personality & etc. | samples. | top.

C H A R A C T E R;
→ IC
□ Name: Hajime Saitou
□ Journal: demarche
□ Series: Hakuouki
□ Canon point: ( gameverse ), Chapter 7, right after laying smack-down on commander Hijikata-san for being a three year old and trying to go fight on the front-lines despite not being recovered from when Kazama basically assaulted him with that demon-slaying sword of his at Utsunomiya Castle.


□ History:

i. A Wiki
ii. This trainwreck pretending to be a wiki
iv. Saitou's Reimeiroku route (in list)
iv. Ari's Canon Background Write-up for Saitou (used with permission, but please feel free to contact her if needing verification!)
v. Historical Saitou Hajime @ Wikipedia
for history: with a few exceptions, most of the events that transpired in recorded history of the Shinsengumi are portrayed in Hakuouki, making it safe to fill in most holes in canon with the historical details/assumptions. This is especially true following the canon route of the game ( Hijikata Toshizou's ), which is where Saitou is being taken from. Since this wiki is quite detailed in background history in addition to the other links, I hope these links above plus the way certain events turn out in his knowledge canon-wise will be enough, but will of course be happy to elaborate should anything be needed by the moderators for a decision!!

specific events. these events can vary in game depending on players choice/route following or different from the mixed media being used for his history, so to clarify important events/his knowledge of things, I'm just going to list them here!
● When Kazama Chikage and Okita Souji cross paths in Ikedaya, Chizuru does come to interfere between the two of them.
● Next, Chizuru accompanies Hijikata to Mt. Ten'nou where Chizuru again meets Chikage (and Hijikata meets him for the first time).
● During the second raid on Shinsengumi HQ (in Chapter 3, I believe around summer 1867...) Chizuru ends up jumping in the way to protect Hijikata when Kazama gains the upper hand on him during their fight and almost kills the Vice-Commander.
● Chizuru goes to retrieve Heisuke at Aburano Koji rather than assist with Itou's assassination.
● Hijikata and Kazama cross blades at Toba-Fushimi after Kazama cuts down Inoue when he tried to protect Chizuru from him. The demon reveals his true form in the fight with Hijikata, but in turn Hijikata drinks the ochimizu in a desperate attempt to prevail in the conflict. Yamazaki is mortally wounded in the conflict protecting Hijikata.
○ Souji is left behind in Kyoto by the rest of the Shinsengumi with the last words Hijikata says to him ( "We'll be waiting for you." )
○ blah blah blaaahhh.
○ LAST POINT: Stopping Hijikata from returning to the front line while still suffering from his injuries gained at Utsunomiya. With Hijikata compromised as well as too injured to continue leading the Shinsengumi, Saitou temporarily takes over for him ( well, more like he takes his place in a battle AND GOES AND DIES IN IT IN HIS PLACE... thanks for choosing to go off on a random creative license from history just to kill, idea factory—imean... but you know...).


**note.1** Saitou's knowledge of who has taken the ochimizu in his timeline of events is Toudou Heisuke, San'nan Keisuke, and Hijikata Toshizou.

**note.2** He is under the impression Okita Souji never recovered from his illness/still hasn't recovered ( and probably is steeling himself for the fact he won't. )

**note.3** Although at some point between the events at Toba-Fushimi and temporarily taking over the responsibilities of the Shinsengumi for Hijikata Saitou also becomes a rasetsu the complete details of why he did and how are not noted. The only thing that is clear is that Saitou didn't do it with Hijikata's knowledge, as the other was stunned when he found out. In Saitou's route, the events play out slightly different than Hijikata's, so his reasons for taking the ochimizu there conflict. I'll be keeping it vague unless it becomes a key point necessary to be revealed and then I'll have to come up with something that makes sense with everything.

□ Personality:
❝. . .Live to your fullest.❞

At first glance, to view Saitou in his general personality, it could be concluded he tries to conform to what would be considered a 'model example'. He's quiet, rarely speaking unless spoken, polite to a fault ( even with his enemies—well, most of his enemies... ), and he's calm and difficult to anger, living according to the code he's pledged to so strictly that there are never any gray areas. He can be cold and he can be ruthless, no doubt ( and he is quite cold to strangers, in particular—especially ones who are deemed a threat to the Shinsengumi ), but he comes off more apathetic to the world around him more than either of the others. The apathy, however, would be easily noticed by someone who is not on the point-end of his blade and making a general attempt to simply observe him that it's not actually out of lack of care so much as it is for image out of respect.

Saitou takes his role both as a member of the Shinsengumi and as a person who has chosen the sword as a way of life seriously to a point appearance is just as important as actual execution. It can be misleading in terms of seeing what type of person he really is, but this effort to always show balance in temperament and in choice actually demonstrates just how passionate he can be. His willingness to display such a front comes from many things, but one of the most critical would be out the respect to those that have become important to him and given him meaning in his own life to begin with. People like Kondou Isami and Hijikata Toshizou, who accepted him when no one else would. The amount of gratitude, admiration and respect he has for these individuals is shown in the only way Saitou knows how: and that's how he presents himself to the rest of the world and represents the way of life he lives by.

However, it's also not that difficult to get to see various other sides of him if one were to spend time around him. Granted, he prefers to be alone in his free time, often only seen with Okita Souji ( the Shinsengumi captain of the 1st Unit ) for greater lengths of time than the period of a meal or meeting, but he is less intentionally aloof and more by nature a quiet and shy individual.

In fact, he's nothing like one would expect the third division captain of the Shinsengumi to be like when his guard is let down. He's shy, but always polite to a fault and is often the listener in a conversation rather than the speaker. When he does speak, however, he is short and to the point as to not mince words. He is also well listened to and he has gained a reputation of conveying important insights and concerns. He also never complains and is quite strict in upholding the rules, making him a little less fun than some of the other captains despite being the second youngest of the group. He's also very kind, his loyalty and his passion for things strong. The ones he's come to care about mean a great deal to him and he never forges these relationships expecting the same in return. He's very protective of his own, as well—not just his friends, but his men, too. While he won't go out of his way to cause an issue, he won't let innocent people simply be harmed, either.

Perhaps the easiest way to sum Saitou up here would be his execution of balance in everything he does, but without allowing true neutrality to create moral ambiguity. Justice, honor, humility, respect—all of those are important to him and weigh in his decisions in day to day life. And when in his more personal life, he's a simple person to be around. Too simple for some, but he's never been good at changing for other people and Hijikata has done nothing but make that even more difficult to expect otherwise.

❝By drawing your sword, I take it you're ready to die for it.❞
GENERAL II.

As much as Saitou strives to live a balanced and honorable way, everyone has their faults that make otherwise simple goals difficult to actually achieve.


"You can't even think for yourself, can you? You're nothing more than a puppet!"
"Perhaps I am. Doesn't matter. I can think of no better way to give my life than in service of what I believe in."

—Kazama Chikage & Saitou Hajime, Chapter 4.


While Saitou's words are confident and grounded in his faith, Kazama Chikage's words do ring true, in a sense, as well. The most troublesome nature of this weakness may very well be if Saitou himself is aware of it or not. As elaborated below in his relationship section with the Shinsengumi vice-commander, Hijikata Toshizou, Saitou is quite used to being told he follows blindly. However, he's also shown that he can and will lead when necessary. But, the thing that Kazama's words ring true for are not necessarily whether he can or cannot think for himself. It's moreso a question of if any of his ideals and goals could be technically called his own.

It's true that he lives out his choices to the best he can, but it's also very true he is who he is because of meeting Kondou Isami and Hijikata Toshizou. And how he lives is the embodiment of what Hijikata strives to prove—that anyone can be what they wish to be so long as they want it bad enough to get it. But, it's arguable whether Saitou does much in life in terms of wanting. He's very selfless and he puts all his efforts forward, never doing anything with less than his best. However, in getting caught up representing someone else's goals, it seems he lacks any of his own. There's nothing out there he strives for in life personally, nothing he wants. And when he does want something, he finds it inappropriate to want because it's not necessary to be of service to Shinsengumi.

Which wouldn't be so bad if for the fact that once Saitou's stoicism is broken past, he is very capable of intense emotions that he has not familiarized himself with enough to properly get a handle on. He's hard to break, but under there is the capability to truly hate, to fear, to desire. He becomes reckless and impulsive, making choices with no consideration so long as immediate gratification may be had ( such as when he's granted the choice of taking the ochimizu in his fight with Kazama—his need to protect Chizuru, to protect his men, to not fail the orders he was given—it's also done in a direct attempt to survive in order to simply strike back and kill Kazama. For Saitou, Kazama did the impossible and the overall result that befalls him in regards to Kazama demonstrates a very dangerous flaw. Even long past the event itself, Saitou is quick to lose his general sense when it comes to Kazama, unable to calm the poison and rage that boils his blood and in his heart.

He's also dangerously fearful of the idea of disappointing Hijikata or losing his respect/acceptance. It's almost childlike in its nature, but if the first person to accept him were to ever turn around and reject him, that would unravel just about everything he's become since then.

Another weakness he has is he overworks himself, a little more than hypocritical in that aspect ( but, what can you do... ), to the point of being detriment to his health. In his route in game, he overworks himself to the point of collapsing ( something even Hijikata in his crazy work ethics didn't manage to do in his route—but I can also chalk that up to Hijikata being able to handle overworking himself than Saitou because that's just the type of person his is).

Finally, he has a really big issue of understanding his own self-worth. He's willing to die to protect those he cares about or what he's fighting for, but has a difficult time with the idea that his own well-being is just as important, especially to some of the people that matter most to him.

❝That's why it's comfortable staying beside him.❞
RELATIONSHIP: Hijikata Toshizou.

( reference ). To understand Saitou's seemingly over-the-top loyalty to the Shinsengumi and his willingness to obey any orders, the relationship between Hijikata and Saitou has to be taken into account because it ( along with Kondou Isami's kindness ) is responsible for such. More than to the Shinsengumi, Saitou is mostly loyal to Hijikata first and foremost, and in his eyes there is nothing blind about why he does so. He follows the other because Hijikata was the first person to tell him there was nothing wrong with being left-handed; nothing wrong with being different. Hijikata was impressed with him for who he was and what he had to offer, without prejudice, and for someone who suffered prejudice over his left-handedness ( and always had a difficult time understanding what was wrong with it himself ) constantly ( including being accused of breaking rules simply by being left-handed and thus invalidated ), it has a weighted impact that he's carried with him since that day. For the person who could accept him as who he was and what he had to offer—to encourage him to be exceptional by being different rather than decent in conforming to the norms—wishing to support him and follow him isn't that much to offer in terms of gratitude. Especially since with Hijikata and the rest of the Shinsengumi, he has the acceptance he's wished for. And Saitou spends a great much of his time wishing for very few things in his life, but Hijikata's constant approval is one of the few and it tops that list, as well.

However, Saitou doesn't consider his loyalty and willingness to perform orders without question as blind, mainly because of two reasons:

1.It's only towards Hijikata that he demonstrates this. For example, when Serizawa Kamo, who at the time is above Hijikata in terms of rank in their group, commands Saitou to cut the hair of some dancers due to them angering him over their unwillingness to comply with his demands, Saitou actually hesitates and is heard by Ibuki questioning under his breath as to whether he should or should not obey. It's only once Hijikata reiterates the command at Saitou that he complies with it without further hesitance, but Ibuki notes the hesitance is quite clear prior to Hijikata speaking up.

2. It's because he trusts Hijikata to make the right decisions and he has yet to feel Hijikata is making the wrong decisions. He hold extremely high respect for the older man but it is seen ( from where he's being pulled from in his canon point here, even ) that he is not willing to let even Hijikata force him into something he truly doesn't want to do. Granted, there's a lot more to it than that ( because Hijikata is a lot more to him than a commanding officer), but it still demonstrates quite well that he is anything but blind.

He has difficultly defying Hijikata or crossing him, but it's out of respect and not out of fear. And keep that respect, Hijikata has to continuously show such trust and respect makes sense to hold onto.

That said, it's also true that since these are things he has never felt the need to question or divert from that he can be a be more or less compared to a puppy in the way it will follow its master, regardless of what happens. It's blind adoration and the need to be noticed and accepted, to potential fault but it's also only because he's never been exposed to anything to make him know anything else. Even when he doesn't understand Hijikata's reasoning, he trusts him enough to have faith that it's the correct action.

On a more personal level, he has a great fondness of Hijikata but not the familiarity or closeness that he feels makes him any more than a subordinate. So, to him, it's really one-sided ( but he doesn't care at all, because it's to be expected ). Like Kondou is to Souji, he suffers from hero-worship taken a little too far since while he's not willing to stand by and let a man he adores and respects make awful decisions that would jeopardize his reputation and that of the Shinsengumi, but he's also willing without a second thought to follow after him and die for him in the process—even when it's logically seen before it begins that it will be a losing battle.

❝Well, well. You're much better than I expected! I've never seen anyone about to stay on their feet after taking a hit from me.❞
❝You, too, are the first to not be taken down by my initial attack.❞
RELATIONSHIP: Okita Souji.

( reference ). He finds a lot of comfort and complacency remaining at Hijikata's side, but as mentioned before, despite everything he feels he considers their official relationship impersonal. Unlike Souji and Kondou who also share a close and affectionate relationship, Saitou doesn't share that with the vice-commander and so there are things he can't expect nor would he ever attempt to expect in terms of their relationship.

And he's fine with that, especially because he's found what he can't have with the person he admires most in someone that is different and yet so very like him. For Saitou, Souji makes him feel normal, but to a point that it's casual and everyday interaction. Souji's someone who understands him—and even on the occasions he does not, makes no attempt to invade his more personal boundaries—and accepts him for everything he is and everything he is not. They don't need to talk, they just seem to understand the right way to handle one another through silence and words aren't necessary. And that is a comfort he doesn't receive from anyone else and no one can replace Souji in that manner.

Both of them have rather warped perceptions on their purpose in life and their value, both willing to live as and die as weapons; for Souji it's Kondou, for Saitou it's Hijikata. In order to make their hopes and dreams—their goals—become a reality, they're willing to take to the shadows and do what they must to protect them and drive them forward in the only support they feel they can give, which is via their blades. Of course, because they both think the same way, they never criticize or question one another. It's who they are and that mutual understanding gives them a very strong and real bond.

Socially, however, they can also be seen as what are more typical displays of affection in friendship. Saitou gets teased by the other quite often ( but no one is even close to being victimized as much as Hijikata is in that category, so... ) but tends to take it in stride, even if in a dull sort of way by not humoring him. Their personalities also do very well to fuel one another into ambitions and desires not normally sparked by others around them. In particular, they're very competitive with one another and greatly enjoy the challenge they present to one another. Before they met, they'd never known what it was to be challenged and when faced with the obstacle of an opponent who wouldn't go down in one strike, it flared a very excited nature in the both of them at the opportunity suddenly available. When they train, it's very obvious that while they fight to win, they also fight to never let themselves fail the other in terms of being worthy of the other's attention. It's healthy competition ( something being emotionally healthy in this canon is pretty rare, so this is a BIG DEAL ) and keeps them oriented with some type of purpose ( even if a very 'silly' one comparatively ) beyond making themselves in living killing machines.

❝There's no need to panic if the first strike doesn't succeed. A skilled swordsman will think of the next step.❞
MISC.

Saitou's loves cats. As in really really loves them and is destined to become a cat lady. Actually, if he already could be one, he would, but he can't so he's going to have to wait a little longer.

He also likes things that are cute, although he's very shy to admit such.

□ Age: 24.
□ Gender: male.
□ Appearance: 168 cm ( 5'6" ), ( now short ) black hair, blue eyes. While he does dress in traditional Japanese attire ( and prefers it, still, as he is rather resistant to change ), his current default attire ( and what he'll be arriving in ) is 19th century french military, full black with white accents and a blue waist sash. The uniform includes full black gloves and would be considered quite conservative as with the addition of the white cravat, he is fully clothed from the top of his neck and down. Normally, he carries daisho ( a katana and a wakizashi set ) at his right side, which is particularly unusual considering left-handed samurai are almost unheard of. Anyone who is left-handed would be forced to learn right-handed as it was the only 'correct' way.

As far as general clothing preferences, he favors black and prefers more cover versus less, regardless of environmental influences.

To an onlooker, Saitou holds himself high but with great reserve. He strives to be in control at all times, giving off a calm and quiet demeanor. He speaks only when he feels it's necessary and even then his voice is rather quiet, often lacking any indicators of how he's feeling. While he's hard to read, it's easy to get the impression he is rather sharp and rarely not paying attention—especially when he seems to be doing exactly that.
□ Abilities/Powers:

Physical Skills.
There are discrepancies as to which style his sword skills are learned from historically, but since it's not information that is going to affect his abilities one way versus another ( especially without use of a weapon freely ), the only thing that is really needed to be mentioned was he was referred to as a master rank. He's one of the best swordsmen in the Shinsengumi and the fact that he's left-handed makes him unusually more unpredictable than normal.

In Hakuouki, Saitou is shown to be particularly skilled in Iaijutsu, which is "a combative sword-drawing art". It is not labeled as necessarily aggressive like many other combative arts, however, as it also is used as a defensive style through the use of counter-attacks. Saitou is more often shown demonstrating the offensive side of iaijutsu, particularly in his attempts to school Ibuki Ryunosuke in the manner of how it's performed and why it is performed the way it is.

In terms of martial arts, Saitou's style is said to most likely be Sekiguchi Ryu ( which as an overall style outside of jujutsu includes iaijutsu under its disciplines ). How good he is as hand-to-hand isn't elaborated on, but I'll assume he's better than average and quite able to take care of himself in most encounters if necessary, unless facing a particularly skilled opponent.

Supernatural Abilities ( rasetsu ).
Saitou's taken an exilir known as the ochimizu in his world. The ochimizu was more or less intended to create super soldiers for war. Soldiers that could self-heal and have superior strength, speed, and stamina. However, like most experiments, the ochimizu isn't without its 'side-effects'; the individual starts to crave for the consumption of blood and the longer they resist, the more likely they are to fall into insanity. Of course, in the past most individuals who take the ochimizu have gone insane without much ability to retain their humanity, making them into rampaging indiscriminate killers that need to be disposed of. The first rasetsu to give hint that the ( at least, immediate ) onset of madness was not absolute was a ronin that managed to lure Saitou and Ibuki Ryunosuke into a false security that he was not the rogue rasetsu they were looking for. However, the ronin succumbed shortly after due to his own blood being shed, thus revealing his identity and was disposed of.

Serizawa Kamo took the ochimizu in retaliation to a group that was sent to assassinate him. Serizawa was the first to show further potential with the ochimizu, in which he was able to retain his state of mind and when he lost it was able to be reasoned back into regaining some control ( by Ibuki's efforts ) before he was taken down successfully by Hijikata.

While experimentation of the ochimizu was both a secret within the ranks of the Roshigumi/Shinsengumi and being done at the orders of the shogunate, test subjects were limited to those who violated the Shinsengumi Code via means punishable by death ( which was usually desertion or treason ). However, as time passed, the ochimizu was eventually taken by some of the captains of the Shinsengumi for various reasons.

Like other rasetsu, Saitou does have enhanced vitals ( superior strength, stamina, dexterity, agility ) to that of a regular human but also has the ability to automatically heal from injuries. He does suffer from the bloodlust, however, and the longer he staves off feeding on blood, the more likely he is to snap. He pushes himself to the greatest possible limit in terms of drinking blood, only doing so when absolutely necessary, but you won't see him flinching in disgust if he gets some during a fight.

Like the drinking of blood, other weaknesses of being a rasetsu are also very vampire-like. For one, sunlight drains them quickly, making them weaker in daylight and requiring extra exertion to complete even a 'normal' routine, especially with the enhanced desire to sleep and be nocturnal, instead. Silver is also able to nullify their regenerative abilities, making wounds created with such as dangerous as any weapon would be to a human and requiring similar recovery time.

The only way to kill them ( if not with a silver weapon and having them bleed out ) is to stab them through the heart or behead them.

While they do have supernatural abilities like vampires ( and like the demons from their world ), the ochimizu does not grant them these powers. Instead, it feeds on the individual's lifeforce, concentrating it together to allow things such as rapid recovery and to be able to execute the superhuman qualities they demonstrate. As a result, using their rasetsu form shortens their lifespan, as it's only taking the individuals potential and concentrating it together to do things superior for a shorter period of time rather than live out the length of time they were originally intended to have. In addition, that amount used and consumed each time varies between individuals, as well.

When in his rasetsu form, his eyes turn red and his hair white. It can be brought on consciously or due to withdrawal from blood taking over and threatening his ability to control himself from seeking out blood indiscriminately.

□ Personal Items:

1. His Sword

Long Sword— Sesshu sumi Ikeda Kijinmaru Kunishige { 2'3"1

The Kijinmaru element of the sword’s name means demon. Kunishige was the swordsmith and the blade was forged sometime in the Tenwa era ( 1681-1683 or thereabouts ).( reference ).

2. Western Military Uniform.
3. Eastern attire ( insert picture link ).
4. Eastern attire v2 ( insert picture link ).
5. 'Shinsengumi uniform': light blue haori & headguard.
6. Cleaning set for his sword.
7. One of Ibuki Ryunosuke's artworks.
8. --
9. --
10. --

□ First Person Sample:

Network Reply. ( to Lightning from FFXIII ).

❦
v i d e o s a m p l e
[ he really dislikes this concept, that there is a way to contact others in the city deriving from a foreign item that's been forcefully put into their heads. it's suspicious to him, making him even wonder if it's worth continuing to go through efforts to have conversations in person to keep things personal.

not that it matters because until he's told to do otherwise, he'll continue as one would be expected to on where he speaks and how.

for this particular topic, however, he supposes it can't hurt to use this method. besides, it's not as if he's going to waste time looking for someone to ask in person. it's very clear he's displeased, from the rather stiff way he sets the two items he's holding down on the kitchen counter. ]

I fail to understand how this makes any logical sense. I was assured that this... [ saitou trails off, picking up one of the items he had set down, which is a closed can of pears, eyeing it critically. ] could be opened with... this. [ and here he picks up a manual can opener (complete with a turn crank) by one handle, it slipping open uselessly, but he pays it little mind. ]

But, I don't see how it's supposed to break into something that is relatively seamless without a sharper edge. [ and while he's saying that, he goes to prove his point by angling the front metal part of the tool to smack into the top without so much as a dent in the can opening.

he's really frustrated, apparently he really would like to have these pears opened, already, but how is he supposed to do anything productive with things made that don't work like they are supposed to? ]

□ Third Person Sample:

One. w/ Hijikata Toshizou.
Two. w/ Okita Souji.
Three. w/ Yukimura Chizuru.

R E F E R E N C E S ;

i. A Wiki
ii. This trainwreck pretending to be a wiki
iv. Saitou's Reimeiroku route (in list)
iv. Ari's Canon Background Write-up for Saitou (used/linked with permission)
v. Historical Saitou Hajime @ Wikipedia
vi. Shinsengumi no Makoto