Chapter 1: The Fragile girl

Hey everyone! This is my first TOS fanfic story =) I currently am writing another story, except it's a Kaze no Stigma fanfic so if you're interested in that go check it out! Btw, this is the REVISED chapter!

After watching the movie, Taiyou no Uta (also known as Song to the Sun or Midnight Sun), I was inspired to write this story and I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: Dark-Flame Alchemist does not own Tales of Symphonia, only her OC, Karai.

Date posted: 04/21/11

Date re-posted: 05/13/11

In the hidden village of Mizuho, a small black-haired girl was looking out the window of her home. The window was covered by a clear protective screening from her seat. The young girl was humming a tune as she watched other kids her age having fun playing outside.

A woman who was an older version of the small girl went into the room, "Karai, that's a nice tune. Where did you hear it?"

Karai smiled, "I made it up myself after being so bored."

Her mother, Hikari, was surprised, "Really? Does it come with words?"

The girl shook her head, "No. Maybe one day I will add some. It's only something to pass the time, anyway. What I really want to do is be a ninja like you and daddy one day," she beamed.

"That's wonderful sweetie. You will definitely be a great ninja one day, especially with your determination and fast-learning skills," Karai's mother encouraged.

The small girl nodded with satisfaction before going back to being bored again, "Mommy, I want to go outside." The woman placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder with a sympathetic look, "I'm sorry Karai, you just can't. Mommy and daddy want you to stay safe inside the house."

"This isn't fair! Why can't I be like Sheena and the other kids? Why aren't I normal?" she whined.

Karai's mother sat down behind her upset daughter and hugged her from behind to comfort her, "I know baby. It's not your fault. You're just very fragile and your father and I need to do whatever we can to ensure your safety. We'll be sad if something terrible happens to you, even your cousin Sheena will be upset. You know that right?" she asked Karai while stroking her soft, silky hair.

Karai leaned into her mother and sighed, "I know, Mommy."

"Don't worry little one… everything will be all right," Hikari assured her before releasing her hold on Karai and turning the little girl around to face her, "I have to leave on a very important mission now."

Karai sadly looked down, "Again? So soon?"

Hikari held her daughter's chin and made her look at her, "Yes I do baby. Your father will be staying in the village this time so you won't be alone."

Karai smiled at her mother, "Ok."

"Karai! I'm here! Where are you?" said a girl's voice from outside the room.

"Oh look, Sheena's back," her mother said, "Why don't you go play with her?"

Karai nodded before hugging her mother, "I love you Mommy. Come back home, ok?"

The woman held her daughter tightly, not wanting to let her go, "I love you too baby, my little Karai. I will be back." She released the small girl before leaving the room.

Karai didn't know, though, that that would be the last time that she will ever see her mother alive again and a few years later, her father as well.

~…~

The young girl, now an eighteen-year old young woman, sat by the same window she did that many years ago with the same clear protective screenings as she waited for the sun to finish setting and for the moon to appear which was very soon. She stayed close to the wall where the sunlight didn't hit.

Karai exhaled slowly as she stared at the big ball of light descending down from the sky and for the moon to show up. She finally saw Sheena, her sixteen-year old cousin, headed for the direction of their house.

Sheena noticed Karai at the window and waved at her. Karai smiled and waved back before her cousin disappeared from view as she went inside the house.

The crimson-eyed girl's smile faded, remembering that she and Sheena had to go to Meltokio for her regular check-up with Dr. Aura. She tucked her legs into her chest and placed her chin on top on her knees while staring at the wall, hating the fact that she had to go to the doctor.

While stuck in her thoughts, Karai didn't hear someone knocking on her door. The door opened, revealing Sheena, "Hey, you ready to go?" Her spaced-out cousin didn't hear her.

The clumsy ninja sighed and spoke a little louder, "Karai Fujibayashi! Are you ready to leave yet?"

Karai finally heard her and turned her head to face Sheena. She sheepishly smiled and nodded, "Sorry about that cuz… yeah, I just need to put on my boots and I'll be ready. Wait for me by the front door."

Sheena shook her head and chuckled, "It's all right. I know how you hate the doctor. Just hurry up. You never know how many monsters might be out at night and we want to get to Meltokio before the sun rises," she mentioned before leaving Karai's room.

Karai looked outside once more and she saw that the moon was up already. She was surprised that she was deep in thought the whole time that she didn't notice that the sun was gone.

She smiled, loving to watch the moon. It was very calming for her to do. She would always look up at the moon every night, thinking about things.

Karai snapped out of her thoughts and got off her window seat to get her boots and put them on, not wanting to keep Sheena waiting any longer. Plus, the sooner they got to Meltokio before the sun went up, the better.

She went to the mirror to check if she was descent for the trip. She looked at her reflection. She had red crimson eyes and black medium, straight and layered hair with a side-swept bang. Her hair style has usually been the same over the years because she felt that was the only style that suited her. Her clothing consisted of a dark red tank top with a black sleeveless thin coat covering the top. The coat hugged her hips, showing her curves, and went down to her knees. She wore black pants with knee-high black boots that had heels; her hands were covered with red and black fingerless gloves that went to her wrists. The top of her pants also had a belt which kept up her holder containing knives, kunai and seals, showing that she was a ninja. After inspecting, she saw that she just needed to adjust her coat and brush her hair some more.

Satisfied, Karai went to where her special cloak was hanging on the wall. She brought it down and held it up in front of her as she looked at the clothing. It was dark blue with the opening of the hood closed off with a plastic covering to protect her face. The cloak was special because it provided a better sun protection than a regular cloak would.

The young woman sighed before she got her satchel and placed inside the special cloak, extra clothes and supplies for the overnight stay in Meltokio. When Karai was finished putting her stuff inside the satchel, she placed the handle of the bag over her head and on her shoulder. She grabbed her daggers and secured them in their appropriate place in her belt before she left her room.

~…~

"Hey Mom… Dad… how are you guys?" Karai greeted her parents through their grave stones that lied next to each other. She and Sheena went to pay their respects before leaving. Sheena had already finished and waited for Karai at the entrance of the cemetery.

Karai kneeled down in front of their stones and lit up incense for each stone like she did every day. She looked at her mother's stone which read: Hikari Uchiha Fujibayashi; loving mother, wife and friend; a highly respected ninja. She slightly smiled, "I can't believe it's been exactly twelve years from today since you died during that mission of yours. I was so shocked to hear from Dad the next day, telling me what happened to you. One minute I'm talking to you, the next, you're gone."

She gave a sigh before turning her head to look at her father's stone. It read: Daisuke Fujibayashi; loving father and husband; a highly respected ninja. "It's almost about eight years since your death and the other members of the village… on the day that Sheena failed to make the pact with Volt… just three weeks to go," Karai then looked down and frowned sadly, "Grandpa Igaguri is still in a coma after the incident; nobody knows when he is going to wake up or if he ever will, but I believe he will one day… someday. I know you wouldn't blame Sheena for what happened; it wasn't her fault; she was just young and it's not like she meant for the even to happen. Many people in the village though bear a grudge upon her still, but I don't. How could I? She's my family even though we're not related by blood and there's no way I'm going to abandon her." She remained in silence for a few minutes, just thinking.

Karai then sighed as she looked back up, "I miss you guys so much. I know I tell you all the time since I always come here, but it's true… I wish you were here with me to give me strength, but I'm also glad you're not around so that you won't have to endure the pain of seeing your daughter suffer when the time comes. I'd rather not want to see you constantly worry all the time about me like you did when you were alive."

She no longer looked sad as determination was in her eyes now, "Don't you worry; I'll continue to live the rest of my life somehow until the very end." She placed a hand on each of the stones and smiled, "Goodbye Mom, Dad… Watch over me."

Karai pushed herself up and went to go meet Sheena so that they can head off to Meltokio.

How's the revised version? Better? Let me know with your reviews so review! No flames please. Constructive criticism is appreciated though.

I recommend that you watch Taiyou no Uta because it is a really great and touching movie. (They even made a manga and a drama based on the movie o.o) The one who plays the girl in the movie is Yui, the one who sang some songs from Bleach such as "Life" and "Rolling Star" and also "Again" from FMA: Brotherhood.