Lunamugetsu: I do not own Toriko. Hello everyone MERRY CHRISTMAS! I wish you the best of luck on the holidays.
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Previously
"The soup is still here!" he said
"Really?" Tina said
"Yeah, only a little, but it's still here" he explained
"Let's go find it!" Kimiko said and then looked over at the penguin to see that he was happily cheering while Kruppoh was flying around in circles. That was when pieces of ice started to fall from the ceiling.
"The other's are still fighting up there." Teppei said as more ice continued to fall
Please wait for me, Toriko-san. I'll definitely get the soup, Kimiko thought
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Kimiko watched as pieces of ice continued to fall from the ceiling.
Toriko-san, Kimiko thought as she saw that the Gourmet Show Window was starting to crack.
"The Gourmet Show Window is starting to crack!" Kimiko said
"What on earth is going on up there?" Tina asked as ice continued to fall from the ceiling
"Yun!Yun!Yun!" the penguin cried as he hid behind Kimiko.
"Zonge-sama, what should we do?"
You're asking him! Kimiko thought as she saw Zonge mumble a couple a words.
"What? 'I've been Knocked and I can't move. Don't worry about me and save yourselves.' you say"
"What a manly thing to say Zonge-sama!"
I doubt that's what he said, Kimiko thought
"No, I think he probably said 'Carry me to safety'"
I knew it!, Kimiko thought and saw that Teppei had changed out of his lighter suit and into a green jumpsuit with white outlines and a pocket that had a storage case in it.
"Teppei-san?" Kimiko watched as he took out the storage case that was in his pocket
"What's that?" Tina asked. Teppei turned around and showed Tina a badly written message in one hand while carrying a green bean in the other.
"A Forestry Seed?"
"You can talk normally now" Kimiko sighed and saw Teppei unscrew the green vial that he wore as an earring and poured a drop onto the bean.
"Protect Tree, grow and protect the ice!" Teppei shouted as he threw it at the base of the Gourmet Show Window and watched as vines started to grow and wrap around the ice.
"Wow." Kimiko said as she saw the plant wrap itself around the ice.
"Kimiko-san, I need you to come over here." Teppei said gaining her attention, "The Protect Tree is nothing more than an emergency stop-gap measure. I have to go above and protect the Gourmet Show Window."
"Above" Kimiko repeated
BOOM!
"Toriko-san!" Kimiko exclaimed as the ceiling started to shake again.
"So when I go up there, I'm going to need you to do something" Teppei explained
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"Wait, Kimiko-san, should we really be moving around at a time like this?" Tina asked while following Kimiko
"I promised Toriko that I'd find the Century Soup. If I can find the aurora that shows where the soup is" Kimiko said and then jumped back as a pillar of ice fell in front of her bringing an avalanche of ice down with it. While Tina yelled as she started to slide back down the corridor away from the ice.
"Kimiko-san!" Tina yelled as she saw that the path was blocked by ice.
"I'm okay." Kimiko yelled on the other side
"I'll look for another way around. Wait there okay!" Tina said
"That was a close one." Kimiko said while holding the penguin in her arms.
"Yun!Yun!Yun!" the penguin chirped while flapping his wings.
"What?" Kimiko then saw that Yun was pointing towards a light that was illuminating the room. Her eyes widened as she saw the aurora come out of the hole in the ground. Her arms slackened letting the penguin walk over to the pond and started to dance under the aurora.
"It's here! The Century Soup is here!" Kimiko cried
"Seriously!" Tina called from the other side
"Yes!" Kimiko shouted as she ran over to the aurora.
Toriko I found it! Kimiko thought unaware of what was right behind her.
BUUUUUZZZ!
Kimiko stopped as a beetle flew right in front of her. Her eyes widened as she saw that a tiny GT Robo was sitting on its back.
No! Kimiko thought before she was thrown against the wall of ice knocking her out.
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"Wake up! Kimiko-san! Kimiko-san!" Tina yelled as she tried to shake the woman awake.
"Ugh." Kimiko moaned opening her eyes
"Kimiko, thank goodness you're alright." Tina said and then yelped as Kimiko abruptly sat up
"The soup, is it okay?" she asked
"Uh, well. Wait Kimiko you shouldn't move just yet!" Tina said as she saw Kimiko crawl over to the empty pond.
"No." Kimiko said as she saw the pond devoid of any soup or aurora.
"Kimiko" Tina said as she saw that Kimiko's shoulders were shaking
Kimiko! I'm counting on you!
"Toriko" Kimiko said as tears started to trail down her face.
"Oi Kimi!" Kimiko turned her head to see Toriko, Teppei, and Match walking over to her. All heavily wounded and wrapped in bandages while carrying Match's subordinates and Takimaru.
"Sorry we're late." He said while giving a smile.
"Toriko-san" Kimiko said with her face covered with tears.
I'm so sorry! I'm such a failure, I couldn't even protect what was precious for everyone, Kimiko thought.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't able to protect the soup!" She bowed her head in shame as the tears kept on pouring out.
"Even though everyone almost gave their lives for it, and I'd finally found it. The last bit of the Century Soup, the GT Robo took it, it was riding on a beetle." she cried
"A miniature GT Robo?" Teppei asked
"I don't really know," Tina said, 'It happened so fast."
"Kimiko" Toriko said as he placed Takimaru down, "When aiming for getting ingredients from the great wilds of nature, only for it to end in failure. It happens all the time!" He then patted Kimiko's head making her look at him. "Even for pro Bishokuya's like me, it's pretty common. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Frankly, I'm just happy that you're alright. As long as you're alive, we'll get another chance."
"Toriko." Kimiko cried while hugging him in joy,"Toriko! Wait your arm! Is it really okay for you to be moving around?!"
"What are you talking about? I feel fine!" He said while laughing
"What's that supposed to mean 'I feel fine!' Toriko your left arm is gone! You shouldn't be taking this so lightly!" Kimiko exclaimed only for Toriko to pat her head again making her pout.
"It's fine. It's the price I pay for coming up with an awesome move, I suppose." Toriko said
"A new move? What is it?" Kimiko asked
"I call it the Leg Knife and Leg Fork."
"Did the Bishokukai really get the soup?" Teppei muttered as he watched the couple talk.
The life on this continent is rotting, and then there is life that just managed to survive. Is it really true that the soup would choose the Bishokukai for its last drop, Teppei thought that was when the ceiling started to shake sending more ice debris down to them.
"Eh! What's going on?" Tina asked
"Oh yeah, those monsters are probably still going at it, above use." Match said
"M-Monsters?" Kimiko repeated.
"Whether or not we get any soup. There's still no guarantee that we'd be able to get out of here alive." Match said
Kimiko frowned and looked over to see that the baby wall penguin was holding onto Kruppoh and both were shivering in fear.
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"The cries have stopped." Tina said as she looked towards the ceiling
"I wonder what happened?" Kimiko said as she held the baby wall penguin closer to her.
"Ugh."
"Takimaru!" Toriko said as he noticed the Gourmet Knight waking up
"Takimaru-san!" Kimiko exclaimed
"W-Where's the soup?" he asked
"Uh, I-I'm sorry." Kimiko said
"I see" Takimaru sighed
Teppei thought about the words that his master had told him when he sent him off on the mission, "The last drop will follow the will of the Century Soup."
I have to make sure, as a Saiseya, Teppei thought and took off the vial of red liquid that was hanging from his ear.
"I have to make sure of the ingredients end." Teppei said
"What's that?" Tina asked
"Dormancy Extract. It will halt the function of plants" he explained as he walked over to the vine that was hanging from the Gourmet Show Window and placed a drop on it. The plant immediately started to brown and shrivel up losing its strength of reinforcing the ice.
"Everyone, the glacier's going to collapse soon! But before that I'm going to squeeze out the last drop out of the Show Window! If we're lucky we might be able to get the last drops of the soup to come out." Teppei said as he started to wrap the withered vine around him and started to pull
"What?"
"Seriously!" Kimiko said
"Pray and watch! This is the last moment of the Gourmet Show Window!" Teppei pulled the vine causing the ingredients in the Show Window to squeeze together, "Farewell Gourmet Show Window!" the vines completely squeezed the Show Window together causing it to shatter into tiny pieces of ice. Everyone's eyes widened as they saw the aurora appear in the room. Their eyes immediately drew to the lone drop that came out of the Show Window
"It came out!" Kimiko exclaimed, "Century Soup!"
"Yeah! The Century Soup!" Toriko exclaimed as the group got ready to try and catch it
"Don't move! Stay where you are" Teppei yelled. "The final drop will follow the will of the Century Soup. All that's left is that single drop. If it comes to you, catch it with care."
Everyone stood as they watched the last drop descend closer to them right until it landed into the hands of Kimiko.
"Century Soup!" everyone exclaimed as they stared at the lone drop in her hands.
Teppei smiled and looked back at the remains of the Gourmet Show Window that was crumbling away.
Thank you Gourmet Show Window. Thank you for the miracle taste of the Century Soup of these hundreds of years. Rest in peace. Teppei thought as it completely crumbled away leaving nothing behind.
"This is the Century Soup" Tina said breathlessly
"Kruppoh!" the bird chirped as he tried to get Tina to film it only for her to too enthralled at looking at the soup.
"This smell is making each cell in my body react! Smelling it this close is amazing! This aroma that whets my appetite. That directly calls upon my instincts" Toriko said making him and Match drool.
"I want it!" they both exclaimed as they tried to dive for it only for Teppei to grab onto their arms.
"Stay calm now, you too" Teppei said snapping the two back to themselves, "We can't decide who will drink the last drop when you two have lost your senses, can we? Will it be Toriko of the Four Heavenly Kings? The Gourmet Knight? The Mafia? The TV newscaster?"
"I-I count?" Tina asked
"Or me?"Teppei rubbed his chin
"You're included too?!" Toriko exclaimed
"Or maybe that penguin and the pigeon?" Teppei said
"You can't be serious" Match muttered. That was when they heard something that sounded akin to a cat coughing up a hairball
"Zonge-sama says 'I'm here too!'" the bald one said
"Plus the two of us are here too" the other one said
"They're still here." Teppei said
"You guys don't count!" Match said receiving an angry growl in response
"Of course, I'll pass" Takimaru grunted while sitting up.
"Takimaru."
"I can't go asking you to give me the last drop. My stomach is full knowing I'm still alive." Takimaru explained
"My goal isn't to drink it myself. What good would bringing back such a tiny amount do?" Match said
"Well all I want is a scoop. So I don't need it" Tina drooled and then turned around, "Not a single gram!"
"No, need to push yourself, and you haven't gotten a scoop, you know" Match pointed out
"Um, m-me. Toriko-san, please let me drink the soup!" Kimiko pleaded
"No, I'll drink the soup" Toriko said walking over to Kimiko and raising his hand. Kimiko flinched and closed her eyes as she saw him getting closer
PAT. PAT.
Kimiko opened her eyes to see that Toriko had placed his hand on top of her head.
"But a little drop won't be enough. I want to drink until my belly is full! So the soup I drink… you better make it, Kimiko! You're going to drink that now, and remember the taste." Toriko said
"Toriko!" Kimiko smiled
"Okay with you, Teppei?"
"They say that the mouth is the gate of misfortune, but here I will clearly say. I agree." Teppei said
"How would those words cause calamity?" Toriko muttered
"The answer was clear from the beginning," Teppei said, "The soup fell to Kimiko. We didn't chose Kimiko, The soup chose Kimiko. As its final customer."
"I-I won't be the final customer. I won't let it end. I'll create it, you'll see. The Century Soup!" Kimiko exclaimed making everyone take notice that the soup was now glowing more now than ever.
"This, this isn't the end of an ingredient, it's the beginning!" Teppei exclaimed, "The beginning of a new Century Soup!"
"I give thanks to all of the world. Idtadakimasu" Kimiko then tipped the soup into her mouth. She gave a gasp of surprise and then fell down.
"Oi Kimi, you okay?" Toriko asked as he made her face him. Her face was currently sporting a smile that was becoming borderline ridiculous.
"What the? That's something you don't see every day." Toriko muttered, "Oi Kimi, snap out of it!"
"Huh?" Kimiko said snapping back to her senses and then promptly blushed, backing away from Toriko.
"I'm sorry I made such a weird face, didn't I" she said while trying to hide her red face.
"Yeah, you were smiling from ear to ear!" Toriko said, "how did it taste?"
Kimiko's face started to morph back into the ridiculous smile until she tried to hide it behind her hands.
"What are you doing? Man, I hope you remember the taste" Toriko whined
"I don't think I'd be able to forget such a delicious flavor" Kimiko's said from behind her hands.
"Aw, I wanted to taste it" Toriko whined
"Oh no! I didn't even record a single gram of that!" Tina exclaimed
They were interrupted by more ice debris falling from the ceiling.
"Oh dear, we better hurry, or else the Ice Mountain wi-" Teppei halted his sentence causing everyone to look at him
"What's wrong?": Toriko asked.
"I sense someone. It's not a beast, it's someone who's exceptionally skilled. They're getting very close!"
"Damn, this isn't good. This guy is more powerful than Tommyrod." Toriko said
"No way" Match said
"If there were a lot more soup, I could restore my energy and fight. Well I wouldn't expect to win with this arm anyway." Toriko muttered
"Well, for now, all we can do is run" Teppei said
"Toriko-san, leave me behind. I'll just slow you down." Takimaru said
"Takimaru, what are you say-"
"What are you saying!" Kimiko shouted, "You just had your life saved! You can drink all of the Century Soup you want, when I make it! So we have to all get out of here together."
"Kimiko-san" Takimaru said
"That sounds nice and all, but I can still sense that strong guy above us. That means we won't be able to get out of this glacier. Unless we find some other exit." Teppei said
"Arrrrrgggh"
"What the heck was that?" Tina said
"Oi, Zonge-sama said he'll tell you if you de-Knock him. He said he'll show you a nice way back!" the bald bishokuya said
"Seriously?" Toriko said
"He said 'Who the hell do you think I am?" The man translated
A useless character that has no point of being here unless the plot allows it. Kimiko thought
"Uh yeah, what is this dude's name again?" Toriko asked
"I think it was Bongo-san?" Kimiko said
"Anyway, we'll have him lead us to the exit" Teppei said, "Because if we don't leave now, we're going to have to get into a pretty tough fight"
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lunamugetsu: Yahoo I was able to get this out by Christmas. Anyway happy holidays! I'll see if I can make another chapter later, but don't get your hopes up. PLEASE REVIEW