Chapter 30: Alibis and Insecurities

[Scene: Friday morning. Zoi after a full night's sleep, Zoi is in a good mood since his big date with Kunzite's only a day away. He rushes out the door as soon as he hears Kunzite drive up and gets in the car as quickly as he can so he can look at him. Kunzite grins at him and Zoi's breath catches in his throat. Kunzite's eyes are blue and he is more beautiful than an angel.]

Kunzite: How did you sleep?

Zoi: Fine. How was your night?

Kunzite: Pleasant.

Zoi: Can I ask what you did?

Kunzite: No. Today is still mine.

Zoi: Oh, right.

Kunzite: Tell me more about your mother.

Zoi: [his mood sours a little] Like what? We're not that close.

Kunzite: You're not that close to your own mother? Didn't she raise you for the last fifteen years?

Zoi: Yes, but she's always made me tell people I'm her brother because she doesn't want anyone knowing she's old enough to have a child my age.

Kunzite: What are her hobbies?

Zoi: Shopping…makeup…nail polish…travel…purses…botox…collagen…spa visits…cocktails…

Kunzite: She sounds vapid.

Zoi: Let's just say she's got about twenty eight by tens of herself hanging on the walls and about three pictures of me in little frames.

Kunzite: What's the best date you ever went on?

Zoi: Does the dinner we had at the Italian restaurant count?

Kunzite: No.

Zoi: Then I've never been on a date.

Kunzite: You've never been on a date? Not even in Phoenix?

Zoi: No.

Kunzite: Wasn't there anyone you liked?

Zoi: Not in Phoenix.

[Kunzite drives in silence for a while]

Kunzite: I've arranged for your father to pick you up today.

Zoi: Why?

Kunzite: Because I'm leaving with Beryl after lunch.

Zoi: You won't be in Biology class today?

Kunzite: Let's just say, there is not enough energy in all of Hen Tie for me to get through the rest of that video without doing something I'll regret.

Zoi: So where are you going?

Kunzite: Hunting. Being this close to you and having to restrain myself makes me use up a lot of energy. The closer I get to you, the more I burn. If I'm going to be alone with you for hours on end tomorrow, I'm going to take whatever precautions I can.

Zoi: Precautions against what?

[Kunzite gives Zoi a menacing look, which turns morose as he focuses on the road again.]

Kunzite: You can always cancel you know.

Zoi: No. I can't.

Kunzite: [sighs] Perhaps you're right.

Zoi: What time will I see you tomorrow?

Kunzite: That depends. It's Saturday. Don't you want to sleep in?

Zoi: No.

[Kunzite grins]

Kunzite: Same time as usual then. Will your father be there?

Zoi: No, he's going fishing tomorrow.

Kunzite: And if you don't come home, what will he think?

Zoi: I have no idea. What are you hunting today?

Kunzite: Whatever we happen to find. Fortunately we won't be anywhere near here.

Zoi: Why are you going with Beryl?

Kunzite: Beryl's the most…supportive.

Zoi: And the others? What are they?

Kunzite: Inept, for the most part.

[Thinks of the death stares the other O'Sama's give him in the cafeteria]

Zoi: They don't like me.

Kunzite: They're confused by my feelings for you.

Zoi: So am I, for that matter.

Kunzite: I told you, you don't see yourself clearly at all. You're not like anyone I've ever known. You fascinate me. On the one hand, they know they've finally found a weakness they can use against me…. On the other hand, it's a double edged sword.

Zoi: How so?

Kunzite: I'm a dangerous animal to corner. There used to be four kings, you know. Until one of them gave me an excuse to kill him. Fortunately, the other two were just bright enough not to need a second lesson.

Zoi: So they are afraid of you?

Kunzite: Not only that, they're worried that if I get carried away and… when… I take this too far, they'll be… inconvenienced…

Zoi: Inconvenienced?

Kunzite: You see…it will be inconvenient for more than just me after… having spent so much time with you… so publicly, things… end badly.

[Zoi looks at Kunzite, and is surprised to see Kunzite looking heartbroken and anguished. Zoi reaches out his hand to comfort him, and Kunzite gives him a warning look, which softens into a fond smile at his touch.]

Kunzite: You have no idea what you do to me.

[Kunzite drives in silence until they near the school parking lot.]

Zoi: Are we still having lunch together today?

Kunzite: Most definitely.

[Zoi walks to homeroom and sits next to Umino]

Umino: So, are you going to the dance with Kunzite tomorrow?

Zoi: No, I'm not going to the dance at all.

Umino: What are you doing then?

Rei: Get with the program. Kunzite's driving him to Seattle. Some BFF you are, dork.

Umino: [alarmed] Kunzite's driving you all the way to Seattle? What's going to happen if he starts having car trouble?

Rei: [evil chuckle] I think we all know what's going to happen to Zoi when Kunzite starts having car trouble. Am I right Usagi?

[Zoi turns and sees Usagi standing close by, with her hand to her ear.]

Usagi: [sweating as she puts her arms behind her back and smiles innocently] What was that? I wasn't paying any attention.

[Zoi remembers Kunzite's concern that something bad might happen and that he might get in trouble for it, so Zoi is regretting making their weekend plans such common knowledge.]

Zoi: [sighs] Actually, Kunzite cancelled on me. We're not going to Seattle, after all. I have to study for trig or I'm going to fail.

Usagi: Is Kunzite helping you study?

Zoi: Kunzite isn't helping me study. He's going away somewhere for the weekend.

Umino: You know, you can come to the dance with me if you want. I don't have a date either. We could all hang out as a group – that would be cool. [Looks around for Naru to try to get her to agree, but she's back in her seat. He sighs.]

Zoi: I'm not going to dance.

Umino: Fine. Just offering.

[At long last lunch rolls around. Zoi sits down at his and Kunzite's table but Kunzite is not there. Zoi's starting to feel jilted, but a minute or so later, Kunzite arrives. He sits across from Zoi and pulls a couple of large foil wrapped paper plates from a bag. Zoi smells steak, lime, and cilantro.]

Zoi: Is that what I think it is?

Kunzite: Probably.

[Zoi tears away the foil to reveal a carne asada burrito with a side of Spanish rice and a side of refried beans topped with crumbled Mexican cheese.]

Zoi: Where did you get this?

Kunzite: Your favorite taco stand in Arizona.

Zoi: When?

Kunzite: About two minutes ago.

Zoi: Oh my god, I must be dreaming.

[Zoi bites into the burrito and it's still piping hot. He savors the salty taste of marinated skirt steak and real guacamole. It seems like forever since he tasted anything that wonderful.]

Kunzite: Sorry I'm late, but there was a line.

[Zoi puts it down after two bites and buries his face in his hands.]

Kunzite: Are you ok?

Zoi: I'm…a little emotional right now.

Kunzite: [smiles] If I knew it would have this effect on you, I would have shown up with a truckload of these last week.

[Near the end of lunch Beryl approaches and taps Kunzite on the shoulder with one of her long nails. Zoi has never seen her up close before and is awestruck the femme-fatale perfection of her blood red hair, her vamp makeup, her wasp-waisted hourglass figure, showcased to perfection in her skintight designer dress. ]

Beryl: [Her bloodorange eyes gleaming with dismissive scorn at Zoi] Hello, Kunzite.

Kunzite: Beryl, Zoisite. Zoisite, Beryl.

Beryl: [ice cold] Hello Zoisite. It is nice to finally meet you.

Zoi: Hi, Beryl. It's just Zoi.

[But Beryl is no longer paying any attention to Zoi.]

Beryl: Are you ready to go, Kunzite?

[Kunzite rises and Zoi can't help but notice how perfect they look together. They both look like supermodels: well over six feet tall, with idealized, statuesque builds, and striking coloration. As he studies them, he realizes that to him, the two of them embody the ideal of male and female beauty. And he doesn't look like either one of them.]

Zoi: Should I say "have fun" or is that wrong sentiment?

Kunzite: No, "have fun" works as well as anything.

Zoi: Have fun, then.

Kunzite: I'll try. And you try to be safe, please.

Zoi: Safe in Hen Tie, what a challenge.

Kunzite: For you it's a challenge. Promise.

Zoi: I promise I'll try to stay safe. I'll do the laundry tonight. That ought to be fraught with peril.

Kunzite: Don't fall in.

[Beryl laughs with cruel contempt.]

Zoi: I'll do my best. See you tomorrow.

[Kunzite starts to walk away with Beryl, but notices the sorrow in Zoi's eyes]

Kunzite: It seems like a long time to you, doesn't it?

[Zoi nods glumly]

Kunzite: [brushes his cheekbone with his fingers] I'll be there in the morning.

[They walk away in perfect grace, with Beryl's hand on Kunzite's arm. Zoi's glad he finished his food already. He feels bitter. He can't shake the feeling that these two are more than brother and sister. And if they aren't, they should be.]

[When biology class rolls around, Zoi's glad the room is pitch black. Just so nobody can see how miserable he is. In gym, Mamoru is talking to him again, and he finds he is grateful. He's starting to wonder if maybe his father is on to something. After all, it makes a lot more sense for him to be with a kid like Mamoru than a handsome god like Kunzite.]

[Zoi waits until he's in his father's squad car before he bursts into tears. Within a few seconds he's wracked with gasping sobs.]

Chief Midori: What's wrong? Why are you crying?

Zoi: I'm crying because I look like a twelve year old girl!

Chief Midori: No you don't. You look like an eighteen year old girl.

Zoi: *loud wailing sobs*

Chief Midori: Boy! I meant boy! You look like an eighteen year old boy! Though if you wanted to look less like a girl you might think of chopping off that ponytail. Not a lot of boys have long gold tresses down to their waist.

Zoi: That's easy for you to say. You're not stick thin and you don't have curls. My hair grows up, not down. If I cut my hair short, I'll look like an orange lollipop.

Chief Midori: *laughs*

Zoi: It's not funny.

Chief Midori: It is. A little.

Zoi: I'm never going to get a hot boyfriend. I don't have muscles, I don't have breasts. I look completely genderless. What decent guy would want to go out with an "it" like me?

[Zoi continues crying. Chief Midori sighs.]

Chief Midori: As your father, I hoped never to have this conversation with you, but you're not an it.

Zoi: I'm not?

Chief Midori: You've got a lean, graceful, older adolescent swimmer's body. I think you're what referred to in the gay vernacular as a "twink" which is probably the most sought after body type by gay men….

Zoi: Really?

Chief Midori: …and girls under the age of twenty.

Zoi: [giggles] Who cares about them?

Chief Midori: Why do you think I have to keep you on such a short leash? It's not because I don't trust you. It's the rest of this city I don't trust.

Zoi: Thanks Dad.

Chief Midori: [Sighs] Feeling better?

Zoi: *nods*

Chief Midori: Good. Let's never have this talk again.