Disclaimer: I don't own Flame of Recca. The concept of celdars, Phe'ons and the like are mine, though.

Note: Well… this was hard to do. Sigh. I was hoping I'd reach 2000 words but… I just couldn't do it. Blast it. Anyway, thankies to Eirist for being the first one to review! Also, thanks to abubi-chan for the words of encouragement --hands out virtual candy--. If it weren't for that person, I wouldn't have had continued this story. PLEASE READ AND REVIEW. Criticism would be highly appreciated. Characters are meant to be OOC. If you guys out there get a bit confused, message me and I'd be glad to explain.

Conceit's Original Sin

The Struggle for Survival Begins

It was getting dark now. The intensity of the approach of night made the wind colder. It pierced the skin with its frigidity, the way a knife would once it slid through the bare flesh, cutting it into little bitty pieces. A warning of what both creatures knew would ensue.

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She had been there for a day now. Thirteen hours, to be precise.

'Have you ever seen such a pitiful sight? No, I don't think you have.'

This was something she had to do herself. This was something she had to stop herself. And now, as she was standing at the corner of her apartment, scared out of her wits, she heard that voice again. Beckoning her, calling her to come out from where she was hiding.

'I see you, I feel you. I can even almost taste you. Come out now, Miss Sakoshita. There's no point in hiding yourself from me.'

The dream she had for so many times now had finally come true. He was looking for her now, this frightful person. His voice emanated from all corners of the room.

'I want you.'

He had always said that he wouldn't harm her one bit. The feeling in her gut begged to differ.

She didn't want to die. Not just yet. She was going to graduate fresh out of college; she was finally going to have her happily ever after. Nobody's going to ruin that.

But whoever this person was already had. And as she slowly felt the warmth of life in her ebbing away like the dreams she had set up for her self in so long, the man was daring her more.

'Come out.'

She didn't want to, but she wanted to. It was a complicated thing. She cringed. And the age old warning that a predator was about to attack its prey was evidently heard: come out come out wherever you are. "No." her knees buckled. "…please, no." she took two excruciatingly slow steps forward. "Don't do this to me…" she begged. Tears trickled down her pretty face. "I'm sorry…" she didn't know why she was apologizing. She still repeated that over and over again, anyway. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry…sorry…" But even the cries from within her innocent little heart couldn't stop his lust for what she possessed: her human soul.

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Sapphire eyes changed into a darker shade of blue. They almost resembled black. "I feel it." Despite the chill of night-time, her body was warm. Flashes of silver and white appeared in her mind.

Close.

That thing was too close.

A disk of different hues of lavender and old rose formed between small pudgy fingers. The last time this burning sensation occurred was four years ago. She was a mere babe. But even at that time, she understood this feeling; it was in her blood after all.

"Is it near?" the woman beside her asked, eyes scanning the usual busy Tokyo nocturnal crowd.

Ganko stared at her half sister, the disk before her slightly dimming. Her lips didn't bother to move for a reply. She hated the fact that she had to share this moment with… with that stupid unwanted get. The bastard was older, yes. But she was just a mere product of her father's lust; her father's want for a woman's body during his years in battle at the mountains of Djali. Ganko knew it was wrong to feel that way but unlike blinking and the flexing of her fingers, she couldn't control it.

Besides, loathing felt good.

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'Here, human. Just a little more.'

He felt the roots of his hair stiffen in gluttonous anticipation. This was exciting. All his victims were, but Yanagi Sakoshita was different. He craved her soul to an almost shocking degree. That's when he remembered that he hadn't feasted for almost a month. Thin lips slowly curved up into an almost seductively dangerous smirk. 'Don't keep me waiting too long, Miss Sakoshita. I have a terribly short temper.' He concentrated on finding her. Different stories could be formed- may they be true or not- from the scenes he encountered upon trying to find Yanagi:

A baby was crying sixty miles away, his mother talking to a considerably older man.

The bakery near the rusty gates of a brothel that used to be very popular closed down.

A beggar desperately hits her little tin can for even the smallest amount of change.

(Tock, tock, tock.)

She spoke in a different tongue: "Have mercy, please! For my family!"

(Tock, tock, tock.)

An expensive-looking car's engine let out a resounding rumble as its owner ignited it to a start. (Putt, putt.)

Just below a stone bridge, a lifeless body of a robin was being ravaged by a group of cats.

Aha.

The profile of a young lady could be seen inside a room with cream-colored wallpaper. Brown hair covered her face as her head was bent down low.

'Look at me, my dear. It might be your last chance to see anyone of significance right now.'

She slowly adjusted her gaze towards where she thought he might be. "...Sorry… please…" it was like a chant, the way she said it. It delighted him to hear her soprano tone beg him for her life. Oh, he was so hungry now.

'Shh… don't worry. It won't last long.'

Streaks of silver and black could be seen as Tokiya Mikagami ran off to seek his prey.

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"Over there!" her young features twisted delightedly the way a child would when placed in an all-for-free candy store. It was finally Ganko's chance to prove that she was worthy to be a Phe'on today. Not even her illegitimate older sister could change that. Her blood started to feel warmer. It almost felt like she was riding along the rivers of ecstasy; almost felt like she was on a high with drugs. It would be the second time she encountered a celdar, but the first time she would tame one.

Her father would be so proud of her.

"It's a pity you won't be able to catch this one ahead of me now, one-san." Her tone was practically dripping with sarcasm, blonde curls on the top of her head bobbing with child-like glee.

Ganko's companion ignored the remark. "I don't intend to."

"That's good. 'Cause if you do, I'll make sure you won't live another day with even a single spot of dignity at my household."

The silence of the older Phe'on satisfied the younger one. Look who's boss now.

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His keepers once said that throughout time, only one human soul can truly satisfy a celdar's greed. Maybe Yanagi Sakoshita is the provider of that one. He thought for a while.

Hmm… but then again, maybe not.

He savored the thin wisps from the first few fibers of Yanagi's spirit, the fragility of her well-protected memories seeping in him.

It was all there, what he expected to taste.

The innocence that only so few seemed to possess on this day and age, friendship, the desire towards life…

It tasted good.

He almost closed his eyes in pleasure. Just a little more and he could finally reach the core of her soul.

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"I found it!" Ganko led the way towards the street parallel to where they stood before, taking in short deep breaths along the way. Only one word was repeated in her mind: Finally. Her companion merely followed her, slowing her pace now and then.

She didn't want to ruin her little sister's chance to prove herself to their father.

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Yanagi Sakoshita leaned her head against the dry, rough wall of her apartment. She felt so numb now. But it was okay. He kept his promise. It didn't hurt one bit. Still, she could feel her life draining away from her and she did try to earlier on to grasp even the smallest amount of strength to keep on living. She found it useless to fight him. It was the end.

Do you remember what some people say? That when you're about to die, your whole life flashes before your eyes?

Yanagi did see something flash in front of her eyes prior to her so called death.

But it wasn't her life.

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He didn't see it coming.

After two hundred years of avoiding them, he really didn't.

Different hues of green, yellow, and pink distorted his vision. A cornucopia of various shapes and strokes made its way towards him. It was a beautiful, beautiful thing to behold. It weakened him, but he still found it so very beautiful.

A girl came to his sight after a while, her delicate little body standing out amidst the spectacle of colors.

"Aναπαύομαι μέσα ειρήνη, Αναπαύομαι."

His eyes widened in shock.

One word escaped his lips like a curse upon realizing what was happening to him: "Phe'on…"

And then he blacked out.

-... to be continued.-