Chapter 31: Show me the magic

[Scene: The day of Zoi's date with Kunzite. Zoi wakes. It's still dark out, but he wonders if it's close to 7:00. He looks at the alarm clock. It says 4:30.]

[Close enough. Zoi gets out of bed and gets ready.]

[He's not sure what to wear, he knows he's going hiking, allegedly someplace sunny, but it's too early to tell what the weather is going to be like. He finally decides on a pair of nice jeans, a tank top, and a long cottony sweater that falls to his hips. He checks himself over from the front and the back to make sure he looks ok, before he goes downstairs.]

[Chief Midori is packing up his fishing gear.]

Chief Midori: You're up early. Want a ride to the bus station?

Zoi: I'm not going to Seattle. I decided to wait until Umino can come with me.

Chief Midori: Oh, okay. Do you want me to stay home with you?

Zoi: No, Dad, don't change your plans. I've got a million things to do… homework, laundry…I need to go to the library and the grocery store. I'll be in and out all day. You have fun.

Chief Midori: Are you sure?

Zoi: Absolutely, Dad.

Chief Midori: You sure are easy to live with.

Zoi: I could say the same thing about you.

[Chief Midori leaves and Zoi drinks a cup of strong coffee so he can do the laundry and clean the house as quickly as he can, to make it look like he stayed home all day. His mind vacillates between anticipation and terror at the thought of seeing Kunzite. The more he thinks about it, the more he's afraid he will lose his nerve when Kunzite shows up and hide until Kunzite leaves. He keeps looking out the window to see if Kunzite will arrive early.]

[Then there is a knock on the door, and Zoi comes running. His earlier anxiety completely forgotten.]

Kunzite: Good morning.

Zoi: Good morning.

Kunzite: We match.

[Zoi sees Kunzite is also wearing jeans and a loose gray sweater. Zoi slips out the door, locking it behind, and they walk to the car. Kunzite walks toward the driver side, but Zoi puts out at hand to stop him.]

Zoi: We made a deal.

[Kunzite hands him the keys, and Zoi gets into the driver's seat, while Kunzite gets in the passenger side. Zoi puts on his seatbelt, and Kunzite puts his on to, but with a bit of amusement.]

Zoi: …How do I start this?

[Kunzite guides him through starting the car and putting it in reverse. Then demonstrates the patience of a saint as it rolls down the driveway.]

Zoi: [staring straight ahead] Where to?

Kunzite: Turn left…. Now keep going straight…You know, the speed limit is thirty five.

Zoi: [afraid to take his eyes off the road] How fast am I going?

Kunzite: Seven.

Zoi: It feels like I'm going a lot faster than that.

Kunzite: No it doesn't. [smiles] Do you plan to make it there before nightfall?

Zoi: Better safe than sorry.

Kunzite: Give it some gas. At the speed you're going, I can get out and walk away *before* there's an accident.

[Zoi drives a little faster until the needle is on the thirty-five. He's convinced the car is going to self-destruct at that speed.]

Zoi: My brain isn't fast enough for this.

Kunzite: Don't worry. The other drivers can see you, you know. And even if they can't, I have ways of avoiding them. Make a right…. Your other right…Now keep driving until the pavement ends.

Zoi: [When he parks he realizes they've only gone about two miles. He gets out at a hilly area with a muddy trail and few sparse trees] This is the hiking trail we're going on?

Kunzite: There are caves here. I thought we might go exploring. Is that a problem?

Zoi: [Looks at the dingy landscape and then up at the steel gray sky in disappointment] We're still in Hen Tie. I thought you said we'd be going somewhere far away, where the weather is nicer.

Kunzite: [Gives him a sly smile] And is that what you told your father?

Zoi: No.

Kunzite: Where does he think you are right now?

Zoi: Home. Doing laundry.

Kunzite: Well, at least Usagi and her friends know we're together, even if they think we're in Seattle.

Zoi: Actually, I told them you cancelled on me—which is true.

Kunzite: [His smile is replaced by a look of horror, then anger] So no one knows you're with me?

Zoi: That depends, I assume you told Beryl.

Kunzite: Beryl is not going to try to save you!

Zoi: Huh?

Kunzite: Zoisite. I'm a murderer! My every impulse is that of a heartless killer! Do you really hate this city so much you've become suicidal?

Zoi: You said it might cause trouble for you…us being together publicly.

Kunzite: So if your father pulls your naked body out of a shallow grave next week, you're worried *I* might get in trouble?

Zoi: Yes.

Kunzite: [shakes his head] Jesus Christ. [hikes down the trail and beckon for Zoi to follow.] This way.

[Kunzite walks ahead, totally infuriated. Zoi follows after him.]

[This date isn't turning out to be anywhere near as magical as Zoi hoped it would be. Still any day that he gets to be with Kunzite is better than the best days when he doesn't. He rushes to keep pace with Kunzite's long strides.]

[Kunzite turns with a look of annoyance, which softens involuntarily into a fond smile. He paused to let Zoi catch up with him, then puts his arm around him and kisses him on the temple.]

Kunzite: You show an alarming lack of regard for your own safety. I only hope you're not this foolhearty when I'm not around.

Zoi: Don't worry, I'm only a fool for you.

Kunzite: This way. [Kunzite turns off the trail toward a slope leading up into the hills.]

Zoi: [uneasy] No trail?

Kunzite: We're taking the road less traveled. Or should I say the road untraveled.

Zoi: What road?

Kunzite: We can't be followed.

Zoi: [looks up the slope leading to the caves, which seems a bit too steep and unstable in places] I'm not a good hiker.

Kunzite: I can be patient.

Zoi: You'd better lead the way.

[It turns out it's not as hard as Zoi thinks. The path is mostly flat, and in the more steep parts, Kunzite reaches out and hold him by the elbow to help him along. Releasing him instantly when the way is clear. Zoi's heart races each time at his touch. By the time they reach a level plateau, Zoi is dripping with sweat. The light sweater he's wearing is starting to feel like an army blanket.]

Zoi: Are we there yet?

Kunzite: Nearly. Do you see the darkness of that cave ahead?

Zoi: Um, should I?

[As Zoi looks up he takes off his sweater and knots it around his waist, and fans out his tank top to get some air]

Kunzite: One of the caves should appear darker than the others.

Zoi: They all look the same to me.

Kunzite: It may be a bit soon for your eyes.

[Zoi looks down at himself and is embarrassed that the tank top he has on is a bit too big and pretty flimsy. He wore it for comfort, but now he feels underdressed. He hazards a glance as Kunzite to gauge his level of disapproval.

[Kunzite's also taken off his sweater and is completely barechested. Zoi takes one look at Kunzite's dark, well-muscled, sweaty chest and his brain shuts off with pure animal lust.]

Kunzite: [misinterprets his tortured expression.] What's wrong?

Zoi: Huh?

Kunzite: Are you ok?

Zoi: Huh?

Kunzite: Do you want to go home?

Zoi: Huh?

Kunzite: [takes hold of Zoi's elbow] I'll take you home.

Zoi: What? No!

[They continue on. After a few yards Zoi can finally see what Kunzite is talking about. One of the caves appears to be filled with an inky black vortex. It makes a soft roaring sound like a jet engine. Zoi instinctively backs away from it, but Kunzite takes him by the hand and leans him right into it.]

[They emerge in another place.]

[The first thing Zoi notices is now deep blue and clear the sky is, he's never seen a sky that blue before. The sunlight is so intense the air seems golden. They're standing in a meadow filled with wildflowers: violets, daisies, wild roses, buttercups, morning glories, snapdragons, lilies of the valley, and even some flowers Zoi has never seen before. The flowers and soft grasses are swaying in the breeze. There are no signs of civilization, utility poles, no roads, no houses. Instead they are penned in by mountain that rise so high that the tops are capped with snow, which melts midway down to form waterfalls, that spill down the lush green slopes below. There are deer drinking from a lake in the distance filled with exotic water fowl.]

[Zoi just stands there with his mouth hanging open]

Kunzite: Not bad for a first date, huh?