“Betrayal By Blood”
Part 3
The next day, Hijikata awakens early as he always does for his morning workout in the yard and is surprised to see Katana there.
"W… what are you doing?" Hijikata stutters.
"What does it look like!? I am certainly not making brownies here, you know, I am doing my morning routine, of course! Do you not remember when you would always wake me up bright and early for this? Apparently I got into the habit of doing it myself... unfortunately" she sighed.
"That is right…" Hijikata says. "It just surprised me that is all... it has been a while after all." He mumbled.
"So… Katana, are you really thinking of applying to this position that is open?"
"Well of course! Did you actually think I would have come just to visit? That is a laugh…" Katana chuckled.
Hijikata was deep in thought as he did his exercise along with Katana, “I was hoping she had given up this life style... but I guess I was wrong. A visit would have been nice instead of this.” he did not notice Katana steal a few glances at him.
"I wonder what is bothering Hiji, he does not seem too happy to have me here... I should have just not came, but I cannot allow them to hurt Nori or anyone else, I must get this job no matter what..." but Katana was unable to finish her thought as she felt a presence behind her and ducked at the last minute.
"AHH! WHY DID YOU MOVE?” Katana stood up to see that Soji had been planning a surprise attack on her but she had just moved in time causing him to go sailing over her.
“Guess I was not in the mood for dirt as breakfast but it seems you were…" Katana said laughing.
"You know, sometimes you can be a genuine B..." but Soji was interrupted by Hijikata's sharp kick to his shin, he was not ready for the fight ahead had Soji uttered his words.
“I guess it is time to get to business... follow me Katana, and Soji... clean yourself up and then join us."
When they were far enough away Soji finished his sentence "...ITCH.” He chuckled to himself, not knowing that she had heard. Then a piece of wood came flying up, smacking him in the back of the head.
As Soji walked into the dining area where everyone was meeting, he could hear the arguing from the rest of the men, "BUT… This is wrong… we have already promised the position to Miss Nori! She cannot just barge in and expect us to give her the job! How do we know if she is still on our side and not some backstabber?" Commander Kondo argued. "There is something in her eyes... treachery is all I say."
"Hey… I am right here you know." Katana mumbled.
"This is a serious issue... I am full ready to take Miss Nori upon my command... but... this stranger claiming to be her sister shows up... well... how about we send for Miss Nori... and tell her that her beloved sister is here!"
"NO!! Do not do that..." Katana said.
"Well tell me WHY NOT?” Commander Kondo asks.
"Er..." Katana scratched her head.
"Well then that settles it! I shall invite her now." Kondo adds.
Katana gets angry and grabs her sword, but then notices everyone is fully ready to protect the commander. She took her hand from the hilt and sighed. “ What am I going to do now? If Nori sees me she may just get me out of the way now… that would not be good, ”
A few hours later, they hear a knock at the door. Commander Kondo gets to his feet and walks to the door sliding it open to see Miss Nori Mutsu standing there.
“Miss Nori I am so glad you could come at such short notice. I apologize for this.” Kondo tells her welcoming her in. Nori walks into the room where Kondo, Hijikata, Soji, Shinpachi, Sanosuke, and the others were sitting, stopping dead in her tracks as a hateful look comes over her face.
“Katana! How nice it is to see you after five years. It is nice to know that after three years from Mother and Father's death you can find your way back to us.” Nori says.
Katana gets up from her seat and walks toward to her sister. Nori stands there not moving. Katana laughs at her and draws her sword, lunging. Nori steps aside and moves in behind Katana as she grabs her taking her swords away from her, Nori’s movements were quick and precise.
“How in the hell did she do that?” Sanosuke says, looking in total confusion at the both of the women.
“You are a fool, as always… to think you could attack me and succeed.” Nori says to her throwing her swords to the corner of the room. “What are you doing here, Katana?”
“I have come to work for the Shinsengumi, like I wanted to do five years ago when Mother and Father forbid it.” Katana tells her.
“She came here to take your job.” Shinpachi says.
Nori looks over at Shinpachi and laughs, looking back at Katana, “You? Cook for the Shinsengumi? Do not make me laugh, Katana. Your skills at cooking are like your skills at fighting… WEAK and left for more to be desired.”
Nori turns her back on Katana. Katana strikes at Nori from behind, but Nori spins out to avoid the hit. Nori turns quickly bring her leg up and her heel back down onto Katana’s shoulder, dislocating it, taking Katana to her knees. Katana grabs her shoulder as Hijikata gets up from the floor.
“Stop this NOW!” Hijikata shouts at them.
Nori turns, looking at Hijikata, “If you want Katana to cook for you, why did you call on me the other day?” Nori says in a scornful tone.
“I did not know your sister was back she just showed up here today.” Hijikata tells her, grabbing Nori’s wrist. Nori grabbed Hijikata’s arm, she reacted so quickly to Hijikata grabbing her no one could stop her from throwing Hijikata to the floor. The action that Nori took was so precise and so quick, not even Hijikata could stop her. They all stared, Katana still kneeling on the floor trying to fix her shoulder.
Hijikata laid on the floor laughing as everyone sat there looking on in astonishment that Miss Nori just put down Commander Hijikata. “Now that is what I call quick.” Hijikata says getting up from the floor.
Just then, Katana starts to get up from the floor, “Stay down unless you want me to dislocate the other one.” Nori tells her, pointing at her shoulder. Nori looks at Hijikata, “If she is who you want to cook for you then that is fine with me I will be on my way, but when she fails…” Nori turns looking at Katana, “Like she always does, do not come looking for me to take her place.” Nori tells him.
Nori starts to walk out as the men look at Hijikata with eyes that were saying, “Stop her!”
“Miss Nori,” Hijikata called out to her as she was walking out the door. Nori stops, not turning to look at him. “Will you come be the cook for the Shinsengumi?” He asks her.
Nori looks at him, “This is what you want?” Nori asks him.
“Yes…” Soji says, “Please you have to…” Shinpachi begs.
“We need someone to feed us Miss Nori do not let us starve.” Sanosuke adds.
Nori looks at the men smiling at them. “Yes, we would like you to be our new cook, Miss Nori.” Hijikata tells her.
“Then I will be here tomorrow morning to take on the responsibility of being your new cook.” Nori tells Hijikata bowing to them and walking away. Nori grins at Katana as she walks out of the door. Hijikata looks at Katana still on the floor as she relocates her shoulder; he offers her a hand to help her up.
“You are more then welcome to stay as well, Katana. I am sorry but the men want Miss Nori to cook for them.” Hijikata tells her.
“I hope you are ready for what you just brought down on the Shinsengumi.” Katana says leaving the room.
Hijikata looks on as she walks out the door wondering what Katana may have been thinking.
