"Souna... I'm going out." After Zuo Cun said this to Souna, he went out.
Miss Okita left, and Zuomura held Miss Okita's body and cried until she was unconscious by the river. It was not until Souna went out to search frantically that she found it.
After burying Miss Okita, Zuocun has been in a trance.
This state has lasted for half a month.
This morning, Zuo Cun suddenly said that he was going out, and then jumped away.
Souna wanted to persuade Samura, but...
Such a desperate expression, such an empty soul.
Ezuna...can't bear it.
...
Zuo Cun jumped around with his eyes blank.
Landed on a branch and jumped up again.
Zuo Cun...are you thinking about anything?
Maybe he was just unconsciously heading towards his destination based on instinct.
The cool summer night wind blew on Zuo Cun's face, but it did not wake him up.
As Zuo Cun moved forward, he didn't know when he came to a big cherry tree.
This is the outskirts of Kyoto.
The only things here are a cherry tree and a small grave.
and another man sitting in front of the grave.
It's Hijikata No. 3.
Zuo Cun's face regained some vitality. Looking at the back, he subconsciously shouted: "Hijikata."
Hijikata turned around and found a haggard-looking man standing behind him.
"... Zuo Cun."
Samura walked silently to Hijikata Toizo and sat together in front of Genzaburo Inoue's tombstone.
The two of them didn't speak, just sitting side by side, accompanying Genzaburo Inoue's tombstone.
"Why did you come to this place? Aren't you still wanted?"
"Now the remaining power of Samu is basically concentrated in Aizu, which is quite close to here... I wanted to accompany Inoue, so I came. Didn't you see that I didn't bring a knife? I also disguised myself."
Hijikata Toshizo sighed, his eyes full of exhaustion.
"...Do you want to continue on this road?" Zuo Cun continued to ask.
"We have to keep walking. It is the wrong road at best and the only way for us." Toshizo Hijikata sighed, "I don't even have the consciousness to admit that my path is wrong."
"...You and Kondo both think so." Zuomura smiled.
"...Kondo, thank you." Toshizo Hijikata was silent for a moment and thanked Zuomura.
"No need to thank me, I just don't want to see my old friends leave this world with shame." Zuocun shook his head.
"...How is Okita doing now? I heard you took her away."
"...Okita." There were tears in the corners of Zuo Cun's eyes involuntarily.
Hijikata Tosei turned his head and looked at the frustrated man.
"She left, she left in my arms."
"She said she was my lover, she told me not to cry, she..."
"Then she left, left..."
Zuocun grabbed his knees with both hands, his whole body trembling.
Hijikata Toshizo couldn't bear to see Zuo Cun.
Although the positions are no longer the same,... Hijikata can feel how Zuo Cun is suffering.
"She said that."
Hijikata Toshizo looked at the sky.
When people look at the sky, tears will dry up in their eyes.
"She has no regrets anymore."
But... I regret that this person is still sitting next to me.
"Hijikata, go drink!"
"......Walk."
"After you finish drinking, come with me to Edo to do something."
"......what ever!"
...
The time has come to the second day.
Samura and Hijikata ran to Edo together.
They found the Tokugawa family cemetery.
Tokugawa Iemo's grave was dug up and the coffin was thrown aside.
Under the coffin is the body of Genzaburo Inoue, which has not completely turned into bones and still exudes a strong smell.
Samura and Hijikata didn't hesitate at all, picked up the body of Genzaburo Inoue and carried it back to Kyoto from Edo.
Countless people on the road looked at them with fear and surprise, but neither of them paid attention.
Back at Mibu Village, the two men buried the body of Genzaburo Inoue by the river.
After Samura and Hijikata paid homage to Genzaburo Inoue, Hijikata chose to leave.
After Hijikata left, Samura returned to that trance state again.
Occasionally I go and sit by the tombstone of Genzaburo Inoue, and occasionally I go and sit by the tombstone of Miss Okita.
There were several times when Souna woke up the next morning and found that Samura was missing. Then when she went out to look for her, she found that Samura had fallen asleep on Miss Okita's grave.
Souna tried to persuade Zuocun, but Zuocun seemed unable to listen to anything.
Like a walking corpse.
When Lu Silan heard the news, he came to his home in Zuocun on crutches.
Lu Silan looked extremely thin. According to him, it should be a symptom of some kind of gastrointestinal disease.
After the two people's persuasion, Zuo Cun finally cheered up and could barely live a normal life.
But there was no smile on his face anymore.
...
The war continues.
The lord of the Aizu clan led the remaining forces and huddled in the Aizu clan and parts of Tohoku, Dewa and Mutsu, and they were constantly in conflict with the new government forces.
Almost all the remaining forces of the shogunate are concentrated here, and they are still a force that cannot be underestimated. Saigo Moritaka does not dare to act rashly.
Among these remaining forces is the former guardian of Kyoto, the famous Mibu Wolf "Shinsengumi" in Japan.
The current Mibu Wolf has shrunk from hundreds of people in the past to less than a hundred people.
Moreover, there are only two leaders left.
Deputy Commander Hijikata Toshizo and the only squad leader Saito Kazuo.
Nagakura Shinpachi left the team during the process of leading the team and formed a new team on his own.
Time passed through the restless year of 1868 amid constant friction.
In the spring of 1969, due to the constant pressure from the new government forces, the remaining shogunate forces were forced to cross the strait and enter Ezo from Hakodate.
But everyone has already understood it in their hearts.
Any resistance now would be in vain.
It cannot truly extend the life of the shogunate, it can only linger on and restlessly wait for the end of life.
Before crossing the strait and heading to Ezo, the last captain of the Shinsengumi also left the Shinsengumi.
"So isn't it ugly that we lost?"
Saito sat on a stool with his legs crossed and his expression dull.
"Aizu is no longer able to survive..."
"So what's the next step, Deputy Chief?"
Hijikata Toshizo looked at the map.
"...Go north, cross the strait to Ezo."
Saito sighed and stood up.
"In this case...then I'm quitting."
Hijikata Tosei raised his head and looked at Saito calmly.
"What did you say?"
"...Didn't you hear, I'm quitting." Saito looked into Hijikata Tobizo's eyes, his tone full of helplessness.