Original subtitles

This is...

Serizawa Kamo.

Blue Miburo

I'm just getting started!

He plays along without a word.

Most guys would ask, "What's the point of this farce?"

But not you.

You just silently play along. How like you.

That's what I like. That's what I saw in you.

The epitome of a socially inept samurai.

I'm too masterful for my own good. You have what I lack.

The flower of innocence.

The flame of passion.

Things I once had...

that you still foster.

If I strike from a high stance...

See that?

A run-of-the-mill counter. Nothing to get excited about.

It goes to show just how much the basics matter.

I can tell how many days you've spent honing them.

How am I, Serizawa Kamo, supposed to measure up to you?

You had no plan to win our rivalry within the Miburo.

You did nothing special, and people flocked to you anyway.

Did Hijikata's gang do that?

No, I don't think so.

Whatever anyone else wanted, you stood with me.

Serizawa-san, I am grateful to you.

Many of our men follow you, even now.

You could have split the Miburo in two and fought if you'd wished.

But you avoided total war.

You averted much bloodshed.

That is admirable.

I just didn't want anyone getting in the way of this glorious moment!

You were a true samurai!

I aspired to emulate you!

Enough talk!

Serizawa-san!

Me, a true samurai?

No, Sir Kondo. You're wrong.

That's the simpleton in you talking.

You're a blockhead.

You don't get it at all.

That's not me.

I'm only a bit player.

Merely a stepping stone.

Serizawa-san.

I should have played that part.

You can't play the villain. You don't have it in you.

Just keep playing the good guy. You have no need to change.

Now, listen up.

I've seen all sorts in my time, and every one of them was fake.

I, Serizawa Kamo, will stake my life on it!

You're the only one.

The only true samurai is you!

Don't forget that. You're my only hope.

My dream.

Niimi and I were behind everything the Miburo ever did wrong. Just us.

The Miburo...

will be reborn.

It's just getting started!

Become stronger!

Become larger!

Kondo! You alone are a true samurai!

The Miburo are in your hands!

The Miburo...

are safe with me.

Have no fear.

Go on, Sir Kondo. You know what to do.

And what is that?

You can't be here, right?

If word of our infighting gets out, we'll be branded a band of ruffians again.

You knew that, and still...

We've had our fun! Get going!

Go.

Please go.

Forgive me.

I stuck it out. I burned up completely.

Well, Nio? How was my way of life?

I think it was magnificent.

No one else could have lived as you did.

But living and dying are one and the same.

It's the ending that counts.

I don't have the strength left for harakiri.

A samurai should be ashamed to bleed out like this.

I need someone to kill me.

I understand.

I see.

You'll take my head.

A man should etch the way he lives into history.

My old man taught me that.

I don't have a father. I wouldn't know him if I saw him.

Is that so?

Did we... Did I manage to fill in for him?

You were like a father, like a granduncle, like a teacher...

and like a mountain.

A mountain, huh?

That's the best praise I could ask for.

Nio, don't lose your way.

A man should live for the weak.

You've got it right, deep down.

I lived how I wanted. I followed my heart.

It was a good life. If I could...

Souls form spirals.

People die and are reborn as babies, and the cycle repeats.

Do it.

I am in your debt.

I can't believe you headbutted me.

I couldn't stop my own iai.

My body moved too fast.

It was samurai instinct.

No. Stop!

Dodge!

Please dodge!

Thank you for dodging that.

I would have regretted it for the rest of my life.

I'm no expert,

but maybe what Serizawa really wanted to teach you...

was the strength to go on living.

Now, will you use that strength for the weak people of Kyoto...

along with me?

The world I live in isn't clean and pretty.

It's cruel.

There's no salvation anywhere.

When the fighting was done,

who on earth finished off Serizawa?

Harada-san? Or Yamanami-san?

Either way, it's all over now.

No, not yet.

We won't waste Serizawa's death.

Hijikata-san, someone's here.

Oh, it's you. The inspectors.

Is that S-Serizawa lying there?

What the hell?

Choshu got to him.

Extremist ronin murdered Serizawa-san.

Lay him on a door and carry him into the Maekawa residence.

Oh, and Asano.

You used to be a doctor, right?

Examine the body and write up a proper report for Aizu.

Who the hell are you to—

Hayashi-san.

Susumu.

We'll get right on it.

Excuse me.

I hear that brigands broke into your home.

They changed clothes at the Maekawa house?

I'm glad to see you safe.

By the way, did you happen to see any of the culprits?

I didn't see a thing.

My children and I covered our ears and closed our eyes tight.

We know nothing.

Is that so?

Was Yu-bo hurt?

His leg was, yes. But not badly.

My sword must have nicked him.

You needn't worry.

He'll be running around in a few days.

Take care.

We have other men inspecting the main house. Please rest easy.

Here, too?

What a bloodbath.

A magnificent cut.

I knew they didn't match.

What doesn't match?

I can't find Nio-kun anywhere.

Oh, yeah. Nio.

Where'd he get to?

Damn it. I can't find him.

Let's take a look around the Mibu Temple.

Asano, what did you mean about things not matching?

I think the bodies in the Yagi house were killed by masters.

Yeah, I'll bet they were.

And we know which "masters" did it.

Yes, however...

The wound that killed Serizawa-san is different.

No master made that one cut from his neck to his chest.

What?

Hijikata-san or Okita-san didn't deal it, much less Commander Kondo.

So who the hell killed him?

You'd better not tell me it was Choshu.

No, I think—

There he is.

Nio?

Hey! Are you okay?

Did someone attack you?

Guys...

Hang in there. Are you hurt?

No. I'm fine.

What's wrong with you, then?

I just felt like idling in the rain.

Is that a teenage thing?

Anyway, let's go over there.

Here, hot water. I woke up a priest to boil it for you. Drink up.

Thank you very much.

That hits the spot.

Is something the matter, Nio-kun?

Hey!

No, nothing.

Nothing at all.

It seems Commander Serizawa got attacked.

He did?

I'm sorry.

Would you leave me alone for a bit?

Hey, what's going on?

What's gotten into you?

Where are we going? Hey, Asano!

I'm going to speak to Hijikata-san.

Wait! Hold up!

We can't let them get away with this!

They're trying to bury the whole thing, when they did the deed themselves.

It's not right!

They'll kill you.

Let them!

I was a doctor because I wanted to keep Kyoto safe!

That's why I volunteered for the Miburo!

You're more stubborn than you look, Asano-sensei.

Stubborn?

You're the one who's not making sense, Hayashi-san.

We're inspectors!

Isn't uncovering the truth our job?

Who will that save?

Nio probably had a hand in this mess somehow.

But what good will exposing him do?

Wh-What do you mean?

Revealing the truth won't save anyone.

I-It's wrong to lie.

So they say.

We'd be just as guilty.

I don't care.

I... I used to be a doctor.

I'm talking about people right now.

It's for Nio and our comrades.

You'd do it for Nio-kun?

Honestly, I don't give a crap about the Miburo. Nor Hijikata, really.

But one thing's for sure.

Nio's a good kid.

He can cry and get angry at the right things.

Working with him as an inspector, I felt that.

I want to have his back.

That's all.

Let's settle this here and now.

Should we inspectors go along with this or not?

Hey, Asano! I said, wait!

I have work to do.

I'm going to write up a proper report.

Oh, right. Well, why not?

So it's over.

No.

It's just beginning.

And Serizawa?

Somehow, it all went according to plan.

Oh, okay.

Shimada's taking care of Hirama for us.

I believe we put you to some trouble as well, Nagakura-san.

So it finally stopped.

Blue Era

Next time

This is Chirinu Nio.

In the pouring rain, the mountains seemed to grow hazy.

This world of ours is endlessly cruel.

But even so, we Miburo need to forge ahead.

We'll live on without turning our backs on the banner of sincerity.

For the city of Kyoto, and for the weak.

We swore it.

Next time: "Song of Beginnings."