They sat there, the four of them, cramped into a booth while Mamoru stood with hesitantly with a box in his hands, and Usagi stood behind him in silent support.

"I-uh- well, Setsuna appeared and gave this to me, but I don't think they really belong to me any longer. And-uh" Mamoru stuttered, unsure of what to say next. Then, with a shake of his head, he lifted the lid.

The stones glowed coolly: a silver stone, lined with small crevices and streaked with gray; one cerulean blue, a spider web of gold cast over it; another, deep golden with a swirling pattern of molten chocolate throughout; and the last, perfect green, with a sheen of gold around it. The girls held their breath, not daring to touch it as the stones pulsed, almost seemed to breathe. Then, without warning Ami reached forward and placed one delicate finger on the face of the emerald stone. A spark of light shot out and filled the room, and everyone at the table guiltily looked up, but it seemed that none of the other patrons had noticed the blinding light.

With a glance at Mamoru, and a reassuring nod from him, Ami took the stone and settled it into her palm. "It's…It's warm." As she took out her pocket computer, Makoto was trying, unsuccessfully, to decide what to do. She kept glancing at the box, then the stone, then Mamoru, the other girls, and back. After she had repeated the process, a few times Rei let out a heavy sigh.

"Just take it Mako. If you're so worried about it."

"I won't." Everyone's head came up as the blonde sitting delicately next to Rei spoke furiously to the box. "I won't take it. How could you do this Mamoru? How could you bring them back?" Her eyes, the same color and shape as Usagi's bored into his own. Ami, always the peacemaker, tried to calm her down.

"Mina, Mamoru is trying to do what is best. I think this is good. We cannot let the past influence our decisions."

"The past? THE PAST?! They killed us! They murdered us, and betrayed their prince. They-"

"Mina. Keep your voice down." The raven-haired priestess spoke mildly, a direct contrast to Mina's overly loud tone.

"Rei, you can't think this is a good idea."

"I don't." Mina smiled triumphantly, and then gaped in shock when Rei placed her own delicate hand over the cerulean stone and lightly plucked it up.

"Why-why are you taking it?"

"Because." Her own thoughts, her own fears, the knowledge that if she didn't take the stone, didn't possess it and force herself everyday to look at it, she would never be able to move past it, those things scared her beyond belief. And she couldn't afford to be scared. Not ever.

"Well, I won't. I won't and you can't make me. They left us bleeding on the floor and joined a witch in her demented plan to take over the world. I won't forgive them. They destroyed everything." Mina, her eyes still flashing, with a sheen of tears underneath, fled the arcade. Rei smiled, and rested a reassuring hand on Mamoru's shoulder.

"She'll be alright in a few hours. She just needs some ice cream." And with that, the priestess tossed the stone up and in the air, catching it lightly as she sauntered out the door and back towards her temple. Makoto looked decidedly at the box, and grabbed the golden stone from the center clutching it fiercely to her chest while Ami looked on in shock. With a nod to both Usagi and Mamoru, Ami stood, "I need to get to the hospital. I will see you all later." Makoto stood as well, eyes still bright and uncertain, but she offered a smile to both her princess and prince before departing the restaurant.

"Well, that went better than expected. Hey Motoki, can I get a milkshake please?"

A/N Yup. New one, Hope you like it. Please review b Thanks

Anna