.

Nio.

Next time we meet, you're dead.

Have no fear. He was no rebel, just a lowly nobody. Pay him no heed.

You picked this word, Kondo-san?

Heart

Superior

Justice

Stylish

War

Decisive

Flame

Loyalty

Heaven

Yes. I chose it from the ones you wrote.

The times may twist, but our lives will go straight ahead.

That's our way.

And yours.

They originally came to Kyoto to guard Your Lordship,

but for the present, they aim to improve law and order here.

Sure enough, they've chosen to remain. So this city, at least, will be safe.

I see. They'll be here, then.

Yes, my lord.

What is the way of the sword to you?

Tell me your answer when we meet again.

Nio, is that your answer?

Sincerity

He's changed.

I can't put my finger on it, but something seems different.

I can tell.

No doubt everyone can.

Even you.

And you.

And all of you.

How do you like this?

You'll never beat me!

Ow!

Don't hit for real!

Aw, come on. Don't be a wimp.

When a boy loses something, he becomes a man.

He can only know that feeling by experiencing and overcoming it firsthand.

I'm counting on you!

My lord?

Sincerity

We won't let you down.

The Blue Oath