Update* I changed the main protagonist's name because of confusion with a character with the same name from the game Kingdom Hearts. This was unintentional and has been changed.

Anyways, I hope you will enjoy this somewhat shorter chapter. Have a pleasant read. :)

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Chapter 4: Getting something off your chest

As the unusual duo got back to their burrow, the ecstatic Pachirisu jumped of the back of the impressively large Arbok. Rieku ran in circles and jumped up and down so quickly that Voss had trouble following his movements with his eyes.
“Calm down little one, save your energy for later.”
“But I’m so happy, Voss.”
“Would it pitch your interest if I said I have something to show you?”
“It would” Rieku answered with renewed interest. He forced himself to calm down so he could listen.
“I think it’s something that you will enjoy very much. Follow me”.
Voss slithered down into the nest in the ground, Rieku following him eagerly. This time, they went further down, through several different chambers, some of them being about twice the height as Rieku himself. He knew he didn’t have the time to study them closer though.
He saw Voss at the bottommost chamber, smiling softly at him.
“This is the breeding chamber. I built it in preparations for the offspring that my mate would give birth to. Sadly, that day never came.”
Rieku looked around the small cave and then back to Voss, confused.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“Because I have finally found out a good way use to it now that you are here, Rieku.” Voss answered sincerely.
Rieku’s eyes widened and he almost lost his footing. He had to support himself on the wall with his tiny paws and thick tail. Finally, he was able form a sentence.
“A-are you… Y-you don’t mean…”
“Yes, I mean exactly what you think. I want you to be my mate.”
The shock overwhelmed the Pachirisu and he didn’t know what to say. He tried desperately form words with his mouth but couldn’t. His yellow cheeks was turning into a pink and orange hue that even made the Arbok blush slightly.
“I know how shocking this must be to you, Rieku. In actuality, when I decided for you to live, it was not because of me needing help with hunting. I sorted myself out quite nicely before.”
Rieku did nothing but blink in his long-lasting state of shock and confusion. He struggled not to hit himself.
“It was that you were willing to trust me despite being close to death and trusting me again when you followed me to my… our den.” Voss continued.
“I decided to give you a chance and you took it and performed brilliantly. You proved to me that you are most trustworthy and for that you are worth more respect than any other Pokémon I’ve ever met.”
Rieku finally snapped out of his confusion.
“I-I am honoured” he responded. Feeling a unique warming and tingling sensation overwhelming him. He had never felt this way before.
“But you are a male, like me. How are we going to have any offspring of our own?”
“Oh that won’t be a problem. I will force a pray we catch to produce it for us. Then we will raise it as our own.”
The thought of this, everything, was almost too much for Rieku’s small brain to handle. He sat down, taking deep breathes.
“Can I have a moment?” he asked.
“Of course.” Voss replied and headed out of the breeding chamber, leaving the squirrel alone to brood.
As the minutes ticked by, Voss paced the entrance of the burrow nervously. Did he mess up? Was it too early? If he wasn’t cold blooded he could have sworn he would be sweating now. He tried to relax and calm his breath, which he never found this difficult before.
After what seemed like an eternity for Voss, Rieku emerged from the den. His face revealed nothing of what he felt or was going to say. Voss hurried over to him, eagerly expecting an answer. Rieku couldn’t hold back a smile as Voss looked at him like a Pichu looks at an exquisitely sweet Mago berry.
Holding out his paw as a signal for Voss to come closer, Voss was just a few hairs away from Rieku’s face. He cupped Voss’s head in his paws and whispered softly while looking straight into his eyes.
“Yes, Voss, I want to be your mate.”
Before Voss could react Rieku planted a firm kiss on his lips which Voss returned eagerly. No more words needed to be said.
Rieku looked in the direction of Voss’s, no their, den. Voss nodded in reply and a dirty smirk spread across his face as they both headed into their nest together, both filled with anticipation and deep passion.