AN:
Komatsu's disappearance, contest in Grill stadium, and To the Back world
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Blue Grill Blues:
Usako went in search of Komatsu after she noticed he just vanished between their introduction to Food Spirits, and notice of cooking contest. To finding him she would go with a bit of help. First was a mask similar to what Spirit possessed people wore upon her face while she moved. Attention she drew from the 'Five 10-shells' of Blue Grill had her asking how they were enjoying her father's gift. The book titled 'Marilyn's Pot' was brought up by Asarudy giving Usako extra mind. Second was the trained Muddog on a leach a harness completely made of woven together seaweed. The fish acted as a perfect Seeing Eye dog for Usako as she walked through Blue Grill. Guides her straight to the slum part of Blue Grill being Port City where Komatsu's scent was strongest.
To Chaco's doorstep she was taken by and to find a barely alive body sitting outside door. Not that she was bothered to carry conversation with him since he looked right to her when she stepped up. Saying behind her mask was that of a Food Spirit of great beauty within her. Was something the Nitro would want among their slaves that were once their ancestors of Blue Grill. This only stirred feelings Usako had of a certain Nitro had about keeping her as a pet. She could only roll her eyes at him ready to correct him on that event almost happening to her. If Komatsu didn't stumble out the door wearing clothes her son wore to bed or when he trained. Asking about some boy named Chaco he had spent most of the night and yesterday with.
"Did I miss something?" Was all Usako said before she was filled in on a LONG story.
Left Komatsu to be by Usako and they had somewhere to since everyone was worried about him. He was given time to change and a history lesson from the man about where Chaco's disappearance. Something that involved a form of trading that had to do with one's soul do to handicap or defect. That didn't sit well with Usako while Komatsu listened carefully to every detail about Chaco. One of these facts came in the form Chaco's mother going slowly blind and secret she kept. Led to Usako witnessing an angry Komatsu re-heat sop he made last night for him and Chaco. While two cups was given to she and the Seeing Eye dog she was currently using while old man talked.
Location of where Chaco was taken was something Usako could do for Komatsu after old revealed it. Who left with a disturbing warning toward Usako's own blindness being her own down fall here (if she was discovered). Only got him another eye roll from her had Komatsu remembering her own handicapped. This she dismissed reminding him where they need to be somewhere an hour ago.Good bye to the old man they went before making they're way to Shell Mountain. Bringing up the same old subject that old man brought up about Usako's lack of sight being a problem. Got Komatsu an eye roll from Usako followed by her running one of her hands through her hair.
"I didn't get this way because of some something my Gourmet cell Demon lacked." She comes to explain her handicapped. "I got this way do to the injury; I received when I was here with my father…."
She told Komatsu about the momentin theGourmet World that her father couldn't save her from. Something she hasn't come to tell Coco about how she actually came to lose two of her five senses. Involving her and angry Poison Spike Turtle in an attack that ended with her temporary died. To only came face to face with a food spirit known as Judge of the Afterlife.
"He made it clear I wasn't ready to die and would be stripped of two of senses upon returning to her my father's side." Usako recalled Ika's warning.
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Watching the match between Condor Window and Yuda was a sight that Usako was glad she didn't have to see. Not that she didn't smirk when the two augured over age with Yuda being considered a brat. See she wasn't even half his age and had spent most of her summer as a teen. Working at the second Biotope the IGO ran learning to knock or prepare marine life from many experts. Not that she was going to be one of the five chef representing the human world in this contest (she decline the offer).
She enjoyed being the company of 10-shells as a woman instead of an absent minded teen age girl. Taking a few compliments on being humanoid version of a mermaid beside her matured beauty. Even explaining the slight expending region of her waist line that indicated she had child. Had her bragging about her son and how he was so much like her father and grandfather at his age. Going as far as to show off the picture of her son held within her locket around her neck. Not like she was going to reveal who the father was when his hair color was pointed out. Ended up with her blushing like she was meeting Asarudy for the first time (when she a teenage her stood beside her father those centuries ago). Ended with her trying to calm or cool down her self down.
"One of those times I am Glad Coco isn't here." She mumbles to her self.
Fling she shared with Asarudy was of a platonic nature since Ichiryuu didn't allow any physical to happen. Left Usako to teeter back and fourth in her seat enjoying the whole view she hadn't seen since Cooking Festival. Noting she would have to pull Coco aside and show him how much he was missed. She missed the feeling of how he would embrace her in her naked form when they're alone.
"Is everything alright?" Don Slime would ask Usako, noticing her behavior.
"Remembering when I had bad table manners." Usako straighten out in her seat. "Thinking about Ichiryuu's grandson."
"I heard you sent him and your manservant out fetch something." Don Slime pointed out they were missing.
Usako wasn't to tell Don Slime what or why she sent out her son and Flourite away from Blue Grill. Knowing fully well they were both missing out on the events that were determining their world's fate. Not that she wanted them to see how she would get when being around a community made of seafood. Knowing most of her full course was made of everything fished out of the ocean.
"Let's just say they're already doing something." She answered grasping her locket.
"I most ask, you planning on having anymore?" Don Slime's question had her interest peaked.
The conversation that seemed from that would take up most their time as contest progressed for them. Roar that filled the arena from the lungs of MANY masked and unmasked people was stimulating. To the point, that far off in the abyss of Black Triangle where darkest of the dark water was. Only a soft light from the natural glow of an Angler Bish's own lantern attach to its head. Guiding it and the passengers to back to the surface where Shell King of Area King rules. Some how that spirit that was boiling with the Grill Stadium made its way to one of these passengers. Who was currently attending to rusted piece of metal within a large fish bowl of cleaning solution. He would leave alone when a sensation of being in a crowd started to fill him in strange matter. Making his way to a sleeping Lexxion tuckered away in a sunken area of the room. Warm tissues that made up the actual surface of the bed he was in naturally warmed the teen.
Left Flourite to join him, by lying on top of the covers after discarding most of his outer wear and boots. Stretched out so he could place his head on the pillow and watch Lexxion slowly move in his sleep. Ended up with the teen snuggling up to elder's side while both ignored a shift happening. Since Flourite would end up asking Lexxion if he was ready for what was going to follow after this. That the metal object they plucked from the depths of the Black Triangle was for his mother. A piece of jewelry she threw into Black Triangle after losing her since of smell and taste. Something his mother needed since the stirring of her Gourmet cell Devil started since they step foot here.
"Why would I?" Lexxion yawns. "I am getting to experience something I only heard about from grandpa."
"You're seeing parts of me that I haven't been ready to show you since our first encounter." Flourite worriedly spoke.
"I kind of like your Green Oni." Lexxion mumbles.
"Green Oni?" Flourite asked rather amused by his Gourmet cell Devil nickname.
Teen ended up explaining what your elder lover appearance when his Gourmet cells are active was a speech. Way the man's skin turned green and thicken to the point it looked like bark from a tree. Hair on top of his hand turns into blades of Buffalo Grass while the rest took on a most flora form.
"Your musk turns into this alluring sweet smell." Lexxion crawled out from under the sheets. "Reminds me of smells my parents' poisons produce."
"How a flower allures insects and other creatures?" Flourite scoops up against bed's head board.
Flourite ended up watching Lexxion crawl his way over to his clothed form with a smirk on his face. Positioning him-self just above elder's waist line in a straddling position that with comfortable for him. Making sure to slowly place his hands atop of the elder's chest to find his balance when making clear eye connect.
"Thought you were asleep?" Flourite would ask as he watched Lexxion. "We're going to miss the cooking contest."
"Seen one, seen them all." Lexxion mumbled as he shrugs.
"Ever heard of being opened minded when it comes to new cultures?" Flourite reminds Lexxion.
Lexxion rolled his eyes at his Combo Partner at the point the elder was trying to make with him after what they been through. One of these points that Flourite was trying to make was about where they were. Lexxion was first of his generation to even step foot into the Gourmet World with his Four Kings. Feasting upon a few items of his great-grandfather's full course that he helped or witnessed gathered. Each bite awoke a part of his Gourmet cell Devil to the point a new aspect was always waking. People Lexxion met along the way expended his world by leaps and showed the diversity. Members that's made up the Hex Food Knights within the Hex Food World was a memory. He still couldn't get over coming the face to face with five 10-shell cooks was still fresh.
"Fine your right?" Lexxion huffs. "I am missing out on cooking contest."
Tee ended up pressing palms of his hands down in Flourite's chest in a harsh matter as he sulks. Ended up completely ruining the ruin whatever mood that Lexxion started to stir up between them. Not that the elder was bothered by the youth's attempt to get some recreational activity. Since he knew that their travels hadn't damped the teen's sexual attraction toward him.
"Want to cuddle?" Flourite asked knowing Lexxion was to upset to do anything.
Lexxion ended up nodding as his head started to droop downward at what he just said out loud. Had Flourite reaching up with one of his hands and lightly place his fingers on Lexxion's chin, and slide upward. Touch had Lexxion pushing his legs backward so he could still be on top of Flourite. Snuggling up to one of elder's right side in the warm tissues that made up the actual surface of the bed.
"I am not disappointed." Flourite assures Lexxion. "This time between us is enough for me."
"Not helping." Lexxion couldn't look up.
"Let's get some sleep for what lays ahead of us." Flourite wraps an arm around Lexxion.
He ended up drawing the teen close enough to his body allowing the long due sensation of slumber to settle in. Watching the teen's breath slow as his eyes closed and his movement becomes limited. Was a sight for Flourite, as he just laid back and looked toward the ceiling of this bedroom.
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Masks the people of Blue Grill wear was something Lexxion was still trying to understand in his own way. Trying to understand the possessed bodies wear these masks for protection of living world are light. Urchins are worn by what are labeled as the weak soul as protection charms. These Urchins are found as something certain peoples wear or apart of their home décor. A form Soul Trade takes place during the night, forcing weak and disable civilians of the Blue Grill to surrender their bodies. To a Food Spirits, that would end up using the body for some project. This didn't Lexxion even after witnessing these spirits swarm around him and whispering aloud. Saying how he was combination of a Lethal, Deadly poison and a hive mind of great beauty.
"I Am My Own Person!" Was Lexxion's answer to these spirits. "So Buzz Off!"
This earned an Urchin charm of his very own from Flourite, in the form of a brooch pin he would end up wearing. This seem to lessen the attraction he had when explored Blue Grill with one of his mom's pets. He didn't know where she collected this see slug crossed with horse shoe crab. Just the spiked tail was just one of the many features he was never going to get over about this thing.
"What did mom name your again?" Lexxion wished he remembered.
All he got was a side wards glace from this thing while he followed it where he was being led to. Not like he wanted to be there when those Gourmet Knights volunteered to get cooking materials. Some items from the 7 beasts of the Black Triangle that would used to enter the Back Channel. All had to take place within amount time since time is said to flow differently within those 7 beats. Leaving him to stay with his mother and Flourite off to the side and watch everything. Not even being present when Don Slime personally took Usako deep underground in 'Eternity' kitchen. To the royal room where copies from any where on Earth were made using his own cells. There she would witness the creating of her father's body piece by piece within a pool of black goo. She tried to not cry when she looks upon Don Slime and his work on her father's shell from where she sat. Not knowing the same wish she would make in wanting to eat one last meal with him. Also saying how proud of Lexxion he should be after the teen been through so much already.
Before placing what looked like a strange hair ornament within the strands of her hair she had braided. Cleaned metal that was now worn in her hair was one few gifts given to her from her father. Shape it took was a Tiara that a queen would wear with a strange stone embedded in metal. Rest of this head piece was missing pieces that needed more nimble hands to attach it. Where she would return to the surface and welcome the return of the Gourmet Knights with everyone. To only watch in silence, as the craftsman from her world and 'Five 10-shells' of Blue Grill work side by side. Seeing the energy that the Gourmet Knights, Craftsman, and 'Five 10-shells' put into this. Had her wishing she could do more then stand off to the side and watch from the side lines.
"You could go with them." Flourite suggested to Usako.
"We both have already faced Judge of the Afterlife." Usako looked to Flourite.
Speaking of Ika during their death experiences was something the two rarely even brought up. Flourite had faced the Soul Saiseiya twice in his long life before he came to even work for IGO and Usako. First time he came to came with Ika was when the Vampire Kong that killed his family. Almost crushed him to death and left him on the borderline between life and death. Where he was told his time hadn't come and was sent back to the world of the living by Ika that very minute. Second time was during the years when he went crazy and lived in the underground of Gourmet World. Using high level capture beasts as his personal lab rats to forbidden plants. Resulted in lab explosion and him coming face to face with Ika with a madness about him. To be sent back again and put away behind bars where he got medical care while reflecting on his life. Usako's only time to meet Ika was when her sence of taste and smell were taken from her. Ika told her of the long road she needed to take in order to get her missing sense back.