James and Kusano rode the lift up to the third floor. The other girls had gone off to prepare for their showers.
"How are you feeling, Kuu?" James asked gently as he held her hand.
"I'm feeling okay," Kusano replied as she squeezed his strong hand.
James looked at her with a soft smile. "What do you think of the Dungeon and the other girls?" he asked.
Kusano's eyes widened as she thought about it. "It's so big and cool," she said. She was amazed that such a place could exist. Then her voice softened. "I'm still your wife but the other girls seem nice," she added.
"Even Rachnera?" James questioned.
Kusano buried her face against his stomach. She peeked up at him with nervous eyes. "She's scary," she admitted.
James chuckled as he brushed her hair back. "She only looks that way. She's actually quite gentle, like an older big sister," he responded.
"She is?" Kusano asked.
James nodded. "You will see," he replied.
At that moment, they arrived and the lift door opened. They looked to see an open wide forest. The ground was covered in soft green grass that stretched far in every direction. The trees were tall. They were rising high above like pillars. Their thick trunks lined up one after another. There were many of them, close together and formed rows that seemed endless. The bark was rough and dark, and the branches reached out far.
"Wow," Kusano said. "This forest feels of you," she added.
"Feel of me?" James asked.
"Yes, I can feel your warmth in each of the trees," Kusano said as she ran forward. Her small hands reached out to touch the rough bark of one trees.
The moment her fingers pressed against it, the tree began to glow with a gentle green light. The glow spread upward through the branches.
James watched as the trunk began to expand and shift. The bark cracked slightly as new growth surged forth. There were leaves rustling and from the branches, clusters of bright berries blossomed.
Kusano's eyes sparkled. She turned back to James with a smile. "See? The forest, all of it is you," Kusano responded. She had a big smile on her face.
Kusano hugged the trunk, her cheek pressed against the glowing bark. "They are alive, and they are happy," she said. She then left the tree and hugged James.
James wrapped his arms around her and smiled. He thought this floor was perfect for Kuu. She could manipulate the trees around here and she will be unbeatable. He thought she might need some more plants here.
At that moment, James looked up and saw someone flying slowly through the air. She wore a blue top and small booty jeans. She looked confused.
"Papi," James called out.
Papi turned her head to the left. There she saw James. A smile spread across her face. "Husband!" she cried as she rushed forward. She flapped her wings and flew straight toward him.
James opened his arms and caught her. Papi wrapped her wings tightly around him, and James held her close with his arms around her back.
Kusano watched and pouted. She stomped her foot in protest.
"It is good to see you, Papi," James said warmly. "But what are you doing here alone?" he asked.
Papi fluttered back and landed on the ground. She tilted her head up toward the sky. "Papi does not know," she replied. "We were doing something and then Papi flew," she added.
James sighed, thinking to himself, bird brain. "Where are Suu and Illuna?" he asked.
Papi only smiled, shaking her head. "Papi does not know," she replied with confidence.
James let out another sigh. Kusano tugged at his leg.
James looked down at her. "This is Kusano or Kuu," he said. "One of my wives. She can control the plants," he added.
Papi's eyes lit up. She flew toward Kusano with excitement. "Welcome. I am Papi. I love James, and I love playing games. Will you play with Papi?" she asked.
Kusano looked at her and smiled. James gave her a nod. "I will play," Kusano answered.
James straightened. "Anyway, let's find Suu and Illuna," he said.
Just then, a voice called out from the distance. "Papi, where are you?"
James turned his head and saw Illuna approaching. She was wearing a dark navy blue dress. The dress featured a sailor collar with white trim and a white bow at the neckline. The hem of the dress and the short sleeves have red and white stripes. She had her classic sailor cap with a red ribbon hanging off the back. On her feet, she wore simple white sandals.
Next to Illuna was Suu wearing her yellow coat.
"Onii-chan," Illuna shouted as a big smile spread across her face. She rushed towards James.
Suu also smiled and hurried forward. Together, they both hugged James tightly.
"I missed you," Illuna said. Suu nodded in agreement.
"I missed you both as well," James replied warmly.
Kusano pouted from the side. She thought Saya was right and stomped her foot in frustration.
"Although it has only been a few hours," James added with a small laugh.
"It feels longer," Illuna said as James gently let them go. She turned and noticed Kusano, then quickly grabbed her hands.
"Hello, I am Illuna," she introduced herself with a bright smile. "James said he was going to gather strong fighters to protect him, us, and this place. You look strong, let's protect together," she added.
"Yes, together," Kusano responded with a smile.
Suu nodded in agreement.
Illuna then turned to Papi. "Where did you go?" she asked. "We were playing hide and seek and you were meant to look for us,"she added.
"Oh Papi forget," Papi responded with a smile on her face.
James smiled. "Well she did find you or you found her," James remarked.
Suu then moved her hands in sign and shaped the gesture of a tree.
"A tree?" James asked. He thought there were already plenty of trees around.
"That tree?" Illuna questioned.
Suu nodded firmly.
"Tree?" James repeated. He was not sure what they were referring to.
"Yes, there was a strange tree," Illuna explained. "It looked different from the rest," she added.
"Tree…" Papi muttered to herself. She tilted her head as she thought. Suddenly her eyes lit up. "That tree. I know where it is," she added.
James wondered what kind of tree this could be. "Okay, let's explore," he said.
They all nodded in agreement and moved forward. Kusano and Illuna held James's hands, while Suu and Papi walked ahead.
"Kuu was Onii-chan behaving there?" Illuna asked.
Kusano shook her head. "He was not," Kusano responded.
"Kuu," James said with a smile on his face.
Kusano looked up and blushed. "He was," she said.
"Onii-chan is a bit of a pervert," Illuna said.
Suu nodded.
"Husband is a pervert," Papi said as she smiled. She thought it meant something good.
"I love you all," James said. The girls all smiled and blushed.
After a few minutes, the path opened slightly, revealing something unusual.
They looked up and saw a massive Tree Fort. It was a massive dwelling built into a giant, multi-trunked tree. Its canopy flowed like long, bright green hair. At the base sat a shingled house, but the structure stretched upward with several smaller, pod-like rooms high among the branches.
There were wooden bridges and platforms connecting the pods. One section even held an observation deck. The towering tree dominated the landscape.
James thought it was the Adventure Time Treehouse. He thought he did not make it here. "Did you go inside it?" James asked.
"Yes we did," Papi responded. Suu nodded.
"We did not find anything inside," Illuna said as she looked up.
"Was it empty?" James asked.
"Yes, it was just an empty nest," Papi responded.
"Okay," James replied. He thought it could be used as a nice home. He would talk and add something to it.
Kusano yawned. "James, I am sleepy," she said.
James looked at her. He thought they had not gotten any sleep either. "okay , let's head back for now," James said.