Chapter 23: Outed

[Scene: Kunzite's car. Kunzite's driving, Zoi is inhaling Kunzite's coat when Kunzite is not looking.]

Zoi: How does it work, the mind control thing? Can you control anyone's mind, anywhere? How do you do it? Can the rest of your family—

Kunzite: You ask a lot of questions.

[Zoi waits]

Kunzite: Mind control is simple. Humans are incredibly easy to manipulate. Just look at anything insanely popular and you'll see there is not much too it, other than mankind's unwillingness to be left out of the herd.

Zoi: Why doesn't it work on me?

Kunzite: I don't know. The only guess I have is that your mind doesn't work way the rest of theirs do. Like your thoughts are on AM and it only works on FM.

Zoi: My mind doesn't work right? I'm a freak?

Kunzite: [narrows his eyes at him] I'm able to control most people like they are puppets and you are worried that you're the freak? Don't worry, it's just a theory.

Zoi: [looks at the speedometer] Geez! Slow down!

Kunzite: [without slowing down] What's wrong.

Zoi: You're going 100 mph!

Kunzite: [runs a red light] Relax, Zoisite.

Zoi: *shrieks* Are you trying to kill us?

Kunzite: We're not going to crash.

Zoi: Why are you in such a hurry?

Kunzite: [smiles at him] I always drive like this.

Zoi: Keep your eyes on the road!

Kunzite: I've never been in an accident, Zoisite.

Zoi: I'm more afraid we'll get pulled over!

Kunzite: [grins] You're afraid I'll get a ticket?

Zoi: I'm afraid that if my dad catches us together like this I'll be grounded until I'm 90!

Kunzite: [frowns slows down to 80 mph] Happy?

Zoi: Almost.

Kunzite: I hate driving slow.

Zoi: This is slow?

Kunzite: Enough on the commentary on my driving. I'm still waiting for your latest theory.

Zoi: …

Kunzite: I won't laugh.

Zoi: I'm more afraid you'll be angry with me.

Kunzite: Is it that bad?

Zoi: Pretty much, yeah.

Kunzite: Go ahead.

Zoi: [sighs] I don't know how to start.

Kunzite: Why don't you start at the beginning. You said you didn't come up with this on your own.

Zoi: No.

Kunzite: What got you started? A book, a movie?

Zoi: No it was Saturday, at the beach. I got stranded with an old friend of yours—Demande Blackmoon.

[Kunzite gives Zoi a confused look]

Zoi: We had to take shelter from a storm. He told me some stories, trying to scare me, I think. He told me one…

Kunzite: Go on.

Zoi: …about the Shitennou.

Kunzite: [grips the wheel] And you immediately thought about me?

Zoi: No. He…mentioned your family.

[Kunzite just stares at the road ahead of him in silence.

Zoi: I think he intended to wipe all memories of that conversation from my mind afterward. He didn't know his powers wouldn't work on me. Otherwise I don't think I could have tricked it out of him.

Kunzite: [laughs] Tricked him how?

Zoi: I tried flirting. It worked a little better than I thought.

Kunzite: I would have liked to have seen that. And you accuse me of dazzling people. Poor Demande Blackmoon. What did you do then?

Zoi: I did some research on the Internet.

Kunzite: [casual in tone] And did that convince you?

Zoi: [notices that although Kunzite appears to be calm, his hands are clamped into the steering wheel] No. Nothing fit. Most of it was kind of silly. And then…

Kunzite: What?

Zoi: I decided it didn't matter.

Kunzite: [loses his composure] It didn't matter?

Zoi: No. It doesn't matter to me what you are.

Kunzite: [appalled] You don't care if I'm a monster? If I'm not human?

Zoi: No.

[Kunzite's face is bleak and cold]

Zoi: You're angry. I shouldn't have said anything.

Kunzite: No. I'd rather know what you're thinking. Even if what you're thinking is insane.

Zoi: So I'm wrong again?

Kunzite: No, that's not what I'm referring to: "It doesn't matter"!

Zoi: So I'm right?

Kunzite: Does it matter?

Zoi: [takes a deep breath] Not really. But I am curious.

Kunzite: What are you curious about.

Zoi: How old are you?

Kunzite: According to my driver's license I'm eighteen.

Zoi: And how long have you been eighteen?

Kunzite: A while.

Zoi: Ok…do you sleep?

Kunzite: When I want to…

Zoi: In a bed?

Kunzite: You're not asking me the more important question.

Zoi: Which one is that?

Kunzite: Aren't you concerned about my diet?

Zoi: Oh, that. Well, Demande mentioned something about that…

Kunzite: What did he say?

Zoi: He said it would be fatal… for me… to get too close to you.

[Kunzite stares ahead]

Zoi: Is he right?

Kunzite: The Blackmoons have a long memory.

Zoi: I take it that's a yes?

Kunzite: [shakes his head] No. But that doesn't mean you can let your guard down around me.

Zoi: I don't understand.

Kunzite: It's a mistake for you to allow yourself to be alone with me.

Zoi: This…is a mistake?

Kunzite: A very dangerous one.

[They ride in silence, then Zoi looks at Kunzite]

Zoi: Tell me more.

Kunzite: What more do you want to know?

Zoi: Do you go around killing people?

Kunzite: Not often. Only because in these days of video and mass media we're trying to keep from attracting attention. It's easier for us to sponge energy from a roomful of living hosts. It's never enough, but it keeps the evil impulses at bay. Most of the time.

Zoi: Is it difficult now?

Kunzite: Yes.

Zoi: But you're not hungry now.

Kunzite: Why do you say that?

Zoi: Because your eyes are silver. I told you I have a theory. I notice people are crabbier when they hungry.

Kunzite: You are observant, aren't you?

Zoi: You were feeding this weekend? Weren't you?

Kunzite: No. I was off fighting a war. I fed when I got back. I wanted to see you, but it's a lot easier being around you when I'm not hungry.

Zoi: Why did you want to see me?

Kunzite: It makes me…anxious…to be away from you. I was distracted all weekend, worrying about you. And after what happened tonight, I was surprised you made it through the weekend, unmolested.

Zoi: …

Kunzite: It was a really long three days. Nephrite knew it and he was really getting on my nerves. We just got back this morning.

Zoi: [remember the clouds rolling in and Naru's words about their frequent absences] So let me guess, your mother has to leave town whenever the sun comes out.

Kunzite: You have it backwards. The sun only comes out whenever my mother is not in town.

[Zoi ponders this]

Zoi: You might have called me when you were away.

Kunzite: I knew you were alive.

Zoi: But I didn't know you were! I…

Kunzite: What?

Zoi: I didn't like it. Not seeing you. It makes me anxious too! [blushes]

[Kunzite looks at him with a pained expression on his face.]

Kunzite: Ah, this is wrong.

Zoi: What did I say?

Kunzite: Don't you see, Zoisite. It's one thing for me to make myself so miserable, but it's quite another for you to be so involved. I don't want to hear that you feel that way. It's wrong. It's not safe. I'm dangerous, Zoisite, please grasp that.

Zoi: No!

Kunzite: I'm serious.

Zoi: So am I. It doesn't matter what you are. It's too late!

Kunzite: Never say that.

[Zoi closes his eyes as his tears begin to fall.]

Kunzite: Are you crying?

Zoi: [sniffles] No.

[Kunzite reaches over to wipe his face, but stops himself just in time]

[They arrive at Zoi's house. The lights are on inside. Kunzite stops the car but then doesn't move.]

Zoi: Will I see you tomorrow?

Kunzite: [smiles] I'll save you a seat at lunch.

[Zoi smiles as he takes off Kunzite's coat]

Kunzite: you can keep it. You don't have a jacket for tomorrow.

Zoi: [hands him the coat] I don't want to have to explain it to my father.

Kunzite: [smiles and takes the coat] Oh, right.

[Zoi opens the door slowly, trying to prolong the moment]

Kunzite: Zoisite.

Zoi: Yes?

Kunzite: Will you promise me something?

Zoi: Yes.

Kunzite: Don't go into the woods alone. I'm not the only dangerous thing out there.

Zoi: Whatever you say.

Kunzite: See you tomorrow.

Zoi: [sighs] Tomorrow then.

Kunzite: Zoisite? [leans close with his face very close to Zoi's and strokes his hair and whispers] Sleep well.

[Zoi blinks, thoroughly dazed. Kunzite leans away. Zoi staggers from the car and he thinks he hears Kunzite chuckling. Kunzite waits until Zoi is inside before driving away.]