Of Traitors and Loyalty to Nihon

I have heard the Shinsengumi defeated the Choshu in their first skirmish. I grinned like there was no tomorrow. We were on the right path. I knew it and even if I wasn’t commissioned in the Shinsengumi anymore, I bottled up with pride and wore a smirk on my face. Living a pretty boring life… I had changed my name once again so I could roam the streets freely as I wished. As Yamaguchi Jirou I kept tabs on the war for I had not forgotten the promise I had made to myself. That if ever the Shinsengumi needed me I will be back to fight for our cause. It seemed during the time that they did not.
But I was wrong.
In only a few months I heard rumors that Choshu and Satsuma has formed an alliance. They were now a formidable force. I had started to fret. Scouring the streets I looked at second hand katana shops, pawn shops and the like. My blade must be ready for anytime, as soon as I hear another word of failure I will be on my way back to Kyoto. My comrades, my brothers… My pack… They need me. It took time to procure a decent armor and finally I found a sword. It is the Ikeda Kishinmaru Kunishige… I found it in a backstreet junkyard. Obviously the owner of the shop is quite slow in the head for I only offered less than ten times it would take to buy it from anyone else. I wonder if the man can read? It is clearly signed… Maa… He did agree to the price so I will not worry over it.
Then it came… A most disturbing news. Choshu had claimed Edo and had taken the emperor. The emperor Meiji was young, easily influenced and probably unaware that he was just being used… I am appalled. I cannot forgive such insolence! I bought a horse with the little money I had left. Time will be off the essence and I am needed once more… Every man will count and I intend to be counted.
Upon reaching Kyoto, I have learned that the Choshu and Satsuma armies were now declared the official empirial army and that the Shinsengumi was fighting in Toba-Fushimi. Am I too late? My heart races and my soul cries… Japan will not be ruled by traitors and fools!
(OOC: Yamaguchi Jirou was the assumed name of Saitou Hajime before the Toba-Fushimi war. I believe and someone correct me if this is wrong… That he took this name after Hijikata advised him to leave the group)