Before I replied I quickly stepped into the safety of the shrines boundaries "can I ask you a question first?" I said curiously, after a moments hesitation the creature nodded "why do you seem so surprised to see someone here? Truth be told I only stumbled upon this shrine by accident this morning, then returned again now trying to seek safe haven from that spirit. What is this place and why couldn't the spirit get to me in here?"

The creature looked at me in quiet consideration "your not lying to me are you child? Because if you do have no doubt in your mind it will be the last thing you ever do." still confused I answered his question best I could "I'm not lying but why does that matter?" sighing the creature sat down "sit down child this will be a long story."

Sitting down I looked at the creature in anticipation "ah that's right I haven't thanked you for saving me yet, thank you for that and nice to meet you, I'm Kai." the creature once again looked at me in surprise and laughed "hahaha interesting child, too interesting not only did you find this place twice your also unafraid of me, this is a first among humans."

I smiled somewhat sadly "it's fine I'm used to it by now." noting my smile the creature nodded sadly and started to speak once more "I cannot tell you my true name as that would give you a power over me even in this weakend state but you may call me my given name, I am called Shin."

Nodding I stared at the giant beast to continue "well a long time ago I was considered a powerful youkai with many friends and followers both human and youkai, in this time however exorcists were also prominent and many would enslave spirits by finding their true names and forcing them into a slavery contracts forcing them to hunt other youkai or dying if they went against the contract,"

At this point Shin stopped and stared of into the distance a sad smile on his face "being quite powerful and friendly with humans I was a desirable target for many exorcist, however after I refused a contract one of the exorcists managed to kidnap a friend of mine in an attempt to force me into giving them my true name, in the end my friend died and I went on a rampage killing every exorcist I could find until they finally managed to seal me here."

Shin looked over at me slowly "in truth the shrine was sealed to never allow other youkai in here to prevent the friends I had left from freeing me, only an exorcist or someone else with a high enough spirit energy would be able to get through the barrier which is why I have remained trapped and sealed for so long, which begs the question of how you managed to get in here? Unless your an exorcist, which judging by the trouble you had with the previous spirit and how unafraid of me you are would be highly unlikely. So child what is your story?"

Looking at Shin quietly I decided it might be nice to finally tell someone the truth for once, even if that someone is actually a youkai capable of swallowing me whole. "I've been able to see youkai since I was five years old though I'm not sure why, the youkai also seem to be able to tell I can see them as I've been targeted frequently, the spirit from before tried to eat me so I punched her in the face and ran but she tailed me to my school and started making causing trouble so I ran here which is the only place I'd ever been which could stop spirits."

Shin nodded "I can tell your not lying, although I'm not sure to why you suddenly awakened the ability to see us I'm glad you did, in the end I believe the exorcists who sealed me never believed there would be a person with a powerful enough spirit force to find the shrine who wasn't an exorcist."

Turning to stare at me Shin paused a moment as if considering something "Kai, would you like to form a contract with me?" I looked at him in shock "What are you saying, didn't all this happen because you were trying to avoid a contract?!?!" Shin stared at me in a peaceful manner "that is true but what I am proposing is an equals contract not a slave contract, to tell you the truth there is a loophole in the sealing spell,"

Shin's golden eyes stared directly into mine "the exorcists claimed that if a made a contract with a human it would release the seal. They did this in case I ever grew desperate enough to submit to them thinking the only humans with a strong enough spirit power to find me would be them. I would never submit to the pigs who killed my family and friends, but I don't mind you and your probably my best bet of getting out, in return I'll protect you from other spirits who may attack you in future, do we have a deal?"

Staring into Shin's eyes once more I gave a smile then nodded "yes we have a deal."