Lunamugetsu: I do not own Toriko
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Previously:
"It's just, it feels like it's lacking something" Kimiko said as she looked at her bowl
"Do you mean with its ingredients?" Toriko asked making Setsuno smirk
"Toriko, Kimiko-chan. Come with me! I'll show you to my preparation kitchen!" Setsuno said as she took off her chef's hat.
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"Here we go." Setsuno said as she walked over to a covering on the floor and lifted it to reveal a set of descending stairs. "Come on it's down here."
"There's a kitchen in the basement?" Kimiko asked
"This is the first time I've heard of it, too," Toriko replied
"The upstairs kitchen is thoroughly just a place for finishing the cooking." Setsuno said while descending down the stairs, "My dining hall used to be mostly just space for preparation. You saw the giant castle next door, right?"
"Yeah, that building's huge"
"This place is connected to its basement" Setsuno said as she flipped on the light switch
"Ah, that castle was a kitchen!" Kimiko exclaimed as the basement lights began to illuminate. Kimiko's eyes widened as she looked at the large array of kitchen tools and ingredients spread across the entire room.
"Who would've thought there'd be a place like this in the basement," Toriko said
"You probably understand too, Kimiko. You could say that the quality of cooking mostly depends on its 'preparation'. This place is in the basement so customers can't see it, but it's the most important place supporting the shop," Setsuno explained
"Thank you for showing us this place" Kimiko said that was when a large creature slammed itself against the glass wall that she was standing right next to. Kimiko jumped back in surprise, bumping right into Toriko who held onto her.
"Scared Kimiko?" Toriko joked
"It caught me off-guard," Kimiko pouted, "I didn't think a beast like that would be down here." She looked at the glass wall to see that there were two of the same creatures roaring at each other. The beasts were standing on their hind legs with claws on their paws and had two long dark strips of fur growing down their back.
"They're Lonely Grizzlies," Toriko said,"Normally Lonely Grizzly meat is too tough to use for cooking, butif you have them keep up a strong fighting spirit their meat gets tender and delicious. They show their strongest fighting spirit when they see other males of their species."
"I see, so that's why there are two males in the cage, so that there would be good quality meat. But can't you tell by their appearance?"
"The outward appearance doesn't change at all."
"Then how do you figure it out?"
"I guess, it's just Old Lady Setsu's intuition from her long years of experience? These guys can fight continuously for about a month, and the time for when the meat becomes good quality is only a few minutes of that. You have to aim for Knocking them in that instant and preserve them in that condition."
"That sounds so overwhelming" Kimiko muttered
"It's natural for 'Special Cooking Ingredients.' More than anything their capture level 37 so catching them is real difficult."
"I could only dream about working with these ingredients at my restaurant," Kimiko said
"I'm pretty sure you've worked with high-class ingredients like these before. Remember the Puffer Whale." Toriko asked
"Don't confuse my restaurant with one of those five star ones. There's no way I could afford any of these ingredients. Not to mention, how on earth would I be able to prepare them?" Kimiko reasoned as she pointed to the rest of their surroundings, "Look, she has to soak 'Peach Potatoes' in four degrees Celsius salt water after you peel them for a full year, or you can't take off the slimy surface. 'Gori Scallion' which has cut-off ends that have an adhesive effect, so you have to cut some hundreds of times or it won't fall apart. There is no way I'll be able to prepare these using ordinary methods."
She knows the process on how to prepare those Special Cooking Ingredients, even though she's never done it personally, Toriko thought
"Could it be that Setsuno-san doesn't open her shop more than once a month because of how much time it takes to prepare it?" Kimiko said
"Nope you're totally wrong!" Setsuno bluntly stated as she jumped in front of Kimiko. Kimiko stepped back in surprise and then saw that Setsuno was holding onto a rope and was swinging herself across the room to the opening on the other side while yelling like Tarzan.
"C'mon this way. Hurry up." She called while walking away from them.
"Well, c'mon Kimiko," Toriko said as he grabbed the rope and then looked back over at Kimiko who was looking at her feet.
"Is something wrong?" he asked
"Um," she said and tried to smooth out her dress. That was when Toriko realized, what she was being so quiet over.
Oh yeah, she's wearing a dress, Toriko told himself as he looked at the silent woman in front of him.
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO IN THIS SITUATION! Toriko yelled in his mind.
"Um, Kimiko, I could just, wait" Toriko looked back at the woman to see that she wasn't there, "Eh, Kimiko?"
"Come on, Toriko! You're going to fall behind!" The woman yelled from the other side of the room.
Since when did you get over there! Toriko thought as he grabbed a rope and swung to the other side and quickly followed the two ladies.
"Um, Setsuno-san, so if the reason you only open your shop once a month isn't because of the time prepping the ingredients than what is it?" Kimiko asked
"Uffuffu, I said it depended on the 'mood,' didn't I? Though that mood I was talking about wasn't my own." Setsuno turned towards Kimiko, "It's the ingredients 'mood'"
"The ingredients mood." Kimiko repeated
"Kimiko, do you think a cook chooses his or her's own ingredients to cook?" Setsuno giggled, "Uffuffum how absurd if I thought that I would only be a half-baked chef. It's the opposite, the ingredients choose the customers and the cook… the ingredients"
"Remember sweetie, we don't decide when the ingredients are ready, only they themselves can know"
Kimiko halted in her steps as Setsuno and Toriko walked in front of her.
"The ingredients?" Toriko repeated
"I just ask the ingredients their mood every day. Whether the shop is open or closed all depends on if the ingredients feel like it. I'm sure you two would be able to understand someday." Setsuno said and then entered another room, "We're here! This is the place the Century Soup is prepared." She gestured to a gigantic pot that was as tall as the room and was taking up all of the available space the room provided.
"This is where the legendary soup is cooked in!" Toriko exclaimed, "I've never seen such a huge pot!"
"Fufufu," Setsuno said and then jumped all the way to the top of the pot. "Come on you two!"
"Well we better get going Kimiko," Toriko said and then noticed that Kimiko wasn't moving.
"Kimiko, you okay?" Toriko asked snapping the woman out of her silence.
"Y-Yeah," Kimiko said giving him a reassuring smile and followed after him as he climbed up the ladder.
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"Amazing!" Toriko exclaimed as he saw the gigantic ingredients that were cooking in the large pot.
"So this is how ingredients are put into the Century Soup" Kimiko said, "It's amazing that it's this clear before it's strained."
"Fufufu, that's because it has the harsh tasting matter boiled out of it continuously for half a year, and to be truthful this soup is still incomplete," Setsuno sighed
"Look it has Silk Bird Remnants and Mineral Coconuts," Kimiko pointed
"Yeah! And there are Motor Onions in it! This is so awesome!" Toriko exclaimed and then looked over at Kimiko who was also marveling at the food.
I guess I don't have to worry about her, she seems fine now, Toriko thought as he looked at the smiling chef.
"Fufufu, you think so?" Setsuno sighed, "But this soup. Truthfully it's still incomplete."
"Ah! Toriko-san look" Kimiko pulled on his jacket sleeve and pointed, "There are German Swordfish Bones in there. It's said that the strong smell and harsh taste of it doesn't stop for several months!"
"Really!" Toriko took a sniff, "There's no harsh smell at all! You're awesome Old Lady Setsu!"
"Yeah, I know! But this Century Soup isn't done! It's not complete!" Setsuno shouted at the two. That was when the duo looked at her with shocked expressions. "LISTEN WHEN I'M TALKING!"
"What do you mean it's not complete, Setsuno-san?" Kimiko asked
"Wel, the truth is, Century Soup is something that originally exists in the natural world," Setsuno said
"Really?"
"That's the first time I've heard of that," Toriko said
"A long time ago, Jiro-chan scooped some up for me. I was unable to forget that mouthful, so I made this soup imitating it." she told them
"The soup is so delicious though, it's hard to believe that it's incomplete," Kimiko sighed
"Well, it's not in me to be able to reproduce the taste perfectly."
"But, it's so delicious, right Toriko-san?" that was when Kimiko heard a strange noise.
"Yeah! It's delicious!" Toriko exclaimed while trying to slurp up the stock straight from the pot.
He was making that noise! Kimiko yelled in her mind.
"Toriko-san, you shouldn't drink things straight from the pot without a utensil." Kimiko scolded as she absentmindedly pulled his cheek, "Not to mention you didn't even ask permission."
It's been awhile since she's done this, Toriko thought, This hurts more than I remember.
"I'm sorry Kimiko. Can you let go of my cheek now?" Toriko said as his cheek was being stretched.
"Eh!" Kimiko immediately let go of his cheek, "I did it again, didn't I"
"Don't worry, it's fine" Toriko patted her head making her blush. "Although that makes me wonder, if this soup is incomplete do you mean that the Century Soup in the natural world tastes better than this?"
"Well, it's hard to explain the taste, but Kimiko" she said getting said woman's attention, "When you ate this soup, you said it was 'lacking something.' That's because it is, the real thing has a special taste. What that one thing is, I can't figure it out no matter how I try!"
"Well, I haven't eaten the real thing either, so you shouldn't take my words so seriously" Kimiko said.
Kimiko, why do you think I brought you two to this kitchen?" Setsuno took the ladle that was hanging at the side of the pot and started to stir the broth, "Of all the country's president and wealthy people and gourmets, not one of them has given me advice on my cooking. I've been charmed by you two's sense of taste and sensitivity. If it's you two, perhaps. I thought it might be possible to make this soup 'perfect. Fufufu, I brought you here because you found the exact ingredients from the stock."
"Something like that," Kimiko said as she scratched her head in wonder
"Fufufu, don't you want to try it? The real Century Soup?"
"I wanna try it!" Toriko exclaimed
"Is that so, Toriko," Setsuno said
"Hey Kimiko, you wanna try the real soup, right?" Toriko asked
"Uh" Kimiko fidgeted for a moment and then nodded, "Yes! I'd like to try it!"
"The 'time' is right! The Century Soup only appears once every 100 years! That's why it's called the Century Soup! That time is now! Your 'timing' is good, too. Right now there's a man in Gourmet Town that knows about this news, as well. He's gathering Bishokuyas from all over the world so he can get his hands on the soup. There's no doubt you'll be hired by him soon, Toriko! Go and bring, Kimiko with you. Eat the real soup, and try and make a magnificent Century Soup with those hands!"
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In the bar where Bishokuyas congregate, Bar Heavy Lodge. From all over the world, famous Bishokuyas visit this bar every day to find food information and work. There are many clients gathered there requesting the sturdiest Bishokuyas so it is also known by the name "The Meeting Bar". As the people who passed by walked on shouting could be heard from inside.
"FOOD AIN'T ENOUGH! KEEP ON GIVING ME BOOZE!" a large man that had scars running down both of his eyes yelled as he slammed his mug of empty beer on the table
"Man, Brubo's starting to get violent again," a man said as a crowd of people started to cheer in the corner, "Oh, a battle of who can eat more has started over there."
"I WON!" a portly large man yelled as he threw his empty dishes off the table, "Is there nobody here who can eat more than me?"
"Hey asshole! Shut up! I'm trying to enjoy my drink here!" a hairy zombie man said
"Oh boy," a heavily scarred suited man walked over to a young man that was drinking his tea. He was sporting a white tux and had a samurai sword at his waist "How about you hand over your seat? After all, this place, ain't for kids."
The young man that was drinking was sporting a unique outfit that had a crescent moon on his back and was also sporting a moon that was clipped to the wrappings around his head. He took a sip of his tea and smirked, "Don't treat me like a child, I'm already at the drinking age. Why don't you try moving me by force?"
"You tryin' to act tough?" The suited man said, "You want a messed up face."
"Having wounds is a proof of weakness" The young man goaded, "You haven't got a good guard, old man."
"All right," The man placed his hand on his sword, "The one who rang the starting gong was you!"
"HEY YOU, DON'T YOU PUNKS MAKE A RUCKUS IN MY STORE!" the bartender yelled snapping the two out of their conversation, "Wait quietly, soon Mr. Colonel will be coming to the store."
The doors of the bar moved causing everyone's attention to focus on the blue haired person that had just walked in.
"It's Toriko! Toriko has shown up here!" a man from the crowd said as everyone shouted at the man's entrance,
"Hya. What's this."The bartender said, "It's been awhile since the charisma of Bishokuyas came here."
"That man is Toriko," the man sporting the crescent shape moon said ,"Even us, the Gourmet Knights, are said to even acknowledge his superiority."
"Of course, Toriko is one of the Four Heavenly Kings." the scarred man said, "I challenged one of them once, all the wounds on this body are from that occasion, all from just one attack." he sighed reminiscing it, "It was a giant man named Zebra, I thought he might kill me."
"So that's what it means to experience the true power the Heavenly Kings hold."
"Man, it's been awhile. I've missed the Heavy Lodge, it's as crowded as always." Toriko commented and then walked up to the bar. "Hey master, haven't heard from you in awhile!"
"Here ya go, Toriko! Some Enamel Beer!" the bartender said as he slammed a gigantic pint of beer onto the counter. "How many years has it been!? You got so famous so you haven't been showing your face around here? I've been lonely!"
"It's cause even without coming here I've had no luck with job requests." Toriko joked
"Come on even it it doesn't have to do with work-"
"Another beer!" Toriko shouted
"Already!" the bartender shouted
"Yooo, so we meet again?" a hairy zombie man said
"Ah! Zombie! Why're you here?" Toriko asked
"I'm here for business of course, I heard that there's a guy who'll definitely hire me. Also, my name is ZONGE!" he exclaimed
"I've never seen that gorilla dude before, but he's Toriko's acquaintance?" one of the men asked
"No, that dude just pops up without asking. He's completely useless."
"Is that so. But it looks like they're talking like equals." the other man said
"Wait, was that you who said that?" the man asked
"I thought it was you" the other said
"GHOST!" they exclaimed unaware of the woman walking away from them.
"By the way, how are things going, master? With these Bishokuyas nowadays." Toriko said
"No so hot, really," he said, "There really isn't anyone I've seen that felt like they had the same level of qualities of you Heavenly Kings, recently the clients have had more harsh in judgment they don't get into negotiations so much anymore."
"Sounds tough for people to not hold negotiations you must not get an Intermediation Fee." Toriko said
"Master is an intermediary between the Bishokuyas and the client's?" Kimiko asked making Toriko and the bartender jump in surprise
"Man, Kimiko, I completely forgot you were there," Toriko laughed in surprise, "Master is also known as Judgment Moriji. He's got discerning eyes that can see through a Bishokuya to know his true power and talent! There are a lot of Bishokuyas with fake full courses so they rely on Master's judgment on these people..
Kimiko, Moriji thought as he looked at the lady in front of him.
"I see" Kimiko said
"Kimiko" Moriji said getting her attention, she flinched as he kept on staring at her, "It is you! Man, you sure have grown."
"Yes?" Kimiko said uncertain of what was happening
"You guys met before?" Toriko said
"Well, I officially met her father, she was taking a nap when he brought her here." Moriji said
"Her dad," Toriko said while looking at Kimiko who was sporting a confused expression.
"I don't remember ever coming here. Do you remember how old I was?" Kimiko asked
"Don't blame ya for not remembering. I can't recall how old you were. You were really small. I remember your dad came here for some information, though," Moriji said while cleaning a glass.
"I see," Kimiko said, that was when the doors of the bar opened. Everyone watched as a red carpet was rolled out into the bar and men wearing suits walked in lining up side by side.
"Everyone stop! Presenting the chairman of the Gourdarake Company. Mr. Colonel!" Kimiko's eyes widened as she recognized the elderly man that was dressed in lavish clothing that bought all the merchandise in the Gourmet Department Store.
"I'll give 10 billion, to whomever takes the magnificent me's request."
"10 billion!"
"That person is Mr. Colonel Mokkoi!"
"The company president who makes 20 trillion a year."
"So this is the client who has information about the 'soup' and he's the one who gathered all these Bishokuyas in Gourmet Town."
"Is that reward serious!?"
"No, more importantly, do your really know the location of that ingredient"
"What a foolish questions. Who do you think I am?" Mokkoi said, "I won't refuse anyone who comes. Anyone who wants to take the challenge of the Century Soup come with me to the harbor!"
Everyone in the bar cheered at the possibility of being able to make 10 billion. Kimiko watched as Colonel Mokkoi then turned around and left the bar with all of his security guards following behind him.
Something's off, Kimiko thought as she watched the wealthy man leave.
"Be careful on your trip Toriko," Moriji said getting their attention. "You're going to the place where everything is frozen, the Ice Continent."
"Um, master." Kimiko said, "Do you think it's okay for me to accompany Toriko-san?" Kimiko asked.
"Are you a Bishokuya?" Moriji asked
"No, I'm a chef," she replied
She looks weak, no, it's like she's got no presence. Yet there's something more to her, she's not one to give up, Moriji thought as he looked at her.
"You know, in all of my years here, there have been people I've wanted to stop no matter what, but then there's people like you… it's mysterious."
"Huh?"
"It's fine for you to go! Be careful!" Moriji said making Kimko smile.
"Aren't you glad, Kimiko!" Toriko said patting her head.
"Sure, I'm thrilled to go to a freezing continent, that could potentially kill me," Kimiko said bluntly.
"There you go being blunt again," Toriko sighed
"Oh yeah, I should probably notify my restaurant staff," Kimiko said getting out her phone.
"Oh boy," Toriko muttered to himself as she dialed the phone number.
"Hello, Miketsukami- kun?" Kimiko asked
"KIMIKO-SAMA! ARE YOU OKAY! HAS SOMETHING HAPPENED? HAVE YOU BEEN INJURED? DID THAT BRUTE TORIKO TOUCH YOU ANYWHERE INAPPROPRIATE! YOU'RE WEARING YOUR JACKET RIGHT? YOU MUST NEVER TAKE OFF YOUR JACKET!" the silver haired man's voice echoed through the phone.
"Miketsukami-kun, please calm down," Kimiko said unfazed by the man's speech.
"I'm sorry," Toriko heard as he went to take a sip of beer that Moriji gave him.
"I'm going to be gone for awhile, I'm going with Toriko-san to procure a special ingredient. So I'll need you to take care of the restaurant for me."
"Yes Kimiko-sama, you can count on me. I'll inform the rest of the staff of this information. Please be careful."
"Thank you, Miketsukami-kun," Kimiko said as shen then hung up the phone.
"Sometimes I wonder how you can put up with him," Toriko muttered
"Well, I go on dangerous trips like these. It makes me glad that Miketsukami-kun and the others tolerate me leaving the restaurant to them from time to time."
"I'm glad that you go on these trips," Toriko patted her head, "Or else we wouldn't have met." Kimiko blushed and nodded.
"I'm going to make another call. How about you go to the harbor first. I'll follow you right after," she said
"You sure," Toriko asked
"Don't worry, I won't be long," Kimiko said as she ushered Toriko out of the bar.
"Who are you calling?" Moriji asked as Kimiko held her phone to her ear.
"Hello, Papa"
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Lunamugetsu: Ooooh, I mentioned Kimiko's dad a lot in this chapter. Also just so you know, Kimiko is going to get a couple of flashbacks during this arc. Please REVIEW!
