Chapter 60: Surrounded by Heroes

[Scene: Monday morning in the hallway of Hen Tie High on the way to lunch. Zoi looks around but there is no sign of Kunzite. The weather is warming up so he's just got a t-shirt under his zipped hoodie. He's in a sour mood since he didn't get to go to the Crown Center the day before since he's been placed on restriction for two months by his father for violating his curfew. No hanging with his friends, no dates with Kunzite. He has to come home right after school.]

Umino: So now that the others not around, can you tell me why you're grounded?

Zoi: I stayed out past curfew on Saturday and didn't call to say I got stranded.

Umino: Why didn't you call?

Zoi: I couldn't, my phone wasn't getting a signal.

Umino: It seems a bit excessive for your father to ground you for two months over that.

Zoi: He thought I should have called him on Kunzite's phone.

Umino: Why didn't you?

Zoi: It's a bit hard to explain.

Umino: Oh.

[Zoi's face tells him he wants him to let it drop, but Umino's curiosity gets the better of him]

Umino: Why is it hard to explain why you couldn't use Kunzite's phone?

Zoi: Let's just say I had another run in with Demande Blackmoon.

[Umino's hair stands on end]

Umino: He didn't bother you again, did he?

Zoi: Yes, he did.

Umino: So you couldn't use Kunzite's phone because Kunzite had to drag him out back and rough him up a little to get him to stop bothering you?

Zoi: No.

Umino: No?

Zoi: Like I said, it's hard to explain.

[Umino look over his shoulder and his eye go wide with terror.]

Umino: Oh! He's here!

Zoi: Who? Kunzite?

Umino: No—

[Umino Is shoved roughly aside as Zoi is cornered by Demande and Saffir Blackmoon. Zoi tries to get away but Demande grabs him by the arms.]

Saffir: [to Umino] We need to have a talk with your friend, so you need to get lost.

Umino: [breaks into a sweat] Sure, no problem.

[Demande watches Umino run away]

Demande: [to Zoi] You're surrounded by heroes, aren't you.

Zoi: Let go of me!

Demande: [pushes him up against the lockers] Relax, we just want to talk.

Saffir: That guy you're seeing. He's one of the O'Sama boys.

Zoi: Yes.

Saffir: Maybe it's none of my business, but I don't think that's a very good idea.

Zoi: You're right. It is none of your business!

Saffir: You probably don't know this but the O'Sama brothers have an unpleasant reputation around Blackmoon cove.

Zoi: Actually I did know that. [Gives Demande a pointed look] But the reputation couldn't have been deserved since the O'Samas have never set foot in Blackmoon cove, have they?

Saffir: That's true. [Also stares at Demande] You seem …well informed about the O'Sama's. More informed than I suspected.

Zoi: Maybe even better informed than you are.

Saffir: Maybe.

Demande: Is your father well informed?

Zoi: [stammers] Dad likes the O'Sama's a lot.

Saffir: It's none of our business. But it may be your father's.

Zoi: Though it would be my business again if I think it's my dad's business or not, right?

Saffir: [thinks about this and nods] Yes, I guess that is your business too.

Zoi: Thanks.

[Demande releases Zoi]

Demande: Just think about what you are doing.

Zoi: Okay.

[Zoi tries to walk away by Demande grabs him and pushes him up against the lockers again. Zoi looks at Demande's eyes and they are filled with nothing but menace.]

Demande: What I meant to say is, don't do what you're doing.

[Zoi tries to free himself, but Demande is holding him in an iron grip.]

Esmeraude: My prince! What a pleasant surprise. You've finally come here to see me!

[Demande turns to see Esmeraude smiling happily at him in her minidress and gogo boots. Then she notices Zoi, and her face is filled with venomous hatred.]

Demande: [Never takes his grip off Zoi] Yes, cousin, well you were so amazing last night so I decided to bring you a present. I brought you a necklace to match your pretty green hair.

Esmeraude: [over the moon] You bought me a necklace.

Demande: Saffir, go to the car with cousin Em and give her the necklace I bought her.

Saffir: Where is it? I didn't see a necklace in the car.

Demande: I think I put it in the trunk. You may have to dig for it.

[As soon as their backs are turned Demande shoves Zoi into an empty classroom]

[Zoi tries to get out of the classroom, by Demande is blocking the door]

Zoi: Let me go!

Demande: First off, I want to apologize. I'm afraid we've gotten off on the wrong foot. I'm aware my conduct in the past has been a little inappropriate at times.

Zoi: A LITTLE?

Demande: Listen to me. You are in terrible danger. That guy you are seeing? He's not human. He's the worst monster the world has ever known. But I can take you some place where he can't hurt you.

[holds out his hand but Zoi moves away from him]

Zoi: You mean your sex dungeon!

Demande: No, not my sex dungeon. Stop being difficult. We're just trying to help you.

Zoi: I don't want your help!

Demande: He's really done a number on you, hasn't he?

[Demande advances on Zoi and Zoi backs away to the front of the room in terror]

Demande: Zoi, listen to me. This isn't you. He's messed with your brain and made you his slave. But don't worry, we can find a way to undo this.

Zoi: No! Get away from me!

[The door bangs open, and Esmeraude is standing there, full of fury]

Esmeraude: There are no necklace anywhere in that car.

Demande: I guess I must have lost it.

Esmeraude: You lost it? Oh Really!

Demande: Oh, well. Easy come, easy go.

[Esmeraude stomps off and Saffir enters the room]

Demande: [tights his grip on both of Zoi's arms] Saffir, bring the car around. Zoi is coming with us to Blackmoon Cove.

Zoi: [Tries to flee] NO! I AM NOT!

Demande: Yes, you are. This is for your own good. Trust me, you'll thank us later.

Zoi: [clings to a cabling pillar, hysterical with terror, while Demande tries to drag him away by his upper arms] NO I WON'T! GET AWAY FROM ME!

Demande: [Tries to yank him away as hard as he can] This is for your own good. You'll thank us later.

Saffir: Brother, I'm not the legal expert in the family, but I'm fairly certain you can't just walk into a schoolyard and drag a screaming boy into your car.

Demande: This is a special case.

Saffir: No, it's a felony.

Demande: It would be a worse felony not for us not to drag him off.

[Someone taps on Demande Blackmoon's shoulder, and as Demande turns to see who it is, Mamoru Chiba punches him across the face, sending him crashing to the floor.]

Saffir: BROTHER! [drops to his knees beside Demande and holds him in his arms]

Mamoru: Highschool is a place for teachers to shape budding young minds, but it appears you're the one who needs to be taught a lesson.

Saffir: I'll kill you for this!

Demande: [smiles and shakes Saffir off] No need to resort to violence, we can handle this diplomatically.

[Stands and the moon on his forehead starts to spin]

Demande: What's happening here is none of your concern. You're going to leave now and mind your own bus—

[He stops talking and the moon stops spinning as he sees Mamoru is not alone. He's flanked by Usagi, Rei, Minako, Umino, and Naru. All of them have their arms crossed and look like they are ready for a fight.]