Where the Bonds Lead

(絆のゆくえ Kizuna no Yukue), also known as The Course of Bonds, is the tenth episode of the anime Hakuōki: Shinsengumi Kitan (Demon of the Fleeting Blossom: The Tale of the Shinsengumi). It aired on June 6, 2010.
==Plot==
November 1867
The Shinsengumi have moved to their third headquarters, The Fudodo Headquarters. Sano asks Chizuru whether she has got used to the new one and explains (mostly to the viewers) that it is a mansion that the Nishi Hongan-ji Temple priests had built and gave to the Shinsengumi. Sano also jokes that the new HQ is something they should thank the demons for since the Shinsengumi got it because of Kazama's group attack. He notices that Chizuru is cold and offers to warm her hands, and Shinpachi teases him that he is trying to make a move on Chizuru.
Meanwhile, Saitou overhears a conversation between Itou and his follower. The unnamed soldier is annoyed with the idea to go back to the imperial rule that apparently came from Bakufu, and Itou calms him down by saying that this removes the charges with overthrowing the government from Satsuma and Chōshū. The soldier exclaims that it is impossible to know whose side Sakamoto Ryōma (a low-ranking samurai from the Tosa Domain, opponent of the Shinsengumi) is on. Itou mysteriously says that one needs to be careful with a blade that is too sharp, such as Sakamoto or the Shinsengumi.
In the next scene we see Saitou giving a homeless person a tiny sack of something, but it is quickly revealed that the person is actually Yamazaki who is spying for the Shinsengumi and meeting with Saitou in secret.
Later Yamazaki comes to have a word with Chizuru. He asks her if she is aware of Okita's condition. She denies knowing anything since she promised to Souji, and that proves in Yamazaki's eyes that Chizuru can be trusted. He gives her his notebook with everything Dr. Matsumoto taught him about how to treat sick and wounded soldiers. Yamazaki wants Chizuru to have it in case something happens to him because she is the only one who has some medical knowledge. She accepts the notebook but points out that she cannot replace him.
News arrives that Sakamoto Ryōma has been killed and that Sano's scabbard was found on the crime scene. Sano denies his participance, and his weapon in his hands proves him innocent. The Shinsengumi quickly realize that someone is trying to set them up by killing Sakamoto and putting the blame onto them. 
Flashback: October 1867.
Hijikata gathers everyone in the common room. Saitou joins the meeting, and Kondou and Hijikata reveal that he has been spying on Itou's group these months. Chizuru leaves the room to bring tea and give some privacy to the Shinsengumi commanders. Saitou reports that Itou is planning to expose the secret of Rasetsu, that is was him who spread rumors about Sano's participance in Sakamoto's murder, and that he is planning to assassinate Kondou. When Chizuru comes back, Hijikata gives a direct order that Itou must die. And if Heisuke decides to defend him, he will have to meet his end as well. Chizuru exclaims that it is terrible, and Hijikata leaves the room. Kondou explains that Hijikata does not wish to kill Heisuke, and Sano confirms that none of them do. Saitou suggests trying to help Heisuke before the plan comes in action.
Next morning Hijikata gives orders to Sano and Shinpachi to do the job while Okita must stay in bed. Kondou and Hijikata invite Itou to ask for a paid favor, and after the conversation Kondou suggests a drink. Saitou finds Heisuke in Itou's headquarters and takes him out to a quiet place where he meets Chizuru. She tries to persuade him to come back to the Shinsengumi without exposing many details, and Saitou explains that since Itou has joined forces with the Satsuma Domain and is planning to kill Kondou, the Shinsengumi have decided to kill Itou this night. By the time Heisuke understands what is going on, his comrades run towards him informing him that Itou has been murdered on the way home in front of the gate of Honko-ji Temple on Abura-no-koji Street (Abura-no-koji Incident). Heisuke does not listen to Chizuru and runs with them. Itou's followers recognize a Shinsengumi member in Chizuru and attack her, but Saitou interferes and orders her to run after Heisuke.
When Itou's followers come to take his body, Shinpachi and Sano's units ambush them. Since Itou's men are greatly outnumbered, the Shinsengumi win quite quickly, however, reinforcements appear a moment later. The SatChō allied forces, led by Amagiri and Shiranui, join the scene and kill the Shinsengumi one by one. When Chizuru and Heisuke reach the battlefield, Amagiri suggests that Chizuru goes with them, and then the remaining Shinsengumi members can go unharmed. She agrees and starts walking towards him, but Sano stops her and says that they will not let her sacrifice herself for them. Shinpachi gets amused by Sano's posh speech and asks Heisuke how long he is going to stand still and watch, implying that he had better join. Heisuke listens and engages into the fight. When he attacks Amagiri, he gets deadly injured, which means the end for the remaining blue coat warriors.
At the same time, Kaoru visits Okita and gives him Ochimizu promising that it will cure his tuberculosis. He also reveals that he is Chizuru's twin brother who were divided when the Yukimura clan had been destroyed. Okita cannot help but notice the obvious resemblance once again, but he struggles to believe that Chizuru was the one who told Kaoru about his disease. 
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Category:Episodes
Category:Season 1