Like Snow

Izumi and Okita have their long awaited duel as Ran looks on in horror. Eventually Izumi overpowers Okita and because of his illness the youngman dies in Izumi's arms. But before he passes on he explains to Izumi how he was happy to have died fighting him and even asks a favour of him. Izumi is to deliver a message to Hijikata and fulfil the promise they made just as he fulfilled the promise to Okita. As such Izumi buries his friend and heads off in search of Hijikata. Ran however cannot accept Okita's death and knowing that she could never hope to defeat Izumi in battle she decideds to follow him in the hope that one day she will have a chance to kill him.