Lunamugetsu: I do not own Toriko, I wish I did, but I don't.
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Kimiko sighed as the last of her employees bid her goodbye before heading home, leaving her alone with Miketsukami.
"Kimiko-sama," the silver haired man kneeled down and presented her with an umbrella, "Since it is currently raining. I shall shield you from the rain with my umbrella."
"Miketsukami." The silver haired man took notice of the lack of honorifics to his name.
"Yes, Kimiko-sama," he bowed in acknowledgment as she looked out at the window.
"What was your intention when you lied Toriko-san and the others?," Miketsukami winced at the question
"I'm sorry, Kimiko-sama, I am afraid, I do not understand the question," he answered
"Soushi," he grimaced at the use of his first name, "You knew I was sick." His fists clenched as a memory of his younger self running into Kimiko's arms begging for forgiveness. "What I wonder is, how did you know I was sick?" Miketsukami held his breath as Kimiko continued her explanation, "I'm certain that I didn't tell you, and only a few people knew about me being ill. Which brings me to this conclusion. You lied because you didn't want to remind me that you obtained the information of me being ill from someone. And you don't want to tell me who told you. Am I right?"
"As expected of Kimiko-sama, your mind is brilliant," Miketsukami answered
"Then you're not going to tell me, are you?" Miketsukami winced at the question
"I'm sorry, Kimiko-sama," He begged refusing to raise his head from the ground.
"It's okay, Miketsukami-kun. I know you wouldn't do anything like this without good reason," His eyes widened and then looked up at the chef. She gave him a small smile, "But I hate lying Miketsukami."
"I apologize, Kimiko-sama, it was not my intention." Miketsukami said.
"Don't worry, but if an occasion like this comes up again, please tell me the truth. No matter what you think I may react to it." Lightning flashed making Miketsukami see that Kimiko's hair had turned silver and her eyes had taken a golden color.
"Yes, Kimiko-sama," Miketsukami nodded, "I promise with my life."
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"Kimiko, you okay?!" Kimiko snapped out of her thoughts as Toriko walked in front of her.
"Yeah, I guess seeing the Tundra Dragon along with all of those frozen Bishokuyas, really surprised me," she told him
"Don't fall behind yet, we're going to stop and camp in about an hour." He looked back at her, "How are you doing?"
"A bit chilly, but I'm fine. I've never been in an environment this cold before." She told him, "I'm honestly don't know how I'll react to this type of cold."
"Well try your best to keep up," Toriko told her
"Don't worry about me, Toriko-san. I'll be fine."
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Cold. It's too cold.
Kimiko stood in the middle of a meadow. She looked down at her feet, looking at the pathway she was standing on.
Time to go home.
Kimiko took a step forward, and another, and another. Her feet moving on their own.
No. It's not safe.
Kimiko's steps halted as her surroundings started to darken, the flowers started to wilt, as the sky turned black.
HoW DArE YoU DiSaPpeAR!
She shivered as frost started to appear on the wilted flowers. Her hair started to turn silver.
wHy ArEN't YOuNoRmAl!
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.
Tears trailed down her face as she held her face in her hands, her hair started to flash changing from her usual black hair and being a silver color. She took her discolored locks in her hand looking at the two different colors.
I'm sorry.
Be NoRmAl!
I'm sorry. I'll stop, please don't leave.
StOP ChAnGInG! YOu'rE bEiNg WEirD!
I'm sorry! I'll try to be normal!
Kimiko's chest heaved as she tried to control her breathing as the frost started to come closer to her freezing the ground around her.
WhY AReYoU SuCh A FReAk!
It's not safe here.
Kimiko looked up seeing a small building in the distance. She shivered as the ice started to freeze the ground beneath her.
I can't be here. It's not safe.
Run, run far away.
It's not safe.
Kimiko started to back away from the building.
I have to find somewhere safe.
Kimiko's breathing quickened as she saw that the ice started to spread in her direction.
WAKE UP!
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Kimiko gasped and shot up from her sleeping bag. She took deep breaths as her heart pounded in her chest.
Calm down, it's just a dream. She clamped her hand over her mouth to slow her breathing. It's okay, nothing's going to harm you.
"Are you okay?" Kimiko looked over to the source of the voice and saw that it was Takimaru.
"I'm okay, Takimaru-san. It's difficult to sleep in such cold weather." Takimaru gave a nod and then poured her a warm cup of milk.
"Here this will warm you up." She took the offered cup while saying a small thank you. After taking a small sip she sighed in relief as the hot drink warmed her body. She looked back at the warm cup and then back to the rest of the group that was traveling with them.
"Takimaru-san have you eaten anything yet?" she asked
"You don't need to worry about him," a scarred man blonde man wearing a suit over his protective clothing said. "The Gourmet Doctrine has a month of fasting, doesn't it. So he should be used to having an empty stomach."
"I don't have any for you, old man." Takimaru said, "But I can give some to your subordinates."
"Enough with the old man, I'm only 28 years old." He said
"Seriously!" Takimaru gasped, "Why do you look so old?"
He's three years older than me, Kimiko thought while taking a sip of her drink. "Um, do you guys know where Toriko-san is?"
"He's been up there keeping watch," Match said and then raised an eyebrow at her hair color.
"So he's keeping watch in case beasts come," She pondered
It's more like, he's watching for something different, Match thought
"Is there something wrong with your drink?" Takimaru asked seeing that Kimiko was looking at her mug.
"No, it's great," she reassured him, "It's just. Can I add something to it?"
"Um, sure. Be my guest," Takimaru said gaining a thank you from the chef. Who took her bag and walked over to the stovetop.
Kimiko sniffed the warmed milk and then reached into her bag taking out a couple of objects. Opening a container, she dropped a cinnamon stick into the milk, along with some dried ginger. Taking a small spoonful to taste, she went and added a vanilla bean to it for a little bit of flavor. After letting the mixture steep for a little while, she went and strained the flavored milk into different mugs. Once she was done with that, she reached into her bag again and brought out a jar of honey. Taking a spoonful of honey and putting it into each cup and stirring to incorporate it into the drink.
"That smells great," Takimaru commented while Match nodded in agreement.
"Have a sip, the cinnamon and dried ginger would warm your body and boost your immune system, while the honey helps with maintain your blood sugar and helps in calming your stomach." She offered a cup to Match.
"Thanks," He said before taking a sip and giving a sigh as the drink warmed up his body.
"Please give some to your subordinates, and Takimaru-san please drink some too," she offered him a small cup.
"I shouldn't," Takimaru argued. Kimiko gave a small smile and placed the cup in front of him.
"I know that the Gourmet Doctrine is sacred among Gourmet Knights, but right now, you have to focus on surviving this cold weather. So we should be able to capture the Century Soup when we're at our best, right?" She told him.
"You are right," He said as he looked at the steaming beverage.
"And besides, I used simple ingredients, if you were to drink it, you wouldn't be breaking the doctrine that you follow." She took the cup and offered it to him.
"Thank you," He said as he took the offered cup and brought it to his lips. Kimiko blinked and then looked back at her hands in confusion.
"I'm going to go see if Toriko-san would like any." she said and stood up.
"That is one interesting lady," Match said
"Well, she is traveling with Toriko, there must be something special about her." Takimaru commented.
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Toriko stood against the freezing winds as frost started to grow on him.
"Toriko-san" Toriko jumped as Kimiko appeared behind him with her white hair swaying because of the wind.
"Kimiko, you're awake." He said as he looked at the little chef in front of him.
"Yup, I made a drink. Why don't you go down there and have drink. I can stay up here if you're worried for wild beasts." she told him
"I don't know," He said and then was promptly being pushed by Kimiko trying to make him go down with the rest of the group.
"Well, I don't want a repeat of the Jewel Meat incident. So why don't you just take a quick drink, and come back up here. It'll be fine." she bluntly stated while pushing.
"Okay, okay. I'll go." Toriko said as he started going down into the whole that the rest of the group was camping out.
Once Toriko was out of her sight, she sighed and then shivered as the cold started to permeate her body. As she was shivering she was unaware that her hair was starting to change with some locks of white hair started to change back into black. Her breathing started to quicken as the wind picked up.
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This is bad, Kimiko thought as she was being carried by Toriko. I'm doing worse than yesterday. What's going on?
"The number of people in our group went way down." Toriko commented, "Oi! Match, who's still with us?!"
"Behind us are my subordinates, everyone else retired," The blonde man said while standing right next to Takimaru.
"The winds getting stronger." Takimaru commented, "Not even the rider suits will be able to take any more Toriko-san!"
"Toriko-san," Kimiko whispered
"It's alright, Kimiko. Just hang in there." Toriko said. That was when a large thud caused the group to pause in their walking. Toriko grinned as he was face to face with a herd of gigantic bison that were currently huffing in anger of having something be in their way.
"Freezer Bison," Toriko smiled, "These guys'll ease our hunger and we can use their pelts to keep us warm. Takimaru, I'm going to leave Kimiko with you for a moment."
"No, Toriko-san,: Takimaru said, "We can take it from here." He started to rub his arms to warm them up.
"Yeah," Match took a hold of his katana, "If we move, our bodies will be able to heat up."
"Is that so," Toriko commented and looked back at Kimiko, "Do you hear that Kimiko, hang in there, and we'll be able to wear some warm fur."
"Okay, Toriko-san," Kimiko said barely managing a whisper. She raised her head to look over at Takimaru who had punched his fists together. He then moved his hands in a circular motion."What is he doing?"
"That's his "Pre-shot Routine" Before he sends out a technique, he does a specific type of movements that heightens his concentration by fortifying an image of the technique being successful." Toriko explained, "Just think of when I rub my hands together before I use Knife and Fork."
"Oh." Kimiko said. She shivered as she struggled to keep her eyes open.
This isn't good, I'm gonna, Kimiko shivered as the cold intensified.
"SENNUKI SHOT!"
Kimiko struggled to look up as she heard a large crack. She saw the Freezer Bison being tossed in the air and on closer inspection, she saw that it's body was twisted. She then looked over to the blonde man who had taken a deep breath.
"That's it! Match's Exhaustion!" One of his subordinates said.
"Exhaustion?" Toriko said.
"The more energy that escapes from Match-san's body. The more his iai's speed and destructive ability goes up." he explained. The group watched as one of the bison charged at him and in a blink of an eye the bison was cut down.
"IAI HABARAKI!" Match said once he was finished. He looked over at the rest of the herd which looked ready to charge. "Geez."
"Hold up, Match!" Match was halted from his thoughts as he felt a sinister aura behind him. He paused as he saw the gigantic red Oni that was behind him. He then looked at the herd of bison that was backing up and started to go in a different direction. He looked back over at Toriko who wasn't fazed. "Two of them is enough. There's no need to kill anymore."
I won't leave one left. I'll exterminate them all. Match thought of the words of the other Heavenly King that he had met before.
"You're both members of the Four Heavenly Kings, but you're different than him. You're a King to Life." Match commented.
"I don't know who in the Four Heavenly Kings you're comparing me to, but you're a lot like that too, Match." Toriko replied
"KIMIKO!" Takimaru yelled making everyone look at him. Toriko's eyes widened as he saw that Kimiko was lying on the ground.
"Kimiko!" Toriko yelled as he ran over to her and picked her up. His eyes widened as her white hair started to fade leaving only her black hair. Frost was already starting to form on her body.
"I'm sorry, Toriko-san. I don't feel so good." She barely managed to say before closing her eyes.
"Hang on, Kimiko! Just hang on!"
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Kimiko winced as she opened her eyes, seeing a light source to her side. Her eyes looked over to the lantern that was by her side. She looked over at Takimaru who was cleaning a piece of fur. She silently watched as he brushed off anything dirty and then walked over and placed it over her.
"That should keep you warm." Takimaru commented as he also placed another one of the furs on her.
"Thank you, Takimaru-san" she said making Takimaru jump.
"Kimiko, you're awake!" he exclaimed making everyone else look at them.
"What happened?" she said as Match's subordinates walked over to her. "Where's Toriko-san?"
"Toriko-san is up there keeping watch, Match just went up there to talk to him." Takimaru told her.
"Your hair changed back." one of the Match's subordinates said.
"Changed back?" Kimiko blinked and pulled on a lock of her hair to see that it was white.
"Your hair turned black right before you passed out, it really surprised us." Takimaru explained.
"I see." She said as she sat up.
"KIMIKO!" Kimiko jumped as Toriko jumped down to where she was sleeping, with Match following right behind him.
"Toriko-san." Kimiko said and then immediately frowned as she saw that he was looking around for her. "Not again." she sighed and then reached out and pulled on his cheek.
"Ah! Kimiko!" Toriko exclaimed as he saw her, Match raised an eyebrow in surprise seeing the lady appear.
"Toriko-san," Kimiko sighed and then looked up as Toriko patted her head.
"That's a relief, for you to pass out like that, really worried me." He said.
"I'm sorry. I guess I'm not really good with the cold." Toriko only laughed and patted her head again.
"As long as you speak up next time. I don't want another incident like this to happen again." Toriko said, "Are you ready to go?" Kimiko nodded her head yes. "Well, let's go everyone!"
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The group was currently treading through the harsh weather as fast as they could.
"How's the fur, Kimiko?" Toriko asked as she walked right next to him.
"It's great, I feel a lot warmer now." Kimiko replied
"Once we get to the Ice Mountain, this wind should calm down. Let's hope that we'll get there before the end of the day." Toriko told the group as they kept on walking forward. He looked over at Kimiko who was staring into space. "You okay Kimiko?"
"Yeah, I just feels like something is off," she said making the group look at her.
"What, you think that someone's following us?" Match asked as he stood right next to the chef.
"Well not exactly, I don't know how to explain it," she said as she looked at Toriko. That was when she felt something behind her. Before she knew it something had encased her torso lifting her up into the air.
"Kimiko!" Toriko screamed as she was caught.
"VICE- BOSS!" the others said.
"It got Takimaru, too!" one of the gourmet mafia exclaimed as the group saw the creature that had swiped three members of their group.
"That's a Tundra Dragon!" Ram said as he finally made out the creature that was flying away from them.
"FLYING FORK!" Toriko yelled launching the attack at the beast. The dragon took one look at the attack and quickly evaded before disappearing in the direction of the mountain.
"KIMIKO!" Toriko yelled as he saw the dragon disappear into the storm
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Lunamugetsu: yes I just wrote something in this story that isn't cannon. Anyway so you're going to see a lot of information about Kimiko, and how she grew up. There's a personal reason of why she doesn't like the cold. So if anybody has any thoughts on this.
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