Author's Note: You know … I really feel for Nami … I really do … I have to agree with Kaydreams that I would have died from the embarrassment if that'd happened to me … XP So, I had to put that in! I had a bit of writer's block with this chapter. I kinda got stuck after the first scene, but then finally figured out what to do! XD I also figured out just exactly where this story is headed! I really hope you all enjoy what I have in store! XD Anyways, won't keep ya! Please read, enjoy, and review! X9

Genderly Challenged

Chapter 10: What Dost Thee Speaketh Of Kindness?

Everyone continued to gape at Robin in complete and utter shock at her words. At that moment, Nami just wanted to die. Her humiliation just took on a whole new level.

"Wha-Wha-What … What the hell are you talking about?! That-That's ridiculous!"

"I never said it was just you … Perhaps we should all sit down … and discuss this? I have been observing everyone for awhile now and would like to bring some things out."

"Mm-Maybe I could … make some coffee …" Sanji said as he quickly turned and headed for the kitchen.

Nami couldn't bring herself to even look down at the others. She noticed from the corner of her eyes as they also began to make their way towards the kitchen. Robin gave her an apologetic smile before following them. Nami's lips quivered, wondering if now would make the best time to make a run for it.

'And hide from my humiliation?! I'd rather die!' She thought to herself before drooping. Dying was something she definitely wanted to be because of her humiliation. However, after awhile, she also turned and made her way to the kitchen, not meeting anyone's eyes as she sat down. Even so, she could almost feel all eyes boring into her. She refused to blush as she frowned deeply.

As Sanji set some cups of coffee down, he then turned to Robin. "So, what did you mean, Robin-chan?"

"It would appear that the longer we are this gender, the deeper the change becomes. It has been already almost twenty four hours, and the changes have already begun to manifest."

"Wha-What do you mean changes?"

Robin turned to look at Usopp and then to everyone else. "Well, for instance, Sanji-san …"

"Eh?" Sanji questioned as he stared at Robin.

"He let his beauty go to his head … This is mostly a feminine trait."

Sanji's cheeks reddened a bit as he looked away. Zoro scoffed at this. "That's for sure …"

"Shut it!"

"Also … before Nami-chan's unfortunate episode …"

Nami groaned and let her forehead fall and slam into the table as she became embarrassed again. "Sanji-san and Luffy both used femininity, but did not realize they were doing it. What they did to arouse Nami-chan … was something only a woman would do and not a man. They were using feminine sex appeal, without even realizing it."

Nami released another groan as her face reddened further from Robin's usage of the word, 'arouse'. 'Did you have to say it like that …?'

"Ah!" Both Sanji and Luffy gaped at Robin.

Then suddenly, Luffy slammed his hands on the table and screeched in a high pitched voice, "Then I'm becoming more like a woman?!"

"Ee … That's not all … Neither one of you would have done what you did … if you, yourself, were not attracted to Nami-chan …"

"Heeh?!" Nami breathed as her eyes grew massive and immediately lifted her head to look at Robin in some horror. "What?!"

All three, as well as the rest of the crew, gaped at Robin as they let this all sink in. "W-W-Wait a minute!!" Luffy started, as it seemed he was pale and sweat was forming on his brow. "You can't be serious!! I-I-I-I c-can't be attracted … t-to a man!! Even, if it is Nami-Wait! I didn't mean it like that! I just mean, since I know her! I-Haa!" Luffy seemed to panic as he grew even paler, and he grabbed his face with his hands. He then began to take deep, quick breaths in his panic. "I can't breathe …"

"Oi, oi, oi! Calm down, Luffy!" Chopper cried as he went to Luffy's side.

"There's another theory …"

Everyone looked over at Robin, not really sure they wanted to hear more. "It's possible that it seems to be this way, or rather even more so … perhaps because … you were already attracted to each other to begin with …"

Only two now seemed to gape at Robin, Sanji only seemed to consider this possibility. It was no secret that he was attracted to Nami since the beginning. However, the other two seemed to still be in shock.

"At-t-t-tracted to each other to begin with?!"

"Th-That's ridiculous!"

"I can see it …"

"Yeah, but you're always fawning over women, you noodle headed, love-cook …"

"Shut it, stupid ass swordsmen!"

"At least I'm not big assed!"

"No, just stupid!"

"Enough!" Nami yelled loudly as she slammed her fists onto the table.

Everyone jolted in shock by her booming voice and her having slammed her fists onto the table. "This whole thing is just ridiculous! We should find that woman right now and make her turn us back! I've had enough of being … like … like this! And I definitely won't have you idiots running me over just because I can't make you stop!"

Everyone blinked at her wide eyed in a long silence before Zoro tilted his head, it seemed in thought. Then he turned to Luffy. "You know … I thought gear third only enlarged your bones ……Wait … I didn't mean it like that …" He said as he narrowed his eyes.

Luffy burst into laughter as he held his stomach. "That's so funny! Enlarge my bones!" He exclaimed as he laughed before calming down. "But, oh yeah! I guess that's true … I guess that could be why I couldn't get it to work …"

Nami's jaw dropped as she gaped at Luffy.

"Mah! At least I can still stretch it …" He continued with a shrug.

Then she let her head slam into the table again, her entire face reddening for some unknown reason. None of them were listening to her at all, and had completely ignored her. They seemed to have even forgotten what they had been talking about. She quickly stood up and turned her back on them with a cry of frustration.

"Fine, forget it! Do whatever the hell you want!"

Then she heard Luffy's laugh again. "But, Nami, you did surprise me! Shishishishi! I can't believe that you actually got a-"

She quickly whirled around, baring her teeth in anger as her entire body reddened, yet again ... "Shut up, you idiot!"

More laughter followed from the other guys. "It was surprising, wasn't it?!" Usopp exclaimed as he laughed.

"It was disturbing is what it was … but damn funny now that I think about it …" Zoro added as he also began to laugh.

"I'm sorry, Nami-san … but it was a little funny …" Sanji said as he chuckled. "And it did surprise me …"

Franky was also laughing at her. "Ahhaha! Poor Navigatin'- nee-san! I feel sorrier that she could possibly be attracted to you idiots!"

"You humans really are pretty funny!" Chopper added as he laughed gaily.

"And here I thought my bones protruded openly! Yohohoho!"

More laughter erupted at Brook's joke. "Good one Brook!!" Luffy exclaimed as he held onto his stomach with both hands.

She furrowed her brows further as she ground her teeth and bared them further. "You … are a bunch of idiots …" She seethed quickly before turning back around and storming out of the kitchen, slamming the door behind her.

She stomped around the corner, making her way to the observation room. She felt completely mortified, betrayed, and unbelievably angry. She stormed into the observation room, slamming that door behind her as well. She stood just in front of the door as she breathed heavily, trying to calm herself down.

"The jerks …"

Walking in finally, she plopped down at her desk as she stared down at her maps. She lifted her pen and calmly began to sketch out an outline of an island. However, she quickly realized that her hands were a little more bulky, and she wasn't used to it. The lines were coming out wrong and misaligned. She bared her teeth again before throwing the pen. At the speed she threw it, and the strength behind it, the pen stuck into the wall like a dart.

Plopping her elbows onto the desk, she held her head and her shorter hair with a sigh. "This is so stupid …"

Why weren't they going out and finding that stupid feminist woman? Maybe they all figured it was probably hopeless. Until the woman felt they'd all learned their lessons, they might never find her. Groaning, she laid her head down onto the desk, circling her arms around it, and laying on them slightly. 'Did they really have to laugh at me…? Even Sanji-kun … even though …' She started as her lips pursed slightly in a sad frown.

Not only that, but the thought of even being anywhere near attracted to either of those idiots, was a ridiculous notion. She was not attracted to them! She shook her head hard. What the hell had happened back there? She had felt a little embarrassed by what they did, because they were her crewmates. However, why had she reacted that way? When Luffy had started coming towards her, she had become incredibly nervous, and then Sanji had done the same, making her nervousness worse.

Thinking back on it now, they had their bodies pressed to hers, but they were female! Even thinking about some female pressing their body to hers made her slightly sick. So then, had it been because of what Robin had said? Was it because it was possible she was attracted to them, or at least, because she had been before the change? It wasn't that they were bad looking, because neither was, and both were incredible people. 'Ridiculous!' She thought to herself as she shook her head a little bit.

And how could they have forgotten what they had been talking about so easily? Luffy was so easily distracted. He had even forgotten he was in mid panic. She was a bit surprised by his reaction. Sanji hadn't even seemed to react badly at being attracted to a man. However, perhaps they both thought about it differently. It only seemed that Sanji hadremembered that it was still her and not just some man. But then, it seemed that Luffy had only seen a man and not her at all. Sighing, she then closed her eyes and hid them in her arms.

"Those assholes still didn't have to laugh at me …"

xxxx

After about three hours, Nami sighed before getting up and walking out of the observation room. She slowly made her way to the front, but stopped just at the corner. She peered out onto the deck and frowned softly. Zoro was leaning against the mast, but it seemed at the moment, he was the only one on deck. With another deep and quick sigh and her eyes closed, she finally opened them before going down the stairs. She approached him and then stopped just in front of him.

"Mm …?" He questioned before opening an eye to look up at her. At seeing her, he opened both eyes to regard her in some confusion.

With a bit of pursed lips, she reached out her hand with a huff. Blinking, he just stared up at her in wide eyed confusion. "Eh …?"

"Give it to me …"

"G-Give it … to you?"

"Your haramaki … give it to me …"

Zoro only continued to gape up at her in complete bafflement. She frowned deeper before placing her other hand on her hip, her other one still outstretched to him. "I said give it to me …"

"Why?"

"I'll … I'll fix it for you …"

Zoro quirked a brow at her and then frowned up at her. "Just so I'd owe you? I already said I would get someone else to do it …" He said as he turned his head away from her and frowned deeper.

She sighed softly as she closed her eyes. "Just give it to me …" She said softly and opening her eyes again, her arm still outstretched.

Blinking, Zoro looked back up at her wide eyed again. He stared up at her and her calm, somewhat soft expression. He turned his head slightly, never removing his eyes from hers before reaching behind him, pulling out his haramaki, and then handing it to her. She took it from him and then flipped up her hand.

"Stand up."

Still blinking, he did what was asked of him. She pulled the haramaki over his head, causing him to make a slight startled noise. He lifted his arms out from it, keeping them up and out of her way before staring down at her, his eyes having not gone back to normal size. Running her hands across the haramaki, she then sized his waist to a comfortable fit. Blinking more, Zoro blushed a bit at her closeness as his lips formed a thin frown.

"Mmm …" She hummed softly as she folded the haramaki behind him, memorizing the size, and how much of the haramaki was left.

Lifting his eyes to above her, he shifted a bit uncomfortably, the blush still present on his cheeks. "This isn't too bad …" She said quietly, more to herself before releasing her hold on the haramaki.

Once it was back to original size, she then lifted it up and back over his head. She ran her hands across the haramaki softly, reforming his new waist size into it. "I'll have it done in about an hour … There will be some access in the back … Hope you don't mind …"

"A-As long … as you can get it back to normal size when we get turned back … I don't care …"

She nodded, giving him a quick glance before turning and making her way up to her room.

Sliding back down the mast slowly, Zoro stared after her for a long while before slowly tilting his head curiously. At that moment, Usopp, Luffy and Chopper came running onto the deck loudly. However, Zoro's eyes were still glued to Nami's door. Luffy stopped to blink at Zoro before following his gaze. He gave a slight frown as he looked back down at Zoro.

"What's up Zoro?"

Zoro blinked slowly, still staring at the door before slowly looking away and closing his eyes. "Nothin' …" He replied softly as he seemed to be going back to his nap.

Luffy's frown deepened before he turned to look up at Nami's door again.

'Is she in there …?'

To Be Continued …

Author's Note: Wazzat'?! Omagosh, Zoro you surprise me! Isn't he just too cute when he blushes?! XD I know all you ladies like to see a Zoro blushin'! XP I know I's do! –Gasps- Can you believe it?! That bastard Sanji actually laughed at her! XO Wuz he thinkin'?! You know … I'm really beginning to love my Brook one liners … I dunno 'bout you guys … However, it was brought to my attention by Kyta Eternal that Brook seemed hated, and I had to agree. So, I needed to give Brook a little lovin' in this chappie! I hope you guys liked it and his joke! X) Anyways, please let me know how you felt about this chapter! Ja ne! X9