Chapter 28: Foreboding

[Scene: The breakfast table at the Midori household. Chief Midori is having fried eggs. Zoi is eating a bowl of cereal.]

Chief Midori: About this Saturday…

Zoi: Yes, Dad?

Chief Midori: Are you still going to Seattle?

Zoi: [munches his cereal] That was the plan.

Chief Midori: And you're sure you can't make it back in time for the dance?

Zoi: [glares] I'm not going to the dance, Dad.

Chief Midori: Didn't anyone ask you?

Zoi: It's ladies' choice.

Chief Midori: Oh. Maybe if you asked Mamoru Chiba… He likes you, you know. He's a good kid and people tell me he goes around talking about how great you are.

Zoi: Dad. No. He's taking my friend Usagi.

Chief Midori: Ok, just trying to help.

[Leaves for work. Zoi leaves when he hears Kunzite pull up]

Kunzite: Good morning, how are you today?

Zoi: Good, thank you.

Kunzite: You look tired.

Zoi: I couldn't sleep.

Kunzite: Me neither.

[Zoi gets in the car]

Zoi: So what did you do last night?

Kunzite: Not a chance. It's my turn to ask the questions.

Zoi: Oh, that's right. What do you want to know?

Kunzite: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Zoi: [ponders this] A botanist, I suppose.

Kunzite: Why a botanist?

Zoi: I like flowers. They are my favorite thing in the world.

Kunzite: What sorts of flowers.

Zoi: All sorts of flowers.

Kunzite: What's your favorite color?

Zoi: It varies from day to day.

Kunzite: What's your favorite color today?

Zoi: [looks at Kunzite's eyes] Silver, with just a hint of blue.

Kunzite: I don't think there are any flowers that color.

Zoi: [smiles as he toys with a lock of his own hair] Are you thinking of bringing me flowers?

Kunzite: [smiles back] You'll see. What's your favorite color of flowers?

Zoi: I'll take whatever I can get.

[The questions continue throughout the day (favorite foods, favorite movies, favorite travel destinations, favorite types of architecture, what he misses about Phoenix, etc…) until biology class starts. Zoisite blushes as he sees Mr. Tomoe load the DVD.]

Mr. Tomoe: Can someone get the lights?

Neffy: [groans] Not this again.

[No sooner do the lights go off then Kunzite pulls Zoi close again. The proximity is making Zoi lightheaded and dizzy. After a few minutes of this, he's afraid he's going to fall out of his chair.]

[Kunzite seems to realize this since he turns and scoops up Zoi and places him across his lap and cuddles him in his arms like a baby.]

[Zoi's grateful the room is pitch black. His face is burning and he's certain it's completely scarlet. He rests his face against Kunzite's chest and Kunzite holds him in an embrace. Zoi can hear Kunzite's heart beating, slow and steady. He's certain his own heart is racing. He feels a restless craving to caress Kunzite's face, to pull it down for a long passionate kiss. He only goes as far as nuzzling Kunzite's chest with his cheek, and Kunzite strokes his curls and gives him a long, light kiss on the top of the head.]

[Zoi still has no idea what the video is about, but he hopes it will never end.]

[This time Kunzite gives Zoi twice as long to regain his composure, which Zoi finds mildly disappointing, yet completely necessary. When the lights come on, Neffy is staring at them again. Only now, as well as sickened, he's slightly alarmed.]

Mr. Tomoe: So, Neffy, is the presentation any more to your liking today?

Neffy: [shaken] To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure what to make of it.

Mr. Tomoe: How do you mean?

Neffy: I…don't get it. I don't get it at all.

[A few students chuckle nervously, since Neffy's not known to be this dense.]

Mr. Tomoe: If you can explain you confusion, perhaps we can enlighten you.

Neffy: I've consulted the stars, and they tell me there's a Greek tragedy in the making. The lamb will slaughtered, the mighty will fall, hate conquers love, brothers will kill brothers, and all that good stuff. So much blood will be spilled it will form a river. I thought some of it would be mine so I checked again and those same stars tell me this is a mild cautionary tale for me at and worst and a farcical comedy at best. Why? I ask you. What's it all about?

Mr. Tomoe: Neffy, you're not making any sense. Do you need to see a nurse?

Neffy: I don't think a nurse is going to be much help at this point.

[Class is dismissed.]

Zoi: [whispers to Kunzite] What was Neffy talking about?

Kunzite: [shrugs] Who know? Nephrite and his stars don't know anything. Otherwise, he'd be first among the kings, and I've have been dead a long time ago.

[Gym class goes too slowly. Mamoru initially seems happy to see Zoi, but then is cold toward him. Zoi is a bit saddened by that, but mostly he looks forward to seeing Kunzite again.]

[On the car ride home, Kunzite asks more questions. Finally he pulls up to the house and parks in a somewhat secluded spot surrounded by trees. Kunzite gets out and comes around to open the car door for Zoi and hold him close.]

Zoi: Are you done with the questions.

Kunzite: Not even close. But you'd better go inside soon, unless you want to explain to your father you'll be with me this Saturday.

Zoi: Thanks but no thanks. So it's my turn to ask the questions tomorrow, then?

Kunzite: Certainly not. I'm not done.

Zoi: What more is there?

Kunzite: You'll find out tomorrow.

[Kunzite tightens his arms around him, and Zoi's heart is racing, especially as Kunzite leans closer, with his head tilted to one side.]

[Then his expression changes and he pulls away as if distracted by something approaching from behind them.]

Kunzite: Not good.

Zoi: What is?

[Kunzite's jaw is tense, his eyes unsettled. Zoi is alarmed to see Kunzite so stressed.]

Kunzite: Another complication…I'm sorry to abandon you like this, but it'll be a lot safer for you if I'm not here.

[With that Kunzite vanishes in a purple flash. Zoi turns, but the car is no longer there.]

[There is a crunch of gravel as a white Bentley with tinted windows pulls up in the Midori driveway. Zoi has never seen that car before and wonders who would be visiting his father at such an hour in such a vehicle. His heart catches in his chest as he drives side door opens and Demande Blackmoon exits the car, wearing a white suit and sunglasses. He stares right at Zoi as he walks around to the passenger side door and opens it for a heavyset middle aged man with a crystal topped walking stick. This man also has a black moon on his forehead.]

Demande: [sultry voiced] Hello, Zoi.