Author's Note: All right, you guys wanted to know what happened next, well here it is. I wasn't sure I wanted to do the ending part of this, but heather said it made sense, so I did it. I hope you all enjoy it. Please read, enjoy and review! X)

Genderly Challenged

Chapter 18: Understand More Than Thee Shall Know

After getting patched up, Luffy slumped off to the men's quarters. He was extremely exhausted from the night's events. Opening the door, he was greeted with stares and a single glare.

"What really happened tonight, Luffy?"

Clenching his fists tightly, Luffy furrowed his brows and didn't look up at any of them, especially Sanji. "I'm tired …" He said quietly as he plopped down on his bed for sleep.

"How could you let something like that happen to Nami-san?! She looked in really bad shape!"

Squeezing his eyes shut tight, he curled up into a ball and tried to drawn him out as he pulled the blanket over his head. "I'm going to sleep …"

"Oi, answer me!"

"Just let it go, noodles …"

"How can I let this go?! Look what happened to Nami-san!"

"She said it wasn't a big deal, right? So it probably wasn't. Just leave him alone …"

"Don't tell me what to do, grassy lawn!"

Rolling onto his back, Zoro turned away from Sanji. "Shut up and go to sleep …" He said in a quiet, but demanding voice.

Snorting, Sanji laid down in his bed as he stared at Luffy's back. Furrowing his brows, Zoro slowly turned around to also look down at Luffy. Something wasn't right, but if Luffy didn't want to talk about it, he wasn't going to push the issue, or let anyone else push it either.

Lying in her bed, Nami stared up at her ceiling, not being able to get the image of how terrified Luffy had been out of her mind. Her face slowly saddened as she closed her eyes against the image, but only saw it more clearly in the darkness. It was her fault … all of it … It was entirely her fault. If she hadn't been so hard on him … and if she hadn't lost her temper … none of that would have happened to him. What happened tonight was one of her worst fears, and she let it happen. She was the reason it happened at all.

Bringing her arms up, she closed her hands around her face. Feeling incredibly guilty, she slowly ran her hands down her face before turning on her side. She really should try and get some sleep. Closing her eyes again, she attempted to go to sleep.

However, some time during the night, Nami woke with a start, sitting up quickly in the bed. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, as if sensing something was wrong. As if right on cue, she heard a blood curdling scream from below. Flying out of her bed after tossing the sheets aside, she ran out of her door and hopped over the rail, landing on the grassy deck below. Bursting into the men's quarters, she looked over and noticed all the guys huddled around Luffy's bed.

"Oi, Luffy!"

"Luffy, what's wrong?!"

"Don't! Don't touch me! Don't touch me! No!!"

"Oi, Luffy!"

"Luffy!" Nami cried as she ran towards his bed and began to shove them all aside. "Get away from him!" She screamed as she shoved them away from him before turning towards him.

Looking up at her, his horrified expression intensified. Everyone gaped at both of them in total bewilderment and complete concern. "No!! Don't come near me!! Don't touch me!!"

Leaning over, she grabbed his shoulders and gave him a shake. "Luffy! It's just me, Luffy! It's Nami!"

"No! Don't touch me!!"

"Luffy, it's me, dammit! Look at me!!"

Screaming and beginning to sob, he wrung out of her grasp and backed away further into the wall. "Luffy …" Nami said softly before climbing into the bed with him, and slowly and cautiously crawled towards him. "Luffy … it's only me, Luffy. It's Nami … I'm not going to hurt you, Luffy …" She said before stopping just in front of him.

Blinking a bit, but still looking completely terrified, his breathing began to calm down before really looking over her face. "Nami …?" He whispered softly.

"That's right, Luffy … It's me. It's Nami."

As soon as his vision focused on her, his eyes widened in complete horror as he looked behind her to the very worried faces of his crewmates. "Oh no …" He whispered as his tears still glided down his face.

Closing her eyes and lowering her head a bit, Nami then turned to the others and regarded them seriously. "Could you guys step outside for a moment …?"

"But … Nami-san …"

"It'll be all right … I just want to talk to him."

Closing his eyes, Zoro then turned towards the doorway. "Let's go." He said in a tone of command before holding it open and turning to them.

After giving Luffy one last look of concern, they all turned and left the room, Zoro closing the door behind them. After they left, Nami then turned a worried frown on Luffy, who had his head completely lowered and hidden from view.

"Did you have a nightmare?" She asked softly as she sat at the edge of the bed.

"Yes …" He whispered very softly. "Their hands … were everywhere …"

Lifting her arm, Nami ran her hand through her hair before turning to look at him again. However, her frown turned sad when she noticed his shaking. "They saw me, Nami … They saw me like that … I didn't want them to know …"

"I know you didn't …"

"You lied for me … but … it was for nothing … I hate this!" He cried as he began to sob quietly.

Face scrunching up as her heart panged painfully, she lifted her legs onto the bed and crawled back over to him. Sitting beside him, she then pulled him into her arms, bringing his back to her front and leaning her back against the wall. Gasping from what she did and the feel of his back being pressed to her front, his entire body stiffened in surprise.

"Luffy, don't cry … It's going to be all right … You don't have to be ashamed or embarrassed Luffy … Of all the things that has happened to us … Luffy they would never laugh at this, or think less of you … I also know … that this is definitely something you would never laugh about either …"

"Nami … but I wasn't strong enough … It's that, as a man, I couldn't protect myself … or even you …"

"You're not a man right now, Luffy … and most definitely not as strong as you once were … You can't keep blaming yourself for what happened …"

"How can I not blame myself …?"

"Because it was my fault … If you want to blame anyone … Luffy , blame me … It was my fault all of this happened to you … If I hadn't been so hard on you … and if I hadn't have lost my temper and hit you … you would have never run away from the ship, and that would have never happened. Luffy, I'm so sorry …" She said quietly as she leaned her forehead against the back of his head.

Staring wide eyed towards the opposite wall for a long while, he finally turned around in her arms to look into her face. However, she had her head lowered to where her eyes couldn't be seen. However, from what he could see of her face, he watched as a tear ran down her cheek to her chin, and then drip onto her chest. Gaping softly, his expression then turned sad before leaning against her.

"I don't blame you, Nami …"

"You should … Something so horrible … something that never should have happened to you, happened because I was stupid … You were right, Luffy … I am stupid … I'm so sorry …"

"No, Nami! You're not stupid! I was stupid for saying that!" He cried as he dipped his head to look up into her face.

However, she only turned away from him, her hair concealing her eyes still. "No … you spoke the truth …"

"No … I didn't … Nami, if I hadn't been such a coward … none of this would have happened …"

"Luffy … you are the last person in the world to ever be a coward … I already told you that what happened wasn't your fault …"

"I didn't mean about tonight …"

Blinking, Nami finally looked up at him in surprise as another tear rolled down her cheek. "What?"

"If I had just … said it sooner …" He whispered before looking down. "I didn't have the guts to do it … If I had just … If I had just apologized to you when I first wanted to … you would have never been so mad at me, right? That's why you were so mad … isn't it?"

It was now her turn to gape at him. "Luffy … what are you talking about?"

"At that time … when you first came to find me … after I had laughed at Usopp … and made him cry …" He whispered softly as his eyes softened.

"Do you …?" He started, but stopped and frowned more.

"Do I what?"

"Do you …" He started again before sighing and closing his eyes. 'Do you think you could forgive me …?' After awhile, he opened them again. "Do you think he'll forgive me …?"

"At that time … I had wanted to apologize …but I hadn't been sure … I was afraid … that you wouldn't have forgiven me …" He said as he looked towards the side at an imaginary spec on the bed. "I had apologized to Usopp … but didn't apologize to you … It … didn't scare me as much if Usopp couldn't forgive me … but it did if you couldn't … When I apologized to Robin … I did it because … I think deep down … I knew it would make you mad … and for some stupid reason … I think I was mad because you were mad … I don't … usually do that … I'm sorry, Nami …"

"I'm so sorry! I promise to never laugh at you again!!" Luffy wailed as tears streamed down his face in a comical cry with even snot running out of his noise.

"It's okay! I forgive you, Luffy!!" Usopp also wailed, who was crying equally as bad.

"We'll be friends forever, right?!"

"Of course we will!!"

"You guys are idiots … You any idea how gay you look right now …"

Both turned to scowl at Zoro, and with tears still streaming down their faces. "Shut up! We're having a moment!!"

Zoro snorted at the two as he continued to lean on the mast. "Idiots …" He muttered as he closed his eyes again.

"You're so mean, Zoro!"

"Can't you understand?!"

Zoro only began to snore in response to the two. Nami laughed softly, smiling down at the two warmly before losing her smile and wincing slightly. "Mm …"

The two didn't even seem to notice her there as they remained embraced and crying. Giving another slight laugh, but with less enthusiasm, she then turned and went back into her room. Sighing in contentment, she then went and sat down to continue reading.

Slowly lowering her eyes as they remained wide in thought, she then tilted her head slightly. She had felt pain … A slight ache in her chest. However, since she couldn't explain it, or knew what it was, she had just brushed it off.

"There was … something else that made me mad … but I'm not sure what it was …" Luffy said, not being able to look at her.

Smiling a bit, Nami slightly shook her head. This explained a lot … "Insecure …" She whispered very quietly.

"What?" Luffy asked as he finally looked over at her.

She shook her head and instead smiled up at him. "It's nothing …" She replied quietly, which caused his cheeks to flush a bit. It made her wonder if he even realized when he did that.

So, that's what it had all been … He had been feeling insecurity ever since he'd been changed. Sanji had had his vanity, Zoro was a lot bitchier than usual, Usopp was a lot more sensitive and Luffy had been insecure about himself. Although, now that she understood what had been Luffy's problem, everything suddenly made sense. His insecurity had been the cause of a lot of things he had done, and a lot of things he had not done. If she had to guess, he was probably feeling less of a man, thinking his strength was gone because of his now gender.

Mostly, he was probably second guessing himself, which caused him to become even weaker. She never really would have imagined just how hard it must be for him being female. He was always so confident, knowing he would win even though the situation seemed impossible, but now … he must believe, or think he's weaker, and in doing so, he really was weaker, because he believed he was.

As for her … it was hard to sum up in one word really, but looking back, she could kind of see it now. If she had to sum it up in one word, that word would be protective. Over protective of them is what she had been, the typical nice guy, always giving in to a pretty, crying face, and therefore wanted to comfort them. Blanching slightly, her expression turned exasperated as she slumped forward a bit.

"What is it?"

Sitting up straighter, she then smiled nervously. "It's nothing!"

Blinking at her confusedly for awhile, he then drooped again as he looked away from her. "Anyways … I'm really sorry I laughed at you, Nami … Do you think you could forgive me after all of this …?" He asked quietly as his cheeks puffed out a bit in his insecurity.

When she didn't answer, he slowly, but unsurely looked over at her. What greeted him was a surprise to say the least. Her smile was gentle, and it made him feel completely warm inside. He could feel his cheeks heat and respond to her smile.

"Of course I can forgive you, Luffy. As long as you can forgive me though …" She said as she lost her smile.

"There's nothing to forgive, Nami … I'm sorry that I made you mad … I shoulda said I was sorry earlier …"

She shook her head as she looked down. "It's okay …"

He smiled for a bit before losing it and looking down. "The others …" He whispered before bringing up and crossing his arms to rub them. "They are going to want to know what happened to me …"

"I already told you, Luffy … They would never think less of you, or make fun of you …"

"It doesn't matter … Just … knowing that I …" He started as tears began to blur his vision once again. "I can't even stop crying!" He said with a bit of a hiccup as he rubbed at his eyes. "Even after this talk … I still can't forget, Nami … I can't forget how it felt … how I felt … It was all so horrible … It's scary … so scary …"

"I would imagine it is, Luffy … It's a fear I've always had …" She whispered as she looked at him sadly.

Looking up quickly, he then pressed his palms into her chest as he looked up at her intently. "Never! I would never let anything like that, ever happen to you, Nami! Don't ever be afraid of that, Nami … Don't ever be afraid …"

Blinking down at him, startled by the vehemence behind his words, she then smiled down at him as she reached up to wipe away the tears that had managed to escape. "Thanks, Luffy. That means a lot to me."

He managed a smile before sighing deeply and leaning away again. "But still … after all of this … I still feel less of a man … I've felt that way ever since we were changed …"

So, she had been right. "Luffy, you're not less of a man … You're not even a man at all." She said as she chuckled softly.

"That's not helping at all, Nami …"

Still laughing softly, she then shook her head at him. "Luffy … you're still the same person you always have been … female or not. You should never doubt who you are."

"Even after abandoning you …? I'm not so sure I can forgive such cowardice … How could I do that to you, Nami? How the hell could I do that? You could have died! And it would have been my fault!"

"Luffy … don't do that …"

"Do what?!"

"Luffy … you-were-in-shock! No one is ever in their right minds when in such traumatic shock, Luffy … I told you, you had absolutely no control … At some point, when you're mind is not functioning properly, instinct kicks in, and self preservation happens … I do not blame you, Luffy … You had no control. What matters is that we survived … and I made it in time to stop them. So, stop being so hard on yourself."

Slumping forward, he took in a deep and quiet sigh. Sighing right after him, Nami reached out and pulled him to her, letting him lean against her. She felt as he stiffened in her arms, but just held him against her chest and stomach.

"Luffy … it's okay. It is. Please don't feel so bad, or ashamed, or anything. Okay?"

He didn't respond at all and remained where he was for the longest time before nodding against her chest. "See? There we go. That wasn't so bad, now was it?"

She felt as he shook his head. "Good!" She said as she smiled and leaned down against his head. "Everything is going to be fine, Luffy. You'll see." She said gently against his head as she stared off at the opposite wall.

After awhile, she felt him begin to relax, before hearing the even breathing of sleep take him. Smiling warmly, she carefully got up, and laid him down on his pillow. Then she covered him with his blanket before stepping outside. As she turned, she was greeted with deep frowns in concern.

"What the fuck was that?!"

Taking a deep sigh, she prepared herself for the explanation as she looked up at Zoro. "We didn't just run into some guys last night … I lied …"

"Yeah … I think we get that!"

"Zoro … calm down …" Nami said as she frowned at Zoro and held a hand out at him.

"He didn't hurt you, did he Nami-san?!"

Nami turned a sarcastic frown on him. "Of course not!" She exclaimed before calming herself down. "You know better than that, Sanji-kun … You know Luffy would never hurt me … and wouldn't he have reacted like he did awhile ago, if it had been that?!"

Releasing a breath, Sanji seemed to droop a bit as his expression calmed. "My apologizes …"

"So what did happen? Start talkin' Nami!"

"Oi, don't talk to-!"

"Shut up! Tell me!" He said without removing his eyes from Nami, but tilted his head towards Sanji, and demanded for her to explain.

Drooping a bit and her expression saddening, she closed her eyes before finally saying anything. "We got into a fight right after we left the dining room last night …" She started before opening her eyes. "I … hit Luffy … which … upset him … He ran off, and I went after him. I searched the town … but couldn't find him … I was about to come back … when I heard … um …" She started before shuddering and then clutching at her own arms.

"Heard what?!" Zoro asked as he stepped closer to her.

Taking in a shaky breath, she finally looked back up at him. "I heard screaming …" She whispered as tears came to her eyes. " Horrible … Horrible screaming … I went to check it out before realizing … the voice was Luffy's … There were these men … and they were … they were …" She clutched tighter at her arms before a tear glided down her face.

She could tell by the looks on their faces, and color of their skin that they understood completely what had happened.

"Oh my God …" Usopp whispered as he also began to tear up.

"But please! Don't … Don't say anything to him! He … He already feels … ashamed, and …" She started before wiping the tears from her face and eyes. "He's embarrassed about it … He didn't want you guys to know about it …"

"That idiot! How could he not tell us what happened?!" Zoro yelled in irritation as he huffed.

"I told you! He was … ashamed! He … He was beyond terrified when I finally got to him … He …" She closed her eyes and shook her head. " I got to him just in time, so nothing happened, but the damage had already been done … He was in shock and … he hid when they finally let him go … I had to fight them off alone … so … he's also really ashamed about that. I told him it wasn't his fault … I know he feels guilty, but it wasn't his fault." She said as she looked at Sanji specifically.

However, she was surprised that he was just gaping at her, and water was completely filling his eyes before a tear finally escaped down his face. Then she turned to look back at Zoro, who was looking down with a shocked expression. Robin had a hand over her mouth, her eyes completely wide, where as Franky had a deep frown. She could hear Chopper crying quietly behind them all, and Brook looked like he always did.

Usopp was also crying quietly to himself. "That's so horrible … Luffy …" He whispered as he wiped away his tears.

"Please … tomorrow … don't … don't say anything, please?" Nami said as she looked at them all.

Everyone was quiet for a long time before Zoro finally looked up. "Mmm … We'll try our best not to make him feel uncomfortable."

"Thank you …" She said quietly before turning away, but then stopped. "He didn't want any of you to think that he was any less of a man … You don't … do you?" She asked without turning towards them.

"No … we don't … I knew from the get go that we weren't going to be as strong as we normally are … These men must have been stronger than the average pirate … and from the looks of you … a lot of them …"

Closing her eyes with a smile at Zoro's words, she then nodded her head as another tear rolled down her cheek. "If it hadn't been for how badly he'd already beaten them before I'd gotten there … I don't think either of us would be here now …"

Closing his eyes tightly, Zoro nodded before opening them again. "He doesn't have to worry … I understand completely …"

"Thank you … He's asleep right now … So, try not to wake him?" She said softly, but still didn't turn.

"I don't think … I can sleep after this …" Zoro said as he looked out across the deck.

"Me neither … How about I put a pot of coffee on for everyone?"

"That … sounds lovely, Sanji …" Robin said as she gave a forced smile, but her face was completely pale.

Nodding, Sanji as well as everyone else began to make their way to the kitchen. "What about you, Nami-san?"

Stopping just before going into her room, she turned her head a bit, but still didn't look at them. "Think I wanna be alone for a bit … I'll come join you guys in a little bit …" She said before walking into her room, and closing the door.

Sighing softly as his shoulders drooped a bit, Sanji finally turned towards the others, and they all went into the kitchen. After closing her door, Nami leaned against it with her head lowered and hair covering her eyes. After awhile, she began to shake before the sobs began to wrench at her body. Sliding down the door, she covered her mouth as the sobs became louder. She was so glad that they understood. She knew that Luffy would be appreciative of them. What great friends they had.

She hadn't really allowed herself to let what had happened sink in until now. She had not expected for Luffy to have reacted this way. The guilt was eating at her, even if he had said he didn't blame her. He had said he didn't think he could forgive himself for abandoning her, well she didn't think she could forgive herself for what had happened to him either. So many times she had thought she had wanted to cry, and not be able to, nothing was holding that back now as she sat against her door and allowed herself to cry.

xxxx

The next morning, Luffy woke up blinking his eyes at the above bunk. Clenching his fists tightly, he looked over slowly before realizing he was the only one in the room. Sitting up, he looked towards the door with a look of confusion. He swung his legs out of the bed and sat there for a moment, contemplating just remaining there. However, he was done being the coward, and wasn't going to hide anymore. Slowly standing up, he made his way to the door and opened it.

Looking out across the deck, he didn't see anyone anywhere. So, he stepped out and then made his way towards the kitchen. His stomach wasn't growling like it normally did, but he knew it needed nourishment. Once he reached the door to the dining room, he paused just before opening it and clenched his eyes shut tight. Taking a few deep breaths, he finally grabbed the knob and turned it. Opening the door slowly, he then peered inside unsurely.

When the door opened, everyone immediately turned to it. When Luffy peered inside with his worried frown, their expression then turned concerned. Clutching at the door tightly, he finally looked down a bit as he stepped inside and closed the door.

"Hey …"

Looking up towards Nami, his expression showed slight fear and worry. "Hey …" He finally replied as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Come and sit down. Sanji was just about to serve breakfast." She said in a calm and soothing voice as she pat the place at the table beside her. "Did … Did you sleep all right?"

He seemed to retract into himself at the question, his brows furrowing deeply as if in pain. "Yes …" He whispered as he seemed to back more into the door.

"It's all right, Luffy. Come sit down."

"Yeah, Luffy, come sit." Usopp also said encouragingly as he tilted his head and soft expression at Luffy.

Looking up at Usopp, Luffy blinked a bit before looking at everyone else. They all mimicked Usopp and Nami's soft and relaxed expressions. There wasn't any derision, disdain, or disgust on their faces. Why he ever thought there might be, he wasn't sure. After awhile, he finally, but slowly made his way to sit beside Nami with his head still lowered.

Everyone remained quiet as they all looked at Luffy in their concern for him as well as in sympathy. They knew it must have taken a lot for him to come into the dining room with them.

Closing his eyes as his throat clicked, Zoro then lowered his head a bit. "Nami told us what happened …"

Sucking in his breath, Luffy stiffened rigidly as he stared down at the table. "Oi, Zoro …" Nami said quietly as she frowned softly at him. "You said-"

"I know what I said … I said we'd try our best not to make him feel uncomfortable … but I never said I wouldn't say anything …"

"Zoro!" Nami cried as she frowned deeper.

Looking up at Zoro and Nami, Luffy's lips parted a bit as he clenched his fists again.

Blinking his eyes, Zoro then shifted them over to Luffy. "Listen Luffy … what Nami told you is the truth. It couldn't be helped what happened. We all knew that being like this would diminish our strength. I actually didn't think it would diminish as much as it did … but Luffy, the most important thing is, we don't think less of you, Luffy. I couldn't … rather I'd rather not imagine … what it was like … So saying you must have been shocked … is a fucking understatement … Nami said she doesn't blame you … So nothin' to feel guilty about. Hell, I don't blame you either. I have no idea how I would have reacted either."

"Aa, I agree with the weeping willow, Luffy … I hope we can find those gutless assholes so we can beat the shit out of them again …" Sanji said as he cupped his hands in front of his face and lit his cigarette.

"That's right, Mugiwara! If we ever find them …" Franky said as he crackled his metal knuckles.

"Mm, those guys 're gonna pay for what they did to you, Luffy!" Usopp said as he frowned at Luffy.

Luffy gaped at his crewmates before slowly lowering his head. "You guys …" He whispered before he began to shake. Then he hiccupped and began to cry louder. "You guys … You guys are so great!" He said loudly as he wailed. "I have such great friends! Even though I laughed at you guys! I'm so sorry!" He said before rubbing his eyes. "Thank -- you!"

"Luffy!" Both Usopp and Chopper cried as they glomped their friend in a group hug and wailed loudly with him.

Zoro smiled at them with a chuckle as he closed his eyes. Sanji also chuckled, but found he had tears in his eyes. "Asshole!" He exclaimed in his cover from the tears.

Luffy, Usopp and Chopper began to laugh and cry at the same time. Zoro also laughed softly at Sanji before blinking and looking confused. "Eh?"

Everyone looked over at him and then began to laugh at him. "What the hell?! Are you crying?!"

"No! I'm not crying!" He yelled at Sanji, who seemed really amused, even though his eyes were filled to the brim with water.

"Yes you are!"

"Stupid females and their emotions!" Zoro yelled as he wiped at his eyes. "Always so sensitive!"

Everyone laughed loudly as they too found tears come to their eyes. "You guys are so super!" Franky exclaimed as he wailed loudly as well, covering his eyes with his massive arm.

Nami laughed cheerfully as she also teared up. Her crewmates really were great. She watched as Zoro also began to laugh despite his teary eyes. They really were great.

"You assholes!" Zoro yelled, but still laughed with everyone else.

Tears spilled down Luffy's face nonstop as he laughed. His crewmates meant everything to him. They had managed to make him feel a lot better, so much so that he felt really happy, happy enough to make him cry. They weren't just his crewmates though. They were his friends …

They were his family …

To Be Continued …

Author's Note: Awww! T.T Such a happy moment! Everyone cheered Luffy up, and then they all cried at the end with each other! Leave it to a woman to get all sensitive and weepy! X) Easily moved to tears! I'm not saying all women are like this, but the majority of us are. If you haven't really figured it out yet, the guy's male personalities are clashing a lot with their now forming feminine sides. That's why they do a lot of weird things and even get all weepy and emotional. It's also not something they have a lot of control over since they aren't used to it! X) What they know … doesn't exactly match with how they feel and react. Anyways, what did you guys think? This was a super long one … Geez! I could have cut it in half … X.x Anyways, gimme reviews!