Zoro

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A fine blanket of snow settled over the landscape, freezing the water in the fields and leaving most inhabitants of the island to retreat to the warm of their homes. But in the yard of one simple dojo, a single child ignored the snow chilling him to the core, and continued his katas.

Knuckles were red raw as the gripped the hilts of bokken, and he struggled for breath in the crisp air. But even as he slipped on the snowy ground, he continued regardless.

The rest of the boys were back home with their families, and any who had no choice to remain were looking at the young Roronoa with alarm. None could quite figure how stupid the boy really was.

Eventually, after all the remaining students had called him inside with no success, a young girl stepped out on the porch. Her slim, blossoming figure was hidden as she wrapped herself in a thick coat, scarves and mittens.

"Zoro, you idiot! Come inside!"

He ignored her, like the others, and continued the practised motions. She didn't like that one bit, and decided to show him so with her fist on his head.

"Ow!"

Green hair was covered in snow as Kuina pushed her young rival into the snow. She chucked to herself, watching as Zoro picked himself up and tried to look unaffected. But his arms were curled around his chest and the thin sweater he trained in. She noticed his hands were still curled into the shape on the hilts, though the bokken themselves were on the floor.

"Moron. You think getting sick is going to let you beat me?"

"Shut up! A warrior doesn't let himself get beaten by the elements!"

She poked him in the centre of the furrowed brow, a gently took one of the frozen hands. Startled by the tenderness against frostbitten skin, Zoro tugged his arm back, forcing Kuina to pull even harder. Breath came out of his mouth in visible puffs of steam as he glared at the girl, losing the small tussle that ensued. Kuina only smiled, tugging off her mitten and putting it over the icy fingers.

"Maybe a warrior doesn't, but you're a long way off from that. You haven't even beaten me yet."

The taunt got to the boy the same way it always did, and he made to pull away and pick up his training swords. But the mittens now on his hands made them difficult to hold. Knowing he was beat for now, he watched Kuina go back inside the dojo.

"Come on inside stupid, it's Christmas."

Zoro scoffed "So? I can still train"

Kuina regarding him, grinning superiorly

"We're closed to celebrate the New Year, idiot. All the other kids have gone back home. And we've got cake inside."

'You know I don't like sweet things' Zoro thought. They could turf him out for the fortnight but he'd just stay in the yard. He had nowhere else to go, just like the other boys Sensei had let stay in the Dojo. Holidays are for people who have others to share it with and the Dojo is a place for learning, not sharing.

Kuina knew what Zoro was thinking as usual and as usual, ignored it. She just enjoyed teasing the boy. It made her victories all the sweeter. Besides that, she was always right. She knew what was best for the boy better than he did.

"But you know Christmas is about helping the poor, sick and needy. There's nothing we can do to cure stupidness, but we can give you food and shelter like we do the rest."

Stupid Kuina. Show-off Kuina, He should stay out to spite her.

But it is cold out. And the mittens are warm from her touch. And maybe Sensei will let him have a cup of warm sake as a treat.

He ran inside, watching the advancing back of his rival as he always did.

It may be charity, but it's better than being alone, any day.

...