'I will destroy this Grand Fisher!'
The statement, said with Scott's customary confidence coupled with the anger he felt towards the two Soul Reapers, had all three of them turning fully to face him. But no one was surprised when Wayne started talking with a sneer in his voice.
'Look what we have here. Now I can kill this human for you, Tanusha!'
'Wayne!'
'Wait.'
It was Kyrano's quiet tone that stopped Wayne moving, not Kayo's impassioned plea. They turned to look at the Captain, and Kayo was shocked to see a small smile on her father's face.
'Leave him. Let him try.'
'But Captain…'
'Destroy the Grand Fisher, human.'
Once more all eyes turned to Scott.
'I will. But on one condition. If I succeed, you free Kayo.'
Ignoring their expressions, Scott turned to Kayo.
'Kayo, complete my Reaper training, and then I will defeat the Grand Fisher and you will get your powers back again, greater than they were before.
Training began in earnest.
Starting with the wooden bokken as before, this time Scott threw his everything and every spare second into training.
His brothers didn't really know what was going on, and Scott didn't want them to know either, so Kayo and he had explained that he was in training for a special mission. He could feel the disbelief, but he knew they wouldn't call him out. John would watch secretly, but he could handle that.
The sword fighting was one thing, but when Kayo, using the extra strong cord that Brains had designed, tied his arms to the racking attached to the wall and encouraged him to hit her…well, they were both surprised at how strong Scott could be when needed.
As his training progressed and Scott got faster and faster and stronger and stronger, Kayo taught him about the Grand Fisher.
'We Reapers have been pursuing the Grand Fisher for 54 years. It's far more powerful, agile and deadly than any Hollow we've ever encountered. It uses lures to attract those with strong spiritual pressure and then preys on their souls. As your powers increase it will be drawn to you.
'One thing to remember about an exorcism. You're not killing the Hollow – you're redeeming it from its sins.'
There were occasions – unknown by Scott – when Penny caught sight of the two of them fighting. They often held their training out in the open air but away from the villa, but Penny found herself inexorably drawn to watch them. Scott never seemed to win, but she appreciated the improvement in his skills. He may have been a fighter, helping to train his brothers in self-defence, but swords were a skill he had never needed before.
She wondered why he needed it now, but it seemed an impertinent question to ask.
That night Scott and Kayo sat at his desk. Kayo was drawing the Grand Fisher and talking through how he should defeat it.
'Go for its forehead. Even the Grand Fisher can't stand up to a blow there.'
Scott looked at the image. Kayo had drawn a giant rabbit, and he frowned. The Hollow was a bunny?
'That's the Grand Fisher?'
'Not exactly.'
'That doesn't really help a lot, I gotta say.'
*Sigh* 'One thing I am sure of is that it's enormous.'
'And I am the one it's been searching for. Wow.'
Scott sat back with a weary sigh. Kayo watched him, her face softening. This was a heavy burden he didn't even realise he was carrying, and she hoped fighting the Hollow would help lift it.
'Yeah.'
'For how long?'
'Since you were a kid, probably.'
Memories once more assailed Scott, flashes of the little girl and his Mom in the rain. He looked at the floor and swallowed.
'Do – do you think it's possible I saw it?'
'Only you will know that, Scott.'
She softened her tone as she carried on speaking.
'Grand Fisher sightings are rare. Some say it is a huge animal. Others say it's like an evil flower.'
'What was it? I mean, what was it orginally?'
'Sorry?'
'What was it before it turned into a Hollow?'
'It was a little girl's spirit.'
'A – a girl!'
Scott got up and began to pace the room. Kayo turned to watch him. He was more than agitated, he seemed restless but strangely haunted.
'What is it? Are you remembering something?'
'Yeah. Kayo – I think this just got personal.'
Scott was standing, back to her, staring at the picture of his Mom.
The next morning he fought Kayo with everything he had, keeping the Reaper on her toes.
Neither of them noticed Virgil and Penny watching them. Or that Brains had translocated to the Island to check on their progress. The three of them watched the fight.
'A while ago Scott fought some serious thugs off who vowed revenge.'
'So he's preparing for that?'
'Your friend is facing a much bigger fight.'
Virgil and Penny turned to Brains. Neither questioned his presence on the island, knowing that Kayo had mentioned getting help in, but they gave him all their attention at his words.
'One that could very well turn out to be his last. And yet, even though he knows what's at risk, he'll still take up the challenge.'
Brains had a grin on his face.
This human was different. This human would stand against the greatest Hollow, even though he knew it might kill him.
He liked this human. This human had guts.
That afternoon Scott beat Kayo for the first time ever.
