Disclaimer: I do not own CCS

NOTE: I would like to thank all the reviewers =^^= I think I would have stopped if it weren't for you all---I didn't have much faith in this plot, but from your kind words, I now have many ideas! ^_^ Domo arigatou gozaimashite!



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


Chapter 3: The 'Devil'ish Gentleman- Hiiragizawa Eriol




Darkness enveloped Syaoran's vision as the portal closed from Heaven and he felt himself falling...falling downward at a very rapid speed.


He would have screamed, but the heavy darkness seemed to be pressing down on him.


But as for Ruby Moon, his demoness escort...


"WHOO-HOO!!" Nakuru exclaimed excitedly as she and Syaoran dove downward, head first. She loved the exhiliration of dare-devil acts such as this.


Syaoran shot open his eyes, though it was too dark to see anything. He realized that Ruby Moon was still holding him around the shoulders.


Syaoran felt the uncomfortable rushing adrenaline of falling in his veins. Then they fell though another golden portal, icy-cold and liquid-like, and everything lighted up...


...then he realized that he was officially in Hell...he felt all hope drain from his heart.


He was so far from Heaven... *blink blink*


Suddenly, Syaoran saw the rocky, reddish ground...they getting so close...and yet Nakuru showed no signs of stopping!!


Syaoran's eyes widened with fear, he would hit the ground soon...


Shit!! Syaoran thought frantically. Shimatta shimatta shimatta---!!!!


Closer and closer to the ground they got and...


...then on basic instinct, Syaoran's wings immediately unfurled.


"Na..Nani?!" Nakuru exclaimed with surprise as she felt Syaoran's white wings slightly push her back since she was still holding him from behind.


She reflexively held on tighter, not letting her prisoner go so easily...


But his wings were strong and they were such a pure white that they seemed to emanate off a soft glow that made her eyes slightly narrow from the light. She even felt the sharp flickering of his aura...


Syaoran narrowed his eyes in concentration, making his aura flare and, thus, threw Nakuru off him.


Nakuru gasped as she was blasted backwards, but landed on the ground easily, staring at the white-winged angel with wide eyes.


Syaoran sharply curved his body upwards, his torso slightly scrapped against the ground from almost crashing upon it. But he managed to fly upwards, his wings soaring, as he avoided the collision.


His brilliant white wings made the dull place glow a soft white. He set his feet on the ground, closing his eyes as he slightly raised his aura again, causing the silver ropes to rip apart.


...he had that kind of power and he never used any of it to escape before? Nakuru thought, blinking.


She watched the torn silver ropes fall to the ground behind the cast-away angel.


Syaoran rubbed his wrists that had bruised from such tight bounds.


"Suge! Nice wings you've got there," Nakuru remarked, her eyes traveled along the long length of his wings. "but not as nice as mine!" she stuck out her tongue playfully and her wings slightly fluttered, as if bragging.


"Hmph." Syaoran slightly glared at her with caution as she stepped forward. His wings slightly stiffened, ready to defend himself if she cast any attacks...but she didn't.


Nakuru stood a few feet from Syaoran, looking at his face closely. A smile then sparked on her face as she clapped her hands together.


"Wai!! You're a cute one, too!!" Nakuru exclaimed to Syaoran.


"... ..." Syaoran arched his eyebrow, a slight blush crossed his cheeks from Nakuru's sudden outburst.


"Isn't he so kawaii, Suppi-kun?" Nakuru asked.


...who? Syaoran looked around, but immediately stepped back from shock when a large black panther suddenly materialized out of thin air.


"Stop playing around, Nakuru-chan...and stop calling my Suppi! ...especially in front of prisoners!" Spinel Sun hissed the last part in a low voice.


"I wasn't joking! He really IS a cutie--SUPPI-KUN!" Nakuru said loudly and diliberately as she smirked down at Spinel.


~_~ (Spinel's expression.)


"If THAT'S how you want to play…fine…Nakuru-KUN." Spinel retorted sharply.


Nakuru's face slightly puffed with indignation, "Hey! Don't call me a 'boy'! I'm not a boy!"


"You're not a girl either." Spinel sneered mockingly.


O_o; (Syaoran's expression.)


-_-* (Nakuru's expression with a little stress mark.)


"Urusai!" Nakuru grumbled.


"Maa, maa..." a new voice entered the scene.


Syaoran whirled around, but only saw shadows...


"You two, really shouldn't argue in front of our 'guest' like that." remarked the calm voice that hid behind the shadows.


"Gomen nasai...but, SHE started it...as always." Spinel remarked stiffly.


Nakuru crossed her arms and protested, "I did not!"


Syaoran grew tense...he was surrounded...two demons behind him and one demon that wasn't yet visible...


Not the greatest position...


"I take it that you are Li Syaoran?" asked the voice.


Syaoran simply glared at the shadows, refusing to reply.


"Of course, he's Li Syaoran!" Nakuru suddenly bounced behind Syaoran and threw her arms around his neck from behind.


Syaoran stiffened noticeably, ready to strike, but was hesitant...he never struck a woman before and he never intended to ever do such a thing...


Wait...was she even a woman? Syaoran felt himself getting slightly confused.


A smile appeared on the face of the one hidden within the shadows...he knew Syaoran's good intention of not hurting Ruby Moon.


He could tell when he saw Syaoran's white wings stiffen with reluctance.


He then decided to step forth, coming into view...


An attractive (he isn't attractive…he's GORGEOUS!) dark-haired man looked at Syaoran with a serene smile and his gray-eyes, behind silver-rimmed spectacles, were gentle...


"Irasshaimase, Li-san." the demon greeted.


...who's...who's he? Syaoran thought, looking at the demon. Syaoran almost was certain that he wasn't a demon...


...a smile and gentle eyes like that couldn't have belonged to a demon! ...right?


But there was something about the navy-haired demon's aura...Syaoran immediately narrowed his eyes at the gray-eyed male...


...there was something about his aura that was subtly rimmed with power...great power...


"Isn't he just the cutest?" Nakuru smirked as she lightly pinched Syaoran's cheek as if he were a little brother.


"Hai, he is quite adorable." he replied with a smile.


Not knowing why, Syaoran blushed a deep red out of anger...or embarrassment.


Syaoran shrugged Nakuru off of him and stepped back enough so he was able to see all three demons before him.


"Who are you?" Syaoran demanded, looking at the navy-haired male.


"Why, he's Eriol-saaaama!" Nakuru exclaimed proudly. "The most powerful—"


"Eh heh..." Eriol interrupted Nakuru. "I'm just a humble servant of Lucifer, the King of the Seven Hells." he bowed like a perfect gentleman to Syaoran.


"Hmph. Humble servant!" Syaoran scoffed incredulously.


"Hmm?" he raised his gray eyes toward Syaoran curiously.


"You should try to conceal your aura more carefully next time you try to act," Syaoran narrowed his eyes, "you're just trying to hide your power--but there's so much of it that you didn't cover it all. Careless of you, really." Syaoran leered, almost mockingly.


A small smile grew at the corner of Eriol's lips.


"I can even tell you're more powerful than your pet and cross-dresser you have over there." Syaoran glanced over at Spinel Sun and Ruby Moon.


"P-PET?" Spinel scoffed, obviously offended.


"CROSS-DRESSER?!?! I'm---I'm NOT a GUY!!!" Nakuru yelled, OBVIOUSLY offended.


She balled her hands into fists, a pout was evident on her face. "Why I ought to knock the immortal daylights out of you---!" she stomped toward Syaoran, but immediately stopped when…


Eriol, not able to contain his laughter that bubbled in his throat, laughed aloud. His delightful laugh echoed through the darkness, surprising his Guardians and the cast-away angel.


"You're quite the observer...as well as the entertainer, Li Syaoran." he remarked.


"Hmph. I'm not any normal 'cast-away', you know," Syaoran glared, "and I won't be staying here for too long--so don't count on me being 'acquainted' with you!"


"Really now? And I thought we were getting along so well..." Eriol said with subtle and polite sarcasm.


"As soon as I get the chance...I'm getting out of here. This is the last place I belong." Syaoran glared.


"You belong here quite well...From what I know...you killed Rajual, my Assistant, and YOU are to replace him...for eternity." Eriol informed.


"M-matte yo...Rajual was..your Assistant...?" Syaoran blinked, his eyes slightly became troubled. "That means...you're...YOU'RE Malicifer?!"


"Well, 'Malicifer' is just my title, you see..." he scratched the back of his head with modestly. "I'm just One of the Three Generals of Lucifer, you know."


Syaoran stared incredulously, his mouth dropped open.


HIM?! HE'S Malicifer?! HE'S a GENERAL chosen by Lucifer? HIM?!?! Syaoran thought in disbelief.


Syaoran stared more closely at the fair porcelain-skinned, gentle gray-eyed, navy blue-haired General that was simply, yet well-dressed in black and deep blue.


"...masaka...Masaka!" Syaoran had an incredulous expression on his face.


"But I do prefer to go by my given name." Eriol remarked, ignoring Syaoran's surprise.


He stepped forward a few paces toward the shocked, unbelieving angel, whose mouth was still hanging open unknowingly.


Eriol put his fingers under Syaoran's chin.


"Instead of General Malicifer, I rather be referred to as Hiiragizawa Eriol." Eriol introduced himself as he gently lifted Syaoran's chin up, thus, closing his slack-jawed mouth.


Syaoran snapped out of it, not liking any sort of close distance by MALICIFER. He slapped Eriol's hand away from his chin and stepped back, shooting him a 'death glare'.


"Though I may have to be your 'master' and 'tormentor' throughout eternity, don't let that get in the way of us being friends." Eriol said with a smile that was laced with sardonic, yet mockingly playful means.


Syaoran snarled, "You'll never be my master! The only superiors I have are the ones where I REALLY belong."


"Oh, yes...you mean in the Kingdom of Heaven...well, THEY are the ones that damned you...so you belong HERE now." Eriol remarked logically.


"I was framed by my friend--no...my enemy..." Syaoran snapped as he paused and remembered Leirual's mocking smirk. He felt anger boil within his chest. "I didn't kill Rajual!" he blurted out.


"Well...I really don't know that for sure, now do I? Nor does anyone else," Eriol said, looking at Syaoran with an evil glance. "So you are mine."


"The day I belong to you is the day my immortal life ends!" Syaoran yelled and suddenly shot forward.


He threw fist and elbow strikes toward Eriol, but the General simply blocked and dodged them, a calm smile on his face.


"Sugoi...he's pretty fast!" Nakuru exclaimed as she watched Syaoran and Eriol go at it.


Of course, Eriol was having the upperhand so far...


"Hai...kekko hayai na." Spinel murmured, carefully watching Syaoran's strong, swift movements.


"Now...now...you really...should...calm...down." Eriol said between dodges, fluidly weaving in and out of Syaoran's attacks with a smile.


Getting considerably irritated, he threw a quick punch toward Eriol's head, and growled, "Damn you!!"


"Too late. That has already been done centuries ago. " Eriol said as he caught Syaoran's wrist, a smirk on his lips.


Syaoran blinked, surprised yet frustrated. When he tried to pull his wrist out of Eriol's grasp...


Eriol twisted Syaoran's wrist, breaking it. Wincing in pain, Syaoran bit down on his lip to prevent himself from screaming.


Nakuru cringed when she heard the sickening 'crack!', "Ow! That's gotta hurt!"


Amused by Syaoran's stubbornness, Eriol thrust his other free hand at Syaoran's shoulder with swift accuracy, dislocating it viciously.


Nakuru cringed again, "That, too!"


Syaoran let out a surprised, pained yelp, yet subdued his yelling as quickly as possible by gritting his teeth together.


..so..so fast! I...I didn't even see him do that! Syaoran thought, his dislocated shoulder making his whole body cry out in pain.


Just for kicks, Eriol swiftly let go of his broken wrist and suddenly appeared behind him. He grabbed one of Syaoran's white wings and…


Nakuru slightly pressed her fingers to her mouth and cringed yet again, seeing her Master take Syaoran's right wing and break it by the arching joint.


"THAT, too..." she added.


A few stray white feathers floated to the ground.


Syaoran yelled out, feeling sharp, agonizing pain rip throughout every cell in his body.


"Interesting...you're an interesting fellow." Eriol smirked, letting go of Syaoran's broken right wing


Syaoran collapsed to the ground on his knees, biting down hard on his tongue to stop his screaming and trying to bear the pain.


Syaoran's great white wings faded away at his will.


"...y-you..You bastard!!" Syaoran snapped his head and looked over his shoulder at Eriol, who calmly stood behind him.


Syaoran's sharp brown eyes narrowed and...


Eriol's eyes slightly widened as he felt Syaoran's aura suddenly blaze strongly.


Without much warning, Eriol felt a blast of pain course through his right arm. He took a step back from the 'cast-away Angel' from the force of power.


Syaoran had sent a 'chi attack'…Instead of anger, there was curious amusement on Eriol's face.


"Eriol-sama!!!" Nakuru and Spinel exclaimed.


Eriol looked down at his right arm, feeling that it was broken in three different places from Syaoran's attack...


Syaoran was breathing hard, tired from all the pain he endured and the chi attack he had just executed.


His broken wrist, dislocated shoulder, and broken wing were taking a large toll on his body.


"I told you...I'm no ordinary 'cast-away', Hiiragizawa!" Syaoran growled angrily. He was about to hit Eriol again with his chi, but...


"I can see that, my kawaii angel..." Eriol said, making a blush redden Syaoran's face.


"Don't call me that!" Syaoran snapped.


"Well, you certainly caught my interest," Eriol smiled at the blushing Syaoran. "...I'll see you in a few days." Eriol snapped his fingers, making a portal appear beneath Syaoran.


With a sharp gasp, Syaoran fell through the portal and disappeared.


"You're sending him to the Chambers now? You're going to let him be tortured already?" Nakuru asked curiously.


"I'm intrigued by him...I may have...I think I may have plans for him..." Eriol said, a mysterious smile on his lips.


He looked at his broken right arm again, despite the pain, he grinned both mysteriously and mischievously.


"Plans? For Li Syaoran?" Spinel asked.


"Well, let's not think ahead, Spinel-kun," Eriol said. "We'll have to see if he's still sane..."


"Ah, hai...he may be strong, but no one can think straight after non-stop torture." Spinel pointed out logically.


"Awww...he was such a kawaii guy, too," Nakuru sighed depressingly. "Oh, well. 'They come and go' just like Mother used to say..."


"…you never had a Mother," Spinel said, arching his eyebrow. "…Eriol-sama created us."


"…ne, that's right…then where did I hear that cliche then?" Nakuru put a finger to her lips and looked thoughtful.


"…Nakuru no baka…" Spinel mumbled, shaking his head.


Nakuru shot him a glare. "Suppi-kun, why you little—!!" she began, but…


"…Nakuru-chan…Spinel-kun…" Eriol chided.


"All right, all right…" Nakuru mumbled.


"We had enough for one day—we don't need you to be making it worse." Spinel remarked.


"Spinel-kun…" Eriol chided.


"…sorry. Making fun of Nakuru-chan is getting to be a habit—"


"—a BAD habit!" Nakuru added.


"Ah, izu yo," Eriol said, catching their attention, "we have work to do before the day ends."


Nakuru sighed, "…work, work, work…"


Work was all Eriol ever did...and he hated it, especially after all these centuries...


…of course, Eriol would have more work to do IF Syaoran is able to withstand the various tortures that are meant to break the mind…


/…that would be the most fun-related work I'd have after all these years…/ Eriol thought, having plenty of ideas flow into his mind IF Syaoran was to prove himself worthy…


…IF…




~*~ GLOSSARY ~*~

Shimatta: damn; crap; etc, etc, etc... ^^;
Suge: cool; awesome
Urusai: shut up
Gomen nasai: sorry (formal)
Irasshaimase: Welcome
Matte yo: Wait
Masaka: impossible; It can't be
Sugoi: amazing
Kekko hayai na: He's faster than I expected
Nakuru no baka: Nakuru is an idiot
Izu yo: Let's go; come on


AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Yes, I know...Eriol was quite evil, wasn't he? Well, he IS the Devil's General! ^_^ but I'll give him his 'nice' moments!! We'll have a real conversation (without too much violence or breaking of limbs...) between Syao-kun and Eriol-kun next chapter! Promise!

Thank you for reading! Sorry if the chapters are too long and boring...I just need to describe a lot of detail...gomen ne!

PLEASE REVIEW!!