Grandma Tsuru said, "You really leave as soon as you achieve your goal. By the way, Garp is out and isn't at Marineford for the moment."
Hera said, "Got it," while closing the door and leaving.
Grandma Tsuru smiled. "This child, she runs off every day after finding work for me, without even staying to chat. It's not like I'd do anything to her."
Although she said that, Grandma Tsuru was quite satisfied with the disciple Hera had found for her. She looked at Marianne and began to learn about her situation.
After leaving Grandma Tsuru's place, Hera wanted to find Aokiji to ask why he had given the Buster Call to that unreliable CP9, but after searching all over Marineford, she couldn't find him.
She asked the Marine on duty at the pier and learned that he had already left on his bicycle.
Having failed to find Aokiji, Hera returned home. Kuina had already bought the ingredients and was cooking in the kitchen.
When Hera returned and saw Kuina cooking, she hurried to the kitchen to help. Before long, with their joint efforts, dinner was ready.
As Hera ate and chatted with Kuina, Kuina eventually asked, "Why haven't I seen Grandpa Garp? When is he coming back?"
Hera said, "Grandma Tsuru said he's out, and she doesn't know when he'll be back."
Hearing this, Kuina smiled. "Oh, so that means it's just the two of us at home tonight?"
Unaware of the approaching danger, Hera nodded and continued to bury her head in her food.
Kuina pushed her food toward Hera, watching her eat with a smile.
Hera felt the amount of food on her side suddenly increase and looked at Kuina in confusion. "Is this enough for you?"
"Don't worry. What about you? Is this enough? If not, I can make a bit more."
Hera looked up and saw Kuina's expression; the way she looked at her was like looking at food.
Kuina gently stroked Hera's head. "Be good and eat quickly. There are other things to do after dinner."
Hera swallowed hard. The food, which had been fragrant and appetizing, now seemed to have lost its allure.
Seeing that Hera had stopped eating, Kuina said, "Oh, are you full?" Her hands reached out toward Hera as if to pick her up.
Hera quickly shook her head. "No, I'm not finished yet. Besides, I still have to arrange a place for Nami and the others to stay later."
Kuina sat behind Hera and hugged her from behind. "Don't worry, Ain will definitely be able to arrange it. I won't allow you to have anything else to do tonight."
Then, exerting force with her arms, she picked Hera up in a bridal carry.
Hera's legs dangled in the air as if in protest, while she still held a chicken leg in her hand. "I haven't finished eating yet!"
Ignoring Hera's struggles, Kuina carried her to the bedroom. "It's the same eating here."
The bedroom door closed, sealing away the beauty within the room. Only a layer of black shadow clung to the walls, silently guarding Hera and isolating her voice within the room.
Kuina said to Hera on the bed, "I can't let you escape tonight. Let's settle the score for the promise you made on the ship and the matter with Nami together."
Hera's pupils trembled. She felt that this was likely the most critical moment she had faced since transmigrating.
As Hera and Kuina's spirit crystals gradually blended and collided, the two sephirot representing 'Kingdom' and 'Understanding' exchanged spiritual power during the collision.
Finally, under the nourishment of Hera's spirit crystal, Kuina was completely transformed by spiritual power, becoming a new life form.
Having received a portion of Kuina's spiritual power, Hera felt that her spirit dress had become slightly more resilient, and the flight ability that all spirits should have successfully manifested during this union.
It was the same for Kuina. She was surprised to find that she also seemed to be able to fly; with just a thought, she floated up.
Kuina looked at Hera with aggressive eyes, not expecting such an unexpected bonus after their intimacy.
No longer having her spiritual power plundered by Kuina, Hera's back stiffened. "Before it was because of spiritual power loss, but now we're equal. Watch me counterattack."
However, Hera would soon realize one thing: the reason she couldn't take the lead actually had little to do with spiritual power loss.
On the contrary, Kuina, no longer worried about Hera's physical stamina, completely let herself go. The battle ended with Kuina's overwhelming victory and Hera's repeated pleas for mercy.
Afterward, Kuina covered the exhausted Hera with a blanket. As Hera drifted into dreamland, the City of Devouring Time quietly retracted into the shadows.
Kuina looked at the sleeping Hera and slipped into the covers as well. Feeling a hint of chill, Hera frowned in her sleep, but soon sensed another warm presence and hugged the newly arrived Kuina like an octopus.
Kuina hugged Hera back, and the two slowly fell asleep.
Early the next morning, sunlight shone onto Hera's face. Sensing the light, Hera slowly woke up. Seeing Kuina pulling the curtains, a still-dazed Hera mumbled:
"It's rare to sleep at Marineford; why get up so early?"
Kuina looked at Hera helplessly. "Look at what time it is. Would the morning sun be this bright?"
Hera squinted her eyes and looked at the wall clock, only then realizing that it was already afternoon.
The sunlight shone on Hera's face, warming her while bringing a hint of sleepiness. Hera stretched on the bed and lifted a corner of the blanket.
She patted the side of the bed and continued, "What does it matter? Let's take another nap."
Looking at Hera inviting her, Kuina's resolve to get up wavered. Just then, Garp's voice came from downstairs.
"You two little ones, aren't you up yet even though it's this late?"
Hearing this, Hera quickly scrambled up. She couldn't leave Grandpa Garp with a bad impression of her oversleeping.
With a flash of light, her spirit dress transformed into a Marine uniform and draped over her.
In her panic, Hera even used the 'First Bullet'. A whirlwind swept through, and the bed was made. Hera tidied herself up before Garp could come up and knock.
Kuina watched as Hera, who had been lying on the bed inviting her to sleep a second ago, instantly became energetic, and felt speechless.
Hera opened the door after Garp knocked. "Grandpa Garp, you're back so soon? Yesterday when I asked Grandma Tsuru, she said you were out."
Garp smiled and patted Hera's shoulder. "Didn't I hear that you were back? It wasn't anything important, just went out for a walk because I was bored."
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