It was only a moment later when Louis was accosted by the lions, being pulled into a group hug.

"Boss! It's really you!"

"Boss!"

"How've ya been ya bastard?"

"Let me hug him!"

Louis's thoughts were blank. Today was so fucking weird.

He eventually reached his arms out, trying his best to wrap them around each of the big, feline backs. They had never hugged him when he was their boss, as expected, but damn it felt nice. He missed their smell. He missed them.

He wondered what Legosi would think.

...Legosi!

Louis wormed his way out of the tangle of feline limbs. "Guys! Let me go!" They retreated, and Louis looked around, trying to find the gray wolf.

Legosi was watching curiously a few meters away, hand still clutching his shot ear. Louis rushed over to him.

"Guys! Wrap his ear up with something!"

The Shishigumi looked at each other before Agata the Congo lion pulled some bandages from his pocket and approached Legosi. "Sorry, we don't have any antiseptic."

"That's fine." Louis watched as his former underling went to wrap Legosi's ear. The wolf flinched at first but soon let Agata wrap it up for him. Louis looked back to the others, who were giving him confused looks.

Louis crossed his arms, unable to keep a smirk from his face at the sight of his lions. "So, looks like you're in some shit, now. Care to tell me what happened?"

Dolph crossed his arms too. "There'll be plenty of time for that. Tell us first who this guy even is! Isn't this the same wolf that ransacked our base with that panda the night you killed our old boss?"

Louis nodded. "The very same. We both went to the same school at the time."

Dolph looked skeptical. "You never mentioned him. Did you two really work together?"

Agata finished up with Legosi's ear and went back to the group. The wolf stepped next to Louis, ear now wrapped up tight. Dried blood still stuck to the fur on his cheek, though. He remained silent, so Louis spoke up. "He didn't know I was following him. I wanted to keep it that way."

"Weren't you that Haruo guy, too? From last winter?", Free pointed a finger at the wolf. "That was definitely you, just with your fur shaved! And Louis talked with him like he knew him!"

Legosi was clearly uncomfortable, ear wound notwithstanding. Louis stepped between him and the lions. "Guys, enough, okay? He just got shot." Just saying the words made him realize the weight of the situation. He trembled slightly and looked back at Legosi. He wanted to hold him tight and take him away from there, but he also needed to know what was happening with the Shishigumi. Two parts of his life that he never wanted to meet had collided. He turned to the wolf. "Are you okay?", he said, barely above a whisper.

Legosi's hands were shaking, but he nodded curtly.

"So...", Dolph ventured, holding his hands together like he was praying. "What is your relationship to this wolf, Louis? Because he's sure as hell caused us a lot of grief!"

Agata raised his hand slightly to butt in. "Well, if it wasn't for him, Louis never would have become our boss." Dolph responded with a glare.

"Oh, well Legosi, we were friends but, uh...", Louis fiddled around with his hands, and the lions saw the vulnerable side of their former boss only Ibuki had previously known.

The deer took a deep breath. He could do this, despite the fact he just became acutely aware of how much the Shishigumi's opinion on him mattered in his mind. He reached behind, pulling the wolf towards him. "We're dating." Louis's face was red hot, not looking at any of them.

The lions' faces were blank. Then, all of their eyes widened at once, replaced by a look of confusion, and then finally realization.

"...Free, you idiot! No wonder he never went for any of the ladies you tried to set him up with!", Miguel scolded.

Free took up a defensive posture. "What! I thought he wouldn't mind carnivores, and I was right!"

"Think you missed the mark a little bit...", Dope mumbled.

"And a canine, at that...", Hino mused.

All of the lions leaned in closer to inspect the wolf, who remained nonverbal.

Louis sighed. "Guys, lay off him." They all retreated at his word. He was happy that none of them seemed weirded out by it, at least. That was the hidden charm of the back alley market: they were so far removed from society that socially acceptable norms were not commonly adopted.

He took that moment to observe the group. They all looked happy, but they were also clearly tired. He scrutinized further. "Shit, you all look so much smaller than I remembered..." They all looked to the side, almost bashfully. It would have been humorous to Louis if he wasn't so worried about them.

"The new boss only lets us eat meat twice a month.", stated Free dryly.

"Wait, seriously?" Louis walked over to them, feeling his hand over their stomachs. It was true. They were wasting away.

"Seriously. And that hybrid nose of his is keener than any other species." Dolph held a face of shame when Louis came over to inspect him.

"If any of us were to sneak some meat, he'd sniff him out and kill him.", Agata followed up.

Louis was unable to keep the concern from his voice. "Then what are you guys eating?"

"Melons.", Sabu's gruff voice came muffled from behind the bandanna he always wore around his face.

Louis groaned. "How appropriate."

"Hey." Dolph clapped Louis firmly on the shoulder with his big hand. "There's no need to worry. We just found out that bastard's weakness recently." He turned his back to the group and started walking toward the beach entrance. "C'mon, we'll discuss it over some beers."

The rest of the lions followed, and Louis found himself stepping forward before remembering Legosi. He felt a strong pang of guilt as he faced the wolf again. "Legosi...I'm so sorry. We can go home now."

Legosi simply shook his head.

Louis groaned. "Looks like we both have a vested interest in taking Melon down, now. Me and the Shishigumi can handle it, though. Please, just go home." Louis looked around on the sand for his gun, which he found a few meters away. He picked it up, noting that the slide had come completely off. He returned it to his holster nonetheless. He turned back, seeing Legosi standing where he had been before. He was still clammed up, opting to point to Louis, and then himself, and finally to the group of lions who had stopped to wait for them.

Louis held a hand to his temple, rubbing it. "Fine. We'll hear what their plan is and decide what to do from there." He walked past him, grabbing his hand as he did, taking them both toward the gang of carnivores.

They were lead to the parking area, where three black, old fashioned automobiles sat. The vehicles were a calling card of the group. Every adult animal knew who they were dealing with when they saw these relics driving on the road.

Dolph lead them into the closest one, letting them into the back seat, Free sliding in next to them with Louis in the middle. Dolph got in the driver's seat while Miguel sat in the passenger side. The rest of the group filtered into the remaining cars.

The vehicle rumbled to life, and Legosi let out a slow, shaky breath next to him. Louis tapped him. "Hey."

Legosi looked at him. He seemed less scared now, at least. Just more tired.

Louis scooted over as much as he could. "Here." He brought his shoulder up. Legosi considered it for a moment, before leaning down and resting his head on it, letting out a more steady breath now from his nose. Louis took one of his large arms and wrapped it around himself, stroking it lightly as he used his other hand to scratch the fur on his cheek, ignoring the blood.

"It's alright. It's alright.", Louis reassured his boyfriend with soft whispers. The lions remained quiet, not daring to interrupt such a moment, which he was thankful for.

He hated this situation, hated the danger Legosi had just been in, and continued to be in. But he knew that he would be too stubborn to give this up, and the best course of action now was to keep him out of trouble by being with him. Plus seeing the Shishigumi in such a state hurt him in a way he wasn't sure he'd be able to handle.

Louis rested his head against the seat, his antlers getting in the way like usual. He was thankful that at least the two parties seemed to be okay with each other. He could imagine a scenario where Legosi would refuse to work with the group that had kidnapped Haru and ate meat, and where the Shishigumi would want to give Legosi an ocean burial for even showing up again. He realized that he was the glue holding all of this together. He smirked joylessly.

He felt weight on his right shoulder suddenly, balancing him out. He looked over to see Free embracing him. "Awh! I just couldn't help myself! I needed another hug!"

Louis blushed, squished between the two large carnivore men. "Say, won't bringing me to the back alley market be breaking your promise?"

Free squinted his eyes at Louis, even moreso than they usually were. "Oh, that I would eat you if you ever showed your face again?" Louis felt Legosi stir slightly.

"Yep.", Louis smiled grimly. "You're not just bringing me back to be a full course meal, right?"

"Bah! We're inviting you! It's totally different! A lion of the Shishigumi never breaks a promise, still!"

Louis rolled his eyes, bringing his right arm off of Legosi to wrap around the lion. "Of course."

The drive continued for another ten minutes before the entourage stopped at a high end establishment. Well, as high end as the back alley market got. The animals piled out and entered. The staff knew who they were, as was expected, and lead them into a private room. Legosi quietly asked the animal escorting them where he could find a bathroom, and he parted from the group. Louis wanted to follow him, but the lions didn't want to let him out of their sight. They all sat down at the generously-sized square booth.

"So, how's it been going, boss? An upstanding member of society, now?" Jimma gave the deer a crooked smile.

"Just college. It was hard integrating back, but I've had some help."

At that moment Legosi entered the room, face now clean, but a few specks of dried blood remained on his shirt. He sat himself next to Louis as a server entered shortly afterward.

Dolph raised a hand to him. "Round of beers, please."

"Oh." Legosi held his hand up too, albeit more limply. "I'll have some apple juice."

The server gave him a strange look, but nodded. The lions all burst out in laughter.

Free clapped the wolf on the back. "C'mon, bud! Ya just got shot! Loosen up a bit!"

"I don't like alcohol."

Louis chuckled. "Trust me. You don't want him drinking."

There were roars of laughter again.

"Wow! You really got the reigns on him! As expected of the boss!", Free was nearly shouting, making Legosi's ears draw back.

Louis couldn't help but find their laughs infectious. "I-it's not like that!"

Free didn't stop. "Betcha call the shots in bed, too!"

Louis and Legosi stared at each other, aghast. They both hid their faces as the table erupted in roars once more.

Louis emerged once again, nearly shouting. "Can we just talk about this plan you had!"

The lions quieted down, growing serious. Dolph leaned forward, pointing a clawed finger down to the table. "There's a group that operates here in the market. A group of bats under the command of a civet. We don't know how many there are all together, however."

Louis's ear twitched. "Okay. What have they got to do with Melon?"

Dolph smirked, squinting slightly. "They're a pure-blood supremacy group. They glorify purebloods and aim to thoroughly eliminate all animals with mixed blood. They're quite the extremists."

Louis swallowed hard, glancing over at Legosi, who surprisingly stayed poker-faced. The server came in with their drinks, sliding beers to everyone at the table, and a glass of juice to Legosi. He took it and gave it a sip.

Louis took a sip of his beer and held back a grimace. "So what, you sic this group on Melon and watch the carnage? Not much of a plan."

Dolph scoffed. "You know us better than that, Louis! We just need to get information from them. That civet's sure to know what a hybrid's weakness is."

Legosi set his glass down, looking past it at the table blankly. "A civet...isn't that that rare cat species, also known as the 'ghost cat'?" He recited it as if he was reading it from a web page.

Dolph nodded at him. "Yeah...in some ways, they're tougher than lions and tigers. The bats that civet commands are also hard to deal with, but we have to get information from that group."

Louis took another sip of beer. "What's the group called?"

"Kopi Luwak." Free was the one to speak up. "It's what they call the coffee that civet makes his bats. Shit, can't imagine how fearsome that fucker must be."

Louis just nodded, noticing that Legosi did the same. He looked over all of the lions once again. "So, the plan is to go to their base, and just ask them for information?"

Dolph shrugged. "That's the plan. It'll be more complicated than that, no doubt."

Everyone made sounds of agreement, going back to drinking their beers and chatting idly. Louis looked over to Legosi, entwining their fingers together. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm okay.", Legosi's voice was quiet, but he wasn't trembling anymore.

"So, you're really okay working together with the Shishigumi to get information from a group like this?"

"Yeah. We need to stop Melon."

Louis grabbed his arm with his other hand. "Seriously. This isn't a simple thing. This is dangerous, and you're aware of it. You have no obligation to do this."

Legosi looked at him with a calm intensity. "Neither do you. But we both want to, now. I'll do it for you, and you'll do it for me. We're in it together." He smiled.

"Fine.", Louis sighed, unable to keep a smile of his own from creeping to the surface.

Legosi finished up his apple juice and looked over at Louis. "So, if we're all going to be working together...could you introduce me to these guys?"

All the lions stopped talking, turning their heads to the pair, waiting intently.

Louis's ear flicked. "Oh, these guys?" He pointed his thumb to the group.

"Yeah."

Louis smirked. "...they're just a bunch of lions. Nothing more."

The table erupted. "WAIT! WAIT! YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!"

"I'M AN INDIAN LION!"

"I'M A CONGO LION!"

"I'M A MAASAI LION!"

All of the big cats scrambled over each other. It was hard to believe they were all grown men.

Louis rolled his eyes in feigned annoyance. "Fiiine." He pointed his fingers at each one, starting with the lion with slicked back hair, a scar across his right eye, and squinted eyes. "That's Free. He likes women and violence."

Free grinned, showing his sharp fangs.

He gestured to the lion with the X-shaped scar across his face. "That guy's Dolph. He's the most serious one out of them all."

Dolph sneered a bit at this description. He regarded Legosi. "Hmph, it's a pleasure."

He pointed out the lion with a mohawk who wore a bandana across his face. "That's Sabu, the oldest lion. And no, I've never seen that thing come off his face."

Sabu made a small noise of acknowledgment.

Louis looked over at the brown, freckled lion that had patched up Legosi's ear. "There's Agata. He's the youngest member, but he can pack quite a punch, despite his kind looks."

Agata waved with a smile.

Next was the lion with a long mane, tied up behind him, and two dark circular marks on his fur above his eyes. "That's Dope. He's our negotiator."

Dope simply stared at Legosi, smiling subtly.

"Right there is Hino. His looks bring jobs." Louis wasn't lying. The next lion had a long, flowing mane and stunning eyes. He simply side eyed the two, allowing the smallest of grins to pull on the sides of his mouth.

Louis had almost made it around the whole table now. The next lion had his mane buzzed at the top of his head, and a spot on his right eye. "That's Jimma. He knows the most about the back alley market. Like a walking encyclopedia."

Jimma simply gave a thumbs up.

He came upon the final lion of the group, a large man whose mane grew in coils tied behind his head. "And that's Miguel. He's the brawn of the group. Not to say the rest can't hold their own.", Louis chuckled.

Miguel kept a stern face.

Finally, Louis turned back to Legosi. "They're all hopelessly addicted to silvervine, but they're good at what they do."

"Of course!", Dolph butted in. "We used to be thirty-five members strong, but now us eight are the only ones left." He glared at Legosi. "That's partly your doing, wolf. You and that panda."

Legosi backed up a bit, and Louis leaned forward. "Dolph, that's enough. You know damn well this group was in shambles with the old boss."

Dolph grunted, but he nodded. "I'm just irritable from this whole situation. Melon is a thorn in our side. It'd be easier if Ibuki were still here..."

Louis's breath hitched, and Legosi took notice. "Who...is Ibuki?"

The deer breathed out slowly, trying not to reopen the wound. "He...he's the lion that came up with the idea to make me the boss. My right hand man." Louis smiled fondly. "He was the most level headed out of all these bastards."

Hino raised his mug up. "To Ibuki."

The rest of the lions, as well as Louis, did the same. "TO IBUKI!" Legosi raised his empty juice glass tentatively to match them all.

Louis drank down the rest of his beer along with the lions, silencing the burp that bubbled up afterward. The rest of the lions weren't so considerate. The deer stood up, feeling a bit dizzy from the drink, as he had been given the same size as all the larger animals. "So...shall we get this thing done?"

The Shishigumi all stood up. "Yes sir!"

…

"Wait, that's not right."

"What isn't?"

Jimma scratched his head, looking left and right. The whole group was in a part of the market away from the meat stalls and closer to the living accommodations. Carnivores of all shapes and sizes milled around them, giving them a wide berth. They had been walking for about half an hour now, Legosi and Louis in the middle of the group. The deer ran his fingers across the new handgun the lions had given him, now resting in his chest holster under his shirt.

"Well, going right would lead us to the shopping district, I believe.", Dolph thought aloud.

Jimma nodded. "I think it's up the stairs on the left, come to think of it."

Free looked in that direction. "I heard that a bunch of punk birds live up there."

Jimma turned to him in offense. "Ah? Didn't you hear Louis earlier? I'm the expert around here. Just leave it to me."

Free rolled his eyes, probably. It was hard to tell. "Oh, please! We would have been there by now if you actually knew the way!"

Louis scowled. "It's gonna be morning soon, guys. Just do the usual thing."

That piqued Legosi's interest. "The usual thing?"

Dolph grunted, turning inward to all the other lions. "Alright, gather around, everyone. I hate that we have to do this in front of a wolf, but we have no choice."

Legosi's mouth opened slightly, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Do what?"

"Just watch!", Free yelled at him. "But don't say anything!"

The lions gathered in a circle, and Dolph pulled a strand of hair from his mane. All the other lions did the same, giving them to him.

"One, two, three four five six seven...eight...alright, good." Dolph held all of the hair tight in his hands, all sticking out and moving slightly in the wind. The felines' attention was intently drawn to it, watching them sway this way and that.

Ultimately, they pointed toward the stairway.

"Alright, they point to the stairs."

"Well, that settles it."

"That's where we're going."

Legosi gawked in disbelief, and Louis held back a snicker. "YOU'RE LETTING YOUR MANES DECIDE!?", the wolf all but shouted.

"IT'S A DIVINATION!", Free shouted back. "And I told you not to talk!"

Dolph held out the hairs for Legosi to see. "When we felines try to decide on something, we rely on divinations.", he explained. "Animals usually use feline hair as tools for divinations associated with the classical elements of fire, wind, earth, and water." Dolph turned his hand to the side, dangling the hairs with a smirk. "This stuff can feel out the slightest movement in the air. Our feline bodies are sensitive to the supernatural and well-tuned to the spiritual. We can even predict our own deaths."

He walked forward, continuing his speech as everyone else followed. "Unfriendly, free-spirited, independent, and self-centered. Felines have these traits because they live by relying on the supernatural. But we still know that the effects of our divinations will always depend on our actions."

"We did make a divination to decide if Louis was gonna be our boss or not.", Free chimed in.

Dolph looked back at the deer proudly. "The lion sense of the supernatural is accurate, is it not? The Shishigumi was the best group around when Louis was the leader." He approached Legosi, looking down at him. "We also used divination to make Melon our boss, and as a result, we're now working together with a wolf who we thought we would never find common ground with. I'm hoping this is all going to work out in the end."

The lions all walked past them and up the steps, leaving Legosi and Louis at the base. The deer looked upon them fondly. "How optimistic...and feline-like." He faced Legosi. "You don't buy that stuff, right?"

Legosi looked at Louis, and shook his head. "Well, I mean I did see my mom's ghost...maybe. But..."

Louis smiled at him, reaching his hand out, which Legosi took. They ascended the stairs after the lions.

Dolph looked down at the hairs in his hand, disappointed. "These...aren't working very well."

Suddenly, Legosi pulled a long strand of fur from his cheek, walking over to Dolph, pulling Louis along with him.

"Canines aren't well versed in the...supernatural...but you can put this in if that's okay.", Legosi offered.

Dolph scrutinized the wolf hair. "Your dull-sensed wolf hair is useless!", he snapped.

Legosi retreated slightly, bringing his hand back, before Dolph grabbed the hair from him.

"But we'll put it in the pack anyway!" The gray strand was slotted in with the myriad of browns in Dolph's large hand, putting his other arm around the wolf. Free joined from the other side, putting an arm around Legosi as well while laughing. Louis was squished in the middle. He smiled. They were warming up to each other.

…

It took another hour, but eventually the group found themselves in front of an extravagant looking house surrounded by a stone wall. A metal gate closed it off, with a small, wooden sign driven into the ground next to it which read Kopi Luwak Research Organization. The lions all turned to Legosi and Louis, grinning.

"Well? What did I tell you? We made it!", Dolph put his large hands on his hips proudly.

Louis leaned to Legosi. "Yeah, and they're ignoring the three or four wrong turns we made to get here."

They all approached the gate, and Louis's smile faded. He looked at Legosi again. "Hey, you can stay out here if you want."

"Hm?" Legosi leaned down to look at Louis. "Why's that?"

Louis fumbled with his hands. "Well...if what they said is true about these guys...you could be in danger. You're not pure-blooded. There might be some way they can tell just by looking at you..."

Legosi looked back at the structure, illuminated slightly by the earliest whispers of dawn. "I have you guys with me. I'll be safe."

Louis just nodded, his eyes becoming moist suddenly. He pulled himself into Legosi, gripping tight. Legosi wordlessly hugged back.

A few seconds of hugging passed before Louis looked back over to the gate. The Shishigumi were waiting patiently for them. They were all talking amongst themselves, looking at the pair and smiling.

Louis pulled himself away from Legosi, grabbing his hand and leading him forward.

"Well, here goes nothing."