"Are you Afraid of Me?"

Komatsu didn't expect the question; well he didn't expect many things from Toriko. From the vicious/cheerful dislodging of his apartment door from its hinges (There goes your Security deposit, Komatsu). To the solemn expression Toriko adopted as Komatsu cooked his choice rare beast meat of the day. He was glad that he didn't have to answer this around any other member of their bunch. It was already embarrassing enough, this position he was in.

He couldn't give a straight answer nor could he break the embrace Toriko had trapped him in. He couldn't say that he was afraid of Toriko, yet he couldn't exactly say that he was relaxed in his buff companion's presence. Toriko protected him from danger, put him in danger and almost killed himself protecting Komatsu. Komatsu could see no reason over the protectiveness Toriko displayed toward him. He was nothing but a weak hotel cook (5 Star hotel cook, Komatsu, who cooks on a 10 level.); He'd be overly excited at the smallest celebrity and couldn't fight if his tiny life depended on it.

Komatsu enjoyed Toriko's presence, among other things. In his hotel Kitchen he was graceful and serious and a leader. But when he came home and got a visit from Toriko, everything seemed to flow, as though someone had planned out the whole encounter, giving it touch ups until it was just right. Toriko of course was a cheerful person, indeed, but when threatened he would unleash powers well known around the world.

It concerned him, what if he (Us, Komatsu) were to have a family, what would he do if one member would get out of line. Toriko wasn't the strictest person, everyone who was someone knew that, but he was all about honor…and food. When angered he became absolutely demonic. He could scare away a beast with an lvl 12 capture status. Komatsu could say that he had accepted that face long ago, but he couldn't be accepted to patch up the wounds that litter Toriko's body ever day if they did start a family, could he?

Komatsu also accepted the face that he was practically a house wife. He also accepted the fact that in their world today, a male could surely have a baby, if one tried hard enough. He didn't doubt the fact that this conversation started by his stupid slipup at Bubble Vanilla Mountain, where he had told Toriko he could be such a frightening beast at times. Toriko's face had twisted into one of heartbreak, and Komatsu knew he had hurt him deeply, He wondered how many of his kisses or dishes would it take to make that up to him (4 million Kiss, 42 million dishes, Babe).

Komatsu realized something, something that he wasn't afraid of. He would never be afraid of telling Toriko he loved him. Komatsu decided long ago that he would never be afraid to say that again. But he was afraid of Toriko never returning home, never seeing his happy face sitting at his kitchen table or his arms around him. So Komatsu decided to be cautious, he would be the one that anchored Toriko to reality, His Dream on earth.

"Komatsu-san, I'm not afraid of you, I never will be, I'm just being…..Cautious"

Le Fin.