'Huh?'

He didn't mean to sound clueless, but what the hell?

'A Hollow can only be destroyed by a Reaper so you'll have to become one and fight in my stead. That's our only chance.'

'How can I even do that?'

She looked at him and then down at the sword in her hand, lifting it back up and showing it to Scott.

'You see this blade? I'm going to plunge it into your chest and infuse you with my energy through the Zanpakuto.' She panted, trying to get some breath back, and carried on. 'If it doesn't work we will both die.'

'I will die!'

'It's a chance we'll have to take! The Hollow's coming back and it will do anything to consume your soul.'

Scott looked to where the Hollow had been thrown. Sure enough it was getting to its feet, snarling as it did so.

'Give me your soul!'

Of course it was at this point Gordon woke up.

'S-Scott?'

Scott looked at Gordon, then back at the Hollow. It was standing up, a little unsteadily. He looked to the girl.

'You have to decide! Now!'

The Hollow stood tall, throwing its head back and roaring before lumbering towards them.

With a yell of frustration Scott grabbed the sword.

'Do it!'

The girl pushed herself a little more upright and held the sword against herself and Scott, with a yell, pushed himself onto it as the Hollow began to run at them.

The whole area pulsed with white light emanating from the sword. It encompassed Scott and the girl, blocking everything out.

Fishbone swung at the area he knew the two were, only there was a blur of movement and behind him Scott landed softly on the ground. He was dressed almost identically to how the Soul Reaper had been, only the sheath on his back was huge, and the sword he wielded was far, far bigger than the girl's had been. As he straightened the Hollow's arm fell to the ground.

The girl, now dressed in all-white, watched as Scott rested the sword on his shoulder and turned to face the Hollow. Fishbone, shoulder smoking from where his arm had been, charged and Scott crouched in readiness, sword held in readiness, waiting for a beat before racing to meet the Hollow.

Scott leapt as the Hollow made to swipe at him, once more gently landing some distance behind it. The Hollow stopped in a crouch and for a second everything was still.

Then the Hollow slowly split in half right down the centre. A bright white light at where its centre had been drew all the blue smoke into itself before disappearing.

All the while Scott stayed crouched on the floor, eyes on the girl. He stood up as she spoke to him.

'Are you really just a human?' she asked.

'Just a human. That's all. At least, last time I checked.'