Ningyou looks over at Talkatz. "Won't fight? Who said anything about not fighting. You have to understand something about my own position. There are very few daemons left in this world that are faithful to Talkatz. A few are loyal out of love. But most simply fear him. Fear is not a good motivator. Especially when it is so hard to back up. but your right. I could very well try to kill you Genkai. After all your death would make everything simpler. I would be able to take my time and locate the body parts at my leisure.

"But I've been looking for the last 100 years. And as of yet I have not been able to locate any part of my lord Talkatz save the head. But if you intend to find the pieces, then you must have some idea. As for how you can trust me." Ningyou sat for a moment in thought. "I could take some sort of oath, though I don't know what oath I could take that you would beleive I would hold. Mayhaps I could swear on my lord. That is of course. If we have a deal."

Summary: Chi explains furthur her reasons for wanting the alliance.

Youji tensed up but bit his tongue as he listened to the one called Ningyou, knowing it wasn't his place to comment. He had no intention of simply letting someone like that person join their ranks. Tayuumi was bad enough, but at least she was willing to fight, and in the end wouldn't try to aid the very villain they were trying to destroy.

What skills could they possibly need from her anyway? The fact that she couldn't do anything on her own meant that she wouldn't contribute much (if anything) to the finding of the pieces. They didn't need her; in fact, they needed to be rid of her.

Kurama looked at the little girl, then motioned for Youji and Garud to gather near him. He spoke quietly, so as to keep the blood demon out of their conversation.

"I say we keep her."

The other two obviously were against it. Before they could speak up, Kurama hushed them.

"You know what they say about keeping your friends close, but your enemies closer. I'd rather keep this creature somewhere that I can keep on eye on her, than let her loose and not know what she's planning. Besides, you both know that we need the body to be complete before we can destroy it. And that creature needs the body complete as well, for her own reasons."

Kurama took a quick look over to the little girl.

"Besides, you guys act like she'd be able to kill me. Youji never sleeps anyway, so he can watch over me at night. Garud, I want you keeping as close an eye as you can on her, especially should a fight happen. And as for me....Don't worry any other time. My blade was made for the direct purpose of killing demons, especially ones as chaotic as that one over there. However, one last big thing."

The other two got in closer to listen.

"NO ONE tells Tayuumi about this. Never."

"Ahem..." Grim aped the motion he had seen other humans do to grab attention, although his throat clearing implied more that he was trying to eject a squealing trapped lobster than a polite cough. He, along with Chi, wasn't privvy to the conversation, but from the disgruntled look of the two non-Kurumas the flow of the debate seemed to be pretty one sided. "I couldn't help but overhear the mention of an oath as extra insurance in this whole ordeal of party managing. Now, I'm a bit experienced in the real of demon souls, and I have been able to devise a way to bond a demon's soul to a specific purpose, like Reaper here."

"Buh Grim-"

"Quiet Reaper." The huge human's mouth hung for a few seconds before slowly closing shut, obeying the command. "Now, I can construct a seal on this demon to help you, and if it doesn't it will lose its soul. Seeing as demons are very little without a soul, it should provide a reasonable safety measure in making sure all sides are on equal footing."

Of course, this whole spiel was complete bullshit. Grim realized he was in the same boat as this new demon, even if his section of the boat was relatively more concealed in direction, and wanted to recruit another member to his cadre. Keeping the newcomer alive with a fake oath that could be switched around once the locations of the body part were laid out on the table was merely his own form of insurance, establishing a base of trust with Genkai to smooth over any troubles the moronic bitch may have collaterally caused.

"Ok Kurama, we will do it your way."

Garud thought about the comment. He didn't like it. When it comes to demon souls, things got very complex. That, and the fact that he had no idea that it could be done. In all his years, he had never heard about it. He whispered to Kurama and Youji.

"I dunno. This... it should not be this easy to bind someone. I think that there is probably a weakness to this 'bond'. I think we SHOULD agree to it though, and supervise it. I have no idea what it is, but I might be able to work out if it's a legitimate spell or ritual."

Kurama nodded.

"Fine. Garud, you watch him put a seal on Chi. If anything, you'll learn how to do a soul seal in case it's needed at a later time."

Kurama rubbed his stomach.

"And now, I'm hungry."

Youji didn't trust any of them, but Kurama did and that was all that mattered. If it turned out that they were betrayed then he would simply do his self appointed duty, and protect Kurama. And maybe gloat a little.

Maybe.

For now though, he'd go with the plan. "Be sure to never let the Raigaki out of your reach, Kurama. It was lost for almost a thousand years, and it wouldn't be convenient if it disappeared right before we gather even a single piece of Talkatz, especially with one of his servants having openly revealed herself amongst our group."

Ningyou ran her fingers through her hair. "Well then, how do we go about this Mr. Grim." She said with a smile. Walking over and holding his hand. "Just like I thought, cold. Theres no blood in this body." Chi smiled up at Grim in a knowing way. "So do we need to draw a circle or mumble some words or what?"

OOC:Am I correct about Grims powers in this regard? Summary: Chi plays along.

Garud whispered to the other two,

"Not good. Did she just hold Grim's hand? Look, now I'm really starting to get suspicious. We KNOW that she is evil, but Grim? Hmm... it would explain a few things. It's just too co-incidental that he would know a binding ritual, and she would be accepting of it. Like you told me to, I will be there. I promise it. However, I'll make sure my summons are there to sort it out."

Garud cleared his throat.

"Gee, I'm rather hungry-like too. However, I will just go eat in private."

Garud nodded at Youji, and whispered,

"Okay, I'm going to go summon a stronger spirit form. Youji, keep Kurama safe. Oh, and don't worry, I won't tell Tayuumi."

With that, he walked off briskly, entering a private room. It seemed quiet and dark, probably used for storage. Garud placed his finger on the ground, and moved it in a straight line. Then, he changed direction. Eventually, he had formed a pentagram that glowed in the gloomy darkness.

"Earth spirit, I call you forth. Assist me to strike down my enemies and purge the word of the sin that is the demon race."

A faint glow resonated from the pentagram. It was slightly brownish in colour. The wind spirit faded out, going back to the place it was summoned from. Garud smiled to himself. He had time.

(EDIT- Summary: Garud whispers the suspicions he has of Grim, tells Youji to guard Kurama while he is gone, and then started to summon the earth spirit in it's second form. 1 post has passed!)

Kohaku approached Koyuki respectfully, continuing his speech, "I trust you have a rapid means of transportation? It is unlikely that Kurama will be remaining at the Barrier Temple for very long once he has the part hidden there." He cocked his head to the side, looking askance at the unconscious forms of Iori and Raikotsu.

"How remiss of me. Please accept my apology. No doubt you wish to set your forces in order first before going into these preparations?"

* * *

Kirakiri paused as Takin regarded him, the ronin obviously waiting to follow him. "It would be prudent to hide our tracks to and from this place. Please go on ahead with Sakiko and I will attend to this matter. I will only be a few minutes."

OOC: I can just imagine the exciting conversation between Sakiko and Taken - "..."