[Scene: Metalia's parlor.]
[The Death Phantom looks at Metallia, who nods, before he advances on Kunzite, a ball of glowing energy forming between his hands]
[Jeddy and Neffy back away, but Zoi stands in front of Kunzite with his arms spread]
Zoi: DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT HURTING KUNZITE, YOU IRON-MAIDEN-ALBUM-COVER-ART REJECT!
[Kunzite just sighs and places a hand on Zoi's shoulder, pulling him closer]
Kunzite: Might I have a few minutes alone with my husband, to say our goodbyes?
[The Death Phantom stares intently at Kunzite for several seconds before nodding]
Death Phantom: You have twenty minutes.
[Kunzite walks to the door at a leisure pace holding Zoi close to his side, until they are outside the entry door.]
As soon as the door closes, Kunzite take an anxious look back over his shoulder. Then he runs, tugging Zoi by the wrist.]
Zoi: Are we going somewhere safe?
Kunzite: Of course.
[Zoi laughs with relief as they rush down the stairs out into the parking garage, and climb into Kunzite's Maserati after it materializes.]
[Kunzite starts the engine while Zoi fastens his seatbelt]
Zoi: Couldn't we just teleport away?
Kunzite: The Death Phantom will sense that and when he does, he will follow.
Zoi: Oh...How far can we get in twenty minutes?
Kunzite: Far enough.
Zoi: Where are we going?
Kunzite: It's not safe to say.
[Kunzite shifts the car into reverse, then takes a moment to caress the side of Zoi's face, and Zoi closes his eyes and preens against his hand like a cat]
Kunzite: When we get there, I want you to promise me something.
Zoi: Anything.
[Strokes Zoi's hair with his other hand]
Kunzite: I want you to promise me you will try to be happy...regardless of what happens...
Zoi: Of course.
[The kiss and the kiss goes on for a long time. Then Kunzite's words sink in and Zoi's eyes snap open]
Zoi: Wait, what are you saying!
Kunzite: I'm saying goodbye, Zoisite.
[Zoi struggles as Kunzite grips Zoi and drains his energy. Once Zoi is barely conscious, Kunzite stops the engine.]
Kunzite: I'm sorry, Zoisite. I wish I could promise this will end well. But things seldom do when the Gods of Chaos are involved.
[Kunzite unfastens Zoi seatbelt and carries him back to the apartment. Zoi is too weak to even protest as Kunzite sets him down on Metallia's Chintz sofa, and stands before the Death Phantom, a distance away, looking very regal. Neffy and Jeddy back away from Kunzite, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire.]
Death Phantom: You should have kept running.
Kunzite: I doubt that would have helped.
[Metallia clears the dishes from the table and brings them to the sink.]
Death Phantom: Kneel before me and accept your punishment.
Kunzite: I, Kunzite, Leader of the Shitennou and First Among Kings, accept my punishment, but I will not kneel before the God of Cowards.
[Metallia looks up from a sink filling with suds, appalled by her sons rudeness]
Neffy: [to the Death Phantom] Your Holiness, I just want to clarify, he doesn't speak for the rest of us.
Kunzite: Be quiet and do your job of guarding Zoisite.
Death Phantom: [chuckles under his breath] You arrogant fool. Barking orders as if you weren't some pawn to be sacrificed. Kneel, so you might do me the proper honor as I end your worthless existence.
Metallia: [washing dishes with rubber gloves and a bristle brush] You heard him, boy. Kneel.
Kunzite: [bows his head] I will kneel, Mother, if you command it. But first you must give me your word that you will protect Zoisite, and all of his loved ones, to the fullest extent of your powers as a Major Goddess of Chaos.
Metallia: I will do no such thing.
Death Phantom: [Chuckling at Kunzite] Your mother will thank me for ridding her of you so that she might clear the way for a more worthy servant.
Metallia: [setting a plate to dry] You can't see into my mind so don't put words into my mouth. Kunzite, kneel and get this over with.
Kunzite: [losing his temper] I will not kneel. Not to a god of a people without honor.
Death Phantom: You dare to stand before the gods, and speak words of contempt?
Kunzite: The Children of Nemesis acted unanimously to steal my husband from his home, merely to torture and kill him in front of me, believing there was nothing I could do to stop them. The insult alone was enough to merit their deaths, but I warned them repeatedly they would be wiped out to the last man if they so much as attempted to harm him. They proceeded anyway, forcing me to make good on my promises.
[Metallia pauses her dishwashing to stare at Kunzite]
Kunzite: I do not regret dying at your command, Mother. So long as I do not diminish myself by kneeling.
[Metallia turns off the water and faces the others]
Metallia: You raise an interesting point. The Children of Nemesis acted solely to disparage my eldest son, and by extension, myself. In the face of the insult to his goddess, Kunzite displayed a truly pathetic amount of restraint. In light of this, I consider my oldest to be blameless in the matter and therefore immune from punishment.
[She points at Neffy and Jeddy]
Metallia: The other two? They just joined in for the fun of it. Kill them both and consider the matter closed.
[Neffy and Jeddy gasp and clutch each other fearfully]
Death Phantom: This is an outrage!
Metallia: I offered one, now I'm letting you kill two. Kill them or show them mercy, it makes no difference to me. But know this. You've wasted too much of my time as it is, so you have thirty seconds to act, before I consider the matter closed. And that means no harassing the youngest, or any of his tribe of monkeys. If I learn that you so much as said 'boo' to a human of his acquaintance, I will wrap you in unbreakable chains of dark magic and toss you in an active volcano. Just see if I don't.
Death Phantom: [apoplectic with rage] YOU!...YOU!...YOU!
Metallia: Time's wasting. Take your justice and then get out of my apartment.
[The Death Phantom lets out a roar of frustration before teleporting away]
Metallia: I guess you boys got lucky. Now leave and don't come back until I summon you.
[Kunzite walks over to the sofa and restores Zoi's energy. Zoi stands and takes a swing at him]
Zoi: [crying hysterically] You son of a bitch! Don't ever do anything like that again! [he teleports away in a flurry of petals and Kunzite sighs and teleports after him]
[Neffy and Jeddy are still standing there, clutching each other fearfully]
Metallia: I said leave.
Jeddy: You..you..told the Death Phantom to kill us, that you didn't care-
Metallia: [throws down her dishtowel] Are two really that stupid? I was BLUFFING. That lug doesn't care what happens to you. Or Kunzite either for that matter. He wants his pet monkey and he's not going to do anything that will interfere with his chances of getting his pet monkey.
Jeddy: But you told him-
Metallia: It told him to leave the little slut alone, but if he manages to get the monkey to swear an oath of obedience, there is nothing I can do.
Neffy: So you think he will try again-
Metallia: Undoubtedly. But at worst case he will succeed and then it will no longer be my problem. Now for the the last time. Get out.