# 24 - The Blue Oath
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GXJHM3GP8/blue-miburo)
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
**[00:03] Tsuru**
He guarded a noble in the palace?
**[00:05] Old Nagakura**
Yes. Although I had it secondhand,
so I don't know all the details.
**[00:11] Boy A**
Head!
**[00:12] Boy B**
I bet you're bored of
Gramps's long stories, too!
**[00:18] Old Nagakura**
We knew the river of time
was flowing fiercer.
**[00:24] Old Nagakura**
For the Miburo...
**[00:27] Old Nagakura**
those days may have been a turning point.
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
***SIGN*** Blue Miburo
**[02:09] Anegakoji**
I hear the Miburo are a band of swordsmen.
**[02:12] Hajime**
So what if we are?
**[02:14] Anegakoji**
Do you keep guns or cannons in reserve?
**[02:17] Hajime**
Huh? Of course not.
**[02:19] Anegakoji**
I see.
**[02:21] Anegakoji**
You may wish to consider doing so.
**[02:28] Anegakoji**
My life is under threat because
I have had a change of heart.
**[02:34] Anegakoji**
A naval commissioner, Katsu Kaishu,
convinced me of the value of sea power.
**[02:40] Anegakoji**
I no longer favor expulsion at any cost.
**[02:44] Anegakoji**
The hardliners of the anti-foreign movement
must view that as a betrayal.
**[02:50] Anegakoji**
Politics demands ceaseless vigilance.
**[02:54] Anegakoji**
One always finds oneself
in an awkward position.
**[02:57] Anegakoji**
He who defends me today
may come for my life tomorrow.
**[03:04] Anegakoji**
Why did you agree to guard me so readily?
**[03:08] Hajime**
None of that crap matters.
**[03:12] Hajime**
I did it because you really did seem scared.
**[03:16] Hajime**
If samurai don't protect the weak, who will?
**[03:21] Anegakoji**
I see Iroha was right to turn to you.
**[03:25] Anegakoji**
Still...
**[03:27] Anegakoji**
Hold on to notions like that,
and the tide will leave you behind.
**[03:31] Hajime**
What tide?
**[03:32] Anegakoji**
The tide of time.
**[03:35] Anegakoji**
Or will you rebel against
the age we live in?
**[03:42] Anegakoji**
If so, men like that fellow,
who strive to push us forward,
**[03:48] Anegakoji**
may one day become your greatest foes.
**[03:52] Hajime**
What "fellow"? Who do you mean?
**[03:56] Anegakoji**
The ronin Sakamoto Ryoma, formerly of Tosa.
**[04:01] Hajime**
Never heard of him.
**[04:03] Assassin A**
Anegakoji!
**[04:05] Assassin A**
Prepare to die!
**[04:06] Guard A**
We're under attack!
**[04:07] Guard B**
What?
**[04:13] Guard A**
After him! Don't let him escape!
**[04:15] Guard B**
Halt!
**[04:18] Anegakoji**
You're formidable! Formidable indeed!
**[04:22] Hajime**
You think I'd let that loser beat me?
**[04:28] Anegakoji**
And confident! Hajime, you intrigue me.
**[04:33] Todo**
How's Nio doing?
**[04:35] Taro**
Not good. He won't leave his room.
**[04:38] Todo**
But I thought his fever went down.
Is something still affecting him?
**[04:43] Nagakura**
A matter of the heart, no doubt.
**[04:45] Harada**
I don't get it.
**[04:47] Harada**
I mean, what's done is done, right?
**[04:50] Okita**
Sometimes, Sanosuke-san,
you cut right to the heart of things.
**[04:54] Harada**
Huh? How do you mean?
**[04:56] Taro**
Nio...
**[04:58] Todo**
Nio might be out of commission for a while.
**[05:03] Harada**
And Serizawa?
**[05:04] Nagakura**
He's given over the room to Nio.
**[05:07] (Flashback) Serizawa**
Let him use it until he's feeling better.
**[05:11] Nagakura**
Even he has his good points.
**[05:13] Todo**
Hajime's out, Gen-san's working the fields,
and Yamanami-san's writing something.
**[05:30] Anegakoji**
You served well, Hajime.
**[05:32] Anegakoji**
Farewell!
**[05:34] Iroha**
See you, Hajime-chan!
**[05:37] Hajime**
I don't need you to see me off.
**[05:40] Hajime**
Damn it.
**[05:43] Old Nagakura**
* And so, Hajime completed*
* his guard duty in safety.*
**[05:48] Old Nagakura**
*However...*
**[05:50] Old Nagakura**
* That night, three assassins*
* claimed Anegakoji's life.*
**[05:56] Old Nagakura**
* It would come to be known as*
* the "Incident Outside Sakuhei Gate."*
**[06:03] Harada**
A court noble got killed?
**[06:06] Todo**
The killer dropped his scabbard.
**[06:09] Todo**
Rumor has it the deed was done by
Tanaka Shinbei, an assassin from Satsuma.
**[06:13] Yamanami**
Aizu seems frantic to track him down.
**[06:20] Granny**
What a shame.
**[06:22] Granny**
A crying shame.
**[06:25] Granny**
Iroha sent this. It's a letter for you.
**[06:38] Iroha**
*"Hiya, Hajime-chan!"*
**[06:41] Iroha**
* "It's your favorite girl, Iroha!*
* How have you been?"*
**[06:47] Iroha**
* "I bet you're down in the dumps,*
* and I thought maybe I could cheer you up."*
**[06:52] Iroha**
*"Oh, about Anegakoji-sama..."*
**[06:56] Iroha**
*"He adopted a son the other day."*
**[06:59] Iroha**
*"A little boy. Just four years old."*
**[07:03] Iroha**
*"The day after you drove off those ruffians,"*
**[07:06] Iroha**
* "they played kemari together*
* for the first time."*
**[07:10] Iroha**
*"Anegakoji-sama was over the moon."*
**[07:15] Iroha**
* I'd like to think helping him live*
* even one extra day counted for something.*
**[07:29] Hajime**
*Tanaka Shinbei.*
**[07:39] Sakura**
Nio-kun, Nagi-san was worried about you.
**[07:45] Sakura**
She thought you'd be even more hurt
if she died without saying anything.
**[07:50] Sakura**
That's why she lashed out
at you so fiercely.
**[07:54] Sakuhei**
She was treating you as an adult.
**[08:00] Gatekeeper A**
You want to catch Tanaka Shinbei?
**[08:03] Gatekeeper A**
Forget it, kid.
Shinbei the Killer is no joke.
**[08:08] Gatekeeper A**
He's a Jigen School swordsman.
**[08:10] Fujita**
You can tell him.
**[08:12] Gatekeeper A**
Fujita-san.
**[08:15] Fujita**
Saito-san, I would like your assistance.
**[08:20] Hajime**
Try to keep up, Fujita.
**[08:23] Fujita**
Yes, sir!
**[08:27] Taro**
You know, I don't think
you did anything wrong.
**[08:33] Taro**
Maybe you weren't quite tough
enough to see it through, but still.
**[08:37] Taro**
Before I joined the Miburo, I'd given up.
I figured that was just life.
**[08:45] Taro**
But you told me we have souls, remember?
**[08:52] Taro**
It sucks how things turned out this time,
**[08:57] Taro**
and I don't know what
to say to you about it,
**[09:01] Taro**
but what can any of us do except
keep chasing our... "ideals," I guess?
**[09:08] Taro**
Even if it goes wrong,
no matter how many times we fail,
**[09:15] Taro**
what else *can* we do?
**[09:24] Taro**
Damn it. What the hell is your problem?
**[09:30] Hijikata**
Well said, Taro.
**[09:34] Hijikata**
I agree.
**[09:41] Aizu Samurai A**
That's Shinbei's hideout.
**[09:44] Fujita**
We'll go in from the front.
**[09:46] Fujita**
The rest of you cover the back door.
**[09:49] Fujita**
Don't let him see you.
**[09:50] Aizu Samurai A**
Yes, sir.
**[09:53] Fujita**
We'll wait until he settles
down for the evening.
**[10:06] Yamanami**
Excuse me.
**[10:07] Nio**
Yamanami-san.
**[10:09] Yamanami**
You could use a haircut.
**[10:22] Nio**
I got it all wrong.
**[10:28] Nio**
I ran in blindly, just waving
my ideals around and stirring up trouble.
**[10:35] Nio**
Things only worked out by chance,
because I got help from the people around me.
**[10:41] Fujita**
Tanaka Shinbei, you're under arrest.
**[10:44] Shinbei**
Says who?
**[10:46] Yamanami**
What's so wrong with having ideals?
**[10:49] Nio**
But even my ideals
turned out to be nebulous.
**[10:53] Nio**
They weren't worth preaching about.
**[10:59] Yamanami**
Human beings progress
through ideals and philosophy.
**[11:04] Yamanami**
Isn't that what makes us
beautiful and noble?
**[11:07] Yamanami**
Results and outcomes are no more than that.
**[11:10] Yamanami**
We are not animals.
**[11:13] Yamanami**
We have a dream we call "hope."
**[11:16] Yamanami**
Your attitude and actions in pursuit of it
shape your individual humanity.
**[11:23] Yamanami**
Never forget: You did it.
**[11:28] Yamanami**
You should be proud.
**[11:30] Yamanami**
Don't stop in your tracks.
**[11:34] Yamanami**
That's what it means
to have an exalted soul.
**[11:51] Nio**
Nagi-san.
**[11:57] Nio**
Yotaro-san. Naozumi-san.
**[12:04] Nagi**
Thanks for everything.
**[12:14] Old Nagakura**
* Tanaka Shinbei was captured*
* and accused of Anegakoji's murder.*
**[12:20] Old Nagakura**
* Confronted with the evidence of the scabbard,*
* he took his own life on the spot.*
**[12:25] Old Nagakura**
* Blame extended to Satsuma,*
* and the domain lost influence at court.*
**[12:33] Old Nagakura**
*The truth remains a mystery to this day.*
**[12:48] Taro**
P-Please forgive me, sir!
**[12:50] Taro**
I dozed off and—
**[12:53] Nio**
* I'll get stronger. So strong,*
* no one can argue with me.*
**[12:58] Nio**
*So strong, no one can complain.*
**[13:01] Taro**
N-Nio.
**[13:05] Nio**
Sorry for worrying you.
**[13:08] Nio**
Thank you. I'm fine now.
**[13:12] Taro**
Nio!
**[13:16] Taro**
Thank goodness!
**[13:20] Taro**
I was worried sick about you, jackass!
**[13:21] Nio**
*I'll start with one tatami's worth.*
**[13:28] Okita**
Man, you must be so relieved.
**[13:30] Hijikata**
I... I was never worried!
**[13:32] Kondo**
Aren't you glad?
**[13:34] Hajime**
Damn, that hurts.
**[13:41] Iroha**
*"P.S. Hajime-chan..."*
**[13:44] Iroha**
*"I know my brother will be fine."*
**[13:47] Nio**
Hey!
**[13:48] Iroha**
*"I'm not worried about him."*
**[13:51] Nio**
Hajime-kun!
**[13:53] Taro**
Where the hell have you been?
**[13:58] Nio**
They say our coats are finally ready!
The Miburo uniforms we ordered!
**[14:03] Iroha**
*"After all..."*
**[14:05] Taro**
Hey, how come you're walking funny?
**[14:06] Iroha**
*"...he has people like you by his side."*
**[14:08] Taro**
And you look beat to hell.
**[14:10] Hajime**
Shove it.
**[14:11] Hajime**
Now, let's go get those coats.
**[14:12] Nio**
Not that way, Hajime-kun. It's this way.
**[14:15] Hajime**
I know that!
**[14:17] Old Nagakura**
* In May of 1863, the Choshu domain*
* convinced Shogun Iemochi*
**[14:24] Old Nagakura**
* to swear to "expel the barbarians"*
* in the Emperor's presence.*
**[14:28] Old Nagakura**
* Hearing his promise, Choshu bombarded*
* foreign ships in the Bakan Straits.*
**[14:35] Old Nagakura**
*They dealt a devastating blow.*
**[14:38] Old Nagakura**
*And those chaotic times moved ever faster.*
**[14:44] Kikuchiyo**
So you would have me return to Edo?
**[14:47] Vassal A**
Yes, my lord. War with
foreign powers is now inevitable.
**[14:51] Vassal A**
What could be more vital than returning
to Edo to oversee defense of the bay?
**[14:57] Kikuchiyo**
Very well. Let us do that.
**[15:00] Vassals**
Yes, my lord.
**[15:02] Vassal A**
Whew. Good thing he didn't make a fuss.
**[15:06] Vassal A**
He sure has matured.
**[15:11] Kikuchiyo**
Kagemaru.
**[15:12] Kagemaru**
Here, my lord.
**[15:13] Kikuchiyo**
So, what, they're *done* with me now?!
**[15:15] Kikuchiyo**
Damn Choshu!
**[15:17] Kikuchiyo**
The jackasses actually went and did it!
**[15:20] Kagemaru**
My lord, calm yourself.
**[15:22] Kikuchiyo**
Brainless nobles! Stupid emperor!
**[15:28] Kikuchiyo**
It's the money.
**[15:30] Kagemaru**
Money, my lord?
**[15:32] Kikuchiyo**
Choshu will *obviously* lose!
**[15:35] Kikuchiyo**
And the victors will demand reparations!
**[15:37] Kikuchiyo**
But Choshu won't be able to pay!
**[15:40] Kikuchiyo**
The Shogunate will be forced
to shoulder their debts!
**[15:44] Kikuchiyo**
Well, that's part of what I'm here for.
**[15:48] Kikuchiyo**
But my one regret is for this city of Kyoto.
**[15:52] Kikuchiyo**
Anegakoji has been murdered.
**[15:55] Kikuchiyo**
More and more factions will use
violence to press their claims now.
**[16:00] Kikuchiyo**
Tragedies will become ever more common.
**[16:03] Kagemaru**
On that point,
I think you need have no fear.
**[16:10] Kikuchiyo**
What?
**[16:16] Taro**
Hey, Nio!
**[16:18] Taro**
We have those manju to snack on.
Let's eat 'em already.
**[16:20] Taro**
What? You're *still* going at it?
**[16:23] Okita**
I told him to take a breather,
but look at him go.
**[16:29] Nio**
*I'll just keep swinging and swinging.*
**[16:32] Nio**
*There's nothing else to do.*
**[16:35] Nio**
*I know I'm soft.*
**[16:37] Nio**
* And I know I've gotten away*
* with things because I'm a kid.*
**[16:42] Nio**
*For who? For what?*
**[16:45] Nio**
*For me? For my own self-satisfaction?*
**[16:50] Nio**
*That's good enough.*
**[16:52] Nio**
*I'll take it all the way.*
**[16:56] Okita**
His swing changed.
**[16:58] Okita**
Nio-kun—
**[16:59] Todo**
Hey!
**[17:01] Todo**
Lord Iemochi's going home to Edo.
**[17:08] Harada**
What'll happen to us?
**[17:10] Hajime**
Why should we care?
**[17:12] Yamanami**
Because the Roshigumi originally
came to Kyoto to guard the Shogun.
**[17:19] Taro**
Huh? S-So you're gonna leave?
**[17:21] Taro**
Wh-What'll happen to me?
**[17:23] Todo**
What about Serizawa's bunch?
Can we talk them round?
**[17:29] Nagakura**
I suppose it would make sense
for us to return to Edo as well.
**[17:34] Hijikata**
No.
**[17:36] Hijikata**
Guarding the Shogun is a pretext.
**[17:39] Hijikata**
We follow our own path.
**[17:51] Vassal A**
Make way for His Lordship, the Shogun!
**[18:00] Townsfolk**
It's Lord Iemochi.
**[18:01] Townsfolk**
That's him?
**[18:02] Townsfolk**
He holds himself with
all the dignity you'd expect.
**[18:06] Townsfolk**
He's got some shady guy with him, though.
**[18:09] Vassal A**
His Lordship certainly looks impressive.
**[18:12] Vassal B**
Indeed.
**[18:13] Townsman A**
His Lordship's leaving already?
**[18:16] Townsman A**
Why did he even come here?
**[18:20] Vassal A**
Such insolence! Who said that?
**[18:24] Kikuchiyo**
No mind. Leave him be.
**[18:26] Townsman A**
Ow, ow, ow!
**[18:31] Serizawa**
You got a bit too carried away,
don't you think?
**[18:36] Nio**
Serizawa-san, we shouldn't spoil
the Shogun's procession.
**[18:40] Kikuchiyo**
*Nio.*
**[18:43] Serizawa**
Next time we meet, you're dead.
**[18:47] Vassal A**
Have no fear. He was no rebel,
just a lowly nobody. Pay him no heed.
**[19:07] (Flashback) Nio**
You picked this word, Kondo-san?
***SIGN*** Heart
***SIGN*** Superior
***SIGN*** Justice
***SIGN*** Stylish
***SIGN*** War
***SIGN*** Decisive
***SIGN*** Flame
***SIGN*** Loyalty
***SIGN*** Heaven
**[19:10] (Flashback) Kondo**
Yes. I chose it from the ones you wrote.
**[19:14] (Flashback) Kondo**
The times may twist,
but our lives will go straight ahead.
**[19:17] (Flashback) Kondo**
That's our way.
**[19:21] (Flashback) Kondo**
And yours.
**[19:24] Kagemaru**
They originally came to Kyoto
to guard Your Lordship,
**[19:28] Kagemaru**
but for the present, they aim
to improve law and order here.
**[19:34] Kagemaru**
Sure enough, they've chosen to remain.
So this city, at least, will be safe.
**[19:43] Kikuchiyo**
I see. They'll be here, then.
**[19:47] Kagemaru**
Yes, my lord.
**[19:52] (Flashback) Kikuchiyo**
What is the way of the sword to you?
**[19:57] (Flashback) Kikuchiyo**
Tell me your answer when we meet again.
**[20:02] Kikuchiyo**
*Nio, is that your answer?*
***SIGN*** Sincerity
**[20:14] Taro**
*He's changed.*
**[20:16] Taro**
* I can't put my finger on it,*
* but something seems different.*
**[20:21] Okita**
*I can tell.*
**[20:22] Okita**
*No doubt everyone can.*
**[20:25] Okita**
*Even you.*
**[20:29] Okita**
*And you.*
**[20:32] Okita**
*And all of you.*
**[20:42] Boy A**
How do you like this?
**[20:44] Boy B**
You'll never beat me!
**[20:45] Boy A**
Ow!
**[20:46] Boy A**
Don't hit for real!
**[20:48] Boy B**
Aw, come on. Don't be a wimp.
**[20:55] Old Nagakura**
* When a boy loses something,*
* he becomes a man.*
**[21:01] Old Nagakura**
* He can only know that feeling by*
* experiencing and overcoming it firsthand.*
**[21:23] Kikuchiyo**
I'm counting on you!
**[21:27] Vassal A**
My lord?
***SIGN*** Sincerity
**[21:41] Nio**
We won't let you down.
***SIGN*** The Blue Oath