[Scene: Neffy's wineceller under the O'Sama mansion. Zoi is lying in a shallow pool of wine and other spirits, paralyzed with venom. He can slowly feel the venom wearing off. He can almost move the tips of his fingers. But he knows there is no way it will wear off in time to fight back against the monsters.]
[The senshi are watching from the steps to the cellar in wide-eyed horror.]
Minako: [shouting to Zoi] Damn it! I told you to avoid the tails! Why don't you ever listen?
[Zoi can't say anything since since he's paralyzed. He can only watch the rapidly approaching monsters preparing to feed on him.]
[The six surviving manticores are closing in, their fangs bared and dripping with saliva. ]
Makoto: We need to do something!
[She tries to rush forward, but Minako holds out her arm to block her path]
Minako: [stern] Stay back. There is nothing you can do for him.
Makoto: To hell with that! [strikes a pose with her arms crossed] SUPREME THUNDER!
[Unfortunately, a cellar is not the best place for that sort of attack.]
[The C'est La Vie gang scream as the beams trapped in the stairwell zap them with a tasing effect, while the remainder of the bolts crash around the cellar, scattering the monsters. The effects are greatly diminished from being underground, which is fortunate since Zoi bears the brunt of it, trapped in a pool of fluid.]
[Still, the attack is effective enough to disorient the monsters, at least for a minute or two.]
[Undeterred, Makoto resolves to settle this with her brute strength. She tries to push Minako out of her way, but Minako twists her into a headlock.]
Minako: Stay here! All of you! That is an order! None of you are to go down there. I'm not having any of you risk your lives for a Shitennou!
Ami: But-
[The manticores have regained their senses and are regrouping around Zoi, who has gained only enough mobility to make a fist.]
Minako: Ami! This is the break we've been waiting for! Those creatures aren't paying any attention to us, so use your computer to find a way to turn them back-
Rei: [aghast] Oh, my god, bitch! Our friend is about to be eaten down there! What is wrong with you?
Minako: [snarling at Rei] You think I enjoy this? You think I LIKE giving orders that cause people to die? I don't! But it's my job to find a resolution to this nightmare that results in the fewest number of HUMAN casualties!
Rei: UN-ACCEPTABLE! [she points to a manticore who is lunging to take a bite out of Zoi's calf] FIRESOUL!
[The firebolt strikes the manticore causing it to roar in agony and jump back. But it also strikes the pool of alcohol, causing it to burst into flames again.]
[The manticores leap away onto the debris to safety from the flames. Zoi has regained just enough mobility to sigh in annoyance as the flames engulf him.]
Rei: Oh, no!
Ami: BUBBLE-
Zoi: [Through his gritted teeth] DON'T YOU DARE.
Ami: [panicking as she tugs Minako's sleeve] What do we do? What to we do?
Minako: [arms crossed, looking surly] Oh, so someone is ready to listen to me now?
Makoto: Oh for the love of God-
[The manticores are inching forward, trying to angle their jaws above Zoi while avoiding the flames. He doesn't see a way of surviving this. Not unless Minako has a sudden change of heart and starts firing off white light beams at the monsters. But she seems unwilling to help him, and the other Senshi's attacks would do about as much harm as good.]
[Damn. Kunzite is going to be so furious with him. He had specifically told Zoi to run away at the first sign of danger, but no. He had to be a bigshot, and now he was getting himself killed again.]
[Zoi could feel the hot breath of the monsters, even through the flames, when suddenly a pillar of brilliant fuschia light appeared in a corner of the cellar and he can see the C'est Vie Gang shrinking back, as if they are far more frightened of that than the manticores.
[As Zoi stares at it, a slim but muscular male silhouette with glowing white eyes materializes in its center, hovering about a foot over the floor, its arms crossed over its chest, holding a glowing blade in each hand.]
[Zoi sighs again. He remembers that for some unknown reason, Kunzite had set up an alert to notify Neffy whenever Zoi is near death. So now Neffy could make up for having his winecellar trashed by witnessing Zoi's impending death. But an instant later the light dims and the figure solidifies.]
[Zoi catches his breath and the senshi scream and shrink back in involuntary terror as the form takes on silvery hair, ice blue eyes, dusky skin...]
Zoi: [under his breath] Kunnnnzitttte.
[The flames die but the manticores turn from Zoi and left out a roar as they rush toward Kunzite.]
Senshi: NOOOOO! STOOOOP!
[Zoi can tell they are not screaming out of concern Kunzite, but rather for the manticores. Kunzite ignores the C'Est La Vie Gang as he throws the blades. They slice completely through the monsters, who turn back into humans as their lifeless bodies fall to the floor.
[After Kunzite kills each pair the blades returns to his hands, and then he throws them out again.]
[Zoi has regained most of his mobility, so he sits up and watches adoringly until Kunzite kills all six. Zoi finds he can't muster much sympathy for the dead. Kunzite came to save him. That's all that matters.]
Zoi: Kunzite!
[Zoi rises to run to him.]
[Kunzite stares at him with no look of recognition.]
[And, too late, Zoi remembers Kunzite's warning not to be anywhere near him while he is fighting.]
[Kunzite throws his blades. In a panic Zoi dematerializes into a spray of petals. The blades pass harmless but then he rematerializes too quickly. He looks back in panic as he sees the blades heading right for him in their return trajectory.]
[He manages to duck back to avoid them, but then he struck from behind by a sharp and heavy blow to the back of his head.]
[The force of the blow sends Zoi skidding across the floor, where he lies in an unmoving heap.]
[Kunzite's eyes resume their normal color and he looks down with a sickened expression as he realizes what he has just done.]
Kunzite: Zoisite?
[Zoi doesn't response. He just lies there with his eyes closed.
Kunzite: Zoisite!
[He rushes to his side and gathers his body into his arms]
[Zoi giggles then his eyes snap open all at once.]
Zoi: Did I scare you?
Kunzite: Yes! Of course you did!
Zoi: [still laughing] Good. Now we're even.
Kunzite: That's not funny! I almost killed you!
Zoi: But you didn't.
[Zoi sits up and forces a kiss on Kunzite]
[Kunzite responses with annoyance. Initially. But within seconds he melts into the kiss, and the two show every sign of escalating the display of passion, as if the senshi aren't even there.]
[Minako sneers down at them in disgust from the stairwell.]
Minako: Come on, girls. Let's go.