is firmly opposed to putting a sword in Tetsu's hands. He is carrying on a clandestine affair with a Shimabara courtesan named Akesato. , Shozo Endo (Drama TV) The commander of the Shinsengumi. Kondō is presented as a grandfatherly, slightly-clueless figure who is still fully aware of his and his organization's goals. He opposes Hijikata's mistreatment on Tetsunosuke. , Mikie Hara (Drama TV) The "den mother" of the Shinsengumi, Ayumu (most often known as "Ayu-nee", or "big sister Ayu") is the cook and housekeeper at the Shinsengumi compound. A pretty woman with a motherly nature, Ayumu is fully cognizant of what the people around her do for a living, and acts as a sort of big-sister figure to Tetsu. She is Susumu's older sister, and, like him, a shinobi. She mentions in one episode them as being apart of the Oniwaban. While Susumu is based on the actual spy, Ayumu is a fictional character. She dies during the course of the story by the hands of the Choshū clansmen. , Tetsuji Sakakibara (Drama TV) Ayumu's younger brother, Susumu is one of the Shinsengumi's spies, reporting directly to Hijikata. A skilled shinobi and information-gatherer, his nature emulates that of his superior's. He often cross-dresses (quite convincingly) to gather information. Okita’s piglet pet. He lives with his "family" at the Shinsengumi Headquarters. He also has a habit of chasing Tetsunosuke more often than anyone else. Chōshū , Hirofumi Araki (Drama TV) Based on the historical figure. A student of Shōin Yoshida, and a leader in the Chōshū clan, Yoshida is a master of military science. He is killed by Okita in episode 23 during the Ikedaya incident, while pointing a katana fragment held in his mouth at Tetsu. , Shuhei Nomura (Drama TV) A fictional character. A follower of Yoshida, Suzu intends to avenge the death of his older brother at the hands of the Shinsengumi. He becomes Tetsu's friend without realizing that he is part of the Shinsengumi. He is driven to insanity after witnessing the decapitation of his master. , Airi Nakajima (Drama TV) Based on the actual person. A Shimabara courtesan, and a shinobi working for the Chōshū clan, Akesato is also Keisuke's lover. In the manga, it is stated by Sakamoto that she is mixed blood (half-Japanese and half-Caucasian); she has blonde hair (which she hides under a wig) and blue eyes. She is a member of the