AN: Before I begin, let me say that Paru Itagaki owns Beastars and can choose what she wants to do with it. She's created a wonderful story with wonderful characters and nothing I'm about to say is meant as a criticism of her. Now then...LOUIS'S ENDING SUCKED! Choosing to marry Azuki for the sake of political power makes me lose any respect I had for him! His decision makes him come off as a greedy coward afraid of his own feelings! Some of you may say it was the only way or that I'm just sore he didn't choose to be with Juno. I still would have respected him if he'd decided to not be Juno and be a businessman ON HIS OWN! There was no indication it wasn't possible for him to do that. Also, his choice basically spit on all of Legoshi's efforts to be with Haru. That's the end of my rant. Now, for those of you who think this fanfic is just a Louis bashing, rest assured, this is an in depth story with so much more than that. Before I start, let me say that the characters Marie, Henry, Milo, Goshen, Xander, Delilah, Malcolm, and Philip are my own creation. Without further ado, let's begin.

Ch 1: It's Only A Dance(?)

Louis and Azuki enter the charity ball arm in arm. Marie, the couple's seventeen year old daughter, is right behind the two. The young hind is surrounded by four lion bodyguards (Agata, Dope, Free, and Hino). The group is a very showy display.

A twenty two year old stag named Henry approaches and nods at Marie. "It is pleasant of you to appear."

The hind nods to her arranged fiancee. "Thank you."

The event continues on. Louis and Azuki shake hands and converse with other big names to appear even more well connected. Their daughter does as well, but not as much due to her age and her bodyguards. Even Henry isn't comfortable being near the lions.

Suddenly, an announcer is heard. "Introducing Beastar Juno and her date!"

Everyone's eyes turn to the door.

The well known she wolf enters arm in arm with a male antelope.

Azuki's eyes narrow. 'Look at her showing off her perverse ways to the world.'

Louis can't help letting a smile flicker across his face. 'Juno's matured into a very lovely woman. Her date is a lucky man.'

Once things settle down after the she wolf's entrance, the event goes on as expected.

Louis and Azuki do as they were doing earlier. However, the stag finds himself discreetly looking around for Juno. He doesn't always see her. When he does, he smiles. 'She's got all the animals here metaphorically trapped. They can't voice opposition to her having an herbivore as a date without bringing interspecial rights activists down on them. They also can't just leave out of disgust since it'd mean they'd be walking out on their obligation to this charity ball too. How fittingly Juno. Wish I was the guy she was showing off.' Louis immediately stomps down on that thought hard. 'No! You chose the responsible path! You are where you belong! Don't you keep dwelling on immature fantasies!' Despite reassuring himself of that, the stage continues looking over at Juno when he can.

Later…

Louis is sitting at the bar. He needed a break from the socializing and seeing Juno dance with that antelope was…not enjoyable. 'The bartender can't give me drinks fast enough.'

"Hello, Louis," comes a familiar she wolf's voice.

The stag turns and sees Juno sitting in the next seat. A part of him relishes being so close to her. "What brings you here?"

"Them," she says while pointing her thumb behind her.

Louis looks and feels anger at the sight of the wolf couple. "Xander and Delilah."

"I'm not interacting with those two. They are scum."

"I agree. Just wish the lions had been able to find proof of what they did."

Juno looks over in surprise. "You looked into it?"

"Of course. I saw the way they acted at Philip's funeral. Their tails didn't droop, a clear sign that they weren't sad at all. To not feel any misery over their own son's death, they must've murdered him…and relished it. Without proof though, I can't really do anything. The best I can do is not interact with them or do any business with them."

Juno grabs at the drink that just arrived. "Good for you." She pauses as another thought pops into her mind. "Do you think their current child is in any danger?"

Louis shakes his head. "Malcolm's getting shown off by Xander and Delilah all the time. Philip had always been hidden away by them, the stated reason being illness."

"That's a relief."

"Well…on a more pleasant note, it's been some time."

"Not really. The last event we both attended was only a month ago."

"Right. I'd almost forgotten. How goes the Freedom to Love Movement? It's still going strong?"

"It's going very well, thank you. We have thousands upon thousands of supporters. They are all over the world, I might add."

"Good. I'm guessing your date is a member too?"

"That's right. Milo is friendly, polite, and a wonderful dancer."

"Is there a future there?"

Juno glares at Louis. "What business is that of yours?"

"I'm just asking. Can't a friend ask another friend about their lives?"

"What makes you think we're friends?"

That hurts Louis. "I…thought we'd reached a point in our lives where you and I could be friends."

"Quite the effort you're putting in to making me your friend."

"Good friendships are worth putting your all into."

"Really?" Juno gives a rather unpleasant smirk. "How are Legoshi and Haru?"

That question takes Louis by surprise. "They…are fine."

The she wolf laughs humorlessly. "I speak with them almost daily and visit a few times a month when I can."

Louis flinches. 'Shit.'

Juno frowns at the stag. "You haven't spoken to them in years. The last contact Legoshi and Haru had from you was a note of congratulations when their son, Goshen, was born. Just an FYI, today is Goshen's eighteenth birthday."

Louis's eyes widen. 'His eighteenth birthday? Has it really been that long? Time really does fly.'

Juno looks at her glass. "Don't you dare call me a friend when you haven't spoken to the ones who still consider you a friend in eighteen years." She gulps down her drink.

Louis stares down at the countertop. 'This has been the pattern for me and Juno for some years now. I try to make friendly conversation with her and she's so cold and harsh to me. Why? It can't be because I'm married at this point. Juno was still so cheerful towards me the first time we saw each other again after I married Azuki. That was the norm for years. Then, she changed out of nowhere. What happened?' Louis looks around since he doesn't know what to say to the she wolf. He catches sight of something interesting. "Your date is asking my wife for a dance."

Juno laughs. "Yes. Milo is aware of your wife's actual stance on inter relationships. He hopes he can make her lose her composure since he's both an antelope and an herbivore who has relationships with carnivores."

"She accepted his offer."

Juno frowns. "Oh?"

Louis looks back at the she wolf. "Azuki's a lot more disciplined than you give her credit for."

Juno returns to her drink with a huff.

"Shall we join them?"

The she wolf glares at Louis. "You can't be serious."

"Why not?"

"I refuse to dance with a married man."

"Your date's about to dance with my wife."

Juno has to stop herself from growling at this very logical point from the stag. "That is a completely different situation."

"How?"

The she wolf stays silent because she has no answer.

Louis stands up. "You're looking too far into this. It's only a dance."

The she wolf stares at the stag's offered hand for a few moments. "Fine, but don't expect anything to come out of it."

"I won't," Louis says as Juno takes his hand.

The music from the orchestra changes.

"A tango?" Juno asks as she looks over at Louis. "Can your prosthetic leg handle it?"

The stag starts leading them to the dance floor. "I've lived with it for so long, I can use it like a real leg at this point." Once at the center, Louis positions them in wait for the music to cue the start of the dance. He smirks at the she wolf. "Can you keep up?"

Juno is surprised by this question, but doesn't let it get to her. There's a very playful glint in her eyes as she smirks back. "Watch me."

Louis almost grins from the excitement he feels now.

On cue, the pair begin their dance. However, it's clear from the start that this is no simple dance. This is a show stopping spectacle.

The crowd is transfixed by the stag and the she wolf.

Milo and Azuki, who had started their own half hearted attempt at a tango, stop once they witness Louis and Juno's perfect tango.

The stag and the she wolf are owning the dance floor. They step, twist, and turn with the most extreme vigor. Their eyes are on each other alone.

Juno can't believe the swell of emotions she's feeling during this charged tango. 'Why?! Why is it always him?! Why does my heart always go back to you, Louis?!'

Louis is feeling a rush he hasn't felt in years. 'Oh, Juno. It's only you that makes me feel this alive. I don't want this to end.'

Of course, all good things must come to an end. The music stops as Louis has Juno in the slightest of dips. Their eyes are glued to each other.

Juno feels her lips tremble. 'Stop looking at me like that! I can't take it! It gives me false hope!'

Louis's breathing becomes heavier. 'It's been so long since you've looked at me with this much warmth. Don't stop.'

Right then, the audience claps for the pair. It doesn't matter that the two were a carnivore and an herbivore. Nor does it matter that they weren't each other's dates. The dance was just so good to the crowd's eyes.

Louis and Juno separate and make their faces as emotionless as possible.

"Thank you for the dance," the she wolf says in monotone.

"And thank you," the stag returns in the same way.

The pair turn and walk over to their dates as the music changes into a slow dance.

"Wow," Milo says as Juno leads him to another section of the dance floor. "Did you two used to be an item or something?"

"I don't want to talk about him," Juno says as they get in position for a slow dance. "Just dance with me."

Realizing this is a sensitive issue for the she wolf, the antelope wisely decides to shut up. "Sure thing."

As Louis holds Azuki for their slow dance, he feels her hand on his shoulder grip tightly.

"We will discuss this later," the hind whispers into his ear.

The stag's eye twitches, knowing this means his wife is angry. "Of course." Louis finds his eyes wandering over to Juno.

The she wolf can feel eyes on her and glances over, her eyes staring into the stag's.

Over by the wall, Marie is in total shock. Seeing her father dance so animatedly with the she wolf has changed her view on him, as if looking at him for the first time. The staring doesn't go unnoticed by the young hind either.

The four lion guards watch their boss and feel sorry for him. 'Boss, all of us respect you. We're grateful for you getting us out of prison and getting us these jobs. We like your daughter a lot. Still, Azuki was the wrong choice. You should have been with Juno.'

Later that night…

The three red deer and the four lion bodyguards enter the mansion.

The lions head to their quarters on the lower level.

The three deer head up the stairway towards their rooms.

"Father?" Marie suddenly asks once at the top of the stairs. "Could we have a moment to speak in your office alone?"

Louis welcomes this since it means he can put off Azuki's discussion with him for a little bit longer. "Of course."

"I will wait for your," Azuki says as she enters the master bedroom.

Louis guides Marie to his private office. He sits down in the chair behind the desk while she stands opposite him. "What's on your mind, Marie?"

The young hind takes a deep breath. "Do you have feelings for Beastar Juno?"

The stag didn't see the question coming. He schools all the shock from his face before he responds. "What makes you think I do?"

"The way you danced with her was quite lively. I'd even say heated."

"The two of us were in Drama Club during our Cherryton days. It gave us a tendency for putting on shows."

"And the way you two were staring during the slow dance?"

'Damn. Frighteningly analytical. Just like her mother.' "I assure you, Juno and I are not romantically involved."

"Were you in the past?"

'This is getting uncomfortable.' "Listen, you've had a long day. You're likely tired right now. You should go to bed."

"Are you and mother going to get divorced?"

Louis stands. "Absolutely not! Understand this! This is where we belong! That can't be put at risk because of fickle attractions and pointless romances!"

Marie is hurt by this sudden outburst for a moment, but she makes her face stoic again as quickly as possible. "Understood, Father." She turns and heads for the door.

Louis realizes in that he went way too far. "Marie," he calls out in as comforting a voice as he can manage. Seeing his daughter pause, the stag tries to say what he wants to. 'I love you.' "I…hope you enjoy your birthday tomorrow."

The young hind, her back still turned to her father, smirks. "I will." 'More than you will ever know.' "Good night, Father."

"Good night, Marie." Once the door closes behind his daughter, he sits back down in the chair and starts massaging his temples. 'I couldn't say it…again. I've never been able to tell my own daughter that I love her. I do love her. I have from the moment she was born. Why am I not able to say it out loud?' The stag sighs. 'I still have to deal with Azuki now.' He stands back up and looks at a nearby portrait of his father, Oguma. 'Give me the strength I need.' Louis takes a deep breath, then sets his face to being completely blank. He exits his private office, heads down the hall, and enters the master bedroom.

Azuki is already sitting in bed underneath the covers, glaring at Louis. "I do not approve of that stunt you pulled at the ball."

"Dancing with Beastar Juno?" the stag asks while grabbing his pajamas from his dresser. "It was only a dance." He heads into the bathroom to change.

"There seemed to be quite a lot of chemistry between you and that she wolf," Azuki says in a louder voice to be heard from such a distance.

"As former members of the Drama Club's acting team at Cherryton Academy, it has been ingrained into us to put on shows. Considering the reaction we got from our audience, I think we were successful."

"That crowd loves a scandal they can gossip endlessly about. It likely won't be very long before the entire world thinks you're having an affair with that she wolf."

"A dance is all it takes for them to believe that? If that's the case, what about you and her antelope date?"

"I only accepted his offer because I couldn't think of a face saving way to reject him."

"The fact that you and I are husband and wife?"

"It is expected at balls such as tonight's that we all have multiple dancing partners for the sake of friendly appearances."

"Then there really is nothing to worry about in regard to me dancing with Beastar Juno."

Azuki stays silent for a moment before realizing something. "You really were taken with your dancing partner."

"What makes you say that?"

"You never even noticed the carnivore loving antelope and I gave up on our own dance at witnessing you two."

At this point, Louis is only wearing his boxers. Looking at himself in the mirror, the stag checks over each and every claw and bite mark scarred into his torso. He runs his hands over his absolute favorite ones, the bite in his right shoulder and the claw marks running all the way down from his shoulder blades to his lower back. 'Good thing Azuki never sees me change. If she saw all these scars, there'd be hell to pay.' "There is nothing going on between me and her."

"I am aware that you dated her before we married."

"The past is the past, Azuki."

"I should hope so, Louis. I do not want Horns Conglomerate's future to be put at any risk because of that she wolf."

"You don't have to worry one bit about that. I know my responsibilities." Louis exits the bathroom with his pajamas on and carrying his outfit from the charity ball. "The company must always come first."

"Very good," Azuki says while watching her husband put away the clothes that he'd been carrying. "As long as you remember that, everything will be fine. Get some sleep, Louis." She lies down.

"I will." Once everything's in its proper place, Louis sits on the bed and starts to remove his prosthetic. 'I still remember the pain I used to feel in my leg whenever Legoshi got hurt. He has either stayed out of trouble in all that time or I'm not feeling anything because I…' The stag doesn't let himself finish that thought. 'Azuki's making too big a deal out of my dance with Juno. Anything I felt from it was nothing more than a passing fancy.' Louis places the prosthetic off to the side and lays down in the bed. 'My wish for Juno's eyes to stay warm, my urge to kiss her, my desire for her claws to rip through my clothes and dig into my yearning flesh.' The stag's pajama pants suddenly feel very tight. 'Shit. Now I'm aroused.' He rolls himself over so that his back's to his wife. 'If Azuki saw that, her suspicions would be confirmed in her mind. She knows I have no physical interest in her. We gave up on having sexual interactions years ago. We had to have Marie clinically. The pregnancy messed up Azuki's body to the point she'd never be able to have another child, so she started looking for a future husband for our daughter pretty much from the moment she was born. I would have objected, but she quickly found Henry. He's a pleasant stag with great business sense. He'll do wonderfully as the next CEO of Horns Conglomerate and he is a perfect match for our daughter. Dammit. Going over all that in my head didn't get rid of my erection. Come on! You can wait until tomorrow night!' With time, Louis is able to fall asleep.

AN: Many fanfics make Azuki out to not be so bad and actually be a friend to Louis. This is not one of them. I believe her to be controlling of Louis and hateful of carnivores. The evidence of that last one comes from having herbivore superiority propaganda playing as background to her and Louis's disastrous attempt at sex in the manga. So, Louis has something planned for the next night. What could it be? Find out in a later chapter.