Raian Getsueikirite's Relationships

This article, Raian Getsueikirite's Relationships, is property of Ten Tailed Fox

"The Shinigami who trained under me are different from any in the other Divisions. Even if it means our death, there is not a single one of us, who would sell out one of our friends"

—Raian on his personal philosophy and the 10th Division.

Raian with two of his most important bonds; Mashū and Seireitou.

Due to the sheer number of centuries he's been alive, being nearly 1,800 years-old, and his general philosophy of loyalty to one's friends, Raian Getsueikirite has built many lasting relationships, both positive and negative, which have impacted both himself and others.

Because of his prominence in Soul Society's recent events, Raian has also gained a significant following of antagonistic relationships, one of which has their goals solely fixed on defeating Raian himself. Over the course of the series, Raian has managed to make a few of these relationships friendly rivalries. He has also met and befriended several prominent canon characters over the course of his story.

Mashū Getsueikirite

"My heart aches for you. I'm not sure why, or how it all began, but I feel compelled to protect you. So you stand right there. Don't move. With the blade produced by my heart, I will tear asunder all of your enemies — any obstacle that stands in your path. Even if that obstacle is my best friend. I won't stop, even if you hate me. That's why I was born first. To protect the younger brother that I love. That is my lot in this life."

—Raian to Mashū

Raian sparing with Mashū.

Perhaps the singular most important bond in Raian's long life is that with his younger brother, Mashū Getsueikirite. From a very young age, Mashū has shown a strong reliance on Raian. As he got older, Mashū began to become more and more independent, while it seemed Raian became more and more protective in response. Mashū served as the central reason that Raian became a Shinigami, and, according to Kanāji Fūshin, the reason he obtained his Shikai and Bankai. Whenever harm is brought to Mashū's person, Raian's "Battōsai" persona emerges. On one such occasion, Raian wiped out an entire division of Quincy employed by the Impero Nascosto.

Mentors

Shōyō Shakyamuni

"Ever since we met, I've lived with you in my sights. Just like a kid who reveres his father and dreams of surpassing him... That's right... This is it... This is my last chance to surpass you. That means my only choice is to rise to your level. Right here, right now, enjoy the sword!"

—Raian to Shōyō

Shōyō finds Raian in the Rukongai.

Raian first met Shōyō Shakyamuni as a young boy in the streets of Rukongai. Seeking the power to protect his ill-stricken brother, he wondered into the street where Shōyō had been traveling, along with a young Seireitou Kawahiru and Shiori Miyamoto. Shōyō offered Raian Shinigami training, after hearing his desires, and Raian officially, then, became his student at the Shakyaryū Dojang. From that point forward, the two forged a very powerful teacher-student bond; which ended up becoming one of Raian's foundational bonds, and one of his most important over all.

Shōyō is responsible for being the foundation of Raian's training as a Shinigami; having given him his Asauchi, which later became his Zanpakutō, as well as having trained him in the fundamentals of the four Shinigami Arts. Additionally, Shōyō instilled in Raian a great reverence for the art of Zanjutsu — Shinigami Zanpakutō, or sword, combat. Shōyō was also responsible for facilitating many of Raian's long-lasting friendships; having introduced him to Seireitou, Hikaru, and Echo, who later went on to become the four Yonkō along with him.

A young Raian with Shōyō.

Having grown up mostly without a father, Shōyō quickly became the closest thing to a father Raian had. Raian notes this at one point, revealing that he sought to surpass Shōyō as a son would his own father. This is also shown in his reverence for Shōyō, even nearly a thousand years after his mentor's death. Shōyō instilled his bushido, which was "Use swordsmanship to protect whatever you hold dear.", into Raian, who would live by that philosophy his entire life. The death of Shōyō shook Raian deeply, to the point that even nearly a thousand years later, Raian still feels great sorrow when thinking upon his mentor, while, at the same time, being bolstered by his memories of the man he considered his father.

Friends and Allies

Yonkō

Seireitou Kawahiru

"No... you and I are the same. We don't seek or expect forgiveness. And we're not interested in punishing criminals. I'm not gonna give up trying to save people, like my little brother over there. We 'brats' have to stick together. Now, their defenses are lowered. Yeah... let's go crazy... Shiroyasha!"

—Raian to Seireitou

Raian as the "Hitokiri", Seireitou as the "Shiroyasha".

Seireitou serves as the motivating force in a great number of Raian's endeavors. Other than his brother, Seireitou serves as one of the primary forces driving Raian to become a stronger and stronger individual, both emotionally and physically. The two met as small children, while training under Shōyō. They immediately formed a rivalry that lasted well into their days in the Shin'ō Academy — as they were notorious, even to Genryūsai Yamamoto, for their heated bickering, which they are still prone too. Both have fought together in every major conflict of their lives, causing them to both trust each other without hesitation, as well as being knowledgeable of the intimate details of each of each other's techniques and abilities.

During the Akujin Crisis, though temporarily estranged, Seireitou taught Raian how to use his latent Hollow powers, allowing him to fight back against Akujin's evil forces. He later reconciled with his old friend, joining in the final battle against Akujin. Though both men are highly unpredictable, in terms of actions, both always end up coming to one another's aid, even against former friends and allies. Of the Yonkō, Seireitou and Raian are known to be the closest in terms of friendship, as they have remained constant companions throughout the conflicts taking place in the Spiritual World, even after Hikaru Kurosaki and Echo Osore parted ways with them.

A younger Raian and Seireitou.

During the final battle of the War of the Worlds, Seireitou, despite having a grudge on Soul Society for its past wrongdoings towards him, joined up with Raian, even when the other two Yonkō refused, in protecting his home in the Soul Society, from Akujin and Sōsuke Aizen, who had teamed up to obliterate Soul Society and rule the Spiritual World. In this instance, Seireitou openly declared he would protect whatever Raian protected out of respect, showing the deep respect the two have for one another.

Raian and Seireitou in one of their usual arguments.

At times, the two men's arguments can become belligerent and comedic, such as when the two got into an argument over the usage of mayonnaise as a condiment, leading Raian to pouring mayonnaise into Seireitou's parfait in comedic rage; ultimately leading to him tossing the parfait into Seireitou's face, much to the latter's own comedic rage. These arguments are usually only in a comedic light, rarely having serious implications, and are usually done specifically to annoy or provoke the other; something both men find amusement in doing. Additionally, both men share a lasting reverence for their mentor, Shōyō, which the other Yonkō soon forgot.

Hikaru Kurosaki

"That's quite enough out of you, Grandpa Ball-Sack! The wolf is killing our chance to escape!"

—Raian thinking about Hikaru

10th Division

Sōji Okita

"Oi, Sōji... Just what do you think you're doing? Are you trying to kill me?!"
"Oh no. It was just a joke."

—Raian and Sōji arguing after Sōji nearly hits Raian with his Zanpakutō.

Karakura Town

Ichigo Kurosaki

"A leader must be 'cool' at all times! No matter what dilemma presents itself, you must work things out calmly and protect your teammates. You are our comrade, so its only natural for me to protect you as a leader. After all, a leader always has to be cool, right?"

—Raian to Ichigo

Isshin Kurosaki

"You're the captain now, Isshin. Stand up and act like it."

—Raian to Isshin^[src]

Others

Saori Sumeragi

"In this dimension, we don't call someone who can stop a #90's level Kidō with her bare hands a girl. We call her a mountain gorilla."

—Raian to Saori

Shiori Miyamoto

"No matter how stubborn and head-strong a woman is, she will always show the tender side of her soul to the man she loves."

—Raian, about Shiori, to Seireitou

Rivals and Enemies

Rivals

Mizu Kurosaki

"You fool. A Bankai ability that focuses all of your wrath and hatred into pure speed and adrenaline. You can't stop until the object of your hatred is completely destroyed. But emotion clouds judgement and logic. You can't think straight like that. Its too bad though, while you're like that, you won't feel the pain, from what is to come, immediately. I can imagine the excruciating pain you'll feel when it wears off."

—Raian to Mizu^[src]

While Raian holds Hikaru, the older Kurosaki brother, to a decent manner of respect, he seems to heavily look down upon Mizu. It can be assumed that Raian has known Mizu the entirety of the time he's known Hikaru, spanning well over a thousand years. Raian views Mizu as arrogant, despite being willing to call him a Yonkō-level fighter at the end of one of their matches. He also sees Mizu to be a very limited individual in terms of battle strategy, which was clear during their reunion battle, when Raian mocked an belittled Mizu's strategies. Nevertheless, the two seem to have some manner of respect for one another — though for Mizu, this seems to extend only to Raian's title.