FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Skye sat at the kitchen table the following morning with her mother, drinking roserade tea from a mug while her father was asleep. Skye had on a comfortable white tee and shorts.

"I think my favorite place was Floaroma Town. It had these super charming homes, bright fields, and beds of flowers everywhere you looked," Skye explained, taking a sip of tea. "And oh my gosh, the food is so good there. I didn't order anything spicy and some dishes still burned my tongue," she giggled. The people required a lot of flavor in Sinnoh, while Alola, Skye included, had a blander palate.

"You should take your phone or a camera next time so we can see pictures. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, honey."

Skye noticed her mother glancing at the writing on top of her hand, which caused her to grin. "Oh, uh, I meant to tell you about that... You know how you met dad in Hoenn?"

Her mother smiled, a hint of surprise in her expression. "...You didn't?"

"Mhm, I met him at the suites while there."

"Well, how's he like? Tell me about him." She was excited to know Skye was taking her first steps into love at a good age.

Meanwhile, Ruki had just awoken in Skye's bed. He sat up and let the blanket slip off him, yawning and getting off the mattress. Her door was cracked, so he walked and nudged it open with his nose. He saw Skye sitting at the kitchen table from down the hall and walked to her, sitting by her chair.

"And he said he's majoring in business while seeking a job to help support his mom. Like, I want to pursue this. He's a great boy so far... I like him."

"Hm, that does sound nice. Your father and I _do _want you dating on your class level, so keep that in mind." They'd raised Skye how they did for a reason. She was to carry herself well and create a positive impact on society, along with her partner.

"I know... I am." Skye wasn't fond of that rule. Why couldn't she date whoever she wanted as long as she was happy?

Skye felt a presence and looked behind her, then down at Ruki staring at her with sleepy eyes. "Oh, morning, Ruki." She leaned and rubbed his head. "Did you get enough sleep?"

"Nin." Ruki was up and ready for the day. He slept a lot better than he did during their stay in Sinnoh. His eyes shifted away and to the front door, knowing exactly what he wanted to do first upon their first day back. Ruki had waited all night for it.

Skye's mother eyed him as he stood and walked to it. "I'm still used to seeing a tiny vulpix roam the house," she chuckled.

"That was me at first, but he's just a big fluffy teddiursa now, the same spirit in a bigger home." Skye watched Ruki sit by the door. Upon him staring at her, she realized what he might want. "I think he- Ruki, do you wanna go outside?"

"Nine!" He wanted to traverse his city. He was pretty sure he had a dream about it last night.

Skye grinned and got up from her chair to walk over, her legs still tense as she hid soreness. She unlocked and opened the door. "Go on, but be back in an hour or so, baby."

He nuzzled her thigh with his cheek and walked out the front door across the sun-stricken pavement, his tails swaying.

"Have fun!"

He looked back at her, watching the door close. Ruki was to himself, free, and had a specific destination in mind. He watched the city's lively community. Tourists, pokémon, and trainers alike were exploring what the beachfront had. The long busy stretch of pavement before the sand had everything from smoothie, food shacks, and seafood restaurants to bike and boat rentals with long lines. There was a large community center with a gym and summer camp program further down the beach in the sand as well.

However, Ruki desired tranquility away from beeping drivers and civilization, so he trotted down the sidewalk past colorful residences and tropical trees and toward the busy shopping district a mile down. He planned to visit his favorite spot to watch the city far west within Hau'oli.

Skye sat back in her chair, finishing her tea with a few more sips. "Thanks for the tea, mom."

"You're welcome, hun. Tell me how the call goes."

"Oh, right... I will. Kind of nervous." She placed her mug in the sink and headed back to her room. Skye couldn't believe she was still having difficulty walking because of Ruki. She giggled to herself and went to her dresser, pulling out its top drawer.

She grabbed her cell phone fitted with a pink rubber cover she'd left while on her trip, powering it on and swiping the screen to unlock it. Skye was greeted by a wallpaper she had set three years ago that made her grin: Ruki sitting by a basket of red berries and a couple of delibird with a full mouth. She took the picture when she and her mother visited the Berry Fields one sunny afternoon. Her parents knew the owners well since they'd been buying pastries and berries from them for years and had known them ever since they first moved to Alola from Camphrier Town in Kalos to promote their fertilizer. They'd even had dinner at each other's homes several times. So Skye's family was always welcome.

She opened her phone app and referred to her hand for the number. The ink was faded in some spots, but the digits were still readable. Skye typed the number into her keyboard and sat on her bed, her thumb hovering over the button to send the call.

Ruki reached and was passing the shopping district to his left in the center of the city, nearing The Marina and outskirts of Hau'oli. The city's row of office buildings and fancy hotels, a few of them towering, were on his other side. He watched people entering and exiting shops, several with their pokémon, and some parking on the roads at meters.

It made him wonder how normal it was for a pokémon to love their trainer, and by that, Ruki meant how he loved his. Yes, he was deeply in love with Skye. His heart ached for her daily, but Ruki would never expect Skye to be his mate, nor did he require it. He was content being her companion, and he had silent rights to losing his innocence to her.

Shaking such thoughts, Ruki looked far ahead and saw the mall, Pokémon Center, and dirt trail after them leading upward. The path continued for miles, sprawling behind and lining all of Hau'oli's buildings on the northern side. Unfortunately, a massive truck pulled into a market's driveway in front of him, and two men got out to open the back and start unloading stock. Ruki would have to walk into the bike lane to go around, which Skye taught him against from a young age, but he had no choice in a situation like this. She'd understand.

"Hello?..." Skye asked with a hint of apprehensiveness.

"Hey, Skye, relieved to hear you," Aaron replied, lying in his bed by Sylmi. He couldn't help but grin upon hearing her voice. It was as beautiful and fulfilling as he remembered.

"I know. I'm sorry. Ruki and I were worn out when we got back and needed to sleep."

"It's fine; I'm glad you got to rest. Happy to be home?"

"Of course. I feel so relaxed, and Ruki ran out to explore the moment he woke up. I'm not sure I could permanently move us from Alola."

"That's how it was for me the first few times, but now, everywhere I'm with Sylmi is home." Aaron would never leave his mother, of course, but traveling was his passion and kept him happy.

"That's if I decide to travel as often as you... I feel satisfied at home, for now, you know?" Things could always change, and maybe Skye could use it occasionally to get away from home. It'd make her happy too and already has.

After passing the truck, Ruki soon approached and paced up the barren path. His paws were still tired from their trip, but he wanted this. As he neared the top, he saw two paths to take and a sign advertising rapidash tours ahead, where people could saddle up on an alolan rapidash and ride through the route with an experienced guide. The northern path led to Route 2, where all things great lie. After entering the lengthy route were two directions one could take. West was the marvelous Big Wave Beach, and east were the Berry Fields, which Skye's mother often visited for meal or dessert ingredients. The Hau'oli Cemetery was also east of the route, which wasn't so great, but everything else was.

Ruki took a right on the path before Route 2, where small and large tropical plants and trees littered its edges and shielded most of the sunlight except for a few strips at a time. The greenery became more abundant the further he traveled. His designated area was off the main trail on its east side.

Skye lay on her back, staring out of her window. "Of course I still want to try us, Aaron," she giggled subtly. "I like you..."

"How should we?" Aaron would let her carry the pace for them meeting unless she stated otherwise, but that may not be fair. He just had a lot to learn about how relationships and their intricacies worked and wasn't yet confident in making decisions.

"I'm not sure. It's not like I've done this before, but we do have to see each other again and get more of a general feel... as... more than friends."

"I agree. We can think about that later, though, right? Talking over the phone can be a good start, and I still get to listen to your voice."

His remark caused Skye to grin warmly. She bit her lip. "...Quit making me smile."

Ruki saw the section where the path split into two and took a right, walking half a mile through more vibrant tropical plants and finally to a dead-end clearing with a priceless outlook upon Hau'oli. He twitched his ear to pikipek drilling holes into trees and trumbeak singing around him, and he looked up and could see some sleeping komala in the trees.

"I'm probably gonna sleep again; be as lazy as I can manage for the next week." Skye stretched her sore legs.

"Really took a toll on you, huh? I won't be a bother, then, but you can call whenever you'd like." Aaron wished he could hold her, have Skye fall asleep in his arms, against his chest, and feel her breathe steadily. They hadn't dated, so he hoped his thoughts weren't out of line. He couldn't help them.

"You're nothing close, but I'll call you tomorrow... Is noon a good time?"

"That's perfect. I'll talk to you then, Skye."

She turned onto her side. "Mhm, but forgive me if I sleep in. Talk soon."

Ruki sat at the edge of the path, angled to see all of Hau'oli's structures, The Marina, the busy shopping district, and the beachfront in that order. He rested his tails on the ground, marveling at the sight ahead.

By no means was this spot a secret, but he rarely saw anyone here. Skye knew about it and sat with him once two years ago, which he'd never forget.

As she said, he would stay for an hour to admire his home and enjoy freedom, but he couldn't go too long without being in her presence.