The two sat in a room with ten Torchorsetail's lit up. They'd been going at it for about two hours at that point. Éclair looked over at Toriko, "I guess we've reached a point where I can finally say this is actually relaxing." The man nodded in agreement. They moved on and enjoyed all of the foods they were once not able to consume. It was nice to be able to overcome these once impossible seeming obstacles. Shuu smiled, "You two have improved so greatly in such a short window of time. At this point, I couldn't go up against you now." Éclair waved him off, "Oh come on, you're just saying that. We still haven't done the final test yet." He shook his head, "There is no need for that. The training ingredients you've been practicing with have been the top class ingredients from the start. You two have already eaten the final exam ingredients. You have learned Food Honor." Éclair gasped, "I knew we practiced hard, but I didn't know we actually learned Food Honor already. Now I really have a reason to be proud!"
A shadow overcast the three for a brief moment before a loud crash happened before them. Éclair waved the dust from her face, "Chin?" "Yes~ Uh, what are your names again?" Toriko frowned, "The least you could do is get our names wrong!" "Oh right Toriko and Éclair. That's what I thought. You two finished faster than I thought. I'll be taking compensation for the buildings you've destroyed by the way. But I've come here to say this. I will be directly training you now." Éclair bowed, "Thank you so much for everything Shuu. You have my deepest gratitude." The man smiled, "All I did was unlock what you already had inside you. This will be your real training. Please, try not to die." Éclair sighed, "Great words of encouragement." Chin looked over at the two, "Your main goal in coming here was to get the Bubble Fruits correct? Come this way then. As you are, you should be able to get them."
They walked over to the place where it all began, the garden. The Bubble Fruits came out of the water and exposed itself again. Chin nodded, "Go, give it a try." The two walked over and Éclair reached her hands out. She had become one with her surroundings and made not even a slight threat to the fruit. All she could feel was appreciation for her surroundings and for what floated right in front of her. The Bubble Fruit floated down and into the girl's hands. She didn't tremble as she held the legendary Bubble Fruit. Her eyes narrowed, "There's something not right about this." Toriko nodded, "These aren't the Bubble Fruits. Now that I can I actually touch it, I see that it is actually a soap bubble, and not an ingredient at all." Chin held one of the soap bubbles, "That is precisely correct. These are merely for training purposes. The real Bubble Fruit are in the back path of the temple. I don't intend to get them now, and that is the only training I will administer. Follow me."
They made it to the bubble filled path and Éclair looked around, "Wow, it's so beautiful. It's literally a road of bubbles. Chin walked forward, "This is Bubble Way, the single linking road to the Bubble Fruit. If you clear this, the fruit will be yours. You see, it is an extremely shy ingredient, so if you count me, only one other person can come. Not only that, it is extremely jealous as well, so no other food can be taken along. Who will it be?" Toriko stepped forward, "I'll capture it! Stay here okay Éclair?" She nodded, "I have faith in you Toriko, be safe." The man nodded "Alright, just be prepared to cook when I come back." "Aren't I always." She watched as the two walked down the bubble path. "Well bubbles, I guess it's just you and me." She picked up the delicate bubble from the road and looked up at the sky, "The clouds are really moving in. I guess the best thing for me to do is keep up my training as well. I won't stop, I'll keep going too."
Days had passed and Éclair found herself sitting back by the Bubble Way. She lay back in the bubbles and look up, "Wow, the clouds are REALLY moving in. I wonder what they're doing on this path. Could they be fighting some monster? I wonder~" She rolled over and sighed, "It's times when I'm alone that I just feel~ hopeless. Everyone I ever loved has left me. Mom, papa, ~Ootake~" The girl sighed, "Just~ Come back safe, okay Toriko?" She shook her head, "What am I saying!? No! All the people I loved left me. I won't accept it, I won't set myself up for failure anymore. This girl's heart has officially turned into stone!" As she uttered her last words, the temple began to disappear. The girl sat up, "What? Why is this happening? Why is the temple hiding itself?" The girl frowned and stood up as a large creature approached. She heard a loud voice forcing the temple to appear again. "What the hell is going on here? I'm gonna go find out." She put her backpack on and ran out to see what was happening. She'd not make her presence completely known, but sort of lurk from behind the walls. One of the men gasped "Chiyo-san." Éclair couldn't see as there were a crowd of people surrounding the small woman, "Granny Chiyo is here? She flew in on that~ thing?" She walked out to take a closer look while still keeping her distance. Next off of the bird jumped a large ogre-like creature, and then someone she'd not spoken to in a very long time. "Take-chan? No way, it can't be."
The golem swung its arms and began to attack and terrorize the crowd of people. One after another they were being taken out. The girl felt like she was in an alternate reality. There's no way this could be happening. The only emotion she could feel was useless. There was nothing she could do but watch. If she even attempted to fight she'd be easily taken out. Her eyes were glued to the confrontation so much so that she didn't even notice the man she thought she knew approaching her. His voice was like velvet in her ears. "Hello Éclair." The girl turned and looked at the man. He looked so different since the last time she'd seen him. Her heart raced, and she was flustered.
She had no idea what to say to the man, "You look terrible. I just don't know who you are. We left on such a bitter note and you didn't even try to call me." Tears started to weld in her eyes, "I hate you Ootake. I hate you so much! I was worried about you, and you don't even give a damn!" The man started to close the distance between the two, "I was worried about you as well Éclair. I am glad you're alive, and that I could see you again. ~So I could say farewell." He grabbed a knife hidden inside his clothing and put an arm around the girl. His cold lips pressed against hers as she felt a sharp pain pierce her stomach. Her eyes amplified. It was the first time in years that their lips touched. The kiss was so lifeless, yet it still carried some type of weight with the girl. The kiss was horrifying in fact, but at the same time, it made the memories flood in.
She pushed the man away and grabbed her stomach, "Why would you do this to me?" She looked down and saw that there was no blood or wound or anything. Ootake looked at the girl, "Still cold to me I see. I just wanted to know your feelings toward me still. You are very easy to read and I confirmed what I already knew" "I'm cold!? You're the one who left me without a word. I loved you Ootake, I did, but I don't know who you are anymore. When I look at you, all I can think of is disgust. I don't know what you think you know, but I can tell you one fact that is true, I hate you Ootake, I do!" She clenched the cloth around where she'd been stabbed, "What did you do to me anyway? Why is there no wound?" The put his knife away, "It's a Revitalizing Knife, a forbidden technique. The more you cut, the more it restores the thing that's being cut. It is illegal in the Human World, though that doesn't mean chefs still don't use it. Only a select few know how to do it properly." "Then how do you know it?" "There are a lot of ingredients you cannot otherwise prepare in the Gourmet World." The girl frowned, "The Gourmet World?" He nodded, "That's where I am now. You said the rivalry between us is a battle that I'd never win, yet the distance between our growth is becoming much larger. I'm moving on to greater things and you're in a place like this learning something useless like Food Honor." The girl frowned, "It's words like those that make me hate you so. Food Honor is something that any REAL chef should aspire to learn. It is something that has taught me my own strength and showed me that I am not limited to anything. Most importantly, it has brought me closer to my best friend and partner. This is a tradition that shall and will be passed down from generation to generation indefinitely. ~And from everything I learned here, on behalf of myself and Toriko, I give humble thanks."
The brown haired man smirked, "Toriko? Ah, yes. Bishokuya Toriko is your partner. I have you beat there as well. My partner is the Bishokukai's~" Before he could fit in his last word, Chin came crashing through the temple. He landed on the ground in front of Granny Chiyo and powered up. The sight of her fighting alongside the Bishokukai was something that clearly upset the man. The shreds of his shirt flew in the wind as his muscles ripped through. She was amazed as she looked at the man. She knew he was powerful, but nothing like this. He scooped out the rock beneath the woman and began to take the fight elsewhere. As he flew away, in all bad sportsmanship, Granny Chiyo pierced the man's chest and Shuu's voice echoed, "Master!" Éclair put her hands over her face, "What's happening?" The Scum Beast continued to terrorize the people and things were getting too hectic for her. The blond girl screamed out, "Everybody stop!' Her voice carried throughout the temple and even to parts of the Lost Forest itself. "I just can't handle this anymore." Before she completely had a nervous breakdown, she felt a powerful and familiar energy. The girl stood back up and turned around to see a long haired Toriko. "Sorry I'm late Éclair." She smiled and ran to the man. Like second nature, she jumped up on the man and wrapped her arms around him tightly. He embraced her as well and looked around, "Strange. Even with all of this tragedy, I still find myself appreciating."
The man looked up and saw that Chin had now locked himself in his Spoon Dome with Granny Chiyo. Not before long, the Scum Beast made its way over to them. Shuu yelled out, "Be careful Toriko! It has no useless movements. It is a beast made up of other ferocious beasts, one of those being something that knows a technique similar to Food Honor." The girl jumped down from her partner and backed away. The bluenette looked down, "Bishokukai huh? Normally I'd find myself snapping, but not after learning Food Honor." He grabbed his hair, "It seems the Bubble Fruit grew out my hair." He began to cut into it and let the loose strands fly away in the wind. "With Food Honor, I find myself eliminating the useless energy that anger creates. I just find myself being grateful. ~Knife!" He chopped into the large beasts arm and cut it into fine pieces. "Spiked Punch." The beast flew back from the force of the blow and who knows how many times that was. Éclair raised her eyebrows, "So that is the power of Food Honor." "I don't know how many that was, but I feel like I can do more." Before the praise could continue, the Spoon Dome opened and down fell Master Chin. Everyone stood in shock as his bloody body hit the ground. The old woman spoke, "You have gratitude? Try and appreciate this situation!"
She jumped down onto the man's injured body, "Go ahead, try to appreciate this!" Her snicker was enough to spark a rage inside Éclair. She couldn't even hold a candle to Granny Chiyo in a fight, so she knew this was not her battle. Toriko spoke, "You bitch~" Éclair gasped, it was so unlike Toriko to use such fowl language, and especially toward another person. Chin looked toward the man, "Calm yourself Toriko, it'll upset your Food Honor." The woman laughed, "Your Food Honor got in disarray from your emotions Chin-chan." The man struggled to speak, "When I heard why you went with the Bishokukai I couldn't hide my agitation."
The woman rolled her eyes, "Shut up and die. Take that Food Honor with you as well." Her eyes turned to Toriko, "Now then Bishokuya Toriko. Since you inherited Food Honor as well I'll have to make you disappear." Shuu yelled, "Toriko, Éclair run! I'll buy you two some time! Just go!" Toriko shook his head, "This is an opponent that you couldn't even buy one second of time with in terms of raw power. I think she's on par with Granny Setsu." Chiyo laughed, "Ah Setsuno, I may have to fight her as well. The swing of my knife is said to be worth 100 million, or National Treasure class." Toriko shook his head, "When an abomination swings a knife it is not worth as single yen." Without warning Toriko used his Fork Shield. He blocked an attack that was completely unseen. It was so fast that it only looked like Toriko blocked an attack that was never thrown. The man looked over at Éclair and Shuu, "Get everyone away from here!"
The two ran over to Chin and got the man away from the fight. The showdown was so intense. Everything was happening so quickly. Toriko threw one attack after another until her defense was completely down. The two went toe to toe head on and clashed. All Éclair could do is hope that Granny Chiyo would falter. The woman licked her bloody lips as her knives shattered. She took out a beautiful custom made knife and prepared to attack Toriko. Before they could go head on again, Ootake yelled, "Chiyo-san that's enough! He's here to get us!" Everyone's attention turned as a gargantuan beast approached. The brown haired man turned to Éclair, "Let me introduce you to my combo partner Éclair." Aboard was a GT Robot whose identity was unknown. The operator spoke "Cold water of old age will shorten your life span. Stay right where you are old woman. The goal has already been accomplished, there is no need to stay here any longer. Let's go back to the Gourmet World." Immediately Éclair tensed up from hearing that voice. Ootake spoke, "Éclair, Toriko, remember this. The one who will eat God is the Bishokukai's boss Midora-sama. ~And the one who will cook it is his combo partner, me." The girl's eyes intensified. "Eventually it will be clear to you who is in a better combo Éclair." He walked to Granny Chiyo and picked her up. The man jumped up on the bird they flew in on and advanced toward their ride. "Polish your skills as a chef or else there will be no value in defeating you."
The girl pointed at the man, "Lose to you!? I told you not to make this into a rivalry, but you went and did it anyway Ootake! I have come to realize that this cycle of you hurting me is never ending, but I have hardened my heart. There are many things you can do Ootake, but hurting me and winning is something you cannot! I won't lose to you! I will not lose!" "I'm looking forward to it Éclair. I can now understand why you were cold to me earlier after seeing the Bishokuya Toriko. It all makes sense. I will see you again at the main stage of food, Gourmet World." The GT Robot looked over at Toriko, "Let's meet at the Cooking Festival." After those words, the large beast flew off and left the Shokurin Temple in the dust. Shuu came over, "That was a Big Bang Shark, an supremely powerful creature." Éclair couldn't hear anymore. Tears rolled down her face as she dropped to her knees. She yelled to the sky, "Why does it have to be like this!? Huh!? I loved you Take-chan! You were my best friend, my fellow chef, and my first love! I hate you, you bastard! I hate you so much! I hate you!" Toriko knelt to on the ground and wrapped his arms around the girl. "He looked like he was directly injected with Gourmet Cells. If he was really all that you say he was, then you need to prove him wrong with your cooking and my strength." She nodded and looked into the man's eyes, "You're right. Let's beat him Toriko. Let's prove him wrong." "You'll be alright Éclair, but I'm not so sure about my strength."
The girl backed away, "What do you mean?" "Those new GT Robots. I could feel that man's strength without omission." The blond girl sighed, "I just have so many questions. Like, why did he form a combo with Ootake, and why did Granny Chiyo join the Bishokukai?" Chin grunted, "I can answer that." Shuu watched as the man coughed up blood, "Please don't speak Master." "Please let me through." A new and familiar voice was heard. It was Chiru coming over. She held up her knives, "It's alright. I have revitalizing kitchen knives. I'll use the dark technique. The woman put her knives to his injuries and began to heal them with each slice. She looked around, "Now we need nutrients. Are there any off the temple's treasures nearby? The Bubble Fruit?" Toriko held a large sum in his arms, "Will this be enough?" Chiru nodded, "That's plenty." She held the fruit to the man's mouth, "Please eat them as you are." The man consumed the fruit and Éclair raised her eyebrows. "That dark technique is really amazing. But why is it deemed 'dark' if it does such good?" Chiru looked at the girl, "The IGO is concerned it could disturb the circulation of food. If one used the technique, they could eat any food indefinitely." "And you can use it to heal people as well?" The woman nodded, "Yes. But unfortunately~ It cannot restore lives that have already been lost."
"The revival of the dead. That is why Granny Chiyo defected to the Bishokukai." Everyone looked at Chin as he spoke. The man looked down, "Bubble Fruits~ It was a dish Granny Chiyo was best at." Shuu spoke, "Why? Why was she defected to the Bishokukai?" Chin sighed, "The 8th hidden ingredient on Acacia's Full Course Menu. It was something that even I was not aware of. It has the power of revival of the dead. She wanted it because the death of her son. She kept track of how old he'd be even to this day. It agitated me because~ it was my son as well." Toriko frowned, "Is there really an ingredient like that on Acacia's menu?" "I don't know. There are 7 items on the menu that Acacia was said to have sealed away. The 8th, hors d'oevers was not on that list. It is a known fact that Acacia intentionally hid the ingredient himself. One can only guess, but perhaps God is not the only ingredient they are after. I am already transmitting the details of this event to the IGO's 0th Biotope." Toriko cocked his head confusingly, "0th Biotope?" "Yes, it is a secret facility in the Gourmet World where ingredient research, invention, and sometimes Nitro surveillance take place. There are less than 20 members that are very powerful people picked by the president himself."
As the sun came up over the horizon, Toriko looked at his partner, "It seems like we should probably be getting a move on." Shuu bowed, "Don't worry you two, we'll get this place rebuilt with the strength we still have." Chin pushed up his glasses, "Make sure you don't forget the Food Honor you've learned you two." Éclair nodded, "We won't" "Farewell Toriko and Éclair." The girl smiled, "Wow, I thought it was a fluke the first time, but he actually remembered!" Shuu chuckled, "That's amazing, he still even gets our names wrong."
The two finally left the Lost Forest and Éclair looked down at the sea of trees, "Hard to believe a few months ago we were eating a giant sushi right in this very spot. It may have been a short amount of time, but I feel like I have grown so much~ and still~ it seems like our adventure is not even close to ending."