Chapter 25: A Change of Plans

[Scene: French class. Zoi is watching the clock, counting the minutes to lunch.]

Umino: [wistful] You're not sitting with us today, are you?

Zoi: I don't think so.

[The bell ring and Kunzite is waiting outside, leaning against the wall. Umino rolls his eyes.]

Umino: Catch you later, Zoi.

[Zoi waves and Umino takes off]

Kunzite: Hello.

Zoi: Hi.

[For a moment they just stand there, holding their books and staring into each others' eyes. Then Kunzite leads Zoi to the cafeteria. As soon as they get there, everyone turns and stares.]

[They sit at a table and Kunzite places two bento boxes on the table, seemingly out of nowhere.]

Kunzite: So the waitress was pretty, huh?

Zoi: You really didn't notice?

Kunzite: I wasn't looking at the waitress.

Zoi: Poor girl.

[Zoi eats his bento with a smile, but then notices Kunzite is giving him a troubled look]

Kunzite: Something you told Usagi… well, it bothers me. Do you truly believe you care more for me than I care for you?

Zoi: Yes, I really think that.

Kunzite: You're wrong.

[Zoi puts down his chopsticks]

Zoi: You can't know that.

Kunzite: What makes you think I don't care more than you do?

Zoi: Well aside from the obvious, sometimes…I get the sense you are always trying to say goodbye to me.

Kunzite: Perceptive. That's exactly why you are wrong, though. [Give Zoi a piercing look] What do you mean by "the obvious"?

Zoi: Well look at me. I'm pathetic. My skin is pasty, my hair is unmanageable, I have no discernible muscle definition…. And look at you… [Waves his hand in Kunzite's direction] I still can't understand why you waste your time with me.

Kunzite: You don't see yourself very clearly, you know. You are the most beautiful thing to walk the earth in over fifty thousand years.

Zoi: [blushes and averts his eyes] I don't believe it…

Kunzite: Trust me just this once. You are the opposite of pathetic.

Zoi: [frowns] But I'm not the one saying goodbye.

Kunzite: Don't you see, that proves me right. I care the most, because if I can do it—if leaving is the right thing to do, then I hurt myself to keep from hurting you, to keep you safe.

Zoi: And you don't think I would do the same?

Kunzite: You'd never have to make the choice. [smiles] Of course, keeping you safe is starting to feel like a full time job that requires my constant presence.

Zoi: [grins] No one has tried to kill me today.

Kunzite: Yet.

Zoi: [nods] Yet.

Kunzite: I have another question for you. Do you really need to go to Seattle this Saturday, or was that just an excuse to get away from all your admirers?

[Zoi's grin widens.]

Zoi: You were there, what do you think?

Kunzite: [give him a coy smile] If I'd asked you, would you have turned *me* down?

Zoi: Probably not. But I would have cancelled later. Faked an illness or a sprained ankle or something.

Kunzite: Why would you do that?

Zoi: You've never seen me in gym class, I guess. Let's just say I'm not much of a dancer.

Kunzite: That wouldn't be a problem. It's all about who leads.

[Zoi blushes again]

Kunzite: But you never told me, are you resolved on going to Seattle, or would you mind doing something different.

Zoi: I'm open to alternatives.

Kunzite: I'm thinking we might go hiking…to somewhere a bit more private.

Kunzite: Is it someplace far away and secluded?

Kunzite: Oh, yes.

Zoi: Then I do have a really big favor to ask.

Kunzite: Which is?

Zoi: I need to drive us there.

Kunzite: [taken aback] Huh?

Zoi: I have my permit.

Kunzite: [still taken aback] Why do you need to drive us there?

Zoi: Because I promised my father I'd never let an older guy drive me out to a secluded spot.

Kunzite: …

Zoi: And also because your driving frightens me.

Kunzite: Of all the things about me that could frighten you, you worry about my driving. [shakes his head] Don't you want to tell your father you're spending the day with me?

Zoi: With my dad, less is always more. Where are we going, anyway?

Kunzite: Someplace where the weather is nice, and where we can stay out of the public eye.

Zoi: You mean I'll get to bask in the sun?

Kunzite: Yes. That's the whole idea. But…if you don't want to be alone with me, I'd rather you didn't go to Seattle by yourself. I shudder to think of the trouble you could find in a city that size.

Zoi: Phoenix is three times bigger than Seattle, just in terms of population. In physical size—

Kunzite: Yes, but your number wasn't up in Phoenix. So I'd rather you stayed near me.

Zoi: As it happens, I don't mind being alone with you.

Kunzite: I know. [sighs] You should tell your father, though.

Zoi: Why in the world would I do that?

Kunzite: [narrows his eyes] To give me some small incentive to bring you back.

Zoi: [goes pale] I…think I'll take my chances.

[Kunzite looks angry]

Zoi: Let's talk about something else.

Kunzite: Like what?

Zoi: You said you were off fighting a war this weekend. You mean like with the IRS?

Kunzite: Something a little scarier than the IRS.

Zoi: I hear there is nothing scarier than the IRS.

Kunzite: You've never seen me fight.

Zoi: [smiles] You fight like a bear?

Kunzite: Jadeite fights like a bear, I'm more like a lion. Or so they tell me. A lion that uses weapons.

Zoi: [smiles] Is that something I'll get to see.

Kunzite: Absolutely not!

Zoi: Too scary for me?

Kunzite: If it were that, I'd take you out tonight. You could use a healthy dose of fear. Nothing could be more beneficial for you.

Zoi: Then why?

Kunzite: [rises from his chair] Later, we're going to be late.

[Looks around the cafeteria and sees it is indeed clearing out]

Zoi: Later, then…I won't forget.