Marineford was not large. Once the Headquarters Fortress and its military facilities took up most of the island, little space remained.
The town itself was not very large, either.
A few minutes later, Aokiji reached a house by the sea and knocked on the door.
"Teacher Zephyr, are you in there?"
No one answered. Just as Aokiji was about to knock again, the door opened inward. With his target gone, his hand stopped less than four inches above Ain's head.
"Admiral Aokiji, are you here to see Teacher Zephyr?"
Aokiji withdrew his hand, looked at Ain in her cook's outfit, and nodded. "Ms. Tsuru asked me to bring Teacher Zephyr something. May I come in?"
"Well..."
Ain glanced back uneasily. On the balcony, Zephyr sat with his back to the door, only his head and shoulders visible. After hearing their exchange, he was silent for a moment, then gave a slight nod.
"Please come in."
Ain returned to her work in the Kitchen. Whatever the two men needed to discuss was not for her to take part in. The table was plain, and so were the teacups. Aokiji looked around. Apart from essential furniture and a few decorations meant to lift Zephyr's spirits, there was nothing of value in the house. It was simple and unadorned.
It was hard to imagine that this was the home of former Marine Admiral, former Chief Instructor of the Recruit Camp, "Black Arm" Zephyr. For a man who had once made waves across the seas, such a life in his later years felt inexplicably bleak.
More than the sparse furnishings, though, an inescapable loneliness hung over the house. Even the glowing fireplace could not dispel the chill that reached into the soul.
*When things settle down, I should find more people to keep Teacher