A pair of worn sneakers and the frayed cuffs of a work coverall protrude from under the rear wheel well of a very old, but very clean Citroen. The car has seen better days, but it isn't dirty or visibly damaged, seems to be a prime candidate for restoration. The figure under the machine moves, wrestling with long snaking cables. Pausing as the sound of a motor approaches and doesn't pass the shop by, Rei begins scooting out from under the car.
Youji actually opens the door to get out of the car, for once, being... smaller. Youji pats his car sympathetically. Yeah... he's gonna have to leave her here isn't he? Poor baby's almost never been away from him since he got her. That was nearly three years ago now. Maybe more... It even came with him to this place. Well, these are professionals, so you'll be okay...! This garage isn't -too- far from home, either, so that's not too bad either...
Kashino rises and brushes down his coverall, pulling a shop rag from his pocket and wiping his hands off as he approaches the vehicle and customer. As usual his eyes are stuck on the car, it looks fine, and the engine sounded.. well, it sounded a little rich, but still smooth. He tilts his head, bending his tall form slightly to look under. No obvious leaks, and the cabling all neatly bundled away. Glancing brightly at the driver he clasps his hands and bows deeply. "Welcome to Mishima Garage! Junior Mechanic Kashino, at your service!"
.oO( Was that.. a girl?) Rei peeks up under his pale hair, then looks down, resuming a dutiful bow.
Youji smiles at the courtesy. That's what Youji likes to see, a nice polite man to a girl! It feels oddly third-person, watching how people to react to him like this. Youji-chan gives a little appreciative bow back then rests a hand on the frame of the windshield, rubbing it like a faithful pet. "My Seven needs a nice tune up," she says. "I keep her running as best I can but she's getting older for a car like this and maybe some professional help here and there might help out her lifespan." Youji flashes a little Youji-smile happily.
Kashino straightens up and automatically beams back a smile in return. He nods, glancing at the car again and walking to the front end for a look at her lines. "Hai, regular care, keeping parts from wearing by careful adjustment is the best for them in the long run. It's good you want to take responsible care of her, she could last a long time." He thumbs towards the Citroen deeper in the bay. "Thirty years on that one, and twenty or thirty more if he's run right and cared for." He gets a little lost in contemplation of the car, walking around to the side to look in at the controls.
"This is a Superlight, so I never would expect more than ten years - a spot of rust could cripple her with such a thin body--" Youji runs a hand down the car's long nose. "But most of her's carbon so..." *pet pet* "Parts are expensive, since they come in from England, so I want to reduce the need. --Also, she's my little baby. She deserves more of my attention! But things have been hectic lately..."
Kashino looks from the window to the girl, explaining, she seems nervous. He smiles, "I'm sure it's fine, sounded good pulling in." She really is pretty, and so flustered about the car; it's sweet. He straightens up and bows again, then rests a hand on his hip and with the other uses the rag to take his fingerprints off the window. "We can tune her up! The boss will be proud to have a car like this in his care."
Youji-is- a little nervous. He loves his car. He's dreamed about it since he was a kid, and finally got it from Kritiker. It's the only thing in his life that's been constant right through, linking all those phases of life into one YoujiLife. And... it's just a beautiful car. Youji-chan's also nervous dealing with the boy. She's dealt with people all day, and the ease is wearing off. Particularly with the new clothes. Tank tops feel different worn like this. Is his brastrap showing? What if someone notices he's not a girl? --and he's wearing a -bra-? x_X; It's a simple sports-thingy, but...! She falls into silence - which can't last very long with Youji. Fear of silence or something... The interior is decked with most of the extras. Somebody has money. Not only is the paintjob second only to custom, she has 13" magnesium wheels (among other things) and a wishbone aerofoil. The rollbar is ajustable and six speeds in the gearbox nestled between the bucket seats, complete with four point seatbelts. Everything is in nice condition, though Youji obviously uses this as his vehicule about town. "...it's an R500 model. I wanted one since I was little. It's too bad about the circumstances under which I finally got it...
Kashino tilts his head, watching the girl, then glancing at the car when he discovers his eyes wandering. ^^; It would be rude to pry, she must have inherited it.. probably an uncle, if not her father, someone who knew a *lot* about rare machines. "Well," wanted since she was little? He looks at her again, curiously, "Since you were little? Oh.." A bit of colour drifts to his cheeks, and he rubs the back of his neck, stepping away from the car a pace. "Still, some people never get their heart's desire, so there's a little good, even if it's sad." God he hopes no one *died*. ^^;;
Youji nods at that, putting a hand to her chest in a bit of a nervous jesture - and pulling it away again, sharply. Eek - boobs! ...is it okay for a girl to touch her own? Never... thought about it before... o_o...? "Aa...--It's a little bitter, but alright. I love her anyway." He looks up to see him make a little blush and panics, blushing a little himself. Eek! This is so uncomfortable. But not in a horrible way. It's like, all of a sudden, all his experience with things just flew out the window. He felt like this with the other people he met today too. It's disorientating when people react to you suddenly very differently.
Oh, she touched.. Look at the car! He looks at the car, stuffing the shop, rag into his pocket. "Good," good? Baka ne! "Aa, well, can we have tomorrow to work on her? Give us a day to go over her thoroughly, and she'll be ready tomorrow, close of business?"
"Y... yes. That sounds just fine..." What would a girl do now? He can't really talk to the other one on one as easily as he would in his natural state... So he decides to talk to his car instead. If he were a boy he'd be considered fairly insane doing this, but it should just come off as cute as a girl. Having come up to the nose of the car Youjichan hugs it's nose. "I'm gonna miss you!" and gives it a kiss. He's never done anything that wierd before - but he's also never had the liberty. He lightly bounces over to the nice mechanic man and gives a little bow - actually remembering his atashis and to keep his hands in from his sides. "Thank you very much for looking after my car. I'm sure it's in good hands." Youji checks his hands. Dutifully stained. Good good. Nice hands too, one can suppose... Ah, he'd never give a guy such a compliment as another guy, but..... Kashino watches the girl hug the car and looks confused, fine brows knit as he twists the shop rag, back in his hands. "Anou.. sure.. Hai!" He bows in return. "Would you like an estimate receipt? I should.. I should fill out the work order!" He dodges around the girl quickly, headed for the workbench and the battered receipt book hanging from a string. Rubbing grease from his sleeve across his cheek quickly, he takes up a pencil and begins filling in a slip. "So, miss, your name please?"
Youji watches him scootle around her with a little smile, amused he seems so... cute around him, just because he's a girl. Name? "Yo...yoroshii." <_< >_>;; He didn't think of that. "Kudou... Youko." Youji blushes. Aa... that wasn't a great name... No, he can spell it interestingly, though. He smiles embarrassedly. There's no reason to think one would see under the boobies - or other things besides- he's a girl and there's really nothing to give him away. No need to worry. He feels like he's lying though, but there is no reason to tell a stranger of the bizarre curse...
Kashino doesn't seem to question anything, filling in the form with tiny characters, then tucking the pencil behind his ear and tearing out the slip. He folds it in half as he steps away from the bench, and offers it to the girl with both hands. "Kudou-san, I'm sure you'll find the estimate very reasonable." Quite reasonable, based on supplies estimates for a simple tune-up, and though he'll no doubt pour over the car for the entire day the standard hour's service charge has been pencilled in.
"You can call me Yousei..." Youji no more than whispers, more timid than he normally is, trying to tell Kashino, hint so he doesn't feel like he's lying so much. Getting the boy to call him 'sprite' seems like less a lie than the fake name. And hearing 'Kudou' throws him off. It calls him back to the otherwise racous way he would be with a boy like Kashino. Not confrontational, but different. There's just certain things one can't do as a woman. Just like there are liberties. He takes the slip carefully. "Thank you for being so polite. More boys need to be like you."
Kashino grins, tucking his hands into his back pockets. "Thank you, I don't think so, but.. thank you." His smile is easy, reaching bright blue eyes and shining there. It doesn't look like he's had much cause to smile of late, but it's a natural and welcome change. "So.. just check in tomorrow evening, maybe you'll get to meet the boss."
Youji nods. "Oh... erm... Someone else might be picking her up for me... if so, I'll... see you around sometime." ...yes... Evening. He'll have to be careful. Maybe best to come pick up after...? He'll have to see. "Thanks. Thank you." Homehomehome... that sounds good.
Kashino looks from the girl to the car, bowing as she moves a bit, then waving. "Don't worry about the car, she'll be fine." He's not sure if he should escort her to the front, or stand by the ... oh.. "Say, do you need a cab? I can call one for you." Keiichi would have *killed* him, he'd let a girl walk through this part of town. Youji hadn't thought of it. He's used to walking wherever he likes. He's always equipped with the wire- he's been bitten enough times, but it's probably not a good idea regardless. "...oh... Maybe, thanks. That's a good idea. I've always worked on her myself, so I was just started thinking now, how I'm going to get home... Kashino nods and grins, reaching up to tuck his long hair behind his ear. "You worked on her?" That's.. he's amazed.. the girl works on this car? He looks from one to the other, and trips over the air-hose as he heads for the phone on the wall. Great, just great. At least he remembers to use the rag to pick up the handset, punching in a number and smiling reasuringly to her. No worries, much better mechanic than walker.
Youji watches him. It's been a while since someone's fallen over themselves over him... Or something like that. It feels good. "...well, she's mine. I wanted her, so... It's a pleasure to pay attention to her." He's like that in love, too... Heh. He waits until the other finishes on the phone.
Kashino has a brief but animated conversation with the mini-cab company; Keiichi contracts with them for customers use, and they love to feed the latest odds and handicaps to the shop staff. Kashino glances over his shoulder and smiles in a rather guilty way as the phone prattles in his ear, a sure thing! Oi, and the game starts on the hour! He says something at the phone, assured the cab is on it's way, and hangs up. "They'll be out front in a few minutes."
Youji just smiles. He's said enough thankyous for one day, though appreciative. What a nice boy. He'll be sure to get someone nice one day... "I guess I should go wait then," Youji says with a smile, thumbing towards the door. He's starting to get tired. Not sleepy - just... all this thinking is wearing him out. Youji's used to simply reacting to things. Having to think twice about everything is draining. Supposedly, he shouldn't have to - but if he's going to not raise suspicion one way or another, he'll have to play along as best he can. At least he's not holed up at home feeling sorry for himself.
Kashino approaches the car, tucking his hand in his pocket, waving with the other, and the shop rag. "See you tomorrow, Kudou-san! .. Yousei! San." Oh no. Oh well. He continues to wave until she's moved through the main garage.
Youji doesn't mind the little jumble of names and smiles back easily for once, giving a wave back. Time to be Youji again. Soon he'll be home, and hopefully all hell hasn't broken loose. "--Bye!"
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