Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece

Author's Note: As usual I would like to give my gratitude to those of you who have read, added or reviewed my story so far. I hope it does not disappoint. Being back to work my time has not been as free as it was over the Christmas break and I have had a little writers block. I have included some of your ideas in this one so I hope it is on par with what you had imagined.

Body Swap

Chapter 6

Zoro stared at the figure of himself that stood before him with hands on hips. He blinked a couple of times and uncrossed his arms, leaving them hanging to his sides. He was shocked by what the navigator had just said to him. She was clearly standing and waiting for his response. As the penny dropped Zoro started to sweat.

"No way in hell am I doing that!" he protested before turning away from her and trying to storm off. He paused in his steps as his stomach (Nami's stomach) gave off a loud rumble. He placed a hand on the soft midriff and groaned.

"We need to eat some how" Nami argued from behind him, "we have no money so how else are we to get it?" she stood and watched his back waiting for him to give her a better idea.

Zoro had no problems with fighting for food or even stealing it. After all they had stolen gold from Skypiea and Nami had taken her fair share from various pirates since being a small child. But he wasn't Nami and that was the dilemma they both faced at that point in time. Nami, in Zoro's body, was too much of a coward to fight or kill an animal or two. She could easily try to intimidate the average person, but that could go wrong and attract too much attention. Plus she couldn't fully control the strength of his body itself. Their only option left was negotiation, trickery and theft. Although not completely unfamiliar to the swordsman it was the way in which Nami suggested he go about getting them food that upset him.

His stomach growled again, as did hers. He looked up at the outskirts of the town they had found that afternoon. Nami had stopped him from entering as she identified quickly that if they were recognised or even discovered it could be a problem for them. They had no means for a disguise but couldn't risk being caught out to be vulnerable either. She had insisted he give her his swords so as to keep up with the appearance of the pirate hunter. He was not comfortable with this and had clearly protested against it, but he eventually was forced to see her point. It then became a lesson for them both on how to act like the other…A lesson which had eventually reached this awkward point between them.

Nami moved in front of Zoro and caught his attention once more, "look, didn't we agree that we have to act like we would usually act? I had to learn how to walk like a man, talk like you and act as cold as you do. You have to learn to be more like a woman"

Zoro gritted his teeth. He had allowed Nami to take the lead with their little educative lesson. As she had been asking so many questions about him and seemed to be listening to his guidance it didn't faze him. Even when she tried to walk in a masculine swagger which made him look like a gorilla, he got over it quickly. But being a woman was harder than he thought. The walk was one thing, the speech another, but her mannerisms as well? It was beyond a joke. If Sanji saw him now he would be in his element. Luffy and the others would never let him live it down.

"You want to eat don't you?" Nami asked again, getting more irritated with his reluctant attitude.

Zoro looked at the ground and away from her. He closed his eyes briefly as a third growl came from her stomach. The others at least were not here to see this. He had to see it as training, as a means to reach his destination. But he swore to himself then and there that if he ever saw Law again he would kill him.

"Fine!" he spat, finally giving in to her demands. Nami smiled back at him with a hint of mischievousness on her face. He looked at her and scowled, "take that expression off my face" he demanded, "and if you ever tell any of the others about this…" he continued, Nami waved a hand at him and tried to fight back a grin.

"Yeah yeah" she said in a tone he would usually use whilst crossing fingers behind her back.

Zoro sighed heavily, "What do I do?" he asked.

Nami studied him from head to toe, "firstly you need to get your body language right. A clever woman knows how to use her assets to her advantage" she looked at his expression and her gaze was returned with one of embarrassment.

"Not all women act like you" Zoro muttered, still not seeing how more cleavage would help his situation. He followed her instructions though and removed the t-shirt he had been wearing.

"Right, when you approach a man, you need to smile at them sweetly" Nami ordered.

Zoro stared at her for a moment and forced a grin. It was an uncomfortable grin. Nami sighed and shook her head, resting one arm on another she waved a hand and said, "It is too forced, you need to relax…and be more innocent with it"

Zoro scoffed, innocent was not in his dictionary nor in their navigators. Neither of them were what he would deem to be 'innocent'. His response did not please his friend though. He shook his head and tried again. Nami blinked at him and clenched her fists. If he wasn't in her body she would have thumped him already.

"How hard is it for you to smile?!" she shouted at him, letting her frustration come through in words instead of actions.

He shrugged, "I can't fake my feelings like some people" he answered honestly. Nami was not too sure what to make of that. Sure she could act, lie and lead people astray. That was her self defence mechanism, but she guessed he didn't have to go through what she did as a child. She decided not to take offence by his words and decided that he lacked experience.

She thought to herself for a minute and paced back and forth. Zoro watched her move around but remained where he stood. He was getting bored and could easily nap there and then. Nami was not the most patient of teachers.

Nami spun around with a wide smile and clicked her fingers like an idea came to her mind. She pointed at him and ordered, "Think of a happy memory".

Zoro raised an eyebrow when he looked at her then tried to think of something, but thinking on demand proved harder than he thought.

Nami watched her facial expressions scrunch up as if struggling. "Come on Zoro, there must be some memory you have that makes you happy?" she thought out loud before saying, "maybe you are over thinking it. Close your eyes and take in a deep breathe. Try to relax a bit" she offered. Nami couldn't help but feel for the man before her. She had no idea what he thought at that point in time but the softest smile suddenly came to his face. This smile was warm but hinted at painful memories. She wondered if she looked like that when she thought back to memories like Bellamere. Zoro was not one to talk about his past, but she knew he to had lost someone he cared for deeply and she sympathised with him. She also found herself impressed at how beautiful and yet disturbing that expression was on her features.

Nami watched as Zoro's expression changed again to a normal smile. She returned that smile as she realised he was getting there. When his smile changed into a mischievous grin she jumped on the spot and shouted, "That's it!"

Nami's shout brought Zoro from his thoughts and into reality; he looked at her and rubbed his head with his hand. The smile had faded as soon as it appeared.

"That was the look you needed to give…whatever you were thinking you have to keep that in mind, alright?" she demanded, Zoro nodded in response. He was just grateful she had not asked him what he was thinking of.

"Right now you need to get into character. Keeping that thought in mind I need you to walk this way and smile at me then wink" Nami instructed, giving a little demonstration.

Zoro looked around them to make sure no one was watching the most embarrassing moment of his life. He placed one hand on his hip and focussed on walking in a straight line, moving his hips like she had taught him earlier. Nami nodded and praised him for his efforts. He had clearly been paying attention.

As Zoro reached her he brought his memory back and produced a grin, leaning forward slightly with a bounce so her cleavage was in eyesight. He then took one arm and stroked her arm gently before clinging onto it like a leech. He smiled widely with eyes closed and tilted his head to one side before opening them again and looking her in the eye.

Nami was taken aback by the man's actions. She had not taught him any of that!

Zoro looked at her horrified and uncomfortably rigid expression, "did I do something wrong?" he asked, loosening his hold on her.

Nami pulled away from him and said "I do not act like that!"

Zoro produced a small chuckle, which infuriated her further, "Oh you do" he said, "especially when trying to get your own way"

Nami scowled at him. If looks could kill, this one definitely would. She was in complete denial and although she knew she could flirt and act to get things, to see the swordsman do it for some reason made her skin crawl. She couldn't help but wonder if he felt the way she just did every time she did something like that. She spun around to give him a piece of her mind and found him wandering off.

"Hey where the hell do you think you are going?" she shouted out.

Zoro waved a hand at her, "to the town, I have had enough lessons I need some food" he stated, a little more confident he could pull this off.

"The town is this way!" Nami shouted back, pointing to her left. The man really was directionally challenged. Even when something was right in front of him he couldn't find his way.

Zoro muttered to himself and followed behind her as she walked in the correct direction.

…

"Now before we go any further I need to teach you something else" Nami whispered as they passed through the crowds of people in the busy town area. They had obviously come on a good day as the market stalls were all up and selling plenty of fresh produce.

"What?" Zoro asked, suspicious of what she could possibly want to embarrass him with next.

"It is easier to demonstrate" Nami announced, before taking a few steps ahead and shoulder barging a woman heading her way. She would normally do this to a man, but being a different gender now she had to think differently. The woman fell to the floor and her handbag and groceries rolled around.

Zoro watched in amazement as Nami crouched down and apologised to the woman, helping her to pick up her belongings. Nami spoke in a soft voice and gave the woman a dazzling smile…a smile he did not know his body could ever produce. The woman was taken aback by the expression on Nami's face and her own went bright red. She barely paid attention to her groceries as Nami placed them back into her arms after helping her up. Nami then looked over at Zoro and nodded for him to follow her. She smiled at the woman and walked away into the crowd, allowing the crowd to hide her from view.

Zoro followed Nami and soon caught up with her. He walked beside her, "wasn't that a little unnecessary?" he asked. Nami threw an apple at him and he caught it instinctively. He stared at the object in his hand and couldn't help but return the grin his friend shared with him at that moment.

"What if she figures it out?" Zoro asked as he bit into the apple.

"Even if she does she won't until she gets home" Nami explained, "besides she will still be thinking about the handsome hunk of a man she ran into and probably won't even suspect him" she continued, flicking a couple of Beri in between her fingers as she bit into an apple herself.

Nami was too busy smiling at her success to fully realise what she had just said and although it wasn't something that would usually faze Zoro, he could not help but feel warmth within him when he heard her describe him the way she just did. It was a feeling he had not had before and he pondered on it as he stared down at the remaining fruit in his hand.

Nami elbow nudged her friend and nodded in the direction of a bread stall in front of them, "Now it is your turn" she said.

Zoro looked up and saw the tall thin man that stood behind the stall. He seemed pretty harmless. The stall stood beside a cheese one where an older man also sat. Both were shouting out and trying to gain the attention of the crowd to try out their produce.

Zoro could not help but feel sick to his core at the thought of having to approach these men to win their affections and try to get some food. It then dawned on him that Nami had just received some money. He looked at her, "hey, can't you just buy it now with the money you took from that woman?"

Nami looked at him as if offended, "No way! We may need this later" she protested.

Zoro raised an eyebrow, "for what exactly?"

"A boat or a room or something" she shrugged, "stop trying to get out of the inevitable…or are you chickening out on me?" she asked with a curt grin. She knew full well the man disliked being seen to be weak as much as she did.

Zoro glared at her before storming off over to the stalls before him. He figured it was probably easier to target the older man.

Nami watched as the swordsman sauntered over to the stall with a little over exaggerated and awkward walk. The older man turned his attention immediately to him, lifting up some cheese and showing it to the woman before him. He commented on how pretty she was. Zoro tried his best to produce a flattering smile and shy expression. The older man scanned the woman's body as she leaned forward, placing a finger on her mouth and wondering what to get. A hint of a heart and some drool came out of the old geezer's mouth. Zoro hesitated and turned to look back at Nami, she smiled and nodded reassuringly. She so wished she could film this, it was very entertaining.

Zoro felt incredibly uncomfortable and goose bumps covered his body as the man before him glared at him like a piece of meat. He wondered if all men were like this when they got older and thought to how Nami must have felt on Weatheria. Mind you knowing Nami she could have handled it easily and would have used it to her advantage. Sensing her gaze he knew he couldn't give up and forced himself to take a step further. He touched the man's hand as if showing interest in what he was showing him then leant over and placed his right hand on a small lump of cheese. Blood started to pour out of the man's nose as he was met with cleavage. Zoro was disgusted by this and thought to all the times the love cook swooned over Nami and Robin. What the hell was it with guys like this? What did they see in women that he clearly didn't?

Zoro heard a cough behind him and knew it was the navigators. She was hinting at him to take his opportunity and snatch the cheese while the man was distracted. Zoro did so a little clumsily but the guy didn't seem to notice.

"Hey old man, you should pay more attention!" the younger man on the bread stall called out, "she is a thief!" he warned.

The old man blinked and came out of his daze a little; Zoro gulped and took a step backwards. A warning sound from behind him reminded him of rule number 1 = acting and looking guilty were not an option. In order to deceive you had to believe in the deceit. He took a deep breathe and tried his best to give his most honest smile and puppy dog eyes to the old man. This was a look he had seen Nami use on Sanji a number of times. He was surprised how effective it was as the old man became putty again and shouted to the younger one; "You are just jealous a beauty like this one didn't come to you first!"

The younger man scoffed, "fool". Although he had started to sweat and was clearly drawn to the attractive woman before him, he knew trouble when he saw it. Zoro glared at him with a cold look, shooting the man down as he tried to call upon a guard.

"Is there a problem?" a guard appeared with a spear in one hand and red and black uniform. He looked from Zoro to man on the bread stall.

The young man pointed at Zoro and said "She just stole something from the stall next to mine, you should search her"

Zoro tried to turn and make a run for it but was stopped by a giant hand. "Not so fast missy" the guard said.

Zoro tried to use an innocent smile on the guard, but it didn't work this time. Thinking he may need to resort to violence he readied himself for the worst case scenario.

"Take your hands off her" a deep masculine voice warned from behind them. The guard looked up and over at the muscular man standing before him with a hand on a hilt of his sword. The man's green hair shone in the sunlight and a dark aura could be seen around him. This was not a man to be trifled with. The crowd of people slowly opened up to give them more space. No one was stupid enough to stay there when there was trouble lurking around.

Nami seriously hoped the man wouldn't take her up on her threat and just back off. She had no idea on how to use a sword properly. The man let go of Zoro and positioned his spear in defence.

"What is this woman to you?" the guard asked as if he expected the man before him to take responsibility for her treachery instead.

"That is none of your business" Nami spat. The guard smirked and pointed his weapon before charging at the moss headed man in front of him.

Zoro acted on instinct and grabbed one of his swords from Nami. He blocked the man's attack and pushed him back. The guard stared at the woman before him in awe and respect. Nami did her best not to move from her spot and remained stood with arms crossed. She had to give off the impression she was in control and the dominant figure here.

"Your skills are pretty good for a thief" the guard announced. Zoro smiled, this man had no idea.

"I will not allow my master to have to resort to fighting a weakling like you" Zoro retorted. Nami glared at him, 'master' was that the best he could do? Although she had to admit it was fast thinking on his part.

"Master?" the guard looked from the woman to the man and back again.

"If you think I am good you don't want to see what he can do" Zoro continued his deceit.

The man tried to run at Zoro again and his spear was easily knocked out of his hands, rolling away from him. Zoro placed the sword to the man's throat and towered over him. He then stepped away and handed the sword back to Nami. The pair walked away slowly through the crowd as they all remained silent while thoughts of what transpired before them slowly resolved themselves. As soon as they could they ran before more guards were called to catch them.

Nami pulled Zoro into a narrow alleyway and remained in the darkness for a short time as shouts and footsteps ran back and forth in search of them.

"Phew" Nami sighed in relief, panting for air. She looked up at her friend, "well?" she asked expectantly.

Zoro pulled out cheese from his pocket and lifted it to her eye level. He smiled a little pleased with him self. Nami took it off him, "not very big is it?" she asked teasingly. Zoro frowned.

Nami then pulled out from under his jacket a large white loaf of bread. Zoro stared at it and then looked at her, "but when…?" he asked, surprised he hadn't noticed her actions.

"While you were busy distracting them I helped myself" Nami shrugged.

They both looked at each other and laughed.

…

"Any luck?" Sanji asked their doctor as they walked down the streets. They were searching for their friends but also buying supplies on route back to the ship.

Chopper shook his head, "after that bread stall I found it too difficult to detect them. There are so many scents filling the area, like food and perfume…it confuses me."

Sanji understood, "well it is probably best we don't draw attention to them anyway" he explained as they continued to follow the guards in their search for the red headed woman and green haired man who had just 'viciously attacked' a guard.

…

Luffy sniffed the air and felt his stomach grumble. He followed Usopp and Robin begrudgingly through the streets with hands placed behind his head and elbows pointing to the sky. That is, until he scented meat and decided to wander off on his own.

"Where the hell did he run off to now?" Usopp moaned as he searched the crowd and pulled his goggles down to try to pin point their captain.

Robin chuckled. She turned to look around them some more and was distracted by a book store. Without thinking she headed that way.

Usopp lifted his goggles when he couldn't see his captain and sighed. He turned to speak with Robin and noticed the space next to him dazzling with lights. He panicked and shot his head back and forth trying to find her and growing increasingly upset he was being left on his own in an unfamiliar place.

"If you want something done you have to do it yourself" Usopp said out loud, walking in the direction of the nearest tavern. If anything, he thought his two friends might be in there.

…

Nami swallowed her last mouthful and jumped to her feet, "right" she said pulling out a sword and pointing it at the man before her.

Zoro remained in a seated position with legs crossed and arms folded. He looked at her and said, "Be careful with that, it's not a toy".

Nami scolded him, she wasn't stupid. "If I am going to be in your body I need to know how to use one of these properly…at least enough to look like I know what I am doing" she argued.

She had a point, but Zoro wasn't sure if he should teach her. He hadn't taught anyone before and Nami wasn't exactly battle material. He hoped that it wouldn't be long before they found the ship and would be back to normal. Yet as he thought about the situation with the guard…if Nami had been on her own for whatever reason then it could have looked pretty bad that the great swordsman was defeated so easily by a puny guard. That and she could have been hurt.

Giving into her demands he stood up and agreed to help teach her but placed a hand on the blade of his sword and lowered it, "If you want to learn then you have to work your way up to using the real thing" he stated. He looked around and walked further into the alley, finding a space that opened out. Picking up a couple of wooden sticks he threw one at her. She caught it with one hand and understood what he was saying by one single action. She sheathed the metal blade and held the stick with two hands.

"First you need to get your stance right" Zoro explained, demonstrating to her what to do. He spread his feet apart and bent his knees, "you need to get balanced and find your core"

Nami copied his actions. She couldn't help but be pleased at how cool and in control he made her body appear. "Like this?" she asked, he nodded.

"When you grip the hilt of the sword you need to align your thumbs so the 'v' of your hands are positioned similarly" he explained by showing her how he held the stick. She followed suit and he nodded.

"With a weapon like this there are 5 angles for attacking. First is a swing downwards across the left side of a person's body" he demonstrated by aiming the stick at the side of her neck, without touching her. She mimicked him and nodded in understanding.

"Next is the same angle but from the right" again he demonstrated this and she copied him in silence.

"The third is an upwards strike from the left" he moved the stick up and across the left side of her waist.

"Then the fourth is again the same but from the right" he explained. Nami copied him and nodded as she stepped back, watching him carefully.

"Finally, the fifth is a stab attack" he pointed the stick in a straight line and touched her midriff.

"Got it?" he asked, Nami nodded, "Right show me" Zoro continued. He shouted out each angle in turn and Nami made the relevant actions. He didn't tell her out loud but he was impressed with how fast she learnt.

"Right, next important thing to master is your footwork" he continued, pointing to his feet, "in sword fighting you don't look at the person's weapons you have to look at their eyes. You need to be able to read them and think about how they will act, but stop their attack. It can involve getting into their personal space and danger zone. So if you miss read their movements you're screwed"

Nami let out a deep breathe and copied his movements. He showed her that if someone tried to attack from angles 1 or 2 then she would need to swing her blade upwards to block the attack. Then to avoid it she should step around the outside of the person's arm to get behind them and give an attack of her own. If someone tried to attack from angles 3 and 4 then she would need to block with a downwards or horizontal position of the blade, stepping to circle around the person, which was risky, or stepping back out of the danger zone of the attack. However, with a stabbing motion of a blade she would need to step into the attack, but to the side, meeting the blade with her own and using her strength to push it to one side. A successful step into the person could give you the upper hand. Yet it could also leave you at a standstill and result in both opponents jumping back and starting again.

Nami mimicked his movements one at a time. She made a few stumbles and mistakes, resulting in him hitting her lightly with the stick he held to prove his point, but over all she got the basics reasonably well. She was actually surprised at how good a teacher he was. He made it seem easy and didn't scold her, but instead pushed her harder and harder, knowing that she could do more – especially in his own body. Yet as good as his teaching was, even though being in his body gave her the upper hand, his skills proved more impressive than she knew and he met her every move.

Nami stood panting and could see the swordsman was struggling in her own body to. As skilled as he was, her body was not able to keep up with the stamina he was used to resorting to. They had both worked up a sweat and he had tripped her up, knocked her about and defeated her on every attempt. Yet despite that she couldn't help feel motivated to try harder, her stubborn pride coming into play. She ran at him one more time. She tried to pretend to attack him from angle 2, then span and went for angle 3. Zoro blocked it and grabbed at her wrist, he stepped around her, twisting her arm and sweeped the stick from her grasp, spinning it around in his hands and pointing it at her throat. He grinned in between panting. It just so happened he was as stubborn as she was and neither wanted to back down.

They grinned at each other. Nami stepped closer to him to take the stick from him and try again. She paused when his expression changed suddenly.

"What's wrong?" She asked, a little worried that he looked like he was in pain.

…

A/N: Well that ended up a little longer than expected, but I hope you liked it. Both teaching each other skills… I had to use some personal experience in training to help get that sword lesson into writing…I hope it is visually clear.

Please let me know what you think and don't be shy to give feedback!

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