It was the night they had waited for all year. A night of magic and mystery. A night when all their dreams could come true.

Christmas?

Heck, these are the Gundam boys we're talking about!

It was Halloween.

A.C. 187

Duo practically bounced down the suburban street, bright orange bucket clasped tightly in his left hand. In his right, he held a large plastic scythe, almost double his 7-year-old frame. He hummed to himself as he wandered into the local playground, empty at this time of night. He sat on a swing, watching the last of the sun set, waiting for his companions.

A tall, lanky figure entered the gates soon after. Duo pushed the hood of his long black cloak off his head to get a better look at the other boy.

"Ne, Trowa! Over here!" Duo yelled, waving.

The boy approached in silence, as usual. Duo glanced over his costume.

"Why, Trowa...you're a..."

He was dressed in large green pants with yellow stars on them, a blue and white checked shirt with a ruffled collar, suspenders, gloves, and a half-mask on his stony face.

"You're...a clown."

"Of course."

Duo sweatdropped.

"And what are you, might I ask?"

Duo pulled his hood up and grabbed his scythe, a large grin on his face.

"I'm Death," he said proudly.

It was Trowa's turn to sweatdrop.

He slowly realized that Duo was no longer looking at him. He turned his head, following the boy's gaze, and was greeted by an angelic face beaming up at him.

"Konban wa, Trowa!" the smaller boy said.

"Konban wa, Quatre," he replied quietly, a small smile appearing on his face.

Duo looked back and forth between them. "So...umm...Quatre...what are you?"

The Arabian boy was dressed in a fuzzy white outfit with large brown patches. A hood covered his blonde hair. Off the hood dangled...ears? Were they ears?

"I'm a puppy!" Quatre said, still grinning from ear to ear. He wiggled his brown-painted nose at the boy who would be Death.

"Well, isn't that kawaii..." Duo mumbled, smiling. It was just so Quatre.

"I have arrived. Let the games begin."

The three boys turned to see an ominous figure standing atop the slide.

"Wufei! You made it!" Duo cried.

Wufei slid down to stand beside them. He was wearing a dark green and gold armored outfit, the bottom of which looked almost like a skirt, for some odd reason. On his head was a large helmet.

Quatre spoke first.

"That's a neat costume, Wufei. Umm...what are you?"

Wufei stood at full attention, puffed out his chest, and said with great pride, "I am the great Chinese warrior, Mulan!"

Trowa and Quatre exchanged glances. Duo narrowed his eyes,

"Ne, Wuffie...wasn't Mulan a chick?"

"Silence, infidel!" Wufei turned and promptly whacked Duo on the head with the large staff he was holding.

"Oww!" Duo turned and whacked back at him with his scythe.

The scene quickly degenerated into a whacking match, with much grunting and the occasional, "Take that! And that, you ruffian!" from an irritated Wufei.

Quatre stared up at Trowa, his blue eyes wide with worry. Trowa sighed deeply, relenting to his friend, and moved to intervene, when ---

Out of nowhere, two hands reached out and grabbed the dueling staffs, stopping the boys from impending doom. They stood in silence, staring in wonder at their immobile weapons. They slowly turned their heads to greet the new arrival.

"Heero!" Duo squealed, dropping hold of his scythe and throwing his arms around his friend.

Trowa and Quatre exchanged a knowing glance.

Duo smiled and let go, taking a step back. The four boys stared at the fifth quietly.

"Heero, weren't you supposed to come in costume?" Quatre whispered.

He was dressed in a green tank top and black bicycle shorts.

"I am in costume. I'm a Gundam pilot."

Mass sweatdrop.

Wufei broke the silence.

"I grow weary of this. Come! Let us go forth and acquire candy!"

He strode out of the playground and across the street, staff outstretched, as if he were leading the boys into battle.

"OK!" Duo shouted, bounding recklessly after him.

Heero turned and followed his friend, his expression never changing.

Trowa gently took Quatre's hand and smiled slightly, looking both ways before crossing the street. Quatre walked close beside him, a smile lighting up his face.

* * * * *

The boys gathered on the porch of a modest blue house, each trying to be the closest to the door. Wufei rang the doorbell.

They held their bags and buckets out expectantly as the door opened.

"Trick or ---"

"TRICK OR TREAT! TRICK OR TREAT! GIVE ME SOMETHING GOOD TO EAT! IF YOU DON'T, I DON'T CARE! I'LL PULL DOWN YOUR UNDERWEAR!"

The boys turned to stare at the loud, bouncing, grinning Reaper, his arms outstretched, awaiting candy. They were lucky Duo was too cute for his own good.

The woman at the door laughed pleasantly and awarded them with Snickers and Kit-Kats.

"How cute you boys are! Have a nice night!"

"Ari-GA-to!" they cried in unison, smiling. Well, Duo and Quatre were smiling, at least...

They tore across the front lawns to the next house, scrambling to the door. Trowa reached the bell first.

"TRICK OR --- mmph!"

Duo's little song was quickly halted by his long brown braid being crammed in his mouth.

"...Treat," Heero finished in his level, monotone voice.

Duo glared at him, removing his braid from his mouth. Before he could say anything, he was greeted by the all-powerful Yuy glare. He decided to save this battle for later.

The boys continued from house to house in this manner, until they had swept the neighborhood clean.

It was getting late, but Halloween fell on a Friday this year, so at least they didn't have to worry about school the next day.

They walked down the sidewalk together, Wufei still leading, Heero and Duo taking the occasional swing at each other --- Duo didn't give up a grudge that easily. Trowa lagged behind, carrying a very sleepy Quatre on his back. The blonde boy yawned, wrapping his arms tighter around his friend's neck. Trowa smiled beneath his clown mask.

They reached the playground once more. They turned to face each other, ready to part.

"Ne, I know..." Quatre mumbled, his head buried against Trowa's neck, "Let's all sleep over at my house!"

"I don't know," Trowa said quietly, "You seem pretty tired."

"Naahhh, I'm fine!" he replied, lifting his head to glance around at the group.

"I'm up for it!" yelled Duo, figuring he could snag some extra candy out of the situation.

"Why not," Wufei chimed in, turning to lead the way, "Onward!"

He paused.

"Umm...which way to your house Quatre?"

"I know," said Trowa, starting off down the road.

Heero and Duo exchanged their own knowing glances and followed after the other boys.

* * * * *

The boys sprawled across Quatre's living room in various states of disarray. Wufei had removed the heaviest pieces of his armor and was now locked in battle with a particularly difficult piece of Sugar Daddy candy.

Duo was inhaling his haul like there was no tomorrow, barely stopping to remove the wrappers.

Heero leaned against him, back to back, carefully rummaging through his bucket. He'd pull out a piece of candy, stare at it, and toss it over his shoulder to Duo, who quickly ingested it. Every once in awhile, Heero would dig up a piece from the bottom of his bucket, unwrap it carefully, and eat it.

Trowa sat on the couch with Quatre curled against him. The smaller boy was happily sucking down gumdrops while his friend watched.

Trowa glanced down at his bag of candy, glanced at Quatre, glanced back at the bag again.

"Here," he said, handing it to the blonde.

Quatre stared wide-eyed at him.

"Are you sure?" he gasped.

"Yeah. I don't really like candy."

"Arigato, Trowa!" Quatre smiled, his blue eyes shining. They were so fitting with the rest of his puppy dog costume, warm and bright. Trowa smiled his small smile in response.

"You're welcome," he whispered.

* * * * *

"Ungh..." Duo moaned, staring up at the ceiling, "Ungh!"

Heero glanced at him.

"I told you not to eat so much candy last night, baka."

"Ughhh..." Duo replied, lost in his own little world.

They had fallen asleep --- well, passed out, really --- where they were in Quatre's living room last night.

Duo lay in the middle of the floor whining, while Heero sat near him, watching TV.

Trowa looked up from his position on the couch. Saturday morning cartoons. Funny, he wouldn't have pegged Heero as the type.

He glanced at the opposite end of the couch at the small form curled under a large blue blanket. The only thing visible was a pair of floppy brown ears. Trowa shook his head and went back to watching cartoons with Heero.

Wufei lay curled on the loveseat, his staff held tightly against his sleeping body.

The smell of bacon and eggs drifted in from the kitchen.

"Oh! Breakfast!" Heero said, showing more emotion in that moment then he had all last night.

"UNGH!!!" was Duo's response, as he rolled over and curled into a fetal position.

Heero stood up and walked into the kitchen. He was soon followed by a newly awakened Wufei.

Trowa leaned across the couch and shook Quatre gently.

The boy rolled over, poking his head out from the blanket, and yawned. He opened his eyes and smiled.

"Ohayo, Trowa!" he said, still a bit groggy.

"Ohayo, Quatre. It's time for breakfast."

"Oh! Breakfast!"

"UNGH!!!"

The boys stood, ignoring the moaning figure on the floor, and went into the kitchen.

After a few minutes, Duo raised his head and looked around the room. He was all alone.

"Ne, it does smell pretty good in there. Maybe breakfast isn't such a bad idea after all..."

Duo stood up and bounded into the kitchen after them.

THE END

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