Shirou walked through the halls of Ryozanpaku, strangely relieved to be back. He was apparently going to start the technique training or something like that as soon as his broken bones were fully set. It was a little awkward to move, but Shirou guessed the training at Ryozanpaku had somehow increased his ability to heal. That, or Wolverine was his ancestor, because there was no other explanation for healing from broken bones in less than a week. At this rate he'd be ready for training within two more days.

Well, there was magecraft, but that idea was ridiculous. Neither he nor the Masters knew any healing magecraft.

A loud bang sounded, and Shirou whipped around to see a soaking wet Shinji panting against the wall nearby. Confused, Shirou watched his old friend glance around the wooden hall wildly before catching sight of Shirou. Shinji sagged in momentary relief before he shot up and ran at Shirou, hands waving in panic. "Dammit Emiya, what in the name of god is this hellhole!?"

Shirou raised an eyebrow at him but shrugged. "This is the dojo where I train, Ryozanpaku."

Shinji put his hands on his knees and panted from the effort of his run. He glared with one eye at Shirou. "Only an idiot like you would find a place like this to train at, Emiya."

Shirou pretty much ignored him and asked the question that had been rebounding in his head like a superball. "Why are you here, Shinji?"

Shinji straightened up, his breathing level, and got a simultaneously desperate and surprised look on his face. "Oh crap, that's right!" He reached over and grabbed onto Shirou's shoulders, staring him in the eyes, "You're still my friend, right Shirou?"

Shirou nodded mutely and tried to figure out where this was going, getting worried at Shinji's normally superior tone being so frantic. Shinji didn't leave him long to wonder. "Someone kidnapped Sakura, and I need your help to save her. Some guy named Takeda, a boxer or something. He said he wanted to fight you."

Shirou's eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed into daggers. He grabbed Shinji's arm and started to pull him to the front gate of Ryozanpaku. "Come on, let's go Shinji. You take me there and I'll deal with the rest."

As the two made it out of the dojo and into the heavy, warm summer rain, a pair of dark presences appeared behind Shinji, bringing him to a halt and causing Shirou to stumble at the jerk of force.

Shigure and Apachai loomed over the suddenly cowering Shinji, their eyes glowing in the localized thunderstorm. "I sense...something evil."

"Apapapa. Apachai will kill the evil creature." Shinji nearly wet his pants at the look in the Death God of Muay Thai's eyes, but Shirou stepped between them and gestured to Shinji.

"Wait, Masters. This is my friend Shinji Matou. Shinji, these are two of my Masters, Apachai Hopachai and Shigure Kousaka." Shigure and Apachai continued to stare the cowering Shinji down, but they finally relented after Shirou scratched the back of his head nervously and coughed into his had. "Oh yeah, and...uh...do you two have any advice for fighting a boxer?"

Apachai brightened, "If you are fighting a boxer, kill him using Muay Thai!"

Shirou stared at the bouncy giant for a second before turning to Shigure, who pointed to a corner. Shirou and Shinji both turned to look and saw a large bow with numerous steel-tipped arrows. "Use...my bow."

Shirou waved his hands in front of himself, "U-uh...no that's okay. Thank you for the advice, Masters."

Sakaki leaned out from an open door further down the hall. "Oi, Shirou. You goin' out to fight a boxer?"

Shirou turned around and yelled back. "Yeah! You got any advice for me Sakaki-sensei?"

"Low kicks! Use low kicks!" Shirou scratched his head but nodded.

As he turned around to go, dragging the shaking Shinji, Shirou raised his hand. "I'll be sure to remember that, Sakaki-sensei. Thank you!"

Shirou walked down the steps that led towards the underground flood channels of Fuyuki. Years ago, there had been rumors that a serial killer had used them for his killings, and after that they had become something of an underground crime haven. With the Yakuza, a large portion of whom were under Fujimura-sama's control, staking out most of the above ground territory, most of the younger gangs and hotshot teenagers would gather in large numbers using the flood channels.

This was where Takeda had taken Sakura after kidnapping her, all so that he could fight Shirou.

Shirou burned. He must not fail. He had replaced the casts with tight wrappings, but he still couldn't afford to take many hits on the recently mended injuries, and his mobility was limited by his weak ankle. His fingers were still raw from sharp rocks and rough branches, and if he took one to many shots to the ribs, breathing could become a chore. But, it was the same as with Fuji-nee. He would not fail, even if his body broke, he would not fail.

Sakura had only helped him for maybe three weeks before he rushed off to join Ryozanpaku, but she had still stuck around to clean his house and cook dinners. Now, he'd only really known her well for about three months, but none of that mattered, because Shirou would have saved her even if he didn't know her name.

The fact that it was Sakura only increased his will to succeed.

"Takeda, is that you!" Shirou's shouted accusation echoed up and down the concrete pillars and empty space.

Four people were arrayed near one of the support pillars, the area lit by the orange glow of electric lamps fixed into the ceiling far above. Sitting against the pillar with her arms wrapped around her knees was Sakura. The three boys that had ambushed Shirou two weeks ago leaned against the pillar around her, but Takeda kicked off to walk over to Shirou, smirking at him. "So, you really came to some dark underground chamber just to help out a friend. You're even more of an idiot than I took you for."

Shirou glared at Takeda. "I'm here, and I'll fight you, so let Sakura go."

Sakura was staring wide eyed at Shirou, alternating between him and Shinji. Takeda scoffed then waved at Shinji, "So you went and got him, huh? Fine, fine, take your sister and go, punk. Pretty girls like that don't belong in places like this."

Shinji rushed over to grab Sakura, who shrank back against the pillar for a moment before opening her mouth. "Nii-san, what is thi-" Shinji knelt down next to her and put his hand on her mouth. Out loud, he said "Quiet, Sakura. We need to get you out of here."

Standing her up, he leaned in close and hissed into her ear. "Shut up if you know what's good for you. If you say ANYTHING, I'll tell grandfather about your little crush."

Sakura froze up, but Shinji managed to cajole her along towards the stairs. She glanced back at Shirou one more time, then lowered her head and continued up the stairs.

Takeda watched them go with a strange light in his eyes, then turned back to Shirou. "Did you really come down here just because that kid asked you too?"

Shirou nodded, "Of course, all he had to do was ask. Even if it hadn't been Shinji or Sakura, I would have come down here if I knew about it. I can't stand by if I know that someone needs saving."

Takeda gaped at him, then turned to Ukita and Koga and said, "Can you believe this kid?" He started to laugh, holding a hand to his head and leaning backwards from the force of his mirth. "Oh man! He's like a Power Ranger! Hahahah!" After a while, he slowed down to merely snickering and turned hard eyes on Shirou. "You really would do something like that? Risk yourself for some random person?" He leaned forwards and punched the pillar with all of his might, cracking his knuckles and cracking the enamel over the concrete. His eyes glared at Shirou with hate, "I really can't stand people like that."

Shirou, no longer worried about Sakura, just gazed calmly back. "If I walked away without fighting you, you would just go after Sakura again wouldn't you?" At Takeda's nod, Shirou continued. "And if I just let you beat me up, you would go after her again and not let her go next time."

Takeda smiled, "Looks like you understand. Maybe you aren't to much of a fool to understand the real world. Just an idiot with an invincibility complex."

Shirou closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, his ribs twinging but holding firm. He expelled the breath slowly and got into a Muay Thai stance, deciding to take his Master's advice. Minus the killing and deadly weapons part...for this juvenile threat. Takeda smirked, settling into a boxing stance. He lightly jumped back and forth, speaking as he got ready. "You know, I used to be a boxer, and my best punch was my left. It still probably is, but I decided that I needed to make my right strong as well." He threw a few practice punches, even swifter than the day before now that he was fired up. "While I was at it, I took my footwork up a notch too." He darted forwards, throwing a punch that Shirou knocked aside, and then he darted back out of range, smiling. "I want to fight you without rules, no holding back and no stopping until one of us can no longer go on. Whaddya say?"

Shirou responded by advancing and throwing a punch. Takeda smirked and leaned in to throw his own punch. "HA!" Shirou extended his fist, fully intending to end the fight right then and there, but Takeda suddenly drew his head back and the punch missed. As Shirou pulled back into his guard, Takeda's fist darted out and got him right on the chin, twice before Shirou managed to step backwards and get his guard up.

Shirou focused past the daze in his head, his body protesting at the return to the daily beating routine so soon after the last meat grinder, and made to attack again, but Takeda was gone.

A thunderous straight smashed into the side of Shirou's head, sending him staggering. Takeda jumped right back in and followed up, but Shirou kept up his guard and started to block all of the punches by instinct alone. Still rattled, he retreated before the dancing boxer, unable to keep up for fear that he might overextend and ruin his ankle and unwilling to simply force his way forwards thanks to his healing arm. Takeda scoffed, throwing more punches at the less than stable Shirou. "What the hell is this? Is this all the resolve you have when you want to save people? I'll tell you right now, you'll only end up with regrets and pain. Hell, even your friend just ran off without thanking you."

Takeda closed, refusing to let up in this fight, but Shirou suddenly threw a wild elbow, stepping into a hit to get the attack in. Takeda smirked as he backed up, only to gasp in pain and stumble to the side at a sharp blow to his knee. He glanced down and realized that Shirou had thrown a kick along with that elbow.

Glancing back up, Takeda looked into Shirou's eyes and found the fire that he wanted to face. He smiled. "There it is! I knew you had it in you! I don't know what got you to finally fight back, but this is what I was waiting for."

Shirou spit to the side, a little bit of blood flying. From what he could tell, he had managed to complete the loss of a tooth today. "You wanna know why I'm fighting back now? It's because I will never back down from my ideal!"

Takeda looked a little surprised, then chuckled again. "What the hell, just like a shounen manga." He mirrored the spit. "Alright, I'll bite kid. You tell me your story and I'll tell you mine."

Shirou stared at the boxer incredulously, but shook his head and relented. He didn't really care to defend his ideal to others, he just wanted to follow it. But this situation, the whole atmosphere, was just so completely different from what he was used to that he decided to just go with it. "Fine. You want my answer? It's simple. I will never run away from a person in need, no matter what. My only goal is to save people, to save everyone: that is my ideal."

Takeda shook his head and laughed darkly, getting out of his stance. "I can't believe you can say that out loud in the real world. You seriously are just an idiot." He lowered his eyes and glanced to the side, then locked eyes with Shirou. "Then, how about I disillusion you from that little fantasy of yours."

Takeda's stare was level, a flat and truthful look and tone. "You, are the pinnacle of idiots. At least I can understand putting yourself on the line for your friends, but even that is a foolish idea." Takeda leaned back to look down at Shirou. "I told you I was a boxer right? Well, I don't like to brag, but I was one of the best new boxers to hit the ring. Even better, I had a friend who was advancing right along with me named Akeshita." Takeda went quiet for a bit then continued. "But, well, he got in a fight. A big fight with a bunch of thugs armed with bats, pipes, two-by-fours; you name it, they had it. He called me and I came running, cause he was my brother, you know? Even if I did have an important match the next day, I had to go. We fought 'em off, the two of us."

Takeda glared at the ground, gritting his teeth. "Of course, I didn't go to the match the next day, or any others again. I got injured, I got injured bad, and because of that my boxing career ended." He laughed, a bitter laugh that was a strange mixture of self-condemnation, anger at the world, and regret. "My friend, though, he went on to the professional arena. And you know what? He didn't even really care that I was around, cause he was too damn busy training."

Crazed, furious and desperate eyes turned on Shirou. "I've been fighting on the street since then, for no reason at all. But really, there is one thing I can't stand, and that's bastards like you! I won't feel relieved until I've made you realize the truth! That all you'll be left on this path is loss and regret!" He sprang forwards, right fist lancing in to take Shirou down.

Shirou felt his body burn with a new fire, a familiar fire. It was the fire that drove him onwards, the fire that made him face a shadowy monster in a dark forest without regards for his circumstances. He felt that fire and welcomed it, like an old friend.

After all, hadn't he been born in fire?

Takeda's blow was coming in on Shirou's left side, his weak side. Takeda couldn't see the splint, covered as it was by Shirou's customary baggy long-sleeve shirts, but as an experienced fighter he'd picked up on the stiff and hesitant way that Shirou used that arm. He hoped to force Shirou to bring both arms into play lest the weak one give out.

Shirou gritted his teeth and blocked with his splinted arm, knocking the punch aside and aiming straight for the blindspot created. Takeda tried to withdraw, but Shirou stepped forwards and hammered his punch home. He advanced, throwing elbows and low kicks with abandon until Takeda was staggering drunkenly. Reaching up, he grabbed Takeda's head and pulled it down to knee him, but Takeda managed to hold up a hand and block the knee. Shirou continued anyways and twisted his hands to grab Takeda's collar and throw him overhead, ignoring the strain on his ankle and his pained ribs.

Takeda slammed into the concrete floor, the wind knocked out of him and his brain rattled from the constant assault. He tried to gasp in a breath but found himself unable to draw in the dank air of the flood channel. Shirou loomed over him, his eyes lit by an inner flame that cast a clear light. "I don't care! I will never regret the path I take, and I will never regret what I lose so long as it is on the path to help people." He stepped in closer, catching Takeda's eyes and holding them with his own. "I do not care that Shinji ran off without thanking me, I simply want to help him because it is what I want to do. I don't want anything from those I save, because it is simply the right thing to do!"

A rumble echoed down the flood channel, a rushing sound accompanied by a sudden cool breeze. Takeda stared at Shirou in blank amazement for a moment longer, but when the damp wind hit him he suddenly started. "Shit! That's the damn flood control! What the hell happened to the alarms!"

Koga started off of the wall. "Are you serious!" His voice cracked with fear, "Fuck, I'm outta here! Come on guys!"

Ukita ran over to Takeda as Koga ran off towards the stairs that led out of the tunnels. Grunting in pain, Takeda tried to stand, but gasped and fell back as his battered knees gave out on him. Before he hit the ground, he felt a strong arm wrap around his chest and lift him up. He glanced to the side at Shirou and recoiled. "What the hell? Why are you still here?!"

Shirou grit his teeth against his probably newly resprained ankle and struggled on, holding up Takeda. Ukita jumped in on Takeda's other side and took most of the weight off of Shirou. Growling to force his voice through the pain, Shirou answered vehemently. "I already told you my ideal, so what the hell do you think I'm doing? I'm saving you!"

Takeda gaped at Shirou, then nodded and went grim. "Alright then, lets get the hell out of these tunnels before we're washed away and drown."

Ukita responded angrily. "Can you please not say something so depressing when I'm trying to save your life, Takeda?"

Takeda chuckled and nodded. "Sure, sure Ukita. Let's try and not die then, shall we?"

The three were almost to the steel door that Koga had already sprinted through when it slammed shut with a clang. A light mounted on the inside flashed red, to the mounting terror of the three students. Ukita voiced it most eloquently. "Holy fuck we're gonna die?!"

Shirou kept looking around the dark forest of concrete pillars, then spotted a hint of light. He pointed with is free hand, "Over there! Head for that light!" He put words into action and started to drag Takeda over there, Ukita following a second later.

Takeda growled at them, his voice beginning to be drowned out by the rumbling roar that echoed deafeningly in the chamber. "Dammit you two! Just drop me and run! If you do that you can make it!"

Ukita shook his head at him. "You fight at my side for that long and you think I'll just drop you at the first sign of danger? Hell no, Takeda!"

Shirou stayed silent and struggled on, focusing all of his effort on supporting Takeda and getting them to whatever faint sign of salvation they could find.

Finally, they came upon a hanging ladder that led up to a manhole on the surface, a shaft of pale grey light shining down into the pitch black of the now unlit tunnel.

Shirou gestured to Ukita. "You go up first. You're the freshest and you'll have to help pull Takeda up."

Ukita nodded and jumped up, grasping the rungs and pulling himself upwards. Takeda shook his head at Shirou, sighing. "You idiot, I can't climb a ladder even with you two helping me. Look at you, you can barely stand yourself! I don't know what possessed you to come down here with injuries like that, but it was idiotic."

Shirou growled and shoved Takeda to the ladder, "Just get on the ladder."

The boxer sighed and shrugged his left shoulder, pulling his hand out of his pocket. It fell limply out, unable to lift properly thanks to the injury earned defending his friend. Shirou stared at it and Takeda nodded. "Exactly. Ukita can't hold me with his feet, and you can't lift me like that!" Water had begun to pool at their feet, the first part of the flood arriving. Takeda resorted to raising his voice almost to the level of a yell.

Shirou stared at the limp hand, glanced up at Ukita who was watching them, worried, and then turned back to face Takeda. Without warning, he leaned down and grabbed Takeda around the waist, grunting with effort and lifting him in a fireman's carry. Reaching up with his good hand, Shirou grabbed the ladder and pulled himself up.

Ukita saw what he was doing and curled up on the ladder so that he could reach a hand down. He grabbed Shirou's collar and helped him get high enough for a foothold. Takeda protested the whole time. "You fucking idiot! Just drop me and leave. There's no way we can climb up in time like this!"

The roar of the water even drowned out the shouts now, loud crashes sounding from the rushing river smashing into the pillars. Shirou roared along with the dark mass of water, pouring all of his effort into climbing.

Muscles, trained since he was a child to easily take care of his own movements, and further forged by the hellish physical training of Ryozanpaku, bulged with power and forced him higher. Shirou moved upwards with speed, jumping up with his legs and arm. Ukita climbed above the two, glancing back and staying just ahead of him.

Shirou let go with his free hand and darted his hand higher, his aim just right as he latched onto the next highest rung.

His ribs protested, his ankle ached, and the arm he'd broken less than a week ago barely hung on to Takeda, but Shirou pushed higher. Lunge after lunge, push after push, he climbed as fast as he could. Ukita was forced to speed up, frantically climbing for the safety above.

Below, water smashed through the tunnel they were just in and frothed in the opening of the ladder well, threatening to rise higher.

Shirou continued, knowing that his body would give out if he paused.

Takeda stared at the water below, periodically jostled by the leaping motion of the desperate Shirou, and only able to listen to the pounding beat and furious roar of the tempest in the tunnel below.

When they finally reached the top, Ukita shoved off the manhole cover with a strength born of panicked relief, and clambered out of the tunnel to collapse in the middle of the wet, rainy street.

Shirou threw Takeda out onto the asphalt and half-flopped, half crawled out of the hole, feet hanging over the opening after he finally gave in to exhaustion. A car swerved past them and honked while people cast bewildered glances at the trio or otherwise avoided looking at the teens who seemed to have gotten in a violent disagreement with a meat grinder and a water hose.

The three lay there panting for a while, before Shirou spoke up. "So...I know two really good doctors. Anyone wanna go there?"

A/N: Short chapter that I just wanted to get out. If anyone is wondering, the flood tunnels come from Fate/Zero when Caster made a lair inside the massive concrete chambers meant to contain overspill from the Fuyuki River and the mountains.