Chapter 84: War Is Hell
[Scene: Blackmoon Cove. The covenant has been broken so now the Shitennou can attack the Blackmoons with impunity. They've waited thousands of years for this moment so Neffy and Jeddy are taking full advantage. The Blackmoons knock each other out of the way and trip over picnic baskets as they run for their lives.]
[Kunzite teleports directly to the table where Demande Blackmoon is sitting. Esmeraude Blackmoon throws herself in front of Demande with her arms spread wide to protect him, but Kunzite just bats her out of the way. He then summons an energy blade and drives it through Demande Blackmoon's chest, killing him instantly. He sweeps his arm back and kills a sobbing Esmeraulde Blackmoon on the recoil, then kills Saffir in a similar manner when he teleports in screaming to avenge his beloved brother.]
[Kunzite grins with sadistic glee as he surveys the scene around him, wondering who he is going to kill next. His primary grudge has been settled with the death of the Blackmoon royal family, but he swore he'd kill everyone, and he's thirsty for blood. But not so bloodthirsty that he isn't willing to let his brothers have their fun as well.]
[He scans the scene again, but sobers a little when he sees Zoi still chained to the post, slumped as far as he can with his head and hair hanging down.]
[Kunzite's glad he's fainted. A Shitennou/Blackmoon war isn't something he wants him witnessing.]
[Kunzite teleports to his side.]
Kunzite: Come on, sleepyhead. This is no place for you to be. Let's get you to safety.
[Zoi doesn't respond so Kunzite shake his arm softly to stir him awake.]
[When Kunzite touches Zoi's skin, it is slightly cooler than it should be.]
[Kunzite frowns but his mind will not allow him to process what that might mean. He shakes Zoi harder.]
Kunzite: Zoisite. Wake up. You have to wake up.
[Zoi does not wake. Comprehension is starting to seep in, as much as Kunzite wishes it wouldn't.]
[With trembling fingers, Kunzite brushes Zoi's hair back from his face. Zoi's lips are pale, his eyes are open and staring at nothing.]
Kunzite: Oh, no, Zoisite. No!
[Kunzite brushes his hair back further.]
Kunzite: Zoisite, please, Zoisite, listen to me, please, please, Zoisite, please.
[He pushed the hair away from Zoi's temple.]
[There is a bullethole above Zoi's left ear.]
Kunzite: Zoisite, Zoisite, no, oh please, no, no!
[Kunzite gathers up Zoi's body into his arms and carries him away from the post.]
Kunzite: Don't worry. I can fix this. I will fix this.
[In an instant Neffy appears, grinning like the cat that ate the canary.]
Neffy: Can I take a moment to point out how hilarious this is?
[Kunzite just stares at him, shellshocked]
Neffy: All this hard work, all this careful planning, all these long speeches and threats and grandiose rescue plans…only you ended up getting the tyke killed by a stray bullet.
[Kunzite stares at Neffy with equal measures of selfloathing and murderous intent.]
Neffy: [thoroughly enjoying himself] Hey, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying this wasn't good plan. It was! It did work, after all, and for that I'm more grateful than you could ever know. I'm just saying you might have put a litttttle more thought into the part where you sent a firing squad after me while I was standing right in front of the little guy.
[Neffy laughs and claps Kunzite on the shoulder]
Neffy: You know, strategy was never your forte. Manipulation, yes. Bullying, definitely. Delegation, you have that down to a science. You have a keen understanding of human weakness, but not much of a head for tactical thinking.
[Neffy shakes his head sadly]
Neffy: I'm sorry to say it, but you're just not detail-oriented enough to be a good planner.
[Kunzite's howls at Neffy in rage]
[Neffy backs away in terror and finds it prudent to teleport far away.]
Kunzite: [To Zoi] Zoisite, you're going to be fine. Do you hear me, Zoisite? I love you.
[Kunzite teleports to Beryl.]
[Beryl is wearing a crimson and violet couture gown and rises from the divan with a look of pity.]
Beryl: [approaches] Oh, Kunzite.
Kunzite: [stern] Fix this.
Beryl: [taken aback] Kunzite, what do you expect me to do?
Kunzite: Heal him. He's hurt. Use your healing magic. You need to heal him.
Beryl: He's not hurt. He's dead!
[Kunzite just stares at her]
Kunzite: Bring him back to me.
Beryl: Kunzite… [Gives him a sad look] … he has a hole in his brain.
Kunzite: Are you saying you can't fix this?
Beryl: I'm saying I don't even think Mother could fix this.
[They stare at each other in silence]
Kunzite: We're about to find out.
Beryl: Kunzite! No!
[In a flash, Kunzite is gone.]
[Beryl teleports after him]