Oath Made on the Wind Blowing Over the Grass

Oath Made on the Wind Blowing Over the Grass (草颯の誓い Kusakaze no Chikai) is the seventh episode of the anime Hakuouki: Reimeiroku (Demon of the Fleeting Blossom: Dawn of the Shinsengumi). It aired on August 20, 2012.
==Plot==
Kondou blames himself for not watching Serizawa closely enough, but Okita claims that the sumo wrestlers were the ones in the wrong looking for a fight. Sannan timidly points out that they could not go against a commander's order. As Hijikata yells that there is no excuse for drawing a sword against an unarmed man, Okita suggest committing suicide as punishment for straying from the way of the warrior, however, the vice-commander refuses and yells even louder that Souji's entrails alone are not enough to resolve the issue referring to Serizawa's behavior. 
Serizawa seconds Okita's words and claims that a samurai must be willing to fight when humiliated. When Hijikata compares Serizawa's actions with the ones by rogue samurai, the commander points out that the Osaka magistrate has recognized that the sumo wrestlers were killed for their insolence, and the sumo stable's coach has offered his apologies. In the further conversation Hijikata explains that he has come to Kyoto in order to make Kondou the commanding samurai in the battle for justice, however, Serizawa insults him by saying that a farmer will stay a farmer no matter how high he is placed. He also adds that Hijikata lacks resolve to dirty himself and play the villain, even though it is exactly what is needed to achieve his goals - become a devil. 
Next morning, Hijikata shares his feelings about Serizawa with Kondou and admits that Serizawa does whatever it takes to raise the Rōshigumi's renown, unafraid of how it mars his reputation. Kondou agrees that they cannot become the type of samurai Serizawa is. He starts to reminisce about their times back in Shieikan many years ago. 
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 You have been improving lately!
I am still no match for you. 
 But really, Toshi, you are amazing! You always make sure to attend practice between work.
What is so amazing? I have never seen something through to the end, not once. I am a hopeless loser. I don't want to inherit my family's farm and I did a half-hearted job on my apprenticeship before hightailing it. I only peddle those meds to keep food on the table. 
 It just so happens that none of that was a good match for you. There is something else you want to do, isn't there? 
What I want to do... Do you have something? 
 Me? I want to save the weak and follow the way of the warrior. I would like to become a general like Kanko. Kanko is a Japanese name for Guan Yu, a famous general in the Chinese classic The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Oh, well, I have admired him since I was a kid. My father read me The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Isn't it funny? A farmer dreaming of becoming a general. 
No, I am the same. I want to become a samurai... A true samurai. This is the day and age where foreigners come to Japan on boats as big as whales! Incredible things are happening one after another. In these times, maybe a farmer CAN become a samurai! 
 I see. So we share the same dream, Toshi. 
After returning from memories to reality, Hijikata says that Kondou has inherited Shieikan and become a real warrior, and Kondou responds with the observation that Hijikata wears two swords just like samurai do. He insists that they do not need to imitate Serizawa, and there is something they can do precisely due to having the exact background they do.
Meanwhile, Yamazaki confronts Ryuunosuke and asks him why he stays with the corps despite not being a member, and Yamazaki is not convinced with the answer that Serizawa refuses to let the kid go. When Ryuunosuke insists that there is no other reason, Yamazaki offers him a piece of advice - leave as soon as possible. At the same time Hijikata summons both Yamazaki and Shimada to inform them that they are assigned with spying on certain people. 
Ryuunosuke finds Heisuke training alone in the yard and reveals that he overheard his conversation with Koudou the other day. He compliments Heisuke for what he said and confesses that his words were inspiring. Heisuke breaks the awkwardness stealing the bottle of sake and playing around with it. 
In the evening, Hijikata informs Serizawa about the new position he has created - Inspectors, which are going to be Yamazaki and Shimada. The purpose of the new role is to investigate matters both within and outside the Rōshigumi. Niimi seems aggravated but Sannan reminds him of the secrets they harbor that are important to keep hidden. He also pushes for the opportunity to find out if there are spies inside the organization. Serizawa does not veto the idea, and, despite Niimi's panic that Kondou's faction is trying to entrap them, Serizawa is unfazed. He even mentions that Hijikata has been determined to take his life for a while.
Late at night, Niimi visits Koudou who is busy writing a letter to Chizuru. Niimi informs Koudou that there have been some changes in the Rōshigumi and asks whether "it" is ready. Koudou hands him a vial of Ochimizu warning him that it is still in testing but it has been diluted with a special liquid. Niimi asks him not to tell anyone about it and leaves muttering how surprised he is that Koudou has a daughter and that he has no idea what is going on in the old man's head. 
The next day Serizawa puts on a show catching a rogue samurai who forced a merchant to lend him money. As the rogue is beaten and captured, he is put in a solitary cell where Niimi visits him and makes him drink Ochimizu. As the Rasetsu escapes scaring Ryuunosuke to death, Hijikata and others rush into the room where the Rasetsu was kept only to find Niimi collecting his papers. Okita is about to kill him for what he did when Serizawa interferes and protects Niimi. Niimi tries to explain that he made a test to speed up the result, and this time the effects of the serum were less strong. Hijikata insists that despite all that Niimi let a bloodthirsty monster out in the city and must take a responsibility for that. However, this time the situation ends with a warning and a dead serious look on Hijikata's face which amuses Serizawa but he makes no comment.
Heisuke and Ryuunosuke are the first ones to find the escaped Rasetsu, however, multiple strikes fail to kill him, and Heisuke hesitates to make the final blow. He later apologizes to Hijikata, and the vice-commander makes it clear that next time such hesitation will not be taken lightly. Right before going to search the area next evening, Heisuke shares his feelings with Ryuunosuke and says that he came to Kyoto because he hoped everything would be fine and everyone would be happy. 
Ryuunosuke convinces Heisuke to let him tag along as he feels responsible for the Rasetsu to have escaped initially, and they hear female screams in the city that notify them of their target's location. Arriving at the spot, they see an unconscious woman and a bloodthirsty monster on a rooftop. Heisuke tells Ryuunosuke to take care of the victim while he starts fighting. After a few leaps around, Heisuke finally strikes the Rasetsu down and then hesitantly pierces through his heart finishing the job. He acknowledges that he has to kill whoever stands against his beliefs as he has chosen the way of the warrior, but will he ever get accustomed to it?
==Notes==
Category:Episodes
Category:Season 3
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