First and foremost, I'd like to let everyone know about a South Park and Persona Series crossover fic by follow author kyelmarsh called "South Park's Persona Story." You should definitely check it out—I know next to nothing about the Persona Series, and I'm still enjoying the story. The best way to find it (for me, anyway): go to the South Park FanFiction Archive; click South Park Crossovers; then choose Persona Series (make sure you set it to show M-rated fics). Enjoy! ^_^


Trouble in Paradise

"What is your goddamn problem?" Kenny yelled at Stan and Kyle. "Can you only be happy by making me miserable?"

"We just trying to find you," Kyle explained.

"Oh, so you suddenly care now? Why? You never cared before!"

"That's not true, Kenny!" said Stan.

"You wouldn't even visit me while I was dying in the hospital, Stan!"

"What are you talking about, dude?" asked Kyle.

"Try to get this through your heads: I die all the time! You've seen it happen, but you never remember! Nobody does, except for Butters. Apparently, he's the only one who's ever affected by it!"

"Kenny, I think we'd remember if you died," Stan said.

"You think so? Then tell me: why was it that Butters and Tweek each took my place as your best friend?"

Kyle tried hard to remember. "Because…because you were gone for a while…"

"And where was I?"

Stan scratched his head. "I don't…um…you just weren't around."

"Ugh…why am I even trying to explain this when Butters is running around in the dark by himself, thanks to you guys! You always suspected he was probably gay, and now you saw the proof with your own eyes! But I guess you also saw something you didn't expect, so I hope you're satisfied!"

Stan shook his head. "Kenny, you don't understand—"

"No, you don't understand! You'd better just forget about what happened here if you know what's good for you! You've already hurt me, but I'll damned if I'm gonna let you ruin Butters' life! I have to find him before something happens," he worried.

"We'll come with you!" said Kyle. "Our flashlight can help see him."

"No thanks, you've helped enough," Kenny ran, following Butters' footprints in the snow.

It was no more than five minutes later that Kenny heard a faint voice. "Ow…" it groaned. He walked toward it and found Butters sitting in the snow. "There you are," he said relieved.

"Oh, yeah… I took your clothes with me," he croaked out. "I'm sorry."

"That's not why I came after you, Butters. I was afraid you'd get lost in the dark."

"No, I didn't go far enough to get lost. I was running too fast and I tripped."

"Are you hurt?"

"I think I might've skinned my knee."

"Roll up your pant leg so I can take a look." Butters did as he was told, and Kenny examined the knee. "Just a small cut, but it needs to be cleaned. C'mon, I have a first aid kit at my place."

Butters sat on the McCormick's closed toilet lid while Kenny pulled out the kit. "Wow, you sure have a lotta bandages and stuff in there."

"When you're as accident-prone as I am, you tend to be prepared," Kenny winked. He picked up the antiseptic for the wound. "Now, this is gonna sting a little, OK?"

Butters nodded, then winced in pain when Kenny sprayed his cut. Tears slowly slipped out of his tightly closed eyes.

"Don't cry, it'll stop hurting in a second."

"I ain't cryin' about that," he sniffled. "The fellas…they s-saw us…"

"I'm so sorry, Butters. I never thought they'd come looking for me."

"They're gonna t-tell everybody that I'm a q-queer!" he wailed.

"No, they won't," Kenny grabbed Butters' shoulders. "I let them know that if they do—" Kenny did his best Butters impersonation, "there's gonna be heck to pay—heck, I tell ya!"

Butters giggled at the silly impression. "You're a riot, Kenny."

"Now, no more tears," Kenny wiped away the drops around Butters' eyes with his thumbs. He then applied a small bandage over the cleaned cut. "There we go."

"Aren't ya supposed to k-kiss the boo-boo to make it better?"

"Of course, I almost forgot," Kenny played right along. "Mwah!" he pecked over the bandage. "Good as new!"

"You sure are good at takin' care of people, Kenny."

"I've had a lot of practice tending to my little sister's scrapes."

"She's lucky to have a brother like you."

This time, it was Kenny who blushed.

"Well, I'd better get on home now. My parents'll be awful sore at me if I stay out too late."

"All right, I'll walk you."

"Oh my God! They killed Kenny!"

"You bastards!"

"OK, Kenny, I'll bet you a hundred dollars you can't light a fart on fire."

"Yes, you can. Check it out… AAAHH!"

"Holy shit, dude!"

"He just…he just stopped breathing. And it was over."

"But…I didn't get to see him. Kyle, I didn't get to say goodbye… Did he say anything before he went?"

"He just said, 'Where's Stan?'"

"I let Kenny down. I'm his worst f-f-f-friend…"

"Kenny!" Stan woke up screaming the next morning. A few seconds later, his cell phone rang, and he saw Kyle's name come up. "Dude, I just had the worst nightmare!"

"Me too!" said Kyle.

"Kenny was dead!" they shouted simultaneously.

"Whoa, dude…" Kyle tried to absorb what happened.

"It all seemed so real…so familiar. I think Kenny might've been telling the truth last night!"

"But…how is that even possible?"

"I dunno, but with all the crazy shit that happens in this town, I wouldn't count it out."

"We really need to talk to him now."

The boys didn't have school since it was Saturday, so Stan and Kyle met up and headed over to Kenny's house right away. They knocked on the door.

"Hi, boys," Mrs. McCormick answered.

"Is Kenny home?" Stan asked.

"Kenny, you got company!" she walked away, and they stepped inside.

Kenny came bounding out grinning ear to ear, until he saw who the company actually was. "Oh, it's you. Look, I have somebody coming over soon, so I'd appreciate it if you were gone before they get here."

"Wait, Kenny," said Kyle. "We have something we need to say."

"What?"

"Oh my God. They killed Kenny."

"You bastards."

"So you finally remember, huh?"

"I dunno why we couldn't before," Kyle said. "Then again, I don't get how you could die and come back in the first place."

Kenny shrugged. "I don't even get it myself… but that's beside the point! If you couldn't remember, then you should've had more reason to treat me better thinking that I only live once!"

"I know, Kenny," said Stan. "What I did was terrible. You needed me to be there for you in the hospital, but I was so wrapped up in how hard it was for me to see you like that, I forgot about how hard it must've been for you to go through. By the time I finally came back to see you…" he trailed off, eyes tearing up.

"You came to see me?"

"Yeah, but you were already gone. I'm sorry, Kenny," he cried. "I'm sorry I was so selfish."

Kenny sighed and put his hand on Stan's shoulder. "I'm here now. Just try to do better the next time it happens."

"I promise I will."

"Good. Now, I hate to chase you guys out, but I am expecting someone."

"You mean Butters?" asked Kyle.

"Listen, I know you guys don't understand it, and it's pretty confusing for me, too, but I think I might have real feelings for him."

"That's what I was trying to tell you last night," Stan said. "I do understand; I'm going out with Gary Harrison now."

"The Mormon kid?"

"That's what I said," Kyle mumbled.

"The point is I know how strange it feels to like another boy, but it's nothing to be ashamed of. Kyle helped me realize that," he smiled.

"So, Kyle, you don't think it's gross?"

"Well, I don't think it's something I'd like to try myself, but no, it doesn't make me wanna puke. I'll tell you the same thing I told Stan: if he makes you happy, then I'm happy for you."

Just then, they heard someone knocking. "That must be him," Kenny smiled walking to the door. "Butters!"

"Hi, Kenny!" Butters suddenly saw Kyle and Stan inside. "Oh, geez…" he twiddled his thumbs nervously.

"It's OK," Kenny assured him. "Everything's cool. They aren't gonna tell on us."

"Yeah, Butters," Stan added. "I've basically been dating Gary Harrison for a couple months, so if we tell on you, you can tell on me."

"Meaning it's not gonna happen," Kyle clarified.

"Oh, that's sweet, Stan," Butters cooed. "Gary seems like a real nice fella, e-even if he is from a f-funny religion."

"Thanks, Butters," Stan chuckled.

"Well, we should let you two get back to your plans," Kyle said.

"Before we go," Stan remembered. "Kenny, you were right: we did take you for granted, and we weren't very appreciative of everything you've done for us."

"But no more," said Kyle. "From now on, we're gonna do everything we can to earn your friendship. Is there anything we could start with?"

"Um…I was thinking about ordering a pizza tonight."

"Consider it done."

"No," Stan objected. "Kenny, you're too good for pizza! Tonight, we're gonna treat you and Butters to Buca di Faggoncini!…I mean, if that sounds good to you."

"Hell yeah, it does!" Kenny exclaimed.

"Oh, boy! Dinner out with the fellas! I'd better gel my hair."

After the boys' night out, Gary came to Stan's house for a sleepover. "I was worried when I didn't see you back in class after recess yesterday."

"Yeah, I came home sick."

"But I called your house when you didn't answer your cell phone, and your mom said you were out."

"Oh, man! Sorry, I guess I forgot to take it with me. I wasn't really that sick—I think it came from being so upset."

"Oh, what happened?"

"Kyle and I got into it on the playground. But it's OK, we're friends again now."

"That's great! I knew you just needed to talk things out."

"Yeah," Stan laughed. "It turns out Kyle wasn't even seeing Wendy, either. Cartman just made the whole thing up."

Gary looked uneasy. "Really?"

"Crazy, right?"

"So you and Wendy are still officially a couple, then…"

"Gary, I told you, I'm not interested in her anymore."

"Your words tell me one thing, but your actions say the opposite. When are you going to break it off with her?"

"I can't just dump her! She'll wanna know why, and you know I can't give her the real reason."

"Stan, we can't keep doing this! I can deal with your not wanting to come out yet, but I shouldn't have to put up with your still having a girlfriend! I don't want to be the guy you see on the side while you stay in a relationship with Wendy to keep up appearances. That isn't fair to me or her."

Stan heaved a sigh. "You're right… I'll talk to her on Monday and end it."

"Thank you," Gary said softly and he lay his head in Stan's lap.

Stan sat in his bed stroking Gary's arm, dreading going back to school. I sure wish Kyle was dating Wendy right now.


Finally, Gary's back in the story! I couldn't really figure out a good way to use him in the last few chapters, but he'll around more now.

P.S. Happy birthday to one of my favorite singer/songwriters, Sarah McLachlan :-)