Chase

I start to crouch, as if I was going to kneel and submit to arrest (...as if they would be fine with simply arresting me), before breaking into a sprint for the door.

A volley of energy blasts erupts behind me, all missing with minimal need for me to dodge. These two clowns aren't good shots-- they're both just desk jockeys, not fit for any actual fieldwork.

F-fuck...!!

A sharp, burning sensation passes by as one of their shots grazes against my tail. Right, I've got an extra limb to worry about now, don't I?

Whatever, I slam the doors open, making a break for it. The two of them are on hot pursuit, one of which seemingly calling in to the rest of the precinct about our ongoing chase. Great-- first day as a yokai and I'm already getting the entire city on my ass? Fucking hell...

I start moving from alleyway to alleyway, throwing over trash cans and other assorted garbage to make it harder for me to be pursued. I'm cutting through several buildings and streets, catching panicked glances of civilians against my better judgement. If possible, I'd prefer to not announce my presence to more of the city if I can avoid it, but I'd also prefer to not be killed before I can figure out how to reverse this situation I've found myself in.

As you'd expect, these two aren't that athletic-- so it's not hard for me to lose them. But, I can't get careless here. That's how I'd gotten into this mess, right? They're calling in for backup, too, meaning there's going to be squad cars and checkpoints getting ready to try and stop me. I'm going to need to figure a plan out, and fast.

If I was a yokai- um... I mean- whatever. 'Where would I hide?' is what I'm getting at.

Probably... somewhere in plain sight. Somewhere people wouldn't think to look for me. I'm a kitsune, right? I should be able to shapeshift, or something. Ah... but if they see me transform, then there's no point in disguising, is there?

Quickly, after confirming the coast is clear, ...I throw myself into the nearest dumpster.

... ....... F-fuck me this is gross!! Especially with me not wearing any pants. The r-rotten food, the bugs and m-maggots crawling around... Everything's so squishy... and wet...

I'm... I-I'm shaking. S-so much rot... So much gross, slimy, stinky, smelly... f... f-f-fuck. Calm down, DUSK. It's like your parents always told you; you're a man-- act like one. Or at least, you were one...? Whatever. Steady your breath. In... out... In... out...

...I'm going to need to shower for a week straight after this.

Whatever. T-time to change my form. I close my eyes, trying to focus on shifting my form into something else. Maybe like... a hungover office worker or something. Maybe someone who was thrown into the dumpster because their co-workers were dicks. Something simple that I can easily blend into the background with.

...

.......

Nothing.

Nothing's happening. I don't know what kind of sensation I'm supposed to look out for, if anything, but I figured I'd feel something to indicate me channeling my newfound abilities. That's usually what happens when you cast magic, right?

That's annoying. I'd thought that would've worked for sure.

Well, at least I'm safe in here, for now. At least until someone tries to throw away some garbage. But, it won't be a cop doing so, so I'm not exactly swearing that inevitability. Now, let's see... where am I, again? Next to a string of restaurants by the station, right. Meaning... there's a bridge nearby-- I could slip out there and catch my breath in the underpass. But I can't stay there forever. Eventually, I'd have to come out, and then the chase would begin anew-- provided they don't think to look there, of course. What's my long-term goal, here? ...Find that Tanuki, of course. Where would they be, though...?

...I hear footsteps rushing past. My lungs tense as I hold my breath, not wanting to call any attention to myself. I cup my hand to my face, trying to block out the smells so as to not set myself off again. This is insane-- running away from my fellow co-workers? Why the hell aren't any of them willing to listen to me? Rhetorical question, of course.

But anyway, now that the footsteps have died down, I can think again. If I had to guess, that tanuki's probably going to be at the bar again at some point in the future, ready to lure out other officers to poison. ...It's so far away from here, though-- and on top of that, I don't remember the exact directions, either. I had to use the navigation on my phone to get there, in the first place-- God, if only I had my phone on me...

...

Wait, that's an idea.

If I can make it back to the apartment, I can steal my nee-chan's phone and use her GPS to get there. She always forgets to take it with her to work, after all. That, and she never locks it, anyway-- she always found it annoying having to unlock the thing whenever she'd want to go on her socials.

Alright, DUSK. We've got a plan. Head to the apartment and-

!!!

S-someone's opening the lid to the dumpster. Fuck. I quickly prepare my hand, ready to intimidate whatever unfortunate underpaid worker is unlucky enough to take out the trash.

"Wow. Dumpster diving at this time of year? How surprising, DUSK-chan~"

At first, panic sets in, as I realize it's someone else in uniform. But then, upon further inspection, I realize that it's... Bunko.

Well, that makes things much easier, doesn't it?