Kasumi wiped her cheek with the back of her hand, and succeeded in getting a large amount of grease across her pale skin. Strands of blue hair stuck to her sweaty skin and she swore under her breath as she smashed her knuckles against something sharp within the engine she was currently looking at.
"What's wrong with it?" The fidgety male behind her asked, brushing his immaculate suit jacket free of any dust.
"The battery died. You just need a jump start." She answered, pushing a longer strand behind her hair.
"Ah, thank you, Kanda-san!" The man bowed as she hooked him up to a large battery and his car started up again.
"Considering your position, shouldn't you be able to afford a better car than this." She gestured to the rusty old car. "This is the third time this week that you've been in."
"I wish I could get rid of the car, but Bertha and I have had many good memories." He patted the hood of his car as he got in. "I was born on the backseat you know."
"I didn't need to know, and would have been happy not knowing for my entire life." Kasumi snorted, crossing her arms as she stepped back. "Good luck with your meeting, Takahashi-san."
"Thank you again, I'll be sure to send a check at the end of the week."
"I'll just add it to your tab." Kasumi snorted in annoyance. Takahashi chuckled, and rumbled out.
"Oi! Kanda, come 'ere!"
"Keep your pants on, Arai!" She snarled back, striding to the front desk which her boss was seated at. "Whadda want?"
"Your shift is done." He grinned at her and pointed to the clock. Kasumi regarded it with cold indigo eyes, before striding to the coat she'd left on a relatively clean part of the garage.
"I'll be in tomorrow."
"Tomorrow's Wednesday." Arai rolled his eyes.
"Then I'll see you next week, asshole."
"You love me, really, you do!?" Arai clutched his heart like he'd been stabbed and Kasumi gazed at him for a few seconds.
"I don't. I won't even begin to like you until I get a raise. It's not easy keeping nine people who eat more than their weight in food, fed. I have four jobs."
"Why don't they work?" A woman Kasumi had not noticed asked, perched on the edge of the front desk, chewing a piece of gum with her legs around Arai's waist.
"They're lazy bastards. The moment they start working is the day I'll wear a skirt."
"I'd like to see that~! Lovely Kanda-chan in a pretty flouncy skirt and high heels!"
"And not only are you an asshole, you're a pervert too. I'm leaving."
"Nice seeing you." The woman tightened her legs around Kasumi's boss as the blue haired woman waved over her shoulder, shrugging into her jacket.
It didn't take long for Kasumi to arrive at her next job, as it was about two blocks away.
Red Oni Tattoo Parlour was quite popular and it was where she made the most amount of money, as the people who she tattooed tended to give fairly high tips.
"Hey, welcome to Red Oni- Oh, it's just you, Kanda-chan." The woman at the desk looked lazily at her worker. "Bathroom's open. You can get changed into uniform."
Kasumi nodded, throwing her coat into the locker set out for her, and grabbed the black pile that made her uniform and vanished into the bathroom.
When she emerged, her legs were wrapped in tight black skinny jeans with several chains, black hightops, a red tanktop with a large skull on it, and her blue hair was pulled back in a fresh braid and any stray hair was held back with a baseball cap placed on backwards.
"You're in station three, onna."
"Roger that, Nodoka-san." Kasumi saluted with two fingers and moved over to the spot in view of everyone.
After an hour or two of no work, Kasumi was approached by a timid looking girl and her eldest boss, Nodoka.
"This is your new client. She's here for help, at the moment." Nodoka waved as she took off again.
"Um..."
"Have a seat." Kasumi nodded to the black leather seat in front of her and grinned as the ginger moved restlessly. "I'm Kanda Kasumi, I'll be your tattooist."
"I'm...Inoue Orihime."
"Any idea what you want, Inoue?" The blue haired woman propped her feet up as Orihime shook her head. "Tell me about yourself."
"I'm in high school, my friend Tatsuki says I'm a first level black belt in karate! I want to be a robot when I grow up, and my...my family, my parents and brother, are dead."
"Hold up one second." Kasumi picked up a sketch pad and her hand flashed across it, before holding it up.
Inoue studied the drawing. It was simple; three flying bird silhouettes with the words 'Don't worry, just smile' beneath it.
"I love it! When can I come back to have it done?!" The ginger squealed, making Kasumi eye twitch.
"Friday, five o' clock." Kasumi checked the clock. "It shouldn't take too long."
"When do I pay?" The teen reached for her purse.
"I'll need to see some ID, and you can pay day of."
Inoue handed over her student card, and Kasumi scanned it before handing it back.
"I'll see your Friday at five."
"Kanda-chan!" Nodoka yelled, gesturing to another woman, this one wearing a nice skirt and a button up top. "Your next client is here."
"Thanks! Goodbye, Inoue."
The ginger nodded, skipping out of the parlour with a happy smile.
"Hello, Naomi." Kanda greeted, silently grumbling to herself as the woman tossed her hair. "You want a private room?"
"No. My body is my own, and I am proud of it. Let the world see the beauty that is Naomi Kasai!"
"If you're sure. Remove your skirt and shirt please." Kasumi snickered as she prepped her work area.
"Hey, Keji."
"Hi, Kanda-san." The young host sighed as she appeared, distracted. "How are you?"
"I'm going to be have been up, awake, and working longer than you have, mister. Get your ass moving, and get back to work."
"Not working yet, and already working." A soft voice murmured from behind the young woman.
"Evening, Mai."
"Hello. You're taking the bar today." The dark haired, quiet woman smiled.
"Great. Thanks. I could toss somethings around."
"Be careful."
"Have I dropped anything yet?"
"No."
"Hi..." Kasumi dragged her feet into the warehouse, wallet stuffed to the brim with what money she'd earned.
"KASUMI! SAVE ME! THE MONSTER, IT'S AFTER ME!"
"I'M NOT A MONSTER, BALDY!"
"AND I'M NOT BALD!"
"Hello, Kasumi. How was your day? Oh, it was fine. Thank you for asking, Shinji. Let me take your bags for you, Kasumi. Why thank you, Rose. That's really nice. You want a drink, Kanda? Why, yes. I would love one, Kensei." The blue-haired woman sighed, stimulating conversation to herself.
"I'm glad to see you back, Kanda-chan." The large-boned pink-haired man in the room shuffled over and smiled.
"Least someone appreciates me, Hachi."
"Do you need help with anything?"
"Naw."
"Kasumi's back!?" Several of the other members in the warehouse jumped forward, excited looks on their faces. "Kasumi! It's payday!"
"Anyway you can hide me, Hachi?"
"Not exactly."
"Well, I'm grumpy. So they get to deal with that." Kasumi cracked her neck, and glared, making the room go silent. "Vizard meeting. NOW."
