Chapter 95: Kunzite No Baka
[In an instant Kunzite is back at his side. Zoi looks at the vases filled with flower and tries to rise to look at them, but he he becomes dizzy and slumps back down. Kunzite's cool fingers catch him.]
Kunzite: No, you don't.
[Zoi turns as Kunzite's face is just inches from his.]
Kunzite: You're still very weak. You've been through a lot. You need to rest.
[Zoi can feel Kunzite's lips at his ear]
Kunzite: I love you.
Zoi: I love you, too.
Kunzite: I know.
[Zoi tries to turn his face toward Kunzite, but he's too tired. Kunzite can tell what he wants, so he kneels over him and kisses him on the lips]
Zoi: Thanks.
Kunzite: Anytime.
Zoi: I finally understand all that stuff about people's energy and how it tastes. Once I tasted yours it was impossible to stop. Impossible… do I still taste as good as I used to as a human?
Kunzite: Even better–better than I imagined possible.
Zoi: I'm sorry.
Kunzite: Of all the things to apologize for.
Zoi: What should I apologize for?
Kunzite: For very nearly taking yourself away from me forever.
Zoi: I'm sorry.
Kunzite: I know why you did it. It was still irrational, of course. You should have called me.
Zoi: You wouldn't have saved my dad.
Kunzite: No, I wouldn't have.
Zoi: Oh, Kunzite, I need to see him.
[Kunzite looks through the door.]
Kunzite: You have nothing to worry about. Your only job is to rest. Beryl's keeping him up to date. You can give him a call later. Mother's telling the others you will need to stay at the mansion with us for the next few weeks, since you will require around the clock monitoring and rehabilitation. You should try to avoid humans until you've learned to restrain your new impulses.
Zoi: You mean my new impulses to kill humans?
Kunzite: Not just those.
Zoi: [nervous] What else is there?
Kunzite: You'll see when your new powers start manifesting themselves in an unpredictable manner.
[Zoi stares at the door]
Zoi: Does it bother her…Beryl…that you succeeded where she had failed?
Kunzite: Undoubtedly. But I think it pleases her more to know that Mother is loosening the reins on us and becoming less hardbitten and cynical in her old age. If Beryl ever does fall in love again, things should go a little more smoothly for her this time.
Zoi: My mother. She came here to Hen Tie. What did you tell her had happened to me?
Kunzite: I never got much of a chance to talk with her, but I assume she thinks the same thing everyone else does. That you were rescued from the fire that burned down Blackmoon Manor. The firefighters managed to get you out, but you had already perished from smoke inhalation. That they were too slow. [His face tormented] It was almost too late.
Zoi: [tormented by the anguish in Kunzite's voice] Oh, Kunzite. I'm so sorry.
Kunzite: Shhh! Everything's alright now.
Zoi: [smiles] So Blackmoon Manor burned up, did it?
Kunzite: [nods] Right down to its very foundation.
Zoi: Did you do that?
Kunzite: [smirks] I wish I'd had time.
[Zoi just gazes adoringly at Kunzite for a while.]
Zoi: How as your [airquotes] trip to the drink machine?
Kunzite: Interesting.
Zoi: [smirks] How so?
Kunzite: I'm surprised…a castle in Italy… and your mother…I thought that's what you would want.
Zoi: [winks] But then you'd be separated from the rest of your family.
Kunzite: [almost smiles then his face turns grave] I would stay in Hen Tie.
Zoi: [Outraged] But you said I'd need to be trained to be around humans again!
Kunzite: I meant after your training.
[For more than a minute Zoi just blinks at him. Then he turns on his side, away from Kunzite.]
Zoi: [cold] I see.
[He sounds calm, but he's chewing his thumb and his eyes are filled with tears, and Zoi's health monitor starts to go haywire, beeping like crazy with the numbers jumping around completely at random.]
[A nurse comes rushing in]
Nurse Eudial: Oh, my. I've never seen one do that before…[bangs on the monitor with the heel of her hand, then sees Zoi with his eyes shut to prevent his tears from escaping] Time for some pain meds, sweetheart?
Zoi: I don't need anything.
Nurse Eudial: No need to be brave. It's better if you don't get too stressed out. You need to rest.
[The nurse stares at Zoi for a while. ]
[Zoi shakes his head.]
Nurse Eudial: [sighs] Hit the call button when you're ready.
[The nurse gives Kunzite a stern look as she's leaving.]