Glass crunches underfoot. He steps lightly over a groaning figure hunched by a barstool.
A bartender is swiping at the stains splattered across the countertop, disgruntled after a long night's work.
"Barfight?" He shades his grin with the brim of his cap.
The bartender snorted. "Thanks for stating the obvious."
A door creaks open. "Kaku?"
"Hey." He greets the bar owner, gesturing at the mess.
Blueno nods. "You know how Paulie gets."
He shrugs. "Would you like help?"
"No, that's okay." Blueno nods to the parcel under his arm. "Don't you have something to do?"
"I have to drop these off at the Mayor's."
"Better run then."
He claps Blueno on the shoulder, taps his index finger twice. "See you later, then."
Blueno waves him away, already snatching up a mop.
He takes off running, kicks off the edge of a bridge – he soars over rooftops, the tang of sea salt scattering across his bridge of his nose.
He spots a familiar figure in the shadows of a back alley winding through the many streets blurring beneath him. A pigeon flutters to his side briefly, and then swoops to join the figure.
He surges on ahead – for now, he still has an errand to run.
Night comes quickly enough. The sky is clear, but it is the Aqua Laguna season so one could never be too carefully. He stops by the window, takes a look inside.
The bar is brightly lit, and there are clusters of enthusiastic drinkers, rowdy gamblers – just citizens taking a break after work. He thinks he spots Paulie's blond head bobbing among the crowd.
He remembers Paulie teaching him how to play cards, Blueno buying them drinks, Hattori getting drunk, Kalifa being leered at whenever she pops in with the Mayor for a hello…
"It's time."
He doesn't turn to look. Hattori coos quietly.
It had been a good five years, friends and a steady job. He had been a Galley-La Worker, learnt a lot about ships, learnt a lot about people in general.
He slips out of the mask he wears, one of many. Nico Robin had arrived, and this mission was coming to an end. This life was coming to an end.
He steps out of the light.