Lunamugetsu: I do not own Toriko

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"Make sure to to cut the meat into bite size pieces. Don't forget to wear your gloves too," Kimiko instructed the members of the Gourmet Mafia.

"Kimiko-san, I've prepared your pot of water," Takimaru pointed to the pot of water that was currently being warmed by the portable stove that it was placed on.

"Thank you, Takimaru-san. I'll be there in a moment." The gourmet knight nodded and then went to sit right next to the Gourmet King that was currently holding a baby wall penguin at arms length as to not get pecked at.

"I'd never thought I'd see this sight," Toriko said as he and Takimaru watch Kimiko advising Match and his subordinates on cutting up the meat, "A Gourmet Yakuza taking orders from a civilian chef."

"I guess even the yakuza know the importance of food and the people who prepare them," Takimaru said as the two men watched the yakuza members place their cut up meat on the large plate for Kimiko to cook.

"Thanks, you can clean up and sit over there with Toriko-san and Takimaru-san. I'll finish the rest," She told them as the yakuza men complied.

"Man, it sure is surprising," Ram said as he sat down right next to Match with Louie and Shin sitting next to him.

"Never underestimate chefs, when it comes to food, they let nothing get in their way," Toriko told them as the pink penguin started to wiggle himself out of Toriko's grasp. The penguin chirped before waddling over to Kimiko who was placing the cut pieces of meat into the water. "By the way, Kimiko." The chef raised her head, "How did you come upon this guy anyway?" He gestured to the chirping penguin.

"Well, it's more like he found me," Kimiko said while chopping some scallions up before placing them in the pot to stew. "I was following Takimaru and Match, that was when the little guy ran into me. It really surprised me, but when I got a good look at him, I just couldn't let go." Kimiko started to gush at the penguin who was currently dancing.

"Nice to know that Kimiko has other likes than just food," Toriko muttered, looking up he smiled as Kimiko was radiating a gleeful atmosphere complete with sparkles and hearts. "You sure look happy."

"Yeah, I never really got to play with cute stuff when I was a kid," Kimiko said as she hugged the penguin who only chirped, unfazed by the contact.

"Really? I figured Miketsukami would have made sure that you were showered in that stuff, if it made you this happy."

"Miketsukami," Match repeated and looked at Toriko, " Miketsukami Soushi?"

"Yeah, you know him?" Toriko asked

"I met him a couple of times," Match shivered as he recalled the memory, "When he was working as a Gourmet SP."

"He worked as a Gourmet SP!" Toriko and Kimiko exclaimed.

"How do you not know this? He works for you!" Toriko yelled at Kimiko.

"He only told me that he did some bodyguard work before. I-I didn't think that it was because he was a Gourmet SP. Although he did mention them in a passing conversation once, I suppose I should have guessed," Kimiko muttered. "So did you met Miketsukami-kun while he was guarding someone."

"Yeah, it surprised me seeing such a young man being a bodyguard. I even confronted him, asking why he was a bodyguard."

"What did he say?" Toriko asked

"He said that he only took the job to get experience and that he was only waiting until he could fulfill his true purpose." Match told them. "So he works for you now?"

"That does sound like Miketsukami, that creepy dude," Toriko muttered while Kimiko sighed

"Miketsukami-kun works for me as a restaurant manager, he helps me in maintaining the building and making sure that everything is working properly. Although it does surprise me that he had such a bizarre career change" Kimiko explained. The pink baby penguin chirped, getting Kimiko's attention, he gestured towards the pot that was steaming. "Looks like the Silver Grizzly meat is done. Everybody line up and grab a bowl!" The group complied as they each received a bowl of food.

"It looks delicious!" Toriko exclaimed as he started to drool.

"It smells wonderful too."

"Itadakimasu!" they all said in unison

"This is great! It has the taste of white fish yet it has a juicy consistency." Toriko said while shoveling the food into his mouth.

"It really warms you up, right men!" Match said

"Yes!" his three subordinates said in unison

"Kimiko, another!" Toriko said as he presented the empty bowl.

"Already," she sighed as she handed him another serving from the pot, that was when she saw that the penguin was looking at her bowl of food. "Do you want some? Wait, can you even eat this?"

"Well, penguins usually eat seafood. But that's a baby Wall Penguin, they're an endangered species. Maybe they can only eat certain foods." Takimaru said

"Baby Wall Penguins have no sense of danger and they get attached to any living thing near, even carnivorous beasts. That's why their numbers are so low." Toriko informed them, "Although on the other hand, the parents are brutal, they're probably rampaging trying to look for him. Once they see you, they'll probably think that you've kidnapped him."

"Nah, I'll be fine," Kimiko said surprising Toriko, "They probably won't even notice me at first, and when they do finally notice me, I would've ran for the hills."

"You and your low presence!" Toriko laughed as he ruffled Kimiko's hair making her pout.

"Hehe, a baby penguin that got separated from his parents," Match got up from his seat, "That sounds like a pain. Our real journey starts here, we need to retain our strength for the crucial time."

"Alright, have a nice rest, Match."

"Yeah." the blonde man said as he went inside his tent. He sighed as he took a look at his sword. The crucial time, the time when I'll have to fight with Toriko may come. Even if I can't win, just having enough strength for a surprise attack wouldn't be good enough. I need to conserve my energy.

Toriko's focus stayed on the tent that Match had walked into, taking a breath he thought. Match's "Iai" the moment energy is exhausted from his katana his instantaneous power" In situations where more power escapes, it brings about more intense of a situation. An instant drop in power means a great increase in destructive power. However that should mean a proportional exhaustion of bodily energy and vitality for him. And to complicate the situation further, his bodily energy is stolen by this intense cold. Despite his tough appearance Match is probably feeling fatigued.

Kimiko looked at the group that were sitting around the stove. Placing the baby penguin in her lap. "Um, I've been wondering," the group looked at her, " Why did you come to get the Century Soup?" A moment of silence from her question started to make her uneasy, "I-I'm sorry, was it rude for me to ask?"

"Our home, Nerg City, have you heard of it" Louie said breaking the silence.

"A slum, the crime city that's not affiliated with the IGO." Toriko said

"That's the lawless area where ingredients prohibited from being circulated are publicly marketed isn't it?" Takimaru asked, "They say ten percent of the prisoners in Gourmet Prison are said to come from Nerg City, the criminal producing factory."

"Please," Ram said trying to make Takimaru stop, "Even if it's not the greatest place, it's still our home where we were born in."

"Match took up this request for the reward money, it would seem, but if it were just about money, selling illegal ingredients would get him a higher percentage." Toriko asked

"Of course, vice-boss plans to bring back the soup for the children there that have no families" Toriko, Kimiko, and Takimaru looked up, surprised at his statement.

"We three were all originally street children, dirty brats that had no future. Back then, the only one that answered our begging was Match. He was a already a lieutenant of the Gourmet Yakuza in those days. For us who could only survive on the scraps of food found from garbage, Match-san was the one who blessed us with a feast we'd never seen before. I never experienced a happier moment that that day."Louie said

"So the reason you guys entered the Gourmet Yakuza was because you're in his debt from that time."

"We were saved, with just a single feast, although it sounds like I'm exaggerating. We returned from being hyenas back to human beings. Match-san told us that he was just like us until he was saved by the Boss. The boss told us, 'if you want to repay your debt, don't return it to me, return it to the hungry children of the slums!'" Ram told them

"Then," Takimaru said making Ram continue with his explanation

"The ultimate evil is poverty and you can say the orphans are the biggest victims of that, because from the start, children haven't committed any sins. Even though we , the Gourmet Yakuza, are beings living in the underworld society of Nerg City are an organization much hated by the Constitutional Countries. But, the children born in Nerg City who can't even get enough food to eat, they don't comprehend the discrimination we face. Match-san always says 'What comes first is being fed, being a good person or a bad person comes after that.'"

"I believe, wanting to give the soup for children to eat is a wonderful idea. Maybe the guy who requested us, Mokkoi will understand too." Kimiko said

"We've never cared about what that old man thinks, we just wanted to know where the soup was." Louie said

"But to go as far as facing such danger for a high capture level ingredient," Takimaru said

"What about you, Takimaru?" Toriko asked getting the man's attention, "The Gourmet Knight members do know about this work right? The Century Soup, this high class food is far from the recommendations for principal food in Gourmet Doctrine but." Takimaru sighed as he knew that he was found out.

"The other members don't know about this job,"

"I knew it, I thought it was strange you were alone to begin with this work, is not the type of request they would leave to a single young new member. Didn't you even tell Ai about this?"

"I didn't tell Aimaru-san," Takimaru answered

"Why would you take this huge job alone?"

"I" Takimaru took a breath, "I need money, a lot of it. The country of healing Life. I need money to buy medicine that's sold there." Kimiko perked up at the mentioning of the healing country.

"Medicine? What kind?"

"A medicine for curing any kind of disease and illness." Takimaru explained

"So in other words helping someone" Ram said

"A medicine for curing any illness, but the Gourmet Doctrine" Toriko said

"Yes, the Gourmet Doctrine teaches that one's life should be entrusted to nature, administering man made medicines to fight against a disease is an act against the Gourmet Doctrine. But if it's the country of Healing, Life, would surely have natural medicines that won't go against the doctrine! I must!" Takimaru took deep breaths as tears streamed down his face.

"Don't worry, Takimaru-san, we'll find the soup and there's definitely medicine that follows the Gourmet Doctrine that can help your friend," Kimiko said as she offered him a handkerchief,

"I won't ask for detail, but those tears have a value that won't lose to the Century Soup Takimaru. The amount you cry is the amount needed to make you feel relieved. You guys too, when you act for someone else's sake people bring out their greatest strength. We'll all definitely get our hands on the Century Soup! I'm sure we'll find it!"

"By the way, Toriko-san," Shin asked "What reason are you trying to find the soup?"

"Huh? Isn't it obvious?" Toriko said, "It's because I want to eat it!" The men stared at Toriko, a moment of silence passed, then everyone started to laugh

"Guys, he's serious. You shouldn't laugh-ow!" Kimiko exclaimed as the penguin poked her. The penguin chirped and continued to poke her.

"Hahaha, Kimiko he's totally attached to you now, you have to take responsibility." Toriko laugh making her glare at Toriko. Gaining an idea Kimiko took the baby penguin and placed the penguin right in front of Toriko. The penguin perked up looking at the familiar blue haired face and started to peck him.

"Oi!" Toriko exclaimed in pain as the penguin kept on pecking at the blue haired man.

"Look at that Toriko-san he likes you!" Kimiko cheered making everyone laugh

"Stop that!" Toriko said as Kimiko held the penguin up so that he could peck at Toriko.

"You had it coming Toriko!" the others said as they watched Kimiko hold the pecking penguin at Toriko

While in the tent Match sighed as he listened the lively banter of the crowd outside. He gave a small laugh as he heard their talk and thought, 'Because I want to eat it' don't joke, Torko, you're doing it for that cook that's with you, Kimiko too.

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"Aren't you going to take a nap, Kimiko?" Toriko asked. The rest of the group had retired to take a quick rest before they had to venture deeper into the ice mountain.

"Nope, my body is all messed up in this environment. Plus, I could say the same for you" Kimiko sighed as she raised her arms to stretch. Toriko grinned as he saw that the pink penguin was copying her movement.

"I'm an exception, as long as I got food to eat I'm fine. What's wrong? Are you okay?" He ruffled her hair making her pout. "You know, you really worried me." Kimiko raised her head to look at Toriko's face, "When you collapsed and when you were taken."

"I'm sorry, I'm still getting used to this, being friendly with so many people." Kimiko said as she hugged the baby penguin to her chest.

"Yeah, but don't you do that all the time at work?"

"It's different when I work, the only thing people can judge when they look at your food is skill. I focus on being able to bring out the most of my ingredients to make the perfect dish for my customers to eat, in doing so communicating with my staff becomes second nature. But when it comes to interacting with new people, I get so confused, I don't really know how to act around people I've never met before. I've never really been to any social gathering with friends." the chef explained

" Well that is true, I remember when we first met, you were either emotionless or super happy." Toriko imitated the monotone voice that Kimiko used and switched to one filled with glee as he went through her emotions. Kimiko playfully whacked his arms making him laugh as he saw that she was embarrassed.

"Please don't joke with that, it gets embarrassing," Kimiko said only for Toriko to ruffle her hair.

"It's fine Kimiko, I'm totally fine with you acting however you feel, after all it makes you, you," A smile stretched across Kimiko's face as a flowery atmosphere started to surround her making Toriko raise an eyebrow, "You okay, Kimiko?"

"~yeah~" Kimiko sang as the smile continued to spread across her face, "I'm just really happy!" the chef jumped towards Toriko effectively glomping him.

"Eh!" Toriko yelled as he caught the chef on instinct. He looked at her smiling face and sighed, "Did that sentence really make you that happy?"

"Yeah!" she replied making Toriko grin back and ruffled her hair again as she snuggled into his chest.

"You know, you never answered my question." Kimiko looked up at him in confusion, "Are you okay? Having the cells be activated for so long, it has to have a toll on your body."

"I'm feeling okay, it's just, I'm not used to all of this. Being able to travel with so many people. Most of the time I'm usually on my own." She said while watching the baby penguin who was currently chirping and dancing at the same time. When she felt Toriko patting her head she raised her head to see that the blue haired man was giving her a small smile.

"It's okay Kimiko. We all have the same goal, let's work together to get it." He said making Kimiko beam at his comment. He paused as he thought about what she had said, about her usually being on her own, not knowing how to interact with new people, and the mere saying that a person is fine with how Kimiko acts sends her into such a happy mood. Toriko sat there looking at the currently smiling Kimiko that was sitting in his lap. He looked at the little chef that was a complete mystery to him, how he could spend so much time with her and yet at the same time know almost nothing about her.

"Toriko-san" she said breaking him out of his thoughts, "I'm glad that I met you."

BOOM!

The pair looked jumped to their feet as they heard the explosion in the distance. The rest of the group ran out of their tents looking disheveled from being woken up by a loud sound.

"What's happening?" Takinmaru said while fixing the wrappings around his head. He looked to see that there was smoke in the distance. "An explosion?"

"Get ready soon." Toriko said, "We're departing."

"Already?" One of Match's subordinates said

"They're enemies, I think that's likely."

"Enemies." they repeated.

"Yes, enemies that will fight us for the ingredient. This time it's probably them." The Gourmet King explained, "Let's hurry."

That's definitely the Bishokukai, They'd just barely failed to capture the Jewel Meat, so I'm sure they've invested some real fighting force this time, Toriko thought and looked at Kimiko who was advising the baby wall penguin to be quiet and keep close to her.

BOOM!

"We've have to hurry." Toriko said as the rest of the group had packed up their tents and equipment.

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BOOM!

The group continued to run as another explosion echoed through the mountain. Kimiko turned her head at the sound of the explosion but continued to follow the group as she carried the baby penguin in her arms

"It's close by," Toriko said

"You mean the Century Soup, Toriko-san?" Takimaru asked

"Yup, I can smell it!"

"Amazing even though we can't see the aurora anymore."

"I know it because I smelled the Century Soup once in Old Lady Setsu's shop once. It's probably around this underground area." Another explosion caught Toriko's attention, "Do those guys not care at all? Are they trying to go so far as to destroy the 'Show Window!'" Toriko narrowed his eyes as he saw that something was flying towards us, "Watch out, everyone! Something's coming!"

"Huh?" Kimiko managed to say before Toriko shielded her before crying out in pain as a beetle buried itself into his back.

"Toriko-san!" Kimiko cried out in alarm as she saw blood coming out of his back, then she heard Shin yell out in pain as another beetle bit into his eye.

"They're fast!" Takimaru yelled as blood squirted from his arm.

"Take this FLYING FORK!" Toriko yelled as he launched numerous attacks hoping that it would hit one of the beetles. He frowned as the beetles effortlessly dodged them and was heading for him. "KNIFE!" Toriko shouted only for the beatle to dodge and lodge itself towards his abdomen. Toriko grunted as he pulled the beatle on and sliced it in half. "Everyone be careful the these things bury inside your body."

"Die!" Shin yelled as he grabbed a beetle that had latched onto his shoulder and threw it on the ground. "Got to hell!" he grabbed a gun and shot multiple bullets into it. His eyes widened as the beetle was unharmed "The bullets aren't going through."

"Get out of the way Shin! The shells as hard as armor, you have aim for the joints!" Match said as he placed his sword directly above the beetle's head and slicing it in two.

"You got it!"

"Don't let your guard down yet!" Toriko yelled making them see that another one was heading right for them. Toriko was prepared to raise his arm only for his eyes to widen as he saw that the bug had been crushed to piece before his eyes.

"It's okay Toriko-san," Kimiko said making everyone look at her and their eyes grew wide at the array of dead crushed beetles that were lying around her. "Don't you know?" another beetle was flying at her from behind and in a second, Kimiko held her taser straight at its underbelly frying it, and in another second she had taken a bite out of the beetle leaving only its head and legs that were still wriggling even though it had no body to move. Looking back at Toriko he could see that her brown eyes had turned golden.

"Foxes eat bugs."

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Lunamugetsu: I finished! Anyway if anyone wants to know, foxes do eat bugs, I have found an article that said that even though they are omnivores, they will eat bugs if they're short on food. Anyway REVIEW!