Joseph
"Yes, right this way! Over here, please!"
*Senri called out to the workers that carried several crates into the Embassy grounds. He greeted the crew individually with a warm, genuine smile. Though he tried to hide it, it was an exciting day for the Dragon Monk. After several negotiations and discussions with Moshi Mai, he had finally received the materials and goods necessary to establish his clinic within the city. But for now, he had to store them here before moving them to the completed clinic building.

The Monk began to lead several workers in and out of the Embassy building, directing them to separate the crates by category in his small infirmary. But as the stacks of goods began to grow, the already cramped room had become filled to it's limit. Senri's smile began to fade. He was starting a small clinic, not a hospital. Was there an error with the order? He looked in one of the boxes, and he frowned at the contents inside.

As fast as he could speedwalk, Senri stepped outside the building, stopping one of the workers who had brought the goods.*
"Ah, yes Hoshi-san?"
"Gin-san, I believe there may have been a mistake. I didn't order alchemical chemicals for my clinic; mainly herbs and medical plants."
"Um, are you certain, Hoshi-san?"
"I am. And the amount of goods that was brought here does not match with what I and Moshi-san agreed to."
"Uh, a thousand apologies. Let me see if I can grab my master; he may know more."

*The worker frantically bowed, turning to run across the Embassy grounds. Senri sighed, taking a deep breath as he clasped his hands together in meditation.*
"No worries, mistakes happen, Senri. Figure it out..."

*The Monk grumbled as he closed his eyes, finding whatever internal peace within him to get him through the day...*
James
Kokuto stood before the Dragon Embassy, watching the young Crane that had given her direction disappear into the city. "How late is this time, one wonders," She murmured to herself. She grabbed a wooden casing for the travel papers she carried, along with all the proper letters of introduction. Making the introductions and arrangements for Kebano to be housed, at least temporarily, she made her way into the grounds with very little issue or fanfare.

She watched the bustling of people moving like ants that had found something to dismantle and bring back to their home when a monk came scurrying out. She watched as he spoke with one of the porters and heard him speak to himself as she unintentionally neared. "Speaking to oneself is helpful, but rarely does any look on with aught but concern when they are unused to doing the same," She told him gently. Then she cried out with an accompanying "Aka-chan!" At the sight of a potted plant in a kintsugi pot. She had fixed that pot herself and ended up following the plant-bearer worriedly to the final destination, forgetting the man she had spoken with.

Kokuto clutched her drab, stained but clean clothes that would have her mistaken for a peasant had it not been for the wakizashi and haori. She fussed over the plant, cooing at it and petting the leaves gently and lovingly as she looked it over for damage or sign of neglect. She looked at the over packed room. "Not mine, mine," She pointed out a nearby crate of medical supplies and a crate of glass jars and tubes in mild confusion. "Huh, maybe this one goes elsewhere now? But, this one just got here," She trailed off plaintively.

||
Joseph
"Uh.. Huh?" *Senri's grumbling came to a halt as the shorter woman suddenly spoke to him, than rush to the potted plant just as quickly.* "Oh, excuse me-"

*Before the monk could all out to Kokuto, she had already entered the Embassy and made her way to the Infirmary. By the time he had caught up to her, Kokuto was knee-deep in the sea of crates, building a growing barrier between herself and him.* "Excuse me? Madam?"

*As he tried to call out to Kokuto, it was clear that she was in her own world. The Monk shifted the crates around as carefully and quickly as he could, eventually getting close enough to reach out to her.*
"EXCUSE ME"

*Senri stopped, momentarily cringing at his sudden outburst. He cleared his throat before returning to his softer tone.*
"Forgive my tone, madam. I am Hoshi Senri, and this is my infirmary. May I help you with something?"

||
James
*Kokuto jerked in surprise, the glass she had just been checking over for travel damage slipping from her fingers. The almost musical tinkling of shattered glass filled the little space between them. Having taken a slight step back as it fell, she looked down in at the broken glass in disappointment.*

"Agasha Kokuto, as it please thee," *She bowed awkwardly. Looking around guiltily, she bent down to begin delicately picking up the broken pieces.* "No need for forgiveness from this one, must have gotten lost again. From the seeing of things, more than once," *She continued practically under her breath, muttering about all the places she'd stopped along the way because she was "Needed" After she had been told to go to the city.*

*She pointed hesitantly at a few of the boxes the monk had not recognized and spoke in a small voice, a flush of embarrassment creeping up,* "I believe your infirmary is containing my pharmaceuticals."

||
Joseph
"Ah, yes. We received word of your arrival. My apologies, I assumed you would arrive to the city later this week."
*Senri knelt down to assist Kokuto picking up the broken glass shards. He returned the bow to Agasha. His face lit up with relief as he heard her reasoning,*

"Oh, well that explains it. They must have assumed that your belongings and my clinic's tools would be going to the same place."

*The monk tilted his head as he gathered the glass pieces to dispose them.*
"But that is a surprise, it was not often I am graced to meet an Agasha alchemist. May I ask how long have you been practicing?"

||
James
"Did this one confuse the dates again," *Kokuto murmured to herself, looking slightly worried.* "Not a bad assumption to make. Rarely are the potions being made for reasons beyond medicinal," *She mentioned thoughtfully. She continued to pick up the pieces delicately, using a larger curved piece to hold the smaller fragments.*

How long? *The question distracted her, causing one piece to slice through skin. The small sharp pain recalled her from her memories, and she stared at the welling spot of blood in annoyance.* "As apothecary, two tens of years. As alchemist, six years longer. As master of my trade, well - they said it ten years ago; I have yet to agree." *She looked slightly uncomfortable at admitting the facts, even to her disagreement with it. She gestured with her chin to the boxes,* "And you?" 

||
Joseph
"Oh, Fortunes. Just a minute Agasha-san!"
*The Monk was quick to notice Kokuto accidently cutting herself from the glass pieces. As she continued to list her years of expertise, Senri deftly disposed of the glass shards he was carrying and began to climb over the sea of crates. He stretched as far as his hands could reach and snatched a roll of cloth and pulled a small gourd filled with medicinal shochu.

Senri made his way back towards Kokuto, kneeling down to meet her eye-to-eye. He indicated for the Alchemist to show him her cut, and if she would allow him, he would begin to apply the medical treatment. Without looking up, the Monk responded,*

"Well Agasha-san, I've been with the Tsurai Zumi for 10 years now. During that time my mentor, Sotada-sensei, taught me the ways of the Healer. And with Hoshi-sama's blessing, I was allowed to leave our lands to provide medical help to those in need whilst seeking my Enlightement. Although..."
*Senri looked around at the walls of crates and moving supplies around him.*
"I appear to be taking a long respite from my travels."

*He smiled, and finished tying the clean cloth around Kokuto's cut. Senri stood up, placing the cloth roll and medicinal gourd on top of a lone crate.*
"But from what you've said, I believe that you are far my superior, both in rank and experience. Should I call you Agasha-sensei (doctor) from now on?"

||
James
*It was true, healers made the worst patients and Kokuto was no exception. She sputtered incoherently before making platitudes about being perfectly fine, and it wasn't even that big of a cut, look the bleeding had even finished. It did no good; nothing stopped him.*

*A look and a sigh of defeat, then she held out her right hand.* Good thing it was that one, *She thought to herself, watching fresh blood appear from the movement. He had a deft hand that needed no word from her, though there were moments when it looked like she was about to give one anyways.* "In many ways we are alike, so it seems indeed," *She commented as she rose as well, eyeing the broken glass thoughtfully.* "This one has been traveling for much time. Learning. Teaching. Collecting," *She gestured to the plant that had drawn her away in the first place.*

*At the mention of using a proper title, she waved the bandaged hand in dismissal.* "Only if you are being learning something, or desiring to impress someone," *She tilted her head up to look at him, her amusement at the thought coming through her voice.* 

||
Joseph
"Ah, you see right through me then, Agasha-sensei." *Senri deeply bowed his head, both as a form of respect and amusement.* "And if you are in need of my services, I am always available."

"Ah, you collect medicinal plants as well? I don't think I have seen this one." *The monk looked over at the plant that had caught Kokuto's attention. He looked it over, observing the handiwork and type of plant.* "Thank Togashi-sama that I did not toss it out. Agasha-sensei, could you share with me what this is?"

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James
*Kokuto's lips quirked into a brief grin. Ah, someone that understood.* "And always happy to have new problems to solve. We shall be much help to the other, that is the feeling this one is getting." *Besides, she had to have someone that she could insert between herself and the horrible patients.*

*The elliptical velvety leaves looked well cared for and without blemish, growing from stalks in a whirling compound pattern. The soil was dry, and the pot was wide. The kintsugi work was beyond reproach, showing a meticulous and steady hand had guided the strokes. It was, however, quite extensive. Either the pot had been broken more than once or the original incident had shattered it. She moved to brush the plant with a gentle hovering stroke, letting her fingers linger against the gold streaks lovingly.* 

"It is a winter cherry. High hopes for the experiments do I have;" *Her voice was filled with a creepily pleased note before she continued more normally,* "Often arranging for the cultivation of plants for experimentation am I. It is easier than the hunting through forests for unwitting herbs, though that is no stranger to this one." *She kept a bland expression, hoping not to explain how one ambushes a plant.*

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Joseph
*Senri observed Kokuto with curiosity as she gushed over her Winter Cherry. He had occasionally seen the Alchemists of the Dragon Clan, but never had the opportunity to converse with one at such length.

"Another blessing sent from the Clan" *Senri silently mused as he admired the kintsugi work made on the pot.*

*Senri straightened, moving some of the crates to create a safe walkway. He turned to Kokuto and gave another deep bow.*
"Well, Agasha-sensei, welcome to our humble Embassy. I should introduce you to the other people here, and perhaps find you a space to rest, unless you have already procured lodgings within the city?"

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James
*Kokuto shook her head softly after rising from the accepting bow.* "This one thanks you for the welcome. No lodgings procured. My only stop was from being lost." *She admitted the fact without guilt or shame. She thought about pulling the little notebook out but sighed at the remembered warnings of it being rude. She'd just have to try her best to remember names without it. Following along behind him, she could be heard whispering his name repeatedly like a mantra. Each introduction would receive the same treatment. It was a crapshoot as to whether the absentminded little apothecary would succeed at remembering the names at a later date.*