Returning at that moment to his kitchen, Sanji froze as if something had just struck. His senses aroused, he was convinced that something worth seeing was happening.
" The girls are gone in the bathroom. " He reminded himself at that moment.
Suddenly feeling a rush of blood rise to his nose, he wondered if dying after taking a look at his view of heaven would not be a good idea. Already starting to fantasize about the naked bodies of Nami and Robin, Sanji then began to blush more, while imagining the figures of the high school girls they had just saved.
"After seeing them, I could die in peace. "
But before he made up his mind, someone asked him.
" Do you need a hand ? "
" Hum ? " Wondered the cook.
Sitting on a chair, with her knees resting against her chest, Yuuki was watching him.
" Yuuki ? What are you doing here ? "
" I wanted to know if you needed help. " The young girl told him, noticing the many dishes Sanji had just started.
" No, it will be fine, don't worry. " He assured her, going back to his stoves. " I used to cook for a lot of people! To tell you the truth, it's keeping Luffy from stealing here that bothers me the most. "
Watching him cut several vegetables, Yuuki suddenly remarked.
" You don't have the comportment of a pirate. "
" What do you mean ? "
" Whether it is your dress style or your way of speaking, you do not look like a thug at all. " Yuuki explained to him.
Smiling as he listened to her remark, Sanji told her.
" There are not many people who behave like real pirates, in our crew! In fact, we do what we want. "
" I noticed that. " She assured. " In fact, how come Mugiwara is your captain? He is not a good leader. "
" Many people have already said the same thing! However, I would not let anyone replace it! Luffy has his faults but he remains and will remain my captain until the end of our adventure. "
Continuing with his work, he began to cook a large piece of meat. Adding a little wine and a sauce he had just made, the cook filled the room with a delicious smell. Sniffing it, Yuuki suddenly felt her stomach manifest.
" It smells good. "
"It will be ready shortly." Sanji told her. " You'll see! I am preparing a…"
He fell silent as he felt Yuuki's arms wrap around his waist.
"That ? " He wondered, as his whole face turned red.
"Thank you very much, Sanji." She thanked him. " Thanks for saving me."
"I ... I ... It's nothing." He assured.
"You protected me from zombies and those guys who wanted to rape me." She continued. " You helped me when you didn't know me! If I'm still alive, it's thanks to you! You really are a man."
Pushing her then, Sanji suddenly fled in the direction of the toilet, before she had time to stop him. Entering the small room, he closed the door there before putting a whole stock of paper in front of his nose. The paper instantly turned scarlet as his nose bleed. The poor cook had controlled himself all day in order to handle the situation, but now he couldn't hold back. As a lustful smile crept across his face, his eyes took on a heart shape.
"I'm happy to be alive." He cried, as a new stream of blood squirted out of his nose.
Coming back to the living room, Kohta sighed before collapsing onto a sofa.
"A problem?" Morita questioned.
"This house may be large, it has no firearms." Sighed the boy. " There is not much to defend yourself here."
"Don't worry." Franky assured him, then clasping his arms above his head. " As long as we are there, nothing will happen to us."
However, he ends up falling to the ground, before saying.
"But I wouldn't say '' no '' for cola! I hope Sanji was able to find some."
Suddenly, the sound of a helicopter was heard above their heads.
" It's the third one that passes. " Takuzo remarked, moving towards the bay window, in order to see him.
'' Does he belong to the army or is he just there to film what's going on ? " Miura asked.
" It's for TV. " He learned. " And they seem to be filming what's happening on the Ichibaya Bridge. "
" To think we ended up giving up the idea of going there. " Kurokami remarked, almost regretfully.
" This is surely the last bridge which still allows some survivors to leave the city center? " Hisashi suggested. " Nevertheless, if so, this is surely where the zombies are heading! Since they react to sound, it is obvious that they are going where there is noise! And a crowd on the run, that's a lot. "
" Perhaps, but once on the bridge, they will just be greeted by a group of police officers, who will shoot them between their eyes. " Observed Yamada. " What is good is that they will reduce their numbers. "
"You just forget that for a downed zombie, another immediately takes its place." Franky retorted. "And this system currently seems to be endless! From our count, if a person is bitten, not only does nobody replace him but, in addition, he will then join the ranks of the enemy."
"And it's not just them that is the problem." Zoro noticed, still lying on the ground.
"What?" Asked Usopp. "What do you mean by that?"
" Think for a second! People are afraid of dying! This is why they will try in every way possible to cross the contaminated area, in order to take shelter! And this is the same for those who have already been bitten! It only takes one of them to cross the bridge, one way or another, for the infection to spread to the other side of town. "
" It must be understood. " Brook retorted. " Evil strikes them when they have nothing to ask! And then, each of them hopes for a miracle, while they have been bitten! They all try to reassure themselves that they will continue to maintain control of their bodies. "
" It's clear. " Tsunoda approved, almost with a smile. " At the end of the day, there's good about being just a bunch of bones. "
The boy's almost insulting remark caught the eyes of some, especially the pirates. Seeing this, Miura preferred to advise him.
" Stop with your comments. "
" What ? " The boy wondered, then lighting a cigarette. " I'm not saying that badly ! I just analyze what I see. "
Even as he said this, many perceived sarcasm in his every word.
Preferring to change the subject, Yamada wanted to know.
'' In fact, earlier, you got bitten, right? " He asked, turning to Luffy. " How come you haven't become one of them? "
" This is thanks to Bushosoku Haki. " The young man explained to him.
" The haki ? " Hisashi wondered. " Isn't that what you used to pass out the zombies ? "
" It was the Haoshoku Haki. " Usopp explained to him. " It allows its user to project an invisible force so powerful that it intimidates the opponent to the point of causing him to pass out in fear. "
" As for what protected me from bites, it is the Busoshoko Haki. " Luffy repeated, as his arm went black. " This haki hardens any part of my body to the point of making it as strong as metal. "
" Your devil fruit can do that too ? " Morita wondered.
" No, it is not a skill of the fruit of the devil. " Franky retorted. " Let's say that it is rather a source of energy that we all have and that can be manifested if we train to use it. "
In order to prove it, Zoro pulled out one of his swords and, after concentrating, he coated the blade with Busoshoku Haki.
" Unbelievable. " Cried Kohta, with stars in his eyes. " This is so cool. "
" Wait ! " Takashi suddenly stopped them. " You say that this power is buried in all of us? Sorry to tell you, but I find it insane. "
" Maybe not. " Hisashi suddenly retorted, looking thoughtful. " When you think about it, Tibetan monks are able to take attacks without blinking thanks to special training! Perhaps it is a form of haki that we inhabitant of this world can learn. "
" It would be too crazy. " Morita asserted. " Do you realize what we can do if we can get it under control? We will be almost immune to the bites of these monsters. "
" I would surely be. " Brook approved. " But a small number of people can awaken the haki in them and even fewer know how to control it! It's not something you can control with the snap of your fingers. "
Listening to them talk about fighting, Yamada thought it best to intervene a second time.
" We are only talking about fighting but, if it is, the police have managed to control the situation on the bridge! With a little luck, we may be able to cross the bridge tomorrow and reach a refugee camp where we will be safe. "
" Do you think that could really happen? " Takashi questioned.
To answer his question, Takuzo turned on the television again and found the channel that was broadcasting the last hours of existence, from the Ichibaya Bridge. Being on board the helicopter they had just spotted, a journalist tried to make himself heard despite the noises produced by the fins of the device.
" As I said, the dam on the Ichiyama bridge still stands! It could even be that reinforcements come to lend a hand to the troops already there in order to stop the advance of the living dead in the city of Tokyo. "
" Cease the advance? " Morita repeated, settling in front of the television. " Can they really do it ? "
Filming what was happening on the bridge, the cameraman managed to film several police officers activating on the bridge. Just seeing them allowed Zoro to assert.
" They have no chance. "
" Hello! Hello! " Exclaimed a police sergeant, trying to make himself heard with the receiver of his car. " Unit 3, where is your situation on the Aigonai Bridge? Unit 3, answer, damn it. "
No answer was heard.
" Chief ! " Suddenly called one of his men, running towards him. " The troops of the living dead keep increasing! Soon we will no longer be able to contain them. "
" Where are the reinforcements that HQ sent us ? " Wanted to know the officer.
" They are unable to join us! They were attacked before they even managed to reach the bridge. "
Suddenly clenching his fist, the sergeant must have contained his anger when he asked.
" And what about the morale of our men ? "
" They do what they can! the policeman assured him! None intends to leave their post before all the survivors of this bridge have no longer been evacuated. "
"Very well, in that case, go get me some volunteers among the crowd so that they help us to form a roadblock with cars, in order to slow down those damn corpses! And someone immediately contact HQ to report back to us on the situation in town! And I also want to know if it is possible to send us other men here, now. "
" Ok, chief. " Assured the man, reassured that the sergeant was still able to think correctly despite the situation.
However, no sooner had he left than the sergeant plopped down in the front seat of his car and put his hands on his head. For him, the situation was now irreversible.
" We are done ! In the end, we will hardly have managed to survive a full day in the face of this infection. "
"Look, they are trying to make a roadblock with cars." Kurokami remarked.
Indeed, while the police were covering them by, shooting at zombies, a few brave people had taken control of their cars and began to pile them up against each other in order to stop the living dead. As soon as the cars were positioned, their occupants immediately got out, before fleeing away from the corpses.
Hearing the engines still on, the zombies walked over to their craft and bumped into the vehicles. Unsuccessfully trying to push them, some zombies suddenly found themselves with a bullet in the head. Now safe behind their new defense, the police seemed rather content that they could kill them without fear of being bitten.
"Oh my God! It's a real butcher's shop." Usopp remarked.
'' But at least they found a way to save time. "Franky understood.
"I doubt that it will take very long." Hisashi retorted. "Nevertheless, it will do the trick, the time to evacuate the last survivors."
Rising suddenly, Kohta grabbed a pair of binoculars lying at the bottom of one of the lockers, before reaching the balcony of the room.
" What's the matter ? " Miura questioned, seeing him looking towards the bridge.
" I just think… It's not just the zombies joining the bridge, right now! Hundreds of survivors must also go there, at this very moment, in order to be able to cross it. "
" What ? " Yamada wondered. " But it's impossible ! Who would be foolish enough to get there when the bridge is infested with undead ? "
" For them, this is their last chance to pass. " Kohta retorted, seeing several zombies walking up to the bridge. " Because of all the fuss being made by people already there, it's normal to think that most of the zombies in town are heading in that direction right now! And they will surely stay there, until they spot a new source of noise! It will then be impossible for anyone to do without! Right now, people are hoping to cross the bridge thanks to the intervention of the police! But even the police will be quickly overwhelmed by events, especially when the ammunition runs out. "
Starting to swallow his saliva, Takashi turned his gaze to the TV to see if what Kohta was saying could be true. However, instead of continuing to film the already contaminated part of the bridge, the camera pointed in the direction of a group of survivors, who appeared to be protesting, behind the line of police. Equipped with signs and banners, they were exclaiming their discontent to you, as during a strike.
" What are they doing these? " Luffy wondered, seeing them in turn. " They don't look like soldiers. "
In response, a man with a helmet on his head emerged from the crowd while raising his fist in the air. Seeming to be the leader of the group, he turned to his comrades, before exclaiming.
" This abuse of power is unforgivable! We must not tolerate this in any way. "
" Abuse of power ? " Morita repeated. " But what is he talking about? Can't he see that they're protecting them ? "
" We must express our dissatisfaction. " Continued the man. " Because, it is fair to think that this pandemic to start because of chemical weapons deployed by the government! It is because of him that we are in this situation right now. "
" Chemical Weapons ? " Repeated Yamada. " The government ? Is it true what he says? "
" These are just guesses. " Kohta retorted, returning to the living room. " But if this was really the case, the government would not, in any case, let this kind of information filter out. "
" However, this is the most plausible hypothesis. " Franky remarked, his face glued to the TV. " I mean, I know enough about weapons to know that crazy scientists want to create them so they can take over the world. "
" We have already met one, not long ago. " Chopper said, referring to Caesar.
" And where do you want it to come from ? " Kurokami asked him. " From a laboratory ? "
" Without a doubt. " Miura said. " But we can't be sure! Moreover, it is quite difficult to believe that man was able to create a virus, capable of taking possession of the bodies of the dead. "
" Chut ! " Takashi asked them, trying to hear what the reporter was saying.
"Zombies aren't the only people the police are concerned about right now! Indeed, the other end of the bridge knows the presence of a dam formed by demonstrators who openly declare that the appearance of these living dead was caused by a failed experiment of the government! In their own words, this disaster would have been caused by the leakage of biological weapons. "
More bursts of gunfire were suddenly heard below the helicopter. Directing the camera towards the scene of the shooting, the cameraman then filmed the horde of zombies advancing on the bridge. Despite the fact that the bullets passed not far from them and that several of their comrades fell, they continued to advance without feeling the slightest sign of fear.
" Pull ! Pull ! " Ordered a policeman, several times piercing the body of a former colleague. " Don't let them especially… "
He was silent then, seeing a silhouette running, and sneaking among the corpses. Always master of herself, and showing no trace of bite, a young woman was heading towards the police, who suddenly stopped shooting. In her arms, the young woman held a little girl, whose skin was extremely pale. In addition, a trickle of blood was streaming from his mouth. Either she had been injured during their flight here, or she had been bitten. In this case, she was now a real danger to her mother. However, the latter did not seem inclined to abandon it in the hands of their attackers.
" I beg you ! Let us pass. " She implored, to the police. " My daughter was bitten, she needs urgent care. "
" She was bitten ? " Repeated a man.
He immediately pointed his gun in her direction and began to target the child in his arms. If the girl had been bitten, it was imperative that he kill her, before she woke up as a monster. Yet, just as he was about to pull his trigger, he felt his fingers shake. It was impossible for him to shoot when he could unwittingly touch the mother of the dying child.
" Let go of your child, immediately." He ordered her suddenly. " Let go and run to here! Hurry up! "
" I'm not going to separate from my daughter. " Retorted the young woman, shocked by his words. " She's a nice girl, she wouldn't hurt anyone! I'm sure she'll never turn into one of her monsters. "
A bullet suddenly passed near her ear and lodged itself in the skull of a zombie, who was about to grab her. Turning around, with a frightened face, the woman suddenly dropped to her knees, while shaking with fear.
" Let go of your child. " Ordered the man who had just fired.
" No… No way." She persisted, pulling her daughter closer to her.
It was at this moment that several police officers uttered a cry of surprise, watching the scene. Suddenly waving in her mother's arms, the dying child began to lift her head up to her neck and bit the latter gutily, to the young woman's surprise. The latter, eyes wide, began to cry out in pain. Yet despite the fact that she had just been infected in turn, she continued to hold her child in her arms and hugged her even tighter.
" Save ... my daughter." She begged, one last time, before collapsing to the floor.
Seeing her now lying on the ground, the faces of the policemen began to turn pale, one after the other. This scene had been shocking to them as well as to the other spectators. This poor mother had just died trying to save her daughter. The latter, far from worrying about what was left of her mother, then knows herself in one of her arms, before biting him with all her teeth. It was thus that she began her meal, in front of all the people who were on the bridge and all those who were watching the report.
Clenching his teeth and his fist, the policeman who wanted to help the young woman aimed at the child again before whispering.
" Pardon me, but I must kill her. "
So it was by looking away that he shot the little zombie before doing the same with the mother's body. Seeing this scene, the leader of the demonstration began to bawl.
" See what they just did! The police force has simply used unjustified violence against defenseless citizens. "
" But… they are totally idiots." Exclaimed Takuzo.
Thinking the same as him, the police sergeant walked, at this moment, towards the demonstrators and especially towards their leader. The man, too busy screaming, was surprised to feel his hand fall on his shoulder and hear him order him.
" Go ! "
" What ? "
" You are not injured and even less dying! Your presence only disturbs my men! I will therefore ask you all to leave here immediately and without making a whim. "
" What ? " Repeated the man, turning to him. " No, but do you really think we're going to leave without reacting? We're about to bring the government-organized conspiracy to the world! There is no question that we are leaving. "
" For the last time, go away." Ordered the officer, remaining unusually stoic. " This place is dangerous for you. "
" Dangerous for us? " The man wondered, almost wanting to laugh. " But why do you think this place has become dangerous, huh? It's because of the people you're covering up! Shame on you ! It's up to you to go, not the other way around. "
Raising his fist in the air, he began to scream.
" Go! Go! Go! "
Immediately, several of the demonstrators began to join him and order the policeman to leave. The sergeant, still maintaining his composure, began to sigh.
" I would like to point out to you that we have received authorization to do everything to maintain order here. "
Stopping then, the leader of the demonstrators fell silent, before staring at him.
" What do you mean by that? That you can kill me without this act being punished by law ? "
" It's exactly that. "
The protester then laughed before spreading his arms and asking the policeman to do with him what he saw fit.
" In that case, go ahead! Shoot me! Show the world your true face. "
A second. A mere second had passed during which the sergeant had seized his weapon and had placed the tip of the revolver on the man's forehead. The latter, not even having had time to distinguish the weapon, immediately stopped smiling, at the contact of the cold metal on his skin.
" Your wishes are orders ! " The sergeant told him, his finger on the trigger.
" No, wait. " Wanted to stop the man.
Too late. The officer had fired before he even had time to take a step back.
" It's not legal, but the orders are the orders. " He told him, despite the fact that he was already dead.
Seeing their leader collapsed to the ground, with a hole between his eyes, the protesters suddenly stopped supporting him. Instead, several of them screamed in horror or watched the sergeant point his gun in their direction.
" The neighbor who defies my authority, I do the same to him. "
It didn't take much longer for all these little people to stop moving, for fear of getting shot in the forehead. Seeing that he had just regained order, the man immediately ordered them.
" Come on, disappear from my sight. "
The camera stopped filming, the instant the most fearful of them fled, without asking for their rest.