Setting the Scene

Note to my Readers: This is the final arc for my Bleach stories. With Bleach wrapping up here in a year or so and my load getting slowly more and more in real life, I think its time the story of Raian Getsueikirite comes to an end. Nevertheless, I have prepared a great arc, which I intend to finish within the course of several months, which will be a fitting ending for his character. As for all of the other arcs that have holes in them still, watch Raian's plot page. I will be filling in the details that were not written in story format there. Now, without further ado, let's begin.  Captain-Commander   Talk         08:47, April 30, 2012 (UTC)

Prologue
There is a tale in Soul Society that dates back eons...

Before the Gotei 13 and its fierce Captains ruled from on high in the Seireitei..before the Royal Guard and the current Spirit King ruled...

''A line of Shinigami existed, appearing when the need was great, whose life was devoted to restoring the "Balance of Souls" to the universe. These Shinigami were unique from all the others for they possessed the inborn ability to go beyond a Bankai - "Shukai", it was called. An impossibility for any other Shinigami. When one rose, they were called the "Strongest Shinigami of their Age".''

With their immense powers, they prevented the end of the world time and time again by balancing the souls in the three planes of existence.

However...

With the birth of the current Spirit King, and the rise of the Gotei 13, no more of these Shinigami appeared.

''Those in Soul Society thought them all gone, and after centuries of not appearing, they were regarded as mere myth. A thing from a time long ago, in a fantasy world.''

However, after the foundation of the Gotei 13, a prophecy was given by a woman from what would become Reiji Maigo...

"When the come to an end, a Shinigami will come to prominence and outshine the rest."

"Born in the, he will rise to and save the World of the Spirits from great evil."

"Never the less, will banish him. For they fear his power."

"But the Shinigami will regain his strength and persevere in his exile. The power of his desire will rally many to his cause. They will believe in him and he in them, and together they shall protect their world time and time again."

"However, this will prove his undoing, and his very friend will be the loss of his powers, but he will regain them for his friends nonetheless. And when that happens, the evil one will hasten his return."

"And on that day, the don of the last Shukai user will arise. In the face of tremendous despair and the collapse of the world, he shall save the World of the Spirits once again by balancing the souls."

"A time of peace follows. A time of death after that. He will be the last of the Shukai. But with his victory, the souls shall never again become unbalanced. Such is the way peace comes to reign...."

-- "Tomes of the Ancients", page 546