Chapter 80: Did I mention Kunzite's Evil?

[Scene: The Osa-P jewelry store. Mrs. Cope and Mrs. Osaka are still lying unconscious on the foor. Neffy is still tethered by a collar around his neck.]

Neffy: [continues to pull at the collar] You can't do this. I'll tell mother!

Kunzite: Zoisite has killed six Blackmoons. Including Billy Blackmoon and one of his direct nephews.

Neffy: Yeah? Good for him. So what?

Kunzite: So they've captured him and they are holding him at Blackmoon Cove.

[Neffy's eyes go wide and he breaks into a sweat.]

Kunzite: So far he is safe, but they intend to torture and kill him at one o'clock this afternoon.

Neffy: No! [Neffy covers his ears] I don't believe you!

Kunzite: Yes you do… I've convinced them to hold the execution at Cat Rock, so we'll get a good view of the proceeding. I've done my best to talk them out of it, but of course it did no aren't going to pass up an opportunity to make Zoisite scream for me, knowing I can do nothing to save him… [grins] Still want me take that chain off your neck?

Neffy: You son of a bitch! Why are you telling me this?

Kunzite: I heard all about your fight with Esmeraude Blackmoon.

Neffy: Yeah, what about it?

Kunzite: In spite of the covenant, and your total animousity toward us, you protected my husband with your life. Even taking a knife through your hand.

Neffy: [grumbles] Yeah, well deep down, I'm just a big softy.

Kunzite: I very much doubt that. Am I correct in thinking you were unwilling to protect Zoisite, but you just couldn't help yourself?

Neffy: You know damn well I couldn't help myself, you haughty bastard!

Kunzite: Then I'm right. When the Blackmoon's betrayed the White Queen and allowed us to win the Battle of the Silver Crystal, Mother cursed us so that we are unable to kill, harm, or even interfere with the Blackmoons. We weren't even allowed to look for a loophole. But I found one anyway, did I not?

[Neffy just huffs and gives Kunzite an angry glare]

Kunzite: How unlucky it is for you that Blackmoons weren't the only people who tried to use my deep and profound affections for my beloved as a weapon against me.

Neffy: …

Kunzite: You tried to kill him during biology class. You drained away his energy, and I barely reached you in time to save him. I didn't have time to deal with the both of you, so I made you put a curse on yourself so you could never harm him again.

[Kunzite smiles]

Kunzite: You should have gone easier on him. You didn't leave me a lot of time to think so I had to make the curse a broadreaching as possible, didn't I?

[Neffy averts his eyes]

Kunzite: The curse I inflicted upon you that you must protect Zoisite at all costs, even at the expense of your own safety. Which would seem, in its roundabout way, to cancel out Mother's directive for you not to interfere with the Blackmoons.

Neffy: Yes, but that doesn't mean I can fight with them!

Kunzite: [coy] Oh?

Neffy: I can't attack them I can't kill them. I can't even fight back if they hit me. All I can do is push your wifey-boy out of the way or get in front of him and act as a shield.

Kunzite: [grins] Yes. I figured as much. Fortunately that might be enough.

Neffy: How is that enough? What is it that do you expect me to do, exactly?

Kunzite: I expect you to do your very best to save my husband's life, but failing that, I expect you to die horribly.

[Neffy gasps as his eyes open wide with comprehension]

Kunzite: [still smiling] I'm sorry, Nephrite. I take no joy in this [smiles like a lying fiend] but the Blackmoons refuse to listen to reason. If I have to lose someone, it's either you or him… And it certainly is not going to be him.

Neffy: Goddammit, Kunzite. Mother will have your hide for this!

Kunzite: Do you think I care? If I can get Zoisite back from the Blackmoons, unharmed, do you think I care what happens to me afterwards?

Neffy: You son of a bitch.

Kunzite: Besides, what am I doing that's so terrible? You were doomed the moment I told you Zoisite is at Blackmoon Cove. The only thing that's keeping you from teleporting there and trying to save him right now is that chain and the knowledge I won't let you. Yet. So if anything, you should thank me for prolonging your miserable life.

Neffy: Oh, I'll get you for this.

Kunzite: Sadly, I don't think you'll ever get the chance. Shall we go?

Neffy: [oddly resigned] Alright. Let's go.

[Neffy allows himself to be led to the exit, until he is within armslength of a fire extinguisher. In a flash he grabs it from the wall. With a scream he tries to bash Kunzite with it as hard as he can. The extinguisher passes through Kunzite like he's a ghost, and Neffy falls though him and onto a jewelry displaycase, cracking it with his weight.]

Kunzite: What do you think you're doing?

[Neffy lefts out a warcry, and tries to take Kunzite out with a sweeping kick, but Kunzite vanishes and rematerializes a few feet away, still tethered to Neffy.]

Kunzite: [losing patience] I don't understand what you hope to accomplish. Did you learn nothing from watching me kill Tanzanite?

Neffy: [laughs as he hurls the fire extinguisher at Kunzite] Oh I learned quite a lot from watching you kill Tanzanite.

[Kunzite ducks and Neffy tries to send a flying punch at Kunzite's midsection, but Kunzite dodges him and Neffy goes flying into a jewelry case shattering it from the impact sending glass and jewelry flying.

Kunzite: [getting anxious] Stop this at once. You can't channel any dark energy. You can't defeat me, and even if you could, that chain is the only thing keeping you alive!

[Neffy ignores him and steps up the attack moving with lightning fast fury. Despite the fact he has the upper-hand, Kunzite becomes rattled and starts fighting back. As good as a fighter as Nephrite is, he's not a match for Kunzite, Not without magic. Neffy holds his own for a minute or two, then Kunzite deals a brutal beatdown, until at last Neffy is kneeling on the ground and Kunzite summons an energy blade.]

Neffy: [despite the beating he just took, laughs with delight] That's right! Kill me! Lose yourself to the bloodlust, you berserker motherfucker!

Kunzite: [Almost coming to his sense. Almost.] Why are you doing this?

Neffy: Because…Fuck you! And fuck your little pansy boyfriend! If I have to die today I intend to die NOT saving him!

[Kunzite dispels the energy blade and yanks Nephrite up by the hair.]

Kunzite: [wild eyed] You're saving him! Even if I have to drag your halfdead miserable carcass over to Blackmoon Cove and throw you at them myself!

Neffy: Haha. Over my dead body!

Naru: YOU!

[Both Shitennou turn and see Naru holding her cellphone and pointing at Kunzite.]

Naru: KUNZITE! I knew you were a bad person! Don't worry Neffy! I'm calling 911!

Neffy: [terrified] No, Naru. Don't!

[A bolt of energy erupts from Kunzite's hand and Naru screams as the cell phone is blasted from her hand.]

[Kunzite advances on Naru dragging Neffy behind him]

Neffy: Kunzite, no!

Kunzite: [laughing like a madman as the energy blade reappear in his hand] Little girl, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time!