DUDE! So many people! You all really like this? the one thing that I actually put no effort in is the one story I write that everybody likes. Not that I'm complaining! Thank you all so much for the reviews and nice feedback! Some of you have already predicted things to come for Fawn and some were right and others were not. Keep reading to find out! Now, onwards to the first hunt!

Coco's POV

Fawn was hiding something big from us, something so great that she wouldn't even tell those of us closest to her. Then again... she had admitted to me that she was never close to people in general. Yet, I could understand her reasons for remaining silent. Hiding those secrets was natural for her since she hadn't learned how to trust other people fully and truly. It seemed to be some kind of, natural self defense for her heart to keep people at arm's length. Close yet not too much...couldn't say I didn't know that method at all.

"Perhaps the one who truly needs taming and comfort..." I thought to myself as I kept an eye out for the tree I was after from Kiss's back. "...is the one who doesn't know she needs it."

Fawn had chased away my own self doubt with just a few words and her own belief in me. Just like Komatsu back in the sea cave, she wasn't afraid of my poison because she was more worried about my sake than her own...and the safety of those around us. Rex, myself, Kiss, and even the fearsome Devil Pythons...all tamed in minutes just by her respect and love for all beings great and small. Yes, I admit it... the demon inside me was wary at first since she came out of nowhere, but then...she had shown no fear, even though she knew exactly who and what I was. More than that though, she didn't just tolerate me...she wholeheartedly accepted me. Unlike Komatsu who respected my preference to keep my distance, Fawn's subtle hints at her poor DNA structure for her bones made me realize that she can't be left alone in dangerous areas so I naturally stuck with her. Because of my own instinct to protect those weaker than me, and her unconscious knowing of how to calm and relax others... she tamed the monster that dwelled in my Gourmet Cells.

How long had it been since I had felt my poison so far away from my reach? Not because I forced it deep down inside me, but because...I just didn't need it. The calming effect of her electromagnetic waves was just part of that...it was enough to make someone relax but to have someone completely drop their guard, that was hard. Yet, all Fawn. Her name suited her perfectly the more I thought about it. Gentle and caring yet distant and cautious of new people or situations.

However, a fawn was also a target for hunters and predators since they were easy prey. Gourmet Cells were great at healing when they needed to, however...something coded into the DNA of someone they can't change. Meaning, Fawn's bone defect was incurable since it wasn't a disease to begin with. She couldn't afford to be reckless in her actions...that's why becoming a tamer was her only method of defense to the beasts of the outside world. I had a bad feeling about what might happen if she ever went out on her own.

She needed that Grand Berry, her Gourmet Cells were just too weak to even take a walk out in Biotope 1 on her own. Maybe if Mansom or myself was with her but I didn't have the skill to help her healing. Her bones were weak and that would limit her movement and abilities. That was the first thing we would need to repair with her. One more patient for the country of Life I guess...but when Rin left why didn't Fawn go with her? Surely that Yosaku could help her out with fortifying her bones for her, but the splinter effect she mentioned... what in the world was causing that to happen?

"Kiss, land down there." I asked my old friend to take us down as worry filled my mind.

I hopped off of Kiss's back and landed on the ground, determined to locate that necessary ingredient. Kiss took back into the sky, circling above me in case I needed help with any stubborn creatures. Of course, my poison scared most of them off.

"Fawn..." I remembered back to the sharp change in her electromagnetic waves back in the dining hall. "For a moment back there, Fawn looked so...lost. Scared even... up till now she's been so quiet about her past. I asked questions that were meant to disarm her and get her to open up to me. However, she could tell what I was trying to do and avoided answering me. Fawn...Why won't you talk to me? You helped others find peace but why can't you do it for yourself?"

So many questions filled my mind as I walked around the forest, all of the beasts residing there hurrying away from me. Fawn was a good person, and the love she had for all creatures was what made her such a good tamer. I had to bring Komatsu over here sometime, maybe he would know what she needed. A chef might have a better idea as to how to raise up Fawn's natural defenses.

"Wait just a second..." I turned around and looked around me. "Mansom's not with me..."

I sighed, it figured he would wander off elsewhere when he was so drunk all the time. Not that it really shook my resolve as I passed the Mimic Berry tree that had fooled the chief earlier. I needed to find that berry... so I took a long look at the area around me until I caught a glimpse of some dragon beasts that were headed in a certain direction. A moment later they were gone from my sight, it must have been a vision rather than something from my actual eyes.

I headed towards the west on instinct, the berry would prefer a place where it could get the most sunlight and cool weather. However, I was concerned about the herd of dragon beasts that I had foreseen. Those were Spine Wyverns and they wouldn't be too happy about me intruding on what was going to be a treat for them.

Sure enough I came upon the flock of thorny dragons at the same time I caught the sweet scent of the Grand Berry. Each one was covered in scales that had evolved into toxic spines all over their body. They stood at least 12 feet tall and weighed about two tons on average, there was about two dozen of those black dragons around me now. Not a single one of them was scared off from my poison, quite the opposite in fact... these dragons ate creatures with toxins to enhance their own poison. So...I would be the optimal prey here to them rather than the Grand Berry.

"Well..." I laughed lightly at this kind of challenge. "This should be interesting."

Fawn's POV

"I hope Coco and Mansom are alright," I looked out my window at the sea as Rex munched away on the food I brought him. "Even they can have problems with the creatures of Biotope 1."

I only ate like 6 Ruby Crab legs and was barely full, enough to leave me willing to wait on the guys. Until then I was bored again and when Rex was done with his food I took him and the plate into the hall. I left the platter on one of the many carts that dotted the halls, mostly since Mansom finished his glass bottles so fast and Rin always had containers for her sweets around. So these carts served the purpose of ferrying the used dishes and bottles back to the wash room.

There was another part of the facility that I had been wanting to check out before I left Biotope 1 which, according to the rules of the manga, wouldn't be too long from now. I held Rex's hand as we walked to the East Hall, past the coliseum and the cages to a large series of rooms that held past winners of the coliseum as either stuffed animals or just their bones. For me, these rooms held a different purpose that Mansom had told me about on the second day of being here.

"Now listen here Fawn," He had said to me after a drink of whiskey. "With you being so limited in your current abilities you'll need a way to defend yourself from those ingredients that you can't calm at your current level. Plant beasts in particular are infamous Gourmet Tamer killers since they can't be calmed with pheromones or speech patterns. Now... in this building we have a museum of sorts where we keep past champions of the coliseum that have since passed on. When you're up to it, I would like you to go in there and locate something of theirs that will keep those kind of creatures away from you."

I already knew the kind of thing I was looking for, since most of these creatures were low level beasts only around capture levels 9 to 20 and thus weren't enough to keep away those beasts that Mansom had mentioned.

Halfway through the hall of beasts, Rex screeched and fled all the way back to the entrance. He had been nervous the entire time we were in here, but he had always remained by my side...so something had truly spooked him.

"Ah Fawn," A staff member approached me, clad in a black suit and sunglasses. "Are you here to choose your weapon of defense?"

"I wouldn't call it a weapon so much as a deterrent since I hope I will never have to use it." I told him, continuing on towards the back of the hall. "And I already know what I am going to use."

"Oh? You have something in mind already?" He followed me since I was going to need help retrieving my item.

"Yes, she's right there isn't she?" I stopped in front of the display in the very back.

"Ah...Yes, alright. I'll get a ladder." He smiled in satisfaction of the item I had chosen before walking off towards a supply closet.

To tell beasts on their level to leave me alone, I had chosen the best of the best. She had helped others before and now she would have the chance to do so again. The heart of loyalty and compassion that was willing to help in exchange for others helping her. Plus, her presence still lingered in this room even after her life had long been over. That was just a tribute to just how fearsome this beast was to monsters in the human world, the challenge for me would be to see how she fared against the creatures from the Gourmet World that sometimes wandered into the human world.

I gazed up at the skeleton before me that towered over everything else, I was barely as big as her paw but I could help her work in a different way. The staff members set up the ladder and one of them began to climb up to the skull, removing it from the spine and the wire framing, before bringing it down although several hands were needed to carry it. They placed it down on a table so I could take a look at it and make my choice. However, it wasn't my choice to make since one of the large fangs fell out of the top of the skull and it sliced right through the wood of the table and into the floor.

I crouched and gently removed the fang from the floor, carefully holding it in my hands. I could sense the power and aura within it, this was from one who had the blood of kings in them after all.

"Battle Wolf...thank you for accepting me." I looked at the skull of Terry's mother, who's spirit wished to help me. "It is an honor."

I carefully wrapped the fang in a cloth that the staff gave me, before heading out once more. Rex joined me at the exit, but I noticed how he chose to walk on the opposite side of whichever one of my hands was carrying the fang. Walking through the halls of the cages, all of the beasts retreated to the backs of their pens as they sensed a Battle Wolf nearby even though they could not see it. It was like what happened when beasts saw Komatsu's dragon fang knife...although he didn't have it yet in the series. They would freeze and then try to flee from its presence. Carrying this fang, was both a comfort and a force of defense for me. I didn't know how Terry would take the fact of someone carrying his mother's fang around but...it was the best choice right now. Something told me that the Battle Wolf still had more to teach to others and that was why she had chosen me to inherit her will.

"Fawn!" Mansom's voice got my attention and I looked over at him as he waved me over. "Have you seen Coco?"

"He's not with you?" I blinked in confusion, surely Coco had made it back with Mansom.

"Nah we got separated since that crow flies off so fast," He huffed, taking a swig of his drink. "So I came back with something else. Still, I thought he would be back by now..."

"Something's wrong," I felt worry ripple through me. "The White Forest isn't too far away, and most beasts would leave him alone since he's poisonous... Coco, what happened?"

That was when I made the decision that would change how I went about my new life forever. "Mansom, bring the Devil Pythons out."

Coco's POV

I moved aside as one of the Spine Wyverns charged me, leaving him to bash his head against a tree. This was taking far longer than I had expected, I had already been battling these dragons for about 10 minutes. I didn't want to cause any more trouble here or back at the facility cause...we told Fawn that we'd be right back. Any longer out here and she would get concerned for my well being. That was just the kind of person she was, just like Komatsu every single time he went on a hunt with Toriko.

"Poison Cannon!" I managed to hit one of them with a single shot but, the others just shook off the splatter.

I was getting tired, this whole mess was truly draining me of my poison and I couldn't help but wonder if that was the Spine Wyverns' whole plan. If I ran out of poison then I wouldn't have any defenses against them to claim the Grand Berry for myself. Then they could make me retreat and eat the Grand Berry themselves.

The group collectively roared at me, as if challenging me to attack again. Everyone's patience was wearing thin at this point, and I couldn't waste anymore time.

"Fine...you leave me no choice then." I shifted my stance slightly as I read their movements.

I was planning on getting nicked by their claws so that I could use my "Poison Sword" technique, however I never got that chance.

The Spine Wyverns suddenly flinched back, away from me and the sound of Kiss's caw getting my attention as well. Looking up I saw him dive down out of the sky and pluck one of the Grand Berries from the tree with his razor beak. As one could easily tell the wyverns weren't too pleased about having one of "their" fruits stolen right from under their noses. They roared up at Kiss and I spotted their muscles tensing up to shoot out their spines.

"Kiss!" I called out to warn him as I took aim once more at the wyverns. "Poison Dressing!"

With their mouths open the paralyzing toxin easily landed in their mouths but those that I hit just swallowed it and their attentions turned back to me. The rest shot dozens of needle sharp spines up at Kiss, who weaved in between the black projectiles as best to his ability. It was a miracle that not one spine hit him, but my crow friend couldn't keep it up forever and neither could I.

I was extremely tired by then, my energy was getting very low. Between dodging spines, claws, and jaws and using my own poison in mass quantities, I had almost exhausted my body's resources. Now, I would take any help I could get or push through and eat some Grand Berry myself after it was all over.

"Gemini! Pisces! Poison Tip!" A familiar voice called out and the flock of wyverns turned to look.

"SREEEE-EEEEEE-EEEEE!" A dual screech resounded through the forest announcing the arrival of a new challenger.

Almost all of the flock were penetrated by familiar tentacles with needles on the end as toxins were pumped into the vile creatures. The rest of the flock were grabbed by several six toed claws which pulled them back to the Devil Pythons that I recognized as the two that Fawn had trained earlier.

"Coco!" Fawn slid down the back of one of the pythons and ran to my side. "Come on, we gotta get you out of here."

"Fawn, what are you doing here?" I was concerned for her safety since my poison still coated my skin, even though Fawn seemed to only lift my arm with the cloth from my shirt in between her and the toxins. "You should be back at the main facility..."

"Don't be stupid," She argued though her tone was far more worried than angry. "Before I got here you couldn't see the shadow of death on any of these dragons could you?"

I flinched back in surprise then I looked over at the Spine Wyverns as they struggled in the grasps of the serpents. It was true, those monsters had proved to be a challenge and I was sure I wouldn't win against them alone. However I was willing to take the slim chance that my fortune telling was wrong in order to get that Grand Berry for the young Tamer.

"See, you can't do this alone Coco." Fawn's voice was gentle but firm.

I smiled, now understanding the hazy parts of my earlier visions of her future...she had been standing beside all of the Heavenly Kings with the same determined look in her eyes as any of us.

"True, I couldn't see it before..." I looked over as the pythons caught the last few Spine Wyverns in their constricting tails. "...now I can see it on all of them."

The pythons looked to Fawn for permission to eat what they had caught, something I have never seen in any monster before.

"Leave some for later," She made a motion with her hand and the pythons released the wyverns that were clenched in their tails. "We don't want to completely wipe them out."

The freed wyverns fled from the area swiftly, shedding some of their scales in an instinctual escape method. Those that were still held by the Devil Pythons were eaten one by one, whole. The serpents didn't seem bothered by the Spine Wyvern's poison. So, at least that showed that I still had much to learn about poisons from different creatures. It was unsettling to watch the serpents devour the thorny dragons without so much as flinching. Then when they were done they looked down at the two of us as Kiss landed beside Fawn and I.

"Let's get those berries now," I heard Fawn speak to me and when I looked at her she was smiling, and suddenly the unease from the snakes presence was gone. "Mansom is waiting for us back at the main building."

I returned her smile with my own, feeling completely calm in her presence and my poison vanishing back into my pores. She had complete control of the pythons and that would help her to move swiftly to places that she needed to get to in a hurry. There were more still to come, I could see that in her electromagnetic waves right now. They were positive and light, the signs of a bright future and promising new starts.

"Yes, we should get back." I nodded my agreement as I climbed up onto Kiss's back for the flight back.

"Gemini, can you gather up those berries on the tree there and carry them back for me?" Fawn looked up at the black skinned python with a green mane. "We'll need them, and DON'T eat them!"

It didn't take long for the IGO chefs to create multiple dishes from the Grand Berries we collected as well as some others for Fawn and I to recover our energy. Mansom was impressed with Fawn's efforts apparently although I was pretty sure he had a few more surprises up his sleeves for her.

"Well, it looks like I underestimated your ability to control those pythons, Fawn," Mansom commented as he looked at the dishes that had been made with the Grand Berries.

"Ya don't say?" Fawn sighed as she picked up a small plate of Grand Berry Tarts. "Really Mansom...have a little faith in me. I didn't have much confidence going in myself but determination won out mostly."

"Well," The chief clapped his hand on the girl's shoulder making her wince even though it was good natured. "You got spunk kid! I look forward to seeing what else you tame in the future! Who knows? Maybe I'll call you in the next time the Jewel Meat is ready!"

"Ow..." I watched the poor girl roll her shoulder to massage out the soreness that Mansom had left.

"That reminds me," The drunkard got to his feet and headed off towards the kitchen area. "There's one more dish I need to go get. Wait here."

"As if we have a choice right?" I heard Fawn mutter in my direction then she looked back at the corner where Rex was. "Rex, come here. There's meat here too for you. Besides, a meal tastes better when you share."

I smiled as the little gorilla walked over and joined Fawn at the table. It was hard to see how Troll Kongs gained such a fearsome reputation when one watched how gentle Rex was with Fawn and vice versa. I was working on regaining my strength with some of the well balanced dishes that I could find. I wanted to get back my full power before speaking but...

"I guess I won't be staying here much longer huh?" Fawn looked over at me after eating one of the tarts on her plate. "I'm almost completely healed so Ichiryuu might be paying me a visit to talk about what comes next..."

I was silent for a moment but I could read the electromagnetic waves from her and Rex that told me the girl was likely correct about what she took a guess at. With Rex beside her I doubted that she would have much problems once he got big but there was one thing bothering me.

"Fawn, why didn't you tame the Spine Wyverns like you did with the Devil Pythons?" I asked her, it was odd to watch her use violence against the flock.

"That's because...Spine Wyverns never forge a strong bond with their parents," She looked over at me, slightly surprised that I didn't know. "The females are much like sea turtles when they lay their eggs, burying them in the ground then leaving and never again returning. The wyverns are on their own from birth so they only stay with their siblings in a flock. Granted this plants the risk of inbreeding but so far they continue on strong."

Mansom must have told her about the creatures in the White Forest before she headed out to find me. Still...it was a big risk for her to go out into the Biotope's wild environment when she was already weak from taming the serpents. She had brought along the pythons for protection, however it was unclear just how obedient the powerful snakes would be towards her after such a short time.

I just nodded my understanding of her explanation before changing the subject. "Thank you for the help, Fawn. You were right, on my own I didn't see the shadow of death on any of the wyverns."

"I won't say 'I told you so'," She smirked at me, teasing me good naturedly. "But I think you need training just as much as I do."

I couldn't help but smile as well, her happiness was contagious. "It would appear to be that way..."

BANG!

I watched Fawn cringe from the loud noise of the kitchen door slamming open before we both turned to see Mansom hefting a large tray with a cover on it over to the table. It must've been rather heavy since he was using both hands to carry it...either that or he just didn't want to drop it. I saw Fawn move her chair out of the way and away from the table slightly just before the chief slammed the tray down onto the table.

"Mansom...what in the world did you find out there?" She stared at him with a mixture of alarm and curiosity.

"Sorry," He just laughed upon seeing the expression upon her face. "I needed a large dish in order to get all of them out here."

When he lifted off the possibly two ton lid and tossed it aside, Fawn's face lit up brighter than I had ever seen it. She recognized the ingredients before her even though I did not know of them, they must have been new additions to the Biotope if I didn't know them.

"Sushi-wood logs and Salmon Roe Grapes!" She even got up out of her chair for a better look at the black rolls and bright red berries. "I thought those ingredients were extinct?"

"A Gourmet Reviver named Teppei gave us a few to plant in the Biotope so they would grow undisturbed." Mansom boasted as he watched Fawn take one of the large rolls and a bushel. "Thankfully, none of the beasts had found them so I was easily able to collect the best of the harvest."

"You look overjoyed Fawn," I couldn't help but notice her interest in the ingredients that had just been placed before her. "Excited that these are formerly non-existent ingredients?"

"Well, yes, that too," I saw her blush lightly, embarrassed by her own behavior. "But remember when I said that there's one kind of food that I can't help but make more room for?"

I nodded while Mansom stuffed his face with Bacchus Onion and Drunken Cow. Really... I wished more people had table manners when they ate.

"Well, that food is sushi... as long as it's not spicy," She told me, adding the last bit after a small pause. "Stuff like wasabi and spicy tuna burns my nose so I tend to stay away from it."

I watched as Fawn expertly cut the log into inch long sections then with her spoon she scooped up some of the roe from the bushel, evenly piling it up along the top of the sushi. She then took the soy sauce container from nearby to pour some of the dark liquid into a small saucer. Fawn was the only one of us who used it for the sushi and I also took note that she never picked up her chopsticks while she ate. She instead chose to use her fingers to hold the pieces of sushi while she neatly dipped part of it into the sauce then ate it. It was clear that she had a lot of practice in eating this way however...the odd habit of her's of using soy sauce with the sushi instead of just eating the food set off an alarm in the back of my mind.

"What?" Fawn saw the stares from Mansom and I.

"That's a cultural habit isn't it?" The chief noticed what I had about Fawn's behavior. "It's not common to use soy sauce with sushi these days."

Instantly, Fawn's electromagnetic waves became unstable, rabid in frequency, and a pale yellow color...she was scared again but hiding it well on her face. It was a habit that she obviously did unintentionally.

"It's just something I picked up from my family," She smiled but I knew she was hiding something else about it.

"Hmm..." Mansom watched her for a moment but he nodded, accepting the explanation she gave.

I saw her relax slightly after that and she fell silent while she ate, I could see the scratches and cuts from her trip across the Biotope vanish instantly. The combination that she had made was compatible with her cells, although...not significantly like what happened with Sunny when he ate the Jewel Meat. Still, it would be enough to make her stronger and she would have more energy to fight...err tame wild creatures. That being said, she had unknowingly made something very clear to me.

I waited until she was done eating, and had wiped her hands and face with her napkin. Finally, someone with Gourmet Cells had proper manners.

"Fawn," I folded my hands before me as I made a decision. "I have a proposition for you..."

"Hmm?" She looked over at me, alarmed and curious.

I saw Mansom stop in the middle of taking a drink of beer to focus his attention on me as well. I could tell that he didn't like the sudden change in plan but he was also open to whatever I was about to say.

"Since you'll be released from the medical ward after today," I remained calm yet I faced Fawn while I spoke. "What would you say if I asked you and Rex to come with Kiss and I on our next hunt?"

For a moment her electromagnetic waves froze in surprise as her eyes widened while her brain processed just what I was offering.

"Are you kidding?" She was stunned for a moment and then she smiled out of pure joy. "YES! I would love to come with you guys! Wouldn't we Rex?"

"KEEE-EEE!" The Troll Kong cheered with a grin.

I knew she would say that of course, I had predicted that much earlier. I had a use for her talents if she could learn how to tame poisonous beasts as well as defend herself and those around her. Besides, Kiss already liked Fawn and... she had made it clear that my poison couldn't defeat everything on its own.

"Great," I returned her grin with a small smile. "We leave tomorrow morning, judging from your waves you're already healed. Be prepared for anything, we'll be stopping by a friend of mine before we go by the way."