Serizawa Kamo

a not so famous but important person in the Shinsengumi.

Born in the 13th year of Bunsei (1830), he was the third child of Serizawa Sadamoto. called Tatsutoshi as a child he was later known as Mitsumoto. He had two older brothers and an older sister. according to Yagi Tamesaburou he was a stout person with palish skin and narrow eyes.

He was taught Kenjutsu by Togazaki Kumatarou of Shintou Munen Ryuu, and attainged the Menkyo Kaiden level, which is the highest a swordsmen can go meaning he mastered the style in all possible aspects including the ougi. after this he came to serve Takeda Kouunsai, a man from the Loyalty Party. Takeda formed a party called the Tengu party. he changed his name here to Kimura Tsuguji and commanded a large contingent of men, some say as many as 300. While dicussing something with his subortinates he became wild with rage and quickly killed them by beheading them with his katana. he walked to a near by shirne where he ripped open a large taiko drum declaring that it was way too big.

Now at this time the Tengu party was a big pain for the bakufu and because of this disturbance Serizawa at the time known as Kimura Tsuguji, was arrested and put in jail at Edo for interrogation. He explained that the inccident at the shrine was due to "the fervour he devoted to the gods and had lost his mind". However he couldn't explain the three murders and was sentenced to death. while in prison he decided that his time was over. biting open his finger he wrote his death poem. just before he was to be killed a message came that Kiyokawa Hachirou was looking for strong ronin to join his group, and that all prisoners that would join this group would be pardoned. this group a "roshigumi" was to serve as bodygaurds for the Shogun. Taking back his old name of serizawa he joined the group with several of men from the Tengu party the most prominate being Nimi Nishiki.

Soon after leaving Edo Kondo Isami a then ordinary soldier of the 6th unit was helping to find lodging for the Roshigumi. only Serizawa was left out because Kondo had accidentily forgotten about him. Both Ikeda and Kondo apologized over and over but he took no notice and said that since had no where to stay that he would just make a fire outside to keep warm. he gathered as much wood as he could find an started a huge fire in the court. all the farmers couldnt sleep rather the where on the roof of the building pouring water on it to keep it from burning down the town. soon the officer stationed at the town came running. angered Serizawa took his iron fan and knocked the man down. Kondo apologized as humbly as he could and eventually convinced Serizawa to put out the fire so they could all sleep in comfort.

The Roshigumi reached Kyoto in Feburary of the 3rd year of the Bunkyuu are (1863). Kondo and his men were stationed in the same quarters as Serizawa and his men. that following day Kiyokawa gave a speech to all the men that they werent to protect the Shogun Tokugawa but instead to serve the Emporer under the the phrase "Sonnou Joui" ("Reverence to the Emperor and Expulsion of the Foreigners"). when he ordered the whole Roshigumi back to Edo. Kondo, Serizawa and both their troops refused to return declaring it treason. a battle almost erupted bewteen the two factions but in the end Serizawa and Kondo and as many as 22 other men stayed in Kyoto.

This excpert is from the book "Moeyo Ken" (Burn, Oh sword) (Watsuki-Sensei's "bible") so this part is fictional.

"The Bakufu was very worried about the Roushigumi and Kiyokawa Hachirou. No wonder: they had given birth to their own nemesis. Many people were planning how to kill Kiyokawa, who had named his new Roushigumi as Shinchougumi. One day, Sotojima Kiheh, an Aizu diplomat at the Kyoto Shugoshoku, called Serizawa Kamo, Kondou Isami and Hijikata Toshizou for a meeting. When they were leaving, Sotojima called Kondou and said "I leave the letter "Ki" in your hands", making it plain clear that he ordered Kiyokawa to be murdered.
Kiyokawa Hachirou went everyday to a place called "Gakushuuin", where court nobles met to discuss and lay plans against the Bakufu. But they had no idea about politics, so they were easy prey for the "Sonjouroushi", the ronins who preached the motto "Reverence to the Emperor and Expulsion of the Foreigners" and Kiyokawa was one of them.
Hijikata analysed the paths Kiyokawa took to get there. And he admired Kiyokawa, because every day Kiyokawa took a diferent way, fearing an attack of assassins. But eventually Hijikata found a place Kiyokawa always had to pass. Fortunately, there was an empty house there, and Hijikata called Serizawa and Kondou, telling that and suggesting to hide there to kill Kiyokawa.
Hijikata told Serizawa that the murder had to be at night and swift, before people recognized them. Furthermore, few people could join the murder group. Serizawa said a bored "yes, I know that".
There were only four people assigned for the task: Kondou Isami, Serizawa Kamo, Hijikata Toshizou and Niimi Nishiki. None other knew the murder plan, not even their friends/comrades. Hijikata divided them in two groups: one, with Kondou and Niimi and the other with Hijikata and Serizawa. They would take turns in the empty house. And the reason of this division was that, in case a group managed to kill Kiyokawa, both of the groups (Kondou group and Serizawa group) would have the credits. And so the trap was set.
But Kiyokawa was a very smart man. He went always with some men around him as bodyguards and he never walked at night. Even Kondou couldn't help feeling desperate. Serizawa often felt an impulse to kill Kiyokawa in broad daylight, but Hijikata held him back every time.
At last, one day the chance came. It was already night and Kiyokawa wasn't back from the Gakushuuin. Serizawa was calmly urinating, as Hijikata saw a group coming. "There's Kiyokawa", he said.
"Let me see", said Serizawa. And while peering, he laughed, "Four people." They were Kiyokawa Hachirou, Ishizaka Shuuzou, Ikeda Tokutarou and Matsuno Kenji. Every one of these people were strong enough to open a kenjutsu dojo.
"Hijikata, let me kill Kiyokawa", asked Serizawa.
"Fine, I'll take care of his acolytes. But slay him with a single blow and don't tell them your name."
"You bore me."
Serizawa covered his face with a black mask and so did Hijikata.
"Let's go, Hijikata."
Serizawa ran, wielding his sword. Toshizou ran soon after, wielding his famous sword Izuminokami Kanesada.
"What's going on?", wondered the four people, stopping to see the two black figures running on their direction and one of them was making a terrible noise when running.
(Serizawa, you idiot.), thought an enraged Hijikata.
But the Kiyokawa party was rather calmed down due to such noise. Ishizaka even asked, "What, is there a fire somewhere?"
But Kiyokawa was a very witful man. He told his men, "Gather your lamps and put them on the ground. Now let's retreat two or three steps. And let's wait." His procedure was correct. Assassins look first to extinguish all the light sources.
The first to come was Serizawa Kamo. He jumped the lamps and his feet barely hit the ground as he swung fiercely his sword. Kiyokawa stepped back.
"Who are you?", asked without fear.
Serizawa wanted to make a flashy appearance, telling proudly his name, but he kept his mouth shut and gave another blow with his sword. Kiyokawa parried and the swiftness Hijikata preached couldn't be accomplished anymore.
(Damn Serizawa, you aren't worth your fame.), thought Hijikata, who danced his sword and dashed to the group formed by Ishizaka, Ikeda and Matsuno, engaging in a fierce battle. But he realized that they couldn't stay much longer, fearing they might be recognized. So, he fled, followed by Serizawa.
They ran a long way before they were sure nobody was following them anymore.
"Serizawa sensei, we've failed."
"Hm."
Serizawa was panting heavily, but Hijikata was perfectly normal, used as he was to everyday struggles and petty fights. Serizawa felt Hijikata was thinking that "for a man who mastered the Shintou Munen Style and had even some disciples of his, he isn't that much of a man.", and he(Serizawa) was disgusted.
"It's your fault", he said. Now it was Hijikata who was disgusted.
"What do you mean?"
"Just two more blows and I'd have slain Kiyokawa. But you ran away and we let them go."
"No, I think there's a misunderstanding. We planned that if the first strike failed, we would retreat without further delay."
"You're a clever man."
"Not at all, I'm rather a dumb person."
"No, you're quite intelligent, a proof that you have no guts."
"What?!", Hijikata was furious. "Serizawa sensei, let's see if I have no courage. Draw your sword."
"Let's go", said Serizawa, also drawing his sword.
But then noises of running footsteps came into their ears. Both Serizawa and Hijikata concluded there were Kiyokawa men after them, and they fled together. "

(in the end Kiyokawa would be killed by Sasaki Tadasaburou, a Kodachi Master who would later become Kyouchou of the Kyoto Mimawarigumi)

ok thats only the first part ^_^x;;; its now 9701 characters long and thats almost the limit so ill post the rest of this history later ^_^x;;;;