If I tell you, it's entirely possible you'll think I'm lying. Then again, if anyone ought to hear it, it's people who were similarly involved. Though... understandably, it wasn't you, but a different version of you, who dealt with things in my world.
[He's down with the multiverse. And all its oddities.]
In my world, the Shinsengumi became involved with a doctor of Western medicine under the orders of the shogunate. This man had a serum of unknown origin that turned men who ingested it into... creatures, of a sort. Hollow imitations of humanity, who drink blood and lose control of themselves at the mere scent and sight of it. He disappeared from our midst, and soon thereafter his daughter came to Kyoto searching for him.
[This is a long story, but he'll try to be concise.]
Around that time, I was injured and lost the use of my left arm. Then, for my part, I lost sight of my purpose and buried myself in research. Ultimately I became one of those creatures, called Furies, of my own accord. The story of my death and defection was a cover for my joining the Fury Corps, and becoming their commander.
[He smiles, and sips the sake.]
To complicate things further, a group of demons began meddling in our affairs, as they were trying to take custody of the doctor's daughter. What followed was a many-sided, ugly war, with the Shinsengumi essentially becoming puppets of the shogunate, and with my men being used as elite soldiers and cannon fodder in equal measure. Certain actions on the part of the aforementioned doctor necessitated me allying in small part with the demons to eradicate rogue Fury soldiers from opposing forces who were killing civilians indiscriminately, and this is what led to me leaving the Shinsengumi.
buckle up
[He's down with the multiverse. And all its oddities.]
In my world, the Shinsengumi became involved with a doctor of Western medicine under the orders of the shogunate. This man had a serum of unknown origin that turned men who ingested it into... creatures, of a sort. Hollow imitations of humanity, who drink blood and lose control of themselves at the mere scent and sight of it. He disappeared from our midst, and soon thereafter his daughter came to Kyoto searching for him.
[This is a long story, but he'll try to be concise.]
Around that time, I was injured and lost the use of my left arm. Then, for my part, I lost sight of my purpose and buried myself in research. Ultimately I became one of those creatures, called Furies, of my own accord. The story of my death and defection was a cover for my joining the Fury Corps, and becoming their commander.
[He smiles, and sips the sake.]
To complicate things further, a group of demons began meddling in our affairs, as they were trying to take custody of the doctor's daughter. What followed was a many-sided, ugly war, with the Shinsengumi essentially becoming puppets of the shogunate, and with my men being used as elite soldiers and cannon fodder in equal measure. Certain actions on the part of the aforementioned doctor necessitated me allying in small part with the demons to eradicate rogue Fury soldiers from opposing forces who were killing civilians indiscriminately, and this is what led to me leaving the Shinsengumi.