The Second King

"Muuu, why is she coming too?" Rin thought as along for the ride was Naruko.

She was very beautiful that made Rin feel like Plain Jane(she really is) and feared Toriko will like her more than her but she seems fixated on Komatsu but still...!

In the meantime, Toriko and Mansam are playing tug of war...with their teeth...on the Drunken Cattle Beef Toriko brought along...AND ITS RAW.

'So we'll get the Jewel Meat off of the eldest Regal Mammoth here...that's bound to be good.' Naruko smiled. 'I read in books that its taste can't be described beyond delicious and it can be eaten raw so I want the real thing.'

'Right? Right? And we get to eat it for free! We don't have to pay! It costs 5 million just for 100 grams!'

'Ugh, I'd rather get it myself than pay for it!' Naruko snarked when she froze. 'Eh?'

'What is it?' Komatsu asked worriedly.

'I sense a presence as strong as Toriko's, 10 o'clock.' she declared as that got the two muscular men pausing. 'Strangely there's a weak presence above him.'

'Ohh! That's probably Sani!' Toriko said enthusiastically. 'Not only Sakki but presences of people too?'

'And I can tell who lies.'

'That's kinda convenient...' Mansam commented. 'I'll try this: Toriko has four brothers.'

'Lie.'

'Rin is my daughter.'

'Lie.'

'I'm the God of Gamblers!'

'Lie.'

'I own a harem!' that got Toriko, Komatsu and Rin in a deadpan.

'Lie.'

'I went to Gourmet World.'

'Truth.'

'The IGO President is gay!'

'Lie.' Naruko sweatdropped.

'Sani gets a Surgery to have boobs!'

'What the heck, Chief?!' Rin yelled, going blue at the image.

'Lie.'

'Hm. All correct.' Mansam nodded approvingly. 'One last try...ahum...' he then thought of a good one. 'Toriko is married with five children.' Toriko did a double-take at the question that gave him away from behind Mansam.

'Lie.' Naruko sweatdropped. 'I'd know, he lives ten minutes away from my house!'

'NANIIII?!' Rin cried in aghast. 'Ten minutes away from his house?!'

'Yeah.' said Naruko flippantly, oblivious to her feelings. 'I only go home to do my laundry and clean my house before leaving again though. I hardly sleep there I once found a Cheese Rabbit sleeping on my bed when I got back.'

'Oi oi...' Komatsu sweatdropped. 'Stay in your house more often or the beasts will use your house as their own!' he chided.

'Hai hai...' Naruko shrugged. 'But really, I'm more comfortable outdoors...I only bothered to get a house for formalities' sakes in citizenship records anyway.' she said as she sat on the ground. "After all, I spent a looot of time outdoors its not just the same anymore."

Soon, Sani arrived.

'...he's quite the colorful person.' Naruko mused as Sani wore a dark pink outfit and shoes with a dark blue vest, arm and leg warmers on. He has an effeminate face of a biseinen with colorful hair chunks in white, green, blue and pink. 'That's an amazing dye job. Makes me wonder who's his stylist to be able to dye his hair that way.'

'I wish it was a dye job.' said Toriko. 'His abilities are based on his hairs through a sense of touch. He was born that way.'

'That's pretty convenient...you implied different types of touches?'

'Aa.' Toriko grinned. 'He can 'touch' many things. Blue hair senses low temperature. Pink hair senses high temperature. Green hair detects pressure. And white hair detects painful stimuli. And see him carrying the Regal Mammoth with one arm? His hair is helping him out too.'

'Heee...'

'Interested in niichan, Naruko?' Rin asked Naruko hopefully in hopes its not her crush she's interested in.

'In what way?'

'Er, as a lover?'

'...I have no idea what you mean.' Naruko sighed. 'Before meeting Komatsu, I lived alone for years(somewhat true). Men have deep voices, hairy faces, flat chests and long thingies with small sacks between their legs and its all I know about them when I first saw other people.' "That, and they like looking at naked women like Jiraiya-jiji does." the last one got her companions red-faced and stuttering.

That, and her upbringing made her as socially dumb as Gaara even if she was kind, sincere and empathic, believing the best in people while empathizing and understanding those who underwent the same pain she had. She is also easily attached and loyal to those who showed her kindness and acceptance, loyal to a fault to them and taking offense to those who speak badly of, and hurt them.

(it was due to that mentality that the late Sandaime had to treat her really well just to teach and point her to the right path of good, fully-aware she's prone to manipulation no thanks to his village, discovered early on by Itachi when he befriended her)

'...that's no good...' Komatsu choked out when suddenly, Sani is surrounded by Gang Hoods. 'Eek! Gang Hoods! They're beasts with a ferocious appetite! They're after the Regal Mammoth!'

'Oh, don't worry about it.' said Toriko airily. 'Just watch.'

Sani didn't do anything but the attacking Gang Hoods froze before collapsing.

"Knocking...without touching?!" Naruko gawked.

She had to learn Knocking so she can bring prey home fresh for sale but... "Then again, its impossible to see a strand of hair from this far do the job it looks like an invisible man did it..."

Part right, a lot of it wrong, as Naruko doesn't know most things about this newcomer.

Rather, she hardly knows anyone even her first friend in this world.

He then flung the Regal Mammoth at them that got them gawking, but Mansam caught it.

'Uwaaaa?!'

'Ah, sorry chief, is it a li'l too heavy for you?' Sani asked coolly with a smile. 'But nice catch! S' expected that your strength hasn't waned one bit but there's not enough beauty...' he mused in a thinking manner. 'The way you caught the Mammoth, my heart doesn't beat at all and I got no sense at being moved whats'ever. I mean, you're bowlegged, clumsy, have no sexiness, it gives an impression of 'just die already'...'

'W-wow...' Naruko sweatdropped at Sani's...attitude. She had no words to describe it.

'Who is this guy?!' Komatsu squawked out, sharing the same opinion as her.

'Oi Sani! Don't you go throwing around precious food!' Mansam yelled his scolding. 'You haven't changed at all from before, why you, you jerk!' he cried as Sani jumped up towards them but he almost looked like he flew his way up to where they were.

'Even though I kindly brought this all the way here I'd like to be thanked at least.' Sani complained in a rather I-don't-care sort of voice. 'Or rather, I don't want to be called a jerk by you, chief...' he said as he landed where they were. 'Oh, long time no see Toriko.' he said, seeing who he was with...and ran his feelers over. 'Oho...your cells are more vitalized than in the older days. The elasticity is high as well.' he noted. 'Its evident you're eating good stuff.'

'Hey hey Sani, don't go touching my Skin all over the place, its uncomfortable.' Toriko complained, rubbing his cheek in discomfort, along with the fact of being touched by a guy.

'Hey just a minute, nii-chan, don't you go touching Toriko as you please!' Rin yelled angrily.

Somehow, Rin reminds Naruko of Sakura when she and Ino fight over Sasuke...superimposing their images on Rin, Toriko and Sani.

'Rin!' Sani's eyes popped at the sight of her. 'You...' his eyes fell on her legs and freaked out. 'The hell are these clay pipe-like legs?! And the fat under the skin is insane! You're only eating nothing but sweets aren't you?!'

'Like, shut up!' Rin sputtered indignantly at being called out on it. 'And like, it doesn't have anything to do with you!'

'Like I want to do anything with such a masculine-like sister!'

'Like I don't want to hear it from a girly brother like you!'

'Like, like, like, shut up!' Sani yelled while pointing at Naruko. 'Why can't you be like that blonde girl?! Her skin is fair and flawless, firm, slender, shapely and curvy! Her hair is vibrant, shiny and glossy it looks like spun gold! Now THAT is a real girl!'

'Screw you jackass!'

'I-incredible...' Komatsu sweatdropped.

'I don't know what to say...' Naruko gulped. 'How'd I get into their argument?'

'Beats me...' Komatsu blinked as Sani was onto Naruko instantly, hands on her shoulders.

'You're a girl who's had many high-class goods which is why you have such a perfectly lithe, slender figure that like, gives you the appearance of a flower fairy...you also take great care of your looks like proper girls should since a girl's beauty is their number one asset, my sister should learn from you and maybe she'll be a better girl.'

'Hey hey hey!' Rin gave him a flying kick.

'Gwah!'

'...my my, such good relationship.' Naruko smiled as that got Komatsu, Toriko and Mansam looking utterly deadpan and the siblings gaping at her in disbelief.

'And how?!'

'Well, Sani picked out what he sees as her flaws to work on so she'll get better by dealing with it.' said Naruko, pointing it out. 'I don't understand the terms he used like clay pipes on legs but I take it women don't like those normally? I don't know beauty standards since I'm rarely in civilization.' she said as cue more disbelieving WTH looks from everybody. But since everyone calls her beautiful when she herself had trouble believing it due to her childhood thus has non-existent cosmetic self-esteem but understood being beautiful is a good thing and being plain or ugly as a bad thing, she worked hard to maintain her looks that it became her pride while avoiding what would ruin it. 'You know how I looked when we first met Komatsu?' she reminded Komatsu.

'Yeah, you got an athletic body back then.' said Komatsu, remembering her figure back then. 'Just like those famous gymnast athletes on TV! But now you slimmed down a lot considerably that you really look like a fairy now but a fairy of the sea.' he said. 'You're the Maiden of the Deep, the 16th best chef in the world.'

'She's WHOOOO?!' Toriko and Sunny yelled.

'Maiden of the Deep, Naruko.' said Mansam. 'She's a Bishokuya who specializes in Deep Sea Ingredients and a Caterer Chef since she doesn't own a Restaurant but rather she's hired to cook for special occasions as she doesn't like to stay in one place for long. So she has to be called for high-profile events and such. She's the only Caterer Chef in the World as almost everybody opened up restaurants.'

'Really?! Her?!' Rin squeaked as she too, remembered what Naruko used to look like when she was in the labs, getting injected with Gourmet Cells. She has a toned body, clearly a fighter yet now she's a far cry from what she used to be that Rin felt she's a threat and a rival for Toriko's affections only to learn years later she lacks in many, many things regarding social life and awareness when it comes to crushes and romance that to her, Toriko was 'just another generic man and nothing special'.

While she's glad she's no competition, Toriko is also a problem IF he shows interested in Naruko and not her...and she said it herself that what she ate made her that way.

One thing...

'This one is a Child Sani! The real one is much, much, MUCH bigger!' Mansam yelled before leaving them to take the baby home to scan it for the Jewel Fruit. They safely extract it without killing the Regal Mammoths so it can be safely harvested every hundred years.

Here's one thing with people with Gourmet Cells...those who have it and are fully-developed, can have long lives. The healthier you eat, the longer you live though you still age, albeit s-l-o-w-l-y. Evident of that, is the top faces of the IGO.

Granted, she was offered a position but she turned it down due to 'itchy feet'.

They all sported horrified looks while Naruko was utterly apathetic, having seen too many giants in her life to care anymore.

xxx

Biotope 1, a field of Black Carpet.

'The books say its almost extinct that its being preserved here while efforts are made to make it grow back in the wild again.' Naruko commented, reciting what she read in books.

'Black Carpet...its insanely popular as a salad in the past, its my first time seeing so much of it...' Komatsu croaked out. 'I haven't even tasted one!'

'Look here! A Cocomayo Tree~!' Rin called out.

'Ohhh! Good call Rin!' Toriko cried, already munching on a bunch of grass and ran for the tree she found.

'He's already eating.' Komatsu sweatdropped.

'Yeah...I'm kinda glad we're not an ingredient but things are this way for me too.' Naruko agreed while picking up some carefully, not wanting to eat roots and soil. 'Normally I don't bother with hunting Level 1s anymore since I got stronger but taste is still taste I just sample then move on. Biotopes sure have unknown tastes locked away from the outside world for conservation reasons. I hope we get to sample some goods while we still can.'

'You grew to like eating huh?' Komatsu smiled.

'Ever since I chose this career years ago, yeah. Its important for Bishokuya to eat an unseen, unknown taste on sight.' said Naruko. 'For health reasons.'

'That's the weirdest thing I ever heard.'

'You're friends with Toriko who has strong ties to the IGO...if he tells you, you'll understand.' said Naruko. 'I don't have the authority to talk about it, I'll get in trouble.'

'Haaa...'

'Well, what she said is true.' said Sani. 'So many classified stuff not allowed to the public...by the way, who are you?' he asked Komatsu.

'Oh, I'm Komatsu, Head Chef of Hotel Gourmet.' Komatsu shyly introduced himself. 'Nothing compared to Naruko-san though...'

'You have the ability to rise but you're stuck in one place...you should have just traveled like I did and discover the world.' Naruko chided. 'Nature is the best teacher, not some boring lecturer.'

'I can't fight like you and Toriko-san.' said Komatsu weakly.

Komatsu is the only one who knows how strong she is that Toriko's antics doesn't surprise him much anymore...unless its monsters.

'Hooo...' Sani looked at Komatsu closely, cupping his face between his hands. 'You don't have enough beauty...what do you usually eat?'

'Eh? Just some normal stuff...'

'That's no good! You should eat more things with vitamins and collagen in them! Try my Full Course out! Two spots are still empty though.'

Hors D'oeuvre- Beautiful Skin Caviar(Lv30)
Soup- Charis Lobster Soup(Lv19)
Fish Dish- Skin Whitening Tuna(Lv25
Meat Dish- Perfect Beauty Cattle(Lv21
Main Dish- ?
Salad- Mochi Skin Bean Sprouts(Lv15
Dessert- ?
Drink- Charis Dragon Scale Sake(Lv35)

Naruko thought that in this world, a Full Course tells much about its consumer. Strength, Preference, Taste, and Skill, and many more.

Her Full Course reflected her job and her skill and strength in obtaining them.

Sani's is...er...for beauty's sake, while the Charis Species are beautiful in appearance. She also ate them in her quest to grow stronger to live longer and age slower as she has no idea how long before she can go back home. For now by eating well, she maintained her 18 years old appearance and body but for how long can she do this?

'Erm, thanks?'

'That's why Sani has the most Unbalanced Diet of the Four Kings.' Toriko stated wryly, picking up more grass. 'It'd be best if you don't hope for too much, Komatsu.'

'Shuddup Toriko! What about YOUR Full Course?!' Sani yelled as Toriko began munching.

'I still haven't decided on anything but Dessert...'

'NANI?! STILL AFTER SEEIN' THE BEST INGREDIENTS?! YOU'RE SO INDECISIVE!' Sani freaked. 'How many years are you gonna take to complete your Full Course?!'