Pigs in the Parlour

“Oh my God! Oh my God, Hayami!” Oto cried out in ecstasy from beneath the Egyptian Cotton sheets.

He gripped the luxury mattress, his fingers flexing, fighting for something to hold to as his heart raced.

“That’s it. That’s it! Don’t stop! Yes! Yes! YES! HAYAMI!” Throwing the covers from his body, he shouted out in a thrilling climax. “I’m—I’m—We’re—! TRENDING!”

Jumping from his mattress, Oto stumbled through the door and out onto the mezzanine, crying out Hayami’s name. Rushed footfalls echoed against the floor as he raced down the hall, his long, flowing robe of navy satin drifting behind him, exposing his bare chest. The golden dragons decorating the fabric of this and his loose satin shorts glimmered in the morning light as he made his way into the opposite wing of the villa.

“Hayami! Hayami!” He screamed, reaching her door.

With a raised fist, he prepared a vigorous knock. But before he could deliver the first strike, the door between him and his companion flung open. Hayami emerged, half-awake after the exhausting events of the prior day. In one hand was a porcelain flower vase, which she wielded by the neck while stabilizing herself on the doorframe with the other.

“What—What?” She grumbled as quickly as she did groggily. “Wh—who’s attacking?”

Oto froze, admiring how well she wore the matching lace sleepwear set. Hanging over her shoulders was a sleeveless pink cami-style top made from sheer lace. Carefully added chrysanthemum motifs covered the body, barely concealing her breasts down to where a flared hem exposed her midriff. Her lace sleep shorts, matching the top perfectly, clung tightly to her flexing thighs.

“O-oh,” He stammered, reaching a hand to his chest as he covered his thudding heart. “I—sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you…”

“Wh—what is it, Oto?”

“Ooh, it’s just that—you know…delightful news!”

“Hmmm?” She grumbled, using her wrist to rub the sleep from her eyes. “On with it already.”

“Ah, yes—umm, well, you see…we’re trending again. And even better news—we’ve taken the top spots! All of them!”

Oto extended his phone to Hayami, who, tossing the vase backwards to the mattress, snatched the device from his hands aggressively. After first examining the trending hashtags, she began to scroll.

Hilde Horse. Mystery Mistress. Sexy Shooter. Oto Hildebrand. Capitana Gunfight.

Hayami clicked on the third trending hashtag. Dozens of images began to pop up, revealing clear pictures of her in her dress with the rifle shouldered. Action shots of her shooting and defending Oto had risen to the top, carrying the weight of hundreds of thousands of likes and comments.

She continued her scroll, eventually catching the image of a side shot taken when they fled on the horse. A determined Oto clutched the reins as her wrapped body reached back with a pistol extended. Hayami examined herself and the clarity of the current image and of each one that followed. All of them clearly showed off her face and revealed the sleeve of tattoos to the world. Tattoos that had been tied to that of the White Tiger of North Bay.

Crap. She thought to herself. I knew I should have gone back for the overlay shrug I left in the car—well before it exploded.

Clicking into the Hilde Horse hashtag, the first thing she noticed in the image was Oto’s gorgeous smoulder. Then came her furious stare as she pointed the gun down at the photographer. She immediately realized that this image had come from the girls in the sports car. And, as much as she hated to say it, both she and Oto did look good in it.

No. No. No. Focus. This is really bad, Hayami. She attempted to remind herself as she continued scrolling.

With a glance at Oto, she noticed his excited smile, bare chest, and firm abs. Unsure how she had missed it before, she gently bit the inside of her lip, looking back down at the phone. That was, not before catching a glimpse of his satin shorts that left little for her imagination to fill. Suddenly remembering what she had felt pressed against her the day before, Hayami began to heat up as her cheeks flushed.

Then she realized what she was wearing and how exposed her breasts were through the sheer sleepwear. Glancing up once more, she could see Oto had also noticed and was unsuccessfully attempting not to stare.

“Gah! Stop ogling me like I’m a piece of meat, perv!”

She turned away from him, covering herself with an arm.

“I—sorry, you just look…” He paused, finding the right words. “Hayami, you look fantastic in everything you wear. Head to toe, flawless beauty. Always. It’s simply…remarkable.”

“I—” Hayami whispered in reply, blushing before releasing a huff.

She turned to face Oto, posting herself up in the doorway and revealing her body to him. The boy took her in, smiling as he eyed her beauty and admiring the physique that was uniquely hers.

“Well, of course, I look great in everything I wear.” Hayami announced, “You picked everything out for me, didn’t you? So, I mean, of course you’d like it!”

“No—well, yes—but what I meant to say was—”

DONG! DING! DONG-DOOONG!

Both Oto and Hayami flinched as their collective gaze shifted out towards the mezzanine. Below, footsteps approached the front door, while the pair quietly listened as it opened. A quick conversation was had between two people before the butler came into view on the first floor.

He looked up at Oto, bowing before speaking.

“Young Master. The Commissioner and one of his constables are here to speak with you.”

“Barnaby?!” Oto exclaimed excitedly, “It has been some time. Tell him I’ll be right down.”

Turning to Hayami excitedly, Oto immediately realized something was wrong as her already pale face became even more so by the minute.

“Hayami, you alright?” He inquired.

“Police? The police are here?”

“Police?” Oto replied with a curious tilt of his head. “Oh no, it’s Uncle Barnaby! Come, throw on a robe and join me in the parlour.”

With that, Oto turned on his heels before making his way across the mezzanine and down the stairs to the first floor. Pushing into the receiving parlour, he raised his arms wide and put on his best smile. 

The room was loosely decorated, fitted with enough seating for eight and a central coffee table for drinks. Already lounging on the far side were a portly man dressed well for his station and a casually clothed detective.

“Uncle Barnaby!” Oto declared pleasantly, glancing to the portly man in a double-breasted suit who looked quite at home on one of the couches. “What brings you by?”

“Oto, lad, wonderful to see you,” He responded with a chortle. “You know, I was worried you’d be worse for wear after yesterday’s affairs.”

“Yesterday’s—” Oto paused for a moment before snapping his fingers. “Ah, the photo shoot! Yes, grizzly business, that was. But, Uncle, did you see? I’m trending!”

“Outstanding, my boy—ah, thank you.” He responded to Giles, who stepped from the corner of the room with a fresh cup of coffee. “Please, sit, Oto. I wished to speak with you about—”

Behind him, the door creaked softly as it opened. Oto watched as both his uncle and the Constable suddenly stood with a start, reaching for their hips. In response, he turned, noticing Hayami frozen in the doorway with a frightened expression on her face.

“Hayami, come—come!” Oto beckoned with a wide smile, turning back to his uncle. “Uncle Barnaby, allow me to introduce you to my friend, Hayami.”

With a small smirk, he leaned over, raising a hand to his cheek as he whispered loudly.

“We’ve kissed.”

“Hay—Hayami?” The man questioned, his hand still at his hip as he stared intensely. “Pleasure to meet any friend of Oto’s.”

“Ah, wonderful!” Oto delightfully exclaimed as he moved to the couch that rested across from his uncle. “Let us all sit and chat.”

Sitting, he adjusted his still-open robe as he glanced over his shoulder to Hayami. With a pleasant smile, he patted the couch beside him and flashed her a pleasant, yet insistent, look. As he did, Giles returned to his side, delivering the boy’s preferred cortado and Hayami’s favoured Turkish coffee.

“Hayami, that’s a particular name,” Barnaby asked as he cautiously sat back into his seat, motioning for the constable to do the same. “Is that…foreign?”

“I’m from around.” She replied cautiously, making sure to sit close to Oto.

Hayami adjusted her robes, ensuring her tattoos were concealed before glancing between the two men. Reaching to take her coffee, she halted as the follow-up question she dreaded came next.

“What’s your last name, Miss Hayami?” The constable asked. “So, I may address you formally.”

“I don’t see any need for—”

“Isfine—” Oto interrupted, raising the cortado to his lips and taking a sip before continuing. “Hayami Isfine, and as I was saying, uncle, she and I are quite the trending duo right now.”

“Is that so?” The man cocked an eyebrow, investigating every inch of Hayami’s body from afar with a doubtful glare. “And how was it that you two came to be…acquainted?”

The girl’s heart raced, glancing between the two across from her and the boy at her side. She could see what was going on better than Oto. After all, this was not her first time in a situation like this. It was clear that this was not a house call, but an inquisition.

And Hayami was at the center of it.