Chapter 7: Celestial Barber; Fairy Vs. Scar

Alana awoke to see a box. She tried to move, but discovered that she was tied up. She wriggled and writhed, slowly moving herself. Soon, she saw Calem across the room. She looked around, but saw nothing but the boxes.

"Where are we?" She looked at Calem. "Hey, are you alright?" No answer. She fell over onto her stomach and slowly made her way to him before nudging him. "Come on, wake up!" He slowly opened his eyes and she smiled. "Oh, you're okay!"

"I assume so." He looked at the girl who still lay on the ground. "Your keys are gone."

"What?! Oh, no!" She looked at the door. "Hey, whoever's out there, answer me!"

"I highly doubt they'll answer to us. Maybe, I would be able to aim one of my spells at the door or something. Mind rolling out of my way?" She complied, and he tried to position himself in a way that would allow him to execute his plan.

Meanwhile, Rosa continued to wander around the museum. "I haven't seen anyone, and I haven't found the crown. Its in here somewhere, I know it!" She approached a large scabbard that was among an assortment of weapons and armor. "This looks kinda familiar. I see quite a bit of scabbards on the job. Maybe that's why?" She walked around a corner, to see Don skid to a stop. "There you are."

"Hey, Rosa. found anything?"

"Not a thing. What about you two?" Don shook his head. "I'm looking for the crown. If Rideaux shows up, he'll have to deal with me. Where's Oliver?"

"We split up. We'll cover more ground that way." He began to walk the way she came. "I'm going to keep on looking!" He ran off and she continued on her way.

The lizard man ran down the corridors of the museum. As he was about to turn a corner, he stopped, for he had heard a voice. "Check out this key I nabbed from a poor chump on the round!"

"Awesome! What is that on it; a 69? Heh."

He heard the sound of someone getting punched. "No, you tard! It's the Cancer Symbol!"

"Cancer, huh! What are you going to do with a Celestial Gate Key?"

"Sell it, what else? Should we check on the two we caught earlier? They're down the hall, right?"

"Third door on the left. That girl had some gate keys on her. We could sell those too. Imagine the cash!"

Don quickly rushed at them and lunged at the one holding the key. He snatched it and began running. When he passed the third door on the left, he pretended to trip, throwing the key underneath in the process. He quickly got up and began running again.

"Get back here, you overgrown salamander!"

"Overgrown salamander? Then that means..." Alana inched towards the key. "Thanks, Don." She awkwardly grabbed it with her tied hands. "Open, Gate of the Giant Crab! Cancer!"

A tall, slender man with braided hair stood before them. He wore a pink dress shirt with small barber poles. There were six crab legs protruding from his back. He wore a belt which held two pairs of scissors. He quickly drew them and spun them on his fingers.

"Cancer's Barber Shop is open for business once more." He stopped spinning the scissors and struck a pose. "What cut are you fine folks in the mood for today?"

Alana began struggling in an irritated manner. "As much as I'd appreciate a haircut, that can wait! If you can, please cut us free!"

He crossed his arms and nodded. "Hmm… the last person to touch my key had it for only a day or so. Never tried to form a pact or anything." He looked at Alana. "Tell me, what year is it?"

Calem sighed. "If you're concerned about your contract with Lucy, she's passed away. You're free now."

"Then it's your lucky day." He quickly freed the two from their bindings.

Alana began stretching. "It feels good to be free again!"

"Are you ready for the haircut now, miss?" Asked the spirit, scissors at the ready.

"Huh?" She turned to him and nervously shook her head. "Thank you, but now right now. Oh! Cancer, would you mind forming a contract with me?"

"Of course! My shop in the Celestial World is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If you need me, call me any other day!"

"So Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Got it!" She began towards the door. "Let's go!"

"He's staying with us for now?" Calem asked.

She nodded. "He's going to have to. I don't have my keys, whip or Lacrima, and you don't have your sword."

"I'm not helpless without a sword."

"Leave the lady." Cancer suggested. "The more power you have, the better."

"If you want to, Cancer." Calem was the first out the door. "Stay in the middle of us for now, Alana." The other two followed right behind him. "Where would they have put our things?"

"Another one of the storage rooms I'd say." Alana noted. "Each of the exhibits has it's own collection of storage rooms. We'll be doing a lot of searching."

Calem groaned. "Fantastic. New plan." Calem pointed towards the direction of more store rooms. "Alana, you and Cancer continue the search for our stuff. I'll keep looking for the target."

"Right!" She began towards the rooms, and Cancer followed. Calem ran in the opposite direction, towards another exhibit.

Don ran into the exhibit in the back of the museum: The Ancient Fiore Exhibit. The two men from before were still pursuing him. He stopped when he saw a familiar face near a glass case which held a large green jewel inside.

"T-that's the crown!" He cried. He then looked at the men. "So he's Rideaux." Don jumped over the men as they lunged at him, and Rideaux's eyes darted in their direction.

"You imbeciles!" He yelled. "I told you not to let anyone in here!"

"Crimson Burst!" Don took a deep breath and unleashed a crimson flame onto the two men. They yelped in pain and began running around aimlessly. Don began marching towards Rideaux. "We have some business, you and I."

"Yes, I know that, lizard. But..." Rideaux put his hands behind his back, prompting Don to charge. "I'll have to reschedule our meeting!" He threw a pair of bolas at Don, tangling around his legs and causing him to fall. Rideaux took a pen out of the other pocket and pointed it at the case. It emitted a laser, which the thief used to cut a circle out of the glass. He pushed the circle in and extracted the jewel. "I'll be going now, lizard! Enjoy struggling to free yourself!" He began to run off.

The two men approached Don, looming over him. "What should we do with him?"

Don took a deep breath once more, startling the men. But instead of breathing fire, he yelled. "Everyone! Rideaux got the jewel! He might be on his way outside by now!"

One of the men went in for a kick. "Shut yer trap!"

On the other side of the museum, Rosa pulled out her phone and quickly dialed Oliver's number. "Hey, did you hear that?"

"Yeah. I'll tail Rideaux. Make sure Don is okay."

"I'll do that. Inform the guards outside so they can help you. I'll try Calem and see what he'll do."

"Right."

She tried Calem's number but it went to voice mail. She tried Alana's but got the same result. "Damn!" I just need to hope they heard." She ran towards the Ancient Fiore Exhibit.

Cancer stopped in his tracks while Alana and Calem continued on. "Excuse me, but I just heard something."

Alana turned back. "What is it?"

"A voice yelling that someone named Rideuax escaped. What are we to do?"

"I'll go check on the exhibit it was being held in to see what happened." Calem announced. "After you two find our stuff, head outside and see if you can find Rideaux."

"Yeah." Alana ran off to continue their search, but Calem called out to her. "What's up?"

He had a sincere look on his face. "Don't push yourself. Good luck." With that he ran, soon reaching the exhibit. He entered to see the two men attempting to approach Don, only to have him breath fire at them.

The lizard looked over at Calem and let out an excited gasp. "Calem!" He began writhing. "A little help, please?"

"Sorry, but I don't have my sword on me. I can deal with them, though." He held his hand towards them. "Dark Pledge: Shadow Chaser!" A purple magic circle appeared before him and several rays of dark energy shot at them. They tried to run, but the rays honed in on them. Calem ran over to Don and began to untie the bolas. "These are a pain. But, I should have them undone soon."

"Well, well, what do we have here?" A large man entered the room. It was the same man that Rosa encountered in Onibus. "A little boy and his pet." He cackled. "This will be fun."

Calem stood. "Who are you?"

"The guy that's going to wipe the floor with you." In Onibus, his scabbard rested on his back. Now, he had it resting on the back of his hip. He gripped the enormous blade and drew it.

Calem held his hand towards him. "Dark Pledge: Shadow Revolver!" The spiral ray of darkness shot towards him, but the man blocked it with his sword's hand guard. He then held up the blade and the edge began glowing purple. He swung it and a wave of energy, similar to Calem's Aura Splicer sped towards him. He jumped out of the way, and looked at the man. "What the heck?"

"Hmph." The man sighed in disappointment, but quickly held up his sword as Rosa rammed into him, equipped with her green and black Dragonforce claws. "Lookee here." He pushed her back. "Nice to see you, Fairy."

"Calem, get out and search for Rideaux." Rosa said. "I have some unfinished business with this guy. Don, you go with him."

The two heeded her orders and ran towards an exit, leaving the two alone. "Now," Said the man. "you and I get to spend some quality time together, Fairy."

"I have a name, ya big lug." She retorted. "It's Rosa Mercer."

"So do I. It's Shin; Shin Mest." He swung his sword at her, and something shot from it.

With lightning fast reflexes, Rosa caught what he threw. It was a sword much smaller than the one he currently held. It also had a hand guard. "What the…? A sword?" Rosa began skidding across the floor towards Shin. "What's going on?" She began speeding up, and Shin's fist soon connected with her stomach.

The sword placed itself into the top of Shin's blade. "Like the new toy?" Rosa backed away from him, and he merely laughed.

Rosa requiped into her flaming claws. "My Wolf Claws have the potential to melt almost any metal, Mest! Your new toy's about to end up broken!" She ran at him and lunged, only to have Shin block. Rosa began attacking him repeatedly, until Shin blocked in such a way that he could grab the handle of the smaller sword. He drew it and began to block Rosa's attacks with ease.

Rosa requiped to her Hard Knuckle and gripped the smaller sword, while blocking the larger blade with her other hand.

"Trying to break it, huh? Not going to work. These blades are enchanted. They're basically indestructible." He went to kick her, but she jumped back. "Going to requip to something I haven't seen yet?"

"That would be pointless. You adapt to my weapons quickly. I just have to think to something else."

"That won't be easy." He placed the small blade back and rested it on his shoulder. "Thinking of a way to make a new plan with things I know."

Rosa unequipped the Hard Knuckled, leaving herself bare handed. Shin gave her a slightly perplexed look, but put on his confident look once more. She rushed at him, and leapt over. Shin swung around, but Rosa ducked and struck low. Shin winced and dropped to his knee, only to have Rosa punch him in the face.

He quickly got up. "You harlot! Why would you aim there?!"

"Calling me a harlot?" She asked with a laugh. "Okay, old timer. I'm sure that'll hurt for a while."

"I'll survive." Shin tried to move, but he winced. "Damn!" He worked through the pain, but he was considerably slowed. Rosa quickly gained the upper hand, but didn't requip during her attack. She punched Shin one more time and sent him flying.

"Urrgh… I see what you did. Catch me off guard by using nothing but your bare hands. That and the crotch shot."

Rosa walked over to him, and stepped on his stomach, clutching her own. "Yeah, a little dirty, but it worked. Ready to go to jail, big man?"

"Maybe, and if I try to break away?" He asked.

"I'll crush your gonads again." He warned. "Any other questions while we wait for the fuzz?"

"Actually, yeah. I have one."

Rosa gave him a look of confusion, but stepped off of him and kicked the sword away before requiping to her Dragonforce Claws, ready to deal with him if he tried anything.

Outside, Rideaux ran farther away from the museum with the Crown of Fiore, with Calem, Don and Oliver on his tail, Alana shortly behind. What exactly was it that the mercenary Shin Mest wanted to ask Rosa? These questions and more will be answered soon enough!