Misunderstood

Long time ago, in the Tokugawa era, in Kyoto, there was a leader named Yamanami Keisuke. Yamanami was a kind heart man, favored by many. He was a second vice commander of Shinsengumi, a group of Kyoto guardian samurai. The first was Hijikata Toshizo, and the chief commander was Kondo Isami. Unlike Yamanami, Hijikata was fierce and cold blooded known as "The Devil of Shinsengumi" so arguments always raised between them.

That time was time of war. Shinsengumi who was supporting Shogun Tokugawa was in preparation of attacking Choshu group. Therefore strict rules were made for security reason. Hijikata said whoever broke the rule had to commit seppuku (samurai suicide). Yamanami protested but Kondo agreed to Hijikata's decision.

At the end, because of his softheartedness, Yamanami felt he was not fully belong to the Shinsengumi. He was felt not fit to the group. His heart was in doubt. One night, when he visited a place, he overheard a conversation of two people whose voice similar to Kondo and Hijikata. They said,

"Sannan... had enough troubles... we should eliminate him..." Hearing that he was downhearted and thinking of running away.

Yamanami did run away from Shinsengumi. Everybody was in panic. Okita Soji, the teenage captain of Shinsengumi who happened to be his close friend succeeded in finding him and managed to bring him back.

In front of Kondo and Hijikata, Yamanami quoted the conversation he overheard between Kondo and Hijikata. They both surprised. Kondo said,

"My goodness Sannan... Why did you say like that?"

Yamanami's heart freezed. Why such a face? Did they talk about someone else? Did I too quick to draw a conclusion? Yamanami had made a wrong conclusion! Yamanami's eyes saddened, he knew whatever the reason was, the end would never be changed. Yamanami declared that he was going to commit seppuku as his punishment. Hijikata's face began to tense, and he gave a sword to Yamanami,

"This is your soul when you're a samurai. Use this for the last time." Suddenly Sannan raised and attack Hijikata, but Soji quickly stabbed Sannan from the back. Yamanami cried and held Hijikata's arm tightly, tears flowed from his eyes headed to Hijikata's face,

"See the result of your teaching, you will kill whoever show his fang to you even if it is your friend... I only can stop by doing things you hate. Regret it... don't make more regrets..."

Chief Kondo's head went down. He wept. He couldn't stand the scene anymore and ordered Soji to quickly cut Yamanami's head. On the February 23rd, in the second year of Genji, Yamanami died in age 33, in front of his best friend, Hijikata. A secret incident only witnessed by several member of Shinsengumi.

The Devil of Shinsengumi stared without a twinkling of an eye. His head dropped down. His friend's blood was all over him. Chief Kondo asked him to clean himself quickly. Hijikata softly asked as he looked to Yamanami's sword, "Takemitsu, is your sword so heavy?" He dropped his face down, nearly touched the ground.

An interpretation from "Peacemaker Kurogane" volume 2 by Nanae Chrono.