Lunamugetsu: I do not own toriko
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"I am Melk! The Knife Sharpener Melk!" they said Kimiko blinked as she looked at the figure. They weren't at all anything like she pictured Melk would look like. A person clad in a blue top with a dark blue vest that left with a large v shaped opening letting her see that there were bandages wrapped around their chest, while sporting white pants and black boots. Their hair was pulled back into a bun and sported a blue headband that sported a knife logo wrapped around their forehead in order to keep any stray hairs out of their face. Kimiko stared at Melk's face, she originally imagined a grizzled old man, but she was staring at an androgynous face that only had two crossing scars on the right cheek maring it.
This is the guy that all of the rumours were about? I was way off! Kimiko screamed in her head.
"How many years has it been since I've seen people?," Melk paused, "And what's more. This is the first time I've ever seen anyone so intensely astonished." Melk blinked while seeing Toriko's astonished face that had his eyes bugging out of his head with his jaw dropped with Kimiko having a similar face as Toriko. Kimiko shook her head breaking her shock.
"You're a bit different then what all the rumors make you out to be," Kimiko commented as she walked around Melk, "You're a lot more slimmer and more of a handsome bishounen kind of guy, Melk-san."
"What exactly were you expecting me to look like?" Melk asked while raising an eyebrow at the chef.
"Well I was expecting you to kind of look like some kind of ogreman or some kind of tengu." She commented.
"Well I was kind of picturing you to be some big guy with a cape and a helmet with horns and stuff on it." Toriko commented.
"He's not a power ranger villain." Kimiko sighed
"I don't think I can even imagine such a character." Melk said, "But the rumors going around about me aren't necessarily wrong." Melk raised the knife closer to their face eyes shining while looking at the blade. "I haven't had customers in a while." Melk went over and opened the door to the house. "You're welcome to come in."
"Thank you very much," Kimiko said happily entering the house with Toriko following her. The chef's eyes lit up as she looked at the interior of the looked at the blades that were hanging against one of the walls. "Knives waiting to be sharpened but they're still sparkling like diamonds" she looked at another part of the wall that held different rocks that while dull were of different colors that varied in different shades. "And all kinds of incredibly rare natural materials." She walked around while turning her head to look at everything, "This place is like an amusement park. I wonder how Melk-san sharpens knives here."
Toriko walked in as he looked at everything before looking looking at the ground stopping as he saw that there were multiple slash marks. "What are these cuts?"
"A thousand Specialty Knife!" Kimiko exclaimed as she walked over to a wall that had multiple hanging racks of knives that had yet to be set into handles. Her eyes zeroed in on a knife that had notches on both sides of the blade, giving the blade a certain curvature. "It goes way beyond the usual all-purpose kitchen knife. It can easily cut thousands of kinds of ingredients! It's Melk-san's masterpiece and costs five million yen." Her eyes practically sparkled as she looked at the blade. "I wonder how sharp it'll be once it's complete" not thinking, she reached her hand out to touch the blade.
"DON'T TOUCH IT!" Melk yelled snapping Kimiko out of her trance and making her jump in surprise.
"I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed only to stumble and knock into the rack of knives.
Toriko's eyes widened as he saw that one of the knives was wobbling and was about to fall towards the chef.
"Kimiko, look out!" Toriko yelled out as he ran over to the chef, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her out of harms way. Kimiko held her breath as Toriko had yanked her out of her previous spot and then looked down as Toriko let go of her. The chef's eyes widened as she saw that the knife had sunk into rock floor causing an indent in the floor leaving only the handle peeking out.
"It just cut through the stone floor!" Kimiko exclaimed, "Just how sharp is that knife?"
"So those cuts were made by knives?" Toriko commented as he looked at other marks on the floor. "Melk Knives." he walked over to the fallen blade, "some of them boast a sharpness so dangerous that you require a license to wield one. I often hear of unskilled amateurs getting seriously wounded by using them." he picked up the knife from within the stone ground, "but I didn't realize they were this sharp even before sharpening!"
"I don't recommend touching that." Melk said, "The raw material for the Thousand Specialty Knife is a tooth from the Warner Shark. They're known for their unmatched strength and sharpness. It's dangerous to handle one without care."
"Warner Shark," Toriko repeated, "That shark's Capture Level 55. In other words, you rely on others to supply you with the raw materials."
Melk frowned, "No, I don't entrust anyone to do anything. I procure all the materials for the knives and grindstones myself. Watch your mouth."
"Melk," Toriko paused, "There's no way you could take down a Warner Shark. I just don't think you've got what it takes."
"W-Wait a second," Kimiko stuttered trying to diffuse the tense atmosphere.
"How would you know, without finding out for yourself?" Melk challenged. Toriko only pulled his right arm up in the same fashion that he used his Knife attack. Without even blinking he swung his arm at the ground causing a large gash to appear on the floor in a flurry of smoke. Toriko rubbed his hands together making the clashing sound that Kimiko was so used to.
"Maybe I will find out for myself," Toriko chuckled, "Just kidding."
What's happening?! Kimiko shouted in her mind looking back and forth between the two people in front of her.
"I don't care where you get your raw materials. Our purpose in coming here is-"
"Outside" Melk interrupted
"Huh?" Toriko said
"We're going outside. Now." Melk stated while glaring at Toriko
"Melk-san?".
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The three stood outside with Melk glaring at Toriko who stood across from them.
"If you want to know what I'm capable of, test me out." Melk said
"Isn't this getting a little out of hand, you should apologize," Kimiko whispered as she stood next to Toriko.
"Quiet, Kimiko," Toriko said as Melk took out a knife that was on their person.
"You'll help me test something too," Melk held out the knife in front of them, "The sharpness of this new knife."
"I guess the rumors were right about Melk-san having a cold-blooded side," Kimiko whimpered
"I'm going to fight…together with my beautiful blade." Melk swung the blade out in front of them.
"Okay. Fine with me." Toriko said, "I'll fight you. I don't know why you're this offended, but it seems to be something important to you. Something you have to stand your ground about. Something you need to protect. Whatever it is, it's something serious enough for you to go toe to toe over."
Melk said nothing about his commentary only swinging their blade across them causing a plume of smoke to erupt.
"Well, not exactly toe to toe. Knife to KNIFE!" Toriko finished raising his hand up. Melk acted quick swinging the knife towards Toriko. The bluenette counterattacked by swinging his own Knife towards Melk cutting through their attack making Melk raise their knife in defense to stop from being injured.
"What's this?!" Melk exclaimed
His hand blade is chipping my knife! Melk thought before directing the attack elsewhere and knelt down.
"Grindstone boots!" Melk swiped the knife against the part of their boots making it pristine again. Kimiko's eyes widened as Melk stood up with a knife that was completely fine.
"Just one scrape and the chipped knife is back to normal," Kimiko commented
He has grindstone in his boots?, Kimiko thought
"Take this! Scale Shave!" Melk shouted swinging the knife sending consecutive attacks toward the Gourmet Hunter.
"Bring it on!" Toriko charged at Melk dodging the attacks and grabbing Melk's wrist, making Melk let go of the knife and flipping them over slamming them into the ground.
"That was mighty sharp." Toriko praised as he looked at the knife that had sunk into the ground in similar fashion as the one in the house did.
"Who the devil are you?!" Melk shouted as Kimiko ran towards Toriko.
"Toriko-san!" the chef called out
"Toriko." Melk repeated.
"Did you really had to fight Melk-san! That isn't even why we're here," Kimiko scolded the blue haired man
"Well Kimi, you see, this isn't-"
"You're Toriko?" Melk said while getting up.
"Ah, are you okay, Melk-san?" Kimiko walked over to the Knife Sharpener who still stared at the man
"Toriko, one of the Four Heavenly Kings. No wonder he's so strong." Melk sighed
"Yeah," Toriko grinned, "Come to think of it, I didn't introduce myself. But let me ask you the same question. Who the hell are you? Where's the real Melk?"
"Huh?" Kimiko said while turning to look at Melk.
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"Why do you think I'm a fake." Melk asked
"Why?" Toriko repeated, "Who leads their customers in through the back door?!" he pointed at the wooden door that they had walked through.
"Back door?" Kimiko blinked before circling around the house to see a large entrance and a sign with the word Melk hanging over it. "Ah, the sign is over here," she looked to the side and saw a box with a slot opening, "And there's a mailbox! So that means."
"That's right." Toriko said walking over to Kimiko, "This is the real front entrance."
"Just like you said Toriko-san, we did enter through the back way."
"You didn't make this, did you," it was a statement not a question. Toriko continued,"It's obvious when you look at the size. The entrance is way bigger than it needs to be for a normal person to go through."
"Yeah, this is an entrance that some kind of huge man would use." Kimiko commented as the entrance was easily over three times the size of her.
"This is my workshop, I need a big entrance to carry in large materials." Melk explained
"Alright then how do you account for these giant steps leading to the second floor?" he pointed at the huge blocks that were climbing up the wall, "They're just as big as the one's going up Melk likely, this is a combined home and workshop made by the real Melk. The genuine Melk is shy in front of strangers, so he made an entrance on the opposite side of where you reach the summit. The real Melk must be a giant of a man, at least two meters tall. There are too many things that don't add up about you."
"Is this just to point out the size?" Melk asked
"In the first place, I've heard that Melk is an old friend of my old man Ichiryuu." Toriko said as he sat down at a table.
"Friends with the IGO President?" Kimiko asked
"Even I don't know the true age of that old geezer. You're obviously not even close to his age range."
"Melk-san" Kimiko looked at the Knife Sharpner standing there silently before finally replying.
"Ichiryuu, the IGO President. My master is a man of few words, but he counts Ichiryuu as one of his few friends."
"Master?" Toriko asked
"The person you're referring to as the 'real Melk' is the previous master. I'm the second generation!" Melk declared, "As his successor, I've inherited all of the previous generation's techniques. I'm Melk the Second!"
"The Second," Kimiko repeated
"This comes as a surprise. Who would have thought that Melk had an apprentice?" Toriko commented
"Like the rumors suggest, he's a shy, silent artisan and I'm his sole disciple." Melk told them.
"Ah, so he passed on his secrets to you alone, like a father passing the baton to his son. That's pretty cool," Kimiko gushed
"You should've just said you were the second generation in the first place! I thought you were an imposter"
"You were being rash, Toriko-san," Kimiko scolded, "Suddenly picking a fight, calling the second generation a fake."
"By the way," Melk said getting the two's attention, "Who are you?" Melk pointed at Kimiko .
"Sorry!" Kimiko blushed, "I should've said earlier! I-I'm the chef at Hotel Gourmet. My name is Kimiko. I-It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"Oi, what's with the fawning look?" Toriko groaned, "You didn't do that when you met me."
"Hotel Gourmet." Melk said only to stare at Kimiko, "You can't be, you're the Kimiko who made the Century Soup?!" Kimiko blushed before pointing at herself.
"Y-You've heard of me?"
"Hotel Gourmet's Century Soup is famous these days" Melk explained
"Your name's even know this deep in the mountains!" Toriko laughed, "that's fantastic!"
"I'm touched!" Kimiko gushed, "To think that Melk-san has heard of me!"
"Incidentally, Kimiko's my partner" he patted her head
"Toriko-san," she pouted causing the man to grin.
"Huh, I've got impressive guests today." Melk said making Kimiko blush even more.
"Y-You're making m-me blush!" Kimiko laughed nervously
"Really, I didn't notice," Toriko joked making Kimiko pout.
"Do you think that the first Melk has heard of me?" she asked
"No, I doubt it," Melk replied deflating Kimiko's joyous demeanor, "You see, the first Melk has no interest at all in what's going on in the world."
"And nobody in the world has an inkling that the current Melk is the second generation," Toriko said, "but what's Melk the First up to? Did he retire or something?"
Melk hesitated before answering, "Right now, my master is off getting a stone that he'll use as a grindstone."
"He's still active?"
"That's incredible, so he made you the second generation while he continues to gather materials," Kimiko said, she looked over at Melk who had an impassive look on their face, "Um," she said getting Melk's attention, "Actually, we came her to ask you a favor."
"Oi, it's more than one!" Toriko piped in.
"A knife order?" Melk guessed.
"Yup, you're absolutely right!" Kimiko answered.
"I'll accept it," Melk said making Kimiko's face light up, "But I fulfill the requests in the order they come in." Kimiko paused as she listened to Melk, "With how my waitlist is, it'll take about three years."
"Three years?!" Kimiko deflated while Toriko laughed.
"Good for you, Kimi! You'll get that knife you wanted ...three years from now!" Kimiko could only sullenly walk towards her backpack as her combo partner laughed.
"Three years, huh." Kimiko opened her backpack, "Since you're such a busy person, it can't be helped. For now, I'll just have to buy one at a department store to replace this." she unwrapped the broken knife that she had tenderly placed in her bag and stared sullenly at it.
"Huh?" Melk said as they caught a glimpse of the knife. They walked over to Kimiko kneeling down so that they're at the same height, "This knife.."
"Oh, it's mine," Kimiko frowned, "I accidently broke it. It meant a lot to me."
This is, Melk thought
"Hey Melk, I've also got a favor," Toriko got out of his seat, "Actually, more like something I want to ask you about. Have you ever heard of Melk Stardust?"
"What?! Did you say Melk Stardust?"
"So you've heard of it?" Toriko asked
"Melk-san?" Kimiko asked as she saw Melk stand up
"Why do you want Melk Stardust?"
"Right now, we're searching for it." he said, "if you have information about it, tell me!"
"Melk Stardust is a grindstone," they answered, "It's a one-of-a-kind grindstone that can sharpen any material in the world."
"Grindstone!" Toriko exclaimed, "You mean Melk Stardust isn't an ingredient."
"Ingredient? Oh, I've heard that when you use it to sharpen materials with a high degree of hardness it produces a gold colored powder and that can be used as a food seasoning. Maybe that's what you mean?" Melk answered
"Seasoning." Toriko repeated
"Apparently, that powder is composed of a new type of amino acid. And it contains components with a first-rate umami flavor, the like of which has never been tasted before."
"Umami flavor that's never been tasted before." Toriko grinned
"My master is the first person to have discovered it. That's why that grindstone is called Melk Stardust, but actually, I've never seen it myself. If I had that grindstone here, I'd be able to sharpen the ultimate knife, like never before." Melk told them.
"The ultimate knife," Kimiko repeated
"If I find that grindstone, will you make Kimiko's knife with it first?"
"Toriko-san?" Kimiko turned to look at the blue haired man
"Well, Melk?"
"It's impossible Toriko," Melk answered, "even you wouldn't be able to get Melk Stardust."
"Why's that." he asked
"It's in an extremely dangerous place."
"Oh, I know that," Toriko waved off Melk's warning, "The old man asked me to get Melk Stardust as part of my training. Naturally it would be located in a really dangerous place."
"My master headed off for there and still hasn't come back."
"The first generation Melk!" Kimiko exclaimed, "Wait, so when you said he was off getting a stone, you meant he was mining for Melk Stardust."
"Yes, my master never relied on anyone but used his own strength to do everything himself, from forging blades to obtaining materials," Melk told her
"And your master was really the one who took down the Warner Shark, wasn't he?" Toriko siad
"I'm sorry for lying to you," Melk said
"I knew it wasn't you."
"As strong as my master is and even though he originally discovered and mined Melk Stardust, he hasn't returned six years."
"Six years!" Kimiko exclaimed
"Do you think he's-"
"My master is alive!" Melk shouted, "if he isn't, then I haven't...I haven't done anything."
"Melk-san," Kimiko stared at the Knife Sharpener who was clenching their fist while their face was filled with anguish.
"Tell me, where can I find Melk Stardust?" Toriko asked getting Melk's attention, "if the first generation Melk is there, I'll bring him back alive. That's a promise!"
"Toriko."
"Toriko-san," Kimiko smiled
"Act now and it's your lucky day! Wait until tomorrow, and luck will never come your way!" Toriko stated
"So I guess we'll be leaving right away?" Kimiko asked
"First, we have to fortify ourselves with a meal!" he said making Kimiko and Melk gawk, "I'm leaving the cooking to you, Kimi!"
"Fine, fine," Kimiko sighed as Toriko walked outside.
"Perfect timing!" Toriko shouted Kimiko followed her partner and saw the same squid like beast she saw earlier that day flying in the sky.
"Sky Squid, just in time for dinner," Toriko grinned. The Sky Squid gave a screech before diving downward at Toriko. He clapped his hands together, "I give thanks for all this world's bounty. Idtadakimasu!" he raised his right arm, "FLYING KNIFE!" the attack headed straight at the beast completely knocking it out in one hit.
"This is Toriko's capability." Melk stood in awe as Toriko lifted up the Sky Squid and brought in into the house with Kimiko trailing after him.
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Kimiko hummed to herself as she rolled up her sleeves. The process has become second nature to her. Take out your tools and wash your hands thoroughly before preparing food. Put on an apron, and go over what you need to prep. Make sure that you're in a clean space and that you're cutting the food on a chopping board. Prep the proteins and the vegetables on different chopping boards. Always keep a firm grip on your knife handle, the knife should be doing the work. Make sure to time your dishes correctly so that all of the food can come out at the same time. She was currently so absorbed in her cooking that she didn't hear Melk behind her.
"You're more than a run of the mill chef," Melk commented making Kimiko jump.
"Ah!" Kimiko exclaimed before blushing, "Sorry, I didn't hear you." She followed Melk's line of sight to see that they were looking at Kimiko's knife. "Oh, this is the knife that I always bring with me when I travel. Is there something wrong?"
"No," Melk smiled, "Nothing. Actually, it's been years since someone besides me has stood in this kitchen."
That sounds lonely, Kimiko thought as she looked at Melk.
"As I make this," Kimiko gave a smile at Melk, "I'll wish for the first Melk-san to return safe and sound"
"That's very kind of you, Chef Kimiko," Melk said giving the chef a smile making Kimiko blush.
"Hey Kimi, when is dinner going to be done?" Toriko patted the chef's head making her look up at her partner.
"Just in a little bit, I have to grill up the rest of the squid," she told him making Toriko pout, "By the way Melk-san do you have any requests for dinner?"
Toriko tuned out their conversation and glanced at the soup pot that was currently still bubbling on the stove. The man gave a grin as he walked over to the pot and picked up the ladle trying to sneak in a quick taste only for a wooden spoon to smack his hand making him drop the ladle.
"Ack!" he cried in alarm only to look at Kimiko who was currently holding said wooden spoon.
"Wait." Kimiko told him. "If you want something to do, you can help Melk-san set the table."
"Yeah, yeah," Toriko waved as Melk handed him some bowls.
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"It's done! Honeyed teriyaki Sky Squid and boiled tail soup!" Kimiko presented as she set the pot on the table along with a plate of the squid accompanied by a bowl of salad.
"Idtadakimasu!" Melk and Toriko both said.
Wasting no time Toriko immediately grabbed a slice of the teriyaki Sky Squid and shoved it into his mouth. Kimiko gave a smile as she ladled some soup into a bowl for Melk.
"Be careful, it's hot," she advised making Melk blow on their spoonful of soup before eating it.
"Superb!"
"I'm glad, make sure to eat lots so you can build up your stamina," Kimiko told Melk
"That's a good idea, especially since Heavy hole is a terribly dangerous place" Melk commented
"Heavy Hole?" Toriko asked, "Is that where Melk Stardust is found?"
"Yeah, it's about 30 kilometers north of Melk Mountain. Tens of thousands of meters below the surface. The place's unique magnetic field and air pressure has a strong effect on the planet's gravitational force there. It's the deepest underground cave in the human world. That's where Melk Stardust is mined."
Sounds like it would be good training for the abnormal gravity of the Gourmet World. Toriko thought, Damn that old geezer… He's prepared the ultimate training ground!
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Lunamugetsu: yahoo! I finally finished this chapter! Anyway I've been getting a lot of reviews asking whether or not Melk is a guy or a girl. I'm going to outright say it, so that none of you will die in anticipation. Melk still has two X chromosomes. Whether or not Melk would have a romantic interest in Kimiko is still up for debate. I am leaning towards Melk liking Kimiko in a romantic way. Although I am still iffy on it. Honestly comment whether or not you are interested in seeing cute romantic moments with Melk and Kimiko. I do read them and they help inspire me a lot. I do have some moments lined up for Melk and Kimiko when Toriko leaves.
Toriko: Wait, what's going to happen when I leave?
Lunamugetsu: If you are interested leave a review, it'll help me in making a decision. Also I'm thinking of crossposting this on ao3 to those who don't know, ao3 is another website for fanfiction. (it's pretty awesome, check it out if you haven't) While I do have an account on ao3 under the same username as the one I have here, I don't know if I should. I'm currently rewriting The Unexpected Variable, so only Toriko with a Slight Difference would be uploaded on ao3. If you're cool with the idea leave a comment.