Distant Shadow

(遠き面影 Tooki Omokage) is the third episode of the anime Hakuōki: Hekketsuroku (Demon of the Fleeting Blossom: Record of the Jade Blood) and the fifteenth episode of the season one&two combined version. It aired on October 18, 2010.
==Plot==
Harada and Shiranui are fighting Koudou's new Rasetsu when they see Koudou himself behind them. He is sure that the upgraded Rasetsu can surpass humans, now that they can fight under the daylight, and he also reveals his dream to revive the Yukimura family. Shiranui understands it clearly that having such creatures roam the country will ruin it, so he offers a temporary truce to Harada in order to get rid of them for now. After a short while, Shiranui realizes that he has only one bullet left, and he comes up with a plan to ignite a wagon and affect a lot of enemies at once to distract them while letting Sano and Shinpachi leave with their subordinates. 
Chizuru and Kondou are running away through the woods and stumble upon dead samurai who have assumingly been killed by Kaoru. Chizuru recognizes him, even though she only saw him in his female outfit before. She starts asking questions, and Kaoru feels amused by the fact that Okita never told her the truth. He explains who he is in general and to her specifically, using their paired swords as a proof (while Chizuru wears a shotsuren or a kodachi, Kaoru wields a daitsuren or a katana). He also reveals to her that Koudou is not their real father but just a relative that took care of Chizuru after their family had been destroyed for refusing to help the anti-Bakufu faction. The evil masterplan now is to use the Rasetsu to exterminate humans and create the world of demons where Rasetsu can also fit in.
Kondou decides to attack Kaoru and orders Chizuru to run, which she does not listen to, and Kaoru sees it as an obstacle between him and his twin-sister, so he engages into a fight with Kondou. It takes one hit for Kondou to be defeated, and Kaoru uses it as evidence to say that he is the only one who is able to protect Chizuru which is why she has to join him. She brushes him away and explains that she made a promise to protect Kondou and survive. She draws her sword and prepares to attack, which shocks and aggravates Kaoru who did not expect her to turn against her own blood in order to protect humans. He claims to love her but the situation infuriates him so he attacks her with his sword and wins quite quickly. He asks her to come with him once again but her answer is the same, so he decides to kill her with his own hands. 
Right before Kaoru can take Chizuru's life, Okita joins the scene and claims that he has to kill Kaoru quickly as it is difficult for a Rasetsu to be under the sun. During the brutal fight, Okita has the upper hand but right before the final blow his body weakens and snaps out of the Rasetsu mode which makes him fall down on his knees and start coughing. Kaoru reminds Okita that Ochimizu cannot heal his tuberculosis, and tells Chizuru to watch how he can 'get rid of the weak' walking towards Okita with his sword. However, before anyone else could get hurt, Kazama appears behind Kaoru and pierces through his heart. 
Not paying attention to Kaoru, Kazama informs Chizuru that Koudou has left the Satsuma domain and strayed from the demon's path therefore must be killed. He walks away but Chizuru stops him and begs to give her time to have a conversation with her father due to many details unknown to her. Kazama agrees but reminds her that demons always keep their promises so she must act like a demon and keep hers. 
By the time the sun sets, Kondou, Okita and Chizuru bury Kaoru and make their way back to Edo.
After the defeat at the Kōfu Castle, the Shinsengumi take refuge at a hatamoto mansion. Saitou, Sano and Shinpachi are drinking in a common room when Heisuke and Sannan join them. Shinpachi starts ranting at Kondou's actions but Sano tries to calm him down by reminding him that it was Kondou's first experience in leading his warriors against the Imperial Army. However, Shinpachi does not stop and keeps criticizing the decision to recruit untrained men who have no chance to stand against the new Rasetsu that move during the day. This information picks Sannan's interest but the attention is soon shifted to Chizuru who has brought tea and who feels guilty for her father's actions. Heisuke tries to reassure her that she has nothing to apologize for but it does not lift up her mood. 
Next morning Chizuru tries to find any clues about her father in her old house since the Shinsengumi are now in Edo where Chizuru initially came from, but the attempt is fruitless. On her way back she meets Sano and confides in him with her worries. He decides to cheer her up and invites her to eat some dango recollecting another time when he brought her to do the same with Senhime in Kyoto. They buy dango and bring it to Okita who is bedridden again due to his tuberculosis. They discuss things in a casual way and make jokes. 
When Kondou comes back to the headquarters, most men give him a warm greeting, however, Shinpachi, looking gloomy, requests a private conversation. As it turns out, he has decided to leave the Shinsengumi due to being constantly displeased with the commander's decisions. Sano, being Shinpachi's closest friend, decides to leave with him. 
Chizuru, Saitou and Shimada see them off before they leave. Chizuru attempts to calls for Heisuke but it turns out they have already given him their goodbyes, and he is now drinking to suppress his sadness. Chizuru asks a few times whether Sano and Shinpachi actually have to leave, to which they reply affirmatively. Shinpachi explains that he has never wanted to be a samurai and serve a lord of not his own choosing, so he decided to make sure he does not regret staying. Sano apologizes to Chizuru for not being able to protect her as he promised to but jokes that she has him who can surely keep her safe (hinting at Hijikata which Shinpachi understands and starts laughing). He promises to fight battles under the same sky somewhere, and Shinpachi agrees that the enemy will still be the same Satchō anyway. The three hug, and the former captains leave. 
Category:Episodes
Category:Season 2
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