"I haven't." Kenzo nodded thoughtfully. "So perhaps I shall. As long as there's plenty of opportunity for field work. I can certainly perform research from scrolls, or in a controlled environment, but it's not my strength."

He smirked. "Besides, I like to get my hands dirty. Figuratively." His hands appeared clean, in the literal sense.

Which she was glad about. "Do think about it. I am sure plenty of field work can be arranged."

Pushing herself up from where she sat Koharu walked over to her things.

Kenzo inclined his head then, smiling. "In that case, perhaps I shall. I expect it will be a pleasure to work with you... Doji Koharu-sama, you said?" He frowned, forehead creasing. The name sounded rather familiar. The face didn't, though. He shrugged.

"I'll continue to work on my painting in the meantime, then." He said, looking back at the giraffe. "I wanted one done on the neck and head of the giraffe separate. That's the most significant feature, after all."

To the name question she turns back and nods. Her attention then returns to packing up.

"That makes sense, hai. Ano, different case studies, ne?" She observes cheerfully. "That's not a bad idea."

"Mmm, more or less." He glanced back over his shoulder with a smile. "At first I thought I could get them all on one paper, but keeping the neck in scale, I didn't see a way to paint to the level of detail I wanted. This seemed best."

He held up the first sheet to demonstrate, as he put the second one in place to work on.

"It's good." She observes after a few moments. "You've captured the form and some of the details. However, y-you might want to have some other angles or somehow illustrate its movements, ne?" Koharu looked down at her own painting, unintentionally held so Kenzo couldn't see, brows pinching. "A picture of a standing bird doesn't tell anyone how it can fly."

Kenzo looked back at her thoughtfully. "Different angles. That's a good idea." He looked back at the giraffe with a sigh. "The movements thing is a bit of an issue. I try to capture them moving, but then my accuracy suffers."

He gave the giraffe a stern look. "Of course, if this creature just sits there and eats all day, I won't have a choice!" He chuckled, shaking his head.

Looking back to her, he tilted his head. "Is that something you're working on?" He nodded at the object she held.

"Hmm... you could try asking for permission to lure it around the enclosure with some food on a long stick... eto... I-if that's not going too far."

She blinks as he looks to her and queries her painting. Nodding shyly she lifts it for a final look before turning it around for Kenzo to see. It was a study of the penguins, bringing them to life as they waddled around, swam and stood. Half was devoted to a watery area where they were moving shadows, the other half their enclosure proper. Each had been lovingly painted with detail, their differences in plumage and colours, even behaviour, shown as accurately as possible. The right of the canvas was blank save for long lines of small kanji; notes on the creatures.

Kenzo's eyes slowly widened as he studied the painting. "Oh. Oh my. This is marvelous." He was silent a few moments as he carefully studied the work, one hand on his chin. "You've really made them almost seem alive, right there on your canvas."

Smiling, he gave a little bow. "Just the sort of artistic excellence that I've come to expect from the Crane. Very fine, indeed."

Koharu returned the bow courteously. "You are most kind Mirumoto-san."

The painting was set down after one final look.

"Eto, have you watched the penguins much...?"

Kenzo smirked. "Perhaps. But I am only speaking the truth." He said, giving her a nod.

He glanced at the painting one last time. "Penguins? I've seen them before, but not often. I've made much more a study of mammals." He smiled. "The animal kingdom is so diverse, one could spend a lifetime studying just a small portion if it, don't you think?"

"And that's before thinking of Chikushudo, ne?" Koharu quipped cheerfully, lifting a hand to muffle a tiny giggle.

Kenzo chuckled, smiling. "Indeed. I hadn't thought of it. Perhaps... perhaps we should focus on this one realm, first."

His gaze went distant though, as his imagination took hold of the idea. "On the other hand, exploring another realm, all that watching, cataloging... can you imagine it?" He said, his expression growing animated.

"I can only imagine it Mirumoto-san." Koharu responds, smiling just a little. It was true. She had no real idea what the other realms were like, so she only had her imagination to go on.

Kenzo chuckled again. "Yes, I suppose so." He subsided a little, some of the excited tension fading from his face and hands.

He looked at her, tilting his head a little curiously. "Still, you won't have to imagine this upcoming voyage. That's something, isn't it?"

"Not when it starts, but it's hard for me to imagine anything else at present." She points out, tilting her head a little in mimic of Kenzo. "I've not been properly out at sea before."

"Ah!" Kenzo grinned. "I haven't been often, but I've managed to take a brief voyage or two. Not far, but out on the ocean. You're in for a treat, I assure you."

He rubbed his chin. "Well... some people have some propensity towards illness at sea. But there's a great deal to be fascinated by. Even if you are one of those unfortunates, you'll forget it quickly." He reassured her. Perhaps.

Or I will be throwing up a lot until I wish someone killed me. Koharu slightly dips her head in acknowledgement.

When Kenzo began speaking of illness at sea she rubs her right cheek thoughtfully. "We'll see, ne?"

"We'll see." Kenzo agreed, nodding.

After a few moments, he gave her a sympathetic wince. "Are you nervous?"

"Hai..." She smiles stiffly. "Nobody seems to have any time to show or tell me anything important, so I really don't know what to expect."