Thump thump… thump thump…

Mina could hear her heartbeat ringing in her ears as she closed the door behind her with a soft click. Yaten was sprawled out on his bed, his hair falling in his face and his bare chest rising slowly. He only wore the same pair of black pants he had been all day.

Tiptoeing, Mina got over to his night stand and set the clothes on top of it, where he would see them if he woke. Then she looked at him again. His face was utterly peaceful, so different from the last time he had been on Earth. The battles, the pressures of being an idol, and the seemingly fruitless search for his princess had certainly taken its' toll on him back then. But he was different this time.

He sighed in his sleep and a piece of hair fell into his mouth. Fingers trembling, Mina reached out and brushed it back behind his ear. She was pulling her hand away when his fingers suddenly grabbed her hand and his eyes flew open.

"What's going on-" his green eyes fell on Mina, "What are you doing in here?"

"I'm sorry," she spluttered, blushing to the tips of her bangs. "I was bringing you some clothes and then your hair was in your face and I- I just moved it out.. of your face," she finished, somewhat lamely.

Yaten released her hand, "Oh- thanks."

They remained there in an awkward silence for a few moments. Mina was staring at the floor and Yaten was staring at her.

"How do you like your room" Mina asked without looking up.

"It's comfortable, thank you. I guess I should I have said that before I went to sleep."

"No, it's okay."

Silence grew between them once again. *Ugh, why can't I just talk to him?

"Mina," Yaten said softly. Minako heard the fabric rustle and could tell he had gotten off of the bed. Her heartbeat sped up.

"Yes?"

"I'm glad to see you again."

Minako's eyes flew open wide with shock and her head shot up to look at him. He was taking the ribbon that held his hair in its' low ponytail out, but was still looking at her.

"R- Really?"

Yaten shook his hair loose and it fell down across his shoulders and back. He smiled at her. "Of course I am."

Minako gulped and held her hands tightly in front of her.

"I thought that I would be the last person you wanted to see and I thought Earth would be the last place you would want to be. You seemed so eager to leave it last time."

Yaten frowned. "We had to return to Kinmoku. We had to rebuild. It wasn't that we didn't enjoy Earth; we never got to really experience it. Last time… everything just happened so fast."

Silence filled the room yet again. *What does this girl want from me?

As if hearing his thought, Minako softly smiled, "Then we have to make sure that this time you get to experience it to the fullest." She walked over toward his bedroom door. When she reached it, she turned back to smile at him once more.

"I'm glad to see you again, too. Good night, Yaten." She opened the door, stepped through and closed the door noiselessly behind her.

Yaten stared at the door Minako had disappeared through, and then smiled largely at her words. He quietly changed into the loose pajama pants and plain green crew neck shirt she had brought him. Then he flopped on his bed and thought to himself *She said she was glad to see me! He closed his eyes, rolled over, and fell asleep thinking about the beautiful blonde woman who was falling asleep in the room next to him.

The next morning…

Usagi set down her cup of hot chocolate uncharacteristically slow. Her mouth hung open in shock and her eyes were round and huge.

Mamorou sat across from her, his hands spread out on the table in a humble pleading gesture and a look of longing on his face.

"You… want… what?" Usagi spoke each word carefully.

"I would like you to help me revive the shittennou before our wedding."

Usagi's shocked expression changed to one of anger.

"You have got to be kidding me! The shittennou!? After everything they did?! You have to be out of your mind!" Usagi was practically shouting.

"Usagi, please, hear me out!" Implored Mamorou, trying to grab one of her hands.

"No! How could you possibly ask me something like this? The Senshi, how do you think the Senshi would react if they saw them? Minako and Rei alone would kill them! Whatever was left Makoto would pummel and Ami would get rid of their remains in some scientific matter! And they would be right to do so! They betrayed us, Mamorou! They betrayed *you, and here you are asking for them to be brought back?!"

Mamorou looked in shock as the little blonde went on her tirade, storming around his apartment.

"Does some evil have it's hold on you again? Did they ask you?" She gazed at him icily.

"I- huh- What?!" Mamorou stared in surprised. He had told no one that he carried the stones containing the souls of his deceased shittennou!

"I have known that you had them here a lot longer than you think. I had hoped you would tell me, but you never did. You are forever keeping secrets from me, Mamorou, and I can't stand it! We are engaged! You are supposed to tell me everything!"

"I'm trying to NOW! Usagi, I am asking you to help me bring them back because I know you are the only one who will even listen to such a request! Usagi, you believe people deserve a second chance, so why is it my shittennou don't deserve one too?"

"That's like asking me why I don't revive Beryl or go release Metallia! They didn't just betray us, they helped destroy the Moon Kingdom! They practically led the charge!"

"They were tricked by Beryl! They thought the Moon Kingdom was trying to take over Earth. Everything they did, they did to try and protect me!"

"Funny, I don't see my Senshi destroying entire kingdoms whenever they try to protect me!" Usagi replied sarcastically.

"That's not fair and you know it! But you avoided my question: Why is it the Amazon Quartet, the aliens and almost every other enemy we have ever fought has been given a second chance, but my shittennou can't even be considered for one?"

Usagi stopped and thought a moment. Mamorou took the chance to take her hands and make his plea once more.

"They have suffered, and don't you think I would ask all these same questions to them before I would ask you? They have made all of their amends-"

"No," whispered Usagi, "not all of them. They have not made amends to the people that died on the Moon. Nor have they to the Senshi, myself, or anyone they manipulated in this present day."

"Then help me! They can't float around as broken souls trying to apologize!"

Usagi looked away at the ground as she thought. When she did respond, she sounded tired.

"I will not make a decision right at this moment and I will not make a decision without first talking to the girls. But do not hold your breath, Mamorou. If one of them says no, we will not go forward with it. My scouts have proven themselves over and over, I trust their judgment over that of the shittennou."

Mamorou could tell it was useless to protest, so he just stood there, holding her hands.