Raised by Lions

Chapter 58: Don Louis

The months since Louis graduated have started blending into one. When Louis had said he was ready to take over the Shishigumi, Ibuki happily stepped down. The lions were all eager to see what Louis does in his coming years as their leader.

Louis didn't change anything in the way the Gumi functions, he liked where they were at and in what direction they were heading. He still liked to involve the entire inner circle in important decisions, to hear what they thought about the situation and potential decisions.

Something that he didn't do on purpose, was that Agata and Free indirectly became his right hand men, almost like Dolph had been for Ibuki. No one seemed to have issue with this, but it was also never directly discussed.

With his skilled mind and years of experience in the Market, Louis racked in more and more shops and vendors that paid them for protection and he earned the name of the 'Horned Prince' among Market denizens.

It still wasn't uncommon to just see him out in the Market with just Legosi or even one of the other two heirs. It was as normal as seeing him with one or two or the entire inner circle's lions.

Louis also managed something that would mark his name as a cornerstone in the Market for years to come. He orcastrated a pushback against the Okamigumi, specifically during Turf Wars, that allowed themselves and the other three Gumis to completely take the Okamigumi's territory and remove them from Gumi status altogether, leaving only the original four to remain in control. Soon after the canine group collapsed in on itself due to infighting and they disappeared into the denizens of the Market.

Six months into his rule, Free had taken Louis to get a tattoo, one that Free had designed like Louis had asked him years ago.

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It was one of the quieter days in the Market when Louis decided he wanted to get tattooed. Of course Free came along and Agata was along for moral support.

They happened to land with the same artist that did Free's tattoos all those years ago, so the atmosphere was comfortable and while Louis made himself comfortable on the tattoo bed, Free was explaining the design to the artist, who dutifully listened.

It wasn't common knowledge, but Free often sold some of his sketches or drawings to the tattoo parlours in the Market. His style was a favourable one, so he made a good deal of money off it. Louis pretended he doesn't know about this because he isn't sure how many of the other lions knew.

Louis layed down on his stomach and let Free and the artist do their thing, resting his head on his arms and watching Agata out of the corner of his eye.

Agata was slowly moving about the shop, admiring the drawings on the walls, occasionally stopping to look at the files with dozens more on the small desks and tables around the place. They've effectively rented out the shop for the day to avoid any stragglers trying anything stupid. It also made for a calmer environment.

It didn't take long after they started for Louis to start dozing off. He wasn't fully asleep, still able to hear Free and the artist talk animatedly, but drifting enough that the sound of the machine was a relaxing background noise.

Nearing halfway through, Louis allowed himself to fall asleep, knowing Agata and Free wouldn't let anything happen to him.

By the time he woke up from the sudden lack of background noise, his tattoo was done. Free was joking to Agata about the younger lion getting a tattoo as well, which Agata refuted with the knowledge that he doesn't do well with needles.

Louis sat up and stretched, feeling a satisfying pop in his spine and then the ache of the tattoo on his back settled in. It was a nice kind of itchy numbness and he sort of understood why some animals got so many tattoos. He shrugged his shirt on and was thankful he opted out of wearing a waistcoat or jacket that day.