AN: so this one came out a little bit awkward :( i was trying hard for some interesting imagery, and its sort of there, but it kind of...died along the way..._

The lights were dim and had a yellowish tinge. The world seemed to be restricted to the square he was in, just him and his opponent. The roar of the yelling crowd dimmed, the only sound he could really hear was his heart, beating slowly and calmly.

A deep breath in, then out. In and out, then...go! Zoro suddenly charged forward, starting the battle. His blades swiping through the air with deadly precision. His prey blocked then slipped just out of reach.

Zoro crouched low then charged again, his eyes locked onto his target. His blades would finish it, he was certain.

A calculated strike and a second too slow. His blow hit a moment too late, a moment that his opponent took advantage of. He felt his blades slide through flesh and a spatter of blood hit him. He also felt the burning of the stab wound to his side, a moment had caused it and a moment later would have made it fatal. Zoro scoffed himself for his carelessness.

The body landed with a wet thump and Zoro waited, he didn't rise.

He looked up to the referee, he nodded, signaling his win. Zoro removed the blade from his mouth and stood, walking calmly from the ring.

Anyone who came close he shot a warning look, especially the medics, they couldn't be trusted, too easily bribed.

He pushed easily through the crowd to the locker rooms. His duffel bag was stashed in the corner with the sheaths to his blades inside. He safely stored his blades then slipped of his shirt and haramaki he always wore during fights, hissing in annoyance at the pain in his side.

He glanced at the wound. It was a clean cut and blood steadily flowed out. He wrapped it clumsily with bandages Chopper gave him for these occasions. He tossed his shirt and haramaki in the bag, leaving himself a mental note he would have to ask Robin to sew it for him.

He picked up his bag and leaned against a wall, waiting for Usopp to come. Soon enough he showed up in front of him.

"Hey manager." he smiled faintly at him, Usopp loved his tittle.

"You're going to Chopper right?" he said eying his already blood soaked bandage. Zoro nodded.

"Are you alright? You usually don't get hit and you didn't really look like the demon..."

"Did I now..." Zoro said tiredly, he really didn't care what people called him or if he fit the name.

"I mean you looked like you didn't enjoy it like you usually do in your sick way..."

Zoro raised an eyebrow at Usopp.

"Ah! Not that your sick or anything! You just look like you didn't enjoy it! Most people like a good fight!" he said, backtracking quickly waving his hands in front of him.

Zoro shrugged, "Wasn't much of a fight."

Usopp frowned at him then glanced nervously at his wound again. "Doesn't that hurt?" he said a bit squeamishly.

Zoro glances at it, the blood was now seeping down his side and onto his pants. "I'm going to get blood all over my car!" he whined to himself. He fished out his shirt again, he would sit on it in the car.

"We gotta get you to Chopper! Do you need me to drive?" Usopp asked urgently. "I'm great at driving in emergency situations! Just the other day a pregnant woman collapsed in front of my car! I had to drive her all the way to the hospital, making sure she didn't panic!" Usopp continued on with his story as they walked to the parking lot.

"I think I can make it Usopp. See you later."

"What? Oh! Right- don't die or Chopper will kill me! And here's your winnings."

Zoro accepted the tightly wound roll of bills with a nod as he slipped into his car. Usopp waved before going off to his own car.

Zoro pulled out his rarely used cell phone and speed dialed Chopper ans he drove down the late night street.

"Hello?"

"Hey Chopper. I'm sorry its so late."

"Zoro? No, no! Its fine! Are you okay?" Chopper's sleepy voice became suddenly more alert.

"Yeah I'm fine, but...uh, it wont stop bleeding..."

"WHAT? Where are you? I'll be there as soon as I can! How much blood have you lost? Do you feel dizzy? Are you applying pressure to the wound?" he could here Chopper running around through the phone.

"I feel fine, really. I'm already two minutes away from your house, you don't need to come get me."

"Oh, well hurry then! The door will be unlocked, I'll get everything ready." Chopper suddenly hung up and Zoro snapped his phone shut. He glanced down at it and swore when he saw some blood smudged on it. Bleeding sucks! It just gets everywhere!

He pulled into the driveway of Chopper's little house, and swiftly made his way to the door. He just wanted to go home.

"Zoro? Go to the bathroom alright? I will be there in a sec." Chopper called once Zoro pushed the door open.

Zoro nodded even though he couldn't see Chopper and obediently went to wait in the bathroom. There was already towels set on top of the toilet and a few bottles of alcohol and some other medical chemicals and...stuff.

Zoro put a hand to his side, trying to avoid getting his blood everywhere, as he sat on the toilet. He didn't have to wait long as a Chopper came in, needle and thread all ready to go for stitching him up. Chopper put them in a metal tray and started to remove his crappy bandage job.

Zoro sat quietly as Chopper worked, his eyes tracing patterns on the wall.

"Zoro?"

"Hmm?" Zoro hummed back, still staring at the wall.

"I...as your doctor I have to forbid you from fighting for a while!" Chopper blurted out, a waver in his voice but still stern.

"What? Why? I get hurt all the time."

"I think your emotional state is interfering with you capability to fight."

"What?"

"I think your depressed Zoro, and I think that's why you got hurt."

"So what am I supposed to do? Go home and get over my 'depression'?"

"That's exactly what I think you should do. I cant let you fight like this! You almost never get hurt unless its a really big fight!" Chopper started crying while he finished wrapping Zoro up.

He looked up at him with his sad teary eyes, "I don't want you to die!" he suddenly hugged him tightly.

Zoro was surprised at the emotional outburst, Chopper usually only got like this when it was really bad, like when he had to be covered head to toe in bandages. He slowly returned the hug, squeezing him firmly but still gently.

"I wont die Chopper, promise."

Chopper nodded into his chest and Zoro let him go. "But you don't have to get over it alone, if you ever want to talk we're all here for you Zoro!"

Zoro smiled softly at him, "Thanks Chopper." he ruffled his hair as he stood.

"You really will talk to me if your having troubles?" Chopper asked, still looking up at him with those huge, innocent eyes.

"I promise."

Chopper beamed up at him and Zoro smiled back. He stayed a little while longer to help clean up all the medical supplies and get all the blood off his belongings and car. Chopper waved a little from the front door as Zoro left.