“Betrayal By Blood”
Part 18

Back at headquarters, Tetsu is questioning Oukami. Oukami is tied to a chair with hot lights pointed at him. Sanosuke, Shinpachi, and Susumu are also present. Tetsu walks in a circle around Oukami.

"You know, we can do this the easy way... or we can do this the hard way," he says.

"Go to Hell," Oukami replies.

Tetsu smiles. "Tough, eh? We have ways of making you talk. Right, Sano?"

"Where were you on the night of February 31st?" Sanosuke asks Oukami.

"Um... " says Tetsu. "Sano? February doesn't have 31 days."

"It doesn't?" asks Sanosuke. Susumu shoves him aside so he can talk.

"Oukami, you dog! Where is Nori's grandfather?" he asks.

Oukami lowers his eyes. "He's probably dead by now. What does it matter?"

"You'll tell us or else!" threatens Shinpachi.

"Or else what?" inquires Oukami.

"Um... uh... Sano, your turn."

"Where were you on the night of February 30th?" asks Sanosuke. Tetsu rubs his forehead.

"Sanosuke... it doesn't have 30 days either."

Sanosuke blinks in confusion. "Damn it."

Oukami raises his eyes again and locks them with Tetsu's. "You can keep me here until I'm old and gray. I won't say a word. We Supaidas will never give in to the likes of you. Never."

Shinpachi laughs. "He doesn't know. We're wasting our time."

Oukami takes offense. "I do know, but I won't tell you."

"You're a rotten liar," Shinpachi says. "You don't know. You say that you do so that you won't sound stupid... like Sanosuke."

"Yeah... HEY!" says Sanosuke.

Oukami is getting angry. "I do know. You're trying to anger me into telling you where. I won't fall for that."

Shinpachi taps his foot while he speaks. "Man, he's good... I'm out of ideas."

"Why do you even care about Nori or her grandfather?" asks Oukami. "What's it to you if he dies? You don't even know him. He's just some crusty old man. He'll die in a few years anyway, maybe less."

Tetsu growls. "Nori is our friend. If her grandfather is important to her, then he's important to us. Unlike you in the Stupaidas, we actually care for each other in the Shinsengumi. The bonds of love and friendship are far stronger than the bonds of hatred that you hold on to, Oukami."

Oukami shakes his head in disbelief. Susumu speaks up. "It's true. If it wasn't, then why is it that Soji actually beat Mizuto? It's clear that Mizuto had more skill than he did. But because Soji loves Nori, he reached a new level and defeated him. Your kind will never achieve that because... you just don't care about anyone but yourselves."

"St-stop it..." Oukami closes his eyes tightly. The words are beginning to get to him.

Susumu continues. "Life as a member of the Shinsengumi is a life where we don't have to live in fear, in fear of a boss that'd kill us for failing. We all support one another. I'm asking... no, begging you... please... tell us where her grandfather is."

Oukami still has his eyes closed. He trembles like a leaf and tilts his head downward. After a moment, Oukami looks up and sees that all four men are looking at him. They aren't giving him looks of hostility, but looks of compassion for their friend Nori.

Oukami sighs and finally talks. "You'll find him at the Supaidas base in the clutches of Sawaka. It's three miles to the north of here."

Susumu smiles at Oukami. "Thank you. But why did you tell us that just now? Did our words actually reach you?"

"I may have a black heart, but it is still a heart just the same," answers Oukami.

Sanosuke and Shinpachi lift him up to take him to his prison cell. Susumu turns to Tetsu... and then sees Nori standing in the doorway. All of the men blink repeatedly. Nori has tears in her eyes.

"You... all meant what you said just now?"

Susumu nods. "Yes. Now get some rest. We'll handle Sawaka ourselves at the base."

"Heh, you won't have to worry about finding her," says Oukami. "She can sense our life-force. After feeling that her lover Mizuto died, she's undoubtedly on her way here. I suggest that you prepare yourselves; I believe she'll be here tomorrow."

The next day, Nori is seated all alone, deep in thought. A lot of things are weighing on her mind: her grandfather, Hijikata, her newly bandaged wounds, the impending battle with Sawaka... and Soji.

Nori was told that Soji overworked himself in his duel with Mizuto. As such, he is in no condition to fight. He must rest. Nori herself needs rest, but she doesn't care. The sooner she can have Sawaka off her back, the better. She tries her best to get her mind straight. In a battle, one must only focus on the fight. All other distractions can lead to certain doom.

Hijikata has ordered that all forces be heavily armed. Everyone, from the guards to the maids, is equipped with at least a sword. A guard perched in a watchtower starts to call out to his allies below.

"I see her! Sawaka is approaching!"

Indeed she is. Her face is covered by a white mask to hide the scar that Hijikata gave her, but more importantly, to hide the tears forming in her eyes. Sawaka is completely unarmed as well, choosing not to use a weapon much like Nori doesn't. She effortlessly crashes through the gates and into the midst of the Shinsengumi’s main courtyard. Sawaka looks around before getting completely surrounded by guards with their swords drawn. Hijikata steps forward.

"Sawaka... it's been a long time."

Sawaka clenches her fist. "Shut up! Just shut up!" She sees Nori. "You... you are a disappointment. Why didn't you kill him? Why?!"

Nori sighs and says nothing. Sawaka continues her vengeful tirade. "I wanted you to kill him you are the only one like me who understands how demonic this man really is! After you struck him down, you and I could have been something together. But now, I see that these fools have weakened your resolve. For that... you shall die along with them."

Hijikata speaks. "So be it. Men... ATTACK!"

Hijikata's soldiers rush Sawaka. Sawaka uses her finger touch ability to touch them in the proper spots, robbing them of their lives. With unbelievable speed, she avoids every sword slash and attack headed in her direction. Keisuke turns to Hijikata.

"This is pointless! She'll kill all of our men! We should fight!" he yells.

Hijikata doesn't argue. He draws his blade and orders his soldiers to stand back. "Yamanami, I will fight her. It is me who she is after."

"After those wounds you received from Mizuto, are you sure? She'll destroy you!" shouts Keisuke.

Hijikata ignores the words. He approaches Sawaka without showing any fear. His steps are slow, walking at a snail's pace until he speeds up into a run. Hijikata swings his sword once, and only once, before it is caught and broken by Sawaka's hand. Sawaka goes for her death touch and Nori sees it. Wanting to be the one to finish Hijikata... or possibly another motive... Nori leaps forward and pushes Hijikata out of the way.

Sawaka grabs Nori by the hair and flings her away. She strikes against a wall, sliding to the floor. Sawaka kicks Hijikata. He rolls on the ground. Sawaka's red eyes glow from beneath her ivory mask. Her revenge would finally be complete on this day. Or so she thinks. Nori leaps onto her back, punching the back of her head. Sawaka flips her over onto Hijikata.

"Foolish girl. Compared to me, you have the strength of an infant." says Sawaka. "And now you'll perish together. Farewell." she says before bringing her hand down.

Hijikata hastily shoves Nori off of himself and reaches up to catch Sawaka's wrist. Sawaka brings down her other hand and it too is caught at the wrist. Hijikata firmly grips both of Sawaka's wrists as he rises to his feet. Sawaka kicks him repeatedly, but Hijikata doesn't let go. He squeezes hard; his nails puncture her skin. Sawaka kicks again and again. It is no use. Hijikata pulls his hands away. The damage has been done. Sawaka's hands are limp and unmoving. Her mind tells them to move but they do not respond.

"You ass! What did you do to me?!" she shrieks.

Hijikata lowers his eyes. "I coated my fingers with a special poison before you arrived. Now you will be unable to use that touch of yours ever again. Without it, you are pretty much left to using your feet. That alone will not defeat a single man here."

"I'LL KICK YOU TO DEATH! THEN I'LL STOMP ON YOUR GRAVE!" Sawaka kicks at Hijikata until Nori pushes her over. Sawaka rises to her feet again. She attempts another kicking attack. However, she is stopped by a familiar face.

"Oukami...?" Sawaka says as Oukami holds her foot.

"Yes. They had captured me, but I slipped free. Listen... even if you managed to kill Nori and Hijikata, you'd never leave here alive. Look around."

Sawaka does just that. She sees everyone with swords ready: Susumu, Tetsu, Shinpachi, Sanosuke, Keisuke, and the rest.

"This fight is now fruitless. Let us go."

Sawaka is very displeased. "Agreed. We'll leave. Nori... I said you were weak, but I know that deep inside, you hate Hijikata. Destroy him...."

"I will not take any orders from you ever again, Sawaka. Be gone and never show your face here again." Nori responds. Oukami carries Sawaka in his arms. Hijikata allows them to go.

Sawaka is confused as to why Oukami did what he did. If she had died, he wouldn't have to work for her anymore. They bounce in the treetops across the forest.

"Oukami... why...?" she asks.

"Those Shinsengumi showed me something. The power of friendship is a strong thing. Perhaps if we both adapted to principles similar to theirs, we'd be stronger than ever." Oukami says.

Sawaka closes her eyes. "My revenge... I never got my revenge."

"You needn't worry. Nori will kill him. I am sure of it." says Oukami. "We must move our base though. They have sent people to retrieve Nori's grandfather."

Sawaka smiles from under her mask. "Friendship, you say? It will make us strong enough to destroy them all?"

"That's not what I meant. The strength of our friendship will help you deal with all the sorrow within your soul." Oukami answers. "It is far better than living a life of revenge."

Sawaka smiles again as they disappear into the brush of the forest. The thought of living a happy life seems foreign to her. But if her trusted warrior believes in it, she figures that she might as well give it a try.