October 31st 2020
Prompt: Day of the Departed
******

"What are you doing?" Jay shrieked.

Kai glanced up from where he lay draped lazily over the couch. "Uh...chilling?" He said like it was obvious.

"YOU CAN'T BE CHILLING?" Jay snapped.

"Why not? Lloyd's out with Misako so that means no Mr. Bossypants to tell me to be 'productive'!" Kai made air quotes. "I mean, who wants to be productive? Not me!"

"It's Day of the Departed!" Jay shook the master of fire. "That means we have to go trick-or-treating!"

"Ugggghhhhhhh. I grew out of that a long time ago, motor-mouth." Kai flipped over so he was on his back. "Why don't you go bother Nya? I'm sure she would love to go running around looking for candy from strangers with you. It's, like, the one day that that's safe."

Jay sighed dramatically and flopped down beside the brunette. "I wooouuuld but she went off with Pixal and said I couldn't follow her around everywhere anymore."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "What about Cole?"

"Um, it's Day of the Departed...you know...his mom?"

"Zane?"

"He's paying respects to his dad."

"Uh...Master Wu?"

Jay gave the boy an unimpressed look. "Does Sensei look like the type to allow me to drag him trick-or-treating?"

"No." Kai groaned. Kai suddenly thought of something. "I don't have a costume!" He realized.

"That is..that's terrible. You can't go trick-or-treating without a costume... that's... that's a crime." Kai tried his best to act sad.

Jay huffed. "Nice try, Flamey-boy. I already have a costume for us!"

"NO!" Kai gasped.

"Yes. Would you rather be salt or pepper?"

*****

"I can't believe I'm doing this." Kai grumbled as he dragged his pillow case behind him. The giant pepper shaker costume bumped against his legs as he walked. Jay bounced ahead, the top of his shaker moving back and forth with his skips.

"See, and that's why you're pepper!" Jay said cheerfully. "Everyone likes salt! Salt brings out the flavour! But pepper makes things spicier!"

"Please stop." Kai sighed. He scowled as little kids ran by, dressed as super heroes and ghosts. They trotted down the busy streets of Ninjago city but as they passed the comic book store, Kai paused.

"What? Did your pillow case break open! Don't worry, you can stuff your candy in your costume! I did it one year. I mean, it made a lot of people think I was dressing up a pregnant woman but it was fine."

"No, you idiot!" Kai gestured to the sign. "It's a costume contest!"

"Ooh!" Jay peered forward in interest but his costume and increased height made him off-balance and he ended up falling over.

"And the contest is for the fire ninja!" Kai read. "Okay, we have to do this!"

  "Oh! Let's run back home and change before it starts!" Jay agreed.

******

   Lloyd groaned. This years Day of the Departed had been interesting since technically Garmadon was back to life... Just different. But he still went with his mother to look at his father's statue. As well as doing a little ritual for Harumi. Everyone had simultaneously agreed that was not healthy for him but he took a page out of Kai's book and blatantly ignored them all.

  Feeling exhausted Lloyd waved tiredly at the rest of the group that was there minus Jay and Kai who were out trick-or-treating. Lloyd lay down on the couch and snuggled into the cushions, his eyes fluttered close as he was ready to fall asleep-

  "I DON'T BELIEVE THIS!"

  Lloyd jolted and shot an unamused glare at the red clad figure that stormed into the room.

  "THIS IS OFFENSIVE!" Kai shrieked some more.

  "What's going on?" Nya asked worriedly.

  Jay patterned in, wearing a red bathrobe he had nicked off of Kai and a scarf around his neck. "I won the fire ninja costume contest!" Jay cheered.

  Cole glanced at the fuming Kai. "...was Kai competing?" 

  "YES!" Kai snapped.

  Jay did another victory dance.

  "Oh my gosh." Nya snickered behind her hand.

  "It's not funny!" Kai growled.

  "Aw, Jay is an even better fire ninja than you are, Kai." Lloyd teased as he nestled back into his blanket.

  Kai looked livid, making the group even more amused. He stomped away, feet making giant slaps onto the hard wood floor. "I HAD IT WITH THE DAY OF THE DEPARTED!" He jabbed a figure at Jay. "Next year, you can go treat by yourself!"

  Then he slammed the door shut.

  "He's just jealous I'm a better fire-boy than him now." Jay murmured.

  "I HEARD THAT!"