"Ahem -" Takasugi Shinsaku was lying on the bed, even his coughing sound was extremely weak.
The time now has arrived in April of the fourth year of Qingying.
Samura and Junichiro Kido were by his side, both of them silent.
"Gui, Zuocun."
Takasugi Shinsaku's voice was like a mosquito, calling softly.
"You say it, Takasugi, you say it." Junichiro Kido held Takasugi Shinsaku's hand, feeling the dry skin and trying hard not to cry.
"The cough...it's so painful..." Takasugi Shinsaku said softly.
"I want to die, but I don't want to die." Two lines of tears flowed from the corners of his eyes, "Because...if I die, who will accompany you to continue this great cause...
"
"Who else is coming..."
"Make this boring world interesting..."
He turned his head slightly and looked out the window.
"How long have I spent...without leaving this room..."
"Stop talking, Takasugi, stop talking, you will get better, you will get better." Kido Junichiro put Takasugi Shinsaku's hand on his forehead, and said incoherently with tears streaming down his face.
Zuo Cun held the hem of Wu Fu with both hands, bit his lip, and looked at his friend.
"I really want to go out again...see dancing and listen to shamisen..."
After saying this, Takasugi Shinsaku slowly closed his eyes.
Feeling Takasugi Shinsaku's hand become weak, the sound of breathing like a bellows also disappeared.
"Takasugi! Takasugi! Takasugi!!!" Kido Junichiro looked at Takasugi Shinsaku's face in disbelief.
All he saw was deathly silence with a smile.
"Takasugi!!!!!!"
...
Shinsaku Takasugi passed away.
Throughout the life of Takasugi Shinsaku, it was magnificent and romantic.
Zuocun stood in front of Takasugi's grave, clenching his fists.
Before his death, Takasugi arranged all military forces and laid the foundation for the upcoming real war.
"We will move forward with your share, sleep in peace, Takasugi-kun."
Samura turned around and left, leaving Junichiro Kido staring blankly at the tombstone.
...
In June, four months after Meiji ascended the throne.
The Satsuma clan, which had not yet completely given up on its overthrow through non-violent means, proposed the "parliamentary system" to Tokugawa Keiki.
The general content is that the Tokugawa shogunate, where Tokugawa Kexi is located, is at the head, and the feudal lords of various powerful feudal lords, as well as the Meiji Emperor, are brought together to discuss major issues in the world.
This will not only dilute the power of the shogunate, but also allow the shogunate to retain at least the last bit of face.
However, after careful consideration, Tokugawa Keki chose to reject this proposal.
If the right is held in one's own hands, it is called a right; if it is held in everyone's hands, it is not a right.
Tokugawa Yoshiki did not want to be a patriarch. Like the former shogun Tokugawa Iemo, he was also full of ambitions to revitalize the shogunate.
After Tokugawa Keiki rejected the parliamentary system, Sakamoto Ryoma, Samura Anno, Saigo Moritaka, Kido Junichiro and others immediately realized that the opportunity might have arrived.
Saigo Moritaka actively persuaded the feudal lords in Satsuma. Since the parliamentary system was rejected, it meant that the Tokugawa family, who had lost power, still wanted to monopolize the power of the world unrealistically.
Samura, Ryoma, and another Goto Shojiro came to Kyoto by water. The three of them split up. Samura went to Kyoto, while Ryoma and Goto went to Edo to meet Tokugawa Yoshiki.
General.
They wanted to present Ryoma's work "Eight Strategies in the Ship" to General Tokugawa Yoshiki to further pressure the shogunate into taking action.
Samura, on the other hand, secretly met Emperor Meiji and obtained the order from Meiji to attack the shogunate.
Everything is operating nervously and fiercely in the dark.
Everyone running around has the same goal in mind.
——Destroy the shogunate and support Meiji!
...
Kyoto, where the Shinsengumi is based.
"Ahem——"
Snap.
Okita Souji looked at his hands.
Her hands were thin and weak, and they were shaking all the time.
She looked at the clear California light on the ground.
"......No."
Her tone was trembling.
She picked up California Clear Light and held it in her hands.
But no matter what, I can't hold it tightly.
"Ahem——"
A mouthful of blood was coughed out by Souji Okita.
Snap.
California Kiyomitsu fell to the ground again, and Okita Souji also fell to the ground involuntarily.
"This...this is impossible..."
Her eyes focused on her hands again.
My hands are shaking, that's right.
Unstoppable trembling.
Unable to exert force.
Fear, fear, and disbelief appeared in Okita Souji's eyes.
"That's not true."
Her hands couldn't use any force.
she--
I can't hold the knife anymore.
"Cough cough cough——"
Okita coughed violently and once again brought out a mouthful of blood.
She felt like stars were shining in her eyes and she was dizzy.
"I...can't pick up the knife..."
Okita Souji fainted.
When she opened her eyes again, she woke up in the infirmary.
She stared blankly at the ceiling.
I can't hold the knife?
"Okita." A familiar voice came from beside him.
Okita Souji looked sideways.
"Director..."
"...I found you unconscious in the training ground." Kondo Isamu sat beside the hospital bed, with anxiety and worry in his eyes.
"Director... Kondo, I... I can't hold the knife..." Okita Souji's expression did not change, but tears flowed out.
Kondo Isamu looked at the tearful Okita Souji and remained silent.
"You will pick up the knife. What you need to do now is not to continue training." Isamu Kondo sighed, with regret in his eyes.
"You're tired, it's time to take a rest."
"I will help you arrange a temporary break from the team to recuperate and take good care of yourself. We will wait for you to come back and continue to fight side by side."
Isamu Kondo comforted him dryly.
"Well, I know Kondo..."
Souji Okita nodded.
She is at a loss now.
What should I do if I really can't hold a knife?
A samurai who can't hold a sword - isn't it ridiculous?
Okita Souji temporarily left the Shinsengumi and began his own self-cultivation life.
Although Okita Souji can no longer hold a sword with both hands, he can still walk on the ground for the time being.
She staggered down the streets of Kyoto, not wearing the light green haori of the Shinsengumi, but wearing her own cherry-colored Wufu.
When people around saw Okita Souji carrying a katana, they all gave way, but Okita Souji himself felt extremely ridiculous.
Even though he could no longer draw the sword, he was still frightened.
Samurai - how ridiculous.
He turned his head and looked at the Shinsengumi's station.
A big sincerity flag was flying.
"My sincerity...really still exists..."
She couldn't help but walk outside the city.
Although the body of Genzaburo Inoue was used to commemorate the tomb of General Tokugawa Iemo, the Shinsengumi still erected a separate tomb for Inoue outside the city.