So, let me see if I can get this straight, Tomoyo. You don't have any magic powers or martial arts training or artifacts, and yet you insist on following Sakura and Syaoran and recording all of their activities in camera?-asked Reimu as the blue-haired girl put the finishing touches on her repaired shrine maiden robes.

That's correct, Reimu-chan. I want to record as much of Sakura-chan's adventures as possible!

Then, you're a reporter wannabe? You publish it all in a journal or something?

Oh no, my recordings of Sakura-chan and her close ones are for my personal enjoyment.

There was a moment of awkward silence between the two girls.

How long have you loved Sakura, Tomoyo?

My, you're sharper than you look, Reimu-chan. And me here thinking you didn't care about other people's feelings.

Drop the flattery. Just because I usually don't care about them, doesn't mean I don't notice other people's feelings. Is also part of a shrine maiden's duties after all, since extreme grudges and lingering feelings can spawn youkai. Sakura seems to regard you as a pretty good friend, but the way you behave near her say you have stronger feelings for her. However Sakura's heart seem to already be captured by that boy, Syaoran. I would expect you to be trying to sabotage that. But instead you seem to actually be supporting them. It makes me curious, just that.

I've loved Sakura-chan pretty much ever we since met. Long before she and Syaoran-kun met. She's pretty and kind and generous and full of energy and wonderful and becoming even more every day. I... Did my best to make her happy. Confessed my true feelings to Sakura-chan. Multiple times. But she can be quite dense about what other people think of her sometimes.

Then, how did the magician boy do it? He doesn't look like he knows any emotion-manipulating magic.

Ah, that was a bit of a complicated story. You probably already noticed it, but Sakura-chan usually has that happiness aura around her, that makes everybody else around warm up to her.

Don't tell me about it. I usually wouldn't even throw a chance for my opponent to settle things without a fight, but something about that Sakura made me want to at least try to peacefully bring her to Gensokyo. If I didn't know she was an human, I could have sworn she was an optimism youkai or something.

But it was different with Syaoran-kun. He and he alone seemed immune to Sakura-chan's soothing presence. You should've seen how he glared at her the first time they met. Syaoran-kun said he wanted to capture her magic cards. He bluntly pointed out her weaknesses and failings at every turn. Something that I, nor anybody else who knew her, had the courage to do. One could think it was a rivalry, even hate. But eventually I saw how it was actually a deep love. What he wanted to capture was not Sakura-chan's cards, but her very heart from the start. Even if he didn't realize it himself. Syaoran-kun was always quite shy about revealing his feelings with words after all, but his actions were completely sincere. His insults and provocations helped Sakura-chan overcome her shortcomings. When her life was in danger, Syaoran-kun was always there to protect her at the risk of his own life, even as he pretended to ignore her thanks and kindness. Sakura-chan learned to trust him above everybody else. Syaoran-kun would always be there for her, even in her moments of weakness. When her first love crush rejected her confession, it was to Syaoran-kun that Sakura-chan went for comfort. It was just in front of him that she cried her sadness out. It was only to Syaoran-kun that she openly let out the feelings deepest inside her heart. Meanwhile I... Always held back my actions. Always composed. Always lady-like. Always making sure to don't do anything that may hurt Sakura-chan's heart. I always smiled back at her smiles. She never saw me cry or scream, you know? Ironically, it ended up meaning Sakura-chan wouldn't want to cry near my person, never fully opening her heart to me. Not with Syaoran-kun. He was willing to hurt Sakura-chan's feelings when he believed it would help her. He alone dared to fully open his heart to her, showing both his bad and good sides, and this way captured Sakura-chan's own heart. I still had to nudge them towards openly revealing their true feelings for each other, Sakura-chan being a bit dense and Syaoran-kun being too shy with words. But they're really happy with each other now. I regret nothing.

I'm not gonna pretend I really understood half of what you just said. But it sounds like if this Syaoran hadn't the courage to blurt out his love without your help, you would've still had a chance with Sakura.

But could I make Sakura-chan as happy as Syaoran-kun would? I thought long and hard about it, and the answer was always no. I could never keep up with Sakura-chan's needs. I can at best support her from behind, while Syaoran-kun can stand by her side forever. He's the one who can make her the most happy.

Tomoyo, where I come from there's countless girls that did the most crazy things to gain power to chase their feelings.

And how many of them have achieved happiness of heart for themselves and their partners?

Hmm... Well…"Happiness of heart" is overrated.

Is it now? Anyway I'm finished with your robes, Reimu-chan. Here's your ofudas, orbs and needles as well, Sakura-chan insisted you have them back to you in return for Syaora-kun keeping your cards sealed for the moment. I must say it's quite an ingenuous design how you store them in your clothes.

As Tomoyo stored her portable sewing tools and left the room, Reimu stood silently thinking for some moments on the conversation she had just had. True love? Happiness forever? A special one for her heart with which you can openly share your feelings? A face crossed her mind. The one who Reimu had shared so many adventures with, laughs and tears, sometimes as rivals, others as allies.

R-Ridiculous! Anyway, Meiling's waiting for me. Some exercise will help me forget all this nonsense Tomoyo filled my head with.-Whispered Reimu to herself, trying to make it sound true. Dueling and drinking and feasting were the ways she filled her heart's needs. She didn't want anything else on her heart. She didn't need anything else on her heart.

Syaoran's li room

The chinese boy was standing in place, holding the room's phone and speaking with somebody else trough the connection.

...And that's what happened today, mother.-finished Syaoran, talking over to his only remaining parent back in China.

Those are grave news. You must prepare yourself and Sakura-chan. Clow Reed lived hundreds of years due to him stopping his own aging with magic, perhaps over a thousand years, the ancient records aren't clear. During that time he made himself an enemy of some very powerful youkai that were rumored to having been sealed or escaping to the fantasy land: Gensokyo.-answered Yelan Li, Syaoran's mother

So I suppose that again you'll neglect to send us any extra support?

Your sisters have their own duties to attend to, as you should know well. Besides you did succeed splendidly in our goal of making sure Sakura-chan would become the new mistress of the cards, and thus a perfect future candidate for the place of wife of the next head of the Li clan. She proved to be a strong and resourceful kid, just as you. The combination of your capacities is much greater than the sum of your parts. Send Sakura-chan a kiss from my part, Syaoran.

And no kiss for me, again? Would it kill you to show some affection for me, mother?

I used to be affectionate with your father. You know how he ended up.

Actually, no, I don't. You never told me and forbid me to ask.

He relaxed his guard at the wrond moment and was killed by a stray youkai. You're the last man of the Li family's main lineage. You must be tough. Believe it or not, I do this for your own good. Remember, Sakura is a strong girl, but unlike you, she still needs affection to keep going forward, since she fights for the sake of those who like her, while you've always been willing to fight for your own beliefs even if alone.

And with this the phone connection was cut out. Syaoran sighed. His mother had always demanded for him to keep her updated on any magic events on Tomoeda, but then always declined to offer any kind of pratical or clear advice despite being a mighty sorcerer herself. Well, she did pay his bills and gave him a pretty nice allowance to boot.

The training room was spacious, simple space, with a wooden floor and training mats. There were some sliding doors that seemed like they were used for storing basic equipment. Reimu stared a moment the orange, cream and red battle custome of Meiling who was standing in front of her, waiting for the shrine maiden to say something.

Hmm, just asking, kid, but isn't your uniform missing something down there? Like, I can see most of your leg skin from here. Earlier tonight I thought I had accidentally blasted it off from you, but now that you had time to change up, you're still not wearing anything down there.-Was the first thing Reimu said after entering the room, staring down at Meiling's exposed legs. The shrine maiden was used to a land where basically every girl and woman wore some sort of long dress, robes, or baggy pants.

You really need to modernize your fashion sense, miss "I want everybody to see my armpits"!-retorted the chinese girl.

Ok, that does it! Chat time's over! Let's see how you deal with basic danmaku! You can't fight at all if you get hit first after all!-Reimu finished her reply by throwing a needle at Meiling's face. The nonmagic girl swung her left hand forward without blinking and snatched it from in mid-air with a smug look on her face, twirling the projectile between her fingers.

That was just to check if you were paying attention.-warned Reimu before swinging her sleeves open and unleashing a full-out needle barrage.

To the shrine maiden's surprise, Meiling reacted with lighting reflexes, elegantly standing in one foot and swiftly swinging her arms and free leg around, almost as if dancing, deflecting most of the incoming needles with her own large sleeves and shoes. Those that weren't deflected were the ones she catched in mid-air. When the needle barrage ended, Reimu saw that Meiling was holding a dozen of her needles in each hand, plus another between her clenching teeth. She grinned proudly at Reimu.

The shrine maiden just retrieved one of her orbs from inside her robes with an expressionless face, made it grow until it was almost as tall as Meiling, and threw it at the chinese girl. She reacted by dropping the needles she was holding, pulling back her arms while closing her fists, and then pushing them both forward at the same time in the last moment before the Hakurei orb would've smashed her. The large metal sphere was pushed back across the room with even greater speed due to the double punch projecting it, forcing Reimu to catch it with both hands, before reducing it back to miniature size. Looking back at her opponent, the shrine maiden saw the chinese girl was now kneeling on the floor with her arms trembling and her knuckles injured from the effort she had just exerted at deflecting the Hakurei orb. Reimu slowly walked near her and asked:

You aren't very familiar with the concept of dodging, are you, Meiling? I'll give you points for bravery, but you could've broken both your arms doing that.

Owwiii-whimpered Meiling, massaging her bruised fists.- I can't run away from attacks...

Why not?

Because then what I'm guarding will be exposed to danger...

That talk again. And what are you exactly supposed to guard that's so important to you?

Syaoran-kun... And Sakura-chan.

Ghu... Fine, I already gave one mystic love consultation tonight to that Tomoyo girl, I may as well give you another. Talk your heart out to me, kid. If I know why you fight, it'll help me train you.

I was Syaoran-kun's first girlfriend. Well, I'm not sure he ever saw me as that, I kinda forced myself upon him...

Oh, I could've sworn I had overheard he was your cousin.

That too. We grew up in the same house...

Eerr, just skip that part then.

Well, one day Syaoran's mother tells him to go to Japan because there's this little girl who unleashed the Clow Cards that are now rising trouble all around this city. After some weeks away from him I felt so lonely that I begged for a whole week to be sent to Japan to live with him. Syaoran-kun's mother ended up accepting my request. When I arrived I found Syaoran-kun getting all comfy with a certain red-haired girl and a blue-haired girl on his house...

Oh, so he started cheating on you the moment you took his eyes out of him? I would imagine you would get pissed off at him.

Actually, I thought it was Sakura-chan working to seduce him. A little witch seeking to steal my Syaoran-kun's heart with her dirty tricks...

Well, from my point of view looks like she succeeded all right. So why do you want to protect her now?

See, Reimu, that's the problem. The witch using dirty tricks was me. I was nothing but a selfish brat that wanted Syaoran-kun all for myself, and I tried to use a lot of underhanded stuff I'm really not proud of today. Meanwhile Sakura-chan's doesn't only have magic powers, she's also at least just as athletic and pretty as me, and then also kind, gentle, generous... The only thing in which I'm superior to her is on martial arts, and that's only while she doesn't bother using her cards to grant herself super-strength or something like that. Of course Syaoran-kun would choose her over me as his love interest! And I tried to hate Sakura-chan, I really tried, but I just couldn't when I got to know her better. She's just too cheerful and optimistic and willing to help others. They were meant for each other and I was just getting on their way. So I gathered all the courage I had left, formally ended with Syaoran-kun, and left back to Hong-Kong...

Yet here you are.

Correct... I'm still in love with Syaoran-kun. I just can't be away from him for long. The loneliness is unbearable. But being near him while he's happy is enough for me now, even if he's being happy with Sakura-chan. So I do my best to protect them both with my limited capacities. That's enough for me. I even started reading etiquette manuals that Tomoyo-chan recommended me so I'm sure I don't step between them again...

Meiling was about to start crying her heart out when she saw Reimu's closed fist approaching her face. When she noticed it, the chinese girl had been sent flying across the room and there was a sharp pain on her left cheek where Reimu's knuckle had connected with her body.

And you call yourself a woman? Stop brooding like that, Meiling! If you still love Syaoran, all you need to do is to keep challenging Sakura until you win! If she has magic, you'll just have to train your martial arts until your surpass her! If she's as pretty as you, then you'll just have to become more beautiful! -shouted Reimu as she kicked the floor and quickly flew towards the chinese girl, holding her closed fist forward ready to deliver her another punch.

What do you want me to do, Reimu? Sakura-chan's my good friend now. I can't hurt her!-Meiling stood up from the ground with a flip from her body, just in time to parry Reimu's charge with her left arm and instinctively delivering a counter with the other.

Nonsense! Where I come from people always talk their issues trough physical duels, even when they actually care and respect for each other! Hands always talk louder than mouths!-Reimu grazed Meiling's incoming fist that punched a hole in the wall behind her and spun in mid-air, bringing her outstrettched legs over Meiling's head.

My hands are for supporting Syaoran-kun and Sakura-chan, now and forever!-defiantly shouted Meiling as she grabbed Reimu's legs and used the shrine-maiden's own impulse to throw her in the ground. As one fluid movement, Meiling followed up by jumping over her fallen opponent and closing her legs over Reimu's arms while still holding a firm grab on her legs. The shrine maiden suddenly found herself face-down on the floor with all her limbs locked up!

Then Reimu teleported from under her and reappeared on the other side of the room, smirking:

Good, you still didn't lose your human spirit! That Tomoyo doomed herself to always skulk on the shadows under Sakura. At this rate one day she'll become a sorrow youkai or worst. But you still have hope for your life. Tell me, have you got any weapon experience?

No... The Li Clan's vaults have a variety of magic weapons, but they're for exclusive use of the family members that have magic ability. Since I never manifested any, I was only ever trained in unarmed combat. But I'm ready to learn!

Good enough, pick one of those needles you grabbed from me earlier.

Meiling obeyed and quickly gathered some of the nearby fallen needles laying on the ground.

Now listen to the basics.-started explaining Reimu,taking a new needle from inside her sleeves and holding it in her hand-The persuasion needle is probably the oldest and most simple anti-youkai weapon. They must be crafted by one of pure heart, or with wood from an holy tree, but otherwise don't actually demand any magic from the wielder to use, unlike talismans, just a good throwing hand. They can potentially pierce all but the strongest mystic barriers, as long as you can pinpoint their vulnerable points.

And how do you use them?

Aim the pointy side to your enemy's weak spots and push forward.

Eeeehhh, seriously? No special secret techniques or disciplined training routines?

Well, as I had told you earlier, I kinda fight on instinct. Mostly self-taught. I can only teach you by doing. You ready?-asked Reimu while pulling three needles in each hand, held between her fingers, and spreading her arms open.

Always.- grinned Meiling while she held her bundle of needles with her left hand and retrieved one with her right.

The two girls proceeded running at each other. Meiling threw a flurry of needles with each step, that Meiling skillfully deflected with her sleeves before sending back one of her own at the shrine maiden. Reimu simply stepped a bit to the side, letting the approaching needle harmlessly graze her clothes. She seemed to just gracefully float.

In a few seconds they had reached other, and each held a needle tightly in each hand. Reimu's movements remained graceful, not doing any unnecessary movements. She had never really received any formal martial training, but was blessed with a naturally strong and fast body combined with an almost supernatural sense of intuition that allowed her to predict her opponent's attacks in combat. In contrast Meiling seemed a flash of energy with wide moves, her strength and speed earned from a life of diligent training from growing up as a child of the Li clan. However while her opponent was not using her mystic powers, Meiling still lacked Reimu's sense of intuition. Soon she found herself with several thin cuts over her skin from needle strikes that came too close, only managing to dodge when she felt the tips puncturing her skin. When Reimu had thrown her needles they followed a predictable trajectory, but now that they were in close combat she could attack from unexpected angles.

Then Reimu found that Meiling was no longer being pushed back and was holding her ground. At first the shrine maiden tought her opponent was just trying to imitate her movements, but then she herself started being pushed back. Reimu then realized that Meiling was superior to her in a direct martial arts confrontation. She had only been pushed back on the beginning because she had been adapting to her unique style.

Ok, let's see how you deal with this now!-Reimu teleported back again, placing a series of ofudas on the ground that projected a translucent blue barrier separating them.

Meiling observed the new barrier for a moment, focusing her expression, then without hesitation threw one of her new needles to its surface and slammed her open palm on the spot where the needle touched Reimu's barrier. The mystic obstacle cracked, and Meiling repeated the process with a kick, fully shattering it.

This had however given Reimu enough time to create an even bigger horizontal barrier that filled most of the room, holded in one hand. With a flick of her wrist it started falling downwards, passing over her own body harmlessly while Meiling felt a painful shock as she tried to touch it with a rising arm. She thew another needle upwards followed by an uppercut strike, managing to damage the barrier descending over her, but it was too thick.

Oh, c'mon, there's no way I can deal with something that big!-cried out the chinese girl as she found herself being forced to crouch, trying to hold up the barrier without touching it using her needles as supports.

Hmmm...-Reimu was floating near the room's ceiling, watching Meiling struggle to keep herself from being crushed by the descending barrier-I'm feeling tired. Let's call it a draw for tonight.

And like that the massive barrier vanished. Reimu landed on the floor and started calmly walking towards the exit door of the room, turning back just before opening it.

You did well, Meiling. You could have become a fine youkai exterminator if you had been born in Gensokyo. But you've made one grave mistake at the end.

What?

You claimed that an obstacle was too big for you to deal with. You cannot ever win if you imagine your own defeat. The other you in Gensokyo always made a last stand even when cornered.

Once the shrine maiden exited the room, leaving a confused Meiling thinking about her words, Reimu fell to her knees. That last barrier had consumed most of her magic energy since her spellcards were currently sealed. Meiling would've had a clear victoy if she hadn't fallen to despair on the last moment.

In a traditional house in Gensokyo.

As Yukari closed the gap trough which they had been observing the recent events in Tomoeda, there were some moments of awkward silence before Yuuka finally spoke:

Well, at least that was something enjoyable to watch.

What do you have to say for this, Yukari? Not only was Reimu beaten, the card mistress has grown stronger from her defeat. Also, why was the shrine maiden claiming she had orders to bring Sakura back here?-glared Kanako at the border youkai.

A magic power such as hers should not go to waste. If Reimu had succeeded on bringing Sakura to us, we could mold her for our purposes and help us fully restore magic to the outside world so it may sustain us outside Gensokyo once more.-calmly explained Yukari.

It seems you also forgot about the part where Sakura has a cute boyfriend with a big sword, able to use powerful magic himself and willing to lay down his life for her. I wonder if my Youmu would enjoy playing around with him...-added Yuyuko, holding an open pink fan over her smiling mouth.

The Li family descendant... I didn't expect him to be an issue I admit. He was supposed to be no more than a warm-up for Reimu since he had no cards of his own...-Mused Yukari.

Allow me to point out that the Li warrior sorcerers clan choose him to help Sakura deal with the Clow Card issue. Alone. He should not be underestimated.-Added Yuyuko. She heard quite a bit of tales from the ghosts that frequently arrived from the outside world.

And why didn't you said so earlier? I would've sent my shrine maiden to support Reimu if I knew that was the case!-Asked Kanako, clearly angry.

Yukari didn't ask me before.-was all that the ghost woman replied in a mischievous tone.

This isn't getting us anywhere. It was a mistake to send an human to do a youkai's job. We should send our own servants next...-started to say Yuuka.

Fellow ladies, if I may interrupt, I believe we're approaching this the wrong way. Violence is not the answer. Sakura's young, still learning the ways of life. Reimu simply could not understand a young magical maiden's heart. That poor girl saw violence and answered with violence. What Sakura needs is somebody to guide her towards the light of salvation. I can bring her to our side without need of any more conflict.-Said Byakuren, who had been sitting in silence until now.

You're willing to go out there by yourself already? Reimu was an human, but a powerful youkai like you risks fading to nothingness if they exit the border.-asked Kanako.

The world is still filled with the light of Dharma. - calmly replied the buddhist youkai.

Ah, I forgot you draw power from other youkai. There's indeed still lingering sources of mystic energy in the outside world that your servants can harness to sustain you out there. Yes, you may be the best of us to act next. I will prepare a gap for your forces to pass.-told Yukari

I will start my preparations. Soon, Sakura Kinomoto shall know the holy light of Dharma. -smiled Byakuren.

Reviews replies!

sandrake111: I had replied to you first on PM, but as for your other question, well, CLAMP never gave us an exact age for Clow Reed, but we know that he lived for centuries.

palver7: Thanks! "Yukari did it" and "Violent Reimu" may indeed seem a bit cliche for the start, but Touhou has many, many facets and I had to pick something to begin with. :)

Curtis Wildcat: In my head, italics simply make more sense for dialogue bits. :P

Guest: Yes, Meiling will eventually meet Meiling. But there's a lot of other youkai the CCS group will have to meet before that.