Two weeks have past and
Tomoe is still residing at the Kohagi Inn. While resting
in his room, Battousai is interrupted by Tomoe, who asks
if he can leave, since she has to clean at the request
of Mrs. Okami. Battousai gets up to to exit, but notices
a blank book nearby. Tomoe reaches out for it at puts
it away in her clothing. The book is Tomoe's diary, and
she prefers Himura not to read it.
Battousai heads downstairs
and is met by Iizuka, who delivers him a black envelope.
Every time a black envelope is given to the hitokiri,
bloody rain falls. Later that night, when Battousai returns
to the inn to wash his hands clean of the blood of Bakufu
members he killed, Tomoe walks in and questions if he
enjoys assassinating.
Katsura, Katagai, and Iizuka
meet in the busy streets near a small restaurant. Trying
not to make their conversation obvious, Iizuka reports
to Katsura that Tomoe is not the spy they're after. What
was dug up about Tomoe's past has no evidence that she
can be one. Iizuka calls Tomoe a stray cat, but mentions
that since Battousai and Tomoe's meeting, there have been
reports of Battousai's sword skills decreasing.
Tomoe is visited by Katsura
sometime later. After he introduces himself to her, Katsura
explains the role of Battousai, how he is the forefront
of fulfilling harsh roles by going mad not to hate such
justice for the sake of a new era. With Katsura's insight
finished, Tomoe asks if the head of the Choshuu Clan is
hinting at her to take upon a role. Katsura denies it;
he claims to have just come to inform Tomoe.
The next day, after another
night's work, Battousai rests on the windowsill in his
room. Tomoe walks in and stares at the hitokiri. In his
sleep, he still looks like a young boy. Tomoe readies
to cover Battousai with her shawl, but he wakes up immediately.
In a few seconds, Battousai's blade finds its way near
Tomoe's throat. Realizing what he almost did, Battousai
shoves Tomoe away and sheathes his sword. He apologizes
to her for his reactions. Tomoe covers Battousai's lap
with her shawl, now that he's awake. As she does so, Tomoe
tells Battousai that she will be with him for a while,
as he needs a sheath to suppress the madness. With his
head bowed down, Battousai brings up the question Tomoe
asked a few days ago - what would happen if she had a
sword in her hand on the night it rained blood upon her.
The answer is no; Battousai says he'll never kill her,
ever.
