Hello my readers and thank you for taking the time to look at this fic. I want to thank the 6 of you who reviewed my first chapter. I feel it was a worthwhile response and deserved a second installment so here we go.=^-^=

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Blue Exorcist

Ch. 2 - I was a Teenage Ramen Chef

Hiro led the way down the crowded road with Rin and his wife just behind him. They had already dropped the load off at Kirin's shop and Hiro promised Rin a good meal for the help. "I really appreciate the food, old man."

Hiro laughed. "It's no problem at all. I wouldn't have made it here so fast if it weren't for you, Rin."

"And he probably would have thrown out his back too." Yuno added in as she gave a playful look towards her husband.

Rin looked at all the shops they were passing. "So where are we going anyway? This place seems to be really busy."

Hiro turned to him as he walked. "Well around this time, this district is usually the busiest because of all the restaurants in it. Of course it usually has more people, but most of these places only just opened up again. We're going to eat at an old friend's place, and he serves the best Ramen in town." Rin seemed a bit surprised at that because it kinda sounded like someone else just now. He quickly let the thought leave though as he took in the rest of the village he could see bathed in a twilight glow. One sight in particular caught his eye as it seemed as though some faces were carved into the mountain side.

After about 10 minutes of walking through the busy streets the couple stopped at a place called Ichiraku Ramen and they beckoned Rin to take a seat with them. He sat by the old man who pointed to a menu on the wall. "Feel free to pick anything you like, its no problem, kid."

"But I…"

He slapped him on the back as he cut him off. "You more than deserve it now I won't take no for an answer."

"Hey, Hiro! Long time no see?"

The old man turned to the shop keep as he greeted him with a smile. "Teuchi! Seems you haven't changed much since the reconstruction." The two of them shook hands.

"Hey there, Yuno, keeping this old man in one piece as always?"

She laughed at that. "I do my best."

Teuchi then noticed the boy they had with them. "Who's your young friend here." He asked as he pointed Rin's way. He hadn't noticed the attention he was getting due to his focus on the menu.

"Oh him? He's a life saver's who he is! Hauled my cart half way here in half the time with both me and Yuno riding on top." Hiro crossed his arms as he looked to the teen. "Strange enough though we found him sleeping on the side of the road."

The cook seemed confused as he looked over the boy. "With what you usually have in that cart I'm surprised he could even budge it."

The old man nodded in response. "You're tellin me, but he made it look so easy. Scooped me right of the ground and started pullin full force."

Teuchi smiled at the boy. "Well ain't that something? Hey, boy what's your name?"

Rin snapped out of his food daze and looked up at the cook. "uh… me?" He gestured to himself. "My name's Rin… Rin Okumura."

Teuchi raised his brow. "Well, Rin I just want to let you know that your Ramen's on the house tonight for helping out an old friend."

Rin's mouth dropped and his cheeks flushed. "What? Really?!"

Teuchi crossed his arms and nodded. "Yep now what are ya hungry for?" Rin quickly dropped his humble expression for the idea of food as he began looking down the menu again. A quiet chant of 'meat' could be heard as he did so.

All students were gathered in the cram school class room with Shura sitting on the desk in agitation as Yukio entered the room. He was surprised to see her in the room mostly due to the fact that she's supposed to do reports after she has training sessions with Rin. "You're not hiding from paperwork again are you?" He said with his tone laced with a sharp undertone.

She turned to him with a glare as she hopped off the desk. "Well no. I was waiting for Rin cause he cut training today." She looked over the students distastefully. "Though it seems he's cutting cram school too."

Yukio seemed surprised at her exclamation. Sure Rin was lazy at times but he at least doesn't skip out on it; though he does sleep in class. "I'm sure he just fell asleep somewhere and lost track of time." Yukio said with only partial confidence.

"You better hope that's all. I don't want to have to report back that he's gone and run off on us or he's as good as dead." The tension in the room grew as the two exorcists traded stares. Shura walked towards the door. "Go on with class and I look for 'em." Yukio didn't even flinch as she stepped out and closed the door behind her.

A low murmur rang through as a few of the students started to whisper amongst themselves. "You don't really think they'd kill him for that do you, Kamiki?" Shiemi's nervous tone was evident.

"Probably, especially considering he doesn't have the best track record for obedience."

Shima turned and whispered to Bon. "He's really asking for it huh?"

Bon was not in the happiest of moods that day and the news about Rin wasn't helping. "That idiot… He's definitely asking for it." After letting out a slight sigh Yukio began the lesson.

"So, Rin, who taught you how to cook?" Teuchi asked as he saw Rin skillfully slice up some pork for ramen. Hiro and Yuno had already left for the inn they were staying at while Rin volunteered to help the cook out when he saw how busy he was.

"Well, I kinda had to teach myself. I read a few cooking books aside from that though so I have to say I'm pretty good."

Teuchi was pouring broth into a bowl as he responded. "I'll say, you look like a pro. My daughter Ayame is out of town right now so you're a big help."

Rin bashfully rubbed the back of his head. "Thanks, though truth be told I wasn't all that sure what I was going to do next."

Teuchi served a bowl to a customer and then turned back with a brow raised. "What do you mean by that?"

Rin dumped the pork slices in a bowl. "Well, to be honest I don't really know how I got here. I've never heard of this village and old man Hiro said it was the closest place. I'm from True Cross in Academy town."

He seemed confused by the name as Rin handed off the bowl to him. "True Cross? Never heard of it."

Rin sighed. "That's what the old man said too. Now I have no idea how to get back there and I still need to find Kuro if he's even here."

The cook gave him a sympathetic expression. "Kuro? He a friend of yours?"

"Yeah, I was taking a nap on the dorm roof with him before I woke up on the side of the road. He's either lost here with me or wondering where I went there."

Teuchi served another bowl with a side of pork slices before turning to Rin again. "Well, sorry for that. I can't help you there, but if you want, you can stay here. It sounds to me like you've got no place else, and you can work for me in return. I'm gonna need the help until Ayame comes back which'll be in a few days." Rin was hesitant to answer but the Ramen cook placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about it. As long as you're here, I'll make sure you earn it."

Rin didn't seem too happy, but decided it was something and took Teuchi's outstretched hand. He was a bit nervous due to his past job experience but if its cooking then he should be fine right? His frown rose to a smile as he accepted the offer. "Alright then, Boss."

He pat the teen's shoulder and then turned to grab some more bowls. "That's what I wanna hear, now let's sell some Ramen!" The rest of the night went rather well with Rin only breaking a wooden box due to gripping it too hard. There wasn't anything in it at the moment so the old man wasn't too mad, but he was stern as he scolded the boy.

"Rin hasn't shown up yet has he?" Shura asked as she stepped back through the cram school classroom door. You could tell she was mad from her tone and the way she held the door handle but Yukio had his standard quiet anger which was just as bad.

He shook his head as he sifted through some papers. "No, and now it's getting ridiculous."

"When was the last time you saw him?" Shura asked as she sat down on one of the student desks.

Yukio looked up at her and straightened his glasses. "This morning. I remember he woke up late and almost missed breakfast. Last thing I heard him say was about getting some practice in with Kuro."

Shura held her chin in thought. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen Kuro all day either."

"He wasn't even around the dorm when I went to check earlier."

Shura clicked her tongue as she leaned on one knee. "Damn it….. Where the hell is he?"

Both their gazes jumped to the door as they heard it open. "What's this I hear about Rin going missing?" Mephisto strolled on through while swinging his umbrella around his arm. Yukio could feel a headache coming on as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Surely miss Shura, you haven't lost track of him?"

Shura was quick to counter with an aggravated tone. "I'm not his damn babysitter!"

Mephisto acted to be taken aback by her tone but still displayed a whimsical expression. "Tsk tsk tsk, Miss Shura. No need for such tones. I'm sure he will turn up eventually and until then I do hope you'll keep this 'situation' to yourself? No need to get the Grigory to lift the reprieve too early now." He then turned to Yukio. "Now do you have any recollection of just when he went missing?"

Yukio took a minute to think as he set his papers down. "Well, I last saw him around 9 and then I don't remember him coming back for lunch so probably between 9 and 1."

He tapped the head of his umbrella on the ground and then spun on his heal. "Alrighty then, I'll look into it. Until then….. Shura." He gave a whimsical glare to her as he passed through the door way.

Shura returned it with an angry glare of her own though it was quickly wasted on the wall. "Damn him… He pisses me off."

Yukio let out a long sigh as he stood up. He then took the papers with him as he went out the door while rubbing one of his shoulders "This whole thing is exhausting…" Shura shrugged as she watched him leave while the thought of Yukio resembling an old man danced through her mind.

The next morning Rin was awoken by his new boss with a jovial tone. "Come on now, Rin, time to get up!" Rin was still rather groggy as he pulled the covers of his futon over his head. Teuchi wasn't about to let him sleep again so he pull the covers off completely which startled Rin in the process.

He grumbled as he sat up rubbing his eyes. "Come on, Yukio… its early."

Teuchi gave him a confused look before shaking him awake with one hand. "What happened to boss?"

Rin finally opened his eyes completely to realize he in fact, was not in his dorm. "…..What?"

The confused cook before him merely shook his head. "Time to wake up, Rin. Get ready and meet me in the shop. We don't open for an hour but I want you to go somewhere for me, okay?"

Rin was spaced out for a moment as he remembered all that had happened to him yesterday. That's right… I'm not in Academy Town I'm in…. Konoha? He shook his head as if to snap himself out of his own thoughts. "Right…. Sorry, Boss." He got up and straightened out his cloths, which he slept in because he had nothing else. Once he had straightened up his appearance he headed out the door and to the shop. Just as he was exiting though, he remembered his tail. Should I hide it? He had completely forgot about it since he never had to at True Cross anymore. He took a minute to think it over and eventually tucked it under his shirt like usual. I shouldn't take any chances I guess.

After he finished he was on his way. Teuchi caught him right outside the side door and handed him a piece of paper. "Good, you seem awake now. I want you to take this and follow the directions. I have to have an order delivered there later, but I also don't want to leave you in the shop alone. Familiarize yourself with the path so you can get there quickly later on alright?" Rin took the paper which he unfolded. It bore a crudely drawn map of several streets with and arrow pointing the way. "Try not to get lost, and if you need directions you can ask some of the other shop keeps around here. Tourists aren't an uncommon sight so I'm sure they wouldn't mind."

Rin nodded as he took the paper and scrutinized it. "Sure thing, Boss." His voice didn't have a lot of confidence but it's not like he could screw this up right? (Murphy's Law anyone?)

As if karma was trying to pick a fight with him he got lost only five minutes later. He was eyeing the map in confusion as he walked down one of the semi-busy streets of Konoha. "Aww damn it….. where the hell am I?" He grumbled a bit as he tried to compare the map to his surroundings. He looked back down at the paper as he continued walking and quickly lost track of his position in the middle of the street. He stopped the minute he ran into someone and almost fell back from surprise. "Whoa!" He looked up to the guy he had run into to see a large round man. He looked young though and he had a welcoming demeanor.

"Oh, you okay?" He ran his fingers through his spiky brown hair as he turned to him.

"Uh… yeah sorry about that. I wasn't watching where I was going." He then noticed another young man with him who wore his black hair in a spiky ponytail and had a rather bored expression.

"Hmmm….?" He looked over the new face in curiosity. "I haven't seen you around here. You new in the village?"

Rin nodded as he responded. "Yeah I kinda wound up here after I ran into this old couple yesterday."

The round one then noticed the map in his hand and pointed to it. "What's that? A map?"

Rin lifted it up to him. "Uh yeah. My boss wants me to deliver an order later so I'm trying to figure out how to get there."

The black haired teen lifted a brow when he saw it. "Man you're way off."

Rin's expression immediately disheartened. "Awe man! Really?"

The round one gave him a smile and reassured him. "We can help you out right, Shikamaru? It's not like we're in any kind of hurry right now anyway."

"I thought you wanted to get there early so Ino wouldn't get mad again."

He quickly reassured his friend. "I'm sure this won't take too long, besides this guy needs help."

Shikamaru was quick to let up any resistance as he sighed. "Fine, I guess." He clasped his hands behind his head and turned. "It's this way." He motioned for them to follow.

"Oh wow, you guys are great. I thought I'd never find this place."

"No problem. My names Choji by the way, Choji Akimichi." He said as he let out his hand in a friendly gesture.

Rin took it happily as he gave his name. "I'm Rin Okumura."

Shikamaru added in his without even turning to them. "Shikamaru Nara." He gave little else as he guided the way.

Choji then decided to continue on talking to his friend. "Now about what I was saying earlier."

"Yeah but what do I know about what goes good on beef. Salt and Pepper are all it needs."

Choji crossed his arms and shook his head. "No way. If you truly want it to taste good you have to spice it up." Shikamaru sighed and seemed obviously unenthusiastic about the topic they were on. "It comes down to the broth you cook or marinate it in, and then you add the soy sauce, but I want to change it up. I was thinking of what to put on it to try something different."

Rin scratched the side of his face as he listened in on the conversation. He watched as Shikamaru let out another sigh of uninterest. "Uh actually… what cut are you talking about?"

Choji was a bit surprised by their new friend's sudden comment. "What?"

"Well what you put on it depends on the cut most times. Each part can be cooked different ways and depending on that, they could be dry, tender, flakey…." He was listing them out on his fingers as he went.

Choji raised a brow as he lifted one of his hands to his chin. "I guess I really don't know a specific piece."

"Of course there are plenty of combinations that'll work for several cuts. You can add some soy sauce, garlic and ginger. If you want to add a bit of sweetness you can also add sugar and mirin when cooking it. Of course those work best when you broil it on the stove."

Choji rubbed his chin in thought as he turned to face forward. "That sounds good…"

Shikamaru turned with a smile. "There you go, Choji. That's more than you'll get out of me."

Choji turned to Rin with a smile of his own. "Thanks. Do you cook or something?"

Rin rubbed the back of his head in a bit of bashfulness. "Oh well, yeah.."

"We're here." They both turned to Shikamaru who was pointing to a name plate outside a meager house. "This should be where you're heading right?"

Rin looked down at the address on the paper and then the name plate. "Oh…. Yeah, it is! Thanks a lot." He then turned to see the surrounding buildings and head back, but froze when he realized he couldn't remember the way back.

"Are you okay Rin?"

Shikamaru sighed yet again as he scratched the back of his head. "You don't remember how to get back do you?"

Rin instantly started a nervous sweat as he turned his head back to them. "Well um…. No?"

He then crossed his arms in exasperation of how clueless this guy was. Both Choji and Shikamaru were nice enough to guide him back to Ichiraku's Ramen shop and Shikamaru was sure to point out easy land marks so Rin could find his way again. "So your boss is Mr. Ichiraku huh?"

Rin gave a pleased nod as the shop came into full view. "Yeah. I'm working there to help him out cause his daughter is out of town or something."

Choji crossed his arms and gave a stern nod. "I guess this explains why you know so much about cooking."

Rin had his hand on the back of his neck as he responded. "Not really. Anyway thanks for showing me the way, I really appreciate it."

Choji and Shikamaru both turned and waved. "No problem, and thanks for the cooking tips."

Shikamaru didn't say anything to him as he walked away with Choji. "Man, what a drag."

Choji turned to him in confusion. "I kind of liked him."

Shikamaru sighed and looked up. "Yeah, but that cluelessness he has reminds me of Naruto a bit. Like he had no idea what was going on until someone flat out explains it."

Choji gave a lite laugh. "You're right now that I think of it, but you liked him too right?"

The black haired teen turned his way. "I guess, but… I don't know, there was something odd about him. I can't really put my finger on it though." Choji decided to go over their time together in his head, but couldn't really see what his friend was talking about.

Okay there we go. I hope you enjoyed it and will grace it with a review. I got the cooking stuff from a random search on the internet. If anyone know a good baked chicken recipe I would appreciate you giving it to me. Also, I felt Rin was the type to call his boos Boss ya'know? Also, I so bet that most of you thought he would meet Naruto first especially when I put him at Ichiraku's right? Anyway, this will only be updated if reviewed on. I base my updates on priority so if I get none then I likely forget and focus on the other 3 stories I have in the works. I really only posted this now because I was taking a bit of a break from them to be honest. Please Review and if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.=^-^=