If you are reading Blind Romance please don't kill me for starting this! *dodges bricks thrown at head* It's just that Christmas is my all-time favorite holiday! How could I not write something? Also, I just felt like writing ZoCho since I havn't in a while... Chopper is just so fun and cute to write about~! So yeah, I will be updating both this AND Blind Romance at the same time so if you are reading either (or both) you will be getting updates :D

Two nine-year-old boys raced eachother back to their dojo, snow covered the ground and small flakes drifted down from the sky.

One boy had short brown hair that stuck up in strange directions, he had chocolate brown eyes and had pale skin, the other had a strange green hair color along with green eyes and slightly tanned skin. Both wore uniforms for the local dojo.

Both were excited about getting back to finish up decorating. It was Christmas eve, and Roronoa Zoro loved it. He and his best friend Madoka always celebrated it together.

Neither of them had met their parents and had had both figured out the whole 'Santa isn't real' thing a long while ago, instead of relying on a mythecial fat guy they decided to get eachother gifts themselves.

Zoro grinned, tomorrow he could give Madoka the fancy dagger he had gotten (stolen) from a visiting pirate crew. They didn't notice the small boy sneak on and off their ship so Zoro managed to get away safely. He wouldn't tell anyone where he got the dagger because Sensei would be angry that he stole from pirates. But how could he not? The dagger was so cool! All the way from somewhere in the west blue if he heard the pirate captain right.

Madoka on the other hand, had yet to find the right gift. He had heard from a woman that a merchant from far away (he didn't know where) was coming to sell some valuable treasures. His plan was to sneak out on Christmas eve and buy something for Zoro.

"Madoka! Hurry up or your going to loose the race!" Zoro called back to the boy only five feet behind him. Madoka grinned "Well you had a head start cheater!" Both boys laughed as they approached the dojo, Sensei Koshiro was out front cleaning up.

"Hello boys, having fun? Kuina's inside if you want to play with her too." he said with a smile. Madoka and Zoro exchanged glances. "I don't wanna play with her, she's always beating up Zoro!" Madoka explained. Zoro whipped around, a nice blush dusting his cheeks "Wh-What? She doesn't beat me up! She's just... She... I'll beat her you'll see!" he started yelling.

Koshiro laughed, regaining the boys' attention. "Well alright, I think she was busy training anyways."

Zoro ground his teeth, she was training? He needed to train too! ...but he didn't want to leave Madoka. He smiled a little, training could wait. It was Christmas eve and he wanted to spend it with Madoka, Koshiro, and srangely Kuina. She was annoying as hell but they were some-what friends... whatever.

Zoro was pulled from his thoughts when Madoka lightly slapped his arm and yelled "TAG! You're it!"

The two spent the rest of the day playing silly games until Koshiro called them in for bed. Their Sensei knew they had no where to go so he took them in, they weren't too hard to take care of other than the childish fights between Kuina and Zoro.

Madoka and Zoro went to the room they shared. "G'night Zoro." mumbled Madoka, Zoro nodded "Yeah, 'night Madoka." with their 'goodnights' said they both slipped into bed. Only one fell asleep.

Zoro's soft snores let Madoka know he was asleep, signalling he could now sneak out.

Madoka silently slipped out of his blankets and tiptoed out of the house, grabbing his small amount of money before heading off to find the merchant.

Unfortunatly, he held the money in his hand out in plain sight.

In plain sight of two broke men left behind by their pirate crew while they hid in the bushes on the side of the road.

Madoka was lost in thought, wondering what gift he was going to get Zoro when a soft rustling noise distracted him. Madoka turned around to see two rough looking men coming out of the bushes.

One was bald and covered in scars, he wore a tattered black open chested jacket and baggy brown paints with black boots. The other had shoulder length wavy light brown hair, he had a strangely pointed chin and wore a red shirt that was missing one sleeve, he also had knee-length tan colored shorts showing hairy legs and funny looking sandles.

"Well, well... that's a nice amount of cash right there kid! Hand it over." The bald one demanded. Madoka stepped back and clutched the money to his chest "B-But this is for Zoro's present!" he said boldly.

The brown haired guy raised an eyebrow, "It's for Zoro? Well that's nice of you and all but I'm afraid you're wrong. That money's for me and my friend here" he pointed a thumb to his bald friend.

Madoka glared "No! G-Get lost!" he stuttered. If he learned anything from Zoro, it was being so brave it could be considered stupid and dangerous. Madoka turned and started to run away, he heard the man with brown hair yell " BAD CHOICE, BRAT!" along with the sound of a gunshot followed by a sharp pain in his leg.

Madoka cried out as he fell to the ground. The two men walked up and the bald man snatched the money from his small, trembling hands and said "We warned ya' kid. Oi, Tastuya. We can't have any witnesses."

The man with brown hair, Tatsuya, sighed, "Yeah I know... just wish I didn't have to do this to such a young kid. Oh well, sorry kiddo you brought this upon yerself." he suddenly had a disturbing grin "Tell this 'Zoro' guy sorry fer stealin' his gift money! Although it's kinda yer fault for waving that cash around like that."

Tears threatened to spill from Madoka's eyes, what were they going to do to him? Tatsuya pulled out a rusted pockey knife before stabbing it into the boys back causing Madoka to let out an agonising scream.

Tatsuya sliced Madoka's back open and stabbed him in the chest a few times for good measure. "Aw gross blood's getting everywhere... let's get out of here before it ruins my shoes." grumbled the bald man. Tatsuya nodded.

The two walked off discussing what they were going to buy, leaving Madoka to lie on the road soaked in his own blood and tears. The snow around him turned bright red and his tears froze to his face from the cold. He felt himself drifting off to either sleep or death. Probably the second one.

When he was about to just embrace his death he heard something that brought him a sliver of hope.

Footsteps... they, whoever they were, was running... then he heard it, that voice...

Zoro gasped before screaming "MADOKA!"

.o0O0o.

Zoro awoke to the sound of someone walking around, he cracked an eye open to see Madoka's bed was empty. He must going to the bathroom... Zoro thought. When Madoka didn't return for almost ten minutes, Zoro went looking for him.

Zoro walked around the house for a while, but he definatly wasn't lost or anything, before he stepped outside. He noticed faded footsteps in the soft earth heading down the road. Where had Madoka gone?

Zoro followed the footsteps and just kept walking down the dirt road. After a while he heard something. Something awful.

Madoka's screams.

Zoro froze for a minute before breaking into a run, Madoka was in trouble!

With each of Madoka's screams he ran faster, and his speed doubled when it suddenly went quiet. "Madoka! Madoka! Ma-"

Zoro stopped talking when he saw a bloody form in the middle of the road just ahead of him. He felt his hard drop as he let out a loud gasp "MADOKA!"

Zoro ran to his friends side to make sure he was alive. Zoro crouched down in the bloody snow and shook Madoka "Oh... Oh my god... M-Madoka puh-please w-w-wake up! P-Please!" Zoro stammered as he tried to stop the tears rolling down his face.

Madoka's pained eyes met Zoro's terrified gaze. "Zzz...oro... s-sorry... couldn't... get gift, th-they stole... stole.. my.. m-money..." Madoka's words were slurred from blood loss. Zoro continued to cry "Shut up! I don't care about the gift right now! Why are you even out here! D-Don't worry, I'm going to get you back to the dojo and you're gonna be fine! Okay? Okay? Madoka!"

Madoka groaned as Zoro lifted him onto his back piggy-back style. Madoka's blood soaked through Zoro's clothes but neither of them cared at the moment.

Zoro began running, halfway there his leg muscles began to hurt due to over-use but Zoro just kept running, the snow stung as it his Zoro's face and he felt Madoka's blood freezing onto their cold bodies.

Madoka told Zoro what happened, by Zoro's request of "What the hell happened!"

He told Zoro about the merchant, sneaking out, the money, Tastuya and the bald guy, everything. three quarters of the way there, Madoka became silent. No crying, no talking... no breathing.

No. Zoro refused to think Madoka was dead. Sensei would help and everything would go back to normal. Madoka would be patched up and Zoro would give him his present, then they could go back to training a playing together!

When the Dojo was within sight, Zoro started to scream "SENESI! SENSEI! M-MADOKA'S HURT! PLEASE SENSEI YOU HAVE TO HELP HIM! IT'S REALLY BAD! SENSEI!"

Koshiro and Kuina came running outside in time to see a sweaty, panting, blood soaked Zoro running towards them with a look of horror on his face. On his back was the limp, even more bloody body of Madoka.

Kuina stood frozen in fear and Koshiro ran over. "Oh my god, Zoro are you okay?"

Zoro glared, "I'M FINE HELP MADOKA!" his voice was strained and cracked halfway through as he fought back pitiful sobs. Koshiro nodded before helping Madoka off of Zoro's back.

Zoro collapsed from exhaustion but managed to get back up into a sitting position while Koshiro checked Madoka over. Koshiro didn't dare meet eye contact with Zoro as let out a strained, sad sigh "Zoro... I'm so sorry..."

Zoro froze, No... no this isn't happening...

"Madoka is..." Koshiro contiuned. Zoro's eyes went wide as he screamed in his mine, DON'T SAY IT!

Koshiro closed his eyes and dropped his head down a little, "Madoka is dead."

Zoro sat on his knees in the snow, a look on his face contained sadness, fear, and pain. He choked back a sob before he burst into tears screaming at his dead friend, begging him to wake up. Koshiro had siilent tears running down his cheeks and even Kuina was crying.

The young girl walked over "Zoro... a-are you okay?" she questioned, a little scared of Zoro in such a state.

Zoro stared at her, his eyes had lost all emotions other than sadness and horrible pain. "NO! THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!" he screamed before he continued crying.

"THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!"

.o0O0o.

Zoro bolted awake, he was covered head to toe in a cold sweat and tears covered his cheeks. Even at the age of 21 he still had that nightmare. Every year it came back to him to remind him of his friend's death. The death that was all Zoro's fault.

Zoro sighed and wiped to tears from his eyes. Crying wouldn't change the past. He waited for about twenty minutes to make sure all signs of crying were 100% gone before he wandered up on deck and pretended nothing has happened.

He couldn't tell the others... they would think he was weak.

With a sigh Zoro walked out on deck only to cringe a little at all the decorations. It was Christmas eve and everyone was happy, other than Zoro.

Zoro was lost in thought when he felt someone tug on his pant leg. Zoro glanced down to see a worried looking Chopper.

"Zoro? What's wrong? You look... sad" Chopper noted. Zoro stiffened before looking away "I'm fine... I just hate this goddamned holiday!" he growled before retreating right back to the men's quarters leaving a very confuse doctor.

I just hate this goddamned holiday!

Chopper frowned. How could anyone hate Christmas? He decided to follow Zoro, maybe he could cheer the man up. Chopper had always looked up to Zoro, they were like brothers! Seeing Zoro upset made Chopper upset too.

Chopper ran down the stairs to the men's quarters to find Zoro lying in his hammock staring at the wall.

"Zoro?"

Zoro looked over "Chopper?"

Chopper walked over "I... uh... Christmas is a great holiday for me, I wanted you to like it to! S-So maybe if You tell me what's wrong I could..." Zoro cut him off "I'm. Fine."

"B-But-"

"I said I'm fine, okay?"

"Please Zoro I just wanna help!"

"I'M FINE DAMN IT!"

Chopper crossed his arms "Zoro come on! I promise not to tell now can you please tell me what's wrong!" he said, almost going into his doctor-state-of-mind.

Zoro and Chopper had a small staring contest before Zoro finally realised it was hopeless. He had recently learned his newest weakness: Chopper. For some reason Zoro had gone a bit soft when it came to the little reindeer, he just couldn't say 'no' to those big brown eyes.

"Please Zoro? I-I just want to help!" Chopper explained, worry filled his adorable eyes. Zoro sighed, "Fine... it happened a long time ago when I was nine. I had this friend, his name was Madoka..."

Cliffhanger /shot

Sorry guys! I just need some reason for you all to keep reading . anyways, I'm kind of sad because this is only 2,500 words even though i was hoping for at least 3k. Rawr. I'm also kinda sad cuz Zoro's dream was SO FUCKING DEPRESSING! I swear I felt so bad writing it... Can Chopper help Zoro have a merry Christmas? Will he help Zoro overcome these problems? Will their romance blossom and- oh wait you all know all my stories have lemon so that was an obvious question... lol

Candy canes are great, reviews are better... I have no candy canes... so maybe u can leave a review? ;D