Lord Kashi and Adan stared in awe at the pillaged kitchen, now almost completely depleted of food.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKP9CKov0T
"You don't keep much in your kitchen, I'm guessing," Lord Kashi said.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaF7GDgURo
"Actually..."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8i2eT6chj
"What?"copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PRw7QIKej
"I'm pretty sure that there was an entire chicken here before I gave Bryant the leg. There was also a lot of dried food, half a round of cheese, and a couple loaves of bread. At least he left the seasonings and one loaf..."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhQZFj5Pv3
"What did he do with the rest of it? That's the problem. We also need to know where he went."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRAyYKM9NU
"I'm surprised he managed to get away with that much, though. I mean, what were we so deeply involved in that he could carry away the entire kitchen?"copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1k9JpDbt3
"We were talking," Lord Kashi said, displeased, "and he took advantage. Congratulations, Adan. You've taken in a great thief."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsz4i64zkj
"No, congratulations to you, Kashi. The thief is your grandson."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PNwJlN58c
Lord Kashi glared at Adan.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡGei92wdawQ
"It's not my fault he's so good at it. He's self-taught, anyway," said Adan.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡirxVi4WSmb
"I don't care how he learned, but I do care that he stole the contents of your cupboards, and I can't stand having such a bold thief steal dinner from under my nose. Besides, he's a Fallenson. Fallensons aren't thieves; we're as noble a family as ninja can be, and I'll make sure we stay that way."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkb6ujwKAU
"Good luck finding him."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6kfc2afUL
"What, aren't you also responsible for him?"copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzWkdhxHnD
"Only as his sensei and leader, not a parent. Therefore, I don't have to look for him if somebody else responsible is already doing it. I also have a lot of paperwork to do, and I'm already behind because of him. Besides, I highly doubt that he left the house."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡwldEHm8AHZ
"Why?"copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkANJSFgp9
"He had to put the extra food somewhere, and he couldn't have eaten all of it. I was told that he only eats very much when he's sure there's going to be more."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt5RKNZyBx
"It was Raven who told you that, correct?"copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4anoIq7Z5
"Yes."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQ8kWATIiT
"Did she say that he also hoards food?"copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡALNWfJaslG
"No. I learned that on my own."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FuXAwPAvG
"Fine, then. I'll hear that story later. Now go do your paperwork, if it's really that pressing, and I'll find my grandson and get the food back."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU8AhjSwuN
Lord Kashi walked out of the room and began his search. He found nothing, of course- he hadn't the faintest idea of how Bryant thought. After what seemed like an hour, but was probably less, he walked into the library room and plopped into the nearest chair to think. Finding the chair uncomfortable, he moved to one across the room.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0b4mo03sT
Before he could sit down, the cloth covering the piece of furniture seemed to move and peel away- until he saw that it was Bryant, moving to avoid being sat upon.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVlJ1fJxED
Lord Kashi quickly seized Bryant by the collar and hauled him away, through the maze of halls and down the stairs. Bryant, perhaps wisely, didn't struggle as hard as he could have.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86iSWHRXSk
Lord Kashi threw Bryant into Adan's office before bursting in himself. Adan was appropriately startled and stood up, adding to the confusion created by Lord Kashi's sudden entrance. Several papers had been blown off of the desk and were fluttering down, creating a distraction sufficient for Bryant to hide himself.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡeD6VgZS4Dp
"Kashi!" Adan began in protest.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZ91FuMX12
"Yes, Adan?" Lord Kashi replied dryly. He took his naginata staff and began to poke around the office.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWww6LOlep
"I can see that you found Bryant, obviously, but what do you mean by throwing him at my shelves?"copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLC01Znj6f
"I was hoping that perhaps he would explain to both of us what he was doing in the library after he stole almost everything in the kitchen."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iNes4VpWo
Lord Kashi found Bryant and jabbed at him with the staff, forcing him to reveal himself as he deflected it. The staff struck the wall loudly, threatening the existence of a painting hanging nearby.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnI5kQChoJ
Adan stood and rushed from behind his desk, snatching the staff before Lord Kashi could manage to damage anything. In response to a withering glare, he said, "Not in my office. And you can't pull ranks on this one."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsm3NdCj9e
Lord Kashi, recognizing that he had gone too far, nodded and turned back to Bryant.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡlD2w0LQMWr
"Now tell me, grandson, why were you hiding in the library? And why did you steal almost all of the food in the kitchen?"copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCCaugUHl5
Bryant's tone showed no emotion.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQaasXIM9t
"First of all," he began, "I wasn't hiding. I was sleeping until you barged in and tried to sit on me. And as for the food, I was raised to believe that what's in the kitchen- but not the pantry- is pretty much free game. I actually only ate a little. What clearly wasn't going to be eaten for a few days went to the pantry. The chicken, though, it's still in the kitchen. I just moved it to see how observant you are. Obviously, you aren't..."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3p8JygxZX
Lord Kashi listened to the full explanation with a measure of doubt.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXpcsQ4qjL
"And Adan told me you didn't like to talk," he said when Bryant was finished. "You sure have a mouth on you when it suits your purpose."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwZUOBdz1m
"Doesn't everyone?"copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0xpqnUjjk
Several minutes later, Bryant's explanation had been confirmed. The majority of the food stayed where he had moved it.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LyeUpGu2o
"Do you enjoy practicing your stealth on Adan?" Lord Kashi asked Bryant.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ1eQBTgCg
"Yes. I would do it to Ben and Lisa, but Ben has a hammer and Lisa is too frightening. Pretty much all of the other grown-ups hate me, even Harris. He literally threw me out of the infirmary once after he stitched up a cut on my arm..." Bryant's voice trailed off.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl2yvrdazW
"You sound depressed, do you know that?"copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLOEI0zwB6
"Yes. But I'm not depressed."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxc51kM5KB
"What are you, then?"copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNBsqIxGCl
"I'm a kitsunekage."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡnX98vVUVx8
"A fair enough answer."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡkm8fjPMVww
"Mikael says that my life is so much like that manga he's always talking about- you know, kitsune, people hate me, and so on. But I'm not sure I should believe him."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡopdF0cnUfF
"Why not?"copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXIHMTkmiw
"He also claims that this is all a story written by some weird human-bird-fox hybrid thing with a name I can't remember."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡeee6mybB72
"That does lower his credibility quite a lot. But it would explain the past few days."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXYjovIFDb
"You, too? I'm leaving now..."copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQ9mUnlyOo
Bryant turned back, somehow managing to wander through the narrow hallway. Lord Kashi stood in place and watched him go, wondering why he couldn't figure out his own grandson.copyright protection268ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDrlHpRsvg
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