[Scene: Zoi is lying on the bathroom floor, his eyes focused on nothing. He can hear his father talking on the phone.]

Chief Midori: Kunzite. You need to get here now. Zoi is hurt. I think he's dy-

[Chief Midori stops talking abruptly. Zoi wonders if Kunzite hung up on him.]

[He feels himself being picked up off the floor. He assumes by his father but when he looks up he sees Kunzite. Zoi doesn't know whether to be terrified or euphoric.]

Kunzite: [stern] Call Beryl. Tell her to get here. Now.

[Kunzite carries Zoi into his bedroom with his father trailing after them, frantically dialing. Kunzite sits on the edge of Zoi's bed, holding Zoi tightly in his arms]

Kunzite: What happened?

Zoi: [bursts into tears] Nothing. It was an accident. It didn't mean anything.

Kunzite: What didn't mean anything?

Zoi: [crying] I went to the movies with my friends like I planned but only Mamoru and Motoki showed up... Motoki was sick. Mamoru had to drive him home, but Mamoru is even sicker than he is... I had to teleport him home, but he was being so crazy. I had to flirt with him to get him to calm down and he kissed me-

[Kunzite looks away and his mouth sets into a grim line]

Zoi: But it didn't mean anything! He loves Usagi! He's too sick to even know what he's doing!

[Zoi waits for Kunzite to react. He doesn't. No reassurence, no apology, no promise that he will fix this. Just the same grim expression.]

Zoi: [cries harder] Oh my god. It's my fault! If I had just knocked him out and dragged him to the hospital like I was supposed to, none of this would have happened!

Kunzite: Zoisite, you made sure all your sick friends got home safely. That hardly deserves the death penalty.

Chief Midori: Kunzite. I can't seem get ahold of Beryl-

Kunzite: THEN CALL JADEITE AND TELL HIM TO FIND HER, IDIOT!

[Despite Kunzite's abusive tone towards his father, Zoi cheers a little since it sounds like Kunzite isn't going to just storm off in disgust and leave him to die without him.]

Zoi: Can Beryl fix this?

Kunzite: [looking away] ...Yes...

[Zoi sniffles because that sounds like a lie.]

[An instant later Jadeite and Beryl appear. Beryl's eyes open wide in alarm.]

Beryl: Kunzite! Get away from him!

Kunzite: No.

Beryl: Are you trying to get yourself killed? He's giving off radiation!

[Beryl pries Kunzite's arms away from Zoi and lies Zoi down on the bed before pushing Kunzite away. Zoi notices there are signs of burning on Kunzite wherever their skin made contact.]

[Kunzite tries to step forward but she gives him a warning look before turning her attention to Zoi's injuries.]

Beryl: How are you doing, Zoi?

Zoi: I've been better.

Kunzite: [to Beryl] What is this? Who did this to him?

[Zoi blinks at Kunzite]

Zoi: Wait, this wasn't you?

[Kunzite looks genuinely hurt and offended by the accusition.]

[The knowledge that Kunzite had nothing to do with fills Zoi with undescribable joy. Even though the pain is getting worse by the second, knowing Kunzite is innocent in the matter is better than Christmas morning. In spite of everything, Zoi finds himself laughing hysterically with relief.]

[After a moment of fear and hesitation, Beryl holds out her hand about six inches away from Zoi's chest wound. A ball of white light apears with wisps of smoke rise from it. She pulls her hand back abruptly with a little cry as the ball of light explodes, searing her hand, cracking Zoi's ribs and making his flesh erupt.]

[Jadeite has to pull Kunzite back]

Chief Midori: What is she doing? She's making it worse!

Beryl: Be quiet! All of you! I need to concentrate!

[There is a flash as Neffy enters. He takes one look at Zoi and his face breaks into a grin.]

Zoi: [pointing at Neffy] What is HE doing here!

Neffy: [smiling] Don't mind me. I'm just your friendly neighborhood Angel of Death.

[Beryl gives him a warning look]

Neffy: Seriously. Kunzite set up an alert to notify me if Wifey-Boy here is mortally wounded and near death.

Chief Midori: [panicked] Mortally wounded?

Zoi: Get him out of here!

Neffy: [grinning] Sorry. No can do. I have to stay until the end in case there is anything I can do to help.

Zoi: Great! So I have to look at his ugly mug the whole time I'm dying?

Neffy: I'm afraid so. [Beryl] So what's wrong with him, anyway?

Beryl: The White Death.

Jadeite: I've never heard of that.

Beryl: That's because it's a term I just made up. I don't have time to explain this adaquately at the moment, but long story short, he's contracted a flesh-eating virus.

[Jeddy jumps away with a scream.]

Beryl: Don't worry. Nobody in this room can catch it, except his father, and for him it will simply appear as an especially nasty strain of the common cold.

Chief Midori: What's going on? How did this happen? Where did he get it from?

Beryl: I told you. It's a long story and I don't have time to explain right now. Please, everyone, just be quiet and let me work.

Neffy: [under his breath] Good. It doesn't seem like there is anything I can do to help, so I guess I'll just sit here and watch him die.

[Neffy takes a seat at Zoi's desk and summons a bucket of popcorn.]

[Kunzite backs up, grabs the bucket from his hand and hurls the popcorn at Neffy's face.]

Beryl: If you want to help, Nephrite, I suggest you all go outside so I can concentrate.

Neffy: [frowning] Do I have to? Will it really save his life?

Beryl: [catches Kunzite emphatic nod] Yes. You have to leave here if you want to save his life.

[Neffy rises and grabs Chief Midori by the shoulder.]

Neffy: Come on, Pops. Lets go outside and let the lady work.

[They leave, along with Jadeite]

[Kunzite pulls up a chair. He grips Zoi's hand and hovers over him, still protective, not breathing.]

Beryl: Please go outside, Kunzite.

Kunzite: I can handle it.

Beryl: No, I need you to get out of here.

[Kunzite doesn't budge]

[Zoi picks up on Beryl's worried expression]

Zoi: Kunzite, go take care of my dad. I don't trust Jeddy and Neffy to be alone with him.

Beryl: [nods] You might as well do something useful.

[Kunzite's eyes narrow, and he scowls at them like they are ganging up on him. But he kisses Zoi's forehead and teleports away to where the others are.]

[Beryl looks over to make sure the others are gone, then places her hands over Zoi's midsection]

Beryl: Scream if it hurts. It will help. But I'll need you to be brave and stay still until I'm finished.

Zoi: How bad is it?

Beryl: I'm not sure yet...But it's bad...I can't purge the disease from you... The virus will rip through everything in it's path... I'm going to flood you with massive amounts of Dark Energy as well as healing energy. To irradiate the virus. Your cells are going to explode, but with luck they will reform just as quickly. Given the nature of the infection it's going to hurt, a lot. I'm sorry.

Zoi: Will you be able to save me?

Beryl: I may be able to save you. Or this may kill you outright...I hope this works, but because I'm not looking forward to Kunzite's wrath if it doesn't.

[Zoi nods and grits his teeth against the pain]

[Beryl hopes the others have gone far enough away not to hear his screams.]