Chapter 64: The Long Goodbye

[Scene: The Midori house. Chief Midori is sitting at the table and practically hyperventilating with fury at the sight of Kunzite with his arm around Zoi.]

Kunzite: Before you say anything, I want to assure you that everything the Blackmoons told you was a lie. I am not a pimp and I am not a pornographer. I would never harm your son, and I certainly wouldn't exploit him or share him with anyone else.

[Releases Zoi and approaches Chief Midori]

Kunzite: What I am is a million times worse than either of those things.

[His eyes glow white.]

Kunzite: I am influencing your mind right now, only because I don't have time for misunderstandings or disbelief. Look into my eyes and see me for what I truly am. I am a creature of pure undiluted evil.

[Chief Midori looks at Kunzite and becomes whitefaced with terror and a thousand terrifying images are reflected in the pupils of his eyes.]

Zoi: That's not true–

Kunzite: I am completely devoid of goodness and morality. You son cannot see this because I have fallen in love with him, and he monopolizes my compassion. But, know this. In my desire to possess your son, I have seduced and manipulated him.

Zoi: Kunzite? Why are you saying these things?

Kunzite: I have married your son by the customs of my people and I have lain with him as my husband. I have bound his soul to my own. So great is my obsession that I've coaxed him to drop out of school so that we wouldn't need to be parted for those few hours he's in the classroom.

Zoi: You didn't coax me to drop out of school.

Kunzite: Yes, I did.

Zoi: No you didn't!

Kunzite: Zoisite! Open your damn eyes! Why do you think I took you all those places when you were supposed to be in class?

Zoi: The day we spent in Japan was my fault. I knew you lost track of time, but I didn't say anything.

Kunzite: I didn't lose track of time! I'm incapable of losing track of time!

Chief Midori: [the terror quickly fading to be replaced by his paternal fury] So it was your idea for him to ditch school?

Kunzite: Yes. I intended to make him drop out altogether so he would become wholly dependent on me. I relented only because I hadn't counted on how deeply wounded he would be by your disapproval. If I have any weakness, it's that I can't bear to see your son unhappy.

Zoi: But I turned it around! I've had perfect attendance since then and I'm getting all A's.

Kunzite: That was all your doing. It has nothing to do with me.

Zoi: It has everything to do with you! I never cared and I still don't care how well I do in school! I just want to make you proud of me!

[Kunzite turns his attention back to Chief Midori and his eyes glow white]

Kunzite: Look into my eyes and see the Blackmoons for what they really are. Comprehend the danger they pose for your son. Understand why I need to take him far from Hen Tie this very night, and deliver him to Phoenix, where he will be safe.

Chief Midori: Where he will be safe? Are you kidding me? What happens when one of your enemies decides to attack him in Phoenix? Who is going to keep him safe then? My ex-wife and her gigolo husband? No! He's staying here in Hen Tie where I'll shoot any monster like you that tries to come near him!

Kunzite: Very well. [holds out his hand to Zoi] I have no choice but to bring him with me to live in the Dark Kingdom.

Chief Midori: Oh, no, you don't! His mother and his grandparents are going to be calling here in a few months wanting to throw him a party for his sixteenth birthday, and I'm not telling them I allowed my only child to drop out of highschool so he can have sex fulltime with some creepy old man in a castle full of monsters!

[Kunzite's expression doesn't change but somehow he seems shaken]

Zoi: Dad! You don't understand! We're in love! We're more in love with each other than anyone has ever been in the history of the entire world!

Chief Midori: [To Kunzite] Listen to him! He's fifteen! He has no business saying things like that at his age! He should be reading comics and playing at the game center with his friends! Not worrying which of the thousands of his boyfriend's victims is going to try to kill him tomorrow!

[Kunzite stands as still as a statue.]

Chief Midori: Was it fun for you, Kunzite? Lying to me and winning my trust, so you could violate my son, practically under my very nose? I'm sure the two of you had a good laugh about that. You claim you care about protecting my son, but the greatest danger to him has always been and will always be you!

Kunzite: Yes. You're right. I need to do what I should have done from the beginning.

[Kunzite holds out his hand to Zoi.]

Kunzite: This is your last chance. Come with me to the Dark Kingdom, or stay here, the choice is yours.

Zoi: I already told you. I can't just run off and leave my father to deal with the consequences.

Kunzite: [turns away] Then I guess this is goodbye.

Zoi: WAIT! YOU'RE LEAVING ME?

Kunzite: Not forever. It will only be a few years.

Zoi: YEARS?

Kunzite: Your father is right. You should be with people your own age right now instead playing house and hiding from monsters. I can't come back until you are old enough to move out of here on your own.

Zoi: [Crying] No! Don't leave me! You can't leave me!

[Kunzite turns around and tries to harden his heart.]

Kunzite: Zoisite. I asked you to choose, and you chose your father over me.

Zoi: No, you're asking me to choose between my life and my father, since I can't live without you!

[Kunzite holds him close to comfort him]

Kunzite: Zoisite, it's going to be alright.

Zoi: [sobbing hysterically] It won't be alright when I'm not with you.

Kunzite: I'll come back for you when you're old enough. We'll be together in another two and a half years.

Zoi: I won't survive another two and a half weeks!

Kunzite: Two and a half years is not a long time. It will pass in the blink of an eye.

Zoi: You don't understand! In two and a half years I may look completely different than I do now!

Kunzite: Will you stop loving me if I come back looking differently?

Zoi: No! But you won't be come back! I'll never see you again! I can feel it in my bones! If you leave me tonight, it will be forever!

Kunzite: [whispers] It won't be forever, I promise. In fact, if I'm able to persuade Mother to protect you, I may be back tomorrow morning.

Zoi: You won't persuade her. She hates me. I know it.

Kunzite: [releases Zoi and holds out his hand] Give me your phone.

[Zoi hands him his phone and a blue glows surrounds it]

Kunzite: There. I've put a number in there where you can reach me if you find yourself in grave danger. Memorize that number, in case you lose this phone. But know this. If you call that number, I will appear to bring you straight to the Dark Kingdom, and I will never bring you back. Use that number only if it is a dire emergency, or when you are finally prepared to leave this world behind forever.

[Zoi takes the phone and Kunzite catches him up in his iron grip, crushing Zoi to him, pulling Zoi up onto his tiptoes. He pulls Zoi's face up to his. His lips press against Zoi's. Then it is over. He sets Zoi down, but does not release his face, his eyes burning into his.]

[Then his eyes go black, curiously dead, and he turns away.]

Kunzite: Goodbye, Zoisite.

[In a flash of magenta, Kunzite is gone.]