“Betrayal By Blood”
Part 6

“That moody son of…” Nori found herself stomping her way back to her room. Her fists were clammy from the sparring session with Hajime and Soji. “This is so stupid; I am getting all worked up by a pathetic immature man who has no sense of mood.” Nori stopped walking and slammed her fist in to the pole that was beside her.

“Angry are we?” Susumu approached her and removed her hand from the wooden pole. “You know that could really hurt.”

Nori looked away, anger boiled inside of her and she was not in the mood for talking either.

“What is it to you?” Nori said taking back her hand from Susumu.

“I am not sure if you know what pain is.” Susumu tells her. Nori scolded a look at Susumu and walked off.

“Stupid men!” Nori said to herself as she walked off.

“She really needs to learn to calm down,” Tetsu stood next to Susumu who watched Nori as she walked away from him.

“Where did you come from?” Susumu looked down to see Tetsu standing there with a pile of white sheets in his arms.

“Could you help me with these?” Tetsu lifted the pile of sheets up, hinting to Susumu to help him.

“I am not your servant,” Susumu responded and began to walk away from Tetsu.

“You are mean!” Tetsu with the white sheets that were in his hands were swaying from side to side as he ran towards Susumu trying to keep up with his pace.

“What is it between you and her?” Tetsu stopped and looked at Susumu who had now stopped and stood still. “Do you like her or something? I mean I saw you and her just now, the entire handholding and the lovey dovey thing going on… Well?” Tetsu was waiting for an answer but Susumu just stood there in a daze.

“It is none of your concern,” Susumu walked off leaving Tetsu with the sheets in his hands.

“Well you could have helped me!” Tetsu shouted at Susumu as he walked away.

“Who said that you two could spar with her?” Hijikata stood up and slammed his fist onto the table that was in front of him.

“Now… Now… Hijikata,” Soji raised his hands and motioned to Hijikata to calm down.

“Her job is to cook not fight!” Hijikata threw a scorned look at both Hajime and Soji.

“Since when did you get so angry about what we do?” Soji questioned Hijikata

“You never had a problem before, I mean Tetsu is your page and yet you let him spar,” Hajime added.

“Well he is a different matter!” Hijikata shouted at Hajime.

“Hijikata!” Soji stood in front of him “You are not like this, what is wrong with you?” Soji rested his hand upon Hijikata's shoulder and guided him to sit down.

“I do not know,” Hijikata raised his hand and placed it upon his brow. A stressful look appeared on his face “I just have no idea what is wrong,”

Hajime placed his hand on Hijikata’s shoulder. “I guess we are going to find out.” He turned Hijikata to face outside only to see Nori walking pass going to the kitchen.

“It cannot be?!” Hijikata eyes widened, his fist clenched together as he was thinking, “Why am I acting like this when there is nothing wrong, could it be Nori that has me so on edge!” Hijikata stood up and brushed himself off. He stood tall in a formal posture, he turned his head and acknowledged to Soji and Hajime that they could leave. Once they have left, Hijikata began to walk towards the kitchen to settle some unfinished business.

“Cooking, food, cooking, food, cooking…” Nori mumbles as she makes the food for the boys that are waiting. “Honestly, I swear I am going to die cooking,” Nori places the saucepan of water on the cooker and sighs. “This, I do this just for her!” Nori slams her fist on to the kitchen bench. “Because of you!”

“Of who?” Hijikata walks in to the kitchen and closes the door behind him. He begins to walk towards Nori slowly, almost trying to intimidate her but it was not working.

“What do you want?!” Nori asks him and carries on doing her work in the kitchen.

“That is my question to ask you.” Hijikata replied. He leans up behind her back and slides his arm around her waist.

“What are you doing?!” Nori turns around in his embrace and pushes him back, his hold stopping her.

“I need to know something and you are going to tell me,” a confused look appears on Nori’s face. She did not know what he was referring to. Could it be that he could have found out about Katana or maybe he is going on about something else?

“I need to know if you feel…” Hijikata pushes Nori up against the kitchen wall. His body fully against her, he is really close to her now that she could feel the rise and fall of his chest as he was breathing, his heartbeat racing and sweat became visible on his forehead.

“Do you…” Hijikata looks directly at Nori, his eyes locked with Nori, all she could see is determination to seek the truth, but about what.

“Could you get off me?!” Nori pushes Hijikata away, only for him to force her back up against the wall once again.

His arm rested in her chest and one of his hands held her by her stomach. He leans forward; Nori could now feel his body heat against hers.

“Get off me!” Nori says as she shoves Hijikata to the floor; that is something she wanted nothing to do with. She steps around him and directs him to get out. She walks towards the kitchen door and gestures to him to leave. Without saying a word, Hijikata picks himself up and leaves the kitchen. As he passes next to Nori, he throws a stone cold look at her, only to try to torment her.

“Like that is going to work,” Nori threw back. As he leaves, Nori closes the kitchen door and props herself up against it.

“That stupid son of a…” She slides down and sits on the floor. “Just wait, I will get you.” Nori says to herself aloud, she clenched her fist and slams it into the floor.

Nori gets up and brushes herself off “Well the food will not get done by itself,” she thinks to herself.