We are now in Kyoto, one year after the events in Tosa. The narration explains about the political struggles between those who believed the Emperor should be in power and those who still supported the Shogunate. He talks about the "Ishin-Shishi" (a group devoted to supporting the Emperor) and how they all gathered in Kyoto from around the country and killed important members of the Shogunate and caused disruption to public order on the streets.

Next, we are introduced to Terada Inn - the place where Ryoma/Hajime is living. We see a girl, named Oryo - one of the servants there, cooking lunch, but is interrupted by an older woman, named Otose - mistress of Terada Inn, who tells her to go an wake the oversleeping guy on the second floor. "Again!?" says Oryo. So she goes up to the second floor, enters a room and says "How much longer do you plan on sleeping, Hajime!?". She manages to wake him up. "Were you drinking right up till morning again? If you have that kind of money, then pay your lodging fee already!". Then Otose enters the room and tells Hajime that she's keeping tabs of everything he owes, so he can't run away from it. Oryo is annoyed that the mistress is going easy on him, as always, then tells Hajime to come down for lunch. But Hajime says he's going out, saying he wants to do some gambling and that he won't be back until late again, so she doesn't have to prepare dinner for him.

After the cutscene, there is a message explaining about Ryoma's room - you can save here, use the item storage system and, in specific circumstances, you can also change the time of day.

You then get a tip message about the sprinting feature; in this game you can sprint in adventure mode by holding down the X button, allowing you to get around town quicker. However, if you sprint for too long, Ryoma will be tired and stop temporarily.

Exit the room and go downstairs. As you're about to leave Terada Inn, Otose will speak to Ryoma, telling him to be careful if he's going out, because he's a samurai with a myterious background and that won't go down too well with the Shinsengumi here. The Shinsengumi was a group created by the Shogunate to keep order in Kyoto in the midst of the Ishin-Shishi situation (fun fact: the Shinsengumi were originally called the "Roshigumi" because the group consisted of "roshi" (ronin) - samurai with no masters / samurai not attached to any domain / "wandering samurai". Later on 13 members of the Roshigumi founded the Shinsengumi). She talks about the bloodshed the streets have seen since the Shinsengumi were formed (they were notorious for their violence).

After leaving the Inn, a cutscene plays. Ryoma/Hajime walks down the street, still half asleep. "get a load of this guy!", say people passing by. Ryoma turns a corner and heads down a side street.

Ryoma is now in a dojo and defeats one of the students in combat. "You're pretty good" one student says. "No..." Ryoma replies, "you guys are just really weak". Of course, this upsets them. Ryoma tries to leave, but the students won't let him. They want to fight him, but Ryoma asks them something before they fight - "Do you know anyone who uses the 'Tennen Rishin' style of fighting?". Ryoma explains that this style is taught at the Shieikan Dojo in Edo (additional info: it's the style that was used by several members of the Shinsengumi). He says he's been asking around at dojos in the area in an attempt to find someone who does use that style. The students say they've never even heard of such a style. Thereafter, a fight against the students begins. You are forced to use a wooden sword for this fight (you can't switch weapon).

After taking out those guys, an informant comes in to speak with Hajime. Apparently Ryoma's getting his help in finding someone. We learn that the only clue Ryoma has to discovering the killer's identity is that the killer used the "Tennen Rishin" style of fighting and that he's gone to almost all the dojos in Kyoto now trying to get more information, but he's getting nowhere. He asks the informant if he's found anything out, but he tells Hajime that there's no information of anyone using that style here, then asks him if he's absolutely sure there's someone here who really uses it. Ryoma says the style used to be taught at a dojo in Edo, but he heard the students closed the dojo and went to Kyoto. The informant complains to Hajime that there are so many Ishin-Shishi coming here and there are so many styles in use here that it'll be extremely hard to get to the bottom of things. "You expect to get paid if you just spend your time complaining to a customer?" Ryoma asks.

After leaving the dojo, Ryoma says he should take a walk around the streets.

[1]

When you get here, Ryoma will see some samurai trying to extort money out of a Shinto Priest. This triggers a fight against the samurai. The Priest thanks you for saving him and says he was injured by those samurai, so he needs help getting back to the shrine. Ryoma takes him to the shrine and the priest tells Ryoma "The gods will surely bestow Dharma upon you for your actions". This leads to an explanation of the Dharma and Virya systems in this game.

Dharma is a concept in Buddhism which refers to actions that are considered morally right - or "the right way of living" - according to the teachings of the Buddha. For example, in this game you are rewarded with "Dharma" for buying from shopkeepers, talking with people and saving people on the streets who are being threatened by thugs. As you complete actions that gain you Dharma, your fame on the streets improves.

Virya is a Buddhist term basically referring to ones diligence in accomplishing actions of great virtue. In other words, it refers to ones constant effort to do the morally correct things. In this game, the "Virya" is a big list of actions to complete - such as becoming friends with certain people, or talking to people 100 times, or eating at restaurants 20 times. You are rewarded with lots of Dharma for completing items on this list.

You can exchange Dharma for rewards at shrines around Kyoto or the shrine at your secondary residence in Another Life (for things such as increased item carrying capacity, and such) as well as with the Priest himself (for items such as Gold Plates, and such) after you get the upgrade from the Dharma exchange shrine.

Please visit the Dharma & Virya page for a full Virya list and visit the Dharma Exchange page for a full list of upgrades/items you can get with Dharma.

You gain 50 Dharma and the Priest gives you the Virya List, which you can refer to at any time from the start menu screen.

You can now also do training with Komaki.

Substories for chapter 2 are now available to complete.

[2]

When you get close to this area, we see a couple of Ishin-Shishi trying to get away without paying for their drinks. They say they're risking their lives fighting the Shogunate for the sake of the country, so they shouldn't have to pay! Ryoma bumps into one of them and he demands that Ryoma apologises. A fight against the two Ishin-Shishi begins.

They flee after being defeated and the mistress thanks Ryoma and says there's been a lot of guys like that around here lately. She gives you 1 Ryo.

[3]

When you get to this area, we see members of the Shinsengumi by the big gate. As Ryoma turns to leave, he sees Shimada Yahei from Tosa, who recognises Ryoma immediately. "Ah, is that you, Sakamoto!?" he shouts. Ryoma says he's mistaken. Shimada continues to shout about how he ran away from Tosa and even addresses him as "Second in Command" (referring to when Hanpeita made him second in command in the Tosa Loyalist Party). Ryoma tells him to keep his voice down, but it's too late - the Shinsengumi heard them and head towards them! Shimada makes a run for it. Then a chase starts.

[4]

You have to get to this location while avoiding the Shinsengumi members. First, you have to lose them (you can't go straight to this location while they are still chasing you), then sneak your way to this location to trigger the next part of the story. You can use the following objects on the map to hide in/behind:

Barrel:

Palanquin:

Planks of wood:

When you get close to one of these, press CIRCLE to hide. Please note that you cannot hide while a Shinsengumi member can see you; you need to get out of their line of sight and then hide. After this, you need to make your way to your destination without being spotted by them.

Using sprint (X button) is very useful for these chases.

The way I did this particular chase is I rushed straight here and hid:

There is a palanquin right below the destination, which is very convenient! I ran normally until I got close to the path next to the destination then I sprinted forward, then round the corner and pressed CIRCLE to hide in the palanquin. Then just wait for the Shinsengumi members to go away, then get out from hiding (CIRCLE again) then go to your destination.

Ryoma hides from sight, then a voice from behind him tells him he's safe now. He tells Ryoma it's easy to lose the Shinsengumi because of all the convolution on the streets - with all the countryside folk coming in. He says he's like Ryoma - he has a lot to hide himself! This man is Niibori Matsusuke, whom we saw in the opening cutscene of the game. As Ryoma is leaving, Niibori asks him if he's found someone who uses the Tennen Rishin style (Niibori was listening in at the dojo when Kiryu was talking about it). He says Ryoma probably thinks ill of him for it, but he loves to eavesdrop. He finally introduces himself to Ryoma, saying that he is an Ishin-Shishi, so he's an enemy of the Shogunate and Shinsengumi. Ryoma supposes that Niibori must be using a fake name then, but Niibori says he won't hell him his real name unless he helps him out with something. He tells Ryoma he's been going around dojos looking for a skilled fighter. Ryoma says he's not interested in his name and he should look for someone else. So Niibori says he'll just have to make Ryoma indebted to him. He goes on to tell Ryoma about a great informant who came here from Choshu and that if he wants to find someone who uses the Tennen Rishin style, then he'll get him in touch with this informant. He says his headquarters is called "Sai no Kawara" and the man uses the alias "Sai no Furoya". He tells Ryoma to go to the bathhouse ("Harimaya" on the Fushimi map) when the sun goes down and introduce himself as "Niibori Matsusuke" to gain an audience with the informant.

[5]

Go back to Terada Inn and up to Ryoma's room on the second floor. Interact with the bed to sleep until night (TOP OPTION).

[6]

Go here and select the TOP OPTION to go inside. Ryoma introduces himself as Niibori and the guy lets Ryoma go through to the bath. Ryoma meets with Sai no Furoya and says he's looking for someone who uses the Tennen Rishin style of fighting. Sai reveals that Niibori had paid him in advance to give information to Ryoma. Ryoma asks who that Niibori guy really is, but he just says he's from the Choshu domain and that it's "for your own good" to not know any more than that. Sai goes on to tell Ryoma that the students who came to Kyoto from the Shieikan dojo in Edo formed a certain group and that the group is dedicated to maintaining public order in Kyoto in support of the Shogunate - to crack down on the Ishin-Shishi. Of course, he's talking about the Shinsengumi! He goes on to talk about the the members and leaders of the Shinsengumi who use that style of fighting, including Kondo Isami (commander of the Shinsengumi), Okita Soji and Nagakura Shinpachi. Basically, everyone who uses the Tennen Rishin style is in the Shinsengumi right now. Ryoma then asks if any member of the Shinsengumi went to Tosa a year ago, but Sai says he doesn't have that information and it would take way too much time to get hold of it. Ryoma says he'll have to find the man he's looking for within the Shinsengumi himself. Sai asks how he plans to do that, but before Ryoma can answer someone barges into the room. He says he's after some information, but as he steps into the bath, he backs off complaining about the heat. After he throws the bathhouse worker into the bath, Ryoma doesn't want to stay here while there's this pissed off guy hanging around, then is about to leave, but the man isn't happy with Ryoma ("Who are you calling pissed off!?") and stops him. This leads to a fight again him. Of course, you are forced to use the Hand-to-Hand Fighting Style for this fight.

After the fight, Sai breaks them up, telling them if they want to fight they should go somewhere else. The man says to Ryoma he'll treat him to a drink and Ryoma accepts.

After that, the two of them go and spend some time with courtesans and the man says he doesn't treat guys to a drink very often, but he likes Ryoma! He tells Ryoma about the information he wanted - he was after everything about Kondo Isami from the Shinsengumi. He says that guy is the reason he was so pissed off at the bathhouse. He apparently met Kondo just before he met with Ryoma at the bathhouse. Ryoma asks where he met him and the man says that being the boss of the Shinsengumi, it's not easy to just meet with him, but it's not impossible - you have to join the Shinsengumi. So Ryoma is wondering how this man managed to meet with him since he's not a Shinsengumi member and he tells Ryoma that he didn't go to see Kondo, Kondo came to see him! Kiryu asks who the hell this guy is (after all, the commander of the Shinsengumi wanted to see him). He gets up and is about to head off with one of the courtesans (for some *wink-wink-nudge-nudge*), but before he leaves he introduces himself as "Saigo Kichinosuke - Army commander of the Satsuma domain".

[5]

Start heading back to Terada Inn. After heading forward for a bit, Ryoma notices a disturbance on the streets. It's a bunch of guys standing over a dead body and they say the Shinsengumi probably did it. Ryoma recognises the dead guy as Shimada Yahei. Ryoma turns and sees a man wearing an amigasa, who says "Shimada Yahei was a man who couldn't keep his mouth shut" and that he had to sort him out before he caused any problems. Ryoma asks if he's the one who killed him and the man replies "I am not your enemy, Ryoma". The man says he's not interested in fighting Ryoma and then asks him if he'll head to Mukurogai tonight. He tells Ryoma to ask at Terada Inn to find out how to get there.

Go back inside Terada Inn and you see Oryo talking with a boatman. Ryoma asks Oryo if she knows of Mukurogai and she tells him it's where the homeless hang out and also where wanted men go. The boatman says he'll take Ryoma there - he says you can only get there via boat. Select the TOP OPTION to go to Mukurogai. Select the bottom option if you want to do other stuff first (come back and talk to the boatman again to go).

After you arrive in Mukurogai, you can go back and forth between there and Fushimi at any time by talking to the boatman. He charges you 500 mon per journey.

[1]

Go to this area and Ryoma is confronted by guys from Mukurogai. They ask what his business is here and say they'll let him off the hook if he gives them money. Ryoma introduces himself as Sakamoto Ryoma, saying the man wearing an amigasa called him here. Then the man arrives and reveals his identity - It's Okada Izo from the Tosa Loyality Party. This leads to a fight against Izo and his men.

After being defeated, Izo says he wanted to see for himself if the guy he met a year ago really could follow in the footsteps of Takechi, which is why he fought Ryoma. It turns out both himself and Hanpeita have come to Kyoto, but Hanpeita is being hunted down by the Shinsengumi so he's avoiding going out in public. He tells Ryoma that Hanpeita is waiting at the centre of Mukurogai for the "second in command", but he's not going to show Ryoma the way, because he still doesn't like him!

You can now do the Doctor Shinbei training.

[2]

Go into the building here and Ryoma meets with Hanpeita. Ryoma tells Hanpeita he barely recognises him and asks when he got to Kyoto - Hanpeita tells him he's been in Kyoto even longer than Ryoma has! Ryoma asks if he escaped from Tosa as well, but Hanpeita tells him that, actually, his status was raised! He says he's now the Tosa Domain's Kyoto Liaison (Kyoto rusui-yaku) and that his status went from Shirafuda Goshi to Joshi. He tells Ryoma that because of everything that happened a year ago, the Tosa Loyalist Party survived and joined forces with the "Old Men of Tosa". Ryoma isn't too pleased to hear this "You mean you bowed down to the guys who may have been behind the killing of Toyo!?". He asks Ryoma to hear him out, saying he thinks he has to change the whole of Japan, not just Tosa. He says they need to take down the Shogunate itself - the ones who control the social class system. Ryoma asks if he seriously thinks he can do that and Hanpeita says not only himself, but Toyo also thought it's possible. Now is the time to do it; the Shogunate are beginning to weaken and the threat of the "black ships" (foreigners) has inspired the Ishin-Shishi to get into action! Hanpeita then goes on to ask what happened to Ryoma after the events of last year and Ryoma explains he's been searching for the man who killed Yoshida Toyo and that his only clue was the style of fighting the man used - the "Tennen Rishin" style. He tells Hanpeita that he wants to go after Kondo Isami - commander of the Shinsengumi - but that he'll have to get himself into the Shinsengumi in order to find him.

Hanpeita is taken aback - "Do you understand what you're saying?". But Ryoma says there is no other way of getting hold of the man. Hanpeita tries to talk him out of it, saying there's no need for him to go after the killer anymore and he should forget about getting revenge. He says even if Ryoma does manage to get in, how is he going to find the right guy? After all, Ryoma has no idea what he looks or sounds like! But Ryoma tells him he'll know he's found the right man when he fights him (because he fought with him once before). Hanpeita begs him to come back to Tosa with him and help him in his quest to overthrow the Shogunate and restore the Emperor to power - saying that's what Toyo wished of him! Neither of them are happy with each other, and Ryoma says "Is that all you wanted to say... Takechi-san" (Ryoma usually refers to him as "Kyodai" (or "brother") - which showed they were very close - but using his family name with the -san suffix is a distant way of addressing people and doesn't indicate closeness at all). He tells Hanpeita he'd never join forces with guys who may have been responsible for Toyo's death. Hanpeita again tries to convince Ryoma to come to his senses, "What good will finding the killer do now?", "You think Toyo would be happy if you do something like that?". He tells Ryoma that Toyo guided them so they could go on to create a new Japan - he didn't raise them to get revenge after he died! "So you don't care about the guy who killed Toyo!?", asks Ryoma. Hanpeita tells Ryoma there's no way he could forget about the killer and Toyo's death, but there are more important things at hand right now. As Ryoma leaves, he tells Hanpeita by the time the next meet, they may have grown too far apart for Ryoma to call him a brother (Kyodai). He goes on to say he really has to find out why Toyo was killed, saying he can't go on any further without knowing that.

When you complete this chapter, you get the "Story Clear #1" trophy.

Go to Chapter 3