FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Aika knocked on Dami's door at 8 a.m. the following morning. Their rooms were beside each other and separated from the others down a north corridor in the lobby. They still weren't as fancy as Ayame's, but fairly close.

He opened it a minute later, pulling up his jeans and holding a red tee. Dami couldn't help but instantly scan her outfit. A black knee-high skirt with a slit revealing her right upper thigh and a gray top matching her hair. Aika sometimes went for showy outfits while off duty and almost always wore boots. Aika was slim but thicker than Katie in a few areas, a sight Dami's eyes could never get enough of. "I was coming. Where's your patience, hun?"

"Save the sweet talk for your crush." She turned and walked down the hall, out into the waking lobby. In her hands was a stack of paper and two rolls of tape.

"Whatever." Dami teased Aika from time to time, but he knew not to go far with it. He didn't fear her but knew he had to respect her. Aika could give him a challenge. He was just glad to be taller.

Dami slipped into his shirt and running shoes and jogged after her. He and Aika were Kado's most loyal employees. Their skills and personalities made them a quick hire. Dami was strong and excellent at handling firearms, and Aika was a seasoned martial artist upon also knowing her way around weaponry.

"What is this again, a rushed meeting for a rumored pokémon city?" he asked once walking beside her. Dami felt eyes on them, but it was nothing new. They were the highest rank, and Aika had about the same value as Ayame, but not even Dami could get to Aika-- at least not yet.

"I told you last night. It's one of the most crucial we will have. Here." She handed him half of the stack and a roll. "Tape them to the doors of employees ranked two or higher only. You take the west section." Workers ranked two or higher had their doors painted red, while standard employees' doors were a dull green. Ayame's was white to stand out.

"Will do."

They parted ways, Aika walking toward the rooms on the east side. She'd clear the first floor to start.

--

In twenty minutes, they were through with posting decrees to the first, second, and third floors. All that was left was the fourth.

Aika stepped out of the elevator, taped the paper to the first and fifth door, skipped the next twelve, and stopped at Katie's. She posted it and turned to walk away for a second but figured she should clear up what was going on, so Katie didn't think it was a mistake. She knocked on the door.

Katie didn't keep her waiting, fortunately. She opened it slightly as she wasn't dressed, wondering why Aika was here.

She took the paper from Katie's door and instead handed it to her. "Tomorrow at 7 p.m."

"...Thanks." Katie took it.

With that, Aika walked back toward the elevator and took it down, leaving not a second for questions.

Dami had finished as well and convened with her in the lobby. "Done. So, are we gonna try to find that haven before we tell everyone? Maybe head out tonight and gain a head start."

"It would be easy for us, and we'd get nothing but verbal praise from Kado." She started toward their rooms, to which Dami followed. "The lower ranks need this. It's an opportunity for their skill to be noticed."

He chuckled. "Why do you care? They're all expendable. We can strengthen our rep."

Aika eyed him. "There is nothing to gain from being purely uncaring and selfish, Dami... We are not the same."

He slowed his pace and briefly opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came to mind to dispute. Dami stopped, crossing his arms while watching her walk down the corridor. Aika had never called him out on his personality like that before, so it took him aback. He was perfect for this type of job. Maybe she should take pointers from him. Who did she think she was? He scoffed to himself and turned to leave the lobby.

This was Dami's dream job. Maybe not Unovanish in particular, but he'd desired from a young teen to work in a position of high power and be respected in said field. This was the closest he had, and Aika was no one to show him disrespect. She'd only worked here a year longer than him.

Dami once got in deep trouble with authority at seventeen due to holding a few owned pokémon hostage in his home for a week. They constantly sneaked into his yard and took from the berry bushes his parents planted. What could he say? They had it coming. Once Kado had caught wind of the investigation, he set his eyes on Dami and knew he was fit for Unovanish.

Dami was more than qualified and had consistent field results to prove it. He would find the haven himself, starting now. He didn't require Aika's help.