Turn Back the Pendulum: Back to Where it All Began...

The Pendulum again heads in an unfamiliar direction...

Takes us back...

''But for the time being, Father Time... The saga continues to unfold right before our very eyes...''

Born in the darkness, what was once concealed from all comes to light...

The undeniable truth, that now emerges from the darkness beneath the abyss of the Soul Society...

''Let us examine the events leading up to the present! Their beginnings, born in the darkness!''

The Night a Demon is Born
One Thousand Years Ago — Night of the Getsueikirite Genocide

Young Tadoku Getsueikirite huddled, his infant nephew tucked tight against his chest, beneath a giant tree in the depths of the woods surrounding the Rukongai. Heated tears streamed down his cold cheeks, stinging against the cruelty of the world. So many members of his family were dead. For all he knew, he could be holding the last member of his family in his own small arms right this instant. He didn't have time to reflect on the woes of the world, however. A noise snapped him out of his crying, alerting his senses.

It sounded as though a twig had been snapped. Tadoku would have his answer soon, though. From the thicket, a large man emerged, bearing the clothing of the Shinigami. Fear immediately set in. They'd found him! The bespectacled Shinigami had even seemed to have already spotted him, and was walking casually in his direction. Tadoku froze, fear seeming to chill the very blood pumping through his tiny veins. He couldn't seem to bring himself to run from the Shinigami, and so, slowly but quietly, resigned himself to his fate... Until the man spoke;

"Do not be afraid, young Getsueikirite." the man said, his voice deep and baritone, yet calm and kind. "I am not here to kill you."

"I-I don't believe you!" Tadoku managed through his tears. "Go away!"

The Shinigami certainly did not go away, but, instead, continued speaking, "Now then, you're defenseless. Allow me to assist you. Here..."

The Shinigami reached for the Zanpakutō resting in its sheathe on his waist. Tadoku tenses, but his fears were suddenly eased when the man drew the sword and stabbed it into the ground, out of his own reach.

"There, see?" the man continued. "My sword is out of reach. You have nothing to fear. Now, why don't you bring me that baby while you take a breather."

Slowly and reluctantly, Tadoku drew closer to the man, forfeiting his infant nephew, Raian Getsueikirite, to the man's tender embrace. The Shinigami wrapped Raian close to his chest, as Tadoku had been doing, and then stood again, gently rocking him back and forth, as a father would to a son. With this done, Tadoku collapsed, out of breath and exhausted from the stress and anxiety of the night. After a few minutes, he finally managed to speak again.

"Who... who are you?" the young soul asked.

The Shinigami man regarded him with affection, "Aizen... Aizen Sōsuke." the Shinigami replied with a smile.

"I'm Tadoku.. Getsueikirite Tadoku." Tadoku replied meekly.

"Pleased to meet you, Tadoku-kun." Aizen greeted the boy. "How scared you must be. I know what happened back there."

"Yeah..." Tadoku replied, his eyes narrowing with remorse. "Those Shinigami killed all of my family... And destroyed our homes... and..."

"That is the nature of the Shinigami." Aizen interjected, cutting him off. "They are destroyers. Destroyers of life. They cared nothing for your family. Even this infant's life means nothing to them."

"But," Tadoku spoke again. "Aren't you a Shinigami too?"

Aizen smiled softly, "In species only. The Shinigami are a godless race. I hope to bring order to their chaos. To sit upon the throne of god. Then their senseless killing will be stopped."

Tadoku fell into silence upon hearing this, drooping his head as if to contemplate what he had just been told and, at the same time, continue to mourn the loss of his family.

"Would you want to help with my plan?" Aizen suddenly asked, causing Tadoku to look up at him again. "With your help, we could avenge your family, and protect this little one."

Akujin wiped his eyes of tears, "I would like nothing more, but I have to see if mother and father are alive. If they are, they'll be worried about Raian-kun and myself." he stuttered, obviously anxious of Aizen's intentions.

Aizen only smiled in return, "Very well. It should be safe now. Return to your village and see to your parents. But, ponder what I have said, Tadoku-kun. If you should decide to join me, come back to this location. I will be waiting here." he offered.

Tadoku nodded and Aizen carefully lowered the infant Raian back into the child's arms and watched him scamper off into the woods in the direction of his village. Once the child had gone from sight, a sinister grin crossed his face. He slowly made his way over to his Zanpakutō, still stabbed in the mud nearby, and retrieved it — sheathing it back into its scabbard.

The deed was done.

The boy had seen his Shikai.

All was going according to plan....