Upside-Down Cake

Set after the series.

It was two years after the battle with Deep Blue. The aliens had returned a year ago, after their planet was restored. Pai and Taruto were living at the Café, but Kisshu was living with Ichigo. Soon after the aliens left, Aoyuck had dumped her for another girl. Moe and Miwa beat him to a pulp, and he spent about a month in the hospital. Of course, when Kisshu came back and heard about that, he landed Aoyuck in the hospital for TWO months.

Kisshu and Ichigo had gotten together soon after that little incident, and right now they were talking about a very special event coming up.

"I can't believe we have the same birthday," Ichigo said.

"I told you we were meant for each other," Kisshu said.

Ichigo giggled and said, "You were right. Keiichiro's making the cake, right?"

"Yeah, but he said the cake he's making is a surprise," Kisshu said. "I wonder what kind it is."

"I guess we'll find out," Ichigo said. "It's cool that we get to have a joint party."

"It would be cooler if we were actually turning the same age," Kisshu sighed.

"Well, excuse me for being a year younger," Ichigo said teasingly.

"Why is turning sixteen such a big deal?" Kisshu asked.

Ichigo looked thoughtful. "I don't know," she said. "You'd think it would be eighteen, since that's legally when you become an adult."

"Oh well," Kisshu said. "As long as I get cake, I guess I don't really care how old I am."

Ichigo giggled. "What did you ask for for gifts?" she asked.

"I let people decide what they think I'll like," Kisshu said. "You're the only thing I actually want or need. What'd you ask for?"

Ichigo blushed and said, "I asked for a kitten. I probably won't get one, knowing my dad, but I wanted to ask."

"But you are a kitten," Kisshu said. "Why do you want one?"

"They're cute and fluffy," Ichigo said. "And then I won't have to turn into one every time you want something small to cuddle with. We can share- IF I get one, that is."

"I thought you didn't mind," Kisshu said.

"It's just kind of difficult to turn back, that's all," Ichigo said.

"It might be fun to have another kitten," Kisshu said.

"Yup, we could take care of it together, and play with it," Ichigo said. "If I get one, what should we name it?"

"I think we should wait to see if you get one, and what it looks like," Kisshu said. "I wonder what else we'll get on Saturday?"

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see," Ichigo said.

Saturday afternoon, at Café Mew Mew: The Café had been decorated in pink and green, and as Ichigo and Kisshu walked in, everyone shouted, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

"Thanks!" Ichigo said.

"It smells good in here," Kisshu said.

"That's the cake," Ryou said. "Keiichiro overslept, so it's not quite finished. Do you mind doing presents first?"

"Nope," Kisshu said.

"They're over here," Sakura said, pointing to a table heaped with presents.

"That's a lot," Ichigo commented.

"Well, come on over and start opening them, then," Taruto said. Pai whacked him over the head, and Kisshu laughed as he and Ichigo went over to the table. They sat down, and each took a present with their name on it. Ichigo looked at the card, and said, "Wow, Taruto, you actually got me a present?"

"Pai made me, and he was literally breathing down my neck to make sure I didn't get anything weird," Taruto said grouchily.

Ichigo giggled as she opened the box, which turned out to be chocolate truffles. "Wow, thanks Taruto," she said.

"Welcome," Taruto said. "See Kisshu? I do do the right thing sometimes."

Kisshu snickered as he opened his, which was from Mint. Then he looked puzzled, and said, "Uh… thanks Mint, but why do I need a gift card to a jewelry store?"

Mint facepalmed and said, "So you can get rings for when you and Ichigo get married, that's why. And that one won't expire."

"COOL!" Kisshu said. "Thanks!"

"You're welcome," Mint said. "Now open Lettuce's present for you."

Kisshu looked confused, but started looking through the gifts, and found an oddly-shaped parcel. He opened it, and found a doll that looked exactly like Ichigo in Mew form. "I love this, thanks Lettuce," he said.

"S-sure," Lettuce said shyly.

Ichigo was opening a present from Pudding, and found what looked like a cat toy. The bell jingled- and her cat instincts started taking over. Kisshu noticed and said, "Koneko-chan, play with it later, k? Here's a present from Pai."

Ichigo stuck her tongue out at him, and took the present he handed her. This one was kind of heavy, and Ichigo was careful as she unwrapped it. "Wow, you got me a laptop, Pai?" she asked.

"Yup," Pai said. "It was your dad's suggestion."

"Thanks!" Ichigo said, setting it on a nearby table.

Kisshu was opening his presents from Taruto and Pai. Taruto had given him truffles, like Ichigo. He opened Pai's gift, which was a cell phone. "Thanks, Pai, mine broke," he said happily.

"I made that one," Pai said. "It's basically indestructible. I figured considering you tend to destroy things, you'd need an indestructible cell phone."

"Thanks," Kisshu said a bit sourly.

Ichigo opened one from Mint, and said, "Wow, this is beautiful, thanks Mint!" She held up a kitten made out of topaz and diamonds, attached to a gold chain.

"I figured you'd like that," Mint said. "You should open Lettuce's next."

Ichigo found it, and opened it to see a Kisshu doll. "You're so good at this, Lettuce," she said.

"Thanks, I'm glad you like it," Lettuce said.

Kisshu opened a present from Pudding, which appeared to be another box. Noticing he looked confused, Pudding said, "Open the top, Kisshu-oniichan."

Unsuspecting, Kisshu did so- and a creepy clown face popped out on a spring. Kisshu promptly dropped it, and said, "Jeez that's creepy. What IS that thing?"

"It's a jack-in-the-box," Pudding said, snickering. "Taru-Taru saw it and told me to buy it for you."

"Taruto will die later," Kisshu said, putting the jack-in-the-box on a table and getting another present, this time from Zakuro. This one was a gift card to a café that Kisshu and Ichigo liked. "Thanks," Kisshu told Zakuro, who just nodded.

Ichigo had opened her present from Zakuro, which was a gift card to her favorite clothing store. "Wow, thanks Zakuro," she said happily.

"Sure," Zakuro said. "Keiichiro's present is the cake, but Ryou also got you both something."

Ichigo picked up an envelope that said, 'To Ichigo and Kisshu' on it, and opened it. Looking inside, she found four tickets to a resort in Fiji. "Wow, Ryou!" she said, showing Kisshu. "But why are there four tickets?"

"Because your insane father decided when I told him what I was giving you that you apparently need chaperones," Ryou said.

"I AM NOT INSANE!" Shintaro shouted.

"Yes you are," everyone in the room, including Sakura, said. Shintaro went off to a corner table to sulk.

Realizing the presents were gone, Ichigo looked puzzled. "Hey Mom, why didn't we get anything from you and Dad?" she asked.

"We got you a joint present, which is currently in Ryou's room," Sakura said. "I'll go get it." She went upstairs, and came down a few minutes later, carrying a cat carrier. She set the carrier down on the table, and opened the door. Then she reached in and pulled out a small, sleepy-looking calico kitten, and handed it to Ichigo. "There's your shared present," she said.

"Aww…. She's adorable," Ichigo said happily. "Does she have a name?"

"They named her Star at the shelter, but if you want to give her another name, that would be fine," Sakura said. "I set up the litterbox in your room, and got cat food and bowls. Pudding gave you that cat toy for your new kitten."

"I like the name Star," Ichigo said. "Kisshu, what about you?"

"Sure," Kisshu said. "My only idea was Fluffball."

Ichigo giggled. The kitten mewed, and then her ears pricked up when they heard Keiichiro call from the kitchen, "The cake is done!"

"It's about time!" Ryou called back. "Next time, set your alarm clock!"

The others giggled as Keiichiro came out carrying the cake. When he set it down on the table, Kisshu asked, "What kind is that?"

"Strawberry upside-down cake," Keiichiro said. "New recipe. I hope you like it."

"Thanks," Kisshu and Ichigo said together, then blew out the candles. Keiichiro started cutting slices for everyone, and handing them out. Ichigo took one bite, and her eyes lit up. "This is GREAT!" she said happily.

Kisshu looked happy too, and said, "I agree, this is amazing. Thanks, Keiichiro."

"Sure," Keiichiro said. "But you might want to tell Star that that's not good for her…."

Ichigo looked at Star, and saw that she was eyeing a strawberry. "Star, you'll get sick if you eat that," Ichigo said gently. "Do you want some milk instead?"

Star's ears drooped. "I think she wants something sweet," Keiichiro said. "I've heard that cats can eat ice cream, maybe we should give her some vanilla."

"Okay," Ichigo said. "Star, Keiichiro will get you some vanilla ice cream, k?"

Star's ears pricked up, and she purred. Keiichiro chuckled and went to get some as the others finished their strawberry upside-down cake.

Okay, not a great ending, and I know there wasn't much about upside-down cake. This idea is from musicstarnc, so thanks! Review plz!