They stayed stationary for a beat, Scott on his knees, braced for action, and Kayo standing with the giant sword held against her chest. They looked at each other.

'What?'

'It's not working?'

'What?!'

'Your energy is too low.'

Kayo pushed the blade aside and turned her back on Scott. She was clearly in shock, biting her nails as the realisation sank in. Scott stood up. He wanted to reassure her, but he was at a loss how to.

'So, what do we do?'

There was no response. Scott asked again. And again. Still nothing. Then Kayo turned around suddenly, folding her arms and looking at him appraisingly. Scott wasn't sure he liked that look.

'I think I got it. What we'll do is have you act as my substitute reaper for now.'

'Say what?'

Kayo's smirk did not make him feel any better…

Lessons began immediately.

'There are two kinds of souls. There are those souls who are whole, normal ghosts. The ghosts you are able to see are this type.

'Then there are the Hollows, like Fishbone. They run around eating other souls. They're the souls of those who died bearing a grudge.

'Reapers have two primary duties. We guide the 'Wholes' – or normal – souls to Soul Society by means of a ritual, a Soul Burial. I did this to the man in your ship.

Our other duty is to find and destroy Hollows with the Zanpakuto. This is the duty you will help me to fulfil.'

Scott stared at Kayo. She stared back.

'No, no. Nope. I got enough going on, what with International Rescue, Tracy Industries and my brothers.'

'If you don't then the Hollows will run around loose, devouring innocent people!'

'The only reason I took on that last one was to protect my family. I will give your powers back right now!'

'You can't. Your spiritual energy is too low! It wouldn't work.'

'But you said it was strong yesterday!'

'It might work but trying it would probably kill you in your current condition. Your soul is highly pressurised, but it is untrained, undisciplined. Your body is too weak to survive the release of that much pressure too many times.'

They both turned to look at Scott's physical body, still flat on the ground. Scott swallowed.

'When will I be strong enough?'

'Actually, destroying Hollows is an excellent way to increase your strength. But to contain your spiritual pressure, you'll have to undergo training.'

'I already do training!'

'Not like this, not like what you're going to need to do with me. Accept it. It is your fate.'

Scott didn't like being put in a situation that he had no control over. He couldn't afford to spend more time training to fight Hollows on top all his other responsibilities.

He needed time to think.

Kayo, seeing the battle within him, let him go. He'd come around to her offer, she knew he would. He was a good man, one of the purest souls she'd ever encountered.

She could wait for Scott to agree. At least for a short time.