Chapter 7: O'Sama Family Secrets

[Scene: The van is about to strike Zoi. Kunzite grabs hold of him and they vanish in a purple flash, just one second before the jarring crunch of the van hitting the row of cars behind them.

A few onlookers scream. Zoi looks around and realizes he is suddenly several yards away from where he and Kunzite had been standing just an instant before.]

Zoi: [Turning to face Kunzite] How did you—

[He doesn't have time to finish the sentence. Mokoti's van has not stopped. It is ricocheting from the impact and is gliding right toward them again. Zoi tries to tighten his grip on Kunzite but Kunzite pushes him away.

Then to Zoi's utter shock, Kunzite turns toward the van with his coat and hair billowing and whipping about. His eyes glow white and he levitates, arms out at his sides and his legs together, about fifteen feet from the ground.

As the van approaches, Kunzite brings his arms forward and releases a blast of dark energy that causes to hood of Motoki's van to crumple like paper and burst into flames.

Zoi screams when he sees Motoki slumped over the steering wheel, his face streaked with blood, as flames lick the windshield of the burning van.]

Zoi: Kunzite! Motoki's trapped! We need to help him!

Kunzite: [pins Zoi to his side in an iron grip.] Leave him be. It's too dangerous.

[Zoi gives Kunzite an imploring look, but to Zoi's horror, Kunzite is watching the flames and is smirking with satisfaction.]

Zoi: Motoki! [He wriggles free and runs to the van, intent on rescuing his friend.]

[As soon as he gets about a yard of it, Kunzite bats him aside. The flames die completely, right before Kunzite tears the driver side door from its hinges with one hand and pulls the unconscious Motoki out to lie flat on the icy ground.]

[By now a huge crowd of students and adults has gathered, and they are screaming like bedlam. ]

Kunzite: [eyes glow white again] Attention people! Listen up! This is very important! None of you saw anything! You just got here! When you arrived, Motoki was already lying on the ground! Anyone who tells you differently is a sweat-stained glue-sniffing social-leper and should probably be avoided at all costs!

Crowd: …

Male voice: Dear God! There's been an accident!

Female voice: Oh, my gosh! Motoki looks hurt! Did anyone see what happened?

[The crowd murmurs they did not]

[Zoi is stares at the crowd in openmouthed disbelief]

[Kunzite saunters off and Zoi runs after Kunzite and shouts at him above the wail of sirens]

Zoi: What did you do?

Kunzite: [Gives Zoi a look of bafflement] I don't know what you're talking about. I just got here. Same as you did. How should I know?

Zoi: You liar! We were both right here when it happened! I saw you!

Kunzite: [ slightly flustered] …You did?

Zoi: [Hysterical] What's going on? Why doesn't anyone but me remember what happened? You were all the way over there– then one second later–What did you do to Motoki!

Kunzite: I don't know what you're talking about. I was standing right next to you the whole time. The van almost hit you, and I pulled you out of the way, just in the nick of time, but you slipped on the ice and hit your head–

Zoi: [Grabs Kunzite by the arms and tries to shake him] No! You're lying! That's not what happened! You weren't anywhere near me until you materialized out of nowhere! How did you get here so fast? You were over there and you grabbed me and we were somewhere else! And then-

Kunzite: [pets his head] Easy there, Zoisite. I think you hit your head pretty hard.

Zoi: No! I didn't! I–

[Kunzite catches Zoi as his eyes close and he crumples into his arms]

[A short time later…]

[Zoi wakes up in the ambulance. He's strapped to a gurney and wearing a neck brace. He tries to sit up.]

Paramedic: Careful. You hit your head pretty hard.

Zoi: [sighs] So I've been told.

Paramedic: How are you feeling?

Zoi: Very weak, but completely uninjured.

Paramedic: [prods the top of Zoi's head with his fingers] Does any of this feel tender?

Zoi: No.

Paramedic: [Walks around and shines a penlight in each of Zoi's eyes] No sign of concussion, no bumps or contusions, no obvious injuries. We've taken some mobile x-rays to be sure, but I think you're going to be just fine.

Zoi: [Looks overs at Motoki, who is all bloody and unconscious and being wrapped up like a mummy on the stretcher next to his] What about my friend? Is he going to be ok?

Paramedic: He's fine. It just a broken arm and some minor cuts and dings. Once they put him in a cast and pull all the bits of glass from his cheek and hairline he should be ok. We're more concerned about you at the moment.

Zoi: Oh, Why's that?

Paramedic: You got hit by a van. Everyone watched as you were sent flying, headfirst, into the asphalt. Several witnesses said you got right back up, but you were hallucinating, right before you passed out.

Zoi: I was hallucinating?

Paramedic: That's what they say.

Zoi: Oh. That actually makes sense. But you say there is no sign of injury?

Paramedic: None whatsoever. Not even a scrape. Your vitals are excellent. From the way the witnesses describe the accident, you should be street pizza, but if I didn't know better, I'd say you merely fainted.

[The ambulance pulls up to the hospital. Kunzite gets out of the passenger seat of the ambulance and walks alongside Zoi's stretcher as they wheel him and Motoki into the ER.

Nurse Eudial: [Unstraps him] Hello, young man. I'm Eudial. I'll be your nurse. You'll be in good hands. Dr. Metalia will be in to see you both shortly.

Zoi: [Sits up in a panic] Dr Metalia?

Nurse Eudial: Oh, yes. She's the best doctor ever. You'll love her.

[Dr. Metalia O'Sama slithers in on her serpent's tail, which protrudes from the bottom of her labcoat where her legs should be. She has blue skin and green smoke instead of hair, and a black serpents tongue that darts in and out between black lips]

Metalia: Yessss…yesssss….little blond boyssss for me to feedssss on…My favoritesss! Harvessstsss their energiesss and ssssendsss them to the morgue… Kunzzzzite …I mussss eatssss their flessssh and chewsss on their bones…. Esssspeccccially the tiny one…

Zoi: *shrieks*

Nurse Eudial: Isn't she a peach? She reminds me so much of my own grandma.

Kunzite: [places his hand on Dr. Metalia's arm] Mother. May I have a word with you in private?

Metalia: [pulls her arm away] Feedsss now…talksss later!

Kunzite: Mother. It's important.

[Metalia gives a hiss of reluctance and they leave. Nurse Eudial leaves a short time later.]

[Zoi waits until the coast is clear, then pulls off his neck brace, throws it across the room and runs to Motoki's bedside]

Zoi: [shakes him] Motoki! Motoki! Get up!

Motoki: *groans*

Zoi: Motoki! Wake up, please. You have to help me, you're the only person here I trust. I know I'm just imagining things, but if I'm not, then Kunzite's mother is a goddamn naga!

Motoki: Zoi? [opens his eyes] Oh, Zoi, I'm so sorry… I thought I was going to kill you…

Zoi: It's ok, Motoki. It was an accident.

Motoki: I was going too fast. I hit the ice all wrong…how did you get out of the way so fast? You were there, and then Kunzite appeared out of nowhere and grabbed you, and then you were both gone in a purple flash—

Zoi: [blinks] Kunzite appeared out of nowhere and grabbed me? You're sure about that?

Motoki: [moans] I think so, then I could have sworn I saw him float fifteen feet in the air and hurl a bolt of black lightning at me, but I probably imagined that part…Is he ok?

Zoi: Motoki, listen to me. We have to get out of here. If we stay, that creepy flesh-eating doctor thing will eat us both.

[Zoi tries to yank Motoki out of bed, but since Motoki is barely conscious, it's a lost cause. Footsteps approach]

Zoi: Motoki. You mustn't tell anyone what you just said to me. Especially not Kunzite, or Dr. O'Sama, or anyone who works here. If they ask you about the accident, tell them you can't remember a damn thing. Please, Motoki. Not a word to anyone. This is very important.

Motoki: Um…ok, Zoi.

[Kunzite returns with nurse Eudial]

Nurse Eudial: Good news, Zoisite, your XRay looks good so you're free to go home. Your father's waiting for you in the waiting room, along with most the students from Hen Tie High.

Zoi: What about Motoki? I can't just leave him here!

Nurse Eudial: I'm afraid he's going to have to stay for a while to be fitted for a cast [turns to Motoki] Motoki, I'm sorry but Dr. O'Sama has been called away for a family emergency, so Dr. Mizuno will be taking over your care. She's not quite as good as Dr. O'Sama but she's got a pretty decent track record, so everything is going to be fine.

[Zoi breathes a sigh of relief and Kunzite puts his hand on his shoulder and walks him out]

Kunzite: Your father will be very happy to see you. I ran into him in the corridor and he is completely out of his mind with worry about you.

Zoi: Kunzite, I'd like to speak with you alone for a minute.

Kunzite: What do you want?

Zoi: You owe me an explanation.

Kunzite: I saved your life. I don't owe you anything.

Zoi: I want to know the truth. [bursts into angry tears] If you expect me to lie to everyone like some battered housewife from a Lifetime Channel made-for-TV movie, I'd like to know exactly what it is that I'm expected to cover up!

Kunzite: What do you think happened?

Zoi: I know what I saw! That van was going to crush us both—and it didn't! Instead you floated off the ground and blasted it to pieces.

Kunzite: [Smiles] So, you think I can fly?

Zoi: *nods*

Kunzite: Nobody will believe you. You know that.

Zoi: I'm not going to tell anyone!

Kunzite: Then why does it matter?

Zoi: It matters to me!

Kunzite: Why can't you just say 'Thank you' and get it over with?

Zoi: [fuming] Thank you.

Kunzite: You're not going to let it go, are you?

Zoi: No.

Kunzite: In that case… I hope you like disappointment.

[Kunzite walks away, leaving Zoi standing alone with a sour expression on his face]