Author's Note: Hey guys! I have something extra for you all! I actually took a few hours out of one of my days and drew a picture of Luffy! XD Here's the link to the sketch~! http ( : ) ( / ) ( / )confession68 ( . ) deviantart ( . ) com ( / ) art( / ) Luffy ( - ) Smexiness ( - ) 104271351 … Just remove all the spaces and ()! X) If it still doesn't work, then just hit refresh a few times, because I will be working on it right away to make sure it works. Anyways, let me know what you think of it? X) Now that that's out of the way, please enjoy the chapter! X3

Genderly Challenged

Chapter 25: Thou Shall Not Lose To Thee

"Is that her?"

"I think so …"

"You … think so?"

Sighing, Tsura stepped away from the door to glare at Luffy. "Look, I was only told what she looks like! I'm sure we could ask someone!"

Nami sighed as well, having been hoping for a positive answer to her question. However, they had to take what they could get. As a woman was passing by, Nami quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door. The woman gasped and was about to complain until she saw Nami's face.

"Oh …!"

"Excuse me, I'm sorry but, do you know if that's the crazy woman everyone talks about?" Nami asked as she pointed towards the woman sitting at a table inside the bar, drinking by herself.

"I …" The woman started as she stared up at Nami with a blush before finally tearing her eyes away to look inside. "Oh! Yes, that's her … Real creepy lady …"

"Creepy?" Nami asked as she quirked a brow.

"Mm, she … only likes … other women …"

"Eh …?" Nami questioned as her eyes widened.

"Yeah, I know! She's always coming on to the women who work around here. It's kind of creepy …"

"I-I see …" Nami said as she turned to look back at the lone woman. "That's … useful information. Thank you."

"Oh, it was no problem …" She said breathlessly as she smiled up at Nami, who turned to raise a brow at her.

"All right, thanks lady. You can go now …" Tsura said as she frowned at the gawking woman. There was a snicker, which caused Tsura to turn and glare at the culprit, as the lady scurried off. "Got somethin' to say?!"

"Nope! Shishishi!"

"You know, that's a really creepy laugh!"

"Not as creepy as your fa-"

"Come on you guys! That's enough!" Nami said as she gave Luffy a pointed look.

He only gave an indifferent expression as he shifted his eyes to the side. "So, how are we going to do this …?" Zoro asked as he looked at Nami.

"Mm, well …" Nami said as she raised her brows and then turned to look at them. "One of us … is going to go in there and coax the answer out of her …"

"One of us? You got someone in mind?" He asked as he quirked a brow.

"As a matter of fact …" She said as she shifted her eyes towards Sanji. "I do …"

Eyes widening, Sanji then took a step back as he shook his head. "Y-You can't be serious, Nalu-san …!"

"Please?! You're the only one who I can trust to do this!"

"There's no way!"

"I thought you were gay …"

"I-!" Sanji started before his throat clicked loudly, and he quickly looked over at Tsura, whose brow was raised at him.

"Yeah, Sa-na. We thought you were gay …" Zoro teased as he smirked at Sanji, who scowled back with bared teeth.

"Please … Sana-chwan …"

Gasping loudly, Sanji's eye widened, but his brow furrowed deeply before he swallowed hard and slowly turned to look at Nami. Tsura gasped softly as well as she gaped at Nami. It was as if the person in front of hers demeanor had completely changed. Like as if … they were a completely different person. Nami had hooded her eyes and a small seductive smile had formed onto her lips. She then slowly made her way over to Sanji, who took a step back.

Blinking, Luffy's eyes had widened as he watched them before his brows furrowed a bit. As soon as Nami was in front of Sanji, she stopped, but not before she had invaded his, what some might call personal space. Reaching up, she then traced a finger softly down his face. His eye widened further as he sucked in his breath, jerking back a bit in surprise, but Nami's hand only followed.

"Please? Will you talk to the lady? You're the only one here with enough sex appeal to attract her attention, and the most beautiful too." She said in a low, deep, and very seductive voice.

Taking deep breaths, Sanji stared up at her wide eyed for a long time, before after awhile, his eyes slowly returned to normal size, but his brows furrowed into a soft frown. Nami blinked once in surprise by his expression, her eyes widening with the blink.

"Fine …" He replied softly, but Nami could tell in displeasure. "I'll talk to her … For you …" He said, but then paused for only a moment, "… Nami-san …" He whispered for only her to hear before his eyes slid shut, and he turned around.

There was a collective choir of gasps and clicks of the throat as they all gaped at Sanji's back while he went into the bar. Tsura looked around at everyone in confusion, not really seeing a big deal about what just happened, other than Nalu having seduced the woman into doing something she didn't want to do.

"Is something wrong?" She asked as she frowned softly.

Everyone continued to gape at the now closing door for a long while before Nami finally started to turn, but her eyes seemed to want to stay glued to the door. "Um … no … n-nothing's wrong …" She replied quietly.

Tsura's confusion only worsened when they continued to stare at the closed door, each with a shocked look on their face. 'I don't understand …'

Sanji remained at the door for a long time as he stared at the woman sitting alone at the table. He watched as she clumsily lifted the bottle to pour herself another drink. Slowly shutting his eyes tightly, he then opened them again and then stepped forward. He swallowed hard as he clenched his fists before forcing his body to relax. It would do him no good if he was stiff. His body needed to move fluidly, to attract the attention.

'Just pretend it really is a woman … Just pretend it really is a woman …' He repeated over and over again in his mind as he forced his body to move fluidly. He then closed his eyes to relax his face, letting his lips part a bit as he took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes, he was completely relaxed, face and body. It was time to put to use everything he knew about women. The sway of their hips, the way they jut out their breasts, the look on their faces when interested, the motion as one. 'I can do this … For Nami-san …' He thought as he then reached up and undid the first few buttons of his blouse.

Taking one last deep breath, he continued towards the woman slowly, his hips swaying in one fluid motion as he did. As if seeing him in her periph, the woman looked up at him and then her eyes narrowed, perhaps in suspicion or for other reasons.

"Hi." Sanji said in a low voice deep in his throat. "You look like you could use a little company." He continued as he let his one eye droop slightly and his lips curve up in an inviting smile.

The woman rose up a brow, but a small smile formed on her lips. "You offerin'?"

"Pour your drink?" Sanji offered as he walked over and refilled the woman's glass, and then he sat down across from her. 'Shit, this is going to suck …'

"Wow, he's actually sitting with her … Now, let's see if he can get her to talk." Nami whispered as they watched from a small window.

"So, what brings you to my table, beautiful?"

Eye wanting to twitch, Sanji stomped down the urge and instead smiled and then slowly crossed his legs. "I told you already. You looked liked you needed the company. Care to talk with me?"

"Talk?" The woman asked as she quirked her brow higher, but lips sported a smile.

"That's right. Talk." Sanji replied as his smile widened. "I'm new around here. I thought maybe you could tell me a little about this place."

She leaned back into her chair with a sigh as she looked to the side. "What's to tell? Place is as backwater as it comes."

"Oh, come now. It can't be all that bad. You know anyone?" He said as he leaned forward, exposing his cleavage. 'Aah, I hate this!'

Her eyes shifted downward, just as he'd expect her to, and he almost shuddered in disgusting. "Yeah, I know a few people … but they don't like me much." She replied as her eyes shifted back up to Sanji's.

"Oh yeah? Why's that?" Sanji asked as he forced his best smile, leaning his cheek into the palm of his hand.

The woman leaned forward then as her lips curved up into a smirk. "Because I prefer my own gender." She said before her smirk widened. "But you knew that, didn't you?"

Sanji smiled wider as he allowed his eye to hood slightly. "Maybe I did, maybe I didn't."

The woman burst into laughter as she threw her head back. "It's okay if you wanna go now, darlin'. I'm used to it."

Sanji's smile changed into a small smirk as he leaned back into his chair slightly. "I'm a big girl. I can handle it." He said before pouring the woman another glass.

"That you are, sweetheart …" The woman said as her eyes again shifted downward, and Sanji nearly cringed, but instead smiled.

Instead, he placed his arms on the table and then interlocked his fingers to press his breasts closer together. Then he hooded his eye a bit more and let his lips part invitingly. "Why do I get the feeling you didn't mean me as a person?"

The woman's face broke into a bigger smile as she chuckled. "I like you, girl. What's your name?"

"Sana."

"It's nice to meet you Sana. Name's Femmie."

"F-Femmie?" Sanji asked as his brow quirked a bit.

"Ah, yeah. It used to be a nickname …"

"You've got a real name?"

"I used to …"

Blinking and tilting his head, Sanji watched her curiously as her eyes lowered to the table and even saddened a bit. "Why don't you go by it anymore?"

"Because … I can't …"

"Why not?"

"Look, Sana. You look like a really nice girl … You don't want to get mixed up with me …"

"I'm here of my own free will. Like I said … I'm a big girl." He said as he rested his cheek into the palm of his hand again and smiled at her.

Femmie seemed to stare at him for a long time before she gave a quiet laugh and shook her head, her eyes trailing to the table. "You know, they say I'm crazy … I'm not …" She said as she looked back up at him.

Looking at her carefully, he could tell she was actually a very attractive woman, which meant, he used to be a very attractive man. However, she seemed to not care at all about her appearance anymore and had let herself or himself go. He had to wonder what he did to piss off Manny. After a moment, she suddenly leaned forward into the light, and Sanji's eye widened slightly, for in one of her eyes was a glimmer or sparkle, rather, of a deep shimmering blue. It almost looked like water reflecting light.

"Are you contemplating how to get away from me nicely?"

Sanji breathed out a bit of laughter as he shook his head. "No, I'm not. I was actually thinking, you have really nice blue eyes, like the sea …"

Lips parting a bit, Femmie just blinked up at Sanji a bit before leaning back quickly. Then suddenly, her smile softened before she looked away again. "Thanks … It's been a really long time since anyone was close enough to me to even see my eye color …" She whispered as her smile then turned sad.

Sanji's brow furrowed into a frown as he watched her, suddenly feeling sorry for the person. "How long …?"

"Really long …" Femmie whispered as her head tilted to the side a bit, her expression still sad. Then suddenly, the frown disappeared and she shifted her eyes to Sanji. Then she looked away again as she closed her eyes. "You should go … You really shouldn't get mixed up with me."

"Hey …" Sanji started as he leaned over the table a bit. "I already said I was a big girl … You really seem like you could use a friend. I don't really give a shit about what anyone thinks."

Femmie laughed a bit at his words. "You know, a lady really shouldn't talk like that …"

Gasping, Sanji's one eye enlarged as he gaped at her. "Wha …?"

She chuckled as she poured herself another glass and then took a sip. "Nothin' …"

Sanji continued to gape her for a long while before finally opening his mouth to speak. "What happened to you to make you so sad, Femmie? Why can't you use your real name?" Sanji asked softly, knowing the answer, but he knew this was the only way to get Femmie to talk about Manny.

Leaning back into her chair, Femmie leaned her head back and sighed before closing her eyes. "I could really go for a smoke right about now …" She said before opening her eyes and then blinked at the cigarette that was being held up to her. "Ah …?"

Sanji offered a smile with the cigarette he held out to her. A slow smile formed onto Femmie's lips before she reached up to take the cigarette from him. Digging into his skirt pocket, he pulled out the lighter and lit the cigarette for her before lighting one for himself.

"Thanks …" Femmie said as she leaned back in her chair once more. "All right Sana … You really want to know?"

"I do."

She leaned forward as she plucked the cigarette from her lips. "All right, I'll tell you, but then you're going to be just like them, and think I'm crazy."

"Try me." Sanji said as he also leaned forward.

"I used to be a man."

Sanji only tilted his head and smiled a bit wider. "I believe you."

"What?" Femmie said quietly as she gaped at Sanji.

"With all the Akuma no Mi abilities I've seen, I wouldn't be surprised if there was someone with the ability to switch someone's gender."

Femmie just slowly leaned back as she continued to gape at Sanji. "Y-You … believe me …?"

"So, what'd you do to piss this person off, huh?" Sanji asked as he chuckled.

"I …" Femmie stuttered, never having expected anyone to believe him. Then suddenly, his lips quirked up before he began to laugh. "That's never happened before …" He said before shaking his head and running his hands over his face, the cigarette still between his fingers.

"There's a first time for everything."

Femmie finally peeked at Sanji over the hands he still had on his face before lowering them. "What did I do, you ask?" He said before shaking his head. "That's a long damned story …"

"I've got time …" Sanji said as he leaned forward.

"Sana, you're really a nice girl. You don't need to be wasting your time with someone like me. You should be off, trying to find a decent man to make you happy."

Sanji chuckled as he looked down while shaking his head. "I'm going to be honest with you, Femmie. I'm actually attracted to ladies myself, but now that I know you're really a man …" He said as he looked up with a shrug, his lips curving up into a smile.

"Well, I'll be damned …" Femmie said as he plopped towards the back his chair and then burst into laughter. "You know, you're really somethin', Sana!"

"I am, however, still willing to be your friend, and listen to what you have to say."

Calming down, Femmie then wiped the tears from his eyes as he grinned at Sanji. "All right, Sana. I'll tell you my story … How about a drink?" He offered as he raised his half full glass.

"I would love a drink." Sanji replied with a bigger smile.

xxxx

After about an hour, Sanji walked out of the bar as the others rounded the corner to greet him. "Well?" Nami asked as they approached him.

Sanji grinned broadly as he bowed to Nami. "I've found out everything we need to know about Manny, including a few of her hideout locations."

"Ah! That's great, Sana-chan!" Nami cried excitedly as she grinned.

"Of course, Nalu-san …" Sanji said softly as his eyes also mimicked his voice in softness. "I would do anything for you …" He said before stepping up beside Nami. "Nami-san …" He whispered next to her ear, for only her to hear.

Losing her smile completely, Nami's eyes slowly slid shut before a soft frown formed on her brow. Sanji continued on, walking past the crew, who gaped at him. After awhile, Nami opened her eyes, but the soft frown remained as she turned her head slightly to behind her. Luffy frowned deeply at Sanji's back, who walked away some distance and then stopped.

"W-Wait a minute! I thought she was gay! Wha-What is she like bi-sexual now?!" Tsura exclaimed with a deep frown, completely unhappy at the added competition.

Frown softening only slightly, Luffy then turned to look at Nami, who still had her back to everyone. "Tsura …"

Tsura brightened as she smiled widely and took a step towards Nami. "Yes, Nalu-san?"

"You should go home now … Thank you so much for helping us, but you really shouldn't come with us to find this woman …"

Losing her smile now, Tsura's expression then took on a deep frown. "W-Wait a minute … Go home?! I can't go home now! I want to come with you, Nalu-san!"

"Nalu's right … You can't come with us. This woman is much too dangerous. Go home." Luffy said as he focused his frown on Tsura.

"Well, then why do you get to go?! It's because I'm a girl, right?! Well, you're a girl too! Why do you get to go?!" Tsura exclaimed as she bared her teeth at Luffy.

Baring his as well, Luffy took a few steps to come face to face with her. "Because unlike you … we actually know how to take care of ourselves … Unlike you, we're all crewmates. Go home, Tsura! We can take it from here. Thanks and all, but you would just get in the way from here on out."

Gaping at his words, her eyes looked him over before shifting to the others. "Crewmates …?" She whispered, but then frowned. Clamping her mouth shut, she then turned to Nami as her frown turned more pleading. "But I want to come … I-I can help …"

"No, you can't. We can't allow what happened to us … to happen to you too, Tsura. Please go home …" Nami said as she finally turned to frown softly at the girl.

"Wa-Wait, what happened to you? Wha-What are you talking about? What happened to you?" She asked as she looked at them all.

"Go home, Tsura!" Luffy said again as his frown deepened.

"Please?" Nami said as she walked up to the girl and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Just go home. We don't want you to get hurt."

Tears came to Tsura's eyes as she swallowed hard. "W-Will I get to see you again?"

Nami let out a breathy laugh as she looked down. "I don't know, Tsura. I am glad I talked to you though. You really pulled through for us. Thanks again." She said as she looked up again to smile at the girl.

"Of course, Nalu-san …" She said as she wiped at her eyes before offering her own smile.

Then she leaned up to give Nami a quick kiss on the cheek. Gasping quickly, Nami leaned back as a blush formed on her cheeks. However, a scowl formed on Luffy's brows at the action, a small inaudible growl exiting his mouth.

"I'm glad you talked to me too, Nalu-san …" Tsura said as her smile brightened and a blush also formed on her cheeks.

Then she turned to offer Luffy a smug smile. Luffy continued to scowl at her for awhile before slowly losing it to smirk instead as he scoffed. Then he shook his head, knowing the girl wasn't getting anywhere with Nami. However, he did have to worry about Sanji. At that thought, he turned to frown at him, who was in turn frowning at Tsura for kissing Nami's cheek as well. At Luffy's turning to frown at him, Sanji then shifted his eyes to Luffy's and the two stared at one another for a long while. As Luffy seemed to brush her off, Tsura then huffed before turning to Nami once again.

"I-Yeah … It was nice meeting you …" Nami said as she laughed nervously and then turned to leave.

"Bye, Nalu-san …" Tsura said as she watched them walk away.

Luffy stared at Sanji's back as they walked, his frown deep and very displeased. Then he turned to look at Nami, who was also frowning at Sanji's back, but softly. His frown in turn softened, wondering what she was thinking. He was going to have to talk to her about it as soon as they made it back to the ship.

Walking ahead of the others, Sanji's heart was pounding. He had basically admitted his feelings aloud to the crew. He really wasn't sure how far Luffy had gotten with her, or even if they are together or not. However, he wasn't about to give up, no not by a long shot. He was going to fight Luffy for her if he had to. He hadn't cared for her this long just to lose her.

'I refuse to lose Nami-san to that, shit for brains, idiot …'

To Be Continued …

Author's Note: Bahahaha! And another angle forms! XD The love triangle as now added a corner! XP Man, that sucks, ne? XP Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! XD It seems the story is coming to an end, huh? Hmm, I wonder how many chapters I got left up my sleeves! X3 Anyways, again, I hope you all enjoyed it! XD

P.S. By the way, I'm too damned sleepy to read over this after I posted it to check for mistakes. So, if you spot any, oh well. I'm just going to make sure my link works above, and then sleep! XP Just be happy I chose to post it now instead of later! XP