“Betrayal By Blood”
Part 12

Meanwhile, several miles away, Oukami enters into a darkened room and bows before a pedestal. A few minutes after his arrival an authoritative voice acknowledges his return with a simple question. “How did it go?”

Oukami remains bowing and answers simply “We could have a problem, mistress.”

“A problem?” A sudden shift in tone indicates the displeasure this news brings with it. "What kind of problem?”

“Well mistress, Nori is having doubts,” states Oukami as he recalled in his mind the earlier encounter he and Nori had.

“Doubts? How can she be having doubts?” The sudden creaking of the wooden floor indicates the figure has stood and is walking out of the shadows towards Oukami. She presses his head firmly against the pedestal.

No member of the Supaidas has ever seen the face to which this voice belongs. “She knows what he has done; she should by vying for his blood by now!” the voice says.

“Apparently she is not immune to the lures of the flesh; her body is overriding her mind on matters it should have no part in.” Oukami replied, the deepening of his voice revealing the fact he believes this to be pure weakness on Nori’s part.

“How is this so?” The voice asks.

Oukami replies, “Hijikata is scheming and I believe he has fallen for Nori. I was taught that love should have no place on the battlefield and by doing so is a sure sign of weakness. Nori will fail in her quest if he succeeds in capturing her heart.”

“Indeed, if that is the case, we may have to interfere...” The footsteps have moved past Oukami who risks lifting his head off the pedestal.

“What do you want us to do, mistress?” asks Oukami eager to leave the room before the vertebrae in his back protest anymore about the uncomfortable position his body is in.

“You are going to have to remind her what Hijikata did to her family and her sister. Once she remembers this all doubts should be cast aside… regardless of what her body chooses to believe.”

Oukami stands and bows once again “This I will do, mistress." He then quickly leaves the room never once glancing up to look at his leader who returns to her throne on the pedestal.

As he steps out of the room, Oukami senses that he has company and quickly draws his blade fearing one of the Shinsengumi has tracked him.

“Watch what you do with that, it is clear blood has already been spilled by your blade. I would rather not add mine as well.” Mizuto states as he stepped forth from the shadows.

“My apologies,” Oukami says as he quickly sheathes his blade “I feared you were someone else.”

“I damn well hope so,” Mizuto walks over to Oukami and smiles “So what are your new orders?”

“I have to give Nori another history lesson,” Oukami answered.

“Think you can handle this one?” Mizuto says. Mizuto works directly under the mistress and had heard quickly about the last encounter between Nori and Oukami, and he was not impressed with the information he received.

“Yes there will be no interference this time, I will ensure it,” states Oukami through gritted teeth. Mizuto was not his favorite person; he tended to use his rank to avoid the tough jobs yet another sign of weakness in Oukami’s eyes.

“Good well you had better be on your way, do not want to keep destiny waiting now do you?” replies Mizuto, a smug grin spreading across his face as Oukami walks past him.

Once Oukami had left, Mizuto enters the mistresses’ tent. He does not need to bow before the pedestal with working directly under the mistress and being her lover as well.

“Are you sure it is wise relying on that girl to do our work?” he states in a voice that does not attempt to hide his displeasure and lack of faith in Nori.

The mistress steps out of the shadows when she hears his voice, “Why of course. Very soon she will see like I did, finding what a rat he is and she will do anything in her power to destroy him.” Mizuto took a seat next to that of the mistress and looked her in the eyes.

“A rat he may be there is no doubt. But he is also a manipulator, you have not forgotten what he did to you or your brother, have you, Sawaka?”

Sawaka grimaced at the use of her true name; “I will never forget… not when I will carry this scar with me for eternity and this emptiness in my heart.” Unconsciously Sawaka has raised her hand to the left side of her face where the mark of her betrayal scars her flesh as she traces it with her fingertip.

“Good. Then I suggest we send Masatuko also. He can keep guard as Oukami carries out his duty,” Mizuto says, Sawaka nodded. Her and Mizuto leaves the room, everything is going to plan just as he hoped it would.

Masatuko, having received his orders from Mizuto, was waiting by the gate as Oukami was leaving the hideout. “Not thinking of going without me are you?” Masatuko said with a smile.

“Let me guess,” Oukami said stopping but not looking back, “Mizuto has ordered you to join me right?”

“Correct, how did you know?” Masatuko chuckled as he walked towards Oukami.

“Call it intuition,” says Oukami also smiling. He was happy to have Masatuko with him for this quest. He was the last member of the Supaidas and was by far the best lookout Oukami knew. He would ensure that there were no unwanted distractions. “Well let us be on our way. Darkness will help us get past their security.” Oukami said,

“And in that failing the weapons tend to work pretty well also.” Masatuko smiled once again and together Oukami and himself ran towards the Shinsengumi headquarters, hidden in the shadows cast by the moon.

Once dinner was over, Nori went to her room to dress for her evening with Soji. She walks out of her room only to see Soji seated on the walkway.

“Soji how long have you been waiting here for me?” Nori asks him. Soji turns to see Nori standing by her door. Nori was in a white silk kimono with blue print flowers, and a small hint of red, and green, her hair pulled up and held by two hairpins that sparkled a radiant blue from the moonlight.

“Nori, you look lovely tonight.” Soji tells her. Nori smiles and tilts her head; her cheeks turn flush.

“Thank you, Soji. I know it is a little much for a festival, but I never get to dress up so I thought I would take advantage of tonight.” Nori tells him. Just then, Susumu walks around the corner as he stops looking at Nori his eyes widen.

“Nori, you look… well you’re…”

“She is beautiful.” Hijikata says finishing Susumu’s thoughts as he walks over to her. “I see you and Soji are going to the festival tonight.” Hijikata says to her as he slides his arm around her waist walking her down off the walkway. Soji follows them. “You two have fun tonight and come back safe.” Hijikata tells them.

Nori looks at Hijikata saying, “I plan on having a lot of fun tonight, thank you.” She walks away from Hijikata’s hold walking up to Soji and taking his arm walking out the gate with him.