A mini-series of [reader-insert] drabbles/ficlets of the Naruto babies being shown various Halloween traditions. Part 12. For ShadowVixxen's All Hallows Eve contest.

A young boy slowly follows an older girl outside, his hands resting in his pockets. He remains very quiet as he trails after her. The girl – his babysitter – is carrying a big box, and she finally stops to put it down in the middle of the yard. Afterward, she turns to him with a bright smile.

"Well, Shino! Are you ready to decorate my yard for Halloween?" Her bright smile remains in place, despite his lack of enthusiasm.

"… Why are we decorating? We'll just have to take it back down after Halloween."

"Because it's fun!" The snowy-haired, daffodil-eyed girl exclaims excitedly. She has enough enthusiasm for both of them, Shino decides.

"… How do we start?" He supposes it's just easier to humor the exuberant Mayuri rather than to oppose her. And perhaps he can learn something from this… odd spectacle that she claims is tradition. His question somehow makes her grin widen.

"First, we're going to set up the pumpkins!"

She had tried to get him to help with the prep: carving pumpkins, making masks and costumes, baking treats… but he had pretty much refused, claiming he just likes to watch her work. But Mayuri had made up her mind that, one way or another, he will help her decorate her yard.

She hands him a small pumpkin with the carving or an arched cat near a crescent moon. She lifts a bigger one with the carving of a witch on a broom against the full moon. "Alright! Where do you think these pumpkins should go?"

Shino's eyes widen slightly behind his dark glasses. "… Why are you asking me?"

"I want you to see how much fun Halloween can be." She beams at him. "And if you don't decide where to put the decorations, I'll just leave them all in the box until you do."

Shino stares at her, still not quite understanding her logic… or her interest in making him help. Halloween is her favorite holiday. Plus, she has all this experience making decorations and putting them up on display, so why would she possibly want his help just so he can mess it up? And yet… she says she'll leave them in the box?

"… But Mayuri… I don't know how."

Mayuri smiles and kneels beside him. "There's no right or wrong answer. Just put them where you feel they should go."

Shino slowly nods, still very unsure of himself, and he looks slowly around the yard. He slowly moves toward a stump on one side of the yard and hesitantly places his little pumpkin front and center. "… Does this look okay?"

"That looks perfect, Shino!" Mayuri exclaims. "Now what about this one?"

"… Can it… can it go behind the little one? But… a little on the left, so we can see the picture?"

"I think that's a great idea!"

"Whew!" Mayuri steps back once the scarecrow is standing on its own. "You did some good work, Shino. The yard looks great!"

"… You really think so, Mayuri?"

"Yes, I do!"

Shino pauses for a moment before climbing onto the pumpkin stump and reaching up to the scarecrow, which is standing by the stump. He pulls off his glasses and places them upon the scarecrow's face, then he steps back and smiles a little, surveying his work. Mayuri chuckles in delight.

"I wouldn't change a thing."