Love Without A Face

Torture?

I can't believe it...

She took me to...

A nail salon!!

This feels so wrong, yet so right.

It's unbearably unmanly but it feels as if they are scrubbing my troubles away.

"I can't believe I was swayed by you to come here." I said through gritted teeth at Yadi.

"Oh come on Caly. Don't be like that." Yadi said trying to sooth me.

"The nail salon is no place for a guy!! Wait a second. Did you just call me Caly?" I asked embarrassed.

"It's called a MAN-icure, so there is some macho stuff here. Yes I did call you Caly, Caly. It's a cute little nick name I just thought of." Yadi turned away from me and whispered to one of the nail ladies.

"Please just stick with my name."

Before I could say anything else a woman took my hand and started cleaning my nails.

"What the heck are you doing?" I asked trying to pull away from her.

"Manicure." She said,

She put lotion on my hands and started to rub.

This felt amazing but I tried to hide my satisfaction, I wouldn't want Yadi to be right.

After about half an hour I felt all refreshed and renewed.

"Hey Mr. Macho.... You wanted to do something, manly, right?" I nodded.

"Well then you can pick up the bill." She informed me dashing out of the salon.

I sighed took out my wallet and paid them.

"Hey!" I called grabbing Yadi's hand. "I thought it was supposed to be your treat."

"Well Cal, you got what you asked for." Yadi said. I gave her a confused look.

"Cal?"

"Yes Cal, y'know like Calcifer from Howl's moving Castle."

I immediately grinned recalling the book, and the thought of me being a big, bad fire demon.

"You’re supposed to be this crazy powerful, evil demon, but instead your just a cute little flame!!"

My grin disappeared.

Oh well at least it's better than Caly.

"Free sample?" This woman asked me. Before I could respond she dowsed be with a powerful perfume that burned my eyes. She also offered some to Yadi.

"Well Cal? What' cha think?" Yadi asked spinning.

"Do you expect me to sniff you or something?" I replied, trying to get the awful taste of perfume out of my mouth. Yadi nodded, I bent over and tried to smell her.

I was getting a lot of weird looks.

Maybe a different approach would be better I gave her a quick hug and took in her scent.

She looked slightly shocked, but soon relaxed, a memory was triggered!

That smell; I have smelled it before?

It hit me like a pile of bricks... It was Sapphires scent.

I immediately sprung up and went to approach the sample woman, but she was gone.

"Crap." I muttered to myself.

How did I let her get away? I though frustrated, I was getting closer then I have and I let my one lead go

"Something wrong Cal?" Yadi asked putting a caring hand on my back.

"That perfume you’re wearing... it's the same as Sapphire was the day we met." I answered,

"This perfume? You mean Jasmine?"

I shook my head staring at the floor.

She hit me on the back of my head. I winced slightly but said nothing

"Cal you idiot..."

"This is a clue we can use to find Sapphire."