~Recap~

Our heroes Toriko and Komatsu went out in the search of the rare Puffer Whale that appears once every ten years, along the way they met a familiar face, Ao and her dragon Shiro as well as one of the Four Heavenly Kings the mysterious Coco.

Together they ventured into the cavern labyrinth and began the dangerous decent into darkness from which few ever return, suddenly Komatsu vanished without a trace and as the battle against a Devil Python began.

~Ao~

Toriko, Coco and i stared at the Devil Python "It's gigantic" Coco said staring at the serpent, i wouldn't say it's gigantic but definitely big, if you wanna see gigantic just wait until Shiro's all grown up.

"Ao you go find Komatsu we can handle this"Toriko suddenly said, i looked between him, Coco and the Devil Python making a quick assessment of their powers i concluded that they could take on the giant serpent "Alright i'm counting on you" i said before running off in search of Komatsu.

I heard the Devil Python's screech echo through the cave and there was a giant rumble meaning the cave had collapsed, ignoring that i continued running following his scent, my nose wasn't anything like Toriko's but as a Gourmet Hunter i still had a pretty good nose.

Komatsu's scent was getting stronger meaning i was getting closer, i could smell another scent an unfamiliar one i didn't question it that much as i picked up my pace and began catching up, i couldn't see if i was getting any closer though the only super sense i have is taste.

But i did start to see the light from Komatsu's helmet, i soon came across the little man facing against a giant Demon Devil Python the true ruler of this cave i came just in time when he used these noise bombs Toriko gave him and literally died of fright.

The noise bombs had no affect on the beast though, so as it went to attack Komatsu i stepped in but before i could do anything i heard a hiccup and a familiar voice ask "Who's making all that racket? Can't you see some of us are trying to enjoy their Puffer Whale Fin Sake?"

I looked over and sure enough it was the knocking master Jiro or as i like to call him uncle Jiro, "I got this uncle Jiro you just watch"i told him with a confident smirk as i faced the Demon Devil Python "Alright but i'll stick around incase you need me"he said sitting down and enjoying his sake.

I drew my sword facing the Demon Devil Python, a dead Komatsu behind me so i was literally between a beast and it's pray, not a good place to be in but as the python came in for an attack i dodged before slicing it's head off.

Uncle Jiro got up and revived Komatsu fixing his ear drums before leaving, he did leave us a warning about something he saw, something headed to the lagoon where the Puffer Whales are.

"Komatsu!"i heard Coco call as he and Toriko came running over, i looked over as they came to a stop seeing Komatsu totally fine "Toriko, Coco"Komatsu before he ran to Toriko crying "I was scared to death!"he cried "Really?You don't say?"Toriko asked a small chuckle in his tone "It's true, i got so scared earlier that i actually died!"Komatsu cried.

"Say what now?"Toriko asked "Ao saved me"Komatsu said, the two men looked at me as i was cleaning my sword the Demon Devil Python behind me, still alive but unconscious and full off cuts "It's no big deal"i said before telling them the events that had happened earlier.

"Whatever that thing is we'll see when we get to the lagoon"I said before putting my sword in it's sheath again "Wow Ao just what did you do during these years?"Toriko asked looking at the Demon Devil Python corpse in awe.

"I trained"i simply said, "The old man must of been the knocking master Jiro, his full course menu is other worldly with ingredients of a capture level that can't even be measured"Coco told Komatsu and went onto list uncle Jiro's menu, but i tuned out of it since i know it by heart and have even eaten his whole menu.

"Oh yeah i thought i caught a familiar scent, he was the one from the train"Toriko said talking about something i had no idea of, "But i heard he retired years ago"Coco said "He did but that doesn't stop him from going out to hunt for a drink whenever he feels like it"i told him.

"That's true and there's a once in a decade cocktail waiting at the end of this tunnel, the Puffer Whale Fin Sake which we should be drinking, let's get some"Toriko said grinning "Yeah" Komatsu said and i smiled going along with them.

"Komatsu you forgot your helmet"Coco told him and just as we getting started to going to the lagoon, whatever i guess this is just another delay cause of that nosy reporter Tina.

"You owe that old man, what he did for you is worth way more then an extra bottle of booze if you know what i mean"Toriko told Komatsu "Hey i'm the one who saved him from being eaten by a Demon Devil Python don't i get something too!"i pointed out "That's right you'll get this"Toriko said before kissing me literally out of nowhere.

~Third~

Ao was caught off guard and froze as Toriko kissed her fully on the lips, even Coco could not have seen that coming but when he did see it an immeasurable amount of jealousy began boiling inside him.

Ao snapped out of her shock and slapped Toriko, hard, so hard the slap echoed through the cave "Next time you wanna kiss me ask me first so i can say no thanks! You just lost any brownie points you've earned in favor of me picking you!"she yelled before huffing and walking off.

Coco felt honestly relieved that the kiss actually lowered Toriko's chances before he ran to catch up to Ao, Toriko and Komatsu following "Careful Ao you can't see in this darkness as well as i can let me lead the way alright?"he asked as kindly as possible, Ao pouted a bit and huffed turning her head "Fine"she said.

"Looks like we made it"Toriko said as the group eventually reached the grotto, "That's it the cavern lagoon"Coco said as they looked at the beautiful cave with white sandy beach, coral and crystals.(pic)

"Alright let's get to whaling"Toriko said as he took off his shirt, Ao blushed going behind a rock to change, after Ao had changed into a bikini top and bikini short shorts that had a belt which she had stuffed with stuff, Toriko and Coco blushed seeing her before the three gourmet hunters dove in to the clear water.

They soon found the Puffer Whale, which at first seemed gigantic but it was a bunch of little ones clumped together for protection, as the pack broke apart Ao was the first out of the three to get hunting, Toriko and Coco watched in awe as she seemed to have no trouble at all catching the Puffer Whales.

The two hunters not wanting to be outdone by a girl began hunting as well but in the end both of them combined could only catch ten while Ao had managed to catch twice that much, once on the shore they asked her how was this possible and she simply replied "Training"

But now the real challenge began, well for Komatsu, Coco and Toriko, Ao was already cutting up the Puffer Whales she caught flawlessly each time again the two Heavenly Kings asked why "Training"she replied but she could see more questions in their eyes, she sighed.

"While you four went your separate ways thinking you were one training under the old man i stayed behind as the old man had more training up his sleeve, for all of you including me but since you left he started with me, for two years i traveled across this world nearly dying more times then i can count from dehydration, low oxygen, starvation, drowning, high gravity and so many more reasons i trained my mind, soul and body ready for the Gourmet World"Ao explained as she continued to cut the Puffer Whale.

"Alright, will you tell us how you do it then?"Komatsu asked "Nope, you'll have to go through the same training i did before getting anything out of me"Ao said continuously cutting the Puffer Whales.

The Two Heavenly Kings frowned feeling guilty for leaving her to deal with such utter hell and multiple near death experiences, putting that aside for now Coco, Toriko and Komatsu began cutting the Puffer Whales they caught.

After eight tries Komatsu hadn't had once successful try, they were on the last one when "And i'm done"the voice of Ao startled them, luckily Komatsu hadn't cut into the whale yet so no harm done, Toriko, Coco and Komatsu looked over to her pile of Puffer Whales all had their poison sack successfully removed they were amazed at her skill.

"Alright i'll take a few for Puffer Whale Fin Sake, i need two for the recipe i wanna try and one for a plate of Puffer Whale Shashimi and the rest will go on the market"Ao said picking out ten out of twenty of the Puffer Whale she caught putting the rest into an Gourmet container, it was a special container that kept whatever it stores just perfect.

"Maybe i'll give a few to auntie Setsu"Ao said to herself putting three into another container, the three men having enough of staring turned back and Coco helped Komatsu take out the poison sack, which he successfully did.

Ao glanced over and smiled seeing they were happy and continued to make the fin sake,recipe and shashimi, she soon finished, around the same time as Komatsu had done his plate of Shashimi from the puffer whale.

"Alright guys try something made by a real chef"Ao smirked at Komatsu as she presented her plate of shashimi with a bottle of fin sake in the middle surrounded by her special recipe of Puffer Whale soup.

Toriko grinned immediately digging in "Wow this is even better then Komatsu's!"he exclaimed eating more, Coco tried the soup "Amazing the fattiest of the whale mixes in with the soup perfectly"he said eating more of that, Komatsu tried some too and was blown away.

He knelled infront of Ao bowing to her "I know when i'm beaten teach me oh goddess of cooking"he was k'joking about the goddess part, Ao giggled "Alright but let's enjoy our meal first yeah?"she asked joining in on the eating.

Their laughter rang through the cave as they enjoyed a good meal topped with Puffer Whale Fin Sake, they had just finished their fine meal when suddenly something came out of the water, Ao clearly freaked out seeing the creatures  yelping almost like a kicked puppy and quickly hiding behind a rock as Toriko and Coco faced the creature trying to scare it off.

The creature didn't seem interested as it walked right pass them and out of their sight, Ao sighed in relief coming out from behind the rock "What was that?"Toriko asked "Never seen those, those eary electromagnetic waves"Coco said "It walked right out of the ocean, it must of been a thousand meters deep"Toriko observed "What living thing can do that?"he asked.

"That was no living thing"Ao said walking over "That was a GT robo and let's hope we don't run into it again"she said going over collecting her stuff "You seem to know a lot about it"Coco said "I do but it's not my place to tell you, you'll have to ask the old man"she said.

The group climbed out of the cave, Ao got on Shiro and Coco got on Kiss, they said their good byes to Toriko and Komatsu before taking off promising to see each other another day.

(A/N: And that finishes this chapter, maybe i'll start the next chapter right away maybe i won't but either way i hope you enjoy this chapter)