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This is the page for Hijikata Toshizou's relationships with the members of Shinsengumi. Sometimes they think he's a hardass, sometimes they think he's an overly doting mother, sometimes, they even think he's annoying. Despite all this, his men love and respect him. I've chosen to include only the people he seems closest too. In fact, I could type of stuff for every character in the game, but, I chose to avoid that because the particular characters I've chosen highlight very specific traits of Hijikata's personality.
Kondou Isami
The Chief of the ShinsengumiKondou is the person that Hijikata respects the most. I get the idea that Kondou seems to be more like a big brother or dad to most of the members. In fact, I feel like Kondou is the less strict and softer side to the Shinsengumi. I feel that Hijikata and Sanan live to make all of Kondou's hopes and dreams for the Shinsengumi come true. I believe that while Kondou is the one with the dream, Hijikata is the one that works to see it fulfilled. I think this is only in part due to Hijikata sharing a similar dream. I believe that Kondou is charming and charismatic and that his dream draws others to him. I also believe that Kondou does not have the knowledge or backbone to always follow through on those dreams. Hijikata provides a nice balance to Kondou's optimistic idealism. Hijikata is a practical realist and I believe that both men offer a nice rounded (grounded) base within the group. Only with both does it actually run smoothly. In addition, Hijikata often mentions that the things Kondou does causes him trouble, but I always thought of it as being something brotherly. In fact, without Kondou, Hijikata loses his drive to move forward. He still carries on the dream of the Shinsengumi, but he is visibly shaken and depressed about the loss of his friend.
Sanan Keisuke
The Colenel of the ShinsengumiSanan is an interesting character. Early in the game he is shown a very capable swordsman. Very early he loses the ability to use his sowrd arm after an injury and considers himself "invalid". After Itou joins, Hijikata defends Sanan stating that he is an irreplaceable member of the Shinsengumi. This is one of the few times that Hijikata loses his calm and control. He relies greatly on Sanan's tactics and input. Despite the fact that the two argue constantly about their views, they have a deep understanding. In many stories, Hijikata is worried about the work that Sanan is doing with the Furies. He even starts to doubt that Sanan has the best interests of the Shinsengumi at heart. However, in Sendai after Yukimura is taken, Sanan helps to eradicate every last fury so that they are no longer a worry to Hijikata. Sanan does this at the cost of his own life force. He simply believed that if he wanted to fool his enemies, he also had to fool his friends. Sanan was a very calculating individual and someone that Hijikata relied on greatly. The truth became all too clear to Hijikata - everything Sanan did was for the glory, respect, and growth of the Shinsengumi.
Okita Souji
The stubborn childOkita and Hijikata grew up together. The best way to describe their relationship (for me) is to consider Okita the spoiled little brother. One thing I'd like to point out is that Hijikata was a medicine peddler before he joined Kondou. This is relevant because Okita later develops tuberculosis. Although Okita keeps it a secret, Hijikata's family devepoled a medicinal powder that Okita is forced to drink to help with his coughs and weakness. Hijikata goes to great lengths to keep him well, makes him stay home, and tries to get him in good health. This annoys Okita but he understands that Hijikata wants what is best for the Shinsengumi.
The thing that strains their relationship is Okita's unbreakable admiration for Kondou. Okita respects Kondou more than anyone else and when Kondou is invovled he can be quite blind to the things happening around him. When things go awry, he blames Hijikata for not being demonic enough and for being downright incapable of doing something. However, this is not because he hates Hijikata. In fact, he cherishes Hijikata and understands why he does the things he does. But it is because he understands him so well that he absolutely has to rely on him. It is only through Okita's story that he comes to truly understand the sacrifices that Hijikata has to make.
Yamazaki Susumu
The loyal reminderYamazaki if very strict. He follows Hijikata's orders without fail. He is initially asked to find informatoin about Dr. Kodo. He has medical training and often cares for the Shinsengumi members. He is invaluable to Hijikata's information network. When Hijikata becomes a fury, he scolds him for not relying more on the Shinsengumi stating that he takes on too much and that they cannot afford to lose him. He tells Hijikata that as the head of the Shinsengumi he carries everything about their ideals and goals. Yamazaki believes that Hijikata is irreplaceable. These are his last words to Hijikata. His message always lingers within Hijikata's mind and is the reason he later forms friendships with others and relies on others more.
Nagakura Shinpachi
The stubborn loud-mouthShinpachi would probably be the last person to include within Hijikata's relationships list for most people. I've actually included Shinpachi becuase of his attitude in his "Shinpachi Days of Past" Mini stories. He breaks rules and curfew after Itou joins because he feels that Hijikata is being much to harsh on the "old members" of the Shinsengumi. He rebels because he feels he has no way to express his thoughts and opinions. However, through Yukimura's assistance and empathy, Shinpachi approaches Hijikata and talks to him about being a slave-driving hard ass. This is important for two reasons. One, Hijikata knows he's being too hard on his guys. Two, he has no way to even it out becuase if he does, his guys wil look as though they got their positions through nepotism. Before explaining this to Shinpachi, however, he apologizes. This stuns Shinpachi who tells Hijikata that if he had yelled or told him to straigten up he would have just left. Instead, the two share a dialogue and come to an understanding. This is important for me because Hijikata is quite aware of the way he behaves but cannot often act in a different way. Perhaps Hijikata and Shinpachi are not he closest but I feel that they share a mutual trust and respect. In fact, despite that mutual trust and respect they can be stubborn and inarticulate hwich just says how well they know each other.
Otori Keisuke
The New CommanderOtori seeks out Hijikata after Kondou's death. After the Shinsengumi and shogunate have lost many battles, Otori finds Hijikata and offers him a spot within his own army. At first the two class because they have differing ideas on how to best handle things. Otori lacks combat experience and requests Hijikata's support. He disagrees with Hijikata's recklessness but puts up with it because he admires the samurai spirit. In fact, it is through Otori that Yukimura is reunited with Hijikata after he leaves her. Otori realizes that Yukimura is important to Hijikata and that she needs to be around. He is actually two years older than Hijikata, but he tends to have a more youthful and outgoing personality. He and Hijikata become friends through a shared goal. He also tells Hijikata that he is not allowed to do reckless things because they need him. This is an echo of Yamazaki's last words to Hijikata. Over all, I feel that through Otori's stubborn kindness, Hijikata is able to find a little of what he lost.
Kazama Chikage
The Demon RivalKazama and Hijikata have a love hate relationship. They love to hate each other. In fact, Hijikata serves as a main protector for Yukimura. This becomes part of Kazama's drive. For as much as Hijikata wants to protect Yukimura, Kazama wants to make the Shinsengumi suffer. He is constantly pushing the members, most often prodding Hijikata into battle and then belitting him on being inferior. It is through much hardship and determination that Hijikata finally defeats Kazama and earns the demon name Hakuoki.
Hijikata is known as the Demon of the Shinsengumi. This is something that Kazama comments on but the fact is that Hijikata is still mortally human. Even after becoming a fury, he is still not a "true demon". After sustaining a cut to the face (which healed quickly) Kazama makes it a point to seek out Hijikata for revenge. He does this to the point of ignoring his clan. This annoys Hijikata and is eventually what drives him to plunge a sword into Kazama's heart. His strict determination, nothing to lose attitude finally beats Kazama and he acknowledges Hijikata's demon prowess. At that point, I think the only thing that mattered to Hijikata was not being a demon, but stopping Kazama so that Yukimura could live happily. Demon or not, he was going to clear a path for her happiness. He had nothing else to lose. The Shinsengumi was gone, he was dying, they didn't have a home to return too. The only things he had left were his sword and Yukimura. He'd die before anything happened to her and that's part of what prompts the final battle anyways.