Author's Note: All right, here it is, Chapter 22. Sorry that I'm kinda just taking my time. I know it can be frustrating, but I'm just enjoying playing games again. It really has been awhile since I could just play without feeling obligated to do anything else. It's really nice. So, again, I do apologize, but I wanna have fun, yo! XP It kinda sucks … because I keep getting story ideas … I really can't be writing any more new stories … I have two on the back burner right now. I need to finish up Forbidden Love, From The Darkness,and The Transcending before even considering starting a new one. Oh yeah, and I also have Mini Phoenix Drabbles to conclude … Bah! So much to do … So little time to do it … Anyways, enjoy you guys! X)

Genderly Challenged

Chapter 22: How Dost Thee Feel About Me?

Later that day for dinner, everyone gathered like they normally did and ate like they normally do. Everything seemed fine, the boys fought as usual, and it was quite loud, but then suddenly someone spoke up.

"I was wrong …"

"Eh?" The boys questioned as they paused mid-fight to look over at Robin.

"Wrong, Robin-chan?" Sanji asked as he blinked at her.

"Ee, I was wrong …"

"What were you wrong about, Robin?" Luffy asked as he lowered his hand from out of Usopp's face.

"I had said that you were all attracted to your original sex. I was wrong …"

"Eh …?" Everyone questioned as they stared at her in confusion.

"You're not attracted to your original sex …"

Gaping a bit at Robin, Nami had stopped her fork's accent to her mouth. Everyone else just seemed a bit confused at the subject.

"What are you talking about?" Zoro asked as he quirked a brow at her.

"You don't remember when I had said this?" She asked as she raised her brows at them.

"Yeah, I remember …" Luffy said as he blinked owlish eyes at her.

"Ah, you mean when we were picking on Nami-san?"

"Ee."

Nami slowly lowered the fork as she waited for Robin to explain herself. "Today has proven that you are not attracted to your original sex." Robin continued as she smiled at them.

"Aah, that's wonderful news, Robin-chan!"

"You're attracted to each other."

There was a bit of clatter as everyone seemed to react to this in some surprise. "Eh?!" Everyone exclaimed, except for Nami, whose eyes only widened a bit.

"No, it's more specific than that …" Robin said as she looked back at them.

"Okay, hold it right there!"

Blinking, Robin looked over at Nami, who had her hand held out and her cheeks a bit on the rosy side. Everyone else also looked over at Nami in some confusion by her outburst.

"Just … stop … right there before you say any more … I am not attracted to … anyone here! So before you start … pairing people, or whatever … just … just don't!"

Eye forming into a heart, Sanji cupped his hands together as he grinned at Nami. "Ah! Are you attracted to me, Nami-sa-?!"

"No …"

Heart popping, Sanji then pouted at Nami's quick response and interruption. Robin only chuckled lightly at them both before shifting her eyes to Luffy, who was only staring at the two with wide, blank eyes.

"I know she ain't talkin' 'bout me … So it's just gotta be you three …" Zoro said as he frowned and crossed his arms, referring to Luffy, Sanji, and Nami.

"Okay, enough!" Nami yelled as she slammed her palms down onto the table and stood up quickly. "This is ridiculous!" She exclaimed with a darker blush as she turned and began to walk out. "I'm going into town. There are some things I need to do."

Sucking in his breath a bit, Luffy quickly stood and opened his mouth before Robin beat him to it. "I shall come with you." She said as she followed Nami out.

"Ah, I will come as well, ladies!" Sanji exclaimed as he ran out after them.

Pursing his lips deeply, Luffy quickly ran out after them. "O-Oi, Luffy …?!" Usopp started, but Luffy had quickly run out after the three.

Pouting and not wanting to be left out, Usopp quickly stood and ran after them as well. "Wait for me!" Chopper cried, also not wanting to be left out.

Perking a brow, Zoro got up and casually went out too. Franky and Brook remained where they were, just staring at the now closed door. They blinked a bit, or would be in Brook's case, had he the eyelids and eyeballs. Then suddenly, they turned to one another.

"So, cards?"

"Yohohoho! Just the two of us?"

"We can play Go Fish …"

"Ah, I would love to!"

Nami turned and frowned at the entourage that followed her and Robin before turning with a sigh. "What the hell was that back there …?" She asked Robin quietly so the others couldn't hear.

Chuckling quietly with a knuckle to her lips, Robin then turned at something having gained her interest, not bothering to answer. Pursing her lips and frowning at her back deeply, Nami then followed after her. Robin stopped in front of a gardener to admire the flowers there.

"Oh, these are beautiful." She said quietly as she admired some lotus flowers.

The woman behind the stand blushed prettily at her soft voice and words. "Th-Thank you …"

Nami stopped just beside her and looked at what she was looking at. "Oh, those are quite beautiful."

"Aren't they?" Robin said softly as she reached out to gently touch their pedals.

Another woman in a produce stand also flushed as she looked at them, and then at the woman gardener in some envy. 'Such beautiful men …' Both thought to themselves as they just watched them. After admiring them for a bit, Robin finally looked up at the woman and smiled gently.

"You have done a remarkable job with these."

Blushing deeper, the woman then clutched at her apron nervously. "Oh! Th-Thank you so much, sir!"

Robin closed her eyes and tilted her head as her smile widened slightly and chuckled softly. The woman's breath caught in her throat as her cheeks heated further, and her heart jumped to her throat and began to pound.

"How much are they?"

"Th-They're on sale, sir …"

"Ah, a sale? That's wonderful."

"That's great, Rob. Are you going to get them for your garden?" Nami asked as she leaned down to smell them.

"Ee, I was considering it."

"Mm, they smell really nice."

"Ee, they smell beautiful. Perhaps I could get them on the way back."

"Mm, that sounds good."

Looking up to the still flustered woman, Robin offered her another smile. "Would you mind holding them for me? I shall return for them after our trip into town."

"O-Oh! Of course!" The woman exclaimed hurriedly before smiling. "I-I wanted to say … you both have … v-very beautiful eyes …"

Both smiled at the woman, which caused her entire face to turn red. "Thank you very much." Robin said gently as she smiled kinder.

"Thanks …" Nami said a bit more reserved.

"Oh my …" The woman whispered as she looked down and began to fan her face.

Chuckling, Robin then turned and started to move on, Nami right behind her. Luffy and Sanji were frowning as they followed a long behind them, giving the women glances before looking back forward.

"What's so great about a buncha flowers …?" Luffy muttered quietly, but loud enough for the woman to hear, which confused her a bit. Wasn't it usually the women who were interested in the flowers, and the men who asked that question …?

After they had walked some distance away, the woman from the other stand rushed over to the gardener.

"Lucky! Those men were gorgeous!"

"I know! I was so nervous! Did you see their eyes?! So beautiful!"

"Oh, yes! Such beautiful eyes! And the younger ones hair! Such a beautiful, bright orange!"

"And did you see those beautiful girls that were following them?! I wonder what they were to them?!"

"Maybe they just liked following them around because of how gorgeous they are!"

"I can't believe they were actually interested in flowers!"

"I know! So romantic!"

"And did you hear the younger one's voice?! So soft and smooth! It sounded really sexy!"

"Oh, yes! So was the other one!"

More women that had been watching also rushed over to talk more about the two gorgeous men.

Sanji's lips pursed a bit as he crossed his arms. "How do they do it …?!"

"Eh?" Usopp and Luffy questioned as they looked over at him.

"I can never seem to get women to fawn over me like that …!"

"That's because you're an idiot, who fawns all over them instead …"

"Shut it, Willow!"

"Make me, Swirly Kitchen Maid!"

"M-Maid?! That's it!"

Groaning, Nami turned in time to see Sanji throw a kick at Zoro, who had quickly pulled out his blade to block it. Then Sanji got down on his hands to throw his legs at Zoro, who was already ready for him.

"Ow! Shh-it!"

"Eh …?" Luffy and Usopp questioned as they blinked at Sanji, who it seemed had completely lost his balance and fallen onto his hip.

However, he stood back up, to lung at Zoro, kicking the unprepared swordsman in the chest. "O-w! F-uck! Son of a bitch!" He yelled as he collapsed to the ground, Sanji right beside him.

"What the hell …?" Nami questioned quietly as she walked up to them. "What the hell do you keep ow-ing about?"

"Our breasts keep getting in the way!" Both yelled with red, pouty faces.

"Mine slapped me in my face when I got down on my hands!"

"He kicked mine and it fucking hurt!"

"Hagh …" Nami groaned and drooped before just turning and kept going.

Both Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper just chuckled at them as they followed after Nami.

"We'll settle this later, stick chick …"

"You said it, noodle noggin …"

Then both got up, dusted themselves off and followed after the others. The last stop was the hotel Nami had told Tsura about, The Silver Tear. Robin blinked up at it before turning to Nami.

"What are we doing here?"

"I told Tsura that this is where she could meet me once she found out about Manny … I couldn't very well have her come to our ship, now could I? As we look now, we're not the Strawhats …"

"Aah …" They all seemed to reply as if saying … Oh yeah …

Going inside, she walked up to the man and checked in using the name Nalu. She also gave specific instructions that if Tsura came, to call for her. "You guys can stay at the ship. I'll remain here."

"Not alone, you're not!"

Everyone turned to look at Luffy and his pursed lips. Nami just blinked at him before sighing. "Then Robin can stay with me …"

"I wanna stay too …" He said as his lips pursed even further.

"Luffy … just go back to the ship …" Nami said as she frowned at him.

"No way … I don't like that girl …"

"Luffy!" Nami said as she gaped at him.

"Mm, I will stay with Luffy …"

Gasping softly, Nami then turned her now wide eyes to a frowning Sanji. "Sanji-kun …?"

He didn't offer an explanation, but only crossed his arms across his chest. "Oh! I wanna stay with Luffy too!"

"Me too! Me too!"

Nami looked at both Usopp and Chopper before her lips formed a thin lipped frown. "Fine … I'll get another room …" She said quietly as she turned and rented out another room for them.

"Woohoo! We get to stay in a hotel room!" Usopp and Chopper chanted as they danced around in a circle.

Luffy kept his eyes on Nami's back with a slight frown as she asked for another room. However, he then turned to Sanji. "Why'd you wanna stay …?"

Sanji pursed his lips a bit as he shifted his eyes to Nami. "Just wanna keep an eye on Nami-san …?"

"Why?"

"Why do you?" Sanji countered as he shifted his eyes back to Luffy, frowning deeper.

Luffy also frowned deeper before slowly blinking and shifting his eyes back to Nami, not bothering to reply. Sanji kept his frown on Luffy for a long while before looking back at Nami as well. Nami got the second key, and then turned to go back to the others.

"Here!" She said as she shoved the key at Sanji, knowing he was the responsible one. "Happy now?!"

"Yes …" Both replied as they walked past her.

Blinking, she stared ahead of her in bewilderment before turning to watch them walk away. "What was that …?"

Robin only chuckled beside her as she also watched them walk away before following after them. Nami turned to frown at her friend in confusion. 'And what is that supposed to mean …?'

After checking over both rooms, they then headed back to the ship to pick up a few things and to tell Brook and Franky what they were going to do. When Robin and Nami were alone in the women's quarters, Nami paused in folding a spare shirt to take before looking up at Robin in thought.

"Robin …?"

"Yes?" Robin questioned as she looked up at Nami.

"I … have a question …"

"All right." Robin said as she stopped what she was doing to give Nami her full attention and smiled gently.

"About … earlier …"

"What about it?"

"You had said about … us not being attracted to our original sex …"

Her smile widened a bit, and Nami could have sworn she saw a twinkle in her eye. "Yes."

"And that … we were attracted to each other … but you had said it was more specific than that …"

"That's right."

"H-How specific …?"

"Very specific."

Nami bobbed her head downward to this news as she continued to look at her. "Y-You mean like … y-you …?" She started as she flushed a bit.

"I know who is attracted to whom."

Nami swallowed hard, having feared this as her cheeks took on a bit of a darker hue. "I-I see …" She said quietly before biting her lip. "S-So … um … d-do you know who … is to me?"

"They both are."

"B-Both?" Nami asked as she blinked at Robin. "Wait, who both?"

"Luffy and Sanji-san."

Nami's eyes widened as she stared at her. Sanji she knew about, which is why it confused her about what Robin had said, but … Luffy …? "I …" She stuttered as she gaped at Robin.

Robin's smile widened further as she watched Nami carefully. "Would you like to know who it is you are attracted to, Nami-chan?"

Nami's eyes widened even further as she inhaled almost too sharply. "Wha-What?!" She exclaimed loudly before frowning. "N-Now wait a minute! I'm not attract-!"

"Yes … you are …"

Beginning to take deep shaky breaths, Nami could only just stare at Robin in complete shock. "I-I …" Then she tilted her head with an even deeper and confused frown. "N-Now wait a minute Robin … I think I would know if I was attracted to someone!"

Robin chuckled merrily. "You would think …"

Nami's jaw dropped along with the crease in her brows. "No way! There's no way! I'm not attracted to any one of those idiots!" She exclaimed as her cheeks began to flame up.

Robin's smile only widened further as she watched her. Nami's fists went to her hips as she tilted her head to the other side, still frowning deeply at Robin with a slight huff. Robin seemed completely convinced that she was attracted to one of them, and she just refused to believe that. Then she began to shake her head slowly at first.

"No … I'm not … I'm no-" She cut herself short as her eyes slowly began to widen until their maximum width. "Oh … my God …"

Robin chuckled merrily, knowing it had finally hit Nami. "You see?"

Nami's entire face flared up in a deep blush as she slowly sat down onto the bed. A hand slowly ascended until it found its place over her mouth. Robin was right. She was attracted to one of them. How could she have completely forgotten about what she had almost done on that walk back to the ship?

"I … I don't believe this …" She whispered as she stared off ahead of her. However, after awhile, she then frowned and turned back to Robin. "Wait a minute. How did you figure this out?"

"You want the truth?"

"Of course I do!"

"Your public display on deck …"

Nami's cheeks flared up again as sweat beaded down her face, but then she frowned again. "Wait, they were both …"

"Yes, they were … However, when they teased you the second time … 'it' was not present …"

Blinking, Nami just stared at her before she thought about when Sanji had come at her they way he had in the dining room. Then her eyes widened. Robin was right again. She hadn't gotten a stiff from it.

"But, he was still teasing me …"

"Yes, but he never touched you …"

Nami's lips then began to part as she processed this. Then suddenly she frowned and quickly stood, but had her back to Robin. "No! This is ridiculous! I never … got … turned on before!"

"But you're a man now … It's … slightly different."

Nami bit her lip as her face heated up completely to that. It was true that it was most definitely different … in that area. She found herself thinking … differently about certain things, and even her dreams seemed to suffer because of it. Clearing her throat, she then frowned and quickly turned to Robin.

"What about him? How?"

"Can you not see it?"

Nami spread her arms out beside her and looked around. "Does it look like I can see it?!"

"He's jealous …"

"Of?"

"Everyone … You couldn't see it before, because as a man, he was good at hiding his emotions and feelings. But now that he is a woman …"

Only able to gape at Robin, Nami felt her cheeks flushing again at all of this knowledge. Straightening up a bit, she began to think about everything. Then she slowly closed her eyes as she finally saw it. Robin was right yet again. Ever since he'd become a woman, he seemed to be mad at everyone around him, Tsura being the most obvious. It also explained all the fights he'd gotten into with her and with Sanji. It definitely explained his behavior towards Sanji.

"Oh my God …" She whispered as she finally opened her eyes. Luffy … of all people. Then she brought a hand to her forehead. "This is just crazy …"

How could she have been so blind and stupid? Now that it was all laid out before her, it was so blatantly obvious that it was embarrassing. She was actually surprised he hadn't said anything since the time she'd almost kissed him. Blinking and frowning slowly, she then looked up at Robin.

"Does he know …?"

"Not a clue … Not about how he feels or about you …"

Nami nodded in satisfaction. "Good … Let's keep it that way …"

Robin only smiled at her before continuing what she was doing. Nami also continued to pack her few things, deep in thought about everything. Then she closed her eyes and shook her head.

'How the hell could I be attracted to that idiot …?'

To Be Continued …

Author's Note: Hahahaha! The whole boob slap to the face and boobs getting in the way was Araucaria's idea! XP I had to agree, it would have been pretty damn funny! XP So, thanks Ara! So, finally! One of them has realized their attraction for the other! XP Now it's, when will Luffy figure it out, ne?! XP I bet you guys never even noticed she hadn't gotten a stiff that second time when Sanji'd come onto her, now did'ja?! XP Hahahaha! She was still nervous and still kinda reacted to it, but since she wasn't attracted to him, it more freaked her out and made her nervous more than anything. Anyways, I hope you all understand all that stuff. And I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! XP