Lunamugetsu: I do not own Toriko

"Blah" normal talking

Blah thinking

Someone once said that there are trees with bunches of salmon roe that grow like grapes. That there is a cave where extremely rich milk trickles from the tips of stalactites, and amasses into a deep well, creating the finest butter. A milk cave.

The world is in the Gourmet Age! It is the age of pursuing undiscovered flavors!

The Knocking Master!

Puffer Whale! Time for the actual food!

"It's the Devil Snake!" the man yelled as the Devil Snake roared.

"You damned monster!" the man threw Kimiko at the Devil Snake, "Here's some food for you! Some nice, tasty food!" he then ran away only to come face to face with a group of Scorpion Cockroaches.

"AAAAAAHHH" he yelled.

With Coco and Toriko

"We have to hurry and find Kimiko-chan" Coco said.

"I told you not to worry about it" Toriko said as he was carrying a gigantic piece of the Devil Snake meat on his back, "I made sure to give Kimiko a secret weapon.

With Kimiko

Kimiko was quickly rummaging through her backpack while looking at the Devil Snake, trying not to panic.

"There! This is it!" She exclaimed as she took out what looked to be a firecracker.

Flashback

"Kimiko, if by some odd chance you end up by yourself, use this, okay" Toriko said as he handed her a bundle of firecrackers, "They're my special firecrackers."

"Firecrackers?"

"I put in a large amount of gunpowder, so they'll make one hell of a loud bang." Toriko handed them to her.

"They're really heavy" she commented as she lifted them up.

"Any living thing will cower because of a primitive response to the sound of these. Don't forget to wear these earplugs when you use them, though." Toriko explained as he handed her the earplugs.

End flashback

"I've got to... use the earplugs..."Kimiko attempted to put her earplugs in only for the beast to roar loudly startling her and making her drop the earplugs.

"KYAAAAAHHH!" she yelled as she tried to avoid the beast. Only to trip and become face to face with it. She then aimed the firecracker at it and proceeded to pull the string only for it to be too difficult to pull.

I can't..., she thought as she struggled to make the string budge

"KYAAAAH!" she yelled in fear while simultaneously pulling the string in surprise.

BOOM!

The sound was loud enough to be heard outside as Tina and everyone else covered their ears.

Ba-bump Ba-bump

Kimiko then fell to the ground completely limp.

With Coco and Toriko

"That explosion just now" Toriko said while running.

"Let's hurry" Coco said, I could see the shadow of death on Kimiko-chan; my predictions are 97% accurate. But there's still a 3% chance that I'm wrong! Kimiko-chan!

With Kimiko

Kimiko was lying on the ground lifeless as the Devil Snake was about to eat her.

"Hic, hic. That sure was noisy. What was that sound. People are enjoying Puffer fin Sake over here, hic" an old man with a pompadour said as he was drinking some sake.

Coco and Toriko had just reached the place where the sound was coming from to see Kimiko sitting there completely fine.

"Kimiko!" Toriko exclaimed. Kimiko looked at them.

"Toriko-san coco-san!" she burst into tears and ran to Toriko, "I was so scared!"

"I'm glad you're okay" Toriko said.

"Well... actually I was dead for a minute" she cried.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Toriko asked.

"I was saved by a huge old man" she waved her arms trying to gesture of how big the person was.

"Huge old man?" Toriko repeated.

What's going on here, Coco thought as he looked at Kimiko, Kimiko-chan's shadow of death has disappeared and there's a Demon Devil Snake here that's had Knocking performed on it? There's only one person that could have done this.

"That's undoubtedly the Knocking Master, Jirou." Coco said.

"Wh-Who is that?" Kimiko asked.

"A legendary Bishokuya, the Knocking Master Jirou. His Lifetime Full Course Menu is made from phantasmal ingredients that few people in the world have ever tasted. The Capture Levels are immeasurable, hors-D'oeuvre: Hundred Leaf Clover, drink: Docham Spring Wine, fish dish, King Land Shark, Main ET Rice, dessert: Oasis Melon, Meat Dish: Ashurasaurus, Salad: Grana Lettuce, soup: Magma Consommé."

"I thought I smelled something familiar" Toriko said, "He's the old man who wanted sake."

"Eh, that giant old man that I just met was the geezer with the white pompadour?" Kimiko asked.

"I heard he'd retired a long time ago, but" Coco said.

"He's known to be a heavy drinker. He probably couldn't resist the Puffer Fin Sake you can only get once every 10 years." Toriko said, "Okay, how about we get some, too!"

"Let's get going!"

"Alright!" Kimiko said.

"Kimiko-chan don't forget your helmet" Coco reminded her.

"Oh right" Kimiko then picked up her helmet and put it back on her head.

"Kimiko, don't forget to repay the debt that you owe for getting your life saved." Toriko said, "You'd better treat that old man to an awesome meal someday."

"Right," Kimiko answered, "Say, Toriko-san do you think you could help me by providing the ingredients?"

"Hey Look!" Toriko said as he ran ahead.

"Eh! He wasn't listening at all" Kimiko cried as Toriko made it to the end of the cave.

"We made it" Toriko said.

"This is the sandy beach in the cave." Coco said.

"It's such a beautiful place" Kimiko said as she looked at the gems and coral that was growing around the beach. The fireflies that she saw with Coco were dancing across the surface of the water.

"Okay! Let's go catch it! The delicacy of the deep seas!" Toriko said as he stripped down to his swim trucks.

"Kimiko-chan, Are you going to come with us?" Coco asked.

"I'll just stay here until you guys get the Puffer Whale" Kimiko said as she took off her hat.

"Suit yourself!" Toriko said and then dived into the water with Coco following right after.

Toriko and Coco were knocking out the Puffer Whale is skipped.

Kimiko was sitting on the sand waiting for Toriko and Coco to come back with the Puffer Whale.

I wonder how Toriko-san and Coco-san are doing, Kimiko thought. That's when Toriko and Coco emerged from the water, speak of the devil.

"We caught some Kimiko!" Toriko exclaimed.

"Amazing!" Kimiko marveled at the Puffer Whales. They were the size of an average pufferfish but had smooth skin like that of a whale While they were small and balloonlike in body type they were light blue in color probably to blend in with their surroundings or the open sea area.

"For two of the Heavenly Kings, catching only 10 of them is a bit pitiful, though." Toriko commented.

"It's incredibly difficult just to capture just a single one." Kimiko said, "This is truly amazing!"

"Okay, now comes the real challenge" Coco said, "The market price for one Puffer Whale is approximately 100 million, but if the poisonous glands are removed, the price shoots up to 500 million. However, if it becomes toxic, the price will immediately drop down to zero."

While Coco was explaining, Tina, Kruppoh, and Zonge and his subordinates were watching through the camera on Kimiko's hat.

"This is such a scoop!" Tina exclaimed only for a crab to cover the camera.

"Ah, hey! I can't see!" Tina yelled, "And it was getting to the good part!"

Coco took out his knife and started to slice into the underbelly of the Puffer Whale that he had set upon his work surface.

He's good, Kimiko thought as Coco cut the Puffer Whale. His hand was steady and making sure to make a clean and precise cut. Then the Puffer Whale started to change into a dark color.

"Kimiko-chan, do you think you could prepare this in my place?" Coco asked as he wiped the sweat off his brow.

"EH! M-Me?!" She pointed at herself.

"It seems that my fatigue is making my hand unsteady and they'll become poisonous if you miss by just a single millimeter" Coco explained.

"B-But..." Kimiko said.

"It'll be okay. You're a pro chef after all, right?" Coco said, "I'll guide you through the procedure, so believe in yourself."

"Coco-san" tears started to leak from her eyes, "Okay, then I'll take on the challenge!" she looked at the Puffer Whales "I'm getting to prepare a Puffer Whale."

"Eh? If Kimiko is going to prepare it, then we have to get more. No matter how many we get, it won't be enough!" Toriko complained. While he knew that Kimiko had the ability to make delicious food, preparing a Puffer Whale was a different thing entirely.

"There aren't any Puffer Whales left." Coco informed his friend.

"EEEEHH" Toriko and Kimiko said.

"What do you mean?!" Toriko asked.

"After the Puffer Whales finish laying their eggs, they make their way back out to sea" Coco explained, "The Puffer Whales only stay in these shallow waters for a few hours."

"So I only have 9 chances" Kimiko looked at the pile of Puffer Whales in front of her and the poisoned Puffer Whale, "And it's pretty hard, even for you, right?"

"Don't worry" Coco reassured her, "If you stay calm, you'll be able to do it."

It's all in my hands now. Kimiko thought as she opened her backpack and took out something that was rolled up in cloth. When she rolled out the fabric it revealed to be a set of kitchen knives ranging in size and length, all suited for different tasks, but were all well maintained.

Magnificent. Their misted finish makes them look like they're wet. These are some scrupulously maintained kitchen knives. I can tell just by looking at her tools, her level of determination and ability as a chef, Coco thought as he saw her take out her chef's uniform. He then looked over at Kimiko and started to blink as he saw that she was unbuttoning her shirt in front of them. Coco's cheeks quickly started to redden before he grabbed Toriko and made them turn their backs towards her while she changed.

"Hey! What's the big deal?" Toriko questioned for Coco had made Toriko move his position by yanking on the man's shirt collar.

"It's not proper to watch a lady change clothing," was all Coco said making Toriko grumble a couple of words before staying quiet until Kimiko had changed into her chef's uniform. She finished tying back her hair before telling them that she was ready.

With a slightly red face, Coco started to explain, "This Puffer Whale's poison sack is directly below its bladder. First, insert the knife and make a 10 centimeter cut three knife widths down from the fin's base."

"That's different from what you did before, isn't it?" Kimiko asked.

"The location of the poison sack is different in each individual Puffer Whale, so the process for handling them changes as well," Coco explained.

"I-I see" Kimiko stuttered.

"Just take it slow." Coco reassured her.

"Right" Kimiko said as she started to cut the Puffer Whale.

She stopped exactly at 10 centimeters, Coco thought.

Its body is as heavy as lead. So this is the true weight of the Puffer Whale, condensed? Kimiko thought.

"Next, go in from the gills and cut through the lower-jaw bone."

"Right" Kimiko then inserted her knife into the gills and proceeded to slice through it until stopping at the appropriate place

Great! Coco thought.

Th-This is hard. My knife can't be off by one millimeter, I feel like I'm defusing a bomb! Kimiko was starting to sweat through the pressure only to see that her Puffer Whale had started to change into the dark poison color.

"Eh" Kimiko said as she pulled her knife out.

Too bad, she was off by one tenth of a millimeter, Coco thought as they started to work on the next one.

This is the last one, Kimiko thought as she looked at the Puffer Whales that were poisoned and the one that she was about to work on.

"Slowly. Don't lose your composure." Coco said.

I have to manage somehow. After all we've faced to make it this far. I've gotta do this! Kimiko steeled her resolve and started to cut open the Puffer Whale.

"I can see it! The poison sack!" Coco said.

"Th-This is" Kimiko said.

"From here, use your bare hands" Coco told her, "Now you have to carefully remove the surrounding membrane without breaking the poison sack."

"Right" Kimiko then started to use her hands to remove the poison sack.

"Slowly...slowly. Once the membrane is completely removed, gently scoop it up. Don't panic, take it slow" Coco explained.

Gently Kimiko thought as she slowly started to peel off the membrane, she then attempted to put sack in her hand, don't panic, Kimiko breathed slowly, slowly, she took the poison sac out of the Puffer Whale. That was when the Puffer Whale turned into a golden yellow.

"All right, you did it!" Toriko exclaimed.

"All right!" they all cheered.

"Thank goodness" Kimiko cried as tears started to stream down her face while holding the sac of poison in her hands.

"Good job, Kimiko-chan" Coco congratulated her.

"No, it was all thanks to your guidance, Coco-san!" Kimiko told him.

"Kimiko, man am I glad I brought you with me." Toriko cheered

"Yes, thank you so much!" she then looked at the pile of Puffer Whales that became poisoned "But it's my fault that all of these became toxic."

"Well, we can send these to the IGO for research." Coco comforted her

"Well then, shall we eat?" Toriko said.

At that moment the crab that was covering the camera finally moved making Tina brighten.

"I can see it!" Tina exclaimed only for a group of crabs to block the camera view again, "You're a heaping bowl of hindrance!"

"GET OUTTA THE WAY!" the news anchor shouted

"I give thanks to all the ingredients in this world." Toriko said.

"Itadakimasu!" they all clapped their hands in gratitude.

"Okay, let's dig into this sashimi right away" Toriko then proceeded to pick up most of the fish on the plate.

"Hey, Toriko, you took too much!" Kimiko scolded as Toriko ate it.

Sweet, the savory, fatty flavor. It's like a combination of high-quality marbled mink whale meat and fatty pacific bluefin tuna. YUM! No matter how much I chew it, the flavor is continually released! I'm chewing it so much that my jaw is starting to hurt, but I can't stop!, Toriko then swallowed.

"Wow! All of my fatigue is disappeared in an instant. I've heard that it provides incredible nourishment, but I didn't think it'd anything like this!" Toriko said.

"Toriko-san, the Puffer Fin Sake is ready!" Kimiko informed him as she poured them the sake.

"Great!" he said as he took a cup and drank it.

Yum. This Puffer fin Sake is delicious! The fragrance is spreading through my whole body. The sweetness if the fin becomes much more savory because of the dryness imparted by the Atsukan. It's penetrating every cell in my body!

"Kimiko, Did you like it? The Puffer Whale that you prepared yourself?" Toriko asked.

"It's delicious! I've never tasted anything like this before" she cried.

"The food you work hard to catch and cook yourself really does always taste the best!" Toriko exclaimed. Kimiko nodded her head in agreement.

I'd forgotten this excitement. Maybe I'll try to begin working as a Bishokuya again? Coco thought as he looked at the two.

"Gochisousama deshita" they said as they finished the meal.

"You've gotta be kidding me!" Tina exclaimed as the crabs finally moved out of the way, "I didn't even get the most important shot!"

"But it's still amazing, that they were able to get the Puffer Whale. I have to get this on film" she said, "Eh" she said as the camera turned black.

"Okay, let's get out of here" Toriko said grabbing his bag.

SPLASH!

Everyone turned to look at what caused the sound.

"Huh? What's that?" Toriko said as they looked at the humanoid creature. It had a bird beak like face while being bipedal and its entire body was covered in black fur.

It looked in their direction, completely alerting Toriko and Coco.

This guy's trouble! "Kimiko get away from here!" Toriko yelled at the chef

"Huh?" she said in surprise and jumped as she saw that Coco's skin quickly turned to a dark purple.

Extremely lethal poison! Coco's serious, too!

Toriko then started to get ready to fight which sent a burst of energy pushing everything back. The creature then scratched its head and then left carrying a net that had Puffer Whales in it. It looked at the Bishokuya before leaving into the cave.

"Wh-What was that thing?" Toriko asked..

"I've never seen such ominous and sinister electromagnetic waves." Coco stated.

"It came out from the sea. From a depth of 1,000 meters. Is there really a living creature that can do that?"

"No" Coco said, "That wasn't a living thing."

BOOM!

The rocks that were covering the cave entrance were dispersed as the creature walked through it.

"This could be a big scoop" Tina said as she held her camera to film, she started to tremble as it turned to look at her. In her fear she dropped her camera and started to back away as the person knocked over her laptop breaking it

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