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Hitsu smiled, "Well, circumstances aside, it's nice to meet you." She picked up the empty bowl and offered it up to Yuki, who took it quietly to be placed near the water basin. "I'm Hitsuzen, but typically just Hitsu for short." She explained, looking up to Yuki expectantly.

"Yuki." He stated in between his bites, apparently not completely enthusiastic on the introductions. He was still busy shoveling down stew, as if he was afraid of not getting his share.

Frowning, Hitsu gestured toward Neko with a tone of annoyance. "And that gruff brute that sat on you is Nekomata. He's just grumpy, I'm sure he'll get over it sooner or later. Don't let him bother you."

[How dare you put down the awesomeness that is your writing... No matter how much I know I shouldn't I'm already really starting to like Yuval. D8]

Once he'd finished gulping down his third bowl of stew, Yuki deposited the dish alongside Mitsu's, and lifted the water bin from the counter. "I'll go and empty this..." He stated, referring to the water Hitsu had previously used to wash the vegetables in. "Want me to fill it again?" He asked, looking over his shoulder to Hitsu as he stepped toward the back door with the bin balanced carefully under one arm.

"Yeah, sure." Hitsu replied shortly without looking up, before turning her attention back to Mitsu as she smiled at her assuringly. "Really now, it's safe here. You've got nothing to worry about."

At that moment, Yuki had opened the door. He froze dead in his tracks at the sight of the new stranger that stood in front of him. He gave a bit of a jolt initially, having never expected anyone to be outside their house let alone right at the door. "C-can... Can I help you?" He asked, the man's scent causing the hair on the back of his neck to stand on end, not to mention his tail.

The light cast from the room threw artificial warmth over the stranger's eyes, and despite the smile that raised the corners of his lips it faltered everywhere else. He retracted his hand from the air – slowly, as though he too had been surprised -- curling his fingers to drop at his side. For a moment’s breath he simply stood there staring at Yuki, waiting for something. Something…he inhaled. Yes.

“I apologize,” he began, voice barely brushing above a whisper. “I am aware that it is very late, but I have been searching for my niece for a while as she disappeared from our tribe some time ago. I was wondering…have you seen her? She’s an impish little thing!”

The way his voice rose ever-so-slightly at the end implied endearment, and for what it was worth his deceit was convincing. Unlike others, he did not lean towards Yuki to look for the child behind him; he had more self-control – that and he already knew her to be there. He stood there smiling with sentiment he did not feel for a child he did not know.

Mitsu shuffled closer to Hitsu and took hold of the back of her shirt as if it would give her security. Staring at the door she bit down on the bottom of her lip nervously keeping quiet. She would have to remember to thank Yuki later for saying she wasn’t here. Still it didn’t keep her from shaking, she didn’t have a good feeling about the man on the other side of the door. There was something about his voice that was off, though if she could have seen him it would only have reinforced her fear.

As the man stopped the door from closing, Yuki took it as an extremely clear sign that this guy was not playing around. Immediately, the water basin crashed to the floor, sending water and shards of clay to scatter around his feet. In desperation, and most likely lack of forethought, Yuki pressed his own weight against the door . His heart began to race, he was still trying to force his way inside, and Yuki already knew he wasn't strong enough to hold him back alone.

"What's going on?" Hitsu half whimpered. She'd gotten to her feet with Mitsu, though had only stood in silence. There was no seeing past Yuki to the figure who'd stood at the door, but now he was trying to get in, and that would certainly soon change. She took a slow step backward, her instinct to flee, yet she did not. "Yuki?" She pleaded, frightened.

He nearly shouted for Neko, but as soon as he opened his mouth the last of the stranger's words had passed his lips, and Yuki's eyes grew wide as his color paled. "Neko. Get them out of here." He hissed, as though he might actually go unheard. "Now!"

His offer was denied. Playing the hero, was he?

The blade of his knife jumped gracefully in between his middle and ring finger, its flat resting against them like an extended nail. The man leaned upon the hand that rested on the frame, and pulled his weight from the door – it was only momentary. In the next instant he had slammed it with his hip, throwing his weight into the shove. He continued to swing his body into the door until he heard the last dregs of Yuki’s speech.

He had no time to think; instinct drove him. Clenching the blade in his fist, the stranger tore his foot from the door and tore around the house. They weren’t going to get far – he wouldn’t let them.

When Hitsu quickly disappeared from her side, Mitsu froze on the spot hesitant to follow. Wasn’t the guy after her? Wouldn’t they be better off if she ran a different direction? All the same instead of acting on that instinct Mitsu held her ground, too frightened to move. Vainly she watched as Hitsu and Yuki fleeted away wanting nothing more than to follow them, but at the same time afraid of what might happen if she did.

Once Yuki took hold of Hitsu’s wrist and took off into the night, Neko rushed out of the house as well following close behind. Normally he would keep his focus on where he was going but for some reason he looked back and saw Mitsu still standing at the doorway. The first thought to cross his mind was good, at least they could get away while the creep of a guy was after her, but at the same time he found his feet digging into the ground bringing himself to a stop. “s**t.” Growling to himself he made his way back to Mitsu and took hold of her hand and pulled her along. “Hurry up!”