Lord Kashi and Adan stared in awe at the pillaged kitchen, now almost completely depleted of food.copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7JjMj6MQm
"You don't keep much in your kitchen, I'm guessing," Lord Kashi said.copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYAbTvjXAG
"Actually..."copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡheNO76vB0J
"What?"copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡECRnVDG1px
"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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMvYYpthn4
"What did he do with the rest of it? That's the problem. We also need to know where he went."copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFjLtqSY2S
"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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGuA3qdKsD
"We were talking," Lord Kashi said, displeased, "and he took advantage. Congratulations, Adan. You've taken in a great thief."copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQqMOociGz
"No, congratulations to you, Kashi. The thief is your grandson."copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEeFqI6iG9
Lord Kashi glared at Adan.copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡapPFZT5dDy
"It's not my fault he's so good at it. He's self-taught, anyway," said Adan.copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVohHdGUwm
"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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡtS1IyrqFK7
"Good luck finding him."copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUwEzwyFJc
"What, aren't you also responsible for him?"copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡdA7CSPQzJm
"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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdeXVNpmt9
"Why?"copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡth40WEwvjg
"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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxROaKE0jn
"It was Raven who told you that, correct?"copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfABdwoDSR
"Yes."copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡNm9Rn6vTBP
"Did she say that he also hoards food?"copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡajn18xMMx5
"No. I learned that on my own."copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UlKvzgTc9
"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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZvVRS2nME
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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXXAZ58LSG
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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2AdM5N2ZZ
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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLZIHRAJen
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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrll2krb6j
"Kashi!" Adan began in protest.copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXlsa7yYax
"Yes, Adan?" Lord Kashi replied dryly. He took his naginata staff and began to poke around the office.copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmjX40OFJ3
"I can see that you found Bryant, obviously, but what do you mean by throwing him at my shelves?"copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36vosyJTJP
"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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBNy4YGCWQ
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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUdtRitGYc
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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2jfqLOaFx
Lord Kashi, recognizing that he had gone too far, nodded and turned back to Bryant.copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S9NqeL7QH
"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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0BbttuXas
Bryant's tone showed no emotion.copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUutaVfY5V
"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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5NGTeUElL
Lord Kashi listened to the full explanation with a measure of doubt.copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjLYufrYdC
"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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnxVRHQ6GW
"Doesn't everyone?"copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1d2PTV3OAo
Several minutes later, Bryant's explanation had been confirmed. The majority of the food stayed where he had moved it.copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWHlUcBmbO
"Do you enjoy practicing your stealth on Adan?" Lord Kashi asked Bryant.copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCbwx2eo9U
"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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡkb7n01i4PT
"You sound depressed, do you know that?"copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoPaJKnk7y
"Yes. But I'm not depressed."copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86akCImQ6w
"What are you, then?"copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrHSOIT7MI
"I'm a kitsunekage."copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f7QpQBMbI
"A fair enough answer."copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡljOwEqe1hk
"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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2MeVAWOII
"Why not?"copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJXEznvbaG
"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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡTw0I2E9gFq
"That does lower his credibility quite a lot. But it would explain the past few days."copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcsnrnYocG
"You, too? I'm leaving now..."copyright protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Kq5oZsTaD
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 protection151ＰＥＮＡＮＡA49AMbeVsU
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