"Fragrance Bazooka!" Rin shot the powerful gun toward the GT Robot, but he was too hasty. He ran past the shot and pierced his hand through her stomach. The force was so powerful it was enough to knock Éclair over. The girl put her hand over Rin's wound, "No! No, no, no, no, no! This is not happening! Please Rin, stay with me!" The attack was so strong that the wound was bleeding out at a fast rate. She moved around to find her fragrance and Éclair shook her head, "What are you doing? Save your energy." She struggled to speak, "Toriko~ he needs my help. He's your only hope." "My only hope? You mean our only hope. You're getting out of this too Rin I promise!" She sprayed her smoke and cried out, "Toriko, I can at least ease your pain with the endorphin smoke." Éclair struggled to fight tears as she looked at both Rin and Toriko's dying bodies. Rin looked at the blond girl, "Use this smoke as a screen and get out of here while you can. Save yourself." "Talk sense girl, I've been through too much to run away now. I'd never be able to live with myself."
The girl stood up and walked toward Toriko. She realized that Rin was bleeding out more without her hands to cover the wound and turned back. The robot jumped in her path, "It's too late. She's going to die either way. There's nothing you can do about it now. You were smart to turn tail in that cavern, or you too wouldn't be standing now." Éclair spit at his feet, "I may know power but you don't know me. I'm not naive enough to think you couldn't kill me where I stand, but I'll give you a run for your money like you wouldn't believe." Toriko's hand grabbed the GT Robot, "I won't let you kill her, so yeah, a run for your money is exact." He gave the robot a hard punch in the face and sent him flying. He was out of sight and momentarily out of mind. Toriko looked to Éclair worriedly, "You're wounded." She looked down at her stomach and saw the four finger holes that punctured her stomach while Rin was being attacked. She looked up at him, "I'll let the adrenaline be my first aid, there are bigger issues." She pointed over at Rin and Toriko ran to the girl.
Éclair took out her machete and stood somewhat on guard. She knew she was nothing more than a look out at this point. She was far too weak to defend for anyone, but try she would. She listed to the words of Rin and the story made her hold back more tears. She knew the girl liked Toriko very much, but the extent was now cleared up. She smiled as she looked at the tattoo on her left arm, the four blue bands. The blond whispered to herself, "I know what you mean Rin." She looked back and saw Toriko leaning into the girl. The blond girl smiled for just a moment and turned right before their lips touched. She couldn't confirm or deny whether a kiss took place or not because she wanted to give them privacy. As a dying wish though, she knew what happened. The girl heard footsteps coming and ran back to the two. "He's back Toriko!" She ran behind the man and watched the fight before her. She took off her backpack and removed a white cloth. She started covering the wound and putting pressure with her hands again and trying to save her some blood. She shook her head, "This is a mess, I wish we could switch positions Rin. I just wish I could take away all of your pain."
The girl ducked as she heard the fight going on nearby. Rin grabbed the girl's arm and managed to whisper to the girl, "Éclair, don't say that. Stay strong for Toriko. He could use your faith." She passed out and closed her eyes. Éclair frowned, "I'll make him pay!" She watched blow for blow the fight that was going on. Her worst nightmare was brought to fruition, Toriko was knocked far away in the distance. There was no running away now, her only hope for survival was nowhere in sight.
The robot walked over to her and knelt to her height. "You may be feisty, but you are clearly the smartest out of the bunch. You know already not to raise your knife to me. I don't understand why you are rushing toward death though. He took her machete from her thigh holster, "That's weird. What kind of chef uses this dull weapon to fight with?" He threw the knife behind him like garbage. A rage burned inside the girl, "Don't you ever disrespect my knives. Not my machete, not my kitchen knives, not any! That knife means more to me than you mean to any of your Bishokukai buddies!" He took out her wrapped knife from her backpack and looked at it for a moment. "This is a great knife, you would work well for the Bishokukai someday. ~And what was it, my, Bishokukai buddies. I think I'll take this with me actually." Her machete was too far away for her to attack him with, so she did the only thing she could think of. She grabbed a handful of fur on his chest, "I told you not to disrespect my knives."
She breathed heavily as she faced the robot, "Say what you want about me, slap me around, I don't give a damn. Just don't disrespect my knives. That's all I have! I gave up too much in this world for them. ~I won't let them be taken away by some Bishokukai punk that's too afraid to show his face in person!" The man's intimidation formed and Éclair was not budging. She was scared of the man, yes, but she'd rather die than see her knives get taken away. "Give me my knife!" The intimidation faded and he looked at her once more, "Your resolve and conviction is real, humph." "Yeah, unlike you, she came here knowing her life was on the line." Éclair removed her hand from the man and backed off. Toriko continued, "You're the only one here that wasn't prepared to die for your cause. So turn your pressure sensors off, I want you to feel every hit of damage I deal."
Éclair picked up her fallen knife from the ground and backed away from the fight. She went back to covering Rin's wound and watching on in fear. "I'm so glad he's alive." The fight went on and she was no longer watching in fear. She knew who would win this fight. It was clear that Toriko's power had greatly increased. He was way more powerful than before. The GT Robot couldn't keep up with his punches. One after another, he was dealing much damage. She watched as he finished off the enemy ahead of them, "What's your name coward?" "Starjun." Toriko nodded, "Your time is up Starjun. Next time we'll meet in person. Ten fold Spike Punch!" That was it, the robot was nothing more than scrap metal. Its bits flew in the air like metal confetti, almost as if it were in celebration of the Jewel Meat.
Toriko turned to the girls, "Let's get out of here." "Um, the Jewel Meat?" He rubbed the back of his head, "Right, almost forgot what saved my life." He pulled the precious shiny meat from behind the wall. It was like he was stashing it until the fight was over. He ran to Rin and picked her up, "She's breathing! Thanks to you stopping her bleeding you gave her a fighting chance at life." Éclair picked up her previously tossed machete, "I wasn't going to let her die." A strong wind began to pull them forward. Toriko held tightly onto the Jewel Meat and Rin. "Perfect timing Mammoth. Éclair, brace yourself, looks like we're getting ready to leave." The air pulled them off the floor and outside the belly of the beast. Éclair yelled, "Yeah! It's good to see daylight once again!" Toriko yelled, "Hey Sunny, could you save us from a crash landing?" Éclair felt herself bounce up from the hairnet and onto her back. It was finally now that she could feel the full effect of the damage Starjun delt to her.
Her blood dripped from the net and Coco caught the girl as she jumped down. Éclair are you okay? You're bleeding." She grunted, "Nothing a couple bandages can't fix." She climbed out of Coco's arms and pointed, "It's Rin who could use the real medical attention." Toriko set her down and Sunny began to fix her up, "Hair operation." Éclair grabbed her stomach, "He's operating?" Coco nodded, "Yes, he's using his sensors to operate." "Yes Muffin, it's just first aid really, and by the look of it you could use it as well." She shook her head, "I'll be fine, but will Rin?" Sunny nodded and Coco gave her a reassuring smile, "I sent Kiss to the lab so a medical team should be arriving shortly. They'll patch you both up."
As she sighed in relief, up came Terry Cloth on an Obasaurus. The blond smiled, "Good to see the whole team is still intact. Now I can finally breathe." As she exhaled once again she saw the medical team coming over the horizon. They brought the baby Mammoth back to its mother and everything seemed to be wrapping up nicely. Toriko turned to the Mammoth, "Thank you. You have saved my life with your Jewel Meat and I am eternally grateful." The Regal Mammoth roared and they were reminded why it was such a huge threat. The blunette's eyes amplified, "Uh oh, time to go." Éclair agreed, "Yeah, let's not die now. Let's get outta here!"
They were back at the lab and Éclair was getting her last few stitches. The doctor looked at her, "You're lucky you got here when you did. If you lost any more blood you would have been knocking on deaths door. I don't think you realized the extent of your injury." Éclair raised her eyebrows, "Wow, I was so busy caring about other people I didn't even think about myself. So doc, what's the damage? How long will I have these stitches?" "You'll be patched up in the next few days. You should rest up in the meantime. They are dissolving stitches so you'll know when you're okay." She hopped off the operating tabled and the doctor pointed. "Your friends are in the next room over." As she exited her room, she saw the anxious Sunny. "Hey Muffin, you okay now?" "Yeah, and Rin?" He opened the door, "Take a look for yourself." As the blond walked in she saw Rin in good condition. She was all over Toriko as usual. "Rin, good to see you're okay." Toriko ran to the girl and swung her in a circle, "Éclair, you made it!" The blond girl nodded, "Yes, now let's eat that jewel meat!"
They sat at a table waiting for the Jewel Meat to be served. The ambiance of the outdoor sky made everything even more charming. The server put the food on the table and lifted the top. The Jewel Meat was beautiful. It shined brighter than the full moon above them. They all put their hands together, "I give humble thanks to the vast bounty this world provides. Itadakimasu." Éclair put a cut on her plate and sliced into the meat. The juice squirted up into the air like a mini celebration. She put the fragrant meat into her mouth and her eyes nearly bulged from her skull. It was like nothing she'd ever had. The perfect amount of crisp and fat. "Mmm, fillet mignon. That's exactly what this tastes like. It's so good, I can't get enough!" As she swallowed the Jewel Meat her skin glowed. It wasn't just her skin, it was the inside of her body. She let a melody release from her throat. Toriko laughed, "I think that's the true meaning a golden tongue." Éclair smiled, "I think my voice just harmonized with the meat haha."
She glanced over at Toriko "Whoa your skin is glowing so bright, and you too Coco!" Toriko wiped a tear from his eye, "I think it's official." The got up from the table and noticed a light shining behind him. It seemed impossible considering how bright he already was. Sunny rubbed his chin, "What's official?" The blunette turned back around, "Whoa Sunny, you're so bright!" Rin nodded, "Can't even lie you look flamboyant for even you bro." Sunny got back on the subject, "Yes so what have you concluded? You just said it's official." "I've decided to add this meat." Sunny was getting more on edge as he knew what was coming next. "Adding it to what?" "The Jewel Meat will be featured as the meat course on my full course menu of life." Éclair raised her glass, "I'll cheer to that, congratulations Toriko!" Everyone seemed to be excited by Toriko's great news. Everyone but Sunny that is. "Not so fast! You're absolutely rushing to conclusions. The Jewel Meat would be better suited for my éntree. I mean come on, the Jewel Meat practically picked me. Look at my glow." Toriko huffed, "No way! I'm not letting you have it for yourself! Besides, I picked it first."
Éclair stood between the two, "Well here's a totally civil suggestion. Add it to both of your lists! I mean, it's not forbidden to have the same dish." They both turned their back from her and Sunny poked out his lip, "No way! I refuse to share." The blond girl shrugged, "Well I tried. Lady killer, shall we continue our meal?" The man nodded and they did as such. Rin jumped in, "Oh come on bro don't be selfish. Let Toriko have it." "You stay out of this!" Éclair looked at Coco, "You know for humans, they can be such animals."