Me: Yay! A looonggg chapp, you guys.
Ichigo: Like that's something to be freaking happy about..
Me: You're just in a tizzy 'cause you-
Ichigo: SHUT THE HELL UP!
Rukia: (sighs) Ichigo, that's your answer to pretty much everything she says.
Ichigo: (shrugs)
Me: ENJOY!
Peyton tried not to notice, but everyone was acting kind of weird most of the day. Sneaky. As if they knew something she didn't.
Since Ichigo had the same look about him, she didn't like it. He NEVER knows stuff before her unless he does it!!
Plus, everyone knew Peyton hated surprises when she didn't know about them.
They were at MGM Studios today, and Peyton was getting more suspicious by the minute.
Ichigo noticed, and just pointed at her and laughed. For no clear apparent reason. To anyone other than Peyton, he looked insane.
But she just flashed an evil smile. "Oh, just you wait. I know how I'll find out." And with that, she stayed by Isshin's side for a while.
Sure enough, he eventually cracked. "Oh, I can't take it anymore!!"
This made everyone jump, but Isshin simply pulled Peyton into a huge bear hug. "Happy birthday, Future Daughter-In-Law!!!"
WHAT?!
"B-But...how did you know?!" She asked him before turning to the others. Well, as best as she could while still in the bear hug. They simply grinned.
"Did you really think Rukia wouldn't say something to me?" Yuzu asked. "And she told me," Karin supplied.
"They both told me," Ichigo added.
"And then my wonderful son told me!" Isshin informed her.
"And then they told me, and I told Captain here," Matsumoto concluded.
Peyton just sweatdropped. "Wow. You have your own system?" She asked, the last part coming out weird as Isshin dropped her back onto her feet.
Rukia smiled sweetly. "You're not mad at me, right?"
Peyton waved her off as everyone else continued walking. "Nah. It's no biggie. Just as long as no one got me anything," she added.
THREE HOURS LATER...
Peyton and Matsumoto exchanged an evil grin. "IIIIIIIchiggggooooo?" They called out sweetly.
Ichigo turned around, took in the building, then laughed anxiously. "Oh, hell no!"
Matsumoto sighed in disappointment, but Peyton decided to use her Secret Weapon.
She widened her brown eyes in an adorable puppy-like fashion. "Pleeeease, Ichigo? It could be my birthday present!"
"Hey, I gave you a necklace! A flipping GOLD necklace!!"
Peyton sighed. "Ichigo, that was just because you were convinced Keigo gave me one."
"Well, he did....didn't he?"
"...Um, of course! Just pleeeaassseeee do it," she begged.
He finally sighed in defeat, stomping over to the list of songs. Isshin perked up. "Oooh, oooh! I already checked that, son! I found the perfect one for both of us to do!"
Ichigo slowly turned to look at his father. "...I'm sorry...I could've sworn I just heard you say you want to sing a song together."
Peyton beamed innocently at Ichigo. "Why, that is a WONDERFUL idea!"
Ichigo shot her a dirty look before sighing at his father. "Which one?"
Matsumoto erupted into silent giggles, and Isshin grinned triumphantly. "This one!" He pointed at it with a lot more force than necessary, and the two "guards" by the door jumped at the sudden noise.
Ichigo read the title and flashed a half-smile. "Hmm. Weezer. This might work."
TEN MINUTES LATER...
"Aaaannd welcome to American Idol!" The announcer...well, announced.
The rest of the gang had front-row seats, and Matsumoto grinned at Peyton. "Peyton, you're a genius. I swear, you have him wrapped around your tan little finger."
Peyton flushed. "Nah. He's just easy to convince sometimes."
Rukia snorted a laugh. "Ha! Ichigo, easy to convince. That was a good one!"
Peyton stuck her tongue out at her defiantly.
Isshin and Ichigo were on the stage, looking totally relaxed. Which made sense, considering there wasn't too big of a crowd in here.
But big enough.
"Our first contestants are Isshin and Ichigo Kurosaki, singing 'I Want You To', in the stylings of Weezer."
And with that, the music started, and they were singing.
A/N: Ichigo's lines are in bold, Isshin's are italicized, and the ones they sing together are like this!
"The moon was shining, on a late goodnight. The Slayer t-shirt, fit the scene just right. Through smeared mascara, I looked into your eyes and saw a light."
"You told me stories, about your chickadees. They didn't like BB guns, or stupid archery. You charmed the lifeguard; he let them use the pool all day for free."
"Then the conversation stopped, and I looked down at my feet. I was next to you, and you were right there next to me, then I say: 'Girl, if you're wondering...If I want you to (I want you to) I want you to (I want you to). So make a move (make a move). 'Cause I ain't got all night!"
"The rest of the summer was the best we ever had."
"We watched Titanic, and it didn't make us sad!"
"I took you to Best Buy-"
"-You took me home to meet your mom and dad."
"Your mom cooked meatloaf, even though I don't eat meat. I dug you so much, I took some for the team."
"Your dad was silent, his eyes were fixed to what was on tv."
"Then the conversation stopped, and I looked down at the ring. Your folks were next to you, and you were right there next to me, then I say: 'Girl, if you're wondering...If I want you to (I want you to), I want you to (I want you to). I swear it's true, without you, my heart is blue. Oo-oo-whuh-oh-oh.
"Girl...If you're wondering, if I want you to (I want you to), I want you to (I want you to), so make a move. (Make a move).'Cause I ain't got all night!"
By this time, everyone was totally into it. None of them had any idea they could sing so well!
For the next few verses, Ichigo looked right at Peyton, who was so caught up in it that she ignored Matsumoto's suggestive giggling.
"Sooo much pain, may come our wa-a-ay...There may come a day when we have nothing left to saaay. When the conversation stops, and we're facing our defeat, I'll be next to you, and you'll be right there next to me.
"Then I'll say, 'Girl, if you're wondering...If I want you to (I want you to), I want you to (I want you to), I swear it's true. Without you, my heart is blue. Oo-oo-whuh-oh-oh. Girl, if you're wondering if I want you to (I want you to), I want you to (I want you to), so make a move. 'Cause I ain't got all night!"
"Whoo!"
Their groups' cheering was the loudest, for sure, but they got some pretty heavy applause from everyone else in the room as well.
The announcer guy even sounded impressed. "Isshin and Ichigo Kurosaki, everybody! Oh, and happy sweet sixteen, Peyton!"
Everyone clapped for Peyton, too, and she turned a little red.
Yuzu sighed happily. "What a lovely birthday present."
SEVEN HOURS LATER...
"What's got you two all excited? The food's probably not even here yet," Peyton commented as Karin and Yuzu practically dragged her from the bathroom, back to their car at the Sci-Fi Drive-In Theater.
It was this cool dining place at MGM, where they have a huge screen that plays crappy, old science-fiction movies.
They had cars as booths, flying saucers as tables, and the walls were painted like a Florida drive-in parking lot.
When they finally got back to their car, Peyton resisted the urge to groan. There was a heap of presents on the table.
Matsumoto pulled her into the booth beside her, situating Peyton inbetween her and Toshiro. Matsumoto had an evil smile on her face, and it matched Toshiro's almost perfectly.
"Open ours first. It took us forever to figure out!"
Peyton cautiously reached her hand into the bag, and pulled out a rather large envelope. She opened it slowly...and everyone but Toshiro and Matsumoto jumped at the sudden noise.
Hannah Montana was singing "I Got Nerve."
Toshiro gave her an innocent look. "My idea. We all know how much you love Hannah Montana," he said in a sweet and sarcastic tone.
At the look on Peyton's face, Ichigo and Rukia laughed their asses off.
Karin was just smirking, and Yuzu and Isshin were humming along. Which was a bit unsettling.
Peyton shook her head with a grin, setting the card down to play itself out, and reached back into the bag.
She then pulled out a tiara. And it wasn't a crappy plastic one, either; it was actual metal, with rhinestones and diamonds and such.
Matsumoto took it out of her hands and placed it firmly on her head, adjusting the combs on the side.
Ichigo and Rukia laughed even harder. Peyton just grinned at them. "...Thanks so much, you guys. I can play that card for Ichigo all through the plane trip home!"
Everyone started laughing at how quickly Ichigo's face fell.
Yuzu plucked a bag out of the stack before dropping it in her hands eagerly. "Here, mine next!"
Peyton unwrapped it, humming to "I Got Nerve" before stopping herself at Ichigo's snickering. She pulled out a pair of earrings with her birthstones on them, and she smiled at Yuzu. "Thanks, Yuzu! I needed a new pair!"
Karin calmly slid hers across the table. "I think you'll like the card the best," was all she said before breaking out into an expectant grin.
Peyton, now extremely curious, dug madly for the card in the bag, making Rukia laugh. "Spazz."
But Rukia's laughter trailed off as they both looked at the card. Peyton looked totally ecstatic and giddy; Rukia looked murderous.
It was a very colorful, creative, and graphic card. It had "Happy Sweet Sixteen" on the top in bright, different-styled letters.
The main picture was Peyton in a superhero costume. The initials were I.P.
Peyton glanced at Ichigo. "Invisible Peyton," he and Karin said together.
Anyway, Invisible Peyton was beating the crap out of Chappy in mid-air, yelling "Die Chappy Dieeee!!!"
Down below, citizens young and old were cheering Peyton on happily, with rosy cheeks and everything.
Peyton couldn't stop laughing for a good three minutes, and Rukia simply huffed. Toshiro shrugged, taking the card out of Peyton's hands, which were shaking in time with her laughter.
He looked at it, tilting his head to the side. He then nodded at Karin with a half-smile. "I think it shows promise."
Rukia glared at him, eyes narrowed. "Traitor. Chappy will get his revenge one day."
"Well, technically, nothing happened to him," Ichigo pointed out.
Rukia huffed, not wanting to admit he was right. Then her mood did a total about-face as she handed Peyton her gift. "Here ya go!" She chirped.
Everyone sweatdropped, and Peyton shrugged and unwrapped it. Inside was a mini-zen-garden, perfume, charm bracelet, and several pairs of earrings from Hot Topic.
Peyton grinned. "Niiccee, Rukia. Very nice." Rukia beamed. "I'm just that good."
Isshin slid one across the table as well, practically bouncing in his spot on the booth. Peyton eyed it. "Ah, Isshin, you didn't have to get me anything! Your song was awesome enough. Nice job you two, by the way."
Isshin waved her off. "It's the least I can do for putting up with my son! I'm hoping my grandchildren mainly inherit your traits," he added with a smile.
Peyton and Ichigo didn't even sweatdrop, used to this by now, and she reached inside the bag. She pulled out an Oscar, which was engraved, "Best Future Daughter-In-Law".
She reached even further into the bag, while everyone (Isshin included) started laughing at the light blush on her cheeks.
When she pulled the next item out, Rukia and Matsumoto "Oooh"'ed it. It was a ring with her birthstone set into it, with tiny P's engraved on the sides.
Peyton smiled gratefully at Isshin. "Wow, I don't know what to say. Thanks, Isshin!"
He beamed in response, nudging Yuzu. "Am I the best Future Father-In-Law, or what?"
"That you are," Peyton and Yuzu agreed at the same time.
That was it for the presents. Unless, of course, you count the hugest cake in history their waiter wheeled out (with help, of course).
Everyone, even Yuzu, eyed it greedily, and it didn't take long to devour the delicious cake.
FIVE HOURS LATER...
After getting back to their rooms, Peyton waited until she could hear everybody's snores, then decided to walk off what was left of the damn cake. She STILL had a food baby, thanks to that.
She was also still wearing her crown, which Matsumoto insisted she should wear the rest of the vacation.
Peyton walked down to the "bayou", rolling up her PJ pants and bobbing her legs in the water from the short dock.
She sighed, looking out across the water, hoping there weren't any crocs swimming by at the moment.
It was still weird not having her mom here for her birthday, much less the rest of her family. But then again, the Kurosakis and the other Soul Reapers were kind of like her family now, too.
"Do you always stay up hours later than everyone else?"
Peyton jumped, and she was lucky she didn't fall off the damn dock. She glare at Ichigo as he sat down next to her, putting his own feet in the water.
"Do you always follow me around?"
"I didn't follow you, I was trying to walk off that damn cake. I can still feel it in my stomach," he said defensively.
Peyton laughed. "Me too."
He flashed a sneaky grin. "Although...the GPS I put in your necklace sure helps if I ever feel the need to find you."
Peyton's jaw dropped. "The WHAT?!"
Ichigo shrugged. "After the Hollows attacking you, and Bount-Boy trying to kidnap you, I figured it was a good idea. You know, just in case."
Peyton rolled her eyes. "Sure, that was your only reason."
"Yup."
"Uh-huh."
They were quiet for a minute. Peyton was about to say something, but Ichigo said what she was thinking. "I feel like Tom Sawyer right now, and I have absolutely no idea why.." He wondered out loud.
Peyton grinned. "I was just about to say that!"
"Really?"
"Word for word."
He let out a whistle. "Wow. Guess I underestimated my own psychic abilities."
Peyton scoffed. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Ichigo."
"....Hey, Peyton?"
"Yo."
"I kind of wanna try something."
Peyton waited, but he didn't finish his sentence. "...Go on," she prompted, winding her finger in a "Keep Going" motion.
Ichigo was a tiny bit red. Now this was getting interesting.
"Well, um....can I kiss you? For real?"
Peyton's pulse practically skyrocketed. "...Um...sure, I guess."
What a random thing to ask, she thought as they leaned a little closer. They were both obviously nervous, even though they had kissed, what, three times now?
And made out in a bathroom.
But this was different. Those times had been for dares, or them just being competitive. This was...a choice.
Just like it was a movie, a nearby clock chimed the hour right as his lips met hers.
Yeah, this was most definitely different.
His hand moved down the length of the back of her neck, then back up to her hair. She gripped the edge of his jacket.
Neither of them wanted to end it, but they had to breathe.
They pulled away, not looking at each other.
Eventually, Peyton leaned her head on his shoulder, as always.
"...Hey, Peyton."
"Hmm?" Was all she could say, not quite sure she remembered how to talk yet.
"...Happy birthday."
Peyton just grinned to herself.
She was pretty sure she knew which present she liked the most.