"Does your father know you're here?" Sabine asked Louis, leaning her head forward on her neck toward the young man, her ears flopping in an almost flying motion as she did so. The young buck looked at her like she had roaches coming out of said flopping ears. She shook her head, feeling utterly out of place. "Nevermind," she muttered. "That's a stupid question." You've been out of the loop for a decade, Sabine, she told herself. You're bound to make a few mistakes. Mistakes like that, though, got you killed in places like this.

Of course Oguma knew he was here. If he didn't he would currently have the city being scoured and then would soon know that Louis was here, and have him forcibly removed. She doubted that the boy had been gone for two months and Oguma had not found him yet. Which meant, the president of Horns Conglomerate knew exactly where his son was. It was Sabine who hadn't known.

She didn't seem to know a lot of stuff lately.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, walking fully into the room. She heard the door click closed behind her, and could smell that neither Agata nor Ibuki had left the room.

"I would have thought," Louis said smoothly, "that the Haiburriddogumi would have sent a representative member of their esteemed organization to come speak with me. My understanding is that you are not a member, despite the boys telling me you were the one who would show up." He smirked, as if he knew a secret, and Sabine had to suppress a nasty, motherly retort.

She might be dealing with a schoolboy, but she was dealing with a schoolboy who had a pack of lions at his disposal.

She took a deep breath, did a body check; ears forward, hair on her neck and back down, shoulders relaxed, tail curled up. She cocked her hip to the side and tilted her head in the opposite direction. "I'm member enough," she said. "The next candidate was a fawn who was too afraid he'd get eaten by a lion."

"As he should be," Louis replied, stepping closer to her. His eyes roamed over, like he was examining an art piece that he was considering buying or not. "You look more…" he paused, twisting his wrist as he thought of a word, "hybrid-ish close up than you do on the television."

"I look more mixed," she corrected with an ironic smile. "Yeah, I get that a lot. The canine isn't so easy to see in my face from far away." Next, he'd comment on how manly her antlers made her look. She smiled a carnivore smile, the front of her mouth closed, but the back open to show the sharp teeth while concealing her fangs. "But it's there, I promise."

"I can see that," Louis said, smiling back. There was a bit more warmth in it now, and Sabine had a sneaking suspicion that she had passed some sort of test, though she couldn't quite figure out what it was. She hated that feeling, of knowing just enough to be aware, but not enough to know what the 'what' actually was.

She took a deep breath. She'd been out of this game for too long that it was unnerving her like this. "Viggo of the Haiburriddogumi sends his regards," she said in a formal voice, giving a small bow. She wasn't going to give him, or anyone else, a deep one. "And his congratulations. He hopes that relations between our two clans can remain as amicable as it was before. Save that the last Chief Lion was a dickhead," she added.

"Did he really say that?" Agata whispered.

"No," Sabine turned to the young lion. "I said that."

"I wouldn't be surprised if Viggo said that," Ibuki muttered.

"Well," Sabine shrugged, "he might have said it at some point. I'm saying it now."

"That's not very polite," Louis pointed out, taking a cigarette out of his breast pocket. As soon as he did, Ibuki slid by Sabine, a lighter in his hand, and held it up to the buck's mouth. Louis took a few puffs to get the end lit.

"Well, he was," Sabine said with raised eyebrows.

Louis blew smoke in her direction, which she waved away with her hand. "It's still rude."

"He was a dickhead, boss," Agata whispered.

Louis shot the lion an annoyed glance.

"You blowing smoke in other beasts' faces' is rude," Sabine said, trying not to snap, when what she really wanted to say was, Really Louis? You're going to be a dickhead, too? I thought I was supposed to be your godmother.

"You're right," the buck said, much to Sabine's surprise. It must have shown on her face and body language, because his smile changed dramatically, from the calculated one to something that actually looked genuine. It lasted only a moment, but it was long enough that she saw it. "I was told you were quite the ambassador. I wouldn't have believed it, but maybe your forthrightness is what makes you so good at being the messenger." He tilted his head, the smile becoming malicious again. "Oh, but that's not right is it? From what I hear, Sabine says 'Jump,' Viggo asks, 'How high?'"

There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment as Sabine processed what the buck said. She kept her violet eyes directly on his and in a low voice drawled, "You are treading in very dangerous territory, Louis-kun."

She was not surprised to hear the click of two guns behind her head when she used the inferior honorific to the lions' leader. She kept her eyes on Louis, her ears forward and her tail high.

Again, there was an uncomfortable moment of silence, where the two deer stared at each other, both of them head on like carnivores, neither one yielding, before Louis waved his hand at Ibuki and Agata behind her, to indicate they put their guns away. He took a few steps toward her, closing the gap between them. "That is what I like about carnivores," he said with a smile. "When they know they have power and they use it." Placing his hand on Sabine's shoulder, he continued, "Tell Viggo thank you for the visit, and of course things will be as...amicable as always. I see no reason for them not to be."

"I will be sure to tell him such," she said, tilting her head to the side. She didn't have to really look up at the buck to look eye to eye at him, he was only an inch or two taller than she, and slight, like she was in her youth, but not any longer. Motherhood and maturity had broadened her out. Louis still had the physique of a boy. He squeezed her shoulder with her hand, but didn't let go. "We should have tea sometime, Louis-san," she continued, reaching into the breast pocket of her blazer and pulling out a business. "Catch up on the last few years."

His eyes flashed, she wasn't sure with what emotion. It was fast and momentary, but he let go of her shoulder and waved his hand again dismissively. "If time permits, Sabine-san," he returned. "I'm a busy man." He plucked the card from her fingers, looking at it dubiously.

"You can always call if you need a therapist," she said with a shrug. "Or a lawyer. I cat get you in touch with my brother."

"Ah yes, I hear he's excellent at defending criminals," Louis replied.

"Someone has to defend the bad guys," Sabine sang.

He chuckled, holding the card out to Ibuki. The lion took it and tucked it in his own breast pocked. The buck then turned from her, taking another drag from his cigarette. "The boys can show you out," he said, louder than he needed to, as he walked back toward the desk.

She wasn't going to try her luck any more that night, godmother or not. But she couldn't help but quip, "Have a good night, Godson. I hope to see you soon, love," before leaving the room, Ibuki in front of her, Agata behind her, like she was back in prison with the two guards flanking her to make sure that she didn't escape. For a moment, the memory of seeing him on the stage at Cherryton school, in the lead role as Adler the Grim Reaper, a famous play that anyone with any education knew, as only a second year student. When she'd gotten wind of it, she'd used her 'reindeer disguise', hiding her wolf tail, dressing a reindeer male, and watched him in the back of the auditorium. Her chest had been bursting with pride, as if she had anything to do with it, even though she knew she hadn't. But his performance had been stellar, the ovation standing, and even now, she couldn't help but smile.

You're going to need to keep up the act, Louis, she thought, suddenly afraid for him. She was afraid for herself, and he was a boy—he had to be terrified. Either that, or he'd gone mad. Or maybe both. Her heart went out to him, but there was no way to let him know that now...or maybe ever.

She heard him answer, "Mmmmm…." surprised that he answered at all. Maybe he knew. Maybe he felt her heart go out to him, after all. Agata closed the door behind them, leaving them in the hallway.

"That was ballsy," Ibuki said, pausing in his walk so she came up beside him.

"Of him?" she answered, her apprehension still high enough that she made sure to do another body check. Ears, are they relaxed? Check. Tail up, slightly aroused? Check? Hair on neck and lower back down? Check. "You're right. If someone had said something like about Viggo and I ten years ago, I'd have killed them on the spot."

"Of you," he corrected. "Ten years ago, I'd have shot you on the spot," he said with raised eyebrows.

She looked up at him and winked, "Looks like both of us grew up a little, then."

The Maasai lion chuckled in response. He stopped at the front door, opening it for her.

She poked his breast pocket, trying to think of a way to lighten the tension. "You've got my number," she said. "Sometimes an old wolf with antlers gets lonely. Don't make it 15 years before I sit on your lap again."

He laughed outright. "You still got that necklace?" he asked.

"I most certainly do!" she said indignantly. "I'll wear it if you call." She winked, then stepped out the door and strode off with her wide gait, back home to report to Viggo.

A/N to unlock a bonus continuation of this chapter, and find out a little more about that poker game and the necklace, visit my ko-fi page at www dot ko-fi dot com slash illusionna