Xirysa Says: Hello again, everyone. I'm in a bit of a cynical mood right now, so this fic overall is going to be... Darker I guess, for lack of a better word. So the general format is this: The basis for the story is the seven deadly sins. Envy, greed, sloth, lust, gluttony, pride, and wrath. Each part is going to be based on one of these sins. But just one. Also, each sin will focus on one pair or be in the point of view of someone else... Yeah. That's it, I think. So please, enjoy!

Sinners All
Sin the First: Envy
Pairing: EliwoodxNinian

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en·vy (en-vee): a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc.

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She said she would always be there for me. Always. Whenever I asked her why, she would just smile and say that it was because she was my sister. I never questioned her after that. Just smile and hug her. And she would always hug me back.

After we went through the Dragon's Gate, I didn't know if things would stay the same or not. But I don't think I needed to worry. She just took my hand and smiled at me, saying that everything would be alright. I believed her. I always did.

Even when we traveled together, she was always there for me. She was my protector, and never let me get in trouble or hurt or hungry. Even if that meant she had to go hungry for nights in a row because we hadn't made enough money for a decent dinner or began selling her jewelry and possessions for a loaf of bread or a piece of fruit to feed me. I guess I began to think that she and I would be together, forever. Nothing would ever tear us apart.

But then... She met him. They spent more and more time together, and soon he could make her smile almost as easily as I could. Almost.

No, Ninian. I'm the only one who can make you smile like that.

We went to the Nabata Desert to meet a "Living Legend." I was still sick, and the heat was making me feel even more ill. That great blue-haired lout of a lord carried me on his back, and she smiled at the fuss we were making. That made me happy.

But then I saw him offer her his arm, and she took it. He said something, and she laughed. He made her laugh.

But that's my job, Sister. What's going on?

Her eyes would light up whenever she heard his voice, and she would stammer and blush every time she spoke about him. Whenever he spoke to her, she would always keep her eyes downcast and face down so that he wouldn't see her cheeks begin to color.

I could see the way he looked at her. There was such tenderness in his eyes. And she would look at him, her eyes filled with caring and adoration and...

Do you love him, Ninian?

I saw them together once. It was only one time, but it confirmed my thoughts. Or was it my fears? Was I scared of losing her? I lost my father, my mother, my home, my freedom... She was the only one I had left.

I was terrified.

They were standing by the firepit in the middle of the company. His arms were around her waist, and she was sobbing into her hands. Had she told him? Did he know what we were? I continued watching as she lifted her head and he leaned down, saw their lips meet, and noticed the tears flowing down her cheeks. She loved him.

It wasn't until later that I noticed that I was crying too.

There was something tugging at my heart - a doubt, a worry, a fear. Was she leaving me? I didn't want her to. She couldn't! I was the only one she needed, I was the only person there for her! There was a cloud hovering over my mind, a feeling I couldn't name.

Ninian was my sister. Mine. No one else's.

She was all I had.

Mine.

Xirysa Says: Imagine that your sister, probably the only person in the entire world that understands you and loves you for being you, falls in love and starts to spend more time away from you. You know she still loves you and you still love her, but there is something eating away at that knowledge. Jealousy. Envy. (Wow, I'm being cynical again.) And... From that thought, the fic was born! But still, imagine the poor boy's situation. I would be shocked if he DIDN'T feel a bit of jealousy, actually. But trying to convey an emotion (or sin) without explicitly saying so is difficult. Erm... Yes. I do believe that is it. As always, constructive criticism is appreciated, and I hope that you stay tuned for the next six sins!