With Hijikata still recovering from his injuries, the Shinsengumi is now led by Saitou and marches into Aizu. There, he is able to talk with Lord Matsuraira Katamori in Tsuruga Castle. This lord seems to have some backbone and will not surrender. He even instructs the Misaki guard of 30 men to work with the Shinsengumi.

But it seems like this group of men doesn’t like Saitou because of the clothes he wears and the fact that his swords are on the right. So they will only work with him because they are ordered to, no other reason.

Onto the battlefield they go to launch a surprise attack on a small enemy camp. Saitou charges in and they quickly overpower them, but enemy reinforcements approach and they run the risk of getting pincered. Saitou calls to retreat but the leader of the guards order them not to cower and fight on. Seeing a few of his men die in the face of a stronger enemy and coupled with a convincing talk from Saitou, Masaki, leader of guards, finally orders the retreat.

After their loss at Shirakawa-guchi, they retreat to Fukura.

Saitou visits the guard group later and it seems they took on his advice and are now wearing less armour, and Masaki apologises for having insulted Saitou’s warrior ways.

Whilst the Shinsengumi hold a war meeting, Hijikata, now better, greets everyone and joins in with Chizuru.

Days later, Nihonmatsu falls. So if the new government army want to attack Aizu they’ll need to go through the Bonari Pass to reach Tsuruga Castle. Ootori will guard Pass and the Shinsengumi will be reinforcements.

A battle breaks out at Bonari Pass soon enough. The New Government Army attacks with a 3000 strong army whilst Ootori defends the pass with 400 troops.

Completely outnumbered they are forced to retreat. Masaki bids Saitou farewell as he holds the army off long enough for the Shinsengumi to escape.

They couldn’t rally after the defeat and Ootori suggests retreating to Sendai as it’s only a matter of time before Aizu falls. This was apparently Lord Katamori’s idea, but he himself wishes to remain until the last man falls.

Sannan wants to head to Sendai first as he comes from there, Hijikata agrees and Heisuke goes with him to keep an eye on him.

Saitou wishes to remain behind in Aizu and he’s already made up his mind so Hijikata doesn’t have much to say apart from allowing him to stay. Chizuru bids him farewell and makes him promise that he won’t die.

The New Government Army attacks Aizu and we end as Saitou makes his final charge at the enemy.

Another depressing end, and here I was thinking it can’t get worse. Well actually it’s not worse it just didn’t get better as another warrior is lost. Saitou was probably my favourite character, he always look calm and cool and his skills were amazing, he’s like a one man army. But even then I doubt he can survive an army as huge as the one he charged into. He doesn’t have Rasetsu powers so it’s most likely he’s dead by now. I can always hope that he survived somehow, maybe someone powerful came by to help or he actually single-handedly wiped out an entire army.

This episode made me think as well. When that Masaki and his troops didn’t like Saitou purely because he dresses weirdly and has his sword on the right. It’s most likely very rude to dislike them solely because they dress differently or do something that’s not the norm nowadays. I don’t think many people care. Ah, how times have changed.

And with the times changing it’s probably why I can’t quite understand this warrior spirit thing. I mean, yeah be courageous and fearless and all that, but when you’re outnumbered, outgunned and you’re definitely gonna die, you should really retreat. Live on to fight another day! Don’t forget, retreat is also a part of strategy, of not dying.

At least it wasn’t hard to get Masaki’s respect. Show off some amazing skills and a good reasoning ability and you’re done.

Is it just me or are things moving too quickly? Masaki didn’t even have an episode before he ‘heroically’ died and after all that about reaching Aizu and holding the fort there it was just to let it fall in the end. I didn’t have time to take much of this episode in. Well, I hope it’s different in Sendai, but I have a bad feeling it’ll just be the same and either everyone will die there or they retreat further. I don’t see how they can get out of this, especially with another one of their remaining fit and healthy warriors leaving the ranks to die pointlessly. Seems like they’re doomed to fail. *Sigh*