The Eternal Life, Captain's Quarters.
Warm sunlight streamed through the cabin's circular window, scattering across the room's wooden floor and reflecting off the faintly polished steel of Kuina's sheathed blade. The faint scent of sea salt lingered in the air — a rare moment of calm after the storm.
Tina leaned lazily against the bedframe, holding a small white jade bottle in one hand. "You really are a sword demon, you know that? Just a few days, and you've mastered the same sword technique you used to need Inner Force for. That's insane, even for you."
Kuina sat at the edge of the bed, back bare, her long blue hair tied up loosely. Her breathing was steady as she replied flatly, "Please be careful. I don't want scars on my back. Not even a small one."
Tina chuckled, tipping the bottle to let the clear medicinal liquid drip over her fingers. "What, afraid a certain someone doesn't like women with scars?"
Kuina's expression didn't change, but her voice was crisp. "Yes. And what if that's true?"
The words made Tina's hand freeze midair. She blinked, momentarily stunned, before regaining her composure with a quiet laugh. "You're... unusually honest today."
Kuina turned her head slightly, meeting her gaze with that calm, sword-edge stare of hers. "You and I — we both know what we feel. There's no point pretending otherwise. I'm just... tired of denying it."
Tina wrapped the bandage in silence. For once, her usual teasing tone was gone. She avoided Kuina's eyes, muttering under her breath, "You didn't have to drag me into your confession too, you know."
"Didn't I?" Kuina asked softly, but her voice carried a faint, knowing smile.
By the time Tina tied the last knot, her own face had flushed slightly from the tension. She stood abruptly, setting the bottle aside. "All done. Don't worry, the Captain's medicine never leaves scars." She turned to leave, muttering as she gathered her things, "I'm going to take a bath. You... just sit there and be perfect like always."
Kuina smirked faintly. "Let's see how long you can keep pretending."
Steam filled the ship's bathhouse, curling like a veil around Tina's body as she sank into the hot water. The air shimmered, droplets beading on her shoulders. Her eyes were half-closed, but her mind refused to rest.
"That girl actually admitted it..." she whispered, voice echoing faintly. "What the hell am I supposed to do with that? Damn you, Jin... and damn you, Kuina."
She sank lower, the water rising over her face, muffling her frustrated sigh. "Ugh. This isn't supposed to be this complicated..."
Somewhere deep inside her, a reluctant warmth stirred — one that she hated acknowledging.
On deck, the sun was already dipping toward the horizon. Makino had returned from the village, her expression calm but gentle as always. Halfway to the ship, she ran into Kuina, now dressed in her usual casual uniform — white shirt, dark skirt, her sword slung across her back.
"Kuina," Makino said, slowing to look her over. "How's your wound?"
"Just a scratch," Kuina answered lightly. "Nothing serious. As for Tina — she didn't even break a sweat. You can relax, Makino."
Makino frowned, unconvinced. She reached out, tugging gently at Kuina's sleeve, as though trying to peek beneath the bandages.
"Really, I'm fine," Kuina laughed softly. "See? I can move perfectly. Don't worry so much, Makino."
Makino finally sighed in relief, a smile tugging at her lips. "Alright, alright. You win. But you know how I am — if you got seriously hurt, how would I ever explain it to Jin?"
Her tone carried a teasing lilt, and she punctuated it with a playful wink.
Kuina gave her a look that was half amusement, half exasperation. "Makino, sometimes I really admire you."
"Oh?" Makino's brows arched in curiosity.
"You're too calm about everything," Kuina said plainly. "You don't deny what you feel, you don't hide it — you just... accept it."
Makino's smile deepened, and for a moment, her usual softness gave way to something quietly confident. "Maybe it's because I already know I can't have him all to myself. If that's the case, better that it's you than anyone else. You've been with him longer than I have."
Kuina stopped walking, staring at her in mild disbelief.
Makino's tone was matter-of-fact, but her eyes were gentle. "He's a wolf, Kuina. Wild, untamed, and full of ambition. But that's exactly why we were drawn to him."
Kuina looked away, unable to hide the faint curve of her lips. "A wolf, huh... yeah, that sounds about right."
Side by side, they walked toward Bell-mère's home, the faint scent of the sea drifting around them.
Meanwhile, in the dimly lit blacksmith's workshop near the edge of the village, the rhythmic ring of metal had quieted.
Inside, Jin sat cross-legged before a cooling forge, a single blade resting across his lap — unfinished, but humming faintly with energy. His eyes were closed, his expression calm.
A heavy, respectful voice sounded from outside. "Boss, you called for me?"
"Come in," Jin replied.
The door creaked open, and Kuma's massive frame stepped through, ducking slightly to fit inside. His presence filled the space like a living wall.
"Any trouble?" Jin asked without opening his eyes.
Kuma shook his head. "No, boss. Only that the big sis got a bit scratched, but she's fine now. The village's safe. Arlong's gone for good."
"Good," Jin murmured. He'd expected as much — Kuina and Tina were more than capable of handling it. But still, he'd kept Kuma stationed nearby, just in case.
He finally opened his eyes, their sharp amber glow flickering in the dim light. "You did well staying out of it. But now it's time for you to focus on yourself again."
Kuma straightened, attentive.
"The rage inside you — that berserk energy," Jin continued slowly. "You need to suppress it completely. Once you've got it under control, you can start absorbing it again, but properly this time. When you do, you'll grow even stronger. Understand?"
"Yes, boss," Kuma said firmly.
He turned to leave, but Jin's voice stopped him at the door.
"One more thing," Jin said quietly, his tone colder now. "Tomorrow, when the Marines arrive to collect the Arlong Pirates, there'll be one among them — a petty officer, small, thin, looks like a rat. Talks like one, too. If you see him..."
Jin's eyes narrowed, his words cutting through the air like a blade. "Kill him. Quietly. Make sure the Marines don't notice."
Kuma froze. "Kill... a Marine?"
The silence that followed was heavy. Jin's expression didn't change — only the faint flicker of killing intent in his gaze.
"That man's name is Nezumi," he said at last. "He's not a Marine. He's filth — a coward who took bribes from Arlong and let this village suffer for years. His uniform doesn't change what he is."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
Kuma's broad shoulders tensed. The usual dull-witted gentleness in his face was gone, replaced by a darker, more primal edge. "You want him gone, boss? I'll handle it. One man, right?"
"Just one," Jin confirmed, his tone low and controlled.
Kuma grinned, a dangerous flash in his eyes. "No problem. He won't even know what hit him."
Jin didn't reply — only closed his eyes again, the faint hum of the forge echoing like a heartbeat.
Outside, the evening wind stirred, carrying with it the scent of iron and salt.
Inside, Jin's killing intent lingered — cold, precise, and absolute.
That night, the Eternal Life drifted silently under the moonlight, anchored just off the Cocoyasi coast. The sea shimmered red under the fading dusk, as though still remembering the blood that had been spilled days before.
Kuina stood on deck, her sword resting at her hip, staring out over the horizon. Her reflection gleamed in the blade's surface — tired, but calm.
Tina joined her a moment later, damp hair hanging loosely over her shoulders from her recent bath.
Neither spoke for a while. The only sound was the soft crash of waves against the hull.
Finally, Tina broke the silence. "He's planning something again, isn't he?"
Kuina nodded slightly. "He always is."
Tina exhaled, her eyes tracing the stars. "You know... for all the trouble he causes, I'd still follow him anywhere."
Kuina smiled faintly. "That's what makes you dangerous."
Tina turned to her, catching that teasing glint in Kuina's gaze. "Dangerous? Me?"
"Very," Kuina said simply. "You hide your heart behind jokes. But when you choose to act... you don't hold back."
For a moment, their eyes met — soft, unspoken tension hanging in the air. Then Tina laughed, brushing her hair back. "Don't look at me like that, Kuina. You'll make me fall for you instead."
Kuina looked away, smirking faintly. "That'd be the least of your problems."
The tension eased, replaced by the quiet peace of understanding — the kind that could only exist between two women bound by battle, trust, and the same dangerous man at the center of their world.
Far below deck, Jin's voice echoed faintly through the ship as he gave quiet orders to Kuma, the sound of steel clinking marking the birth of a new plan — one that would soon shake even the East Blue itself.
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T/N :
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