Going Home to Paradise

I am Serizawa Kamo...

I have walked through the streets of Mito, Edo and Kyoto...

Not turning back, always moving forward...

My past is not a ghost that haunts,

but the pain is real and regrets more so.

I remember a time when I thought the world was mine...

But naïve was I, one man cannot kill a world full of grime.

I will survive, with the help of spirits, my sword and my woman...

Let others concern themselves of altruism, I will not worry for no one.

As I sit in this dark room, watching her face,

waiting for death my heart starts to race.

I remember some friends, should I say one or two.

Those who I thought naïve, those who I threw

away from myself, afraid they might become,

as vixen as my heart, salvation was not something even I could afford.

This dragon will lose to the hands of others,

to the hands of strangers by consent of my only so-called friend.

I should be enraged but instead I feel an indifferent calm,

Had I been asking for this all along?

They come for me, their swords glistening.

Four of them swinging madly through the air their swords humming.

It must be human nature to defend oneself,

I am not afraid to lose my life but losing without a fight...

that's just plain disgusting!

A sharp pain I feel to my side, I glance down to see a trace of red.

I smile, then I laugh... It is much better to be dead!

Another sword strikes my chest and I feel no air.

I look around, I meet his eyes, the one who heard my call of death.

I smirk as I fall. He stands at the corner,

taking off his mask running to me, he shudders.

"Yarou. It would've been better if you did it yourself... but this is good enough."

His eyes wide as I scorn him in jest.

It is funny... I have one more breath...

But I see my life, my friends, my home in Mito...

Makoto ne?

I die in peace.

Notes: Serizawa Kamo was also the Chief Commander of the Shinsengumi. He eventually ended up becoming a real problem for the Shinsengumi because of his illegal activies. He was ambushed/assasinated by the Shinsengumi with the consent of Kondou Isami.