A River Seems A Magic Thing. A Magic, Moving, Living Part Of The Very Earth Itself

My anger would come like an impossible build up steam, burning me on the way out, burning the one on the receiving end. I can tell you honestly, every time I ever blew I reckoned the other person deserved it. There was the explosion and then the mental framework afterwards to avoid guilt, avoid owning the shame that was mine.

That's how I stayed so foolish for so long, so immature, refusing to learn over and over - sacrificing who I was supposed to be to keep a pristine ego. But that pain, that realisation, when I let it in, was more school than any classroom ever was. If I kept on being angry, how could I love anyone right? How could I begin to love myself?

It seemed that I will never learn. My anger was building, and when anger boils up, take the pot off the heat and open the lid. You gotta let that steam dissipate safely into the ether

"DAMN YOU!" I screeched as I rushed towards him, "HOW THE FUCK DO YOU HAVE THAT QUIRK?!" I yelled my very being shouted in pain

'First Form: Water Surface Slash', gaining momentum, I release a circular flowing attack towards All For One, "I WILL MAKE YOU TALK!" I scream

"Futile," he says, turning my water into steam once again, calmly blocking my blade, "This quirk was basically made to oppose you, it almost feels like destiny that it is at use again," he ridiculed me

I grit my teeth as I attempt to back away from him. He leaves me no chance of escape as he grabs my left arm, crushing it, his grip getting tighter and tighter.

I grunt through the pain and loop my legs around his neck, pulling myself closer to him as I bring down my blade in a swift motion across his left shoulder

It leaves a long gash as the pain distracts him enough for me to escape from his grasp, giving him a quick right-footed double kick before land, backing away as All Might rushing back into the fight. All For One responds in kind, again with his single arm stretched out ready to send another shock wave

Dammit. I've got to calm down. I'll get my answers later. I'm sure. But…This guy is just toying with us at this point. Surely I've been able to buy enough time for the kids to run away.

Turning around, I look to see the kids nearing their escape, the League were currently in too shaken of a shape to deal with them. That's good

"Now now we can't have that can we?" I heard All For One say

Turning slightly, everything seems to be in slow motion as I see him raise his arm in the direction of the kids

"Let's see how your symbol of peace fails to protect some something holds dear…again!" All For One mocks

I don't know what happened to me at this moment. My body was unbelievably warm and my heart was racing with adrenaline. My body was hurting and my mind was lost. And yet, I felt strong. Stronger than I ever have

I shift my blade forward slightly, my feet sink into the ground as I hurtle forward. Just to my right, I can see fire, blades, air, small discharges of black energy. All of them racing forward towards one student. Bakugo

"I wonder how it will feel!" All For One shouted, "To fail to protect the one thing you came here for!"

"Young Bakugo no!" All Might shouted from where he and All For One stood

"Bakugo!" The five students shouted from where they were

I could see Bakugo was slowly turning around, shock written all over his face

Come on! Push forward! I can get there! Just. A little. More!

Breathing in one more puff of air I use all the strength I could currently gather and dart towards Bakugo

Just moments before the incoming attack of All For One reaches him, I land in front of it, using my only usable arm to meet the barrage head-on. It's strong! Unbelievably so! It's a different league compared to what he used earlier!

My blade shakes and struggles for superiority over his attack, unable to use my water as he will just turn it to steam…or ice. I continue to push, realisation hitting that I'm not going to get anywhere like this

Turning my head backwards, I see the kid with his arms up protecting himself from the pulses of air, his eyes held slight fear. His usual angry and cocky demeanour was slowly fading as he watched me. The strangest thing was, I could perfectly see his body structure. I could also tell that he was in a fine condition health-wise

What kind of hero am I? I'm not even able to save this kid. Like I couldn't save my friend.

No matter where I go. They always end up leaving me

"Young Tomioka!" These words snap me out of my thoughts as I look up towards him, struggling, still being held by All For One, they also looked like muscles and bodily structure, but their health conditions were awful, they were both ways past their prime in terms of health

He's trying his best. Even in this situation. I look back once again to the kid behind me. Right. I can do this. This attack has probably taken quite a bit of strength from him. Judging from that life support he has on, he's probably treading on thin ice.

Why did he attack Bakugo? He just told Shigaraki that he saved him as he is important. So why?

"I wonder how it will feel! To fail to protect the one thing you came here for!" These words repeat in my head

I see. He doesn't care about how important Bakugo is. He just wants to ruin All Might. It's obvious from their interaction that they are associated with each other. It all makes sense now, from the USJ to now. This man must seriously despise All Might

Focusing my attention back on the attack, I can tell that I won't last much longer. Think Giyu! Think! What can I do?!

I glance at my beaten and crushed left arm. Right! That might work!

Breathing in a huge intake, I concentrate as I redirect my attention to my body, focusing my utmost on my quirk, directing it towards my left arm as I slowly felt myself being able to move it

Having full concentration, as fast as possible, I jump slightly backwards and land on my right leg. I hook my arm around the kid and push him behind me, sharp, dense and raging water currents that even that quirk won't be able to do anything about, surround my left arm as I clench my fist, uppercutting the attack with my full power, holding the kid in my grasp as All For One attack shatters into pieces

I shield the kid from the excess airwaves that assault my back

"Are you…okay?" I ask him, breathing heavily

"Y-Yeah!" He shouted, his voice shaking slightly

"B-But, your arm!" He exclaims loudly, looking towards my missing left arm, his head pushed onto my shoulder

"That doesn't matter right now," I told him, "Hey kids! I'm sure you thought of a way to get out of here right?!" I yelled to them, "Then get to it!"

"Right!" Broccoli shouted back

I look down at my body noticing that my Haori had been damaged slightly. I swiftly take it off of me and hang it around Bakugos back and shoulders

"This is a memento of an old friend of mine," I informed him, "Keep it safe for me until I come back will you?"

"Bakugo! Come here!" I heard the red-haired kid say as they blasted off from the large ice structure, the other two kids had already retreated during my stalemate

"You can't tell me what to do!" Bakugo shouted. Nonetheless, he put on my haori as he blasted off into the sky

As I look ahead of me, I notice Magne attempting to set up a repulsion canon from earlier with Spinner and Mr Compress. I would try to stop it but I am still trying to stabilise myself, so there is nothing I can do about it.

Mr Compress shoots into the air in rapid pursuit. Further back, I'm able to notice that All Might has been able to knock down All For One, most likely due to the repulsion from me destroyed the attack

"Titan Clash!" I hear Mt Lady's voice shout as she and Mr Compress collide, "The rescue…is priority…go home…you dumb kids," she croaked out, falling unconscious again

"We can still catch them!" Magne says motioning towards Twice and Spinner, "Come on you two,"

Without warning, Twice, Magne and Spinner are knocked to the ground in rapid succession by yellow spandex- no, Gran Torino was his name

"You're too slow," All Might said to him

"You're just too fast hotshot, you saw the kid right? He's turning out to be more and more like you every day, not a compliment," he said slyly in response

All For One gets to his feet as he says, "Shimuras friend huh?"

"It's shameful that they ended up helping me, even if they did get revealed, at least they were able to make another plan," All Might said wiping his mouth, "But now, I don't have to pull any punches against you, you're finished," he motioned towards All For One with and outstretched finger

"They got us, turned the tables with a single move, well, through a sacrifice," he said his face turning to me for a moment at the end of his sentence

"Forcible Quirk Activation: Magnetism," he affirmed, using the same ability as he had done with Kurogiri on Magne

Taking an educated assumption as to what will happen, as fast as I can, I rush over to the closest villain, Mr Compress, in an attempt to grab him. It was proved futile as my chest began beating violently, my head throbbed and a stream of blood flowed out of my mouth

Gripping my chest, I start coughing violently. I slowly and difficulty stand to my feet as I see Shigaraki enter the purple portal, his hand seemingly reaching out to something, "No I…won't go," he struggles to say

"Tomura…you must continue to fight," All For One spoke to him as he disappeared

All Might capitalises from his lax attitude as he rushes forward, his fist drawn in preparation to unleash another attack

"Warping, plus shock inversion!" All For One disclosed, Gran Torino, appearing in front of All Mights fist

"I only came to save Tomura, but if you're here for a fight, I'll do as you wish," All For One told All Might, "In the past, your fist crushed one after another of my comrades, many were forced into the shadows, underground, as you were bestowed the title, 'Symbol of Peace', what a grand view you must've had from atop our sacrifices…a hero standing on the mountain of our efforts," he explained in a reprimanding tone

"DETROIT! SMASH!" All Might sent a powerful fist towards All For One, rescuing Gran Torino in the process as they both repelled off of each other

All For One proceeds to mock All Might for protecting the people around us, as I am finally onto my feet and steadying my breathing. As All Might begins to speak, I use this time to assess the situation one final time

The surrounding buildings are ruined, broken in pieces as heroes around us are helping to evacuate them. After what All For One just said, it's become quite obvious why he holds such a strong grudge against All Might. He destroyed all that he built. Any man would be annoyed and angered

*Crash* *Bang* I hear in quick succession as I look over and see that All Might has pummelled the man into the ground, his body smoking as he breathes heavily

"Toshinori…you've reached your limit," Gran Torino struggled to say, All Might still breathing heavy, looking down in front of him

"What's wrong?" A voice comes from the crater as All Might inhales sharply, "You seem to be worked up about something, All Might" he starts, "I've heard that same line before you know?" He begins to laugh at the end of his words, "From the person who had One For All before you…Nana Shimura," he ended his voice colder and heavier with every word

"You have so much in common with Nana Shimura, an utter waste of a human passed One For All into you," he mocked All Might

To struggle because you chose to is bravery. To struggle to survive is brave yet also cruel. To struggle and sink is pain beyond measure. A sense of emotionally intelligent perspective is everything. So I chose to struggle. I chose to persevere through this pain I'm feeling as I breathe in large amounts of air to heal myself slowly from within

"My master was a true hero, keep her name out of your filthy mouth," All Might strained

"A woman with no skill and grand ideas she couldn't live up to, how embarrassing for me, the creator of One For All to see here inherit the power, the way she died was so pathetic, shall I tell you all about it?" He mocked continuously

As All Might began to bring down another punch, I noticed that All For One powered up his arm once more, so I dash forth towards the two. As I neared them, just as All Might landed his punch, I drop kick him out of the way, taking the brunt of the attack as he gets sent to the side out of the way

I use my 'Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow' to control myself mid-air, just narrowly avoiding the direction of a helicopter as I raise myself higher and higher into the air until I push forward towards All For One who is still getting to his feet

My feat gathered air as I bolted towards him, "You're in the way," he said to me as I continue charging at him

"Like I care about how you feel!" I shouted in response, "I WILL! MAKE YOU TELL ME!" I screamed, my assault nearing him

I see him ready his right arm again, so just as I'm about to hit him in the chest, I change the rotation of my body, rotating to the right to narrowly avoid the attack he shot forwards. Landing on the ground, I strike my blade towards his neck, planning to finish this right now

"I'm sure Sabito wouldn't like to see you so angry, would he?" He said

These words stopped me still. He knows Sabito? No. Of course he does. He has his quirk. He even mocked me about it. I knew it. I knew he would've done something with him. But hearing confirmation is different. It hurts.

Looking up, All For Ones hand is stretched out towards me, I try to get away but it's too late. My body is sent flying backwards into the building behind me

As I felt something building up in my mouth, I put my hand in front as I coughed up even more blood. When another attack comes I can barely move, and not because I'm in shock. Every muscle has seized up. My body is struggling to recover, to repair the damage. Unable to move with any grace my movements are jerky

The shadows of the beating were on my skin and my heart. The knowledge that Sabito must've gone through such horrid torment just broke something inside of me, something that would remain long after my skin and bones were healed. The death of Sabito was a sadness that stayed in my eyes, a heaviness, an unyielding sorrow that slowed my speech and robbed me of my once easy smile

When I finally reach to the wall overlooking the battle, what I saw worried me greatly. All Might be stood there in his deflated form, his arm held out as he shook, struggling to stay standing. I looked up, straight to the helicopter. A news helicopter. Shit. Millions of people must be watching this right now.

"God…dammit!" I shouted, gathering the attention of All For One

"Still alive are we? You're just as tenacious as your friend, even he still denies death, even when he has no hope," All For One mocked me

At his words my breathing became erratic. He's alive. Sabito is alive. But how?!

"Giyu Tomioka," All For One begun, "Fight for me," He said, "And if you do, you'll get to see Sabito again, alive and well, and I won't kill him," he finished

I stood frozen, "Really?" I asked him, "Are you serious?"

"Of course," he said holding his hand out, "If you join me, he will live,"

I know it's tempting. I should do it. If he had approached me any time other than now I would've accepted without hesitation. But when I look around at the damage and ruin caused here, I know that I can't. I mustn't, if I do, how can I call myself a true hero? If I did, I would just shame everything Sabito has done for me

"Remember this well," I said to him, dropping down to the ground for one last duel, "There are two types of fights," I continued to walk towards him my blade drawn, looking to my left, giving the battered All Might a small nod and smile, "The fight protect life…and the fight to protect pride!"

Right? Sabito?