[Short Story] Moonlight, the Lone Wolf of the North Arrives (Hijikata's Scattering Petals)

I stand in the northern land of Ezo, driven solely by my feelings.

In Hakodate in May, the cold sea breeze still tears at the Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms. Through the gaps, I can see Miyako Bay...

We lost our flagship, the Kaiyo Maru, and failed in our attempt to board the ironclad ship during the naval battle.
If things continue like this, Goryokaku will be a target for naval bombardment from Miyako Bay.
Perhaps the times are failing to keep up with the evolution of firearms and cannons, as tactics are also shifting.
The Shogunate army... no, it is no longer the Shogunate army, not since the commander fled to Edo after Toba-Fushimi...

Toshizo Hijikata thinks.

Enomoto's runaway fleet... that's fine by me!
But with old-fashioned Gewehr rifles, we can't compete with Minie rifles in range or accuracy, so it's not even a fight.
On top of that, the Armstrong guns and Gatling guns are completely out of the question. What should I do...

Hijikata senses a presence behind him and, without turning around, quietly places his hand on the hilt of his beloved sword,
Izuminokami Kanesada.

Vice-Commander! Ah? I called you Vice-Commander again, haha!

A rugged man with a large frame... Kai Shimada muttered to himself.
...It's fine, a title like Magistrate doesn't suit me.
Saying this, Toshizo Hijikata leaned his body against the saddle.

There's nothing left but to charge! It's the same as always... Hijikata whispered in a voice that even Shimada beside him could not hear.

With unwavering feelings in his heart, the lone wolf stood on the northern land.
The lone wolf, rejected by the era, was sharpening his final fangs in the northern land, covered in blood.

Come to think of it, it had been a series of losing battles from the start.
The commander, Shogun Yoshinobu, was pro-imperial and could not fire upon the Imperial Banner, so he abandoned his Tokugawa retainers and fled to Edo. Even if we had the numbers, there was no logic by which we could win.

His sworn friend Kondo was entrusted by Katsu Kaishu with a unit that was only a name, the Koyo Chinbutai, and was sent away from Edo.
His companions from the Shieikan were scattered, and Kondo was beheaded in Itabashi.
Hijikata fought in Ueno and Aizu, and even attempted to capture an enemy ship at Miyako Bay, but failed.

Kondo, who wanted to live as a samurai until the end, believed in the new government army and surrendered.
The Shinsengumi were despised as the Wolves of Mibu for cutting down key figures of Satsuma and Choshu in Kyoto.
There must be many who knew Kondo's face and held a grudge against him.
It wouldn't be strange if they were former Shinsengumi deserters.

A storm of fierce blood purges, so intense that the tang of the sword would rot with blood; it was necessary to protect the peace in a chaotic Kyoto.
The days in Kyoto... the feeling of rising when I was called the Demon Vice-Commander...

I'm being sentimental...
Hijikata turned around and said,
Shimada... don't just stare at the enemy battleship, give me a report, right?
Hijikata said this while looking at the enemy ironclad ship just the same.
...Wahahaha! That's right!
While scratching his head, the giant Shimada straightened his posture and made his report.
The Benten Battery, where the remaining Shinsengumi soldiers are, has been attacked.
For the former Shogunate army, which is inferior in cannon range, holding the battery where they can land shots is essential.
Swoosh...
Hearing this, Hijikata drew his sword while on horseback, seeing the enemy battleship beyond the blade.
Shimada felt his body stiffen at the intensity, but continued his report.Enemy soldiers are gathering at the Ippongi Gate.

Hijikata thinks as he listens.
That's right! I am not a samurai, Kondo-san.
It's a brawl!
Use everything you have to pin the opponent down; isn't that what we've been doing in Hino all along? Nothing has changed...

At night... Hijikata gathers his personal pages and gives them instructions.

...Ichimura, I am giving you the most difficult task.

Hijikata opened his mouth.
Everyone was nervous in front of the Hijikata-sensei they respected, and they admired the benefactor who had given them a place to live.

Weak lives abandoned by their families, their clans, and the Shogunate...
Having lived like wild dogs as war orphans, Hijikata's strength easily resonated with their anger toward the new government army.
Hijikata said to Tetsunosuke Ichimura, who was trying not to miss a single word:
Deliver this to the Sato family in Hino.
Hijikata placed a photograph, a lock of hair, and his Kanesada in front of Tetsunosuke.

Leave at once. There may be shelling soon. If Benten Daiba falls, Goryokaku will be in danger.

Clatter!
If that is the case, surely we can be of some use...
Toshizo Hijikata stopped them.

Tetsunosuke Ichimura thought to himself.

Ever since we arrived in Hakodate, it seems Hijikata-sensei has been smiling more. It is as warm as the spring moon...

Tetsunosuke, I don't expect you to understand yet, but if you survive and pass on our story, then my fight is a victory.
Before he knew it, tears were covering his face.
Everyone was sobbing.
Everyone felt the eternal parting with Hijikata-sensei.
Even so, at least let us be together!
To the one sentence Tetsunosuke finally managed to utter, Hijikata replied.

You are not the army of Takeaki Enomoto, but the private soldiers of this Toshizo Hijikata. In other words, you are the Shinsengumi.
If you cannot obey the orders of your Vice-Commander here, then I have no choice but to order you to commit seppuku for failing the code of the warrior.

As everyone sobbed, Tetsunosuke thought.
This must be Hijikata-sensei's fight, not ours... He taught us at the very end not to run away, but to fight our own battles.

The others should follow Takeaki Enomoto. The times are changing! But the fact that the Shinsengumi resisted will remain for future generations!

At that moment, the door opened!
Vice-Commander! Benten Daiba has finally been surrounded!
Kai Shimada shouted!
Carrying a new sword, Hijikata ran.
Tetsunosuke! I leave it to you!
Western-style clothes and boots, a French-style military uniform, yet he carried no firearms.
He was heading into a death trap!
For us youngsters to go and act as a shield for such a man would be nothing but a stain on Hijikata-sensei's way of life and pride.
But, but, Tetsunosuke shouted at the end!

Sensei!

Hijikata turned halfway to listen,

Even if it costs me my life, I will surely deliver it!

He could not see Sensei's face, but Shimada-san, who had seen his expression, grinned and looked at him.

That was the last time he saw him.

In the second year of Meiji, Toshizo Hijikata was at the Ippongi Barrier to rescue the Shinsengumi soldiers trapped in the surrounded Benten Daiba.

He had been separated from Kai Shimada and was alone.

Breaking through the barrier alone is also an option... After all, anything goes in a fight... It's like boarding a ship... I wouldn't lose in a sword fight, though... The Ippongi Barrier is getting closer... Cowards, just shooting from afar... I hate this era where anyone can become a killer without reason or responsibility for taking a life with a blade... Hey, Kondo-san, Soji... The sky above is blue, the earth is soaked in blood. People kill each other without even knowing why. The tiger-wolf on horseback thinks in the northern land.

Good enough, I suppose.

Officer there! State your affiliation! Are you a messenger!
At the same time, he felt many targets from the enemy.

Shinsengumi Vice-Commander! Toshizo Hijikata, passing through!

The echoing gunshot pierced the lone wolf and brought an end to an era.

May 11, 1869, as Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi
Toshizo Hijikata died in battle
Age at death: 35
The location of his remains is still unknown.