“Betrayal By Blood”
Part 5


Nori watches Soji run off as she turns walking to her room. As she starts to slide the door closed, she feels it stop and slide back open seeing Hijikata standing there. She gives Hijikata a look of disapproval, turning and walking farther into her room, Hijikata walks in closing the door behind him. He walks up behind her while she turns, stepping back away from him.

“You're not scared of me are you Miss Nori?” Hijikata says to her.

“I am afraid of no man… especially you.” She tells him.

Hijikata laughs, “You’re just like Katana… deadly, reckless, bold, and very beautiful.” Hijikata reaches his hand out to Nori.

“I am nothing like my sister and never compare me to her again.” Nori says knocking his hand away from her.

Hijikata laughs as he grabs Nori and jerks her toward him spinning her around placing her back to his chest holding her arms across her chest, he whispers in her ear. “Your big sister made a remark to me about something just before she left here, and if I find it to be true and you have anything to do with it… what they did to Ayumu will be nothing compared to what ‘I’ will do to you.”

Nori jerks her self from Hijikata’s hold, she turns and looks at him, “If you think I am a danger to you and your men kill me now if you think you can. Because I will not work for you if you do not trust me.” Nori tells him.

Hijikata walks towards the door, he turns looking at Nori, “Heed my words girl, for they will become reality if you cross me.” Hijikata walks from her room as he turns telling her, “Stay away from the men; you are here to cook for them, not entertain them. If you will be entertaining anyone it will be me.” He tells her smiling, sliding the door closed. Nori takes her shoe off, throwing it at the door as it hits, making a loud thud.


The next morning Nori is up three hours before the others, she walks into the dojo to do her morning workout. “Up kind of early are we not?” a voice from the darkness says.

“Always lurking in the shadows are you not… Hajime Saito. When will you ever greet me like a normal person?” Nori says turning in the direction of his voice.

“I must be getting good to be able to get this close to you and you not know it.” Hajime says as he steps from the darkness.

Nori laughs, “You are the only one of my opponents that I could never pick up on your presence. You're one I could never take my eyes from Hajime.” Nori tells him taking a stance.

Hajime laughs, “So you want to work out with me this morning?”

“I see no one else stepping up to do the job.” Nori says smiling, as the morning light starts to peek into the dojo and the sun glistens from her hair.

“You are still as beautiful as you were three years ago my child.” Hajime says reaching for a training sword.

Nori smiles at him, “I am much more skilled now, then I was then.”

Hajime walks toward Nori, “You know if Hijikata finds out that you are using the Shinsengumi to draw out your sister, you will have hell to pay.” Hajime says lunging toward her with his sword.

Nori steps to the side as Hajime thrust with his sword taking him past her. Hajime quickly turns into her bring his sword up and thrusting toward her body, “You’re getting slow old man, and I think your sight is failing you.” Nori says as she taps him on his back.“I am over here,” she says laughing at him.

Hajime turns to see her standing a few inches behind him. “I am not here to cause any problems for the Shinsengumi; I am only here for my sister, Hajime.” Nori tells him.

“You really think the Demon Commander will see it that way?” Hajime asks her, attacking her again.

Nori avoids his attack again, “Hijikata can see it however he wants to see it. I do not care as long as I get my revenge on my sister for what she has done to the Mutsu name and the dishonor she shamed Mother and Father with.” Nori says, bringing her elbow down on the Hajime as he goes by her in his next attack taking Hajime to the floor.

Hajime looks up at her and smiles, “You have gotten quite skilled since the last time we practiced.” Nori smiles offering her hand to Hajime to help him from the floor.


Just as Nori gets Hajime lifted almost from the floor she lets go of his hand and ducks going down to avoid the attacked from behind and sweeping her leg under her attackers legs bring him down on top of Hajime. She stands up placing her hands on her hips and laughs looking down at Hajime and Soji lying in the floor, one on top of the other. “So Soji, I thought you would have learned your lesson from the tea shop. You cannot sneak up on me.”

Soji looks up at Nori, “I am learning that slowly as you can see.” Soji tells her smiling and getting up from the floor. “What do you say to two on one and you show me just how good you are.”

Nori smiles, “This will be easy and a good work out as well.” Nori says taking a new stance to fight. As Nori, Soji, and Hajime are working out, they start to draw a crowd, as the other men stand at the sidelines, watching Nori defeat Hajime and Soji, “Come on guys I have not even broke a sweat yet.” Nori tell them laughing.

“Well if you would stand still long enough maybe we could get a good hit in.” Soji yells at her attacking her again.

Nori laughs, “Now what fun would that be if I just stood there and let you beat me.” As she kicked Soji in the butt, he flies out the door of the dojo. She quickly turns to block Hajime’s attack grabbing is blade between her hands, “Hajime… one of my favorite moves and I have to waste it on a work out.” Nori brings her leg up kicking Hajime in his chest, taking him to his knees.


Just then, Hijikata sees Soji getting up from the walkway and running back into the dojo, he hears the men start to laugh. Hijikata picks up his pace walking toward the dojo to see what is going on. Hijikata walks through the door just in time to catch Soji as Nori kicked him in the chest and send him sprawling backwards. Hijikata looks around seeing Hajime going to attack Nori.

“What are you doing in here…” Hijikata yells at them, stopping Hajime in his tracks.

Nori turns looking at Hijikata. “We are working out, why do you want to play with us to?” Nori smiles at him.

Hijikata walks over to Nori, “That is exactly what you are doing in here is playing.” Hijikata says grabbing Nori’s wrist.

Nori glares at Hijikata, jerking away from him. “I am going to shower and fix breakfast.” Nori tells him.

Hijikata grabs her arm again, this time Nori grabs Hijikata flipping him to the floor on his back. Nori looks down on Hijikata as he bats his eyes, “Looks like you learn the hard way like Soji. Do not ever touch me, Hijikata.” Nori tells him in a scornful tone. “I am going to shower now you will find me in the kitchen there after.”

Nori starts to walk from the dojo as she turns, “Thank You Hajime, Soji you fought well and I look forward to a rematch.” Nori bows and leaves the room.

Soji goes to Hijikata to help him from the floor, as Hajime stands off to the side. “You two in my office NOW!!” Hijikata tells them.





“Betrayal By Blood”
Part 6


“That moody son of…” Nori found herself stomping her way back to her room. Her fists were clammy from the sparring session with Hajime and Soji. “This is so stupid; I am getting all worked up by a pathetic immature man who has no sense of mood.” Nori stopped walking and slammed her fist in to the pole that was beside her.

“Angry are we?” Susumu approached her and removed her hand from the wooden pole. “You know that could really hurt.”

Nori looked away, anger boiled inside of her and she was not in the mood for talking either.

“What is it to you?” Nori said taking back her hand from Susumu.

“I am not sure if you know what pain is.” Susumu tells her. Nori scolded a look at Susumu and walked off.

“Stupid men!” Nori said to herself as she walked off.

“She really needs to learn to calm down,” Tetsu stood next to Susumu who watched Nori as she walked away from him.

“Where did you come from?” Susumu looked down to see Tetsu standing there with a pile of white sheets in his arms.

“Could you help me with these?” Tetsu lifted the pile of sheets up, hinting to Susumu to help him.

“I am not your servant,” Susumu responded and began to walk away from Tetsu.

“You are mean!” Tetsu with the white sheets that were in his hands were swaying from side to side as he ran towards Susumu trying to keep up with his pace.

“What is it between you and her?” Tetsu stopped and looked at Susumu who had now stopped and stood still. “Do you like her or something? I mean I saw you and her just now, the entire handholding and the lovey dovey thing going on… Well?” Tetsu was waiting for an answer but Susumu just stood there in a daze.

“It is none of your concern,” Susumu walked off leaving Tetsu with the sheets in his hands.

“Well you could have helped me!” Tetsu shouted at Susumu as he walked away.


“Who said that you two could spar with her?” Hijikata stood up and slammed his fist onto the table that was in front of him.

“Now… Now… Hijikata,” Soji raised his hands and motioned to Hijikata to calm down.

“Her job is to cook not fight!” Hijikata threw a scorned look at both Hajime and Soji.

“Since when did you get so angry about what we do?” Soji questioned Hijikata.

“You never had a problem before, I mean Tetsu is your page and yet you let him spar,” Hajime added.

“Well he is a different matter!” Hijikata shouted at Hajime.

“Hijikata!” Soji stood in front of him “You are not like this, what is wrong with you?” Soji rested his hand upon Hijikata's shoulder and guided him to sit down.

“I do not know,” Hijikata raised his hand and placed it upon his brow. A stressful look appeared on his face “I just have no idea what is wrong,”

Hajime placed his hand on Hijikata’s shoulder. “I guess we are going to find out.” He turned Hijikata to face outside only to see Nori walking pass going to the kitchen.

“It cannot be?!” Hijikata eyes widened, his fist clenched together as he was thinking, “Why am I acting like this when there is nothing wrong, could it be Nori that has me so on edge!” Hijikata stood up and brushed himself off. He stood tall in a formal posture, he turned his head and acknowledged to Soji and Hajime that they could leave. Once they have left, Hijikata began to walk towards the kitchen to settle some unfinished business.

“Cooking, food, cooking, food, cooking…” Nori mumbles as she makes the food for the boys that are waiting. “Honestly, I swear I am going to die cooking,” Nori places the saucepan of water on the cooker and sighs. “This, I do this just for her!” Nori slams her fist on to the kitchen bench. “Because of you!”

“Of who?” Hijikata walks in to the kitchen and closes the door behind him. He begins to walk towards Nori slowly, almost trying to intimidate her but it was not working.

“What do you want?!” Nori asks him and carries on doing her work in the kitchen.

“That is my question to ask you.” Hijikata replied. He leans up behind her back and slides his arm around her waist.

“What are you doing?!” Nori turns around in his embrace and pushes him back, his hold stopping her.

“I need to know something and you are going to tell me,” a confused look appears on Nori’s face. She did not know what he was referring to. Could it be that he could have found out about Katana or maybe he is going on about something else?

“I need to know if you feel…” Hijikata pushes Nori up against the kitchen wall. His body fully against her, he is really close to her now that she could feel the rise and fall of his chest as he was breathing, his heartbeat racing and sweat became visible on his forehead.

“Do you…” Hijikata looks directly at Nori, his eyes locked with Nori, all she could see is determination to seek the truth, but about what.

“Could you get off me?!” Nori pushes Hijikata away, only for him to force her back up against the wall once again. His arm rested in her chest and one of his hands held her by her stomach. He leans forward; Nori could now feel his body heat against hers.

“Get off me!” Nori says as she shoves Hijikata to the floor; that is something she wanted nothing to do with. She steps around him and directs him to get out. She walks towards the kitchen door and gestures to him to leave. Without saying a word, Hijikata picks himself up and leaves the kitchen. As he passes Nori, he throws a stone cold look at her, only to try to torment her.

“Like that is going to work,” Nori threw back. As he leaves, Nori closes the kitchen door and props herself up against it. “That stupid son of a…” She slides down and sits on the floor.

“Just wait, I will get you.” Nori says to herself, she clenched her fist and slams it into the floor. Nori gets up and brushes herself off “Well the food will not get done by itself,” she says to herself.



"Betrayal By Blood" Parts 7 and 8.