The Grand Scheme Usagi Usagi@lunap.com Http://www.geocities.com/minako_usa Standard Disclaimer: If I owned Sailormoon and characters, don't you think I would have anime artists drawing this instead of me writing this? Author's notes: This one is written in a different style. It's all from another point of view, but it's all total Mamo/Usa waff. Believe me! Complete waff. No worries. Thanks to Minako for encouraging me to write by whining, moaning and bragging about all the parts she's posted. I love ya girl!! I sipped my milkshake thoughtfully, my eyes darting back and forth as I watched the scene unfold. I was seated comfortably at our favourite hang out, Crown, in my favourite booth (I had a good view of the door for any cuties that might pop in, and I could easily watch Motoki's every move). My hand clutched the glass cup as I drank the thick strawberry milkshake. I knew that everyone in Crown was paying avid attention to the pair in front of me, but I wondered if any of them were seeing what I was seeing. I looked at my best friend's face, and then face of her sworn enemy, then back again. Yup. It was definitely there. Ooh... Rei is gonna want in on this! I leapt up, threw a few coins on the table and raced out of the arcade barely pausing long enough to yell good bye to Usagi.. "Ja Usagi-chan!" And I was out the door. "Minako-chan!!!" I heard her wail behind me, but I didn't stop. Rei was so going to love this! I halted to a stop as I waited for the light to tell me to cross, and giggled. This was amazing! I can't believe I never noticed this before. Oh! The light changed and I was off again. I ran straight towards Rei's home, the Shinto Shrine on Cherry Hill. I raced up the stairs at neck breaking speeds, glad that my agent in England had demanded that I stay so fit. "Rei-chan!" I announced my arrival as I climbed the last few stairs. The tips of my red bow peeked above the stairs, followed by my face and eyes. My gaze swept the grounds and I saw Rei leaning on her broom near the Cherry Blossom trees. "Rei-chan." I interrupted her thoughts, and startled her. She hadn't heard me coming. I shrugged. "Minako-chan! What are you doing here?" She turned to face me and smiled. "I realized something today, and I thought you might want to know." I grinned an evil grin just then, and Rei smiled a conspiratorial smile. "Oh?" "Maybe we had better step inside, in case any Odango haired girls followed me here." Rei didn't need any further prompting. The next thing I know, we were seated in Rei's bedroom, and she was leaning forward anxiously. "Well! Spill it!" Rei snapped. I smiled. "You know Mamoru-san, ne?" Rei nodded. "And you see the way those two are always going at it, ne?" Rei nodded again. "Well, as two of Usagi's best friends, don't you think it's our... duty, to..." I paused to gather my thoughts. "Okay, you and I have both noticed, as half of Tokyo has, that Mamoru-san has captured Usagi's attention. And you and I both agree that he could be very, very good for her, ne?" "Yes, they would be perfect, but what are you suggesting Minako-chan?" Rei leaned back as she spoke. "Usagi hates Mamoru. Nothing is going to change how she feels about him." "Your right, nothing is going to change how she feels about him, but what makes you so sure it's hate?" I asked, before smiling. "I'm the senshi of love, Rei-chan. I certainly know true love when I see it. And boy did I see it at the arcade today!" Rei's eyes flew wide open as she mouthed the words 'true love'. I just nodded. "What do you propose?" She asked, never once questioning my judgement. That's what I love about Rei. She knows when I'm right. With a toss of my hair, I spoke. "So we agree that Mamoru would be good for Usagi, so don't you think it's our duty to point out all the good characteristics Mamoru-san has? We just need to convince her that he is a wonderful man, make her realize how much she loves him." "What about Mamoru?" Rei asked, a skeptical look on her face. My grin widened. "I can always use a good excuse to talk to Motoki." My eye had taken on an evil glint, and Rei's smile grew. "You know, Minako-chan, I really think this could work." Rei nodded her approval. "Now we just need to get Mako-chan and Ami-chan in on this." "They'll kill us if we don't tell them. Call Ami-chan first, she'll need more convincing." Within minutes Mako-chan and Ami-chan were seated between Rei and I. From their nervous glances at each other, I can only guess how evil Rei and I looked. But hey! We were doing this all for a friend! Our very best friend! "Rei-chan, Minako-chan... What's going on?" Ami asked us cautiously. "Do you want to tell them, or should I?" I asked Rei. "Oh please! Let me!" Rei's grin widened. "Tell us what?" Makoto asked, the uncertainty clear in her voice. "Do you remember Mamoru-san? From Crown?" Rei asked. "Of course! He looks like my old sempai..." Makoto's eyes took on a dreamy look. I almost drowned from the sweatdrop that appeared behind my head. "You mean the man who Usagi always fights with?" Ami asked. "Yes, him." Rei nodded. "Have you ever noticed the way those two always go at it, no fail." The other two nodded. "Have you ever noticed..." "Oh no!" Ami interrupted, startling both myself and Rei. "No, no, no and no! No!" Ami held her hands up defensively. "I will have no part in it." Rei and I glanced at each other while Mako-chan just looked confused. "If you want to mess around with Usagi's love life, you can do it without me! I will not help you set those two up!" Ami stood defiantly. "Ami-chan... How did you know?" I was completely shocked. Were we that predictable? "Oh please Minako-chan! Why else would we be having this private meeting without Usagi? Besides, I've seen the way those two look at each other when they think no one is watching." A soon as the statement left her mouth, Ami blushed bright red. "I mean..." "It is pretty obvious that they like each other." Makoto sighed. "They just need to realize it." "And that's where we come in." Rei grinned. I sat in one of the back booths so that I could keep on eye on everything. Rei and Makoto were loitering outside to keep an eye out for Mamoru, and Ami was supposed to make sure Usagi was at the arcade in twenty minutes. I smiled. Everything was going according to plan. "Motoki-onee-san!" I waved my hand and he smiled at me. I felt myself begin to melt, and was almost a puddle by the time he got to my booth. "What's up Minako-chan?" He asked. I stood up, grabbed his wrist and yanked him into the booth. "Alright, listen up you." My tone was serious, and I think Motoki was getting scared. Oh well, no time to worry about that now. "You and Mamoru-san are close, ne?" He nodded. "And you know that Mamoru and Usagi are in love, ne?" His eyes nearly popped out. Oh. I guess he didn't know. "What? He squeaked. "Mamoru-san and Usagi-chan are in love." I sighed. "I knew it! Whoopee!" Motoki leapt into the air and clicked his heels together. I sighed and buried my face in my hands. "Listen Motoki-onee-san, and listen good." My blue eyes glared into his. "We are going to get those two together, if it kills us, and we need your help." Motoki paled and shook his head. "Nuh-uh. You might be all happy dandy to die for the cause, but I'm not. And Mamoru-san will kill me if I try to set him up with Usagi-chan." I raised an eyebrow at Motoki. "You know Mako-chan, ne?" I asked, and he nodded. "Who are you more afraid of?" I asked. "I'll help. What can I do?" There was no hesitation in his response. "We need you to get Mamoru to realize that he is head over heels in love with Usagi." I told him, smiling happily. Motoki nearly face faulted. "Gee Minako-chan, why not pick something hard." I smiled at Motoki. "If you think that's too easy, I can always…" "No! It's okay. I'll manage…" Motoki sighed. "Great! I'll go let the others know." I bounced out of the booth to tell Makoto and Rei the good news. "Minako-chan! Minako-chan!" Rei and Mako-chan raced into the arcade. "He's…" They cried in unison, but froze as the automatic doors opened behind them. "Hi Mamoru-san!" I greeted cheerfully before grabbing Rei and Makoto and pulling them into a booth. "Now, all we have to do is wait for Usagi." I smiled happily and picked up a menu. "Motoki-onee-san!" ~ If we notice our friend has been ensnared by a man whom irritates her but whom she clearly has noticed and if this is someone you think might be a good match for her, a friend's duties include pointing out all his positive characteristics ~