Shining Light of The Dawn

(輝ける暁光 Kagayakeru Gyōkō), also known as The Shining Light of Daybreak, is the sixth episode of the anime Hakuōki: Hekketsuroku (Demon of the Fleeting Blossom: Record of the Jade Blood) and the eightteenth episode of the season one&two combined version. It aired on November 8, 2010.
==Plot==
End of April 1868
Okita is on his way to the Shinsengumi while Chizuru and Hijikata are also slowly catching up with their comrades heading from Nikko northbound to Tsuruga Castle in Wakamatsu, Aizu. 
When both Hijikata and Okita reach their destination, Souji lashes out at the commander blaming him for not saving Kondou. Being too physically rough, he causes Hijikata's wounds to open, and, hearing Chizuru scream that he is injured, Souji lets go and walks away. Chizuru runs after him and Saitou approaches Hijikata informing him that Kondou has been beheaded. Hijikata understands Souji's reaction and behavior.
Chizuru tries to catch up with Okita but he is determined to walk away. She finally gets the chance to speak when he starts coughing blood and falls onto his knees. Chizuru explains how the situation happened, how Hijikata agonized and struggled to let Kondou give himself up to the enemy, and that nothing could have been done about it, even though Hijikata kept trying until the end. Souji is disheartened to realize that Kondou died before him, even though he was always kind and caring. He remembers his past in Shieikan and calls Kondou his older brother. Sounding bitter, Souji also acknowledges that there was someone closer to Kondou than anyone else, even though he was spoiled, egoistical, inept and selfish. And this is the only person that can lead the Shinsengumi from now on, even though Souji himself cannot forgive him. Therefore Souji leaves Hijikata in Chizuru's hands. 
When Chizuru comes back, she witnesses Hijikata and Saitou fighting while Heisuke is trying to stop them and convince Hijikata that he cannot lead the vanguard in his health condition. Chizuru tries to interfere but Hijikata yells at her. Saitou wins easily and makes the commander stay behind to heal his wounds, voicing that Hijikata might want to try and forget his pain on the battlefield but it cannot be allowed. Hijikata accepts and leaves the command to Saitou who asks Chizuru to keep an eye on the commander. Hijikata claims that he does not need a babysitter, but Heisuke insist that he will push himself too much otherwise, and everyone laughs.
15 May 1868
The Imperial Army has launched another attack, and Harada, having heard that, is striving to help fighting Rasetsu. Shiranui, having figured out the same, also joins the battle bringing a full sack of silver bullets. Koudou comes along with his Rasetsu claiming that he is doing everything for Chizuru to bring the Yukimura clan back to its former glory. Sano snaps and yells at him that Chizuru is only suffering because of it. Koudou decides to terminate the conversation and orders the Rasetsu to attack, so Shiranui and Harada engage into a fierce battle. After a while, they defeat everyone and Shiranui points his gun at Koudou. However, he has run out of bullets, so Koudou manages to escape by trying to throw a bomb but eventually dropping it and having it explode by his feet throwing him into the water. Harada is completely out of energy, he sits down leaning on a tree and starts trying to discuss the next plan of action with Shiranui but then loses consciousness, and his fate remains unclear. Shiranui reminisces about his other friend whose grave he intends to visit, but Shiranui's fate also remains a mystery.
At around the same time, Hijikata and Chizuru hide in a town of inns as Hijikata's wounds are not healing well. Okita remembers Chizuru's words about Hijikata trying to protect the Shinsengumi by risking his life since Kondou left him in charge. He wakes up in the middle of the night and hears people's voices discussing Hijikata's location because they are planning to kill him. Okita spies on them on their way to the town standing by a tree nearby. When he starts coughing a lot of blood once again, it scares him, he looks at the night sky and confirms with Kondou that he should protect Hijikata since Kondou has left him in charge. Okita wraps a bandage around his hand while holding his sword to make sure he does not lose it, turns into a Rasetsu and engages into battle. 
Hijikata feels that Souji is in trouble and wakes up. He goes down the stairs and exists the inn heading to the place where a gray-haired man was seen fighting a couple dozens of men. The person who brought the news to Hijikata describes Souji as 'a god of battle protecting this town of inns'. Chizuru goes looking for Hijikata, catches up with him and tries to convince him to go back. But when he explains that Souji is fighting to death, she helps him walk to the top of the place. 
When they reach the top of the mountain, all they see is blood all over the ground, a lot of corpses and Souji's sword standing up drenched in blood. Chizuru does not instantly understand what has happened, and Hijikata tells her not to worry because "you know Souji". He turns around to go back to the inn, and she follows him clueless but when she sees him barely holding back his tears, she realizes that Okita is dead. She looks back at the sword, remembers Okita's last words to her and starts crying while they both walk back to the town. 
Category:Episodes
Category:Season 2
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