It was two weeks since we defeated the Beryl and the Dark Kingdom. Everyone's life is back to normal, at least that's what it seems like. I'm glad Usagi and her friends are safe. They are living happy normal lives again. Except that for me, I don't know what's normal anymore.

It was difficult having no one in my life. I was used to it since my parents passed away when I was young. Meeting Usagi has been like discovering my family that I never knew existed. But so is meeting the Shitennou. It's difficult to pinpoint what I really feel about them. I know they were there with me, a long time ago. For a minute there, I thought I had found my other family. I felt a strong bond with them. We had been through so much together.

I can remember them from the Silver Millennium time if I try, but I don't want to. It's painful. Who wants to remember someone you knew you're never going to meet again? What wants to recall wonderful memories, only to realize that they would never ever happen again? Why would I want to keep them alive in my memories if all I have about them are their stones. I've lost four brothers, and I'll never get them back.

—

"Hi Usagi" Mamoru walked to the Crown fruit parlor where they were supposed to meet. Mamoru noticed that the other four girls were already there with his bunny.

"Hi Mamo-chan. I miss you." Usagi said and rushed over to hug him.

"Not in public, Usagi." Despite his words, he looked pretty happy.

"Well, you're not going to be here this summer. I have to be with you as much as I can." Usagi pouted a little.

"It's only a summer training, Usagi. I will be back before you know it." Mamoru said.

"I think studying a summer course at Harvard is a wonderful opportunity. I'm so excited for you, Mamoru." Ami chimed in.

"Yeah, except that I won't see you for 2 months." Usagi said with her sad puppy eyes.

"You can use those 2 months planning his 18-birthday party, Usagi. You'll have your handful. You can even learn to bake a cake with me." Makoto said to Usagi.

"Are you sure 2 months is going to be enough for Usagi to learn to bake?" Rei said.

"Oh come on. I'm not that bad at cooking." Usagi said.

"You don't need to do anything, Usagi. Just seeing will be the most wonderful present for my birthday." Mamoru smiled at Usagi.

"I'm so glad you two are happy. We've been waiting for this since our past lives. And it finally happens." Minako said but her cheerful bubbly personality was not here.

Seeing Minako was not her usual self, Mamoru realized that she might be thinking about the Shitennou. Minako and other girls were right there when they died. It must have been painful. He couldn't imagine how he would react if Usagi were to die right in front of him.

"I have thinking about the Shitennou too." Mamoru said.

"How did you know I was thinking about them?" Minako asked.

"I know, Minako. They were all on our minds. It's a memory that I don't know how to deal with." Mamoru said and looked down at the ground. He sighed heavily.

"It's weird. I remembered them in Silver Millennium. I remembered….me and Zoicite, but I don't remember everything that happened between us. It's like he was there in my memory, but at the same time not. I remembered how I felt, but I just can't figure out what happened exactly. It was like …. a dream, a hazy painful dream." Ami said with her usual analytical look.

"I'll never forget the time he looked at me and called my name before…it happened." Minako said.

"I think they remembered us, even if it was only for a split second." Makoto said.

"It seems like we have similar memories about them. I know that I was really close with them. They felt like a family to me, but I can't recall exactly what we did together. The only memories I got are when they swore to be my Generals and when they joined Beryl and invaded the Moon. Everything in-between is kind of blurry." Mamoru said.

"I believe that they must be alive. If the Silver Crystal healed us all, why couldn't it help the Shitennou as well?" Usagi said.

"You didn't know for sure if the Silver Crystal has helped them?" Minako asked.

"No, not really. I'm still learning to control the Crystal. I think I don't even know what it is really capable of. And it's kind of acting on its own." Usagi explained.

"I would have brought it up sooner, but I was afraid it would be too painful for you girls. After all, you were there when they… got killed." Mamoru said.

"You're right about that, Mamoru. It was good not to talk about them right away. I don't think I can take it. There were so many things going on. It was good to settle down a bit before thinking about the past." Minako said.

"I think we should move on." Rei said.

"You mean —" Minako said.

"Forget about them. They are just memories. Memories that we can't even recall fully. It's best just to let go of them." Rei said.

"Can you really do that?" Mamoru asked.

"I have to try, Mamoru. We all have to try. It's not worth it to dwell on the past. There's nothing we can do about it now." Rei said.

Letting go isn't an option for me. I have to find out whether they are alive or not. Maybe it's a hopeless cause considering the girls saw them get killed right before their eyes. But Usagi and the Crystal has made miracles happen. I dreamed about them several times this week. Maybe it's a sign. Maybe we will meet again.

Maybe.

—

Revised 2015-08-08

AN. I decided to revise the earlier chapters to best suit the storyline. Hope you like this one!