Author's Note: Okay, there was one other thing I forgot to mention as to why I was taking so long with chapters, and that's because I was playing Saints Row 2, and then Fable 2! XP But now it seems I have another reason to why I will be going slow. I seem to have developed a health problem and can't get myself too stressed out. I need to get myself better before I write on a regular basis. I need to rest! XP Anyways, here is the next chapter, which is more interesting as promised. I hope you guys enjoy it.

P.S. I just wanna take a minute to thank Ryo Hoshi for the help she's given me with this story. If there was someone who knows a ton about neurochemistry, it's her! So, thanks Ryo! X)

Genderly Challenged

Chapter 20: Thou Will Have Thy Revenge

"Someone in this town has to know where she is …"

Everyone looked displeased as they looked around, Nami looking the more irritable. "I mean … a person just can't up and disappear like that!" She continued as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Maybe we're asking the wrong people …"

Looking over at Usopp, Nami's frown intensified. "But we can only ask certain people! I'm surprised not many people know this woman! Didn't you say she owned that bar?!"

"Yeah … it's what she said …"

Huffing and turning away from Usopp, she glanced into the town with a confused frown. "So then how come no one knows her? Although … the bar has been closed since you guys were last there …"

"That's a good question … You would think people were used to what she does … or at least known she was the owner of the bar …" Robin said as she looked to be in deep thought.

"Maybe she doesn't do it often? Perhaps you guys just caught her on a bad day …" Franky said as he looked at the guys.

"Or maybe you were all just a bunch of idiots like you normally are and pissed her off!" Nami said as she turned to scowl at them.

"We weren't anything!" Zoro yelled as he crossed his arms with a huff.

Nami leaned back again as she gaped at Zoro. "Are you getting huffy with me?!"

"No! Look, we didn't do anything to that stupid woman!"

Pursing her lips are Zoro, she frowned before shifting her eyes to Sanji. "Then I bet it was you! You're always throwing yourself at women!"

"But I wasn't disrespectful! Women are to be treated kindly and gently, Nami-san! I didn't do it! I promise! Please don't be angry!" Sanji exclaimed with a slight pout.

Pursing her lips further, she then turned to Usopp and blinked. "Usopp …?"

He was rubbing his eye with a sniffle. "You yelled at me … and called me an idiot …"

"Ah, Usopp! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you cry!" She said as she went to him to wipe away his tears. "Don't cr- ……"

She stopped short, blanching and took a step back with a blush. Then she cleared her throat. "Um …"

"Hmph!"

Shifting them to Luffy, he had his arms crossed and was frowning at her. "You made Usopp cry …"

Closing her eyes, she shook her head. "We are getting worse and worse …" She whispered as she brought a hand to her head. "I'm feeling more different by the day … We need to get changed back …"

"I agree …" Zoro said as he also blanched and turned towards the town.

Sighing in some distress, Nami turned and continued walking. "There has to be someone here we can talk to …"

"Usomi-chan, please allow me to comfort you!"

"Kya-a! Get away from me!" Usopp screeched as he ran away from Brook to hide behind Luffy. "And don't call me chan! It's creepy!"

"Oi, oi! Luffy cried as he glanced back at Usopp and then at Brook nervously.

Turning around with a huff, Nami frowned at them all. "Would you knock it off!" She yelled before turning to Usopp with a raised brow. "Did you just scream like a girl?"

"No!" Usopp yelled as he frowned at her.

"Agh! Whatever, let's just go, please?" She said as she threw up her hands and turned to move on.

"You totally screamed like a girl, dude …"

"I did not …! Shut up, Luffy …!"

Nami rolled her eyes at the loud whispers behind her as she continued forward.

"You screamed like a girl …" Both Sanji and Zoro chimed in quietly as they walked.

Snorting, Usopp turned his head away from them all as he pursed his lips. "Hmmph!"

Looking around at everyone, Nami spotted a girl behind a stand, who seemed to be unloading some crates. Sighing to herself, she decided to take a chance. Walking over to her, she brought a fist to her mouth and cleared her throat.

"Um … excuse me?"

Gasping softly, the girl quickly stood and looked towards her. "Oh!" She exclaimed as a hand flew to her heart. "You scared me …"

"Oh, I'm sorry …" Nami said as she frowned at the girl.

"Oh …" The girl exclaimed again as she looked up at Nami and blushed. "Oh!" She said again as she frowned. "What happened to your face?! It looks horrible! Did someone hit you?! You poor thing!" She said as she gently touched her fingertips to Nami's face.

Gasping, Nami quickly stepped away from the girl as if she'd been burned. Then a hand flew to cover the bruise on her face. "I'm fine!"

The girl then touched her fingertips to her lips as she looked at Nami in some concern. "Such a beautiful face too …" She said quietly before gasping and blushing deeply. "Oh my! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to …!"

Blinking and deciding this was a very bad idea, Nami felt her cheeks flushing slightly as she cleared her throat again. "Um … It's okay, never mind … Sorry to have bothered you …" She said as she turned quickly, just wanting to get away from this girl.

Everyone else looked on curiously from a distance, having given Nami the space she needed to ask for information. They didn't want to seem too intimidating if they'd approached people in a large group.

"What is she doing?" Luffy asked as he tilted his head at Nami.

"I don't know …" Usopp replied as he watched as the girl chased after Nami and grabbed her arm.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to offend you! I just …!" The girl started as she frowned and looked down. "I didn't mean to say that out loud … I was just nervous and … you are so … Oh, I'm doing it again!"

Biting her lip painfully, Nami turned to look down at her. "Look, it's okay … I wasn't offended. I'm sorry I bothered you …" She said, really wanting to get away from the uncomfortable situation.

"No, please! Don't go! You needed something, right?!"

"No, it's really fine … I can ask someone-"

"No, it's okay! You can ask me! I will help with whatever you might need!" The girl said as she blushed deeper. Then she seemed to calm and take a deep breath. "My name is Tsura. Please, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable …"

Luffy then tilted his head to the other side as his brows began to furrow slowly. "What is that girl doing …?"

"I don't know …" Usopp replied again as he shrugged.

"Ah, she looks like a beautiful princess …"

Everyone turned to give Sanji annoyed frowns, Luffy's being the deepest. Turning back to them, Luffy's frown seemed to want to go deeper, but wasn't able to. "Nami looked like she wanted to come back … Why did that girl stop her?"

"How the hell should we know, Luffy?!" Zoro said in annoyance at all of Luffy's dumb and unanswerable questions.

"Why not go find-Ah!"

Not having to hear the rest of Franky's suggestion, Luffy took off for them.

"Oi, Luffy! Where's he …?" Usopp said as he took a small step forward.

"To go get his answers, I guess …" Zoro muttered as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall with one leg propped against it.

Sanji also started to walk off towards them. "What the …?" Usopp said as he walked past. "Oi, now where are you going?!"

Chuckling softly, Robin also began to follow after them. "O-i!" Usopp said as he pouted at their backs, but remained with Chopper, Franky, Zoro, and Brook.

Seeing a person walking up towards them, Tsura then shifted her eyes to them before frowning and stepping a bit closer to Nami. Making a slight noise, Nami took a step back from her before looking where she had her frown focused. As soon as she turned, she looked into the face of a displeased Luffy.

"O-Oi, Luf-Luna … What are you doing? I told you to wait with the others."

"What's going on?" He asked, not removing his eyes from the girl, who was slightly inching closer to Nami.

Narrowing his eyes at her, he felt his chest puff a bit as his frown turned more displeased. "Nalu-sa-n!" Sanji cried before looking over at the girl, who was now frowning at him. "Ah, such a beautiful girl with skin so fair and eyes that resemble a fresh field of emerald grass blowing through the breeze on a warm summer day."

Jaw dropping slightly, Tsura gaped at Sanji in some confusion. Slapping a hand to her forehead, Nami grit her teeth, ready to pummel Sanji. 'You idiot …'

"Are you gay …?"

"I shall be whatever you want me to be, wondrous wood nymph!" Sanji exclaimed with his one eye resembling a heart as he cupped his hands.

"Ahem! I'm so sorry to have bothered you, but we really should go!" Nami said in a hurry as she grabbed both Luffy and Sanji's arms and began to drag them away.

"Wait, Nalu-san!" Tsura cried as she held out a hand toward her retreating back.

Luffy turned his head to glare at the girl. Stopping, Nami frowned at the girl a bit. "We really should go …"

"At least let me help! You seem to need something. Maybe I can help. You don't seem to be from around here. I've lived here my whole life. If it's something you need …?" She stopped her question as she seemed to frown a bit sadly and looked down.

Frown softening, Nami sighed quietly as she released both Luffy and Sanji and turned to the girl. If this girl really had lived here her whole life, she might be able to help them.

Snorting loudly and none to elegantly, Luffy crossed his arms as he pursed his lips at the girl. "I say we just go, Nalu-san …" He said, mocking the way the girl had said Nami's male name.

Furrowing her brows, Nami looked down at Luffy in a bewildered, but slightly reprimanding frown. Then she looked back up at Tsura, who was now also glaring at Luffy. "You say you've lived here your whole life … Does that mean that you would know a lot of people?"

"Oh, yes! I know a lot of people! Are you looking for someone?"

"Hmmph!"

Clenching her teeth down, Nami closed her eyes for a split second as she tried to ignore Luffy beside her. Then she offered Tsura a forced smile. "Well, yes, actually …"

"I will do my best to help you find them then!"

Next came another snort before Nami bared her teeth. "Thank you, Tsura. We could definitely use your help." She said before lifting up a finger. "Could you please excuse me?" She said before turning and roughly grabbing Luffy's arm and dragging him some distance.

"Ow! That hurts!"

After they walked some distance, Nami turned to frown down at him deeply. "What the hell is your problem …?!" She asked in a loud whisper.

"Nothing's my problem! I don't like her!"

Nami's jaw dropped as she gaped and frowned down at him at the same time before she closed her mouth to clench her teeth. "What the hell are you talking about …?! We just met her…! How can you say you don't like her …?! And keep your voice down …!"

"I just don't …! There's something about her I don't like … She seems fake …!"

"Fake …?! Luffy, what the hell …!"

"I don't trust her …! I think she's lying …!"

"Why would she lie …?!"

Bunching his lips upward towards his noise as they curved down a bit, he then snorted and crossed his arms. "I don't know …!"

"Luffy, this is the first lead we've had in a long time to find this woman … and I am not passing this up because you say you think she's lying …!" Nami said through clenched teeth before turning away from him and going back to the others and Tsura, who were all looking at them.

Frowning at her back, Luffy remained where he was as he crossed his arms. Smiling at Tsura, who was now smiling up at her, Nami scratched her head and looked a bit nervous. "I'm sorry about that …"

"It's okay. I don't mind." Tsura said as she smiled up at Nami sweetly.

"Anyways, we could really use the help."

"Of course! I would be more than happy to help you, Nalu-san!" Tsura said as she took a step closer to Nami, and clasped her hands together.

Frowning a bit, Nami took a step back, not liking the close proximity. Frowning as well, Sanji placed his hands on his hips, not liking the girl's behavior towards Nami, while Luffy narrowed his eyes at the girl.

"R-Right … Thank you … We're, uh … looking for a woman named Manny. Do you know her?"

"Manny?" Tsura asked as she leaned back with wide blank eyes. 'Oh no! I have no idea who that is! But I have to try and help them anyways, or I may never get to talk to Nalu-san again! He's so handsome … No, that's not the right word … He's … so beautiful.' "I-I will find Manny for you. It might take me awhile, but I will find her for you, Nalu-san!"

"Do you know her?" Nami asked as her frowned deepened a bit more.

"Of course! I mean, I know a lot of people! I'll find her! So, don't you worry! Just give me a few days!" She said a bit nervously, but had a wide smile.

One side of her lips quirking, Nami then turned and headed back to the harbor. "All right, I will entrust you with this. Thanks, Tsura."

"Of course, Nalu-san!" She said as she waved them goodbye.

Watching Nami and the others pass with a frown, Luffy then shifted his eyes back to Tsura with a glare. The girl glared back at him before pulling her eye down and sticking her tongue out at Luffy. Snorting, he dug a pinky finger up his nose before turning to follow them.

"Yuck!" Tsura exclaimed as she let her tongue hang in disgust before turning around. "What a pig of a girl …"

As soon as they reached the others, Zoro was the first to speak. "So?"

"Looks like we might have found someone who knows something about Manny." Nami said as she smiled.

"Oh yeah?"

"She was lying …"

Blinking, the others all looked at Luffy in confusion while Nami frowned. "You don't know that!"

"I do!"

"What is your problem?! You really are a pain in the ass like this!"

"Oh yeah, well so are you!"

"What the hell is going on?" Zoro asked as he frowned at both Luffy and Nami.

"I'm telling you, that girl was lying!"

"And how the hell would you know that?!"

"I just do, okay?!"

"No, it's not okay, Luffy! I already told you, I'm not chancing this opportunity because you seem to think she's lying!" She yelled as she turned and began to walk back towards the ship.

Scoffing as he clenched his fists, he and the others followed her back to the ship. Robin looked after him with a smile before shifting her eyes to Nami, who was frowning at his retreating back. They walked for awhile and were half way there before, Nami suddenly stopped. "Damn!"

"What is it, Nami-san?"

"I forgot to tell her how to get into contact with us once she does find out …" She said as she turned back around. "You guys go ahead back to the ship. I'll go back and tell her …"

"I'm coming with you …"

"No … you're not … Go back to the ship, Luffy." Nami said as she frowned at him deeply.

"I'm coming, whether you like it or not! I'm not letting you go alone …" He said as his frown softened a bit.

Gasping softly, she gaped down at him a bit before she also frowned softly. He was just worried about her. "All right … Fine …" She said as she turned to go back to where Tsura was.

Everyone else but Sanji turned to head back to the ship. Watching after them, he frowned slowly before finally turning to follow the others. Nami walked in silence, not bothering to say a word to him, and he seemed inclined to do the same.

"Well, what 'ave we 'ere …"

Gasping, Luffy froze where he stood and felt as if his blood were freezing, chilling him to the bone. Gasping as well, Nami turned to the voice and looked into the face of the same pirate who had taken Luffy.

"If it ain't the whore and 'er tramp …"

Scowling at the man and his insults, Nami reached to beside her leg and quickly pulled out her clima tact. Shifting her eyes to Luffy, she could see his fear was taking over again at hearing that man's voice again.

"Come on, Luffy …" She whispered as she frowned softly. Hadn't he said he wouldn't let his fear get the better of him again?

After awhile, he blinked before slowly turning to scowl at the man. 'This fear is not getting the better of me this time!' He thought as he began to fight new found fear. 'I'm a man, dammit!'

"It's okay, Nami … Let me handle this …" He said quietly as he glared at the men.

Looking at him quickly, Nami gaped at him in completely disbelief. "What …?!"

"I'll take care of them …"

"But, Luffy-"

"I can do this!"

Releasing her breath, she frowned a bit sadly and in concern before lowering her staff. "All right …"

"I wan' that boy alive! 'E will pay fer getting' away with our prey!" The man said as he pointed at Nami, who looked back at him in some worry.

However, Luffy immediately stepped forward, blocking Nami from their path. "You won't touch her …"

All the men paused to gape at him as if he'd lost his marbles. "Her …?"

"I already told you I'm not who I appear to be … I let my guard down the first time. You won't be so lucky this time …" Luffy said as he crouched down and steam immediately began to flow from his body, his skin turning a bright red. "Gear … second …"

"What the …?!"

"Get back, Nami!" Luffy yelled before he suddenly disappeared.

Not having to be told twice, Nami turned and began to run.

"What the fuck?! Where'd she go?!"

"I don't know!"

Looking around, the pirate captain could only seem to see steam everywhere before spotting Nami running off. "Forget about 'er! Get 'im! I want 'im alive!" He yelled and pointed as he took off running, his men following.

However, they were suddenly hit by something and sent flying back. "Gah!"

"What the …?" The man said as he sat up, but still saw nothing.

However, Luffy suddenly appeared before them again. "You're not going anywhere …"

Growling, the man scowled at Luffy deeply. "Get 'er!"

The men stood up and went after him again, but Luffy only disappeared again. Looking around in confusion, the pirate captain scowled deeper as he turned to see Nami watching from a distance. There was some screams from the back of the group, and everyone turned to see what was going on. Lips forming into a tight line, the man quickly and quietly stood up and went after Nami. Stopping at the front, Luffy then gasped when he noticed he was no longer there, and then turned to see him running after Nami.

"Nami!"

Since his back was turned, the men took their chance and jumped Luffy from behind. "Gaah! Get off me!" He yelled as he quickly whirled around and knocked them off.

Not having any other choice, he had to deal with all of them quickly, and then get to Nami. Seeing the man coming her way, Nami's eyes widened, and then she turned to run.

"Where 're ya goin'?! You gonna let the lass fight fer ya, lad?! That's embarrassin'!"

Twitching, Nami stopped and turned to the man with a scowl. Her inner judgment was telling her to run, but something else was telling her that her pride had just been dealt a very nasty blow, and that she had to make it right.

"That's be'er, lad … We wou'n't want no woman fightin' fer us … now would we …?"

Nami swallowed hard, not sure why she couldn't allow herself to keep going as her mouth seemed to open on its own.

"No … we wouldn't …"

To Be Continued …

Author's Note: Oooh! Nami's got manly pride?! XO Eh?! So, what'd you guys think of this chapter? X) That whole thing with Tsura was pretty catty, huh?! XD I wonder what will come of all of that! XP I hope to have the next chapter out ASAP, but I need to take it slow. Anyways, see ya guys next chapter! X)