27. Surprised Sugar with Pumpkin

Something Sweet

The sun in all its drooling glory was descending over the horizon, basking Death City in a warm, lazy glow. The windows of multiple shops reflected the light like slabs of carnelian rock and the street lamps were just flickering to life.

Death the Kid was walking back to Gallows Manor after his father had asked him to stay late so they could discuss a few things. Mainly making preparations for Kid to take on his father's role in the world. It bothered Kid when his father edged around the topic of not being able to be with his son forever, always adding an empty, uncomfortable void to each of their conversations. However, Kid knew he wasn't exactly prepared for all the duties he would receive some day, so he listened to every one of his father's words, staring emotionlessly when the Shinigami's obvious explanations about his unavoidable death trailed off nervously.

Kid stopped next to a tidy, little sweets shop in one of Death City's cramped alleys. The large window was shaded by the nearby building and didn't reflect any light, allowing Kid to see the contents within the shop. In honor of Halloween, multiple cakes and pastries depicting ghoulish themes had been laid out on display. A chocolate cat positioned in a crouch; a Jack-o-lantern with candy spilling out of its jagged teeth; even a black and white layered cake shaped like a skull, dripping dark frosting.

"Yummy-looking, isn't it?"

Kid jumped a fraction and turned, blinking in alarm at the figure who had suddenly crept up beside him. It was impressive they had been able to do so without him sensing a single thing.

Golden cat eyes gazed back at him, and Blair's mouth stretched into a sly grin. "It looks like the kitty cat was able to send a chill down the reaper's spine, am I right?"

The meister released a sigh, bowing his head in acknowledgement. "Good evening, Blair. What brings you out here at this time of night?"

"This is the time when alley cats are on the prowl, silly," Blair giggled, waving pink claws at him. "Besides, Maka and Soul are bickering at home. It'll probably take them awhile until they stop blaming each other and make a theory about a purple-haired, magical feline drinking the rest of the milk."

Kid smiled slightly, turning back to the sweets on display. "Crept out of the house quick enough?"

"Indeed, Blair's stealthy like that." She poked a long nail into his shoulder, her grin stretching farther. "I scared you, after all."

The grim reaper shrugged and turned, continuing down the dark alley with Blair skipping after him. She reminded him a little of Patty in that way.

"Not going to buy anything, nya?" Blair inquired curiously, casting a longing glance over her shoulder at the baked goods.

"No," Kid replied, dusting off the sleeve of his jacket. "Besides, it's closed anyway."

Blair's smile drooped and grew into more of a pout. "Pity. I really wanted one of their chocolate fish. It's dark chocolate set into little fish molds. They're delicious!"

"Don't you cook?" Kid asked.

"I do," Blair sighed, stretching her arms over her head. "But Soul says each dish tastes like a whale baked in Hell."

Kid smirked, imagining the scythe saying such a thing. It sounded about right.

"What about you?" Blair quickened her pace until she was walking beside Kid. "Do you cook or does Elizabeth and Patricia cook?"

"Liz cooks most of the time, but charcoal is the usual outcome. Patty….we don't let her near the stove or drawer of spoons, knives, even the spice rack." Kid nodded at Blair's skeptical look. "She filled my pillow with black pepper once. Not the pillowcase, the actual pillow."

Blair scrunched up her nose in bewilderment, trying to imagine how one would go about filling a pillow with black pepper. If they ripped it open and stitched it back up, sure… Then again, she was a magical cat so such an amazing feat would've been a cakewalk for her.

The purple-haired woman was acutely aware of her stomach's impatient demands for food and she cursed herself for thinking of a cakewalk.

"Oh, Blair's stomach is going to collapse and start munching on itself!" Blair whined, holding her midsection. "I can feel it folding like origami!"

Kid stopped and turned to his companion with almost sympathetic eyes. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, yes," Blair sighed. "I just want something sweet."

"If you feel like waiting, I'm sure Liz and I could bake up something sugary," Kid offered, motioning in the direction of Gallows Manor. "It wouldn't be much trouble."

"No, Blair doesn't want to impose on the reaper and his partners." She tilted her head to the side, gold eyes narrowing in consideration almost as if there was a speck of some unknown particle on Kid's face. "Although…"

Kid took a step back and immediately backed into the cold, brick wall of the alley as Blair moved towards him. Resting a gentle hand on each shoulder, she popped his bubble of personal space, leaning closer and closer until she had rested a kiss on his lips.

The grim reaper grew still, staring wide eyed until the magical feline drew back, smiling a petite smile and patting his shoulders.

"What was that for?" Kid inquired, discreetly brushing at the corner of his mouth with his thumb.

"It was something sweet," Blair answered, bringing her face inches away from his. "Besides, how many can lay claim to kissing a grim reaper?"

Kid shrunk back, feeling a bead of sweat rush down his temple before Blair retreated backwards a few steps.

"Nice to see a little color on that pale face," she laughed, clapping her hands together. "That's the second time I've scared you this evening. Shall I take you up on that baked, sugary treat offer and get you a third time?"

The meister slid away from the uneven wall, glancing in the direction of Gallows Manor and back at Blair. "Are you being serious?"

"I think a baked cake sounds lovely," Blair said. "If I happen to frighten you a third time, then it's a bonus."

Casting a wary glance at the purple-haired woman, Kid began his walk home again, hoping his face wasn't as red as it felt and that Liz and Patty wouldn't tease him when he walked through the front door.

Gallows Manor was lit up with glowing pumpkins, each with a unique face. His were symmetrical, naturally, while Liz's had a more lopsided look and all but one of Patty's appeared to be bleeding zombies. The last one was Excalibur. At least, Kid assumed it was supposed to be…

The door opened before Kid could raise his hand to turn the knob, dousing himself and Blair in cheerful candlelight from the foyer and revealing the puzzled faces of Liz and Patty.

"Hi, Blair," Liz greeted hesitantly, shooting her meister a confused look. "What brings you here?"

"Your little reaper boy promised me something sweet," Blair answered merrily, wrapping a lithe arm around Kid's shoulders and pulling him close. "Our short experience in the alley just wasn't enough."

Kid gave a cry of alarm and struggled against Blair, but the magical feline had him in her clutches and was smiling innocently from ear to ear. Liz squeaked, staring at Kid as though he were a new species bred from a cockroach and Patty had hit the floor laughing.

Kid opened his mouth to frantically explain the cat's mischievous words when Blair delivered a quick kiss to his cheek and whispered softly in his ear, "I guess that makes three."

The grim reaper stared glumly at his captor and looked back at Liz who was now crouched next to Patty trying to calm her sister down. He released a long sigh and was about to collapse onto the threshold and send a brief, mental apology to his father before dying there when he felt Blair's breath in his ear once more.

"Happy Halloween," she murmured.

-/-\-|-/-\-

A/N: Happy Halloween to everybody. I hope you liked it. :)