I stretched my arm and did my daily routine. I pulled out my clothes, and ran to the bush, grabbing a slice of cake this time.

'I'm so selfish, but you know, I'm ok with this.' I thought.

I took the cake outside and wondered what torture was going to happen at the host club.

'Will they make me wear a dress again, or make me dress up in an embarrassing costume. Speaking of clothes, I need to go to the lake with the kids tomorrow.' I thought.

I got up, out of the bush, fully clothed and started running to the school.

I raced up the steps of the school and ran to my seat to see Ritsu there.

"Hi, Ritsu. Did you like the party?" I asked him.

"Yea, It was great." Ritsu said, with a occasional smile and a tiny blush.

"I'm glad you had fun." I smiled at him, his blush growing.

"Would all host club members go to the host club room for field trip? Thank you." The speakers said, blaring to life.

"I guess that's me." I said, standing up.

"Yea." Ritsu said, his smile gone.

"Ok, would you take care of my homework for me?" I asked, knowing it would be easy.

"Sure. I'd be happy to." Ritsu said, looking down.

"Thanks." I said, walking away, to the host club room.

I ran down the hall and to the abandoned music room. When I opened the door, I expected roses and a blinding light.

Instead, I got confetti and blaring noises.

"Gaah!" I yelled, startled.

"Happy birthday, Hibiki!!" Everyone shouted, making a smile come to my face.

Their was cake and presents and balloons. I smiled even wider.

"Thanks, you guys." I said, happily.

"No problem, Hi-chan!" Honey
said, hopping into my arms.

"Yea, it wasn't." "A problem." The Ouran twins said.

"Yes, my young nephew deserves the absolute best!" Tamaki, overdramatic as always, said.

"Yea." Mori said.

"Happy birthday, Hibiki." Haruhi said, with a smile.

I smiled back.

"And we have another surprise for you." Kyoya said, a smirk on his face.

'I wonder why?' I thought.

Suddenly, Tamaki grabbed me.

"Wha? Tamaki?!" I asked, uncomfortable.

"We're going to the commoner's circus!" He exclaimed, making my face go very white.

'That's why.' I thought, giving a glare to Kyoya's smirk.

"And we even get a chance." "To talk to a clown." The redhead twins say, excitedly.

"Won't that be fun, Usa-chan?" Honey asked his bunny.

"Well, I actually don't want to..." I started, when Tamaki dragged me out of the room, towards the cars.

I saw Ritsu walk out of the class.

"Ritsu!!" I called, being carried.

He came running over and picked me up, with ease.

"What are you doing to him?" He asked, putting on his scary face.

Tamaki and the Ouran twins hid behind Kyoya.

"We were going to the circus." Tamaki said, timidly.

"Glasses, get me a pass to miss today. I'm his friend, and I want to hang out with him too." Ritsu said, making Kyoya type up on his laptop.

"Done." Kyoya said, closing his pineapple laptop.

"Ok, let's go everyone." Tamaki yells, dragging me to the car.

*time skip to circus*

Ritsu opened the door and everyone filed out, me lastly.

I watched as everyone ran inside, excited. I sighed.

'I don't want to be here. Let's hope they don't recognize me here.' I said, kinda hiding my face.

"What's wrong, Hibiki?" Ritsu asked.

"Nothing." I said, with a fake smile.

"Well, let's go have a seat then." Ritsu said, leading me into the big top.

My hands shook behind my back as I followed Ritsu.

"R-Ritsu." I stuttered.

"Yea, what?" He asked, turning around.

"I hope Tamaki doesn't embarrass us this time." I said, with a small smile, not telling him what I wanted to tell him.

"Yea, I hope so too." He said, with a rare smile.

We took our seats. I sat next to Haruhi and Ritsu and I started to relax.

'There are millions of people to choose from, they won't pick me.' I thought.

Soon, the show started, and I enjoyed myself, until the clown came out. Their big shoes, comical act, and painted on faces.

It's all a act. You never know what tears of humiliation are being held inside. You never know what their feeling, how their treated. You never know their personal struggles. You're too busy being fooled by their foolish performance, that you don't see what's underneath that painted on mask.
Pain.
Embarrassment.
Misery.
Loneliness.

Its every clown for their own polka-dotted colorful, afro and overall wearing selves.

'Mom, Dad. If your watching me struggle, I know you'd be laughing at me.' I thought, gripping the seat.

"I got to go. I'll be right back." I said, getting up from my seat, about to leave.

When a spotlight hit me.

I froze.

"Habuku Takenaka. The Toddler Clown. Welcome back to the ring!" The ringmaster called, slightly laughing.

But I knew what he meant.

'I've found you, and your never leaving again.'

'No. I'm never going back.' I thought, running away from there as fast as I could.

"Hibiki!" I heard the host club cry out after me running.

"Stay away. I can't go back. I'm not going back." I yelled, running as fast as I could.

I took a sharp turn and rolled under a barrel. I looked at it and it said

Habuku Takenaka.

I started to shake.

This was once my barrel. Not anymore.

I started to think about my past.

"No, I'm Hibiki Takeshita. I am 15 years old, I have 17 siblings, I have an aunt named Clair." I said, outlould, trying to calm myself down.

"Hibiki?" I heard Haruhi call.

I looked up to see Haruhi and Ritsu.

"Hey. Don't call for the others, just yet. Ok?" I asked of them.

They nodded and came back here with me.

"So, why did you run away?" Haruhi asked.

"You won't laugh or tell anyone?" I asked them, looking at her brown eyes.

"Of course not. She's trustworthy." Ritsu said.

'Wait, how does he know that Haruhi is a girl? You know what, I'll ask later.' I thought to myself.

"Well, this was my old house. This barrel right here. I was about 1 when my parents sold me to the circus. The only reason I rembered that is because the circus branded me." I say, showing them my left shoulder.

There it said.

Habuku Takenaka, age 1.
Toddler Clown.

"I was never allowed any blankets or toys, except for this barrel. And this is what I would tumble out of to begin the show. Everyday from 5 to 7. Over and over again." I said, and Haruhi nodded and Ritsu stayed stone still.

"The ring master back there. He made me dress up, in a little clown costume, and act like an idiot. Kinda what I do at the host club." I said, getting a laugh out of Haruhi and a smile out of Ritsu.

"Making baby noises and falling on my rear. I was humiliated and laughed at. And after the show, people were allowed to hold me for extra cash. It was sickening and I felt used."

"So, one day, I escaped. I got away and ran to my house. But when I got there, no one was home. My parents just up and left me, after they sold me. At the time, I was around 4. So, yeah." I said, looking down, finishing it off. I looked up to see Haruhi with sympathy and Ritsu with anger in their eyes.

"I'm sorry, Habuku." She said, usuing my past name.

"No, use Hibiki. Please." I said, and she nodded.

"Hibiki." Ritsu said, dangerously quiet.

"What?" I asked, freaked out.

"If he comes back, let me be the first one to know." He said, determined.

He stood up and held out his hand.

"Sure." I said, grabbing it and he helped me up.

I grabbed Haruhi's and helped her up.

"Thanks, you guys. It feels good to get that off my chest." I said, smiling at them both.

We walked back to the tent to see the host club watching the clowns again.

"You guys stay, its a good show." I told them, but they were too absorbed by the clowns.

'I'm sure they've never seen a clown show.' I said.

I sighed and started walking home.

After all, I know the path back.
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That was chapter 14

Who likes it?

I hope I did ok.

Well, and that you enjoyed it.

Bye. :)

"Your not going anywhere, Habuku. You will come back to circus home. This ringmaster never quits. After all...

The show always goes on."