Just Another Day in Konoha....

[SeraphMazrakiel]

"Your son is certainly adventurous. I'm sure you are aware of his previous meeting with me?"

Kagemaru smiled. Indeed... he did remember the last time his son met with Hokage. That was the day they left for training.

"That time, I had far too much on my mind to notice any more than that he was following me using some kind of jutsu. I'm sure you can understand why. Anyways, today was the first time I really got to see that jutsu clearly, and it struck my interest."

An interest in Kagetokeru, hmm?

"If you have the time, come by my office this afternoon. Both of you."

An appointment with Hokage. An official appointment. What would be in sto--...

"Oh!" Kaori interrupted his thoughts. "...and I think it's best that he not know until after I have left."

Kagemaru nodded, and cheerfully grinned. "You're right. I'll let him know when you've gone."

* * * * * * *

It was a while before Mazrakiel returned: in the two minutes it had taken for everything to happen, the shadows had shifted slightly; not even an inch, but enough to make Mazrakiel's return a slight hassle. A tall construction pole had also been moved, making Maz's trip across the road that much more difficult. After a few moments, Maz materialised in front of everyone once again... feeling slightly puffed, to which he quickly slumped into a seat.

"Blast it... don't those construction workers ever have a lunch break?! I was just about to travel across the road, when some massive guys picked up this huge pole while I was travelling along it, and I instantly materialised on the ground, just a few inches away from the shadows! Blimey! Cost me alotta chakra too!"

Kagemaru smiled, and patted his son on the shoulders, when he heard a cry coming from out in the kitchen...

"Order 21! That's two beef ramen, two miso, three tempura and one chef's special! Order 21!"

Given the amount of food brought out, there was no doubt about it; this was the Adarakis Family order (or more specifically, Kagemaru's order.)

Two staff members emerged from the back, each of them holding several bowls of food. They placed them in front of Kagemaru, whose attention was instantly drawn to the large pile of food in front of him.

He smiled cheerfully, before grabbing his chopsticks, and saying loudly, enthusiastically...

"Itadakimaaaa-su!"

[Tensei Kaori]

Kaori grinned. Every new day brought her closer to her family of Konoha. It was only then that she felt an unexpected - and unwanted - presence. When she put her hand to her forehead, her suspicions were confirmed. Her forehead was damp. Before she could even ask for it, the excellent ramen chef placed a giant glass of ice water before her. She smiled at him in thanks; he knew is customers well. With that she downed a good deal of the glass in one long drink and, when she daintily wiped her forehead with a napkin, no perspiration sprung up to replace it. She couldn't believe she had gotten so careless; ramen contained sodium, meaning it dehydrated a person faster. The minor disaster averted, she took another long sip of the refreshingly cool water as she enjoyed the activity in the ramen stand.

[UchihaJyounochi]

Iro knew he spoke out of turn as soon as the words left his mouth, speaking to a Jounin like an equal. A mistake that could normally end up with him being reprimanded.

"Gomen Nada-sama!" Iro said apologetically. " I did npt mean to speak out of turn." Iro cursed inwardly. Someday he would show them all the true worth of the Kokoro clan.

"That jutsu you used just now. It's very...intriguing..." He overheard Hokage-sama say from the opposite side of the booth.

"Uhh, er... thank you Hokage-sama... uhh..."
Maz stammered.

"You see, the last time we met, I didn't get a good look at it. I'm sure you know why." Hokage-sama replied, "Would you care to honor me with a demonstration?"

A demonstration for Hokage-sama, from a Genin of all people! Iro agreed that Maz's abilities were indeed impressive, but with proper concentration, Iro could follow him fairly well for a distance. Just because his moves were flashy and flambouyant. Well, the Adarakis clan was fairly well known and respected by the Hokage's through the ages. IT just made him mad that a show off like him could so easily grab the attention of Hokage-sama.

A demonstration...?.... heh... sure." Maz said, "A demonstration then."

Iro increased and concentrated the release of his chakra as Maz began his ability. He was soon well out of Iro's chakra sight; he was good at it.

It was not long before he returned with a small folder in his hand. "I believe this belongs to you." Maz said, sounding proud. He had taken one of Hokage-sama's folders from her office. Iro had to hold back a small laugh. He was strong, and incredibly brave... or maybe just wool-headed. A small conversation arose between the two, both looking shocked, to say the least. Soon after, Maz was gone once again. Iro was about to get up to leave when his food was brought out. Iro poured all his attention into his food. It was all he could do to not storm out in a rage.

He would show them all, someday.

[Matsu Yamiko]

Yamiko had watched his superiors with an eerie look in his silver eyes. The Jutsu demonstration had interested him. It was unusual. At first he had thought it was just another one of those shadows that he often saw, but when the bones hadn't rattled, he knew otherwise.

Turning his attention away from those around him he stared at the top of the counter, red strands of hair brushing against his face. He ignored it and just waited.

He had ordered his food. Just a small bowl of unflavored noodles. Now he would wait for it.

He scowled. He waited for everything it seemed.

[SeraphMazrakiel]

(OoC: I've decided to call the man behind the counter Udon, as in the noodles. Seems kinda funny, 'specially since he works at a ramen stand. Lol. Any objections or anybody wanna call him something else, feel free and I'll just edit my post; I just thought I'd name him now for ease's sake, and thought Udon would be okay, given the pun on the name. Have also gone back and edited a few posts to reflect this. XD)

A large bowl of battered vegetables and shrimp was brought out and placed in front of Mazrakiel. Udon placed a pair of chopsticks alongside the bowl, and said to Mazrakiel "The meal's on the house, Maz. You put on an impressive show, and given your training, I think you deserve a good meal..."

Maz nodded. All of a sudden, he was popular throughout that little ramen stand. First Kaori-sama, and now even Udon had his sights set on the Adarakis boy. He hadn't even noticed that the others in the ramen stand had watched him as well. His mind had been focused on trying to impress Kaori-sama, and now as he was low on chakra, his mind was set on the meal in front of him.

He broke his chopsticks in two (unequally, as he seemed to always do. He may have perfected the art of Kagetokeru, but the art of breaking chopsticks seemed to pose some slight difficulty. Of course, Kagemaru had no trouble, none at all...), before addressing Kaori-sama.

"I hope that demonstration was enough for you, Hokage-sama. If, you'll excuse me, I'm quite hungry."

He had barely finished this sentence when a loud cheer came from his father.

"YOSH!!! That meal was DELICIOUS!!!"

Mazrakiel turned to see what his father was yelling about, and his jaw dropped; he stared at the empty bowls, now piled up on top of each other on the counter. They were empty.

Even Udon stared in wonder; Kagemaru had almost set a new record, a record for the biggest meal devoured in seven seconds. Even with the number of people who walked in and out of that ramen stand a day, Kagemaru was one of the elite.

Yeah. One of the elite ramen-eaters of Konoha Village.

"How the HECK did you manage that?!"

Kagemaru sighed cheerfully and patted his belly. He was tempted to ask for seconds, before he remembered; somebody was going to have to pay the bill. He pulled out his wallet, and looked inside...

"Oh, Kagemaru, don't worry about it. Your meal's on the house too..."

Kagemaru leaped into the air with joy. "FREE MEAL AT ICHIRAKU!!! YOSH!! YOSH!!!"

He danced around for a while (Mazrakiel's face turned slightly red), before Udon interrupted.

"However..."

Kagemaru stopped. He let out a low-pitched, almost forced "Unh?"

"I'd like for Mazrakiel to come by sometime in the next few days. I have a favour to ask of him."

Kagemaru looked at his son, expecting him to say yes. Mazrakiel looked up, ramen still in his mouth; he didn't entirely want to, but he thought it best. All he had to do was turn up and he'd bail his father out of an enormous bill. It'd save money for the rest of the family, both father and son. So he nodded.

"YOSH!"

"Very well then. I shall see you some time then, Maz." He bowed, before returning to the counter, mainly to tend to his other customers.

* * * * * * *

Maz finished his tempura, and placed the bowl on the counter. "Gochisou-sama...!" It was good to have a decent, filling meal; the first great meal he'd had in two weeks. His chakra restored by a good meal, he stood up, and said to his father "I think it's time to head home now, ne?" His father nodded.

"Well, I think it's time for us to go. Hope to see you around the village, Hokage-sama... if you need anything of the Adarakis Clan, we'll be more than happy to help," said Mazrakiel politely, as he bowed to her. "I hope you have a good day, Hokage-sama."

He turned to the Homura Family, in particular, Nadameru, and graciously honoured her with a bow as well. "You too.... Jounin, no Nadameru." He gave a wave to everyone, before dissolving into his shadow form, and heading for home.

Kagemaru smiled joyfully at Kaori-sama. "I'd better go and inform him of this appointment, then." He watched her, and nodded. "Sayounara, Hokage-sama." He wished her well, and then like his son before him, Kagemaru turned into a thick black mist, which dissolved into the shadows... and soon, he was racing along after his son.

As Kagemaru headed home, he chuckled to himself.

"I think Mazrakiel will be... overjoyed with the news I have for him..."

(OoC: Darnit. I had to use Gochisou-sama... because the verb I wanted to use has the 's' word in it, and it converted it to Gochisou-sama de'nuts'a. LOL! So keep in mind that Mazrakiel wanted to use a more formal verb and be polite... but ProBoards wouldn't let him. Maybe they have something against him trying to be polite in front of Kaori-sama... XD)

[That*bishie*soundnin*]

Jin walked around Konoha market village; it was a friday, and he only allowed himself this pleasure once a week. Today felt like a really good day to spend relaxing, Buyo-sensei had been teaching pretty good lessons about historical ninjas the past week, and Jin's favourite one was a jounin named Hatake Kakashi, and also his father, The White Fang of Konoha. Jin looked at him as an idol, Kakashi had been an Anbu squad leader like how Jin dreamed of being, and Kakashi had graduated from the academy at almost half of his age.

Jin continued to daydream all about his new idol that he almost forgot he was hungry. -In fact, he did. It wasn't untill he passed a little, old, vending-woman that his stomach rumbled and called forth a mighty army of street market vendors. Finaly, he got away with a heavily over-priced, yet tasty, onigiri. Maybe I'll have something light by the Ichiraku Ramen stand, he thought to himself. Its been years since Father took me there.

[Kiri]

"Gomen Nada-sama!" Iro said apologetically. " I did not mean to speak out of turn."

"Daijobu," she responded casually. Her indignant feelings had passed rather quickly, and dissipated completely at the boy's apology. "You only spoke truth, after all."

He had a rather unhappy countenance. She decided it best she say nothing else and went back to her meal.

"Ahh," Taro said. "Just what I needed." He looked like he was feeling quiet refreshed from the meal as he downed a glass of water. Nada followed suit, recalling the amount of work still awaiting the two of them.

"YOSH!!! that meal was DELICIOUS!"

Nada glanced lazily over at Adarakis no Kagemaru and did a double take. He'd received all that food such a short time ago--it was gone!? All of it!? Blinking blankly with shock, she looked at her father. Taro was laughing, half at Kagemaru and half at everyone's reactions.

Nadameru just shook her head.

Sometime later, the Adarakis pair took their leave. Nada had to force herself not to look surprised when Mazrakiel bowed to her politely. He wished her a good day very kindly, though it seemed like he almost choked on the words "jounin no Nadameru." She probably imagined it.

"Shall we go, Na-chan?" Taro asked. At her nod, the two exited the ramen stand. There was still much for them to do before the day was over.

[That*bishie*soundnin*]

OoC: Do I know your character in this part Kirigakure?

[Kiri]

OoC: Seeing as how this takes place before the "Disaster" thread, I'd have to say no.

[That*bishie*soundnin*]

OoC: okay, XD, that makes sense

A bronze-skinned boy made his way towards the Ichiraku stand, it was fairly popular today, so Jin simply waited till some of the other customers left, he wasn't sure, but he did see 4 seats empty, but teh first two had walked about and... vanished? No, that couldn't be right, but he thought he could see somehting moving fast in the shadows.... No way, thats near impossible speed for the human body, - must be some jutsu. Maybe those were Anbu he thought excitedly. Then, after a a girl and an elderly man left, (the normal way), he allowed himself in to take a seat in front of the chef, it was still midday, "Konnichiwa!" he said eagerly.

The chef looked at him, with a grand smile. "Young master, its been some time since you last came by! - But listen, I still remember your favourite, unagi wasn't it? Deep fried and served on top of udon?"

The pretty light-bron face grinned mischeviously, "memory like an elephant," he acclaimed.

As he sat there and day dreamed about Kakashi and unagi, he looked around to see who else was present, he didn't recognize many faces... How boring... I guess I'll eat a bit and save the rest for Sis. He closed his eyes and listened to the crowd around him, or what was left of it.

OoC: XD, Jin is now waiting to hear somet conversation thingie happen. *nudge-nudge*

[Tensei Kaori]

Kaori had long since finished her meal, but somehow she couldn't bring herself to leave the Ramen Stand. She noticed a young academy student enter - she didn't know his name, only that she had seen him among the students - and speak happily with the man behind the counter. He didn't seem to notice her, which was in a way refreshing. It was nice to be able to fade into the shadows for a little while, no matter how much she loved the cheerful calls of "Hello there, Hokage-sama!"

Ordering another glass of water, she leaned casually on the counter and watched the activity in the village.

[That*bishie*soundnin*]

The man behind the counter finally served the sizziling eel no rice and the aroma made Jin's stomach roar in anticipation. he clapped his sash-wrapped hands in glee, and then did somehting with his fingers, the sash unfolded itself from his two first fingers and formed into a rigid pair of chopsticks. -His sash.

They weren't actually, that solid, the pair of scarf-made chopsticks were very flexible if one noticed, but Jin was able to manage. he atehis Unagi meal with inocent glee.

He was halfway through the meal when the chef, after watching his new customer pack it in, commented on jin's features: "aside form being a little darker," he said, "you look the very image of your mother."

Jin's eyes froze, his body followed suit. Very slwoly, he stood up, his gaze focused a little below the head of the chef. "I'm sorry, I forgot to save the rest for my sister." As he packed the meal and turned to leave, he turned, icily to the chef. "Now I know why I stopped coming here, You've refreshed my memory! Don't EVER bring up the topic of my mother, again!"

Jin made to storm his way out, but he cooled himself as he turned to leave,he didn't want to make a mess, but after seeing the hokage's face, he felt like he needed to draw her attention in little, yet frequently ways came up for us to have a plan?

[Matsu Yamiko]

Merely picking at his meager lunch, his silver gaze traveled over to the outburst of Jin. He raised an eyebrow in interest....so he didn't like being reminded of his mother, eh? Now...this could be a seriously useful bit of information.

He smiled to himself and finished his meal. Setting the chopsticks down he bowed his head in thanks, though he knew no one would notice. Digging in his money purse, he pulled out what coins he had and set them next to his dirty dishes before slipping off his stool and ducking away from the stand.

[That*bishie*soundnin*]

OoC: oww... I ph34r for Jin...