Hazel
Kuni Kobe's room at the top of the Embassy Barracks, nestled on the other side of the two floors full of overly muscled Crab Bushi, was about two or three rooms worth of space. The morning light fought its way through narrow windows with angled sills. The scattered beams of pale spring light fell on stacks of scrolls and tomes, some open and others tightly rolled. They were in precarious piles, their contents spanning from anatomy to botany to detailed notes on fermentation and *Other* Experiments. The air was thick with the scent of herbs, ink, and food-grade decay. 

In one corner were flasks, beakers, and alembics of various sizes. They were all connected by a network of tubing, an intricate situation that bubbled and hissed softly. Dried herbs, some rare and others common, were neatly labeled in containers, forming an orderly line against the base of one wall. Shelves would be needed but had yet to be installed. Beside them, Kobe's cot seemed almost an afterthought, a mere necessity in a room dedicated to higher pursuits.

Kobe's robes were replaced by a more practical outfit suitable for his work, which bore minor stains and the marks of his labor. His face, painted with his usual pattern, was tight with focus. The curving black lines that outlined his features and exaggerated his expressions made his *Serious look* Almost clownish. His hands moved deftly, measuring, mixing, and observing with the keen eye of one who sought to answer the riddles of the elements. He scribbled notes on parchment, his handwriting a mix of careful script and hasty scrawl as ideas and observations came to him. The room was silent except for the occasional clink of glass and the gentle bubbling of the distillation process. 

Perched atop a stack of books, Akuma-Kun, the Devil Bird, watched Kobe's work with its unnerving red eyes. The large raven-like bird was in a good mood today, occasionally echoing the Kuni's mutterings and soft hums with its eerie mimicry. Its dull red eyes stood out against its shaggy black feathers... And one might be tempted to believe that they glowed with their own light. 
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Al
Kokuto had thought hard about the purpose of her day when she dressed for it. She chose to keep the drab brown work clothes she was most often found in, though she did pull her hair back into a neat and clean knot. The fine green silk with the grey Dragon on the back clashed horribly with her dress. It matched wonderfully with the grey and green wakizashi she slipped into her belt. A quick look around and she stuffed some last minute additions into her shirt.

Arriving at the Crab Embassy earned her some looks. Being used to the strange looks she got for her looks and behavior, she paid them no mind. She announced herself at the gate, earning herself even weirder looks. She stared innocently. They sent a servant to announce her, making her wait until they had returned with confirmation. Kokuto was the very image of calm patience. Getting that confirmation many minutes later, she bowed low to the guardians of the gate and passed beneath with calm acceptance.

She observed the path they took her through with mild interest and arrived in short order to a door. Apparently they took her through a quiet and rather direct route. The servant stood there while she knocked; she assumed waiting to make sure she did not wander and get Lost. She made sure to hide the smile from them. "Kuni-sama, it be Agasha Kokuto. Might I cometh inside?" She waited for a response before sliding the door open, gave a slight bow to the servant, and stepped inside.

It instantly reminded her of her own workroom, just without the maze of herbal cabinets. The same casual mix of meticulous organization and disordered chaos, how the sleeping arrangements were of the least concern to the occupant, the same in-process state of experiments bubbling innocuously. It even smelled similarly, though Kokuto never sullied her rooms with forgotten food. She disregarded that a big part of that was Kota's near constant chivvying at her to eat, then coming in to make sure she *Had* Eaten and not just forgotten about it. Again.

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Hazel
"Agasha-sama! Welcome!" Kobe greeted her with an eager bow. As Agasha Kokuto stepped into his workshop, his usually sorta high-pitched voice dropped and he affected a 'spooky' voice. "Behold, the private laboratory of the dark and mysterious Kuni! What horrors might await... Ha... Hahaha." Incapable of maintaining the jest, he broke into laughter. "Thanks for visiting! Come on, I have so much to show you!"

Kobe did not move slowly as he led Kokuto through the workshop and pointed out his various projects. A beaker was clamped to a retort on a table surrounded by shavings of astragalus and willow bark and above a trio of candles. The liquid that swirled lazily inside the beaker was vibrant and opaque, almost like paint. His enthusiasm was infectious, his voice a mix of pride and excitement. "Here, I've been exploring the properties of various herbs after being exposed to different elemental energies." 

The large shaggy bird that haunted Kobe's workshop watched the pair attentively from its perch while the young researcher led the more experienced specialist through the different projects in his room. Much of Kobe's work could be described as throwing science at a wall to see what stuck. He picked up a small vial containing a softly glowing liquid as he walked by and held it up to the light, "I'm not sure what this will do if I open it... But it seems stable enough. I haven't tried shaking it vigorously, though."

Setting the vial down and moving on, Kobe gestured towards a curious setup of flasks and tubing, where a subtle bubbling sound could be heard. His Crab strength was on casual display when he lifted a glass jar about half his size from the floor and set it heavily on a nearby worktable. Several scrolls slid off of the opposite side as the *New thing* Jockeyed for space on the overloaded tabletop. 

While not vibrant or glowing, this one proved to be just as interesting. It held one of Kobe's fermenting rice mixtures. "And this, this is one of my most exciting ventures— fermenting!" His face lit up with a childlike glee. "But it's more than just brewing sake, Agasha-sama... It's a journey into understanding one of the avenues of transformation." 

"The type of rice, the purity of water, the particular koji, even the mood of the day— the spirits become one through the process... Each essence contributing, and each minor adjustment causing a cascade of repercussions." Kobe paused, his honeyed eyes shining excitedly, "I've also been experimenting with fermenting other things—fruits, herbs, even flowers from the garden!"

As if realizing he had only just said the barest of greetings before launching *The tour,* He paused and turned to face the Dragon Alchemist fully. With a sheepish smile and a hand behind his head, the boy asked, "Umm... Would you care for a cup of tea, maybe?"
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Al
Kokuto acted, poorly, the part of the scared know-nothing. She giggled and clapped her hands when he broke the act. Dark eyes shown in amusement and enthusiasm as she followed him about. "Oh, an interesting choice of herbal mixture. Did you try henbane?" She lagged behind quite a bit as she got distracted by an in-depth look at each display.

The glowing vial caught her attention. All through the rest of the tour, she kept an eye on it. It was driven from her mind for a moment as he lifted the giant glass jar. Her eyes sparkled as she made small exclamations of joy and wonder. 

"Oh! The things that could be used with this! How strong can you be making it? Does the flavoring fermentation change the efficacy of the tincture results? OH! What about the discard?"

She started rambling a touch about the possibilities of early infusions versus late infusions as she wandered a bit.

As Kobe turned his full attention to her, she produced the glowing potion with an intense stare. "Only if we be needing tea to shake it," She said with an eager, low voice. She licked her lips in anticipation, "You could be making more, right? Shall we learn what it does?" 

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Hazel
"Henbane! Oh, I haven't tried it yet, but that's a brilliant idea... One must be watchful of the doses, though. Don't want *Another* Accident," Kobe responded. His voice was brimming with eagerness. Gesturing towards the giant glass jug he had just placed on the table. "Oh, the tastes and properties definitely affect things. The process definitely lives longer and grows stronger in the presence of sweetness. Every little adjustment has a wildly emphatic impact on the end result. Each batch is a new adventure, a dance of elements and essences!"

Kobe's gaze followed Kokuto's to the glowing vial. "I've been cautious with this one. It's the result of a rather... Unique combination of components. Rice Husks! That's where I started... Then there was quite a lot of testing to be done with my fermentation research... And then I don't *Quite* Remember what else went into coaxing the sleeping fire kami from several pounds of husks... But I had concentrated everything into this." 

Kobe's tone carried a hint of cautious excitement. "Recreating it isn't impossible. Through the Kami, all things are possible. ... Tea can wait." With a nod of agreement, Kobe reached for the vial, his hands steady despite the potential unknowns. "Let's see what we learn! Research is about discovery, after all!" He grinned, the painted lines on his face accentuating his enthusiasm. Kobe carefully picked up the vial, holding it up to observe the faintly glowing opalescence inside.

"Tea can wait. This is far too intriguing to pass up." He gave Kokuto a reassuring smile, his eyes reflecting both the thrill of discovery and a hint of caution. "Alright, Agasha-sama, let's shake things up a bit and see what happens!"
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Al
"Accidents with hendbane tend to be ... Problematic," Kokuto mentioned with a gentle, almost nervous chuckle. She listened to Kobe explain the process of the oh-so-intriguing vial with nodding intensity. At getting his enthusiastic agreement, she stopped to think of the best ways to proceed. She looked at the little vial, "It be small. Reaction can't be getting *That* Big."

A glance around the room told her they might need to make some room. "Shall this one be taking care of setting it up for shaking? While you be making room? Just in case," She suggested to him. She could see he already had suitable stands that would serve quite nicely. String would be easy enough to come by, though the little alchemist would happily sacrifice the hem of her dress to serve if there was none to be found.

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Hazel
Kuni Kobe nodded, "Absolutely, Senpai! Let me clear the space..." The young lad moved enthusiastically around the workshop. He maneuvered around his equipment with the ease of a dancer. In no time, scrolls were neatly stacked to one side while flasks and beakers were carefully relocated to a sturdier shelf. He even paused to secure a particularly precarious pile of books.

Once he was satisfied with the space, Kobe returned to watch as Kokuto prepared the sample. "I have some twine... Perhaps a counterweight? For stability," He offered. Kobe's hands hovered nearby, ready to assist.

With everything in place, Kobe took a protective stance, ensuring that they were both safe from any unforeseen reactions. "Alright, Agasha-sama, whenever you're ready. Let's see what mysteries this little vial holds for us." His voice was steady, but his eyes betrayed his excitement. His eyes followed every movement, every subtle change in the vial's contents. He was ready to jot down *Extensive* Notes when this concluded.
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Al
The little alchemist went about collecting the suitable bits to make a temporary suspension swing for the vial. She checked in with Kobe as they moved about the lab in the complicated dance of a work frenzy, asking about this or that or if he had anything for some purpose. 

When Kokuto was done, it was nothing pretty to look at, but the vial sat suspended between supports. She took the proffered twine and attached it to the vial with a *Long* Tail to where they would ostensibly watch in safety. She took a moment to offer a soft communion of prayer to the spirits of air with the hopes of receiving a gift of their fancy. They, of all the spirits, would delight in this "Joke" Played upon the inhabitants. For a brief moment, Kokuto wondered if it were wise to involve the spirits of air in what could happen. It passed, like a hummingbird flitting off to another flower filled with nectar.

"Ready?" She asked him. As she received an affirmative, she pulled the twine with a sharp tug and with the help of the spirits sent the vial gyrating violently. She wondered what would come.

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Hazel
The air tingled with the scent of herbs, the soft rustling of scrolls, and the subtle hiss of the distillation process. The vial, suspended in its improvised swing, danced with the sudden pull. Kobe's amber eyes followed its every move, and the Devil Bird, Akuma-Kun, seemed to sense the impending spectacle. It shuffled on its perch, its own eyes ablaze with an uncanny glow. The young researcher, with the enthusiasm of a child at a festival, grinned ear to ear. 

As the vial swung, the liquid inside seemed to pulse with an ethereal glow, casting fleeting shadows that danced across the walls. The substance only responded to sudden movement by glowing ever so slightly brighter for a few fleeting moments. Sustained shaking elicited *Almost* Enough light to read by, if the room had been appropriately dark. 

Kobe's fingers twitched, eager to capture the moment in hurried notes. The boy reached out to a nearby table to grab a hunk of charcoal and a mostly blank scroll. He talked quietly to himself as he wrote, "Husk Compound seventeen seems stable and continues to show minor luminescence. Intensity fluctuated with movement. The period of effectiveness is currently unknown, presumed limited." 

The Devil Bird, perched nearby, let out an eerie caw. Then, in a woman's voice, the raven-like mimic bird said, "Pass the sake, this night is long!"

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Al
Dark eyes glittered in awe as the vial lit up with a soft glow. Her shoulders dropped slightly as she relaxed from expecting rapid expansion or other equally dangerous results. She sighed softly, the corners of her lips turned up slightly. The soft sound of applause accompanied her words, "Oh! A most delightful response! Was it being intended?"

Kokuto looked at the workroom and the makeshift swing she had set up. "This one will have a device sent. Or maybe the plans. Must think which would be more easy," She murmured the last to herself before continuing. "The spinning of vials is the purpose. Most often for the separation of fluids, but it could serve for this as well." 

As she puttered about, thinking deep thoughts while Kobe wrote, there came a call for sake. "Oh, but it be not yet night. Hm, that would be why it be long, yes?" She looked about for the speaker. Ah, right. They were the only two here, except for the bird. She looked at the winged creature. "Ah, you speak. You drink?" She asked the bird with a slight frown.

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Hazel
"Oooh! I must find a way to return the gift at some point, then," The boy beamed back at the Dragon Alchemist at her mention of a gift of equipment. "I was expecting an increase in radiance from sudden acceleration, but on a much stronger scale of response. Though, to be honest... I'm really just observing at this point. Creating anything practical that is more potent than a distillate of Sake... So far, it's beyond me, so I consider this much a victory." The shugenja's shaggy dark hair, slightly grey from his greasepaint, swished back and forth as his head bobbed. The scratching of his note-taking continued but began to wrap up.

When he was addressed, the oversized raven turned to face Kokuto. Akuma-kun did a few little hops in her direction and then tilted its head. The creature's red eyes definitely held a faint bioluminescence. It would not be hard to imagine how unsettling a flock of these creatures nesting in a tree would be, coming across them on night-time scouting patrols on the wrong side of the wall. "Pass the sake, this night is long," It cawed again, this time more subdued. It was the same lady's voice, partially distorted as though it were recorded too long ago. 

Kobe looked up as he finished his note-taking, "Ah, yes! That's Akuma-kun. He's my friend, though I'm not really allowed to take him outside of the embassy unless it's for work. They're called Devilbirds because they're so creepy looking," He laughed. "And noisy... And they can sometimes repeat things that they've heard." 

Kobe gestured to the scruffy-looking bird, "He lived in a barracks with a regiment of Crab soldiers for thirty or forty years before being passed into my care. He's a direct example that morale can affect the spread of darkness as it taints a samurai's soul. This little guy bought a bunch of soldiers extra time over the years." His smile was wistful this time. 

"*Remember me*," Akuma-kun added, this time an old man's voice... Gruff and full of pain.

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Al
"When experimenting, victory is even in failure. Each be a discovery," Kokuto said to him over her shoulder. She chuckled as the bird spoke again. "Well, hellow, Akuma-kun. Are you a good birdie bird?" She cooed at the Devilbird, reaching up to try and scratch at the favorite spots of most birds along the crown and nape, in the downy afterfeather. She listened to Kobe explain the bird and circumstances. 

"Not allowed? One supposes it makes sense. But, work? What Good Bird work is being done?" She turned slightly away from Akuma-kun, fingers stilled. She filed away the information about morale and buying time. Perhaps it would be useful later.

She turned back to beam at the surly bird. "Dis one will wemembew you, Akuma-kun," She said in cooing baby talk. "How could anyone fowget dat cyute fwace!" Her fingers traced a path around the crown, down to the nares, and back; they made a pinching motion as they moved to mimic another bird as they groomed. If not stopped or distracted, Kokuto would devolve into a running litany of baby talk positive affirmations - especially those that had alliteration, as she lavished the Devilbird with attention. If she had any sense of shame, she would hide this exceedingly childish part of herself - too bad for others she cared little for propriety.
Hazel
The shaggy oversized crow gave her several appreciative hops, leaning into her pets and devolving quickly into a needy mess of chirps and whistles. Kobe shook his head at the display, but the smile was everpresent. "Oh, you act like no one has ever loved you. Such a mess, you are." His laughter was closer to a chuckle, soft yet percussive. 

"Yeah, he's extremely sensitive to Jigoku's spiritual infection. I have yet to test his ability to perceive otherwise invisible apparitions or the influences of the other realms on the soul, though." The young shugenja looked proudly at his 'research assistant' while the Dragon Alchemist lavished it with affection, "It's also unknown if the ability grew from his time with the Damned or if it is native to the species as a whole."

"We have a pretty good rapport, and I've learned a lot about bird care since graduation. There's still a lot for me to learn, though. I've been praying to the Kami for guidance in communicating with him *A lot*," He admitted sheepishly, "Beyond my duties doing, you know, *Kuni Things*... Officially, I work on magical research, especially studying different spiritual techniques. I've been learning some interesting things about inflection as it applies to elemental proclivities, and I think I might be on the verge of a breakthrough with the Air Kami." 

"How about you?"
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Al
As the bird leaned in, Kokuto continued to pet and rub and coo. "That's because no one ever has, isn't that right Akuma-kun?" She still spoke in a babying, pouty tone - an indulgence for the bird's sake. "Awl dat wuv isn't happening now, so it don't count," Her fingers found a bliss spot and stayed there for a while.

As Kobe described how the assistant kept his job, the woman filed the information away for her to write down later. She figured it might prove useful for later. "Easy enough theory to test, iffn one be having the opportunity," She thought aloud, hands slowed as her attention turned to the thought. "Just see if the birds be avoiding or flocking to the infections. Perhaps it being that Akuma-kun bonded with a person and inverting his instincts he has since done."

She nodded along with Kobe's explanations, but she stopped short when asked about herself. She frowned in thought for a moment before speaking, "This one forayed into the medicine and herbalisms to further alchemical understanding. May have, heh heh, gotten distracted. Not so much need for doctor services from me in a city, so this one shall most certainly be able to focus on alchemy more. The spirits be taking a bit of convincing to work with potions, though. Water be easy enough," Her hands waved in mimicry of water's fluidity, "But Earth just so stuubbboorrnn or sssllooow," She drew out the last two words to parrot dealing with an Earth spirit.

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