“Betrayal By Blood”
Part 5

Nori watches Soji run off as she turns walking to her room. As she starts to slide the door closed, she feels it stop and slide back open seeing Hijikata standing there. She gives Hijikata a look of disapproval, turning and walking farther into her room, Hijikata walks in closing the door behind him. He walks up behind her while she turns, stepping back away from him.

“You're not scared of me are you Miss Nori?” Hijikata says to her.

“I am afraid of no man… especially you.” She tells him.

Hijikata laughs, “You’re just like Katana… deadly, reckless, bold, and very beautiful.” Hijikata reaches his hand out to Nori.

“I am nothing like my sister and never compare me to her again.” Nori says knocking his hand away from her.

Hijikata laughs as he grabs Nori and jerks her toward him spinning her around placing her back to his chest holding her arms across her chest, he whispers in her ear. “Your big sister made a remark to me about something just before she left here, and if I find it to be true and you have anything to do with it... what they did to Ayumu will be nothing compared to what ‘I’ will do to you.”

Nori jerks her self from Hijikata’s hold, she turns and looks at him, “If you think I am a danger to you and your men kill me now if you think you can. Because I will not work for you if you do not trust me.” Nori tells him.

Hijikata walks towards the door, he turns looking at Nori, “Heed my words girl, for they will become reality if you cross me.” Hijikata walks from her room as he turns telling her, “Stay away from the men; you are here to cook for them, not entertain them. If you will be entertaining anyone it will be me.” He tells her smiling, sliding the door closed. Nori takes her shoe off, throwing it at the door as it hits, making a loud thud.

The next morning Nori is up three hours before the others, she walks into the dojo to do her morning workout. “Up kind of early are we not?” a voice from the darkness says.

“Always lurking in the shadows are you not… Hajime Saito. When will you ever greet me like a normal person?” Nori says turning in the direction of his voice.

“I must be getting good to be able to get this close to you and you not know it.” Hajime says as he steps from the darkness.

Nori laughs, “You are the only one of my opponents that I could never pick up on your presence. You're one I could never take my eyes from Hajime.” Nori tells him taking a stance.

Hajime laughs, “So you want to work out with me this morning?”

“I see no one else stepping up to do the job.” Nori says smiling, as the morning light starts to peek into the dojo and the sun glistens from her hair.

“You are still as beautiful as you were three years ago my child.” Hajime says reaching for a training sword.

Nori smiles at him, “I am much more skilled now, then I was then.”

Hajime walks toward Nori, “You know if Hijikata finds out that you are using the Shinsengumi to draw out your sister, you will have hell to pay.” Hajime says lunging toward her with his sword.

Nori steps to the side as Hajime thrust with his sword taking him past her. Hajime quickly turns into her bring his sword up and thrusting toward her body.

“You’re getting slow old man, and I think your sight is failing you.” Nori says as she taps him on his back. “I am over here,” she says laughing at him.

Hajime turns to see her standing a few inches behind him. “I am not here to cause any problems for the Shinsengumi; I am only here for my sister, Hajime.” Nori tells him.

“You really think the Demon Commander will see it that way?” Hajime asks her, attacking her again.

Nori avoids his attack again, “Hijikata can see it however he wants to see it. I do not care as long as I get my revenge on my sister for what she has done to the Mutsu name and the dishonor she shamed Mother and Father with.” Nori says, bringing her elbow down on the Hajime as he goes by her in his next attack taking Hajime to the floor.

Hajime looks up at her and smiles, “You have gotten quite skilled since the last time we practiced.” Nori smiles offering her hand to Hajime to help him from the floor.

Just as Nori gets Hajime lifted almost from the floor she lets go of his hand and ducks going down to avoid the attacked from behind and sweeping her leg under her attackers legs bring him down on top of Hajime. She stands up placing her hands on her hips and laughs looking down at Hajime and Soji lying in the floor, one on top of the other.

“So Soji, I thought you would have learned your lesson from the tea shop. You cannot sneak up on me.”

Soji looks up at Nori, “I am learning that slowly as you can see.” Soji tells her smiling and getting up from the floor. “What do you say to two on one and you show me just how good you are.”

Nori smiles, “This will be easy and a good work out as well.” Nori says taking a new stance to fight.

As Nori, Soji, and Hajime are working out, they start to draw a crowd, as the other men stand at the sidelines, watching Nori defeat Hajime and Soji, “Come on guys I have not even broke a sweat yet.” Nori tell them laughing.

“Well if you would stand still long enough maybe we could get a good hit in.” Soji yells at her attacking her again.

Nori laughs, “Now what fun would that be if I just stood there and let you beat me.” As she kicked Soji in the butt, he flies out the door of the dojo.

She quickly turns to block Hajime’s attack grabbing is blade between her hands, “Hajime… one of my favorite moves and I have to waste it on a work out.” Nori brings her leg up kicking Hajime in his chest, taking him to his knees.

Just then, Hijikata sees Soji getting up from the walkway and running back into the dojo, he hears the men start to laugh. Hijikata picks up his pace walking toward the dojo to see what is going on. Hijikata walks through the door just in time to catch Soji as Nori kicked him in the chest and send him sprawling backwards. Hijikata looks around seeing Hajime going to attack Nori.

“What are you doing in here…” Hijikata yells at them, stopping Hajime in his tracks.

Nori turns looking at Hijikata. “We are working out, why do you want to play with us to?” Nori smiles at him.

Hijikata walks over to Nori, “That is exactly what you are doing in here is playing.” Hijikata says grabbing Nori’s wrist.

Nori glares at Hijikata, jerking away from him. “I am going to shower and fix breakfast.” Nori tells him.

Hijikata goes to grab her arm again, this time Nori grabs Hijikata flipping him to the floor on his back. Nori looks down on Hijikata as he bats his eyes, “Looks like you learn the hard way like Soji. Do not ever touch me, Hijikata.” Nori tells him in a scornful tone. “I am going to shower now you will find me in the kitchen there after.” Nori starts to walk from the dojo as she turns, “Thank You Hajime, Soji you fought well and I look forward to a rematch.” Nori bows and leaves the room.

Soji goes to Hijikata to help him from the floor, as Hajime stands off to the side.

“You two in my office NOW!!” Hijikata tells them.