Ryoko's first piece "The Death Of Heisuke Todo"

Author's Note

Oneof the people I respect the most is Heisuke Todo. I really like him. I even wish he was in this current world. He is not so famous as other people from Shinsengumi. I want many people to know him. 

He died when he was about 23. His life was very short. But he did what he wanted to do. 

He is known as a "Sakigake-sensi", which means people who never hesitate to go somewhere. As this shows, he was so brave.

Thanks to Jun, Shoto and Mark, I developed this piece.

The Death of Heisuke Todo 

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Heisuke Todo was amember of SHinsengumi. But he left and became a member of Goryoeji. Gryoeji had some troubles with Shinsengumi. And Shinsengumi tried to kill them.
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“I will go there!”

“No, you don’t!”


Heisuke knew that some members of Shinsengumi were there, but he was not able to stop going there.


“Leave me alone, I’ll go!”

The veins on his face stood out.

Heisuke heard that Ito was killed and he tried to carry him somewhere safe.
Ito was his boss and he respected him. They were from the same dojo, and they had been practicing Japanese swords together. Now Ito was Heisuke’s boss and was respected by Heisuke.
There was no way to stop Heisuke.

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“It is a pity that Heisuke, such a nice swordsman will be killed.”

Isami Kondo said in a low voice.

Isami Kondo did not want to kill Heisuke because he was a good swordsman, he was like his child or something to Isami. So, Isami told some members of Shinsengumi not to kill Heisuke. 

No one said anything.

The sound of the wind echoed.

“Alright, I will not kill him. I will try to let him escape.”

Shinpachi broke the silence.
Shinpachi Nagakura, who was a friend with Heisuke got how Isami felt and knew what he should do.

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Heisuke went with some members of Goryoeji.


“Hey, they finally came.”
“Yeah, so now we go and kill them.”

Some members of Shinsengumi wainting there saw Heisuke and other were there.




“Let’s go...”


They went to kill Goryoeji.



Heisuke and others drew their swords.
The number of members from Shinsengumi was much larger.
Some members of Goryoeji were dying and some already died.
Heisuke was injured but still alive.


Heisuke found Shinpachi Nagakura in the battle.


Shinpachi had made a path for escape, and he told it to Heisuke through the eye contact.


‘Ah, I know what Shinpachi is trying to do.Thanks for your kindness, but I won’t escape.’


Heisuke got it, but he ignored it. He continued to fight. 

The battle was to be end.

A lot of blood on Heisuke's face. It was contrast to his fair skin.

One enemy cut Heisuke down slantwise from his shoulder.

A sharp pain struck his back.

Vivid red blood spread out.

He turn around. He had his sword at the ready.

Blood was dribbling down from the wound.

He looked at the man vacantly.

He tried to make a pass.

His body lurched.

One of the Shinsengumi members found the chance and cut down Heisuke from the top of the head to the nose.

The blood spouted out. It stained the sky and rain of the blood fell.

It dropped onto the red camellia.

Which red is his blood? Which red is the camellia?

Like the camellia which has unstudied beauty, Heisuke lived.

Heisuke's life was short.

He was looking for the way that he had to go.

He was never misled by anyone. He went the way he believed.