Disclaimer: I do not own the CCS characters, I'm simply borrowing them ^^

PAIRING: THIS IS STRICTLY *Syaoran/Eriol*

Please enjoy the story and future chapters...



~ Benevolent Malice: The Thin Line Between Love and Hate ~


Chapter 1: The Damned Angel- Li Syaoran




Awaiting in the dark prison behind rusted bars that had been long-forgotten to be taken care of, Li Syaoran, a brown-haired, brown-eyed 'cast-away' sat with his head leaned against the cold, stone wall.


His arms bound tightly behind his back.


His eyes were utterly lost, replaying the same scene over and over in his head...



~ Flashback ~



Hands and arms bound together by silver rope behind his back, Li Syaoran was thrown toward the floor where he was forced on both of his knees by the white-cloaked guards.


"Li Syaoran..." the High Archangel of Repentance, Yue, murmured as his emotionless, yet dangerous silver-blue eyes looked down upon the brown-haired angel.


Raising his sharp brown eyes toward the Archangel of Repentance that stood before him, Syaoran responded quietly, "...Lord Yue."


Yue was One of Four of the Higher Archangels in Heaven's Hierarchy.


He was a very silent, serious gentleman...always speaking calmly and quietly, unless he was angered. No one ever saw him smiling and certainly never laughing.


"You have committed a great sin. You have killed Rajual, one of Malicifer's Higher Assistants," Yue declared. "What is your reason for this action?"


"He entered broke past the Gates by knocking the guards unconscious and attempted to enter the Garden of Light, where he brandished his sword and severed one of the wings of an innocent." Syaoran answered.


"Who was this innocent?" Yue asked.


"Kinomoto Sakura." was the answer.


"Kinomoto Sakura, daughter to Kinomoto Fujitaka, High Cherubim." Yue remarked.


Kinomoto Fujitaka was the High Master Cherubim, one who keeps the Celestial History in good order and teaches it to the younger angels, who train to be Guardians for humans on Earth.


Sakura, a beautiful female angel and a good friend of Syaoran's, was Fujitaka's daughter.


"Yes." Syaoran nodded in affirmation.


"From what I have heard, you fought a brave battle against Rajual." Yue declared.


"...I only tried my best to stop him. I would not allow his onslaught to continue." Syaoran said, looking down at the floor. (aww! Cute, modest Syaoran-kun! ^^)


Yue looked at Syaoran for a few seconds, his silver-blue eyes in deep contemplation...then...


"Cercese Leirual, come in here." Yue called in his toneless voice.


The doors opened and walked in a handsome male angel with spiky blond-gold hair and heavenly cerulean eyes.


Syaoran glared at Leirual, his lips twisting into a frown, "You..." he murmured, his eyes of anger followed Leirual's every movement.


Leirual glanced at Syaoran from the corner of his eyes and smirked, his blue eyes narrowed, but Yue did not see.


"Lord Yue." Leirual knelt on one knee humbly to the silver-haired Archangel with respect.


"You witnessed Syaoran's battle. What do you have to say?" Yue asked.


"Li was vicious, sir," Leirual shook his head gravely. "He killed Rajual when there was no need to."


Syaoran's eyes widened with rage, "That's not true! I never killed—!"


"He broke both of Rajual's arms, broke his knee-caps as well," Leirual continued louder. "Li stabbed his sword through Rajual's heart...and then...oh, let God forgive him...then Li blasted Rajual into ashes!"


Syaoran's eyes narrowed as he grit his teeth together in anger, "You lying son of a—" he was about to curse, but was interrupted.


"It was horrible, Lord Yue." Leirual finished as he had a pained expression on his face.


Yue looked at Syaoran, knowing that the brown-eyed angel would react in some way...


"You LIAR!!" Syaoran shot up in a standing position awkwardly since his hands and arms were still bound behind his back. "I never did that! I broke his arm because he tried to grab my neck—!"


"THAT'S not true." Leirual shook his head.


Syaoran went on, yelling, "—and I stabbed him through his shoulder, not his heart!! I never used my chi! YOU did, Leirual!"


"YOU know you did it! You killed him! You wanted to! YOU enjoyed it, Son of the Great Warrior Yelan! The urge to fight and kill runs in your damned blood, Li Syaoran!" Leirual yelled back.


"You liar! You traitor!! You and your damned magic! I should have never let--" Syaoran yelled.


"STOP it." Yue commanded, hardly raising his tone, but his voice sent chills down the two angels' backs.


The two angels instantly silenced themselves and glanced at the Archangel Yue.


"Li, do you admit killing Rajual?" Yue asked without any accusations in his tone.


"No. I did NOT. He was still alive when I pierced him with my sword." Syaoran replied firmly.


"Then why did all the witnesses in the Garden of Light say that they saw YOU reduce Rajual into ashes with your chi?" Yue asked.


"LEIRUAL must have...must have made an illusion that I killed Rajual--but I didn't! HE did! He used his magic!" Syaoran shot Leirual a glare.


"Liar!" Leirual snapped viciously. "I--I don't even KNOW magic!"


Syaoran shot him a glare and opened his mouth to speak, but...


"Li," Yue looked down at Syaoran with grave eyes. "Your word cannot speak against so many witnesses...Even Li MeiLing, your own cousin, said that she saw you use a 'chi blast' and kill Rajual with your own hands and power."


"Ask Kinomoto Sakura! Sakura knows I didn't do it!" Syaoran exclaimed.


"Ha! Sakura was half-conscious! She was dazed with pain with her wing nearly slashed clean off! I was right there next to her!" Leirual declared loudly.


Syaoran shot his head toward Yue, "I never used my chi outside of the Training areas!! You know that! Anyone does!"


Yue shook his head, "I cannot accuse you on behalf of myself because I was not there...but hearing what all the witnesses say, I cannot find any evidence that you are INNOCENT..."


Syaoran narrowed his eyes and his breathing stopped to a ragged halt...he knew what was coming next...


"Since you are responsible and accused for Rajual's death, you are to receive the greatest punishment of all...You shall descend into Hell in Rajual's place...your immortal life is now in the hands of Malicifer." Yue murmured.


Syaoran collapsed on his knees, sitting on his heels with an expression of disbelief, hurt, and dread on his face.


I—I'll be cast out of Heaven...and into Hell...for the rest of Eternity... Syaoran thought dully, his whole body numb with despair. ...wonderful. Just perfect. he thought with sarcastic bitterness.


Leirual bowed his head down sadly, yet only to hide his dark smirk.


"The Messenger, Keroberus, will..escort you there as soon as the Portal is able to be opened. Farewell, Li Syaoran. You may go, Cercese Leirual." Yue said quietly.


Leirual stood up, giving Syaoran a secret glance, a smirk on the corner of his lips. Syaoran clenched his teeth together tightly, resisting the urge to attack Leirual.


Suddenly Leirual knelt down on one knee and embraced Syaoran tightly, his lips touched his ear, "Yes. Farewell, my dear friend. You really were a good friend...but only a 'means' to an end." he whispered, a smirk was evident on his lips.


Syaoran clenched his teeth so hard that every muscle in his jawbone was visibly tightened, he was able to hiss back, "...bastard! You won't get away with this."


"Heh." Leirual let go and left, Yue stared at the blond-haired angel's back until he left completely.


The white-cloaked guards brought Syaoran up on his feet roughly and slowly made him walk toward the exit of the room.


Syaoran, Yue's voice entered Syaoran's head. Syaoran looked over his shoulder at the bluish silver-eyed Archangel of Repentance, who still stood in the same place.


...Lord Yue... he thought back telepathically.


If you are truly innocent... Yue locked eyes with Syaoran. ...then prove it.


Syaoran felt incredulous...Yue made it sound SO easy...


How?! How can I?! My punishment is already carried out! Syaoran thought.


Even in the bowels of Hell, if your will is strong and you have the determination and perseverance to prove your innocence, then someday...someday I shall see you again here in Heaven, Li Syaoran. Yue thought.


His silver eyes slightly glowed, warming Syaoran's spirit, the feeling was almost between kindred brothers.


"...I…" Syaoran murmured doubtfully. But then he narrowed his eyes and spoke over his shoulder to Yue as he walked out of the exit with the guards.


"Then I shall see you again someday, Lord Yue." he said, each word spoken firmly.


...Is that a sworn promise or a false hope, Son of the Archangel of Battle Li Yelan? Yue thought, then he broke off his telepathic connection with the brown-eyed angel.



~ End of Flashback ~



Syaoran was startled out of his reminiscing when the prison door opened abruptly. His eyes flew open and he slightly straightened up from the wall.


"Get up!" a white-cloaked guard ordered gruffly as he opened the prison door. "It's time, Li Syaoran."


Syaoran, a damned angel, a 'cast-away', accused of a dishonorable crime, slowly stood up and started to mentally count his paces from Heaven to Hell...



~~~~~~~~~~

Preview for Chapter 2:


"You're innocent! He's INNOCENT!" Sakura looked at Syaoran, then to Touya desperately. "Don't let him leave! He CAN'T go in Rajual's place! He CAN'T be damned to Hell! It isn't FAIR---!!!"


"Well, nothing's ever fair, honey!" a cheery voice echoed.


The Angels and Keroberus looked around, bewildered by the voice that emanated out of nowhere...then suddenly...


A magenta-haired, claret-eyed female stuck her out of the golden portal from behind Syaoran.


Syaoran gasped and slightly looked over his shoulder without turning around fully, staring at his demoness escort...

~~~~~~~~~~

Author's note:

How'd you all like it? ^_^ I tried to make an original plot...no else seemed to have done it yet...well, I hope it wasn't too long!! Sorry if it was too long for you all, but I tried to make it as interesting as possible.

It'll be more "in-depth" in future chapters!

And probably in the REAL Heaven, things would be different for Syaoran...but this is just my story, even if it really is unrealistic ^^ but I can make all the twists and turns I want! Mwahahaha!


I've nearly finished the next chapter! =D
So PLEASE review, minna-san!