Hello again people! I don't own Tales of Symphonia, no seriously I don't. I don't know what else to say. So um, world peace and all that.

By the way, I was looking through an old Disney song book and I came across something I'd forgotten about. The origin of this stories title. It's a song from Disney's The Fox and the Hound. It's a pretty cheesy song really, but I loved it when I was little. They don't have the movie version on itunes, although some band has it on a CD full of kids songs. Yeah it's on my ipod. Anyway here are the lyrics:

When you're the best of friends
Having so much fun together
You're not even aware, you're such a funny pair
You're the best of friends

Life's a happy game
You could clown around forever
Neither one of you sees, your natural boundaries
Life's one happy game

If only the world wouldn't get in the way
If only people would just let you play
They say you're both being fools
You're breaking all the rules
They can't understand, the magic of your wonderland

When you're the best of friends
Sharing all that you discover
When that moment has past, will that friendship last?
Who can say? There's a way!
Oh I hope... I hope it never ends
'Cause you're the best of friends

It kind of fits… it's actually kind of funny if you think about big serous Kratos or Yuan being related to this song in any way shape or form. Tee Hee!

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Kratos guided Yuan back to the dorm in silence. Yuan was shaking in silence, unable to react any further to the news of his brother's death. Kratos helped him get ready for bed, still in silence. They had switched places, all at once it was Yuan who needed help, and it was up to Kratos to make sure he was alright.

Kratos turned off the light after seeing that Yuan was in his cot. As they lay in the dark Yuan suddenly began to sob uncontrollably. Kratos immediately got up and went to him.

" It's not fair… I always thought… I always hoped that maybe I'd get to see him again. And now… and now that can't happen," Yuan buried his face in his hands and sat weeping. Kratos sat besides him with his hand on his friends back.

" It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair," Yuan began to rock back and forth crying harder. Kratos didn't know what to say. He couldn't tell Yuan everything was alright, because it wasn't. He couldn't say anything about what Yuan's brother would've wanted, because he didn't know him. So he just sat there hoping his presents would be helpful. It was a long time before Yuan finally fell asleep and Kratos crept back to his own bed.

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The next morning Kratos let Yuan sleep in, not wanting to bring back the horrible memories yet. As he walked to breakfast he began to realize that this would be far from a normal week. Students were buzzing with excitement over the tournament and execution. Everard stood in the dining hall trying to get the boys attention.

" QUIET! Listen, I know you are all very excited at what our school will be hosting, but this is still a school there will still be classes. However, those who will be competing in the tournament will be exempt from classes for last minute training. Come see me if you'd like to sign up. I get the final say as to who can enter. The prize is on display outside," Everard finished and went to sit at a table with General Aurion.

Kratos stood in the hall's entry feeling lost. He couldn't face these people, not after what they'd done to Yuan. A couple of seniors hurried by him to sign up. He scoffed inwardly. Nothing would get him in that tournament.

" That weapons pretty cool, it's got to be worth a fortune,"

" How do you think a half-elf got its hands on something like that?"

" I dunno but I'm entering. I don't know if I could use something like that, but if not I could sell it. I could do with some extra money," Kratos listened with disgust. That weapon was the last thing Yuan's brother had owned, and these boys wanted to sell it for spending money. Kratos followed them towards the sign up table, he had changed his mind completely.

Everard and General Aurion were looking over all the boys asking to compete. Kratos noticed, much to his dismay, that they hadn't excepted any students in their first or second year at the academy. Kratos breathed deeply and walked up to the table, he fought his way to the front where he could be seen.

" What do you want Kratos?" General Aurion said in a rather tired voice.

" I want to enter the tournament," Kratos answered.

" You're kidding,"

" No, I'm serious. I want to enter,"

" You're trying to impress me aren't you? Kratos don't get yourself hurt," General Aurion spoke in a bored tone, as if Kratos were being bothersome.

" This has nothing to do with you!" Kratos growled back. He had spoken quietly, but his tone of voice had shocked his father into real attention.

" Sure you can enter little Aurion, but you can't use a school sword. You'll need your own," Everard had been watching them and had decided to interject.

" Everard," General Aurion said using a tone similar to the one Kratos had used with him.

" We need a wild card, Aurion, otherwise this won't be a very interesting tournament. Give you're kid a sword and let him enter."

Kratos watched his father intently, waiting to see how he'd react. General Aurion glanced at his son and sighed before calling over to a slave.

" You there get me one of my swords. A smaller one if possible. Hurry!" There was an awkward silence as they waited for the slave to return. When at last he did General Aurion took the sword and handed it to Kratos.

" Don't get yourself to beaten up,"

" I won't," Kratos turned to leave and then stopped to ask one more question. " Dad?"

" Yes?"

" Did you kill the half-elf or did one of your men?"

" I don't see how that matters. Now go on," Kratos smiled to himself, if his father had done it himself he would have bragged.

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Yuan woke up to find a note left by Kratos. It said that he was out in the training field if Yuan needed him. Yuan grumbled to himself. Kratos was still trying to please his father, after all he'd done. After he'd helped his brother to an early grave. Yuan spent the rest of the day in the dorm alone. His moods swung from sadness to anger and everywhere in between. He didn't know what to do, every time he tried to occupy himself, his mind would wander. It was past ten when Kratos returned to the dorm, exhausted and messy from the day's training.

" Oh, Yuan you're still up. Are you alright?"

" Why are you still trying to get you're dad's attention? I don't know why but he doesn't like you Kratos. There's nothing you can do about it,"

" Yuan my dad wasn't the one who… My father doesn't hate… Yuan I'm not doing this for him," Kratos was trying his best to be kind, even though he resented what Yuan had said.

" What? Then why?"

" I'm going to get your brother's sword. I'm going to win it and I'm going to give it to you. I promise Yuan, by the end of this week you'll have your brother's last memento in your hands."

" Thanks," Yuan said smiling slightly. " Thanks at least for trying."

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The next three days passed in training. Yuan spent his time with Kratos out on the training field. It was a way to keep his mind busy, Kratos had begun calling him coach again in an attempt to make him feel better, and Yuan had taken on the job.

" The way I see it Kratos, is that your biggest problem is that your afraid. When some one swings at you, you react only in terror. Your smart Kratos, your good at planning stuff. If you could figure out how to use that while fighting, then I think you might actually win," Yuan advised as he watched Kratos practice.

" So far I think fear has been working for me,"

" Fine then, maybe you gotta learn to enjoy that fear. Have fun with that adrenaline rush. But I still think planning would help. Let's go spy on your competition." Kratos nodded and the two were off. The boys found the other competitors training with one another over where General Aurion's men were camped. They were trying to show off to the actual soldiers.

Yuan surveyed the area with interest and then gestured towards a tree. Together the boys crept to the tree and climbed up. They spent the rest of the afternoon seeing how they all fought.

" You know Kratos I think you could use your height to your advantage," Yuan whispered.

" How?"

" Well look at them, they fight everyone the same way, you could dodge really easy as apposed to blocking like normal,"

" How does dodging beat blocking?"

" Because if you dodge you can get at their backs. If you get at their backs you win,"

" Sounds kind of cheap to me Yuan,"

" This isn't about cheap, this is about my brother's honor!"

" Guess your right. I think it might work!"

" Besides were not gonna get you up to their level in the next two days. Now come on. We've got training to do!"

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At last the day of the tournament dawned. Kratos sat staring at his breakfast and looking rather pale.

" I'm going to puke," He said.

" That's nonsense, you'll do fine. I have the roster here. There are sixteen guys in the tournament so you've got four fights. We're lucky that Everard thinks the idea of you getting beat up is funny, or else he wouldn't have let you in. Only sixteen in the whole school!"

" That's not very reassuring…"

" Eat man you need your strength." Yuan demanded, and Kratos began to nibble on his muffin halfheartedly. It wasn't long before Everard called the sixteen students over.

" Alright boys you've all seen the roster, correct? Kratos and Jared will be going first, are you ready?"

Kratos nodded sickly checking his belt for his sword one last time. Jared laughed looking down at his little opponent.

" Get out on the training field, the spectators will be there shortly," Kratos and Jared went out to the training field followed by the other competitors. Bleachers had been set up around the field for students to sit on and watch. A few reporters were already out there ready to record the event. It occurred to Kratos at that moment, that Everard may have allowed him to compete to improve media attention. He was, after all, the famous General Aurion's sons, that was worth a spot in newspapers even far away.

Kratos was frightened half to death, he paced as he waited for everything to begin. He was wrapped up in his own thoughts as everyone began to fill the stands. He didn't notice as his father gave a speech and unveiled the prize. It wasn't until he was standing across from his opponent in the middle of the field with everyone staring at him that he realized what was going on.

" Ready? Fight!" Everard cried, and all of the sudden the Senior Jared was flying at him. Kratos parried with his own sword as fear filled him. Again and again the senior attacked each time Kratos had a harder time blocking. Suddenly Kratos caught sight of Yuan way back in the stands.

" Oh, yeah. Dodge," thought Kratos. As Jared jabbed with his sword, Kratos ducked. Jared stumbled forward and Kratos moved around him. He held up his sword to his opponent's neck. There was silence in the stands and no one moved. It had been such a short battle.

" I… I … I surrender," the older student stammered. The crowds remained silent. Yuan whooped.

" Er, uh, match goes to Kratos," General Everard said moved from his shock by Yuan's noise. Kratos lowered the sword and gave a thumbs up to Yuan. The crowd took it as a general sign of happiness and began to cheer. Kratos walked off the field happily and sat with the rather shocked seniors.

Kratos was pretty sure he win this thing.

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It's a short chapter, I guess not to much happened. But I wanted to post his instead of working on my research paper. And I wanted to share this stories namesake with you all. Plus if I went to much more into the tournament, and the other stuff that will happen it would be to long.