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September 30, 1878 - Monday
Ayunee opens her new shop for ladies, with Yagi Hide’s help.
Megumi has her own “girl-problems”, first at the hairdresser and then at the hotel with the matchmaker.
Aoshi and Omasu talk over Aoshi’s plans for the future of the Oniwabanshuu in Tokyo. He wants to send Misao to school and open a bookstore as HQ.
Saitou never went home, so when Chou blows into town with his cigarettes, he misses the boss, but the boss sees him. Kamatari reports in and Saitou visits Enishi in jail. Enishi agrees to identify some of his former arms dealer connections – the ones who might hurt Enishi. Saitou took Tomoe’s journal, which was in Enishi’s possession and takes it elsewhere for safekeeping – along with other things he does not trust in his locked office.
Okita goes to the Akebeko for breakfast and chats with Tsubame.
Kenshin & Kaoru go visit the moneylenders who lent her the money to rebuild the dojo after Jinchuu. As a result, Kenshin and Sano go see Chief Uramura to seek high paid employment as bodyguards for Meiji Politicians to help pay off the debt. Uramura agrees to release Enishi to Kenshin, who gets him a longhouse by Sano’s – which doesn’t necessarily please Sanosuke.
Both Chou and Sano stop in at Ayunee’s new shop for a look-see. Okita comes in and Yagi Hide’s eyes turn into hearts. Okita is pleased to see Hide, but that doesn’t stop him from having a heart to heart with Kamatari. They share a kiss and some of their secrets – but not all of them.
Tsubame visits with Misao and Omasu at the dojo – finds Saizou III under the engawa. Where is Yahiko? Good question. He’s finally turns up – he forgot to got to work at the Akebeko! Speaking of find, Kaoru finds the money Aoshi left for her and saves it to pay off the debts. She’s still thrilled that Aoshi liked her miso. Counting everyone who tried to eat it, that makes one.
Ayu enrolls Shinichi in the Kamiya Dojo – another thrill for Kaoru! Ayu and Hide have a nice dinner at home, and Ayu shows Hide the secret room and escape passage. Shinichi misses his dad. (Awww…) Okita sent Yahiko and Kaoru a message, but Sano gave it to Kenshin first. Okita has a proposal for Kaoru and tells Yahiko to keep his shinai ready!
Saitou takes Kamatari SHOPPING! Kamatari’s necklace is stolen by a street urchin, and Saitou, ever a soft touch for young boys buys Shoda soba and puts him on the Saitou personal payroll – at the cost of his own soba.
Saitou receives a report about the murder of Watanabe Shoga and his black cat three years ago. Watanabe had drug connections, so when Chou comes to report, Saitou tells him to find out what Megumi and Aoshi were doing at Enishi’s shack, and to see what kind of connections they have with each other. Actually, we should all be interested in that, since Aoshi just kissed Megumi.
Chou investigates and finds some suspicious looking needles and other items of an innocent nature, expect in his twisted mind. Before he can investigate further, he comes across his old buddy Anji! They go back to Chou’s and chat.
Aoshi slept most of the day, is recovering from Gein’s poison and goes to see Megumi – for an up close and personal chat. Now he feels MUCH better. Or maybe he FEELS much better. Nevermind.
Okita goes home to be fussed over by Aunt Aki and Chiri-chan. He gets some sleep, then it’s off to the outskirts of Yoshiwara to kill Soruma, a bounty hunter and former member of the Shinsengumi. Soruma, one of Harada’s men, had betrayed him. Okita “helps” him commit seppuku. He slashes a wall hanging of a black cat in Soruma’s shack and uses Soruma’s blood to write “One and Three are next” with his left hand. Then it’s time to go home to get some more sleep – justice for the Shinsengumi accomplished for the night. (Harada was the 10th Captain of the Shinsengumi)
Saitou’s on the scene…doing his usual tampering with the evidence, heh. He collects Soruma’s Shinsengumi haori and the remains of the black cat banner - for evidence, I’m sure.
September 29, 1878 - Sunday
Takasugi Shinsaku makes a brief appearance, whereabouts unknown.
At the Gensai Clinic, Aoshi tells Misao he wants her to learn many things, she promised to do her best. Aoshi is disoriented, but clean. They decide to go back to the dojo. Kenshin tries to give Aoshi’s kodachis to Megumi, but Aoshi wants them back. He and Kenshin discuss it, and Kenshin gives them back and agrees to take Misao shopping for warm clothes. Kaoru is teaching at the Maekawa Dojo and Yahiko is working at the Akebeko.
Hiko Seijuro arrives in Tokyo to grace us all with his presence. He had a brief chat with Okita, met Kamatari and Soujiro and was spied on by Yahiko.
Yagi Hidejiro, now in her kimono as Yagi Hide, meets Saitou on her way to Ayunee’s. He tells her Okita is alive and her little heart goes pitter-patter. He assigned Kamatari to find someone to help her and bring in Enishi, but she forgot – hey! She looked great! Besides, she met Seta Soujiro who was just wandering into Tokyo. Kamatari offers him a place to stay.
Ayunee and Shinichi arrive back in Tokyo and work on getting her new shop ready to open. Yagi Hide comes to stay with her – wondering how she can meet Okita.
Sano, Megumi, Misao and Kenshin go shopping and buy Misao a new cloak. Saitou is shopping for Tokio’s anniversary present and buys 2 kimonos. He gives one to Misao, much to everyone’s surprise. Megumi buys her an extra one just in case Aoshi’s not too pleased with that. Kamatari, Okita and Soujiro walk by, but do not talk with any of Kenshin’s group, or with Saitou. Kamatari & Souji discuss Battousai while Sou-chan smiles a lot.
Saitou and Okita have dinner at the Akebeko and Saitou tells him he chipped his sword burying the cat. He (actually Tokio!) invites Souji home to meet the family. Okita goes off to Yoshiwara instead of home to his Aunt Aki and his ward, Chiri-chan. He meets Miyuki-san, his Geisha friend from Kyoto.
At the Dojo, Aoshi receives a package from Okina. He seems to be planning something for Misao without her knowledge. Misao shows him her purchases and he slices the kimono from Saitou. Yes, Aoshi is still delusional. Kenshin makes dinner for everyone and Aoshi seems to be slipping into even more weirdness. He goes to his room without eating, to work on his mysterious “project”, but his thirst drives him to the well. Megumi finds him. Saitou, on his way back from capturing Enishi, stops by the dojo and watches. Aoshi discovers he was poisoned during his fight with Gein.
Megumi gives Gein’s poison to Saitou for examination and treats Aoshi with topical sulphur. Kaoru, Sano and Yahiko make enough boiled water for an army, and first Misao and then Omasu watch over the finally recovering Aoshi.
Megumi goes home to sleep only to find that Dr. Gensai has set her up with a matchmaker.
Fujita goes back to the station to have the poison analyzed and entertains himself by questioning Kamatari’s loyalty while awaiting the results. He then sends a note to Megumi with the results. When she receives it, she freaks and goes back to the Dojo to check on Aoshi. He’s not any worse, so she tells Fujita his results are wrong and goes back home to get what little sleep she can.
Kenshin and Kaoru spend the late evening talking about the dojo finances.
September 28, 1878 - Saturday
At the Kamiya Dojo: Himura Kenshin, Kamiya Kaoru, Myojin Yahiko, Shinimori Aoshi, Makimaki Misao. Omasu arrives from Kyoto at Aoshi’s request. Aoshi is acting erratic, fights with Megumi and leaves the dojo followed by Misao. Megumi leaves for the clinic without anyone knowing, Yahiko goes to work at the Akebeko. Aoshi becomes more despondent and jumps in the river. Misao freaks and is kept from jumping in after him by Fujita Goro, who puts her in a carriage back to the Kamiya Dojo.
Saitou is keeping his Tokio (an arranged marriage) 2 boys and Eiji sequestered in a highly secret location: his house. He meets with Kamatari, who works for him in her very best kimono.
Yukishiro Enishi fishes Aoshi out of the river and takes him back to his shack in the woods. He takes pity on Aoshi’s weakened condition – and doesn’t want to be blamed for his death, so he goes to the Gensai clinic and kidnaps Megumi.
Okita Soji arrives in town looking for the Kamiya Dojo – or any dojo? Unknown – he didn’t make it there yet – but did meet Misao and tell her he was looking for it. He meets his old friend Saitou. They are still friends, but Okita is dismayed that Saitou is working for the Meiji Gov. as Fujita. Okita, the big flirt, meets and admires Kamatari.
Meanwhile, back at the dojo, Misao is delivered by the carriage and asks Sano and Omasu to help her look for Aoshi. Yamazaki Ayumu (Ayunee, who is moving into a little shop near Yoshiwara) comes to the dojo with roses to visit her old friend Shin-san (Kenshin). Kenshin says hi to Ayunee on his way running off to the clinic since Megumi is missing. She’s also missing from the clinic, so he goes to Saitou for help.
Saitou and Kenshin follow Enishi’s trail to his shack (followed by Kamatari), find Megumi in bad shape, Aoshi in worse shape, and Enishi escaped. (After giving the first kiss of the game to Aoshi!) Aoshi, delusional, was torturing Megumi with a needle. Aoshi is feverish and wielding a knife. Saitou decides it’s not police business and splits. Kamatari splits. Aoshi agrees to go to the clinic and Megumi and Kenshin escort him there, meeting Sano, Omasu and Misao on the way. Once they meet up, Kenshin leaves to go back and fix Enishi’s door (which he busted down) and leave him a note saying he will help him if he’s trying to atone.
Yahiko goes to the bamboo field to practice and meets Souji – who inquires about the dojo. Yagi Hidejiro, a mysterious figure, comes to Tokyo seeking a desire of the heart. (Aren’t we all?) Ayunee goes to pick up all her remaining belongings and a very cute Shinichi! (her son)
Misao & Omasu bunk in with Megumi at the clinic. Aoshi continues to have delusions, indulges in Ikebana, and is unhappy that Kenshin has his kodachis. Dr. Gensai treats Megumi’s wound, but Aoshi applies a better treatment later.
Kenshin goes back to the dojo and tells Kaoru the most basic facts about Jinchuu. She did not know since she was kidnapped.
Okita sneaks out in the night to kill Toujirou Akita, one of the men he blames for the death Kondou Isami, the head of the Shinsengumi. He also kills a black cat leaving it outside in a blanket, then he sets fire to the house and goes back home to sleep. Fujita is called to investigate and finds it is the house of a mid-level Meiji bureaucrat. He takes the cat with him to the police station.