If ya didnt already know, my pen name used to be Shadowmaniac but now I changed to Kittenkaboodle, aint it cute!

Responses to Reviews:-

Lilosan: thanks, glad ya liked it

Gothywolfie: thanks for the review, which reminds me (no offence) shouldn't you be updating YOUR story instead of reading mine ,tisk tisk, Cant hate what you love is very good you should update very soon.

Wah: thanks so much, I really love ZoNa fics too.

DudettRin101: kewl!

Yahtzee: Thanks for the pointers, im not very good with sentence types. Your story(makino/shanks oneshot) was great, you should write more.

Disclaimer: I already told you, I do NOT own One Piece, I know its shocking!

On with the story...

Whatever it takes

Chapter 2

Long after the crew departed from the deck of the Merry Go, Nami found herself in Zoro's warm, protective embrace. Still in shock. She stood still, wordlessly,with her eyes shut. Her head lay against the swordsman's chest, her arms limply at her side; Zoro's arms hang loosely around Nami's waist.

Gently, she slid her weak arms to his torso, her eyes still closed; she pulled herself away.

Opening her eyes slowly, she looked at the man standing in front of her. Zoro, dressed in his usual white shirt and green sash, glared back at Nami with an unusual look in his eyes. They both stood there motionless, eyes piercing through each other's stationary bodies.

And a moment later...

WHACK!

Nami jumped forward and smacked the back of Zoro's head with her palm.

" Don't look at me like that you pervert!" she barked.

"WHAT!"he yelled in responce.

Nami stood silent, her eyes becoming that of a snake's eyes.

"I save your god damn life, and this is how you repay me! By insulting me! You could at least say a "Thank You"."

" Fine thanks. Thanks for nothing!" she shrieked and stalked off.

Zoro stood alone on the deck then after that, fuming at the thought of what she had called him...

a pervert, that's what she had called him. Never had someone insulted him so. A perverted thought had never, once crossed his mind. He clenched his fists in pure anger. How could she have said something so awful, to him, Sanji maybe, but not Zoro. For god's sake he saved her life, damn it. No longer, could he stand the fury, he needed to do something to let all of it go.

An idea, triggered in his head. Zoro briskly, strode off ...to train.

As Nami stalked off, towards her bedroom.She wondered why Zoro had that look in his eyes. In her heart, she knew that it wasn't because he was thinking perverted thoughts, it was the look of...affection. She had only insulted him thinking it was the only way to get out of the situation she had summoned upon herself. No clue came to her mind of what he would have done if she had stayed in his arms.

Would he have just walked off, and left her standing, alone with her own thoughts? Would he have struck up a conversation with her? Or would he have held her longer? What also puzzled her was that it was, Zoro, that had the affectionate almost intimate look. She never thought she would see that look strung across his face. She had seen that look in Sanji's eyes before, but never, Zoro.

It was almost surreal how he had enchanted her wordlessly, by showing a little bit of emotion. She was more shocked then angry when she looked at him. This was Zoro, for crying out loud, he had always shown her the image of a man who would stop at nothing to become the world's best swordsman, and someone who had no time to fool around with the concept of love. After saving her, she knew that he had some emotion in him. And she knew that he had some affection towards her; well, they were crew mates after all.

But then again she could be wrong, maybe he hadn't shown emotion; maybe she just imagined it.

But she could've been right...

Nami's thoughts twirled in her mind, as she walked down the hall, of the women's quarters. I need a nap, she thought to herself, when she reached her bedroom. Oh no, I'm beginning to think like Luffy. Next thing ya know I'm wandering around in search of meat. She laughed to herself.

She went beside her bed, and was about to close her window, when; she saw Zoro outside, training. He was lifting weights. She decided to leave the window open. Her mattress squeaked as she lie down on it, smothering herself with blankets. Turned on her side, her eyelids became heavy, and she drifted into a deep sleep.

When Nami awoke from her slumber, it was pitch dark outside. She looked out her window, to see that there was a small lantern outside, about 10 meters from her room. Looking a little closer with sleepy eyes she could see the figure of a man. It was Zoro; he was sittingon the rail of the ship, his feet dangling over the edge, above the bouncing waves. She couldn't help but watch him as he sat there, peacefully. Watching out her window, she could see his green hair slightly flowing with the steady wind.Zoro got up from his spot. Nami ducked below the window so he wouldn't see her. When his back was turned, she looked out the window again. She watched as he headed into the cabin. She heard his footsteps as he climbed the stairs to the men's quarters.

Zoro strode to his room, past a sleeping, snoring Luffy. He noticed the light on in Usopp's room, he imagined him drawing in his sketchbook, or crafting a hand made weapon. He couldn't help but stop, at Sanji's door when he heard a noise coming from it. Looking through the crack in his door he saw that the chef was hugging a pillow and talking in his sleep, "Oh, ladies, you don't have to fight over me." Then, "Oh, Nami-san I love you too." Sanji made a kissy noise. Zoro almost gagged. He continued to walk down the hall, and into his room, and lie down on his bed.

Now, Nami knew, was as good of time as ever, to tell Zoro...

A few seconds later, Zoro heard someone walking down the corridor, and stopping promptly at his door. He unsheathed his sword thinking it was an intruder. "Zoro?" a familiar voice asked, he put his sword back.

"Nami?" he asked in a shocked tone of voice, " What do you want?"

"May I come in?"

"I suppose," he sat up.

" Zoro," she began hesitantly, it seemed as if she was choking on her own words, " I'm Sorry, for insulting you, I mean."

"Oh," he responded halfheartedly.

They stood still for a moment, then, once again, Nami broke the silence as she sat next to Zoro.

"I hate you...," she said simply, leaning on his shoulder, Zoro looked puzzled," for making me act this way..."

This chappie was short and sweet, sorry, but I'm tired of typing. I'll make sure to update soon.

Next time: The straw hat pirates spot land and stop there for the day, Zoro and Nami get closer, Luffy's completely cluless while searching for meat, Sanji flirts, Robin reads, Usopp is sneaking around again, the navy comes, but, hey, what else is new! Later...