It had been a while since she'd been at the Bishokukai Headquarters. In fact, it had been a long while. The Gourmet World was good to her, but she missed everyone, and a huge part of her wanted to head back to the Human World. Her long black dress brushed against the floor as she walked. The high split exposed her tan legs along the way. She set a bowl of food down on the table as she took a seat herself. She opened a book began to read it silently. She heard a noise coming from the other room and she knew what followed. "Hey, I thought we ought to head back to Human World. What do you think Éclair?" The woman exhaled as she closed her book, "Toriko, nothing would please me more. ~Now come eat while your food is still hot."
The man took the bowl and began to think, "It's been about a year since I got you back right?" "Best time of your life." The girl said in a playfully sarcastic tone. "I've been away from Human World for a year and a half. ~Let's see, mhmm. If my calculations are correct, once my sister is done killing me, she's start on you." The man shrugged, "What's to worry about? You were in safe hands." "Oh yes, maybe that'll ease the pain of not talking to her big sister. I'll tell her how I was in the wonderfully capable hands of the great Toriko, and how on scary nights he spooned me and told me princess stories. ~Which I really enjoyed. Thank you for that story about Princess Bleu Fire. ~Very original." The man sighed, "Your disdain is beyond me sometimes. ~But to be honest, I'm worried about the Human World." She looked out the window, "I'm worried about the Gourmet World. Everything in this damn place has me on edge! We need to go back to our families and friends. ~I wasn't kidding about the princess stories by the way. That was probably one of my favorite parts about being here."
The woman stood up and walked to the man's side, "How are we getting this outta here?" He scarfed down the rest of his food, "We just need to make it easier to transport." The man cut down the tree they were in and exposed them to the wilds of the Gourmet World. Look how easy it is to move now." She gave the man a playful punch on the arm, "You're a good person, you know that Toriko. This is gonna help a lot of people." She smiled as she poked at the man's face, "~You sure you wanna go back to Human World looking like a caveman? ~What's with that crap all over your face. ~and you wonder why I haven't kissed you~"
He rubbed his chin, "I guess I have gotten a bit scruffy. ~No matter how many times I cut my hair it just seems to grow back so fast." The man gave himself a quick haircut and shave. "What about you?" She flipped her hair in the wind, "What about me? My hair is fine." She began to tug on her long mane, "I guess I do kind of look like Rapunzel. But it makes me look so feminine." ~Cut it Toriko! Not past the~" "Done." Her eyes looked angrily at the man, "What the hell!? I didn't want it this short! I wanted it to at least reach my mid back! This doesn't even touch my shoulders! People better not start thinking I'm a boy again or I'm gonna be really upset! You are the worst barber ever. Next time I am going to Pen." Toriko quickly messed the girl's hair up with both of his hands, "It has been too long since I could tangle your short hair! I like it!"
She swatted the man away and attempted to slick back her intertwined mess of hair. "Glad to know you hated me with my long hair. ~Anyway, there are more pressing issues at hand. How are we gonna get these ingredients to Human World?" "We're gonna carry them." The woman laughed deeply and honestly. "That was so great! You always know how to get a laugh out of me. No wonder I haven't gotten bored with you over the past year. Okay now seriously. What's the plan?" "We've gotta carry it on our backs. It wasn't a joke." She exhaled forcefully, "I've got an idea! How about you carry the food on your back, and also carry me as well!?" He rolled his eyes, "Come on Éclair. Let's get going."
The plan was set and they were on their way back to Human World. Excitement was the only thing Éclair could feel when heading back. She missed her sister dearly and wanted nothing more than to see her face and bright smile. The woman carried a large amount of food on her back, but nothing compared to what Toriko was carrying. She got out her prized knife and prepared herself for a delicious rain of blessings. As Toriko set the food down the ingredients began to hail upon Human World. Éclair pulled out her frying pan and began to quickly cook up a hearty meal. She walked over to a hungry little boy and gave him the plate of delicious food. "Here you go honey. Eat up." The crowd began to surround both she and her partner. Everyone was so excited to see actual food again. It was both a blessing and a miracle. The blond smiled, "Well, well, well. Looks like Human World missed us after all."
The two were called a short while later to the first biotope. Toriko and Éclair stood in the research laboratories head office waiting to be spoken to. "Wait a second. You called us here Chief? " Mansam laughed, "Not anymore! It's Pres~" "Wow! It's so nice to see you all!" Éclair yelled out in joy. The 3 Kings walked in happy to see the two. Zebra walked over to the girl, "You had me thinking you died in the Gourmet World. If you did I would have chased after you to hell and turned you into minced meat!" The girl waved her hand dismissively, "Hey, well it's a good thing I lived huh?" Sunny pointed at the girl, "Muffin! Have you gotten more chiseled?" She flexed her arms, "Well, yeah! I've been working out! ~And by working out I just mean cooking like a housewife." Sunny raised his eyebrows, "Cooking like a housewife, or cooking like an actual wife?" Her eyes glanced over at Toriko, "Mmm, nope. I haven't gotten a proposal. We've just been sadly living in sin. ~Anyway! Besides that, you wouldn't believe what happened to me during the time I was gone." Sunny nodded, "It seems like a lot happened to you." Toriko looked over at the group, "It looks like nothing has happened in Human World though."
Before the conversation could continue, the office doors opened again. "No, no, I'm fine." That voice immediately drew the attention of Éclair. In walked Rin, and beside her was a crippled Vanilla. The green haired girl used a cane to help her into the room. Éclair's eyes couldn't be taken off of the girl as she was heavily dependent on the walking stick. What exactly was she looking at? "Nilly?" The girl smiled, "Welcome back nee-chan." Her eyes traced down to Vanilla's legs. "What happened Vanilla? Why do you need~ that?" The girl shook her head, "It's not as bad as it looks. ~But if you really need to know, it was the Meteor Spice that rained down on Human World. I was on a train leaving Cooking Island and we were hit. The heavy wreckage messed up my legs pretty good but I'm thankful that I can even walk now. ~Actually, I'm thankful to even be alive. I am still getting rehabilitated, but the progress I've made is great. For the first couple of months I couldn't even walk at all." Éclair walked over and hugged her sister, "I am so sorry Vanilla. I'm sorry this happened to you, and I'm sorry I couldn't be there to help you get through this." Vanilla grabbed the girl's hand, "Don't worry, I had a lot of support." The blond rubbed her sister's hand. "I love you so much Vanilla, but can I ask you just one question?" She lifted the girl's hand, "What the hell is this!? You're married!?"
"A lot has happened in the year and a half you've been gone. You NOT being married is a surprise to me." Éclair rolled her eyes, "What is up with this marriage subject anyway!? Did everyone really expect me to come back with a ring on my finger!?" "Not everyone~" Rin said as she took her standoffish stance. The girl was being awfully quiet and that was a bit surprising. She wasn't running to Toriko, and she also didn't even say hello to Éclair. Was her love for Toriko truly that deep? Either way, she wanted to get off the subject of she and Toriko's relationship so long as she was here. She didn't want her to feel uncomfortable in any way. "So who's my brother in law? I have a good guess, but just tell me anyway." "You already know it Clair. It's Tylan. ~I have to thank you for~ pushing me into him that one day. If that never happened I wouldn't have mustered the courage to talk to him."
Éclair rubbed her chin, "I'll need to have a proper interrogation with him sometime soon. You guys got hitched pretty quickly." She poked her sister's stomach, "No buns in the oven or anything right? I don't want to be surprised with a random niece or nephew." She shook her head, "No. I don't want a child growing up in this time. Until it is over, that will have to wait. ~You?" Éclair put a hand over her face, "Of course not! Is this what everyone thought we were doing the Gourmet World? ~Getting married and baby making? ~Didn't we come here for something specifically? We should probably leave now."
As everyone made their way toward the door, Éclair felt a hand grab her arm. She turned to see it was Rin. The blond sighed, "What's up Rin? If you want to slap me again I understand. I won't slap you back. I did kind of lie to your face about Toriko. So go ahead. ~I won't even flinch if you'd like." The girl shook her head, "I just wanted to say~ If you break his heart I'll~" "I won't. Trust me. That's the last thing I could ever imagine doing." The girl sighed, "When you were gone he was depressed for weeks, and it took a lot to get his head back straight. Don't ever make him feel like that again." The woman nodded, "I won't. Never again." Was that why she was being so silent? It seemed like she actually accepted the relationship, but on a condition. Whatever the case, she was just happy to be back in Human World, but their journey to save it was only beginning.