Mamoru sat down on the sofa with a sigh.

Usagi was out for the evening with Makoto, Rei and Ami. Minako was on tour somewhere in Europe. And he was by himself.

About to do something that he wasn't really sure that he actually wanted to do but he had lost the argument with Usagi, so…

He stared out the window at the full moon and thought back. He remembered when he realized that he'd lost…them.

It had been two weeks after the battle with Galaxia had ended and a seemingly random comment from Usagi made him remember. The four stones. He had discretely patted his pockets and they weren't there. He remembered that he'd had them with him on the plane when Galaxia attacked him but he wasn't sure where they were now.

When he got home, he tore apart his apartment, scouring every inch for the stones. Nothing. He searched his car. Nothing. He even searched his motorcycle. Nope.

They were gone. The four stones that had once been the Shitennou were gone.

He brooded about it for a while then life went on and he gradually forgot about them.

Then four nights ago, Usagi, worried about her friends, asked him about them. He tried to put her off but she was insistent and pried the truth out of him. He was still trying to figure out how she did that because her interrogation skills were decidedly lacking and she wasn't able to keep a secret to save her life.

She had glared up at him in her tiny, golden magnificence and told him that he needed to find the Shitennou.

"Why?"

She stomped a foot at him. "Don't you dare start telling me that they betrayed you, blah, blah, blah! You know they didn't!"

"I know. But I've done well without them."

Her face softened. "Yes, you have. But what about the future? Are you going to do so well without them then? I'll have the girls but what about you?"

"I'll be fine."

"You'll be lonely." She smiled at his negative response. "Yes, you will. You know you will. I don't know what the chances of Motoki being with us are but it's quite possible they may be very slim. YOU need them. To be your friends, to give you advice, to help you combat all of the girly you know you're going to be surrounded by."

He laughed. "Combat the girly?"

Usagi took a swipe at him that he was able to easily dodge. "You know what I mean!" She softened and wrapped her arms around him. He held her close, burying his face in her hair. "You need them. And the girls need them."

He knew what she meant. They had been discussing the four inner senshi and how they were getting along. And what they saw worried him and frightened Usagi.

"Call them." Came the soft order.

"I don't know how."

"Your heart does. The Golden Crystal does. Use it. Call them."

Mamoru sighed. Then took a deep breath and concentrated.

The Golden Crystal appeared in his hands. It's lotus form glowing softly.

Mamoru stared deep into its petals…