Chapter 41: Time to Pay the Piper

[Scene: A beach in La Jolla shortly before sunset. White sand cliffs topped with restaurants and boutiques rise behind them and waves of pure blue ocean stretches out to the horizon. They are in their swimsuits, walking on the beach with their arms around each other and Zoi is finishing off a sour apple shaved ice.]

Zoi: Look at all those women staring at us. They're probably checking you out and thinking "what a waste."

Kunzite: How do you know they aren't checking you out and thinking "what a waste"?

Zoi: [giggles] I really don't think that's what they are thinking.

Kunzite: No. From the way they are smiling, I think they'd like to watch us in action. Especially if there is a chance we'd invite them to join us.

Zoi: Ha. Like that would happen.

[Zoi finishes his shaved ice and tosses the paper cone in the trash]

Kunzite: So do you have more questions for me?

Zoi: Only a million or two. So if Metalia created you, who created Metalia? And where did she come from?

Kunzite: Ah, now we are getting philosophical. Well, where did you come from? Evolution? Creation? Couldn't she have evolved from her own species? Predator, and prey? Or do have trouble accepting that the same forces that created the killer whale and the baby seal could have shaped both you and I into being?

Zoi: Let me get this straight, I'm the baby seal, right?

Kunzite: [Squeezes Zoi and kisses the top of his head] You are definitely the baby seal.

[He releases Zoi and gives him a little push]

Kunzite: But I'm more like the great white shark than the killer whale.

Zoi: [Bats his eyes at Kunzite] You're still waiting for the running and screaming aren't you?

[Kunzite smiles and nods]

Zoi: I hate to burst your bubble but you're not as scary as you think you are. [Raises his nose in the air and walks away with a smile] I'm not scared of you at all.

Kunzite: You really shouldn't have said that.

[Kunzite growls and tackles Zoi, who falls laughing into the sand. Kunzite grabs Zoi's wrists and pins him to the beach, straddling his body.]

Zoi: You wouldn't…

[Zoi tries to get loose, but Kunzite puts his arms around him and pulls him close to his body]

Kunzite: You were saying?

Zoi: [grinning] That you're a very, very terrifying monster.

Kunzite: [laughs] Much better.

[Starts making out with Zoi]

Kunzite: Your tongue is cold and it tastes like an apple.

[Kisses him some more]

Zoi: Can I get up now?

Kunzite: Or else?

Zoi: Or else I'll wrap my legs around you and cling to you like a limpet.

Kunzite: Oh, now who's the scary monster?

[They resume kissing and sink into the sand in a passionate embrace]

Zoi: [looks around] Is your photographer getting all this?

Kunzite: I'll be very disappointed if she's not.

[Goes back to kissing Zoi]

Kunzite: I'm very glad we're both covered in sand right now.

Zoi: Why's that?

Kunzite: Because that's the only thing keeping me from taking this any further.

Zoi: Not the spectators?

Kunzite: I'm a firm believer in giving the people what they want.

Zoi: Somehow I doubt that. But ok.

[They resume kissing until Kunzite breaks it off and looks at the ocean.]

Kunzite: We'd better get going before the tide rolls in and washes us away.

Zoi: Yes, we'd better. My father should be home soon.

[A short Time later, at the Midori house. They drive up in Kunzite's car, cleaned up and fully dressed. Kunzite parks in his usual hidden spot. Zoi notices that his father is not home yet.]

Zoi: Would you like to come in? I could make you some coffee.

Kunzite: Yes, if it's alright.

[Zoi nods. They get out and walk to the house and Kunzite opens the front door.]

Zoi: The door was unlocked all day?

Kunzite: No, but I don't need a key.

Zoi: Oh, right. Magic.

[They enter and the lights come on without Kunzite touching a switch]

Zoi: [Gives Kunzite a sly look] I'd show you around, but you probably know your way around here pretty well already.

Kunzite: [smirks] What else is there to do at night in this town?

[They enter the kitchen and Kunzite sits in a chair. For a moment, Zoi is awestruck that Kunzite is actually in his house, sitting at his kitchen table, waiting for Zoi to fix him a pot of coffee. Zoi imagines what it would be like to be married and sharing a house with Kunzite, cooking him breakfast every morning before they go to work. It's a long time before Zoi can look away from him. He's certain the best looking thing in the room.]

Zoi: [finishes making the coffee and pours himself a glass of orange juice before sitting down with Kunzite] How often have you been here?

Kunzite: I come here almost every night.

Zoi: [stunned] Why? [Thinks about it then hands Kunzite his coffee] Oh, right. My dirty dreams. I forgot that you're a peeper.

Kunzite: [smiles] It's not that at all. I like to look in on you to make sure you're okay.

Zoi: Why wouldn't I be okay?

Kunzite: [Sips his coffee] You are such a delicate little thing. I worry about you constantly… Should your father know I'm here?

Zoi: I'm not sure–

[Kunzite vanishes, coffee cup and all]

Zoi: Kunzite!

[There is the sound of a car crunching the gravel and headlight illuminate the front window. Zoi is in a very bad mood now that Kunzite has left without so much as saying goodbye.]

Chief Midori enters the front door. He is holding a bouquet of red roses in a glass vase, but he looks like he is thoroughly upset about something.]

Zoi: Hi dad. I made you some coffee.

[Tried to rise to clean up.]

Chief Midori: Sit down. We need to have a long talk.

[Chief Midori places the roses directly in front of Zoi]

[Zoi gives his father a confused look]

Chief Midori: These are for you.

Zoi: Oh?

[looks for a card and sees one. He opens it and it reads:

Love is like the wild rose-briar; Friendship like the holly-tree. The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms, But which will bloom most constantly? - Emily Bronte

Chief Midori: They're from Mamoru Chiba.

[Zoi looks down.]

Chief Midori: [Sits down across from Zoi] He told me he had to bring them to the station because you weren't in school AGAIN today.

[Zoi turns bright red]

Chief Midori: [stern] …And you wouldn't answer the doorbell.

[Zoi stares at the table]

Chief Midori: So…how IS your ankle doing?

[Zoi drinks his orange juice in glum silence.]

Chief Midori: [narrows his eyes] You didn't really have a cold last night, did you?

Zoi: [sets down his glass and scoots his chair back] I'd better clean the kitchen.

Chief Midori: [raises his voice] Zoisite O. Midori. Stop being evasive and look me in the eye.

[Zoi looks at his father]

Chief Midori: Zoisite… Is there something you're not telling me…?

[Zoi shakes his head and sips his orange juice]

Chief Midori: [angry glare] …About you and Kunzite O'Sama?

[Zoi swallows his orange juice and sets down the glass so his father can't see how badly his hand is shaking.]