Well, here it is a new chapter and this chapter will not only contain the beginnings of Meiling/OC but also the first character created by a winner of the Syaoran's Angels competition!! Now you know what to do after reading the chapter... review! The more reviews I receive the faster I type!

Syaoran's Angels

Chapter 8: Showdown

"Please girls, call me by my real name," 'Derrick' said with a smirk on his face.

"Call me Hayden."

Silence reigned within the battered old van.

"Who?" Meiling asked extremely puzzled.

Hayden's smirk fell as Sakura frowned trying to work out where she had seen this man before. But the answer to that particular question remained a mystery to her.

"I'm the man who you 'Angels' stole that disk from," he snarled.

Sakura blinked as his words stirred up memories. It was inside the Spinnel Corporation building... Tomoyo had just triggered the fire alarm. She was fighting... fighting with a man for the disk.

That man was...

"It was you," she whispered, "It was you. I stole that disk from you! You were the man working for Spinnel Corporation!"

"Finally," Hayden sneered, "You finally figured it out."

Sakura glared at the man and balled her hands into a fist.

"Yeah and now you'll pay," she spat.

"Maybe... maybe not," Hayden suddenly grinned, "Who am I kidding? You Angels are literally become angels in a few minutes."

"How did you know we were here?" Sakura demanded.

"Easy, we bugged your headquarters."

Tomoyo glanced up at the black helicopter, which still hovered over the pier, its spotlight shining right at them. As Sakura continued to trade barbs with Hayden, Tomoyo's hand slowly moved down to the van's handbrake and released the brakes on the van's wheels. She slammed her foot down onto the brake and waited with bated breath watching Hayden and the helicopter carefully.

Meiling sighed.

"We really don't have time for this, we've still got a little girl to save," she reminded Sakura.

"You're right," Hayden said suddenly.

Tomoyo began letting her foot off the brakes.

"TAKE THEM OUT!" he yelled at the helicopter before running back into the warehouse.

The helicopter rose in the air and pointed the cockpit down straight down at them. Meiling swore seeing a pair of missile rockets attached to the underbelly of the black machine.

"Damn," Sakura said mildly.

In a small explosion of white and red sparks, the missile shot forwards aiming straight for them.

Tomoyo slammed down onto the speed pedal. With a loud ear-piercing screech, the van leapt into the action racing down the narrow, deserted street at over a hundred kilometres an hour. Tomoyo thanked whatever god was nearby that their van was parked near the edge of the pier.

"Getting ready to jump," she said to Sakura and Meiling.

The two other Angels nodded as Tomoyo pressed the pedal as far down as it would go.

The Angels heard rather then saw the explosion behind them as an intense wave of heat washed over the van, concussive waves shattered the back window as Tomoyo grinned.

We're going to make it

A few seconds later, the van shot over the edge of the pier and slammed into the ocean.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Hayden stepped out from the warehouse that had protected him from the blast and smirked as he resisted the urge to pump his fist in triumph. The Angels were taken care of and now his promotion was within his grasp once more. Smiling to himself, he turned around to face the helicopter and waited patiently for the helicopter to drop a rope ladder as planned.

His smile froze as the helicopter hovered above the burning debris, flames licking the underbelly of the black machine. It was as though a black winged monster had stepped out from the very fires of hell itself and for the first time in his life Hayden felt a deep sense of fear. The helicopter continued to hover as Hayden gestured wildly for them to come to him.

Nothing happened.

Putting on a brave front he waved some more.

Still nothing.

Then Hayden knew with an overwhelming feeling of fear and horror that his days were over. The helicopter slowly flew through the flames. The wind caused by its revolving rotors fanned the flames to become a giant white-hot engulfing blaze. Hayden wondered desperately why his plan had fallen apart.

Five seconds later he got his answer. He looked up to see Lilia smirking at him from the cockpit smiling smugly at him from her seat beside the pilot, Lilia flashed him one final grin and gave him a small wave goodbye.

Hayden whirled around and ran for his life back into the warehouse, back to somewhere he could be safe. Back to somewhere where he could hide from the harsh truth: he was going to die... tonight.

Lilia gave the final command and the final missile shot forwards.

It hit with devastating effect.

Hayden was half in through the doorway of the warehouse just as the missile slammed into the concrete ground. It punched through the thin layer of the concrete and struck the wooden structuring of the pier beneath. It exploded throwing flames and debris into the air like a volcano. Concussive wave rippled out from the damage site and reduced the rest of the supporting wooden beams to mere splinters.

With one final crack, the final columns of wood holding up the pier shattered.

In one small second, it was as though the whole block of warehouses were defying gravity as it leaned forwards dangerously but resisted the urge of gravity hanging there for a few impossible seconds above the tumbling waves.

Then gravity grasped the warehouses and gave a might tug and the burning buildings, concrete and wood fell into the ocean throwing up a giant cloud of thick black smoke and sprays of water.

The black helicopter circled the destruction it had caused before flying off into the night sky.

Onboard Lilia smiled in satisfaction and congratulated herself on a job well done.

The Angels were gone.

Hayden was taken care off.

Life was looking good.

The promotion was hers.

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Inside the sinking van, Meiling resisted the urge to panic as seawater slowly crept into the van seeping in from under the doors and windows instead she tried to open the door but to her frustration it wouldn't budge. Seeing no other way out, she punched the window.

The seawater swirling around in the van hampered her movements but she did manage to crack the glass. The water pushed up against the weakened window and slowly pushed in causing the glass first to budge then caused more cracks to zigzag crazily across the surface. Then these cracks widened and began letting in water, finally Meiling punched it one more time and the glass shattered.

Water began pouring into the van as Meiling turned around with difficulty to see how Sakura and Tomoyo were faring. They had already shattered the other window and Tomoyo was in the process of getting out, Meiling took a deep breath and shoved her body through the gaping hole where the window used to be.

With much difficulty she kicked with her legs and shoved off from the sinking van with her arms. Freeing herself from the vehicle she turned around to find both Tomoyo and Sakura had already gotten out.

The three Angels kicked towards the surface holding their breath as best they can. After what seemed like eternity they final broke the surface shooting up from the waters like three mythical mermaids. Tomoyo's hair clung to neck and face as Sakura shook her head sending small sprays of water flying out from her auburn hair.

They turned around and viewed in silence the burning carcass of what used to be the block of warehouses, flames danced along the broken buildings throwing eerie light onto the water surface. Smoke billowed out in all direction overpowering Meiling's senses with the stench of burnt wood, plastic and metal.

Around them floated bits of debris some still smoking others blackened by the flames. Metal sheets floated by twisted into unrecognisable shape by the intense heat, here and there floated planks of wood those that had survived the initial blast and the resulting fire.

"What happened?" Sakura asked treading water.

Meiling grabbed onto a piece of wood that was floating past and used it to help buoy her body up.

"The second missile must have been launched," she guessed watching the fire devour the rest of the warehouses.

"Why?" Tomoyo asked following Meiling's example and grabbing a piece of wood,

" Why would Hayden launch another missile when the first one missed us and we were already in the water?"

"Yeah, Hayden probably thought we were killed in the first missile attack. He would hiding in the warehouse," Sakura added.

"Unless..." Tomoyo began, "Unless whoever was in the helicopter launched the second missile at Hayden instead of going for us..."

"Why would someone want to kill Hayden?" Meiling asked confused, "I thought we were the targets."

There was a slight pause in the conversation as the girls thought about it for a few minutes.

"Whoever was in the helicopter saw us go over the edge and thought we'll probably drown. Then that person must have taken out Hayden because he was a threat to them," Sakura guessed.

"Well, great now that we know what happened we still don't know where the real kidnappers are," Meiling grumbled.

"If there any kidnappers in the first place," Tomoyo added.

"There is," Meiling said with conviction in her voice, "Remember what Hayden said? They bugged our headquarters, they probably heard about the mission and rushed over here to kill Derrick and got Hayden to take his place to trick us."

"So now what?" Sakura demanded, "We've got a mission to complete and we don't know where the exchange is taking place."

"No, but I do," a weak voice said.

The Angels turned around and gasped.

"You," Meiling said venomously.

"I can help you."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Marcus Flaron watched with helpless rage as the thugs who had kidnapped his daughter grin at him daring him to attack, to save his daughter.

He closed his eyes and prayed to god.

Please god, send someone to help me

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

"You," Meiling snarled.

"I can help you."

Both Sakura and Tomoyo's eyes hardened as they saw who had spoken. Hayden, his hair black with soot and his face and body covered in horrific burns clung to a piece of debris his pale blue eyes stared at them pleading for them to listen to him.

"Pl... please..." he coughed violently clutching the piece of wood in desperation, "I can help you."

"What with?" Tomoyo asked with a hint of steel in her voice.

"Ma... Marcus... Fl... Fla... Flaron," Hayden bit on his lip trying to stifle his screams of pain as the seawater attacked at his many burns, "I know where it is..."

"Where?"

"Before I tell you swear you'll help me," Hayden murmured.

"Tell us now," Meiling glared at him.

"The warehouse... is... is... it is... in... block F... num... number... 14... it is near... nea... nearby," Hayden's grip on the plank of wood loosened.

Sakura swam over to him and checked his many burns quickly, when she looked at him her face was grim.

"You don't have long to live," she said quietly.

Hayden smiled bitterly.

"I know... be... be... beware of Lilia... she... sh... she... did... al... all... this. She... is... is... dang... dangerous," Hayden's eyes took on a faraway look as his hands began going numb letting the piece of wood float away, "Spinnel Corporation... kno... know... knows about... your... your..."

Sakura watched him closely trying to understand what he was saying but as Hayden's eyes began closing she began panicking.

"About my what?" Sakura screamed at him, "What do they know?"

Hayden smiled at her softly before he sank beneath the waves. His body sank straight to the bottom to rest for eternity in its watery grave. Tomoyo and Meiling remained silent but Sakura was still yelling.

"What do they know?" Sakura continued to scream at the water, "What?"

"Sakura!" Tomoyo broke in to her friend's ranting, "We've got a man and girl to rescue! Hayden was probably delirious from his wounds. He is dead! We've got to make sure that Marcus Flaron and his daughter doesn't end up the same!"

Sakura's emerald eyes were still livid with fear and rage but she nodded.

"Let's go," she said tersely.

All three girls began swimming back towards the shore but Tomoyo couldn't help take one final look back at the spot where Hayden's dead body had vanished beneath the rolling ocean waves.

"Rest in peace," she said sombrely.

With that she shoved the thought of the dead man to the back of her head and concentrated on the task at hand.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Marcus Flaron looked on in fear as his bound and gagged five-year-old daughter struggled in the iron-hard grip of one of the thugs. A steady river of tears flowed down his daughter's face as the thug sneered at Marcus's helplessness.

"Well, well Mr. Flaron," a familiar voice said coolly, "How silly of me to be late for such an important meeting but then you always do arrive early."

Marcus stiffened hearing the voice; he clenched his fists tightly as he beat down a choking wave of fear and rage.

"Malus..." he growled.

Malus Harrason, Marcus's former boss and owner of Crell's Partners law firm, stepped out from the shadows, a humourless smile dancing across his lips.

"Ahhh... Marcus," his grey-eyes studied his former employee as his bony hands stroked the material of his dark grey suit, "You seem a bit thin. Stress getting to you?"

"Give me back my daughter," Marcus snarled.

"Your dear child will be fine as long as you behave yourself," Marcus longed to wipe that arrogant grin off the old man's pale face.

Malus Harrason continued to smile at him as Marcus's daughter continued to struggle in the grip of the thugs.

"Tsk, tsk," he sighed, "Children these days... Frank, restrain her."

The thug tightened his grip cruelly as the little girl began weeping in earnest, her bright blue eyes begging for her father to save her.

"Why?" Marcus spat.

"Why?" Malus repeated with an arched eyebrow, "Simple, I love power and I have power through my law firm and you took it away from me. You know how much money I lost? How much respect and power I lost through your own cowardliness?"

"I did what was right," Marcus took a step towards his former boss but the rest of the hired thugs waiting in the shadows let out a warning growl.

"Now, now. No need to be rash. I'm sure we can works thing out like civilised gentlemen," Malus let out a small laugh his grey eyes shining in glee seeing Marcus's despair, "It's time we have a little talk."

"About what?" Marcus demanded.

"About everything and anything," Malus replied simply, "Let's start with why your little daughter is in trouble... her name is Lily isn't it?"

Marcus remained silent glaring at his enemy.

"You see you still live in delusional world. You believe there is still good in the world and good things come to good people however you are sadly mistaken," Malus preached with fanatical light in his grey eyes, "This world is full of evil, the mindless drones that make up our population listen to people of power and how do you get power? Through money. It doesn't matter how you get it as long as you do then will people finally respect you."

"So?" Marcus growled.

"It means that you don't have money thus you have no real power in this world whilst I on the other hand have plenty but you took so of that away from me and now I have to make sure you and your daughter are... 'taken care' of or otherwise I may loose so of that respect and power I so richly deserve," Malus favoured Marcus with another humourless grin, "Just before your daughter dies I would like to say it's nothing personally don't take any offence."

"Good," a new voice said.

Marcus frowned, this voice was different it was definitely a woman's but it held power and fire. He knew straight away that this was one woman nobody messed with.

"Than you won't take any offence at us kicking your butt," the woman continued.

Malus Harrason looked past Marcus's shadow at something or someone behind him.

"Take care of them please," he said to the thugs in the shadows.

Marcus turned around slowly and gaped seeing three women standing in the doorway of the warehouse. Seawater trickled down from their bodies and dripped onto the floor but even though they were soaked to the bone there was still an aura of power and determination radiating from the trio.

"Bring it on," a black-haired woman spoke.

What happened next left Marcus gasping in disbelief.

Meiling scowled at the sight of a little girl being held captive by a large thug but she pushed her emotions aside and studied the scene before her. A tall man with dark hair and soft brown eyes were gaping at them a look of shock appearing onto his well-sculpted face. She looked past the man who was obviously the little girl's father and saw another man standing beside the captive girl.

A thin, old man with thinning grey hair and cold, hard eyes like stone looked at them with nothing more than curiosity on his time ravaged face.

"Take care of them please," the old man said to the thugs in a refined voice.

The thugs lunged from the shadows not expecting any resistance from three girls.

"Bring it on," Meiling smirked.

She charged at the first thug and leapt into the air planting two solids kicks on his chest and shoulder seeing the big oaf stumbling backwards, she landed with feline grace turning around in time to rearrange another thug's face with her fist. Blood gushed from his broken nose as Meiling wrinkled her nose.

"That better not stain my clothes," she muttered finishing the thug off with a quick kick.

Beside her Tomoyo was being charged by two thugs one wielding a wicked-looking knife, the other a length of chain, which he twirled above his head. Tomoyo easily dispatched the knife-wielder with a quick spin kick to the neck as the knife flew from the thug's grip Tomoyo snatched it from the air and brought the blade up in time to block the chain-holding thugs attack. The length of rusty chain wrapped itself around Tomoyo's knife as the Japanese Angel yanked the chain from the thug's grip. She whipped the blade around with chain attached and smiled in satisfaction as the chain slashed across the thug's face.

"Oh, my poor baby," she cooed as the thug stumbled backward temporarily blinded.

She finished him off with a solid kick before throwing the length of chain to Sakura who was surrounded by a trio of thugs.

"Thanks!" Sakura called.

She expertly twirled the chain around and whipped it at knee-height, the first two thugs were smart enough to jump but the last was a second too slow and toppled over as the chain wrapped itself around his knees. Sakura worked the chain free and whirled around as one of thugs lunged at her. A length of rusty metal links knocked him out of the air as Sakura sent the last thug crashing into a stack of wooden crates.

"Tomoyo! Sakura!" Meiling cried.

"What?" both Angels turned around.

"Boost!"

Tomoyo and Sakura nodded to each other and finished off the opponent they were fighting with before running towards each other and kneeling down. Meiling kick another thug out of the way and raced at her two friends who has been this time formed a cradle by twining their fingers together. Meiling leapt as her left foot landed into the cradle made by Sakura's hand and her right foot landed in Tomoyo's. Both girls suddenly stood up and threw the arms up boosting Meiling forwards and up into the air. Meiling twirled her body around in mid-air and landed lightly in front of the old man and the thug holding the girl.

"Now why are you girls fighting to save this little child?" the old man asked, "Did Marcus pay you?"

"No," Meiling growled.

She didn't waste anymore time in trading barbs with the old man instead she took the thug out with a quick punch to the temple. The thug stumbled backwards and crashed into the wooden crates as the girl fell to the ground her body bound by lengths of rope. Meiling made short work of the rope tearing it apart in a burst of anger and strength and yanked the gag out of the little girl's mouth.

"Now you be a good girl and run over to your daddy as your fairy godmothers kick some big bad losers' butt," Meiling told the girl.

Usually Marcus would have disapproved of that kind of language being said around his daughter but he was too busy trying figuring out who these girls were to do anything else.

The girl nodded and shyly and ran to her daddy as Meiling whirled around to join the fight.

Trapped between three Angels a small pile of unconscious thugs soon adorned the warehouse floor.

"That was easy," Sakura commented.

"Who are you girls? And why do you disturb my business?" the old man demanded anger finally filling his voice.

"These people are under Angel protection so keep your hands off them," Meiling growled gesturing at Marcus who was now hugging his little daughter as tightly as he could, shedding tears of grateful joy.

"Angels?" the old man said wistfully, "Ahh... I knew an Angel before."

"Mallus Harrason, you come near my daughter again and I'll kill you," Marcus snarled.

"As if you have the spine, Marcus," the old man smirked, "You're a coward! You couldn't even save your wife."

"How dare..."

"You knew an Angel?" Sakura asked.

"Two in fact but one died..." Mallus eyed Sakura thoughtfully, "I've seen you before... somewhere..."

Sakura frowned puzzled as Tomoyo and Meiling glared at Mallus, contempt visible in their hard eyes.

"Ahh... you're Nadeshiko's daughter!" Mallus snapped his fingers suddenly, "Terrific girl, a bit dense but..."

"Don't you dare insult my mother!" Sakura snarled.

"I wouldn't dream of insulting a dead person," Mallus smirked.

"How dare you!"

Before anybody could act Sakura snatched the knife from Tomoyo's hands and hurled it at the man. Mallus's grey eyes were filled with amusement but Sakura could see the fear lurking behind them as the knife thudded into a wooden crate pinning his sleeve to the timber.

"Let's go," she told Tomoyo and Meiling suddenly, "This man is nothing but a senile bitter shell."

Tomoyo nodded.

"Marcus Flaron? Do you want to leave now?" Tomoyo asked, her voice leaving no doubt to Marcus that it was a command rather than a question.

He nodded and hugged his daughter to him before scooping her up into his arms.

"I'm ready."

Sakura shot Mallus one final glare that would have caused ice to burst into flames before leaving with her friends.

"So who are you?" Marcus asked as his daughter studied the girls with her bright blue eyes.

"Us?" Meiling smiled, "We're Angels."

Marcus was mesmerised by the woman's grin. Her bright ruby eyes seem to hypnotise him as he studied her carefully noting her red, soft lips and flawless skin. Her wet clothes clung to her body revealing a well-developed figure showing off her muscular body as well as her soft curves but it was her eyes that drew him the most. They seemed to show the woman's determination and strength but also showed the softer, kinder side of her. Some say that the eyes were the windows to the soul than this woman's soul must be as pure as pristine snow and as powerful as a raging forest fire.

He thought back to the prayers he had made in the warehouse and smiled.

Thank you, god.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

AHHHH!! Why did I put so much fluff towards the end? (Shrugs) By now you probably figured Marcus is a bit of a romantic. Anyway wasn't it an interesting chapter. The beginning of a Meiling/Marcus Flaron romance, the first clue of the truth behind Nadeshiko Kinomoto and of course the death of Hayden. So many things are about to happen but it only gets more interesting... I hope.

Next chapter:

The girls have enjoyed a short relaxing break in Australia but are heading back to L.A. with Marcus and his daughter in tow but once back in America each girl will have to face her demons. For Meiling, it is her fear that she is not beautiful enough to find true love. For Sakura it is her painful high school memories as she goes to her fifth year reunion but perhaps it is Tomoyo who has the worse. She has the face her own demon in disguise... a demon by the name of Eriol Higarizawa... all this and a whole lot more in... Of Angels and Demons

A/Note: Well, as I mentioned before the first character created by a winner of the Syaoran's Angels winner has appeared but don't worry we'll see more of Mallus Harrason later!

Thanks you, Amy Dreise for creating such a wonderful and evil character and congratulations to the winners, so far there are:

Amy Dreise

Ms.evil (please e-mail me with your character!)

SaKuRa LoVa

And a few others (you know who you are and please e-mail me with your character!)

And yes there is going to be S+S romance but this does not mean it will turn out to be a S/S fic, it will depend on how the story works out. For those who are wondering Syaoran will probably appear in the next four to five chapters... if it goes according to my non-existent plan.

So watch for him!