“Betrayal By Blood”
Part 4

Later that night, Nori is getting ready to leave the tea shop. “Good night, Grandfather.” Nori yells back to him. As she is getting ready to walk out the front door, Nori stops she feels a presence right outside the door.

“So Soji…”

Soji jumps to Nori’s voice drawing his sword; he turns to see that Nori is standing right behind him. She chuckles at him, “Not a good thing Miss Nori I could have hurt you by you doing that.” Soji says.

Nori looks at Soji slightly tilting her head, “Do you think so, Soji?” She asks him in a playful tone.

Soji laughs, “No, not really… not after what you showed me today. Susumu was right about you.” Soji says. “Susumu Yamazaki?” Nori asks him, as she starts to walk away.

“Yes, that is him.” Soji says, following her.

“I have practiced with Susumu many times in my grandfather's dojo. He has become quite the adversary for me.” Nori tells Soji.

Soji chuckles, “So that is where he disappears to on the days when we cannot find him.”

Nori looks at Soji, “So tell me Soji why are you here?” Nori asks him.

“Hijikata sent me for you.” Soji tells her.

“He sent you for me?” Nori asks him.

“Yes, he thinks you should be at Shinsengumi Headquarters since you are working for us now. You will be safer there with us to protect…” Soji pauses thinking about what he was saying and he starts to laugh.

Nori looks at him, “You find that funny Soji?” Nori asks him.

Soji smiles, “Yes, I do, but my orders are to bring you back to Shinsengumi Headquarters tonight and that is what I have to do.” He tells her.

“That is fine Soji, as long as I can grab my things from the house and let my grandfather know this and then we can be on our way back.” Nori tells him. Soji nods and they continue on their way to her grandfather's home.

When they finally return to the Shinsengumi Headquarters, Nori seems a little uneasy, “Are you all right, Miss Nori?” Soji asks her.

Just then, two throwing daggers fly toward them. Nori knocks one from the air as she catches the other in her hand throwing it to the ground. Susumu appears in front of them and attacks Nori.

“Susumu what are you doing?!” Soji yells at him.

Nori stepped to the side and into Susumu as he lunges with his sword; Nori swings her body into the air, bringing her heel down onto the center of Susumu's back, he falls to the ground. She stands in a fighting stance waiting to see if he was coming to her for more. Soji stands there taking it all in and wondering what Susumu was doing.

Susumu lies on the ground for a few seconds then rolls over smiling saying, “I guess I still need to work on that… catching you off guard is not easy.”

“Never take your eyes from your enemy, Susumu.” She tells him walking over to him and offering her hand to help him up,

“You saw him?” Soji exclaims as his eyes widen.

Nori looks at Soji, “No I did not, but I knew he was close. Just as I knew you were standing outside the tea shop tonight.”

“You're good… maybe too good,” a voice says. They look to see Hijikata coming their way.

“Thank you. I strive to be the best at what my family is so proud of.” Nori tells him, “Unlike Katana that thought picking up the sword would make her better.” Nori adds.

“Your sister is an excellent swordswoman.” Hijikata says.

Nori looks at Hijikata, “If that was the way of the Mutsu Enmei-Ryu Style, I would be using a sword as well. She brings dishonor to the family by picking up a weapon.” Nori tells him with a tone of repugnance.

“Do you hate your sister for doing this?” Soji asks her. Susumu jabs Soji with his elbow and looks at him with a look of 'do not get her started.'

“She does not hate her sister, Soji. She feels dishonored by what she has done to the family name.” Hijikata says.

Nori looks at Hijikata, “I wonder who I have to blame for that?” Nori says,
“Soji, will you please show me where I will be staying while I am here?” Nori asks him, as she starts to walk away. Soji quickly walks up to her to show her were she would be staying.

Soji slides the door to her room, “You will be staying here, my room is right next door, and well if you care to know Hijikata’s is next to mine. So if you need anything…” Soji tells her, as he goes to leave the room.

“I will be fine, Soji. Thank you, but there is one thing…” Nori says putting her things down.

“What might that be?” Soji asks her.

“The kitchen… where can I find it so I will not be wandering all over the place in the morning.” Nori says to him.

“Oh I guess that would be a good thing for you to know, huh?” Soji says placing his hand to the back of his head and smiling. “Come on I will show you?” Soji tell her, as he reaches out to take her hand.

Nori looks at Soji and then his hand; she reaches out and takes it. Soji leads her to the kitchen. Nori looks around trying to see what they had for the men to eat in the morning.

“UMM… I will have to go into the village after breakfast to go shopping. You have nothing here to cook with. How did you all eat, Soji?” She asks him.

Soji laughs, “I wondered that sometimes myself.” Nori laughs with Soji.

They both start to walk back to her room as Soji says, “Miss Nori, tell me what is this Mutsu Enmei-Ryu Style is you were talking about?”

Nori looks at Soji. “Well, it is an unarmed style that allows the user to defeat any number of armed opponents using incredible speed and strength.” Nori tells Soji.

“So you can defeat any armed opponent without you using a weapon?” Soji asks her.

“Well, I would not say any, Soji, but that is what we strive for is to be the best in our era. The Mutsu clan has always been a match for any samurai even though they fought without weapons.” Nori tells Soji as she looks at him.

Soji stops walking and sits down on the edge of the walkway in front of her room. He looks up at her and pats the walkway next to him gesturing for her to sit next to him. Nori walks over next to him and stands there. “Do you think you could defeat me, Nori?” Soji says, as he looks up at her.

“Soji?!” Nori says to him.

“I would like you to teach me how to defeat you.” Soji tells her.

Nori laughs at his statement, Soji grabs her hand and pulls her down to him, “I am serious Nori.” Soji says looking into her eyes.

Nori looks into to Soji eyes, “No… I will not teach you how to defeat me. That is something you must learn on your own.” Nori tells him.

“Then every day we can practice together, like you and Susumu do.” Soji tells her.

“Soji, why would you want to learn how to defeat me, do you think I will become your enemy one day?” Nori asks him.

Soji turns quickly and looks at Nori, “No, I do not believe you would ever become my enemy, but if there are others out there like you, I want to be ready for them.”

“Fair enough Soji, I see where that could be a concern of yours, but you are an excellent swordsman. Why would you worry about it?” She asks him.

Soji looks into her eyes, “I just do. I know being with the Shinsengumi, my days are numbered, and I would like to live as long as I can and with an opponent like you, I do not think I would make it very long.”

Nori touches his cheek as she looks into the eyes of a boy that has known nothing but killing all his life of growing up. “Soji tell me, why did you join the Shinsengumi?” Nori asks him.

Soji looks away from her and hangs his head as she rests her hand on his shoulder. Nori turns as she hears footsteps. She looks up seeing Hijikata coming toward them she removes her hand from Soji’s shoulder and stands up.

“You need to be getting to bed you have an early morning ahead of you, and Soji, you are supposed to be on patrol. What are you doing setting here?” Hijikata says.

Soji gets up and looks at Hijikata, “Sorry, I was showing Miss Nori where everything was for tomorrow morning, Commander.”

“I take it that you know where you need to be in the morning?” Hijikata says looking at Nori.

“Yes I do, thank you.” Nori tells him giving him a foul look.

“Fine. Then you need to get back out there on patrol, Soji. And you need to turn in, Miss Nori.” Hijikata tells them.

“Yes Commander…” Soji says running off from them.