"D-Dino! Slow down!" you yelled after the wyvern, running behind the joyful beast.

"(y/n)-chan, didn't you bring the leash?" Komatsu wondered.

He sweatdropped at the sight of you chasing your new pet and friend through the Gourmet Carriage. Also known as the Deluxe Carriage, it's a luxury vessel that takes passengers on a trip around the Human World. It can last to approximately two years, and moves over World Connect by being drawn by two Giga Horses. To get on, you need to make a reservation five years in advance. But it's worth the wait.

Now, how exactly did you get on this trip? Well, the answer was simple: Komatsu invited you on his journey out. You learned a lot of things in the past month, with the young chef becoming the Combo Partner of the legendary Toriko after they went to the Vegetable Sky in search for the King of Vegetables, the Ozone Herb. Komatsu even got himself a new knife from Melk the Second, who became a close friend of his after they shared the Melk Stardust together. On your part, you also learned some things about your new pet.

Returning from your trip to your hometown after you obtained a Thunder Egg and gave it to your father (who was beyond delighted), you decided to do as Coco told you and examine the wyvern with the help of IGO. Not only they made an incredible discovery, but it seems that you have unknowingly revived an extinct species of the Derous family. A type of hybrid between the thunderbirds and the powerful dragons that once roamed the world in a distant past.

They called it Thunderous Wyvern (pun intended, from what those guys in the laboratory told you), with an unmeasured capture level. On this condition and level of expertise, it was impossible to figure out the real capture level, but Rin told you she was working on that. For the moment, you were left to take care of Dino and you have a hard time in doing it. This little guy was worst than an excitable child, always full of energy and running around the kitchens.

"Komatsu, you know I have mixed feelings with the leash!" you said over your shoulder. "I don't like the idea of chaining him when he should be free-DINO! IT'S NOT YOUR PLATE!"

The wyvern was currently eating down a whole bowl of exotic foods and fishes, under the horrified gazes of an old couple. You don't know how much time you kept apologizing for Dino's behavior, bowing at every given time that it almost became a reflex or a habit. Your friend deadpanned at the sight of you pulling the wyvern backward, with lots of efforts since the beast was stronger than you.

Dino finally calmed down after hours of chasing, and turned back into his usual peaceful persona by resting on your back like a koala, wings wrapped around your shoulders. You released a breath of exhaustion, back slumping forward as you hung your head low.

"I feel like I'm taking care of a baby" you whined, earning a smile from Komatsu.

"In a way, he is a baby. But I'm pretty sure it won't take long before he grows up" he told you.

"Yeah, and then I will have to take care of a big baby..."

"Komatsu! (y/n)!"

The three Heavenly Kings came walking down from the lower deck, having finished their meals at the luxurious restaurant one level below. Toriko waved at you two with a big smile, followed by Sunny who huffed about how your pet was acting in a gross way by being too loud and disturbing the serenity.

You refused to meet Coco's eyes, knowing that if you did you would start to overheat in embarrassment just by remembering the peck on the cheek you gave him. Unknown to you, his two comrades in arms seem to have catch on the invisible tension and kept prodding the fortune teller to tell them everything.

"Ne, Coco...Close to your (y/n)-chan?" Toriko would exaggerated a wink in the Gentleman's direction, giving a knowing smile. "She's free, you know?"

"I don't know what you are talking about" answered back Coco without batting an eye, but the glutton knew that he was a bit irked by the question.

"Please, Toriko. I'm sure that Usagi has more taste than going for poisonous men" Sunny scoffed, taking a sip of his crystal wine. "No hard feelings"

"No harm done" sighed Coco, already used to the elegant man's snarky comments about his condition.

"Come on, Sunny! It's obvious!"

"And you're obviously an idiot..."

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"

This memory made Coco momentarily scowl, knowing that it was useless to deal with Toriko when he has an idea in his head. As for Sunny, his retorts weren't really helping his case.

The five of you took a walk on the upper deck of the coach, enjoying the sun and the fresh air, with the salty sense of the ocean close to you.

"By the way, where are you getting off at, Sunny-san?" you wondered, staring at the colored Heavenly King.

"It's not for sightseeing, but I'm going to the forest that leads to the Sanzu Road on the Wak Continent" he answered.

"The road that leads to Gourmet World?" Coco arched an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're going to Gourmet World?"

"No, I ain't doing somethin' stupid like that. I'm just making a li'l stop to meet a certain man"

"There's only one human on the Sanzu Road. It's a journey that even you won't be able to make using normal means, Sunny" the Gentleman warned with a frown.

"So where're you going, pray tell?" shouted back Sunny, eyeing Coco.

"In about two months I'll be stopping near Jidar Kingdom"

"Jidar? Look at the pot calling the kettle black!" the man accused.

"Isn't that the extraterritorial region that's not affiliated with the IGO where Gourmet Crime runs rampant?" Toriko wondered with a raised brow.

"Y-You two sure sound like you're going on some less than ordinary trips..." Komatsu sweated.

"Are you an idiot, Matsu? You three are going to the most dangerous place of all!" said Sunny.

"Ah, that's right...It is Gourmet Pyramid after all..."

"No! Before that!"

"...Before that?" you echoed, confused.

"This coach doesn't go all the way to the pyramid in the first place" told Coco.

"Toriko-san, what're they talking about?!" Komatsu demanded to his partner, who was doing his very best in ignoring him.

"Look at that! A Pure-Gold Whale!" the Gourmet Hunter exclaimed when said animal leaped from the sea at the horizon. "Awesome!"

"Toriko-san! In what hell did you bring me in again?!" you yelled exasperatedly, before shaking your friend's shoulders. "Why did you invite me?!"

"Ididn'twanttobealone!" answered quickly the young man, becoming dizzy by all the shaking.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! YOU HAVE TORIKO"

"You both will find out eventually" Toriko grinned at the two of you.

"When is 'eventually'?!" you shouted in unison with Komatsu.

"Should be tomorrow"

"T-TOMORROW?!"

Toriko stayed silent on your destination through all the journey. Even if you kept bugging him into telling you or Komatsu, that man didn't say anything. You passed the rest of your day sunbathing at the pool with Dino, a bit irritated of the silent treatment the Gourmet Hunter was giving you on important matter.

"I hope it isn't another place where I need to make my will beforehand..." you huffed, folding your arms on top of your chest.

"Skyawk?" croaked Dino, poking your cheek with his beak in curiosity.

"No. It's not lunch time. Yet"

"Skyawk!"

"Don't take this tone with me, young man!"

A laugh resonated behind you, and you looked over your shoulder to see Coco taking a seat in a long chair next to yours.

"I see that the two of you get along well" he said, and you quickly stared down at your laps.

"Y-Yeah, even though he can be difficult..." you stammered. "I was worried about how I would feed him, but it ended up fairly easy. He eats anything"

"Well, as long as he's healthy..." Coco trailed, petting the head of Dino who purred.

The male grinned while the wyvern paraded, liking the attention he was receiving as the beast nestled in the Heavenly King's laps. His attention elsewhere, you took this time to admire once more this handsome man. How what is possible for a man such like him to exist?

Your heart continued to throb as your eyes trailed to observe the way Coco stylized his hair (who was a bit longer than before) to rest of his smooth lips. You wondered if they felt the same way as they looked.

"Are you coming?" Coco's voice pulled you out of your thoughts, and you let out an unintelligible sound. "The others are waiting for us at the terrace for dinner"

"Oh, yes! Come, Dino..."

The five of you met back at the terrace where there was many buffets that contained different types of meats and vegetables. Both Toriko and Komatsu were drooling a lot, and couldn't wait to dig in. However, your dinner was soon disturbed by familiar faces.

"Toriko! I finally found you!" said suddenly Tina, appearing out of nowhere with her camera.

"Tina-san? What's going on? Collecting information?" Komatsu mused.

"No, I'm totally off duty"she answered as she filmed each of you.

"Then why are you here with your camera?" you pointed at said object.

"Oh, this is my private camera I use on vacations. But with so many Heavenly Kings together, I smell one heaping helping of a scoop!" the reporter beamed.

"Private? How is this different from what you normally do?" your friend sweatdropped.

"Seriously. You guys always have the same looks on your face and always show up at the same places I'm goin'. Are you following me?"

You were taken aback at the sight of Zongeh and his comrades. Of all people to encounter on this coach, they weren't even on your list.

"Ah! Longeh-san!"

"I certainly do have long hair, but..." Zongeh trailed as he flipped his hair that sparkled in the wind. "IT'S ZONGEH!"

"It sure has gotten lively..." spoke Coco, staring with a deadpan at Tina and Zongeh's group.

"These guys don't harmonize with this luxurious coach at all" spat Sunny.

Even though it became more lively, the rest of the dinner went smoothly. Toriko even celebrated this weird reunion after such a long time with a toast. Night settled over the coach, and you discarded your casual clothes to a short gown. Tonight was a special soirée to celebrate the first day of the coach.

You were brought inside an elegant room with the sound of classical music in the air, under a giant chandelier that brightened the whole room spectacularly. The paintings and sculptures were making you feel the weight of history, and the vine they served tickled your nose. The guys all changed themselves too for the night, and were now wearing suits.

"Toriko-san, will you answer me honestly to where we are heading tomorrow?" you asked once more.

"Oi, could I have some wine?" the man promptly ignored you for the fifteenth time, and a waiter came back in his direction. "Not that, the whole tray!"

"Honestly, no matter where he is, he sure always has a hearty way of drinking" Coco smiled as Toriko drank the whole plate in one shot.

The rhythm of the music suddenly changed, and some people were now dancing in the middle of the room. You blinked in surprise when you saw Sunny sweeping Komatsu off his feet and made him dance on the stage.

"Here! Dance with splendor!" shouted the Heavenly King as he twirled around the poor chef.

"W-Why me?!" stammered your friend.

You couldn't help but let out a giggle, bringing a hand over your mouth to stifle it. You stopped when a hand was extended in front of you. You followed it until your eyes rested on its owner, and were slightly taken aback to see Coco smiling down at you.

"May I have this dance with you?" he inquired, and you blinked owlishly at him for a good minute.

"A-Aye!" you nodded, taking his hand.

Following him on the dance floor, your hands who were currently shaking delicately took his left while the other remained on his right bicep. You stiffened when slowly brought his right arm behind you to rest his hand there, and you felt like your face was a volcano about to erupt. Explode in embarrassment, that is. With your height, you could barely reach the middle of his chest. Why was Coco so damn tall?!

"Is this the moment where I confess I can't dance?" you smiled nervously, gazing down at your feet so you wouldn't trip or worst, step on the Heavenly King.

"Follow my moves and you should be fine" he replied with a grin.

"It can't be that simple?!"

"Why am I dancing with you?" whined the voice of a drunk Tina.

You looked over your shoulder to see the reporter dancing with Zongeh, the two not looking that comfortable together. Unlike everyone else in the room, he and his two comrades weren't wearing proper clothes for the night.

"We don't have a choice. There isn't anybody left to partner up with" the man told. "Just leave it to me. During the Bon Festival dance in my village, I was always a major player. C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!"

Zongeh started to twirl Tina rapidly, the poor young woman getting tipsy by the sudden moves as she followed his 'dance'. You and Coco stopped, watching the duo with wide eyes. That's when a group of men in black appeared, one of them pointing at Zongeh:

"There. It's them! Get over here!"

You observed in disbelief as Zongeh and his men were chased around the room by the guards, no doubt having trespassed in this soirée without their accord. Even Sunny and Komatsu froze in their movements to stare at them, looking as confused as you did with Coco.

"It's Zombie-san and those guys..." trailed Komatsu.

"What're they doing?" wondered Sunny.

The night over, you all returned to your room (after of course bringing back a tipsy and sleepy Tina back to her compartment). Komatsu took this time to show the kitchen knife made by Melk the Second to Sunny and Coco, who was shining brightly through the cloth it was enrolled in.

Dino was sleeping soundly on the bed, but the moment you sat down next to him, the wyvern opened an eye. He quickly shot up and nuzzled in your laps, purring loudly.

"That Thunderous Wyvern of yours...Are you sure it's fine if he comes with us? It won't be an easy road" Toriko warned, and you shook your head.

"Dino will be my responsibility, so rest assured, Toriko-san" you smiled at the Gourmet Hunter. "We won't be an hindrance in this journey of yours"

"Which leads me to ask if you're going to tell us what your real goal is" spoke Coco as he turned to face Toriko. "Why did you come onto this coach that isn't going to Gourmet Pyramid? In order to get Mellow Cola, I know that you need to go to that place first"

"Yeah...Where are we going exactly?" asked Komatsu.

"But that's a real roundabout way from this carriage's route. Why did you come onto this carriage?" added Sunny.

"Well, about that..." trailed Toriko, but was cut by an announcement in the intercom.

"Attention all passengers, please look out through your left-hand windows. We are stopping at the entrance of hell, the Gate to Hades"

"Ah, oh man. We're already here?" Toriko exclaimed as he leaped off from his seat on the couch.

"H-Here?!" you echoed, watching while the Gourmet Hunter gathered his things.

"The only ones who pass through this gate are fiendish prisoners that have committed serious crimes. Because the prisoners all serve life sentences, they never return through it. Hence the name, beyond it is the world's largest Gourmet Prison, Honey Prison"

"Oi! Get ready, Komatsu and (y/n). We're getting off" told Toriko, lifting a bag over his shoulder.

"We're getting off here?!" his partner repeated in disbelief.

"Yeah. I have business at the Gourmet Prison"

"GOURMET PRISON?!"

"KOMATSU! WHERE DID YOU BRING ME?!" you snapped at your friend.

"We're going to go meet Zebra" continued Toriko, earning shocked expressions from both Coco and Sunny.

"Because of the strength of the Giga Horses, we can guarantee your safety, but living nearby are ferocious wild beasts that would even attack Giga Horses. Because of that, the stopover time here will only be five minutes"

"By the way, Toriko-san...Just what kind of person is Zebra-san?" you wondered, outfit changed.

"A super problem child" answered bluntly the blue haired male. "But he's strong. In order to take on Gourmet Pyramid, we'll need Zebra's power. There's no guarantee he'll help us, but I'm sure we could change his mind with your help, (y/n)"

"...What?" you blinked, not understanding the sudden grin from the Gourmet Hunter's part. "What do you mean?!"

"Coco. You wanted to know the reason why I cam on this coach, right?" Toriko ignored you, facing the Heavenly King in question. "I came on when I heard you two were riding on it. Because I have something to ask of you"

"Uh?" the two echoed while Toriko grinned sheepishly.

"As a favor between Heavenly Kings, would you help me go get Zebra?" he asked sweetly.

"I refuse" both answered at the same time.

"T-That sure was a fast refusal!!" cried out Komatsu.

Toriko's face fell and muttered curses under his breath while he exited the room, Komatsu in tow. You blinked a few times, trying to understand what just happened. You could understand Sunny refusing, but for Coco to have the same reaction? What kind of person was Zebra really, to the point that even the Gentleman of the Kings would refuse to meet again?

"(y/n)-chan..." spoke Coco, earning your attention. The man smiled down at you softly, your heartbeat quickening at the gesture. "...Be careful"

"...Yes" you gave a nod, returning his smile.

Toriko, Komatsu, and you exited the coach to take the path to the Gates of Hades. The huge doors stood against a large amount of spiky rocks gathered together, the atmosphere a bit gloomy and eerie. The forest that sprouted close to them weren't comforting too.

"All ya had to do was follow along! You heartless bastards!" spat Toriko, shaking his fist at the retreating carriage. "Is it normal to refuse the first reunion a group's had in forever?"

"W-Well everyone had their own goals..." sweatdropped Komastu. "They were busy"

"Well, nothing we can do. Let's go" the Gourmet Hunter huffed, marching toward the gates.

"Come, Dino!" you called the wyvern. "By the way, Toriko-san...What's in that bag?"

"Well, we could go empty-handed, but I managed to get together a present for Zebra just in case. Though I'm not sure if this'll be enough..." the man trailed.

Suddenly, Toriko let out a scream of surprise and stared over his shoulder. He looked like he had just seen a ghost.

"Toriko-san? What was that all of sudden?" you asked, concerned.

"Zebra. No doubt about it" breathed Toriko, which confused you even more. "But he can send an Otodama to this distance? The prison is still dozens of kilometers away. That bastard sure has grown. That sure is a long distance reunion greeting, Zebra! Can you hear me?!"

"Do you know what he's talking about?" you whispered to Komatsu, who shook his head.

"I have absolutely no idea"