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Chapter 10

The Crying Clown

"Now, Mr. Harris. Could you please tell us why the German people followed Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime?"

Kevin's face split into his trademark grin. "Of course, Ms. Gordon. You see, the Germans followed Hitler because of the mustache."

Several students laughed, but a look from the teacher silenced them. "Would you please explain you theory, Mr. Harris?"

If possible, Kevin's grin got wider. "I'd be delighted. You see, the mustache was Hitler's personality. People flocked to it because it was just so interesting. Kind of like Elvis' lip curl and Madonna's bra."

Ms. Gordon's jaw dropped as the class burst into laughter. She reached into her desk and pulled out a piece of paper and wrote on it. "Well, Mr. Harris. Perhaps you could tell me more, in detention this afternoon."

Kevin took the slip without losing his smile. "If you wanted a date with me, Ms. Gordon, you could have just asked."

Blushing, Ms. Gordon left the classroom as the class exploded into even more laughter.

Jason and David sat outside the school, waiting in silence for Kevin to leave.

When he walked out, Jason got to his feet. "I hope the joke was worth it."

Kevin smiled. "The joke's always worth it, my friend."

Shaking his head, David got to his feet, his hands in his pockets. "Can't you take anything seriously?"

Kevin just shrugged at the question. "You can either laugh or cry and crying takes too much energy."

His answer seemed to shock David, who had no response to the statement.

Kevin hiked up his bookbag, and looked over at Jason. "So, what's the plan for today?"

"Jennifer and Samantha are going to meet us at the door. We're going to explore more of the Library Maze. See what else we can find there."

Jennifer and Jason embraced when they met up. They pulled apart, still smiling.

"Are you two gonna do that every time we meet up? Cause frankly, it's getting embarrassing to us only children."

Jennifer blushed at Kevin's comment, but Jason took it in stride.

Kevin readjusted the grip on his bow, and looked behind them, into the maze. "So, where to fearless leader?"

Jason just shrugged. "It's a maze. Any direction is as good as another." But he looked to a path going left. "However, I feel something strange down there. Maybe there's another new area for us to search."

David grunted and turned away from them. "Are we going to go, or just stand around and talk?"

Kevin made an exaggerated bow. "After you, my Alpha."

David just shook his head. "Jackass."

As the robed twins charged for them, Kevin sent an arrow into the first one's head, and a slash from Jason finished it off.

"Behind us!" Sam shouted, and turned as two giant tanks bore down on them.

As Jason and Kevin went for the first, the second pointed its turret at Sam.

David threw one of his daggers, which clipped the tank's "head."

"Come on. Come on. I'm right here." The tank turned to him, and fired a shot. David rolled out of the way, and slashed at his card. "Romulus, Mudo."

The darkness surrounded the tank, but the tank didn't disappear. "Great. Now what?"

Then Jennifer climbed onto the tank, and stabbed Nothung into the yellow circle on top. "David, hit it now!"

As Jennifer leapt off, David slashed his card again. "Zio!" Romulus appeared, and a bolt of lightning struck the sword, and passed into the tank, destroying it.

David retrieved his dagger, and nodded to Jennifer. "Nice work."

Jennifer tried to respond, but David flipped up his hood and looked over at Jason and Kevin, who had finished off the other tank.

Kevin retrieved his spent arrows, and put them in his quiver. "So, where's this other door?"

"Just around the corner."

As they walked around, they heard a strange noise. "Is that...music?"

Kevin tilted his head to the noise. "Sounds like, organ music."

Then, they arrived. In the middle of the blue wall was a dark red tarp. It was surrounded by multi-colored lights. The organ music was coming from inside it.

"I guess the circus is in town."

Kevin looked back at Jason, and then back, feeling a shiver down his spine. Steeling himself, he walked through the tarp.

When Jennifer walked through, she immediately grabbed at Jason's arm. "This place is creepy."

Jason had to agree. Despite the circus theme, the canvas walls were all dark colors, with streaks of red spread all over them. The lights cast disturbing shadows on the walls. And the organ music was slow and ominous. All in all, a circus of horrors.

As they walked through, a laugh sounded. From out of the shadows came what looked like a clown. But the face was stark white, with red streaked down the cheeks. Its wide mouth was colored red, and the laugh came from it.

"It sounds like it's crying."

As Jason listened, the clown indeed sounded like it was crying as it was laughing.

"Whatever it's doing, it's still a Shadow. Take it out."

Jason and Jennifer drew Garm and Nothung and charged foreword, David coming behind them.

Kevin strung an arrow, and aimed for the clown. But as he focused on its face, he stopped.

Without the distraction of the arrow, the clown slammed Jason with its fist, sending him back into David.

Slightly distracted by the attack, Jennifer made a half-hearted attempt at a swing. The clown caught the sword and, with a laugh, swung her into a wall.

Sam turned to Kevin, who had lowered his bow. "What are you doing, Kevin? They need your help."

Kevin shook his head and pulled up his bow. After another hesitation, he let loose his arrow, piercing the clown through the eye.

David rolled to his feet and charged in, slashing the clown's throat, bringing it down. "Always did hate clowns."

Then, a voice came out from nowhere. "Why is he always joking? Does he think he's actually funny?"

Without a word, Kevin started past Jason, who was helping Jennifer to her feet. "Kevin?"

"I heard that his daddy ran out on him. I wonder how his mama pays the bills."

Kevin's walk shuddered for a second, but he continued on, going around a corner.

"Guys," Sam said, fear in her voice. "He's about to walk into a pair of Shadows."

"That idiot," David snarled, spinning his daggers and running for him.

As they rounded the corner, they saw a pair of giant lions with ball-and-chains attached to them.

The closer lion roared, and raised its paw, claws gleaming. Kevin acted like he couldn't see them.

"Sigurd, Agi!"

"Romulus, Zio!"

The two attacks collided, sending the lion back. The second roared, and swung its claws, sending a wave of pressure at the two of them.

As they struggled to stay up, Jennifer was behind them. "Brunhilda, Hama." The light surrounded the lion, and vanished into it.

Then, the first got back up, and charged for them. With another roar, a blast of fire shot from it.

Jason brought up Gram, and took the brunt of the attack. "David, now."

David slashed his card, calling his persona. "Mudo!"

The darkness surrounded the lion, but it started to fight against it.

"You gonna help, or just stand there?" David's voice betrayed the strain of his attack.

Ignoring the comment, Jason crushed his card. "Brave Blade!"

Sigurd slashed the lion, and the distraction allowed David to enclose it completely, destroying it.

"It makes sense his only friend is that nerd, Jason. No one else can stand being around him."

Kevin stopped, his head bent low. Jason walked slowly to him, and saw his shaking hands. "Listen, Kev. People have been saying this for years. Just like me, you can ignore it."

David scoffed. "What, the clown can't take a little talk?"

"Shut up."

Jason's eyes went wide at Kevin's voice. He'd never heard Kevin sound like that, and he was worried what it would lead to.

"Maybe you should back off, David. You don't understand Kevin."
"And what do you understand, Jason? What, exactly, do we have in common?"

Jason swallowed at the tone. It reminded him too much of Wes' in the office. "Neither of us has a father, remember? All we have is our mothers."

Kevin slowly turned to look at Jason, his head low, his eyes hidden by his hair. "Except there is one major difference. Your father left you only two years ago. Mine walked out on us when I was still a baby." His head raised, a red in his eyes. "Your mother still gets money from your father. My mother has to work two jobs just to pay the bills and feed us. So tell me, my friend, how exactly are we alike?"

David slowly lowered his hood, a surprised look on his face. Almost as if he was seeing Kevin for the first time.

"Well, Jason? Don't have the answer this time? I thought you always have the answer." Kevin opened his hand, and a red card appeared in it. "Now, it's my turn to show you what I really am!"

With a laugh, Kevin slammed his bow onto the card. The primal scream sounded, and the red mist moved from Kevin's hand to before him, where it formed a giant creature.

It looked almost like a dragon, except for the five serpentine heads snaking around. The skin was a sickly green and purple, and the saliva from the creature's jaw sizzled as it hit the ground. "Tear them apart from the inside out, my Hydra."

Jason positioned Gram in front of him. "Jennifer, you need to stay back with Sam."

Jennifer was indignant at the instruction. "Why? I can fight."

Jason sighed and nodded. "I know, but I can't risk it. If you get hurt, then I might use my beast persona, and none of us need that." He looked at her, his eyes full of concern. "Please, for me?"

Jennifer unwillingly agreed, and moved over by Sam.

"Just you and me, David."

David pulled his hood back up. "Don't get sentimental on me. Just fight."

With a nod, Jason and David ran for Hydra, who struck with its heads, fangs dripping with venom.

Ah, the cliffhanger. Next time, we get to the fight, and an important revelation.

And now, I have a challenge. Hidden in my story are references to a movie, a book, and a video game(not counting my blatant Persona 4 reference in chapter 6). Whoever can find these three references will get a preview of a later, and very important, chapter.

Also, if there are any Persona/Bleach fans out there, I (rather humbly) suggest my new story, Persona 4:Truth of the Soul

Please read and review.