(A/N: Switches off from Kratos and Yuan's POV. This is set when they're 8, and the term 'Discrimination' does not faze the two.)

Title: Shorts Quest

Words: 2,046

Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia or Namco.

Warnings: Yaoi

Goal: I wish to make up to 50 KratosxYuan one-shots, but for now I choose to try and make 20.

The Golden Years
(Kratos then Yuan's POV)

(Kratos' POV)

I was sitting at my desk in school. It was a nice hot day in summer. I looked over to the right and all the half-elves were stocking the book or clapping erasers. I was about to turn my head but one half-elf caught my eye.

He seemed smaller than the rest, kind of like the runt of the group. But he held his own. When one of his fellows would boss him around he would just sneer at them and glare. I admired him.

Later that day at recess the half-elves were plating in the garden. The blue haired one was with them and I was able to take in his appearance more fully.

He had shoulder length blue hair that was tied back in a neat ponytail. A few wisps of hair hung down in his face as he continued his labor. The half-elf seemed to be around my age, which was eight.

The blue-haired boy wasn't fat but he wasn't skinny. He was sort of in between one might say.

I continued to note his pale features until he looked up and saw me, his green eyes flashing. I blushed, and smiled at him and he raised an eyebrow and hesitantly smiled back before dropping his gaze and going back to work.

That day as school ended I felt really good. My grades were up, tomorrow was the last day of school and…I got to see the half-elf again.

(Yuan's POV)

It was a hot day and I was stuck with my other fellow half-elves stocking books in this little school. I never understood why humans can't do their own stuff. They always make us do it and it's getting on my nerves.

"Oy, these are supposed to be arranged by color!" hissed a half-elf near me.

I looked at him and plastered on my best glare. The glare that got me stuck here in the first place. He sneered at me and sort of smirked, and I sneered right back. He finally backed of and I went back to work. It was hard enough stocking heavy books without him telling me how to do it.

It was later that day and the teacher ordered us to go outside and plant. I had grumbled and reluctantly walked out the door into the blazing heat. In my hand I carried several plants, of all varieties. But my favorite had to be the one I was carrying in my right hand. A thorned red rose.

The thing stuck my hand and it soon began to bleed. I ripped off a piece of my raggedy clothing and made a makeshift bandage and wrapped it around my hand.

I began to wave around trying to find a suitable spot for the flower and finally rested on a place that took some shade in the afternoon heat and sun in the high morning. I dug a small hole and carefully placed the rose inside, before covering it again.

I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand and looked up. There was a kid staring at me. A human. He blushed and gave me a smile and I raised an eyebrow at this. Why was he so nervous? I looked around before giving him a small smile and returning to the task at hand. It was gonna be a long day.

School finally let out and us half-elves were finally able to go home. As I was walking down the street to the small shack I shared with the other half-elves like me I wondered about the red haired kid. I thought about how his hair was all messy and fell in his eyes. The way he looked at me all timid like. It was….strange to say the least. But I kind of liked it.

(Kratos' POV)

I walked down the road back to my school. It was finally the last day! I was excited and I could see the other kids were too. They whooped and hollered as they made their way into the class and I followed behind.

I sat down at my desk and looked across the room. There he was again. I felt my heart skip a beat and I wondered why. I had only done that once and that was when I had this crush on a girl in first grade.

I shrugged it off when my teacher snapped at me, "Kratos! I know you're excited that this is the last day but try to pay attention, ok?" And with that she turned back to teach.

A few girls giggled at me and some guys gave me thumbs up and I just blushed sinking in my seat. My attention wondered back to the half-elves though. The blue haired one was clapping erasers and some other older half-elves kept clapping erasers on his head.

The boy wheeled around and glared at them with his green eyes. I would have backed off there but they still kept at it, pinching his cheeks and making kissy faces at him.

"Cut it out, you guys!" hissed the boy.

"Aw!" gushed an older half-elf who was about 13 with black hair. "Is little Yuan angry?"

"Yeah," chimed in the other, "Does little Yuan want his bottle?"

It was then I realized something. Yuan, as he was called, was the littlest out of all the half-elves. The ages ranged from eight to fourteen and he seemed to be about eight.

"Quit it!" hissed Yuan again and turned around going back to work.

The others snickered at him but let him be.

Lunch happened and we all sat outside again for the last time. Yuan was eating a small sandwich and one of the older boys crept up to him, snatching it away. He downed it in one gulp and Yuan stood up in a flash, eyes blazing.

"You suck, man!" he yelled, trying to punch the other boy.

The older one held his head and laughed as Yuan punched at nothing but air. He then let the small half-elf drop laughing as he waltzed away.

Yuan picked himself up from the dirt and sat back down, hugging his knees to his chest. Tears were running down his face although you couldn't see unless you were staring at him.

The bell finally rang for us to go inside and I looked around and spotted a rose. I picked it being careful of the thorns and headed inside.

(Yuan's POV)

I was back in that stupid classroom again. This time I had to clap out erasers. What a dull job. These two half-elves started teasing me, clapping their erasers on my head.

I had finally had enough so I whipped around and glared at them.

I went back to work but does that stop them? Now they decided to pinch my cheek and make kissy faces at me. I felt my cheeks grow hot. "Cut it out, you guys!" I hissed making sure to keep my voice low.

"Aw!" teased a black haired half-elf, "Is little Yuan angry?" That's right, make jokes just cause I'm younger than you, go ahead.

Yeah, does little Yuan want his bottle?" That did it.

"Quit it!" I hissed even louder pinning them with another glare. I knew it was harsh too. My brother taught me.

I went back to work and could here them snickering behind me but they leave me alone. Until lunch that is.

I made my way outside and went to my regular spot. I pulled a wrapped sandwich from my pocket that I had paid for with my own money. I was quite content with the first bite when it was whipped out of my hands.

The black haired half-elf again. He ate my sandwich and I stood up, seething. "You suck, man!" I spat running at him and trying to punch the living daylights out of him.

He held my head, but I continued to strike at nothing. He laughed dropping me and I fell to the ground.

I got up, and sat down again pulling my knees to my chest. Stupid teenagers. Always thinking they're better. I didn't know it but tears started to make their way silently down my cheeks.

After a minute the bell rang, but I made no move to get up. So I jut sat there, motionless.

(Kratos' POV)

I kept watching the clock and so did the other kids. I wanted out of there as much as they did.

Our teacher looked at the clock too. "I want you all to have and fun and safe summer…" 3…2…1…

"And make sure to study!" we zoomed out of that classroom so fast, dust clouds rolled behind us.

I looked around but couldn't find Yuan anywhere. I couldn't just out and call his name so I went around to the back of the playground. He was in the same position he was when I left him.

I cleared my throat and he looked up. His eyes were rimmed with red and he hastily wiped his eyes. "I'm er – sorry. I'll go now." He made to stand up but I put a hand on his shoulder.

He looked at me kind of funny but I ignored it and pulled the rose from my bag, perfectly intact. I held it out to him.

"This is um…for you…" I said blushing madly.

He looked at the rose and then me and then back again. He reached out for it and his fingertips brushed mine as he took it from my hand. A small smile lit his face as he too blushed.

"Um…th-thanks." He said. Yuan looked up again. "What's your name?" he asked quietly.

I smiled. "I'm Kratos Aurion." He nodded, "And you are…Yuan?"

He nodded again smiling. "Yeah…"

I looked down as my cheeks flushed more. "Yuan, I'm sorry about those half-elves teasing you today."

Yuan looked at me surprised. "How'd you know?"

"I um…saw them…" I thanked my lucky stars it was around 4 and the sun was slowly disappearing. I didn't want him to see my blush.

The blue haired half-elf nodded looking down as well. He kicked lightly at a pebble. "They always tease me." He then gave me a weary glance. "Hey, why are you being so nice to me?"

Uh-oh. The dreaded question. "I er- well you see, um…" I stammered. "I uh…"

He cocked an eyebrow at me. "Yeah…."

"Um…I kinda l-l-…" My palms were sweaty and my face was red hot. How could I explain this to him? Was it right to feel this way?

"Go on…" he urged.

I finally gave up and pecked him on the cheek.

He looked at me stunned and froze. I slowly backed away. I had crossed the line; I had kissed a half-elf. I had been nice to a half-elf. I had kissed and been nice to a half-elf the same gender as me!

Yuan's cheek went from a light pink all the way to a dark crimson. I couldn't help but giggle. It was sort of funny.

"You like me?"

I looked up and then hastily looked down again, nodding. "Y-yeah."

"You like me…" Yuan repeated.

I suddenly became embarrassed with what I had done. He was probably going to beat the living daylights out of me!

He carefully tucked the rose in his pocket and what he did surprised me. He took hold of my shoulders, breathing deeply. Then before I knew it he had smashed his lips against mine!

He pulled back before I could even figure out what was going on and smiled. I noted that his ears were twitching nervously and I have to admit, it was cute.

"Er, I'll see you around, Kratos!" and with that he dashed off.

I smiled in a goofy lovesick way. This was the beginning of a b-e-a-utiful friendship.