A/N: Yallo everyone. I'm actually having a swell time writing this story, so I hope you're all enjoying it. I know it's basically full of smut right now, but I promise you some really intense and sweet moments later. In fact, I'm weaving together some really nice ideas right now. Hope you guys enjoyed it as much I enjoyed writing it. R&R. I love reviews.

Oh yea, by the way... warning: Nami gets sick.

I know there are two thousand fanfics of Nami getting sick and such, but I promise, it is (sort of) relevant to the plot in this chapter ok? Or at least... it'll propel the plot forward. Yea. That's it.

Chapter 4 - I'm Sorry

It was evening. The lazy afternoon clouds had faded over the horizon, welcoming a setting sun to end the day. The Merry Go was bustling with activity. The gallery was cooking up a storm, like usual. The playful shouts of Luffy, Chopper and Ussop were heard on deck. Everything was just ordinary.

Nami flopped down on her bed, on her back, staring up at the ceiling with wistful eyes. She sighed, planting a palm to her forehead. She had a headache. What had just happened earlier? Suddenly her seemingly perfect nightly rendezvous with Zoro was turning into a competition. Who could resist the other one for longer? Were the two of them too entwined with the friends with benefits system? More importantly, why did Zoro want to cut off their system altogether?

Nami didn't ask him this, since the shock of the moment made her speechless.

"We're done with each other. If I win, I don't want to continue with this anymore. I'm bored of all this." Zoro had told her.

His words rang in her head. She closed her eyes and bit her lip, head pounding. Burying her head in her pillow, she inhaled deeply. This was nothing to get agitated about... It was just a physical relationship, no strings attached. Why should she get angry because he wanted out? Maybe it was because she'd never been rejected by a guy before. Yea, that was it...

Nami sat straight up, full of renewed determination.

A brilliant plan had already formed inside her head.

Moments Later, Gallery...

Everyone was seated at the kitchen table, plates of food steaming. The usual table banter had ensued, chopsticks up someone's nose, food being juggled and loud laughter ringing in everyone's ears. Zoro, however, had an unusually grim look on his face, seemingly annoyed with something. His own mind whirled with the afternoon's incident. Was he too harsh? The upset look on Nami's face certainly surprised him. An unexpected reaction...

The door opened and Zoro looked up instinctively, seeing the familiar orange hair of Nami walk in.

But his eyes widened as she waltzed in, in a skimpy red bikini, skin wet and dripping from an apparent dip in some water. His jaw opened a quarter of a centimeter but snapped shut immediately when Nami nonchalantly whistled and made her way to the table. To his chagrin, she plopped herself right next to Zoro, without even acknowledging his presence. The people at the dinner table all stared at Nami, eyes wide. Sure they were used to her wearing skimpy things, but...

Somehow, there was a glowing air about her. Her hair had been playfully teased into a I-just-got-out-of-bed look and the faintest hint of makeup made her appear natural yet unbelievably sexy. Zoro grimaced. He knew she had some sneaky plan, but this was far-out.

"NAMI-SWAAAAN!~" Sanji whirled out the gallery in a love hurricane, eyes throbbing with giant hearts. "YOU LOOK STUNNING RIGHT NOW~"

"Oi Nami." Luffy said, mouth full of food. "What's up with the swimsuit? Are we stopping at a beach?"

Nami shook her head and smiled. "No, I just had a swim. The waters here are incredibly famous for scuba, you know?" She reached forward to grab a riceball from a plate across from her. Leaning forward, she exposed her slim figure beneath the bikini, right in front of Zoro. He clammed up, knowing the obvious bait when he saw it. But luckily for him, Sanji came trotting towards them and shoved Zoro out the way to sit next to Nami, a plate of exotic fruit.

"My princess," Sanji said. "A plate of exotics for an exotic beauty." He versed.

Zoro, who'd been shoved aside in the process silently thanked Sanji for the intervention and resumed his dinner, his composure coming back. Saved, his mind said. Nami, who realized her plan had failed bristled, but did nothing but accept the fruit with a half-hearted thanks. She glimpsed at Zoro and bit her lip, annoyed.

Her head pounded with murky thoughts.

The Next Morning...

If she can do it, I can do the same.

Zoro's thoughts rumbled with a vengeance. He had initially planned on not doing a thing, playing it nice. But with Nami's arousing bikini episode the night before, he couldn't help but feel inclined to tempt her as well. And of course, he'll play on his most prized asset. His body, worn with years of extreme training and ripped by thousands of battles.

So there he was, bare-chested in the glistening morning sun, lifting gigantic weights. Muscles gleamed in the light, the beads of sweat all visible. He clenched his teeth and flexed vigorously, seemingly engrossed in his workout, though seriously wondering if she was looking. It was an attractive sight... certainly capable of stopping anyone in their tracks to pause and observe.

Of course, Nami was on the main upper deck, relaxing on a beach chair. Her attention had been caught ages ago by his endless work-out and ridiculously ripped body, but she knew this was his plan. To get back at her for her own antics last night. Of course, she saw the obvious attraction he had towards her. But now, she couldn't help but stare at him through her tinted sunglasses, looking as though she were minding her own business but in actuality, ogling the hell out of his body.

Stupid... Don't give in. Her thoughts rumbled, trying to contain her excitement. But being unable to stop staring at him, she forced herself up... and walked back inside nonchalantly.

Zoro paused mid-way, seeing the orange-haired woman exit the show. He put the weights on the deck and put a tired hand on his waist, wiping sweat off his forehead with his other hand.

Damn.

The next few days were brutal. Each and every moment was embedded with Nami and Zoro, silently but venomously competing at every turn. She would exit the bath and wander around with nothing but a short towel on. He would sleep shirtless on the main deck. She would delicately put on make-up and new clothes to capitalize on her fashion-appeal. He would appear totally brazen and care-free as he watched her prance around the ship. Neither of them budged an inch and the contest intensified with each passing day.

Nami didn't know about Zoro, but she was exhausted. And after another uneventful day, she collapsed on her bed in her room again, sighing deeply. She had kicked off her ridiculously tall 4-inch heels that she had worn all day. Nothing was working. She was tired, frustrated and annoyed. Worse, her headache was returning, this time with a bang. She rubbed her temples, feeling the throbbing veins. Her face was flushed and a raspy sore throat was festering.

Nami sat up. A cold? At a time like this? It was to be expected, with her continual bikini-wearing, dripping wet in a towel business. Of course she'd catch a cold doing those sort of things. She shook her head and ran a hand through her tousled hair. No, no. She'll be okay. She got up, head spinning and blinking to get a grip on her surroundings.

She fumbled towards the door and opened it shakily, to run into a shirtless Zoro, with his three swords tucked in their sheaths and a white towel swung casually over his left shoulder. He blinked, actually a bit surprised at Nami stumbling out so carelessly, but remained emotionless. She herself was surprised, running into him. How many times has it happened already though?

She noted his shirtless-ness. And the seemingly smug expression behind his eyes. But with her cheeks burning up, it looked like she was actually blushing for him, when in actuality, Nami was burning up a fever. She turned around quicky, so she didn't have to look at him. He raised an eyebrow, wondering if she was going to lose the bet in that moment...

"Well..." He said in his usual gruff tone. "You put up a good show these few days." Although he appeared to be making amends, his words appeared as though he was confident in his eventual win.

Nami planted a hand on the wall, to balance herself. "Yea. You too." Her voice was strained and she was doing her best to not fall over.

"It's a matter of time before one of us gives in." Zoro declared, not noticing her aggravated demeanor. He crossed his (buff) arms and glanced over at Nami.

She looked up towards the door and panted, a bead of sweat rolling from her forward to the ground. Everything hurt. Her head pounded with what seemed like iron weighing her down. Her neck, back and limbs ached and she was about to just collapse at any moment. Even her view was getting dizzy and she could hardly answer Zoro's remarks with a snarly comeback of her own.

He noticed her unusual state and raised an eyebrow. "Oi. Are you ok?" He asked, peeking over her shoulder to look at her face.

Nami flinched and swatted him away angrily. "Stop! I'm fine!" She shouted at him, throat raspy and head spinning.

Zoro drew back, surprised at her outburst. "I was just wondering... Geez." He said and took a step back. Then, seeing her obvious want to be left alone, he walked down the hall and out of sight...

Nami let out a gasp of air... Finally, he left! She couldn't contain it anymore and breathed in and out, trying to get some oxygen in her body. The fever was unbearable. Albeit, she dealt with a worse sickness back in Drum Island, but somehow, she felt emotionally a lot worse this time. Leaning against the wall, she slumped and plopped down on the floor, back against the wall, eyes closed. She could hear her heart pound, her ears were so plugged up.

She tilted her head down and gently, gradually, fell asleep...

...

Zoro stalked down the hallway, his mind roaring with annoyance. She so blatantly shooed him away! Her audaciousness was getting old. He stopped in his tracks, face twisted in a frustrated look and turned his head to look down the hallway. Maybe he should head back, to talk to her properly. He put on a shirt quickly and walked down the hall, making sure he didn't look like he was still competing. Man, girls are so bothersome. He thought.

Zoro rounded a corner of the hall, expecting an empty corridor, but his eyes glazed over to a figure on the floor. Nami. Slumped over, half-conscious and looking very ill. His eyes widened in surprise, and he was frozen in his tracks. Somehow, the strange picture of her petrified him. It was like back in Alabasta, going to Drum Island. It was incredibly shocking to Zoro to see Nami in that sort of condition. Usually so headstrong, she'd been reduced to a little girl, desperate for help.

"Nami.." He started, gathering himself. "Oi oi! What the hell are you doing, sleeping out here?" He asked angrily, striding over towards her and kneeling down.

Her eyelid peeled open and she looked up very slowly. "Zoro..."

"'Baka! What are you trying to do? Get more sick?" He scolded her. He slapped a hand at her forehead, to feel her body temperature. Nami felt incredibly warm to his hand and his mind raced into action. "You're burning up!" Zoro affirmed and looked at her more intently.

"Just leave me alone!" Nami tried to yell at him, slapping his hand away from her forehead and turning to her side. With surprising speed, she got up onto her feet and attempted to stagger away, but was stopped when...

Zoro grabbed her wrist harshly and she turned her head around annoyed to look at him. Trying to swat him away again, she struggled to get free from his grasp.

"Idiot." He said and pulled her closer. As her head spun and her feet gave way, he scooped her up delicately into his arms, carrying her with great ease. Her eyes widened as she realized she was in his warm arms, pressed against his body. Looking up into his eyes, she looked like a helpless fawn.

He didn't say a word and looked ahead. Walking quickly but smoothly, he carried her upstairs...

She didn't remember anything else. The pounding of her head and the spinning of the room made her close her eyes and drift off to sleep almost instantly...

A Few Hours Later...

A candle-light burned dimly in the open room. Nami peeled her eyes open to see the flickering flame and looked around, confused. She was nestled in a wide white bed, blankets tucked generously around her and a cooling gel placed on her head. A tub of ice water and a washcloth was on the nightstand next to her and she could smell the familiar herbs of medicine that Chopper often experimented with.

The last thing she could remember was being carried away by Zoro.

She shivered, remembering the warmth and smell of his body.

"Nami, you're up!" Chopper exclaimed and hobbled towards her, a bowl of strange looking medicine in his hand. (Hoof.) "How are you feeling?"

Nami rubbed her eyes and blinked at Chopper. "Chopper? Wh-Where's..." She was about to ask where Zoro was, but immediately changed her thoughts. "Where am I?"

"You're ok now, Nami. You just had a fever. It's just ocean sickness caused by the changing weather." Chopper said expertly and put the bowl of herbs down to examine her again. "Your fever's gone down." He added, feeling her head. It was still warm, but better than before.

"Oh. Thank you." She said softly and looked around the room.

"You're lucky Zoro found you. According to him, you were almost passed out." Chopper said and placed a warm mug of tea beside her bed. "Zoro told me not to tell anyone. You don't want people to worry, huh?" He asked understandably. Imagining Sanji prancing around her like a crazily worried wild-man would worry any doctor. Nami gave a weak smile.

"Yea thanks. It's just a fever. I don't want them to worry." She reaffirmed. "So, where is..."

"I'm here." Zoro said, a big shadowy figure at the doorway. He was leaned, almost casually against the door and stared at Nami, eyebrows furrowed into his usual stoic expression.

Nami gave a slight yelp, not realizing he'd been there this entire time. "Z-Zoro! What are yo-"

"Zoro, you're here! Good!" Chopper said, hopping off from his chair. "I need to go prepare a medicinal meal for Nami. You watch her ok?" He asked in goodwill. "I'll be back in an hour."

"W-Whaaat?" Zoro grimaced, seeing Chopper run off quickly. "Oi oi oi, Chopper, wait!-" He said, but the door was closed before he could voice his complaint.

Dooooomm...

Nami and Zoro were both frozen in their respective positions. Zoro stared at the door, face contorted with annoyance. He turned slowly around to look at Nami, who too was a little nervous.

"Well..." Zoro began. "You heard the doctor." He said, almost sarcastically and walked slowly towards Nami, taking a chair near her bedside.

She glared in response. "I don't need you here. I'm fine."

"Yea, that's what you said last time." He shot back at her. Crossing his arms, he looked at her with narrowed eyes. She stared back, daring him to do anything else.

"Oh fine." She gave up and flopped down into her blankets again, wrapping them closely around her body. "You know, this doesn't mean our bet is off or anything. When I get hea-"

"Oh shut it." He told her. "I don't care about the bet right now."

Nami paused. She rolled to her other side to face Zoro. "What?"

He rolled his eyes. For such a smart girl, she was certainly dumb at times. "It's fine. Just forget it, ok?"

Nami blinked, but didn't rebuff him. "Fine." Was all she said and her eyes closed slowly, drifting into a light nap.

She suddenly felt her forehead being touched and her hair ruffled slightly. Her heart pounded, but she didn't open her eyes.

"I'm sorry, ok?" Zoro grunted in an almost inaudible tone.

Nami felt her head pound again, but this time not because of sickness, but because of some inexplicable feeling she was experiencing again. Why do these strange thoughts form in her head? She felt her heart pound faster and her face flush.

"Don't be sorry." She heard herself say very softly. "I should be sorry..."

Zoro stared at her. "Nami.."

Nami slowly opened her eyes, one at a time with timidness. "I'm sorry for hitting you so much and always scolding you. I'm sorry for calling you lazy and always ordering you around." She felt her heart open up painfully and all her feelings spilled out. "I'm sorry I keep manipulating your debt and forcing you to protect me. I'm sorry for everything, ok? J-Just don't-" Nami could hardly stop, before she felt her eyes water. "-I don't want you to hate me."

Her words had spilled out with such intense feeling that she was hardly prepared for Zoro to lean in with quick speed to kiss her on her lips. Tenderly... wistfully, he pressed his lips against hers. Neither of them budged an inch. He brought a finger to her cheek and stroked her ever-so softly, feeling a lone tear roll down.

When they parted, he couldn't help but simply stare into her amber eyes, seeing her clearly for the first time in his whole life.

And Nami stared back, equally stunned. She saw him in a new light, a new person, seeing the soulfulness of his dark eyes.

And a very very horrible feeling took form in the pit of her stomach.

End Chapter.

A/N: Yee-haw! I'm incredibly excited that this story is ACTUALLY going where I want it to go. And I bet my author's notes just ruined the mood of the chapter. It ended nicely, this chapter right? The two are about to explore themselves and each other more intently in the next few chapters. I actually have a sequel planned, that has almost nothing to do with this story. But it takes place after this story, and explores their ever-growing relationship. I hope you guys will check that out too. Stay tuned for updates.

Please review! Next chapter will be out in a jiffy.