Author's Note: Here is chapter 21. Sorry, but I'm kinda taking my time typing out my chapters. I'm really into Fable 2 right now, and I kinda just need a rest. I hope to finish this story pretty soon. It's pretty much nearing it's end. So, please enjoy it while you can. I did forget to mention last chapter, that not only has Ryo been helping with the gender thing, but Tsura was her idea. She thought it'd be cute to make Luffy jealous, and I had to agree. So, thanks Ryo! XD I actually got the name Tsura from Fable! XP There was a gypsy girl by that name, and I really liked it! X) Anyways, enjoy the chapter!

Genderly Challenged

Chapter 21: Fight Thee Like A Man

"Where the hell'd she go now?!"

"I don't know! I don't see he-Gah!"

"What the … Oof!"

"She's too damn fast!"

"What the hell?! Is this the same bitch as before?!"

Stopping at those words, Luffy then scowled at them. "Who's the bitch?!" He yelled before rushing the men and sending them flying back.

"Gaah!"

"Gomu Gomu no … Jet Gattling Gun!"

"Aah!"

"Hgh!"

"What the hell?! She's too strong!"

"Doesn't matter! We're takin' the bitch down!"

Panting after his attack, Luffy quickly glanced over to where Nami was and scowled before his attention was drawn back to the men. Gripping her clima tact tightly, Nami's expression turned serious as she narrowed her eyes a bit.

"So then, laddie. Are ya ready ta fight me now?"

"That's right …"

"That's great then." The man said as he began to circle her. Following him with her eyes, she got into position, just waiting for him to make a move. "Name's Archie … Cap'n Archie …"

"I going to be honest, Captain Archie, I don't really give a damn …"

"Mm, touchy, lad …" Archie said as he chuckled at Nami and grinned, showing surprisingly nice teeth. "Ya know … you're a bit pretty fer a lad …"

"Yeah … I get that a lot …"

"She called ya a 'er … Any particular reason why? Or is the lass just daft?"

"I don't think it really matters, now does it?"

"No … I guess it doesn't!" Archie said before lunging for Nami.

Baring her teeth, she dropped her shoulder down a bit with her clima tact in front. Catching Archie into it, she then used her strength to lift him up with it and throw him over her shoulder to slam him into the building wall behind her.

"Guh!" Archie exclaimed as he slid to the ground hard. Growling, he got to his feet quickly, throwing a punch towards Nami. "You son of a bitch!"

Using her lighter weight to her advantage, she quickly dodged before slamming her clima tact into his face and sending him flying again. Then she twirled it around, catching it behind her back before smirking down at the man. Chuckling, she then brought her hand in front of her, curving it to beckon him.

"Come on …"

Baring his teeth into a deeper angrier growl, Archie jumped to his feet before swinging his leg around for a kick. Using her speed, Nami blocked his kick with her clima tact before quickly twirling around to his back and hitting his back with it again. He fell face first into the ground.

"You're not so tough without all your men behind you … Now are you …?"

"Don't go gettin' too cocky, lad!" Archie exclaimed as he got up before turning to Nami. "How about puttin' that weapon away, seein' as I'm an unarmed man? Let us fight man ta man, lad …"

Narrowing her eyes, Nami took in a breath before twirling her clima tact and then ramming one end into the ground to let it stick out. "All right …" She said before getting into position.

"That's much be'er, laddie …" Archie said as he grinned mischievously towards her.

Looking back over to check on Nami in some worry, Luffy then gaped a bit when he saw her ram her clima tact into the ground, and then take position to continue fighting. 'What the hell is she doing?!' He thought, but was cut short by a few men lunging for him.

"Damn it! You bastards!" He yelled as he rammed them up against a nearby wall, knocking them off.

Archie lunged for Nami, only for her to side step, grab him, and then throw him against the wall she'd been standing near. He hit it hard and then slid down it before getting up on his elbows to scowl at her.

"You asshole …"

"Trying backing up those insults …"

Crying out in anger, Archie got to his feet and rushed at Nami quickly, catching her off guard. Grunting, she hit the ground with him on top and then was punched in the face. Crying out a bit, she lifted her leg to kick him off and got back up to her feet. However, Archie swiped out his leg, tripping her, and causing her to crash back down onto her back with a grunt and thud. Instead of being jumped on, Nami lifted her feet, flipped them over her head, and then quickly got up again.

Archie kept coming, ramming his shoulder into her gut and slamming her into the wall behind her. "Aah!" She cried before gritting her teeth and bringing her elbow down on his head.

At hearing Nami's cry, Luffy quickly turned to see her ram her elbow into Archie's head. 'Why didn't you keep going, Nami?!' He thought before he was punched in the face.

"Aah!"

"Let's keep your attention over here, girly! Or you're going to get hit!"

Bringing the back of his hand to his lip, he looked down at the blood there before baring his teeth in a scowl. He needed to end this and help Nami. Crying out, he brought his arms back behind him.

"Jet Bazooka!"

Many screams followed as the men were blown away by the impact and sheer force of the attack. However, Luffy didn't stop there, and continued his assault on them.

"Jet Gattling Gun!"

Not releasing his hold on Nami, Archie continued to push her against the wall as he rammed his fist into her ribs. Crying out and coughing up a bit of blood, she continued to ram her elbow into his head and back as she tried to push him off.

"Now who's not so tough, laddie?!"

"Shut up!" Nami cried as she felt the blood drip down her chin.

Trying her hardest, she managed to push him away from her and then punch him. Even though she'd hit him with everything she had, it didn't seem to do much damage as he came at her again. Using her superior speed, she jumped and rolled away from him. Quickly getting to her feet, she lunged for him and tried to kick him, but he whirled around and caught her leg, shoving her away. Crying out, she hit the ground again before finding a body on top of hers.

Panicking a bit and not liking the body over her at all, she began to squirm and grunt as she tried to get him off. "Get off of me!"

"Is that fear I hear?"

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about! Get off!"

Leaning up a bit, Archie then came back down as he slammed his fist into Nami's face. Crying out only slightly, she ground her teeth as she struggled underneath him.

"Get off!"

"Ya thought ya were so clever, lad! Now you see you're no match fer me!"

As soon as Archie went up for another hit, a blur of a leg quickly swiped and Archie seemed to disappear, but then a loud crash was heard. Quickly sitting up, Nami looked to see Archie embedded into the brick wall ahead. Looking over, she saw Luffy crouched down on his hands and feet after dealing his kick and was scowling at Archie.

"Bastard … I told you not to touch her …"

Falling out of the crater he'd created, Archie landed on his hands and knees before looking up to scowl at Luffy. "What the fuck 're ya on about, ya daft lass!"

Slowly rising up to stand, he kept his glare on Archie before slowly making his way to him. "I already told you … I'm not a girl … I'm a man … and you are never touching my navigator again …"

"It ain't the lad I wan', ya daft bitch …"

Luffy's scowl turned more menacing. "And you're never touching me again either …"

Turning his head towards his men, Archie gaped as most of his men were laid out cold and the rest missing. "What the …?"

Quickly looking back up at Luffy, his expression showed his complete shock. Luffy stopped in front of him, and glared down the length of his nose at the man. "I told you, you wouldn't catch me off guard again …"

"What the hell are ya …?"

"I'm Monkey D. Luffy …" He said quietly as he squatted down in front of the man. "And I'm going to kick your ass …" He seethed before grabbing the front of his shirt.

"W-W-Wait a minute!"

xxxx

As they walked, Nami lifted her shirt to dab at her again busted lips with a wince, trying to clean off most of the blood. "Damn …"

"Are you okay …?"

"I'm fine …"

"He didn't hurt you too badly?"

"I said I was fine, Luffy …"

"Why didn't you keep going …?"

"…"

"Nami …?"

"I don't know …… I just … couldn't …"

"Couldn't what?"

"I'm not really sure …"

Tilting his head, he arched a brow in confusion to her confusion. "What do you mean?"

"It was … what he said that made me stop …"

"What did he say …?"

"…"

"Mm … Nami …?"

"He said it was embarrassing that a woman was fighting for me …" She said as her cheeks flared up a bit.

"… Eh ……?"

She shifted only her eyes to him before quickly shifting them back to the ground in front of her as her cheeks flared darker. "I don't know, okay!"

"Nami … you were embarrassed that I was fighting for you …?"

"I said I don't know!!"

"…"

At his silence, she dared to look over at him. His expression was completely blank, other than the fact that his eyes were massive and staring right at her. However, she was surprised when his face suddenly broke into a grin.

"Shishishishi! Welcome to my world!!"

"E-h?! What are you talking about?!"

"That's manly pride, Nami! Gotta protect our honor!"

"What the …?! What the hell are you talking about, 'manly pride'?!"

He only laughed as he patted her back. Pursing her lips, she then turned away from him in a brooding manner. "Why the hell is that so funny …?"

"It just is, Nami!"

"It is not!" She yelled before turning at the sight of the same stand that they had met Tsura just a half an hour before. "Wait here …"

"No way! I'm coming!"

Sucking her teeth, she frowned at him before going over towards it. However, looking around, she didn't see Tsura anywhere. 'I wonder if she already went off to find Manny …?' She thought with a frown as she continued to look around.

"Oh, Nalu-san!"

Jumping slightly, Nami quickly turned to see Tsura walking up the street. "Ah, Tsura …"

Luffy pursed his lips with a deep frown at seeing the unpleasant girl again. He was greeted in turn with a frown from her as well. Then just as quickly, she gave Nami her sunniest smile.

"You came back!"

"A-Aa … I forgot to tell you where you could meet us once you found out …"

"O-Oh! How silly of me to forget that!" Tsura cried as a hand went to cover her mouth.

"It's fine … I forgot too."

"Oh, no! I should have remembered that!"

"Look, you both forgot, can we get on with it!" Luffy exclaimed irritably as he glared at Tsura.

Nami shifted her eyes to frown down at him before smiling nervously at Tsura, who was in turn blushing up at her. "Right … There's a hotel near the harbor … It's called The Silver Tear. Do you know of it?"

"Oh, yes! Is that where you're staying, Nalu-san?"

"Um, yeah …" Nami replied with a nervous chuckle as she scratched her head.

Blinking, Luffy looked up at her in some confusion, seeing as they weren't staying in any hotel. "When you find out, just come there and ask for me, okay?" Nami said as she offered her a smile.

"Of course, Nalu-san! I will come there straight away once I find this Manny person!" She exclaimed before blinking a bit and tilting her head. "Nalu-san …?"

Also blinking, Nami's eyes widened in some confusion. "Yes …?"

"Is that … a new bruise?"

"Oh!" Nami exclaimed as a hand flew to her cheek.

"Ah! And your lip is busted! What happened?!"

Luffy's lips pursed even further, because he knew he didn't look that much better from Nami, but she didn't even seem to notice or care. "I-It's nothing! Just meet us there once you find out, okay?" Nami exclaimed nervously.

"Oh no! Please! Allow me to treat your wounds, Nalu-san!"

"We can have our doctor do it!" Luffy said as his lips bunched out on the bottom as his irritation escalated. "Let's go, Nam-lu …" He continued as he grabbed Nami's hand and began to storm off back towards the ship.

"Ah, wait!" Tsura cried, but Luffy didn't bother to stop or turn to reply. Watching after them with a frown, she then furrowed her brows deeper. 'Namlu …?'

When they were some distance away, Nami pulled her hand out of his and frowned down at him deeply. "That was really rude, Luffy. Why are you being such a jerk?"

"I don't care … and I already told you why …"

"Just because you don't trust her?!"

"Yes!"

"Luffy, since when have you ever acted like that to someone you didn't trust?! She hasn't even proven to you she can't be trusted! You don't usually do this …"

"I'm not usually a girl either!"

"What …? Luffy … what does that have to do with anything?!"

"Everything! Don't you see?! It has everything to do with it! You keep asking me all these things and why this, why that?! Well that's why, Nami! Why are you acting the way you act?! Why did you act on manly pride?! Because you're a guy right now, Nami!"

"Mm …" She hummed in the back of her throat as she frowned down at him. He was right.

"Now I see why you're always so angry all the time … It's annoying being a girl …"

Snorting, Nami couldn't help but to smile as she looked down at his pouty face and crossed arms. "That's not really why … but I guess we can be pretty impatient and short with our tempers …"

"Mmm …" He hummed in agreement, still sounding annoyed.

"I guess not all of us are like that though … I mean, look at Robin …"

"Well, why can't you be more like her-Ow!" He exclaimed as he looked up and blinked at her.

She was pouting down at him with her fist above his head. She hadn't bonked him hard, but enough to get her point across. With a huff, she then looked away from him. Pouting his lower lip out with a frown as well, he then turned away from her.

"I thought you couldn't hit girls …"

"Well, you're not really a girl, now are you …? And from what I see, you can take a small hit like that …"

Still pouting, he then found himself smiling slowly before he chuckled. Blinking in bewilderment, she then looked down at him in confusion. Tilting her head at his smile, she then smiled herself and looked away. Once they made it back to the ship and boarded, everyone seemed to be off in the ship doing their own things, for no one was on deck.

"Mm, we should probably go and see Chopper …" Nami said with a frown as she lifted her shirt to reveal a massive bruise on her ribs. Reaching down to touch it, she then winced from the pain. "I hope they're not broken …"

Frowning, Luffy walked over to get a look. "He really got ya, huh …?"

"Mm …" Nami agreed as she frowned further at the size. "What about you …?"

"I'm okay. I didn't take too many hits." He said as he turned to make his way to Chopper's infirmary, Nami following as she lowered her shirt.

Walking towards the back, they then knocked on the infirmary door. After awhile, Chopper finally answered and blinked up at them. "Ah! You're back!"

"Aa, we're back, Chopper, but we need a little treatment …" Luffy said as he frowned and walked in as Chopper stepped aside.

"Treatment?! Why, what happened?!"

"We ran into those same pirates that took Luffy …"

"Eh?! Come and sit then! Let me look! Where does it hurt?!"

"Look at Nami first. I'm not as hurt …"

"Okay!" Chopper said as he immediately went to Nami's side as she raised her shirt to reveal her bruised ribs.

"Ouch!" Chopper exclaimed before examining it. "I need to put an ice pack together. They don't seem broken, but maybe fractured. I will have to bandage you up, but ice should help. I'll be right back." He said as he hopped off his stool and ran out.

Sighing to herself, Nami slumped where she sat before wincing at her ribs coming together. "Mm …!"

"Sorry …"

"Eh?" She questioned as she looked over at Luffy, whose head was lowered.

"I should have made sure he stayed with the rest …"

Staring at him for a bit in some wonder, she then smiled and shook her head. "It's all right, Luffy. It wasn't your fault. Besides, I didn't do so bad."

He blinked a bit before slowly grinning. "Shishishi, you were pretty cool, Nami!"

She chuckled and grinned bigger. "You really think so?!"

"Yup! You were really kickin' his ass!"

She laughed softly before tilting her head at him, still smiling. "Feel better?"

Taking a deep and quick breath, he chuckled with his big grin. "Yup! I feel a lot better! I really was still strong!"

"Of course you were. I told you that you were still stronger than me. He barely got one hit off on you."

"Mm!" He happily hummed in agreement as he nodded his head once.

"I was a little worried for a bit there though …"

Losing his smile, he drooped a bit as he lowered his gaze. "A-Aa … Sorry about that … I just never thought I would …"

"I know … I'm just glad you came through."

"It was because of you though … Just hearing your voice made me remember who I was …"

Lips parting a bit, she stared at him in some surprise for awhile before smiling warmly. "I think you would have been just fine, even without me …"

Sucking in his breath softly, he then slowly turned to look at her. It wasn't what she said really, but how she had said it that had made his heart jump in his chest and begin to race. Her voice had been so soft and smooth, which made him feel completely warm. What he didn't notice, but she did, was the rosy hue his cheeks took on before he quickly looked away from her. Smiling wider and slowly, she then leisurely tilted her head at him curiously.

"Maybe …" He finally said quickly, but still didn't look back at her.

"I've got the ice!" Chopper cried as he came barging into the room.

Nami looked over to smile at him cheerfully, which caused him to pause in his tracks. "Ah …?" He questioned in confusion as he glanced over at Luffy's averted face before finally making his way to Nami. "Here you go …"

"Thanks!"

Only shifting his eyes to look at Nami, Luffy's cheeks seemed to darken a bit at her sudden cheerfulness.

'What is she so happy about …?'

To Be Continued …

Author's Note: Haha, I actually got the name Archie from Fable as well! XP He was some bald dude that kept asking my character for sex … XP Yeah, real nice, right?! X) Anyways, I really hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! XD