Yukimura Chizuru travels from Edo to the capital, Kyoto, searching for her missing father; once there, she's nearly attacked by a monster who is thirsting for blood; the monster, a rasetsu, is slain by a group of men feared as assassins.

After learning of a plan to attack the Shinsengumi Command Post, Hijikata and the others decide to raid a meeting of Imperial Loyalists, which include men from Choushuu.

Under orders from Sannan Keisuke, Chizuru races to deliver a message to Hijikata and his men; Kondo's squad charges into Ikedaya where Imperial Loyalists are holding a meeting.

With the raid on Ikedaya, the Shinsengumi's fame soars overnight; while on a recruiting trip in Edo, Kondo and the others speak to Ito Kashitaro, who then joins the Shinsengumi; Kondo admires Ito, but the other men harbor more complicated reactions.

Sannan has been using materials left behind by Kodo to continue to try to improve the medicine in secret; he drinks the medicine and transforms into something which is no longer human.

Within the Shinsengumi, distrust of Ito's faction increases; Nagakura Shinpachi's irritation with Hijikata for not saying anything grows.