[Scene: Lunch in the Hen Tie High Cafeteria]

Naru: [Sits next to Umino] Hey, Zoi. What did you do this weekend?

[Zoi fights a blush as he thinks of his weekend with Kunzite]

Zoi: Not much. Just a lot of lying around in bed.

Rei: [slightly flushed] Oh, you're not getting what Minako had are you? She's supposed to be better now, but she's completely spaced out. I tried to talk to her, but the bitch just walked past me like I wasn't even there.

Usagi: Well it's good that she's out of the hospital. I should drop by her place to see if she needs anything.

Naru: [To Usagi] What did you and Mamoru do Sunday? We didn't see you at the Crown.

Usagi: We were going to have a nice romantic picnic on the beach. For Mamoru to make up for inviting El to come volunteer with us without asking me first. But…we changed our minds.

Naru: That's too bad.

Umino: [picking up on Usagi's slightly rattled expression] What happened?

Usagi: Well, we drove up to the coast. There's a good spot for a picnic a few steps from the shore. But when we got half way there, we saw…something.

Naru: What did you see?

Usagi: I don't know. We think it was a bear. It was black, but anyway, it seemed…too big.

Naru: Oh no, not you, too?

Zoi: Haruka mentioned something like that when I spoke to her after the movie on Friday.

Umino: [shakes his head] You're not going to see any bears that close to the ocean.

Usagi: Really. We did see it.

Mamoru: She's right. I saw it too. And Zoi's dad has been getting calls from people claiming they saw the bear. He said it was huge and black and just outside of town. Right, Zoi?

[Zoi stares like a deer in the highlights. He'd meant to ask his father about the bear, but he got too caught up in defending Kunzite's honor and storming away in a huff to broach the subject. He'd have to make a point to ask about it right after school.]

Zoi: Sure.

Umino: Hmph.

Rei: I wonder if it has anything to do with all those missing hikers.

[Zoi's about to ask "All those missing hikers?" But that would be the same as admitting he hasn't spoken to his father all weekend.]

Usagi: [nods] Probab-ly.

Mamoru: [To Zoi] How many campers have been reported missing so far?

Zoi: Um..I can't say for certain.

Naru: I think it's four now.

Umino: No way. It's up to five at least.

[What's strange is that Zoi spoke with his father briefly over breakfast after he returned from Kunzite's to get ready for school. His father seemed rather jovial given the circumstances, but made no mention of any bear sightings or missing hikers. He didn't even warn Zoi not to go outside. And yet this is exactly the sort of thing Zoi's father would harp on about in his overprotective zeal.]

Naru: Hmmm…I wonder why Minako is sitting all the way over there.

[Zoi looks over and sees Minako sitting alone with her head drooped down and her food untouched in front of her.]

Rei: [snickers] She probably wants to be alone with her new boyfriend.

Usagi: What new boyfriend?

Rei: [looks at her like she's stupid] The white haired guy sitting right next to her, rubbing her back and telling her everything is going to be ok?

[Zoi looks over and Minako is still sitting alone]

Umino: Umm…Rei. There's nobody sitting next to her.

Rei: Oh…right… [laughs] …he's a ghost… That explains why you can't see him… But I thought you might be able to see him because you can see Zoi, and he's dead too.

[The others stare at Rei with their mouths open]

Naru: Oh, Rei? That's not funny.

Rei: What? Don't you remember? He died in the hospital.

Umino: No, the doctor made a mistake. He was fine all along. He made a full recovery.

Rei: Sure, right before he got eaten by a monster and replaced by an evil spirit.

[Zoi's mouth goes dry]

Usagi: [whining] Stop it, Rei. You're freaking us out.

[Rei face is red and her eyes look a bit unfocused. Mamoru places his hand on Rei's forehead and winces and pulls it away like he's touched a hot stove.]

Mamoru: Rei. I think I should take you straight to the nurse's office. You are literally burning up right now.