Chapter 86: Live at Five

[Scene: The corridor at Hen Tie hospital.]

Beryl: That did not go well.

Kunzite: It went as well as I hoped…I knew that if mother didn't bring him back as a reward, I could make her do it as a punishment.

Beryl: He's not back. Don't you realize that?

[Kunzite keeps walking]

Beryl: Didn't you hear what she said? "Enjoy being married to your corpse husband." Don't you remember? She said those same words to me once, a very long time ago.

Kunzite: Yes. I know.

Beryl: You know and you're happy about that? …Kunzite. He's gone. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll get over him.

Kunzite: The thought that I might get over him is the very worst part of this.

Beryl: Kunzite, I don't think you fully grasp this yet, but what she has done to you is a terrible curse. To see him lying in front of you, and yet knowing he's not there… having to look at him and feel all your happiness die inside of you…having to be the one that ultimately destroys him…

Kunzite: He's not Endymion. And I'm not you.

Beryl: Kunzite, you're not thinking of having… a relationship–

Kunzite: Of course not. Don't be vulgar.

Beryl: Then what are going to do?

Kunzite: The only thing I can do. I'll wait. I'll wait to see what Mother has done with him.

[Scene: 5:00 PM, Aino residence. Minako is sleeping fully dressed in her bed. Minako's mother comes into her room, stands at the foot of her bed, and shakes her head in disgust.]

Mrs. Aino: MINNNNNNA! Get out of that bed this minute! Just because it's the weekend doesn't mean you get to sleep in!

Minako: [jolted awake by her mother's screaming] Geez Louise! I work and go to school! I pay my share of the rent, so get off my back, you hag!

Mrs. Aino: Go to the store and get me a pack of smokes!

[Minako yawns and stretches and sits up. She turns on the TV to help her wake up. There is an image of inky black plumes of smoke billowing over a massive glowing structure completely consumed by flames. ]

TV: … We have stunning footage of the massive inferno that has consumed Blackmoon Manor. Tearing through the home of Hen Tie's oldest and wealthiest family…

Minako: Oh, my god!

[Reaches for her phone.]

[Scene: Rei is mediating in a rock garden wearing a tank top and yoga pants. Yuuichirou Kumada is gazing at her from behind a bamboo screen. He ducks away as her phone rings.

[She answers it.]

Rei: Hello?

Minako: Rei?

Rei: What, bitch? I'm meditating.

Minako: Bitch, turn on channel Seven!

Rei: Why?

Minako: Just do it, you truckstop hooker!

[Rei heaves a sigh and stomps into her room and turns on the TV.]

TV: …A state of emergency has been declared. The fire broke out during a family reunion. Dozens, if not hundreds of people are believed to be trapped inside…

[Rei's eyes become as wide as saucers. She picks up her phone and dials]

[Scene: Mamoru's apartment. Mamoru is studying an MCAT study guide and taking notes in a black notebook. His phone rings.]

Mamoru: Mamoru Chiba.

Rei: Oh, my god! Turn on Channel Seven.

Mamoru: What's wrong?

Rei: Blackmoon Manor is burning up! With everyone in it!

[Mamoru turns on the TV]

TV: …The devastation is beyond belief. The building is simply melting away. Fire crews called in from neighboring cities to fight the blaze. Some from as far away as Oregon…

[Mamoru reaches for his phone and dials]

[Scene: The Crown Center Café. Usagi is scraping icecream from the bottom of a parfait glass.]

Motoki: [smiles at her] You WERE hungry!

Usagi: Ummm….That was good. Can you get me another Strawberry-Kiwi parfait?

Motoki: Sure thing.

Usagi: [winks] Is there any chance you could sneak me an extra cookie wafer?

Motoki: I'll see what I can do.

[Usagi watches American Idol on the café flatscreen. Motoki brings over a parfait studded with about a half dozen cookie wafers.]

Motoki: I'm afraid I went a little crazy with the cookie wafers.

Usagi: Oh, Motoki, you're the best!

[As Motoki walks away, his cell phone rings]

Motoki: Crown Center, this is Motoki.

Mamoru: Are you in front of a TV?

Motoki: No. I'm at work.

Mamoru: You need to find a TV and turn on Channel Seven.

Motoki: Why? What's going on?

Mamoru: Blackmoon Manor is on fire.

[Motoki picks up the cafe's remote and switches to Channel Seven]

Usagi: Hey! I was watching that!

[She falls silent as she realizes what is happening.]

[Motoki kneels beside her with his hand on her shoulder and they watch together.

TV: …Still not safe for rescuers to enter the structure…This eyewitness video shows the sole survivor being carried out of the inferno….

Usagi: Oh, my god! Is that Zoi?

Motoki: [grave] I sure hope not.

Usagi: Oh! It can't be. What would Zoi be doing at Blackmoon manor?

TV: …The young man, believed to be in his late teens or early twenties, was found unresponsive. Advanced life support methods were used and rescuers stabilized his breathing in preparation to transport him to Hen Tie Hospital…

[In the background they can see Zoi on a gurney wearing an oxygen mask. Zoi's eyes are wide open. A paramedic is poking his fingers in the direction of Zoi's eyes and when Zoi doesn't blink, he turns to his colleagues and shakes his head sadly.

[Usagi and Motoki gasp in fear]

Usagi: He's going to be ok, isn't he?

Motoki: I…hope so.

TV: … No word yet on his prognosis…

[Usagi digs through her purse for her phone and dials.]

[Scene: The Osa-P jewelry shop. On the floor is the ruins of Naru's cellphone.]

*You've reached the voicemail of –*

[Usagi hangs up and dials again]

[Scene: The Umino residence.]

Umino: Umino residence, Gurio speaking.

Usagi: Hey, Umino. Do you know where Naru is?

Umino: Can't say that I do.

Usagi: Turn on Channel Seven.

[Umino turns on channel seven]

TV: ….There has been no comment from Judge Willem Blackmoon's office in the capitol, but inside sources claim he was attending the reunion with the rest of his family. There are also rumors that due to the aggressive nature of the blaze, it might have been set deliberately, or have been the result of illegal fireworks stored improperly inside the compound. Chief Midori, any word on the cause of the blaze?

Chief Midori: …

TV: Chief Midori?

Chief Midori: ….

[All of Zoi's friends dive for their phones and start dialing each other frantically]

[Scene: The O'Sama household. Kunzite switches off the TV]

Beryl: What now?

Kunzite: [Completely devoid of emotion] Now I go back to the hospital.