John
It was a quiet, early evening as Kaito Setsuka returned from her duties back to the Phoenix Embassy. The sun was setting and lanterns were being lit across the city as she entered the two-storied temple that stood before the Embassy. 
It had been a long, exhausting day, but she nevertheless joined the other monks in the temples' maintenance, and purifying herself spiritually. She made offerings of incense to the Seven Great Fortunes downstairs, before heading upstairs to meditate before the shrines of the Sun, Moon, and Dragons. 

Setsuka had a hard time focusing.
She tried counting her breaths, up to ten and then back to zero, but nothing seemed to help to calm her buzzing mind. Sighing softly, the shrine maiden opened her eyes, stood up, and bowed to the shrines in apology . A soft, breeze-like feeling touched Setsuka's spirit, and she felt less anxious.

As Setsuka prepared to leave, she noticed that another shrine maiden had come upstairs. Something about this woman seemed very familiar, and Setsuka found herself staring. Realizing her impoliteness, she swiftly bowed her head in apology, but couldn't help but voice her thoughts.

"Excuse me, but have we... Met before?" Setsuka asked, brushing one of her loose, white hair strands back. 

||
Seth
As was her usual wont, Emiko had volunteered for the dusk rites at the Embassy temple. It was, to be sure, one of the less glamorous acts of faith - the faithful were usually on their way home or in search of less pious pursuits at this hour - and so attendance and therefore attendant donations were uninspiring.

To be out of the public eye, to be there and not noticed, something about that appealed to Emiko. Hiding without hiding. She often contemplated such things. Tonight, she was ensuring the lanterns on the grounds were lit, to provide illumination and a place for the fire kami during the night.

Carrying a paper lantern across her shoulders in a rather casual manner, Emiko jolted to a halt rather suddenly when addressed. When one is used to being invisible, one forgets what it is like to be seen.

"Ah, apologies. Perhaps we have. Though, should we have not before, I am Kaito Emiko." The light cast by the twin lanterns behind Emiko's head cast her face in long, shadows. Still, perhaps, her mannerism - if not her appearance - would prompt a memory in the elder Kaito. Emiko was always somewhat odd. Harmless, but... Odd. 

Tabi-clad feet shifted softly, the paper lanterns swayed gently. "Was there something you needed?"

||
John
Upon hearing Emiko's name, Setsuka's amber eyes lit up with pleasant surprise.
"Oh! No wonder you seemed so familiar! I suppose I might be older just enough that we were in different classes in the dojo- Ah, right, I am Kaito Setsuka," She bowed in introduction, trying to smooth out her red hakama discreetly. 

Now, with a name to add to the face, Setsuka recalled seeing Emiko from a distance in Sanpaku Seido, though the two had never interacted much besides some polite greetings when passing each other. The senior shrine maiden had noticed Emiko's withdrawn nature and curious mannerisms, but hardly found it disturbing. A tad odd maybe, but honestly, who in this world wasn't even a _little_ bit strange to the eyes of someone else?

At Emiko's question, Setsuka shook her head and fiddled with her white hair, a little embarrassed.
"Oh, no, sorry to disturb you, I didn't need anything," The woman said. "I suppose I am just very homesick and happy to have someone of my Family here. Of course, there are other Phoenix here, for which I am grateful, but it's not quite the same," She explained, paused, and let out a soft sigh.
"Very homesick, indeed."

A brief, melancholic look darkened Setsuka's face, but she quickly cheered up again. 
"Either way, I am glad and honored to meet you! I apologize if I disturbed your work," She said sheepishly.

||
Seth
"Oh." Emiko said, shifting the lantern off her shoulder and placing the stick from which it hung into a nearby receptacle so she could shrug at Setsuka's offered apology. The more even cast of light did much to soften and warm Emiko's appearance. "Nothing to apologize for, Setsuka-senpai."

The rather rapid shift to the familiar, coupled with a posture of ease, suggested things about the younger Kaito: an easygoing nature, among perhaps other traits - some negative - that others might ascribe to such a casual air.

"I had been done. Lanterns are lit and the incense ash has been swept away." These were the actions normally given to a far more junior shrine maiden than what Emiko's position would supposedly suggest she should be doing. "Sorry to hear you're burdened in that way - could I help you in any way with that? Family must be there for one another, after all."

||