Stairway to the Blue Skies

Stairway to the Blue Skies (蒼穹のきざはし Sōkyu no Kizahashi) is the fifth episode of the anime Hakuouki: Reimeiroku (Demon of the Fleeting Blossom: Dawn of the Shinsengumi). It aired on August 6, 2012.
==Plot==
The Rōshigumi leaders have travelled to Osaka in order to meet a wealthy merchant. When Serizawa is informed that the man is absent, he claims to be a devoted warrior and focuses his frustration on the servant who delivered the news. Eventually, the servant offers him money as compensation for the trouble, and the Rōshigumi members leave. When they are out of sight, Kondou scolds Serizawa for his brutal methods and compares them with rogue samurai who blackmail people to get what they want. Serizawa responds explaining that the only way to stay wealthy in this day and age is to make deals with foreigners which has to be punished, and when Hijikata protests, Niimi wonders if he has a better method to earn money for the Rōshigumi while commending Serizawa for his efforts. Serizawa adds that sometimes to fight the bad guys a samurai needs to be able to play the bad guy himself and incite fear in other people's hearts.
Nagakura is left alone in a restaurant with Serizawa and Niimi as everyone leaves, and Ryuunosuke gets sent to find Hijikata and ask him about the boat back home. Hijikata answers the question and then suddenly admits that, despite Serizawa's actions being despicable, Serizawa's words still manage to get to him and make him realize how naïve they all have been. Ryuunosuke changes the topic to Okita, wondering whether the vice-commander is planning to talk to him after the previous case, but Hijikata is certain that while Kondou is dealing with the situation there is no need for him to interfere. 
Several days later, back in Kyoto, Ryuunosuke attempts to buy an ink stick in a shop but the owner does not wish to sell him any and claims that everything is sold out for the day. That is when Kosuzu enters the shop and convinces the owner to check the stock again. On the way back she explains that some people feel uneasy hearing the eastern dialect. Ryuunosuke does not realize right away that the girl who has saved him is the one that he himself saved from Serizawa in Shimabara some time before. As the conversation goes on, they share their complaints about Serizawa, and suddenly Ryuunosuke changes the topic to Kosuzu's position as a maiko who is not meant to speak up but just pour alcohol as she gets paid even while doing a half-hearted job. Kosuzu slaps him across the face and runs away crying, which is when Harada stumbles upon him. Hearing him out, Harada punches Ryuunosuke and scolds him for such words making him find Kosuzu and apologize. As they arrive, Ryuunosuke sees Kosuzu doing a dance practice and later listens to her explanation about what geishas and maiko really do, how hard they learn the arts they perform and how much more it actually is than just pouring alcohol. Realizing his mistake, he sincerely apologizes to her, and she forgives him and invites him to come again. 
Later on, Kondou announces that the Rōshigumi have been granted an audience with the Lieutenant General of Aizu, which means all the members are going to visit the Kyoto Military Commissioner's headquarters. Everyone cheers because the news means the squad has been officially recognized, and Kondou adds that he plans to organize a few matches to showcase the squad's swordsmanship. Hijikata lists the duel partners: Hijikata vs. Heisuke, Shinpachi vs. Saitou, Sannan vs. Souji. The first round is won by Hijikata, the second one by Saitou and the third one by Souji. The show wins praise from Lord Aizu, and the squad enjoys their evening partying and drinking.
Next morning, the new uniforms ordered by Serizawa arrive at the headquarters. They are light blue haori that stand out in the crowd, and some of the members are worried whether they look too flashy, however, Hijikata claims that it is another way to spread the word about the Rōshigumi throughout Kyoto. Serizawa also adds that when the name of the squad becomes famous, new members will be willing to join.
Category:Episodes
Category:Season 3
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