Caging the Tiger

“How we...met?” Oto repeated, looking between Barnaby and Hayami.

He adjusted his robe, sipping the cortado casually before sinking deeper into the lounge.

“Well, it was quite the train car meet chute, in fact!”

“You mean, cute.” Hayami instinctively corrected.

“Well, I didn’t know you were then. You were quite the grey blob, actually. But you were indeed a dime a—no, pardon—a diamond in the rough.”

Oto gave Hayami a small wink, which she responded to with an exasperated sigh. But that was the extent of her reply, as she attempted to make herself as small as possible as the two men across the coffee table continued with their investigative stares.

“You see, uncle,” The boy continued without missing a beat. “Hayami has been teaching me all sorts of things. Did you know poor people don’t like being called poor? Ooh! Oh! And I can drive now!”

“You can, can you? How interesting, and you taught him, Hayami?”

Barnaby’s narrowed gaze locked with Hayami’s as he slurped his coffee. She was caged. Locked into a conversation she could not flee from without suspicion. Her only way out was through, and that the idiot at her side would be able to keep her from ending up in handcuffs. Or worse, staining her favourite kimono robe with the blood of the pigs caged with her.

Why did I have to wear this one down? She thought to herself, glancing at the silken clothing.

With a slow, calming exhale, she put on a faux smile and looked at the man with a delighted expression.

“Hardly.” Her tone shifted to that of the girl who entered the sushi restaurant the day before. “Oto picked it up with little effort, Bartleby.”

“It’s Barnaby,” He replied with a smile.

“Oh, silly me, Brandleby.” She hooked an arm with Oto’s and leaned her head onto his shoulder. “You see, as Oto said, we met quite by chance. I was running late and so happened upon his compartment. He was so gracious to let me sit with him.”

Hayami looked at Oto lovingly. His blushing face returned her gaze with one of confusion. He was unsure what was happening, but in that moment, the grumpy girl who he had awoken mere minutes before was gone, and a young lady now clung to him. His heart skipped a beat as he cleared his throat and turned back to the man across the table.

“I-I was, uncle,” He stammered. “Quite gracious. She was quite the eyesore—ack!”

He expelled a gasp as a swift jab struck into his ribs from behind the cover of Hayami’s body. Glancing back at the girl, she continued to look up at him with a smile, but where there had been love was now fury in her eyes. The tigress at his side had not disappeared entirely.

Oh, well—I see she is playing a role to appease uncle. Oto thought to himself. Very well, I shall allow her to do most of the talking.

“I-yuh—though, it may be better to have Hayami explain the ordeal.”

The frustration that painted her face intensified as Oto watched a vein reveal itself on her temple. He immediately knew he had made the wrong choice, even before the second jab to the ribs landed.

But Hayami would not let the opportunity slide as she turned back to the men with a pleasant smile.

“Yes, I was in my travel clothes and trying to avoid the spotlight. And then the most curious thing happened. Our train came under siege by—umm—”

Hayami froze, trying to find the right thing to say. Looking back up at Oto, she could see him still wincing from her last prod. She realized that she should be less aggressive with him. After all, she was relying on his support.

Reaching down, she laced her fingers with his free hand. It was a strange feeling, foreign to her, yet not terribly uncomfortable. In fact, she slightly enjoyed the moment that she took hold of his hand—how it felt to hold onto him when they weren't fleeing gunfire and certain death. And that was when it hit her.

“Poorly dressed paparazzi!” She declared, deciding on a whim to lean into his stupidity for support.

“Yes!” Oto jumped into the conversation, looking down at their hands and then over to her.

He smiled softly, his heart beating faster as he gently tightened his grip. Softly rubbing his thumb along hers, the boy looked back to his uncle.

“Ghastly goons with terribly awful style began to attack. Thankfully, Hayami was there to thwart their effort to do me in.”

He felt Hayami’s grip suddenly clamp down, tightening enough to crack one of his knuckles.

“Ah, so it was you in the photos,” Barnaby replied over Oto’s pained gasp. “The sexy shooter, as they’re calling you.”

“So, you have seen, uncle!” Oto exclaimed, ripping his hand free of Hayami’s white-knuckled grasp. “Isn’t it delightful how well we’re trending? Since we’ve been together, I have gotten almost a quarter million more followers.”

“Mmm—” The man nodded, acknowledging the boy but never taking his gaze from Hayami. “Miss Hayami…Isfine, was it?”

“Yes, Barnacle.”

The man’s jaw clenched and relaxed before reaching a hand up, holding his thumb and index finger out as though it were a gun, and pointing it at Hayami.

“Explain to me how such a beautiful girl as yourself came to be such an expert marksman?”

“Me? An expert?” She replied coolly, defying the anxiety of her racing heart. “Oh, you flatter me. I’m not that good, only well enough to deter vandals and hoodlums.”

“As someone who handled the Capitana investigation yesterday afternoon,” The Constable joined the conversation. “I’d beg to differ. Those were well-placed shots.”

“What can I say? Luck.”

“Please, Miss Isfine, humour me.” Barnaby cut back in as he set his coffee down and adjusted his tie. “Luck or not, a fine lady should be spending more time lazing in the sheets than squatting in the bush.”

Hayami felt her temper flare. Nothing bothered her more than men telling her what a woman should and shouldn’t do. If she had been anywhere else in that moment, she might have snapped the portly commissioner’s neck. But she quelled the flames and smiled in reply.

“Oh, I don’t hunt, Mister Braydellady. Merely trap and skeet shooting. Though I have dabbled with an air pistol. Father did want me to be an Olympian at one point.”

“And who is your father?” Barnaby asked, leaning towards her intently.

Shit. Hayami cursed herself for walking directly into that question. I should have known better.

A cold sweat began to drip down the back of her neck as her body trembled slightly. She thought quickly, trying to come up with a response, only to draw a blank.

That was when Oto, still at her side, reached once more for her now clammy hands. Gently taking hold, he rubbed his thumb against hers. She looked over at him as he returned her nervous glance with a gentle, compassionate smile. Even he could tell she was struggling with her current conversation.

And, in a flash of understanding, he shifted the subject.

“Terrible business, all of it!” He cried out. “The paparazzi are getting bolder by the day. Had it not been for Hayami’s protection and guidance, I would have been dead ten times over. Now, uncle, you can’t have simply come over to interrogate my friend, right?”

The man remained quiet for a moment before sitting back and smiling.

“Of course,” He continued, his tone shifting as his gaze looked back to Oto. “I had hoped to see what you wanted for your birthday this year. August is fast approaching after all.”

“August?!” Hayami blurted out.

Catching herself, she coughed and breathed deeply.

“Oto,” She continued more calmly. “You said your birthday ball was a month away? That’s June. August is three months away.”

“One month, three months—what’s the difference?” He replied with a small chuckle.

“Roughly sixty to ninety days, depending on how you count it…”

“Oh,” Oto rubbed the back of his head. “Yes, I guess that is true. My apologies, Hayami. I hope that doesn’t cut into your late summer plans.”

“Will you be attending, Miss Isfine?” Barnaby inquired, but Hayami was currently glaring furiously at Oto.

With her clenched jaw and intense look, the boy couldn’t help but want to take a picture of her—had he not left his phone in Hayami’s possession and the spare in his bedroom. Then, as fast as the anger had flared to life, it was gone from her eyes, and her look softened as she shifted back to Barnaby.

“Why, of course, Mister Brandishing—oh, excuse me, I’ve been terribly improper. I should have been referring to you as Hildebrand, should I not? Being Oto’s uncle and all.”

For the first time since the conversation had begun, Hayami witnessed his arrogant façade break. Though it had only been a moment before returning to his false smile, it was a notable weakness.

“Oh, no, no. I am not Oto’s uncle by blood. It is merely a term of endearment. You see, his father and I go way back and remain close partners to this day.”

“A Police Commissioner and a Harbour Master? What type of business requires that type of partnership?”

Hayami could see she had Barnaby backed into a corner, his smile waning slightly. But before he could answer her inquiry, his phone rang.

“Excuse me,” He grunted, quickly slipping the phone from his pocket and stepping away.

Moving to the side, he spoke quietly, giving Hayami only select words to be eavesdropped.

“No, search…check container next…twelve dash…deal with…okay, okay…”

Lowering the phone, Barnaby turned back to the pair and delivered a saddened smile.

“Apologies for arriving unannounced and disappearing as suddenly,” He apologized, motioning for the constable to stand. “But duty calls.”

“Harbour issues?” Hayami asked, tilting her head and revealing a coy smile.

The commissioner stared her down intensely for a moment before turning back to Oto.

“Oto, about that gift?”

“Hmm, right,” He replied, tapping a finger to his lips. “Ah, yes. How about a donation to the City of Capitana? Help fund the restoration of the damages caused by my last photoshoot.”

“Ah, yes, generous as always.” The man smiled, stepping past and placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “It shall be done. So, you know I’ll be leaving a few patrol cars outside your manor for the time being…”

He looked to Hayami, his gaze narrowing as he continued.

“In the event of more dangerous…paparazzi.”

“So kind, uncle,” Oto replied, standing and walking him to the edge of the parlour. “Please drop by again any time.”

“I may. Until then, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, my boy.” And then, with a shift of his head, he glared at Hayami. “Miss Isfine.”

“Farewell.” Hayami waved from the couch, not standing nor facing the departing men. “Pleasure to meet you, Bandersnatch.”

And with that, Giles escorted the two from the parlour, leaving Oto and Hayami alone.

“What. Was. That?!” Oto suddenly hissed from the doorway, catching Hayami off guard.

“Wh-what was what?” She shot back, shocked by his frustration.

“I had no idea you shot skeet!”

Hayami’s face went slack. “Of course, that’s what you were upset about.”

“Of course—of course! That's a very rich thing to do, Hayami. You have much to explain over breakfast!” And with a clap of his hands, Oto bellowed. “Giles, Salmon Bennies and scrambled eggs.”