Kashino's feet poke out from under the old Citroen, he's back to clipping the brake lines in place. He's done about everything he can think of to the Seven without getting into replacing things or starting a serious week-long project. It's even been hand-washed and waxed to a rich shine. Too bad about the top, it rises now, the mechanism good, but the cloth is really old.
The citroen looks like a poor country cousin with warts next to the Seven, Kashino has noticed and started on the Citroen again, trying to make sure it didn't feel ignored and start acting up on him. ^^;
Youji saunters into the repairshop with an easy grace, looking for Rei. After all, he's been here before. He'll have to remember that he wasn't... Ah, he's probably under the Citroen again. Youji appreciates that sort of thing. It's nice he has such an interest, and it's a classic car. Nice. Not Youji's style, but not bad. Of course. God only knows what Youji's 'style' is at this point. He taps him with his foot a little. "Hey there-" he cuts off the 'again'. "Come to pick up the green baby."
Kashino bangs his head on the undercarraige of the Citroen, surprised. "Nan-*thuk*-Iiiiidh~"
Youji leans over to check on the boy, wheeling him out as he squats. "Damn, sorry 'bout that... Involved there?" he asks, smiling down at the boy.
Kashino lets Youji move the rolling thing [oh god, i've forgotten what they're called! -_-] and with it, himself out from under the car. He's wincing, but smiles up to the customer as he appears, lifting a hand to rub at a fresh grease smear on his forehead. "Konnichiwa! Ano.." rub rub rub.. blink.. "Welcome to Mishima Garage!" He sits up, ducking a bow as he takes a rag from his pocket and wipes his hand. Hasn't seen this customer before, off to a fine start, Kashino, oi. "Junior Mechanic Kashino!" Ow, head smarts, how does the rest of this go? "At your service?" He looks at the dark haired stranger, then wants to tilt his head - very familiar looking, this guy.
Youji smiles. "Heard bout you," he says, ducking his head at the other. "I"m here to pick up the Seven. Sorry I'm late; family crisis.
Kashino tries not to blush and looks at his hands, energetically wiping them clean, then carefully rising. He hadn't been particularly rude to the girl, had he? She was very into the car.. uh oh, he hadn't been too polite to the girl, had he? Pale eyes flit to consider the customer's mood for a moment, wondering what she'd said. "I hope it's nothing serious, the car is ready, everything fine." Hopefully that wasn't too forward, but the guy mentioned his family first, would be rude not to express concern of some kind. "Your sister? She seemed very concerned about the car, please assure her it's in wonderful condition." He walks to the shining green convertible. "I got the mechanism for the top freed up. It may need a new cover, however."
Youji nods to himself. "Yeah, it's serious I guess, but nothing new. We're a busy bunch I guess you could say," he says following with his hands in his pockets. He whistles. "Hey, you did a number on her, didn't you? Lookin' great. --And thanks. Hm. The dealer isn't in this Tokyo, I looked him up. If we were to get parts, I'd have to import them right from England. I'm not sure how that works, would you be able to arrange that for me? It would be handy to be able to drive her with the top up sometimes..." Youji is surprised, but tries to hold in his glee. For a little while at least.
Kashino tucks the shoprag in his back pocket, crossing his arms losely. "Hai. We can arrange purchase and shipping of all parts required." He looks at the tall customer, tall, but the same height as he, and smiles. "Full service repair and restoration. Keiichi-sama has connections. Just tell us what you'd like done, we'll look up the parts and prices and let you know what it will cost - then you can decide if it's what you want. We shop around, you'll get the best deal available." He looks at the car. "I don't think Keiichi's in this business for the profit."
"Hey, sounds good. You see anything that could use work?" he asks, venturing over to look at what the other's done on the outside. Then on the inside, leaning in. "I haven't really done a heck of a lot to it besides repairs in the past. She used to have a lot of wear and tear..."
Kashino nods, turning to the workbench and taking down a clipboard with the work-order and a slip of rice paper attached. He looks it over, standing hipshot as he looks over his notes. "Hn, aa, some minor things to watch, due to age - bearings, u-joint, linkage - but nothing that should be disturbed until it is closer to failing. Sometimes it's better to keep worn parts that are conditioned to one another working together, rather than putting something new and ill-fitting in place. It accelerates damage, in some cases." He looks to the customer, unclipping the work order and offering it. "The tune-up was minor, replaced fluids and adjusted the timing and other small workings. Replaced belts and plugs. Flushed coolant, transmission, fuel and brake lines. Refitted clutch and brake cables. Rebuilt the steering column, no new parts." His hands fit behind his back as he recites. "Inside, checked and replaced fuses. Rebundled wiring under the dash and replaced instrument bulbs. Opened and recoiled safety belts. Cleared heating vents and cleaned filters." Blinking, he looks inside the vehicle. "That was fun."
"Very good. I'm very impressed. We'll see how she runs, but in the meantime, I'm a happy camper." He looks over the notes and the bill. With all the work, it should be a large bill, even it it was small things - but this seems to be -quite- reasonable. "Yes I am. Well, you've won yourself a customer, so long's she doesn't fall apart once I roll out of here. Anything I should do about the top?" he asks.
Kashino shakes his head. "Just leave a number where we may reach you. And, anou, a name? When we've located a supplier we'll call you with an estimate." He lifts a hand to tuck pale hair behind his ear.
"Er. The..." He wiggles his fingers for some paper or something to write on. "My name is Kudou. Thoughtcha figured that already. --My sister's not married yet or anythin'." It's not hard, actually - a lot easier than it should be, to lie about himself. 'She' really does feel like an entirely different person. A person who's thoughts he shares and little else. A person who's he shares a cursed existance with. He feels a little sorry for her, that she gets out so very little... But that's silly. She's not really some one else...
Kashino looks at Kudou suddenly and blushes. Why did he say *that*? He steps back, nodding, and retreats to the workbench, returning with the small rice paper pad and a long pencil, absurdly taped with 'good luck' and 'happy business' flags in various colours. "Hai, Kudou-san," he bows, offering the pad and pencil.
Wow. He's blushing. Youji checks what he just said. Oh. Ha... ^^; Er. He only meant that Kudou would still be her name. So, his would be that too... -- "What, are you digging my sister?" he asks, because he can't help himself. His tone is amused. If someone is digging him, he wants to know. He starts writing down his information. He doesn't have a cell phone, so the pad's number will have to do.
Kashino straightens up and lifts a hand to the back of his neck, hoping there's enough grease smeared on his face to hide the heat he feels rising. Yes, is a bad answer; he looks Kudou up and down quickly, the guy is.. probably protective, large and wiry. No could be a worse answer; same reasons, protective, large plus insulted. That leaves one fallback answer. "Gomen," he tucks his hands into his back pockets, examining his shoes.
"Gomen?" Youji says with a laugh, pausing in his writing to look at him. He presents an easy smile though, lest he come off as mocking. "Not all guys are creeps. You don't seem all that creepy to me," he says. "She'd like to know you were interested." He goes back to writing. Hm.. that should be all...
"Doumo," Kashino manages with a guilty smile. Creepy, no. Bozozoku errand boy, yes. He looks at the motorbike parked against the wall and relaxes a little. "Doumo Arrigatou." Keiichi-sama will be pleased, returning customer, a showpiece car, and he hadn't insulted the guy by.. well.. by being a teenaged jerk about a pretty girl.
Youji clears his throat. "I uh. Hate to be forward about things like this, but... We're cursed. It's better you not think like that, I guess. I wish I didn't have to say so." Something pokes Youji. She's not a real girl. Or your sister. She's you, dummy. "...it's too bad. You're a nice kid. It's always the nice ones that get the crappy luck - don't let it discourage you." He avoids looking at the other as he hands him his contact info. He hopes he doesn't insist on trying. Boys that age tend to. It would complicate things. He lifts his eyes. It would be nice to have an admirer, but that's being silly, juvenile, even......
Kashino reaches for the paper, remembering to take it with both hands and bowing briefly. "Hai. Cursed." He tucks the slip of paper in his top pocket, looking Youji in the eye. "There's a lot of that going around. I hope.. you're both well." He's very calm about that sentiment, seen a lot this one, prior to Phoenix Tokyo even. Though nothing that had affected his family had been supernatural, that didn't make events feel like anything better than a curse. And since being here; madness, more self-destructive loved-ones. Nothing better. He looks to the car. "We'll start looking for your top immediately. Why don't you start her up and see how she sounds?" Smiling at Kudou-san, he reaches up to tuck an escaped strand of hair behind his ear again.
Youji gives him a measured look before moving to comply. He took that well. No fire in kids these days. He's a little dissapointed, but whatever. Not important anyway - his Seven needs to be driven! ...besides, his 'sister' is more engaged in a relationship than -he- is. Oh, the irony... She doesn't need any company. -_'-; Youji opens the car door respectively after all the work that's been done and climbs in. He searches with his hands. "Ah, keys...?"
Kashino blinks and trots to the workbench, taking down the keys to the Seven and untying the shoptag from the ring. He hands it over the door to Kudou, then stands back, tucking his hands in his coverall pockets. He does look a little vague, realizing that he'll probably not meet anyone new for a long time, working at the shop keeps him busy days, running with the 'zoku keeps him from thinking nights.
Youji starts her up and she sounds great. Youji sighs. "Good of you to take such meticulous care of her. She likes you, so I'll be sure to bring her back once and a while." He looks over at Kashino and gives him a little smile, passive and content.
Kashino smiles gratefully, bowing again and backing away from the running car to give Kudou room to drive it out. "Doumo Arrigatou Kudou-san!" He thinks briefly, rubbing at the grease smudge on his forehead, then waving. "We look forward to your return!"
"I like being looked forward to...!" Youji replies smirkily. "See you, Kashino-san." With that, he starts backing out. The boy and his little shop will get a nice check soon, if everything ends up well...
Kashino watches the car pull away until it's passed the main garage door, waving the shop rag. Tucking it in his pocket he heads back to the Citroen and climbs inside, leaning his head back against the seat.
Links
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Phoenix Muck