Hakuoki: Kazama's Story

Going for #5. This time, I'm going to switch it up a bit, and go after a demon. Oh yeah~

Kazama: *Hmpf*

To get onto Kazama's path, it's kind of a back-and-forth between Hijikata's and Okita's path, since Okita fights Kazama at Ikeda Inn, and Hijikata fights Kazama at Mount Tennou.

The CG you get of Amagiri, Kazama, and Shiranui just before they tell Chizuru that she's a demon.

Kazama clearly likes to take his time to kidnap Chizuru. The first time, he just tells her that she's a demon, then the Shinsengumi appear to save her. The second time, he catches her off-guard while she's cleaning the grounds of Niji Hongwanji Temple just to ask her who Kodo is, which she replies is her father. Kazama is surprised, and the Shinsengumi appear once again to protect her. As Kazama leaves, he tells her that Kodo is with him, and that she should keep that in mind.

***BEWARE: SPOILERS AHEAD!***

During the part where Sen tries to convince the Shinsengumi to leave Chizuru in her care, Sen always asks the question of whether there is a certain someone that she doesn't want to part from. The answer is usually "yes", but since you're going after Kazama and your romance level with the Shinsengumi is pretty low (1 love animation with Hijikata, Okita, and Heisuke), you say "no". The dialogue that happens right after is that Chizuru is confused about whether she's a human or a demon. She knew she healed much quicker than others, but other than Sen's word, she had no other proof that she's a demon.

Chizuru successfully captured by Kazama, but unsuccessful kidnapping in the end.

After the battle at the Fushimi magistrate's office where the overwhelming number of shogunate forces lost to the strategic positioning of the Satsuma-Choshu forces, Hijikata orders for everyone to leave, while rounding up supplies and as much able-bodied men as possible. Everyone was too busy to pay attention to Chizuru until she asked where she should be going. Hijikata asks Inoue to round up the ammunition and take Chizuru to Yodo Castle. All seems well as they were leaving until a cannon fires and collapses one of the walls of the magistrate's office. The shock of the blast knocked out Chizuru, and once she regained consciousness she was all alone, and Inoue was nowhere to be found. Chizuru decides to head for the forest because the city would be too dangerous. She sees one of the shogunate soldiers based on his attire, and asks where the Shinsengumi are since she got separated from them. Chizuru soon finds out that this particular soldier switched sides awhile ago, and is calling for reinforcements. After Chizuru yells at the soldier about how he has no right to be called a samurai, the soldier notices how high pitched her voice is, and her cover is blown, and they all know she's a girl now. More soldiers come in and talk about how they should make sure she's a girl before handing her over to the Satsuma as a reward. Kazama comes in and saves Chizuru by slaying the soldiers surrounding her.

Kazama asks why Chizuru is here and she hesitates, but finally says that she's trying to get to Yodo Castle to catch up with the Shinsengumi. Kazama says that it's really not a good idea as Yodo Castle has switched sides already, and Satsuma and Choshu were given the imperial battle standard. This means that Satsuma and Choshu are considered to be the "good guys", and anyone else that goes against them are considered to be rebels, criminals, and pretty much the "bad guys", which is the category the Shinsengumi are in right now. Chizuru can't believe what Kazama is saying, but she knows that he's not the type to lie. Kazama decides to show her the carnage, and that basically how Satsuma and Choshu will win as the Tokugawa shogunate is now defeated or will be soon enough.

Kazama and Chizuru looking at all the carnage Satsuma and Choshu are creating with their guns and cannons in the area the Shinsengumi are suppose to be walking through. Basically, a scene of betrayal by those who used to be loyal to the shogunate.

Sen catches Kazama with Chizuru and threatens Kazama that if he takes Chizuru by force, she'll make all of the demons in Kyoto hunt him down. Kazama waved away Sen's threats, but couldn't believe that Amagiri escorted her to them. Amagiri felt obliged because of Sen's heritage. More conversation happens and Kazama says that he'll be heading to Edo to see the end of the battle and of the Shinsengumi. Chizuru asks Kazama to take her with him, and Kazama, Sen, and Amagiri are all surprised. Sen tries to convince Chizuru not to go with him, but Chizuru has Kazama figured out a bit, and if he wanted to kidnap her, he would have done so a long time ago, and it seems like he would keep his word of putting despair into the Shinsengumi by running away with Chizuru as his prize.

Kazama actually respects the Shinsengumi, although he is sorry that they are now on the losing side. Once Kazama and Chizuru reach Edo, they find out that the Shinsengumi have changed their name and have already headed to Koufu. Chizuru thanks Kazama for bringing her to Edo, and tells him that she'll be heading to Koufu by herself. Since she's in Edo, Chizuru goes back to her home that has been unattended for years to gather some things for her trip to Koufu. She then hears a familiar voice and sees her father. They are glad to see each other, but Chizuru soon finds out that Kodo was working for Satsuma and Choshu and is willingly doing research on the furies to help the Imperial Army win by using the furies to burn down Edo Castle, which has not surrendered yet. Kodo then turns demonic and says how he's gotten so much strength from taking the Water of Life and wants Chizuru to do the same. (How can you say that to a pure-blooded demon?) Kazama comes and saves Chizuru, and asks Kodo why he's still researching on the furies when the experiments should have been stopped. It seems that Kodo used his knowledge of furies to secure himself a place in the Imperial Army. Just when Kazama was about to strike him, Kodo shoves Chizuru into Kazama and runs away. Even though Kazama could have dropped Chizuru and gone after Kodo, he decides to break Chizuru's fall and let Kodo get away. Kazama and Chizuru then see Amagiri who confirms the suspicions he's had on Kodo. Chizuru is still in shock that her kind and loving father has turned into someone so evil, but she can't deny that this is now the truth. Kazama also tells Chizuru that Kodo is not related to her by blood, even though they are from the same clan. Kodo's family is much weaker in terms of bloodline. Despite Chizuru saying how Kodo raised her like a father would, Kazama is determined to kill a demon who has gone down such a dark path. Chizuru still can't figure out Kazama's motives, but might he possibly have been worried about her? It seems unlikely as he's so self-centered.

Chizuru decides to stay in Edo with Kazama and Amagiri to stop her father. Once they find information on where her father and his army of furies are, Chizuru asks Kazama to let her talk to her father a bit, in hopes to make him changes his mind. Kazama consents. They find Kodo, and Chizuru asks why he's doing all of this. He says that it's for the benefit of the country, but Chizuru is not convinced. She even asks why he wants her to come with him so bad, since they aren't related. Kodo says that he needs her strong blood to improve the furies. After hearing that, Kazama steps in and doesn't want to hear another word from Kodo. Kodo is surprised at Kazama's appearance, and he also dares to say that Kazama is also helping the humans. Kazama explains that the Satsuma helped keep his clan hidden and protected when the shogunate wanted to eradicate all the demons, so he's only settling his debt. However, not only did Kodo take the Water of Life to become a fake demon, he's also trying to do anything to be part of the Imperial Army. Kazama feels that Kodo has lost his pride as a demon. Kodo calls for his furies, but they don't come as Amagiri has taken care of them all. Even though Chizuru tries to stop Kazama from killing Kodo because he's her only family, Chizuru knows that Kodo does not regret what he's done, and Kazama cannot let him live. After Kazama kills Kodo, Chizuru runs up to her father, and slowly loses all strength in her body, and is then supported by Kazama. Kazama comforts her by saying her father was corrupted by the humans who only wanted money and power. Chizuru knows that there are "bad" humans like that, but there were good humans like the Shinsengumi, who she now wanted to find more than ever as they are the last people she considers as family.

After a losing battle for the Shinsengumi at Utsunomiya, Kazama tells Chizuru that Kondou has been beheaded and the Shinsengumi are fighting in Aizu. They head there, and Amagiri tells them that Saito has been killed while on duty, and the rest of the Shinsengumi (minus Nagakura and Harada who already left at this point) are headed to Sendai under Hijikata's command. They find out that the battle will continue north, ultimately ending in Ezo. Chizuru asks Kazama to come with her to see the end of the war, and possibly the Shinsengumi. They arrive in Ezo, and Chizuru wears Western clothes so as to not to attract attention. They find out that the shogunate has ultimately lost as their army of 2000 could not match that of 50,000. Also, Hijikata died by a bullet wound, while trying to rescue the Shinsengumi. Chizuru notices the torn-up flag belonging to the Shinsengumi, and holds it tightly while crying. After she's done crying, she talks to Kazama about the purpose of all this fighting. He says it was to destroy an old system to make room for a new one. The Shinsengumi could not compromise on their beliefs and dreams as samurai, and Kazama did not hate them for that.

Kazama ending (due to choosing "Please come with me" at the end of Chapter 6)

After Chizuru asks Kazama what he'll do now, Kazama says that he'll live his life quietly and away from the humans, just like the demons did before. He also admits that he likes Chizuru, and was only going after her to play with the Shinsengumi. If he had only gone after her for just being a female demon, she would have lost interest in her rather quickly. Kazama then suddenly holds Chizuru tight and kisses her, surprising Chizuru. Kazama then lets her go and says that this is proof that they are not strangers. (OMG!!! *super blush*) Since Chizuru said that she'll stay in Ezo a little longer, Kazama tells her to come to him when she's ready. But if she doesn't, he'll just come get her anyway. *super red face*

Normal ending (due to choosing "I don't want to be any more trouble" at the end of Chapter 6)

When Kazama asks Chizuru what will she do now, she says that she'll stay in Ezo a little while longer. Kazama tells her to make her decision wisely, and that as a demon, people will come after her no matter what, and she is more than welcome to stay with Kazama and his clan. Kazama then walks away, leaving Chizuru all alone. She then reminisces about the Shinsengumi, and a CG appears showing the backs of Kondou, Hijikata, Okita, Saito, Heisuke, Harada, Nagakura, and Sanan in their Shinsengumi blues. You then get a movie, which is called "Normal Ending" with Chizuru's face on it when you go to the Theater. So wait... Isn't a normal ending suppose to be one you can get first, but this one you can only get much later and you kind of have to follow Kazama's path. @.@ Also, this should be called the "sad ending" because a good chunk of the Shinsengumi captains die (or will eventually die), and they've all been separated (except for the Harada-Nagakura duo). >.<

I can see why this would be the last ending people would get since it's a reminiscing ending, but I don't want to end a game with people Chizuru knew dying.... >.< Also, I thought Heisuke's story was politcally charged, but Kazama's story is just politically heavy. @.@ Good thing I have Hijikata's story left to play because I don't think I would be happy with having this as the last ending I get. ^_^"