Chapter 38: The Rogue Rodent

The shop’s interior was in chaos—bolts of fabric unraveled across the floor, measuring tapes snapped and discarded, and several mannequins toppled like fallen soldiers.

The meticulous order that had defined Hoshino’s establishment lay shattered.

"Mr. Hoshino?" Kane called again, his voice dropping to a whisper as he noticed a thin trail of crimson liquid streaking across the polished hardwood.

Cyrus moved silently beside him, his body coiled with tension. He gestured toward the counter, behind which the blood trail disappeared.

Kane nodded, drawing his pistol.

A weak groan emanated from behind the counter.

Kane vaulted over it while Cyrus circled, both converging on Mr. Hoshino’s crumpled form.

The elderly tailor clutched his arm, blood seeping between his fingers from a jagged wound.

Something bit me," he wheezed.

His arm was shredded along the forearm—rows of puncture wounds radiated with faint green light, like corrupted stitchwork.

Kane crouched beside him, pressing a clean cloth from the workbench against the wound.

"What happened?"

"It came through the back," Mr. Hoshino whispered. "Looking for something..."

Cyrus’s head snapped up, nostrils flaring. His eyes narrowed, pupils contracting to thin slits. "It’s still here."

Kane felt it too—the unmistakable prickle of rogue spirit energy.

A sour, musty scent tinged the air, distinctive and familiar.

"Rat spirit," Kane murmured, scanning the shadows. "Probably a minor one based on the scent, but still dangerous."

A rustling sound came from beneath a fallen rack of suits, followed by the rapid patter of tiny claws against wood.

Something dark and unnaturally large darted across the floor, disappearing into a hole gnawed through the baseboard.

Cyrus moved with blinding speed, slamming his palm against the baseboard. A pulse of crimson energy radiated outward, sealing the escape route with a sizzling barrier.

A high-pitched squeal erupted from inside the wall, followed by frantic scratching.

The baseboard splintered as something larger than any normal rat burst through, trailing wisps of black smoke.

The creature’s form wavered between rodent and something more humanoid—matted fur covering a twisted body, yellowed incisors protruding from a too-wide mouth, and eyes glowing an unnatural green.

"Circle left!" Kane commanded, positioning himself to block the rat spirit’s escape route. "Don’t let it reach the door!"

Cyrus moved quickly, his eyes tracking the creature’s erratic movements.

The rat spirit darted between fabric bolts, knocking over spools of thread in desperate evasion.

"It’s going to feint right," Kane called, recognizing the pattern. "Be ready to cut it off when it doubles back."

Without question, Cyrus positioned himself exactly where Kane indicated.

The rat spirit pivoted—straight into Cyrus’s outstretched hand. Crimson energy flared as the dragon seized it, his grip unrelenting.

Kane muttered an incantation, his fingers tracing glowing symbols in the air.

A shimmering blue bubble materialized around the rat spirit still clutched in Cyrus’s grip.

The containment spell solidified, transforming into a translucent cage that pulsed with energy.

"Got you, you little troublemaker," Kane said, taking the now-contained spirit from Cyrus.

Cyrus immediately knelt beside Mr. Hoshino, gently taking the tailor’s injured arm.

Crimson energy flickered between his fingers as he passed his hand over the wound.

The bleeding slowed, then stopped entirely as the jagged edges of torn flesh knit together.

"Thank you," Mr. Hoshino whispered, color returning to his ashen face.

Kane pulled out his phone, punching in the Bureau’s emergency number.

"This is Agent Ashwood reporting a Class-2 rogue spirit incident at Hoshino & Sons Tailoring," he said, while keeping his eyes fixed on the caged rat.

"One civilian injured, situation contained. Need pickup and debriefing, team."

The rat spirit hissed and spat, its beady eyes darting between Kane and Cyrus with unmistakable hatred.

Just then, the bell above the door chimed as Takeo entered, carrying a paper bag.

"Dad, I brought you lunch—" His voice cut off abruptly as he took in the scene: his father sitting with blood on his sleeve, the shop in disarray, and a snarling rat spirit contained in a glowing cage.

"Father!" Takeo rushed forward, nearly dropping the bag.

"It’s okay, son," Mr. Hoshino assured him, flexing his newly healed arm. "These gentlemen handled everything."

Before Kane could explain further, the shop’s door swung open again.

Rina stepped in, her forensics kit already in hand, followed by Ginsei and two other Bureau agents in standard-issue gray suits.

"That was fast," Kane remarked, surprised.

Ginsei’s cold eyes swept over the scene, lingering on Kane and Cyrus with undisguised suspicion.

"We were already in the area investigating a string of similar incidents."

"Three other businesses were hit this week," Rina added, kneeling to examine the rat spirit. "But this is our first captured perpetrator."

Takeo hovered protectively near his father while Rina approached with her medical scanner.

"Mr. Hoshino’s wound shows traces of spirit energy manipulation," she reported, glancing pointedly at Cyrus. "Though it appears to have been... treated."

Ginsei approached Kane, his voice dwindling to a mere whisper. "Interesting how trouble follows you and your dragon everywhere."

"We were honestly just here for new clothes," Kane said, gesturing at his and Cyrus’s disheveled appearance.

Ginsei’s lips curved into a smirk as he took the containment cage. The rat spirit inside hissed and scratched futilely at the magical barrier.

"Of course you were," Ginsei replied, his voice dripping with disbelief. "Shopping for matching outfits with your new... employer?"

Rina stepped between them, her scanner still humming.

"We need to process this spirit before it destabilizes further," she said, nodding toward the cage. "The energy signature matches our other cases."

Ginsei nodded curtly. "We’ll take it from here, Ashwood. Enjoy your shopping trip."

He turned to leave, the contained rat spirit writhing in his grasp. Rina followed, pausing briefly to give Kane a sympathetic glance before exiting the shop.

The bell chimed as the door closed behind them.

Kane helped Mr. Hoshino to his feet while Takeo began straightening the toppled fabric bolts.

"Would you mind telling us what happened, sir?" asked Kane.

Mr. Hoshino smoothed his bloodstained sleeve. "The spirit was searching through my customer records before I interrupted it."

"Customer records?" Kane’s ears perked up beneath his illusion. "Did it take anything?"

The tailor shook his head. "I don’t believe so. I surprised it before it could."

Cyrus’s expression darkened. "Someone’s looking for something."

"Or someone," Kane added, a chill running down his spine.