1
00:00:02,585 --> 00:00:04,629
I lost my parents soon after I was born.

2
00:00:05,588 --> 00:00:06,631
In a fire, I was told.

3
00:00:08,633 --> 00:00:11,553
I was passed around between relatives,

4
00:00:13,555 --> 00:00:16,641
and only barely held on
doing maid's work at an inn.

5
00:00:18,601 --> 00:00:24,607
My only joy was taking the boat downriver
when I delivered to good customers.

6
00:00:26,609 --> 00:00:28,611
I was always alone.

7
00:00:29,654 --> 00:00:32,657
Until the day I met Yotaro-san.

8
00:00:45,628 --> 00:00:50,550
Blue Miburo

9
00:02:09,045 --> 00:02:11,005
She's like a doll.

10
00:02:11,047 --> 00:02:13,049
Get angry at something, why don't you?

11
00:02:13,049 --> 00:02:15,051
Talk about creepy. She's hollow inside.

12
00:02:19,013 --> 00:02:22,016
Hollow
Hollow?

13
00:02:23,017 --> 00:02:24,018
Empty?

14
00:02:25,019 --> 00:02:26,020
Of course I was.

15
00:02:27,021 --> 00:02:29,065
I had nothing in my past or future.

16
00:02:30,984 --> 00:02:33,027
I had no desires. I didn't resist.

17
00:02:34,070 --> 00:02:36,072
I let the current take me and kept calm.

18
00:02:37,073 --> 00:02:39,033
That's how I would survive.

19
00:02:40,034 --> 00:02:41,077
Yet despite that...

20
00:02:42,996 --> 00:02:44,038
Fancy meeting you again.

21
00:02:48,042 --> 00:02:49,085
I'm off to give a home lesson.

22
00:02:50,086 --> 00:02:52,088
Do you like the river?

23
00:02:53,089 --> 00:02:56,009
Oh, it's just, you're always looking at it.

24
00:03:01,014 --> 00:03:03,057
Fate had a surprise in store for me.

25
00:03:07,103 --> 00:03:09,063
Wasn't she a serving girl?

26
00:03:09,105 --> 00:03:11,107
How can she marry a samurai?

27
00:03:12,025 --> 00:03:13,067
She ought to know her place.

28
00:03:15,028 --> 00:03:16,070
What a mismatch.

29
00:03:16,070 --> 00:03:17,071
Shh. They'll hear you.

30
00:03:19,073 --> 00:03:21,034
Nagi-san. Nagi-san.

31
00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,002
I wasn't a fit match for him.

32
00:03:32,086 --> 00:03:35,006
But my mother-in-law said to me...

33
00:03:36,090 --> 00:03:40,052
Delicious. I can really
taste that Kyoto flavor.

34
00:03:41,012 --> 00:03:42,054
I learned at an inn.

35
00:03:43,014 --> 00:03:45,057
I was a farmer's daughter, too.

36
00:03:45,057 --> 00:03:46,017
Huh?

37
00:03:46,058 --> 00:03:48,019
And I'm a second wife.

38
00:03:49,061 --> 00:03:53,065
So Yotaro-san and his older brother
who left home aren't...

39
00:03:53,107 --> 00:03:55,067
We have no blood ties.

40
00:03:55,109 --> 00:03:56,986
None at all.

41
00:03:57,028 --> 00:04:01,073
But between husband and wife,
or mother and daughter...

42
00:04:05,036 --> 00:04:07,997
what matters is keeping the family safe.

43
00:04:14,003 --> 00:04:18,090
Why did I go along with Yotaro-san's brother?
Why did I come to this house?

44
00:04:19,050 --> 00:04:20,051
There's so much blood.

45
00:04:21,052 --> 00:04:22,053
Put your back into it!

46
00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:28,643
Sometimes, family ties without blood
can be stronger than those with it.

47
00:04:31,729 --> 00:04:34,732
I'll pass something on.
I'll desire something.

48
00:04:35,650 --> 00:04:38,653
If I can leave something behind,
it means I'm not hollow.

49
00:04:39,695 --> 00:04:40,696
I'll leave behind...

50
00:04:44,742 --> 00:04:48,663
Nagi-san, take care of this family.

51
00:04:51,207 --> 00:04:54,126
Yes! The baby's born!

52
00:04:54,168 --> 00:04:55,127
Wait.

53
00:04:56,128 --> 00:04:57,129
It's not crying.

54
00:05:03,135 --> 00:05:05,179
Is something caught in its throat?

55
00:05:05,179 --> 00:05:07,181
N-No.

56
00:05:10,142 --> 00:05:11,102
How?

57
00:05:11,185 --> 00:05:12,144
Why?

58
00:05:13,145 --> 00:05:14,146
Please...

59
00:05:20,152 --> 00:05:21,153
Please...

60
00:05:24,156 --> 00:05:25,157
Cry.

61
00:05:27,159 --> 00:05:28,160
Cry!

62
00:05:30,121 --> 00:05:31,163
Please...

63
00:05:32,206 --> 00:05:33,207
tie us together!

64
00:05:56,188 --> 00:05:58,149
My treasure.

65
00:05:59,191 --> 00:06:00,151
Ah.

66
00:06:01,152 --> 00:06:05,114
You're so soft and so warm.

67
00:06:06,157 --> 00:06:07,199
Yotaro-san.

68
00:06:09,076 --> 00:06:10,202
Father. Mother.

69
00:06:11,162 --> 00:06:13,122
I did it.

70
00:06:14,123 --> 00:06:15,124
She had the baby?

71
00:06:15,124 --> 00:06:16,125
She must have.

72
00:06:19,128 --> 00:06:21,172
Thank goodness. Thank goodness!

73
00:06:25,134 --> 00:06:28,179
I did it.

74
00:06:52,161 --> 00:06:53,204
The baby's been born?

75
00:06:53,204 --> 00:06:56,123
Really? Is it a boy or a girl?

76
00:06:56,165 --> 00:06:58,125
My, how adorable.

77
00:06:58,125 --> 00:07:00,085
Let me hold it, too.

78
00:07:00,085 --> 00:07:03,130
Lemme see! Lemme take a look, too!

79
00:07:04,173 --> 00:07:06,133
My, my.

80
00:07:10,137 --> 00:07:12,139
Talk about cute.

81
00:07:15,100 --> 00:07:17,102
Hang on. Where's Nio?

82
00:07:17,144 --> 00:07:18,187
Isn't he back yet?

83
00:07:21,106 --> 00:07:23,192
Nagi-san must be over the moon.

84
00:07:23,192 --> 00:07:25,152
We oughta throw a party.

85
00:07:28,155 --> 00:07:29,114
Um...

86
00:07:32,159 --> 00:07:33,118
She's dead.

87
00:07:36,163 --> 00:07:37,122
Huh?

88
00:07:52,137 --> 00:07:55,182
I see. This will be
a hard ending for Nio to bear.

89
00:07:56,183 --> 00:07:58,185
What's done is done.

90
00:07:59,186 --> 00:08:00,145
Still...

91
00:08:02,106 --> 00:08:06,151
If you ask me, the only kind of person
who can really save anyone...

92
00:08:08,112 --> 00:08:10,155
is one who suffers
from the bottom of his heart.

93
00:08:14,076 --> 00:08:16,120
One who has known heartache.

94
00:08:24,128 --> 00:08:26,130
It's been a whole day since then.

95
00:08:27,089 --> 00:08:29,091
I can't keep crying forever.

96
00:08:29,174 --> 00:08:31,135
The doctor even said to us...

97
00:08:32,177 --> 00:08:34,179
there was nothing we could've done.

98
00:08:38,183 --> 00:08:41,145
Anyway, I've got to cheer up Nio-kun.

99
00:08:42,104 --> 00:08:44,106
Oh, Sakura-san!

100
00:08:44,148 --> 00:08:45,107
Huh?

101
00:08:45,149 --> 00:08:46,191
Good morning.

102
00:08:47,151 --> 00:08:49,153
Are you checking
everyone's swords again today?

103
00:08:50,112 --> 00:08:52,114
Thanks for coming so early.

104
00:08:52,114 --> 00:08:53,198
H-Huh?

105
00:08:54,158 --> 00:08:56,201
Oh, Sakura. Perfect timing.

106
00:08:57,119 --> 00:08:58,120
Hijikata-san.

107
00:08:59,163 --> 00:09:04,126
I tried to hammer a bent sword into shape,
and it came out like an ear of rice.

108
00:09:05,169 --> 00:09:08,130
What did you do to it?!

109
00:09:10,132 --> 00:09:12,176
Nio! I'm hungry!

110
00:09:13,093 --> 00:09:14,136
It's breakfast time.

111
00:09:14,178 --> 00:09:15,179
I'll go help.

112
00:09:17,097 --> 00:09:20,142
How do you think Nio-kun's feeling?

113
00:09:20,184 --> 00:09:22,144
B-Beats me.

114
00:09:23,103 --> 00:09:26,106
He didn't say much yesterday,
understandably. But now?

115
00:09:26,148 --> 00:09:29,151
Does he get over things quickly
because he's young?

116
00:09:29,193 --> 00:09:32,154
Was he able to process it
because of who he is?

117
00:09:36,158 --> 00:09:39,119
Please make way! Coming through!

118
00:09:40,162 --> 00:09:44,166
Even after that big job,
this place hasn't changed a bit.

119
00:09:45,167 --> 00:09:48,128
Everyone changes.

120
00:09:48,128 --> 00:09:50,130
T-Todo-san?

121
00:09:50,130 --> 00:09:51,131
Todo.

122
00:09:52,091 --> 00:09:54,093
Don't step on the edge of the tatami.

123
00:09:54,176 --> 00:09:58,097
U-Um, who are you again?

124
00:09:58,097 --> 00:10:01,100
It's Shinpachi! Shinpachi's lost it!

125
00:10:01,141 --> 00:10:04,186
A samurai must be proper
in everything he does.

126
00:10:06,105 --> 00:10:07,147
You shaved off your mustache?

127
00:10:08,107 --> 00:10:11,193
I've stopped pretending to be someone
I'm not. A samurai should act like one.

128
00:10:11,193 --> 00:10:13,112
Magnificent.

129
00:10:13,112 --> 00:10:15,114
A real dramatic shift, huh?

130
00:10:15,155 --> 00:10:17,074
I know how he feels.

131
00:10:17,116 --> 00:10:20,119
That battle left a bad taste in our mouths.

132
00:10:20,119 --> 00:10:22,162
Don't sympathize! Move on!

133
00:10:22,204 --> 00:10:24,123
Like Nio has.

134
00:10:24,164 --> 00:10:26,124
I finished wiping the floors.

135
00:10:26,166 --> 00:10:28,168
Oh, I'd better go wash the vegetables.

136
00:10:33,131 --> 00:10:35,133
You killed the ringleader
and ended the threat?

137
00:10:35,133 --> 00:10:37,135
That's our Serizawa-sensei.

138
00:10:37,177 --> 00:10:39,137
The greatest man alive.

139
00:10:39,137 --> 00:10:41,181
Don't stand in my way.

140
00:10:44,184 --> 00:10:47,104
Can you believe Hirama? No tact at all.

141
00:10:47,104 --> 00:10:48,146
Don't stare at me.

142
00:10:49,106 --> 00:10:50,107
I can't even look?

143
00:10:54,111 --> 00:10:56,113
Serizawa's in a rotten mood.

144
00:10:57,197 --> 00:11:02,160
I'm supposed to write a report on all this
to wrap it up as neatly as possible.

145
00:11:02,202 --> 00:11:05,122
I'll get you paper and
an inkstone right away.

146
00:11:06,164 --> 00:11:07,165
Do you think, maybe...

147
00:11:09,167 --> 00:11:14,131
Nio-kun's trying to avoid hearing
much about what happened?

148
00:11:14,172 --> 00:11:17,092
Well, I bet he'd rather not.

149
00:11:17,134 --> 00:11:20,137
Still, he'll forget in three days,
if he eats and sleeps right.

150
00:11:20,137 --> 00:11:22,180
These things need to be done properly.

151
00:11:22,180 --> 00:11:27,102
It all comes down to his feelings.
How he thinks about it.

152
00:11:27,102 --> 00:11:29,187
Maybe tilling a field
will take his mind off it.

153
00:11:29,187 --> 00:11:30,188
Leave him be.

154
00:11:31,148 --> 00:11:33,108
H-Hijikata-san.

155
00:11:35,110 --> 00:11:38,113
Kondo-san, can I leave Nio to you?

156
00:11:39,197 --> 00:11:40,157
Yes.

157
00:11:42,159 --> 00:11:46,163
This calls for swords. Nothing else will do.

158
00:11:48,123 --> 00:11:49,166
Nio. Time to train!

159
00:11:49,166 --> 00:11:50,125
What?

160
00:11:51,084 --> 00:11:53,128
Huh? Kondo-san?

161
00:11:54,129 --> 00:11:57,174
Is he okay?
Wait, what?
I'm more worried about him.

162
00:11:58,175 --> 00:12:01,178
It's better not to think
too much at times like these.

163
00:12:08,101 --> 00:12:10,145
So, um, you want me to attack you?

164
00:12:10,187 --> 00:12:12,189
Yes. With all your might.

165
00:12:18,111 --> 00:12:19,154
Keep going. Don't rest.

166
00:12:23,158 --> 00:12:24,159
Keep it up.

167
00:12:24,159 --> 00:12:25,118
Yes, sir!

168
00:12:25,118 --> 00:12:26,119
More.

169
00:12:26,161 --> 00:12:27,120
Yes, sir!

170
00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:28,121
Come at me!

171
00:12:28,205 --> 00:12:31,166
Keep it up!
They're really just training.
Come on!

172
00:12:37,172 --> 00:12:42,135
Nagi-dono was buried at a temple
for the destitute without family.

173
00:12:44,137 --> 00:12:45,180
She had no relatives of her own,

174
00:12:46,139 --> 00:12:49,142
and she was divorced
just before this business.

175
00:12:50,102 --> 00:12:51,186
There was nothing else to be done.

176
00:12:52,104 --> 00:12:54,189
Wh-Why tell me that now?

177
00:12:54,189 --> 00:12:55,148
Continue.

178
00:13:02,155 --> 00:13:04,157
I cut down Yotaro-dono.

179
00:13:05,117 --> 00:13:06,118
I killed him.

180
00:13:09,121 --> 00:13:12,124
I never could have stopped him
without killing him.

181
00:13:13,125 --> 00:13:15,168
Serizawa-san slew Naozumi.

182
00:13:15,168 --> 00:13:16,169
Please stop.

183
00:13:17,170 --> 00:13:20,173
Their bodies will be
disposed of as criminals.

184
00:13:21,174 --> 00:13:23,135
Please just stop.

185
00:13:24,177 --> 00:13:27,139
The Kyohachi house and dojo both lie in ruins.

186
00:13:28,098 --> 00:13:30,183
The line will be abolished,
including cadet branches.

187
00:13:31,143 --> 00:13:33,145
Please stop it!

188
00:13:41,194 --> 00:13:42,195
I know.

189
00:13:43,155 --> 00:13:45,115
I know all of that.

190
00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:51,121
It's because I fell short.

191
00:13:53,123 --> 00:13:55,166
Because I didn't notice back then.

192
00:13:56,167 --> 00:13:58,128
Because I failed.

193
00:13:59,170 --> 00:14:02,173
Because I was weak.

194
00:14:06,136 --> 00:14:07,137
It's all...

195
00:14:10,140 --> 00:14:11,182
my fault.

196
00:14:17,105 --> 00:14:19,190
Giving birth always comes
with the risk of death.

197
00:14:20,150 --> 00:14:23,153
The newborn has been left
with trustworthy people.

198
00:14:25,155 --> 00:14:27,115
Now you know what happened.

199
00:14:29,159 --> 00:14:31,119
Do you think he can handle it?

200
00:14:31,119 --> 00:14:32,162
Maybe he should be less blunt.

201
00:14:33,121 --> 00:14:34,205
No, this is for the best.

202
00:14:35,165 --> 00:14:39,127
He can't move forward
until he accepts reality.

203
00:14:43,131 --> 00:14:44,090
Nio-kun!

204
00:14:48,136 --> 00:14:49,179
He's burning up.

205
00:14:50,096 --> 00:14:51,097
What?

206
00:14:51,139 --> 00:14:53,141
Why didn't anyone notice?

207
00:14:53,141 --> 00:14:55,101
You idiots worked him too hard!

208
00:14:55,143 --> 00:14:56,144
Awkward.

209
00:15:08,156 --> 00:15:10,158
Hajime, what should we do?

210
00:15:10,158 --> 00:15:14,120
He's just exhausted.
Sleep will fix his body.

211
00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:16,122
J-Just his body?

212
00:15:16,122 --> 00:15:18,124
What else should we be worried about?

213
00:15:19,125 --> 00:15:21,086
Hey, where are you going?

214
00:15:21,211 --> 00:15:24,130
What? Our buddy's in pain here.

215
00:15:24,172 --> 00:15:26,132
Have a heart!

216
00:15:27,133 --> 00:15:29,135
Man, Nio...

217
00:15:31,137 --> 00:15:32,138
Is that so?

218
00:15:33,098 --> 00:15:36,101
Thanks for letting me know about Nio.

219
00:15:36,142 --> 00:15:38,186
So what did you want with me?

220
00:15:39,145 --> 00:15:42,148
I want you to meet somebody, Hajime.

221
00:15:44,192 --> 00:15:48,113
Granny! Long time no see!

222
00:15:48,113 --> 00:15:50,115
Look at you, dressed up all fancy.

223
00:15:50,115 --> 00:15:51,157
Wh-Who's this?

224
00:15:52,117 --> 00:15:53,201
You must be Hajime-chan.

225
00:15:54,119 --> 00:15:56,121
Hajime... "chan"?

226
00:15:58,123 --> 00:16:00,166
I'm Iroha. Nice to meet you.

227
00:16:00,208 --> 00:16:02,127
And she is?

228
00:16:02,127 --> 00:16:04,087
Nio's sister.

229
00:16:04,087 --> 00:16:08,133
His sister? The one that noble family took in?

230
00:16:10,135 --> 00:16:14,139
I know all about you and
the Miburo from Granny's letters.

231
00:16:16,141 --> 00:16:19,102
I want to ask you for a favor.

232
00:16:19,102 --> 00:16:23,189
Yeah? What favor? You'd better not
ask me to play games with you.

233
00:16:24,149 --> 00:16:28,153
Anyway, it's not safe for a kid
to go out alone at night.

234
00:16:29,195 --> 00:16:31,197
He's just like the letters said.

235
00:16:31,197 --> 00:16:33,074
Isn't he just?

236
00:16:33,074 --> 00:16:34,117
Hey! What did you say about me?

237
00:16:34,159 --> 00:16:36,161
I'm not alone, of course.

238
00:16:44,085 --> 00:16:48,089
Behold. My ball never falls.
Such is my mastery of kemari.

239
00:16:51,092 --> 00:16:53,094
Wh-Who's this guy?

240
00:16:53,094 --> 00:16:54,095
Hajime-chan.

241
00:16:54,095 --> 00:16:57,182
This is the great and noble Anegakoji-sama.

242
00:17:01,102 --> 00:17:02,145
Never heard of him.

243
00:17:02,145 --> 00:17:07,192
Even the patriotic loyalists of Satsuma
revere him as a leader.

244
00:17:08,151 --> 00:17:13,114
A trailblazer at 23 years of age,
he leads the anti-foreigner faction at court.

245
00:17:13,156 --> 00:17:17,076
You stand before Anegakoji Kintomo-sama!

246
00:17:19,162 --> 00:17:22,123
Am I truly so impressive?

247
00:17:22,123 --> 00:17:24,167
You may fawn over me with reverence.

248
00:17:25,084 --> 00:17:27,170
Oh, okay. I get it.

249
00:17:28,129 --> 00:17:30,089
Now, do you mind if I sock this guy?

250
00:17:31,090 --> 00:17:32,133
What for?!

251
00:17:32,175 --> 00:17:37,138
Listen, I'd like you to guard
Anegakoji-sama for me.

252
00:17:39,140 --> 00:17:42,101
I shall permit you to guard
my person. Rejoice, Hajime.

253
00:17:44,145 --> 00:17:46,147
Only for three days, though.

254
00:17:46,147 --> 00:17:51,110
And not all day. Just from
his house to the Imperial Palace.

255
00:17:51,152 --> 00:17:54,155
A guy like him must have
lackeys and bodyguards.

256
00:17:54,197 --> 00:17:59,077
Well, you see, they went to
an oyster festival and all took ill.

257
00:17:59,118 --> 00:18:03,164
And yet I was spared,
for I am among the elect.

258
00:18:03,206 --> 00:18:09,128
I wanted to ask Nio, too,
but it sounds like he has bigger problems.

259
00:18:09,128 --> 00:18:12,131
Hijikata-san and Okita-san would stand out,

260
00:18:12,131 --> 00:18:15,134
and asking the Miburo
would make things complicated.

261
00:18:16,094 --> 00:18:19,097
"Complicated"? Why?

262
00:18:19,180 --> 00:18:24,102
Anyway, who's after this big shot? And why?

263
00:18:31,150 --> 00:18:33,152
Fine. Don't tell me if you don't want to.

264
00:18:34,112 --> 00:18:36,155
So I just need to keep you
safe for three days?

265
00:18:36,197 --> 00:18:38,116
You'll do it, then?

266
00:18:39,117 --> 00:18:41,160
Yeah. I haven't got much choice.

267
00:18:42,120 --> 00:18:43,162
None of us do.

268
00:18:44,122 --> 00:18:45,123
"Us"?

269
00:18:47,834 --> 00:18:50,878
The Palace

270
00:18:52,797 --> 00:18:53,881
You don't have far to go, right?

271
00:18:54,882 --> 00:18:58,845
Merely to His Majesty's council
at the palace and back.

272
00:18:58,886 --> 00:19:02,890
You cannot have entered the grounds before.
I'm impressed it doesn't show.

273
00:19:04,809 --> 00:19:06,811
Gawking would make people suspicious.

274
00:19:10,857 --> 00:19:11,858
A diary?

275
00:19:12,817 --> 00:19:17,780
Keeping daily records is one of
a noble's most important duties.

276
00:19:17,822 --> 00:19:19,866
It comes in handy the next time
they do something.

277
00:19:21,826 --> 00:19:23,870
They link past, present, and future.

278
00:19:24,829 --> 00:19:26,831
That's how they preserve traditions.

279
00:19:27,874 --> 00:19:30,793
I don't really get it,
but it sounds like work.

280
00:19:32,879 --> 00:19:35,798
Aren't you going to ask me about Nio?

281
00:19:36,841 --> 00:19:38,843
You must know some of what happened.

282
00:19:40,887 --> 00:19:45,850
You're his sister, right? Isn't worrying over
every little thing what families do?

283
00:19:49,812 --> 00:19:52,815
You don't pick up on much,
do you, Hajime-chan?

284
00:19:52,857 --> 00:19:54,817
What's that supposed to mean?

285
00:19:56,861 --> 00:19:58,821
Because we're family, I know.

286
00:20:05,828 --> 00:20:07,872
My brother must be...

287
00:20:11,876 --> 00:20:16,881
Ties

288
00:21:47,805 --> 00:21:58,816
Next time
The flow of the times grows fiercer.
Its chaos gains speed, and the Miburo
hurtle toward a turning point.

289
00:21:58,899 --> 00:22:06,866
As new leaves sprout,
young wolves overcome sorrow and pain,

290
00:22:07,783 --> 00:22:10,828
striving to discover their own truths.

291
00:22:11,829 --> 00:22:13,831
Next time: "The Blue Oath."

292
00:22:14,790 --> 00:22:16,876
The Blue Oath
It won't disappoint.