Here is the next one. Hope you enjoy.

Drabble word: Sick

Toriko grinned as he wandered towards one of his top 5 restaurants. He had finally returned from his latest hunting trip and was looking forward to seeing Komatsu and taste his partner's wonderful cooking.

The Heavenly King pushed open the doors with one hand while balancing his catch, a wild Razor Chicken, in the other hand. The manager of Gourmet Hotel welcomed him with open arms, 'Welcome To Gourmet Hotel Toriko-sama, How can I help you today?'

Toriko shoved the Razor Chicken into the Manager's arms, ' Can you get Komatsu to cook this for me?' The manager staggered under the weight of the fresh ingredient and looked at Toriko with a bewildered gaze. ' My apologies Toriko-sama but Chef Komatsu hasnt come to work since Friday. I received an email stating he would not be coming in for a bit. Isnt he with you?'

Toriko froze, a thousand thoughts crossing his mind. Komatsu didnt come to work? He wasted no time to turn around and run out of the hotel, his food forgotten in the hands of the Gourmet Hotel Manager.

The worried giant took out his phone and pressed 1, his phone speed dialing Komatsu's number. It rang for a minute before Toriko closed his phone and tried calling the rarely used home phone number for Komatsu.

When no one answered there either, Toriko started panicking. He quickly shot a text to Coco, Sunny and Zebra; hoping that anyone of them had seen Komatsu or heard from him. Komatsu's apartment wasnt too far from the restaurant and Toriko took less then 5 minutes to arrive at the building.

A worried Toriko didnt bother knocking on the door as he simply forced the door open and looked around. Komatsu wasnt there. There was no sign of struggle but it seems as though nobody had been in the house for a few days.

Toriko's phone rang three times before going silent, a reply from his friends. No one had seen Komatsu or heard from him. All were on their way to the city right now. Toriko collapse momentarily, his mind overwhelmed by guilt and fear. He hadnt been here for Komatsu.

And now his partner, the best cook in existence was gone.

In a neighboring town, the bell for a herbal remedy shop rang as a new customer entered. The shop keeper grinned as she saw a regular shuffling slowly in. 'You dont look too well. Need anything in particular?' A few moments of casual conversation ended with the customer leaving with a bag full of herbs and a hot tea in hand.

Back in Komatsu's apartment, Coco had just arrived on Kiss' back to find Toriko having reduced Komatsu's apartment to a disaster zone while searching for any clues as to the chef's whereabouts.

'Toriko please calm down. I'm sure that Komatsu is alright...' the gentleman king asked softly, trying to calm down his panicking friend. Coco looked around as he approached Toriko, his eyes trying to find any trace of his friend's presence and state. He saw nothing which made him start worrying.

Toriko shot up and grabbed Coco, 'Do you see anything? Can you tell what happened?' Coco shook his head. ' I'm seeing nothing. Its like Komatsu was never here at all...' This made Toriko worry even more. 'We have to find him! What if... What if the Bishokukai got him?'

'The Bishokukai's have Matsu-kun?' squeaked Sunny from the doorway, having just arrived. A giant crashed announced the arrival of Zebra hurrying up. Sunny glared at Toriko' This is all your fault! I knew you couldnt be a good Partner with Matsu! He deserves someone much better!'

Zebra chimed in, 'Dont get Cocky! Komatsu will be my partner! I'll be the one to find him!' Those words seem to be the signal the Heavenly Kings were waiting for as all of them started shouting at each other, the group dissolving into accusations and wild speculation as to what had happened to Komatsu.

Toriko stormed out, closely followed by Sunny then Coco. Zebra was the last one to leave the now ruined apartment, the gigantic man growled in annoyance, 'What is this kid thinking, disappearing like that.'

A day passed with no news and Toriko relented at being angry with everyone, his worry making him send a message to everyone he knew about Komatsu's disappearance. It didnt take long for the news to spread unto every television and on every computer. IGO became involved and yet, despite everything Komatsu was nowhere to be found.

A good 2 weeks passed before anything changed, or rather an rather exhausted Komatsu found himself being interviewed by a overly excited reporter about his disappearance and supposed rescue. 'Its good to see you finally free Chef Komatsu. Would you be able to tell me who kidnapped you and about your rescue?' Komatsu stared at the reporter as though they had grown a second head, 'Kidnapped? Rescued? What in the world are you talking about?' The confused Chef demanded.

The reporter was surprised, 'You mean to say you werent kidnapped?' 'Of course not, where did you get that idea?' he replied shocked. 'Toriko-sama and the other Heavenly Kings has been making a fuss about your disappearance. Where did you go?' came the answer to which Komatsu sighed and muttered under his breath before looking straight at the camera and saying, ' That is none of your business but I was never in any trouble. Now please leave me alone.'

Komatsu knew that everyone would be rushing to his place to see him with tons of questions, questions he currently didnt feel like answering at all. Decision made, he went back to the Gourmet Hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon working. The chef ignored the many calls on his phone and his manager did a wonderful job of keeping anyone annoying away. He even had time to make himself some tea using the herbs he had picked up a few weeks ago.

As the restaurant closed for the night, Komatsu heard Zebra's voice. 'Brat how long do you plan on hiding from us? Stop being cocky and get your ass out here!' Komatsu scowled and whispered, ' Not until you apologies to everyone you've bothered because of your reckless worrying. I left a note for a reason!' The following silence lasted for a golden 3 second before Zebra overwhelming shout of 'Toriko!' resounded through out the building.

Komatsu grinned in satisfaction as he heard the group of friends chastising Toriko for panicking so easily and making them worry needlessly about their favorite Chef. Said Chef waited until the shouting had turned down to Toriko muttering 'sorry' over and over again before coming out with a banquet of food.

Even if Toriko had been the one at fault, Komatsu felt responsible for at least thanking everyone for their worrying over someone such as himself. It didnt take long for everyone to dig into the food and for the atmosphere to lighten up quite a bit.

As Komatsu watched his friends, Melk 2 and Nono walked up to Komatsu. Nono whispered 'Komatsu-san, where were you?' Komatsu smiled at the cook, ' In the hospital for a week then I left to go live with my grandmother for a bit. There was mold in my apartment and I got sick because of it. My apartment should have been sterilized and renovated by now.'

Zebra got up with a growl and shouted ' You were in the hospital!' It would have been possible to hear a penny drop in the following silence as the four Heavenly Kings stared in shock at Komatsu. 'WHAT?' Komastu sighed, of course the Heavenly Kings had never gotten sick before.