Hikaru stared at the wall just behind the guardian, lest he lose his nerve. The gigantic boar creature terrified him. It moved and spoke like a human, but its sharp tusks and crooked evil smiles sent a cold chill down his spine. It reminded him of the one that had attacked him and his men. He'd had no chance against that creature, and if Rin had not interfered, he would not be here. Now it was his turn to save her. Hikaru knew he could not fight it and win. His brother had taken his place as leader of the clan; there was nothing left for him. Saving Rin was all that mattered now. He would have climbed the highest mountain to reach the palace of the Eight to save her.

The guardian leaned forward. He pressed his hooves together and regarded Hikaru over them. His eyes were framed by wiry gray and brown hair that somewhat resembled eyebrows. They were tugged together in the middle, creating a V over his snout. The guardian's beady yellow eyes danced with delight.

"It is good to see someone with some sense for once." The guardian chuckled.

Sweat pooled in the palms of his hands, but he resisted the urge to wipe them against his thighs. He was trying to look formidable. "My good sense cannot be the only reason you wanted me," Hikaru said.

The guardian laughed and his gut jiggled. And the half-human, half-animal creatures that surrounded him tittered along with him. Then with a sharp gesture from the boar they fell silent.

"You are arrogant; that will help you find a place in my palace. Even if you are a half-breed." The guardian snorted in a piglike fashion.

A smile threatened to curl Hikaru's lips, but he thought it would not be welcomed, so he held back. Judging on how the boar dressed, he wanted to be human and probably did not like to be reminded of his boar-like physique. What does he think I can do for him? That's the real question.

"You cannot be serious about this, Akio," Shin drawled. "What can this Hanyou possibly do for you?"

Hikaru glared at Shin, willing him silently to hold his tongue. It should have been the ideal solution for Shin. Akio would return Rin to her original form and Shin would protect her. He would protect her better than I ever could.

"We made a deal, Shin," the guardian said. He waved a hoof as if to bat Shin away like an annoying pest. "And now I am making a deal with my new friend here."

"And I've changed my mind. You've been trying to get your revenge against the Dragon for centuries, and now I am here, his general, begging you for a favor. What do you want? Information? I'll give you whatever you ask if you'll save Rin." Shin clenched his hands into fists and his jaw snapped shut on the last word. His jaw twitched and the veins in his neck stood out.

The boar laughed. "You think you are wise, wolf, but there are things even you do not know, O master of spies."

They glared at one another for a few moments. Rin weaved in and out of both Shin's and Hikaru's legs. She must have sensed the tension in the room.

"This Hanyou cannot be worth that much to you," Shin replied.

"Oh, but he is." The boar motioned and the doors behind them swung open. Hikaru turned around as a man strode into the chamber.

The man who had saved him from the palace strode into the room. He wore all black, and the painted characters on his forehead stood out against his pale skin and dark hair. Hikaru watched as he marched to the front of the room, where he knelt before Akio.

"Tell me, Naoki, what have you learned about the Hanyou?"

Hikaru's stomach clenched. Naoki would reveal his ruse and with it his chance to save Rin. He had no special powers, other than being able to see Yokai.

"I have performed all the tests, Master. He does not have the gift. His ears and tail were cut when he was young; he is useless to us."

"What!" Akio slammed a hoof onto the table, splitting it in half. The servants who had clung to him jumped backward to avoid falling debris. Only Naoki did not move. He remained with his head bowed to the ground, his back straight.

Akio glared at Hikaru, accusing him with his eyes of being inept. Then he lifted up his hand. A servant rushed forward and cleaned away spilled sake that stained his sleeve.

"Never mind, then." He sighed. "Very well, down to business, I suppose." He stood up amidst much grunting and heaving. He climbed down a few steps towards them. His footsteps shook the ground beneath Hikaru's feet. As he approached, Hikaru had to crane his neck back to see his face. He was four of Shin's size, his legs and arms the size of Hikaru's entire body.

He stopped in front of Shin, Hikaru completely forgotten. "You are lucky, Shin, I am in a bargaining mood," the boar said.

Shin glared at the boar. "Lucky me."

"I want you to swear yourself unto my service. Do that and I will give this half-breed a lotus petal." He flicked his hoof towards Hikaru.

The fox hid behind Hikaru's legs and he could feel her trembling. Shin closed his eyes, inhaled, and when he opened them, he knelt down on the ground in front of the boar.

"I swear my loyalty, my spirit and my blood to you, Akio," Shin said in a monotone voice.

The guardian smiled and the corners of his mouth turned up, revealing the jagged yellow teeth within. "It is done, then." The guardian twirled his hand in the air and a collar manifested in a cloud of leaves. Akio leaned forward and clamped the collar around Shin's neck.

Shin remained kneeling. He stared at the ground as he said, "Now give him the petal."

"Am I not a man of my word?" the boar asked Shin. Then he turned his massive body to Hikaru.

Hikaru took a few steps back. Just being near the boar made him claustrophobic. He nearly tripped over Rin. She yipped, scurried back a few feet, and hid behind a pillar.

The boar sneered at Hikaru. "You are fortunate Shin is a self-sacrificing fool. I would have taken you anyway, truth be told. But in this instance Shin was the greater prize."

Hikaru's mouth felt too dry to speak; he nodded instead. The boar shook his massive head as if disgusted by Hikaru's subservience. He patted his robe, and then dipping a hand into the folds of his kimono, he removed a satchel made of red silk. He tossed it to Hikaru, who fumbled but caught it just the same. "Feed that to her and she will return to the woman she once was."

Hikaru pulled on the drawstrings that kept the bag closed. He poured the contents of the bag into his hand. A red crystallized petal rested in his palm. It was near transparent, shot with golden veins. Before he used it, he had to ask, "Why are you doing this, Shin? You could have been there for her."

Shin did not look up and he did not answer straight away. Hikaru wondered for a moment if some spell had been put upon him. But when he spoke at last, his voice was low and directed to his knees. "She needs you now more than she needs me. I can see that; she was willing to give up her life to spare you. I could not face her knowing that I sacrificed the man she loved."

Hikaru bowed to the wolf. "Thank you, I will never forget this." I promise, I will find a way to free you.

Shin shook his head. "There is no reason to thank me. I am not doing it for you, after all. It is for her."

Rin peeked her head out from behind the pillar. Hikaru crouched down and offered the petal to her on the flat of his palm. She regarded him for a moment, her golden eyes blank as an animal's. Then very slowly, she approached him. She sniffed at it at first and then, after a moment's hesitation, snatched it out of his palm. She crunched into it and swallowed. He waited with bated breath. The transformation started with her fur; it grew pale, fading from copper to yellow then to white as snow. Markings appeared around her face and on her paws, whirling red markings that ran up and down her legs and framed her golden eyes. She grew in size as well. When she reached her full height, she was a head taller than him. She had several tails, all whipping back and forth and tipped with licking flames. Hikaru stared at her in wide-eyed wonder. She is beautiful. Rin looked around the room, her gaze falling on Hikaru. She leaned forward and nuzzled against his cheek. Her breath was warm against his skin.

She pulled back and then her gaze fell on Shin. He had not lifted his head even once. Hikaru felt the prickle of tension rolling off Rin in waves. She bared long white pointed teeth and moved a step towards the boar.

He held up his hoof to stop her. "Do not get mad at me, Rin. He and I made a deal."

Rin switched from her Kitsune form back to a humanlike form. But unlike the Rin he had come to know, she had coppery red hair and a pair of fox ears on top of her head.

Her tail twitched back and forth as she snarled, "What deal? You cannot hold him, the Dragon's—"

"Enough, Rin," Shin said. His voice was tired.

She looked at him as if pained. "What have you done, you fool?" she whispered.

He turned his head so she could not see his face, only his profile.

"Let him go, Akio. I mean it, let him go, or I will tear this palace to pieces."

Akio laughed. "Who said I was going to let any of you go? Shin traded himself to turn you back to normal. I never said I would let you go."

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