Chapter 34: Inhuman Error

[scene: The same meadow. Darkness is starting to settle. The stars are out, impossibly bright. There is a chirping of crickets and fireflies are starting to emerge. Zoi is lying with his eyes closed, with his cheek against Kunzite's chest. ]

Kunzite: I don't know how to get close to you. I don't know if I can.

Zoi: [sighs] This is enough.

[Kunzite puts his arms around Zoi and buries his face in his hair.]

Zoi: You're better at this than you give yourself credit for.

Kunzite: I have human instincts. I may not be human, but they are there… [Finds the elastic band and skillfully redoes Zoi's ponytail] It's almost time for lunch. [Takes Zoi's shoulders and looks into his face] Can I show you something?

Zoi: Show me what?

Kunzite: A shortcut. [Rises and helps Zoi to his feet] The fast way from Point A to Point B. I'll show you how I travel between dimensions.

Zoi: Teleportation?

[Kunzite nods]

Zoi; [Frightened] That stuff always scares me in Scifi shows. Are you sure my soul won't just depart as soon as it leaves my body.

Kunzite: Your soul won't leave your body. We just slip through a tear in reality for a few seconds. [Quite animated] We've done it before, that day with the van, but since it was such a short distance it was over before you knew something had happened.

Zoi: You won't accidently drop me into the Twilight Zone, will you?

Kunzite: [Hugs Zoi close] Not a chance.

Zoi: I'm a bit heavier than a backpack you know.

Kunzite: Come on, little coward, hold on tight.

[Then there is a purple flash and reality vanishes away in streaks. There is a screaming in Zoi's ears and a fierce burning tempest that buffets Zoi as if he stuck his head outside of a jet airplane.]

[Both his hair and Kunzite's is whipping around his face, but Zoi is afraid to close his eyes. His head is starting to hurt. A lot. Despite Kunzite's promises, he feels as if they'll be pulled apart. He clings to Kunzite as tightly as he can, but fears it isn't enough.]

[Then it's over. They are back in Hen Tie, near the truck, and it's almost noon. Even with the ever present cloud cover, the midday sun is stinging Zoi's eyes like acid. Zoi staggers away like a drunkard. He's relieved to be on solid ground again, but trying his hardest not to vomit in front of Kunzite.]

Kunzite: [Ecstatic] Exhilarating, isn't it?

[Zoi just continues to stagger, nearly doubled over.]

Kunzite: [chuckles, until it goes on for a while and he realizes Zoi isn't simply being melodramatic. His smile vanishes] Zoisite?

Zoi: [whimpers] I'm not feeling well.

Kunzite: [concerned] Oh, sorry.

[Zoi finally straightens up and when he looks at Kunzite, there is blood trickling out of his nose, ears, and the corners of his eyes.]

Zoi: I think I need to lie down…

Kunzite: Zoisite!

[Kunzite runs and catches Zoi as he collapses. He holds Zoi in his arms while Zoi lies there as limp as a ragdoll. He wipes away the blood with his thumbs and is greatly relieved when more doesn't well up. Zoi's color is bad but he appears to be breathing normally. For a moment Kunzite has no idea what to do other than pace around uselessly while clutching Zoi's unconscious body close to him.]

[He doesn't have any healing magic. That is Beryl's forte. Kunzite never had a use for it. His own body heals faster than a human's and the ability to heal others always seemed pointless when there was nobody he cared about. If an enemy were ever able to wound him to the point where he might need outside intervention, the disgrace of it would have been worse than an honorable death.]

[Now he feels helpless, since Zoi appears to require immediate medical attention, and he can't think of any way to help him. Teleporting again with Zoi would probably be a terrible idea. He can't open a portal–dimensional portals require a lot of time and work to pinpoint to a precise location. He debates whether to take the car, driving as fast as he can and hoping he doesn't arrive at a hospital too late to reverse any brain damage he inadvertently inflicted on Zoi, or else leave Zoi to summon Beryl.

[Zoi opens his eyes. Much to Kunzite's relief, his pupils appear normal]

Zoi: [whimpers] Kunzite. I have the worst icecream headache right now.

Kunzite: [shouts] What's your name!

Zoi: [winces, not only because of the volume of his voice, but also because of the wording of his question] You can't remember what my name is?

Kunzite: [softer] Please. It's important you answer to the best of your ability. When is your birthday?

Zoi: [Thumps him on the chest] The day before Halloween. You already asked me that.

Kunzite: What are the first eight elements of the periodic table?

Zoi: [sighs] Hydrogen-helium-lithium-beryllium-boron-carbon-nitrogen-oxygen. I thought we were done with all the questions– [clutches his head] OOOOOOOWWWWWW!

Kunzite: [alarmed] What!

Zoi: My ears just popped!…[smiles and sighs happily]…Ah, that feels better.

[Kunzite sighs and puts Zoi down. He now certain it's nothing more than a pressure headache with a few burst blood vessels]

Kunzite: Note to self. Human sinuses don't fare well during interdimensional travel.

Zoi: Huh?

Kunzite: Next time we do this, hold your breath.

Zoi: [laughs derisively] Like there's going to be a next time…

Kunzite: [concerned] How do you feel?

Zoi: Dizzy, I think. [Grabs Kunzite hands] Oh, no. Look at all that blood. Are you hurt?

Kunzite: [hides his hands behind his back before wiping them clean with a handkerchief] I guess teleportation wasn't the best idea.

Zoi: [unconvincingly] I thought it was interesting.

[Kunzite gives him a dubious look]

Zoi: Ok. I absolutely hated it, you show-off!

[Kunzite laughs and hugs him close to hold him steady. Zoi's breathing becomes more rapid. After a while, Kunzite steps back. Zoi is blushing, but his face is free of blood and he appears to be back to normal.]

Kunzite: How are you feeling now.

Zoi: Really good, actually.

Kunzite: Are you sure? No dizziness? No residual headache?

Zoi: No, not at all. Why?

Kunzite: Because there was one more thing that I wanted to try today…

[Zoi looks at Kunzite expectedly, so Kunzite leans him against the side of the car and takes Zoi's face into his hands. He brings his face closer to Zoi and then hesitates with his eyes closed. Zoi finds himself holding his breath for those several seconds.]

[Then Kunzite's lips are pressed against Zoi's.]

[Zoi's desire burns so hot he feels like his blood is about to boil over in his veins. He tangles his fingers in Kunzite hair, trying to pull him in closer. Zoi's lips part as he breathes in Kunzite's heady scent, and Kunzite deepens the kiss.]

[The unfamiliar sensation of having another person's tongue in his mouth is unpleasant for Zoi at first, but since this is Kunzite, he quickly adapts, and meets Kunzite's tongue with his own.]

[The kiss breaks off only after Zoi starts feeling lightheaded from lack of oxygen.]

Zoi: Wow.

Kunzite: [breathless] No kidding.

[Kunzite continues to look into Zoi's eyes for several seconds, but makes no move to either release him from his grasp or kiss him a second time.]

Kunzite: I'm stronger than I thought. That's good to know.

Zoi: I wish I could say the same.

Kunzite: You are only human after all.

[Kunzite releases Zoi and backs away and Zoi almost falls over]

Kunzite: Still dizzy? Or is that my kissing expertise?

Zoi: I can't be sure, I'm still woozy. I think it's a little of both.

Kunzite: You should let me drive us back.

Zoi: [giggles] Are you insane?

Kunzite: I can drive better than you on your best day. You have much slower reflexes.

Zoi: [nods] That may be true, but I don't think my nerves can take your kamikaze-style driving right now.

Kunzite: Zoisite, you can't even walk in a straight line right now. What makes you think can drive a car? [gives him a sly smile and holds out his hand for the keys] As your dear friend, I'm afraid it's my duty to prevent you from driving while under the influence.

Zoi: Under the influence?

Kunzite: I've made you intoxicated.

Zoi: [gives Kunzite a sly pout] I can't argue with that. And you're not intoxicated at all? By me? not even a little.

[Zoi takes the initialize this time and kisses Kunzite.]

Kunzite: More than a little.

[Kunzite pulls him closer and Zoi gasps as Kunzite kisses his throat.]

Kunzite: [smiles and grabs the keys] Regardless. I have the better reflexes.