“Betrayal By Blood”
Part 19

Days after the confrontation with Sawaka, Hijikata sits in the center of his room on his bed as he looks at Nori standing in the doorway looking out to the stars. The moonlight dances and glistens from her hair. She turns smiling at Hijikata as she moves her hair from her face as a gentle breeze blows through.

“Come here, Nori.” Hijikata calls to her. "I am pleased to inform you that your grandfather has been safely recovered."

Nori nods and walks toward Hijikata slowly as she sits on the floor in front of him. She reaches out placing her hand on Hijikata’s cheek, brushing his hair back from his face. Hijikata slides his hand around Nori’s waist, pulling her close to him. He caresses her cheek and slides his hand back behind her head, pulling her closer to him, kissing her. Hijikata pulls Nori to the floor as he starts to lie down.

Nori lies with Hijikata as they kiss and he caresses her body, Hijikata lying on top of her as he slowly opens her kimono. Nori slides her hand under his blanket as she slowly pulls out a small dagger, the same dagger that she received from her sister the day she died. Nori had sworn to never use a weapon, but at this moment, it matters not.

Hijikata looks into Nori’s eyes and smiles saying, “I will make you very happy in our life together.” Nori hesitates from his words as he draws closer to her and brushes his lips against hers he whispers to her before he kisses her, “I have fallen in love with you Nori.” He then passionately starts to kiss Nori.

Nori's blood started to boil with rage by his last words he spoke to her before the kiss. She lifts the dagger up behind Hijikata plunging it into his back, as Hijikata gasps for air pulling away from her.

“Nori… W…?” Hijikata whispers.

Nori pulls the dagger from him, plunging it into his back again.

“N… Nori…” Hijikata says.

Nori pushes Hijikata from her with great force sending him across the room. She gets up and walks to the other side of the room to where Hijikata had his katana. She picks up the katana turning, looking at Hijikata and unsheathes it, the blade gleams in the moonlight. She walks toward Hijikata holding the blade in front of her as she walks toward him.

“I told him you would die… but only when I said. Now Hijikata it is time for you to die.” Nori says.

Hijikata looks into Nori’s eyes he sees a mix of pain and confusion as it circles around her. “Nori, why are you doing this… I thought… I…” Hijikata tries hard to speak his thoughts, as fear for his life flashed in his mind as he tries to move away from Nori. "I mean... you told Sawaka that you won't follow her orders anymore...."

“You're still asking why, Hijikata? I would think by now you would know why I want you dead.” Nori tells him still walking toward him. "And I'm not following her orders anymore. I'm doing this on my accord." Nori gets right above him as she looks down on him.

“Nori, you're not a killer… you cannot do this.” Hijikata says coughing. Blood flows from his mouth.

Nori tilts her head, as a tear trickles down her cheek, “I cannot live with this pain any longer, Hijikata. I am sick of feeling all the pain that you have brought upon me. You have killed my sister; you have brought shame to the Mutsu name by training Katana to fight with a weapon, you killed the only man I have ever loved.” Nori stops as Hijikata and her encounters flash in her mind, she pauses, closing her eyes and shaking her head as to get rid of the thoughts and feelings of love she has for Hijikata.

“Why do I feel this way for a man I hate?” she says aloud.

“Because you are falling in love with that man.” Hijikata tells her.

“NO, you dishonor me by thinking that I would be with a killer like yourself. You must die and I will be the one to end your life.”

Nori brings the katana down in a quick single motion as Hijikata rolls to avoid the strike of the blade. Hijikata struggles to get to his feet as he stagers to the door, falling out into the walkway. Nori follows him as she steps out the door herself. She brings the blade down on Hijikata once again as he quickly moves the blade cuts into his arm as he falls backward onto the ground in the courtyard.

Nori walks over to the edge of the walkway and looks down on Hijikata. As she steps down to the ground, she slowly walks to Hijikata. He staggers and stumbles backwards trying to get away from her.

“You should just stand there Hijikata and get it over with. It will make it easer on us both.” Nori tells him.

“Stop this, Nori. Please I can help you overcome this pain that you feel.” Hijikata tells her, still trying to get clear of the blade of the katana as she swings it again cutting into his other arm.

Nori laughs at him, “Help me over come my pain, Hijikata? By giving me your love? Do you really think I could fall in love with a killer? And you of all killers, you want my love… after what you have done to me, you want me to love you?!” Nori yells again, a tear streams down Nori’s cheek.

Hijikata goes down to his knees. Nori stops as he looks up at her his eyes filled with remorse he speaks to her again. “I know you have fallen in love with me Nori that is why you waited so long to kill me. Even though you will not admit it, your feelings of love and hatred for me has you confused. Nori I know I have done wrong in the past, but I can change. I can change because of you’re for love me.”

Soji walks from his room seeing Nori with a sword and Hijikata down on his knees. He starts running their way. Hijikata sees Soji running toward them.

“If you want me dead that badly then just kill me and get it over with.” Hijikata says he hangs his head, waiting for the final blow of his katana from Nori’s hands, hoping that Soji gets there before she takes his head. Or that Nori will come to her senses soon.

Nori raises the blade above her head as she brings down the blade it is suddenly stopped by the blade of another katana, just before the blade of Hijikata’s katana takes his head. Nori looks up seeing Soji standing there blocking her killing blow to Hijikata.

“Soji…” Nori says.

“Nori what are you doing… I need to understand!!” Soji exclaims.

“No Hijikata must die!! That is all you need to understand!!” Nori tells Soji. As she raises the blade against Soji, striking at him.

“Nori, stop this you know you cannot defeat me like this?!” Soji yells at her as she attacks him again. Nori lunges at Soji bringing the blade up and to his left as she cuts across Soji’s chest.

Soji steps back shocked that she had attacked him as he touches his chest were she had cut him looking at the blood on his fingers. “Nori please stop this, why do you want to do this… I know you are in a lot of pain but this is not the way.” Soji tells her.

“Please Soji do me a favor and kill me.” Nori whispers as she rushes him again.

“Kill you…? Why would I kill you Nori… Why would you want me to do that?” Soji yells at her.

“Stop Soji do not hurt her!!” Hijikata yells at him. Soji jumps from her attack as she brings the sword around cutting the back of Soji’s arm.

Soji grabs his arm as he looks at Hijikata and then back at Nori, “Nori, stop this now… I do not want to hurt you, but if you do not stop this… you will leave me no choice. I will have to.” Soji says.

“You told me one time Soji you would be there for me… you told me you would do what I ask of you when I ask, is our friendship all a lie?” Nori asks him.

She goes to attack Soji again yelling. “Kill me Soji or I will kill you and Hijikata both!!”

Susumu hears yelling out in the courtyard has he runs to see what is going on. Once he is there he sees Soji, Hijikata and Nori fighting. Nori with a sword in her hands charging at Soji.

Soji raises his katana ready to strike against Nori.

“No, Soji! Do not do it!!” Hijikata yells.

“Stop!!” Susumu yells running toward them.

“She is going to kill us both if I do not stop her.” Soji yells at both of them. Soji looks at Nori as she is coming after him. As she runs toward him, he sees the pendent he bought for her hanging from her neck. His mind flashes to the night of the festival.

“I will do my best to be your friend, ALWAYS.” His words echoed in his mind. He drops his sword to his feet; Nori stops and looks at Soji.

“Why did you put down your sword Soji… Pick it up!!” Nori yells at him.

“No, I will not fight you… you are not my enemy and I will not fight you.” Soji tells her.

“Nori, please put down your weapon.” Soji begs of her.

“This is not your way Nori and you know it.” Susumu says.
“PICK UP YOUR SWORD, SOJI!!” She yells at him again, paying no mind to Susumu.

“NO!! I will not!! You are my friend and I will not… I cannot kill you!” Soji yells back. “Nori, I told you that I thought you would never become my enemy. Please tell me I was not lying to you or myself. You are not a killer and you should never have the smell of blood upon you. Please, Nori... Stop this. I thought we were friends… please Nori.” Soji begs her again as he walks toward her.

Nori looks at Soji. His face shows nothing but concern for her and how she must be feeling. Soji stands right in front of her as he reaches out and touches her arms. “I cannot do it Nori. Please do not make me. I love you too much.” Soji says as his voice shakes from the hurt he feels from her request.

Nori drops the katana to her feet as she falls to her knees in front of Soji she starts to weep bringing her hands to her face.

“I am so sorry Soji, I am so sorry for asking you to do this.”