Episode Title:
The Winds of Fate.
Episode Description:
Hijikata wakes up to first snow, and sees Kondou inviting his comrades to leave their first foot imprint in the snow. He composes a haiku and is overheard by Chizuru and Souji, and Souji teases him about it while asking Chizuru to compliment on his poetry. Hijikata becomes embarrassed and covers it up with angry words. Chizuru and Soji leave for breakfast. At night, Kondou and Hijikata discuss about the defecting Edo, and Hijikata tells Kondou about his plan to ask Saito to defect. Heisuke barges into their room and Hijikata leaves to take care of things. He arrives at the geisha house to be greeted by chaos. Saito tells Hijikata to take Chizuru away, and her dressing causes a commotion when Hijikata is walking with her towards the door. A man demands money from Hijikata for taking away a geisha, and Hijikata flares up, declaring his status as Shinsengumi vice-captain and yanking Chizuru away. Upon return, Soji teases them at the door, and Hijikata hurriedly asks Chizuru to hide away. The next day, Souji catches Hijikata hiding in a back alley observing Harada on his gate duty with the Bakufu inspectors. Saito and Shinpachi are invited for a drink with Itou, and Shinpachi is highly irritated. Hijikata meets Kazama on the streets and draws his katana when Sannan appears and stops him. Next morning, Kondou brings dangos to Hijikata’s room, and everyone suddenly appears to share them. Soji grabs Hijikata’s haiku book on the table and starts reads the haiku of the snow from that one morning. He then compares it to the dango he has in his hand and Hijikata becomes embarrassed and tries to grab his book back from Souji, much to the amusement of everyone.
