She waited for four hours before sticking her head out to scent the air and see if he was still there.

His scent wasn't fresh, for one thing. She crept out about five inches. Hiss slithered all the way out and flicked his tail at her. She nodded and followed him.

They got pretty far before both of their sixth senses kicked in. But scenting the air, she couldn't pick up the dog-man's scent. She growled, arching her back. Something somewhere near-by wasn't friendly, but she couldn't tell what from where!

Hiss slithered up her arm and she stood up. Her eyes weren't the round kitten eyes they normally were, she was sure of that. In fact, as she peered in the window of an abandoned building, she saw her pupils had narrowed into slits and the cafe-brown of her irises had spread and covered the entire white of her eye. She wasn't sweet little baby-Kyu anymore...

Now, she was battle-ready, prepared to fight for her hide.

Now then, you must be that little kitty-cat Dolcetto told me about."

Growling, she spun around, claws out, fangs bared, ears laid back and tail lashing. The man standing in the door-way wasn't human, she could smell that much. His tattoo drew her attention. On the back of his hand, a tattoo like a dragon eating it's own tail, forming a circle around a six-pointed star.

She growled with even more ferocity now. She knew that tattoo!

There was a woman that had come to the lab multiple times. She had had that same tattoo on her chest!

"Ahh, so you noticed this?" the man grinned, holding up his hand. "You must know one of my so-called siblings."

She hunched over, feeling very much unlike herself. There wasn't any fear. Just anger, desire to hurt him. He wasn't good. Not for her anyway. Her cat-senses told her he was a chaotic-neutral sort of person, but for her, that meant bad.

"Rrrr... rrrrr... rrrr-rrrr..."

"Wow, such an angry expression for such a cute face!" the man chuckled, something shiny and black covering his hand.

"Mmmf?" She relaxed a tiny bit. That stuff didn't smell or look dangerous, but she somehow sensed it wasn't good. Then she resumed her growling and hunched 'fear me' pose.

"Wow, you look intimidating! But that won't help you- Gah!"

She grinned. The ploy had worked. Hiss had slithered up behind the man and bite him fair and square on the leg. But...

He was okay!

"Nice, girlie..." he smirked. "But a little snake-bite ain't gonna phase me that much."

"Rrrr..." she growled determinedly, but she felt fear playing with her heart-strings, making it beat wildly.

His next move was too quick for even her feline senses. She found herself pinned up against the wall. All of her tough attitude vanished, and she flinched, waiting for him to strike her. "You expect pain with failure. A nice trait."

"Kyu?" She opened her eyes, confused.

Why didn't he hit her? Why was he backing off.

"So, what I want to offer is for you to join my little gang, 'Kyu.'" he grinned. "The name's Greed."

Greed stood there as she sank to the ground. "Ky-ky-kyu..." she mewed, putting her hands on the sides of her head. She was confused. Why...? Why was he doing this? Was it supposed to confuse her so he could attack her?

"Kyu?"

He had extended his hand, a grin still on his face. She saw that he had sharp teeth and red eyes. A little like the woman from the lab, only redder and sharper.

Hiss slithered up her arm, his reassuring smoothness wrapped around her skin. She looked into his purple eyes, seeking advice...

Everything there said to go with this man.

On her own, she stood up. "Ky-ky-yu." she chittered.

Greed nodded, turning and walking away. She followed right at his heels.