Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor Page #5

so long?

It's past the hour of the dog. We implore

you, please deploy your soldiers!

That's easier said

than done.

In this fief, there are all sorts of procedures

that must be followed.

Besides, we're short on guards

because of the festival.

The city will be in chaos! They're

going to set fire to the palace!

The councilor... please let me

speak with the councilor!

It's past the hour of the dog.

We can't wait any longer.

Commander, it'll be a disaster

if we're late and miss them.

We can't rely on

the Aizu fief.

He's back!

It's no good, I couldn't persuade them.

The councilor's still at Nijo Castle.

You did your best.

Toshi... Take twenty men and

attack Shikoku Mercantile.

And you?

And you?

I'll go to lkeda's with Okita and Yamanami.

We're here on patrol.

We're here on patrol.

The Shinsengumi's here!

It's the Shinsengumi!

Don't panic!

We've got them

outnumbered.

Kill them!

Sh*t! We're trapped!

I killed one...

I killed one...

Okita! You're...

It's nothing!

Okita...

Commander!

Shikoku Mercantile was a red

herring. No one was there!

Hang on!

Todo! Todo!

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

You'll be all right.

Commander! The Aizu have finally

deployed their soldiers!

Please give this to "big brother" Okita

for us. It'll make him strong again.

Please let him eat it.

Yeah, he's gotta!

Thanks a lot. Now all of you,

go home quietly. Okay?

Why must we go?

Why must we go?

Come on, time for you to go

Come on, time for you to go

We want to see "big brother" Okita.

Come on, time for you to go

We want to see "big brother" Okita.

We want to see "big brother" Okita.

Okay, whatever...

Thanks.

Thanks.

But I want to see him.

Hey. I'm not sick,

you know.

You have to stay in bed, you've

got a terrible fever.

What if you throw

up blood again?

You dummy, that was the

other guy's blood!

Why don't you just go and

fiddle with your abacus?

Hey, how're you feeling?

How are you?

Hey hey, shouldn't you

be lying down?

It's okay, I'll be fine in a couple days.

It's okay, I'll be fine in a couple days.

Don't overtax yourself.

The Shogunate has commended and rewarded

us for foiling the lkeda Mercantile conspiracy.

That's great.

That's great.

They've finally recognized us!

This is your share.

There's a share for

you too, Kawai.

Really? For

me too?

But I only killed

one man.

Your abacus-style swordplay

impressed everyone!

When Okita's feeling better, why don't

we go to Shimabara and have a party?

Good idea!

Good idea!

The reward was a fortune. We've got to party!

Let's do it!

Don't get cocky!

Don't let your victory at lkeda

Mercantile go to your heads.

Now that everyone is watching us, we

must be that much more prudent.

Don't forget that each man of the Shinsengumi

shoulders a heavy responsibility.

Okita...

I hear there's a doctor called Honmeido

in Muromachi. Go see him.

I don't like doctors.

They're all quacks.

Commander's orders.

Vengeance for

our comrades!

Why? Why can't we hold a wake

for them at headquarters?

They were killed without even drawing their

swords, right in front of our door.

They don't deserve to be honored

as members of our warrior force!

But, sir...!

But, sir...!

Yamanami...

Our Commander's

wrath is justified.

Commander...

Our dead Shinsengumi comrades must

be blaming themselves for their error.

We should act in such a way that

their deaths will not be in vain!

What good will it do to

punish the dead?

Please... Grant them

a comrade's funeral.

Such "comrades" do not

deserve our respect.

They shall have an

honorable funeral.

A pyre for the dead.

Toshi...

Tell me, did I make

a mistake?

You were not wrong.

I fear that if we let down our guard, even just

a little, the Shinsengumi, and all of Kyoto...

...will be instantly devoured by

some giant, unseen monster.

Weakness cannot be tolerated, if we were

to survive these fast changing times.

We kill and kill again, and there

seems to be no end to it.

Do we just keep

on killing?

We do.

We're not the sort

that dies in bed.

Take a deep breath.

Doctor...

How many more

years will I live?

Well, I can't say for

certain, but...

Two years.

Two years?

I've got two more

years?

I wish I could

help you.

But today's medicine

cannot cure you.

No, two years is

ample for me.

Dad. Hurry, hurry!

The funeral fire's

about to go out.

Wow, that's beautiful.

Here...

They say that you'll have a long life if you drink

sake as the funeral fire reflects upon it.

Really?

People who live in times of chaos often

indulge in such wishful thinking.

Pathetic, isn't it?

Maybe I'll have three

more years now.

When I go, I want to go like

that fire, with no regrets.

I don't like fires.

I get sad when

they burn out.

I've never felt my life to be

as precious as it is now.

The Hamaguri Gate Incident

It's been burning for three days straight.

The palace is surrounded with ashes.

The men of Choshu

are stubborn!

They lost and retreated last year,

but now they're back again.

Why would they want to

kidnap the Emperor?

It's payback for the Shinsengumi's

attack at lkeda Mercantile.

They lost again

and retreated.

I'm glad they did, but why did they

have to set fire to our homes?

After all, we're innocent!

That's right!

It's all because the

Shogun is a flake!

We're always the ones who

get hurt in the crossfire!

That's right!

Why did they have

to do this?

Unbelievable!

We were backed by the Shogunate,

we chased out the Choshu...

...and we won the day, and still over

a hundred men have deserted!

It's pitiful.

It's pitiful.

They're cowards, all of them!

We've been relying on the unreliable

Shogunate army.

No fief rises to the occasion, despite

the order to suppress the Choshu!

The Shogunate no longer has the

power to raise a great army.

But why would they desert the Shinsengumi?!

But why would they desert the Shinsengumi?!

Yeah, why?!

Yeah, why?!

Harada... Everyone's sitting on the fence.

Yeah, why?!

lmperialist or Shogunate...

which is more profitable?

At least the Choshu are honest

about where they stand.

Lords and vassals, they're

all pains in the ass.

I'm thoroughly

tired of it all.

I'm more enthusiastic

than ever!

I resolved when I left Edo to live

by the sword alone, vigorously.

It's all just the beginning

for me.

You have defeated the army of Maki lzumi

at Mt. Tennozan in Yamazaki...

...the last refuge of the Choshu forces;

you are to be congratulated.

Here is a reward from Lord Matsudaira

to the Shinsengumi.

We are indeed grateful.

Moreover...

...it is his desire to make you

a Shogunate vassal.

Please accept

this honor.

I, Kondo Isami, am

indeed honored...

...but I believe that I am better suited to

be simply the leader of the Shinsegumi.

What?

I have a favor to

ask instead.

Anything

for you.

During our last deployment,

I was struck by the fact...

...that there was no one in command capable of

uniting the Shogunate and the various fiefs.

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