Cream smiled as she spotted Kaoru waiting for her in front of the library. It had turned into their regular meeting place. This was their fourth date since he had asked her out. Every time they met at the front of the library, and then they would go get some food. Cream had gotten lucky; she hadn't been needed to fight the aliens once on their dates. "Hello."

"Hello." He nodded. "What is the plan for today?"

"A picnic." Cream smiled, since she knew the town better she had agreed to be in charge of the dates. "Come on, the park is so peaceful."

Pai didn't completely believe that. He knew that his brothers and the other two were known to attack the park. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah." Cream smiled. "I've gone to the park a lot of times, and it's always been nice." Of course... Hopefully the aliens don't attack this time. "Now, did you bring some food?"

He nodded and picked up a bag. "I'll follow you."

"Alright." Cream grabbed his hand and started to pull him towards the park. "Just wait! I'm glad we get to go on a date; I know that you've been busy lately. What is your job again?"

"I work for a family friend. I just run errands for him." Pai said calmly. "Now come on, let's go." He said changing the subject. "I have something I want to give you."

"Huh?" Cream blinked. "Something to give me?"

"Yes." Pai smiled gently. "After we eat."

Cream laughed. "Alright Kaoru." She locked her fingers with his. "Come on, before the food runs away."

Pai paused and looked confused. "Run's away?"

"It's a joke. I know it won't run away. I'm just trying to lighten the mood." She smiled as they arrived at the park. "Come on."

"Alright." He nodded and followed her to a small silent place. They set up the picnic and then started to eat. Cream talked about her life a bit and Pai listened intently.

"Cherri and I finally got a job together, and I'm so happy." Cream smiled. "We've already enjoyed our time as co-workers."

"At the sweets cafe?" Pai asked. "Or the company for protecting the earth and animals?"

"At the cafe... You should really come by some times." She smiled up at him. "What do you say?"

"I'm not a big fan of sweets." He said calmly. "But I'm glad you enjoy your job."

Cream smiled gently. "I also enjoy my time with you."

Pai smiled. "Close your eyes. I have a gift for you."

Cream blinked. "Uh... Okay..." She flushed slightly and closed her eyes. She felt something brush along her neck suddenly. She opened her eyes and looked down, finding a small light gray/silver stone on a chain resting around her neck. She shifted her position and watched the light change its color to a light blue. "Oh wow!"

"I saw it the other day... It made me think of you." Pai smiled.

"Thank you Kaoru!" Cream smiled hugging him. "I love it!"

"I'm glad." He watched as she tilted the store in different directions turning it green, purple, red, shades of yellow and blue again.

"It's amazing! Where did you find it?!"

Pai had originally found it at the bottom of the ocean a few days before when he had been looking for different species to fight against the mew, but he couldn't tell her that. "It was a lucky, random find. It was underwater but easy to see in the right light. I had it put on a chain then."

Cream smiled and leaned in, kissing his cheek. "Thank you."

Pai felt strange. His fascination with Cream suddenly felt different. He knew suddenly that he never wanted to harm her.

"The picnic was nice too." She smiled getting up and stretching. "I wish it didn't have to end."

"Another time." Pai nodded.

"Of course." She helped him clean it up and then the two went their separate ways. Both thinking about the other.

"How was the date?" Cherri asked as her and Cream left the cafe later.

"It was nice." Cream smiled, and resisted the urge to reach up and finger the necklace under her shirt. She didn't know why, but she felt strangely protective of it and didn't want to show it to anyone. Even her best friend.

"I still have to meet this guy." Cherri frowned. "You have to introduce me, maybe he has a cute friend or brother."

"He does have two brothers and two friends that he works with." Cream smiled. "I'll ask him about them next time I see him."

"Sounds good." Cherri nodded. "We'll see ya later."

"Alright." Cream nodded. She turned and headed home.

Cherri watched her best friend walk off happily, and felt bad. Not for herself or Cream, but for Ryou. She had seen the way he acted around Cream, and when she had mentioned a date for a brief second his face had fallen. She sighed.

"What's up with you little Mew?" Kukki laughed from the air. "Upset your life is coming to an end?"

"No! Upset you're still around!" Cherri said quickly transforming to her mew form. Her wings flapped in aggravation.

Kukki laughed at her. "Wow. You're sure confident." He shot forward and the two started to fight.

"Actually fighting me yourself this time? Not hiding behind your little monsters?" Cherri smirked. "That's a surprise."

"I was bored." He smirked. "And I haven't gotten any exercise lately. I think defeating you is worth it."

"You stand no chance against me!" Cherri growled, but gasped as he slammed her back.

"You're weak without your other mews." Kukki smirked and pointed his nun-chuck at her. "Say your final words."

Cherri frowned, but blinked as she suddenly felt a strange burning feeling. She spotted a small black stone a bit away. It was glowing red. She reached out, and felt power suddenly flow into her as she held it.

Kukki blinked shocked. "What? What is with you?" He jumped back and watched as she turned and glared at him.

"You're going down now!"

Kukki frowned and shot forward, swinging his nun-chucks at her. She blocked with one of her swords. She felt overwhelmed with power, and swung throwing him back. "How did you suddenly get so powerful!?"

"You're just weak!" Cherri smirked, gripping the stone in her hand tightly.

Kukki eyed it and glared. "Is that it!... Fine, we'll continue this another time." He disappeared, right as the other mews came running up.

"Cherri!" Cream rushed up. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine..." She looked down at the stone in her hand. "Thanks to this..."

"Let's take it to Ryou and see if he and Keiichiro can figure out what it is." Lettuce said looking at the black stone. "It might be the new mew aqua."

"Mew aqua?" Cream and Cherri asked.

"A powerful element that we used during our last fight with the aliens. The last of it was used up... Maybe it's just some left over mew aqua in the rock."

"We'll have Ryou and Keiichiro figure it out." Pudding smiled. "Come on!"

The girls sat in the basement as the two men looked at their screens. "Have you figured it out yet?" Mint asked.

"Be patient Mint." Zakuro said calmly. "It will take a bit to figure out what it is."

"Unless it is Mew Aqua." Ichigo said. "Won't it be easy to reexamine something that we've seen before."

"That's true." Keiichiro said turning around. "But it isn't mew aqua.. It's something older than mew aqua... Something from long ago. We're calling them 'Soul Stones,' and they are even more powerful than mew aqua."

"Mew aqua was for purifying... The Soul Stones are a pure essence of power... They give the holder power, or restore energy. So far that is all we can tell." Ryou frowned.

"If the aliens get a hold of this... Then we know we'll be in trouble." Keiichiro sighed. "You girls have to keep the aliens away from these stones."

"Alright." Ichigo smiled. "We've got a new mission."

"Can we get some rest first?" Cream smiled. "It's getting late."

"Go ahead and head home." Ryou nodded. "We'll talk more tomorrow."