Halloween Writing Prompt! Must include at least two of the listed words: Black Cat. Sunset. Autumn. Waiting. Skipping. Mask. Spooky.

Plastic fairy wings were difficult to sit in, but Kyoko persevered through the workday. It was worth seeing the kids' faces when they realized their dental hygienist had dressed up for Halloween. The leotard and short mesh tutu were easy enough to work around over her scrub bottoms. She topped the outfit with a crown made of molars and voila! Kyoko was the Tooth Fairy. The kids loved it. But mostly it distracted them long enough to sit down and let her put fluoride on their teeth right before they went on a binge of saccharine and tar.

Kyoko set down her tray of instruments, humming to herself as she sorted through what went in the ultrasonic and what went in the pouches. She was looking forward to the end of the day. Just one more patient and she was free to get ready for their town's Halloween festival. The office would be setting up a booth and she planned on manning it the whole night.

A ding from the alarm system indicated that one of their doors had opened. Based on the location it had come from the front. She slipped her gloves off with a snap, tossing them into a bin as she walked to the front desk.

"Was that my last patient?" said Kyoko, peering into the waiting room. No one seemed to be there.

"It was someone leaving," said the front manager. Chiori sat at her computer, attempting to type despite her long fake fingernails. They perfectly matched her ruby red lips. She wore the most atrocious lacy blouse under a brown sweater. Horn-rimmed glasses perched atop a frizzy short permed wig made her look like a cross between Rita Skeeter and the librarian from Ghostbusters.

She suddenly sent Kyoko a wicked smile. "They left something for you."

Great. Chiori reserved that smile solely for one subjecting Kyoko's life. She feigned casual indifference as she twirled a pen in her finger.

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yup. And he was already in costume."

"We're already in costume. It's not that strange."

"Not strange at all. In fact, he looked hawt! If you hadn't claimed him I'd be all over that."

Kyoko slapped the pen onto the counter, lips tugging down into a pout.

"I haven't claimed him," muttered Kyoko. "Nothing's stopping you."

Chiori rolled her eyes, the cheer melting into exasperation.

"Oh my gosh, the two of you! If you go on another rant about this I'm going to hurl. No! Stop. Don't open your mouth unless it's to apologize for turning my amusement into a hassle."

Kyoko stayed silent, reluctant to voice her true feelings on the matter. A good friend Chiori may be, but even after all this time she still didn't understand Kyoko's hesitance. Things were just... Well, they were complicated.

Chiori tossed Kyoko a brown paper package. "Here, he left this with a card."

Kyoko took the card from Chiori, tugging it out of the envelope. She snorted when she saw it. The front depicted a pair of cartoonish Halloween ghosts. Above them was the caption, 'Happy Halloween to my favorite Boo.' What a dork.

Still smiling, she flipped the card open. It was blank save for a scribble of loopy cursive handwriting.

I'll be waiting by the hayride at sunset. Make sure to dress appropriately.

-R

A flutter of anticipation tickled Kyoko's heart. It was hard to keep her face straight as she read and reread his words. Appropriately? What did he mean by that?

Chiori was waiting for Kyoko's response, smacking on a piece of sugar-free gum.

"Well?" said Chiori. "What did it say?"

"He wants to meet at the hayride at sunset. And he said to dress appropriately, whatever that means."

"It probably has something to do with the package."

"Maybe."

She reached for the package, carefully opening the paper. It revealed a red mask with black polka dots.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" said Kyoko. It didn't match her current costume and it wouldn't match anything she had at home.

"I think it's a mask," said Chiori. She snatched the mask, holding it against her cheekbones to inspect herself in the mirror. "Yup, definitely a mask. You wear it."

"Shut up, that's not what I meant."

Chiori threw the mask back to her. "It's obviously an invitation to go to the masked ball. His outfit makes a lot more sense now."

Kyoko caught the mask, heart speeding up. The masked ball? Did he know how badly she wanted to go to that? Had he really gotten them tickets? This time she was unable to restrain the smile that came as she stared at the mask.

It faltered a second later.

"What am I going to wear?" she whispered in horror. "I don't have anything that will match this! Or should I get a different mask? Will he be mad if I don't wear the mask he sent me?"

Chiori, obviously amused by Kyoko's sudden panic grinned like a Cheshire cat. "Just go to the store and get some material or a dress as a base for your costume. I've seen your dolls, I bet you could whip something up in time for tonight."

"But…" she could manage it. Especially if she left right now. She already had a dress in mind. She'd resisted buying it since she'd never had an occasion to wear such a fancy thing. It looked like that red dress now had a purpose. She just hoped someone hadn't snatched it from the discount rack since then.

"Go," said Chiori, flapping her hands at Kyoko. "Your last patient canceled so you can go home right now."

"Did they?" Kyoko peered at the schedule. "You just stuck them on Kanae's schedule."

"Kanae won't mind."

"The hell I won't!"

Kanae strutted in, almond eyes thinned to dangerous slits as she glared at Chiori. She wore traditional scrubs, hair pulled back in a tall ponytail with a pair of loupes hanging from her neck. She'd refused to dress up for Halloween despite Kyoko's pleas.

"I'm not staying past 5," said Kanae. "If you stuck another SRP on my schedule—"

"It's a kid, six years old," soothed Chiori. She was one of the few people that could stand Kanae's ire undeterred. "I'll even make Hikaru take the x-rays so you don't have to deal with it."

Placated, but not satisfied, Kanae folded her arms with a scowl. "Why am I taking Kyoko's last patient?"

In answer, Chiori snatched the mask and card, handing them to Kanae before Kyoko could protest. She read the card quickly, lips pressing together.

"I take it you won't be manning the booth with us," said Kanae. "You'll need extra time to get ready."

"But I'm supposed to help you guys," said Kyoko.

"I think we can hand out toothbrushes and sugar-free gum without your help," said Chiori. "The kids won't care anyway. We'll probably get a bunch of parents."

"She needs to match him," said Kanae. She twirled the mask in her fingers, regarding it for a moment. Then she pressed it against Kyoko's face. "What will he be wearing?"

"You mean what was he wearing!" Glee sprouted on Chiori's face as she spread her arms dramatically. "A black tailcoat suit and with a top hat. I think I saw black cat ears peeking out from under it. He looked handsome, but I would have loved it if the suit had been made of leather instead."

"Kinky," commented Kanae.

"Guys!" said Kyoko. Humiliation and color had crept into her face as she tried to not imagine her not-friend in a sexy leather cat outfit. "There are still patients in the other rooms. Besides, I already know what I'm going to wear."

A headband with little antennas along with several black spots should do the trick. It would match the mask perfectly.

"Then you're going?" said Chiori. "And we didn't have to spend half an hour convincing you? That's a first."

"She can't resist the ball."

Kyoko snatched the mask and card from Kanae's hand. "I'm going," she stressed. "Because I want to. And… because you guys may be right. Maybe it's time to give this a chance."

Goodness knows he had given her more than enough time. Maybe not space, but definitely time and it had only proved that he was exactly the man he presented himself to be. Kind, courteous, funny, respectful and — the most mystifying part — very interested in her.

Kanae's eyebrows raised to her hairline. For her, it was the equivalent of exclaiming in disbelief. Chiori went for the dramatic approach and proceeded to throw several papers in the air in celebration.

"Halle-freaking-luiah! The apocalypse is here, I don't have to come to work tomorrow. I just hope it's by zombies and not from nuclear destruction."

"Were those the new patient forms you just threw in the air?"

"I'll just make Hikaru sort through them."

"You really need to stop picking on the new guy."

Kyoko giggled, the nervousness now taking permanent residence inside her heart. It was a little uncomfortable, but not unbearable. It helped that its next-door neighbor was delirious happiness. That resident tended to numb certain brain functions. Like worry, or fear of rejection.

Kanae suddenly snatched the molar crown from Kyoko. She jammed it onto her head then proceeded to tug on the elastic that kept her wings in place.

"Out," said Kanae. "I'll let Dr. Ogata know you left. I strip you of your wings and now banish you to be disgustingly happy with that other idiot."

"A hot idiot," interjected Chiori.

Kyoko shimmied out of her wings and tutu. Still holding both, she smashed Kanae in a bear hug. Kanae scoffed, squirming as she tried to get out.

"Thank you guys!" she gushed. "I'll see you at the festival."

"Oh hell no, I'll see you tomorrow," said Chiori. "I don't want to see your face again until then. Spend time with your man or else you owe me lunch for the rest of the week."

Kyoko detached herself from Kanae, who grumbled without any real heat. Kyoko gave one last thank you before clocking out and hurrying for her car. There was a lot to do before tonight. She wondered if he was looking forward to this as much as she was.

As she started her car, she caught sight of herself in the rearview mirror. Her eyes were sparkling, a happy pink permanently dusting her cheeks. He'd probably see it all over her face before she said anything. Thank goodness for the mask. She'd probably match her dress when she told him. Would he be happy? Would he smile like she imagined?

The pink deepened in her cheeks. Tonight was going to be absolutely bewitching, she could feel it.

Thanks for reading!

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-Blushweaver