Lunamugetsu: I do not own Toriko. This is a bit of a filler chapter, but there are a bunch of cute scenes. Keep in mind, there are tiny time skips in this.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
It's nothing special, it's completely normal. It's nothing special, it's completely normal.
Kimiko was furiously chopping onion after onion as she kept on repeating the words in her head.
"Amazing, Kimiko-sempai is prepping the ingredients so fast," A brown haired waiter said as he saw the head chef chopping up the large bowl of onions.
Although, there's some kind of ominous aura surrounding her, not to mention I think she might be muttering something, he thought
"Kimiko-sempai says she's trying to finish prepping the food early, so she can work on some kind of special dish," another waiter with black hair said
"Yeah, she says it was soup, right?" he asked as they watched as she finished chopping up all of the onions.
"It's completely normal, it's completely normal," Kimiko muttered as she walked past them.
"Uh, is she okay?" one of them asked
"Gin-san, Shin-san." Kimiko said getting both of the waiter's attention.
"Yes, Kimiko-sempai!" they jumped as they were called to attention.
"What does it mean, when you kiss another person on the forehead?" Kimiko asked
"Kiss? WHAT!" they yelled
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
"So let me get this straight, you want to know what it means when a person kisses another person on the forehead?" Gin asked. Kimiko nodded.
"And you're asking us, because you have nobody else to ask." Shin clarified. Kimiko nodded.
"I trust you guys to not tell anyone," Kimiko said
Kimiko-sempai trusts us so much! We should do our best not to let her down! The waiters thought as they looked at each other and nodded.
"Well, it depends on the relationship you have with the person" Gin said`
"Relationship?"
"Yeah," Shin said, "Anyone could kiss another person on the forehead. It's their relationship that puts meaning behind it."
"Really?"
"Yup, let me give an example. Like a parent would kiss their child on their forehead because they love he or she in a parental way" Gin advised
"Makes sense."
"But if a husband does that to his wife, then it has a romantic meaning behind it." Shin said, "It's kind of like saying 'I love you' without having to say anything"
"Oh, are there any other examples?"
"Well, I guess siblings would do it to each other." Gin contemplated, "They'd have to be really close to do that, although there are some siblings that would do it just to gross the other one out."
"Siblings," Kimiko repeated.
Toriko-san and Coco-san said that they grew up with Sani-san and a guy named Zebra. Does that mean, an image of Toriko kissing Coco on the forehead, with Coco making a disturbed face. Then another image of Toriko doing the same thing to Sani except Sani is yelling 'DISGUSTING!' If Toriko did that to them, it'd probably be to piss them off.
"What about friends?" Kimiko asked
"Friends?" Gin scratched his head in contemplation, "Well, if the friends are really close to each other."
"Well, you usually see girls kiss their friends on their forehead. Although there are other variables you have to consider as well." Shin supplied
"Other variables?"
"Yup, like a person who grew up in a conservative way would probably not want to show any emotion in public. Plus there are places where people greet the other by kissing each other on the cheek. Although you have to apply the person's personality, as well. Are they open with their emotion? Or are they usually withdrawn? Like a person who's more open with their emotion would consider a kiss on the forehead as a sign of friendship, while a person who's more withdrawn with their emotion would consider a kiss to be something equivalent as saying 'I love you' in a romantic way." Shin explained
"I see," Kimiko said
Toriko-san is pretty open with his emotions, perhaps he was just wishing me luck, she thought, maybe I should ask Coco-san and Sani-san when I meet them.
"Thank you, Shin-san, Gin-san. You helped me a lot." she bowed in thanks
"No problem, Kimiko-sempai!" the two said as the left to finish their work.
I guess, I shouldn't read into it, so much, Kimiko thought, Well onto making the soup!
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
"Hey, Kimiko-sempai, are you going to stay the night again?" A fellow chef asked
"You've been staying overnight for three weeks straight," another chef pointed out, "Why not take a break?"
"Nope, I'm going to rest until I'm done, don't worry I'll clean up," Kimiko said as she waved her fellow chefs goodbye as they all went home.
"Yun! Yun! Yun! Yun!" a pink baby penguin chirped while jumping up and down
"You're going to stay up with me?" Kimiko guessed
"Yun! Yun!" the penguin chirped in happiness
"Well, at least your energy hasn't decreased" Kimiko smiled as the penguin kept on jumping in happiness.
"Wait! Kimiko!" a voice yelled. Kimiko turned to see Tina along with Kruppoh running towards her with her camera.
"Tina-san."
"Sorry, I'm late, my boss refused to let me back out from hearing him yell!" Tina yelled in anger
"Don't worry, Tina-san, you haven't kept me waiting." Kimiko said as the penguin chirped in agreement.
"Well, no time to be sad, time for me to record you making history!" Tina exclaimed as she pointed the camera at her. "It's been three weeks since you started working on recreating the Century Soup. How do you feel?"
"Uh, I'm still determined to make it, I don't care how long it takes, I will make it." Kimiko said as the penguin chirped and danced in the background. The penguin went over and tugged at her chef's uniform.
"Oh, you still want to be in the kitchen with me?" the penguin nodded, "I'm sorry, I have to concentrate, and I do it best when I'm alone." The penguin gave a sad nod, "Don't worry, when I'm done, we'll play together lots, okay?" The penguin smile and chirped with happiness.
"It's great that you two are getting along," Tina said, "By the way have you heard from Toriko and the others?"
"No, they're probably busy trying to get better. Not to mention, Toriko-san has to regrow a limb."
"Yeah," Tina said, "Wait, we shouldn't be worrying about the others. We should keep our word and work hard, right?"
"Yeah," Kimiko smiled and went into the kitchen while the newscaster, balloon pigeon and baby penguin watched.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
I started with a basic stock, with the Adimiso bones, and plum onions, gold carrots, and cubed pepper. Then I tried adding different kinds of shellfish to it, I even added different seasonings to the broth, Kimiko contemplated, It was delicious, but the Century Soup was different. It had a substance to it and a larger depth of flavor. This isn't your average run of the mill soups. What can I do to make it taste like that?
CREAK!
Kimiko turned her head to see that the penguin was poking his head into the kitchen.
"Yun." the penguin chirped
"Oh, you shouldn't come in here," she said
GRUMBLE GRUMBLE
"Oh, are you hungry?" her own stomach started to grumble, "I guess, we both need something to eat?"
GRUMBLE
"Tina-san," the said woman jumped, "Are you hungry as well?"
"Um, well, I'd hate to give you an ounce of trouble," the newscaster blushed
"No trouble at all, you guys could help with eating some of this stock," Kimiko said as she poured out the soup onto a plate and handed one to the penguin and poured out another for Tina and herself.
"Well, if you insist," Tina said as she sat down and proceeded to eat it, "Delicious!"
"Thanks, but I still have a long way to go," Kimiko said, "It's not even close to the Century Soup."
"Yun. Yun. Yun." the penguin chirped making Kimiko smile
"Are you trying to cheer me up?" the penguin nodded.
"Don't you worry, I'll make sure I perfect the soup that's from your homeland!" She giggled as she saw the penguin starting to drool, "Now, now, you're drooling." Kimiko took out a handkerchief and started to wipe the penguins face. There all clean."
"Don't worry Chef Kimiko, you'll definitely create it" Tina cheered
"I've received new ingredients, hopefully it will give me a better result," Kimiko said as she started to look at the penguin who was currently sharing the soup with Kruppoh.
I wonder if I should ask her.
"Hey, Tina-san" the woman looked up, "It's a bit of a random question, but what does it mean when a person kisses you on the forehead."
"Kiss on the forehead," Tina repeated, "Well, if it's from a person I'm dating, then I'd see it as romantic. Wait. Kimiko are you dating someone!"
"What?" Kimiko said
"I can't believe it, I'm so happy for you, not that I wasn't happy for you before. Who is it?" Tina said
"Huh?"
"Right, this is personal information, I shouldn't pry. It doesn't matter, we should get out of your way, you've been working around the clock for three weeks straight, I shouldn't bother you with such inane questions. Thanks for the meal." she promptly scooped up Kruppoh and the penguin with her and walked out of the kitchen.
What just happened?
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
It's been three months since I've started to make the Century Soup, I'm still not close, Kimiko thought. As she looked at the soup stock in front of her.
I wonder how Toriko-san is doing, She thought and then shook her head to focus, I got to focus, the memory of Toriko kissing her forehead invaded her mind, There's no way I can focus with that image popping up. Maybe I should ask, Coco-san and Sani-san. They did grow up with him.
"Yun. Yun. Yun." the penguin chirped from the doorway.
"Is something the matter?" the penguin chirped and then pointed down the hallway making Kimiko walk over.
"Coco-san, Sani-san!" Kimiko exclaimed as she saw the two standing in the hallway.
"Hello, Kimiko-chan," Coco greeted
"It's been awhile, Miko," Sani said
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
"It's great to see you both again," Kimiko said as she poured each of them a cup of tea.
"I feel the same, all I've done is hunting down food for Toriko to eat. It's disgusting how he eats," Sani said as he took a sip of his tea.
"Is Toriko-san okay?" Kimiko asked as she gave the penguin a cookie to snack on.
"Don't worry, he's getting medical help from Teppei's master, Yosaku." Coco reassured her.
"That's good," Kimiko sighed in relief
"By the way Kimiko-chan, your aura is in a bit of disarray, are you stressed?" Coco asked
"Um, well I've been working hard on trying to make the Century Soup, I suppose that's why I've been so stressed," she reasoned
It was like that, when Toriko left to Life, Coco thought
"Are you sure there's nothing else, Miko. Stress is terrible on the body." Sani advised
"Well," Kimiko said
Should I ask them, but it's probably nothing. But maybe it will ease my mind a bit.
"Actually, do you think you two can help me?"
"Well, if we can," Coco said
"Toriko-san is pretty expressive, right?"
"I suppose he is," Coco contemplated
"Well, when it comes to food, he's disgustingly expressive!" Sani exclaimed
"So has he ever kissed you guys on the forehead?"
"Kiss?" Kimiko nodded
"On the forehead?" she nodded again
"WHAT!" The Bishokuyas exclaimed
"DISGUSTING! DISGUSTING! DISGUSTING!" Sani exclaimed while trying to rid the image of Toriko kissing his forehead. While Coco was making an uncomfortable face.
"I'm guessing, no then," Kimiko said
"Why would you ask that, Miko?!"
"Well," Kimiko blushed
He didn't, The two men thought as they looked at the blushing chef.
"I just thought, since he's open with emotions, that it'd probably wouldn't mean anything. But I also don't want to misinterpret anything either," She tried to reason
Toriko, we're going to freaking kill you! The two men thought to themselves.
"So that's why I wanted to ask you, if he's done anything like that too you guys."
"You shouldn't think about it, especially since it's from that brute Toriko!" Sani exclaimed clasping her hands in his.
"Eh?" Kimiko blinked, "Why?"
"Because, he does things in such disgusting ways you shouldn't take it seriously!" Sani yelled making Coco sigh at the reasoning.
"You don't have to think about it seriously," Coco said making Kimiko look at him. "Since it's coming from Toriko, he probably didn't put much thought into his actions"
Please don't read too much into it!, Coco shouted in his mind as he patted Kimiko on the head.
"I guess, I shouldn't," Kimiko said
It's just, a memory of Toriko smiling right after he had kissed her, His smile, it was different from all the other ones before it. She thought about his face, His eyes, they had a different glow to them.
"Kimiko-chan," Kimiko snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the fortune teller. "Does it really bother you that much."
"It's just that," she was caught off guard as she felt herself being pulled towards Coco, he cradled the back of her head and kissed her forehead.
"That's a kiss for our bond. Does that bother you?" Coco smiled at her. She blushed and shook her head no.
"COCO! You disgusting poison man!" Sani pulled Kimiko into his arms while glaring at the man.
"S-Sani-san, please calm down," Kimiko said, "Besides Coco-san wasn't doing anything bad."
"Miko," Sani pouted as he stared at the oblivious woman, "Why aren't you angry! He just kissed you out of the blue!"
"Coco-san wasn't doing anything bad, besides he told me why he kissed me, so I don't mind," Kimiko blushed while explaining to the multi-colored hair man.
"So you don't mind?" she nodded her head, "I see." Kimiko looked up at Sani as he kissed her forehead while hugging her to his chest.
"So you don't mind this, right?" He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, "That kiss is for our bond."
"Sani-san," Kimiko looked at his face, he was giving her a warm smile.
It's the same face, that Coco-san and Toriko-san gave me when they kissed me, she blushed as she realized that Sani was still holding her in his arms.
"Um, you can let me go now," Sani smirked and held her tighter
"Why should I?" That was when Coco slammed his hand onto Sani's shoulder
"Because she asked you to," Coco yanked Sani off of Kimiko tossing him into the wall.
"He didn't make you uncomfortable, did he?" Coco patted her head.
"No, I'm alright Coco-san," She said
"COCO! How dare you throw me at a wall like a piece of trash!" Sani yelled as he grabbed Coco. "The way you did it wasn't even beautiful. It was disgusting! Pathetic! Ungraceful!"
"Perhaps if you minded personal space, then I wouldn't have had to have done that." Sani turned red as Coco scolded him.
"Coco!"
"Sani-san, Coco-san, please don't fight." Kimiko said snapping the two out of their argument. "You guys shouldn't fight over something so silly."
It's not silly, he was hugging you, Coco thought
"Miko," Sani pouted and then glared at Coco
"You guys shouldn't something as little as this make you guys fight, you grew up with each other." Kimiko pouted making the two men blush.
She's giving us puppy eyes, the two thought and then looked at each other
"I'm...sorry for throwing you," Coco said not even looking at Sani
"I guess, I should consider other's personal space," Sani replied
Thank goodness they made up, Kimiko thought.
"Yun. Yun. Yun." the penguin chirped as he tugged on her shirt.
"Oh, are you tired?," Kimiko watched the penguin rub his eyes and then nodded. "I guess it is getting pretty late."
"I suppose, we should get going as well," Coco said.
"I'll see you two out," Kimiko said as she walked with them outside. She greeted Kiss and waved them goodbye as Kiss took off with Coco and Sani.
As she watched them leave she looked back at her penguin companion who was rubbing his eyes from being sleepy.
"Hey, do you think it's normal?" she asked the penguin who chirped in confusion, "It's normal, right, my heart beating really fast. When they kissed me, my heart beats really fast, it's completely normal, right? They're just trying to show their bond with me, it's completely normal for my heart to beat this fast. Right?" The penguin just chirped and danced in happiness, "You're right, they're just trying to show their bond, I shouldn't try to stress out about that."
Yet, deep in her heart, she couldn't shake the image of their smiles that were looking at her with such affection.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Yahoo I was able to finish this chapter! Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. PLEASE
REVIEW!