“Betrayal By Blood”
Part 1
“Man I am really getting tired of this,” Tetsu complains, as he spoons through his bowl of steamed vegetables.
“I know what you are saying, Tetsu,” Shinpachi says, playing with his food as well.
“We have been without Ayumu now for over 6 months and still do not have a cook that can take her place,” Toudou says with a sigh.
"Just give it time, Hijikata will find someone to take her place soon, I am sure of it,” Soji tells the guys stirring his bowl around, looking into it.
“Come on guys why all the long faces in here,” they all turn to see Kondo standing in the doorway. “It cannot be all that bad now can it?”
“We need a new cook, this everyone taking a turn to cook for the day bit, is getting old and the sad part is only a handful of us can cook decently,” Sanosuke says, as the rest of them chime in with a complaint.
“Now… Now… Hijikata has sent out for a few people to be brought in so he can talk to them, and see if they will take Ayumu’s place as cook here,” Kondo tells them.
“You really think he will find someone with all the rumors going around about Ayumu and why she is no longer here,” Toudou says.
“We can only hope he does,” Soji tells them.
As the guys are talking and complaining about the food and not having a cook, a young woman comes walking across the courtyard. She steps up on the walkway and walks past the room they are sitting in.
“WOW! Who is that!!?” Sanosuke says sticking his head out the doorway followed by the others that saw her walk by the room.
“WOW! Is right Sano, I wonder where she is from... I do not remember ever seeing her in the village.” Toudou says looking down at Sanosuke, who is on his hands and knees looking out the door with him.
“Looks like she is going to talk to Hijikata, I wonder if she is one of the people he sent for,” Soji says.
Kondo looks out the door as well, he laughs saying, “You do not know who that is?” They all look at him waiting for him to tell them who this attractive young woman was that just walked into Hijikata’s office. Kondo just laughs at them, they all give him a bewildered look, “Well who is she?” Tetsu yells out.
“You see her every time you go into the Tea Shop just down the way.” Kondo tells them.
“Nori Nanba Mutsu, NO WAY?!” Shinpachi says looking back out the doorway, even though he knows she is not out there any longer for him to see her.
“That was Miss Nori Mutsu,” Soji says in a stunned tone.
“Yes it is,” Kondo says. All five of them get up tripping over the other one, rushing out the door to go listen in on the conversation between Hijikata and Miss Nori. Excited and running faster, as they push one another aside to see who could get there first. As they get up next to the door they hear Hijikata say, “Thank you Miss Mutsu for coming to listen to my offer I have for you."
“Yes Commander, it came as a shock to me to hear that you were interested in my cooking skills,” Nori told him.
“Well as you may know, we have been without a cook for a little over 6 months,” Hijikata tells her.
“Yes Commander I heard this, and I am sorry to say that the rumors that are behind why she is no longer with you, is in all probability why you are still without a cook.” Nori tells him.
“I have to agree with you on that Miss Nori,” Hijikata says.
“So I am guessing you are looking to replace her with me to cook for your men?” Nori asks him.
“That was my thought, yes. The men always go on about your cooking when they go to the Tea Shop. They say your cooking compares to Ayumu’s in all ways, and some of it is even better and I my self enjoy your cooking just as much.” Hijikata tells her.
Miss Nori starts to blush at his words and she smiles, “Thank you Commander,” as she bows her head to him, “That is very kind of you and the men to think that.” Nori says.
“I promise you Miss Nori, the rumors you are hearing about Ayumu are false. No harm will come to you from working here.” Hijikata says.
“Yes Commander. I understand,” Nori said.
“Will you come and cook for me and my men? You will be cared for and paid well.” Hijikata said.
Miss Nori sits in silence for a few moments thinking, “This is my ticket into the Shinsengumi to exact my revenge for what has happened to me and my family. I must be calm... I cannot let Commander Hijikata know that this is what I wish.” She looks at Commander Hijikata, “Commander, I have worked in my grandfather's tea shop for over a year now, and I do not know if he could find someone to replace me so soon.” Nori tells Hijikata.
“What would you say if I gave you a few days to think about it, and let your grandfather find someone to replace you?” Hijikata asks her; with a look on his face that told her refusing his offer would not be a wise choice.
Miss Nori looks at Commander Hijikata; with a look of stubbornness, his threats would not change her decision. Thoughts racing in her head with the look he has on his face; she looks down at her hands folded in her lap. “He knows about my family, that I know. So that means he knows about me, he is not only looking for me to cook for him and his men, but he wants me to fight as well. I can see it in his eyes. So Ayumu being a Spy for them, and the brutal way she was killed… must all be true, yet he sits here and tells me they are false.”
She looks up forcing a smile on her face for Hijikata.
“Yes, that sounds like an excellent idea,” as Commander Kondo says sliding the door open, walking in, as Shinpachi, Tetsu, Sanosuke, Soji and Toudou tumble in the door.
Commander Kondo looks at Miss Nori putting out his hand to help her up from her seat. He grins at her and she smiles back. “I think a few days to think about it and let your grandfather find a replacement will be great. I surely hope you decide to come and be part of the Shinsengumi Family, and I think the others share my feelings as well. ” Kondo looks at the five that are getting up from the floor. Hijikata stands there with a look of disgust on his face as he looks at all of them in the room, then turning to Miss Nori.
“Fine then, I will send for you again in three days to get your answer,” Hijikata tells her.
Miss Nori bows to Hijikata, and the others saying, “Fair Well then, I will come to you with my answer is three days.” She leaves the room.
“What were you five doing out there snooping around?” Hijikata said in a scowl tone.
All the guys start talking at once. “Well we…”,
“I guess you could say…”,
“I am not…”.
Soji stands there looking at Hijikata then saying, “I think you made the wrong choice by asking Miss Nori Nanba Mutsu to be a cook for the Shinsengumi, I think there could be some trouble there. You know what has happened in her past.”
Everyone looks at Soji and Hijikata, “Soji, Miss Nori has a family history, considering this; I think it would be best to have her as an ally and not an enemy; if her fighting skills are going to be put to work for anyone I would like to have her on our side and not theirs.” Hijikata says.
“I have seen her fight, she is not only strong of body, but of mind as well. You cannot assume she will come in here and take over my sister's chores just because you tell her to, Hijikata.” Susumu says walking into the room.
“Yet wouldn’t Miss Mutsu’s sister be a better choice?” Soji said.
“She has a sister?” Shinpachi asked.
“Had a sister or so they say, Miss Nori Nanba Mutsu’s older sister was last seen five years ago no one knows where she went or if she is still alive,” says Hijikata. The room fell silent.
“I do not care about all that,” Sanosuke chimed in, “All I want is a beautiful woman who can cook and make some wonderful food!”
“That is all you care about.” Shinpachi replied.
“Nuh-uh! I care about fighting and gambling too.” Sanosuke says.
“Yeah, that really makes you an interesting guy. The ladies must come running to you. SURE! You are less mind-numbing than a turtle,” Shinpachi remarked, sarcastically.
“HEY! AT LEAST I DO NOT CARE ABOUT MY NAILS!”
“WHY YOU! THAT WAS A SECRET!”
The other guys just looked on in annoyance. Those two men always fought, whether it is over women or trying to be the best.
“Gentlemen…” Hijikata said, the arguing continued.
“Ladies…” Hijikata repeated in a more annoyed tone. The boys just kept fighting.
“SHUT UP! YOU KNOW IT WAS ME WHO SMOKED fifteen opium cartels in one day!” Sanosuke yelled.
“Eh quit lying! I am the one who stole your teddy bear!” Shinpachi said laughing.
“SHUT UP!” Hijikata exclaimed as the other men laughed at Sanosuke.
“I do not have a teddy bear! I merely have a stuffed lion!” Sanosuke replied.
“Is his name Kon?” a man said walking up to the door of the area where the Shinsengumi men were talking.
Everyone turned around. No one expected any visitors. Nor did they think any enemies were around. They all began to reach for their weapons and were ready for anything.
