Usopp had been scared shitless by the so called ghost until she apparently ripped open one of the giants. He kept praising her and was now calling her a saving angel. Of course, the giants turned out to be nice folk, but both the sharpshooter and Nami-san were convinced that a mysterious person had tried to save them.
Oh how Sanji wanted to believe it. Shizu, as he had taken to calling her, didn't do things like that. The more truthful explanation was most likely that she had really tried to just eat Brogy. He hadn't seen the damage she'd caused, just a massive, clean bandage wrapped around his arm.
The shore next to the Merry was a different story. Rusty splatters could be seen on the riverbank stones as well as the side of their happy caravel like an omnious story.
She hadn't been appearing for a few days and he'd assumed she'd been hunting for her own. There had been the thought that the serpent had decided to leave him and go live her own life. That had created a void of sorts in his chest and Sanji hadn't been surprised about it in the least.
He wondered if Shizu had been hurt in the short conflict. It was clear she couldn't move naturally when he finally did see her. Even when the tail wasn't colourful and it lacked the classical fin, it was elegant in it's own, plain way. It was also swaying in the water rather uselessly now. The cook had tried to draw her in, belatedly realising that it was out of the picture if she was as injured as he thought she was.
In the back of his mind Sanji knew he should've told them about her. Luffy definitely, since he was the captain. Maybe that shitty swordsman. They ought to know so they could be cautious. Knowing their captain, the brat would just try and pet her.
He adored Shizu yes, but his fellow nakama were just as important. If one hurt the other, he'd never forgive himself. He wasn't even sure why she hadn't tried to eat him yet. Or maybe she had tried it when he was younger and he hadn't noticed it.
Whatever was the case, he was going to keep feeding her. With the gorgeous Nami-san being bedbound now with a high fever, they would need a doctor onboard. Maybe their future doctor wouldn't mind if he snatched some medical things and tried to help the she-serpent.
Shizu was, after all, irreplaceably precious to him. If he ever had to choose between his crew and his monster, he wasn't sure if he could pick either over the other. The chef could feel his burden weight on his shoulders already, the future headaches knocking at his doors.