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Rizuma 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 Ilumi had not interfered, he would not be here. Now it was his turn to save her. Rizuma 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 Ilumi 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 Rizuma 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," Rizuma 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 Rizuma'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, Mikari," Kato drawled. "What can this Hanyou possibly do for you?" Rizuma glared at Kato, willing him silently to hold his tongue. It should have been the ideal solution for Kato. Mikari would return Ilumi to her original form and Kato would protect her. He would protect her better than I ever could. "We made a deal, Kato," the guardian said. He waved a hoof as if to bat Kato 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 Ilumi." Kato 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. Ilumi weaved in and out of both Kato's and Rizuma's legs. She must have sensed the tension in the room. "This Hanyou cannot be worth that much to you," Kato replied. "Oh, but he is." The boar motioned and the doors behind them swung open. Rizuma 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. Rizuma watched as he marched to the front of the room, where he knelt before Mikari. "Tell me, Kina, what have you learned about the Hanyou?" Rizuma's stomach clenched. Kina would reveal his ruse and with it his chance to save Ilumi. He had no special powers, other than being able to see Ura. "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!" Mikari slammed a hoof onto the table, splitting it in half. The servants who had clung to him jumped backward to avoid falling debris. Only Kina did not move. He remained with his head bowed to the ground, his back straight. Mikari glared at Rizuma, 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 Rizuma's feet. As he approached, Rizuma had to crane his neck back to see his face. He was four of Kato's size, his legs and arms the size of Rizuma's entire body. He stopped in front of Kato, Rizuma completely forgotten. "You are lucky, Kato, I am in a bargaining mood," the boar said. Kato 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 Rizuma. The fox hid behind Rizuma's legs and he could feel her trembling. Kato 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, Mikari," Kato 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. Mikari leaned forward and clamped the collar around Kato's neck. Kato 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 Kato. Then he turned his massive body to Rizuma. Rizuma took a few steps back. Just being near the boar made him claustrophobic. He nearly tripped over Ilumi. She yipped, scurried back a few feet, and hid behind a pillar. The boar sneered at Rizuma. "You are fortunate Kato is a self-sacrificing fool. I would have taken you anyway, truth be told. But in this instance Kato was the greater prize." Rizuma's mouth felt too dry to speak; he nodded instead. The boar shook his massive head as if disgusted by Rizuma'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 Rizuma, who fumbled but caught it just the same. "Feed that to her and she will return to the woman she once was." Rizuma 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, Kato? You could have been there for her." Kato did not look up and he did not answer straight away. Rizuma 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." Rizuma bowed to the wolf. "Thank you, I will never forget this." I promise, I will find a way to free you. Kato shook his head. "There is no reason to thank me. I am not doing it for you, after all. It is for her." Ilumi peeked her head out from behind the pillar. Rizuma 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. Rizuma stared at her in wide-eyed wonder. She is beautiful. Ilumi looked around the room, her gaze falling on Rizuma. She leaned forward and nuzzled against his cheek. Her breath was warm against his skin. She pulled back and then her gaze fell on Kato. He had not lifted his head even once. Rizuma felt the prickle of tension rolling off Ilumi 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, Ilumi. He and I made a deal." Ilumi switched from her Zoldas form back to a humanlike form. But unlike the Ilumi 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, Ilumi," Kato 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, Mikari. I mean it, let him go, or I will tear this palace to pieces." Mikari laughed. "Who said I was going to let any of you go? Kato traded himself to turn you back to normal. I never said I would let you go."