6. Kawaii Jack-o-lantern

Never once in his entire life did Rei think anything was kawaii. No fan girl has never struck him as "kawaii". Not even the fluffiest of rabbits to the well-packaged candies did he ever think "kawaii". Nothing in the cold-hearted boy's eyes has ever seen anything "kawaii" to make him smile.

It was a Halloween Eve afternoon, and Ran, Miyu, Aya, Second Place, Tatsukichi, and grudgingly, Rei, were currently walking down a rocky path. Their goal? To find pumpkins for Halloween decorations and of course, pumpkin pie.

Miyu inhaled deeply, and exhaled a puff of chilly air. "Thanks for taking us here Aya." The said girl simply smiled. "It's no problem. Kyoraku-san is a dear family friend, so this is a good opportunity. I haven't seen him in a long time; it'll be nice seeing him again."

"Who would've thought that there was such a peaceful place like this in the city?" Yuya wondered as he gazed at the autumn trees aligned to his left and right, bordering the path they were walking in.

Aya nodded. "It sure is nice, being away from the city noises and all." Ran jumped around. "I'll say! Shibuya looks so tiny from all the way over here!"

Rei silently walked behind the group, wrapping his scarf around him more tightly. Even in the woods, that Kotobuki sure is annoyingly loud. He watched as the number one gal leaped into the air with Miyu yelling at her to behave herself with a thoughtful look.

Aya carefully looked back at Rei, and her heart slowly sank as she saw Rei staring at Ran. Yes, she knew his feelings for her best friend, after all, why wouldn't he? Ran was very charismatic, lots of fun, and just… awesome. Unlike the mole she was. Without even realizing it, her steps were slowing down, and she ended up walking right beside Rei.

"What's wrong?" he asked, looking at her troubled face.

"W-what?" she stuttered, and turned red at their sudden proximity. "Oh, nothing. Absolutely nothing!" Rei inwardly rolled his eyes. Could she be anymore-

He heard her gasp, and was surprised to see her rush ahead of the gang, straight into an old chubby man in overalls. "KYORAKU-SAN!" she cried as, much to everyone's surprise, she leaped into his open arms, nearly throwing both of them into the ground.

Kind-hearted Sasame Kyoraku chuckled as he embraced the little girl he used to give horseback rides to. "My, my, if it isn't Aya-chan? You have grown into a beautiful young lady." Aya tearfully took a step back, still in their bear hug.

"I've missed you so much Kyoraku-san. Have you been taking care of yourself? Do you take your vitamins every day? Is Hana-san healthy as well? How are the horses-?"

Kyoraku-san squeezed her face with both of his hands. "Yes, yes, yes, and yes." He then looked up and saw other guests as well. "OH! You must Aya's friends. Well, don't just stand there, hop on!"

Everyone blinked out of their astonishment (Aya was just so… childish?!) and asked simultaneously, "Hop on?"

As if on cue, two horses, one chocolate brown, and the other ivory white, trotted down the pathway, pulling a carriage carrying…

"A haystack ride! Coco! Chi! It's been such a long time!" Aya squealed as she skipped onto the carriage. Ran beamed as she saw her best friend shining brightly, and yelled, "ALRIGHT! TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH!"

Everyone cheered, and Rei simply stepped on.

It was a great feeling, strolling down the path, but what interested the gang the most was Aya. She was sitting up front on the shotgun, chatting with Kyoraku-san. They couldn't hear what they were talking about, for she was speaking incredibly fast and excitingly, whisking her hands around to emphasize.

"Look at her. She's like a little kid!" Ran smirked.

"Miyu thinks it's kind of nice," Miyu replied. "Miyu never seen her so happy before. She must really love the old man."

"AYA-PPE is adorable!" Tatsukichi cooed. "But not as cute as my Ran!" He wrapped his arms around Ran's shoulder, and of course, she sent him flying. "OOKI!"

"Aya-chan? Wasn't that your friend who just flew off?" Kyoraku-san asked amazingly. Aya giggled. "Don't worry, it's all a routine."

"You have great friends, Aya-chan," he said gently as he pulled the horses to a corner. "Yes, I really love them," she whispered, and Kyoraku-san did not miss his little girl's eyes focus at a quiet young boy, who was wrapped around in a spare wooly blanket, his eyes closed.

He did not say word.

"AH! We're here!" Tatsukichi exclaimed, who miraculously returned. Everyone jumped off the carriage and looked in awe at the huge field, filled with orange pumpkins.

"You kids find as much as you want! It's my treat!" Kyoraku-san said. "THANKS OLD MAN!" Ran exclaimed. He tipped his cowboy hat at her, and continued, "I'll pick you guys up in about an hour and a half for dinner, so have fun!"

"Thank you!" they all cheered as he rode off.

"Right! Let's find the biggest, fattest pumpkin ever!" Ran yelled.

"You guys can just count me out," Rei said placidly as he sat down on a lumpy pumpkin, crossing his arms across his chest, and his legs.

"Argh, you jerk Otohata! We all came here to have fun! Get off your lazy ass!"

"In case you didn't know, I was threatened to come." He glared piercingly at his blond best friend, who sheepishly waved. He narrowed his eyes, remembering how Yuya burst into his house, pulling him out of bed, dressing him while he was still drowsy, grabbed a pair of his froggy-pattern boxers (his evil cousin sent him that on April Fools), and Yuya threatened him saying he will broadcast this on the upcoming photo shoot.

"It was the only way I can get you to come here!" Yuya frantically said, but Rei simply grumbled. "You know how I hate the cold, Yuya."

"Yeah well, it's Halloween Eve! It should be a tradition!"

Aya shyly walked up to him, curious. "You don't like the cold, Otohata?" Rei shook his head. "No matter how warmly I dress up, I still have the shivers. Although," Rei peered at Aya's appearance. "You don't seem to have a problem with that at all."

Aya was wearing a long sleeved orange, white, and peach striped sweater that exposed her shoulders and neck with a v cut. It was supported with two orange straps on each shoulder, wearing short jeans, and long black boots. Ran and Miyu adored her outfit, but Rei couldn't believe she wasn't shivering at all.

Aya blushed under his gaze. "Well, I was originally from Hokkaido. So the cold doesn't bother me at all!" She waved her arms around. Rei covered his smile with a blanket.

"AYA! C'MON! Let's go pumpkin hunting!" Ran yelled.

"Coming!"

All afternoon, the whole gang covered the entire patch, sliding down on abstract pumpkins, playing hide and seek, having marathons around the field (loser drinks Ran's nasty juice), and each individual picked out their own pumpkin.

Aya trudged to a large perfectly shaped pumpkin and sat down, exclaiming, "This one is mine!" Ran shrieked, "THAT'S NOT FAIR AYA! YOURS IS BIGGER THAN MINE!"

Aya giggled as she caught her breath. The wind blew, and Aya welcomed the sensation.

Then, she felt something brush against her leg, and she shrieked out loud.

Tatsukichi's ear twitched. "Ooki! My Machida Black Ears tell me that Aya-ppe is in danger!" Rei opened his eyes, and Ran raced to Aya's destination. "AYA! WHAT'S WRONG?! IS IT A SCARECROW?!"

Ran fell on her face as she saw Aya cuddling a black furry kitten. "Peppers! You sneaky little you!" Aya then noticed her friend eating dirt.

"Um, Ran? Why are you on the floor?"

Ran's head lifted up and she grumbled, "'Cause it's comfortable. Like hell! Aya! I thought you were eaten by a scarecrow or something!"

Aya sweat dropped. "You watch too many movies Ran. And sorry, sorry. It was only Peppers!" She held the kitten out to show everyone, and Peppers mewed.

"Aw, he's so little!" Miyu crouched down to meet face to face with the kitten. Rei sighed at the complete misunderstanding that made him leave his warm spot. He turned to leave the group, but he slowly turned back as he saw Aya placing Peppers on her shoulder.

Silently, he took out his cell phone, and without anyone's notice, he took a picture, and just as silently, he pocketed it.

Everyone's head jerked up as they heard the carriage pulling up. "How did it go kids?" asked Kyoraku-san. "It was awesome! Thanks sir," Yuya replied. They hauled up their pumpkins, Aya's being the most difficult one, and they all began going back south.

"Ah, I see you found little Peppers, eh Aya?" Kyoraku-san asked, and Aya simply petted the little kitty. "He's still the little runt of the litter," Aya said. Kyoraku-san laughed and then leaned his head back to the others.

"Let's stop by my house for pumpkin pie alright?"

"EH?! FOR REAL?!" Ran cheered. "Home made?" Aya asked. Kyoraku-san winked. "Not just home made. Hana's home made."

They all turned to another path, and in their view they saw a small cottage. "Wow, what a lovely home," Miyu mused as the gang got off. "Thank you my dear," said a soft voice coming out of the house.

"Hana-san!" Aya cried and embraced the elderly woman. Kyoraku-san gave the latter a loving peck on the cheek, and waved for the kids to go inside.

Ran's stomach grumbled loudly at the smell of fresh pumpkin pie and apple cider. "It's nice to hear someone has an appetite," Hana-san chuckled. They all entered the kitchen and Miyu clapped her hands in delight at the sight of checkered table cloths, cushions, flower pots, and adorable silverware.

Hana-san gave everyone a platter of pie, and a cup of apple cider, and they all thanked her.

"IKIDAKIMASU!"

Much to everyone's surprise, Pepper jumped onto the table, walked past Ran's fifteen stacks of plates, right into Aya's pumpkin pie. Aya giggled as she fed Peppers little piece by little piece, eating some herself. A speck of cream landed on the cat's nose, and Aya sipped her apple cider, nearly spitting it all out at the sight of Ran trying to strangle the cat for eating her 17th pumpkin pie.

And Rei, sitting across the table, looked at laughing Aya who wrapped her arms around the kitten, protecting it from "Evil Ran" with tears in her eyes, and thought, kawaii.