“Betrayal By Blood”
Part 13

A few hours later at the festival, Nori walked over to Soji, taking his hand and pulling him to a table with hairpins and different types of jewelry covering it.

“Look Soji. Isn’t it pretty?” Nori says.

Soji looks down as he notices that Nori has her hands wrapped. He looks on in confusion, she turns looking at Soji.

“Well what do you think? Do you think I should buy it?” Nori asks him.

Soji looks up at her away from her hand. “Sorry, Nori. What did you say?” Soji asks.

“Soji, what is wrong? Are you all right?” She asks him.

“Oh yeah, I am fine. I just got a little sidetracked there.” Soji says.

“Well what do you think?” Nori says pointing at the pendent again.

“It is very nice. I think it would look great on you.” Soji says. “But you are not going to buy it.” Soji tells her.

She turns looking at Soji with a bemused looked on her face, “Why not, Soji? I like it and I would like to have it.” She tells him.

“That is fine but I will get it for you.” Soji says.

“Soji, no. I cannot let you do that,” Nori tells him.

“Think of it as a 'thank you' for becoming my friend gift.” Soji says.

Nori grins and a touches his hand telling him, “Thank you, Soji. That is very sweet of you.”

When the merchant hands Soji the pendent, he motions to Nori to turn around as he places the pendent around her neck. Nori lifts the pendent looking at it. Its oval shape and fine detail of swirls and loops along with the silver glimmer in the moonlight as the black inlays set off the diamonds and sapphires sparkling in the light.

“It is even more beautiful out of the case.” Nori says to Soji.

“This is a bond of our friendship, a bond that no one or nothing can break. I want you to know, Nori... I will all ways be there for you no matter what it is for, no matter what you ask of me. I will do my best to be your friend. ALWAYS.” Soji says.

Nori feels her eyes start to burn as she turns away from Soji so not to see her cry, “Thank you, Soji. That is very sweet of you, but be careful what you say. What I may ask of you one day you may not be able to carry out.” Nori tells him drying her eyes turning to look back at him.

Soji smiles and tells her, “I do not think you would ask anything too crazy of me… at least I hope you do not.” Soji says as he places his hand to the back of his head laughing.

Nori laughs with him has she takes his hand again and they start to walk thought the festival once more.

About an hour later, Nori is waiting for Soji’s return from finding out when they were going to start the fireworks. Nori starts to feel a presence nearby, making her very uncomfortable. She looks around trying to see if someone was watching her.

“Nori, they will be starting the fireworks soon. I thought we might go sit in the grass over there to watch them.” Soji says. Nori turns in the direction of Soji’s voice, watching him walk over to her.

Nori smiles saying, “I told Susumu that I would watch the fireworks with him tonight. You do not mind do you, Soji? You can join us if you'd like. I do not think Susumu will mind.” Nori tells him.

Soji smiles saying, “No, that is fine I think it would be safer if we were back at home anyway, I have this strange feeling we are being watched.” Soji tells her.

“You too huh?” Nori says.

“I am wondering if it is Hajime that is watching us. He likes to do things like this and mess with our minds.” Soji says.

Nori looks over Soji’s shoulder and she sees Oukami walk through the crowd of people. She quickly grabs Soji’s hand saying, “Come on, Soji we need to get back before they start the fireworks without us.” Nori quickly starts to walk from the festival crowd.

“Nori, slow down! We will make it there on time.” Soji tells her.

Once she was out of the crowd of the festival, she started to feel a little more comfortable and slowed her pace.

“What was that all about Nori for a minute there I thought you were going to start running?” Soji says.

“Nothing, Soji. I just want to hurry and get back is all.” Nori tells him. “I do not want to miss any of the fireworks.” She adds turning looking over her shoulder smiling at him. Soji shrugs his shoulders and continues walking back to headquarters with her.

Once inside the gates, Soji and Nori are greeted by Susumu, “I was wondering if you were going to make it back on time.” Susumu says. “I have a place all set up on top of the building for us to sit and watch them as they set them off.” Susumu tells Nori taking her hand. Susumu feels the wrap on Nori’s hand looking down at her hand then back up at her.

“I went prepared just in case and good thing I did.” Nori says.

Susumu looks at her and stops walking he asks. “You saw him?”

“Saw who?” Soji chimes in. Nori and Susumu look at each other. “Saw who?!” Soji exclaims asking again.

“It is a long story, Soji.” Nori says hanging her head as Susumu starts to walk with her again leading her to the building they were going to be sitting on.

Once on top of the building, they all settled down as some of the others climb up and join them to watch as well. They all laugh and talk, having a wonderful evening watching the fireworks together.

Later that evening after everyone has turned in for the night, Nori is sitting out on the walkway in front of her room. Nori stares at the stars in the night sky as her mind wonders back to her childhood.

“You look very content sitting there... are you thinking of your new love?”

A startled Nori gets to her feet looking for Oukami. “Where are you, Oukami? Come out and let us get this over with.” Nori tells him.

Oukami steps from the shadows, “You really need to be remembering what he has done to you and not what he is trying to get you to believe now.” Oukami says.

“What is that supposed to mean, Oukami? I know what Hijikata has done to me, and I have not forgotten about it. That is something I can never forget.” Nori says.

“Then kill him and be done with it, or have you truly forgotten everything he has done?” Nori looks at Oukami while he speaks.

“Your mother and the nights she spent crying herself to sleep, knowing her oldest was in here being turned into a killer... and Hijikata not letting her see Katana when she begged him to let her see her daughter. Your father and the guilt he felt for driving her away and then he could not get her back because of the power Hijikata held over Katana. You... when you tried to speak to her on the street and Hijikata pushed you away from her.” Oukami tells her.

“Stop this Oukami; I do not need a history lesson on what he has done to me and my family!” Nori yells.

“Really now, Nori? Then tell me... how many people have you killed?” Oukami asks her.

“What does that have to do with this? You know I have never killed anyone.” Nori tells him.

“Hijikata has slain hundreds, and as for your sister... I know of four she has killed and one you know quite well and was deeply in love with.”

Nori’s face goes blank as she starts to back away from Oukami, shaking her head she says, “No… No… I do not believe you Oukami. Katana would never have done such a thing. She knew how much we were in love; she knew we were to be married.” Nori says as her voice is shaking from the distress of Oukami’s news.

“Yes Nori… Katana and Hijikata are the two that killed Haru. Katana lured him out in a fight making it two to one; Hijikata delivered the killing blow, but they got a surprise visitor before this hideous murder took place.” Oukami tells her walking toward her.

“NO!! I will not believe that Katana had anything to do with that! No one knows who killed Haru, NO ONE!!” Nori screams at him.

“I do…” Oukami tells her as he grabs her wrists pulling her to him.

Nori’s face holds no expression and her eyes widen filling with tears; she looks at Oukami saying, “NO! I will not believe you.”

“I was their surprise visitor, Nori. I saw what they did to Haru. I tried to help him but it was too late to save him. Katana gave me this while I trying to help Haru.” Oukami pulls open the top of his kimono, baring a scar on his right shoulder.

Nori drops to her knees and cries into her hands. Oukami kneels in front of her. “Nori, I did not want to tell you that, but Hijikata must die, not only for the pain he has caused you, but for the others as well. Hijikata is a demon and cares for no one but himself.” Oukami says has he lifts Nori’s head and looks into her eyes. “What makes you think that he could care for you, Nori?” Oukami asks her.

Nori knocks Oukami’s hand from her face saying, “I will kill Hijikata but not for you or your master. He will die when I say he will die.”

She gets to her feet turning and starts to walk away from Oukami with her head hung down. Nori stops but does not turn around when she asks, “Oukami, tell me, why you were trying to help Haru that day.”

“Because he was my master's little brother and he was part of the Supaidas as well.” Oukami tells her.

Nori lifts her head stunned by what Oukami told her. “Sawaka?! Haru was Sawaka's little brother?!” Nori turns to look at Oukami but finds he has all ready fled.