I was still on cloud nine that I helped in a small way and Toriko had was one step closer to his dream.
"Madam you've been happier then usually the last four days."I heard my bodyguard and close friend,Katsuro,say.
"Oh Katsuro,Of course I'm happy I'm only five more months from freedom. Plus Toriko-San invited me the go with to meet a friend of his and I'm going to a change to see the Puffer Whale in it's natural form."I said happily.
"I'm coming with you at lest to meet this Toriko person you've been gushing over like some love sick puppy."He said.
"That's right you have to take the train to report to mother and father today and don't worry he doesn't know more than anyone else outside this family."I assured him.
"Good I like seeing you smiling."he said. We left our house and walked to the train where Toriko met us.
"Kimiko who the guy?"He asked.
"Oh this is my childhood friend and roommate, this is Toriko-San."I said kindly leaving out the part that his my bodyguard. The three of us boarded the train. Toriko had raided to bar on the train earning disgusted look from Katsuro.
~Time-Skip~
"Aah!Delicious!"he said after drinking he's sixth glass of sake.
"Kimiko I highly doubt your parents or brother would approve of this man."Katsuro whispered in my ear.
"Katsuro I'm not dating him."I said quietly enough that only he heard.
"Are you planning on drinking all-they've got?"I asked.
"It's just so good,I'm so happy."Toriko said drunk. I can't stop thinking about how we'll be meeting that legendary fish soon. How about you and Katsuro."He said.
"Of course. It's only once every ten years that the Puffer Whale, the rarest of flavors in the deep seas, shows itself in the shallow waters. It happens right around this time."I said happily.
"As for Katsuro visiting his family in our home-town."I said since Katsuro was in his guard mode.
"I see. You're interested more in the people that prepare it right?"He asked.
"Yeah how did you know?That's the reason I came with you is so that I can check out the cooking skills of the people who prepare it's meat. Removing the parts of the fish that are poisonous is really difficult. Only a select portion of the is suitable for consumption."I said.
"love-sick puppy"I heard Katsuro said. I shot him a glare.
"Yeah,it's said that there are only about ten people in the whole world that can handle won't the person that we're going to meet with also be preparing the meat?"Toriko said.
"Hey you!"I heard someone yell getting our attention. We looked and was a group of three men dressed like cavemen.
"I thought there was more sake in this place but you guys ordered it all!"the leader yelled I took hold of Katsuro's hand knowing he would blow my cover if they did something dumber then they're already doing.
"Drinking up all my stuff, just who doing you think you're dealing with? It's I,the bishokuya,Zonge-Sama!"he said something tells me he's way too into RP game.
"Huh?"Toriko said broadly.
"Hey,Hey,Hey."The bald lackey said.
"Look upon it and be amazed! Zonge-sama's Lifetime Full Course Menu!"the other said playing along the bald one pulled out roll of paper.
"the Hors d'oeuvre is Golden Salmon Roe, As for the soup,it's made from the snake frog's livers." they continued they're all everyday ingredients. When then got to the main course which was Galala Gator. The said that he had caught one recently.
"It was just a small one, no more then a meter long."The bald lackey said. I held back a laugh.
"Hey! If you don't the sake,we're going to have serious trouble."The leader yelled as Toriko stood up and Katsuro reached for his dagger. The leader went quiet. Toriko put his hand on the man's shoulder and said,
"Take as much sake as you'd like. My bad, Zombie-Kun."then patted it.
"Oh ok! You're lucky I'm in a forgiving mood today."Zombie said. Then he looked my way.
"Hey angel why don't you ditch that loser and hang out with a real man."he said causing Katsuro to snap.
"I'm not interested."I told keeping Katsuro from blowing my cover.
"oh come on."he said.
"Listen here pig she said no so take your sake a leave before I beat you."Katsuro said.
"Who are you?"Zombie asked.
"That's none of your business."He said. One of his lackeys took ad box of sake and the other pushed away forcing him to leave.
"That was pretty scary."I said letting go of Katsuro's hand.
"They sizing everyone else up."Toriko said reassuringly.
"So what was that scene about?"He asked.
"Oh Katsuro's always been protective of me."I said.
"A side from Katsuro-Kun the rest of the people on this train are Bishokuya,all with their sight set on the Puffer Whale."he said.
"Toriko-San while you and Kimoko are on this hunt you better protect for me."Katsuro said shocking me.
"Don't worry I will."he said. The train stop at an all to familiar station.
"Be safe Kimiko."Katsuro said then got off. Then Toriko and I went back to talking.
"So why did you give them the alcohol?"I asked.
"Even if people will be competing with each other,it is good to let them become acquainted and stir up some common need to look out for each are some things that we just can't do by ourselves."he said.
"Umm..Could I have some sake?"an elderly drunk man asked. It looks like he's had enough.
"Sure."Toriko said.
"Here you go."I said sweetly.
"Thank you very much,sir and ma'am."the man said grabbing a bottle of wine.
"I will pay back the debt someday."he added with a hiccup. I was worried about the man. When we got to you're station we go off and walking towards the city.
"There's someone who can prepare the Puffer Whale in this city,right?"I asked amazed.
"But there aren't any people around."I said looking around.
"There should be beasts roaming around freely at the tellers have predicted that the city would be overrun with wild beasts. While that's happening,all the people hide in their homes."Toriko said.
"Speaking of which, the prophecies about the appearance of the Puffer Whale also originated in this there are fortune tellers here who are that talented."I said then the earth shock. The beast that looked like a dinosaur appeared and roared.
"You can eat it neither boiled of nor this a Kuendon?"Toriko asked. There was a man walked down the street. He wore a tan cloak over a black and green jumpsuit and a green cap.
"You came to see me,Huh?"Toriko asked. The beast went to attack the man.
"Watch out!"I yelled. The Kuendon stopped within inches of him then turned right around and left.
"Just as I predicted... an unpleasant guest has arrived."the man said his voice was smoothed as honey wine.
"I'm glad that we ran into you less could be expected from the the gentleman of the Four Heavenly Kings,Coco."Toriko said.
"The Heavenly Gluttonous King, 's been a long time."Coco said warmly.
"Is this the person you wanted to meet,Toriko-San?"I asked holding back blush.
"The Heavenly King,Bishokuya Coco?!"I asked. I think I'm going to faint. We walked through the village quickly.
"We've just about reached my home."Coco said.
"But why are you living in the town of divination telling gourmet food fortunes?"I asked.
"Well,I'm a fortuneteller by trade."he said.
"A Heavenly King is a fortuneteller?"I asked.
" is Zebra doing?"Toriko asked.
"He got caught,you 's in Gourmet Prison."Coco said coldly.
"So they finally caught him?That Problem sure brings back memories."Toriko said with a happily smile. I had tripped.
"Learning together in the garden,the four of us enveloped in a deadly struggle."Toriko said fondly.
"Stories of days gone by."Coco replied earning a nod from Toriko. I sighed I'm really out of shape. Then a Shadow came over head.
"Huh?"I asked and looked up to see a giant crow.
"A Crow monster?"I asked in awe. It's a beauty no doubt.
"So you came to greet us,did you Kiss?"Coco asked.
"Oh it's the ruler of the skies, the Emperor Crow.I thought it was extinct."Toriko said as it's landed right in front of Coco.
"He's name is Kiss, and he's part of my family."Coco said. I looked into his stunning ruby eyes.
"can you carry 3 people?"Coco asked softly. The crow nodded. We claimed on and then Kiss took off. When we landed again there was cute little stone hut with a chimney. We went in and spoke.
"I think the Rainbow Fruit is a good choice for the 's just as I saw it in my premonition."Coco said pouring some tea I think meanwhile Toriko was stuffing his face.
"Hey, do you think you could be a little more refined?"Coco asked.
"How are things going with you?"Toriko asked changing to the topic.
"Did you finish your Lifetime Full-Course Menu?"he added.
"Ah,my menu, The soup is made from the tears of the Lee there's Breo Swordfish Steak,and so on.I want to put to together a menu with a fine balance of nutrition.I have yet to decide on upon the hors d'oeurve,a main,or the drink."Coco said.
"Every ingredient has a high capture can't even put a price on them."I said amazed.
"But that's not what you came here to discuss with me,is it?Actually,you came here with a request... for me help you capture the Puffer Whale."he said taking a drink of his tea.
"Right?"he asked.
"As could be expected,getting right down to business,huh?"Toriko asked.
"It's quite a difficult Puffer Whale's Poison is so deadly that you took as little as 0.2 milligrams,you would die."Coco said.
" you puncture a poisonous gland,the meat will be exposed to the toxins,and you won't be able to eat any of 's why it's so difficult to meat has become poisonous so oftentimes in the past and been acquired on the black market."I said sadly.
"Anyway the fact is that people eat it despite knowing that it might kill them means that it must be good!"Toriko said.
"My changes of successfully capturing one and then being able to remove the poison glands are only 10%."Coco said.
"Basically it's a 1 in 10 change."he added.
"Those odds are good enough for I were the one doing it,we wouldn't succeed even once."Toriko said going back to stuffing his face.
"And there's some more bad Puffer Whale lays it's eggs at depth of 800 meters. They are consealed deep within a labyrinthine,beast-filled the most dangerous beast is that demonic beast,straight out of hell,the Devil Snake."Coco said.
"A Devil Snake?!"I asked.
"Yes,The Battle Wolf, praised as the strongest creature since ancient times,is on par with it's ferocity."Coco said earning laugh from Toriko.
"Yeah,I can see why is might be you had any premonitions about us?Have you seen our imminent death?Can you see the shadow of death?"He asked.
"How long has it been since I've done the work of a Bishokuya?"Coco asked.
"Does that mean."I said happily.
"I guess I'll join you."Coco said.
"I expected no less,Coco!"Toriko said.
"We did it Toriko-San."I said. Coco stood up.
"As a reward ,how about a lifetime of free food at hotel Gourmet's restaurant?"Toriko asked.
"Did you just decide on a whim!?"I yelled.
"Did you really have to bring my restaurant into this?"I asked.
"I can't wait to find the Puffer Whale."I said.
~Time skip~
The next day we to the entrance of the labyrinthine turns that lead to the Puffer Whale's breeding grounds. They're where a ton of other Bishokuya's gathered there. Oh heaven help me. I inched closer to Toriko for safety. When we got to the mouth of the cave.
"I knew this was going to be scary!"I yelled.
"There is something in this cave that will take their lives"Coco said.
"Shall we get going?"Toriko asked.
"Yes"I said trying to be brave. We went in to the cave. I was looking around.
"Hey 't stay too far my side,"Coco said causing me to blush madly.
"Okay."I said shyly. I saw something cool.
"Hey those are Snap Mushrooms'' I side running to them.
"Really?"Toriko asked grabbing one and eating it.
"The Snap-Crackly texture of this mushroom is the best."He said with his mouth full.
"There are a ton of them spouting up around here!"I yelled happily.
"I told her not to stay from my side."I heard sigh. Coco walked over to us. I heard yelling.
"What's that?"I asked. Then the cavemen from the train ran past us being chased by Giant Millipedes.
"Huh?Isn't that Zombie-Kun?"Toriko asked.
"He use is a lively one isn't he?"He added.
"I haven't seen the Shadow of death on I'm sure they'll make it out alive."Coco said. After a light bit we continued to go deeper into the cave.
"It's gotten very narrow in here,Huh?"I asked.
"Yeah,but there's no mistaking that it's 's faint but I can detect the smell of salt water."Toriko said.
"As always your have a perfect sense of though there isn't much light,Coco-San is still easily takes the lead."I said.
"Coco can see parted of the spectrum that regular human's can't from the infrared to can see them all."Toriko said.
"Huh?"I asked.
"As you may know, the eyes contain cells that taking in light called photo photo receptors cells are much stronger than the average person' even in this pitch darkness, I'm able to see thing as if it were bright as day."Coco said.
"But that's not can also see electormagnetic waves,which regular humans can't."Toriko said.
"Yes,that's vision allows me to see changes in the shape and color of the electromagnetic waves that people emit,which allows me to see their futures."Coco said.
"Well,please look into my I become a successful chef?"I asked walking backwards.
"Wait stop!""Coco said.
I stopped barely miss a one way trip down. If Toriko hadn't caught me I would have fallen a good.
"What are you doing?"He asked.
"I'm sorry."I said sheepishly. Then I heard chartering coming from below.
"I can hear something."I said looking down to see a group of Scorpion Cockroaches. Toriko pulled me up to safety as I yelled.
"Scorpion Cockroach dissolve their prey with a deadly poison before they eat them."Toriko said. Coco loosened his collar.
"I'll take the lead."he said pulling the green wrapping from around his neck.
"Take the lead?"I asked is he nuts.
"Follow me."Coco said as if it were no big deal removing his hat. Then he turned dark purple. He jumped into the middle of the roachs. They closed in then they retreated.
"Amazing."I said.
"They seem to be able to sense it as threat of the poison within Coco."Toriko said. He picked me up bridal style and jumped down. Then let me down gently. Coco fixed his wrappings and returned to his normal color.
"I've scared them of,so you can relax now."Coco said. It reminded me of when I was little,my big brother would always scare off the nightmares.
"Bishokuya will artificially create antibodies within themselves in order to oppose foes that carry poison."Toriko said.
"Anti-bodies?They neutralize poison and negate their effects,right?"I asked.
"I have 70 different antibodies,but Coco here has about 500 antibodies inside him."he said.
"500!?"I asked. I'll have keep my parents away from him god knows what they'll do to him.
"Because my body is able to withstand much more poison than the average person,I've been able to produce all of those antibodies are normally made by slowly injecting a minuscule amount of poison into the body over a long period of I've had such a large amount of poison injected into my body,the poisons within my body mix to create new 's enough to send the beast running for their so now,I'm a poisonous existence with out grace."Coco said sadly. He turned to me.
"Well,shall we go?"he asked and walked farther ahead. I wanted to help him somehow.
"Coco-San seems lonely,huh?"I asked.
"Coco is hunted by scientists that are aiming to create new antitoxins from his have even been some who've tried to have Coco himself isolated as a top class dangerous he left his job as a bishokuya,in order to escape having any ties with him."Toriko said.
"That's why he hates camaras."I said sadly. We followed him.
"Toriko!"Coco called.
"About 100 meters directly below us,the hole widens!"He yelled.
"My eyes are better,I will go on ahead."Coco said.
"Then I'll go with 's ok right?"I asked jumping unrefined on to his back.
"My Poison?"Coco asked.
"Let's go,Coco-san."I said smiling. Katsuro would be yelled bloody murder if he saw this.
"Kimiko-San."he said stunned. We descended. Then fireflies started to fly around us.
"Fireflies!"I said,how romantic.
"There are fireflies."I said happily.
"Yes,Sea must have slipped into the cave from the sea."Coco said.
"Beauful aren't they,Coco-san?"I asked. They're like stars that flew down from the sky.
"Does the fact that there are fireflies here mean that the bleach is close?"Toriko asked sliding down the rope. I heard I loud yell come from below us.
"A Bishokuya?"Toriko asked.
"Something's !"Coco yelled.
"Yep we're going staight down!"Toriko yelled.
"Kimiko-San,hold in tight!"Coco told me.
"Okay."I said not need to be told twice. He and Toriko let go of the rope. When we land I got off Coco well more fell off.
"What's That?"I asked hiding Coco.
"A flock of Swallowtail Bats!"Toriko said. Coco put his arm in front of me.
"Kimiko-San, get back please."he said.
"Ok."I said stepping further behind him. He stepped forward and removed one of his wrappings then his and turned purple.
"Poison dressing."he said as he covered the bats with a purple liquid. The flew right passed him and landed in front of Toriko.
"I hit them with my poison,but they'll be able to fly again soon enough."Coco said.
"They're timid creatures that hardly ever attack ...what could've made them do it?"Toriko asked. I picked up one that had fallen near me and looked into it pupil-less sapphire eyes.
"I don't think they were attacking they were trying to flee."I said quietly
"Yeah there is something odd about 's as if rather than them coming to attack us,they were fleeing from something."Coco said. I place the little bat down cooing to it saying it'll be alright soon it'll be flying again. Suddenly I was grabbed from behind. I was being kidnapped are you fucking kidding me.