FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

In my right hand was a ticket that can be torn to half. The first half was cloud-coloured with a silver lining at the bottom, inscribed there in a simple and elegant cursive writing was "Stairway to Heaven". The other half was slate-coloured, and what's written in there is a professional crimson font that read "Highway to Hell". I don't know where I am or how I got here. But when I took a glance at what's in front of me, there was a line, humans and beastmen alike, and at the end of the line was a giant torii. And behind the torii was a fork, each has a row of torii and at the front bore different masks, one is a white Otafuku and the other is a red Hannya. I didn't question as to where I am, but I patiently waited for my turn to come.

The line seemed forever, but I waited as best as I could, and finally I was at the front. Upon closer inspection, the fork was actually a combined road of rail tracks and a river. The one with the Otafuku mask has a bullet train, the one that I dreamt of taking a ride in there. The scenery was well kept, healthy vines wrapped around the gate as wild flowers bloomed, and a tunnel was also wrapped by said vines.

The other one was a moss-coloured river, with things I don't know or yet to know floating around. A nauseating smell enveloped the area and an ominous fog was added for what I think as an effect. But what stood out were the lanterns with floral patterns that float along with the things I don't know or yet to know. A small and fragile wooden boat was ready for the next unlucky soul to take a ride in it. As I continue to identify the things I don't know or yet to know that is floating in the river, the man at the gate finally gave presence. He was a beastman, more or less, but oddly familiar. The cyan eyes, the ahoge, the blue and white hoodie, and the brown shorts were all too familiar, but I cannot seem to remember as to whom this person is.

The man told me to insert my ticket in the booth, and I did as I told. But a few seconds upon inserting the said ticket, there was a continuous beeping noise, and the machine spat out the ticket, still in one piece.

"I believe there's an error on your ticket."the man said, "Could you please wait at the side? I'm sending out a report about this and the result should come immediately."

"S-sure but... Can you tell me what's going on and where am I?"

His head lowered, "I'm sorry, but I cannot answer your question." was all he said.

People behind me come and go. Some was destined to the bullet train, and some went to the small and fragile wooden boat. As the last passenger of the day passed through the gate, what I assumed a courrier came with a large brown envelope. The man from before scanned its contents, and after that he looked at me dead in the eyes. His cyan irises reflected my image in them, and then he spoke, "Seems like I was wrong about you." He ripped my ticket horizontally, making sure it passed through each halves. "Consider yourself lucky then." he added as he snapped his fingers and a transition came in, like it was being sucked into the void, cartoonishly if I may add but without the sound effects.

And then there was nothing.

Nothing but darkness and a continuous and constant beeping sound.

I tried to open my eyes, slowly, making sure I can adjust well to the bright lighting of the ceiling. As explore the area, there was another man holding my left hand.

And I know him.

A Tigerman with thick eyebrows, who seemed aged three times than I knew him before, was sleeping next to my bed. On his hand that held mine was a golden ring with a peridot stone encrusted on top. The same goes for the one that I wore on my other hand. My mouth felt like a desert, dry, but I tried my best to say something.

"T-To... ra..." My voice was hoarse and cracked, but enough for him to hear me. His ear twitched at the sound of my voice as he lift his head up, groaning. Upon seeing me awake and smiling, his eyes widened in disbelief and tears started to form at the edge.

He then jumped at me with a hug as he sobbed "You idiot! Don't ever do that to me again..."

"It's alright, I'm here now." I said, kissing his forehead.