Introduction[]
As Katsura tries to convince Kondo to team up with him, Hijikata comes to a decision about what he wants to do. And so the rescue mission/ jailbreak starts.
Plot[]
In the police headquarters, Isaburo talks to Nobume about the arrest of famed Katsura two days ago, stating his disappointment of the easy capture. His second in command suspects that the Joui patriot was really here to save his comrade, Gintoki, instead of attacking Nobu Nobu. Isaburo admits that the events at Snack Smile proved fruitful and that he ended up getting a big name criminal. He decided that Matsudaira, Kondo, and Katsura's executions will represent a fitting end to the "old era". Nobume asks what will happen to the two of them in this "new era" as they are left alone without allies or enemies and sitting on top of a crumbling country. Isaburo merely answers that the seat was comfortable. Disgusted, she leaves, adding she would rather grovel in the dirt. Isaburo secretly agrees with her statement, not forgetting about their shared tragic past together.
Back in the prison, Katsura gives Kondo suspended animation pills so that when the prison guards check inside his cells in the belief he is dead, he can knock the the guards out and escape. Kondo refuses to play along, seeing that a break-out will endanger his fellow Shinsengumi. Katsura responds that Kondo's comrades have just teamed up with his comrades to help with the break-out. Surprised, the Shinsensumi chief fears the team-up will lead to their deaths, unable to protect Edo, but Katsura sadly adds that with the way things are, they will not be able protect anything. If he wants to save this country they cherish, he had to break out of the cage he was in.
Under the raining sky of Edo, the Mimawarigumi ransack the Yorozuya residence, although there was no one inside and they just miss a disguised Gintoki walking past them. In the Shimura residence, Tae tearfully blames herself for getting Gintoki in trouble with the government. Hijikata, in turn, blames himself for being unable to stop Gintoki's arrest despite being a cop. Hijikata begins to realize that despite Kondo's sacrifice, in this "new era", he would still be unable to protect anything. Kagura wonders if Hijikata will join with Katsura's Jouishishi to fight the nation and save Kondo. She adds that most of the former Shinsengumi were eager for the team up...except for Okita, who refuses to act because of the Shinsengumi Code that states that if the Chief is unavailable then the Vice-Chief is in charge and all subordinates must follow his command. The Shinsengumi First Captain would not act until Hijikata decides what the group should do. After learning this, Hijikata leaves in the heavy rain.
Hijikata slices off the police tape barring the doors of the Shinsengumi headquarters, but hesitates in opening them. Gintoki appears next to him, asking him if he forgot something. Hijikata answers the affirmative, stating that if he decides to get it, he and the Shinsengumi will never be able to return here. Gintoki then tells him about a similar situation where he had two things he wished to protect (his teacher Shouyou and his comrades including Katsura and Takasugi) but was forced to choose to discard one to save the other. Gintoki tried to save both but he ended up losing both and he always wondered if there was another way. He tells the stunned Hijikata that it was not too late for him to protect and save both, as the two men open the doors together. Hijikata is further surprised to see the Shinsengumi members in uniform standing in salute. Okita throws Hijikata his jacket, as they await his orders, and Hijikata enters the premise.
Later, the Shinsengumi and the Jouishishi meet face to face, while the organizations' second-in-command confront each other. Elizabeth sees that the now ex-cops have resolved themselves, and Hijikata comments about their antagonistic relationship and the difficulty of their team-up. But he states that said team-up will be their last battle as there is no going back; the next time they meet, he hoped that they will have their leaders back and could share a drink together as "nobodies" instead of as Shinsengumi and Jouishishi. Back in the prison, Kondo still fears for the safety of their subordinates, Katsura assures him that both groups will not die; Katsura is fully aware of how tough the Shinsengumi is, and Kondo should realize that Jouishishi would never give up so easily. He reminds Kondo that they share the same desire to fight for their country. They are interrupted by Matsudaira, who was next to Kondo's cell, eavesdropping until now, who adds that both Katsura and Shige Shige had shared a promise in the Confessional Arc - the one still alive would be the one to create a brand new world. After learning of the two men's promise, the former police superintendent agrees to team up with Katsura. Katsura throws another pill to the older man ... which bounced off Katsura's cell door and landed in Katsura's mouth, knocking him out.
The two men desperately try to wake up the Joui patriot to little success and are forced to play dead when they hear guards coming. While playing dead, Kondo sees that the guard, instead of checking on him, had decided to stab him. Back in Edo, Nobume is confronted by Oboro on a bridge. Although Nobume states that she had no intentions of serving the Tendoshuu again, the Naraku leader states that the Tendoushuu were pleased with Isaburo's purging and sees that the man was using the two cops as bait to reel in other rebels who posed a threat to the new government. Oboro warns her not to underestimate other high level rebels. In the prison, Kondo dodges the strike and knocks the guard back, noting that they were not ordinary. When he sees the second guard about to strike the unconscious Katsura, Kondo resolves himself to team up with him as he rushes to the man's aide. With help from Matsudaira, Kondo knocks out the guard just as the first one moves to attack Kondo from behind. Katsura wakes up, grabs the other guard's sword and stabs the first one. After the three prisoners are free, Katsura reveals that the guards were the Naraku assassins in disguise. The trio sees that the original guards were killed by them, seeing that for some reason, the Naraku wanted them dead earlier that the execution date. They decided to take advantage of the now-growing confusion caused by the assassins to escape, disguised as prison guards. As they make their way to the edge of the prison, the ex-cops ask the experienced escapee Katsura what should they do next to leave. Unfortunately, Katsura tells the horrified men that escaping the prison walls did not guarantee their freedom as the prison...was located on Kokujo island.
Characters[]
- Jouishishi
- Shinsengumi
- Mimawarigumi
- Sakata Gintoki
- Kagura
- Shimura Shinpachi
- Shimura Tae
- Hitotsubashi Nobu Nobu (cameo)
- Otose (cameo)
- Tokugawa Shige Shige (flashback)
- Takasugi Shinsuke (flashback)
- Tenshouin Naraku