After Hijikata grows suspicious of Soji's feelings about Sei, he reassigns Sei to the thirdtroop under Saito's command. Soji, puzzled by his own recent irrational behavior toward Sei,attempts to distance himself from her. Sei, in turn, interprets this as Soji's realization of herfeelings for him and decides that she can no longer serve as a bushi alongside him. She goes to visit Suigetsuni, a nun who knew Sei in her former life as a girl, to discuss renouncing theworld and entering the convent!

(W/A) Taeko Watanabe Posing as a man, Sei trains with the Shinsengumi and does her best to survive the turbulent times. Although she can see that former councilor Ito Koshitaro is manipulating the Shinsengumi for his own purposes, its leadership is slow to respond. Meanwhile, Nakamura Goro-an Ito sympathizer and hopeless romantic-takes it upon himself to try to "rescue" Sei! Unfortunately for Goro, a tender relationship has developed between Sei and Assistant Vice Captain Soji, the only Shinsengumi member who knows her secret!