This chapter is sort of dialogue heavy. Not sorry. It had to happen sometime. I'll make up for it next chapter, I think. This also took longer than it should have, and that I am sorry for. I took a ridiculous amount of time tweaking things—like, two days or something. I say "tweaking" because what I do isn't editing. Editing would imply that I can edit. Which I can't.

Okay, there's a couple questions (and by "a couple" I mean several people asked the same two things). First: I really don't know how long this fic is going to be, but if I had to make a guess? This chapter here is probably halfway through. Second: Actually, no, I've never really thought about what would happen to animals before, I mean, not really in depth. I would assume that whatever happened to infect the humans would also happen to the animals? But I guess it really just depends on the lore.

Oh, and again, I need to stop and thank everyone for their reviews and comments. Seriously, I just don't have the words. This was just supposed to be a fun little thing I did to help me get some consistency in my writing flow, so I never expected to get the reaction that this story has produced. You all are awesome.

Chapter 9

Sanji adjusted the collar of his jacket, wiping the last bit of the blood from the outer nylon. The down inside was probably destroyed, but there really wasn't anything he could do about that at the moment.

Glancing over at his friends, the cook felt a soft smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. Luffy was standing in the back of the truck, arms crossed over his chest, smile wide as he excitedly explained to his men what they were about to do.

Having already been informed what this mission entailed, Sanji knew he was going to have to be on his toes. Luffy's brand of awesome had always been a little different than your average person's. He wasn't crazy, no. He wasn't a sociopath like a lot of his gang, but he did march to the beat of his own drum. When something was declared "awesome" by Luffy, it usually meant there was going to be a fight. Or something was going to explode. Or some other kind of shenanigans that ultimately ended in a mess and mayhem were inevitable.

This was the very reason why, after their group had found the compound several months ago, Luffy had taken a few of their group's more unconventional members and branched off. There was no way he would have ever been content growing crops and taking care of orphaned children. He needed to be free.

Kidd was much the same. He had been a little more hesitant to leave, but in the end, his spirit for adventure, and especially trouble, and won.

Taking a swallow of water from his canteen, Sanji watched the way Kidd delegated tasks to the rest of the group. He was such a mystery to Sanji, in so many ways. On several occasions, Law admitted that he and Kidd were very close, but Sanji couldn't figure out how that was possible. They were such opposites. Law was so serene; so calm and poised. Kidd was loud, fierce, and larger than life. Sanji had always thought Kidd was a raging fire next to Law's still water, but perhaps that was what made them such good friends. It was also probably what made Kidd the perfect person to be riding second to Luffy.

Well, that and the fact that Kidd was bat-shit crazy.

When Luffy had branched off and left the compound, others besides Kidd had followed. Over time, the gang had grown to almost thirty. They had picked up another few insane people, like Bartolomeo and Buggy, but they also had gained a few characters that were just plain weird. Hawkins, for example, was one of the strangest people Sanji had ever come across. Cavendish was another Sanji couldn't really figure out.

However, it seemed to work. They were like the country's most dangerous freak show, traveling the land in their caravan, killing Deadies and randomly rescuing people to take back to Law's compound.

A cheer rang out. The gang was apparently expressing their excitement for the impending "smack-down". Sanji just chuckled silently and took another swallow of his water.

This meet up was good, even if it was unexpected. Sanji would never have guessed they would run into Luffy on this mission. Back in November, roughly four months ago, Luffy had told him the gang was headed southeast until springtime. The warmer climate was going to make traveling on bikes and sleeping in tents easier. But now here they were, back in their northern territory. Why hadn't they come by the compound? Wouldn't Law want to know Kidd was back?

Well, whatever the reason, Sanji had more important and confusing things to think about. After loading his pack with the supplies Drake had given him, Sanji strapped it onto the back of his bike. He made a good show of looking like he was actually focused on what he was doing, but he was actually watching Zoro out the corner of his eye.

Zoro had been talking with one of Luffy's men, another swordsman named Ryo or Ryuma or something, for a while now. The two had noticed each other while the group had been gathering their things and had started talking about swords and kendo and all things samurai. Or, at least that's what Sanji thought they were talking about anyway. Sanji did not speak Japanese. The cook was beginning to understand what people must feel like when he spoke with Chopper or Nami in sign language.

Sanji was not jealous, but he had started to wonder if maybe when the mission was over Zoro would want to leave the compound and join Luffy. The gang had more to offer the swordsman than Law's group did, and Zoro definitely seemed like that type, the type that needed to be free. And really, if Sanji was being completely honest with himself, he could admit that there was absolutely nothing tethering Zoro to the compound at all. If he wanted to leave, it's not like he needed permission. He had no family to separate from, and no loved ones he would need to discuss it with first. If Zoro wanted to he could just go, and Sanji wouldn't try to stop him.

Even if just thinking about that made the cook want to kick something.

"Hey, Sanji!"

Nami was out of breath and her cheeks were rosy as she pulled Sanji from his spiraling thoughts. She took his arm and turned him around, busying herself with straightening his scarf and jacket. Nami was the only one allowed to do this, partially because she thought since the scarf had once been hers, it was still hers, but mostly because Nami knew she really could do almost whatever she wanted to Sanji and he would just take it like a man.

"He's pretty cool," she said softly, her smile repressed but still obvious, "You two a thing?

Sanji rolled his eyes, assuming she was speaking of Zoro. He lifted his hand to sign.

No.

"That's too bad," she sighed, "He's hot, you're hot…"

I'm pretty sure there are other factors that come into play when it comes to relationships.

Feigning confusion, she shook her head, "What? Really? Like what?"

Well, the fact that neither he, nor myself are gay presents a problem.

"That's never stopped you before," she laughed. "Besides, aren't you the one that told me it's more about the connection and less about the biology?"

Sanji scoffed and watched the ground at Nami's feet. He had probably told her something along those lines at some point. It sounded like the stupid lovey-dovey crap he used to spew all over the place. He did believe it, in a way, but things were different now. Very different.

Shaking her head, Nami moved in closer and spoke even softer than before. "I've see how he looks at you. You've noticed, right?"

Shifting uncomfortably, Sanji shifted his gaze to watch the place where one of Nami's thumbs had started to caress the skin of his palm. A familiar sadness pulled at him from deep inside. A terrible ache that was never truly gone welled up and threatened to overtake him.

"Sanji."

Yes. Yes. He huffed. I've noticed okay? And yes, I like him a lot, and I know he likes me. But I can't do that to him, you know that I can't. If he finds out? If he sees? It'll scare the shit out of him. At the very least he'll be disgusted.

"So, you're not even going to try? You're not even giving him a chance? That doesn't sound like you."

Sanji sighed again and ran a hand over his face. Nami's eyes were gentle even if her words were harsh. She wasn't trying to make him angry, she was just trying to help.

Is this really the best time to be talking about this?

Nami shrugged, "You want to save it for later when we could be dead? This is the apocalypse, babe. Take the chance while you can."

She was right, of course she was right. Sanji let out a breath and closed his eyes. He had effectively pushed these particular thoughts to the back of his head, but Nami had always been very intuitive when it came to these kinds of things. She understood that it was bothering him, even if he didn't want to admit it, and she understood that he needed to at the very least examine his feelings before they became something that would distract him.

Sensing his distress, Nami came still closer and ran her hands up his arms comfortingly. She rubbed her thumbs in circles, gently massaging the tense muscles in his biceps and shoulders.

"Hey, you deserve to be happy more than anyone."

Sanji scoffed and lifted his hands to sign, Like you said, this is the apocalypse. Who can expect to be happy?

It was Nami's turn to scoff. "I'm happy! I would appreciate more showers, but this is pretty much the life! I get to kill rotting dead people, I treasure hunt every day, I have two men fighting over me—"

Woa, wait, Sanji interrupted, They're fighting over you now? I thought—

"It's a long story," Nami groaned, "Why do you think we haven't let the compound know we're back yet?"

Sanji ran a hand over his eyes and laughed. The things that were still an issue during the apocalypse never ceased to amaze him.

"Why hello, Zoro," Nami's voice was honey, "You ready to go bust some skulls?"

Sanji turned to find the swordsman approaching a few feet away from where they stood, and watching Nami's hands as they rubbed his shoulders. It was almost awkward. Like they had been caught doing something they shouldn't have been doing, which was stupid, since he had stopped thinking about Nami like that several years ago.

"Luffy said I should ride with Sanji," Zoro said, "but if you want to, I have no problem hopping in back of the truck."

Nami smiled and pulled away from Sanji, but not before giving his shoulders one last affectionate squeeze. "Not to worry, my friend. I ride with Kidd."

Zoro's eyebrows lifted at that and his stance changed. He was always so wary of people, much like Sanji was if he didn't know them. It was a good thing though, with the world being the way it was. The cook had to admit it was kind of sexy the way Zoro always seemed to be ready to take on anything.

As the swordsman looked down at Nami's smiling face, his eyes narrowed in suspicion, but then again might have shone with a little interest at the same time.

"Kidd your man or something?"

"Yes," Nami nodded and patted Zoro's cheek with her palm.

"One of them."

Sanji wanted to laugh at the look that passed over Zoro's face. As Nami walked away, heading toward the truck and the excited shouts and cheers of Luffy's men, Sanji found himself moving closer and grinning like a lunatic at his swordsman friend.

"She's uh…" Zoro deadpanned.

Sanji nodded. Yes, he understood.

Taking out the pad of paper, the cook wrote a few words and flipped it around for Zoro to read.

So? Are you ready for this?

Zoro blinked once, focused his attention, and folded his arm across his chest.

"Of course I'm ready, shit-cook. Are you?"

You want to drive?

"Hell yes."

TBC