Chidzuru has come to Kyoto searching for her vanished father. After being pursued by people who have turned into monsters due to an elixir her father created, she finds herself under the protection of the Shinsengumi. Her fathers elixir, originally created for the Shinsengumi, will give strength and healing power to anyone who drinks it, but will also cause them to eventually turn into a blood-crazed monster. Will the Shinsengumi be able to protect her and help her find her father, or will they fall prey to the temptation of drinking the elixir? [tethysdust]

Based on a popular otome game, Hakuouki follows Chizuru and the Shinsengumi in an alternate reality. Chizuru travels to Kyoto in search of her missing father but after being involved in an incident, ended up being taken in by the Shinsengumi where she meets the members including the famous Hijikata Toshizo and Okita Soshi. Chizuru’s father was conducting government research for strengthening the Shinsengumi and developed the ochimizu. The ochimizu is a formula that gives demon like strength and regeneration effects but once taken, the user experiences extreme pain and eventually turns into a blood hungry monster.

In an attempt to defend Chizuru, Hijikata takes the ochimizu and although the situation was saved, he is now affected with the illness. Okita is also forced to take the formula when his terminal cancer prevents him from defending Chizuru and himself. Feeling responsible for their actions, Chizuru must fight her feeling of helplessness and find the courage to support the Shinsengumi.